#Apparently the buses were there at the venue well into the night

[theirloveisgross]

.

#Stumbled upon some twitter drama about Louis going into the bus and not leaving #Apparently the buses were there at the venue well into the night #People saying that it's fishy because he didn't go say bye to the fans waiting or something #Videos of some of louis' security talking to the fans saying that he had left that they don't have to wait blah blah #He was really nice to them #So the facts are that he went into the bus around 1am without greeting some people #Then around 2am that guard came to talk to them saying they were gonna load up and leave #People on twitter thinking it's because H is there 😭 #I have a better theory #They have to take a boat from Sweden to Finland #Right? #So if that's the case the buses were probably waiting for the trucks to be loaded up so they could leave at the same time #And takes around 3-4 hours #Most times the buses leave well ahead onto their next destination and the trucks follow after #But no. Of course it's because H is there. Which it's in the realms of possibilities but also... No. #Learn to think outside of that sometimes idk #See all possible scenarios maybe?

[defleppardfan1]

When Love and Hate Collide: Chapter 8

Series Masterlist

Their next show a few days later went phenomenally, like always. The band and crew were now making their way over to Asia. They had to spend a week on the bus before they went to the airport. Y/N found it to be an odd experience. She found it difficult to sleep the first night as she discovered that more than one of the band members snored. She wasn’t sure who but she knew it wasn’t Sav. They would all be spending a lot more time on the bus in Asia as they would be there for a longer period of time, so she needed to get used to it. She inwardly groaned at that. 

The flight over there wasn’t too bad as she slept for most of it, Vivian standing guard yet again to make sure no one tried to draw on her face. When they landed, they got straight on the buses that were waiting for them, taking to the same beds as before. As she sat down on her bunk, she noticed Joe pull the curtain across straight away, not even giving her a glance. 

Y/N was still wondering what was going on with Joe. She didn’t want to pry and she knew it was nothing to do with her but she was worried that she had done something to him still. She knew that the rest of the band knew what was going on. They weren’t maliciously keeping it from her but rather, she assumed, to respect Joe and his privacy. 

Despite how Joe was still ignoring her after being on tour with them for just over a week, there was a funny feeling come over her when he looked at her. A feeling that Y/N hadn’t felt since she met her ex-boyfriend. She knew it would be best to stay away from Joe for a while, as much as her job made it possible, until she figured out what she was feeling. The last thing she needed was to develop a school-girl crush on a man who wouldn’t even give her the time of day.

They still had a week before their first show and they would be spending that time on the bus as well. The downside to staying on the tour bus was that there was no shower. They had to wash down with a flannel everyday, which was less than ideal. There were eight adults living together on the bus including Y/N and their bus driver so everyone was trying the best they could to prevent any unpleasantness for the people living with them. 

Tension seemed to be rising between Joe and Y/N. Sav thought that Joe was starting to turn a corner and at least be polite towards the young woman, but apparently not. Sav himself couldn’t pinpoint what was causing Joe’s bad mood this time, but he and the rest of the band were trying their best to be extra nice to their tour assistant.

*

Their first week in Asia went quickly and soon enough, they found themselves in the hotel the night before their first show in Thailand. As they were checking in, Mal gave Y/N another updated itinerary telling her where the boys had to be and when. Y/N made sure she studied it well, not wanting to be late anywhere or to show up at the wrong venue accidently.

Sav collected her for dinner after she lost track of time and Y/N could feel the awkwardness that had surrounded them for the previous two weeks, continue. Trying not to seem bothered by it all, Y/N started questioning everyone, making sure they were settled in alright and ready for the show. 

“As long as you don’t walk into anyone else then I think we’ll all be fine. We have done this before.” Joe almost spat at her, shocking everyone around the table. 

Y/N didn’t even bother to react. She didn’t let it show that his words affected her. Sav gave Joe a sharp look and kicked him under the table but Joe didn’t seem bothered by this. 

The table remained fairly quite after that, Y/N looking down the entire time to avoid eye contact with anyone else, she was left slightly embarrassed after Joe’s outburst, she knew that they had done this many times before, but it was her job to make sure they had everything and if they forgot something it would fall onto her.

When they had finished, Y/N quickly excused herself and headed back to her room for the evening. As she left, the rest glared at their lead singer. 

“Well, you’ve really outdone yourself this time.” Sav scoffed. Joe just looked up at him refusing to say anything. “You know you have to apologise to her.” He continued when Joe didn’t respond.

“Yeah I’ll pass.”

“No you won’t,” Phil spoke up, “You said you would be civil with her.” 

Rolling his eyes, Joe realised he was on his own. With a huff, he got up from his seat and followed in the direction their assistant went. It registered in him that he wasn’t listening when she had told him her room number earlier. Turning round he looked at Sav who rolled his eyes.

“625”

Joe gave another nod and made his way towards the lift. The truth was he wasn’t sure what prompted him to make that comment to her. He didn’t know where this anger was building up from again. Maybe it was because he started to let his guard down slightly when he promised to be nice, which was the last thing he wanted to do. Or maybe it was the comment that Mal had made a few weeks ago about her replacing him. Joe knew Malvin was joking but the idea of her being in charge of their tours when he barely wanted to be around her irritated him.

Once he got to the sixth floor, he slowed down his pace, wanting to delay this as much as possible. He hated apologising at the best of times. Counting the rooms as he went, he finally got to Y/N’s room. It was quiet there and for a moment he thought that she wasn’t in there. However, then he heard her moving about inside and decided to knock, knowing that the others wouldn’t let him be until he apologised.

It wasn’t long before she came to the door and Joe felt his heartbeat quicken at the sight of her. She was a short but modest nightdress, with her hair plaited so it didn’t get tangled overnight. She had taken the little make-up that she wore throughout the day off and the main light in the room was switched out, leaving the bedside lamp on. It was obvious to Joe that she was about to go to bed.

Joe didn’t realise that he was staring until Y/N softly cleared her throat. For some reason Joe couldn’t find any words. He moved his eyes from her legs, up to her face but he just stood there like an idiot.

“Why are you here Joe?” Y/N asked in a tired tone.

#def leppard #joe elliott #joe elliott x reader #when love and hate collide fic #when love and hate collide chapter 8 #ellen's fic

[bexreadstoomuch]

Magic Man - Chapter 16

NSFW — slow burn, fluff, flirting, reader has weight/image issues light angst, 18+ overall for eventual smut, drug/alcohol abuse mention/use/language, EddiemunsonxFemReaderHenderson

Masterlist

Part 16/? [wc 4k] a/n - some questions are answered - t.w drug and alcohol abuse

I know Dial tone is a new song but i felt it worked so well with the story so please imagine Eddie wrote it. please please like, share and comment, your comments make me so happy and encourage me to write more! thank you <3

songs included in this chapter Cinderella - Dont Know What You Got Van Halen - Hot For Teacher Catch Your Breath - Dial Tone

A few days and a few shows have passed since you and Eddie had agreed on your song for the duet. But not everyone was happy. Mainly kelly.

Everyone was on board with the idea of both bands performing together to celebrate Paradox joining the label. But she seemed to want to put a downer on everything. Not turning up on time for rehearsals, making comments about the song choice, just overall annoyance.

After some rehearsals you would see Eddie in heated conversations with her on the back steps of whichever venue you were performing in that night. Smoke billowing around him as he frantically waved his arms around trying to make his point, but then throwing the cigarette down with force, and storming away.

Since then, Eddie had taken to travelling with you on Bertha rather than his own bus, claiming it was more rehearsal time for them, but you could tell he was keeping his distance from Kelly. Keeping up the pretence that nothing was happening between you both, he would sleep on the bunk above you, which used to be Lulas, but she was spending most of her time now cozying up next to Gareth in his bunk on the bigger bus.

It was approaching the end of January, and another new state. Pennsylvania.

Empire Rock Club, in Philadelphia was your location for tonight's show, and Eddie was giving you a run down of the place as you disembarked the buses and made your way to the venue's front doors. “Apparently this place is closing soon, no longer going to be a music venue, gonna have to give them a show eh? Sweetheart?” Eddie was way ahead of you, hair bouncing with every excitable step he took.

You were a few steps behind him, looking around yourself rooted to the spot. Everything suddenly hit you. You were here for two nights. Play a show tonight then two days later you will be your duet, in New York.

Thoughts wouldn't leave your head, You couldn't do this.Your gonna forget the lyrics, the notes, everyone is going to laugh at you for trying to be alongside the great Eddie Munson of Corroded Coffin.

“Y/N is everything ok?” Eddie's voice was quiet, sounding distant. You came back to reality at the feeling of his hands on your face, thumb stroking your cheek.

“Oh yeah, hi, yeah i'm ok, just tired” you said inconceivably. 

Leaning closer to you Eddie whispers so only you can hear “Are you sure sweetheart?” 

“Yeah I'm sure, come on what else are you gonna tell me about this place?” You tried your best to sound ok, but you could tell he wasn’t having any of it. But instead of pushing you he carried on.

“Ok pop quiz, let’s see if you remember this, which band hailed from Philadelphia, and even performed here many times?” Eddie asked, putting on his best game show host voice!

“Oh I know!” Jeff shouts over 

“Shut up Jeff! This isn’t for you!” Eddie doesn’t stop looking at you but his arm flies up to shush Jeff.

“Oh erm, oh my god I can’t remember” you pause dramatically bringing your hand to your chin rubbing pulling your face as though you were concentrating hard.

“Does she need a clue? A glass slipper perhaps?” Eddie was bouncing on the spot.

“I know who it is, Ed's…. Cinderella!” You answer him by pushing your hand against his shoulder walking past him towards the entrance.

“Oh come on sweetheart! You only got that because of the clue!” He shouts from behind you, doing a little jog to catch up with you, get ahead of you and open the door for you in a most dramatic fashion.

“Come on boys! Don't know what you got, till it's gone!” Eddie shouted over his shoulder at Gareth and Jeff who started singing with him.

“Don't know what it is I did so wrong, Now I know what I got, Just this song, And it ain't easy to get back, Takes so long”

Turning around to see what's going on, you see Lula with tears of laughter rolling down her face at Gareth who is now on the floor on his knees in front of her dramatically singing along, arms outstretched.

“Gare, stop it, get up you fool!” Lula laughs at him, swatting at his shoulders as he shimmy’s closer still on his knees.

Rolling your eyes at your friends' antics you carry on up to the venue, and catch a glimpse of Kelly in your peripheral vision, getting off the larger bus lighting a cigarette as she goes. You watch as she keeps her head down making her way to where you were standing by the entrance doors, when Jack suddenly appears next to her trying to get her attention but Kelly dismisses her by throwing her arm in the arm jerking it away from your friend.

Making your way back down away from the entrance past Eddie and the boys still serenading Lula, you cross the sidewalk towards Jack, who is now leaning against the wall, hand rubbing the back of her neck.

“Hey, what was that all about J?” you ask concerned as you've never seen Jack look as distressed and distant as she did now.

“Oh, hey, no it was, er, nothing, truely, hey come on we best get inside and get sorted for tonight” Jack answered you, quickly pushing off the wall, walking past you.

“Hey doll, everything ok?” the feeling of his hand on your shoulder made you jump.

“I just dont know whats going on Eds” you explain turning to face him.

“I've never seen Jack like that before, she seems really jumpy”

Eddie looked down at you with a furrowed brow. “Hmm, I dont know y/n/n, maybe leave her for a bit and ask her later?” Looking around he added “No-ones outside anymore, no one can see us” before you could respond he dipped his head to yours, hands capturing your face, kissing you.

The sudden feeling makes you seize up, remember you were outside in public. Anyone could see you.

Pulling back he looked down at you, resting his forehead against yours. You melted under his gaze, full brown eyes staring deep into your, as though he was trying to communicate something deep within to you.

“Come on doll, let's get inside” His voice was soft and low, pulling you along with him across the sidewalk, up the steps and into the venue.

The show that night went without a hitch. No missed notes, no failing equipment. Looking to the side of the stage, you could see the boys looking on. Gareth turns into Lula’s personal cheerleader as you finish your set with one of your favourite songs to cover. Van Halen's Hot For Teacher.

Throwing her sticks into the end as you finish you can't help but smile. The song brought you so much joy to play, and Jack got to show off her amazing guitar skills. Even though she loved Joan Jett, she wouldn't admit it to anyone else but you and Lula knew she admired Eddie Van Halen, and his skill. Not wanting anyone to know she favoured a male guitarist as thought to diminish her feminist ideals. 

Looking across to the boys in the wing, you spotted your own Eddie Van Halen. Making a mental note to tell him that later. 

Blushing at the thought you went back to the mic and introduced the boys to the awaiting crowd. 

As they walked on the cheer was thundering. Girls rushing to the front of the stage to get closer and maybe a touch of their favourite rock star.

Meeting you halfway across the stage, Eddie quickly took hold of your wrist giving it a tight squeeze, flashing you a wink. In complete contrast, Lula dove into Gareth's arms, nearly knocking over the whole drum kit.

Watching Eddie perform has become one of your favourite things to do. The way he commanded the stage. He was born to be a performer. Even in school you could tell he would be destined for big things.

Later that evening you were all huddled into a booth at one end of a local diner, laughing, joking, sharing in the delight of the show that evening. You’d steal glances every now and again towards Eddie who was sitting opposite you, trying not to blush too hard to make it obvious.

Out of the corner of your eye outside the window you saw a frustrated looking Jack, arms animated, talking with someone you couldn't see. Jack was always the level headed one in the group. Yes she was fiercely loyal, but you'd never seen her so distraught before. 

Feeling a nudge on your lower leg under the table, you snapped your head around from the window to see Eddie's brow furrowed looking at you in a silent question of “what's the matter?”

Shaking your head quickly you came back to the conversion at the other end of the table headed by Lula and Gareth, discussing the plans for the last group rehearsal before the duet. Lula sitting on Gareth's knees, her arms draped around his neck. You loved seeing your friend so happy. 

THE NEXT DAY

One more night here, then it was onto New York. One more full day of rehearsals before you would be performing with Eddie. 

To say you were nervous was an understatement. You barely slept, tossing and turning on your bunk, all scenarios running through your head. You’d lose your voice. You'd lose your nerve. The crowd would hate you. Eddie could change his mind?

Your mood did not improve, when walking onto the venue for practice, you saw everyone congregating together chatting animatedly. Wyatts white stetson standing out amongst a sea of black, leather and plaid.

“Ah y/n! Come on over and see! The announcement has been printed in the papers and we have a copy!” Wyatt sounded overjoyed but you dreaded looking at the pictures.

Making your way over, leaning your bass case against one of the amps, you slowly saw the papers come into view.

Eddie beckons you over to his side, a huge grin on his face. “Check these out! Big article about the tour and us extending it. Plus some great photos of us all” Eddies excitement was adamant. Leaning in close to you so only you could hear, he turned the page of the paper, to see a larger photo of the pair of you. “This is my favourite” His arm creeping around your back, placing his hand on the small of your back, tracing little patterns with his fingers on the cotton of your oversize tee.

Looking down at the picture you could see you and Eddie. Both with huge smiles on your faces. His arm flung around your shoulders, and your hand rested on his chest.

You surprise yourself and actually love the photo. You've never liked photos of yourself before. Here you look happy and carefree. Your mood dramatically improved, you felt you could take on the world. Nothing was going to get you down. 

Or so you thought.

Later that day, you all wanted to get a full run through of the duet rehearsed in preparation for the New York show the next day.

Everything was going to plan. You didn't mess up on the piano, Eddie’s  choreographed moves went smoothly, his solo was perfect, Gareth and Lula worked so well together on their timing. 

Everything was perfect. But you could sense something was off.

Turning on the piano stool you see Jack packing away her guitar, having a hushed heated conversion with Kelly. You couldn't make out what was being said but you could tell by the look on Jack's face she was getting more and more frustrated.

“You know what Kelly? FUCK YOU! KEEP YOUR FUCKING OPINIONS ON OTHER PEOPLE TO YOUR SELF!” Jack's voice started quiet then fully erupted, echoing around the stage.

Everything went quiet. Everyone suddenly stopped what they were doing to look over at your friend.

“Jack, come on, you agreed with me the other night, you can't deny that!” Kelly's voice was pleading.

“Yes, NO! NO! I did not agree to this! Not this!” pointing over to you, you suddenly felt your face heat up.

“She is my best friend! I will no longer stand around and listen to you berate her! Either tell her yourself why you're being such a bitch or I will!”

Jack's voice was breaking, you'd never seen her so hurt and betrayed. 

You rushed over to your friend, who was now physically shaking, her guitar case in hand. Tentatively moving towards her you reached your hand out for the case handle. 

“Jack, hey it's ok, come on - let me take this from you” your hand now lightly over hers.

Jack jumped at the feeling of your hand. She snapped her head to face you, taken aback by what you saw. Her eyes were huge, and full of regret.

“Im so sorry y/n/n, Im sorry but you need to know” Jacks tells you in a voice thick with sorrow.

“And you!” she was now pointing to Eddie.

Turning you see Eddie’s face full of concern. Sheepishly his hand comes to the back of his neck, rubbing his neck, his eyes darting to the ground.

What was going on?

What did you need to know?  

What was Eddie hiding? Wait! Was there something between Kelly and Eddie? 

Did he lie to me?

Letting go of her hand you slowly stumble back from Jack. Your head was rushing with question after question. Looking over towards Eddie, hoping to see him there to tell you it wasn't true, but all you could see was a shell of himself. He was silent, eyes to the ground, the only movement you could see was from the slow shallow rise and drop of his shoulders as he breathed.

You suddenly feel like there are a hundred sets of eyes on you, your breathing hitching, getting faster, immense pressure begins behind your eyes. You feel the room start to spin, your vision blurring, the sound of rushing water in your ears. Suddenly everything goes black.

“Y/n? Sweetheart? Can you hear me?” Eddie's voice sounded so far away.

Your eyes flutter slowly open, squinting at the bright lights above you as you try and take in where you were.

“Eddie? What happened?” you ask, trying to sit up.

“No sweetheart please lay back down. You errrm, you fainted” His hand gentle on your shoulder, pushing you back down on to what you can now make out as one of the leather sofas in the backstage rooms of the venue. Taking a deep breath, you let out a loud sigh. “Eddie? I can't take anymore lies, I need to know what's going on” your lower lip started to wobble, you felt the burning behind your eyes. Shutting your eyes tight trying to stop the oncoming tears you knew were going to fall.

“I think I need to explain” This was a voice you were not expecting. Kelly. “No, no! What the fuck are you doing here? Don't you think you've done enough?” you shoot up, you can't stop the words from coming. You've been holding this back for so long.

“What's going on with you two? Eddie? Kelly? Are you going to explain to me? Anymore care to tell me?” you spin between the two of them, not getting the response you wanted.

“Y/n, please sit down, let me explain. I didn't want it to get this far.” Kelly was quiet, trying to calm you, but you were having none of it. “Get this far? What's that supposed to mean?” you spin to face her, face raw with tears running down your face.

“y/n, please, please sit down here and we’ll explain everything” Eddies voice came out small, and quiet behind you. Turning you see him sitting down on the leather sofa. His hands together, twisting the rings around his fingers. A trait you have picked up from him as nerves.

You fall quiet, looking down at the man whom you have come to care so much for these past few months, broken.

“Eddie?” your voice whispers. Moving cautiously forward you try again. “Eddie?”

“Y/n, sit down, I’ll explain everything.” Kellys hand was now on your shoulder, shrugging it away from you, you make your way to the sofa, sitting down leaving a gap between yourself and Eddie. Looking over at him, wanting to hold him, but you couldn't bring yourself to. 

You didn't trust him.

You hear a chair being dragged closer, and see in your peripherals Kelly taking a seat and reaching out towards Eddie's hands.

“Ed’s? You ok?” she asks in a tone as though she was approaching a baby animal not wanting to spook them. You noted the way his hands quickly would pull away from her reach, continuing to spin his rings around his fingers.

“Ok, look, y/n I just want to say I'm so sorry, for everything” you take your eyes off Eddie to look at her, your anger rising at her audacity to say this.

“You're sorry? YOUR SORRY?! HA! I have only tried to be nice to everyone, I have done nothing to you! So why? Why are you so mean to me? Degrade me? Make fun of how I look? Always making comments about how me and Eddie would never work’? What is it? You want him for yourself? You're already with him? What is it?” Your questions just rolled after one another, you could sense Eddie flinching beside you at each question.

“Those were cheap shots and I am truly truely sorry. Please, I understand if you don't want to believe me right now, but please please let me explain my actions”  Kellys face showed no ill intentions, but you had a gut feeling of distrust.

Simply nodding your head you let her continue. “Me and Eddie, there's nothing going on, we are just friends, I promise, really good friends. He's err, not my type” Kelly laughs at that bit but when she looks at your face she stops.

“So yeah, how much do you know about what happened after you left Hawkins? Eddies told me what happened that night. He, well, he was a mess y/n”

You slowly look over at Eddie sitting next to you, his hands now covering his face, elbows resting on his knees.

“I first met him when the boys held an open audition for a bassist, there was no band name, just a location and a phone number. Not many people turned up, but later I found out it was you he was waiting for. He had set this whole thing up in hopes to see you again. I know this because, well … Ed’s? Do you want me to tell the story?” Kelly's question aimed at the man next to you. His head nodded quickly, letting some of his curls fall.

“After joining the band, I got to know everyone better. Finding out they all knew each other in school, a big group of nerds, but fierce and loyal friends. After a night of drinking and smoking, we all played a game of truth. This is where I found out about you. The one who got away. The one he thought hated him, the one who never returned his calls, his messages”

“Messages?” you were now questioning Eddie. He still wouldn't look at you.

“Yeah, he would leave messages at your house, both phone messages with your mom and also notes written to you. He was broken y/n. You know our song ‘Dial Tone’ right?” Kelly asks - you nod.

“It's about you y/n. I came back from a date one night and found him flat out on our living room floor, empty vodka bottles strewn across the room, pill bottles empty, a needle sticking out of his arm. He scared the shit out of me that day. We got an ambulance to him just in time, we didn't know it had gotten this bad, we didn't....” Kelly's voice trails off thick with emotion, her head falling, fighting back tears of her own.

You try to remember some of the lyrics and it suddenly comes to you, realisation hitting you.

You disappeared without a trace

You never bothered to explain

You just walked away

All I wanted was an answer

All I needed was to know

Give me a reason

I need a reason

All those messages I left you

All those nights I spent alone

Give me a reason

Cause all that I hear is

A dial tone

“Kels, it's ok I got it” Eddie's voice gave you a shock next to you. Your head whipping sound to see him looking at you. You see Kelly stand from her seat, making her way over to the work bench wall, mirrors above, strewn with your bags and makeup for the show tonight.

“I was a complete idiot. Kels is right, I was a mess. I would call your house nearly everyday, leaving messages with your mom. I'd ask if you were there, she would say no, I asked to know where you were, I wanted to see you. You know now I spoke with Dustin during that time. He was the one who told me you went to california. As soon as I graduated I packed my bags, picked up the boys and we drove across the country. I needed to find you.”  Eddie's voice was calm, but you could tell there was something underneath trying to get out.

“I wrote that song when I came out of hospital. I was angry, but it helped me. I thought it would have helped me get over you, but I knew that would never happen” He reaches his hands over to you which are now tightly held together in your lap. You're hesitant at first to take them, but you slowly melt and the feeling of his warm hands, allowing him to entangle them together. 

“Y/n, I care about Ed’s, but not the same way as you do. I just didn't want to see him like that again. It scared me so much when I saw you two become close, I only knew his side of the story and i didnt want you to hurt him again. But, please don't be mad at her, but Jack told me your side. And y/n, please forgive me. I've never seen Eds this happy, and I just, just didn't want to potentially lose him again” Kellys face was flushed, using the sleeve of her cardigan to rub away tears that were slowly falling.

Trying to take in everything you've been told your brain felt like it was going to explode. 

“Kelly, I can't forgive you straight away, you really hurt me. I went through enough of this in high school. But i will talk to Jack - I think you should too” your voice a lot calmer that you felt.

“Eddie, I care about you so much, why didn't you tell me this before?” You free one of your hands from his clutches reaching over to stroke his cheek, catching a tear falling from his lashes with your thumb, bringing his eyes to meet yours.

“I'm so sorry y/n, please forgive me?” Eddie eyes, big and brown pleading with you.

“Eddie, you're a fool, but you're my fool” leaning forward to close the gap between you bring your lips to his in a gentle kiss. 

You hear the door open and close, noticing Kelly had left the room. 

“Eddie, I can't just forgive her for what she said. But tell me, please, nothing is going on between you?”

“I promise you sweetheart, nothing.Nothing is going on between us, but she's right though, you need to talk to Jack” Eddie's forehead now resting against yours, your noses brushing against each other. 

You spend the rest of the afternoon, wrapped in each other's arms on that sofa, filling in the gaps between Hawkins and California. Sharing laughs, tears and small sweet kisses.

Tomorrow, you will talk to Jack. Tomorrow you sing in front of a large crowd with Eddie. 

You didn't know what made you more nervous.

taglist - @corrodedcoffincumslut @bohemianrhapsody86 @themrsmunson @emmalee-01  @jennk182 @whoahoney @eddiemunsonsgf2 @strangerthingsstories5255

#eddie x reader #eddiemunson #strangerthings #battleofthebands #readerhenderson #slow burn #enimes to lovers #fic writing #fic #plus size reader #corroded coffin #eventual smut #munson #henderson #strangerthings4 #confessions #plussizereader #y/n #femreader #eddie #idiots to lovers

[songjo]

Diary: T&K Live in Newcastle

Well, it's been so long since I've been to a PUBLIC EVENT, and I have a relatively small number of friends who are part of this fandom, so I figured I'd write a little summary to send into the tumblr ether (where I lurk among T&K content anyway). And, to be honest, mostly for me to look back on, because it was so fabulous and I do not want to forget the feeling.

Long story short: possibly the best thing I've spent money on this year. Perhaps even on par with Except money spent on travel to see loved ones.

So I went to see the show at O2 City Hall in Newcastle on 8/12, which is located fortunately close to mine, since I knew I would have to go at the end of a working day. It was also the day of the first snow up in the North East, and we got the social-media posts from T&K stuck on the LNER service up from London. Trains have stopped running in the UK for less, and I'm just glad that they seemed to have avoided the fate of rail-replacement buses.

Impression on arrival: very mixed and happy crowd. All a bit cramped in the downstairs bar at the O2 (cramped mostly because of covid-resurgence/strep A/general winter bug concerns). For those who saw the backstage clips/photos from Obsessed where they were getting changed in what looked like a stairwell: the O2 is nearly 100 years old and grade II-listed (and it contains an organ with a Grade 1 certificate), so renovations would have to be highly considered, and I'm guessing that the dressing rooms were too far away for the quick changes.

Then I sat in my seat for about an hour, with Duolingo, watching the ads, hoping nobody taller would sit in front of me, deciding until the very end whether to buy merch now and have to somehow hold it all night or to buy it later. The North East is a place where nothing placed on the floor of a concert venue/club/cafe/shop is safe. Not from theft, but from spilled drinks.

The thing about having tried not to get too spoiled about the show, and failing to a certain degree, is that the anticipation is raised. So when the curtain drops and Trixie is there, it was pretty surreal.

They looked so good. I can't remember exactly where it was that T talked about Katya's performance being influenced by how good she thinks she looks (was it a tour bts clip?)... but the matter of that fact was that they looked GOOD.

Both T&K attempted the Geordie accent, and that was good too.

Whoever does their research for each stop is obviously meticulous - they knew that having Sunderland being the butt of jokes would go down well in Newcastle.

When they needed to gesture to the disco ball they couldn't find it. At first, I didn't even know if it was a gag, but apparently it's usually behind them, but it was in front of the stage (and suspended in the air ofc) this time.

The lighting was amazing? Pretty much every sparkly outfit was fully blingy. I'm sure this is by design, but it's worth mentioning.

Did I say that they looked good yet? Ugh.

The crowd duly cheered for the first outfit changes (black-and-white sparkly mini, which T paraded around; and the shiny red robe, which K modestly said "oh it's just a robe"). And also subsequent outfit changes. Some very VERY loudly. Even when T put on the boa (during the part where they were fighting and angrily throwing the contents of their clothing rails into their trunks), which earned an exasperated "it's a boa. *pose*"

Tbh, I think we just cheered very loudly for allsorts. At one point T went off-script (I think?) and said "are y'all just really drunk??" (crowd: more whooping) This is, for better and worse, very Newcastle.

T joking about being old is always funny since she's younger than I am. But I expect I elicit the same feeling when I joke about being old (and genuinely loving it) to older friends and colleagues.

The dancers are all adorable.

T fixed K's skirt when she's lying down on the stage just before Wind Beneath My Wings again. Maybe this is habit by now? When T first comes out on stage when K is "passed out", and asks where K is, nobody in the crowd actually said anything... T: "Thank you for being dignified enough to not point out the obvious and going 'she's behind you!'" (No idea if this was scripted, but it was a fun interaction.)

The little interlude/scene-change music was so funny, and had the exact right feeling for them?

During the TEDxxx portion, K was just in a black leotard. When T came in to do her talk, K wiggled out each time, and the screen (obviously) zoomed in on the butt.

T in her "T-is-K" get-up, in person, is insane. It already looked amazing on fancams but I guess being in the room heightens everything? Also, I don't know what the sound systems are like in their different venues, but the bass was dialled UP at City Hall, and Rasputin going into Ding Dong was a moment. It nearly became an unfortunate moment because T looked liked she lost her balance a teeny tiny bit and leaned backwards, but she's a pro's pro the number proceeded as usual. (I then played Ding Dong all the way home in my car.)

Seksi was everything I'd hoped it would be.

In fact, every choreographed piece was even better in person.

When T and K are tied up and Kelly Mantle is being the Klarma CEO, the girls are one point say, "murder is illegal in this country right?" Crowd: *crickets... then laughs*. K: "we leave tomorrow right?"

Kelly Mantle is amazing and I want all her suits. When Sandy returned from being locked up in the Klarma dungeon, her bangs were covering her eyes. (T&K both smiling, T stays smiling until she remembers to act again) T: "you gotta uh fix your wig there Sandy?" S: *adjusts hair* "I don't wear wigs, this is my hair."

At some point, when Sandy comes out looking for K, and K is mostly definitely not on stage, the crowd then went, "she's behind you!" And Sandy humoured by having a look behind her and then scolding us for messing about.

Can I just say one more time that the costumes are so fabulous? And the non-full-number music choices equally so?

It was just really, really wonderful.

I had planned to try to only take it in with my eyes, but I couldn't resist recording some of it as well. Clips will come up in due time.

#trixie and katya #trixie and katya live #trixie mattel #katya zamolodchikova #t&k live

[wiiildflowerrr]

5 Seconds of Summer’s Derp Con: Navigating A Pop-Punk Boy Band Fan Convention

(Maria Sherman, Billboard, 17 Nov 2014)

'For a band often chased around hotels and airports by ravenous fans — that's what happens when you open for One Direction, score a No. 1 album debut and become one of the breakout stars of the year…

Michael Clifford and Calum Hood of 5 Seconds of Summer perform onstage during the 5 Seconds of Summer tour held at The Forum on November 15, 2014 in Inglewood, California. Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Upon entering 5 Seconds of Summer‘s world, one must come prepared. You need the uniform of knee-high socks and punk rock t-shirts, the earplugs to muffle teen girls’ nearly volcanic wails. You need to let yourself become part of that community and accept the fact that everyone around you is having a ridiculously good time. There’s a high probability that you will, too.

The concept for the Australian pop-punk group’s Derp Con (named such as the 5SOS boys consider themselves awkward, always “derping” around) was lofty. Kids from all around the world would enter contests in their native country through radio and other media platforms, and if they won, they would be flown them out to Los Angeles, put up in a nice hotel and given passes to attend one of the band’s two headlining gigs at the famous Forum. In between: a promised day of debauchery at a mysterious location.

For a band often chased around hotels and airports by ravenous fans — that’s what happens when you open for One Direction, score a No. 1 album debut and become one of the breakout stars of the year as good-looking teenage boys — 5SOS managed to keep Derp Con a secluded event. Billboard and other attendees were told to meet in the lobby of the Andaz Hotel on Sunset Boulevard at 8:45 in the morning on Sunday (Nov. 16), where we’d hitch a ride to… well… somewhere. Below is a minute-by-minute recap of 5 Seconds of Summer’s enthralling fan convention:

8:45 AM – A series of hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses pull up to the hotel. Apparently, we’ll be riding in style today.

9:00 AM – It takes a few minutes to get everyone on the bus, mostly due to the contest winners’ unrivaled enthusiasm — it’s like attempting to hurdle a group of squirrels. Each bus reflects a variety of countries, and apparently we’re the “Good Girls, Bad Girls” team representing the United States and Australia/New Zealand. I’m told there are 32 countries present and two or three people with each present contest winner, typically a chaperone and a friend.

9:03 AM – When the bus starts moving, it becomes evident that our tour guide was going to show us the 5 Seconds of Summer version of Los Angeles. “‘Pizza’ was performed at the House of Blues, one of 5SOS first shows,” he announces. A girl asks if it is the same venue as the one featured in the Lindsay Lohan version of Freaky Friday.  Spending an hour on the bus with this guy proved he didn’t really know how to handle teen girls, as he made quips like “You might be a little young for this, but have you ever heard of a musician called Sheryl Crow?” and “The only time L.A. is empty is now, on a Sunday morning. All the rock-and-rollers are sleeping off last night’s party.”

9:19 AM – The tour guide makes a James Dean joke. The girls do not know who James Dean is.

9:23 AM – The tour guide makes a Ketchup joke, referring to the dog toy the band had while recording their debut album. He wins them over again.

9:34 AM – The girls gasp and take pictures of a Panda Express. 5 Seconds of Summer loves Panda Express.

10:00 AM – We arrive at our destination: Paramount Pictures. The bus is too tall to fit through the studio’s iconic gate, so we’re forced to circle the grounds.

10:12 AM – As the bus continues taxiing, a group of girls start reworking the lyrics to “English Love Affair” to be about going to Los Angeles and meeting the 5SOS family. One girl, dressed in a fleece penguin costume in 80-degree heat, pulls out a ukelele and starts playing “She Looks So Perfect.” In the crew, there’s a gaggle of Pikachus, skunks, kimonos and kids in school uniforms, vis-a-vis the “Good Girls” music video. There are flags from all over the world being worn as capes. This is the Teen Girl Olympics.

11:12 AM – After a prolonged security wait, we finally enter Paramount, where there’s a red carpet and fake paparazzi cameras flashing around us. A few more steps and the place looks like Comic-Con: there’s a dude in a Spider-Man suit and a mariachi band covering “Don’t Stop.” There’s a DJ competing with him, spinning pop-punk and pop-rock jams from the early 00’s. Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” is played more than once.

11:18 AM – The first destination is check-in, where each attendee is handed a map, a schedule and a fake Australian passport. There are six stations in total that the girls are designated to swing by. Little information is given out about each one. Inside, “Derp Rock City,” and various 5SOS-doctored classic rock posters litter the walls.

11:20 AM – Our first station is “Awkward Family Photos,” where the girls get the meet the band. This information isn’t told explicitly — just “Remain calm, one at the time.” The girls figure it out instantaneously and appear as if a fuse has been lit inside their souls.

11:30 AM – They seat us in a room with folding chairs, facing an exposed window. The girls are quiet and confused and then loud. The Australian girl slated to go first starts hyperventilating. Another girl starts crying because she can hear the boys’ muffled laughs in the background.

11:52 AM – They spot the boys in the distance, and explode. Those muffled laughs were just employees.

12:00 PM – Two girls and their mom filter into the room with the band. The mom is now feeding off their energy, shrieking and crying along with them. Luke Hemmings, the heartthrob of the band, tells them they smell nice. He might as well have just given them a million dollars.

12:03 PM – After the girls meet the band and get a photo, the mom comes up to me to tell me her daughter’s fifteenth birthday is in two weeks, and that her family cannot afford a quinceañera. Winning the contest, then, was a godsend. “You probably don’t have kids, but when you do, they become everything,” she starts. “When they’re sad, you’re sad. When they’re happy, you’re happy. I’m just a mom, an average joe. I could never provide this for her. And she’s happy.”

Seeing stuff from a 5sos perspective…. #DERPROCKCITY @5SOS November 16, 2014

12:18 PM – The next station is called “Virtual 5SOS,” where fans get to experience recording with the boys. A group of girls puts on virtual reality goggles and massive noise-canceling headphones to watch a short clip of the dudes rehearsing their song “End Up Here.” When they’re done, the girls turn around and see the same instruments the boys used in the segment. One girl cries, “My butt is where Ashton’s butt was!”

12:23 PM – The Ashton-butt girl declares that she wants to start a band.

12:28 PM – It’s Graffiti Wall time. Much like the ladies of the “Good Girls” video, here the kids get to experience the art of spray paint… virtually, of course. There are screens and can-snapped remotes to direct their hands, and when the attendees are done writing “Michael Marry Me,” they add 5SOS-themed emojis like tongues and logos. At one point I think a girl is trying to be particularly badass and write “hate,” but she was scripting “Haley.” That’s kind of the beauty of this place–it’s all positivity, all of the time. The strong emphasis on technology here really makes it feel like a convention.

Turkey or chicken #DERPROCKCITY @5SOS November 17, 2014

1:00 PM – Lunch break. I help myself to a “Don’t Stop the Derp” adult beverage. At one point, a guy in a Teen Mutant Ninja Turtles costume grabs a drink with me. The food options are pretty teen-friendly: there are two pizza stations, with toppings hand-selected by the boys, and a few of the pizzas have M&M’s, gummy bears and gummy worms on them. I try the vegemite one. It’s not terrible.

1:13 PM – A DJ starts entertaining us with even more 5SOS-picked jams like Foo Fighters’ “Hero” and Green Day’s “Jesus of Suburbia.” Meanwhile, girls are excitedly exchanging Instagram and Twitter handles with each other.

2:00 PM – We walk into a cool dark room with two vintage Capcom arcade games and 5SOS-themed Pac-Man game called “Hungry 5SOS.” A group of girls play on a large LED screen while a crowd watches below.

2:12 PM – The girl who wins “Hungry 5SOS” tells me that she gave guitarist Michael Clifford a Game Boy when she met them — specifically, a Game Boy Advance SP, which was released in 2003 and is now vintage. She represents the generation that entered Green Day’s music at American Idiot and made 5SOS superstars.

2:18 PM – The next station is “Da Green Screen,” where fans get to take props like comically oversized sunglasses and bassist Calum Hood’s signature sombrero and recreate some of their album covers. It’s a sweet idea, but the girls are mostly still discussing the fact that they met the band just two hours earlier.

Da green screen. #DERPROCKCITY @5SOS November 16, 2014

2:23 PM – We reach what should be our final destination constructed within the confines of the Paramount grounds, the “Hi Or Hey Record Store,” named after the band’s new label Hi Or Hey Records. Upon entering, the girls are handed an exclusive Derp Con EP signed by the band.

2:30 PM – At this point in the afternoon, everyone is exhausted and waiting around, wondering why we’re supposed to stay here until 5:00 PM.

4:00 PM – Another surprise! 5 Seconds of Summer take to a small outdoor stage within Paramount, performing hits like “Out of My Limit,” “Good Girls,” “Amnesia” and “She Looks So Perfect” acoustically for a special set before their Forum gig later that evening. Between the tracks, the boys answer questions written questions submitted by fans. Calum pulls out a card, begins cackling and says, “Is this from my mum? ‘What’s your mum’s favorite food?'” Out of a few hundred questions, the bassist apparently found his mom’s entry. It feels like a fitting metaphor for the band: they’re still kids, after all.'

X

#this day in 5sos history #5sos #5 seconds of summer #calum hood #ashton irwin #luke hemmings #michael clifford #derpcon #2014 #17 november #billboard #derp con #5sosfam #fandom #fangirls #calum 5sos #ashton 5sos #luke 5sos #michael 5sos

[softbobamilktae]

The Strings of My Heart [18] - Hello, Baby

← Chapter 17 | Chapter 19 →

Pairing: Zoro x Jupiter

Genre: fluff, angst, f2l

Word Count: 2.3k

Warnings: birth complications, mentions of custody battles and trauma

Summary: Zoro’s moved to sunny California for college to escape from the life of fame for a little while. But when he loses his violin case in the second week of school, he’s sure his college experience has just gone up in flames. What will he do when, despite all odds, his case is returned to him?

—————

Jupiter awoke to chaos the next morning.  The nanny was late.  There had been a power outage and the alarms hadn’t gone off, and Stella was chasing Bella around the house trying to get her ready for school.  It seemed that Venus and the boys had made their buses, but Stella had stayed behind to keep an eye on the three youngest kids.

Jupiter had about five voicemails on her phone.  One from Zoro, wishing her a good morning and promising to call her that evening, one from the nanny who was explaining that she’d be an hour late because she’d missed her alarm as well, and three from the hospital.  She listened to those as she went to make breakfast for the two youngest kids.  Apparently, they’d done an emergency C-section.  The baby was ok, and her mom was out for the time being.  It sounded like she’d be ok from what Jupiter could gather.  She’d head up there as soon as the nanny was here, and Stella and Bella were at school.

“Who wants apples?” Jupiter hollered down the hall.

“Meeeeeee!” Aurora exclaimed as she ran out to the kitchen, tiny Comet on her heels.

◇◆◇◆◇

Jupiter dropped Bella off at school over an hour late.  Stella was nearly two hours late by the time she made it in.  Jupiter drove to the hospital after that.  She was so glad her mom and new baby sister were ok.  She’d gone to bed extremely worried the previous night after that call.

Her phone was ringing a few moments later, and she hit the “accept” button when she saw Zoro’s name.

“Hey there!” she greeted.

“Hi!  I’m headed to orchestra now, but I thought I’d call you.”

“Yeah, what were you doing up at six this morning?”

He laughed. “I had a paper to finish, and Jiho wanted to call.  I was more surprised that you didn’t answer.”

“We had a power outage last night and none of the alarms went off this morning.  Stella and Bella were both late to school.”

“Yikes.  Are you headed to work now?”

“No, I’m on my way to the hospital.  My mom had to have an emergency C-section.”

“Oh no!  Are they ok?”

“Yeah.  Baby is fine.  I think my mom’s gonna be ok, too.  I’m hoping I can talk her into giving up the baby.” Jupiter took a deep breath. “I can’t see that going well.”

“Good luck.  I hope it goes well.  It’ll make things a lot easier if she’s on board with it, right?”

“Yeah.  It’ll be a lot easier if I just get guardianship with her permission.  I’m sure she’ll give it for most of the older kids.  I’m just not so sure about Comet and the new baby.”

“Well, call me after you talk to her, ok?” Zoro asked. “I’ve gotta go now.  Love you.”

“Love you.  Bye-bye.”

◇◆◇◆◇

Jupiter found her mother’s room fairly quickly after arriving at the hospital.  The baby wasn’t in here, and her mom was still unconscious.  Jupiter crossed the room and stared down at her mom.

“Please don’t make this hard for me.  You’ve made my life very hard, and I want to make sure the kids don’t go through that.”

Jupiter heaved a deep sigh.  After a few moments, she left.  She was going to go meet this new baby.  The nurses were very helpful in her quest to find the baby.  Part of her felt a bit uneasy at this, but she supposed her ID was enough to prove who she was.  Soon enough, she had a little tiny baby girl in her arms.

“Did my mom name her yet?” she asked.

“Andromeda Stellar.  A very…interesting name, I must say.”

Jupiter suppressed a laugh. “Of course.”

“Are there more of you?”

“Oh, yeah.  Eight more of us.  We all have space-themed names.”

“Oh, wow!”

“I’m the oldest.”

“I’m sure your family is lovely.”

Jupiter wished she could agree with that.  Right now, her family was a mess.

◇◆◇◆◇

Jupiter’s mother awoke a few hours after Jupiter arrived at the hospital.  This was probably not the best time to have the guardianship conversation, but Jupiter knew it needed to happen sooner rather than later.  Especially with the new baby.

Jupiter found herself jittery as she sat in front of her mom.

“Glad to see you’re ok.”

“I thought the baby wasn’t going to make it.  There was blood everywhere!”

Jupiter glanced up at her mom. “That’s not good.  Did they tell you what was wrong?”

“Uterine rupture.”

Jupiter’s eyes widened. “What?”

“Yeah.  I can’t have any more kids.”

Jupiter held back her ‘thank goodness’. “Mom, I wanted to talk to you about something.  I need…to have guardianship.  Over all the kids.”

Her mom glanced at her. “Yeah.  That’s fine.”

Jupiter’s eyes widened in shock. “What?”

“You can have them.  I don’t want to take care of everyone anymore, and with the new baby….”

“No, Mom, all of them.  That includes Andi.  You can stay and look after her while she’s little, but if you need a break, you should take it.  I need to have guardianship over her in case you need that, though.”

Truthfully, Jupiter didn’t want her mother around the house, but formula was a fortune and it seemed unethical to take Andromeda away from their mother when she was so young.

Jupiter expected some argument about this, but her mom just shrugged. “Ok.  Do we need to sign paperwork?”

Jupiter cleared her throat. “Um, yes.  I think we need a court to deal with it.” She was really hoping this wouldn’t wear off before she could get guardianship. “Should I look into it?”

“That’s fine.”

“Uh, well ok!  I need to head to work now, so I’ll be back tonight?”

“See you tonight.”

◇◆◇◆◇

“Zoro, you won’t believe this!  She said yes!”

“She did?” he asked in astonishment. “This is worth a celebration!  Forget cafeteria food!  I’m getting In-N-Out!”

Jupiter laughed. “In-N-Out, eh?   Enjoy it for me.  I haven’t had that in months!”

He hummed. “So, what does this mean for you?  Does her permission make this easy?”

“I think so.  My mom and I will have to talk to an attorney about this once she’s out of the hospital.”

“That’s great, honey.”

She sighed. “When does winter break start?  I miss you.”

“There’s about a month and a half of school left, then I’m all yours.  I told my family I’m not coming home for Christmas this year.”

Jupiter gasped. “Zoro!  You don’t have to do that!”

He sighed. “I do.  I’ll be visiting them in the spring.  My mom will be very happy to see me over her birthday, and I think we need to get your siblings settled before I go anywhere again.”

“Zoro, this is my family.  You don’t need to feel like you have to help me out.  It’s difficult, but I’ll manage.”

“Jupiter, they’re my family too now.  Don’t you get that?  They’ll be my siblings too when we get married…”

She flushed at the mention of marriage.  So, he’d been thinking it too.

“…and of course, I want to help you.  I’m sorry I’m not there now.  I just…”

“I get it.  You’re not ready for New York yet.”

“You knew?”

“Of course, I knew.  I was shocked you were willing to stay for as long as you did, honestly.  I adore you for helping me, but I get it if you need more time.”

“Am I that easy to read?”

“No.  I just know you, and I’ve seen how you’ve reacted to things.  You were shaking at the airport in August.”

He was silent for a few moments. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize!”

“I should’ve been there for you, though.  I’m being selfish.”

“You’re not.  They’re not your responsibility.  If you want to help out, I’ll gladly let you, but if you don’t want to, don’t feel like you’re obligated to.” She sighed. “If I’m being honest, it’s not as bad as it used to be.  First of all, I have free reign to do whatever I want, including hiring a nanny.  I have a bunch of little helpers who want to make dinner, and if we’re not in the mood to cook, I can just order food without having to beg my parents to let me.  Everyone is a bit older now, and I think the vast majority of them now understand why it’s important that we need to stick together as a family and help out.  I could never have survived the summer without you, but now that they’re all in school and we have a nanny for the younger two, it’s ok.”

“I know.  That’s why I’m coming back for winter break, though.  I know you need help, and I think it’ll be a lot easier on you if I’m gone during a few weeks of school in March and April instead of at a time when the kids are all off of school.”

She laughed. “You’re not going to let me win this, are you?”

“No!  Definitely not!  If I wanted out of this, I would’ve left you months ago.”

She sighed as tears filled her eyes. “I know.  Thank you.  I think I’m a little disappointed we don’t get to see your family for Christmas, though.”

He chuckled. “Trust me, they’re disappointed too.  I already know Hyeon is plotting something.  She said she’d going to do a bunch of online shopping.”

“My family down in Florida is probably going to expect me.  I don’t want to see them.  My aunt lives down there, and so do all my mom’s cousins.”

“We don’t have to go.”

“I know.  I’m just…really bad at saying no.”

“I think it’ll be good for all of us if we just stay in New York.  And that’s…not just my fear of your aunt talking.”

She giggled. “You’re right.  I’m not going to let her get within a ten-mile radius of you, though.  She doesn’t even know I have a boyfriend.”

“Wow!  Really?”

“No.  I’m sure she’ll find out eventually, though.  Venus doesn’t know how to keep her mouth shut.”

“It’ll get better as she gets older.  Jiho used to be like that too.”

“I can see that.  She’s already a lot better than she used to be, honestly.  She keeps asking when you’re coming back, though.  I think she likes you.”

“I did teach her the trades of cooking.  She really enjoyed that.”

Jupiter smiled. “They all really love you, Zoro.  Especially the boys.  The three of them have mostly only had each other for their whole lives, so I think having an older guy in the house has really benefited them.  Especially with how…neglectful my dad was.”

“Did you ever see their bedroom after I left?”

She laughed. “I did!  They were telling me ‘you have to see what Zoro did!’  It reminds me of the bedroom at your grandma’s house.”

“They kept saying they wanted a secret hideout.  We went to the department store and got a bunch of curtains and wood and paint.  They had a blast building it.”

“I was shocked when I realized how little you’d drilled into the wall.  You’re very talented.”

“Well, my grandpa does a lot of carpentry work now that he’s mostly retired.”

“I think I’ve noticed.  Did he finish the shed?”

“Yeah, they’ve got a shed in the backyard now.  Grammy is very happy about that.  I think the garage is a lot cleaner now”

“That’s good.  Have you seen them recently?”

“I was going to head down over fall break, but I ended up painting my apartment instead.”

“That’s my fault.  Sorry.”

“Don’t be!  It was like I had you here with me for those months.  I’ll be seeing them all for Thanksgiving, anyways, so they won’t miss me too much.”

“That’s good.  Hopefully I can come see them soon.  I really enjoyed my time with them.”

“I can assure you that my grandma will not be visiting you in New York, so yes, you’ll have to come here,” he laughed.

“Does she not like New York?”

“Nope.  She’s not a huge fan of big cities.  She hasn’t even come up to LA to see me because she hates all the traffic.”

“What about Seoul?”

“She doesn’t have to deal with the traffic there much, so she’s visited quite a bit.”

“I see.” She huffed. “I’ve gotta get to work now.  Usually, I’m in four hours earlier.”

“That’s all right!  I have class in about half an hour, and I’m on my way to get lunch.”

“You said you were getting lunch twenty minutes ago!”

“Nah, I was planning lunch twenty minutes ago.  I’ve been going through all my loose papers from last semester to see if I can get rid of anything.  My apartment’s a mess.”

“I can’t imagine your apartment being messy, honestly.”

“I’ll send you a photo later.  Peyton’s been staying the night every other weekend, and I’ve been tutoring one of the freshmen in my building, so I haven’t had much time to clean between that and all my classes.”

“Oof.  Is he not having a good time with his grandparents?”

“I don’t think so.  His sister has been popping into town every so often as well.  She goes to Santa Barbara, so she comes down every so often.  His parents are still fighting over their house up in New Jersey.”

“Wow.  Well, I’ve gotta go now.  Maybe we can call tonight?”

“Call me whenever you’re free.  I don’t have any night classes this semester.”

“All right.  I love you.”

“Love you too.  Talk to you later.”

“Bye bye.”

—————

Chapter 19 →

This is part of the Dad!BTS series that can be found here

Series M.list

A/N: so this is like...3 months overdue but it's here now :D

It would be greatly appreciated if you reblogged the story if you liked it!

Taglist: @jiminie-and-his-pinky-finger @jinnie-forthe-winnie

#softbobamilktae original stories

[mandssisters]

Where do I begin….London 15.11.22

It’s been over three years! I know three years since I was last able to bore you, sorry able to blog to you, about the beloved Mumford & Sons.

So much has changed in the world and this tour to me will be a good scientific experiment as to how the rest of life continues. No pressure Mr Marcus. Let the science begin of how many shows can you go to before you catch Covid? I do like a good test. Answers by 3rd December.

Day 1. #Austeritytour

I’ve gone all budget budget budget. What with the cost of trains and the never ending strikes the decision was made to keep it all things slow and steady. Coach for the win! Yes, it did get me here, but (possibly) never again !!! In the dark pissing rain at 0530 I left home. And after another 5 nauseous green face 🤢 mind numbing hours I made it to London. Felt like I could have walked it faster!! But then again….. maybe not.

London in the rain. Such a romantic idea….. except when dragging a wheelie suitcase.

The venue. Shepherds Bush Empire. Fond memories of seeing the lads back in 2010 here for their 2 night residency. Happy days. When cruising past the venue towards the hotel I spotted the visual feast of a pop up red tent and duvets. Saying hello as I passed there was no response. It turns out that Louis Tomlinson #youdontthinkyourebeautful and other hits was playing on Friday night, 4 days away, and these girls had been queuing since Sunday, day and night, only for the concert to be rescheduled!!! Can you imagine the heart ache. Poor girls. They apparently left in tears along with their duvets.

Joined for the day by the America legends, the day passed by very quickly. The rain had stopped and thank goodness for the overhang of the building a complete lifesaver. We met Andy the best dad. His daughter is the Mumford fan and she had been struck down by flu, but being a gig goer he decided to go it alone. Waves to Andy! 207 Hays -by - pass all the way!! Where was Hays and why are there so many buses going that way?!?! It’s amazing how much music history you can share with someone!

Doors to green, and goodness me how I missed this venue. What a room. It felt smaller or have I just got bigger? Don’t answer that.

Monica Martin and Jake Shearman were the opening act. Monica has an amazing voice and entertained us with a laid back jazzy blues set full of heart ache… but in a good way!!

Showtime.

To say I’d been looking forward to this moment is the understatement of the year.

Marcus opens up on his own. No band. Stating he made a solo album but with the most help and friends that he has ever made a record with. Good words.

Standing along with just a guitar we basked in the joy of Awake my Soul and The Cave.

Cannibal. Wow. When the drums kicked in by Griff it took the song to another level. The energy was intense. Tense moment in the room there was what we all thought to be some cheering during this song but it turned out to be a medical emergency. The house lights come up, the music stopped and security leapt in.

Possibly a difficult time to continue, if there was ever an appropriate moment to restart a song Marcus bashes out “Help me know how to begin again”. And we were back. The unwell crowd member was being treated out of the room by medics. Hopefully all well.

Highlights:

Amazing vocals and live band.

Hearing Self Titled live in its entirety. The emotion and power. I loved it and basked in all the heart and soul like a sponge soaking it all up.

Three years 3 months had been too long.

Monica joined Marcus on stage for go in light.

Finishing with HOW left me speechless. One of the crowd shouted “well done Marcus” a short but very heartfelt moment.

The encore a musical and visual feast. Loving these basement tapes songs being in the mix. I felt more relaxed looser to enjoy the moments. WIGMHOY was extra special.

Finishing off with the off mic (you could hear a pin drop) moment of I will wait at the front of the stage. Oh happy days.

Post show feast at the Chicken 126 “cash only” premises. First chicken in a bun with fries also in 3 years. Three meals with drinks all for under £15.00 what could go wrong. It’s also worth mentioning that the Green Green Grass, blue blue sky crooner George Ezra casually strolled past us carrying a tote bag whilst we surveyed the menu of Chicken 126 ….. he opted not to risk the set meal. Turns out he was also at the gig….. a man of exquisite taste.

Round two tonight

Love Sister C

#mumford and sons #Marcus mumford #shepherdsbushempire

[eldritch-araneae]

Okay here is a thing I wrote last night. I was thinking about how Bumblebee and Echo ( Spike’s reincanation) would meet and here it is)) 

It takes place in future, after the war and Bumblebee’s reforging. Venus and Mars are terrraformed/cyberformed and colonised. 

---

The Detroit Interplanetary Spaceport is busy as usual. Bumblebee is making his way towards the shuttle that is heading to Venus. He wants to go home after a long week he spent doing serious work on Mars. Sometimes being the Senior Life Warden is just like that.

But this is Earth, so what he is doing here?

He was visiting Spike's grave like he does every year for 134 years. Though "grave" really is a huge tree now as humans stopped burying their bodies in caskets in order to preserve them, instead they return them back to nature after death.

Bumblebee still misses the human that he saw as his split spark twin, but he accepted his passing and made peace with this pain. 

Suddenly someone bumps into him from behind. The beastformer turns around and sees a taller mech with bright green optics.

"Woops, sorry!" they apologize but then some unexpected happen. As mech took a good look at Bee, they froze in place, staring into his optics. Bumblebee found himself staring back at them. A strange feeling fills his spark as he senses what the other is feeling right now. 

A sense of familiarity? 

Or even affection? 

Did they meet before?

Sure Bumblebee created them, but rarely meets new mechs in person. 

"Ah! I’m sorry again!" the mech was the first to snap out. "I didn't mean to stare!" they laugh awkwardly.

Bumblebee smiles, he is not upset over this. He used to the fact that people would look at him all the time. After all, he’s is a walking legend.

"That's alright. Are you okay though? Judging by force you collided into me it was quite a fall." he looks carefully at them, looking for injures, and noticed the cassette deck on their chest. 

A cassette carrier, quite a rarity among frame types. Bumblebee notices 5 more sparks pulsing slowly. He smiles a bit, they must be asleep. 

"I’m okay!" the carrier reassures him as they place their hand on the back of their head. "I just got distracted and tripped over my own foot."

Bumblebee snorts. " Careful, you don't wanna wake your 5 sleeping cassettes!"

The mech's optics widened. "Woah! The tales of you are true? You can sense sparks?!" 

Before Bumblebee could reply, the voice announces that the shuttle to the Venus will depart soon.

"Shit! I’m gonna miss the shuttle!" both mechs exclaimed at the same time in panic. They exchanged looks with realization. In the next second Bumblebee grabs the other by the hand and two idiots are springing towards the right gate. 

--

The two made it just in time. They sat next to each other as the shuttle began to ascend into the sky. 

Then it went through the Space Bridge, allowing them to teleport the second planet of the Solar System almost immediately. But those shuttles are like space buses: travel to the planet is fast, but it has a lot of stops on the planet itself. Bumblebee's stop is the last one on this route, so it will take a while. 

Well, perhaps he can keep talking to a green-eyed mech. He just met them, but something tells him they will be friends!

"By the way, I'm Echo." seems like they have the same feeling. 

 "Bumblebee." he introduces himself, despite everyone knowing his name. Manners are still manners. "Nice to meet you~" 

They spent their time talking about random stuff as stops go by. 

--

"By the way, what happened to you when you forged my generation? Cassettes and I wanted to meet you, but we were told you got sick?"

"I did!" Bumblebee snorts. "Apparently creating around 500 species of flora and fauna, then forging over 100 cybertronians in one day is bad for my health."

"Why did you do that?! I mean you gotta rest!" Echo was horrified by Bumblebee's self-neglect.

"Overenthusiasm." a simple reply sends both of them into a laughing fit.

--

"Also, Jupiter sounds lately like it’s choking or something." Echo muses over their latest recording of electromagnetic vibrations, coming from other celestial objects in Solar System. "I wonder why."

"It’s probably still mad over the fact that Starscream convinced me to steal its moons for Mars and Venus." Bumblebee jokes.

"You did WHAT?!" 

--

"Sometimes it still feels so weird how I just came into being and already had 5 children! I just got born and already have responsibilities.”

"Mood!"

--

They kept talking until Echo realized they missed their stop. 

"Oh dear, this is my fault, I'm sorry!" Bumblebee apologizes, feeling bad for distracting his new friend. He should have asked where Echo's stop is, to begin with, but they were enjoying each other’s company so much they didn't notice the passage of time.

"That’s okay, I really should have paid attention to the announcements." they sigh, clearly not happy about this. That means they gotta get off at the next stop and wait for the next shuttle on the way back. Which will take a while.

"I will make this up for you!” Bumblebee says with determination igniting in his optics.”How about you stay at my place and go home tomorrow? We have a room and enough space for cassettes too!" Bumblebee invites them while typing a message to Windblade and Sari that he’s bringing a friend. 

"Awww, you're too kind!" Echo smiles. Normally they would decline an invitation from a stranger, but for some reason, Bumblebee doesn't feel like one. "Thank you very much! I hope other Life Wardens won’t mind." 

Bumblebee looks at replies from home and grins. "Oh, believe me, they are totally fine with you~"

They proceed to entertain each other until the last stop.

#my fanfics #sparkpulse au #sparkpulse spoilers

[twrites1]

“Another Woman’s Treasure”

Sam threw the glass of whiskey back, hissing at the stinging sensation as he sat it back on the tray, asking for another refill. Tonight, he wasn’t in the mood for this engagement party. He looked over to his future wife, a spoiled brat indeed. She started off as a good friend of the family, someone who he didn’t see more than that but fell victim of their mothers interference and nagging. He wasn’t going to engage into the foolery, but he prematurely proposed to her under the influence of alcohol and pure horniness. He wasn’t going to lie, he tried to get out of it but only gave up the fight due to belief that it wouldn’t be that bad. She wasn’t a bad girl, but there just wasn’t no romantic feelings nor love there. It was more of a long distance friendship type of love but even that was a reach.

“Here you go, Mr. Evans.”

Sam came out of his thoughts when the woman appeared with him a new drink, downing that immediately and sat it on the tray before picking up the second glass as well. He looked at her and smiled, “Keep them coming, sweetheart.”

“Will do.”

He turned his attention back to the guest, who were mingling, when he caught his mother’s eyes. He forced a smile once she sent one to him, she was his mother, so she probably knew that it wasn’t a real one but then again, she had been busying herself with her future daughter in law and the wedding planning. This was going to be a long night. Feeling someone come beside him, he knew who it was without even looking, “I’m surprised you showed up, Sarah.”

“Almost didn’t.” The woman spoke as she moved her straight brunette hair back behind her right ear, “It’s not too late to call this sham off because you and I both know she’s not the one for you and you’re definitely not in love like you’re pretending to be.”

“How you know I‘m not?”

“Please Sam.” His sister said without another fit of explanation, picking up the champagne flute and thanking the man with a smile before she began to scan the room, “How they are isn’t even close to how we are. That bitch and her family are no good.”

“Don’t be like that. She’s a sweet girl.”

“If that lie doesn’t keep you up at night, why should it for me?” Sarah chuckled as she pressed her lips against the glass, shaking her head before walking off, “Mark my words, this thing won’t go beyond this tonight. Just wait, big brother.”

Back in the kitchen, the caterers were busing around getting trays of drinks and hors d’oeuvres out for the crowd in their normal routine, but for some reason tonight, they were a tad bit more busier with the alcoholic drinks going out.

“Who’s in charge?”

The woman, who sitting the glasses on the tray for one of the severs, turned her head towards the entrance door of the kitchen, raising a brow at the woman, “I am.”

The rich woman stared at the girl, giving a cold glare for no apparent reason other than the fact that she could, “Don’t send anymore appetizers out. The main dishes need to be prepped and out in the next thirty minutes. No guest should have anything cold on their plate.”

“Do I hear a please in there? Matter of fact your rudeness needs to be cut from the tone you miserable bit-” A boy mumbled, causing the woman next to him to distinctly step on his foot, prompting him to speak in the full volume of his voice, “Ouch Mercedes.”

Mercedes gave him a look before her eyes turned back to the woman, giving her a respectful nod. Usually she didn’t take anyone talking to her in the way she did but her boss told her that this particular job tonight, she needed to bite her tongue because they were all going to get a healthy bump in their paycheck. She didn’t put money before verbal aggression but in this case, she would because she needed it.

“Miserable Bitch.” He said loudly once the woman was out of sight, “That’s what I was trying to call that hag. I try to respect my elders and never call women out of their name but she’s been pushing it all night. And plus, she’s acting like she’s the one who’s paying us.”

“I know, we only have a few more hours.” Mercedes reassured the youngest of the staff, watching as he huffed out before picking up the tray and heading back out, “Hang in there baby.”

Zachary, Mercedes’ best friend and colleague, met him coming into the kitchen, heading over to her, “All I know is that we better be getting a good bonus because I have bit my tongue so much, I might have to go to the ER.”

Mercedes gave him a sympathetic look before setting the glasses on two more trays, “Yeah, I’m about ready to go at this point, but I need the check bad this month. Things haven’t been good.”

“I know you don’t want to ask your family, but you know you have me and Kels, right? Put the pride aside, we got you.”

“I know.” She told him with a small frown, “I’m grateful but I can’t because you guys have your own family.”

“Shut the hell up with all that.” Zachary said in a way he told her all the time when he saw her stressed and refused help. Him and Mercedes have been friends since they were in pampers, and every since he has known her, she has always had to stubborn, independent stance within herself. He hated it, “We got you. End of discussion. What’s ours is yours, you know that. Now give me the damn tray.”

“Yes sir.” Mercedes mumbled as she handed one off to him then the other server, watching as the walked out.

The next hour had went by without a hitch, thankfully, for the the crew. Mercedes was leaned against the wall, watching as the speeches were made and the interactions between the couple. Usually, after dinner was served, this was her favorite part. Seeing the love between others always brought a smile to her face, but tonight, something felt so inorganic this time around. The groom for one seemed uninterested in everything, and the bride was too busy showing off her ring to everyone more than anything else. Most couples couldn’t be apart from one another on this joyous occasion. It just felt wrong. Hearing the applauses, she saw the groom’s sister come and announce that she had a special video for the couple.

What started off as innocent pictures of them from their childhood, turned into something unimaginable. Mercedes’ mouth went wide as she stared in horror at the video, her eyes traveling to find to Zachary, who was standing next to her in the same position, then the groom, who’s face was unreadable.

You couldn’t hear a pin drop when the video finally shut off. On it was photos of the bride, which looked taken by a PI, making out with some man numerous times that was obviously not her fiancé. What made it even worse was that the same man was here, due to the picture of her dressed in what she was now. Lily, Sam’s fiancée, looked at him in horror, making her way to him, “Babe...it’s not what it looks like.”

“Oh, it is.” Sam glared at her before moving away, a mixture of joy, anguish, and pity in the eyes of the guest, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear, “Party’s over. Engagement’s off. Everyone have a great night.”

Mercedes watched as he walked out the room, his ex-fiancé and their parents following closely behind as well. The mumblings about what just happened rose amongst the guest as the started to file out of the venue. She came out of her thoughts when she heard one of her colleagues speak.

“Guess it’s a short night for us. Let’s get to packing up.”

Mercedes started to head to the back, busing herself to get things in order so they could leave expeditiously and that they did within the hour. Her and Zachary were the only ones left, finishing up the last of the kitchen, which wasn’t much.

Zachary looked at his watch and eyes went wide, “Shit, Kelsey’s going to kill me. I was so wrapped in this drama.”

“Go, I can manage the rest.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

Zachary kissed her on her forehead before heading out, “I love you.”

“Tell her I said hi.” She called after him, shaking her head when he told her he would and was going to tell about her situation. She shook her head as she moved the dolly towards the counter. Turning back around, she gasped when she ran into someone, eyes going up and seeing it was the man of the night, “I’m sorry, Mr. Evans.”

“Sam, just call me Sam and there’s no need to apologize.” Sam told her, making his way to the other side of the counter, grabbing a paper towel to dry his hands. Truthfully, Sam was hoping that everyone was gone and had accidentally left a bottle of anything brown down there.

Mercedes eyed him carefully before gathering up the cork screws and placing them in the bag.

Sam’s attention was on her. Seeing the uniform, he took obvious note that she was part of the catering crew. He had used them last year but has never seen her before, “I bet this was one of the most entertaining receptions you’ve ever worked.”

“Nothing’s entertaining about what happened.” Mercedes told the man truthfully as she threw the unusable cling wrap in the trash, “You didn’t deserve that.”

Sam watched her movements closely, seeing her at ease as she quickly straighten up the counter. She then moved over to grab the leftover, never opened champagne bottles, stopping her, “Leave one.”

Mercedes glanced at him and nodded, sitting one of the bottles down before she grabbed four, a talent in Sam’s eyes, and placed them in the box.

Sam grabbed two champagne flutes from behind him, sitting them on the counter before swooping the bottle up. He opened the top, somehow avoiding the dramatic spill that comes along with it and poured the liquid into the flutes. He looked at Mercedes once she turned back around, picking up one and gesturing to her, “Have a drink with me.”

“Mr. Eva-urm, Sam.” She corrected as she shook her head, refusing the drink, “I’m still at work.”

“I’ll handle Laura if she so happens to pop up.” He sent her a lopsided grin in reference to her boss, pleading eyes, “Please, for a poor man whose heart just got broken.”

Mercedes pursed her lips and raised a brow, muttering and not realizing that she was that loud when she spoke, “You’re not torn up about it like one would expect.”

Guilty. Sam stared at her seriously, speaking honestly, “Maybe I just want to have a drink with the one genuine, beautiful soul I have met tonight. Who, may I add, have been nothing but nice and professional for the past ten minutes. Hard work pays off and this is your pay off.”

Mercedes rolled her eyes at the guilt trip, mumbling but not admitting how his words made her feel some type of way, “Fine.”

Sam smiled triumphantly as she took the flute, clinking his glass again hers before moving back and taking a sip.

Mercedes did the same, the bubbling alcohol stinging as it went down her throat. To be honest, she wasn’t much of a drinker but she would indulge in the kindness of the client.

“Not a drinker, aye?” Sam took note from the features on her face, laughing a bit when she shook her head and sat the glass down.

“Far form it.” She managed to get out with a snort.

“Maybe I should’ve ask if you’re even old to drink.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Mercedes laughed a bit before resuming back to her work, “I’m old enough to rent a car then add seven more years.”

“Wow.” Was all he said, causing the woman to look at him with a raised brow, he shook his head, “A good wow.”

Mercedes smiled as she leaned against the counter, “Is there anything...” she stopped when she heard her phone ring, grabbing from her pocket to look at the screen, “Excuse me for a second.”

Sam watched as she left out, his eyes wandering over to the platters that was wrapped up. He took a seat and grabbed one, placing it in his lap and picking one. He haven’t even gotten a chance to eat due to all the drama that went on. He powered through three of the delicious croissant sandwiches when Mercedes came, her phone call taking a littler longer than expected, “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, my babysitter was just checking in.” She said absently as she looked at him, seeing the surprised look on his face puzzled her, “What?”

“You have a kid?”

“Kids. Six month old twin girls, Bronx and Brooklynn.”

Sam caught her smile get bigger at the mention of her daughters, watching as she showed him her lock screen. Present were two brown skinned, hazel doe-eyed, chubby cheeked little girls giving gummy smiles, “They’re beautiful.” Sam complimented, his eyes going back to her to ask a question, “Is the father in the picture...oh shit, I’m just all in your business, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Mercedes giggled as tucked her phone back into her pocket, going back over to finish stacking the things on the dolly, “Their father was a cheating bastard. Slept with someone, who I thought was my friend, during my whole pregnancy and ended up getting her pregnant. He’s with her now, raising their child and don’t acknowledge my girls.”

“That’s....that’s fucked up.” Sam said bluntly, a frown plastered on his face. He had known this woman all of twenty minutes and was pissed that anyone would treat her and her innocent children like that.

Mercedes shrugged as she moved around, placing a few napkins in front of him so he can use, “It is what it is. I didn’t and will never dwell on it. I’m just trying to make a living for me and my babies. It’s hard, but I’m doing what I need to do.”

“And from what I can tell, you’re doing a hell of a job. Seriously. I commend you for it because having a child, let alone twins, is a lot.“

Mercedes smiled at him, “Thank you.”

Before Sam could respond and ask her some more about herself, he heard the sound of heels clicking against the hardwood, a familiar face appearing as her voice ran out.

“Mercedes, you were suppose to check in thirty minutes ago.” Laura stopped when she noticed that Sam was in the kitchen too, “Oh, Mr. Evans, I didn’t know you were in here. Hopefully Mercedes wasn’t bothering you.”

“She wasn’t.” Sam spoke before Mercedes could, giving the woman a pointed look, “Matter of fact, I was the one bothering her with my venting and held her up.”

“Oh, well that’s quite alright.” She waved off, earning a side eye from Mercedes, “I’m sorry for tonight.”

“Don’t be.” He pulled an envelope from inside of his suit jacket, handing it over to her, “Here’s the rest of your payment, plus some extra for the staff for the snobbish attitudes that they may have encountered from her side.”

“That’s very generous of you, Mr. Evans. Thank you.” Laura smiled at him before her eyes darted to Mercedes then him again, “And I’m sorry once more, but I kind of need my employee back so we can get going.”

“No, it’s okay.” He pushed off the counter, grabbing the platter and champagne to take with him, giving Mercedes a smile, “Thank you for being a listening ear and feeding my stomach.”

“It wasn’t a problem. You try to have a wonderful rest of the night, Mr. Evans.”

“I kind of already did talking to you.” Sam sent her a wink before heading out, leaving the two women alone.

Laura’s eyes back to Mercedes with a raised brow, opening her mouth for a question but Mercedes beat her to it.

“I’m done in here.” She grabbed the dolly and headed out, trying to avoid any questions that the woman may have had for her.

Mercedes mumbled as she headed through the crowded grocery store, cursing at there literally being no baskets left. She didn’t know why she just didn’t do this earlier and was regretting not bringing the stroller with her, prematurely thinking that she would’ve had a basket for the two girls occupying both sides of her hips. She sighed as she looked at them, “Looks like Mommy is going to have to just come back tomorrow.”

“Or not.” A voice came behind her, causing the woman with the children to whip around, familiar green eyes staring back at her with a smile, “You can have mine.”

Mercedes smiled at the man, who she last saw a month ago at his disastrous party, “Sam, hi.”

“Hi.” He had saw her when she first came in. He knew that the baskets were gone because he had grabbed the last one, “It’s good to see you.”

“You too and you don’t have to give me your basket. I’m sure you have things to get too.” She chuckled softly as one of her antsy daughter’s, Bronx, started to wiggle in her arms.

“It’s quite alright, you obviously need it more.” He commented as he looked at the little girls, who were a tad bit older from the picture he saw last month, “So, these are the little cherubs that were on your lock screen?”

“Yes, the one who is trying to escape my arm is Bronx and the always so calm one on my left is Brooklynn.” She watched as Bronx stared at the man curiously, a smile breaking out of her face as she leaned out of her mother’s arm for him, catching the woman by surprise. She never did that for anyone, especially strangers.

“May I?” Sam asked first, watching as the mother nodded before he picked her up, “Hey there cutie pie.”

Mercedes felt sudden relief of the extra weight being lifted but abandonment at the same time. She adjusted Brooklyn on her hip, shaking her head, “She usually doesn’t like people.”

“Guess I’m an exception.” Sam laughed as his eyes went back to hers, “But really, the basket, you can have. I can wait.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Thank you.” She told the man, shaking her head, “I’m sorry, how rude of me, how have you been?”

“Good.” He responded as he walked forward a bit, sitting the little girl in the seat part of the basket, watching as a pout took over her lips but she didn’t cry. He watched as Mercedes placed Brooklyn in there as well, thankful that this was the basket that was capable of sitting them both, “I’m going to be honest here, I’m glad I ran into you because I haven’t stopped thinking about you since that night.”

The keys that occupied her hand slipped but Sam was quicker, catching them before they fell to the ground. Her eyes were shocked at the admission, not knowing what to say, “Huh?”

Sam knew he caught her off guard but it was nothing but the truth. That night, Mercedes had made it worth the pretense of it all and he was really grateful that it turned out the way it did. Her presence drew him to her and he knew exactly why. This woman, only talking to her for the short amount of time he did, was the one. Something he didn’t feel with any of his exes, “I fought for a whole month on whether to call Laura and ask for your number. Funny enough, today was going to be the day I did but look at fate interfering. I want to ask if you would like to go out on a date sometime.”

Mercedes looked at him in surprise at his words, not believing that this was happening, “Me?”

“Yes you.”

Mercedes gave him a skeptical stare, shaking her head, still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that this man was asking her out, “You can have any girl you want. You’re in your prime, newly single, handsome, have a great job, and no children. I’m a single mother with twins, who gets paid minimal wage. Why?”

“Why not?” Sam watched as she ducked her head shyly, a smile tugging on his lips when he saw the realization on her face that she didn’t have a comeback, “One thing you should know about me, I’m not like them. You’re beautiful, smart, caring, real, hardworking and a great mother to your daughters. What more can a guy ask for?”

Mercedes lifted her head. No man, besides her father, had spoken so highly of her. And here he was. After that night, he left an impression on her and it was more than the act of him being so nonchalant about being cheated on. He was right, he wasn’t like anybody there, snotty, nor belittled the staff, he treated her and she would guess everyone else as equals. That’s what drew her to him, but she didn’t act on it for the simple fact that he probably wouldn’t see her in a romantic way. Deading that idea that night, she went on about her life, until those thoughts and feelings she had resurfaced in this moment. The sincerity in his voice and eyes was all she needed to know that he was serious and because of that, she was willing to give him a chance, “Okay.”

The smile spread so wide on the man’s lips, repeating her words, “Okay.”

Mercedes couldn’t help the heat of cheeks as she stared underneath his gaze, the only thing breaking their trance was her daughter reaching over and throwing the chips down, “Bronx, no.”

The little girl looked at her and giggled, causing Sam to do so as well as he picked it up and placing it back on the shelf, “How about this count as a predate? While we’re shopping, we’ll get to know each other better. What’d you say?”

The smile couldn’t leave Mercedes’ face if she wanted it to, “I’d like that.”

As she shopped, Sam stayed beside her every step of the way doing exactly what he intended to do. Get to know her and vice versa. This grocery trip was full of information and laughter between the two, and the unnecessary need for ease because it was already there.

#samcedes #samcedes fanfiction #samcedes one shot

[lilyvandersteen]

Out of the Blue: Chapter 8

Cover Art: @redheadgleek​

Beta extraordinaire: @hkvoyage​

Links: AO3, FF.net 

Author’s Note:

Another big confrontation... And this time around, Kurt is in the wrong.

Chapter 8: Wedding Snags

“When those dances were over, she returned to Charlotte Lucas, and was in conversation with her, when she found herself suddenly addressed by Mr. Darcy who took her so much by surprise in his application for her hand, that, without knowing what she did, she accepted him. He walked away again immediately, and she was left to fret over her own want of presence of mind; Charlotte tried to console her:

"I dare say you will find him very agreeable."

"Heaven forbid! THAT would be the greatest misfortune of all! To find a man agreeable whom on is determined to hate! Do not wish me such an evil."”

(An excerpt from Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The preparations for Sam and Mercedes’ wedding brought Kurt back to Ohio several times. While dress-shopping with Mercedes, Kurt bumped into Chandler, who now worked at a bridal store, apparently.

“That’s great, that’s great,” Kurt babbled, not really knowing what to say to a sort of ex-boyfriend, even if they’d never had that official status.

Chandler’s expression darkened into a scowl. “Not really great. But it will do. For now.”

“Of course, of course. It’s good to see you again!”

That brought a smile to Chandler’s face again, and he kept up a steady stream of prattle while he flitted around fetching all sorts of wedding dresses for Mercedes to try on.

He didn’t seem to have a good eye, though. The dresses he chose were all wrong for Mercedes’ body type, and too small as well.

Kurt decided not to put Mercedes through the ordeal of putting on outfits that wouldn’t fit her anyway, and invented an emergency at his father’s shop to be able to leave the store at once.

“Is your father okay?” Mercedes asked.

“He’s fine,” Kurt assured her. “I just wanted to get out of that store. The clerk didn’t have a clue what would look good on you.”

“It seemed like… Was it someone you knew?”

Kurt sighed. “Yes. We dated when I was still in high school.”

“Ooooh! How come you never told me about this boyfriend of yours?”

“We were never boyfriends. We just went on two dates, and it never went anywhere. We got along, but there was no spark, you know?”

Mercedes nodded. “Funny that you’ve run into him again now. Maybe this time around, it will work?”

Kurt shrugged. “I doubt it. His fashion sense leaves much to be desired, and his compliments are rather stale.”

Chandler kept turning up like a bad penny, though. They didn’t go to the dress store again, Kurt having decided to design and make Mercedes’ dress himself, but Chandler was at the bakery they went to for taste-testing, because apparently his parents were celebrating their 25th anniversary and were turning it into a big party. He was at the flower shop they ordered the arrangement for the church in, choosing flowers for his parents’ anniversary bash. He was at the restaurant Mercedes had chosen to cater the wedding reception and dinner, vacillating between the fish or meat option, because his mother preferred the one and his father the other.

Each time, he turned to Kurt to help him choose, smiling at him and praising his taste. Kurt’s answering smiles were a little stiff, and he always excused himself as fast as he could.

The night of the rehearsal dinner, Kurt ran into Chandler again at the restaurant. He wasn’t alone this time. Blaine Anderson was with him, of all people, and seemed to have a hissy fit.

Kurt knew what it felt to be on the receiving end of that, and came to Chandler’s rescue, though he didn’t enjoy the liberties Chandler took as a result – taking his arm and calling him pet names.

He saw that Blaine had wine stains on his clothes, and took that to be the reason for his foul mood, so he explained how to get the stains out and advised Blaine to get on with it before they dried in.

Blaine took that to heart and disappeared at a run.

“Phew,” said Chandler.

“What was he angry about?” Kurt asked.

“Me bumping into him,” Chandler said. “We used to date, you see, and then he got tired of me, and he didn’t just dump me, he got his brother to fire me as well. Blackened my character and everything.”

Kurt’s mouth fell open in shock. “Really?”

Chandler nodded, his face grim. “Really. Can’t get a decent job anywhere because of him. So promise me you’ll never date him, no matter how much money he throws at you. Because when he gets bored, he’ll get rid of you, and you’ll be the one picking up the pieces.”

“I think I can safely promise you that,” Kurt said, his lips a thin line. “The way he treated you was horrible!”

Chandler shrugged. “Karma will bite him in the ass one day. Well, I’ll let you get back to the rehearsal dinner. See you around, sweetie!”

Kurt was halfway back to his table when it occurred to him that Chandler had no way of knowing he was here for Sam and Mercedes’ rehearsal dinner. Unless he had been eavesdropping. That was a bit unsettling. He’d wanted to share his piece of juicy gossip about Blaine Anderson with Mercedes straight away, but now decided to wait until they were alone together.

Mercedes had been planning to spend her last night as an unmarried woman with her parents, but during dinner, Kurt and Rachel had been able to convince her to come to the Hudmel house instead, for a sleepover.

While Kurt braided Rachel’s hair, he told them Chandler’s story.

Mercedes pursed her lips. “Are you sure he told you the truth? I mean, Sam has worked with Blaine several times now, and he says he’s such a nice guy. Works harder than anyone else, fixes any problem in a jiffy, treats everyone the same from the lowest intern to the big boss. Sam hasn’t heard a bad word about him from anyone who works with him.”

“Maybe they don’t dare criticize him,” Kurt suggested. “He’s the big boss’s brother, remember?”

Mercedes shrugged.

Rachel let out a giggle. “You’ve had it out for him ever since his rant at the Brittana wedding. And he APOLOGISED for that.”

“Still a dick move,” Kurt grumbled, but he let it drop.

The morning of the wedding dawned cool but bright, and Kurt hummed as he made some last-minute adjustments to the dress. A plate of no-drip, no-stain snacks stood next to him, and at regular intervals, he fed Mercedes a snack and took one for himself, too.

When he had pronounced the dress perfect, Mercedes’ cousin Alma took over, to do the bride’s and the bridesmaids’ hair and make-up, and Kurt slipped into the garden for fresh flowers. Mercedes’ mother was paying a florist to decorate the church, but Kurt had offered to do the bouquets and the boutonnières.

When he arrived back in the living room with the flowers, Mercedes sat on the sofa, looking at her phone and worrying her lower lip.

“Not having seconds thoughts, are you?” Kurt teased her, but if anything, her frown deepened.

“I’d silenced my phone so as not to be disturbed. And now I’ve just looked at it and my mom called me. Five times. And left voice-mails telling me to call back asap. Which I did, but I can’t reach her. What on earth is the matter?”

Kurt patted her arm. “You let ME worry about it, okay? Turn that frown upside down and think of nothing but marrying Sam. Your mom’s at the church, I take it? Checking the flower arrangements and such? I’ll go there at once and handle whatever snag your mom has hit. I promise.”

Mercedes nodded and smiled hesitantly.

“I’ll do the bouquets and boutonnières,” Carole offered.

“And if necessary, I can take them all to church,” Burt promised. “We still have lots of time to get there anyway. You go and deal with the problem, Kurt.”

That was all the encouragement Kurt needed to hurry to the church, where he found Sam in an old T-shirt and jeans with holes in it, scrubbing a swastika from one of the pews, and a teary Mrs. Jones being comforted by Cooper, of all people. When she told Kurt what had upset her, he blanched. Somehow, in less than 24 hours, all their careful planning had been torn to shreds. There had been a fire at the restaurant where the reception and dinner was to take place, so now they had no food nor venue. The church had been broken into and vandalized. Mercedes’ family and friends were cleaning everything up as best they could, but the flower arrangements were destroyed beyond repair. Mike, the best man, had disappeared, and with him the rings. And in front of the church, instead of well-wishers, there were two dozen bigoted idiots who were protesting against the wedding about to take place, because it was a white man marrying a black woman, and it didn’t do to mix races and sully one’s blood.

Kurt rolled his eyes at that. “That’s bogus. We’re all humans. The same race. Colour has nothing to do with it.”

“Yes, that’s all very well to say, but how do we get them to leave?” Mrs. Jones wailed.

Just then, two buses arrived. Out of them stepped about a dozen men clad in riot gear and armed to the teeth. They started herding the protesters onto the buses, and left with them after just a few minutes.

“That’s one problem sorted,” Cooper said cheerfully. “We’ll fix the rest too, don’t you worry about a thing, Mrs. Jones!”

“Flowers,” Kurt said. “I can do the flowers, no problem. It won’t be as grand as what the florist had planned, but it’ll look great nonetheless, I promise. Sam, Cooper, you’ll help once I get back?”

He didn’t wait for an answer but hurried to his car and headed home, where he assured Mercedes everything was under control, except that there had been a mishap with the flowers, and now they needed more. He stripped the garden of its flowers, put them into a few pails of water and ransacked his sewing supplies for ribbons. He also collected all the vases they had.

When he’d found everything he needed, he raced back to the church, and instructed Sam and Cooper to start tying roses to the pews, which thankfully were too sturdy to have been destroyed. They had been graffitied, but Mercedes’ family and friends had gotten most of it off, and had camouflaged the rest with a shimmery gauzy fabric. Silver. Perfect. Carole’s biggest vase was silver too, and Kurt would be using it to decorate the altar.

He carefully compiled a big bouquet for the altar and a few smaller ones to put in front of the lecterns. Then he inspected the arch at the church entrance. The wooden structure was chipped but still sound. The flowers, however, had been viciously shredded.

“Mrs. Jones, is there any more of that silver fabric? I’d put it over the arch and then pin the rest of my flowers onto it.”

Half an hour later, the church looked splendid again.

“What are we going to do about the best man and the rings, though?” he asked Sam.

“We have a back-up guy,” Sam smiled, “and he found us rings, too.”

Kurt hummed thoughtfully. “That leaves the food and a venue for the reception and the dinner. Where are we going to find that at such short notice?”

Sam clapped Kurt on the back. “No worries, man, the minister offered us the use of his garden, which is huge, apparently, and the whole church community is helping out, bringing chairs and tables and string lights and decorations and food and everything else we need. It’s all going to be all right!”

Kurt let out a deep breath and thanked his lucky stars for close-knit communities saving the day.

When Mercedes entered the church a few hours later, looking beyond gorgeous and glowing with happiness, Kurt wiped away a tear and blew her a kiss as she passed him. As he turned around to face the altar, though, he got a nasty shock. He hadn’t been paying much attention to Sam and his groomsmen, but now he saw that the back-up best man was none other than Blaine Anderson.

What on earth was HE doing here? Yes, Kurt had sent the Anderson brothers an invite, but what on earth did Blaine think he was doing, integrating himself into the wedding party?

Right at that moment, Blaine seemed to feel Kurt’s eyes on him. He looked straight at Kurt, nodded and smiled.

Kurt, still outraged at how Blaine had treated Chandler, shot him a glare and looked away to the minister, boiling inside.

He determinedly did not look Blaine’s way again throughout the ceremony, and hurried out of the church to the minister’s garden as soon as it was over.

As promised, the church community had turned the garden into a festive wonderland, and they’d set up an entire buffet of snacks and salads next to two barbecue grills. The wedding cake had arrived, too, and looked pristine and perfect.

“Dibs on this grill!” said a loud voice behind him, and Kurt shook his head with a grin as he saw Burt accept an apron from one of the women who’d be serving the buffet and inspect the contents of the cooler box.

“No red meat for you, Dad!” Kurt reminded him. “Remember what the doctor said!”

“Spoilsport,” Burt grumbled. “Just a teensy piece? Since this is a festive occasion and all?”

Kurt laughed. “All right, then, a teensy piece. I’ll tell Carole to check if it really is teensy!”

Soon, the party was well on its way. Everyone had enjoyed the impromptu barbecue, and now a band had arrived out of nowhere, and all the invitees were singing along and dancing and having a great time.

At Mercedes’ insistence, Kurt was telling her about all the problems they’d had to solve earlier that day, and she gasped and teared up a little.

Kurt was quick to dab the moisture away, “Your mascara, girl!”, and to comfort her. “Everything has turned out fine, hasn’t it? Thank heavens for your church community. They’ve worked wonders here! And everything else was dealt with satisfactorily. Well, except for Blaine Anderson being Sam’s replacement best man. Really? That rude, obnoxious ass? Don’t know why he’s always in a huff about something and throwing tantrums like a toddler or biting people’s noses off, but I’m far from impressed with his attitude. He needs to GROW UP. And seriously, after all that guy did, couldn’t Sam have chosen someone better?”

Someone cleared their throat behind them. They both turned their heads, and Kurt felt his cheeks heat up when he saw that it was Blaine. Had he heard Kurt bad-mouthing him?

“May I have this dance?” Blaine asked with a little bow, holding out his hand to Kurt expectantly.

Taken off guard, Kurt stammered, “Yeah. Sure.”

It was out before Kurt knew it, and there was no way of taking it back, seeing as Blaine took him firmly by the waist and whirled him away at once, beaming as he did so.

“That was a lovely ceremony, wasn’t it?” Blaine said a little later.

“It was,” Kurt agreed. “I’m not religious, but the minister said a lot of things that resonated with me. Yeah. I liked it.”

Blaine smiled at him again, his expression so disarming and charming that Kurt felt short of breath for a moment and had to remind himself of all the reprehensible things Blaine had done so as not to smile back besottedly.

The song changed, but Blaine showed no intention of letting Kurt go, leading him expertly and catching him any time Kurt stumbled over his own feet.

“Mercedes looks gorgeous in that dress,” Blaine said next. “It suits her so well.”

“Thank you. I made it.”

“Well, you’re an absolute wizard with a needle, then.”

Kurt giggled, and then covered his mouth with his hand in horror. Blaine didn’t seem to have noticed, though. He was looking pensive now.

“Why did you glare at me during the ceremony?”

Kurt’s chin went up. “You don’t deserve to be Sam’s best man.”

Blaine quirked an eyebrow. “Did you want that position?”

“What? No! I just mean, after what you did to Britts and San at their wedding, and after the despicable way you’ve treated Chandler, you don’t deserve to be anywhere near Sam, who is sweetness itself and deserves better than a cold-hearted, mean-spirited guy as his best man.”

Blaine had stopped moving now, and let go of Kurt. “Cold-hearted? Mean-spirited? After how I treated Chandler? Don’t you have that the wrong way round? Don’t you know what he did?”

Kurt scoffed. “What did he do to deserve you destroying his chances of ever finding a job again? Bite your dick while he was sucking it?”

Silence fell. Kurt noticed that people were looking at the both of them, and shifted his shoulders uncomfortably.

Blaine’s face was a cold mask now. “I’ve no idea what lies he told you, but you’re wide off the mark. We had good reasons to fire him.”

“Like what?”

“Like that he tried to kill you!”

Blaine turned around and stalked off, leaving behind a gaping Kurt.

What?!!

#bbb2020 #blaine big bang 2020 #klaine fanfiction #my fic #out of the blue

[whenwomenrefuse]

I have never told this story before.

I have never told this story before.

It was the summer of finishing school, I was 19 years old and had a five-month-long holiday inbetween finishing the final exams for school and starting uni in October. Me and my friends drove to the next bigger city with the train, to go out, almost every weekend. We went on concerts and metal parties, and sure, we also drank a bit (In Germany the legal drinking age is 16 for beer and 18 for liquor), but due to the expensiveness of the drinks, it was never more than two, maybe three longdrinks. This may sound like a lot, but the way they are mixed there’s usually barely any alcohol in them. Therefore drinking three of these will still let you be almost sober. Also, my body had a pretty high tolerance for alcohol, and I’d really had have to drink heavily in order to get actually drunk. Additionally, I’d been having these exact two to three drinks every weekend for months, I knew exactly how many of them I could drink without an effect (1-2), I knew how many I’d need to drink to get slightly tipsy (3-4), and how much to get noticeably tipsy (5 and up). I was also used to taking a cab to the train station in the city (about 10 minutes), taking a 20-minute train ride and then a 10-minute walk home, in the village I lived in. I knew exactly at what point during the evening I’d have to stop drinking, to be sober when leaving for home. Since the parties only started at 10pm and the last train came at 1:30 am, I never stayed long enough to be actually wasted. What I’m trying to make clear is that while I was just 19 years old, I was used to alcohol, I was used to the locations where we partied, I had a close group of friends who travelled with me, I had self-imposed strict times when I left the party for home, and I knew exactly what I was drinking and how it would affect me. In short, I was partying and drinking responsibly.

Going out in a tight knit community such as the one we found ourselves in, due to our taste in music, it means you start to recognize the same faces in the venues you go to for concerts, for parties, for festivals, the people you stand in line with at the bar, are the people who organize the next show, who own the record label, who play in the bands. You start to know people and they start to know you. The older people look out for the younger ones, make sure they’re handling their drinks, make sure they know when to leave to catch their trains/buses etc. Girls and women have whatsapp chats dedicated to leaving the venue together, so that nobody has to go home alone. In short, I had a strong sense of familiarity and security with these people. Then that day came.

There was a concert, five bands from the wider region were coming to our city and playing a concert. The subgenres they played were pretty broad, and some of them were big enough to attract their own fans to the venue, people from further away and people who otherwise weren’t involved with the local scene. Needless to say it was incredibly full that night. The last band that played was one of our friends, so we had made plans with one of them, to spend the night in his flat, he had a big sofa and two camp beds, and his flatmate was out of town, so one of us could also spend the night in their room. At that point we knew him for months, and trusted him completely. And it wasn’t like we were only young girls in the group, we were mainly guys, and then me and two other girls. It was a 100% non-sexual sleeping arrangement, and everyone was aware of that. Before the show, we went to his flat to drop off our things for the night, and to help him transport his equipment over to the venue. Then the problems started.

You see, music scenes can be complicated, especially the underground scenes, and some subgenres and their fans don’t go well with each other. That night there was a mixture of a lot of different genres, which each had a mixture of people in the crowd. You had your leather jacket bruisers to whom music ended in the mid-80s, paired with super niche neo avantgarde experimental metal, just to name an example, and there were some tensions in the crowd. People were rowdier than usual, and some got ridiculously wasted. There had been some instances where security actually had something to do, prying drunkards from each other, before they could throw blows at the other’s face. I was still more or less new to the scene, having existed in the microcosmos of my home city for years, and never really gone out anywhere else. I wasn’t used to this in the way that I am now. I was uncomfortable, and I stopped drinking after my first drink. I quickly became aware of how sober I was, as everyone around me got increasingly wasted. One band from Dortmund got kicked out of backstage (sounds more prestige than it is – it’s just a backroom with a sofa) for “doing coke on my sofa”, as the owner put it. They riled up their posse and started having fights with the people who organized the show, culminating in the schedule being changed, so that they would play earlier than planned, just so they would leave as soon as possible. They didn’t like that at all, and you could hear the shouting from backstage inbetween songs.

In the end, I decided to leave early. I wrote in the whatsapp chat if any of the other girls wanted to head to the train station together, but nobody answered. I waited for an hour, but nobody wanted to leave. Then 1am came, and with that my last chance to take the train. I asked once more, but still nobody wanted to leave. Walking alone in that part of the city, where all of the concert halls and clubs were, on a weekend, was a really bad idea. People got mugged and worse, one of my friends was mugged that summer, so it was just a security measure not to travel alone. I stayed. I went to the bar and ordered my second drink of the evening. Hours had passed since the first drink, and there was no way this one could have made me as drunk as I became.

I remember waiting at the bar for a long time. But that was okay, it was full that evening and I had all the time in the world (the second-to-last band were just finishing up their show, the band of my friend hadn’t even set up their equipment yet, I’d be stuck at the venue for at least another hour). One of the friends of the band from Dortmund was there. He noticed a patch on my jacket, we talked about Blackthrash, he offered to buy me my drink. I tried to decline, telling him truthfully, that I was more interested in girls, but he insisted, saying he didn’t want to buy me a drink because he wanted to get laid, but just because he liked me. It was a nice gesture, I didn’t really believe him, but accepted the drink out of politeness. I saw my acquaintance at the bar pour me the same drink I had had so many times before, there was no way she was responsible for this. She gave the drinks to him, he paid for them, offered me my drink and toasted with me. Then he asked if I wanted to go to the outside part of the venue for a smoke. I said sure. I felt bad that he had just bought me a drink. The whole time I was so fixed on him, I was so sure he had bad intentions, he came with the rowdy band, he was one the ones that had been involved with the small fights earlier, he had the look of a typical bruiser, long ratty hair, 80’s mustache, crusty jeans vest, bruised knuckles, and he seemed to be a lot older than me, that I started being hyperaware of what he did, if he was trying to slip something in my drink or lead me to a lonely corner, that I let my guard down for anything else. He wasn’t the problem. My friend, at whose place I was staying the night was.

My friend saw me talk to the guy from Dortmund, he came over instantly and started talking about how he was about to play, that the crowd was getting so much bigger than before, how awful the previous band had been and that’s why he stayed sober during shows, because he just loves music so much. It was a horrible mess of ego running wild, geared at pushing the other guy’s buttons. He was amiable enough to ignore the jabs and just talk on. Sometime during the conversation I handed my drink to my friend, just to tie my shoe. During that moment, the guy from Dortmund had turned his back to us, to light a cigarette against the wind, and I was tying my shoe. It must have happened then. When I got my drink back from my friend, it didn’t take long. I was ridiculously wasted within a short amount of time. The guy from Dortmund was friendly enough and took care of me, giving me water to drink and keeping an eye on me, but eventually he had to leave with the band from Dortmund (who had been kicked out for punching the owner of the venue), to head home, so he found the only person he knew to look after me, my friend.

My friend was about to play, and he took me backstage, propped me up on the sofa and started groping me, that’s as much as I remember, then my memories fail. But the memory was all hazy, it was difficult to tell if I had just dreamed it, or if it had actually happened. The next time I woke up was after the gig, hours later. The other bandmates had already loaded their equipment into my friend’s car and left with a cab for home, the owner of the place was already announcing his place would close shortly (venues in Germany have to close at 5am). I woke up with a spinning head. My shirt was ripped at the neckline and I had love bites all on my neck and sternum. I felt horrible and didn’t remember the evening as clearly as I do now. I still thought the guy from Dortmund was responsible for this. Especially since my friend was being so caring and friendly with me, and telling me how he had seen that the guy from Dortmund had apparently taken advantage of me in my supposedly drunk state. He told me my friends had gone home when they read my message in the whatsapp chat, leaving me alone with him. I believed him without further thought. He was sober, he was the friend I trusted, the guy from Dortmund was a stranger who had showcased his violent tendencies in the fights before. I went with my friend, never second guessing.

Still drowsy from what I had thought was drink, I fell asleep during the car ride to his place, and I had difficulty walking straight, when we went up to his flat. Instead of leading me to the living room, where the sofas and field beds stood, he led me to his room, claiming to “take care of me”. Then he closed his room door and said “There now, we’re home. No need to be coy”. I didn’t understand what he meant, and tried to ask him about it, but all of my words were slurred and I was ashamed of seeming drunk. He just told me to go to sleep in his bed, that it was fine, that he’d take care of me. Then he joined me on his bed, running his fingers over my face. I told him “no”, but he didn’t stop. I told him “I don’t want this. Stop”, but he pulled my head into a kiss. I tried to shove him off the bed and then he hit me, wrestled himself on top of me and ripped up my shirt completely. I started crying and asked him to please stop, please don’t, please leave me alone. But everything I said made him angrier. He pushed me down, whenever I squirmed he choked me. So I stopped moving. He tugged and ripped my clothes from my body and stuffed my underwear in my mouth. Then he turned me around and tied my hands and neck to his bed. I tried to fight him off, but I couldn’t. I was hazy and exhausted and my body froze up in fear. I had never been beaten before. If I moved, I choked, if I tried to scream, I choked, if I cried too loud for his liking, I choked. And so I just… lay there. And endured it. All the time he grunted about how I had to stop being so coy, how he knew I wanted this, how I had baited him with the guy from Dortmund, how I was his wh*re, how long he had wanted to do this, how he deserved this and so on and so forth.

When it was over he lay down next to me and smiled at me, telling me how good I was in bed, and if I needed aftercare. He pretended that this had just been some bdsm roleplay, but it wasn’t. He let me lie there, tied to to his bedpost, gagged, bruised and naked, unable to move, to talk or to scream, while he berated me on how consensual what he did had just been. But it wasn’t. I knew it wasn’t. He said things like “Oh, you should have told me you’re new to bdsm, this was just roleplay”. But I knew that wasn’t true. And when he finally untied me, I ran and never looked back.

I know I should have gone to the police, but I was 19 and stupid and thought nobody would believe me. I live in a conservative town, and just the month before there had been a big court case, in which there had been video evidence of a woman being raped, and her abusers had framed it as a consensual bdsm scene, and had walked away from court without a sentence. I was sure my situation would turn out the same. And all of his rambling about had gotten to me. I started doubting myself. I started believing that it had actually just been a normal scene for him. And I was so ashamed of myself. I had broken all of the rules I had been taught. Never travel on your own, never leave your drink unattended, fight your assaulter with all the power you can muster. I stopped showing up at the local scene, until I eventually moved away, for fear of meeting him. When I moved town, I finally mustered the courage to go out again. And I want to explicitly say that what happened to me has nothing to do with the music scene involved. I have met so many nice and good-hearted people running shows and metal bars, I don’t want to scare you away from this type of music scene. I just need to tell my story.

It’s been years, but sometimes I wake up in the night, still drowsy from sleep, and for a heartbeat my mind brings me back to that place. I can’t have sex the way I used to, I’m always always reminded of that night. But I never told my partners. I never told my friends. I didn’t even tell my family. That one night is eating away at me, every day of my life. And I needed to get this story off my chest. If there is one thing I can tell you is please, do all of those things you thought was not necessary or overdoing it. Know your alcohol tolerance. Be aware of how many drinks you can drink to reach what stage of drunkenness. As soon as there’s a deviation – tell your trusted(!) friends. Even if you’re sure nobody spiked your drink, it may have just been someone you hadn’t had your attention on. Never travel alone at night, and if you’re in a travelling group, stick to that group, even if you’re told “Oh, they went home early”. Call them. Just to be sure. If my friends would have been in his flat, it wouldn’t have happened. If you don’t know someone well enough and have to spend the night at their place, don’t do it alone. Especially at a distant friend’s place. Meeting someone at parties and being alone with them is vastly different. No matter how safe you feel in the venue you’re going out, even if everybody knows each other and there are whatsapp groups dedicated to women for going home together, don’t get lulled into a false sense of security. Know the people you trust and stick to them. If you’ve wrote to them that you’re going home, but you return to the venue instead, let them know. And lastly, the one I’m the most upset about, that I didn’t do. If you wake up in a venue like mine, there’s going to be staff at the bar, organizers from the concert, security staff at the door, people who sale the tickets, people who clean the toilets, just any staff member. If your memory is hazy, don’t let the people you wake up to tell you what happened. Find someone from the staff, tell them you were drugged and assaulted and that you need to LEAVE. Most staff of nightclubs and concert halls will bring to to a safe staff-only room, call you a cab, and make sure you can leave without your assaulter noticing. If you have no place to go like I did, because the train doesn’t arrive til morning, go to the police. Even if you’ve had bad experiences with them before, go to the police and tell them what happened and that you have no place to go. If you think you’ve been drugged, you can opt to make a test there. Even if you haven’t been drugged, just made drunk, you can find shelter for the night there, or they will sometimes even bring you home, especially if you’re underage. Even if you get in trouble for breaking curfew, or underage drinking, it doesn’t matter. Those are things that will trouble you for about a month. What happened to me will eat away at my soul for the rest of my life. Whatever you do, find help as soon as you notice something is wrong. Don’t wait, don’t let people tell you what you need. Tell the staff, tell the police. Get out of there.

#yesallwomen #submission #personal #personal stories #content warning: violence

[chrysaliseuro2019]

Sandy Shore

Next morning it was time to move on from Nea Moudania. There was more peninsula to discover. After another hearty breakfast this time augmented by another Theodora specialty cake. This time a sort of chocolate cake. It did not seem to involve much sponge though Liz advises there was a base of it. Above that was chocolate mousse and on top of that about 2 cms (looked like 3) of whipped cream. My heart sank about the only thing that I found appetising about that was the sponge which was thin on. Liz had to pull her weight for two of us. I was beginning to understand why the sweet section of breakfast was more extensive than the savoury one. Clearly Theodora had a sweet tooth though the spanakopita was excellent, flaky and very tasty and she said was her favourite. Time for us to move on and Liz bade farewell to Theodora which apparently involved a big hug to her ample bosom. I did not know this at the time but as I separately went to say my farewells and thank you I stuck my hand out and was on the end of a Lathamesque fist pump. Apparently Theodora gave some last pieces of advice to Liz on destinations but finalised with "after a couple of days, if it's not working you can come home ie to the Sokratis as she had rooms coming free". It felt a bit like home too. On Theodora's advice we were heading for a town called Chanioti well down the Kassandra peninsula. Very booked out so we had had to take a large hotel for 3 nights not really our preference. However it had free cancellation right up to midnight on check-in day (which seemed by odd) and so we determined that if we saw anything better on the way to it we would switcheroo. The peninsula has a very narrow channel which separates it from the mainland. We drifted down slowly trying to stick to the coast. Got out at the little town of Nea Fokea and had a look at the byzantine tower and a little chapel. It had possibilities as a little Marina there and beach but a bit too early in our journey so kept going. We stopped for a coffee at a fairly ghastly place. A beach bar where there were wall to wall umbrellas cushions and sun lounges. Average age 25 and the music pumped up to a high level of decibels. Close to the bar you had to yell to make yourself heard. We made the coffee a take-away. Further on we saw a sign to another beach but as we pulled off the road we saw a couple of buses and then in the car park there were around 5 more. Clearly a venue for day trippers. We passed on and this was the ongoing story really. Nothing really jumping out at us. Either the odd big town which did not really look the goods or quite remote places where you don't know where you might get a feed. Didn't see many vacancy signs either. One slightly disconcerting thing is there seemed to be far more apartments for rent than hotel rooms. For us, the one or two night stayers, this is less than ideal as they really want week long bookings. Also you can't always walk up and find someone on the premises though in some places the owners are on site and have just sub-divided their house. We also hit some heavy traffic as basically there is one road in and one road out. At least on this side of the peninsula. We had been warned about that but we could see perhaps a 2-3km queue of dawdling traffic heading out with congestion in various other places too. Hopefully they were going home because the weekend was looming and it was back to work Monday. Could be painful for us getting back out if this is the norm. We finally arrived in Chanioti which was a small maze in itself and very lively but found our way to the hotel. It was every bit as soulless as we feared. Smart enough but a dozen people hanging around a pool with very little atmosphere. 3 nights here would not be fun. We went and had a look at the beach which was about 200 metres away and things went from bad to worse. Umbrellas and beach beds as far as the eye could see in either direction with the music going loudly as well. Not much serenity here. We retreated thinking - where to next? This joint was a last resort if we drew a blank elsewhere but we had now been going for 3 hours+ without a sniff re ally. On we went towards the bottom of the peninsula. Went down several back roads pointing to little towns but either nothing much there or on one occasion the 5 star resort complete with a fleet of Greg Norman yachts and the $$1000/night price tag. As we crossed over and started to make our way up the other side (western side) of the peninsula we found a nice little town called Loutra Beach (not to be confused with a similar place that seems to be on an island). Liz googled away looking for a room while I knocked on several doors where apartments were for rent. Liz had one possibility while I drew blanks. We headed into the centre of town to check Liz's lead but she had been led up the garden path by someone she spoke to. Nothing. We hadn't eaten anything since breakfast except for a few nuts so stopped for a Greek salad and soft drinks. Now around 5.00 and no closer. We tried one final hotel on the outskirts which was up a very steep hill, so great view, but nada. On we went steadily heading down the peninsula but nothing much jumping out. Tried a couple more hotels by walking up at Fourka Beach but again nothing and then Liz's perseverance on booking.com paid off. The hotel Paralio at Possidi beach which was close by had a room free with sea facing balcony. We whipped down there Liz took a look while I waited with the car in an area which didn't allow you to park ie residents parking (a local nicely tried to shoo me away but was happy when I said it would only be a few mins). Thumbs up from Liz and we were in. It was around 6.00 pm and a big day really but soon realised that the effort was worth it. Dinky room right on seafront ie sea across the road with balcony just above street level. Immediate dip in the sea as we were pretty hot. Enjoyed some drinks on our balcony post that. Also we decided that we weren't going to find anything much as user friendly and well located as this so booked a second night. For dinner we tried a couple of the nicer restaurants in town but both fully booked (as they were the following night which was Saturday). A very nice couple of locals who had just sneaked onto the last table in one of the restaurants sympathised with us. As soon as he heard where we were from he broke into a "throw the shrimp on the barbie" routine. Life must have been a bit too easy as there was no sense from the guys in the restaurant that a table might free up if we came back in 20 mins. It looked like one sitting even though some people were clearly going to finish in the near future. Even the young couple had had to talk them into giving them a table which was free but sort of in the passageway. We ended up going to the restaurant 50 metres away which was not as flash but just as full. Total bedlam as it was quite large. Seating seemed to be arbitrary. In fact also went there the next night and after I enquired of the boss lady who took all payments if we could sit at a certain table I was told if it's free just sit there. Service took a long time and we didn't choose particularly well. Liz had the stuffed peppers which can best be described as ho hum. I had the moussaka, tasty enough, but the copious amount of béchamel sauce fixed me up big time. The digestive system is not fond of creamy stuff. Also of course had a Greek salad. Very amusing young waiter who was not allowed to take orders (he was a meal deliverer and table setter upper) though he could get me a beer. As he spruced the table up by putting the table cloth down and separately brought the meals he stopped us if we tried to assist him in any way, saying - "that's my job". All with an infectious smile to go with the braces on his teeth. Despite the fare we enjoyed the ambience and were right by the sea. A short stroll around the very small village before heading home. The béchamel kept me awake and even tried a minnie heave (unsuccessfully) so have sworn off that. The next day was all about the beach. Breakfast was a disappointing event. Because the breakfast room was small we were encouraged to take our breakfast back to our own room. No hardship that as we had the balcony. Choice was very ordinary. Three sweet cereals no muesli, fried eggs sitting in a Bain Marie together with minuscule saveloys, cold pancakes. One of the pastries with custard was good as was a slice of cake with jam. Greek yoghourt was good though not much effort required there. We felt they are just going through the motions. Breakfast was included in the deal so they had to provide it but had skimped and didn't give a "toss", breakfast was not winning then business. Their location across the street from the sea was. Off to the beach though for a pretty full day of relaxation. I did go past the two flasher looking restaurants and managed to book one of them for the Sunday night. We also adjourned to a neighbouring cafe for lunch as our hotel was not serving food that day due to some kitchen issue. A very healthy club sandwich and chips was shared. That night we decided we liked the previous night's place enough to return. Just would choose differently. In truth its slim pickings in terms of choices in this town (with a number of clone restaurants) once the two main restaurants are full (and neither was very large). It was bedlam again and chokkers. A table was free literally near the entrance so away from the seafront which wasn't so bad as the wind had got up and it was a bit cool. After our advice to grab wherever is free from the boss we jumped in but we were so tucked away that service was not forthcoming. Not that it was fast in this place at any time. Luckily a table became free at the front by the sea we moved swiftly to grab it just ahead of others and we braved the wind which wasn't too bad as it turned out. Service eventually came and we shared grilled squid and sardines and a salad. Another pleasant evening and at the end the manic maitre de did spend a few minutes chatting to Liz which was nice as he had seemed pretty disinterested. Just run off his feet. Next day Liz was up earlier than me and walked to a neighbouring sandy promontory. Probably a couple of kms walk and it jutted out about 400 metres into the sea. She returned for breakfast and then I did the same. Very nice to walk out there and by the time I did it was pretty hot so I got right to the tip and had a quick swim to cool off. Water very clear around there and a bit cooler as more exposed. The rest of the day followed the usual routine of a beach day. We did have a pork gyros and chicken souvlaki for lunch. Pork good chicken not so. That night after drinks on the balcony we headed to the nicer restaurant. Food was undoubtedly better quality as was the clientele. Maitre de also charming. Liz's seafood pasta, more risotto like was plentiful and very tasty and I had octopus marinated in onions, tomatoes and whatever. Very very nice. Our time at Possidi was at an end. It had been painful finding it and as often is the case a combo of perseverance and luck got us there and in particular in our very pleasant room across from the sea. Just the right size of town/village (small) with enough action and good beach. Liz made a good point about the beach (they all seem to be sandy in this neck of the woods) which was that it was narrow, perhaps no more than 20-25 metres where we were, but that stopped there being masses of beds and umbrellas. We left wanting a little bit more which is always a good way to go.

[swimmingchopshopbasement]

Monday of the second week came. It was a slow start to the day. This was due to the days filming being held at ‘The Yard’, (a place where the Sooty Show props are kept, which I mentioned last week). The day was spent sleeping mostly and restocking my nibbles and refreshment supplies. By 4pm, when I just returned from the shops, my mum and Teddy arrived from a long drive from Haye-On-Wye. Where they spent the day looking around the book shops and looking at the landscape. It was lovely to see them after a week away! They were going to stay around twenty four hours before returning home. That evening, we had a quick walk on the beach, on what was a fantastic sunny summers evening. This was followed by a visit to the nearby restaurant and entertainment venue, RJs. It was a fun evening, we even took part in the interactive quiz and came second! It was a busy Tuesday, so we all had an early night. 6am, the alarm went. After breakfast and a tidy up, by 9am, we were all out of the caravan until late afternoon. It started with a walk to the Brean Leisure Parks’ main entrance, where, unsurprisingly, I found the Sooty props van and the crew already filming. It was rather interesting and fun for mum and Teddy to watch too. In between takes we had a quick chat with the crew, including good friends Joolz and Carl. Richard was rather busy as you could expect, so it was only a quick wave in between sips of his tea. We watched as they filmed a car wash and hairdresser episode in one - it sounds a bit daft but made sense as I watched the filming. In the episode, Sooty and Richard were in charge of the car wash. They had to wash the very posh car belonging to ‘Miss Diva’ (played by actress Lisa Riley). Sweep and Soo were running the hairdressers where ‘Miss Diva’ was having her hair done. The car wash and hairdresser each had a special manual of instructions. This was very useful, only they had the opposite one to what they needed! It was hilarious to watch as they followed each step, before realising their mistakes. During the morning, mum and Teddy for a walk around the market, and on the beach again Around 12noon, I had a break from watching too, and took my two guests to see my friends at the Sooty shop and daily live stage show. It was nice for my mum especially to meet Justine and Rich, who work there regularly and have a quick chat. Mum and Teddy suggested that we had a main meal at lunchtime, as they were leaving for home later in the day. Because of this and the Sooty crew were on their lunch break too. I took them to The Tavern, a restaurant close to where the filming took place. It was a great opportunity to ask Teddy what he thought of the filming and of Brean, he said his favourite bit was the beach and the countryside scenery. He also mentioned the filming was interesting too. After lunch, it was back to watching Richard, Sooty, Sweep and Soo film some more scenes. Some of which took a while as it involved moving props around, including a very expensive car. The time came for mum and Teddy to go home. I went back to the caravan with them so they could collect their bags and I could collect nibbles for a picnic tea, whilst watching the filming. At 5pm, I said goodbye to mum and Teddy and walked back to Brean Leisure Park. By now, some of the crew were preparing a magnificent scene, involving a huge amount of foam (enough to fill a small hairdressers shop, yes, really!) As they’d switched manuals, the car wash one that Soo and Sweep used in the hairdressers said to ‘use as much foam as possible, to get the area clean’. Sweep in particular, took this literally. Using a foam cannon to film it, foam filled the shop before the door flung open with ‘Miss Diva‘ being chased by foam before she fell on the car, which was also covered in foam at this point! This took place around 9.30pm, on a slightly chilly evening, so Lisa immediately went indoors to get dry after the scene was finished. Just before finishing, Richard had to roll around on the floor in the foam too, to say those famous Sooty words ‘Bye Bye Everybody, Bye Bye’!. Not long after they’d started to tidy up I returned to the caravan to phone my mum after a fantastic day. I spoke to Joolz a couple of days after this and she mentioned that the foam was incredibly hard to get rid of and tidy up. Apparently, some of the crew were there several hours before finishing for the day. Wednesday, this was another day spent close to the caravan. Sooty and the crew were filming at Wookey Hole. This was were I went when it was the educational DVDs being filmed. Despite not been too for from Brean, it is somewhat very awkward as there is only a few buses a day and I’d have to change in Weston-Super-Mare. I even checked, I would have got there about 1pm and have to leave about 9.30pm. It was better news the final two filming days. After some guessing at where they might be, I found them at the play area. It was all set up for the ‘Wild West’ themed episode. It was all set up with hay bails, a saloon style tent, plastic cactus plants, a rodeo bull, USA flags and burger kiosk. This particular day was mainly filming scenes inside the tent. In between scenes, coffee and refreshments breaks for some of the crew, I got to talk to them and have a quick chat. In the afternoon, they filmed outside, including some scenes with other members of the Sooty crew that present various shows over the UK. Bonnie, who I know from the Cadbury World shows and Danny, who presents the Brean shows now and then as well other UK holiday park shows. It was fun to watch them and see them included in the episode. Later on, Richard, Sooty, Sweep and Soo did a scene near the rodeo bull. It was funny as part of the scene involved Richard getting flung off and try to get on again whilst it was still going. By around 5.30pm, the days filming was complete. This was a good job really as, the following and final day was a big one. Up early, breakfast by 7am. I did some organising for the day getting things together. By 8.30am, I made my way back to the play area and took my position outside the fenced off area that was used for the filming. People I knew began to arrive as extras, including Brian, who is rather good friends with Sweep, he also works at Brean Theme Park and got some time off to come and watch. Also, my friend, Billie-Jean was on her way from London, with her sons Macaulay and Richie to be extras in the episode, along with myself and nearly a hundred others. A special guest was involved too, the singer Peter Andre. He was arriving later in the day. In the meantime, there were some more scenes filmed in the tent and outside with various ‘Wild West’ themed acts for a show including ‘Texas Mike’ who was cracking the whip, a lasso experts decided various other entertainment. After lunch, the crowd gathered for the show extras. This included Peter Andre, who was playing ‘a brave volunteer‘ from the crowd, taking part in the ‘Wild West’ show. After Peter Andre had been there for his allotted time, he did a very quick meet and greet with some people. I didn’t manage to meet any other of the special guests apart from Peter, so this one was nice to meet someone famous, who has appeared in The Sooty Show. It took until around 6.30pm, to complete the filming. It was such a special day. At the end, all the crew, including Sooty, Sweep and Soo had a group photo. After this, Richard did a meet and greet with a few people including Billie-Jean and family. I said a very quick hello and what a special occasion it was for me to be in the show. Also, I had a lovely photo with Sooty, Sweep and Soo. A very rare thing getting all three together! After filming, I hung around whilst some crew started to pack away and others began to leave for home for a well deserved rest after a busy two weeks filming. I had such a fantastic two lovely weeks too. It felt so so special to be able to watch the filming and talk to the crew in the process. So much hard work went into filming those six episodes, there’s so many different aspects to it. Thank you to all the crew for letting me watch the filming

Monday of the second week came. It was a slow start to the day. This was due to the days filming being held at ‘The Yard’, (a place where the Sooty Show props are kept, which I mentioned last week).

The day was spent sleeping mostly and restocking my nibbles and refreshment supplies.

By 4pm, when I just returned from the shops, my mum and Teddy arrived from a long drive from Haye-On-Wye. Where they spent the day looking around the book shops and looking at the landscape.

It was lovely to see them after a week away!

They were going to stay around twenty four hours before returning home.

That evening, we had a quick walk on the beach, on what was a fantastic sunny summers evening. This was followed by a visit to the nearby restaurant and entertainment venue, RJs.

It was a fun evening, we even took part in the interactive quiz and came second!

It was a busy Tuesday, so we all had an early night.

6am, the alarm went. After breakfast and a tidy up, by 9am, we were all out of the caravan until late afternoon.

It started with a walk to the Brean Leisure Parks’ main entrance, where, unsurprisingly, I found the Sooty props van and the crew already filming.

It was rather interesting and fun for mum and Teddy to watch too. In between takes we had a quick chat with the crew, including good friends Joolz and Carl. Richard was rather busy as you could expect, so it was only a quick wave in between sips of his tea.

We watched as they filmed a car wash and hairdresser episode in one - it sounds a bit daft but made sense as I watched the filming.

In the episode, Sooty and Richard were in charge of the car wash. They had to wash the very posh car belonging to ‘Miss Diva’ (played by actress Lisa Riley). Sweep and Soo were running the hairdressers where ‘Miss Diva’ was having her hair done. The car wash and hairdresser each had a special manual of instructions. This was very useful, only they had the opposite one to what they needed! It was hilarious to watch as they followed each step, before realising their mistakes.

During the morning, mum and Teddy for a walk around the market, and on the beach again

Around 12noon, I had a break from watching too, and took my two guests to see my friends at the Sooty shop and daily live stage show. It was nice for my mum especially to meet Justine and Rich, who work there regularly and have a quick chat.

Mum and Teddy suggested that we had a main meal at lunchtime, as they were leaving for home later in the day.

Because of this and the Sooty crew were on their lunch break too. I took them to The Tavern, a restaurant close to where the filming took place. It was a great opportunity to ask Teddy what he thought of the filming and of Brean, he said his favourite bit was the beach and the countryside scenery. He also mentioned the filming was interesting too.

After lunch, it was back to watching Richard, Sooty, Sweep and Soo film some more scenes. Some of which took a while as it involved moving props around, including a very expensive car.

The time came for mum and Teddy to go home. I went back to the caravan with them so they could collect their bags and I could collect nibbles for a picnic tea, whilst watching the filming.

At 5pm, I said goodbye to mum and Teddy and walked back to Brean Leisure Park.

By now, some of the crew were preparing a magnificent scene, involving a huge amount of foam (enough to fill a small hairdressers shop, yes, really!)

As they’d switched manuals, the car wash one that Soo and Sweep used in the hairdressers said to ‘use as much foam as possible, to get the area clean’. Sweep in particular, took this literally.

Using a foam cannon to film it, foam filled the shop before the door flung open with ‘Miss Diva‘ being chased by foam before she fell on the car, which was also covered in foam at this point!

This took place around 9.30pm, on a slightly chilly evening, so Lisa immediately went indoors to get dry after the scene was finished.

Just before finishing, Richard had to roll around on the floor in the foam too, to say those famous Sooty words ‘Bye Bye Everybody, Bye Bye’!.

Not long after they’d started to tidy up I returned to the caravan to phone my mum after a fantastic day.

I spoke to Joolz a couple of days after this and she mentioned that the foam was incredibly hard to get rid of and tidy up. Apparently, some of the crew were there several hours before finishing for the day.

Wednesday, this was another day spent close to the caravan. Sooty and the crew were filming at Wookey Hole. This was were I went when it was the educational DVDs being filmed. Despite not been too for from Brean, it is somewhat very awkward as there is only a few buses a day and I’d have to change in Weston-Super-Mare. I even checked, I would have got there about 1pm and have to leave about 9.30pm.

It was better news the final two filming days. After some guessing at where they might be, I found them at the play area. It was all set up for the ‘Wild West’ themed episode. It was all set up with hay bails, a saloon style tent, plastic cactus plants, a rodeo bull, USA flags and burger kiosk.

This particular day was mainly filming scenes inside the tent.

In between scenes, coffee and refreshments breaks for some of the crew, I got to talk to them and have a quick chat.

In the afternoon, they filmed outside, including some scenes with other members of the Sooty crew that present various shows over the UK.

Bonnie, who I know from the Cadbury World shows and Danny, who presents the Brean shows now and then as well other UK holiday park shows.

It was fun to watch them and see them included in the episode.

Later on, Richard, Sooty, Sweep and Soo did a scene near the rodeo bull.

It was funny as part of the scene involved Richard getting flung off and try to get on again whilst it was still going.

By around 5.30pm, the days filming was complete. This was a good job really as, the following and final day was a big one.

Up early, breakfast by 7am. I did some organising for the day getting things together.

By 8.30am, I made my way back to the play area and took my position outside the fenced off area that was used for the filming.

People I knew began to arrive as extras, including Brian, who is rather good friends with Sweep, he also works at Brean Theme Park and got some time off to come and watch.

Also, my friend, Billie-Jean was on her way from London, with her sons Macaulay and Richie to be extras in the episode, along with myself and nearly a hundred others.

A special guest was involved too, the singer Peter Andre. He was arriving later in the day.

In the meantime, there were some more scenes filmed in the tent and outside with various ‘Wild West’ themed acts for a show including ‘Texas Mike’ who was cracking the whip, a lasso experts decided various other entertainment.

After lunch, the crowd gathered for the show extras.

This included Peter Andre, who was playing ‘a brave volunteer‘ from the crowd, taking part in the ‘Wild West’ show.

After Peter Andre had been there for his allotted time, he did a very quick meet and greet with some people. I didn’t manage to meet any other of the special guests apart from Peter, so this one was nice to meet someone famous, who has appeared in The Sooty Show.

It took until around 6.30pm, to complete the filming. It was such a special day. At the end, all the crew, including Sooty, Sweep and Soo had a group photo. After this, Richard did a meet and greet with a few people including Billie-Jean and family. I said a very quick hello and what a special occasion it was for me to be in the show.

Also, I had a lovely photo with Sooty, Sweep and Soo. A very rare thing getting all three together!

After filming, I hung around whilst some crew started to pack away and others began to leave for home for a well deserved rest after a busy two weeks filming.

I had such a fantastic two lovely weeks too. It felt so so special to be able to watch the filming and talk to the crew in the process. So much hard work went into filming those six episodes, there’s so many different aspects to it.

Thank you to all the crew for letting me watch the filming

[katieamazeballs]

MVP Recap

Ok, guys.....sorry this is late but I 100% waited until today to do this because #1 It’s faster to type it on the computer than on the phone and #2 I’m now getting paid to do this.  (Who’s the real winner here).  Also....I can post this with a fancy page break so it doesn’t hog everyone’s feed.  But before the break....have a pic......

(As per my now usual.....I will post about my experience more than the dances, because you can find those online or will be seeing them yourselves.)

To start off the day, I finally got to meet My Girl and it was AMAZING!  We met at her hotel then went to dinner.  As we predicted, the girls were instant besties and so were we.  (I love it when a plan comes together).  When we got to dinner the girls sat with My Girl and I sat with her hysterical mom, Nonna.  We had good food and good conversation and it was really nice to have a meal with “my people” and discuss DWTS the entire time.  The best part, however, was Nonna telling me no less than 7 times “I don’t like-ah that Maks.  He’s a jerk”.  (read that in a thick Italian accent).   

(Abbie killed it with this selfie)

After dinner, we found our way to the theater.  I was no help, of course, because I don’t do downtown even though I’ve lived here for 34 of my 38 years.  As we were looking for parking we saw the buses straight ahead, lining both sides of the street.  We saw Ivan outside smoking (wtf dude) and JT.  Once we parked, moved the car to a different spot, and took selfies, we made our way to the theater.  As we were walking up we saw a guy with big girly hair standing by Val’s bus talking on the phone. We were all like “OMG....is that Val?!?!”.  The girls and I started booking it and got closer, that wasn’t Val but OMG HOLY CRAP he was right there in front of us!!  We attempted to approach him and the worlds grumpiest security guard stopped us in our tracks. 

(Seriously.....look at her looking at me like I’m gonna rush him or something!  Trust me when I say she plays a theme throughout the night and imagine that face any time I mention “Bitchy Security Guard” or “BSG”.)

Well.....Val didn’t take too kindly to his fans being treated that way and told us to come take pics but that we had to do it quick because he needed to get inside to get ready.  I have to say....much like Brandon, pictures do not do this man justice.  He is really really really good looking in person.  I mean REALLY.  Gahdamn, Valentin. 

(Notice the guy in the red flannel who is NOT Maks and will not be Maks at any point in the evening no matter how many times we thought he was)

Y’all be proud of Abbie.....she was given strict instructions of things she was banned from saying (I hate Jenna because she STOLE you from me.....and You used to be my favorite but now you’ve been replaced because Jenna STOLE YOU).  Girl handled herself like the sane fangirl we all knew she could be and didn’t even cry. 

(Notice the death grip she has on him)

She showed him her purse and “may” have scared him a tad.  He went “Whoa!”

(She keeps shirtless Val in the center.....because Mama ain’t raising no fool)

After we met Val.....and I failed to remember that I was lugging his book around in my damn purse and forgot to get it signed (I win at life, I swear), we were told exactly where we were allowed to stand and if we so much as took a deep breath, BSG reminded us that we weren’t allowed to move from that spot.  Then she would sigh and roll her eyes at us.  We tried to see other cast but it was getting chilly and windy (scroll back up and look at the chick’s pony in the pic of BSG) and it was getting closer to show time so they were all inside.  Before we left we did get to see Katie the Nanny taking Shai from the venue to the bus.  He is freakin adorable!  His little curls and his little wave to his adoring fans were on point!  I do not have a picture of this because #1 It happened super quick and #2 It’s not my baby and that’s kindof weird and intrusive and BSG was still side eying us and I’m pretty sure she would have taken my phone and deleted all the pics or something in retaliation.  She was seriously bitchy and hated her job. 

We got inside the venue and hit the merch stand.  We all got our shirts (to my surprise, Abs picked the white tour tee instead of the Team Val tee).  We found our way upstairs, got drinks, and found our seats.  They were pretty decent seats except for we had to sit forward to see the very front of the stage if they laid down (a few times) and couldn’t see them picking the people out of the audience.  The show was, of course, amazing.  In my opinion, it was better than the DWTS show.  Those Chmerkovskiy’s can dance!!!!  I’ve heard that Peta is amazing live, but that doesn’t do her justice.  She truly is the queen and literally commands the stage when she’s on it.  There were moments of great group numbers, moments of hilarity (the dad dance and the stripper section), and gut wrenching serious moments.  It really does tell a story through dance and we all loved it.  What you probably don’t see in the YouTube videos of the dad dance is Kiki has twins.  Abs is still laughing about those twins and when the baby sneezes and Maks yells “It got in my eye!”.  During the Chippen Val/Magic Maks section they pull up the lady out of the audience.  Let me tell you.....that lady was living her best life.  She was so funny!  Throughout the show we were annoyed by the group behind us.  There were about 8 or 10 of them and they talked the entire show.  I’m not talking quiet respectful whispers.....these bitches were straight up chit chatting.  I did giggle at one point because the oldest of them was totally Team Nonna.  They were doing their first talking section and this chick pipes up with “I’ve always hated Maks.....he’s such an arrogant jackass”.  During the super emotional break up section....it was so quiet in there you could hear a pin drop.  I had been annoyed the entire show, but at this point I started to get a little concerned that because it was so quiet in there (that section is riveting) that Maks and Peta would actually hear these bitches trying each others wine in an attempt to figure out which one had the tastiest.  Seriously y’all.....they were SO LOUD!  At this point, I turned around and said “PLEASE stop talking!”.  They shushed to heated whispers through the rest of the show but if one of us so much as looked at each other they’d say “NO TALKING!”.  At the end of the show they got up and left during the final bows (seriously the rudest group of drunk bitches ever).  I booked it out after the show to pee.  Abs didn’t have to so she went to stand outside of the bathroom to wait for the rest of our group.  I hear “That’s HER!” and look over and these bitches were WAITING for me to come out of the theater!  They start yelling “We are at a concert!!!  Talking is expected in this type of situation!  And you were rude too!!!”  (of note....no one ever said they were rude)  Abs is looking at me with huge eyes and I was like “Wait...how was I rude!  You know what...never mind....Abbie get over here!”.  I drug her into the bathroom still completely appalled at their behavior.  Be proud that I was an adult and didn’t engage.  Once all of our group was done, and these bitches are still standing there waiting, we just kind of grabbed the girls put our heads down and booked it out of there. 

We got outside and went to stand by the buses again.  BSG was still manning her post and was quite possibly in an even worse mood than before.  She seriously hates fans.  She should probably look into different employment.  Thankfully we had a different security guard posted to our standing area.  He was funny and nice and roughly the size of a mountain range.  He didn’t seem to be that huge of a guy but he had a chest and shoulders that somehow blocked the entire sidewalk.  He also must know us (is our picture up in these venues or something) because dude kept a super close eye on Abs.  She must have looked shifty to him.  He’s a smart man and I wish I would have taken a pic with him.  We stood there and stood there and stood there some more.  We had met Val, but wanted to talk to him again (because my damn book) and Makayla really wanted to meet Peta.  My goal was to meet Val (for Abs of course....ha) and meet either Maks or Peta to personally give them Shai’s hat.  Peta came out loaded down with bags and went to the bus.  She came back out and headed our way to go into a different door (probably to get food, they all went in there) and said she’d come back.  While we were waiting, we saw quite a few of the dancers coming out.  Ivan was standing there talking to a crew member and since no one else would pipe up I yelled his name.  He waved and I asked for a picture.  He was super nice and came over (Mt. Everest was amused by this).

After meeting him, both girls (and the rest of the small crown of about 15-20) were oohing and aahing over how good he smelled and I realized that my damn sinuses are still acting up and I didn’t smell anything.  I thought back to meeting Val (when both girls had the same reaction) and I thought my lack of smelling him was just because we caught him before the show and he wasn’t freshly showered.....apparently my inconspicuous deep breaths when I was standing with him were just fail. I’m super salty about this.  Seriously.....I may not ever be ok with the fact that I didn’t smell Val.  Shortly after we met Ivan, we saw Emily standing there.  She also came over when I got her attention and asked for a picture.  Mt. Everest was again amused by me while the others were plotting how they could always manage to be by me at bus meets because I not only recognized everyone by name, but was brave enough to call them over. 

I think it was at this point that My Girl’s girl was attempting to convince her mom that they should come to Jax to do all tours with me and Abs.......I don’t think she was successful.  Lol.   At some point in this process, we saw JT a few more times.  I really wanted to get a pic with him.  I yelled his name and he threw a half hearted wave, then looked over and said “Oh Hey” and waved harder.  He did not come over for a picture.  He must actually have recognized me....he was like “Yep...that’s a nope all day long, that bitch is cray”.  He has since been relieved of his best friend duties....but it’s ok because Nicole and Alyssa (Serge’s gf) have agreed that they are better choices anyways. 

Finally.....the queen emerged and came right over to our group.  She is strikingly beautiful in person and so so so tiny.  She could probably share clothes with Abs!  I gave her a hug and told her I had made a gift for Shai for his morning inspections.  She laughed and then peeked in the bag.  She awe’d and thought it was adorable!  (Totally winning at life here). 

She chit chatted with our group for a bit and talked about how they had had to adjust and reblock that day because the stage was a tight squeeze (which explains all the rehearsal stories) and lamented the weird lights outside that went from normal to pink to red (which is why the pics are kindof weird).  Abs asked where Maks was and she laughed and said she had no idea and that she hadn’t seen him since bows.  As she left she thanked me again for the hat and said she’d post it on insta.  I’m really hoping he’ll wear it (toddlers are iffy on hats....and all things really) but I’m pretty sure she’ll post it some how if he won’t wear it. 

(Of note....I could smell her.....she smells like a girl.....flowery lotion.  It makes me more salty)

We waited a bit longer and still no sign of Maks or Val.  It was getting late and even more chilly and windy and we decided to call it quits at 11.  The time came and after me having to snap at Abs (she is a determined fangirl), we made our exit with the agreement that one of the remaining group would watch us until we got to the corner and they’d yell Maks’ name real loud so we could come running back.  Mt. Everest thought this was hysterical and kept waving to us while we walked off looking back every 5 seconds.  We made our way back to the hotel, I was again no help because while I can confidently get myself home from downtown....the hotel was on the other side of the river and I had no idea how to get there.  The girls were passed out approx 37 seconds into the drive home.  When we got there Nonna popped out of the van and looked down and saw her shirt button was undone.  She goes “Oh look at me, all naked!”  I died.  She is the best and I might steal her.  We sadly said our goodbyes and Abs and I headed home.  After I got home (about 11:45) I went to check and saw @loveisstatic was the lone hold out and got to meet Maks.  I bet she really got the wrath of BSG for waiting so long.  (Girl...you gotta vouch for me on BSG....she was serious!)  All in all, we had the absolute best time and I can’t wait to do it again.....next year.....after my wallet stops crying.

#mvp tour #confidential tour #the best night

[djgwritings]

(A Serious Man - Joel & Ethan Coen, 2009)

Seeing Spots

Trying to find parking last night (even with a free garage pass now per membership) emitted a near-epic meltdown and story. I did well spinning Wilco Schmilco tunes at the start. Perfect "windows down" weather music if there ever was. I had excitement mixed with additive anxiety called "going out." Wicked dichotomy cocktail at work. And I was solo. So, that had me feeling funny. I mostly don't mind being alone. 

I went my normal route and everything was good for a few a couple minutes. Then, I went to turn left out of our neighborhood (on a main thoroughfare), an easy left at a well known light for years now ... but, the street was blocked with construction orange and heavy machinery. Huge signs said, “NO LEFT.” What? There had always been a left here prior. I panicked and went straight. Scared straight! Even though going straight took me away from the direction I needed and there were no lefts (dead ends per residential streets) for many, many blocks. And I knew this the moment I took it. However, going right would have had me backtracking and circling the wagons. Clock was ticking, along with my heart, and I was already a tad late. So, I did a suspicious "turn-around" below the belt of a fancy-pants street (where I assume they call the authorities on guys who don't look their part - guys like me performing a “turn-around”) and backtracked to square one of the construction intersection. I had no clue what they were doing, but the street was gutted and made a car feel guilty to navigate. Always something. Thankfully, I could take a wonky right around all the construction machinery, cones and barriers. OK. Back at it. Minor set-back and breezy tunes back on.

I got half a mile down the road and traffic was bonkers, to say the least. The car in front of me was going slow, like 15 under the speed limit slow, and doing that "Should I turn? Should I not turn?" thing folks are real into of late per following digitized commands and screen coordinates. Everyone else was speeding around us at 15 miles (and some) over the limit, and I couldn't get an opening to do the same. I'm not a flashy driver, so I just stayed behind as I have a distaste for lane juggling and I didn't have too far to go. I'm a stay-put journeyman at best. It turned out a much slower car was in front of the slow car in front of me. That makes three of us. Another half mile and there is a stop light coming up that I knew to anticipate. However, the slow car I'm behind (not tailgating by any means) slams on its brakes far sooner than it should have. The slow car that was in front of it had turned off and there were now no cars leading the slow pack to warrant such a panic-brake. It was weird and a mega-hard slam too, like, "About to hit a car!" kind of slam. I've seen this before and applied a mega-hard slam in response or I'd, "About to hit a car!" Phew. I was inches from them. What the heck? I looked in the mirror to find a giant truck is inches behind me, and so on ... a vehicular centipede. I did not hear any crunches, just my teeth chattering. 

Come to find out, apparently, a carload of kids was taking a ridiculous Harry Houdini left out of a bank onto the packed four lanes of traffic. There was no way I could even see them until they came around the other lane of vehicles, all giant trucks and SUVs, etc. Either someone allowed the kids to inch out and/or they all also had to mega-hard slam brakes in alarm of the kids pulling out into full-on traffic. I'm guessing they got an "in" from the other lane, but didn't think to consult the second lane (mine), not to mention the other direction of traffic.The kids barely made it through and were grinning like, "Holy heck! We almost wrecked! Grab yer goods and hit the deck!" Stupid kids. Stupid adults. Stupid cars. We're all so stupid. Having just got back from New York City, I stare down-blared my tiny horn as they smiled past me and let 'em have what for. Naturally, the slow car that was in front of me thought I was doing this to them. Oops. Sorry, guy! They appeared frazzled and quickly made a left turn themselves. OK, then. Good! Got 'em out of the way and regrouped at the stop light. 

The road I was on dumps into another road that either dumps into a big and busy area or goes around to my destination. It's always tricky and pre-meditation lane choosing is a must if you know it well. Especially since you seem to be dumped into a NASCAR race track. I hate it, but it's the best route from my house. However, the traffic hiccups prior didn't have my brain and bearings aligned. I was in the wrong lane. So, I played Frogger: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Edition and got where I needed to be. Or, so I thought. I got to another light and panicked. I needed over in the next lane now in order to turn left another block down on the correct street. And there was a lot of traffic. Always. Like I said, I have free garage parking, but prefer street parking if I happen to see it. Nothing beats ol' reliable and I'm not a fan of getting into tight garages with one way in and one way out. But, I couldn't get over as traffic was sledge hammering. I saw a giant pack of bicyclists, like 50 of 'em (that would make a giant enough pack, right?), looking to head down the very street I hoped to maybe park on. I was like, "Okay. So glad I missed that! Maybe this lane mess-up is in my favor?" I also realized when reading the event invite they said there would be overflow parking, as well as shuttle service, from another venue nearby. This is several blocks away, but the altered route I was taking just might work. A fail-safe, then.

After waiting forever to, uh, take a left. I inched toward the aforementioned overflow parking. However, I noticed there were only a handful of cars, so I assumed that meant it wasn't quite overflow time just yet. I also figured it would be either a long wait for a shuttle or a long walk. At this point walking sounded incredible. Still, the clock was ticking and I gambled to find a spot near the event. Though, passing further by the overflow entrance I soon noticed a shuttle idling, just waiting for crickets. I could have easily parked right by it, hopped on and been taken to the back door of the event, on time, in minutes! Ah well. For now, I'd just have to take a left at the end of the street, drive in front of the event space, then take a right to potentially find street parking.

Well, uh, that's a nope. There was zilch lefts on this busy street where huge signs aggressively blurt, "Buses ONLY." I always forget the situation at this intersection. What in the world? So, I grumbled and went straight and decided to just go the back way around the event space. Which, would completely cancel any street parking tries as I'd be approaching it all backwards. Therefore, I'd have to gamble with the parking garage now, surely packed by this point. Further assessment of this thought had me finding a way to U-Turn, something I never do, near the event space's delivery entrance. I went for it and survived. I was now realigned to follow through with trying to procure street parking. I drove by a giant face in front of the space, heading towards a (hopeful) safe right turn slide into home. Another NOPE! Now, the giant pack of 50 bicyclists I'd seen minutes earlier were herding through the intersection. Had I been 10 seconds sooner I would have been ahead of them. I turned after the last bicycle, the real slowpoke of the pack. It was annoying being stuck behind them, but a bit in my advantage as I was okay to go slow and be granted keener senses to spot potential street parking. However, going slow from the get-go ensured I'd have a slow chain of irritated cars behind me. I quickly spied ahead through bicycles a couple spots I knew I could fit in and patiently gripped the wheel with cars chomping bumper behind me.

Oh, but wait. A serious outfitted bicyclist SPOKEsperson urgently-aggressively waved me to go around them. What!? Nooo! I wanted to park. Just move and I'll pull in a little ways ahead. I can wait! He kept waving and seemed agitated at my apparent lack of respect for his two-wheeled kind. I was all, "I just want to park and attend this thing I've been trying to get to!" Also, going around this herd of 50 bicycles would have me driving in the other lane. This lane was receiving cars opposite. Like the non-confrontational and compliant person I am, I soon found an opening and drove around the bulk of the bicycles. However, per my go-around lane opening quickly closing, cars the other direction flowed towards me and I didn't know what to do. I hate stuff like this - the stuff of quick driving decisions. I panicked and got back over, now in-between the herd of super slow bicycles! I was puttering along to not mow them down, staring at their spandex and bottle squirts. There were no longer any open street spots now as they had been passed up, too small or a fire hydrant. To the garage gamble it was now. I finally got another opening and drove around the slow bicycle gang, nearly plowing into smiling event-attending folks crossing the road who had found a spot elsewhere to park. And I could tell the bicyclists wanted to tread on me.

I pulled into the garage, praying to the giant face for a spot. Anything? The gate was up, so a good sign in my favor. Then, an attendant waved me to the right with bright-flashy things in a "follow the cones to parking" motion. I waved back and grinned. However, there was no parking actually open. I cursed. I rarely curse. Cars will do that to a supposed good boy. I could also see many cars that had entered before me creeping around like vultures for open spots. I exclaimed to the dash, "Where to now?!" Then, unbeknownst to my prior ten years of remodeled garage knowledge, at the end of a last-ditch effort looking a full row over, I discovered a second underground parking level entrance! (not even my wife knew about this) Better yet, I had beat the other cars to it! I creeped down the ramp only to, uh, find more car vultures and a lot of parked cars! Instead of following the leader of cars without a space, I somehow got smart and skirted an outside open lane. It also gave me a better parking lot perspective. Man, like a Thanksgiving afternoon it was beyond full. Though, I surprisingly spied a spot on the next row over ... how had it been overlooked!? Paydirt! Pavementdirt! Though, I noticed other vultures going towards it. I even noticed some that had passed it. Hmmm. Okay? Maybe they didn't see it? 

After I rev'd around into the next aisle of cars to pounce the open spot, and with several more sets of headlights coming towards me (others who had discovered the second level) and making telepathic/pathetic motions to the on-coming cars that I HAD SEEN IT FIRST, I noticed a car next to the only open spot had a wheel a good two feet into the supposedly empty spot. There was no room for another car. I was so mad, shaking my head and hands. I never get this mad. Come on! Something that irks me majorly is terrible parking. I'm not grate at much in this life, but will park the most perfect I can in an empty lot. An on-coming car of elders looked at me, pointed at the spot, and shook heads too. Haha! This bought me a bit of time. I did a shrug and floored it. I passed several more cars and got back to the exit of the underground. I was ready to just leave and park blocks away and walk it in, all panting and sweaty on this unseasonably warm fall evening. However, more cars kept descending into the underground and I could not get out! I could not leave. There was nowhere but runaround for all these cars. Who's going to tell the guy with the bright-flashy things? Would it be me? That's if I could ever escape. There were too many cars coming in for me to exit out, so I panicked again, I floored it again, and drove to the outside aisle I initially started at to regroup. I noticed there was a pile-up near the lop-sided parking spot. Weird. Was someone really trying to park there? There was seriously no room for my slim Honda Fit (not living up to its name in this situation), and all the cars I'd seen were tanks. But, there was one hopeful elder tank trying to back into the spot. They kept trying and readjusting. Ha! Go for it! I didn't wait to see the results, rather I realized all the cars that had just come down had played follow the leader and were jammed behind the old man trying to get into the spot that was not a spot.

I squealed tires, passing yet another gaze of the giant face at the bottom level entrance. Don't fail me now! I passed every aisle, staring them down into an abyss of cars upon cars and watched vulture cars slowly shrugging along waiting to pounce. I made it to the far opposite end aisle of the garage, passed more full spots and gaggles of elders shuffling excitedly - they had somehow just found parking spots - nearly plowing them down as they would not get out of the middle of the aisle. I then passed event official space vehicles and golf carts. We were getting near the end of civilization. I thought I had a spot, but it was not. In its place was a weird, tiny service machine that could not be seen until nearly pulling in. But, then ... THEN, I whipped around the end of the aisle to the start of the next. There was an unusual service elevator to my right. And right in front of it was a spot. It was shining. I looked it over intently. There was no sign. There were no markings to keep me from parking. There were no small service vehicles crouching in its corner. To the left of the spot was an obvious no parking area of huge yellow diagonals. But, the spot itself was spotless! I pulled in. I sighed. I got out and further inspected the spot. I even bent down and looked under my car just in case the pavement beneath was marked in a kind of camo paint to trick me. It was not. had found a spot! And it was seriously the last spot! I guess it had been overlooked per positioned directly in front of an elevator door.

I walked all the way down the aisle to the other end. I was almost at the door, as well as staring into giant eyes of the giant face again, and it me like it always does, "Shoot! Did I turn my lights off? I better walk back and check my lights. Pretty sure I got them. But, after all that I just want to play it safe." I walked back and it was good. I then triple checked my spot just to be clear it was valid. It still appeared so. More cars were driving around looking for spots and they thought I was going to my car to leave. Haha! Not a chance! 

[louisfeatharry]

okay so here’s the long ass story about how i got my ass from nyc to philly featuring @imlouisaf, @foliealou, and @1000-directions.

alternatively: how philly did us dirty

it starts wednesday when i jokingly talk to justine (imlouisaf) and rachel (foliealou) about making a road trip down to philadelphia and try and get last minute tickets to see harry. it spirals into “yes, we can totally do it!” and “here are the bus schedules!” and “okay, i have a price alert set up for stubhub.”

but you know murphy’s law? anything that can happen - will happen? yeah, fucking real as shit.

it starts off with me getting an uber from my house to the train station to catch a bus in midtown manhattan at 6pm to get to philly at 8:05pm.

3 ubers are cancelled on me, and i don’t end up getting an uber until 4:05pm, which - fine. my train is at 4:30, it takes like 25 minutes to get there, and nj transit is usually shit when it comes to being on time. so it’s fine, right? at this point, i’m expecting to make it to midtown east to drop off my stuff (a full-fledged backpack with 1d monopoly, clothes, and shit all in it) at justine’s apartment and maybe shower if i have time and i’m lucky.

my uber driver makes a wrong turn, adding 5 minutes to our ETA, there’s traffic. and so, i end up missing the 4:30 train, but it’s fine, because trains come like every 5 to 15 minutes, so i’ll just catch the 4:46pm train, right? wrong. because the 4:46pm train ends up being 10 minutes late. so fuck trying to get to midtown east at this point. i can’t even shower because i have no time (and the plumbing’s busted at my house). 

in the meantime, i finally buy a GA ticket from stubhub for a little over face value, but tickets were selling fast off stubhub and i didn’t wanna take my chances. so now i’m like committed 

so, justine and rachel check and apparently, i can leave my bag with greyhound. so okay, that’s fine and cool and dandy. but then i get to port authority to meet up with them for the bus, and customer service says i can’t leave my bag with them. GREAT, FABULOUS. then they direct me to brochure for a luggage service a few blocks away that can hold my backpack. (since it’s big enough that the venue will 100% not let me bring it in.) 

i go up this rickety ass elevator to the second floor of this small ass building, and guess what? NO LUGGAGE SERVICE. LIKE NOTHING. JUST ALL DANCE STUDIOS OR SOMETHING. my patience is dwindling, i’m legit 5 seconds away from a breakdown in the middle of manhattan. and i’m just like, “well, fuck, i’ll have to find a place in philly to store my shit.”

i get to the gate on time by some grace of god, and we get on the bus and i’m trying to charge my phone because i’m at 20% in the hours before a concert where cell service is absolute shit. i put my phone into what i thought was a clean sick bag, but i guess it had water at the bottom in it. (i would’ve actually cried if there was vomit in the bag, and i put my phone in vomit. i would’ve straight up cried.)

so, as a result, i’m calling greyhound and they have me on hold for 5 minutes before i’m in the tunnel and i have to hang up because no service. my phone isn’t charging - but now, my phone screen is flickering... just half of it... flickering dim... and i’m like, “WHY!” because i cannot afford to break my phone right now. i try not to think about it and just call and search on my phone for anywhere i can leave my bag.

i call tower theatre, and they tell me the box office is closed after the show starts so they can’t store my bag, and i’ll have to talk to security to see if they’d let me leave it somewhere. but there’s no way for me to know for sure until i get there, so that’s not an option. i call greyhound, and FINALLY the lady tells me i can leave it at the counter in philadelphia. so i’m like relieved, right? 

i’m on the bus for 2.5 hours, running on pure adrenaline and maybe 3 hours of sleep from the last 36 hours. i try to sleep on the bus, but i’m too wired to do so. i end up doing my makeup on the bus while justine and rachel try to find things to eat because guess what? we haven’t eaten dinner. but our bus is late, so we don’t get to the station until 8:30pm.

i go up to the counter and ask them if i can leave my bag, and the agent’s like, “yeah, it’s $10. cash only. i’ll just call baggage to come pick it up.” i don’t have $10 in cash, but justine does, and we hand it off. then the baggage guy comes, and he’s like “we don’t hold luggage after 8pm.” and honest to god, justine, rachel, and i all had matching looks of frustration, despair, and pure, pure panic. luckily, the agent sees the clear as fucking day distress on our faces and does us a solid saying she’ll take the bag anyways and leave a note for the people coming in later as long as we give the $10. we thank her profusely before quite literally running out the door to catch the septa train underground for 12 fucking stops all the way to the end of the line from the 11th st station.

so, eventually, we get to the venue at fucking 9:01pm, completely missing muna’s set. and we’re like, “let’s get our merch now since harry’s probably being dramatic as fuck with his curtain.” so we probably missed like the first verse of ‘ever since new york’ but it was worth it since we were in the GA seated section with a kick ass view and had half a row entirely to ourselves (read: to myself) to dance and go nuts. (amazing.)

[insert 10 paragraphs of me waxing poetic about harry]

after the show, we have a 11:25pm bus we can catch back to nyc. we already bought tickets, but we also bought backup tickets to the 3:35am bus. we end up meeting with steph (1000-directions) who offers to drive us to the bus station. except no one could apparently fucking drive last night, and we’re convinced we’ve missed our bus as we get to the station at 11:30. but BY SOME MIRACLE, the bus is delayed 30 to 45 minutes. but at least, i’m able to get my backpack from the counter, thank god. (and with our $10 returned!)

we’re able to grab food from some fried chicken place - in which some lady tried to get food for free, much to the chagrin of the owner who unceremoniously kicked her out. and then the owner, who we thought was cool and nice, ended up trying to invite justine and i back to his place for drinks and for a party - to which we immediately were like, “nope.” and took our food and RAN out of there. 

aaaaaand then we get back and we find out there’s been an accident that’s preventing the buses from getting to the station. (there was another group of people waiting for a bus to pittsburgh.) so we have to wait another hour and a half for the bus. 

we’re chilling and eating, i’m reading fic (a road trip fic, ironically), and my phone is ... questionably working. the screen is no longer flickering, but there’s some damage to the mechanism behind the power button since it’s gone sticky and tries to turn off my phone every fucking five minutes. and if i press the home button? screenshots. every. single. fucking. time. 

eventually, we get on the bus at like 1:20am. and some guy plops up right next to rachel, offering her juice and shit and being hella shady. our bus driver is a maniac on the road. i somehow sleep for 1 hour. we get to nyc at 3:20am. and then our uber driver is yelling on the phone to some guy, but he’s nice. except he stops at red lights and keeps trying to inch forward even though HE’S GOING TO INCH US THE FUCK INTO TRAFFIC. but after all is said and done, we get dropped off at justine’s apartment.

so, as a summary:

bus tickets to and from philly (plus all emotional distress involved): $45

last minute resale tickets to harry styles: $160

septa train tickets to go 12 stops: $2.50

pretzels and hummus to tide me over so i don’t pass out in the middle of harry’s show while being called an icon by the girl in front of us: $5

chicken fingers and fries (and being creeped out): $5

but, the experience of a lifetime to spontaneously travel 100 miles to go see harry styles perform kiwi twice with his tits and tummy out while surrounded by rainbow flags? absolutely fucking priceless. and i wouldn’t change a second of the shitshow for the world.

#this is for posterity #to remind me of the shenanigans that happened on october 5 2017 #into october 6 lmfao #keep