the specific scene from the Concept eating my brain that i 100% had to exorcise tonight was: Quentin Coldwater At A Singles Mixer, ft me finally finding an excuse to work in my very passionate belief about teen quentin’s love of donnie darko:
“Nice shirt.”
Quentin says “What?” because he’s wearing a completely normal and boring flannel over a white T-shirt, and then “Thank you,” because that’s what normal people say when someone pays them a compliment, and then “Oh — because — I get it,” because he finally clocks that the girl who said it is wearing what looks to be the exact same one, and finally “Yours, too,” because now that he sees it he can’t just not complete the joke even if it makes him look even less capable of human interaction than he already does.
Miraculously, the girl in the flannel does not start backing slowly away. Instead she says, “My friend dragged me here. And you look like you’re having about as much fun as I am, so I’m guessing — you too?”
Quentin blinks, surprised. “Uh — yeah, kind of.” Close enough, anyway.
Flannel girl rolls her eyes. “These things are so fucking stupid, right?”
He snorts, relieved at least one person in this room shares his feelings. “Yeah, I could think of about five or ten… thousand things I’d rather be doing.”
“Same. Starting with a fucking root canal.”
“Sure,” he agrees. “I was thinking, uh, DMV on a slow day.”
“Calc final.”
“Meta-trig practicum on the full moon.”
“Dragged by wild horses.”
“Burned at the stake.”
“Family reunion with the Florida half.”
“Oof,” Quentin says sympathetically. “I was going to say death by leeches, but I think your thing sounds worse.”
Flannel girl smiles. “So what would you really be doing tonight, if you weren’t here?”
“Honestly?” He rolls his eyes at himself. “Probably something like watching Donnie Darko for the nine hundredth time in bed.”
She strikes a pose. “Never doubt my commitment to sparkle motion!”
Quentin feels himself smile automatically at the phrase. “You a fan?”
“I was like, obsessed with that movie in high school,” she says. “Jena Malone was so formative for me.”
“Theatrical release or director’s cut?”
“Oh, definitely original. The director’s cut is like, let’s take this movie that’s dense and weird and compelling, and just make it some masturbatory sci-fi bullshit. Like, if I wanted to be lectured to about the ins and outs of time travel, I’d just watch Primer, you know?”
“Okay, agreed, but — I do love Primer.”
“Primer’s great. But I find it hard to believe any of the depressed fifteen-year-olds of America are watching Primer every Friday night to feel a little less alone for two hours.”
“No, yeah, it’s a different thing. It’s an intellectual exercise more than anything else, whereas Donnie Darko — theatrical release — the thing that makes it great is it really gets at what it’s like to — feel something. A — a weird, dark, fucked up, adolescent something. But it feels fucking real.”
“It’s a movie for kids who think their problem is their brain, but really it’s that their heart is too big for their body and they’re about ten years from figuring that out.”
“Totally. That’s actually, like, kind of a beautiful way of putting it.”
“I told you. I’ve thought about this movie a lot.” She sticks out a hand. “I’m Maya, by the way.”
“Quentin.” He shakes the offered hand. It occurs to him that he’s actually, like — doing this, maybe? Like he’s — he’s at this fucking singles thing, as a person to meet people to date, and he’s actually kind of — hit it off, with this girl. He’s — not the greatest at picking up social cues, but he’s pretty sure that’s what’s happening. Not like she’s flirting with him, or whatever, because, like, she’s not, but — they’re having a conversation, and it’s not the worst. He’s sort of hoping it keeps going, rather than praying it will end. That’s — not nothing, for him. And she — just introduced herself, so, she probably wouldn’t — mind? And — god, he really doesn’t want to go through this whole ordeal, but he told Eliot he’d give it his best, so, he basically has to at least shoot his shot here, right? He rakes a hand through his hair, trying not to sound nervous. “Hey, um — okay, so I know we were just talking about how stupid this whole thing is, and how we hate it, and like, no pressure, or hard feelings, or anything like that, but — I mean, I don’t hate talking to you, and we — we maybe have some stuff in common, so — did you want to, I don’t know, maybe trade numbers? Or something?”
Her face sags into a pitying look that lets him know immediately he’s made a grave error. “Oh, that’s sweet, but —”
“Sorry,” he rushes to get out, “I’m sorry, forget it, I shouldn’t have —”
“No, it’s fine, it’s just — I’m like, super gay, dude.”
“Oh.” That’s — not the kind of humiliation he was expecting. “Well that’s — cool. I mean, not — I’m not trying to say it is or isn’t any, uh, any thing, like I’m not trying to like, congratulate you, because why would you need my, my approval, or — you don’t —” Stop talking, he pleads with himself. Just stop talking. “Just. You know. Yeah.”
Maya peers at him. “The Jena Malone thing didn’t tip you off?”
Quentin shrugs. “I guess I’m not really thinking about that kind of thing when I talk to people, usually.”
“Ah. Well, if it makes you feel any better —” She smiles. “That’s definitely the least repulsively I’ve ever been hit on by a straight guy.”
He snorts. “I think we both know that’s a pretty low bar to clear.” That gets a laugh out of her, at least. “And I’m actually — not. Straight, I mean.”
“Oh.” She wrinkles her nose in apology or embarrassment. “Sorry. My bad.”
“It’s not like it matters, it’s just — you know. For the sake of accuracy, or whatever.”
She tilts her head. “I mean it… kind of matters.”
“Okay, obviously in like a kind of macro societal sense, yes, this is a facet of human existence that matters in all kinds of, uh, legal and historical and cultural ways,” Quentin says, residual exasperation bubbling to the surface, “but on, like, an individual level, person to person, I feel like it’s one of those things where reasonable people can maybe learn to agree to disagree.”
“Uh huh,” she says, skeptical and amused. “I feel like maybe this is a conversation you’re having with someone who is… not me.”
He sighs. “Sorry. Yeah. It’s a bit of a sore spot right now, maybe.”
“An ex?”
“You… could say that. I guess. Or — kind of. Maybe? I don’t know. It’s complicated. Like, we’re not together, but it’s not necessarily over over, and also he’s one of my best friends and we sort of live together, at least when he’s — in town, so — complicated.”
“It’s too bad this isn’t going to work out, because you would make a great lesbian.”
Quentin laughs. “Thanks.”
“Anytime.” She bites her lip. “Actually — if you like movies… there’s this really cool Korean horror movie showing at Metrograph on Sunday that I couldn’t talk anyone into going with me, because somehow I’m friends with people who do this sort of shit” — she gestures ambiently — “for fun. God knows I’m not above going to a movie by myself, but if you wanted to join me, as friends…”
“Oh.” This is about as unexpected as walking away from this with an actual date would be. And — maybe weirdly almost as nice? Maybe even nicer, given that he doesn’t actually want to date anyone not named Eliot Waugh, but he, like, could probably stand to be friends with one person he’s not basically trauma-bonded with at this point. Some might even argue that could be healthy. “Yeah. That sounds kind of great, actually.”
“Awesome.” Maya flashes him a smile. “In the meantime, I think I’m supposed to go mingle, but I think if I stay here another five minutes, I’m going to hurl.”
“I know a hedge bar like three blocks south of here,” he says. “If we leave now I think we can still catch their happy hour.”
“Lead the way,” she says, and gratefully Quentin starts walking towards the exit.
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TEJODORE 💕💕💕💕 I know I’ve wished you a happy birthday on a couple of different platforms and in a couple of different timezones, but I obviously also needed to do it this way, because I will take any opportunity to tell you how much I love you and how grateful I am to have you in my life 🥰🥰
I don’t really think I know a before-tej time anymore, because even though it hasn’t even been that long since we first started talking, it feels like I’ve known you forever. You’re one of the kindest, funniest, sweetest people, and I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you at this point. We’re Mej now lol, and I think that says it all 😂
I’m so in awe of you, your kindness, your openness, your incredible talent. I love that I get to scream with you about Evanstan, Sebastian and Stucky (and I will make you love Chris again), and scream at you for the brilliant fics you share with us that blow my mind and have me crying and laughing all day 💖💖💖
I love how I can share any and every unhinged thought with you and you’ll be encouraging & never judgmental. I don’t think I would’ve written more than like, 2 fics this year if it weren’t for you, my brainstorming with you, and your endless support. I can’t ever thank you enough for making being in this fandom such a wonderful experience (and for being there right with me when fandom isn’t).
I love YOU. You weirdo, you sweetheart, you ridiculously Capricorn angel (or llama (ft fur knife) to your friends) and I hope you have the most wonderful day, with all the chocolate cake you desire, and ideally a Seb with long hair 2015 style sighting. And I hope this next year will be everything you hope and deserve, with nothing but wonderful things and all the love in the world. Sending you all the snuggles and smooches 💛✨💛✨💛✨💛
Mayaaaaaaaaaa! 😭😭😭 You're so wonderful. You've really made sure to wish me a happy birthday everywhere. Like it's inescapable and I'm so happy you're in my life. I can't remember a before-Maya either. You've just always been there. Like when did we actually meet? When was our first interaction? It doesn't matter because all I know is that somehow we've spoken pretty much every day and we're now a package 💖
I think I fully might have separation anxiety now when you're on vacation because I feel lost without you. You're the sweetest and kindest person I know, and I feel extremely blessed that our paths crossed this year because I have no idea how I ever functioned without you ✨ You're encouraging and reassuring, and snap me out of my funks and shake sense into me when I'm spiralling or having weird anxiety dreams, especially over the last few weeks 💘
I love that I can message you any time with headcanons, theories and fic ideas, and that you will be there as a sounding board and give me the motivation to finish. I am sorry I am torturing you with treading water but your comments mean the world to me 🥰️🥰️🥰️
You've really made fandom a great and fun place to be, and I'm grateful that we're in the same space and know that we've 100% got each others' backs throughout everything ❤️️❤️️❤️️ Your kindness and generosity is limitless and you're so supportive of everybody.
I cannot wait to read countermoves - what a sweet surprise. I feel spoiled by all the ways you've made the day so special! 💗
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In response to this post here are my scenarios / ideas:
You, Andy/Joseph went with Joe to a season wrap party and he just looked so cute / good that you had to take a photo
You surprised visit Joe on the set of Spree and he totally freaks out. You sent his reaction to the kids causing them to tease him so he has you send this to show he's cool
You're heading home after meeting the cast in person for the first time. He sends you the photo saying that they already miss you
The cast loves taking BTS photos and the easiest only way to get Joe to do an authentic smile
Maya sent you this photo to show you some of the BTS chaos they cause
You and your bubs went to visit the cast for the first time (the cast only seeing the baby over ft or at the house) and one of the cast brought their dog on set. Joe was watching the dog while on break and he playfully but his glasses on them. It was so cute you had to take a photo
The older cast went out for lunch/dinner on night. The cast eventually gets into a playful argument about which 80s hit movie is the best. Maya sends you a photo of Joe's reaction to Joseph's answer. You just laugh and respond with 'Sounds like my boys'
You love seeing Joe perform or even rehears for his shows so you have plenty of photos like this
your mind
he just looks so ethereal and it looks as if he’s interacting with kids and it makes you and andrew/joseph want kids
oh yes. he didn’t want to seem uncool for the kids. you just rolled your eyes
yes. the kids love you and keep asking him when you’ll be back so he takes a pic with them to tie them over
one of your kids (by dating him you automatically adopt them) sends it to you and your heart melts
you just laugh and show it to andy
you were feeding your bubs and he was holding your puppy and your heart melted
you’re just like that’s a normal occurrence in the keery-quinn household
oh yes you’re front row every show and he dedicates the songs to you when they’re about you and brings you and andrew/joseph on stage too
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