#//I was sorting through my cosplay albums and found these again

[ravarui]

// In honor of munday, have some of my fave cosplay pictures that I collected over the years. Plus one normal one of me and my best friend.

Photos under the cut obviously

#mun talks #look it's me! - ooc #//I was sorting through my cosplay albums and found these again #//I only have this short video of my Shanks cosplay so far #//Cause all other photos were done at the party #//Where I was drunk off my ass and the cloak barely on as well whoops #//the video was taken shortly before we took shots #//ANYWAY #//descriptions of the pics are available #//where all the credits are listed to the other people #//Can't wait for Dokomi this year tbh #//and to get more proper photoshoots #//these tags got way to long rip #Akkis cosplays

[angelwiththeblue-box]

Starry Eyes Willex AU Ch. 2

[READ ON AO3]

Masquerade sits on the corner of Mission Street is a costume store. It gives off the sort of creepy Halloween town vibes, except it’s open year round, and caters to cosplaying (which Julie and Flynn adore), the arts, and anything else you might need costumes for.

Ray’s and the Covington’s dueling businesses- as well as nearby homes- sit together at the tail end of a shopping promenade of local boutiques, restaurants, and art studios.

Most of the cul-de-sac contains old Victorian-esque houses that have been sectioned up and converted into apartment units. Not really where you’d expect to find a sketchy costume shop.

The Covington’s and the Molina’s used to all be on good terms. The key word there is ‘used too’. Now they’re the Hatfields to Alex’s McCoy. The Hamilton to his Burr. The Covington’s are the enemy. And Alex forbade his family from fraternizing with the enemy.

Alex pushes open the door and the bell clings, alerting the store to his presence. A few customers are looking around and Alex keeps his eyes on the ground as he makes his way to the checkout counter where Caleb, and his husband John are arguing.

“It wasn’t De Niro. It was the guy he’s always getting mixed up with. Al Pacino.” Caleb argues. His husband sighs, and Alex can tell they’ve been at this for a while.

“Pacino?” John responds, leaning his elbows on the counter. “I doubt it.”

“I’ll bet you a cupcake.” Caleb responds, before his eyes meet Alex's.

“Alex. Long time no see!” John exclaims.

“John. Caleb.” Alex says, greeting the pair.

“Help us out. We’re playing Actor’s Urban Legends.” Actor’s Urban Legends was a game that John and Caleb made up around when we moved here, probably six or seven years ago. Basically one person thinks of an urban legend from an actor and they have to figure out who it’s actually about. It sounds kind of dull, but it kept Willie and Alex occupied for hours on end. “Which actor practiced Russian Roulette with an actual bullet in the gun? Robert De Niro or Al Pacino?”

“I don’t really know.” Alex answers, hoping they’ll take that answer and he can get what he came for. Both of them are acting like nothing has changed, like The Experiment didn’t happen, like Willie didn’t-

But if John and Caleb want to pretend that everything is normal, then fine. Alex will do it as long as it gets him out of the store faster.

“Um, how about Al Pacino?” Alex guesses.

“No way. It was Robert De Niro.” John responds confidently. “Look it up, Caleb.”

“My phone’s dead.”

John makes a clucking sound with his tongue. “A likely story. You just don’t want to lose the bet.”

“Willie will know.”

Alex’s stomach tightens. This was the one reason he didn’t want to come here. Alex wished he could turn invisible, if only to avoid the boy walking out of the storeroom. Ripped jeans, cropped t-shirt, his long dark brown hair pulled up into a messy bun, Willie looks exactly how you’d picture someone from California looking.

His eyes meet Alex’s and any looseness in his posture immediately tightens, which reinforces what Alex already knew. They are not friends anymore.

But, they used to be best friends. Ever since Alex moved here with the Molina’s, Willie had been there. He’d taught Alex how to skateboard, he was with Alex on his first day of school. Alex helped Willie come out to his parents. They did so much together, they were practically joined at the hip.

Until last year.

Alex gathers his courage. “Hey.”

Willie just nods in response. That’s all Alex gets. They used to trust each other with everything, and now Willie won’t even talk to him.

New plan: don’t say another word to him.

“Willie. Which actor practiced Russian Roulette with a real bullet in the gun? Your other, less knowledgeable father thinks it’s Al Pacino.”

“Alex thinks so too.” Caleb responds, his tone staying the same even tone it’s been since Alex walked into the shop.

“He’s wrong.” Willie says, unpacking the wigs. “It’s Robert De Niro.”

“Ha! Told you!” John cheers.

“I just picked one.” Alex says, a bit more defensive than he should be.

“Well, you picked wrong.” Willie retorts.

“Since when am I supposed to be an expert in dangerous movie trivia?”

“It’s not arcane knowledge.” Willie responds, brushing a few strands of hair out of their eyes. “It’s pop culture.”

“Mhmm. And that’s information I’ll need to know when? Are the SATs suddenly adding a new section titled ‘Obscure pop culture trivia’?” Alex demands.

“There’s more to life than school.” Willie responds, still not looking at Alex.

“At least I have friends.” Alex shoots back.

“If you think Carrie and the rest of her clique are real friends, you’re mistaken.”

“Jeez, you two.” Caleb mumbles under his breath. “Get a room.”

Alex recoils instantly. This isn’t a ‘I secretly like you fight’ this is a ‘I actually hate you’ fight. Sure, Willie’s attractive. But the only time that his and Willie’s friendship even dared to cross over into the romance line- a period of time referred to as the Great Experiment- Alex ended up sobbing in his high school bathroom at Homecoming, wondering what went wrong.

Alex never found out, but it’s pretty easy to figure out.

Willie turned to their parents. “Robert De Niro’s Russian Roulette story is exaggerated. He never actually fired the gun with the bullet in it, he just wanted to see what it felt like, for the scene he was filming.”

“Doesn’t matter.” John crows, bumping his hip against Caleb’s. “You owe me a cupcake. I’ll take it now, since we missed breakfast. You know my favorite flavor.”

“That actually does sound good. Alex, you want one.” Alex shakes my head. John turns to Willie. “Willie, my favorite child. Could you please make a bakery run?”

“Father, I would love too.” Willie says and it makes Alex so furious how they can be so cold to Alex one moment, and teasing and lighthearted with his parents the next. “But I have work in thirty minutes.”

John sighs. “Alright, you’re off the hook.” Willie smiles at them, before turning and walking out the door, completely ignoring Alex.

“So, Alex. What brings you by?” Caleb asks.

“Oh right. Ray said that a package was delivered, but nothing came by in our mail.”

“Yes, we did get something.” Caleb ducks below the counter, before pulling out a box. He sets in on the counter.

“Thanks.” Alex says, grabbing the box. He shifts his weight, feeling the silence seeping into the store. “Well, gotta get back to work.”

“Bye, Alex!” John calls. “Don’t be a stranger!” Alex nods, backing out of the store and back into the bright sunshine.

He shifts the weight again, heading back to the photography store.

Alex sets the box down at the front desk, pulling the sign away. He grabs a pair of scissors and slices the box open, pulling out a photo album.

There’s a note on top that reads:

Ray, I found this cleaning out your old house. Thought you might want it! XX Victoria

Alex opens the photo album and his breath catches. It’s old photos, of Ray, of his late wife, and of Julie and Carlos as kids.

“Ray. Ray, you need to see this. Tía Victoria sent over a photo album!” Ray comes into the room, and Alex hands him the album.

Ray flips through it, tears filling in his eyes.

“Alex, mijo, look at this.” He whispers and shows Alex the book. The last page is the first picture Ray took of Alex, Julie, and Carlos. He and Julie weren’t too close, so they did an icebreaker of Uno. Ray took a photo right as Alex won, and Alex has it saved on his phone, it’s one of his favorites.

Alex wraps his arms around Ray.

“Thank you for taking me in.” Alex murmurs.

“Of course, mijo. You’re part of the family.”

Taglist: @lookingthroughmirrors @carryon-dean

Send an ask or DM me if you want to be added to the taglist!

#willex au #willie x alex #willex fanfic

[fanfictionofmyown]

If I’m Lucky (1/3(?))

Seth Rollins x Reader (Eric Young x reader)

Prompt: Your best friend is Seth. He doesn’t know how to tell you he has feelings for you, but he is sick of all the teasing from his friends. So he decides to write it to you. He just.. Doesn't tell you he wrote it. A few problems show up and you fear about your friendship.

Word count: 10.200 ish (All chapters)

Warnings: Like damn angst (like my heart hurt when I wrote it), bit of fluff, lying assholes, a few argumentsyu, a bit blood, a bit physical fighting, swearing (Language!), sooo long, no beta, FEELINGS

I hope that’s all, if you want me to add something, write it under this post.

I don’t want to hurt anybody with this story and these characters are just imagination. I don’t say they are like this in real life and would never assume them to be like this.

(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)

*****

"You know? You actually have to talk to her when you want her to be yours. Staring won't bring you anywhere." Dean said when he sat down next to Roman who sat in front of Seth. The architect just rolled his eyes and went back to eating. He didn't realize he was staring. He never did until someone told him. After that he would punish himself to look everywhere but that direction.

"Shut up, Dean. As if you know anything about women.." Seth grumbled. Dean snorted and shot back: "Well, in the end, I have a wife and you are still all alone." - "Look! I wasn't staring at (Y/n). I just looked around. I don't want anything from her. We are just friends! I'm allowed to watch out for my friends?!" Seth answered with anger in his voice. "In catering? Because so many things can happen here if you don't look out for her?" Roman asked sarcastically and calm.

That was enough for him with a "Leave me alone." did he take his plate and sat down at another table. He loved his brothers but he was also frustrated. They figured it out too soon. They already knew he was interested in her before he himself knew it. He was frustrated because they didn't see that he can't just walk up and tell her how he feels. That he couldn't talk to her about those feelings. It was not as easy as you wanted it to be. Tensed up he pocked in his vegetables while thinking.

Until another familiar face sat down with him.

Bayley was a good friend of his. She was into Crossfit and they would train together sometimes. Also she liked some of the music he likes. And she tries to help him all the time. She talked him through a lot when the whole thing with the Shield-Reunion was current. And maybe without her he wouldn't have jumped over his shadow and had apologized for his betrayal.

She smiled at him and took a bite from her salad. "What's wrong? Why don't you sit with the guys?" Bayley pointed with her fork to Dean and Roman. The black-haired sighed. "They still don't understand the thing with (Y/n) and me." He mumbled.

Once in training he was quite distracted by (Y/n) and just stood in the middle of a doorway looking at her. Bayley wanted to go through the door he stood in and followed his view. She put one and one together and had it. She didn't tease him with it. She tried to help.

"Hm.. what did they say?" - "God, this will sound so dumb! Dean said that I have to do something because staring doesn't bring me anywhere. But he doesn't understand that I can't tell her! It's-.. I don't know. I can talk to her about normal stuff, but when I think about asking her out or telling her I just freeze. What's wrong with me? I'm acting like a child!" Frustrated he puts his face in his hands.

"Then why don't you write it?" - "What?" He asked sheepishly. Bayley took a gulp of her drink and explained. "When you can't tell her then write it. The classic way, a love letter or however you want to call it." She shrugged. Seth snorted: "Seth Rollins does not write love letters. I have a reputation to lose." Bayley just rolled her eyes at his answer.

And now he is sitting here. A piece of paper and a pen on the table in front of him. The new album of "State Champs" playing in the background. His eyes are closed and Kevin snored besides him. Should he really do that? What should he write? Wouldn't it be pretty.. unmanly? What if he destroyed their friendship? What if she didn't want to get to know him that way? What if he simply embarrasses himself? Not only in front of her but the whole roster? Everybody there is pretty gossip. All those questions floated through his head, but no answer was found.

He always fights for what he wants. He always steps over his shadow. He always challenges himself and he never listened to the things others thought about him. So why does the thought bother him now? To know that the roster could find out about the letter? Because it isn't a 'Seth Rollins"-thing to do? Because it is personal? Because it is more than Seth Rollins? Yes. Yes, because it is more than Seth Rollins. It is Colby Lopez and not Seth Rollins. This isn't a role. This isn't played. He truly wants her and he wants to let her know. It shouldn't matter to him. It's stupid to not do it because of some people who have nothing to do with it. So he leans towards the paper and starts writing. He tries to be romantic but also to not be cheesy. He also wants it to look like he wrote it. To show Colby did that and not another person or persona.

*****

After your match against Lana you went back to your locker room. You showered and drank something. When you wanted to start packing your stuff together to get to the next city a paper caught your attention. It laid in your bag, but you couldn't remember to have anything else than your clothes and something to drink in it. Interested you got it out and opened it. Maybe it is for someone else and just fell into your bag? You searched for a name on the outside. When you couldn't find one you decided to open it. At first you didn't realize what it is, but when you did your face changed red and you grew hot. Exactly in that moment Sasha and Bayley came in. They laughed at something they talked about but went quite when they saw you were cosplaying a tomato. They looked questioning at you.

But their expressions changed when they saw the paper in your hand. Within seconds they stood by your side. "What are you reading?" Asked Sasha. "Yeah what is it?" Grinned Bayley. You folded the paper and put it with your hand behind your back. "N-Nothing!" They both giggled a bit. "Oh, come on! We are best friends and you can't show us that thing? Is it high secret or what?" Bayley started. "She probably has an admirer!" Sasha teased smirking. You asked surprised. "Do you know who it is?!"

The Boss & Hug Connection went silent. "Wait, it is a love letter?" Sasha questioned slow. On Bayley's face grew a mischievous grin. Sasha knew she had something to do with it. So did you. "Come on! Show us! What did your admirer write?"

Slowly and still unsure you got the paper in front of you again and opened it. You read out loud.

"Hey!

So, I have no idea how to do this. I never did it and I never thought I would do it. I just.. wanted to show you what I see when I look at you."

"That's actually kinda sweet." Sasha commented. "At least he is honest." Bayley agreed.

"You are wonderful. You are funny and you can always make me laugh! You bring me through so many bad situations and make me happy. I would love to talk to you more about all kinds of stuff! You are just so close, but so far away at the same time! It is unfair!"

You thought for a moment and came up with an idea. "What if it's from a fan? Like they do have weird ideas to get stuff in our hands..?" Bayley's mind went blank. 'Are you serious?! No that's the wrong direction!?' She thought. Sasha agreed with you.

"Your blue eyes are so innocent and wide! I want to drown in the ocean they show me. Your hair looks so good and soft! I want to bury my face in it and just smell and feel you. You look amazing! And you know it! And you are so nice! To everyone! I can't understand how you are still alone.. You should lay in strong arms. Arms who will fight for you with their life."

"That was different. At first it was pretty slimy-.." began Bayley "..-and then it went quite forward-.." Sasha continued. "..-to what I deserve..?" You ended.

"All I want to say is: I want to know more. And I want to talk to you more often! I want to meet you every day and take you out sometimes! I want this to work. And sometimes I just have the feeling you think so too. You are the best thing in my life.

How I'd love to say, how I'd love to say; That I'm so glad I've found my place in this world and it's so right to feel this way about a girl, but if you stay or if you go, I'm right there with you.

Love xxx"

"..no signing." You mumbled. "But who could it be? Nobody here would write something like this! Actually I can't even imagine that any guy here would write a love letter." Sasha commented. Bayley nodded and grinned a bit although she had an idea who it was. The quote of State Champs showed her.

"Maybe it was really a fan? Like it isn't really that personal. Just some crazy guy who works here or something." You shrugged and forgot about Bayley's expression. "I mean it is sweet but how am I supposed to know who it is. I can't even sort the handwriting to someone." You looked at your friends before you put the thing back in your bag. And it was forgotten.

*****

The next day you walked into catering to get you something to eat. You looked around with you plate. Of course, there were enough seats to take but you searched for one of your friends to talk to. You always talked with somebody in catering.

"Hey (Y/n)!" Someone called from one table. Seth sat beside Xavier and was giving you a hand sign that he called. You smiled and walked over.

"Hey Guys!" You put down you plate and sat down in front of Seth. Xavier greeted you with a bro-fist while Seth nods with his usual smirk. "How are you doing? Been awhile since I saw you last." Woods asked. He was on Smackdown and they weren't travelling with us. It was rather rare to find Smackdown and Raw in the same city.

"Everything's good. Matches doing great! The fans love the storyline with Lana and I have to say I love it too! She is such a great opponent!" You smiled and took a sip of your drink. "Then everything is great!" He grinned back at you.

"And how is it at home? Have you already found Mister Right?" He wiggled with his eyebrows. You shook your head and laughed lightly. "Nah, but someone wrote me a love letter." Now he looked interested. Xavier was all up for the gossip. He loves to know all the news. Although Seth now listened up to.

"From who?" The New Day member questioned. "I have no idea! I think it is from a fan. Just someone who works here in the back. Like someone I never talked to, but I can't be sure.. it just didn't seem to be one of you guys. Like who in this company would write a love letter, like an actual love letter? None. But at the same time Bayley had this strange grin on her face and I believe she knows who it is! But I am sure she won't tell me.. So..? Who of you is going to ask her for me?" You asked with a cheeky grin.

Austin started to laugh. "Oh, don't worry! I know it already! Just wanted to know if you know it too." You looked at him with shiny big eyes and an excited smile. Seth was shocked and a look of fear went in his eyes. But as fast as it came it was gone again. "Really? Who is it?" You leaned over the table to Woods. Although he just waved his hand and told you. "I won't tell anything. It is up to you to find it out. I don't want to play matchmaker in this story. But I can tell you I already have plans for you and 'Mr. Right' for UpUpDownDown." He winked at me. "Oh man.. come on! How am I supposed to find out?" - "Maybe someone else tells you, but not me. I don't want to lose a friend. I am not even supposed to know it. OR he tells you himself that's possible too." You narrowed your eyes at Xavier, but turned to Seth rather quick. Your brooding look changed into a sweet smile.

"Colbyyyyyy?" - "No." - "So, you know who it is too!" You stood up and walked around to sit beside him. You know how you get what you want from him. So you looked at him from below with big (E/C) eyes and let your knees touch. Usually this would work but besides a bit of red cheeks he retained cold and told you 'No'. Before you could open your mouth again Woods jumped up and said. "I leave you two alone, so you can talk about this. Also I need to film a video." He winked but it isn't for you. You narrowed your eyes a bit, but decided to leave it alone. He took his plate and was gone.

"Can't you at least give me a hint?" You pouted when your head landed on his shoulder. "Like how am I supposed to know..?" Seth sighed and laid his arm around your shoulders. He pulled you closer. So your head laid against his chest. A slight warmth spread in your stomach. "I don't know man. I guess it is not really easy for him to tell you what he thinks or feels or whatever." You responded with a small smile. "Unfortunately.. I mean what if I will never find out? Then I could never ask myself if I could feel something for this person." - "You think too much. I am sure you will find Mr. Right at some point." He patted your shoulder and went to stand up. You watched his every move and nodded when he informed you "I need to train." And then you were left alone again. In your thoughts.

*****

The first thing Colby did was find Austin or Bayley. Lucky for him, he found both talking to each other. Embarrassed and a bit angry did he walk over to them. "You two! How comes you know?!" He grumbled. Bayley just shrugged. "Don't quote State Champs in a love letter. Although you did a better job than I expected." Austin smirked. "I saw how you went to the women's locker room with the letter and came out without it. When she said she got a love letter I knew it." He patted Seth's shoulder. "Also, there are already bets about you two."

Meanwhile Colby's face turned red and he clenched his jaw.

"You can't tell anyone. Bad enough you two know it." - "We didn't even give her a hint. I have to say: She needs hints. You didn't give her anything to work with in the letter. You need to give her some hints." Bayley stated. "But what if she finds out?" Bayley and Xavier just started laughing at that comment. "Isn't that the whole point?" Woods asked.

*****

Tumblr says I should make this a mini series. If you want to be tagged tell me.

#seth rollins #seth rollins x reader #seth rollins x you #seth rollins imagine #dean ambrose #WWE #WWE Raw #wwe smackdown #wwe the shield #roman reigns #angst #fluff #upupdowndown #xavier woods #austin creed #the usos #jimmy uso #jey uso #natalya #eric young #eric young x reader #fanfiction #fanfic #fanfics #fanfictions #renee young #sasha banks #bayley #sanity #crossfit jesus

[02m1lk]

180816 Sina Interview

2nd of August, on the day of cai xukun’s birthday, he released his first EP, and held a press conference for his new songs.

The 3 songs released so far in this EP, are all cai xukun’s original self composed works. The 3 ‘children’ he cherishes. On the dawn that they were finally going to be ‘born’, cai xukun woke up early; anxiously, excitedly and repeatedly thought over on how to properly express, how to introduce them to everyone.

If we looked at it objectively, that is the event of a highly popular idol. Yet when on site; the interactive game segments, ‘cheesy pick-up lines’ confession segments, the things that we have gotten used to and naturally assume will happen at an ‘idol’ event were all missing. The entire event, cai xukun played an MV of his song, detailedly talked about the composing and making of each song, showed the DJ skills that he had been practicing… nothing that didn’t revolve around music.

We’ve interacted with cai xukun a few times on different occasions. Like other male celebrities his age, he couldn’t help but exhibit a little playfulness, revealing the everyday behaviour of youths. Whenever we interact with cai xukun, he always seemed calm, reserved, and his topics always rounded back to ‘stage’, ‘works’. He is ‘single-minded’ (towards music), but for the us that wants to know more details about celebrities’ lives, this is inevitably a little boring. The ‘reservations’ that he has, sometimes gets teased by fans as being too ‘official’.

“Do you wish people will know less about your private life? That you only hope to share with them the you that is on stage?” After going through half of the interview, and having our questions constantly get ‘pushed away’, we directly asked about our doubts.

“I probably only know how to talk about these things (stage, music). Not to say that I don’t share more… perhaps it’s not in my personality (to do so).”

He says, “Only on stage can I be my true self”, and his music takes up a huge part of his life. You can say, the music tasks we’ve categorised as arduous jobs have become ingrained in cai xukun. When talking about music, from his point of view - he’s talking about himself.

As everyone knows, cai xukun’s journey in <Idol Producer> was victorious, shooting to fame through the programme. But his star journey prior to this was not smooth, having gone through a few years of difficulties. Although everyone shot to fame the same way through audition programmes; whilst among these fresh youths that are still following the arranged tight schedules, working hard to adjust to their daily bustle and the feelings of being a little ‘lost’, cai xukun is very certain of: “I have my own plans everyday, I am very sure of what I want.

Since the official debut from <IPD>, there has been a lot of discussions and debates about cai xukun and nine percent. Having no music productions after months of debuting, it has lead to criticisms such as “Only showing visuals, wasting their popularity”, “A year of being an idol was just a dream”; including cai xukun and a few other members having set up their own work studio, or members absent from group events, triggered guesses among netizens about the group’s development. As the member with the highest popularity at the centre position, cai xukun’s every movement is magnified and observed, all sorts of rumours lingering.

When it comes to the matters of work, he responds with confidence. Individual music productions? He’s had that long ago, but because of his concept to compile them into an album, he calmly waited, and continued polishing his works. Nine percent is but an empty shell? “The group has already finished recording two songs, I’ll personally watch over the production of this album”….

But towards other trivial matters, we asked if he was sensitive to all the external voices. He only calmly answers: “I focus on myself.”

“Then have you adjusted to the pace of the entertainment industry?”

“I have my own pace, I’m adjusted to my own pace.” Cai xukun corrected us.

Part 1.

“Being yourself? How would you define yourself?”

“Every song (of mine) is how I express myself.”

On the last day of nine percent’s fan meeting, all nine members played with cosplay. They had on exaggerated make up, and while dressed in all sorts of strange clothing, all of them danced to <Mack Daddy> in their cosplayed classic characters. It was a way of ‘letting themselves go’ to bid goodbye at the end of a journey (t/n: referring to the fan meetings), and it was also to bring a surprise to the fans.

At that fan meeting, the character cai xukun chose to cosplay was “V”, the main character of the movie <V for Vendetta>. He wore a small moustache, and when performing, he had fun with the other boys. At the end of the fan meet, cai xukun expressed his thoughts as the leader of the group: “Today all of us put effort into cosplaying, but from today onwards, we will only cosplay ourselves.”

“Then, how would you define your ‘true self’?” This interview, we tossed him a question.

“My dad’s surname is Cai, and my mom’s surname is Xu!” He caught us off guard with an unexpected answer. Seeing our awkward response, he cleared his throat, and said in a serious manner: “Actually I don’t know how to define myself. But as a singer, your works definitely speaks for you. Firstly I have to have my own style of music, so whenever I work on a song, I will add my own style into it. Every song has to be my own original composition. I feel that this is also a way of expressing myself.”

Sigh, we had wanted to use this opportunity to talk about his personality in his everyday life, yet this boy, again rounded the topic back to music. Whenever we hold an interview with cai xukun, it always feels like, other than talking about music and stage experiences; about other things - he always seems to use the shortest, most ‘surface’ answers to seal your attempts at digging deeper. At first, we weren’t used to it, and thought he was closing himself up on purpose. But after a few interactions, instead we felt something else. Perhaps from cai xukun’s point of view, he genuinely sees the him that is on stage, in music, as his ‘complete self’. Music has assimilated into every crack in his life. That is why he says, “I probably only know how to talk about these things (stage, music). They are an indispensable part of my life.”

To cai xukun, he isn’t too affected by the external world, no longer following the crowd. The moment he was certain about becoming his ‘true self’, had started from the moment he’d found his own style on stage. “From then on, I knew what I should do, what kind of person I wanted to become.”

The ‘moment he found his own style’, has to be backtracked to a few years ago, when he participated in <Super Idol>.

He started liking singing at the age of ten, having continuously participated in competitions since he was little. But it wasn’t until the first season of <Super Idol> in 2015, did cai xukun first receive a systemised training, and truly had contact with the ‘real’ stage. His first appearance (on stage), cai xukun would be nervous too. But he says, ever since he was young his character has been one of “As long as I’m doing something I like, I will persevere and focus on doing it well.” To capture the feeling of being on stage and completely freeing himself - other than completing the programme’s everyday arranged classes, cai xukun also came up with a small ‘trick’ that he uses even till today. “I will re-watch the performances. I will watch it over and over, and see where my problem is. eg. If I spot a detail where a dance move wasn’t fully stretched out, I must practice repeatedly to correct it.” The moment that let him feel he could truly become one with the stage, happened between season one and two of <SI>. During that schedule-free gap, under the arrangement of the programme, he started a phase of ‘trainee life’ overseas.

Previously during our interview, cai xukun revealed: “Actually after having experienced the first season of the show, I became very sure of which direction I should work hard towards, and also set my mind on using that period of time to change myself for the better. I hoped to show a completely different me in the second season.” After having gone through those days of training, when the filming for the second season came and cai xukun once again stood on stage, he could not contain his excitement: “I really felt that I’d changed a lot, and found the state of being my true self on stage.” And that moment made him decide, the cai xukun that can shine on stage, is the ‘self’ that he wants to become.

But life isn't always smooth sailing. A period of time after <SI>, cai xukun’s journey to be a star was not bright. Even later, he had little opportunities to showcase himself on stage. After filming his first drama, cai xukun set a motto for himself: “Keeping one’s heart grounded in a world of temptations.”

“At that time I started writing music; but back then it wasn’t like now, where many people will take interest in your works, so you have to be really focused about doing music. At the time there were also many voices of disagreement, telling me that there’s no need to be doing music right now. Many voices told me to take part in more film (related: tv/movies etc) work. I received a lot of advices like that back then…”

But the cai xukun that was firm about ‘only on stage can I be my true self’ wasn’t willing to just give up like that, and that’s how he wrote down “keeping one’s heart grounded in a world of temptations” to motivate himself.

(t/n: his motto 花花世界 静守己心 if literally translated for a better/deeper understanding:

花花世界: a dazzling/vain world; where people enjoy themselves with the pleasures and joys of the world.

静守己心: silently/calmly guarding your own heart.)

It was in that period of time, that cai xukun took his first step into composing, and wrote <I Wanna Get Love>. Looking back now, he is fortunate that the him back then hadn’t been ‘shaken’: “I’m very thankful for the choice I made, because it was after taking that first step and finding my own style in music, that I will have more things that will belong to myself in the days to come, this is something very important.”

Cai xukun is someone who, after being certain of ‘oneself’, will be firm on it. In April this year after <IPD> ended, cai xukun being the leader of the boys at the peak of their popularity, made a post on weibo, once again bringing up his motto. “I brought it up again, to warn myself, that I have to guard the initial passion that I had, to keep myself grounded in this world of temptations. I must have a calm, quiet state of mind, and do my job well.”

We have our doubts; when things are silent around him, ‘keeping your heart grounded’ is only natural to motivate, and strengthen your resolutions. But the cai xukun that has now shot to fame and is in a place full of temptations (for even higher fame/wealth), can he really keep his heart grounded?

“I feel that this album (《1》) should’ve proven myself.” cai xukun answered promptly, revealing a proud smile.

Part 2.

“Do you think you are someone who is able to be calm*?”

“I think I am someone who is sure of what I want.”

(*t/n: In this context it refers to a person who is able stay calm and collected when facing difficulties or hardships.)

Previously, we’ve interviewed many celebrities that had shot to fame. It was their first time learning the taste of fame. While embracing the phase of ‘victory’, at the same time many of them also felt lost, not knowing what they should do next. The sudden busy workload that piled didn’t give them time to think too much. For a long period of time they only digest their schedule, often not knowing where they are, what they are here to do.

No doubt that cai xukun too has many schedules, but he admits: “Every morning after I wake up, I’ll think clearly over the things I have to do today, the tasks I need to complete. I’ll set short-term goals for myself; eg. If I have to prepare for a performance within this 20 days, when should the whole music production process end? This type of goals are a must, then I’ll work hard step by step everyday.”

Something that left an impression, was a question raised by a media outlet at nine percent’s  beijing fan meeting group interview: “Now that you are all busy with schedules, do you still have time to practice?” At the time, nine percent was in their initial phase of being popular. The group had business events one after another, never-ending endorsements, weekly fan meetings, yet the rumoured ‘already recorded good music’ was nowhere to be seen. The doubts that the public had towards this new idol group were loud; debates over if the group had become one of prioritising gains (fame/wealth over music), sporting a lazy attitude, only drifting along day after day.

Right then cai xukun calmly answered: “On flights too we have our headphones on, and think over our choreography.” During the period of fan meeting tours, cai xukun will make use of the time between flights and travelling to work on composing. Like he says: “No matter how much work there is, I have my own plans, my own pace.”

The group were doubted for being too busy ‘making money’ to produce new works, and in this interview cai xukun reveals: “Actually I’d finished writing <It’s You> a month after debuting. I knew there were objections about me continuously having no works, but the reason that I hadn’t released them then was because I’d hoped to put them all at once into a more all-rounded, inclusive album. Because if today I release an individual song <Pull Up>, or only release <You Can Be My Girlfriend>, or <It’s You>, people will think, cai xukun only knows how to sing this type of song. But I hope my style is not confined, so when I released these 3 songs together I had this considered over. Also as these 3 songs have different styles, there will be different types of people liking them.”

Towards the doubts the public have about nine percent being an empty shell, including after cai xukun and a few members set up their personal work studio, there were voices criticising them for leaning towards ‘fighting individually’, guessing that the group will not release music productions anytime soon. In this interview cai xukun states: “Actually we’re also working on the group album. Including the choreographing process, I will also do my best to help each of our members, personally watch over the production of this album, and guarantee the quality of the whole album. The stage we will present at the end will definitely not let everyone down.”

“Do you think you are someone who is able to be calm?”

“I think I am someone who is sure of what I want.”

“Are you someone who will be sensitive towards the doubts from the public?”

“I think I am more focused.”

“Focused on your own matters?”

“Focused on my career.” Cai xukun corrects us.

Part 3.

“Have you adjusted to the pace of the entertainment industry?”

“I’m adjusted to my own pace.”

At nine percent’s last fan meeting, cai xukun cosplayed as “V”, the main character of the movie <V for Vendetta>. The reason for cosplaying as “V”, cai xukun explains: “In my heart he is someone with a lot of thoughts, and chases after perfection. I like this trait of his.”

“About doing music, cai xukun admits he is slightly more serious (t/n: To put it more crudely but for better understanding, the correct word is: anal. He’s anal about every detail of his music). Prior to the press conference of his new album, he had already revealed that when recording for his new songs, every breath, tone and expression in each sentence will be repeatedly made sure of, and in this interview he also reveals: “Usually when recording I’ll record two versions, each with different emotions, then select one to go with at the end.”

To allow the overall presentation of the production to achieve the standard of ‘perfection’ in his heart, cai xukun personally stepped in, and participated in the making of the MV: “<Pull Up> had an original version at the start, but it didn’t turn out the way I’d expected it to. Then I directly flew over, I said I wanted to edit it myself. I stayed up overnight at the last minute, including adding in the idea of an Intro at the start. In the original version, the music started right away. But I felt I had to give everyone a guide, like adding in a scene similar to that of a CCTV monitor, I feel that this will better attract people’s curiosity towards the song. The entire MV including the filming and editing, were my own ideas.”

The entertainment industry is that of a ‘fast-food’ scene. To newly debuted entertainers, they have to continuously appear (on screen) in a fast-paced manner to maintain their existence. Yet cai xukun is someone who perseveres with taking his time to work on his productions. About facing this complicated entertainment circle, we asked him: “Have you adjusted to the pace of the entertainment industry?”

“I have my own pace, I’m adjusted to my own pace. I have my own music that I make, things I do myself, including the pace of my job.” Cai xukun calmly answers.

Sina: It’s been four months since the competition has ended. How is your condition of life?

CXK: Actually my sleeping patterns are still as messy, but my initial heart (original intentions) is still there. My mentality hasn’t changed much.

Sina: Is everyday a really busy day?

CXK: Basically. I actually quite enjoy this fulfilling process.

Sina: Do you feel that you are being ‘pushed along’ by your daily schedules, or are you clear of the things you do everyday, and do them as planned?

CXK: There will definitely be busy times, but I still think you have to focus on the things you feel you have to do first. Also I am the type that will set goals for myself; eg. If I have to prepare for a performance within this 20 days, when should the whole music production process end? This type of goals are a must, then I’ll work hard step by step everyday.

Sina: On the last day of nine percent’s fan meeting, all of you wore the IPD uniforms. How did you feel wearing the same clothes you did during the competition, did you feel any changes in yourself?

CXK: Actually I was a little touched, like when dancing I actually had goosebumps. As I’m actually very thankful for this experience, it was a constant learning process. When you put on that uniform again, you will feel that you seem to be a little different, but actually, you’re still the same.”

Sina: Do you feel proud of yourself? When you first wore (the uniform) you were a ‘newbie’ unsure of your future, and now you’re a first place watched upon by many.

CXK: I think more of it is thankfulness and (feelings of) cherish.

Sina: During the cosplay, you played the character “V”, why did you choose this image?

CXK: Actually the feelings this character delivers, is that he is a person with a lot of thoughts, and is someone that chases after perfection. I like him also because I think he is someone I need to learn from.

Sina: So far which quality of yours do you admire yourself for?

CXK: Myself? I think an area that I do better at is (being able to) focus.

Sina: As an idol, do you wish people will know less about your private life? And only hope to share with them the you that is on stage?

CXK: Private life? I think after understanding my stage (performance), you should (be able to) understand the kind of person I am.

Sina: Just that you won’t share too much about your private life.

CXK: Not to say that I don’t share more, perhaps it’s not in my personality (to do so).

Sina: Other than your identities as a singer and the leader of nine percent, when else do you think you feel the most free, and childlike?

CXK: The most childlike, when I return home.

Sina: You’ll act cute?

CXK: No.

Sina: Then what kind of a state is it?

CXK: Just that when in front of my parents, in their eyes I am definitely always a child.

Sina: After your 3 songs were released online, did you read the comments about it?

CXK: I’ll read them carefully. Firstly I am very moved that my fans, they really put their heart into understanding my lyrics, the melody I wrote, including my fully self-composed song <It’s You>, they’ll really be curious about my song-writing experience… I feel that their accompaniment like this have given me a lot of support and motivation. Secondly, I also saw a lot of (comments from) ‘passer-bys’, they do think that my songs are nice, the response from the general public towards my music is of recognition. I feel that this, towards a person that makes original music is the biggest form of affirmation. As these works are just like my children, they are a part of my life, when my works receive recognition, I feel that there isn’t a moment where I’m even happier.

(t/n: Passer-bys: neutral netizens, that are not his fans/antis, just regular people who may not even know much about him. A common internet slang.)

Sina: Other than the fans, there are a lot of ‘passer-bys’ that will think all of you debuted from an audition programme on a surface level, and define you as ‘fresh meat’ idols.

CXK: I feel that you have to accept all sorts of voices, accept all the definitions, but I don’t have a defined image.

Sina: The general public look at ‘idols’ with filtered glasses. As you didn’t release music works before this, many people don’t look well upon you and nine percent. Under a situation like this do you feel anxious?

CXK: Actually I’d finished writing <It’s You> a month after debuting, although many people may have said, why does he not put out his works? But the reason that I hadn’t, was that I’d hoped to present the album in a more well-rounded, inclusive way.

Sina: Previously you mentioned that the EP will continue to expand with new works, when will those be released?

CXK: Around the end of month, it’d be released then.

Sina: Having set up your personal work studio, how would you balance your identity as nine percent’s leader?

CXK: Actually we’re also working on the group album. Including the choreographing process, I will also do my best to help each of our members, personally watch over the production of this album, and guarantee the quality of the whole album. The stage we will present at the end will definitely not let everyone down.

Sina: When will the group album be released?

CXK: It hasn’t been decided yet. But we’re all really working hard to prepare, and have already recorded two songs.

Sina: Any recent plans on your individual career?

CXK: I will continue to put out new works, and at the same time let everyone see my them in the form of stages (performances). And of course I’ll also try out variety shows. I’ll keep learning on many different aspects, and continue to improve my abilities.

Sina: About variety shows, which type do you think you are better at?

CXK: I’m better at the kinds involving food (laughs)!

Sina: Are you satisfied with your 20 year old self?

CXK: Firstly I feel that I’ve produced my own music works, it also holds the meaning of that I am able to continue to bring to everyone more of the music that belongs to me, this is my biggest gift for my 20 year old self.

Credits;

Text: Ran Photography: Wang Bo, Liu Jia Qi Article: https://bit.ly/2Mm4dis

Full Translations: @02m1lk Do NOT repost, please take out WITH credits.

#cai xukun #xukun #caixukun #180816 #interview #02m1lk #nine percent #ninepercent

[danfanciesphil]

Phan Teacher AU (Part 3)

(Part One)

(Part Two)

It’s Friday evening, finally, and Dan is in his kitchen making pasta, reflecting on the ups and downs of his first week in his new job. He stirs the penne in the saucepan, staring down into the bubbles.

The pasta does not, unsurprisingly, provide him with any insightful comments. 

Being a TA is not as bad as he thought it would be, he eventually concludes, considering everything that’s happened to him at the school so far. The children don’t tease him like he feared they would; mostly they barely even register his existence. The faculty, whilst occasionally irritating or dull, are just normal people for the most part. It’s obvious that none of them are living their dreams, but aside from making them a little snarky, that doesn’t seem to matter to them. 

None of this applies to Phil, of course. 

Dan stops stirring pasta, the tips of his fingers tingling as a wave of admiration sweeps through his body. Phil Lester is an unexpected, but very welcome, perk of this job. 

Dan had never even considered the idea that he might develop a crush when he accepted this position. Teaching has never appealed to him, so he has never found teachers attractive in the past. But, as he mentioned to Phil on his first day, Phil is not like any other teacher that Dan has ever met. 

He switches the hob off, and finds a colander in one of the cupboards. It’s not his, obviously. Dan would never be organised enough to buy a household item as obscure as a colander, but his housemates won’t mind. Probably. 

He drains his pasta, and scoops it into a bowl, then mixes it with some pesto. He adds some chopped cherry tomatoes and a sprinkle of cheese, then takes the bowl through to his bedroom. 

He’s glad he has the house to himself tonight. His roommates are out on a date together, being an excruciatingly cute couple, as always. 

He blames the exhaustion of first week in a full time job when he climbs onto his bed to eat, opening up his laptop. Facebook is open where he left it this morning, and out of nowhere, Dan gets an idea. 

He pauses mid-chew, wondering if it would be crossing a line. 

Then, before he can think his way out of it, he clicks the search bar and types ‘Phil Lester’. 

A hundred Phil’s pop up at once. Dan scrolls through them, peering at the tiny display pictures, searching for dazzling blue eyes and a mop of jet black hair. 

He’s about to give up, but then he sees it. As soon as he notices Phil’s photo, he wonders how he could have missed it amongst the sea of other Phil Lester imposters. 

He clicks the image, heart speeding up a little. Phil’s profile fills the screen, and Dan’s eyes widen, skimming over the scant information like he’s trying to soak it all up at once. 

Phil Lester  [Image]

Intro:

💼 History Teacher at Rawtenstall Secondary School 🎓 Studied History and Philosophy at University of York 🎓 Studied French History at Université Paris-Sorbonne  🏠 Lives in Rossendale, Lancashire, United Kingdom 🏠 Lived in Paris, France 🏠 Lived in York, UK 🏠 Lived in Manchester, UK 📍 From Rossendale  ❤️ Single

His eyes are drawn to the ‘relationship status’ part of his bio before he can stop them. Embarrassingly, he smiles into his pasta, as though it changed anything at all. 

His photo is the most distracting part of the whole page. Dan stares at it as he chews, taking advantage of the opportunity to study Phil’s immaculate face. There’s something different about the photo-Phil, Dan thinks, trying to work it out. Belatedly, he realises that he’s never seen Phil dressed in anything other than a shirt.

The Phil in this picture is wearing a t-shirt in vibrant blue, covered in rows of white stars. There’s a red hemline around the neck and short sleeves too. It looks a bit like he’s low-key cosplaying as Captain America on his off-day, but somehow it suits him. 

The picture-Phil is staring into the camera with that familiar intensity Dan recognises from the times he meets Phil’s gaze in real life. He’s smiling slightly, but it’s nothing compared to the way his beaming fills the classroom. 

He clicks the photo, unable to resist seeing Phil’s face larger on his screen. He really is rather unnervingly attractive, Dan thinks, staring unashamedly at the pixels doing their best to replicate the swirling galaxies of Phil’s blue eyes. 

He shovels more pasta into his mouth, sighing to himself. Just then, his phone buzzes. Reluctantly, Dan drags his eyes away from the screen, fishing it out of his pocket. 

18:54 Unknown Number Hey Dan! This is Phil (Mr Lester)

Dan chokes on a tomato. 

He reaches over to put his bowl of pasta on the bedside table, coughing, and turns back to his phone. Phil’s face continues staring out of his screen, those all-knowing, laser-eyes burrowing into his skull. Dan flushes, feeling caught out, and slams the lid of his laptop closed. 

His phone buzzes again. 

18:55 Unknown Number (the dorky guy who makes you  wear capes and help children to  build precarious structures out  of tables and chairs)

Despite feeling as flustered by this unexpected text as a yanderé schoolgirl encountering her senpai, Dan snorts at the joke. 

Fingers trembling a little, Dan adds Phil’s name to his contacts, and spends around three minutes typing and retyping a response.

18:58 Dan Howell did i forget giving you my number in a cringey attempt at gaining friends in my new job or something 😅

18:58 Phil Lester 🌠 hah! no i actually got it from the  school office 😳 

Dan frowns in confusion. 

18:59 Dan Howell Is that even allowed?

19:00 Phil Lester 🌠 Not sure. But I’m very charming, so it wasn’t an issue 😉

19:01 Phil Lester 🌠 I told them I wanted to ask you something important, related to class

Dan’s heart immediately sinks. That makes sense, he supposes, reaching for his pasta again. Phil’s just messaging him to discuss something work-related. Nothing to get excited about, after all. 

He types out a quick response, then places his phone aside, filling the disappointment-void opening inside of him with mouthfuls of pasta. 

19:02 Dan Howell Oh cool. Do you need me to do something for Monday’s class?

19:03 Phil Lester 🌠 I just need to ask you somethng in preparation

19:03 Dan Howell Ask away Mr Lester

19:04 Phil Lester 🌠 Do you think the Year Nine’s will laugh at me if I wear this in class (Attached: 1 image)

Dan stares at the message, uncomprehending. He scrolls down, laughing in surprise as he sees the photo Phil has included. 

It’s a picture of him, close up, with his chin raised, exposing his neck. Around his shirt collar is a bowtie, white with black polka dots. 

19:06 Dan Howell Without a shadow of a doubt, yes, they will laugh at you. Sorry bud. 

19:07 Phil Lester 🌠 Perfect! Thanks. 

Dan waits expectantly, glancing at his phone every few seconds as he finishes up his pasta. After he’s scraped the bowl clean, he picks the phone up again, wondering vaguely if he’s hallucinating this entire conversation. 

19:13 Dan Howell Is that it???

19:14 Phil Lester 🌠 Your TA duties are complete. Pls feel free to go forth and enjoy your weekend, Mr Howell

Dan blinks at the text, very confused. He’s about to shove the phone in his pocket, when another text comes through.

19:15 Phil Lester 🌠 And enjoy a cool photo of ur new favourite teacher, now saved to your camera roll free of charge

19:16 Dan Howell How do u know I won’t delete it

19:17 Phil Lester 🌠 Uh, you’d better not. I don’t hand these selfies out to just anyone Daniel

A little thrill shimmers through Dan’s veins at the sight of Phil using his full name. 

19:18 Dan Howell dw I’ve got it as my wallpaper already. I might even print it out, frame it for my wall

19:20 Phil Lester 🌠 Beats stalking through my Facebook albums I bet 😉

Dan’s heart actually stops for a moment, he’s sure. No, he thinks, feeling cold sweat pearling on his brow. There’s no way Phil could know something like that, surely.

He decides to try laughing it off, still terrified. 

19:21 Dan Howell Pfft as if m8

19:22 Phil Lester 🌠 tbf if you had stalked me I’d be super miffed you didn’t friend request me

Dan’s muscles melt of tension, the relief flooding out of his pores. Phil had just been stabbing in the dark with a weirdly accurate aim. 

19:23 Dan Howell aw u wanna be my fb friend? Cute.

Dan opens his laptop again, clicking determinedly off Phil’s profile, feeling his cheeks heat like he’s being watched. He’s just about to click off of Facebook altogether, when he gets a notification. 

Phil Lester has sent you a friend request!

Dan blinks at the message, gawping. 

His phone buzzes. 

19:26 Phil Lester 🌠 yes please

*

Dan spends the weekend wishing for it to end, which is an entirely new experience for him. 

His housemates invite him out for drinks on Saturday night at their local pub. Dan doesn’t bother attempting to refuse; Teddy and Tyler are not the sort of people who can be successfully argued with. 

They fail to mention, however, that they have invited a bunch of other people to join them for drinks, including Stephanie, Dan’s ex-girlfriend. As a result, the evening turns into Dan downing more pints than he is able to handle in order to deal with the glares from the girl he dumped a few months ago. 

At the end of the night, Tyler and Teddy have Dan’s arms over their shoulders, and are merrily singing The Phantom of the Opera as they drag him home. They take off Dan’s shoes and trousers for him and lay him in bed, laughing away at Dan being a lightweight, and then promptly climb in either side of him. 

Dan groans, feeling nauseous and irritable. He loves his housemates in many ways, but they are really annoying. 

“Unngh, get out,” he says, half into his pillow. Instead of obeying, Tyler and Teddy wrap Dan in their arms, squeezing him tightly. 

“Aw, Dan’s a grump because he had to face Scary Stephanie,” Tyler teases. 

“She was more terrifying than usual tonight,” Teddy muses. “Have you spoken to her since... y’know?”

Dan doesn’t reply; he’s too focused on trying to pretend he is currently alone in this bed. He has his eyes squeezed shut in an attempt to block out all evidence to the contrary. 

“Since he callously ripped out poor Stephy’s heart?” Tyler supplies, giggling. “I’d say he’s prrrobably been avoiding her since then, right Danny?” 

In the hopes it might get him some peace and quiet, Dan nods. 

“I still don’t get it,” Teddy says with a shrug that jostles the bed. “She’s pretty, and she isn’t a complete bore. Why chuck her?”

“Ted, you know why,” Tyler says, his voice mocking. “Dan’s a big fat gay now.”

Dan groans in frustration, elbowing Tyler in the side. “‘M not!” 

“Okay, that is bi-erasure, Ty.” Teddy admonishes, though there’s a smile in his voice. 

“Bi, gay, whatever.” Tyler says. “The point is, Dan’s ready to embrace his twink side at long last.”

Dan sighs, rolling his eyes despite them being shut. “Hate you both.”

“Um, no...” Tyler corrects, sounding affronted. “You love us to bits. Especially ‘cause we’re gonna take you to the hottest gay clubs in town and find you a big, beefy bear to help you transition to the dark side.” 

Tyler tickles Dan in the side, making him shriek. Teddy joins in then, laughing uproariously at Dan’s reaction. 

“No, stop, I’ll throw up on you both!” Dan cries, feebly attempting to fight back. 

“Say you love us, Dan!” Tyler cries over Dan’s agonised laughter. “Say it!”

“I’ll say it if you fuck off!” 

“Deal!” Teddy shouts. 

Despite this, in the morning, as predicted, Dan wakes up with his two terrible excuses for housemates still snoring in his bed. 

*

As soon as Dan’s alarm sounds on Monday morning, Dan hops out of bed, eager for the day to begin. 

He showers and brushes his teeth in lightning time, then spends twenty minutes sorting out his hair and changing his outfit. He tries not to think about why he’s so obsessed with his appearance today. 

After his fifth change of shirt, Dan checks the time and realises he’s about to miss his bus. Swearing loudly, he bolts out of the door, just about managing to grab his bag and coat on the way. Tyler snorts with laughter at him as he goes, blowing a kiss, and Dan just legs it to the bus stop. 

He makes it, just, but only because the bus is a minute late. Luck must be on his side today, he thinks as he struggles to get his breath back on the jolting bus, sweaty and already exhausted, his stomach rumbling. 

Forty minutes later, he’s wading through the swarms of schoolkids up the front steps, heart beginning to pound as he thinks about what lies ahead. 

He doesn’t need to check his timetable to know which class he has first today.

He gets to Classroom Nine ten minutes early, unable to dissuade himself from seizing the opportunity to spend a little bit extra time talking to Phil. 

This plan backfires a little when he opens the classroom door to find it empty and dark. 

He debates what to do, dithering on the spot, and then decides to just come back in a little while. He turns to leave, and bumps straight into Phil’s chest, spilling the mugs of coffee he’s holding in either hand. 

“Ow!” Phil shrieks, and Dan plunges feet-first into the hole opening beneath him in the earth. 

“Shit, shit, sorry!” Dan cries, taking the mugs from Phil’s hands as he flaps his hands in distress. 

“Ah!” Phil hisses, shaking his sleeves as they drip with hot coffee. “No, it’s cool don’t worry- crap, that was hot.” 

“I’ll get some napkins or something- ” Dan says, at a loss for what else to do. 

Phil chuckles, shaking his head. “It’s fine, Dan, I’ll live.” He straightens up, smiling at Dan in reassurance. “So, I brought you a coffee!” 

Dan stares at him in dismay. “I am so sorry.” 

Phil laughs. “I know. It’s fine. I just hope there’s some left in the mug.” 

Dan turns his attention to the cups in his hands. “Yeah, there is. Um, thank you.”

“No problem.” Phil says with a smile, then takes one of the mugs from him. 

He steps carefully around Dan and through the open door of the classroom, sipping as he goes. 

Dan takes a moment to internally scream at himself for being such a prat, and then follows him inside. Phil flicks on the lights, then goes to put his coffee down on his desk. 

“So, you’re keen.” Phil says to Dan, grinning as he rolls up his coffee-soaked sleeves. 

Dan notices for the first time that Phil is wearing that stupid black and white spotty bow tie he’d sent Dan a photo of on Friday. 

Distracted by the sight of it, Dan takes a moment to process what Phil said. His eyes widen. “Um, sorry?”

“You’re here early.” Phil points out, one eyebrow raised. “Not often that you see TA’s getting to class before the first bell.”

“Oh!” Dan says, relieved. “Yeah, well... I just thought...” He scrambles for a reason that might not sound weird, coming up blank.

Phil chuckles. “It’s okay! I’m glad. Setting up for first period alone is always boring.”

“I’ll do my best to entertain you.” 

Phil giggles, then goes to one of the cupboards at the back of the room. He pulls out some unreasonably large rolls of craft paper, along with several bundles of bamboo sticks. 

Dan sets his mug down immediately, going to help him haul everything out. 

“Oh, thanks,” Phil says, surprised, as Dan takes some of the things from him. “Just put them on one of the tables.”

“What are we doing with these, then?” 

Phil laughs, glancing at him. “Wait and see.”

Dan rolls his eyes, smirking. “Such an enigma.”

“It’s all part of the experience.” Phil says. “I’ve got to be mysterious and keep the kids questioning everything. Their curiosity makes them more receptive, I find.”

Dan nods thoughtfully, considering this philosophy. “But I’m not a student.”

“True.” Phil allows. He places the rolls of craft paper down on a table, turning towards him. “Maybe I'm just trying to impress you.” 

Dan laughs awkwardly, not knowing what to say. He fiddles with the sticks of bamboo, swallowing. 

“How was your weekend?” He asks, deciding a subject change is probably for the best. 

“Good!” Phil says brightly. “It was my brother’s birthday. I baked him a hummingbird cake.” 

“A hummingbird cake?” 

Phil chuckles. “Yeah! It’s pineapple and banana flavour with cream cheese frosting. Also I made it into the shape of a hummingbird, because why not?”

“Right.” Dan says, at a loss for what to say. “Why not?” 

“Wanna see?” 

Dan smiles, nodding, and Phil walks over to him, digging his phone out of his pocket. Dan stares at the device in Phil’s hands as he scrolls through his photos. 

This is the object he’d used to message Dan on Friday. Dan’s number is now saved into it. He is, in some small way, more intimately connected to Phil through this rectangular slice of technology. 

“Sorry, I took lots of photos of my brother.” Phil says, laughing, swiping through several pictures of a grumpy looking man in a glittery party hat. “He hates having his picture taken. Oh, here it is.” 

Phil moves closer, his shoulder pressing into Dan’s. He’s deliciously warm compared to the chilly, early morning air in this room, and he smells strongly of the coffee Dan covered him in a few minutes ago. 

He tilts the phone for Dan to see. The cake is astonishing to behold. It’s been moulded into a 3D hummingbird, complete with a chocolate pocky stick for a beak, and covered entirely in a pastel rainbow of frosting. 

“Okay, wow,” Dan says, not bothering to hide how impressed he is. “I was expecting a half-hearted attempt to shape a flat cake into the Twitter symbol... but that’s incredible.”

Phil giggles, looking bashful. “Thanks! It was tasty too, which is a bonus.”

“What do I have to do to get you to bake for me?” 

Phil turns his head to face Dan, still just a little too close. “Hm, I can think of some things.”

Dan can feel it as Phil leans a little more into him, his shoulder pressing slightly harder. He holds his breath, feeling like a rabbit caught in the path of a devious fox. 

And then the bell rings, of course. 

Phil leans away again, still smiling, just as the first students begin to bowl through the door. Jonah happens to be one of them, and he lets out a low whistle as he walks through strolls into the room.

“Oi, sir, you givin’ Mr Howell your number?” 

Phil laughs, pocketing the phone in his hand and moving swiftly away. “Nice to see you too, Jonah. How was your weekend?”

Dan tries to hide his furious blush by going to retrieve his coffee from the desk where he left it. 

The rest of the students file in, and Phil welcomes them all in his usual chipper way. For the first fifteen minutes, Phil does a brief recap of the last lesson about the Algerian War, then introduces the topic they’ll be looking at today, following on from it. 

Today they’re going to start studying the failed revolution of May 1968 in France. 

To emulate the frustration of the liberals taking part in the revolution, they’re going to make pickets and signs with anti-capitalist slogans out of craft paper and bamboo. 

Phil gives them an entertaining rundown of all the issues the left-wing majority of French society had in 1968, and then he tells everyone to get into this mindset, and begin crafting. 

It’s a bit of a madhouse from that point on. The students, despite being in Year Nine, seem to love being let loose with the art supplies. They’re excessive with their use of paint and glitter, creating huge, garish signs with aggressive messages. 

A few of Dan’s favourites read: 

‘We stand, we march, we dab’

‘Marx’s favourite bitchez’

‘Communism ftw’

‘Destroy France’s capitalist infrastructure u cowards’

Phil is loving the enthusiasm so much that he even lets a few curse words slide, though he does insist that Jonah change his sign to ‘We are unTRUCKable’, for the sake of his reputation as a teacher. 

Once the signs are more or less completed, Phil claps his hands to get everyone’s attention. “Right! Ready to get out there and protest?” 

The class look confused, a hush falling over them as they look at one another blankly. 

“Protest what, sir?” Jonah asks.

Phil tuts. “Haven’t you been paying attention? If we don’t protest, then nothing will change! Workers and students will forever be bottom of the ladder! We have to push the change! We must make Marx proud!” 

Dan stares at Phil like he’s gone insane, as do most of the students. 

“But...” A shy, timid girl Dan thinks is called Anita, pipes up. “This is all in the past, right? They already protested this in France in 1968.” 

Phil beams at her, winking. “True. But tell me, gang, has the fall of capitalism come to pass?”

The students shake their heads, looking unsure. 

“Exactly, Anita!” Phil cries. “So, did the effort these French liberals put in have any effect?”

“No,” Anita answers, her eyes round as she gazes at Phil. “They failed.”

“So we should continue what they started.” Phil says, picking up a nearby bamboo stick and raising it high. “Who’s with me? For the revolutionaries of ‘68!”

The class cheer suddenly, finally catching the glint in Phil’s eye. They grab their pickets, and follow Phil as he strides to the door of the classroom. Not knowing how else to respond, Dan hurries after them, a little panicked as the crowd of fourteen-year-olds pour out into the hall. 

If only his deadly strict advisor from teacher-training could see him now. The Health and Safety of most of Phil’s activities would absolutely not pass regulations. 

“What do we want?” Phil cries, oblivious to his own rule-breaking as he marches the gaggle of teenagers down the corridor. 

“Revolution!” Jonah shouts, laughing. 

“When do we want it?” 

“Uh, 1968?” Someone calls out, and Phil chuckles.

“Ideally, yeah, but forty-nine years later works too.” 

Marvelling at the boldness of this man, as usual, Dan jogs to the front of the pack of students, marching along beside Phil. 

The rest of the class begin a chant of their own, their signs waving above them in the air as they walk determinedly through the school. 

Several classroom doors open, and students and teachers alike poke their heads out into the corridor, laughing and pointing as they pass by. 

“You’re nuts,” Dan says to Phil, feeling breathless with the adrenaline of this mad activity. “Won’t the other teachers hate you for this? You’re probably disrupting a few classes.”

Phil laughs, shrugging. “Maybe.”

He grins at Dan as he veers unexpectedly to a nearby door leading to the playground. He holds it open for the students as they march through; several of them high five he and Dan as they go. 

Dan smirks at Phil. “I think you might be some other people’s favourite teacher too.” 

*

Dan tries not to be too gloomy as he helps gather up all the students’ pickets at the end of class. There are now just under three and a half days separating him from his next chance to assist Phil in the classroom. 

Sure, he might be able to snag some of Phil’s attention during lunch and break times between now and Thursday, but it’s not the same as having a full hour with him. 

“Guys, before you leave!” Phil shouts as the students pack away their things. “I thought that, as we’re studying the ‘68 revolution, it’d be cool for you to see a French film from around that time! Cinema is really important in French history, as a lot of the prominent left-wing figures were filmmakers, and they produced some really cool stuff about this period.” 

Dan looks up in interest, wondering where Phil is going with this. 

“So basically, as there isn’t enough time to show a whole film during class, I thought it’d be fun to have a little film night this week!” Phil tells everyone, beaming. The class squeal in excitement. “I thought Wednesday evening would work. I’ll bring a film in, and if you’re free that evening, stay behind after school and we can all watch it together!” 

The class all begin chattering at once, the excitement evident in their voices, even if it’s difficult to distinguish exactly what they’re saying. 

“Sounds like you’re all keen!” Phil laughs. “So if you can make it, I’ll start the film at about four on Wednesday.” 

“Have you invited Mr Howell, sir?” Jonah calls out, turning to wink at Dan. 

Dan glares at him, trying to suppress his own urge to blush. 

Phil chuckles, turning to Dan. “Is Mr Howell interested in coming along?”

Dan reaches up to rub the back of his neck, feeling awkward. At least twenty-six pairs of eyes glue themselves to him, eagerly awaiting his response. 

“Um... sure.” Dan says at last, shrugging like it isn’t the most exciting thing he’s been invited to in months. “I’ll try and make it.” 

The class laugh, and Jonah chucks a ball of leftover craft paper at him. “Oh, got something better to do, sir?” 

Dan chuckles, rolling his eyes. “Fine, fine. I’ll be there.”

“Awesome.” Phil says; Dan catches his eye, and has to keep himself from grinning. 

*

“Hey, we’re going to the pub tomorrow.” Tyler tells Dan on Tuesday, falling face first onto Dan’s bed. 

“I’m never going to the pub with you and Teddy again after last time.” Dan tells him, kicking Tyler with his foot in a vague attempt to push him off the bed. 

He’s been scrolling through Tumblr for an hour or so now, but just because he’s been holed up in his room since he got in from work, does not mean that Tyler gets to just wander in and annoy him. 

“Aw, come on, that’s mean.” Tyler says, pouting at Dan. “Stephanie won’t even be there this time, I swear.” 

Dan swallows, shaking his head as he turns back to his screen. “Nope, sorry.”

“Dan, you know we’re not gonna let you mope about the house while we go out.” Tyler says, raising an eyebrow at him. 

“Well, you don’t need to worry.” Dan says, feeling awkward. “I won’t be here.”

Tyler is quiet for a moment, then perks up, catlike, catching the scent of some gossip. “Oh?”

Dan just presses his lips together, saying nothing. He reblogs a photo of a cute panda, trying to stay calm. 

“Teddy!” Tyler yells, making Dan jump. “Dan’s keeping secrets!”

Dan looks up at him with scorn. “Tyler, don’t be-”

Teddy bursts into the room, wearing an apron with a naked man’s torso on the front, a spatula in one hand. 

“Secrets?” Teddy asks, wide eyes darting between Tyler and Dan. “What secrets?”

“Dan has secret plans tomorrow night.” Tyler informs him, grinning. 

“Plans?” Teddy repeats, acting shocked. “But Ty, Dan doesn’t have any friends apart from us!”

“Wrong.” Dan says gruffly. “You two are not my friends, I hate you both.”

“Is it a date?” Tyler asks, sucking in a gasp. 

Teddy leaps onto the bed beside Tyler, squealing. “Oh my God, is it a date, Dan?!” 

Dan rolls his eyes. “For Christ’s sake, no. It’s not a date.” 

He could never, in a million years, be that lucky. 

Just then, his phone pings. Ignoring the probing eyes of his two housemates, Dan plucks the thing out of his pocket to look. 

18:34 Phil Lester 🌠 excited for some french cinema tomorrow night? je suis trés  joyeux que tu viennes! :)

Dan’s heart flutters, registering who the text is from, and then his phone is being plucked out of his hand. 

“No!” Dan cries, lunging for Tyler. “Wait, don’t-”

“Okay, who is Phil?” Tyler asks, holding the phone out of Dan’s reach; Teddy grabs hold of Dan by the waist, restraining him. 

“Ooh, Phil!” Teddy repeats, giggling. “I knew you were looking for a man.”

“I honestly loathe you both.” Dan grits out, struggling uselessly against Teddy’s grip. 

“French cinema?” Tyler asks, tilting his head to one side. “Is that code for something?” 

“Give me back the phone, Tyler.” Dan says, going limp in Teddy’s arms, defeated. 

“We’re just taking an interest in your personal life, Dan,” Teddy says soothingly, patting Dan on the head. 

“Phil’s just... he’s a guy I work with.” Dan says, feeling the redness spread over his cheeks and neck, betraying him. 

“Hmm,” Tyler says, throwing Dan’s phone aside at last. “A guy who is ‘very happy you’re coming’ tomorrow.” Dan blushes harder, not having worked out what the French bit had meant just yet. “Is ‘Phil’... how do you say, un beefcake?”

“Is he a teacher?” Teddy asks excitedly, releasing Dan in order to cover his own mouth with both hands. 

“He’s a teacher, yes.” Dan confirms, snatching up his phone and pocketing it. 

“God, that’s hot.” Tyler sighs, looking wistful. “And he speaks French. Think of the roleplay opportunities.”

“Aw, we can try some schoolteacher roleplay, babe,” Teddy assures Tyler, patting him on the shoulder. 

“Fine, but I get to wear the cute schoolgirl outfit.” 

Teddy rolls his eyes. “Fine.”

“I’m pretty sure I can smell burning,” Dan says, sniffing the air in distaste. 

“Shit!” Teddy exclaims, grabbing his spatula and jumping off the bed. 

As he bolts out of the door, the fire alarm begins to shriek, making Tyler scream with laughter. 

“Everything’s fine!” Teddy calls from the kitchen. 

Despite the irritation sitting under his skin, eventually Dan finds himself joining in the laughter too. 

*

Dan is half an hour early to the film screening. 

He would have come straight from his last class, which ended at 3pm, but he decided to make a quick trip to the grocery store round the corner from school. 

He returns with two enormous bags, shuffling through Phil’s classroom door with some difficulty. Phil looks at the bags in surprise, coming over to help Dan haul them in. 

“What’s this?” Phil asks, clearly intrigued. As he takes one of the bags from Dan’s hand, he looks him in the eye. “Hi, by the way. Haven’t seen you all day!” 

Dan chuckles, setting his own carrier bag on Phil’s desk. “Hi. I brought popcorn!” 

“Oh, God,” Phil moans unexpectedly. “As if you could get any more amazing.”

Dan chuckles awkwardly, a warm glow spreading through his gut. “Uh, you like popcorn?”

“It’s literally my favourite food of all time,” Phil tells him seriously. “How did you know?” 

“Damn, I need to be more subtle with my stalking.” Dan says, making Phil laugh so much that he drops one of the bags. “Anyway, it’s not all for you.” 

“In that case, the kids better hurry up before I inhale it all.”

Dan laughs, watching fondly as Phil flits around the classroom, closing blinds and straightening chairs. The projector is on, currently throwing an image of Phil’s desktop background onto the smartboard. Behind his jumble of icons, there’s a picture of what seems to be a large, photoshopped capybara taking up an entire paddling pool. 

Dan decides not to question it. 

“So what film have you picked for us all?”

Phil beams at him. “It’s called Les Quatre-Cents Coups. Have you heard of it?”

Dan shakes his head, the corner of his mouth twitching in an almost smile. It’s obvious to see how passionate Phil is about this subject; he talks animatedly, looking eager and focused.

It’s adorable.

“Wow!” Phil exclaims. “I’m kind of jealous. I wish I could go back to a time before I’d seen it.”

“What’s it about?” Dan asks, mostly in an effort to keep Phil talking.

“Oh... well, it’s about a little boy mainly. An underprivileged boy living in Paris. But it’s about much more than that really. It’s about the oppressive structures of French economy in the fifties, classism, the bourgeoise... and it’s about growing up, y’know? How even if we all experience it differently, there’s a certain relatability about puberty too.” Phil pauses, reddening a little. He chuckles. “I mean, that’s what I take from it, anyway. I studied the history of French Cinema for a while, so I’m a bit of a geek about it. But you can form your own opinions, obviously.”

“Me?” Dan says, laughing. “I dunno. I don’t know the first thing about film. Apart from that I like going to the cinema.”

“Well that’s a good place to start.” Phil tells him happily. “There’s all sorts of theories about spectatorhood, and why audiences enjoy the activity of going to the cinema, watching films as a collective experience...”

Phil trails off again, shaking his head.

“Okay, you have to stop me if I start rambling, Dan. I get carried away.”

“I think it’s cute.” Dan says before he thinks about it.

Phil’s eyebrow lifts in surprise, but he seems to take the comment in his stride. Dan, on the other hand, blushes furiously, cursing himself for being so transparent.

“I think you’re just too nice to tell me to shut up,” Phil jokes, but he lets his eyes linger on Dan’s, warm and fond.

Luckily, before Dan can shove his foot any further into his mouth, a couple of girls from the class wander in, looking trepidatious.

“Hi, uh... can we come in yet, sir?”

“Of course, Joanna!” Phil says, jumping down from his position on the desk. “Hi Bethany! Would you guys mind helping me and Mr Howell to set up?”

They jump to the tasks Phil gives them happily, chattering to him about the petty dramas of their day, complaining about their homework and the fallouts they’re having with friends.

Dan watches with amusement, marvelling - as always - at the ease with which Phil converses with his students, giving each one his undivided attention while they’re speaking, never replying in a condescending tone.

He’s such a rare gem of a teacher, Dan thinks. Phil sends Joanna to the staffroom to collect bowls, and they put one on each table, filled with popcorn.

Soon enough, the other kids begin to arrive, all wearing the thrilled grins Dan remembers from when he used to stay behind after school. There’s something about being in the building outside of the mandatory hours that just seems a bit naughty. It doesn’t matter that they’re here for what is essentially an extended history lesson - the students are excited to be involved in this extra-curricular activity.

Dan hasn’t asked them, but he’d bet a lot of that excitement comes from having Phil here, providing his ever-shining rays of brilliant, sunny exuberance.

The kids take their seats, restless at first, but settling in once Phil dims the lights and presses play. Dan finds a seat on one of the empty tables at the back, and is all prepared to expand his cultural knowledge with some French Cinema. Then, once he’s sure the film is running, Phil walks to the back of the class and slides into the seat right beside him.

Immediately, Dan releases any hope he was holding onto of immersing himself in the film.

“Ready?” Phil asks in a low, quiet voice that pierces straight through Dan’s gut. 

He’s leaning in close, eyes sparkling as the light of the opening credits reflect in them.

All Dan can do is nod silently, and try not to let the squeak out of his throat.

Phil’s one of those people who doesn’t shut up during a film. Dan hates those sorts of people usually, but he can’t seem to find Phil’s inability to keep his comments to himself anything but ridiculously cute.

His musings vary from the way in which the cinematography emphasises certain aspects of the narrative, to the strange dress sense Parisians had in the days of the 'nouvelle vague’, as he calls it.

He talks so much that he is shushed by the students more than once, but he just giggles and apologises in a stage whisper, to which the students roll their eyes.

“See that?” Phil says at one point, basically pressing himself against Dan’s side in order to point at the screen. “The photo of the man Antoine is putting on his shrine? That’s Balzac. He’s one of the founders of realism in literature.”

Dan smiles. “How meta.”

The responding look Phil gives to Dan is something so warm and proud that Dan wants to melt it down and spread it on a thick slab of toast.

“Exactly.”

Their hands meet in the popcorn. It’s like something out a cringey teen TV show. Phil just laughs and winks at him, but Dan about faints from how fast the blood rushes to his cheeks.

Phil seems to have no issues about personal space, and allows their legs to rest comfortably against each other beneath the table. He’ll grab Dan’s shoulder during his favourite scenes, eyes shining, breath held as he watches the screen.

Honestly, by the time the final shot (apparently an incredibly famous moment in film history) appears, Dan is not totally sure whether he’d be able to say what the film had been about. He’d spent quite a lot of it staring at Phil, and the rest of it thinking about how it felt - elating, blissful, drug-like - to sit beside him in the darkness, in a room where everyone else was steadfastly facing the other way.

Phil turns to him as the image fades to black, a knowing glint in his eye.

“Did you like it?”

Dan stammers out something that isn’t really words, and nods emphatically to make up for it. Phil grins at him, tongue slightly visible through his rows of teeth, and then he stands up, much to Dan’s dismay.

“So that was Les Quatre-Cents Coups!” Phil says to the class, climbing up to sit on the desk at which he and Dan had been sat. Dan cranes his neck upwards, leaning back in his chair to watch as Phil crosses his legs underneath him on the table. “Could someone get the lights, please? Thanks Bethany.”

The lights flash on, garish and bright, and the class groan, rubbing their eyes.

“What did we all think of it, then?” Phil asks, beaming.

“Awesome!” Someone shouts.

“I thought I hated black and white films, but that was cool.” 

“I loved it! Paris is so beautiful.” 

“That kid was well sick at acting, sir.” 

Phil nods encouragingly as students call out their opinions. 

Jonah snorts loudly. “I couldn’t concentrate on half of it. Kept gettin’ distracted by Mr Lester and Mr Howell flirting in the back!”

Phil laughs, shooting Jonah a disapproving look. His smile stays in place though. 

“I’m sure Mr Howell has far better options, Jonah.” Phil teases, and Dan just tries to pretend he’s somewhere else. 

He might kill Jonah at some point, he considers. 

Then, someone sticks up their hand. Phil points at the kid, smiling. 

“Yes, Matt?”

“What’s the title mean in English, sir?”

“Well, the English version of the film is called The Four-Hundred Blows.” Phil answers. “Which is actually an inaccurate translation, as it doesn’t mean anything. The original title comes from a phrase that people use a lot in France - ‘faire les quatre cents coups’ - which kind of means ‘to raise hell’. It suits Antoine, don’t you think?”

“Suits me, sir!” Jonah calls out, making everyone chuckle. “I’mma start sayin’ that. What was it again? Fair lezzer cooper?”

Phil laughs, hands holding his ankles as he leans backwards. It’s such a sweet action, so innocent and playful, that Dan can’t help smiling.

“Faire les quatre cents coups,” Phil corrects gently, enunciating each word. “I think it suits you as well, Jonah.”

Joanna is sat at the table in front of theirs, her chin in one hand as she gazes up at Phil, marvelling.

“Do you speak French, sir?” Joanna asks, obviously smitten. Dan can relate.

Phil beams at her. “Yeah, I do! I spent a year studying in Paris.”

Dan’s eyebrows lift in surprise. He’d suspected that Phil knew a few phrases, but the fact he speaks fluent French is a surprise. Why is that such an attractive quality?

He imagines Phil speaking to him in that low, quiet voice he reserves for when he wants to tell Dan something the class or another teacher shouldn’t overhear, but in French. A warm trickle runs teasingly up his thighs, like light, tracing fingers. A full body tremor comes over him. 

Phil throws a glance towards him, presumably having seen that peculiar reaction. Dan doesn’t miss the way his mouth twitches in a smile.

“That’s so dreamy,” Joanna sighs, retrieving Phil’s attention. She sits bolt upright, blushing. “I mean! It’s a dreamy language.” The rest of the class chuckle, and she reddens further. “I wish I could speak it is all!”

“Well, you’re in luck!” Phil announces suddenly. “Because as you may or may not be aware, our Year Nine History trip is coming up in two weeks time!”

The class immediately descend into loud, excited chatter; students grab at each other, squealing.

“Hey, come on, guys! Calm down, we’re here after hours, remember?” Phil calls out, but he’s grinning, evidently pleased by their enthusiasm. The class simmer down gradually, their buzz of excitement still palpable in the air. “So, yeah! We’re off to Paris for a weekend! If you can make it, it’s only fifteen pounds per student, and if you can’t stretch that, come and have a word with me, I’m sure we can work something out.”

Dan’s eyes soften as he listens to this last part. This man really is one of a kind.

Again, the class begin talking animatedly about the trip, discussing outfit choices, places they want to visit, room sharing, and other trivialities.

“Are we going up the Eiffel Tower, sir?” Someone asks.

“I’m scared of heights!”

“Where are we staying?”

“Are we sharing rooms?”

“Are we going by coach, or ferry?”

“Ooh, maybe we’re flying!”

“Can I bring my dog?”

“Hey!” Phil interrupts, hands held up in surrender. He’s laughing at them all. “All questions will be answered in class on Monday. I’ll also be sending out permission slips tonight via email, so get your folks or guardians to print them off and sign them, then bring them to me when they’re ready.”

“Sir, I just have one more question!” Jonah cries out, sticking up his hand and waving it. “Just one, sir, please?”

Phil sighs, clearly debating it. Eventually though, he rolls his eyes and nods, smiling. “Go on then. Just one.”

Jonah grins, eyes flicking to meet Dan’s. “Is Mr Howell coming with us?”

Phil lets out a low chuckle, his vivid blue eyes sliding to Dan’s, questioning. 

“I don’t know,” Phil says in a voice that surely isn’t appropriate for the situation at hand. Dan swallows, feeling singled out by the gaze. “Is he?”

(Part Four!)

#phan #phanfic #my fic #teacher au #dan and phil #part 3 is here! #prompts

[blondecoffeecake]

10 songs I’m currently obsessed with - I was tagged by the lovely and ever-talented @thewhiterabbit42

Full Disclosure, I go through weird phases of music. I’ll have a bunch of bass dropping in my ears, followed by sexy songs, then a bunch of weird emotional shit... Idk. Don’t judge me. 

1.  Dig Down - Muse -  For sure, the one I’m most obsessed with right now. This. BEAT. Tho. (Do yourself a favor and test the bass on your stereo or favorite headphones to this song.)

2.   Personal Yeezus - FA$HION $EN$E - A few months back, when the Red Band Trailer for Atomic Blonde dropped, I was VERY pleasantly surprised that Depeche Mode was featured. After some digging, I finally found the source. Kanye, you’re a hot mess IRL, but your music is pretty decent.

3. Face to Face/Short Circuit - Daft Punk - This inspires all SORTS of corrupted angel/leviathan/possession drabbles that I really need to write out.

4.  Glory Box - Portishead - An oldie, but goodie. Always in my playlist for some sexy angst.

5. Way Down We Go - Kaleo -  Jökull‘s voice is catnip. Sex to music. Holy shit.  

6. Arsonist’s Lullaby - Hosier (Kylie Marie cover) - *shudders* So, I’ve been working with @thewhiterabbit42 and @sumara62 on fleshing out a Dark!Gabriel character arc, and this song has played a HUGE role in that. (It also makes me want to cosplay Melisandre again.)

7.  Tennessee Whiskey - Chris Stapleton - Lort.. now I’m getting all sentimental. Inspires all sorts of stupid fluffy romance. Gross. <3

8.  One More Light - Linkin Park - It makes me cry and feel all my feels. Instantly fell in love with this song when the album released. BEFORE all the sad whatevers. #stillnotoverit

9. Young and Beautiful - Lana del Rey - More feels. More sentiments. Fight me.

10.  Ain’t No Grave - Crooked Still - Southern Gothic Radio is my current jam on Spotify. If you like music from The Walking Dead and True Blood, give the station a listen.

(No. 10 was also tied with Writing’s On the Wall - Sam Smith but I already had a lot of heavy emotions going on, so Southern Gothic won out as my safer choice.)

tagging: Tag yourself! And whoever else wants to play!

[thejustinmarshall]

The 80s Cruise Omnibus: The Like, OMG, Totally Awesome Recap.

This is a part of our full coverage of the 2018 80s Cruise. Read more about the floating music festival here. 

Guitar picks are the holy grail for many concertgoers, but Robin Legat was able to score one recently from Lou Gramm guitarist, Michael Staertow, under the oddest of circumstances. The 43-year-old fitness trainer from Los Angeles didn’t have to scramble over chairs for the keepsake, she got it by wearing bumble bee colored spandex and gifting Staerlow something very unexpected.

The Legats (center) as Stryper.

Legat was part of a foursome dressed like the 80s Christian rock band, Stryper, as a part of “Glam Rock” night on The 80s Cruise. The 2200 passengers on board the Celebrity Summit were encouraged to wear costumes for each of the six theme nights. Legat and her husband, Michael, rarely disappointed. They were clad from head to toe in spandex and scarves and passed out little keychain bibles throughout the night.

As she tells it, during Gramm’s performance, “our entire group was sitting together in the sixth row. (Staertow) and I made eye contact, and he mouthed ‘Stryper?’ to me.” She nodded and when she ran into him later that night, gifted him one of the bibles. He gave her several of the coveted picks in return.

So goes life on board The 80s Cruise. Every year, Entertainment Cruise Productions (ECP) brings together fans from all over the world to celebrate the music and pop culture of their youth. The 2018 Cruise took place from March 17-24th and featured bands with one thing in common – their music is synonymous with the decade that blinded us with science and took our breath away.

The lineup consisted of Gramm, Loverboy, Mike + the Mechanics, The Tubes, Billy Ocean, Berlin, Thomas Dolby, Katrina (of Katrina and the Waves), Tommy Heath (of Tommy Tutone), and cruise host, Rick Springfield. This was the first time ECP has booked a big-name act to anchor various events throughout the week with Springfield playing extra shows and introducing various events.

Guests were thrilled with the concerts they saw during the week. Maryland native Dave August had a clear favorite saying, “Lou Gramm was the runaway winner. (His) voice was spectacular (and) the crowd was pumped.” Legat offered a simple explanation for Gramm’s popularity amongst guests. “90 minutes of nonstop hits and he didn’t even get to everything!”

Deane Draper wore a spot on Quay Lewd costume on the 80s Cruise. Photo by Chuck Coverly

It was hard for some people to pick one favorite show. Betsey Fellwock, from Tulsa, OK, couldn’t decide, so she listed her favorites, “Loverboy, Lou Gramm, Billy Ocean, Tommy Tutone,” Tim Kelley insisted, “I’ll give two answers” before explaining that Lou Gramm had the best overall performance, but stagemanship went to The Tubes. The Asheville office manager added, “Berlin sounds better than they did in the 80s.” Steven Sciglimpaglia of Stamford, CT liked Thomas Dolby, Berlin, and The Tubes.

Sciglimpaglia appreciated the sheer weirdness of The Tubes, but they scandalized a few passengers who weren’t sure what to make of their unconventional stage show. Most passengers only knew of them from their MTV-friendly videos, “She’s a Beauty” and “Talk to Ya Later.” It came as a surprise when, near the end of the show, lead singer Fee Waybill changed into glam rocker Quay Lewd and starting drinking from a giant bottle of what looked like scotch shoved into the crotch of his silver spandex pants. John Clark from Dallas enjoyed the spectacle saying, “The Tubes should do a comedy act! They crack me up!”

The Tubes brand of humor seemed to appeal to a certain type of music fan, but Leskanich had pretty much everyone giggling during a question and answer session with Terri Nunn of Berlin and Jenna O’Gara of Jessie’s Girl. The “Walking on Sunshine” singer infused each reply with deadpan humor, often mocking the ridiculousness of the situation. When she was performing, each show felt like individual episodes of “Storytellers.” Like Berlin in 2017, Leskanich may not have been familiar to most outside of her one big hit, but she quickly endured herself to passengers, making her one of the favorite acts of the week.

Berlin’s second stint on board proved to be as successful as the first with passengers flocking to various events hosted by the band. A wine tasting with lead singer Terri Nunn sold out well in advance of the sailing and a group Q&A was standing room only. Drummer Christopher Olivas emceed two wildly popular poolside dance parties under his alias, DJ Christopher J. Longtime fans were thrilled to have John Crawford and David Diamond, both of whom founded the band with Nunn, perform in both main stage shows.

Bryan Do as “Long Duk Dong”. Photo by TuKe Photography

For Claudine Edwards of Plano, TX, just being able to see Berlin again felt like a miracle. Edwards discovered she had stage IV breast cancer following a car accident last October. A bleak prognosis made the 2018 Cruise seem like an impossibility. When radiation treatments made her incapable of eating and her hair falling out in clumps, she turned to an old favorite to help her cope. Berlin’s “Hideaway”, from Count Three and Pray, assured her it was okay to, “cry away there’s no harm.” She said, “I cried a lot and listed a lot to that song about hiding away.”

She found out she was in remission a month before sailing. Still in pain, she and her husband, Jason, arrived in Ft. Lauderdale thrilled to see friends and excited about heading back to the 80s. Each day made her feel more like her old self and she got the chance to tell John Crawford how much his song had meant to her. She said afterwards that the Cruise made her feel better for the first time since her diagnosis. She felt that, “the 80s and all of my friends lifted me up, made me stronger!”

Edwards’ opportunity to speak to Crawford highlighted one of the many things that made the Cruise so special to guests. Being able to interact with their idols through organized events was exciting, but it was the casual conversations that happened around the ship that passengers savored most. Mina Credeur from Spring, TX. said her favorite moment was hanging out in the martini bar with the two lead singers from Mike + the Mechanics, Andrew Roachford and Tim Howar.

Mike + the Mechanics were on board as a part of a small American tour to support their latest album, Let Me Fly. The last time the band was out on tour was three years ago with no plans to tour again this year, fans were lucky to catch them. They were on board for a short time, but their 90-minute set was excellent, thanks largely to Credeur’s drinking companions.

Big name acts were the obvious draw for passengers, but there wasn’t a shortage of other talent on board. Crowds were excited to see their favorite cover bands, Jessie’s Girl and Trial by Fire, back for another year. Jessie’s Girl had their own fan club that refused to miss any shows. Trial by Fire had a bigger presence this year after a very successful debut on the 2017 sailing. The two bands complimented each other with Trial by Fire providing a more traditional rock vibe while Jessie’s Girl attacked the top 40 with style and flair.

Things got a little weird on St. Patrick’s Day. Gus and Wendy Molony on The 80s Cruise.

Jessie’s Girl’s shows featured dozens of costume changes, but they couldn’t compare with the 80s cosplay going on each night. Passengers spent all year planning what they would wear for each theme and the results were pretty incredible. The entire ship was clad in green for the St. Patrick’s Day departure with Aqua Net and lamé ruling Prom. The amount of spandex roaming around for the Glam Rock theme was almost intimidating, but the one evening that brought out the most elaborate costumes was Pop Icon night.

Passageways were quiet in the late afternoon as guests returned to the cabins to transform into a variety of different pop culture icons. Soon the hallways were filled with rock stars, movie characters, and all sorts of odd 80s references. Weird Al, ZZ Top, and David Lee Roth wandered by the martini bar while Jason Vorhees and Elvira looked through the previous day’s pictures in the Photo Gallery. King Tut had a crew that followed him around all night walking like Egyptians. There were at least two sets of Blue Brothers and more Ghostbusters than you could shake a gallon of ectoplasm at. Two human-sized Smurfs sat in the balcony while Terri Nunn sang “Highway to Hell” to a Yip Yip.

The costumes caused more than a few laugh out loud moments for the musicians on board. Mike Reno of Loverboy smiled and pointed at several clones wearing his trademark headband during one show, but Bryan Do’s “Long Duk Dong” costume forced him to stop singing to take a moment and stop laughing. Do had not only nailed the outfit from Sixteen Candles, but included a blow up “sexy American girlfriend” that he carried around all night on a set of disembodied handlebars.

Mike Reno tries to silence Jay Lewis on the 80s Cruise.

Reno had a great week on board the Summit. Not only did Loverboy put on two energetic shows on the main stage, but the singer also jumped in on several performances with other artists throughout the week. Jay Lewis from Kiawah, SC was having so much fun singing along to Loverboy’s set that Reno had to walk over and Lewis’s mouth with his hand.

Loverboy wasn’t the only act Lewis found himself singing with during the week. Rick Springfield held a microphone out to him during, “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” and was a part of a crew invited up on stage to sing with Heath. He and his friends wore t-shirts that spelled out the title of Tommy Tutone’s 1981 hit, “867-5309.” After spending so much time singing along with celebrities, Lewis joked, “If I knew they expected me to also perform I would have never quit taking those piano lessons from Sister Mary Francis when I was nine.”

Heath did several solo shows during the week in addition to jamming with Jessie’s Girl and Rick Springfield during their performances. When he wasn’t on stage, the singer spent his time socializing with guests and posing for a ton of selfies. But despite patiently standing for one picture after another, the award for “Most Selfies of the Week” went to Springfield.

Springfield was the main draw for the hundreds of passengers who booked through his fan club before the last Cruise left port. Their enthusiasm was contagious, but it could also be exhausting to other guests who struggled to get into venues. As Legat explained, it was frustrating “not being able to get remotely close at any of the Rick Springfield piano bar shows because people would hold seats for hours!”

Rick Springfield gets this a lot. Shelley Meier and Rick Springfield on the 80s Cruise.

Springfield himself was affable and engaging, despite the chaos that seemed to surround him. During the main stage shows, he leapt into the audience while performing 1983’s “Human Touch”. He climbed over chairs and stopped for selfies as he traveled up and down the center section.

The “famous-person selfie” ruled the day during Billy Ocean’s concerts as well. The singer hopped on board in Jamaica for two flawless sets during which he would routinely reach down to shake hands and take pictures. He left the cruise immediately after the second show, much to the dismay of Ziva Gottesman. The San Diego native was hoping for either a meet and greet or Q&A with Ocean lamenting, “some artists aren’t on the ship long enough to do either which is a shame.”

Question and answer sessions were popular with guests, but the most surprising turned out to be the one that featured Thomas Dolby. He was familiar as the musician behind one of the instantly recognizable “She Blinded Me With Science,” but the audience for his Q&A discovered the 1982 single was just one small accomplishments in a career that has included the creation of a groundbreaking software company, directing an award-winning documentary short, and revolutionize electronic music. As if all of that wasn’t enough, Dolby explained to the crowd that his latest job is as the head of the Music for New Media program at Johns Hopkins University.

Dolby’s two sets in the 400-seat Revelations lounge at the top of the ship were amazing, despite many guests having to miss the last two songs of each. The biggest complaint with the Cruise was the conflicts caused by poor scheduling. Fellwock hated “having to leave shows to get the 9 p.m. concert.” She wasn’t alone. Dolby and Leskanich played all of their shows in Revelations with either 7:45 or 9 p.m. start times, which always conflicted with the main stage shows. The timing meant passengers never had a chance to see a full show in Revelations.

Dave August had a whole week of David Lee Roth costumes on the 80s Cruise. Photo by Chuck Coverly

It was infuriating having to choose, particularly for Michelle Tower whose two favorite acts were Dolby and Leskanich. Like everyone else holding cards for the late show, the IT Director from Cincinnati never got to hear “Walking on Sunshine” or “She Blinded Me With Science” because those were the songs at the end of the setlists. Guests had to be in the Celebrity Theater by 9 p.m. or lose their seats and have to take whatever was available in the back of the third tier.

But despite the aggravation of having to miss shows and activities due to scheduling conflicts, just about everyone said the 80s Cruises were the best vacations they had ever taken. Some passengers cited the bands as the best part of the week, some loved the decorations and feeling like they had actually traveled back in time, but for most, it was something they could never find on another vacation.

Sometimes you should meet your heroes. John Crawford and Claudine Edwards on the 80s Cruise

The bands and costumes were what initially sold the cabins, but the what brought people back after the 2016 and 2017 sailings – and will bring even more back next year – were the people that traveled back to the 80s with them. Time and time again, people said the single best thing about the Cruise was, as Amanda Olivas put it, “All of the friends we have made in the past two years!” Texan Kathy Machacek agreed that it was “the friendliness of the other guests” that made the planning and expense worthwhile. Curtis Wayne Lanclos summed it up saying, “enjoying 80s culture together is what makes it all more enjoyable!”

Olivas, Machacek, and Lanclos will be joining Edwards on the 2019 Cruise. “Yes, I will be back,” she said. “Cancer didn’t take me in 2010 and it certainly isn’t going to take me now. I have the 80s to live out again each year with our amazing friends!”

LJ Moskowitz is a photographer and writer based out of New Jersey specializing in concert, product and fine art photography. She is a member of the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) and Professional Photographers of America (PPA). You can find her at Shutterchick Photography, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

All photos appearing on this page are the property of LJ Moskowitz. They are protected by U.S. Copyright Laws and are not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of LJ Moskowitz. Copyright 2018 LJ Moskowitz. All Rights Reserved.

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