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santacarlatourism · 1 year

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May I please request Kevin Khatchadourian, spending time together headcannons? I love your work so much, it’s genuinely under appreciated! Take your time ! <3

Aw, I'm glad you like my writing, tysm!!! here are some headcanons <3

⮞ one of the quotes in the book is "kevin was a shell game in which all three cups were empty" and i think about that a lot and i think it applies here. the version of kevin you're getting can vary wildly, depending on how he wants you to perceive him, and there's not necessarily a rhyme or reason for the choice he makes.

it's likely if he's voluntarily choosing to spend time with you, though, that you get something closer to his authentic self. and i think that makes him question why you're choosing his company. you're not like lenny-- some loser who idolizes kevin and is easy to manipulate.

so it creates a cycle. he keeps spending time with you to figure out why you like to spend time with him, and the more time he spends with you the more curious he is about why you keep spending time with him.

⮞ you're still initiating most of the hang outs because kevin is not interested enough in most things to suggest anything.

⮞ tell him you need to grab something at the mall and ask if he wants to run over with you. he'll agree and he'll hate it.

however, you spot a sporting goods store and suggest you two dip in there, aware of kevin's love for archery. this... somewhat alleviates kevin's mood. archery is one of very few things kevin has an interest in, and as he peruses the equipment you can probably even get him to explain some of the sport to you and answer questions like what makes a good bow, are there different kinds of string, etc.

the more specific your question is, and the more they build off of previous answers he's given you, the more you seem to really be listening... well, the less likely he is to ask if you're stupid in response to one of them. and, admittedly, the more likely he is to decide that perhaps this trip was worth it.

don't get any ideas about buying him anything though, as a friendly or romantic gesture. something about that, especially so early on, is too easy to kevin. it's too transparent what your motivations are, and he'll stare you dead in the eye, "what, you want to buy me a little surprise just so i'll like you more? my parents can buy me this shit. doesn't make them special either."

gift giving, with kevin, should come much later, where he's less likely to see it as you initiating some sort of bribe or transaction.

⮞ i think i maybe mentioned this in another post, but i think a lot of hanging out with kevin comes down to parallel play more or less. he's on his computer doing his own thing, reading his copy of robin hood, outside shooting arrows, etc. and you're nearby, doing something. and while he looks like he's paying no attention to you, he's analyzing the situation. why isn't he as bothered by your company as he is by frank's, eva's, celia's, or even his ostensible friend lenny?

eventually, kevin realizes that the reason for this is that when he's with you, he feels like he does when he's alone. by this i mean... to some extent, kevin's actions with everyone are performance. this is the case with both franklin and eva, with his sister and with his peers.

but when he's with you he feels as himself as he does when he's utterly alone. except, perhaps, less bored.

this is where, if it hasn't already, kevin's interactions with you take a turn. his fascination grows beyond why you enjoy his company-- all though it's still a question-- and more on to you as a whole.

⮞ he starts playing hot and cold more. he wants to know how you react when plans with him fall through due to him cancelling last minute. do it back so he can be surprised by how displeased he is. it's going to be apparent he's testing with you, playing with you, but not necessarily why.

he may start suggesting hang outs here, but be warned, they're things he thinks you'll hate. he's curious to see if he's right, if he knows your tastes that well. but he's also just as curious to see if you're willing to put up with something you hate for his company.

while out you notice he's not enjoying himself either, and call him out on it. you ask if he even likes this activity. "nope," he'll respond, with a little smirk. you roll your eyes.

but honestly? he grows to find that he enjoys reveling in his contempt for people in your company more than he enjoys doing it alone. your sarcastic agreement with his snide remarks, the little light swats you give his arm when he's just far too harsh.

⮞ before you and kevin are really dating, people around you would have just grown to assume that's what was going on because your hang outs and time together had grown towards increasingly romantic activities in part because those were things you two simply hadn't done together yet.

in person or on the phone, kevin mentions to franklin that he's taking you to the movies. franklin teasingly tells his son not to do anything he wouldn't do and kevin freezes for a moment, realizing the implications, but it's not going to be clear how he feels about them for awhile. but it makes sense, kevin supposes: if you two are going on dates then you are, by default, dating. he's not too perturbed by it: dating isn't the same sort of romantic commitment as a relationship.

but even when it develops into a formal relationship much of the way he interacts with you is the same. for kevin putting a name to it is more so just to officialize what's already been going on for awhile. To keep you from getting any ideas that you can just easily dip out without warning at any time. Similar to dating, by the time it becomes a formal relationship you two will arguably have been in a relationship for awhile.

⮞ once kevin realizes he actually enjoys your presence and perhaps even likes you as an individual, he becomes more indulgent at times. he may show you how to fire a bow, or walk you through some of his computer knowledge so you can get your own to work better. share some knowledge with him in return-- if you know him well enough to know what he'd actually value learning.

#kevin khatchadourian x reader #post: hcs #by santacarlatourism

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santacarlatourism · 1 year

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A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock ‘N Roll - Chapter 2

Summary: Michael gets a taste of what it's like hanging out with the Lost Boys and they get to see what special talents he has. Everyone wins.

When I pitched the idea for a southern Michael, I KNEW I had to make him play guitar. So please enjoy some tunes HERE

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

The ride back to the cave was interesting, to say the least. Michael was oblivious to the curiosity experienced by the Lost Boys, simply happy to join them while riding on his ATV. He was just as wild in a more casual drive as he was during the game of chicken with David. The boys thought they were pretty noisy whenever they shouted and whooped on particularly fun rides, but Michael’s voice was far more powerful than any of theirs.

He yipped and yeehawed and laughed up into the empty night sky as he followed the boys to their cave. It was like he was constantly running on a full battery and itching to use as much energy as possible. He clearly loved to make himself heard, even with no words said.

Little did he know that everyone else was sharing a conversation through the mental link in their heads, and he was the very reason they were talking.

“I’ll be the first to say it,” Paul spoke to the others. “Michael’s really cute! I always wanted to meet a southern gentleman~”

“Aww and here I thought a Yankee like me was your type, Paulie,” Dwayne teased the blond. Looking to the left of his bike he watched in amusement as Paul playfully stuck his tongue out at him.

“I like that he’s really wild with the driving!” Marko added, smiling devilishly to himself. “If he’s a real Texan cowboy, I’ll bet he knows some other ways to have fun. Maybe he knows bull riding or shooting!”

While the three of them gushed about Michael through their link, David kept himself completely silent. Whenever he was focused on something, the boys knew better than to interrupt his thoughts. All that was going through his mind was who Michael truly was.

Sure, the human was smooth-talking and brave enough to take on a challenge, but he had to dig deeper than that. He wanted to know what made Michael truly tick. What he feared, what he dreamed of, and what the best way to twist his thoughts and keep him loyal would be. Max’s orders were still clear in David’s head, and he had to stay focused if he were to meet the demands.

This was all purely professional. He’d keep a close eye on Michael tonight and strike when the moment was right.

With the speed they were driving, it didn’t take long at all for everyone to get to the cave. Dwayne lit each candle and barrel inside their home with his trusty torch while Paul and Marko gleefully jumped down rocks and ledges with Laddie. It was a familiar routine for them, but a pleasant one.

David glanced over at Michael, expecting him to be a bit intimidated by the dangerous nature of the cave. If the structure of the place didn’t scare him, then surely the wire fences and “keep out” signs outside would. But fear was definitely not on Michael’s face.

The curly-haired boy had Star’s hand in his own, hopping from rock to rock while holding onto her. They both giggled in excitement as they moved together. Even if he’d never been to this cave before Michael certainly maneuvered around it like he had done so for years. Star was all too happy to be included in the fun.

David looked up at the high walls of the cave, not wanting to watch the two of them act so giddy with one another. Not because he cared. It just wasn’t necessary for the time being. At least, that’s what he told himself.

While the boys got settled into their routine of hanging out and relaxing for the night, Star stepped away from Michael in order to help Laddie onto the seat by the old fountain that sat front and center of the room. It made David feel quite pleased with himself to see how much his family had grown and how happy they were in this place they all called “home”. Soon it would be that way for Michael too.

It didn’t take long for David to start using his knowledge of the long-dilapidated hotel that stood before them. He gave the same spiel he had given the others before; the resort's history, the Earthquake that took it down, how they claimed it as their own, everything. The look of wonder in Michael’s blue eyes told the vampire he was already quite impressed with their space.

“Whooooo boy,” he said, letting out a whistle. “I’ll bet this place was mighty purdy back in the day!”

The others couldn’t hold back the fit of giggles from their amusement at Michael’s accent.

“Sorry, did you just say ‘purdy’?” Paul snickered, lighting up a joint in his mouth while lounging on a nearby chair. “Are ya tryin’ to say ‘pretty’ or somethin?”

“That’s exactly what I’m sayin’!” Michael said. “Ain’t those ears of yours work right?”

The others laughed even harder, more than satisfied with how Michael rolled with the punches and could give a bit of teasing as easily as he could take it. Even David found the corners of his mouth starting to tug upward.

Dwayne moved from his spot in the corner, chucking the now extinguished torch to the side since there was plenty of light from the glow of the candles. He stuck his hands in his jacket pockets before sauntering up to Michael.

“So tell us,” he said. “How exactly did a guy like you make the move from Texas to California of all places?”

Michael smiled, leaning against one of the pillars that stood by the rocky walls of the cave. He flicked the brim of his hat, showing off his face a little better.

“My mama and daddy couldn’t stand each otha’ no more so we packed up and headed out west to be with my grandpa. Mama’s from California but she ain’t been here in a month of Sundays. She says it’s a good bit of change for me and my baby brother, Sammy”

The other boys traded looks with one another, clearly entertained by Michael’s interesting choice of words. However, David was the only one to see something else in the human as he talked. There was a hint of sadness on his face. Despite the sweet smile, there was a bittersweet sensation that hinted he may not have wanted to leave home in the first place.

David knew Santa Carla to be his one, true home, but he understood that it wasn’t the right place for everyone. It was dangerous and intimidating and full of the craziest people you’d ever meet in your life. Even without the vampiric influence that lurked in its shadows your life was still constantly at risk in a place like this. It didn’t exactly scream “Home, Sweet Home” to most people.

“It must be quite different for you, Michael,” David commented. He stood closer to the brunet, nudging him softly as a gesture of kindness. It would be much easier to give him a sense of understanding so he wouldn’t feel so alone. “Why don’t we get you some food and you can tell us all about where you came from?”

Michael seemed to like that idea quite a bit, grinning at David for suggesting that. Whenever he smiled it felt like he was adding a new source of light to the space.

Marko was the one sent off to fetch some dinner. Surprisingly, Michael tried to offer to pay for the food himself, claiming it was the polite thing to do for them after they invited him into their space. They turned down the offer but decided to leave out the detail that they never paid for food in the first place. Just a lot of mind tricks and sticky fingers to get what they wanted.

It wasn't long before the vampires and their human guest were chowing down on a spread of Chinese food together. The brunet ate like he was almost starved to death, shoveling plenty of rice, noodles, veggies, and steak in his mouth, yet still eager for more. David didn't even get the chance to do something silly like make Michael think he was eating worms or something. Even if he did use his mind tricks Michael would still probably eat the stuff.

"Jesus, Michael, have you had any food since you moved here?" Marko teased, stirring his chopsticks around in the container he had.

"Course I have! I just gotta hearty appetite, that's all!" Michael said after gulping down the food in his mouth. "That's why we go hog-wild with food in Texas! Every cookout, barbecue, and county fair you see has the biggest spread ya ever did see. Gotta feed all them growing farm boys there!"

The others chuckled to themselves. California was a bit different with food, as it focused more on trendy, diet stuff. It was a good thing they all preferred the taste of fresh blood because there was just a lot of weird stuff sold on the boardwalk they really didn't want to try.

"There's a lot of farmlands there I'm guessing?" Star asked. She was sitting next to Paul, not in the mood for Chinese food but still involved in the conversation.

"Texas is so big ya get a little bit o' everything!. Where I come from there's horse fields, ranches, and miles of woods. But ya gotta be real careful ya don't run into a pissed-off timber wolf in the sticks when the sun goes down"

David snickered out loud at that. Even if he and the boys were truly the scariest and most dangerous creatures out there, there was still a part of him that was intrigued by the idea of Michael taking on wild animals by himself.

"You're not scared of a little pup like that, are ya, Michael?" David teased.

Once again the human boy let out the heartiest laugh he had ever heard. Michael slapped a hand over his knee as he set down his carton of food.

"Hell, they more scared of me! I damn near shot the fleas off a coyote that was diggin' in our chicken coop last year. Ran runnin' with its tail between its legs, the little shit"

Michael held his arms up as if he held a shotgun in his hands. The stereotype of Texans loving their guns didn't go over David's head.

It was strangely pleasant hearing the southern boy go into detail about the life and adventures he had experienced back home. Maybe it was the insanity that came with each tale or maybe it was the intense voice he spoke with that made everyone hang on his every word. Either way, David couldn't deny he was fascinated by Michael. The more they hung out the more he wanted to get to know this human.

Little did he know he was about to learn something extra interesting about Michael.

While the brunet was deep in a story about an incident with a horse he had to help out, he cut himself off, going completely silent. The others watched in confusion as Michael squinted at a nearby corner of the room, head tilted in curiosity.

"Is that a guitar you got over there?"

Sure enough, an acoustic guitar was propped against a dusty, old dresser that was used in a hotel room before the resort collapsed. The headstock and neck of the instrument were a deep, dark brown while the body was a lighter tone. It was in pristine condition, unlike the rest of their tattered hideout.

"Yeah, it's one of mine," David answered. "I've played for years but I mostly do electric guitar these days. I haven't really used that one in a while"

What David didn't let on was that he had known how to play for several decades now. Also, he hadn't exactly acquired that guitar legally. What Michael didn't know wouldn't kill him.

Michael stood from his seat and made his way over to the guitar, eyes growing wider as he got closer. The way he looked at it made it seem like it was the holy grail itself.

"Holy Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, this is a Martin D-28!" he exclaimed. A wild smile stretched across his face. "Hank Williams had a guitar just like this!"

Being around and undead for so long, David and the other boys knew exactly who that was. Only Star and Laddie seemed a bit confused as to why that name was so important.

"Who's that?" Laddie asked.

"Why he's one of the classics of country music, buddy!" Michael smiled at him. "We get a lot of music like his on the radio back home"

The Lost Boys weren't exactly the type that listened to country if that wasn't completely obvious. They loved metal, glam rock, and even hip-hop. With their flashy outfits and tough, biker personas that kept people from messing with them, the twang of country wasn't a good fit for them.

David was tempted to tease Michael about his preference. However, when the cowboy looked over at him and a pout and a softened gaze in his blue eyes, David felt a sense of doubt about his actions.

"Would it be alright if I played y'all a song with this? Please, David? I reckon as your guest I could provide some entertainment to show thanks for your hospitality"

For a wild heart like Michael, he was still quite keen on using good manners. It was a little odd to experience, as the Lost Boys weren't at all used to being treated like people, whether that was by strangers on the boardwalk or by their own sire.

David couldn't help but feel like Michael was pulling on his undead heartstrings. He couldn't possibly say no.

"Of course, Michael. Show us what you can do"

The curly-haired boy went right to work, moving the strap over his shoulder to keep the guitar in place. It took a few minutes to adjust it, tuning the guitar and plucking a few notes to see if it sounded right. When he was satisfied, he stood up straight and positioned himself to play. A deep breath came from his lips before strumming the first notes.

Say, hey, good lookin', what you got cookin'?

How's about cookin' something up with me?

Hey, sweet baby, don't you think maybe

We could find us a brand new recipe?

Curiosity formed on the faces of all the others in the cave. Marko, Dwayne, and Paul glanced at each other, sharing the intrigue they had. Star and Laddie smiled widely at Michael. David was simply speechless.

Michael had barely begun his song, but it was already so clear that he was a truly gifted musician. Not only did the tune on the song flow perfectly from the guitar strings, but he also had a singing voice as smooth as honey. The power he already had in his speaking voice carried the melody so beautifully.

I got a hot rod Ford and a two dollar bill

And I know a spot right over the hill

There's soda pop and the dancin's free

So if you wanna have fun, come along with me

When he started getting more comfortable with the song, that’s when Michael truly began to shine. He tapped his boot to the beat of the song and gently smacked the base of the guitar to go along with the song. He couldn’t help but smile as his shoulders and hips shook to the beat as if he was holding back an entire dance number too.

Say, hey, good lookin', what you got cookin'?

How's about cookin' something up with me?

The others were lightly swaying and tapping their feet along with Michael, clearly enjoying the show he was putting on. They never thought country could be their style of music, but Michael truly had a gift and with a happy expression on his handsome face, it was hard not to smile along. His positivity was practically infectious.

Even though David was the only one to keep a neutral expression on his face, deep down all he could think about was how incredible Michael was. He had truly impressed the vampire all night. He was welcoming, funny, wild, entertaining, and an overall really nice guy. Perhaps there would still be some changes when he became one of them, but he secretly hoped Michael would stay pretty much the same.

I'm free and ready, so we can go steady

How's about savin' all your time for me?

No more lookin', I know I've been took in

How's about keepin' steady company?

Now Michael was truly moving without care. He strutted along the area, passing each of the Lost Boys and dancing beside them while continuing the song. The more he moved, the more they were into the performance. Michael clearly wasn’t shy, and it made for a very fun time.

For a moment, David locked eyes with Michael, blue meeting blue. Michael was cheeky enough to send a wink his way while he kept strumming.

I'm gonna throw my datebook over the fence

And find me one for five or ten cents

I'll keep it 'til it's covered with age

'Cause I'm writin' your name down on every page

David would tell himself over and over again that any feelings he was getting from this song were just from the excitement of enjoying a show. Just a fun little song and dance for him and his friends to enjoy. But deep down, he found himself liking the way Michael smiled at him a little more than he expected. Maybe it was something in the song lyrics. Maybe it was just the beauty of Michael’s voice.

But it didn’t matter because he was too stubborn to believe it was anything else. So he just enjoyed the last notes of the song telling himself it wasn’t any more than that. Any fluttering in his stomach was just joy from the music. Nothing more.

Say, hey, good lookin', what you got cookin'?

How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?

Michael ended the tune with a loud cheer. A whoop of joy to conclude his performance. And once that happened, he was met with an eager amount of applause and cheers. Everyone had truly enjoyed the show he put on, impressed by the sheer talent he had.

When David managed to snap out of his trance, he clapped for Michael as well, leather from his gloves slapping together as he praised the human for a job well done.

“Bravo!!” he shouted, unintentionally louder than the others. Michael seemed quite happy with the attention, yet still remained humble and grateful for their praise. He carefully removed the guitar and handed it back to David before tipping his hat again.

“Aww shucks, y’all are makin’ me blush~”

Once the excitement had died down, Michael and the others went right back into eating their food and enjoying stories from his time back in Texas. David continued to watch him, thinking to himself. He hadn’t realized he was so lost in thought while looking at Michael that he was a bit surprised when he heard Marko speak to him in his head.

“You want me to fetch the bottle so we can make this official?”

Truthfully, David had completely forgotten about sharing his blood with Michael. That was the whole plan for the night, yet there was a bit of doubt he had. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to do it, of course. It just didn’t seem like it was the right time for it. Something about Michael had a pull on him. Like he had to dig deeper and get to know the guy a bit better.

He kept on staring as he gave Marko his response.

“Let him have his fun tonight. Max will get what he wants soon. I just wanna see where this goes”

That was what he’d tell himself and his boys for now. Nothing about his personal fascination with the human had to go noticed. For now, he’d just sit back, relax and enjoy Michael’s company. He only hoped Michael enjoyed himself too.

#me reading this volleying between ‟we sound like that???‟ and ‟oh yeah we do sound like that don't we‟ LMAO

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