#also we have some understudies/replacements because not everyone could come

[itspufflehuff]

Spidey Part2 - Sebastian Stan X Holland!Reader

Summary: What will happen between you and your brothers co-star after sparks fly in your first meeting at comic-con?

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | 

MATERLIST // TAGLIST

I wasn't planing on making a part two but as requested by @star-gazing-game here it is! You can read part one here and part three here. If anyone ever has a request or suggestion my messages are always open! Thank you for choosing to read my story and I hope you enjoy!

Word Count: 4,935 (wow for a story I didn't plan on making I sure got lost in it. This is twice as long as the first story!)

~~~~

Once comic con ended you and Sebastian went your separate ways, making sure to exchange numbers first. The both of you still had to do some promoting for your movies and unfortunately, they were in different parts of the country. He would stay in California for a bit while you went back to New York. That didn't stop you from keeping up with each other. He would randomly message you throughout the day and it would always bring a smile to your face.

Sebastian: Another interview with the diva 🙄. I mean does he really need someone to carry all those juice boxes for him?

You were currently sitting in your apartment getting ready to have dinner. You were still appearing on talk shows promoting your movie and your career, now that people were noticing you more it was the perfect opportunity for you to talk more about your usual work and gain more of a following. Tonight you would be on SNL performing a parody skit of Wicked.

Laughing you responded back.

Y/N: Ugh I know right! He thinks he's so much better than anyone like 'oh look at me I'm Spider-Man' 🙄 go get your juice box and let the adults handle this

Less than a minute later your phone rang again.

Sebastian: I can't believe people think he's the better Holland when it's obvious you are.

Y/N: Thank you! Finally, someone who sees how much better I am than him

You set your phone down leaving it unlocked waiting for Sebastian's next reply. Instead, your phone read 'Tommy' as a video call came through. Confused as to why he would be calling you before an interview, you moved your food aside and swiped to answer the call.

Before you got to greet him Tom spoke, "Why are you texting Sebastian?"

Although his question caught you off guard that didn't stop you from thinking of a quick response.

Faking disappointment you shook your head, "Oh Tommy, have you been snooping on people's phones again? Hasn't mum talked to you about that already? Does she need to have another chat with you?"

His face turned a tint of red as everyone behind him laughed. You heard a voice call out, "Someone please tell me you got that on camera." It was Mackie.

Someone called back to him, "We got it!" Again everyone burst into laughter. Obviously embarrassed Tom cleared his throat, "I'll call you back later." Quickly he hung up the phone.

No new messages came from Sebastian after that. You assumed it was because his interview was starting. So for the next few hours, you busied yourself getting ready for your show later. This would be your first time performing for SNL, you were so excited but also nervous. You couldn't keep still all day you had to walk around, clean, jump, even sing. Anything to keep yourself busy.

They asked you to show up two hours early to rehearse one last time before the show began. You and your scene partner went over the opening scene that would lead into the song. Once you got it down you two warmed up your voices finding the perfect harmony. Your skit was second up and just like on opening night for all your other shows you were nervous. Sure you've performed live in front of people more times than you can count but each time was as nerve-wracking as the first time.

You had thirty minutes left before you had to go out when you got a text on your phone. Looking down you saw his name and a smile came onto your face.

Sebastian: Good luck tonight you're gonna be great xx

You felt a bit more at ease knowing you had Sebastian cheering you on from the other side of the country. You put your phone down and headed backstage where everyone else was talking as they waited for their turn to go up.

~~~~

"And now for our next guest, Tom Holland!" Your partner introduced. That was your cue to run out on stage. You stood to the right of her smiling and waving to the crowd. When the cheering died down you looked to her still smiling, "Actually it's Y/N Holland."

"We didn't book you today." She said faking confusion looking down at her cue cards, "Look it says right here Tom Holland. TOM. Not Y/N."

"You must've written the wrong name down because I was definitely asked to come down tonight."

She let out a nervous laugh looking at the audience, "No we called and asked for the Spidey twin. You know the new Spidey, not Toby or Andrew."

"I am the new Spidey. I don't know if you heard but I kinda did this new movie and I voiced Spider-Gwen."

"Ok, but we asked for the dancing twin?"

"I can dance too. Maybe even better than my brother." I wink to the audience who cheered.

"Wait, wait, wait," She said to the audience, "but we asked for the more successful twin. Surely that must be Tom. I mean he is Spider-Man. THE Spider-Man. He's gotten the Empire and BAFTA awards for best newcomer and rising star."

"Um tell that to my three Tony Awards for best newcomer and Best Actress." You held one finger up for best newcomer and two for Best Actress. The audience went wild cheering and clapping for you.

"Oh no." Your scene partner said, cuing the music to What is this Feeling begin.

"There's been some confusion over casting here at SNL" you both sang

"But of course I'll promote for Spidey," you sang then in a speaking voice you quickly said, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse out in theaters now."

Your partner looked at you rolling her eyes, "And of course I'll rise up above it"

"For I know that's how you'd want me to respond, yes. There's been some confusion for you see, my scene-mate is," you both sang.

"Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe," you sang.

"Y/N" She deadpanned to the audience.

The both of you continued the song just as rehearsed. By the end, everyone cheered as you two marched off stage pretending not to like each other.

You stood for the rest of this show to watch the other skits they had planned out. It was so much fun, you were getting so used to being in a small room filled with the camera crew as you and the interview sat there talking. Of course, those could be fun too but this was a nice change.

At the end of the show, Tom called to tell you how amazing you did. "Watch out because I'm coming for your Tony's with some Oscars next." He threatened before hanging up. You laughed to yourself at your dorky brother. You couldn't help but notice the noise going on behind Tom throughout your phone call. He sounded like he was at a party or something. Then your phone rang again.

Sebastian: Tom has nothing on your three Tony's the only other award he'll be getting from the Oscars is biggest diva

You smiled reading his text, you were about to respond when another came through.

Sebastian: You did great tonight, I can't wait to hear you sing in person again

You felt butterflies erupt in your stomach. Of course you liked him. He was so sweet, funny, talented, and super attractive. But you two hadn't hung out since comic con or even seen each other since then. You didn't want to think too much about your relationship with him other than being friends but deep down you wanted more.

Y/N: Once I'm back on the stage I'll get you front row tickets

~~~~

Weeks had passed when you finally finished doing interviews and promos for Spider-Verse. Sebastian was finally back in New York but you two hadn't had the chance to meet up just yet. If he wasn't busy you were. Now that you had free time you decided to take advantage and take some time off of doing shows as well. Just a few more weeks then you'd go back.

That was until they called you desperate for a replacement, both the lead actress and her understudy got food poisoning and couldn't go on stage.  They needed a new Eurydice and you knew the part. You played it once before and you did amazing. Not wanting to let anyone down you agreed to cover, you were also really excited to revisit Hadestown. You loved playing Eurydice the first time so when the chance came to play her again you took it.

You immediately texted your brother excited sharing the good news. You wanted to text Sebastian but you knew he was in the middle of an interview so instead you waited for him to let you know when it was over.

His interview went on longer than expected. By the time it was over you were already down at the theater for a mic check and to get your costume fitted. When Sebastian texted you back your phone was hidden in your purse which then happened to be buried under a pile of everyone else belongings. After an hour passed he wondered why you didn't respond. Usually, you'll respond within a few minutes or before the hours passed. He didn't want to bug and keep texting so he waited for you to respond. He walked around his apartment trying to keep himself busy until he heard his phone buzz. Quickly he ran to his phone only to see it was a text from Mackie. Disappointed but not wanting to be rude he opened it up. It was a screenshot of some news article followed by the words, "This your girl?"

He opened up the photo and read to himself in a low whisper, "Actress Y/N Holland to star in Hadestown for one night only" he read further then jumped to his feet running into his room.

She's performing tonight? Why didn't she tell me?

It was already 6:30 and the show is scheduled for 8:00. That night was the fastest he ever got ready for anything. He showered, got dressed, combed his hair, and jumped in his car all within twenty minutes but he didn't care. He was going to see you tonight.

~~~~

On his way to the theater, he passed a man and woman selling flowers on the side of the street. Quickly he pulled over running over to them. They had a variety of flowers ready to be made into bouquets, the only problem was he wasn't sure which ones to get. He had never asked before what your favorite flowers were and he was not about to ask your brother so he did the next best thing, he googled it.

~~~~

At the end of the show, you were full of adrenaline. The crowd cheered as they stood for you and the cast. You had worked with some of the ensemble cast before on other shows so they came up to give you hugs before you all bowed and the curtain dropped.

You almost forgot how amazing and fun it was to be on stage. You walked back to your dressing room ready to change back into your clothes and go home. Your bag was thrown in the corner forgotten about but the moment you sat down a thought came into your head.

I haven't texted Sebastian back all day.

You ran to your bag digging through it to find your phone. It seemed to be lost somewhere in there and you were losing patience so you flipped your purse over dropping everything onto the floor. Finally finding your phone you walked over to your chair, opened up your messages, and went to Sebastian's name.

Y/N: Hey I sorta got busy... I'll tell you more about it when you've got time

You sighed slouching down in your chair, closing your eyes, and throwing your head back. You knew he was very understanding and wouldn't be upset with you for leaving him without saying a word but still, you felt bad. A few minutes passed when you heard knocking on your door. You sat back up before calling out, "Come in."

"I have time now if you want to talk." You heard a husky voice say from your door. You turned in shock seeing Sebastian standing there in a casual blue suit with flowers in his hand. You got up from your seat and started walking over to him as he walked closer to you, "Sebastian what're you doing here?"

"Well, when I heard you would be performing tonight I couldn't miss this show. I also got you these so I couldn't let you leave without them."

"Thank you, they're beautiful. How did you know these were my favorite?" You asked jokingly. You honestly thought it was just a coincidence that the flowers he got were your favorites.

He rubbed the back of his neck as a blush rose onto his cheeks, "I may have googled what your favorite flowers are."

You couldn't help but laugh, "I'm sorry I didn't mean for that to come out. It's just- you googled me?"

"Yes, I googled you!" He was laughing now too.

"I can't believe you googled me." You were smiling at him now. He was so much taller without your heels on. You took a step back, crossing your arms feeling a bit insecure.

"Well, I was hoping I could take you out tonight. Finally, get to hang out again now that we're here together."

"Yeah, of course, let me get changed really quickly then we can do."

He nodded walking out of the room allowing you to dress in peace. You ran around grabbing your clothes and throwing everything back into your purse. It wasn't too long until you opened the door with your purse and flowers in hand, "So what did you have in mind?"

"I was thinking maybe we can go back to my apartment. I'm sure you're tired and well were not exactly dressed for the same event." He looked down at your sweatpants and t-shirt.

"Yeah, maybe you're right."

~~~~

You followed behind him in your car to his house. You were slightly nervous since this would be the first time you both properly hang out together, alone, and in his house.

When you both got there he met you at your car opening the door for you and offering his hand, "My lady." You giggled at his antics but still took his hand, "Thank you, kind sir." He walked you up to his apartment while your arm was wrapped around his.

Once you were both in his apartment he looked down at his attire, "I am going to change real quick. While I'm gone feel free to make yourself at home. If you need to use the bathroom it's just through that door right there." He walked off to his room leaving you there alone. You put your bag down on the couch taking your phone out to see a text from Tom.

Tommy: How was your show? I'm sure you did great as always! That's how we Hollands do like to do it anyway

Y/N: The show was amazing! I had so much fun I missed performing but I'm still taking a few weeks off before I jump back into it again

You got another text when Sebastian came out of his room now wearing sweatpants of his own and a band shirt. "I don't have anything w can really eat right now so we can order food if you're hungry?"

"That sounds great. I'm fine with eating anything, honestly."

"Awesome, I know this great Chinese restaurant not too far from here we can order from."

You two spent the rest of the night eating and talking. You started off just sitting on his couch but as the night went on you got more comfortable switching positions. You would lay with your back on the arm of the couch, your legs dangling over the arm of the couch, then you moved so your head was hanging over the edge of the couch until you both somehow ended up laying on the floor talking.

Sebastian's head was right next to yours but your bodies were going opposite of each other. He grabbed some pillows from the couch keeping one for himself and giving you the other.

"What happened to you giving me front row seats once you were back on stage, huh?" Sebastian joked.

You propped your arm up on the pillow and rested your head on your hand facing him, "I wasn't planning on going back so soon. They needed me and I couldn't let them down! Plus you were in the middle of something I couldn't interrupt."

He did the same as you resting his head on his arm turning to you, "Excuses, excuses. You could've left a message or something! I would've dropped whatever I was doing just to see you."

You blushed looking away from him but he put a hand on your cheek turning your head back to him. His hand lingered as his thumb drew circles on your cheek, "Have I told you I love hearing you sing?"

"Maybe once or twice." You answered nervously.

"Well, then I'll just keep telling you." You looked into each other's eyes while his hand was still resting on your cheek. You thought for sure he would lean in for a kiss but he didn't. Instead, he cleared his throat and moved his hand. He looked up at the time before letting out a whoa, "It's already two in the morning! You should really get home and get some rest."

You were a bit confused. It felt like you two were having a moment and now he's rushing you home? Sure he makes a good point it is getting late and you're tired but what the hell?

"I suppose you're right." You laid back down on the floor not wanting to get up but Sebastian was standing next to you holding his hand out for you to take. He lifted you off the floor, "Come on I'll walk you to your car."

The walk to your car was quiet, neither of you really knew what to say. When it was time to go he gave you a hug which lingered. You were grateful it did. You didn't want to let him go he smelled like old spice and his body felt warm pressed up against yours. His head rested on top of yours as he rubbed your back with one hand. "Let me know when you're home, ok?" He pulled away holding onto your shoulders until you nodded.

~~~~

Sebastian laid awake in bed waiting to know you were home safe. He could've kissed you tonight. He wanted to kiss you but the gentleman in him wouldn't allow it. From the moment you two met he knew he wanted to take you out but you being Tom's sister he didn't want to do it behind his back either.

In the morning he set his plan into motion. The first call he made was to Tom.

It didn't take long for him to answer, "Hey mate, what's up?"

Sebastian felt nervous. What if Tom said no? What if this ruined their friendship, but he had to try. "Hey, Tom I was just calling to ask something."

"Shot."

"Well, I was hoping it would be alright if I take Y/N out on a date tonight?" He let out slowly. His palms were sweating and his heart was beating fast.

"What?" Tom didn't know what to say. Of course he thought Sebastian was a really great guy but you were his little sister. Did he really want to let you go out with him?

"I would like to take Y/N out on a date, but with your permission of course. I know how close you two are and I don't want you to feel like we're sneaking around behind your back. If you say no I totally understand and I'll keep everything as just friends."

If he were being honest Tom was impressed with the way Sebastian came to him before asking you out. He thought it was nice of his friend to come clean to him instead of asking you out without letting him know, which was something that happened before. "You know what man? Go for it."

"Are you serious?" Sebastian was stunned.

"Yeah! I know we joke around a lot about you and Mackie not liking me but you really are a great friend. Plus I saw how well you two got along during Comic-Con. I know you'll do what's right and make her happy."

Sebastian was over the moon happy. As soon as he hung up the phone his second call was to you.

~~~~

"Tonight at 5:00? That sounds great!"

"Ok, I'll pick you up then." As soon as he hung up the phone you shouted into your pillow with excitement. You knew you had a moment together last night! You just thought maybe it was your crush clouding your judgment but now you two have a date for tonight!

You jumped off your bed and went straight into your closet.

What am I going to wear tonight?

You rummaged through your wardrobe for an hour trying everything on. He said you would be going out to dinner then he would take you out for a movie. Cliche but you didn't care, you were going out with Sebastian Stan! After another two hours retrying everything on and pairing them with shoes. He mentioned the restaurant you would be outdoors so with that information you settled on wearing a maroon corduroy dress with a white long sleeve underneath and some black tights underneath. As for the shoes you went with black boots that had a heel to them.

It felt like time slowed down as if it knew how excited you were for your date. At 3:30 you started getting ready, first taking a shower then quickly putting on your outfit and shoes. Seeing as how you always had to wear so much makeup on stage you hardly liked to wear any off. You only put on a bit of concealer to hide the bags under your eyes, some eye shadow, and lipstick. Once you were satisfied with your look you started on your hair. Not wanting to do too much to it you lightly curled it and pinned it to the sides. As soon as you finished getting ready you heard a buzz coming from your intercom, "Hi Miss. Holland there is a Mr. Sebastian Stan here for ya."

Excited you hurried across the room to buzz back, "Let him up. Thank you, Jerry!" Within minutes you heard a knock on your door. You had set your purse next to the door earlier so you wouldn't have to worry about grabbing it o your way out. When you opened the door you were met with a shy-looking Sebastian once again wearing a casual suit although this time it was a plaid grey. He had one single flower in his hand and a dopey grin on his face.

"Hi, you look beautiful. Well, you always look beautiful but I never mention it so I am now."

You laughed at his stammering, "Thank you, you don't look too bad yourself. I mean you never look bad but I never mention it so I am now." You said coolly mocking him.

He noticed this and laughed looking down, "Thank you. I- umm- I brought you this. Just another one to add to your bouquet." He handed you another flower, the same as the ones from last night. You took it from him happily, "You're so sweet. I'll add it to the bunch right now." You began walking back into your apartment until you realized you were leaving Sebastian standing outside of your apartment door. You turned back around opening the door up for him, "Please come in while I put this away." So he did. He stepped into your apartment but remained by the door. He looked around at the setup and decor. "Wow, you really weren't kidding about those three Tony awards were you?" He asked impressed. You turned back with a chuckle, "I don't have to lie to sound cooler than my brother." "You got that right." He mumbled to himself with a smile.

~~~~

The restaurant he chose was on a rooftop overlooking the city. The view was beautiful and even though there was a rough over your heads it was clear allowing you to see the sky above and the sides were left open so a breeze could pass through. There were strings of light running through the top to illuminate the tables as well as a small jar filled with fairy lights.

Dinner went by smoothly. As you ate you both talked about your lives and the places you've been.

"Greece is amazing! It's my favorite place to go when I need to get away for a while." Sebastian gushed.

"You've been to Greece?! Oh my, I've always wanted to visit but haven't had the chance to go yet."

"You haven't been to Greece?!" He looked at you like you just kicked his puppy. "Well, I will just have to take you someday then." He took a sip of his drink and wiggled his eyebrows at you.

"You said it so you have to take me now!"

"I will." He said with both seriousness and playfulness.

"Promise?" You raised an eyebrow as you held your pinky out.

He rolled his eyes but chuckled taking your pinky with his, "Promise."

~~~~

After dinner, he drove you across the river into Brooklyn. You looked to him confused, "I thought we were just watching a movie?"

He smiled keeping his eyes on the road, "We are."

"Then we do we have to go to Brooklyn?"

"You'll see."

Once you saw it your jaw dropped. The car made sense now. Instead of his Tesla from the other night, he was now driving an SUV. You were confused when you saw it at first but didn't think much into it. Now he was driving you into the Skyline Theater and you understood why he brought his SUV.

"It's a drive-in theater?"

"Yup, check the back seats."

Behind you were blankets, pillows, and snacks that you for some reason didn't see before. He pulled into a parking space with the back of the car facing the big screen, "Wait here." He got out of the car, opened up the back, and started putting the back seats down. Carefully he laid the blankets and pillows for you two. Once he finished he looked up to you, "Now for some popcorn, Ill be right back. Want anything to drink?"

"Just water and a bottle of soda."

"Got it." He flashed you a charming smile before closing the back and walking off.  You sat there smiling to yourself like an idiot. You haven't felt this happy in so long, it was a different type of happiness. He came back quicker than you expected with drinks and a big tub of popcorn. Seeing as he still had the keys he opened the back once again to lay out the snacks. "Come on." He nodded his head over motioning for you to join him.

You sat in the back letting your legs dangle over the side of the car, "So what movie are we seeing tonight?"

"Honestly I don't even know" He laughed looking at you.

"You don't know?" You laughed along.

"Uh-uh. It could be a kid's movie, an adult movie, or it could even be one of my movies. I don't know. I just thought it would be romantic to bring you out here for a movie."

"That is sweet but also unbelievable." You laughed but hoped the movie would be something appropriate. Luckily once the movie began it turned out to be Just Go With It.

Sebastian pushed himself back allowing him to lay down, before he did though he took his shoes off and tossed them to the front. You followed along. As the movie went on you two slowly inched closer to each other. First, it started out with him putting his hand on top of yours then he slowly put his arms around your shoulder. You leaned into him resting your head on his chest. Although neither of you could see each other's faces you both smiled at the close contact. You would feed each other snacks and when he tried tossing popcorn into his mouth and failed you both had a contest to see who could do it first, of course, you won.

By the end of the night, Sebastian took you back to your apartment walking you to your door. With your door open you leaned on the frame and looked over to him, "I had a great night Sebastian, thank you." You placed a soft kiss on his cheek before turning to walk into your apartment. He grabbed your hand before you could go. You turned to face him slightly tilting your head you scrunched your eyebrows. He walked closer to you grabbing both sides of your face, "Can I kiss you?" Unable to speak you nodded your head. You felt like your stomach was in your throat.

He leaned down closer to your face, slowly closed his eyes, and placed a soft kiss on your lips. You thought your legs would turn to jelly but luckily they stood strong. You kissed him back wishing it would never have to end.

#sebastian stan imagine #sebastian stan #sebastion x reader #mcu #marvel #imagine #fanfic #bucky barnes

[marleneoftheopera]

You did read the book, didn't you? Christine is a blue-eyed, blonde Swede. Raoul is a French aristocrat. Erik is quite likely also French/German and white. Historically, it was highly unlikely any of the characters were black or POC, except for the Persian. I have no gripe against Lucy St. Louis. I truly hope she does well. She seems like a sweet woman with an okay voice and is thrilled to be portraying Christine. Her joy is reflected in her photos.

We'll see if Cammack chose her because she's black, not because she earned the role - meaning having a respectable theatrical resume like, say, Holly Anne Hull who was stepped over by ALW and Cammack. You know, those 2 guys who supposedly love her so much they will possibly have a photo spread for her, even though that is rare for alternates. Is this in case Lucy bombs? Is having 2 alternates and an understudy in case Lucy bombs? It isn't a matter of her being black overall - theater has been introducing black actors into roles traditionally portrayed by white actors, because the characters themselves would likely be white in the world they are living in. I agree with the anon who suggested writing roles for people of color that are about people of color - Miss Saigon comes to mind.

Ultimately, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, as they say. She will not doubt be praised as you have been doing for weeks now. But will she be praised because she is terrific in the role or because she's black? I hope it's the former.

Yes, I did read the book. And as I have said before, color of skin really does not matter in most cases. Unless a role specifically calls for a certain race, everyone should be given the chance to be in that role. What bothers me is that people have been saying all over social media that "Christine is not black in the book" or falling back on the historical excuse. Yes, historically there would not have been a black person in the lead. Frankly, there probably wouldn't have been a black person even in the Corps de Baller. Yes, Christine is blonde in the book. But the musical features her as a blonde, not all of the actresses cast have blue eyes, and a very small number of them have been Swedish. If these people were so concerned about being faithful to the book, they should have started complaining years ago. But no, they have waited until a black woman was cast. That shows me that they don't care a ton about the book itself, but more about finding an excuse to justify them being uncomfortable with a black woman as Christine.

Onto the next part. I do not think that there are 4 Christine's in case Lucy "bombs". While it isn't done a ton, I think it is actually smart. Many times they have needed an emergency cover Christine right after a cast change because someone got sick, the understudy wasn't rehearsed, and they need at least 2 people splitting the shows. Anouk most likely doesn't need as much Christine rehearsal as Beatrice will since Anouk has done the part already. And Holly reprising her role combined with Anouk gives them a good starting foundation. And once Beatrice is rehearsed, that means they will have 3 backups for Lucy. Broadway did the same thing for quite some time as well with Elizabeth Welch and Susan Owen. And they also have some 4 understudies for the Phantom and Raoul too. So I don't think it has anything to do with whether Lucy will need to be replaced or not. I think it's covering their bases and giving another woman of color the chance to go on as Christine. And when Lucy does decide to leave, yes Holly could take her spot.

I agree as well that writing roles for people of color is important. But casting people of color in roles predominantly played by white people is equally important. Plain and simple.

Finally, anyone with common sense (though that seems to be a rarer thing nowadays) will realize that praising Lucy is a two-part situation. She should and has been praised since the moment her casting was announced. And deservedly so since she is breaking a huge barrier. Even if she was the worst Christine singing or acting wise, she would still deserve that praise. But I, and I think many others, are not judging her Christine fully because she has not done a public show yet. So it's sort of impossible to form a complete opinion. We are sending encouragement, hoping she does well, and beginning to get a sense of her based on the clips we have seen. But I don't think anyone has room to say what her Christine is like until opening night. Or maybe even a month after once she settles in.

Bottom line, I hope that she is judged solely on her performance and praised for making history. I personally have a feeling that she is going to be a lovely Christine. Once she settles in, I think she is going to be one of those Christine's that does everything right. Some people will like that, some people may not.

Now do I think that the color of her skin was part of the reason why they cast her? Going by what we have seen of Cammack and ALW, yes. For good reasons along with a few selfish ones perhaps. But regardless, it is the audience's job to make sure that she knows her skin color is celebrated, but also that she as a performer is celebrated as well. Hopefully, others also see that too.

And finally, if Holly herself is not slighted in being the alternate, then I think people should stop insinuating that she was stepped over. A woman of color gets to be in the lead, Holly still gets to do the part, they are both employed in a Covid world, and there is a good chance that Holly could become principal when Lucy decides to leave. We don't know, Holly may have even wanted the alternate spot. At any rate, Holly seems like she is having a great time. We should all stop speculating and arguing over skin color and just enjoy the new cast and that Phantom is returning after an awful year.

I also want to note that not everything in this post is directed at you, anon. But it is some things that I want to get off my chest to certain people in general. I also find it funny that everyone who has mentioned anything about Lucy's skin color remains anonymous.

#she's white in the book #long post #can we all just enjoy the casting #and no more #the book isn't the musical #the phantom of the opera

[spelledb-a-r-e]

I saw a post by @hearmyvoicee pointing out that in a typical teen musical, Matt would have been the main character, so I wrote out the plot from Matt's POV so I could see it for myself. Turns out it was spot on! (Also 100% credit to @hearmyvoicee for this idea, please read their full post on this because it's so insightful.) Enjoy:

The show opens with Matt going through the halls of his school, awkwardly trying to get other people's attention, especially Ivy, but she mostly ignores him. We see that Jason, on the other hand, is Mr. Popular getting fawned over by all the other guys and girls.

Matt goes to audition for the school play as Romeo, and even Sister Chantelle notices how hard he worked to prepare for it. But he doesn't get the part he worked so hard for. Of course, it's Jason who gets the part instead, and when Matt tries to do the right thing and congratulate him, Jason arrogantly comments that he hadn't even prepared for the audition at all.

When Matt hangs out with some of his classmates, he reveals that he wants to impress his popular crush, Ivy, with a surprise party. They start talking about going to a rave, and Matt is nervous, because he's never rebelled or done drugs before. But when Ivy flirtatiously asks him to go, he sees this as his chance to get her attention and fit in better, so he accepts.

At the rave, Matt sees Ivy pass out. Like a gentleman, he tries to help her by taking her outside. On his way back, he notices that Jason is kissing one of their other male classmates named Peter. He's shocked that Mr. Popular would have such a big secret, but he doesn't say anything because he's a nice guy.

He does struggle with whether he should out Jason in confession, but he decides not to because, again, he's a nice guy who keeps other people's secrets.

The party he planned for Ivy becomes a total disaster at the hands of the other kids, and to his dismay Ivy comes in drunk. She thanks him for the party, but when he asks her to dance, she ignores him and flirts with Jason instead. Now that Matt knows Jason's secret, this is too much to take and he storms out.

He sees Peter drinking outside and commiserates with him. Eventually Peter tells him about his secret relationship with Jason, and Matt, not knowing how to react, just says good night and leaves.

At rehearsal, Matt's frustration with the unfairness of this situation boils over, and he lets a homophobic slur slip out when he's rehearsing a fight with Jason. Jason immediately turns it into a real fight until Sister Chantelle separates them. Matt is ashamed of his outburst, but he sees Jason go over to talk to Peter, and he can't bring himself to face either of them.

Then everyone goes on spring break!

When Matt comes back, he approaches Ivy, asking why she hadn't returned any of his calls over the break. She starts to make some excuses, but she's cut off by the arrival of the class ranks. Matt is second. Jason is first. (Also his sister might be dead?? We'll never know that one I guess.) Ivy, surprise surprise, goes off to talk to Jason.

At the next rehearsal, Ivy isn't there, and it's revealed that she's missed several rehearsals in a row. When Juliet's understudy doesn't know the lines, Peter comes in and has a romantic moment with Jason in front of everyone, who don't suspect that it goes beyond the acting. But Jason immediately snaps out of it when Ivy comes in, leaving her in the dark once again. Everyone is kinda mean to Ivy and she's upset that Jason would be so careless as to replace her like that.

The cast meets to rehearse later. Matt is the third one there and witnesses Jason yelling at Ivy as she tearfully tries to tell him something. She finally shouts that she's pregnant, and Matt watches in horror as she and Jason nervously try to reconcile. Unable to see Ivy unhappy, he bursts in and declares his love for her, and tells her that Jason would never be able to love her, because he already has a boyfriend. His boyfriend conveniently comes in, and Matt tells Ivy all about Jason and Peter's relationship. As the other students come in, the scene dissolves into chaos and shouting. Ivy doesn't respond like Matt hoped. Instead of being grateful, she's angry with him. Jason breaks down crying, and Matt feels guilty, but he knows he can't do anything more.

The night of the play arrives. Matt tries to make amends with Peter, who is still cold to him. He doesn't get a chance to apologize to Jason before the show. In the middle of one of the scenes, Jason collapses. Matt finds out soon afterwards that Jason has died from a drug overdose.

Matt becomes the valedictorian in Jason's absence, but he can't find the words to say in his speech that would make things better. Poor Matt has not only lost the girl of his dreams, but now he has to feel guilty about contributing to someone's suicide.

By the end, Matt has learned the valuable lesson that sometimes getting popular comes at a cost! :)

#bare a pop opera

[the-l-spacer]

Summary: When Lloyd falls sick, leaving the August Sky Repertory without a narrator, David Adams, a college student taking theatre on the side, gets thrust into the limelight.

Written for Day 1 of Shaperaverse Prompt Week!

David arrives late for rehearsal. It’s not his fault really, what with the rain slowing traffic to a crawl, and how he lives further from the August Sky Repertory Theatre than the rest of the group, and of course the bus is always late…

... is how he’s rationalising sleeping way, way in when Lloyd inevitably rakes him over the metaphorical coals for his tardiness. The company’s irritable stage manager detested when things didn’t go exactly according to plan, with lateness being a particularly egregious sin in his books. David thanks the stars that today’s rehearsal is only student-run, so he won’t have to deal with all that, on top of their director, William’s, trademark ‘I’m-not-mad-I’m-disappointed’ side glance that sometimes cut deeper than the worst of Lloyd’s tirades.

So when David barrels through the main entrance, sneakers squeaking on the polished marble floors, runs up the stairs to the auditorium on the building’s second floor, he’s fully prepared a barrage of apologetic excuses and half-truths. And when he pushes past the double doors, an ‘I’m so, so sorry' is on the tip of his tongue, ready to spill from his mouth.

And then he realises that Lloyd is, quite inexplicably, absent from their rehearsal.

His footsteps slow, and he proceeds at a steady trot downward, past rows of velvet-covered seats, to where Jill and Michael are, eating pizza with their legs dangling over the lip of the stage, spilling crumbs into the orchestra pit (something Lloyd and William would grow white hairs over, if they were actually there to begin with).

“Yo, Davey!” Michael waves. He scoots over two paper cups of soda, and pats the now-empty spot next to him. Taking his cue, David boosts himself up on the stage, plucking a slice of pizza from Jill’s hands.

“Hey. Sorry ‘m late.” He shoves half the pizza into his mouth, ignoring Jill’s protests.

“Damn, David, this your first meal of the day?” Michael balks, wordlessly passing a new pizza slice over to Jill, who accepts it with a huff.

“Yeah, actually.” David finishes off the crust, wipes greasy fingers off on his jeans. “Stayed up too late last night rushing a submission, so I overslept. No time for breakfast. I thought Lloyd would be ready and waiting to chew me out though. Where is he?”

As if on cue, Asha emerges from left wing, pacing the stage and chattering anxiously on her phone. “And you’re sure you’re getting enough water? Did you take a panadol? I could get some soup delivered to you.” Noticing David for the first time, she mouths a silent, Lloyd’s sick.

“You’re joking.”

Three pairs of eyes turn to David.

“What?” He puts his hands up in mock surrender. “He’s never sick. Don’t you guys ever notice he’s at rehearsal, like, always? He’s never late, never forgets to bring his script, and he never falls sick. it’s like he’s some sort of automaton. A weird theatre-obsessed automaton who runs on.. uhh..”

“Salt,” Jill offers, “and spite.”

“Yeah, that.” David holds out his hand to Asha, currently glaring daggers at him and Jill. “Can I talk to him? Just, you know, to be sure? And to wish him well and all.”

Sighing, Asha says a final “Take care, okay?” to the person on the other side of the phone, and passes it over to David’s outstretched hand.

“Lloyd?”

The voice coming through the Huawei’s tinny speaker is barely recognisable, raspy and low. “David. You’re late for rehearsal. You know-“ a series of hacking coughs interrupts whatever Lloyd (because it was, most unmistakably, Lloyd) was trying to say.

“Hey, hey, save it, yeah?” David’s own voice is threaded through with concern, but he can’t help a slight smile from crossing his face. Even when sick, Lloyd still can’t resist trying to lecture him. That sanctimonious idiot. “You’ll have plenty of time to yell at me once you’re better.”

A tiny chuckle. “That’s a.. all the incentive I need.” He clears his throat once, then twice. “Anyhow, I expect you all to continue rehearsal as normal. I’ve put Asha in charge. Just.. run through Janissary again, David, you’re taking over as Narrator, try to memorise your blocking, a-“

“-excuse me, what?!?”

“- I said, memorise y.. your blocking, and-“

“- no, no, the other thing. You want me to play the Narrator?!??”

“I don’t misspeak, David. There’s no one else to fill in for me, and we all know I narrate terribly.”

“B.. but Michael could, or I could call in his understudy. And who’s gonna work on lighting? I thought that was my job!”

“I-“ another coughing fit, “-I’ve arranged for Kate to take over the lighting, just for today. She should be arriving soon.” As if to anticipate the further protests forming in David’s mind, he continues. “You auditioned into this theatre program to sing and act, just like the rest of us. You can’t expect to keep hiding backstage and playing background roles. It’s time for you to step u-“ Lloyd’s voice gives out entirely, and Asha snatches the phone from David’s limp grasp.

“You’ve lost your phone privileges,” she says smoothly. Then, turning away from David, spluttering and panicking, she addresses the sick stage manager (and friend!) on the other end of the line. “Lloyd, stop trying to talk on a hoarse throat or I’m going to chuck Brija’s spear at you again. We’ve got this handled. Just sleep someplace cool, keep a cold compress someplace handy. We’ll all come over to visit you once we’re done for the day — nonono, don’t say anything — we will come in and take care of you, because gods know your dad’s not gonna do it, so hush. Go to sleep, and rest well.. Love you too.”

With that, she flicks her phone shut, pockets it, and turns toward the rest of the group, all staring silently at her. She colours a little, tucking a stray curl self-consciously behind her ear. “What?”

“He said ‘love you’?” Michael grins, forming air quotes around the words. “That boy is havin' a fever.”

Jill smacks his arm. “Don’t be an asshole. We know Asha’s more of his mom than anything, not... you know...” She and Asha shoot meaningful glances at David, who, for the record, looks entirely perplexed. Jill mentally sighs. David would come to terms with his crush on Lloyd eventually (or at least, she hopes so, the energy between the two of them is entirely too weird and awkward otherwise).

“Yeah, call me a mom all you like, we all know you’re planning on visiting him after rehearsal too. I just took the liberty of saying we’re all going to spare him having to argue with us individually. Speaking of.” She pulls her long, dark hair into a ponytail, the universal code for let’s get down to business, and claps her hands together. “Shall we begin rehearsing? Kate? Kate!”

The dark, silent theatre is filled with an electrical hum, as row by row, lights spark to life, growing brighter and brighter as they warm up. The control booth at the back of the theatre illuminates, revealing Kate, a freshman and the newest member of New Albion University’s theatre program, clad in a pair of headphones half the size of her face, waving at the group below.

“Sorry, sorry!” Her voice, mic’d up to the theatre’s speakers, bounces eerily around the room. “You guys seemed to be distracted, so I zoned out. Are we ready to start?”

Scowling, David asks, “Was she there the whole time? Was anyone gonna tell me I got replaced as lighting tech by the freshie?”

“Might want to cut the snark there, buddy,” Kate’s amplified voice warns.

“What she said. Also, take this as a valuable learning experience,” Asha says. “You do a good Vizier, but it’s about time you tried a bigger role.”

“And even if it ends horribly, it's fine, since this is just today’s arrangement!” Jill pipes up.

David groans. “Not helping.”

Michael claps him on the shoulder. “Heyyy, you’ll be fine, Davey. Just read through the script and remember where to stand. You got this, man.”

Nodding, David fishes out his Janissary script, and flings his satchel bag toward the seats, where it lands lopsided on the front row.

“Places, everyone! Jill and Michael, clear the trash from the stage!” Asha calls out. “David, stand here.” She ushers him gently to where a faint ‘x’ is taped, downstage right.

A chill runs up his spine. He isn’t hidden upstage, or holed up in the control booth, he’s here, standing at the August Sky Repertory Theatre’s unofficial ‘sweet spot’, a space on stage where even the softest voice can cut right through the cavernous auditorium, clear as crystal. A space reserved for soloists, for the most important characters to have their moment in the spotlight. For anyone but him.

Experimentally, he clears his throat, and almost winces when the sound travels through the vast performance space, silencing the others where they are standing.

“Are you ready, David?”

He turns to look at Asha. “I don’t think I’ll ever be, but I guess we gotta start sometime.” He clears his throat again, rocking nervously on the balls of his feet. “Okay. Act 1, Scene 1.”

The house lights dim, and narrow to spotlight David. He feels their warmth, looks out across the rows of empty seats.

There’s something special, about the moment just before the start of a performance. As one, the world comes to a standstill, and holds its breath in waiting. In the silence, David is all too aware of the thump, thump, thumping of his heart, the rustling of pages as sweaty hands flip his script open, to where the narrator’s lines lie, clean and unannotated. Tabula rasa, a blank slate, leaving only possibility.

The air crackles with anticipation, so thick he can barely breathe, and he can feel the others’ eyes upon him, watching, waiting for him to shatter that tension like glass.

This tale not all will attend, his first line reads.

He takes a breath, back straightening of its own accord. Addressing the invisible audience, he opens his mouth, and begins his performance.

#shaperaverse #new albion #paul shapera #s..spare kudos.. spare comments... #pwease #anyways modern aus are always v fun to write for so i hope u enjoy!

[whatzaoverwatch]

The Reaper of The Opera Chapter 7: All I Ask of You

Now to end Act One of the actual show! Fun Fact: The end of act one in the stageplay had the chandelier fall in the production while the movie adaptation everyone knows about saves it for the climax of the film. Just a little foreshadow and nudge nudge for things to come. Was also told to do no harm to the emotional support cowboy :^) we shall see bout that

First Prev Next

You had been preparing in the dressing room to take over for Hana. As many would be thrilled to fulfill their part as the understudy, the cause of it made you sick to your stomach. Everyone was very well aware of what happened: the Reaper managed to switch Hana’s vocal spray with something vile. Corrupting her voice and silencing her song. It was cruel and it was despicable. The worst part about it, he did it for you.

He wanted you to sing, he wanted you to shine as his star. It was all according to his plan and you were forced to play a role in it. Even when you found the newly tailored dress before you in the dressing room, you knew it was a part of his game. A bouquet of black roses sat across from the costume alongside a note that was labelled to ‘his most beautiful pupil’. Genjis cherry blossom found tossed into the trash and replaced by the flowers of darkness. Reaching for the rose, you felt the guilt rising in your stomach at the realization of how much he obsessed over you. You wanted no part of his plot, yet he kept luring you to him.

Suddenly, the crack of a shotgun echoed the theatre, startling you by the sudden screams from afar. Striding to the door, you heard the various shouts and movement from the backstage. Hurrying to the stage exits, you were presented with a horrifying sight. The stage handler bleeding to the floor, grasping his arm with screams of agony filling the theatre. The managers at his side trying to stop the bleeding from the several gunshot wounds. McCrees shouts and curses ringing in your ear. The pool of blood staining the stage floor as the audience had already scattered for the doors. Nearly trampling one another as more shots were heard. Seeing some passed out performers on the side while others hollered for medical assistance or to find the culprit.

Stepping back with horror, your body trembled at the chaos before you. This was all his doing; the Reaper had laid his curse upon the theatre. It was no question he wasn’t going to stop. He would continue to do this for you. No matter how much blood he had split.

“[Name]…”

You heard a voice in your ear. Oh no, you thought, has he come for me now? You began to step away, yearning to run began to boil in your stomach. Breath quickening by the second. Hyperventilating at the commotion around you. Feeling him near you, reaching for you with nothing but his voice. It was all your fault, if you hadn’t sung, none of this would’ve happened. Their blood was going to be on your hands.

“[Name]!” The voice became louder. Alerting yourself to see Genji. Running to you quickly with concern, “[Name], there you are! Are you alright? What the hell is going on?!”

“Genji? What are you doing here?” You mumbled in disbelief, watching him look over to the fallen McCree.

“I was watching the performance with my brother. When he fell from above the stage I was worried for your safety. You aren’t hurt, are you?”

He never left alongside the audience, finding his way through the madness to search for you. While you wanted to be relieved to see him, you noticed the lights flickering. The shadows forming against the walls when he got closer. White noise muting his words to what was around him. Knowing the Reaper had his eye upon you, you didn’t want your dearest friend to end up like McCree.

“Stay away from me.” You spoke, backing away from the now confused man. He was taken back by your words, reaching for you slowly.

“[Name]? What’s wrong?” Shaking your head, you could almost see the shadow right behind Genji. Red eyes drilling into the Shimada. Hiking up your dress, you began to run.

“I SAID STAY AWAY!” You cried, running through the backstage loft. Fighting your tears as Genji called out for you.

You didn’t wish to keep him away, but the Reaper left you no choice. Climbing the spiral staircases higher into the theatre’s scaffolding. Voices whispering in your head left and right while you tried to escape. Everyones shadows nearly startling you in the belief that it was Reaper. Nearly tripping over your dress as you reached the top of the stairs. Looking behind with short breaths, watching the shadows crawl to you.

“Do not escape me, my dear. I am inside your mind. You cannot run!”

Facing ahead, you spotted a rustic door to the outside. Running towards it, you scrambled to open it with desperation. Opening the door to the snow fallen rooftop, you quickly slammed the door behind you to block the darkness. The cold frigid air from the nightfall caused you to hug yourself for warmth. The costume providing no thermal care to the cold and the emptiness around you. Backing away from the door, you gazed at the gargoyles that remained perched upon the theatre. You began to wonder if they were placed there to protect the evil within. Your tears stung your cheeks, watching your panting breath dance through the air while you walked. Peering down below to see the various attendees run out the doors, sirens blaring in the distance as you knew the damage was done. Slumping down onto the ledge, you couldn’t help but sob into your hands.

He was right, you couldn’t escape him. You opened your mind to him blindly and he took advantage of you. Now the people around you were suffering under his control. If he ever so desired, he could attack the new managers, or perhaps any of the dancers. Even Genji wasn’t safe from what the Reaper could do. Was the darkness all you were meant for? He had imprisoned you even before that one evening. You wanted to escape, you wanted…

“[Name]??” Genjis voice cleared through your darkened thoughts, drawing your attention to where he entered. Shaking as he hurried to you with no hesitation, “[Name], why did you run?”

“Genji please,” you choked on your sob, wiping your hot tears to scoot away from him, “Just keep away from me. If he sees me with you, you will get hurt.”

“He?” He asked, kneeling before you to take your hand. His touch ever so warm in comparison to yours, “[Name], are you referring to this ‘Reaper’?”

You flinched at the mention of his name, pulling away from Genjis hold in fear. Avoiding his worrisome gaze as you stood up. Shaking your head with a sniff.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” You croaked in your exhausted voice. Trying to move away from him, you felt his hand gently hold your wrist.

“Then help me understand [Name]. Did the Reaper cause all of this?” His question lingered in the air. Pulling your arm away from his hold, you found no reason to run from Genji. Lowering your head, you tried to wipe your tears once more.

“Yes, and he will not stop. He keeps whispering to me, trying to lure me to him. I can’t get him out of my mind.” You whimpered, grasping your temple to repress the voices.

“So, he is real…what do you know of him? Have you seen him?” Facing Genji, you watched his eyes fill with hurt at the sight of your never-ending tears.

“I have, he has taken me into his lair. Filling my head with his songs and words. He wants to take me away to become his, and I cannot control it,” You express, the wave of thoughts you had concealed to prevent disbelief overwhelmed you, “He took me away the other night. I saw things that have prevented me from sleeping. It is no man; it is a monster…and yet…”

“And yet?” He stepped towards you cautiously, giving you a fair amount of space to catch your breath. The tears never ending as you wiped you sleeve.

“I can’t help but pity him,” You confessed, recalling the faint whimpers from when he lashed out at you, “He only wants to be remembered. That’s why I keep letting him in. In someway he is just as lost as I am.”

He looked at you in silence. Unable to read his emotions from your blurry tears. You felt your words were falling short of your childhood friend. Was it foolish to finally speak your mind? Had you truly gone mad? Before you could regret your words, you felt a hand rest upon your cheek. Feeling his thumb gently brush away your tears.

“[Name], I cannot blame you for finding pity for someone like him. You have always had a tender heart, even when we were little,” His words soothed you gently, continuing to brush your tears gently, “But that does not mean you should allow him to take advantage of you.”

“But I’m scared Genji,” You wept, turning your face into his palm to relish into the metallic touch, “You saw what happened. Those that oppose his actions will get hurt. I don’t want anyone harmed because of me.”

“I won’t let it,” He cupped both of your cheeks at this point. You looked into his eyes to see the honesty within, “[Name], the moment I saw you again I thought about all the years that were lost to us. I couldn’t remember a happier time than when I was with you. I want to make up for my absence, starting with protecting you from the Reaper.”

You felt your heart flutter at his words. Unable to recall the last time you had felt safe and comfortable like this. Those last days of love were left by your father and his passing. What you recalled was his memory by your Angel of Music was spoiled by The Reaper and his desires.

But you remembered long ago, Genji always had brought a smile upon your face. From the moment you had found his scarf to when he had to make his final goodbye to you. When he had come back after so long it was if a part of you had returned. Despite his half metal body, it was still the Genji you had admired. Placing a hand over his, you couldn’t help but sigh.

“I do not want to see him hurt you. He has already seen you before with me, I don’t want what happened to Jesse to happen to you or worse.” Genji shook his head, pulling you into an embrace. You felt the faint rhythm of his heartbeat. The sound of it withered the whispers that corrupted your mind.

“[Name], I have faced far worse than what he has in store,” He told you, stroking your back ever so smoothly to ease your shivering, “No more hiding in the dark. Dry your tears, I am here for you. Let me guard you and guide you. Let me be your shelter and your light.”

Looking up at him, you saw the devotion in his eyes. Whatever happened to him before had turned him into more than the mischievous boy from before. You knew your crush hadn’t subsided from these past few days. After all, you pushed him away because of what you were feeling. Taking his hands, you held them into your own.

“Genji, I kept you away because…” You felt your cheeks heated up at the realization of what you were about to say. But somewhere inside of you wanted to finally speak your mind. Squeezing his hand before speaking, “because I love you. I didn’t want him to harm you if he knew how I truly felt about you.”

You saw his eyes widen at your words. His cheeks going pink with his fingers intertwining with yours. Noticing him sigh in relief before a longing smile formed on his lips.

“I’m relieved to hear you say that,” You blinked in confusion before he continued, “When you first disappeared, I thought you despised me. But a part of me never wanted to give up. I wanted to learn the truth.”

“I don’t despise you. I am thankful you never gave up on me. Promise me Genji,” You hushed him with your words, your tears no longer shedding as you spoke, “Say you will be my protector. Say you love me and need me with you. That’s all I ask of you.”

“My blossom,” He whispers, letting go of one of your hands to trace your cheek, “Say you’ll need me with you here. Share with me one love, one lifetime. Anywhere you go let me go too. [Name], that’s all I ask of you.”

“Genji, please say you love me.” You leaned in closer, his lips ever so close to yours. His smile remaining, tilting your chin lightly to look into your eyes.

“You know I do.”

In the heat of the moment, your lips met into one tender kiss. His rough lips ever so gentle against yours. Closing your eyes as you wrapped your arms around his neck. His arms gently caressing your sides. As if a collision of repressed emotions had collapsed upon the two of you. Holding each other in a desperate embrace against the cold. The moment lasting forever, but not enough as you pulled away to catch your breath. He opened his eyes to look at you with love you had never felt before. Wanting to take in another kiss, you heard the sirens and shouts from down below.

“They will be looking for us,” You whispered, taking Genjis hand into yours once more, “Come with me Genji.”

“I will always stay by your side [Name]. I love you.” He assured you, following your side as you two entered back into the theatre.

-

The Reaper followed closely behind from your chase. He awaited to confront you himself on the rooftop. Seeing your tears ached his cold heart, knowing his was the soul reason for their presence. It was not his fault that McCree intervened when he did. He did not mean to stain your spotlight with crimson. The desire to appear behind the gargoyle were halted by Genjis appearance. Disgusted by his interference to what he was creating with you. When you had spoken the truth, he had hoped it would drive the young man away. Especially with the note he had given to keep Genji away.

But he did not push away from your pleas of help. Reaper was no fool, he could see love within the man’s eyes for you the moment he spoke to you the other night. He was bound to love you as he did himself. The fact that you too shared these emotions tore his heart open. Looking away when you two shared that passionate kiss. His fingers digging into the stone at the signs of confessed love that he wished to share with you.

You were not just his songstress, you meant more to him than his ambition. He fell for you, and you turned away those feelings before he could show you the man behind the monster. Watching as you two left, seeing a black rose fall from your dress pocket that you had took with you when you escaped. He stepped out of the shadows to kneel before the rose. Fingers delicately caressed the flower while his body shook.

“I gave you my music. Made your song take wing. I gave you everything and this is how you repay me?” His voice hoarse from the empty air around him.

Bringing the flower close to his lips to conceal his whisper of your name. In his agony, he could still hear your voice. Singing sweetly to the man you had truly loved. The masked mans eyes grew cold, crushing the flower in his grasp with seething anger. Rising from his position to tear away his vulnerability once and for all. His blood boiling as he growled to the heavens.

“You will curse the day you did not do, what the Reaper asked of you!”

To be continued

#Overwatch #overwatch x reader #overwatch imagines #overwatch scenarios #overwatch au #Reaper #reaper x reader #gabriel reyes #gabriel reyes x reader #phantom!reaper #genji #genji shimada #genji shimada x reader #only a Shimada can control these tags #do i even tag mccree

[kjimagine]

Behind the scenes - Sweet Pea

Request: “Hi there!! I was wondering if you could do a sweet pea imagine where the reader is Josie’s understudy in the musical and sweet pea never really noticed her because he was too focused on Josie and after he hears her sing “fight for me” to him in the musical he falls head over heels for her and keeps trying to be nice and protective of her because she’s small and quite..? Sorry I know that’s a lot”

Pairings: Sweet Pea x reader

Warnings: small panic attack and Reggie Mantle being a creeeeeppppppeeeerrrrrr

Summary: Sweet Pea can’t help but take notice of you when he catches you singing “fight for me” in the role of Josie’s understudy in the musical. Over the next few weeks, you take notice of the lingering stares you can never seem to catch and the significant disappearance of trouble around you

N/A: its literally like they just said “serpents”? “Sweetpea”? don't know her, and threw my boy out the window. Also, i might edit this later and add to it UPDATE: I EDITED AND ADDED MORE

Despite your role of leading understudy in the Riverdale Highschool musical production of Heathers, you still attended every practice. Of course, that decision was influenced by Kevin and Fangs. In the chance that something went wrong, which would certainly not be an absurd occurrence in Riverdale, they needed you to be prepared.

You spent most practices sitting on the floor by Kevin and Fang's table, catching up on classwork and playing stupid games on your phone that made the time pass faster. The last 30 minutes of practice, were always designated for you. That was your time to shine.

Josie didn’t really deserve the leading role, at least,  that what your parents had told you many many times over. There were certainly people who agreed, Betty Cooper for example. Others would soon come to this conclusion too.

“(y/n), when the basketball guys get back in 10 minutes, you’re up,” Kevin smiled down at you. You smiled back in confirmation.

The start of the musical season, at Riverdale, always interfered with the end of the basketball season. And thus, all basketball players were late to musical rehearsals. Fangs still managed to be around for some musical practices, this was actually the first he had been able to attend in two weeks.

“Kevin, I don’t see the point in her practicing, no offence, y/n, if she’s not performing,” Josie complained.

“Why don’t you focus on yourself instead of worrying about y/n, God knows you need the practice,” Cheryl scoffed. Putting a hand over your mouth, you tried to hide your laughter. Josie scoffed and rolled her eyes at Cheryl in response. Cheryl sent you a wink from across the room.

Cheryl and you had never been more than friendly to each other, a few hellos’s in the hallway, helping each other with a few questions and equations for class occasionally. Her desire to defend you against Josie was a surprise, weren’t the two of them friends?

Kevin sighed and shook his head the interaction between the two girls. “Alright, take five. When we come back (y/n)’s up.”

Right on cue, in walked Sweet Pea and Reggie. The two of them definitely didn't seem like the musical type, but none the less, here they were.

Reggie scanned the group of theatre kids and when his eyes met yours, a smile grew on his face.

Reggie mantle was like the plague. Nobody wanted him to be there, but there he was; He was behind every door you opened, around the bend of every corner, he was in every class you have had since freshman year.

Reggie Mantle didn't know what the phrased “go away” or “leave me alone” meant.

An audibly loud sigh left your mouth when he started toward you. Sweet Pea chuckled lightly at this, the annoyance present in your body language. 

“How’s my favourite girl?” he grinned wrapping his arm around your shoulders. 

You shrugged his arm off and took a step backward, “Not your girl, Mantle; not even your friend.”

“Ouch,” Reggie winced, holding a hand to his chest in mock hurt. Cheryl and Toni laughed from beside the two of you. You and Toni made eye contact briefly, sending each other a small smile.

“Give it up, Reggie. You’ve been chasing (y/n) since freshman year and she doesn’t even want to touch you with a ten-foot pole,”  Cheryl snapped. Wow, she really did have your back today.

“She’d touch me, isn't that right, (y/n)?” he grinned taking another step toward you. You grimaced at the pearly white teeth poking through his menacing smile, a chill travelled down your spine.

“Your doctor doesn’t even want to touch you, Mantle, give it up,” Toni snarled.

Kevin let out a puff of air in frustration, “Alright, back to work,” he redirected the group. 

With a small sigh you made your way up onto the stage, Josie stomping her feet on the way to her seat behind you.

You were never one for creating drama, Riverdale surely had enough of that, but if Josie continued to complain about your involvement in the play, there was going to be a problem.

“Alright, (y/n),” Kevin clicked his pen four times, “Fight for Me.”

You watched as Ms. Grenvell reached her hands out and started playing the introductory beat on the piano. Taking a deep breath in, you were ready.

Why when you see boys fight Does it look so horrible Yet... feel so right? I shouldn't watch this crap That's not who I am But with this kid… Daaaaamn

Josie rolled her eyes at you from her seat in the front row. Her legs kicked to sit over each other. Her arms crossed in annoyance.

Hey, mister no-name kid So who might you be? And could you fight for me Hey, could you face the crowd Could you be seen with me and still act proud Hey, could you hold my hand And could you carry me through no man's land It's fine if you don't agree But I would fight for you If you would fight for me

The serpents had never been around long enough or even interested enough to learn your name, but they certainly were now. The rise and fall of your voice was angelic, your articulation exquisite. 

Toni’s face held shock, Fangs’ held admiration, and Sweet Pea’s held a smile. Pea may have not known much about Riverdale High or the people who attended it, but he certainly wanted to now.

                                                       ∘  ♔♔♔  ∘

The halls of Riverdale High had been quiet all week. The absence of Riverdale’s very own Mantle the Magnificant’s presence really put into perspective how little interaction you had with your fellow students. You had friends, but with the amount of Reggie Mantle that usually hung off your neck, they chose to keep their distance. 

Reggie Mantle hadn’t tried saying anything to you in two days, he hadn’t even looked at you. For the first time in 2 years, you didn't live in a constant state of uncomfortable. And while Reggie’s lingering eyes had stopped, they were replaced with a new pair. Only this time they weren’t bad, they belonged to Sweet Pea.

You have never had a conversation with him, maybe a few head nods and small smiles here and there. When you heard that the Southside Serpents would be attending Riverdale Highschool, not even your greatest and wildest dreams could have brought your current reality to life. 

Sweet Pea, arguably one of the toughest Serpents of his age, despite what his name claimed, took a liking to you. As cliche as it sounds, you were so painfully oblivious.

Sweet Pea spent months scaring the scoundrel’s of Riverdale High away from you. He spent months trying to figure out how to talk to you. He spent months trying not to fall deeper in love with you.

You spent months, for the first time since freshman year, hanging out with your friends and enjoying yourself. You spent months unbothered by the chaos of Riverdale. You spent months blind to Sweet Pea’s excessive starring and attempts to talk to you.

That was until one fateful day in January. Everyone had just arrived back from the break. And teens out of school surely meant trouble in Riverdale. The rivalry between the Serpents and the Bulldogs had been brewing, things were getting tense.

Slamming the door to your locker shut, there he was, Reggie Mantle, in all of his ignorance. With the roll of your eyes and sigh, you turned to look at him. Reggie slowly pushed you against the lockers, a smirk played on his lips. Your breath hitched in your throat at the unwanted contact.

“Miss me?” he grinned, hot breath fanning your face.

“Definitely not, Mantle,” you groaned. You tried pushing him off but to no avail, he still stood uncomfortably close.

This interaction must have been enough to push Sweet Pea over the edge. The next thing you knew, Sweet pea’s fist was hitting Reggie's face and Reggie’s face was hitting the floor. Your hand flew to your mouth, eyes wide.

Toni and Fangs stood nearby, along with a few Serpents who stood at each end of the Hallway to watch for teachers. A few students cheered as Sweat pea’s fists reconnected with Reggie’s body again and again and again.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Mantle,” Sweet Pea yelled pulling Reggie up to his face by the collar of his shirt. “You bother (y/n) again and I’ll beat you to a pulp,” he spits. With that, he drops Reggie’s collar, the boy’s head hitting the ground harshly. Sweet Pea looks over to you, but when the two of you make eye contact, he freezes like a deer in the headlights.

Someone yells out that Weatherbee is coming, but with all the yelling in the hallway, and the bulldogs emerging from god knows where, you get lost in the commotion.

Your back hits your locker as your eyes try to make sense of the scene in front of you. Your chest tightens and your breathing shallows, you wrap your arms around yourself.

A warm hand grabs yours, and you’re pulled away from the loud fighting crowd in the hallway of Riverdale High. The hand is large, it incases yours entirely. You can’t see much as you’re lead through the crowd, but you’re able to make out the slicked greasy hair and the worn leather jacket of the serpent in front of you.

#sweet pea #sweet pea imagine #toni topaz #riverdale #riverdale imagine #south side serpents #fangs fogarty #fangs imagine #josey and the pussycats #cheryl blossom

[magical-marvelous-mistoffelees]

Masterpost on amazing moments from the Cats 2019 NA6 Tour

This is a really long post on moments I saw (and remembered to write down) last night, when I saw the national tour of Cats the second time.

!!!I chose these specific moments because they are special to the tour or character choices made by the actors that you don’t get in the 2016 bway boot or the 1998 film!!!

There were also quite a few swings and understudies thrown in, presumably since there is a rough cold/flu going around the area I live in, and the actors may have caught something.

Spoilers below!

The first time I had seen the Cats NA Tour, I saw it in Charlotte as a birthday present while on vacation. Before that moment, I knew basically nothing about Cats, so I didn’t think to take notes like this time. However, I will try to include a few moments I remember from the first time as well.

Also, my favorite characters are Tugger, Misto, Mungo, and Rumple, so my eyes were typically drawn to them. I love all of the characters though, and everyone was amazing, so I tried to watch everyone as much as I could!

Opening/Prologue

Not too much to say about the prologue, since it wasn’t much different than the film or the 2016 version. 

Naming of the Cats

Bill Bailey felt like a younger version of Tugger. After hearing his name called out, he did a little hair flip with his mane

Mungojerrie and Bill Bailey spent the majority of the song messing around and talking to each other rather than speaking to the audience. 

However, when the cats broke away while discussing a cat’s third name, Mungo was in the audience. He was close enough to the mezz (where I was sitting) to hear, and his voice was so expressive! He didn’t just recite the lines as a chant with everyone else, but put his own emotion and charm into it. 

Invitation to the Jellicle Ball (Caitlin Bond, PJ Degaetano, Dan Hoy)

The first time I saw the Cats NA tour, I saw Victoria’s understudy (Erin Chupinsky) (who was amazing!). This time, I saw the original tour actress, who was one of the best dancers I’ve seen on stage. She had so much poise and control over everything she did, and played the character just a little older than she usually was, making her more serene and quiet than young and becoming.

Her makeup did not include much pink, and she had a black nose instead, along with black defining features like the bridge of her nose and her brows.

Mistoffelees is so dramatic??? Like whenever he comes forward to dance or use his magic, his actions are always big and confident. 

Anytime Mistoffelees had to move anywhere, he always included plenty of both ballet/jazz moves, but also some acrobatic tricks. Seriously, whenever he needed to get from point A to point B, there would be some sort of leap or cartwheel or spin.

Mistoffelees also loved to follow around Munkustrap. Whenever Munk moved around to talk to other cats, Misto would be right on his tail, trying to help. He was just so happy to be introducing the ball with Munk and Vic.

Old Gumbie Cat (Dan Hoy, Emily Jeanne Phillips)

Did somebody say Skimble and Jenny? Because these actors definitely delivered. Skimble was always somewhere near Jenny during her song, and helped her move around in her big costume.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer really wanted to help out with this song (and basically every song) but were usually shooed off. This disappointed them, but they still managed to sneak in and help.

Mistoffelees continued to help out Munk in this song, guiding Jenny around and getting the mice ready in their costumes. He would often mess around with her, waving a hand in front of her face when she zoned out, giggling and shrugging. He also would fuss around and fix her fur/groom her.

JENNY WAS SO SPARKLY IN HER COSTUME!!!

Rum Tum Tugger (McGee Maddox)

McGee’s legs are SO LONG, and he always had a hip popped or his feet crossed. He also walked with so much swagger, especially in his hips.

Misto was so into Tugger’s song, constantly grooving, swaying, playing with his tail, or kneading the ground in the background. However, unless Tugger specifically pulled Misto out to dance, he would sit farther off in the background, either on the car trunk or so far downstage and to the side that he was basically in the shadows. 

Tugger went into the crowd after his number. The first time I saw Cats, he went up to someone and completely shredded their playbill/prgram. The second time I saw it, he sat next to an old lady and was playfully flirting with her. He also would run up and down the aisles, while Bombalurina tried to follow him. She would stop next to people (She actually went up to my friend!) out of breath, complaining that she wish he would stop running.

Tugger went up to Misto after his song and Misto teased him, swatting Tugger with his tail. That didn’t last long, because Misto eventually complimented his song and they had a little secret handshake between the two of them.

Grizabella the Glamour Cat (Tricia Tanguy)

We saw Grizabella’s understudy (Tricia Tanguy) and she was just as talented as my queen Keri.

Grizabella was definitely portrayed as older, similar to Elaine Paige’s version. However, she was young enough that everyone in the tribe recognized her.

All of the cats were initially shocked to see her, pulling away, before they leapt forward to either chase her away, sniff in curiosity, or hurt her as a joke.

She was SO desperate for any sort of physical contact, and she all but begged for it. Her face was twisted with sorrow and longing, and she was so happy when anyone reached out (although nobody touched her).

Skimble would pull away any young cat that tried to touch her, and Munk (tried) to keep people from hurting her. Munk also looked at her with such disdain in his eyes.

Demeter and Bombalurina were equally heartbroken when seeing her.

Can we talk about Tricia’s voice?! It’s so powerful, and she often used straight tone, putting vibrato in at the end of long notes. Her mix is super strong, which constantly made you feel like she was crying out for help, as if she still had hope that someone would. 

ALSO HER DYNAMICS. jUST. GOOSEBUMPS.

Bustopher Jones (Timothy Gulan)

Not too much to say, other than Misto kept following him around and he was so pleased to see everyone.

Bustopher also would try and talk to the conductor if he was far enough downstage. I couldn’t see if the conductor actually acknowledged him or not.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer (Tony D’Alelio, Rose Iannaccone)

They were so cute! And their voices reflected on their characters so well! They were slightly nasally but in a childish, playful way. 

There were a ton of new tricks added.

They had the same swag bags as the 2016 revival!

They were the audiences favorite (outside of Grizabella, obviously).

Old Deuteronomy (Dan Hoy, McGee Maddox, Brandon Michael Nase)

Munkustrap got so annoyed when all of the cats were more interested in listening to Tugger than him.

Misto wasn’t really helping Old D get down to the stage, but was just kind of walking proud behind him, gushing over how awesome Old D was with audience members.

OLD D AND TUGGER WERE SO HAPPY TO SEE EACH OTHER! Old D looked so shocked but absolutely THRILLED to see Tugger. He stopped in his tracks and looked at Tugger, reaching his arms out as if to say “It’s you! I can’t believe you came!”, and Tugger returned the gesture as if to say the same thing. It was so nice to see Tugger become soft for a hot sec.

Macavity (Scare 2)

When everyone was running away, you could hear someone, in a shrill, overdramatic, high-pitched British accent go “MACAVITY?! TOOTLE PIP!”. I firmly believe it was Tugger.

Jellicle Ball

Old D and Gus are best friends, and were so happy to sing together.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are little bullies, but in a lovable way. They would constantly push people out of the way to steal the spotlight, then taunt and tease whoever they attacked. Whenever an older cat saw them do this, they would get shooed away.

However, anytime somebody tried to antagonize Mungo and Rumple, and Tugger saw what was happening, Tugger would go protect the crime twins.

Mungojerrie loved to stick his tongue out. Anytime, anywhere. 

Old D and Grizabella kept reaching out to each other but only when the other could not see them.

Old D tried to stop Alonzo, Demeter, and Munk from chasing Griz away, but it didn’t work. 

Speaking of which, both Alonzo and Demeter had to make their way up to the balcony to reach her, but Munk just freaking SCALED the whole set to her up there. No harnesses or ladders or grips.

Grizabella the Glamour Cat/Memory (Tricia Tanguy)

Munkustrap was the last person to run from Griz, and was particularly upset by her presence. He seemed hurt that she would show up, but also ashamed he couldn’t bring himself to reach out. 

Again, Grizabella was so desperate to dance like everyone else, but instead of getting hurt or struggling because of her injuries, she would just give up when her old age made it difficult to dance. She looked distraught every time she failed to dance like everyone else.

Intermission

During intermission, it was announced that Zach Berger would be replacing McGee Maddox as Rum Tum Tugger.

Old D spent most of the intermission sitting out on the tire, while the rest of the stage was empty.

Gus the Theatre Cat/Pekes and the Pollicles (Kaitlyn Davidson, Timothy Gulan, Dan Hoy)

Jelly was so so proud of Gus’ accomplishments, and Gus was very bashful at first

The audience’s collective awww on the line about the palsy which makes his paws shake

Mungo and Rumple were so offended and embarrassed, but also hurt, when Gus singled them out on “think they’re so smart just to jump through a hoop”.

“tHAT’S NOT YOUR BLOCKING THATS NOT YOUR BLOCKING!!!”

Gus would forget the words and look super upset so Old D would rush to his side and help him remember

Skimbleshanks (Ethan Saviet)

Tugger (Zach Berger) spent the whole song up in the balcony, swaying along and nodding his head. He was either standing and leaning of the rail or sitting on the rail. 

He also kept trying to catch Misto’s eye, who was sitting off to the side for most of the song.

Mungo was the conductor of the train when they were acting out the sleeping car, and he was getting way too into it. He and Skimble also exchanged little salutes. 

Skimble came up to where Tugger was sitting, and Tugger gave him a little salute as well.

Skimble practically SCREAMED on the line “ met the station master with ELATION”.

Macavity (Alexa Racioppi, Emma Hearan, Tyler John Logan)

When Mac first showed up, and was using his magic to control everyone, all of the cats except for Demeter were affected.

Bomba and Demeter raced over to protect each other.

Demeter actually fought back, with the help of Alonzo, when Mac was dragging her around.

Before the power surge, instead of acting cornered or panicked, Mac was taunting, daring the cats to come and attack him on the car trunk.

Mr Mistoffelees (PJ Degaetano, Zach Berger)

ZACH BERGER IS PRECIOUS AND NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS. HIS RIFFS AND VOICE GIVE ME LIFE.

I was very disappointed in the audience, because I was the only person to applaud when Misto came down.

Zach Berger and PJ Degaetano didn’t have as much stage chemistry as compared to McGee Maddox and Tion Gaston, but they were still boyfriends best friends.

However, instead of giving Misto a thumbs up, like McGee, Zach... shot Misto finger guns.

Tugger constantly had the utmost faith in Misto, and never EVER took his eyes off of him.

After seeing Old D come back, Gus was so excited he tried to run over to him.

When Tugger sang about Misto right after Old D was brought back, instead of sounding somber and relieved, he was still cocky and confident. It was as if he was saying “I told you so, my magical boyfriend can do anything.”

When Misto ran into Old D’s arms, Old D spun him around

Memory (Tricia Tanguy)

When she came out, instead of looking around for anyone to reach out, she ignored everyone. Cats still came up to taunt her, but she walked out there with the sole intention of telling her story, not caring what anyone thought.

When she started the song, everyone sat facing away from her (outside of Old D), but as the song went on, they all slowly turned to face her.

After she collapses in the middle of her song, all of the cats lurched forwards out of instinct, before they stop, surprised that they were about to help her.

Bomba and Demeter were two of the last cats to greet her, and they went up to her together.

Grizabella was so shocked when she was chosen to ascend

Misc

Tugger always stuck to the side of the stage, on a prop upstage, or stood in the balconies overlooking the junkyard. He was rarely center of the stage, unless the spotlight was on him.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer usually sat together near the car trunk, however, if they weren’t together, Rumple went with some of the other younger queens, like Electra and Sillabub (Ahren Victory), and Mungo sat on his own closer to Munk or Plato and the other toms.

Shockingly, Mungojerrie and Jellylorum stole the spotlight at several points during the show. Mungojerrie just had so much energy and excitement, and would always interact with the people around him. You could tell that his actor knew everyone in the cast and was super close with certain actors, because he gravitated towards them. 

Jellylorum (Kaitlyn Davidson) was always in character, however, instead of being played as older and slightly scrutinizing, she was a little younger and full of motherly energy. She was also close with everyone on stage.

Jellylorum was also always showing off her high notes!! We stan!! She was the cat who hit the C in the opening, and instead of someone belting at the end of RTT, she hit an A in her head voice.

Misto was very playful and energetic, and he could NEVER SIT STILL. He was always either playing with his tail, swaying or shifting how he was sitting, or kneading the ground.

#cats #cats na tour 6 #cats musical #rum tum tugger #mr mistoffelees #tuggoffelees #old deuteronomy #munkustrap #jellylorum #jennyanydots #skimbleshanks #gus #mungojerrie #rumpleteazer #bustopher jones #demeter #bombalurina #macavity #grizabella #broadway #theatre #musical theatre #my post

[yellowjckets]

there’s so much drama abt what happened on sunday and as someone who was THERE and saw the show .....

a) there was an announcement beforehand & sally hughes said that everyone would be entitled to another ticket for a day of their choosing which is beyond nice of them- previously they’ve just given refunds and the offer to rebook with the box office, which can leave people who travelled feeling upset as they now have to reschedule their travel/accommodation and pay for that all over again. this gives people both something that they could see this time AND the option to see the full show at no extra cost for the ticket (they told us it’s valid for a year too so!)

b) the audience (which was mostly people who hadn’t been before to my knowledge and from what i heard said before n after the show) were absolutely Living for the concert version- it was lot more well done than people seem to think it was (if anything it made some things more intense bc no dance). this is one of those shows that really does work like this, so it was no great loss (and as someone who’s been before, definitely very fun to watch). also the audience were like the most excited i’ve seen them be in a while so!

c) YES the girls absolutely need a break, and consistently having them do 9/10 shows a week is bad, but they couldn’t predict that literally everyone would get sick/injured in the same week- they survived a good six months with only one alt until glasgow, so assuming 3 of them would manage makes sense. the 9-10 shows is meant to give every girl 1-2 shows off a week so they only ever do 8 unless due to illness or injury, they have to do more (which is becoming increasingly common). however, they really need to just cut back to doing 8 shows a week and having one off each, because although YES it is a one act show it’s so full of energy and they don’t leave the stage- doing three two show days a week (FOUR this week) is ridiculous.

d) however, i wouldn’t say 9-10 shows is them being greedy and wanting money like ... they have people to pay. the arts theatre is TINY it doesn’t have the capacity for moneymaking that literally almost any other theatre in the west end does (and although people complain about the price it’s honestly ... £20-50 with £25 rush, i really wouldn’t call that expensive even for a one act esp as the cheaper seats are GOOD seats (slips and front row)). like if we want six to stay affordable, that’s probably the model they’ve based their costs on- maybe they’ll cut back at some point in the future but i don’t see it happening, esp as they’re booking for another year pretty much. obviously, yes they want to make money but so does literally every other show so uhhh wake up b 

e) they KNOW they have an issue with alternates. hence why they hired shekinah AND collette to replace grace, and have said they’re hiring MORE alternateS (plural) in the future. the way it was worded sounds like shekinah will be aragon/cleves, we’ll get two new ones to alternate boleyn/howard/seymour/parr, and collette will understudy all the roles- probably going on once a week and being consistently on standby (unless it’s a full cast show). i could be wrong, but either way we’re going to have four alternates by october- they will manage with four. like i know they rely on grace far too much & the second she isn’t there the show falls apart atm, but surely with four (and with staggered introduction like ... there’s only two new ones atm, and two more new in october when shekinah & collette will have been on a fair amount) they’ll be able to cope. who knows, there might be five, but they ARE working on it.

f)  can people stop saying uwu boys can be in six now like ... toby wrote the show. he literally wrote it, if he wants to last minute step in to save it from being cancelled (especially as another show was cancelled only the other week) he can. also people saying he’s nonbinary when he’s never said anything to confirm that (i assume they’re drawing evidence from the way he dresses) is .... just a bit gross like. let it come from him if he is. but also he has said nothing at all about it as of yet, so you can’t just like. assume. 

g) sunday only happened bc (toby said in his own words to us) everyone was sick, and it wasn’t fair to put collette and shekinah on early because they weren’t ready so he stepped in to give people who travelled Some format of the show. 

h) can u all just calm down? please. yes the girls need a break. nobody is saying they don’t. however, this is just bad luck and what happens when u combine having a small cast w/ a longer running show, esp one w/ as high energy as this. i’ve seen BIGGER shows have to put people on as returns - and those bigger shows also have the luxury of ensembles, which they can cut tracks from. six can’t cut tracks... ah yes, henry the eighth and his famous four wives !

that being said, aimie did all her all you wanna do dance by herself girl is #committed 

#'committed' she's literally never IN but #yes i got tickets to a sold out show within 0.2 seconds of seeing genesis was on it be like that sometimes #six the musical #ok to rb !!!! #im jst. laying out some facts here . yes give them a break but also theyre hiring more alts as they speak we literally cant make it faster

[boopliette]

Hello, sorry to bother but I just saw the Les Mis tour in Milton Keynes and I know you did, too! How did you like the staging? Did you enjoy it? I have feelings (I always have tbh but now more feelings)

I did, I saw it in Milton Keynes last weekend! I was super lucky because I actually saw the third cover Jean Valjean’s debut! He was amazing and whilst I was sad to miss Killian, I was so excited to be able to catch something rare! 

I really thought the cast was wonderful, like I saw that Valjean, and an understudy Fantine and the rest was full cast and I loved most of them so much! Especially like, Martin Ball’s Thenardier is hysterical, Nic’s Stars was fantastic, and ofc I loved Will and Rubeun as Enjolras and Grantaire. I also thought Harry was a lovely little Marius, what a sweet little baby boy. 

Now, my thoughts on the staging are much unchanged from the last time I talked tour. It’s okay? Like, yeah its still les mis (even if they did change the lyrics in a lot of parts which just kept throwing me off) but its not like, as finely tuned as the London production is.

One thing I kept feeling was that it was so like,, empty? Because the stage in Milton Keynes at least is Huge, so everyone felt so spread out and far apart, and it didnt feel like it had the same, intimacy or energy as the smaller stage in London does? So like I felt way less invested just on that.

One change I really hated was how the factory foreman is the first guy to pay Fantine in Lovely Ladies?? It doesn’t make any sense because when he comes back out they sing at him “Come on Captain, did you wear your shoes”??? Like he’s the Factory Foreman, you just established that? He’s not a captain? Go home tour you’re not making sense. 

A lot of the differences like, I like them but I still don’t want them to replace the London production? Like Gavroche’s Death is still really powerful but in a different way? Like in London I find there’s more tension just because a) the song is longer and b) you really get a sense of how small and alone he is one the other side of the barricade. But on tour you get that brief moment of “oh thank god, he made it” before he gets shot. Also, Empty Chairs is again, very powerful but in a different way. Like the tour highlights Marius’s grief, whereas London highlights his guilt? And like none of them are bad changes, they’re just Different. 

Also, Javert’s suicide really caught me off guard. I didn’t expect him to Peter Pan. Like, sure London is silly with a grown man rolling on the ground, but a grown man floating in mid-air was so funny to me that I couldn’t take it seriously. Also, and this is just me being pedantic, but he jumped off the bridge, and was falling straight down but then also was falling backwards and landed in the river backwards despite logic saying he should’ve been feet first and I was so distracted thinking about that I zoned out for most of Turning (also Turning? I don’t need that extra verse, thanks, I’m good). 

I’ll admit some of my tour enjoyment was compromised by an unruly audience. Like they wouldn’t stop chatting and tHEN. AND THEN! The audience started clapping along in Do You Hear the People Sing AND IN THE REPRISE WHEN EVERYONE IS DEAD! LIKE MILTON KEYNES, THIS IS NOT THE TIME!!!

I wish the touring production and the original London production could just, co-exist. Like why can’t we just have both. The tour really suits touring, I don’t think it will work as well in London. 

But yeah, what are your thoughts about it?? I can see why people would love it, but I’m just so salty its replacing what I love that I’m so nitpicky about it.

Also, if anyone wants to talk more about the tour, or my beautiful love the London production, feel free to message me more! I love talking Les Mis.

Also also—

 That goddamn wagon can still go to hell.

#Les Miserables #Les Mis UK Tour #thank you for asking! #id see it again but you could not pay me to go back to milton keynes lol #thats a concrete nightmare #although i would love to see killian again #but also yes the wagon was dumber than i couldve imagined theres no fuckin impact #thats not that moment enjolras Deserves #he deserves to be Martyr'd upside down #hanging by one leg with a huge spotlight pointed at him #he deserves a Spectacle #i did like how the barriacde boys each got a spotlight as they died tho #also my favourite thing in this whole mess of getting rid of the original production of les mis #is that phantoms new advertising campaign is all about how its still the original phantom production #its so funny to see #mariuspondmercy

[bloodline-rpg]

Congratulations, Jay! We have accepted your application for your OC, Lou St. Claire (FC Meghann Fahy) Please create a blog for your character and send us the link via ask box as soon as you can. Along with your link, please let us know what lyric you’d like for us to use for Lou in her bio. Welcome to Bloodline!

CHARACTER DETAILS

Character’s Name: Lauren “Lou” Mae St. Claire

Desired FC: Meghann Fahy

Character’s Age: 24

Character’s Species: Human

Character’s Sexuality: Pansexual

CHARACTER BIOGRAPHY

Growing up, Lou was never the smartest or prettiest, the most popular or the most graceful. But what she was was kind and earnest, had a good family, and above all she loved dance more than anything. Dance was what defined her life - the friends she had, how she spent her free time, her dreams. She had to work hard, not as naturally gifted as her best friend, Theo, or blessed with the body of a ballerina. Her own mother, who always supported her, was frequently bracing for disappointment because more often than not, it came. Though always by her side was Theo. What everyone else saw was two girls opposite in almost every way. What they saw, were the things in one another that no one else did. So despite never being the best, Lou was able to with her passion and dedication make her dreams happen. Or so she thought when she and Theo were off to school in New York to study dance. It might have not been at as prestigious a school as Theo’s, nor was she on scholarship, but she’d worked through high school. She could do the same through college and take out loans. It would be worth it. And for the most part it was. Lou blossomed in college, coming more into her own and moving past some of her childhood awkwardness, her body more fit for adulthood. Her dancing pedigree might have not been top notch, and she still didn’t have the traditional look of a ballerina, but she knew what she was doing. The competition in her program wasn’t as cutthroat as Theo’s, though it was demanding all the same. She had less and less time to take shifts as a waitress and less and less time to see Theo. And when they did they were often fighting. Some of it was stupid stuff, the misdirected stress dumped on the one safe person who was always going to be there. And some of it was serious. The things Theo did that worried Lou. She never imagined that there were would be a day where she would miss their fights that she hated until Theo was just gone one day. Up and vanished without a trace. Lou worried sick, went to the police and begged them to look into things when all they did was brush her off as some silly girl. She had her own destructive spiral in the aftermath of Theo’s disappearance. A few short relationships she knew were bad from the start and a slip in her grades she really couldn’t afford. Her family pulled her out of it when she was home for the holidays and while New York’s lights looked dimmed without Theo by her side, Lou went after her goals harder than ever. And without Theo to protect her, Lou learned how to stand up for herself. Things started to look better and finally her dreams of a job with a company were realized after graduation. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t a principal dancer, and probably wouldn’t be one. An understudy to a secondary role seemed real enough. No one could take away her accomplishment.

Only when dancing is your job, the pressure is different. Lou was far from the only little girl with a dream of making it. Growing up, when her dance teacher had yelled and been hard on her, she had known it was because she had loved them and had wanted the best for them. Now every bit of harshness, every time she was yelled at, signaled one thing. Lou was replaceable. Lou still loved to dance but it was hard, physically, mentally, and emotionally to keep up with the pace that was being part of a New York dance company. The toll showed in other places. Her steady boyfriend that everyone thought she would marry broke up with her. She went home and saw her family less and less. Some nights she wondered if it would have felt different if Theo had never disappeared or if her dream still would have lost some of its luster. Finally when her contract was up, Lou got a job teaching dance at a studio instead. She stayed in New York and made sure she was one of those teachers that loved her students like hers had when she was younger. Life wasn’t exactly the dream she had envisioned, but she knew now that was okay. She still went to auditions here and there, and it was after a particularly bad one that Theo unexpectedly came back into her life. It was going to be one drink and instead it was staring face to face with her once best friend with far too many conflicted emotions for a discussion in a bar. So it was out to the alley, Lou upset and flustered and completely oblivious that she and Theo were about to kidnapped and taken miles away.

CHARACTER PERSONALITY

Kindhearted and at times painfully earnest, Lou is the type of person who tries to see the best in everyone. While maturity has given her a new found confidence in herself and her body that she didn’t possess grown up, some habits are hard to break and self-consciousness and doubt can get the best of her. Lou is dramatic through good and bad, and passionate about doing what it right to a fault. She doesn’t look before leaping which pairs poorly with her trusting nature. Ultimately Lou is completely unprepared for the morally gray world of the supernatural.

PLOTS AND POLITICS

Lou is going to be scandalized by much of what she will end up learning at the manor, but she’s also very pro that the witches should be safe and not under attack by humans. That however, doesn’t justify kidnapping. If given the chance she’ll trust most people which could lead to a variety of different bonds early on. I could see once she realizes what is happening with the wolves, getting herself into some trouble trying to stand up for them or supporting whatever resistance occurs. But it’s not like she’s in any position of power so mostly she’ll go with the flow.

[bethhxrmon]

All I Ask of You Pt. 27

“Let me be your freedom, let daylight dry your tears, I’m here, with you, beside you” - “All I Ask of You” from The Phantom of the Opera

Pairing: Peter Parker x Female OC

Word Count: 2.8k

Summary: Some more road tripping!!!

Warnings: Cussing, some slight emotional stuff, the norm

A/N: Heyyyyy, I hope you guys are enjoying this, as always feel free to tell me what you think. And you can find the masterlist for the series in my bio!

“Can we please, please, please listen to a musical? Just one, the whole way there, I won’t ask again,” Annie begged.

“Nope. Driver gets to pick the music,” Tony replied as they continued down the interstate.

After a decent continental breakfast, they were all back on the road. It took Annie sitting though the same classic rock playlist halfway across Wyoming before she said anything. Which, in reality, had been pretty impressive given it had been the same playlist as the day before.

“Come on, just one? I told my parents it was a theatre camp,” Annie pointed out.

Tony sighed, “And we aren’t even there yet.”

While Annie hadn’t said anything, that didn’t mean the argument was over. Though, it did take her a few moments to formulate a decent plan. It wasn’t that the songs were bad, but she’d heard them more than enough times and the same forty songs was starting to become more and more apparent to her every single time. Didn’t that guy have a different playlist to listen to?

That wasn’t the point, though. The point was that she knew the songs and that she was almost positive that the others knew the songs just as well. What was about to happen was either her dumbest idea or most brilliant. If nothing else, it would give everyone something to do aside from staring at miles and miles of yellow grass and the occasional cow or horse.

She nudged Peter who was starting to doze off again, “What’s that about?”

“If I do something kinda crazy but kinda fun… would you go along with it?” Annie asked.

He nodded slowly, “Yeah, why?”

“‘Cause I’m gonna do something kinda crazy but kinda fun. And if I’m the only one I’ll look like a dumbass, but if everyone joins in then I’m making a point,” she explained.

Peter raised an eyebrow, “And I can’t know ‘cause why?”

“It wouldn’t be as spontaneous.”

Right as the next song came on, Annie started to sing as loudly as she could to the music. She looked over at Peter, hoping that he would catch on. Soon enough they were both singing and Harper and Ned were quick to join in. All of them belting out and not caring about whether or not they were off key. They all tried singing all the parts including the instrumental riffs.

And when Tony didn’t appear to bat an eye at any of them, they all continued singing. Though, Annie was starting to be obnoxious on purpose. It didn’t matter if anyone them had already known the songs beforehand, they had played enough during the trip for any of them to at least know the chorus.

“Are you guys done yet?” Tony asked, finally deciding to say something.

Annie shrugged, “Depends on if we can listen to something else. Otherwise, we’re just getting started, Sir!”

“Okay, will you guys settle down if I change the songs?” Tony asked, starting to sound more exasperated than angry.

After all of them arguing and trying to deliberate over what to listen to, they had gotten nowhere. Annie thought it would have been easy to get everyone to just agree to listen to a musical and then relax and enjoy the open road ahead. Only, it seemed everyone else had other ideas.

“We’re not listening to The Last Five Years, that makes you cry without fail. We should just listen to some nighties alt-rock and call it a day,” Harper insisted.

Tony could still be heard, occasionally putting in his two-cents, “I’m with them.”

“Oh come on! Seussical then?” Annie asked.

Harper shook their head, “Nope. Also makes you cry without fail. This isn’t ‘let’s contribute to Annie’s daily mental breakdown hour’.”

“What if we listened to disco? I think that’d be pretty cool. I mean, it includes a bit of everything, right?” Peter asked, looking between everyone.

Annie raised an eyebrow, “What decent musical came from the disco era?”

“Mamma Mia! You taught me about that one,” Peter pointed out.

Ned had dropped out of the conversation a few minutes ago, and he seemed rather immersed in his phone. What he was doing wasn’t being paid attention to. It was really just Annie and Harper doing most of the debating.

Ned’s head suddenly shot up, “Got it! Hey, Mr. Stark, I’m gonna sync my phone with the car. I got the perfect playlist.”

“Um… except you literally didn’t say anything for most of this,” Harper pointed out, crossing their arms.

Ned grinned, “Except I was listening. I got a little bit of everything. I know what Peter likes, and I think I know which things Annie likes that doesn’t make her cry, and then there was you. You said nighties alt-rock. Which, incidentally is exactly what I listen to all the time. It’s all covered.”

Harper nodded slowly, “Alright, you’re one of those smart and silent types. I can appreciate that.”

“Also, can I just put this out there? Literally anything could make me cry right now. Because, ya know, those daily mental breakdowns,” Annie said, leaning back in her seat.

Pepper, who had been quiet for most of the drive that day, turned around, “You should get mental help for that.”

“Maybe later. You need parental consent for that, don’t you?” Annie asked.

Pepper nodded, “I’m sure they’d be willing to get you help.”

“Except they don’t know what I’d need help for. That’s kind of the real kicker there. They don’t know about the whole powers deal,” she admitted, opening her book again.

Everything settled down and went back to normal with Annie positioned to use Peter as a pillow. She focused on her book and occasionally on the rolling hills of yellow grass. It seemed like everything had settled down. Minus Harper and Ned constantly sounding like they were in a constant debate about something Annie couldn’t quite make out.

That was, until they both started to get louder about the subject that had them both so talkative.

“I’m way more help. Like, if it wasn’t for me, Annie wouldn't even have a suit!” Harper exclaimed.

Ned shook his head, “But you’re not the one who can hack a suit.”

“Don’t gotta hack something if I was the one who made it. Besides, hacking a suit sounds like something you shouldn’t have done. But what do I know? I’m just a college student,” Harper responded nonchalantly.

“Hacking that suit was one of the dumbest things you guys did, for the record,” Tony interjected, trying to stare down Peter and Ned at the same time through the mirror.

Annie smirked, “As if you wouldn’t have hacked a suit for your all-time best friend.”

“Would’ve been a hell of a time. Lots of googling, probably would get arrested, but I wouldn’t have done it for you last year,” Harper admitted.

She nodded slowly, “Fair enough. I was a serious bitch at that point.”

“Okay, how bad were you? Because you keep talking about how awful you are and I’m not seeing it,” Peter said, sitting up so he could get in on the debate.

Harper smirked, “That’s ‘cause you’re in love with her.”

“N-no, we just started dating… th-that’d be weird,” Peter stammered, his face going red.

They shook their head, “Nah, you both got it bad. And I know about Annie’s side of the story. Ned, what do you say?”

“Definitely agree. But also, I’d say aside from being pushy, you’re not that bad,” Ned replied.

Harper laughed, “You really didn’t tell them about anything, did you?”

“Well, you see, it wasn’t necessary. And there was, like, that one time I said I was worse than Flash… but that was also before he tried beating the shit out of Peter. Now, I was never that bad,” Annie explained.

Tony nearly hit the brakes on the car in the middle of the highway, “Who tried beating the shit out of Peter?”

Annie pretended like she hadn’t seen Peter shake his head, “Well, you see, Ned was sick and Flash was being a jerk about Peter being the lead in the musical. And I didn’t know he was trans at the time, but then Flash outed him and tried to beat him up. And, well, I couldn’t do a whole lot. I didn’t wanna electrocute the dude, but I was close.”

“Pete, why didn’t you tell me?” Tony asked.

He shrugged, sinking back into his seat, “Never mentioned it… um… besides, Annie took care of it.”

“You’re telling me you could’ve gotten Tony Stark on that dude and you didn’t?!” Harper exclaimed, facepalming.

Peter huffed, “This wasn’t about me, this was about Annie.”

“Way to throw me under the bus, Pete,” Annie replied with a teasing smirk, “Anyways, you guys know how I was at a performing arts school, right? So, the fall production was The Sound of Music and I was the understudy for Liesel. Which was great, except the girl who played Liesel was actually the worst-”

“Because you have room to talk?” Harper asked.

Annie rolled her eyes, “Anyways, like I was saying, that girl was kinda mean and I wasn’t gonna take that. So I sabotaged her dressing room by electrocuting one of the electrical sockets. It basically ruined the room and that girl was convinced she’d been messed with, but there was no proof, ya know, because I used my powers that no one knew about. And she left so I ended up getting the part.”

“And this is where things get great,” Harper commented.

She sighed, “Okay, I get it, I did some stuff. Anyways, you guys’ve seen Mean Girls, right?”

Peter and Ned nodded.

“Okay, then you might see where this is headed. So the girl who I replaced in the show was basically the Gretchen of the group, right? And I ended up swooping in and replacing her in her own friend group. Which was great… I mean, not great, probably sucked for her. And I kinda did half of this for some kinda cute guy… um… I’ll get into that later. But I think that explains enough already,” she explained.

Peter looked at Annie, “You’re joking, right?”

“Nah, I mean, if we’re being real here, I caused the fire because that Darren guy was trying to kill me and Tina. So… I mean, I did the first thing I could think of, and there was a different problem. Except I wasn’t expecting to be blown back and… um, yeah, I think I’m done,” Annie trailed off, looking down at her hands.

Harper smiled a little, “Hey, that whole blowing up the room thing was still pretty damn iconic.”

“And arson. By all rights I should turn you in,” Tony called back.

Annie grimaced, “Yeah, maybe so, but then you’d wanna turn Peter and Ned over here if half of what Peter told me about trying to fight that vulture dude.”

“Touche,” Tony replied.

Pepper sighed, “He was only joking. If we thought you guys were gonna run around blowing things up for no reason, I don’t think he’d be driving you kids around for this long.”

Once again, the drive settled down, even though there hadn’t been a definitive answer to whether Harper or Ned was the better superhero assistant. A topic which would probably would never get answered.

Eventually it got late and Tony pulled off at Wendover, a small town right between Utah and Nevada. It was fine for everything except for the fact that everyone’s phones were an hour off from each other. They were right on the line for where the time change was.

It made for some fun conversations later in the night when Annie was sprawled out on her bed, completely immersed in her book. Whereas Harper had been trying to get some sleep for the last fifteen minutes.

Harper eventually turned off the lights, only for Annie to use her powers to turn it back on without batting an eye. She heard Harper grumbling as they reached out to turn off the light. Annie only turned it back on. The process continued a few more times.

“Look, I know you’re going all insomniac on me, but I need sleep. It’s midnight,” Harper whined.

Annie looked at her phone, “Nah, it’s only eleven.”

“Not according to the clock right here. Now either leave the room or go to bed,” they grumbled before turning out the light.

Annie sighed a little bit. She wasn’t in any mood to get out of the room. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, and when she looked at herself in the mirror earlier, she had serious bags under her eyes. How in the world Peter hadn’t said anything about her, she had no idea. Not to mention that she hadn’t changed her leggings or her sweatshirt that advertised her old school’s theatre program. She wasn’t planning on it either, but still she knew that she wasn’t going to get to sleep anytime soon.

After getting into her slippers, Annie grabbed her book and the key before seeing her phone had a text notification.

Spidey: Fifth floor, vending machines

Annie saw that the message was from five minutes before. She tried to wrack her brain to figure out what Peter wanted. It could have been anything. Something from him wanting to get a midnight snack together to needing something to talk about.

Still, Annie got into the elevator, pressing on the five and waited for the elevator to do its job. After a few seconds, Annie was there and it was just a matter of finding the vending machines and Peter. Thankfully, there were a few signs and Annie saw one pointing to where the vending machines were.

That was when she saw Peter pacing around the hallway and his eyes were darting all over the place. After a few seconds, he saw Annie and ran right to her, wrapping his arms around her tightly. She dropped the book, hearing the thick paperback hit the carpet with a soft thud so she could hug him.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Annie asked, hearing his ragged breathing.

Peter pulled back a little, looking at her with his eyes full of tears, “I-I… I was tryna sleep a-a-a-and I did a-a-a-a-a-a-a-and th-the building… it fell a-and I-I couldn’t br-br-”

“Hey, it’s okay, you’re okay, no buildings are falling. You’re alright, Peter, it’s okay. Do you wanna sit down?” she asked, picking up her book and leading the way to the stairwell.

Peter nodded, following Annie through the door to get to the stairs. Annie sat down on one of the landings and Peter sat next to her, laying his head in her lap. She frowned a little, gently running her fingers through his hair. The last time she had seen him so shaky and scared was when Flash had hurt him.

Annie bit her lip, trying to think of what to say, “Do you wanna talk about it?”

“Y-yeah, ya know how I’ve told you about Vulture?” Peter asked.

She nodded slowly, “Yeah, what about it?”

“Well, I-I didn’t tell you about what he did… that night I really fought with him and stuff. H-he used one of his weapons to make his warehouse collapse and it fell on me… all of it. If I didn’t have powers, I woulda died… a-and it’s less of a thing now, but every once in awhile… well I dream about it. S-sorry, you were probably asleep and I woke you up. I just… didn’t wanna be alone,” he rambled, sitting up.

Annie frowned, her eyebrows furrowing as she reached out and pulled him into a hug, “I wasn’t asleep. A-and I get it. The nightmares, I mean. But you weren’t bothering me. If I was asleep, I wouldn’t be here.”

Peter didn’t say anything and instead rested his head in the crook of Annie’s neck. They stayed like that for awhile. While Annie could hear slot machines from the lower floor, Peter seemed to calm down. It was a miracle no one had decided to go up the stairs.

After a little longer, Peter looked up at Annie, “You should probably get some sleep.”

“I’m not tired,” Annie claimed, though she did feel her eyelids starting to droop.

Peter smiled a bit, kissing the top of her head, “You’re exhausted, come on, lemme take you to your room.”

It took some more of Annie being stubborn on the subject before Peter helped her up and they went up the other few flights of stairs between their floors. The whole time, Peter didn’t let go of her hand. Though, when they were in front of her room, they held each other for what felt like a long time.

“Well, I guess this is goodnight,” Annie murmured before quickly Peter on the lips.

Peter was caught slightly off guard, “I- um… yeah, goodnight.”

With that, Annie unlocked her room and was half-tempted to wake up Harper just to be ornery, but decided against it before flopping on her bed to go to sleep.

Taglist: @flushings-here / @gaypanda / @ijustdontknowsometimes / @avvengres / @lionsfandomsandbearsohmy / @buzzinglee / @parkerpuff / @lcy-thot / @twilightparker / @moonstruckholland / @dolphinsarecuteandstuff

#peter parker #peter parker imagine #peter parker x you #peter parker x reader #peter parker x oc #spider-man #spider-man x reader #spider-man x oc #spider-man: homecoming #spider-man: far from home #mcu #mcu fanfic #marvel #fanfiction #writing #writeblr #all i ask of you fic

[textsfromumbridge]

All the men and women merely players (3/5)

A Christmas gift to this wonderful fandom, and in particular a gift for @catty-words and @rebeccaplimpton (my favorite owl). 

Chapter three: Loser like all of these idiots (AO3)

Someday he was actually going to murder that Geoffrey guy.

And maybe that someday would actually be this very day.

It wasn’t just that the guy kept stalking him in rehearsal - he claimed to have mastered all of his ensemble parts so he’d come to Nathaniel so he could be a proper understudy. Like that guy could ever be a decent replacement for him. The guy wouldn’t be a proper replacement for anyone, but especially not for him.

Maybe he was just a little more harsh on him because of the incident with Bunch at that Saturday rehearsal. If he hadn’t shown up, he was sure he would have gotten to at least second base with Bunch, possibly more.

But no, the idiot just had to show up and completely kill the mood.

He’d been so damn close! Bunch had even been the one to make the first move, which meant that he was totally in her system now - but it was all dependant upon the right atmosphere and the right moment.

It had been right there: an abandoned hallway in a locked building, no way for anyone to disturb them. And not in a creepy way - just in the ‘certain activities should really remain private’ way. No spectators required.

But of course freaking Giles just had to break that unspoken rule. He just had to ruin this like he ruined everything.

Now how was he going to get Rebecca, to get Bunch to go near him again? She’d retreated right back to the ridiculously named Chan Plan. Apparently that was safer than actually doing anything with someone who wasn’t named Josh Chan.

Fucking Muggle.

“Mr. Plimpton?”

“Yes, Mr. Whitefeather?”

He was screwed. Clearly someone had said something, or someone had found out about his moment with Bunch - and now his teacher was going to use it against him. What else did Mr. Whitefeather need to blackmail him into doing?

“Don’t worry,” his teacher immediately tried to reassure him in that doofus-like way. “I just wanted to have a quick chat about your future.”

What the - his future? What was that supposed to mean? This was not a good sign.

“You probably already have everything figured out for next year,” Mr. Whitefeather just yammered on and on, “but I was hoping you would consider something else.”

Like what exactly? What was he going to be forced into now?

“I know you didn’t join the program voluntarily,” Mr. Whitefeather finally admitted to at least part of his shady dealings. “But you are a very talented young man.”

Okay, something bad was coming. No one ever complimented him without there being some kind of ulterior motive - or without it being used to soften some kind of blow. Had something happened to his mother again?

“Thank you?” Even in an awkward situation he prided himself on feigning politeness.

“I just think it would be a waste of talent,” Mr. Whitefeather continued, “to let our production of Cinderella be your only theater experience. So I’ve done a little research.”

A little. There was no way that the gigantic binder his teacher just foisted upon him constituted a little anything. Even his own, admittedly fantastic, muscles were surprised by the weight of it.

There was just so much in here that he didn’t even open it to see what was inside.

“A little?” he remarked skeptically.

“Just some applications and information about theater programs,” Mr. Whitefeather tried to brush it off. “Some of these can be combined with a business degree - seeing as that was what you intended to do before the stage called to you.”

What the hell?

Wow, the man certainly had a flair for the dramatic. Not that he didn’t already know about that, but this just proved it once again. The stage called to him? Seriously? What kind of Bunch-esque nonsense was that?

She would totally say something like that, looking all serious with her eyes laser-focused on her target. Maybe she wouldn’t say it about him, but she would absolutely say it about herself.

And this was not about her, so why was he going there? Again?

“Mr. Whitefeather,” he tried to interrupt the incoming dramatic monologue before it even started.

“Nathaniel you have grown so much in these past few weeks,” Mr. Whitefeather had started to wax poetic and he was not going to stop. “When you started with us, you were angry, and distant, and dismissive of all of us. But you have grown into it, and your bond with Ms. Bunch is truly something special. The chemistry!”

This was not going into a direction that he was comfortable with. He had not grown or changed significantly over the course of these past few weeks. He was not suddenly friends with any of these people. There was absolutely nothing special going on between him and Bunch.It was just teenage hormones and general idiocy (yes, that last part was referring to that Graham moron).

No, he was not going to let that go so easily.

“I’m sure this will be our best show yet,” there was just no stopping Mr. Whitefeather when he was on a roll. “And we do owe a lot of that to you, Mr. Plimpton.”

Was this a thank you? Was this actually Mr. Whitefeather wanting to thank him for the effort by doing all this ridiculous research that he was never going to use? There was no way that his father would ever allow him to study theatre, not even on the side. There were so many more important things for him to do.

Trying to take over the world, for example (thanks Pinky). His father may not have seen the humor in it, but Nathaniel almost did. For a few seconds, before the importance of business and the company were impressed upon him yet again.

“Thank you?” It came out as a question.

“I just feel like not pursuing this further would be a waste of your talents,” Mr. Whitefeather smiled at him. “I would be happy to act as a reference for any of these applications. I just hate seeing talent such as yours go to waste.”

Had he offered the same thing to Bunch?

Not very likely - she would have started doing this very research about three to four years ago. She probably already asked - read: demanded - that Mr. Whitefeather vouch for her in every possible way. And knowing Mr. Whitefeather even a little bit, he probably wrote her an extensive letter describing her every virtue in great detail. And not even in a creepy way.

Nathaniel’s description of Bunch’s virtues - that was not for anyone under eighteen. Or for anyone to hear really - not even for Bunch herself. It might actually make her think that he gave a damn about her.

Which he really didn’t, of course.

“You don’t have to decide right now,” Mr. Whitefeather just kept on talking and talking. “I just feel like you should consider all of your options.”

Except this was not a real option, not for him. Plimptons did not study theater. They never did anything even remotely frivolous. They went to school for business and got excellent grades, and they spent the rest of their time working out and otherwise being the perfect son.

Otherwise he might make his mother upset again.

“These options aren’t,” he tried to explain it to his teacher.

“Just consider it,” Mr. Whitefeather interrupted him before he could finish a sentence. “Just take this binder and look through it. When you feel like it. No pressure.”

The man was infuriating. Mr. Whitefeather just refused to let him off the hook, even though he was fully aware that Nathaniel was not going to be able to pursue this. This one show was risky enough - his father had questioned his absences, even though he hadn’t even been at home himself.

“I’ll take the binder,” he agreed, knowing he’d get rid of it the second his teacher had his back turned.

Wait, did he owe his teacher something now? After the whole totally setting him up to nail Bunch thing, and now the binder, he really kind of did owe the man something. He had to say something.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me,” he just blurted it out without another thought. “Especially the whole helping get me laid thing. So, I kind of owe you, and I figured… You’re clearly really into Coach Wilson, and I have some solid advice to make that happen.”

It was so obvious, anyone could see what was happening. Well, except maybe that Grant guy, but no one else seemed to manage his particular level of cluelessness. Even creepy Karen seemed to have caught on to the ogling and the flirting and the swooning.

And if Karen had caught on, everyone knew.

And if everyone knew, it was about damn time to actually do something about it that was more than just making googly eyes at various exposed body parts. Coach Wilson was totally into it, but the man wasn’t making a move.

Someone had to do something - and he knew that Bunch “shipped” it. It would totally also score him bonus points with her if he made it happen.

“Mr. Plimpton, this is highly inappropriate,” Mr. Whitefeather stammered. .

“That’s kind of the school motto,” he correctly surmised.

The guidance counselor was basically writing up seduction plans for a student she treated like a daughter. That one guy that made the students call him Robert had been fired for doing it with a student. Creepy Karen had some weird ass activities going on in the Bio lab with some of the school’s pet snakes.

Honestly, a little teacher on teacher flirtation was nothing compared to what his poor eyes had seen in that lab.

“You may have a point,” the older man acknowledged.

There was a beat of silence. All he had to do now was wait - the bait was set and Mr. Whitefeather was totally ready to bite.

He held on to his stupid binder for a little while longer, mentally figuring out if the humongous thing would fit in his locker. Maybe he didn’t have to throw it out right away.

“So, about this advice?”

So predictable.

It was all over.

It had happened so quickly, so easily. It didn’t take him any effort at all to throw her in the garbage, where she belonged.

Josh Chan had dumped her.

He’d just abandoned her, just like all the other men. Just like her father, like Robert, like all of them. He was just like them.

Somehow he’d seen inside her garbage head, somehow he’d seen that she really wasn’t worth it, and instead of making her happy he’d just moved on to some pretty blonde transfer student who only seemed to care if her eyebrows were on fleek.

That Anna girl was probably a drug dealer too. The girl was always trading something or other with her fellow fashionistas - Valencia would probably know all about it.

Poor Valencia was probably heartbroken - which for her only showed in the level of rage she exuded. Heather was the only one who hadn’t run away screaming, because Heather was smart enough to see what was really going on, and badass enough to give as good as she got.

Heather was kind of really awesome, okay.

Unlike Josh, who was really The Worst. Like, he officially threw Nathaniel Plimpton off the throne of hell - or his dad anyway. Still, Josh was the WORST.

He led her on. He made her believe that they were going to be together, and then when she found him at Hector’s party he didn’t want to be seen with her.

Not like he had at - he never wanted to be seen with her. He was embarrassed by her, embarrassed to be seen with her, but not too embarrassed to make out with her when no one else was around.

And she’d just let it happen.

It was just so embarrassing - she was smarter than that, right? Or at least, she’d really thought she was. Maybe that was the worst part, because her smarts were a big part of the very little she had going for her.

The feelings were swallowing her up and none of them were good. She could just feel herself slipping back into that depression state of mind, and there was absolutely nothing that she could do to stop it.

What was the point when no one wanted her?

Well, except Nathaniel, but he didn’t count. It didn’t matter that he obviously wanted to have sex with her, not when Josh wasn’t interested in her.

Josh Chan was supposed to be her perfect match, her soulmate.

Nathaniel was just... a roadblock. Someone who got in the way of her happily ever after with Joshua Felix Chan. He was never supposed to be the Prince, not off stage.

So maybe he was really charming on stage, and he was hitting more than a few of the right buttons off stage. Still, it didn’t mean anything. It couldn’t mean anything, because she wasn’t meant to be with Nathaniel Plimpton the Third.

(Her mother would die of happiness if she even mentioned his name, which was another point against him. Not that she hadn’t already gathered quite a lot of reasons not to even think about him. Chief of them being Josh. )

It did not matter that Nathaniel was tall and attractive with those blue eyes that just randomly turned soft with warmth when seconds before they’d been lit up by a spark of intelligence. She never asked him to be kind to her - she didn’t even want him to be kind. She didn’t want his pity, or his perceived little crush.

And there he was, staring at her again.

He’d been doing that a lot lately, and even more so after the stupid Josh thing. Somehow he just knew that she’d been dumped.

Ugh, he was the worst and she didn’t even know why she was thinking of him again.

“Stop pitying me,” she hissed at him as she walked by.

“Pity is for losers,” he corrected.

Which was basically her title at this point. So why wasn’t he rubbing it in?

“So?” she stopped in her tracks.

“I’d pity Chan,” he smirked. “Not you.”

What?

If anyone was the loser in this scenario, it was definitely her. Josh was the captain of the team, the leader of the pack. She was just a theater nerd whose own people didn’t even respect her. She didn’t even have friends - she’d just been lying to herself again. Paula was her only friend, but that was just kind of weird.

She was very aware of how weird that was, but it didn’t change anything. It’s not like she would suddenly become more likeable overnight.

Not that she cared about that - she didn’t. She wasn’t going to remember any of these people anyway, when she made it big.

So if they didn’t care about her, and she didn’t care about them?

“You okay there Bunch?” Nathaniel was still around for some lame reason. “You’re about to start catching flies.”

If she didn’t care about anyone - that included stupid Nathaniel - it would be easier. She could be bad, really bad.

“Fuck off.” She flipped him off for good measure.

It was time for her to get some good old-fashioned revenge.

They could not put it off any longer. They had to do it.

Mr. Whitefeather was making them practice that one scene: the final scene. The scene that involved the true love’s kiss neither of them really believed in. Still, they had to sell it to the audience.

But with Bunch being in her current state, he doubted they could sell water in a desert together.

She was completely occupied by her stupid revenge plan. He didn’t even know what she was planning exactly - he was very sure that he probably really did not want to know a single thing about it - but it was obvious that it had completely consumed her.

Bunch was acting like a jilted bride, like she’d been left at the altar by this complete idiot. It was a high school fling at best - it wasn’t like she’d even remember Josh Chan at their ten year reunion. She’d probably be ruling the world by then, or just the Broadway stage. Or quite possibly, both.

She was ambitious like that - she had more than a little Slytherin in her. And if she wanted to, she could have a lot of Slytherin in her - yes, he meant sex. A lot of it.

But perhaps they’d start with a kiss - a staged one at that, right in front of meddling Mr. Whitefeather. Sure, he had game, but not the kind of game he wanted to show to his teacher (no matter how much Mr. Whitefeather would probably learn from it). This needed to happen just between him and Bunch, if it was ever going to be something real.

Ew, why would he want this to be ‘something real’? He just needed to get her out of his system. One go and he would be right back to normal.

Well, maybe one night. There were a couple positions he was sure she wouldn’t mind trying. But just one night, because Nathaniel Plimpton the Third did not do anything more than one night. He did not do relationships. Ugh, the thought alone made him more than a little sick to his stomach.

That was kind of a good thing at this point, because thinking about having sex with Bunch had made his loose pants much too tight all of a sudden. Which again: just fine when it was just him and Bunch, but not okay with their teacher right there.

“Can we get this over with already?” Bunch was less than excited.

“Miss Bunch,” Mr. Whitefeather gently chided. “We are looking to create a certain atmosphere here. This kiss is supposed to be the culmination of your incredible chemistry throughout the show. It needs to be romantic, loving, a true embodiment of happily ever after.”

Wow, no pressure there. Clearly Mr. Whitefeather still had some serious heart eyes going on - head in the clouds, thinking of Coach Wilson at inopportune moments, the whole shebang. He’d now reached the spreading the feeling stage, trying to get others to join him in a love bubble of their own. Sickening.

At least Bunch seemed to agree with that sentiment, her pinched face in sharp contrast to the romantic scene they were supposed to be playing out.

If it continued like this, there would be actual vomiting before they even got close to working on the actual scene. And he was not sure if it would be him or Bunch, but he was fully aware that Mr. Whitefeather would be the cause.

Something had to be done, and he knew he was the man for the job.

“Mr. Whitefeather,” he just had to play this right. “I’m sure you understand that it is kind of uncomfortable to practice a kissing scene with one of our favorite teachers examining everything. So how about you give us some time to practice it ourselves?”

Sucking up worked - he’d seen Bunch do it enough to know that much. He probably wasn’t as good at it as she was - less experience - but he was willing to give it a try if it meant that Mr. Whitefeather would go off somewhere, anywhere. It was bad enough that he’d have to do it in front of a full auditorium at some point, but for the first time? Yeah, it was not going to happen with all the hovering that was currently going on.

“Oh, I remember my first kissing scene,” Mr. Whitefeather was immediately off on another random tangent.

“I agree with Nathaniel,” Bunch ended their teacher’s story before it began.

She was absolutely being nice to him because it would get them what they wanted, and it was absolutely turning him on.

That had nothing to do with how much he liked it when she used his first name - that should not be a thing. That dramatic way she spoke was not going to be a kink for him. He did not want to have to kinkshame himself.

“Rebecca is right,” he got right on the wagon.

Of course he had to use her first name to get the right effect. Mr. Whitefeather was never going to buy it if he kept calling her Bunch. That was the one and only reason he was using her first name.

“Finally my two leads are on the same page,” Mr. Whitefeather was delighted at this development - as delighted as he was all the damn time.

He was not going to ask his teacher if the man could just leave already, but he was definitely sorely tempted. But he was not raised to be rude to his teachers, even if he was smarter and better adjusted than they were. Plimptons respected authority - and his father’s authority above all else.

“Your exercises really helped us,” Bunch was laying it on a bit thick now.

If she said anything about getting in touch with anyone’s feelings, especially his, he was going to throw up the salad he had at lunch.

Sure, he did appreciate the unnecessary help Mr. Whitefeather had given him in the seducing Bunch plan, but it wasn’t like there were any feelings involved here. It was all teenage hormones and getting some things out of their systems.

“Your chemistry is just so inspirational,” Mr. Whitefeather looked about ready to swoon. “It’s a shame you’re both seniors, because I’d love to keep working with you two, together.”

One show, no encores, no repeat engagements. There was no way he would be blackmailed into doing anything else.

And doing this voluntarily? No, he was not that far gone yet.

“You flatter us,” Bunch practically pushed their teacher out the door.

He just made sure to smile at the man until the second after the door closed in his face. Then, he prepared for battle.

Bunch was certainly not going to make this easy for him. He was just about ready to curse Josh Chan’s name for ruining this for him. She’d pretty much been a sure bet before - she made the first move to kiss him last time - until Josh “dumb-dumb” Chan showed her that all men were superficial assholes. And while Bunch obviously knew that in theory (and maybe some practice) the reminder had stung.

And that was why she was currently glaring daggers at him instead of letting herself be seduced by their circumstances.

“I’m not going to kiss you,” Bunch was dismissive.

Damn you Josh Chan! Damn you Graham for interrupting what had been such a promising moment!

“I never thought you wouldn’t take your role seriously,” they both knew he was baiting her with that one. “It’s about true love, Bunch.”

For a girl who had no trouble manipulating people to get what she wanted, she definitely had a mushy side he could easily take advantage of. She clearly wanted to believe in soulmates and true love, and if that did not get him what he wanted, he was still baiting her.

She never could let him win.

“You’re the worst,” she declared.

“I’m okay with that,” he shrugged.

That stopped her in her tracks. Not in the way he’d wanted, with her dropping the subject and moving on to the good parts of this meeting, but in that analytical way that told him she might be seeing something he didn’t necessarily intend for her to see.

What kind of quip could he use to distract her? Making her angry usually worked, but she’d been filled with so much anger that it had become a little risky. Too much anger and she’d walk right out and he’d never get another chance to get with her. Because that was all he wanted from her.

“As long as it gets you what you want,” Bunch was still looking at him like that.

“Would you prefer I fake some feelings?” he tried to distract her.

He wasn’t moral enough to play the honesty card all the time. It worked on Bunch, but many a girl had needed a few sweet nothings whispered in her ear to allow him a few liberties. Either way, the result was the same: he got what he wanted and he moved on.

“You aren’t that good an actor,” she dismissed him.

“That sounds like a challenge,” he was almost amused.

Maybe if he pretended not to notice that she’d actually stepped closer to him to properly dismiss him, maybe she wouldn’t notice either. Maybe she would keep doing it.

“No thanks,” Bunch scoffed. “Let’s just get through this stupid scene.”

She was still moving closer, no matter what her actual words were saying. So maybe he wasn’t alone in feeling this ridiculous attraction - he knew he wasn’t - and they could just finally get it over with.

He needed the show to be over, and her to be out of his head, so that he could go back to his normal life. The life that he was supposed to lead, the one that did not involve theater and this girl who’d somehow made him pay attention to her.

“If you insist,” he drew her in closer with his words.

“Don’t act like you don’t want to kiss me, Nathaniel,” she reached for him with one hand.

It was going to burn right through his chest. It shouldn’t be possible, but that single touch of her hand had completely drawn him in. How did she do that?

“You’ve been wanting it too,” he whispered, slowly moving down to her level.

She could not deny that - he did not want her to deny it. She needed to admit that she did want him, because that meant he won.

But was he even keeping score still?

“I’m acting,” she reminded him, taunted him.

Her hand had made its way to the back of his neck, pulling him further and further down as she reached up to meet him.

“And I’m not?” he quirked an eyebrow.

His hand was on the small of her back, and this was absolutely not going to be allowed for their stage kiss. That was all chaste and romantic and pure - and why was he even still thinking about that?

This kiss, this had nothing to do with Ella and Prince Topher.

“Please,” she whispered.

If that was still in response to something, he’d long since forgotten it. It was a plea for him to finally bridge those final inches, a plea to not let that Grant guy interrupt them this time.

How could he not grant her wish?

Their lips met sharply, a contrast to how slow they’d been moving before. This was all pent-up frustrations, hormones, attraction against their wishes. She pulled at him, contorting him into the perfect position to just keep kissing her. And so he had to push back, clinging at his perfect control by the edges of his fingernails.

They continued to fight even in this kiss, a yank on his hair and a tug at her hips to get her even closer. It was desperate, frantic, passionate… And it was everything he wanted, or was it?

“Bunch,” he pulled away to catch his breath.

“Shut up,” she pushed him against the closed door.

He’d dreamt of this, but not this.

“Slow down,” he tried to reach for her face, gently.

“Shut up,” she repeated, pushing his hand away.

There was no way for him to move comfortably, and yet she tried to pull at him. Another kiss, one that seemed even harsher than the first, all teeth and tongue.

God, it was hot, it really was. Bunch, Rebecca… She couldn’t stop trying to get even closer to him, pressing her body tightly against his.

But he felt a doorknob pushing against his back, and his neck was starting to hurt from being pushed and pulled into such an awkward position.

“Rebecca,” he spoke without thinking.

The change was absolute. She stilled immediately, eyes wide and hands trembling as she tried to fix her shirt.

He hadn’t even been staring at her cleavage - what the hell was wrong with him?

“I need to go,” she disentangled herself from him, her body shaky and her face closed off.

And he was left alone in the room, pants too tight and heartbeat racing.

The clock had struck midnight and Ella had run from the prince. But there was no glass slipper, no clue as to what had gone wrong.

She did not mean to be distracted, she just was.

And it was a serious problem.

“Rebecca,” he’d said.

Nathaniel Plimpton had used her first name, and it was soft and warm and completely unexpected. And most of all, it was bad and wrong.

If he’d just kept that stupid, surprisingly soft mouth of his shut, she’d have been on top of him in an empty classroom at this point.

But no, he just had to use her name and ruin everything.

How dare he make it sound like he gave a damn about her? This was Nathaniel Plimpton the Third - he didn’t do anything involving the full spectrum of human emotions. He was supposed to bang her and leave her, just so Josh Chan would never be able to have her first time.

Because he didn’t deserve it.

Not that it was even about deserving it, it was about her choices. And she’d chosen Nathaniel for this one. Just this one time, just to get those damn hormones out of the way so they could both move on with their lives. She wanted to be bad, to let the animalistic urges rule her just once, just like they ruled everyone else in school.

So why wouldn’t he just let her?

He’d been turned on when he said it, but she knew all about how true feelings came out when the normal filters were gone, and what he’d said was her name. She couldn’t get over it, couldn’t get it out of her head.

“Cookie?”

It was probably just another twisted, devious manipulation. He was the Evil Plimpton after all - perhaps this was like She’s All That after all and he needed to make her believe that he gave a damn about her so she’d fall for him.

She could probably expect a prom invitation any day now.

Not that she’d say yes to that - she’d seen the movies and she didn’t exactly want to end up crying on prom night. Not that she’d cry, because she didn’t actually care about Nathaniel and his hurt feelings. She didn’t!

What she cared about was her revenge.

“Cookie?”

Yes, all she wanted was revenge against Josh Chan. He was the only man, the only boy that mattered right now. Only until she’d left him weeping, of course.

He’d be sorry he abandoned her, sorry that he ever led her on and made her feel like glitter was exploding inside of her. He’d be sorry for the secretive affair, for not wanting to be with her out in the open. Joshua Felix Chan would be sorry for all of it.

And maybe then, finally, she could get Nathaniel out of her head, and the way he’d looked at her after he said her name.

“Rebecca!”

“Don’t call me that,” she whirled around to confront Natha- Paula?

Oh, right, they were supposed to be coming up with revenge plans together.

“Cookie?” Paula seemed more than a little freaked out.

“Sorry,” her apology was only slightly exaggerated. “My head was just off in the clouds, you know what that’s like.”

Did she sound blase enough? Good, because it was awkward, the kind of bad awkward that people remembered. Especially when by people she meant her best friend and guidance counselor. Paula was too good at figuring things out for her to learn anything that might make her suspicious.

Which was why she could never learn about what had happened between her and Nathaniel. No one ever needed to know that.

She was going to have enough trouble looking him in the eye ever again after that, and they were supposed to be love interests. In the show. She meant they were supposed to play love interests.

“Right,” Paula didn’t seem to buy it, not completely.

“So, what’s the plan for Chan?” she purposefully rhymed, knowing it would distract Paula.

As expected, Paula snickered happily. Sometimes she worried about her friend, about why she treated one of her students as her best friend instead of finding someone she was on more equal footing with.

But that was not a concern right now. Right now, there was nothing but vengeance.

“I have brought in an expert,” Paula grinned evilly.

That was disconcerting. Not the grinning, no, she wholeheartedly approved of the evil grinning and possible future cackling. The bringing in an expert part was her real concern.

Because who could this be? Who at this school was an expert on pain and vengeance and evil plans? (They were making evil plans!)

“Sup?” Heather Davis nodded as she dropped into one of the chairs.

Wait, Heather was the expert? That made little to no sense - Heather was generally one of the most chill people in the entire school, and while she definitely wouldn’t let anyone mess with her, there was no vengeance in her bones. Heather was the kind of person who called someone out on their shit and then moved on with her life.

Which was super cool, but definitely not what she was going for right now.

“Heather,” she nodded like she’d been expecting this all along.

“I’m just here for moral support,” Heather opened up a notebook and started doodling. “I’m thinking about being a psych major, and this is fascinating.”

That was both the most and least surprising thing she’d ever heard Heather say. Which meant that it was actually perfectly on brand for Heather.

She had a beanie over her messy curls, and this week the colored streaks in her hair appeared to be purple. Hipster culture had nothing on Heather.

Honestly, she wished she were half as cool.

“I’d say sorry for being late,” Valencia Perez threw open the door to Paula’s office, “but I’m not actually all that sorry. I had things to do.”

What the actual hell was Paula thinking? This was probably the worst idea ever.

Or the second worst, because practicing a kissing scene with Nathaniel Plimpton in an empty classroom might have been one for the books. Really, how did she think that was going to end? (Spoiler alert: sex. Lots of it.)

Ugh, why did she keep coming back to stupid Nathaniel?

Paula actually brought Valencia in on the revenge plan against Josh? Did she want Rebecca to get murdered? Because that was absolutely what was going to happen when Valencia found out she had been all over Josh when they were still dating. It was going to be death by yoga and claws. And words. Vicious, vicious words.

She’d have to change schools after this - her mother might actually kill her, because changing schools this close to graduation was going to kill her chances at several of the Ivies she’d been forced to apply to.

Was witness protection an option here? She could change her name and move across country.

Rachel, she could be a Rachel.

“I’m glad you’re here, miss Perez,” Paula was still smiling. “It’s time for us to destroy Josh Chan.”

Now those were fighting words. Now she was interested. Now she was no longer distracted by Nathani- damn it.

His face was just so damn distracting, especially his eyes. And his mouth.

This was not helping!

“Right, so I’m only here because I hate Josh Chan,” Valencia picked the most prominent chair to gracefully sit down in. “You were probably the reason he broke up with me, and I kind of hate you for it, but at least he didn’t leave me hanging on for another ten years. He’s scared of confrontation like that.”

That was a surprisingly mature standpoint from the person who’d been lowkey bullying every loser at this school for the past four years.

Was she right to be suspicious of that, or was Valencia Perez actually growing? Had Heather’s mellow disposition rubbed off on her? Those two had been spending a lot of time together lately, and while it made sense for Valencia to be the alpha female, Heather’s almost supernatural calmness was kind of infectious.

Either way, she should probably be grateful.

“We all hate Josh Chan,” Paula was pleased at how well this was going.

“I don’t,” Heather shrugged. “But keep going, this is fascinating.”

The four women came together as one to figure out what would hurt Josh Chan the most. It was almost inspirational.

Oh my God, she was finally part of a girl group now!

He’d been avoiding her for days, pretending his ego wasn’t bruised by her abrupt departure from that classroom. And it wasn’t, because he didn’t care about Rebecca Bunch. Not at all.

It was just a little unflattering that even a pathetic loser like her bailed on him. That was all that was.

Still, it was a good sign that he needed to stay focused, that he needed to do a few extra reps at the gym this week, because clearly his perfect physique was failing him. His body could not be trusted this week, especially not around Bunch.

So, avoidance.

Of course, that only went so far, because he still had to see her in rehearsals. But after his demand to work some more on some scenes that in no way involved Cinderella herself, Mr. Whitefeather had rather reluctantly acquiesced.

After all, he did not want the show to fail because he’d left it all to depend on chemistry. That Jim guy was still woefully behind on learning his lines, and Tim wasn’t much better (if he finally managed to correctly guess who was who, anyway). They had a lot of catching up to do to get even in the same stratosphere as he was in. And that was the only reason why Nathaniel was currently running through the same few scenes over and over again until these idiots finally got it right.

“Once again, from the top,” he ordered, barely even breaking a sweat.

Jim and Tim - Tim and Jim? - were wrecks. The amount of sweat those idiots produced wasn’t quite healthy. And here he’d figured that Jim (it was Jim, right?) had been in excellent shape, seeing as how he showed up at the gym at least twice a week.

Well, clearly he’d just been there for the girls, because that was all he could talk about.

“Hello there fellas.”

Of course there was no way that she could just let him be. Not in his dreams, and not in real life. No, Rebecca Bunch just had to interrupt his manly bonding time.

(As if he would ever try to bond with any of these losers.)

“Hey Rebecca,” Jim immediately sidled up to her.

“Jim, get back to work,” he ordered, rolling his eyes. “You’re still pathetically out of shape.”

It said something for his natural leadership skills that Jim didn’t even speak another word before he started another circuit of reps. Yes, he was a true leader.

“That’s alright,” Bunch wasn’t deterred even for a second. “I wanted to talk to you anyway.”

Of course she wanted to talk to him now, when she could act like she had the moral high ground in front of their cast mates. She did so thrive around a captive audience, and he’d rather not have a dramatic confrontation straight out of Les Miserables.

The word miserable was right there in the show title, and he’d actually seen it a few times. There was a lot of death, and both men involved in the Confrontation were dead by the end of the show. He didn’t exactly fancy ending up like that, not that he thought Bunch would actually resort to murdering him. He hadn’t quite earned that yet.

Or had he?

“I’m busy,” he dismissed her.

He wasn’t even lying about that - he was busy because these idiots needed a lot of work and the premiere date was getting ever closer. They were due for their costume fitting soon, and if everything fit properly - and he’d made sure it would - they would start rehearsing in costume in a week or so.

Which meant that in about a week, he was going to have serious trouble trying to look Bunch in the eyes - just the idea of her in a corset was already ruining his life. The reality would undoubtedly be much, much worse.

“Or we can do this here,” she had him cornered and she knew it.

Damn her and her everything.

None of these losers were ever going to know about anything that had happened between him and Bunch. They might actually start to think that he was on their level, and then they’d treat him like their buddy.

That could never happen, should never happen. He was superior in every way, like a Plimpton should be.

“Maya, could you take over?” he left the tiniest girl in the group in charge.

Oh, her looks were deceiving - that tiny person could take down every single fragile man boy in that group with just a few phrases. The time she explained to Tim that his long time girlfriend had been faking it with him had been particularly brutal - or just particularly entertaining for him.

Maya could be trusted to run a tight ship.

“Totes,” Maya saluted him.

“Ma’am,” he nodded at her, playing along with her little joke.

That seemed to surprise Bunch, as she stared back and forth between him and the tiny girl with the big glasses, as if there was a thing going on there that she wasn’t aware of. When all it was, was a congenial relationship between cast mates. Maya wasn’t completely useless, and she was willing to work hard, unlike most freshmen.

It meant nothing, but Bunch was undoubtedly going to make a big production out of this small, insignificant moment.

“Let’s go, Bunch,” he did not have the time or the patience for her usual shenanigans.

“No calling me Rebecca this time?” she pointedly asked as she followed him into the empty hallway.

Oh yeah, she was not going to let that stupid mistake go. One freaking slip of the tongue and he was going to hear about it forever - or just until graduation, because there was no way he was ever going to see Rebecca Bunch again after that.

They were going very different places in life - him to Stanford and her to some ridiculous drama school in New York, probably. That was where losers like her thrived.

“You didn’t seem to like it last time,” he remarked, unwilling to let her have the last word about anything, not even this. “I never met anyone who was scared of their first name before.”

Yeah, that hit its mark, as it was intended to. How else was he supposed to get back the power he’d lost with a single word?

Bunch would never let anyone call her afraid, and she especially would not let him get away with it. Her ego wouldn’t let her.

“Scared?” she huffed, blowing herself up for proper hysterics.

“Running away tends to mean fear,” he had the high ground now.

It was funny how she tried to seem taller, tiny as she was compared to him. Sometimes, because of her giant personality, he almost forgot that she was tiny enough for him to pick up and carry. He was strong enough - stronger than that Chan idiot.

Obviously, he was superior in every way, not that Bunch would notice.

“Well, I’m not running now,” she crossed her arms over her chest.

He looked down and gulped. Well, there went his focus.

Damn her for continually distracting him from his moral high ground. Half the time, she wasn’t even doing it on purpose, but judging by the scheming glint in her eye, she was very aware of what she was doing right now. And she was most definitely up to something - she wanted something from him.

“I’m so proud of you,” sarcasm dripped from his every word.

Was she still on that revenge scheme? Probably.

“Flattered,” she returned. “I’m still not scared, Nathaniel.”

Was she actually trying to make him say her name again, just to prove that she was not going to run away from him again? Yeah, he was not actually dumb enough to meekly follow along with that pathetic little scheme.

He had his pride.

It was not going to keep him warm at night, but he was still going to hold on to it for as long as he could. At least here at school, he had the possibility of maintaining his pride - at home, there was no question he had to swallow it and take whatever his father was in the mood to dish out that day.

“What is it going to take?” Bunch was not amused by his silence.

“What is what going to take?” he just had to play dumb, to make her say it.

Was it about getting something out of her? Perhaps it was, perhaps he just wanted her to eat crow for a bit. Perhaps he just wanted her to be honest for once about where they stood - they’d been hiding in played parts and denial for a while now. Maybe some truth wouldn’t be so bad.

Or maybe it would ruin everything. He’d be forced to give her truths in kind, and he had none to give. There was nothing to give, just pretty words that didn’t mean a thing, and a final dismissal either from her or from him.

Because he didn’t actually care.

“I need you to do it again,” she scrunched up her face at his raised eyebrow. “I need you to say my name again.”

And neither did she. He was a convenient means to end when it came to the Chan Plan - he was not foolish enough to think that she’d given up on Josh Chan just because he’d dumped her. If he apologized, she’d take him back (not that she’d ever had him before).

It was true love after all.

“Is Josh coming by?” he was not fooled.

“Yes,” she couldn’t even look at him as she said it.

He laughed, because what else could he do? Walk away and tell her he was not going to be a part of this ridiculous scheme? That would mean something.

“It won’t work,” he just said, because someone had to say it.

Her friends - since when was she friends with Valencia Perez anyway? - clearly hadn’t discouraged her from any of these ridiculous schemes. Him saying something wouldn’t actually change anything, but at least he said something.

Giving her false hope seemed more cruel, somehow.

“I don’t care,” she seemed smaller then.

Still, he pressed on, reminding himself that he didn’t actually give a damn about her hurt feelings.

Or his own.

“Fine,” he ignored whatever passed for inner turmoil in his head. “If your kink is being called by your first name.”

Yes, he was absolutely going to be an asshole about this. She’d left him hanging, embarrassed him, no matter how much he was not willing to admit that. There was no way that he was going to let her off so easily.

“Nathaniel,” she pointedly caressed every single syllable of his name.

That was not a thing for him. He did not just kinkshame her about this, only to feel his pants getting tight just because she said his full name in that soft voice she hardly ever let him hear, with her head slightly tilted and her eyes filled with warmth.

He was not going to get turned on by her play-acting at kindness. He was going to beat her at this game.

“Rebecca,” his voice was low, hinting at hoarseness.

Did he do that on purpose, or did that just happen when she smiled at him like that?

There was no guile in her in that moment, just a soft smile and a slight widening of her eyes, as if he’d said something that she’d actually been waiting to hear. Had she, maybe - no. No, it didn’t matter.

“Rebecca,” he dumbly repeated, taking a step closer to her.

She followed his lead - that never happened - and moved in closer as well. His eyes frantically roamed the hallway, trying to find Chan’s hiding place. Obviously Rebecca, Bunch had spotted him and now she was just playing along for her revenge plan.

But there was no one else there. Just like in the room, when he was left angry and rejected.

There were so many feelings bubbling up inside of him and he didn’t want to feel any of them - but just being faced with Rebecca so close to him made them impossible to avoid. Maybe he had the right idea when he avoided her for several days in a row.

Avoiding her made things easier, left him clear headed for once, instead of feeling muddled and constantly confused about what the hell was going on with him and where his life was going. He knew exactly where his life was going, he knew what he was going to be doing with the rest of his life, and it had never seemed particularly confusing before.

These stupid losers were getting to him. Rebecca was getting to him.

Rebecca was suspiciously silent, and he was not willing to break the silence either. Any word would just ruin the fragile peace that existed between the two of them.

Her hand had once again landed on his shoulder. He knew where this was going, and he wasn’t exactly protesting.

He wanted her, he was very aware of that. He wasn’t conflicted about that.

She kissed him again.

It wasn’t like the last time. This time she reached up on her tiptoes, her moves gentle and languid as she pressed closer to him.

Their lips met once, twice, and then a third time.

Time slowed down, sped up, and then stopped completely. There was a faint buzzing of people in the hallway. They weren’t alone, but he couldn’t be bothered to see just who was there and what their response was to Rebecca kissing him so softly.

This was everything he’d dreamed of. It was different somehow, but he didn’t exactly understand how. It didn’t make sense.

She pulled back, breathing heavily, and he smiled down at her. He probably looked like a complete dope, but she didn’t make fun of him for it.

“Rebecca,” he said her name again, just because he could.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw Josh Chan passing by. His eyes widened as he saw Rebecca with him, but he never paused.

He didn’t tell Rebecca. That would be cruel.

So they’d kissed again.

It still didn’t mean anything. Not at all.

She just had a brief lapse of judgment and kissed Nathaniel Plimpton in a very public hallway without Josh Chan being anywhere in the vicinity.

Maybe not all was lost though - Josh had probably heard about it by now, because the rumors were spreading like wildfire. Most of the rumors involved him seducing her for some bet (so her She’s All That idea wasn’t even that outlandish), but they at least got the very public kissing right.

Some of the stories even made it seem a little romantic, some story of star-crossed lovers meeting on the stage and falling for each other just as their characters had. Those stories talked of stealing romantic moments - some people even told tales of Nathaniel plying her with romantic gifts.

There were boys who acted more… immaturely. Comments about how she must have some assets that tempted the great Nathaniel Plimpton were now a regular part of her day. Whispered asides about how she must be a freak in the sack lasted for about a week before they quite abruptly stopped.

Nathaniel was behind that, she would put money on it.

She hadn’t talked to him outside of rehearsal for a week. She just couldn’t face him after she’d so stupidly let herself be soft and kind and vulnerable in front of him.

But how could she not have kissed him when he said her name like that?

He’d looked almost lost, those blue eyes wide and questioning. She couldn’t take it, couldn’t stand him looking at her so softly. She had to kiss him.

At least then he wouldn’t stare at her with feelings in his eyes. They looked like feelings anyway, but how would she know what feelings looked like on a soulless automaton like Nathaniel Plimpton the Third?

Except he wasn’t soulless. She’d actually hurt his fragile little man baby feelings when she left that first time. She wasn’t even aware that he could have feelings - she didn’t want him to have that ability.

That was just too much, too complicated. She wanted her revenge on Josh and then she would be free to leave this place in a few months.

New York was calling her and she had to answer. Her future was right there, amidst the bright lights of Broadway, no matter what her mother said about doing pre-law as a solid backup if her little hobby didn’t actually turn into something.

She just had to get through this show without caring too much about Nathaniel, about anyone else. She could leave Paula - there would be other students who needed her help a little too much. She could leave her girl group - they’d forget all about her anyway when they all went to different colleges. Or no college at all, because Valencia was not planning on going anywhere. She could leave Nathaniel in California, leave him to become that asshole he was genetically predisposed to become.

In ten years, at their high school reunion, she’d swoop in with her first Tony award and look down on everyone who’d ever made her feel inferior, and he’d be there with his first (or second) trophy wife, still trying to fill his daddy’s shoes. Maybe their eyes would meet briefly, and she’d remember this moment. But that was how their story ended, how it was supposed to go.

If she wasn’t meant for Josh Chan, maybe she just wasn’t meant for anyone after all. Maybe the stage was supposed to be the real love of her life.

At least she had learned that much.

That was something she could do, throwing herself into her career, throwing herself into the world of Cinderella for these last few weeks (barely months). She could pretend to be the commoner turned princess, and she could sing and dance with her prince.

Ella could have her true love and her happily ever after. Rebecca could have a career and the memory of a few heated kisses with a boy she could never care about.

The hormones were still there, buzzing under her skin, and she would be on top of him right this second if she believed that she could pull it off without him getting soft and gooey and kind on her.

Ugh, that was not hot. It wasn’t.

Why couldn’t he just let her be all over him without consequences?

“Are you comfortable?” Maya pulled at the lacing on the back of her corset. “Not too tight?”

The answer to the first question was definitely a no, but the second question was probably safer to answer. Seeing as that answer would actually be related to her costume.

“It’s fine,” she tried to sound calmer than she currently felt. “Thanks Maya.”

“No probs,” the freshman shrugged. “Short girls have to stick together.”

They pulled on the dress together, awkwardly lifting it over her head as Maya tried not to fall off the stool that was the only way Maya was tall enough to assist with this part.

“Just the zipper now,” Maya easily fixed up the dress.

Shouldn’t it be too tight and uncomfortable? That was her experience with costumes in this school, always made for the pretty, skinny girls. Not this time.

“All done,” the tiny freshman hopped off the stool. “You totes look like a princess. Hashtag fairy tales, hashtag true love’s kiss, hashtag happily ever after.”

And with that, Maya rushed off to help someone else, and she was left staring at herself in the mirror. All she saw was a complete stranger.

She’d pulled her hair back awkwardly, and she wasn’t wearing a crown yet, but from the neck down she looked like an actual princess. The corset emphasized her chest a little too much, but since the dress was actually made with her measurements in mind, she wasn’t too uncomfortable. She actually looked like she had a waist, and the big skirt made her feel like she actually was a princess.

“Knock knock,” Mr. Whitefeather was waiting outside the door.

“I’m coming out,” she called, taking one last look at that strange royal creature she saw in the glass.

How was this regal women the same pathetic girl she saw in her reflection this morning?

Shaking off those thoughts, she stepped out into the hallway, holding her skirts so that she wouldn’t step on them and embarrass herself in front of everyone. There was just so much to this dress that she had to consider.

“Miss Bunch, you look like an actual princess,” Mr. Whitefeather gushed. “I think the color is perfect too. It’ll match your prince.”

Nathaniel would be in costume too. Oh, she hadn’t even considered that. As much as she wanted to think that he might just look ridiculous, she was a woman with eyes. There was not much that Nathaniel could not pull off.

He was going to have the girls in their class throwing their panties at him, and she’d have to pretend like the idea of that didn’t sting.

She was gliding down the hall into the auditorium, where everyone else was gathering to see their friends in their costumes. Heather and Valencia were helping each other, adjusting bows and lines on each other’s dresses, touches lingering a little longer than strictly necessary.

So that was happening now.

“Meet your princess,” Mr. Whitefeather stopped them right in front of Nathaniel.

She looked up at him slowly, terrified that he’d shatter her blooming confidence with a well-placed remark - but even more scared that he would not react at all.

Everything stilled for a second, and then their eyes met.

His reaction was everything she hoped for. Not that she’d thought about his reaction to her in this dress even for a second. No not at all.

Once again, he stood ramrod straight, almost too still to keep breathing. His eyes roamed over her body slowly, hotly, until she felt goosebumps break out on her skin. He took a deep breath then, his body slowly going back to normal posture as he tried to act like she didn’t affect him at all.

Well buddy, kinda missed the mark on that one.

She was getting to him, and not even in his stupid heart-eyed way. No, this was chemistry fizzling between them, desperately trying to pull them closer.

It was Mr. Whitefeather who gave them an excuse, a reason other than just temporary insanity to reach for each other.

“How about you try your dance?” Mr. Whitefeather proposed. “You need to get a feel for how the dress is going to move. You might need to adjust the distance between you two a bit. You’ve been dancing closer than the dress might allow. We just need to be sure.”

They had been moving closer and closer in rehearsals - she didn’t think anyone would notice, except maybe Nathaniel. He noticed. She’d felt that he noticed.

Her face was flushing just thinking about how often she’d noticed, about how sometimes it seemed like he was in a constant state of arousal around her. It was only fair.

“Your highness,” she curtsied and he bowed.

The kiss on the hand had never officially been added to their choreography, he’d just started doing it one time and it had stuck. And they’d never faked the gesture, had always committed to this part wholeheartedly and grabbed on to any excuse they had to touch each other. Or at least, that was her excuse. Was it his as well?

“Milady,” he murmured as he stood up straight. “Would you like to dance?”

She could hear music in the background, and everyone else in the room was fading away until there was no one there except the two of them, just as it was supposed to be. Her stupid, confusing prince had placed his hand in hers again, and she’d tried not to trip over her skirts as he swept her off her feet.

The music got louder, and they swept through the choreography like it was second nature, because by now it was. She felt like she would remember these steps for the rest of her life, like she could be woken up in the middle of the night and still follow every step.

Still, it was different with her giant skirt swishing between the two of them. Breathing was difficult enough, but that had nothing to do with the corset and everything to do with the way her prince just would not stop looking at her.

He led her around the floor, still pressing as close to her as her damn dress would allow - not close enough, but they managed. Their hands were the only real points of contact for a while, until they fell into the crescendo of movements that led to her favorite part of the dance: the ending.

Nathaniel’s arms were around her waist, and as she let herself fall down into his hold without hesitation, he never stopped looking at her face, even though her chest was right freaking there and looking spectacular in her corset.

His eyes never strayed as he held her for endless seconds. Her heart was pounding heavily in her chest. There was glitter exploding inside of her once again.

Gently, slowly, safely he pulled her up into a standing position, standing much too close for this to be entirely proper for a royal ball.

She did not care, and neither did he.

God, she wanted to kiss him again, wanted to hear him break the illusion of acting by whispering her name in her ear. Had anyone ever said her name quite like that, like they were marvelling at the luck of being allowed to say it?

No one that she could remember.

“Nathaniel Plimpton,” a deep voice bellowed. “You take off that ridiculous outfit this instance! What do you think you are doing?”

That broke the soft spell they’d been under. There were others in the room again, but she refused to look in the direction of the voice - maybe Mr. Whitefeather would send away the intruder and they’d just be able to try again.

This was not how it ended.

She glanced up at Nathaniel. He’d gone completely still in the most unnatural way, as if he’d snap in half if she so much as breathed on him too harshly. His eyes were wide, his skin no longer golden but pale and clammy in her warm hold.

“Father,” he breathed, panic in his electric blue eyes.

AN: Soooooo, thoughts? :P

#rethaniel #rebecca x nathaniel #otp: can’t be with cedric if you’re already with ron #crazy ex girlfriend #my stories #fic: all the men and women merely players

[secretlifeofachicamuerta]

Not every home is one to be thankful for and that was a lesson Arabella was forced to to learn the hard way when she was only six years old. She had the DiMarco to thank for that. They were the very first family to take in the young orphaned Latina. The day she got picked felt like the blessing Sister Josephiña told her would always come in time. Arabella had quite literally waited her entire for this moment. Not only was she gaining a family she was going to get to learn ballet. Mr. DiMarco owned a prestigious ballet school and his beautiful wife was an instructor, they housed young children while training them to be the very best so it was as if she was also getting siblings. Life for the little one was about to get a lot less lonely.

It was embedded in her memory the first time she pulled up to the white, perfectly trimmed estate. It looked like a palace. "¿Puedo vivir aquí?" She squealed with glee and unbelievable excitement. All her years of being alone, not being picked, wishing she had a family was all being made up for. Arabella's niave mind truly believed she had been pulled into a fairytale.

Perfectly manicured red nails tapped Bella's knee lightly, "Now, now Arabella what did Momma DiMarco tell you about speaking Spanish?"

Oh no! She had already messed up with her new parents. "Speaking Spanish is not allowed because it's disrespectful when no one understands." Her tiny chubby fingers folded together in a pleading motion as the biggest sincere pout took over the child's face, "I'm so very, very, very sorry. Please don't send me back. I can do better!"

Amused laughter echoed in the back of the limo from the blonde goddess that was now her mother. "Darling I would never give you back, you're everything I've ever wanted."

The way Mrs. DiMarco's hand cupped thr Latina's cheek was more the most affection she had ever been seen. Not that the nuns were mean at the orphanage but their love had always lacked something and until that moment Bella did not know what. A mother's touch. A touch so tender that it took the right kind of person to deliver it. This was every thing that Arabella had wanted. Or so she thought...

"Move out of my way orphan!" Sneered suzie as she had ran past Arabella shoving her down. "Great now I have cooties!"

Needless to say Arabella had not been very well accepted by the live in students of the DiMarco Ballet Academy. Every since she had moved into Suzie's room the little curly red headed had terrorized her. She called her names and told all the other children if they played with Bella they would catch Orphanidis and their parents would leave them too. She was a very cruel little girl for being nine but Momma DiMarco explained it was just jealously of having to share the spotlight. It would seem the latina had a natural knack for ballet and after just one year of being trained by Momma DiMarco she had been moved up to the intermediate class for young children. All the kids in her class were two years older than her. That seem to upset Suzie in ways that Arabella at seven years old could never understand.

However Bella never cared that she did not make friends with kids her age. The teens at the academy seem to be fond of her but most of Momma DiMarco loved her. She always knew just what to say to make the little dancer shine through the rain. In fact she was the only reason Arabella was as advanced as she was. She worked tiredlessly day and night during the first year to show the beginner the ropes. She had loved dancing so much with her mom that she always asked for more. A bystander might ask if it was ballet Arabella loved or the connection she was building with Momma DiMarco. But did it matter? All the hard work and training was worth making that woman proud.

Daddy DiMarco however was an entirely different story. It wasn't that Bella thought he did not love her but more he was always super serious, a very busy man running a school and making dancers into the perfection to become a Prima at his doing. He had more of a tough love way about parenting. Not that that he was cruel, he was determined to make Arabella strong. Not just physically but emotionally. He did not see her as a child to coddle, her age did not matter. He was shaping her to face the world and the spotlight was a cruel place to be a times. He was honest and raw with her, he did not believe in sparing the truth to protect her feelings or any else's. Especially during the one on one critique dances. He every week all the live ins had to to perform for him personally on Sunday. Not only dance but choreograph a dance to a song he would assign. His eyes never missed a mistake.

"Arabella! We've talked about this again and again. You must pivot when landing a jump or you can blow out your knee." He rubbed his temples in pure annoyance. He did not care if most eight year olds could not do the triple spin jump. She could and he expected her land correctly.

Her dark ravenous curls fell around her face as she looked down at the pink ballet slippers on her feet. They were beginning to tatter now after two years. She had put in so much practice and time. There was no doubt she went above and beyond but she felt like an amateur right now. She did not deserve to be standing before him.

His hand weighed heavy pressing down on the shoulder of the adolescent. "What do we expect here at the DiMarco Academy?" His voice stern, she would hear no graditude from him today. He would not comfort the weak.

"Perfection." Her tiny voice squeaked with sorrow. Don't cry. Don't cry. The voice inside her head whimpered. "If I can not display pure perfection for the art of ballet I do not only not deserve to dance but be a vessel for such a prestige school." Words no one would expect to come from the mouth of a child but those are the exact words he would use. She had them memorized. Every student have. Being his daughter gave her no exceptions if anything she knew he expected more of her.

"Exactly I have no use for a student who is injured not to mention I do not have the patience to wait for recovery." He would bend down on one knee and tuck his callused finger beneath her chin to ensure she was making eye contact before saying what he needed to next."There is someone out there who can replace us all and it is simply why we must be the best. Do not make reckless moves Arabella. Do better. Be the perfection I know you're capable of."

And Bella would do just that. Every single day she worked hard, determined to make Daddy DiMarco proud of her like how momma was. She wanted to be perfection he so ruthlessly taught. She without a doubt had the skills to be just that. Her need to impress her parents, her desire to accepted by her family fed her enthusiasm of shaping herself to be the dancer they both wanted her to be. Such a heavy weight for a child to carry but still at the end of each night she'd thank God in her prayers for blessing her with a family.

But her story would not be one of parents who pressured her too much or set a life plan for her. That would have been a far nicer ending than the one fate has in store for her. The journey with the DiMarco's would take a heartbreaking turn shortly after Arabella turned nine. The older she got the better she became at her control and balance making her even more advanced. While Momma DiMarco finally had switched up the rooms so she did not have have share with Suzie it did not stop the girl from hating Bella. By now Suzie was eleven, in her tweens and full of herself. Until Arabella the red head had never experienced true competition, she had always simply been the best at everything and did not handle not getting her way so well.

Pasty white finger jabbed into Arabella's shoulder angrily, "The only reason you got lead in the recital is because Mrs. DiMarco feels bad for you but I can see why your parents did not want you! You stink!" She plugged her nose being the dramatic show she was as Suzie.

"Mentirosa!" She'd shout, over the past three years she learned when to correctly use her Spanish and since her parents were not around she could. "We both know they would not. They have standards they hold to. I got it because I worked hard and perfected the whipped throw."

Arms presented crossing over her chest with the most snoody look to appear upon her face while turning her nose up at the pathetic orphan before her. "Well they picked you for a daughter so maybe their standards are not ones to be sought after."

The audicity! Suzie's words hit her deep, anger and hurt filled the soul of Arabella. The girl's tone made such remark as if something was wrong with the young Latina as if she was not worthy to picked to be loved. She bawled her fist beside her as her dark brows furrowed glaring at the hateful girl standing before her. "You're just mad because you'll never be more than my understudy!"

Her comeback must have hit Suzie in a way that she would never expect because next thing Bella knew she was tumbling down the large staircase after being pushed. Each step of the marble stairs smacking some part of her body landing her with a loud thud at the end of the bottom of the staircase knocked unconscious by the fall. She had finally won a battle words against Suzie. But at what cost? A broken ankle and shifted growth plate that would leave her with the inability to dance for at least six months if not longer. Daddy DiMarco was gonna be so angry.

"I know I'm not allowed to dance and have to stay off my feet but I was thinking maybe I could help you train some of the beginner classes momma." Arabella was excited to finally be going home after three days in the hospital. "Make myself useful while I'm recovering. Plus I have a feeling that everyone in the house might be mad at me for getting Suzie kicked out and..."

"Suzie did not get kicked out. She will remain in the house." Father DiMarco quickly interrupting his daughter's rant.

"Oh..." Disappointment rang in her voice but she would force herself to understand after all Suzie was an incredible dancer, she was good for the academy. "I just thought with the zero violence policy she'd be asked to leave."

A sigh of annoyance hissed in his voice as his full attention was now directed to Arabella. "Why would we get ride of a student with her talents that can actually still dance. It is you who will not be returning."

A sense of panic rushed over the young Latina, blood rushing from her face. It was clear she did not understand what her father meant exactly."But I'm the best dancer at the academy..."

"You were the best dancer and now you are useless to me. Have you learned nothing in all this time Arabella? The show must go on." His facial expression would lack any care or comfort that child might be searching for. He had done nothing but warn her if anything prevented her from dancing what would happen.

Tears swelled in Momma DiMarcos eyes as she clutched her child's hand, "I'm so sorry." She brushed Bella's dark hair behind her ear before cupping her cheek once more like she had done the very first day.

Arabella tried to be strong and understand something as harsh as the truth before her but at least she had her mother to comfort her. "It's okay I can go to regular school and once I get better I'll still practice every day with your help..."

An insidious laugh belted from her father, he found amusement in the pathetic plea she was making, "Arabella you've clearly misunderstood the dire situation presented before you. It's not just the academy you will not be returning to but our home. Your bed could be better suited for a child who can dance. We've already spoken to Sister Josephiña..."

Arabella to present day still had no idea what Mr. DiMarco said after Sister Josephiña as a child she zoned out. She had zero understanding to how her parents could give her back. She had never believed the seriousness or extent to what he meant all the times he had told her an injury would make her useless. They were giving her back and seem to not be a sight of care in his face as if it was normal to return a child to an orphanage for a refund. Mrs.DiMarco just sat there in silence as Arabella screamed and pleaded not to go back. But remorse was at least written across her face. While it was clear she was no one to the man she believed was her father she had in fact been the world to her mother.

"Momma please don't let him send me back, I promise I'm not useless." She blubbered as crocodile tears steamed from her hazel eyes. "Please momma tell him! Tell him you love me, tell him I'm worth keeping."

No mercy would be shown to the nine year old, in fact all it led to was Mrs. DiMarco retrieving her shades from the top of her head to place over eyes. It did not matter the promises she made, the begging to be kept there was nothing but silence in the back of the limo. Mr. DiMarco had made up his mind and there was no changing it. It had become clear the only reason he had agreed to taking in Arabella was the promise his wife had made to train the child they chose into the most magnificent prodigy the DiMarco's were incapable of birthing due to her sterile womb. Though tears could be seen steaming down the face of the woman who once was her mother she did not speak a word of protest against her husband she just sat there while her child's heart broke.

Arabella had to be forcefully removed from the car by the driver upon return. Though she might have been a small injured nine year old she did not make it easy. She squirmed and tossed, screaming as she would clutch to anything she could hold on to trying to reach for her mom in hopes she'd reach back. But she did not. She had to watch the people who were once her parents drive away once again leaving her an unwanted orphan. The DiMarcos were not a blessing, they were a lesson.

[sinesalvatorem]

I was just thinking more about Sam[]zdat’s review and, actually, there’s another quote that seems more valuable. One about how even we today can fail to understand other people’s knowledge of their own conditions, just because half of what they say is actually flatly wrong:

In the [cool kids scene] of the 2000’s, opposition to Christianity was a given. No subject was more likely to unite than a good old bashing of fundamentalists. Marxists, Anarchists, Libertarians, Liberals, Randians – it crossed political borders. (I’m from California, if that helps.)

It was hard not to – it’s not like the fundies had any coherent reasons they could articulate. Every other day some [class indicator] pastor would announce opposition to “the gay agenda” or seek to return to “a Christian nation” as though that were a desirable thing that had ever existed (like, deism duh, etc.). If that wasn’t bad enough, when pressed for an explanation, they’d just read some passage from John or Corinthians. “And? Was that all?” Readers take note: if someone is busy mocking you for your holy book, justifying your actions based on your holy book is a terrible rhetorical strategy.

Standard interpretation: “The olds are lamenting the loss of an oppressive institution that has no objective value, right?” Right?

So this is what churches do in our language: they’re probably the single most important economic institution in rural America. Period.

Here are some obvious economic effects: Nearly every church functions as a community safety net, where tithes collected are distributed to poor members or members experiencing sudden economic shock (disemployment, medical issues, etc.). Depending on the church, this is actually a lot more immediate and a lot larger than government distributions that approximate the same thing. They also function as labor banks, wherein members help one another with projects that they could otherwise not afford (think of home improvement projects coordinated through the church, wherein one can afford to repaint their house or call on the labor expertise of a fellow congregation members [say a plumber] to perform a simple  but otherwise costly repair). Hell, one of the biggest things they do is something almost no one seems to think about: most churches provide free after school programs for poor congregation members, which is a humongous cost for parents. “Big deal.” Yeah, but the cost of childcare is actually fucking enormous.

Note that most of those are vastly more important for the old and the retired (“it’s just the olds complaining!”), both in terms of cost (local members helping for free) and autonomy (one is less likely to have to enter the anonymity of a retirement home, etc. if community members are there to help).

Churches have many more nebulous effects that are even larger: they improve social trust, which has a stupidly powerful economic effect. They provide local networking effects, allowing members to find new jobs and move up using church connections. Many studies relate churches to decreased violence and drug problem in communities (although I suspect this is confounded by social trust and the kinds of people who tend toward religiosity). A lot of these aren’t going to have great studies attached, because they’re under the radar and understudied. But want to see something that will knock your socks off?

Gruber’s results suggest a “very strong positive correlation” between religious market density, religious participation, and positive economic outcomes.” People living in an area with a higher density of co-religionists have higher incomes, they are less likely to be high school dropouts, and more likely to have a college degree.” Living in such an area also reduces the odds of receiving welfare, decreases the odds of being divorced, and increases the odds of being married. The effects can be substantial. Doubling the rate of religious attendance raises household income by 9.1 percent, decreases welfare participation by 16 percent from baseline rates, decreases the odds of being divorced by 4 percent, and increases the odds of being married by 4.4 percent.

Source, emphasis mine. Note the most important part of that: one has to live nearby other co-religionists for these effects. “The kids are turning to atheism/the Devil” is a sign that all the coreligionists are going away.

In other words, churches are a cornerstone of local economic activity but they have to be churches. You can replace a Widget Factory with a Zigdet Factory and it’ll be the same, but we have no idea how to replicate church attendance.

This has another effect: any attempt to “stop” these negative effects won’t work. They only work based on the logic of the community. Because metis is both the worldview and the action, undoing one messes with the other. You can literally see this happening right this very moment in the midwest: church attendance collapsing is deleting a lot of those benefits even while the government tries to fill the void. It doesn’t “work” in the same way, because a lot of those effects are based on shared culture and trust that a government agency just can’t replicate. They only come with a shared worldview.

In a weird way, maybe that welfare participation is the (attempted) replacement, but then it’s hard to square the simple economic replacement with this:

And, attending religious services weekly, rather than not at all, has the same effect on individuals’ reported happiness as moving from the bottom to the top quartile of the income distribution.

“Man, this sounds like something everyone should know!” I agree, but also HA! That will never happen. I know how to argue for cultural conservatives to my left-wing, coastal audience. But how do you think the average actual conservative argues for that? “Faith”, “family values”, “God”, i.e., irrationally.

I know this is hard, but imagine actually being a conservative Christian in a dying town. Everything I just described is going away, nothing seems able to replace it, and things are just getting worse. The most noticeable difference by far is going to be “cultural” – what language would you use? “Loss of faith and family” is actually pretty apt. Let’s say that their arguments are identical to mine, just shrouded in local language. Fine – all that means is that In the final analysis, the conservative christian recognizes that they’re being deprived even of the power to complain, which is to say, even of the power to explain their powerlessness.

VII

“Ew. Are you saying-”

No, I’m not saying that the government is oppressing American Christians. That’s stupid. They lost the culture war, but no one is tearing up their actual communities. There’s a broader social pressure now that has, well, social effects. I do think that two hundred years from now when we have a better handle on psychology and economics everyone is going to look back at this time with total confusion. Like – how did no one notice? Didn’t you see this economic and social collapse? They were even yelling at you about it! We will confidently aver: “Yes, but when they were yelling they had the impertinence to quote the Bible, and so we knew that they were wrong.” And the person from the future will, quite reasonably, call us complete fucking twats.

#quotes #religion #society #seeing like a state

[sscsldcp]

Something Rotten Tour: Previews

This is going to be a LONG post with a lot of notes from the Something Rotten Tour! I saw it January 14th and 15th in Schenectady.

WARNING: SPOILERS. DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE TOUR. YOU WILL ENJOY IT MORE IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE CHANGES. TRUST ME. 

If I wrote UPDATE, its something that either changed or I didn’t notice the first night but did in the next show

Welcome to the Renaissance: Instead of saying ‘and everything is new’ the minstrel said ‘whats a famous bard to do’

UPDATE: He was perfect this time!

It is so weird seeing the new ensemble, especially when two shakespeare understudies next to each other, because they look identical

2 ensemblists had to pull open the theater for the beginning since nothing is mechanic

Nick and Bea’s house is made of 2 different boards and a door, also brought on by ensemblists

MAGGIE AS BEA IS SO CUTE. Its similar to Heidi’s Bea but not exactly like her

During Right Hand Man, when she says ‘Then I’m your go to guy’ he does finger guns and when Nick said ‘You’re not a guy’ he does these half assed finger guns back

When she says ‘So don’t be a sexist pig’ she grabs Nicks collar, pulls him down to be shorter than her (she is probably 5-6 inches shorter than Rob), then puts him in a choke hold while she continues singing

Instead of flopping down on the bed, Josh kneeled down then crawled in a circle once or twice like a dog before settling down

AUTUMN. IS. GORGEOUS. Her Portia was adorable, although it sounds a bit forced

Bro Jerry was hilarious. He got so many laughs in places that didn’t get laughs before

Shylock was so funny. It is weird seeing someone who's younger (50s-60s as opposed to 78) in the role but he brought new life to it

Nostradamus is a mixture of Brad and David. Not quite as outgoing as Brad (nothing can replace Brad!), but very very funny

New shoes for A Musical!! No longer red, now sparkly purple and green!

UPDATE: the shoes changed because now they work for both A Musical and Bottom’s Gonna Be On Top, I’m assuming this was done to lighten the load of shoes needed for tour

Still weird seeing the set being brought on by the actors

I Love the Way was adorable as usual, I love Autumns singing voice, she reminds me more of Kate than anyone else

Autumn doesn’t say ‘IT’S A LETTER’ which upsets me deeply

SHAKESPEARE VALET IS NO LONGER ITS OWN CHARACTER. ITS JUST A LEATHER BOY WITH A HAT.

Will Power was the same, except the stage, again, is dragged out by the leather boys

I am loving the new leather boys though (no one can replace the broadway leather boys, but for a tour cast I love them)

New Shakespeare Jackets! This one is a sparkly silver, similar to the last one, and the act 2 jacket is all gold and very shiny. Its basically the Sciottospeare jacket revamped

Instead of the ‘thanks for helping with my wood’ line, Rob screamed at the leather boys ‘WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!!!’ and they were so confused

Nick screamed off to Bea ‘IM GONNA BE A FATHER’ before he was alone on stage and did the usual ‘I’m gonna be a father….!’

Portia is wearing a coat similar to the blue one in I Love the Way in pastel green for the party scene

Before she falls over, she tried to sit on the bench, but someone was sitting there, so she stumbled around to the back and fell forward on to her stomach behind the couch instead of backwards

“CHESS. No wait that cant possibly work” was changed to “HAIR. That would just be weird”

Bottoms Gonna Be On Top had a few changes

In response to “Master Bottom you’re such a wonderful writer”, instead of saying “Why thank you”, Rob said ‘I can hear ‘em now!’

Instead of Lord Clapham saying “You’re the greatest” and Shylock saying “You da man!” Shylock says “You’re the greatest” and EVERYONE- Nigel, Bea, the Ensemble, and Shylock say “You da man!”

Hard to Be The Bard was pretty much the same, just different tracks did different things (I know a majority of the tracking at this point so I can say for sure things were changed)

In We See the Light, the male puritan carry in the benches while they all walk in singing ‘no no that won’t do’

Bro Jerry has 2 less puritans following him (he has 2 instead of 4)

UPDATE: Josh dropped the hat. He almost dove for it, but the throw was nowhere near him

Nigel and Portia didn’t dance during we see the light! I think it works because its supposed to be their dream, so when they danced it kind of ruined it. Now they stand in the middle of everything holding each other and its adorable

UPDATE: Dancing is back!

After Nigel goes ‘Let it speak for my soul’ he usually sits down at his desk and starts writing while the troupe comes in and then they start rehearsing. That was not the case.

After he said it the first time, the music changed and he said ‘Let it speak for my soul’ again, AND THEN “Sure as the day, follows the night, sure as the sky turns to blue, this much I know, this much is true, above all else in whatever you do, to thine own self be true” in a new tune

Then, Nigel wants to start with “The Princes Soliloquy”

Normally when the ensemble starts saying ‘this much I know, this much is true, above all else in whatever you do, to thine own self be true’ they do a soft shoe tap number with the music while Nigel watches. NOW- the music stops and they start singing a cappella, and Nigel joins in. Personally I am not a fan of this change

Update: I miss the tapping, but the a cappella this time was REALLY GOOD

To Thine Own Self is not really as much of a song anymore. It’s become more like arguing to music with the chorus being sung. If you saw previews its similar to that. I have most of the dialogue typed out if anyone wants it. Here is a snippet where there was a MAJOR change.

Troupe+ Nigel: “Sure as the day, follows the night, sure as the sky turns to blue, this much I know, this much is true, above all else in whatever you do, to thine own self be true” -

Nick: It’s beautiful but we don’t have time for this. I know, for a fact, that Omelette will be known as perhaps the single greatest play ever written 

UPDATE:  It drastically changed from Nick appreciating what Nigel wrote to him 

Nick: *screaming* ‘WHERE’S THE OMELETTE!?!?!?!?!?!?!??’ 

The ensemble also would put on jackets before they started on broadway, however there are no longer jackets

Shylock line change: He walks in and says “Nickkk you’re not selling any tickets…. BECAUSE YOU’VE SOLD OUT!”

New eggs and Omelettes! They seem MUCH lighter and I think the eggs are collapsable

Someone dropped their omelette tonight but was able to catch it

UPDATE: Omelette was a mess today. First, a piece of bacon nearly ended up in the pit. Then one poor guy had such bad luck with his egg. First his yolk undid inside his costume and went out the bottom, leaving him with 2 feet of fabric around his feet. He tried his hardest to tap but he nearly fell over because he was getting stuck in the fabric. Then, the egg shells on their head are magnetic, and I think their are multiple magnets (there is one on the side for like a piece of ham or a mushroom once they turn into an omelette) and his egg shell got stuck on the wrong magnet which ended up covering his eyes. At that point, the poor guy gave up and tapped off into the wings.

Court scene: ‘Exit Shakespeare!’ is followed by ‘Shakespeare’s leaving’ at which point everyone in the stands runs after him

Stage door: It was INSIDE which was amazing. Night 1 I met Rob, Josh, Maggie, and Adam. There were maybe 20 people in a nice calm line that night.

Adam greeted me with ‘Hi Sweetie how are you!? Thank you so much for coming!’

Rob greeted me with a hug and saying how it was so sweet that I came

Maggie is SO SWEET. I told her how I’ve seen it *just a few* times on broadway and she was like oh my god thats amazing, thank you for coming!

The next say stage door was MAD. There were probably 60-80 people there just mobbing the stage door. Adam, Rob and Josh came out again, and this time Daniel Beeman (my second favorite in the ensemble AND Shakespeare u/s), Kyle Anderson (my favorite in the ensemble and Nigel u/s, he took over Brian Ogilvie’s track), and Scott Cote (Brother Jeremiah) came out.

Daniel, Kyle, and Scott clearly were not planning to stage door and were shocked when they opened it to the mob that was there. Daniel was super sweet and signed autographs and took pictures anyway. As did Scott, who also appreciated that I thought he was the funniest Brother Jeremiah after I’ve seen the show so many times. However, Kyle really did not want to stage door. As soon as he walked out, he stood against the door and was like ‘OH MY GOD.’ He truly is Nigel, and he will make an AMAZING Nigel and I hope he replaces Josh once Josh’s contract is up. He signed a few autographs before he ran out. I sadly didn’t get to talk to him, and even though he was standing behind me I figured I should just leave him be.

I talked to Adam for a bit and asked if he got new jackets, which he confirmed and was very impressed that I noticed.

I waited for the mob to dissipate a bit before I talked to Rob, and once it did I asked him about the line changes, mainly ‘WHERE IS THE OMELETTE’. Rob said they asked him to try that in the show that morning (I saw a matinee, so maybe at 4 or 5 hours earlier). I told  him how with that line I can finally see Nick as a bad person, like you are supposed to. He appreciated that because that is what you are supposed to be thinking there.

I really love this cast, at leas those who I have been fortunate enough to meet. They are all such sweet people.

All in all, I enjoyed the tour. It is definitely not broadway, but it is as close as it could get. A lot of the changes help to clear up confusion that may have been there, and the rest make the show better as a whole. There are some things I miss from broadway, but this isn’t broadway, its the tour, so it is a good time for a change! If the tour is going anywhere near you I would definitely recommend going!

#Something Rotten #Something Rotten Tour #Rob McClure #Josh Grisetti #Adam Pascal #Shakespeare #Nick Bottom #Nigel Bottom

[hamilficsfordays]

New Beginning—Chapter Three: Too Much

Disclaimer: I don’t know Lin, nor do I know any of his friends or family.

Also posted on Ao3

Summary:  Alexa is starting to become dependent on Lin, all the while mysteriously isolating herself from Vanessa. When she’s first exposed to time without either of them, a harsh reality is presented.

Rating: M. NON-CON TRIGGER WARNING

Author’s Note:  If you’d like to avoid that scene, I’ve taken the liberty of putting the line directly before and after the scene in bold lettering. If you don’t want to read the scene, don’t read between the bold lines and you’ll be fine. There are references after the fact, just so you’re aware.

Words: 6533

Askbox / Masterlist / Chapter Two / Chapter Four

With the beginning of August, and Hamilton’s Broadway debut closing in, Lin wasted no time slaving away, spending time to perfect the show down to the very last detail.

When he wasn’t caught up in Hamilton, his efforts shifted to being a better father and whatever that may have entailed. This week, it was tireless research on immunodeficiency. After nearly a month of having Alexa as a part of their family, he seemed to know virtually nothing about her disease. Since Vanessa was usually at work for more than fifty hours a week (not including the time she spent working at home), he was the only guardian around her most of the time. If something went wrong, being as clueless as he was would not be helpful.

It was Saturday evening when he was particularly caught up in research, his understudy Javier Muñoz set to perform that night in his place. Sebastian was already asleep, Vanessa was at work in her office.

Alexa joined him silently in the living room, a sweatshirt and leggings on, wrapped in a blanket. Her phone was in one hand, a pair of headphones attached and keeping her attention, a small blue device with a large syringe on top in the other. There was a tube attached to the device that vanished underneath her sweatshirt. She sat on the far end of the couch, Lin across the room on the loveseat.

“What are you watching?” he asked, loud enough for her to hear through the headphones. She pulled one aside.

“Oh, um, I’m just going through my cue on Netflix. I found this show called The West Wing. It looks pretty good but I’m only about two episodes in—what?” Alexa paused when she saw Lin’s face change into an excited smile.

“You do know that’s my favorite show of all time, right?” he told her, setting his laptop aside in search of the remote for their smart TV. “What part are you at? We should watch it together.”

“Oh no, it’s fine.” she insisted. “Don’t let me stop you from… whatever you were doing.”

“I can multitask, I was just researching your immunodeficiency.”

“Why would you do that?” she demanded, glancing down at the machine attached to her, confused if not shocked by the gesture.

“Because I care.” he reminded her.

“You mean unlike every other foster parent I’ve ever had?”

“Exactly.” he smiled. “You can make fun of me all you want for being proud of that, but I am.”

Alexa couldn’t help but smile. “Just turn on the show so I don’t have to hear you brag about it.”

-

They had managed to make it through five more episodes of the show before Alexa’s treatment had finished, though a few unwanted side-effects had already kicked in.

“One more?” Lin asked as Netflix cued up the next episode to run in twenty seconds.

There was no response. He glanced over at his daughter to see that her eyes were still open though she chose not to respond. She was curled up in the blanket, shivering every so often.

“Lex?” he asked again, moving closer to her. “Are you okay?”

She groaned, squeezing her eyes shut as she shook her head in response.

“What’s wrong?”

“I fucked something up.” she finally said, pulling the device out from under the blanket. The syringe was empty and the device off, signaling that her treatment was complete. “I’m supposed to pause the treatment for like five minute intervals, but I forgot. I was distracted by the show.”

“That’s okay,” he attempted to reassure her. “Do you know that you’re shivering right now?”

“I’m so cold.” she managed back, shivering again. “Oh my god, am I gonna die?”

Lin put a hand against her forehead, feeling how warm she was in contrast.

“You’re not going to die, but I think you may have a little bit of a fever.” he warned. “We should probably pull that tube out—”

“Bandages.” she reminded him. “They’re in the bathroom.”

“I’ll just go grab a few—” As he stood up, Alexa reached out for his hand, pulling him back.

“Please don’t.” she begged, squeezing his hand.

Though Lin had no firsthand experience with anxiety disorder, he could tell his daughter was on the verge of a panic attack. Her occasional shivering had turned into constant shaking as she tried to hold herself together.

“I’m right here.” he assured her, squeezing her hand back. “You’re okay.”

Lin sat on the floor beside the couch, not letting go of her hand. Considering the strength of her grip, letting go didn’t seem to be an option even if he had wanted to do so.

“Hey Vanessa,” his voice projected down the hall to his wife’s office, where she pulled herself away from the desk and out to the living room.

“What’s going on?” She asked, catching sight of her daughter shaking on the couch. “Is she okay?”

“Everything is fine.” He hoped the calm presence that he was exhibiting would be enough to signal Vanessa to do the same. Thankfully, she caught on.

“Could you grab some bandages and bring them over here? In fact, just grab the box.”

“Yeah, sure.” She scurried off to the bathroom, grabbing the box from the cabinet underneath the sink and rushing it back to the living room.

There was a cry from the hallway catching everyone’s attention.

“Shit,” Lin whispered, taking the box from Vanessa. “He must’ve heard me call you.”

“I’ll take care of him.” she offered. “Stay here.”

While V left to take care of Sebastian, Lin stayed behind to be with his daughter. He slowly pulled the blanket aside, cautiously avoiding sudden movements, and pushed up the hem of her sweatshirt to reveal three small needles embedded underneath her outer layer of skin just above her hip bone. He pulled each of them out and replaced them with a bandage.

“Really weak…” Alexa managed through uneven breaths.

“Mija, you have to breathe evenly.” He reminded her, taking one of her hands and placing it against his chest. “Follow me, okay?”

The teen nodded slowly, eagerly trying to match her breathing rate with his. She did, feeling her skyrocketed heart rate drop ever so slightly.

“Do you think you can walk?”

“I-I don’t know.” she admitted.

Slowly but surely he helped her off the couch, supporting most of her weight as they relocated to her bedroom. When she was safely in bed Lin opted to stay with her, sitting beside the bed on the floor. She still insisted on holding his hand, though her constant shaking and uneven breathing had been reduced to occasional shivering and steady breathing.

He had every intention of staying beside her until she fell asleep, but when he was woken up by Vanessa a few hours later only to discover that he’d fallen asleep leaning against the side of Alexa’s bed, he debated if having done so was a step too far.

“At least she knows you’re there for her.” Vanessa said once they’d stepped out into the hallway, closing her bedroom door.

“I just don’t want her to become too dependent.”

They headed down the hall to their own bedroom, sliding into bed beside one another.

“What’s gonna happen when she starts school in September?” he prompted. “We can’t be there for her all the time. She’ll occasionally need to whether a storm on her own. I’m not sure she knows how to do that.”

“We could always ask you mother for advice.” Vanessa pointed out. “Before we discuss school though, we should probably settle on a school for her to attend.”

-

As July pressed on, Lin and Vanessa came face to face with a very serious decision and a very strict deadline to make it.

They had searched the city, desperately seeking the best possible school to send Alexa to. They knew it had to be private—though tuition would be steep, they would only have to pay it for two years—and that it had to have a good arts program. It was the only way her heavy interest in playwriting would be encouraged academically.

“Okay so, we’re down to two options.”

It was a week before Hamilton opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. The couple sat in Lin’s office, laptops out and coffee in hand to make a final decision. Both Sebastian and Alexa were asleep, giving them the space to put their heads together.

“Right. First is Brearley.” Vanessa announced, reopening the tab to the school’s website.

“All-girls, which you know I’m a fan of.” Lin offered. “The less shitty teenage boys around to hurt her, the better.”

“Yes, but it is all the way out on the Upper East Side which makes commute a huge hassle coming all the way from the Heights. I have enough trouble getting to court downtown. Especially during rush hour.”

Lin shrugged. Distance was another negative peg for Brearley. Travelling from so far uptown to the Upper East Side would mean a lot of buses and a lot of transfers that would make the morning commute inconvenient.

“Still,” she added. “It’s a top notch school. I think Tina Fey’s daughters go there. Not to mention, their college prep is really great too.”

“Right.” Lin nodded slowly. “But their arts program is kind of bleak. It mostly focuses on music. Which is great, but it’s not Alexa’s area of interest.”

“What are we up against?” Vanessa asked

“Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School.” Lin started, changing the tab on his own computer.

“Upper West Side, so commute is really simple.” he paused, wincing at the next thought. “But they’re co-ed. Which means shitty teenage boys.“

“They’re also a great school, and with a similar college prep system.” Vanessa added, taking a swig of her coffee.

“Their arts system also has a more profound Drama program. This has to be it, right?” Lin questioned.

“At $47,000, it’s two-thousand more expensive a year than Brearley.”

He sighed. “I mean at this price, what’s two-thousand more dollars?”

“Lin,” she grabbed his free hand, squeezing it. “We may have to cut corners to make this work.”

“Well if Hamilton does as well on Broadway as In The Heights did, we might be able to scrape by.”

“Sweetie,” she tried.

“We’ll be fine.” he insisted. “Hamilton will do fine. It did fine at the Public—.”

“You know I want nothing but success for you. But there’s always a rare chance that these things don’t work out like you thought they would.”

“But if they do—”

“Then we pay tuition for this year, set aside tuition for next year, and keep going. That’s great.”

He sighed again, groaning as he rubbed his eyes. “What do we do now?”

“We pay for this year and we budget until we see how Hamilton turns out. I’ll pull a few extra cases at the firm. We can make this work.”

As fortune would have it, their off-Broadway tickets sold out almost immediately. In time, Hamilton quickly became an overnight sensation. Ticket prices soared, seats for their Broadway shows sold out months in advance and, much like at the Public Theatre, notable names came out in droves to see the show.

With this popularity, Lin-Manuel Miranda very quickly became a household name. His once quiet days at home writing were now spent doing interviews, photo shoots, and and press for Hamilton’s upcoming opening on Broadway. Time typically spent at home with his kids now had to be split with his busy schedule.

Coming home from a Sunday afternoon matinee, Lin stepped into his living room only to find him a significant collection of shopping bags scattered about the room.

“What the…”

Alexa stumbled into the living room then, picking up a few bags before she noticed Lin in the doorway.

“Oh, you’re back.”

“What’s going on?”

“Your mom took me shopping.” she explained. “She’s in my room trying to figure out how we’re going to fit all of this in my closet. The woman has amazing taste… but it’s like the shopping was never ending. I left owning no bathing suits and came back owning five.”

“Wait, why did you go shopping with my mom?” Lin picked up a few bags, glancing in them before setting them down. “She goes way overboard when it comes to clothes shopping.”

“You weren’t here.” she reminded him. “Neither was Vanessa.”

He sighed. He couldn’t exactly argue that.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Alexa opened her mouth to speak, hesitating for a moment as she placed the bags in her hand back down on the floor.

“I’m not…” she sighed, groaning in frustration as she struggled to get the right words out. “I’m not great at expressing feelings.”

Lin was silent, waiting for her to continue.

“I get that… I understand that you’ve created Hamilton and it’s this big, successful thing that a lot of people like, but I didn’t ask to have a famous parent and still I’m getting all of the negative repercussions of what that entails. I don’t see you anymore. You’re not here. You’re off doing interviews or photoshoots and I get it, that’s what you have to do, but you can’t just leave your family behind at the same time.”

“Lex I’m so sorry,” he tried. “This all kind of happened at once and I’m still trying to work on my time management skills—”

“Just be a father.” she interrupted him. “That’s all I want.” She picked the bags back up, turning to head back to her room. “Oh, and something else,”

He glanced at her curiously.

“I don’t know how long this public interest is going to last,”

“It should die down soon.” he suggested. “Usually people are pretty hyped in the beginning, but once you’ve been running for a while it dies down pretty quickly. Things will go back to normal soon.”

“Whatever it is or however long it lasts, just leave me out of it. I can’t stand the idea of being related to someone famous. People always befriend you because they want something. Money… attention… tickets to Hamilton. I’m not about to be taken advantage of just because you’re a good writer.”

He nodded slowly. “That’s fair. I’ll leave you out of it.”

“Okay,” she sighed, dropping the bags again to pull her hair back into a high bun with the hair tie on her wrist. “That sucked.”

“I’m proud of you.” he smiled. “You expressed how you were feeling in an appropriate matter.”

She rolled her eyes. “Rare, I know. Don’t expect that to happen all of the time.” She picked up the bags once more. “Since you’re actually home for more than five minutes, can you help out?”

He picked up bags as instructed, following her into her room.

-

Fall was approaching, the beginning of the school year soon to arrive as well. Once the decision had been made (and down payment sent), of where she would attend school that year, Alexa changed her facebook information to show the school she would be attending that fall, Columbia Prep.

It drew a lot of attention, mostly from other students at that school. She was a recognizable face, the girl who hangs out with the cast of Hamilton, the hottest show in New York. The girl who was the daughter of the creator. A big deal.

It was August sixth, the date circled on the calendar as opening night for Hamilton on Broadway.

That morning, as she was being briefed on her dreaded babysitting duties for the evening by Vanessa, an unexpected facebook message caught her attention.

[Hey, Are you Alexa? You’re going to Columbia Prep in the fall, right?]

Vanessa was delivering instructions to her daughter while feeding Sebastian at his high chair in the kitchen, Alexa alone with her macbook in the living room. Desperate to discuss anything else, she started typing back.

[I am… who are you?]

The stranger was quick to respond.

[Oh, I’m sorry. That was rude of me. I’m Eric Westley. I go to CP. I’m the varsity lacrosse captain. I don’t suppose you’re into sports?]

With that short description, Eric sounded exactly like the type of boy Lin had lectured her to avoid. Athletes. She remembered him saying. Especially with typical rich white boy names like Eric or Eric or Nathan… they only want to take advantage of you. Avoid them at all costs.

She was usually one to heed Lin’s warnings, but being exiled from the night’s events, she was feeling rather rebellious and chose to respond.

[Not unless you count University of Alabama college football… and only by force tbh. I’m sorry, but how do you know me?]

[Then I guess I should say Roll Tide. Aren’t you Lin-Manuel Miranda’s new daughter? The guy who wrote Hamilton?]

Reading that last line, her interest vanished.

[Whatever you’re trying to get out of me, I’m not interested. Thanks for wasting my time.]

Eric could tell he’d lost her faster than a dying patient’s pulse. He was quick to defend his actions.

[Woah hold on… I didn’t mean it like that. Listen, I get what that’s like. My dad’s an actor… it always feels like people are trying to get shit from me. I just figured you could relate.]

Alexa hesitated. The idea of knowing someone who had similar experiences was comforting at the very least.

[I guess it can’t hurt to meet new people if we have something in common.]

[Exactly. Hey speaking of meeting new people, do you have any plans tonight?]

“Lex, are you even listening to me?”

The teen glanced up from her computer, Vanessa standing over her, half dressed, a jar of baby food in one hand, her cell phone in the other.

“Sure,” she muttered back.

“What did I just say?”

Alexa rolled her eyes. “Could you put on a shirt while you’re talking to me, Vanessa? This isn’t a Victoria’s Secret fashion show.”

Vanessa scoffed, headed back to her bedroom to put a dress shirt on.

“Not like they’d ever invite you anyway.” the teen mumbled just loud enough for Vanessa to hear. Once she was gone, Alexa turned her attention back to the screen in front of her.

[No plans. Why?]

[A bunch of upperclassmen are having a party tonight. It’s just people from CP so you’ll meet plenty of people who go there.]

[Sounds like fun.]

[It’s kind of low-key though, so don’t tell anyone. The address is 2 E 61st St.]

A quick google search revealed a luxury hotel on the Upper East Side along Fifth Avenue.

[Can I take a wild guess and say you have your own suite there?]

[Didn’t I say it was lowkey? ;) Be there at midnight. I’ll meet you in the lobby.]

“Lex, I’m serious!” Vanessa was back, fully dressed for work this time.

“Could you not call me Lex?” she finally asked, breaking Vanessa’s stride.

“What do you mean?” she asked, putting on a pair of earrings. “Lin calls you that all the time.”

“I know. I’m asking you not to.”

There was a pause. Vanessa glanced at her daughter who seemed serious about the request.

“I don’t know what I’m still doing here.” she finally said, grabbing her briefcase and choking back tears. “I’m going to be late for work. I should go.”

Lex watched carefully as Vanessa made her way out without another word. Once the front door was closed, she briefly turned back to her laptop.

[I’ll be there.]

-

Lin had left for the night around four, Vanessa returning briefly around six to change and head to the theatre.

This gave Alexa plenty of time to prepare for the evening, all while putting Sebastian to sleep at a prompt seven-thirty.

She was out the door at eleven, wearing one of the many dresses her grandmother had bought for her on their recent shopping trip along with a pair of heels and a small bag to carry the essentials (phone, house keys, wallet, a tube of lip gloss). Before she left, she felt obligated to peek in on Sebastian. He was fast asleep as expected, though that didn’t keep the guilt she felt of leaving him alone at bay. He was only eight months old, after all.

“I’ll be back soon.” she whispered. “Just don’t freak out until then.”

On her way out the door, her phone buzzed alerting her of a text that had come through. As she headed to the elevator down the hall, she opened the message.

[Just finished an amazing show. Can’t wait for you to see the others. Thank you for coming through tonight. Grateful for you.

Love you

Lin]

She held her breath as the elevator made its way down to the first floor. The unholy “L word” had finally made it’s way into her life and it managed to hit her like a car hitting a brick wall.

She’d been with the Miranda’s for five weeks, and while her time had been enjoyable no doubt, using that word had never occurred to her.

Until now at least.

The night she was lying to them and sneaking out, leaving their infant at home alone.

“Did you have to love me right this second? She managed, closing the messenger app without drafting a response.

-

She took a cab to sixty-first street, carefully adjusting her hair before she entered the hotel.

Eric Westley was waiting in the lobby for her, dressed for a cocktail party. Eric was tall, at 6’2” compared to her 5’7”. He was also rather fit, although the lacrosse probably had something to do with that. He was blonde, his hair flipped back and styled meticulously. He was already smiling as she approached.

“Hey.” He greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, causing her to blush. “Are you ready?”

She nodded, glancing around at the other patrons in the lobby—employees and older guests.

“Are you sure we’re in the right place?”

Eric took her hand, leading her toward the suite’s private elevator on the far end of the lobby. “You’ll see.”

It was a short elevator ride to the top floor of the building. The largest suite was at the top. As they headed up, Alexa could hear the music blaring. The doors opened and they entered the space, a living room full of dozens of other teens. Everyone had a red cup in their hand, a table loaded with small bar in the kitchen being frequently populated. She spotted a few people snorting coke off of the tables using hundred dollar bills. While most were in groups of friends, there were couples scattered around, some likely hidden away in one of the bedrooms.

Suddenly, she felt very out of place. This was nothing like she’d experienced before.

“Can I get you anything?” Eric interrupted her thoughts, a smirk on his face. “A drink? Maybe something a little more exciting?” he gestured to the group of students snorting coke off of the dining room table. “If that’s your thing.”

“Just a drink.” she confirmed.

“What do you feel like swallowing?” he asked, a cocky grin on his face.

Her eyes widened in shock, though Eric seemed completely serious. Finally, she seceded. “Surprise me.”

“Oh, I will. Don’t go anywhere.”

Leaving her in the living room among the others, Eric headed over to to the bar, signaling a friend as he did so.

“Are you sure this is gonna work?” his friend, Braxton, asked, handing him a pill bottle.

“The guy said it would work. He said one, maybe two to really have an effect.”

“Then go with two. I don’t want to risk anything.“

Eric opened the bottle, shaking out two pills and placing them both into a red solo cup full of whiskey. He grabbed a cup of his own, untouched before turning back to Braxton.

“Just make sure the guys are ready. When she’s out, I’m gonna bring her into the bedroom at the end of the hall. I’ll text you when it’s okay to come in. Then it’s time to put on a show for daddy.”

“Alright man, get out there.” Braxton gave his teammate a supportive pat on the shoulder as he headed back toward Alexa, drinks in hand.

“There you go.” he smiled, handing the correct one to her.

“Thanks.” she immediately took a sip, sucking down the hard liquor without hesitation.

“Hey did I ever mention that my dad has won four academy awards?”

Oh god… Alexa was already sighing internally. If she’d known Eric would brag about his family, she would’ve bailed before he got back. She took a long swig of her drink and waited for him to continue.

“… Then when I was six, my parents put me in a lacrosse league. I was the best one there. They kept moving me up to the next group early because my skill was so good.”

Every time he told an obvious lie, Alexa forced herself to take a sip. She’d started when he bragged about his IQ being over 200.

“Then in fourth grade…”

Alexa could feel her vision blurring. She would stumble once or twice, grabbing onto him for support. He didn’t seem to mind.

This whiskey is a lot stronger than I thought… she realized, feeling her senses fade. She struggled to stay up now, depending entirely on him to stay upright.

“Are you okay?” he asked, helping her stay up. “I think you’re a little drunk, Alexa.”

“S-strong drink.” she managed, her words heavily slurred.

“Let’s go somewhere to cool off.” he suggested, quickly helping to relocate her.

They stepped into the bedroom at the far end of the hall, devoid of other patrons. Alexa was confused by her surroundings, unable to process the new environment before Eric leaned in to kiss her. He slid his tongue between her lips, exploring the inside of her mouth.

“No—” she managed to push him away. “No I’m not okay with this.”

“Too bad there’s nothing you can do about it.” He smirked.

As if on command, the room started to spin. Alexa’s vision blurred to shapes and colors as she collapsed to the floor, barely coherent.

“That’s more like it.” He pulled her up onto the bed, unzipping the back of her dress and fumbling with her bra before he managed to pull it off. Her breasts were revealed, bare to the cold air in the room.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a cell phone, opening the camera, and snapping photos of her.

“Aw shit… Your dad’s gonna love this.”

Alexa could hear him speaking, but wasn’t able to form a response. She felt her dress being completely pulled off, her underwear nearly torn apart. There was something inside of her.

She wanted to scream, to kick, to do anything to stop it. Still, she lied there. She felt weak, motionless. Like nothing could be done.

Eric made sure to get a photo with her face in frame, her motionless body and how he slid himself inside of her.

She managed a groan in protest, a tear sliding down her cheek.

“Yeah, that’s good, isn’t it?” Using one hand, he switched the format on the camera

“What do you say we take a little video?” he asked, hitting record. Carefully, he zoomed in on her face.

“I wonder what he’d think if he saw you know? His little bastard orphan making some awfully bad choices.”

Another protesting groan. Eric readjusted the camera, filming himself pulse in and out of her. He leaned over, using one hand to wrap around her neck, then refocused on penetration. He was quick, hungry for release. He finished inside of her with a sigh, squeezing her neck harder before pulling away from her.

Alexa felt a wave of relief. It was over. She wanted nothing more that to be left there to her own merit.

“Now,” Eric stopped recording. “We’re going to bring a few friends in.”

The fear quickly returned as three figures entered the room. They were all excited at the sight of her.

“Is she totally out?” one asked

“She’s awake enough to hear and see us… Not enough to fight back.” Eric confirmed as he began recording once again.

They each took turns then, going one by one. The penetration was short, a product of their age and lack of control. They would finish over her, an insult to injury, leaving their remains to stick to her skin.

Alexa could feel herself rolled over, pushed to lie on her stomach.

“Holy shit look at all those scars.” one of them said.

“We’re probably not the first ones to do this.” someone else quipped.

“Are you getting this?” She heard someone ask.

“Yeah. I’m gonna send it to Lin-Manuel Miranda on twitter.”

There was a chorus of laughter as a warm liquid made contact with her back. One stream, then two then three. She could feel the liquid seeping into the duvet she was stuck on. She sobbed, causing another chorus of laughter.

She was wasted. Numb.

The group managed to push her back onto the wooden floor for good measure, before leaving and shutting the door.

As soon as they returned to the living room, they wasted no time relocating the data to social media.

[@EwestCPchamp: @Lin_Manuel looks like someone needs to head back to the orphanage.]

[@EwestCPchamp: @Lin_Manuel are you proud of her now, Daddy?]

[@EwestCPchamp: @Lin_Manuel knows how to raise a girl. Didn’t even put up a fight. Maybe because #Idruggedher]

[@EwestCPchamp: @Lin_Manuel The best part? I may not even go to jail for this. #richwhiteboypriv]

[@EwestCPchamp: @Lin_Manuel #bastard #orphan #grewuptobeafucktoy]

[@EwestCPchamp: @Lin_Manuel some people just deserve to be pissed on

[@EwestCPchamp: @Lin_Manuel Come find us, daddy. 2 E 61st St. Renaissance Suite.]

Each tweet had an incriminating attached photo or video. They had no shame, showed no regret. They were proud of themselves. They were hoping to solicit a response loud enough to get attention.

-

Downtown, the afterparty was in full swing. Lin was drunk, celebrating with his cast mates and family over Hamilton’s overwhelming success. Music was blaring from the stage as The Roots performed, among a ton of other celebrities.

Alongside his wife, Lin’s father, Luis, was actively retweeting things about Hamilton in support of his son. It was almost a ritual of his, to do anything he could to support his kids. Because of Hamilton’s literal overnight success, he’d been busy keeping up. There were thousands of tweets celebrating the success of opening night. While scrolling through tweets, he came across a group of them from one individual. All sent to Lin, all with a photo or video attached. Eager to see fanart or something more exciting, he negated reading the tweets and opened the first video.

An image appeared of his granddaughter, nude, on a bed in what appeared to be some kind of hotel room, barely conscious. She was being raped, laughed at, choked as she lay there, a victim of her situation.

Luis was shocked, disturbed, enraged by this. He glanced at the other tweets by the same account, all sent to his son, all including incredibly graphic photos or videos of Alexa being sexually assaulted. He closed twitter immediately, prompting his wife to find Vanessa as he went in search of his son.

Lin was on stage, freestyling for the crowd as The Roots played a beat to back him up. As he finished there was an eruption of applause, his father there to greet him as soon as he got off-stage.

“LIN! Have you seen what’s happening?”

Still plenty inebriated, Lin all smiles as he gestured to the room. “Yeah, Hamilton’s doing great!”

“No!” His father pulled him closer, an attempt to keep a secret even with the blaring music. “There’s someone on twitter sending you videos of him sexually assaulting Alexa!”

Lin’s face fell, almost in disbelief. “Wait, what?”

“It’s all over twitter!”

Frantic, Lin pulled out his own phone an opened twitter, desperate to find the evidence himself. There is was, dozens of tweets from teenage boys sent directly to him, filming as they (or others) violated his unconscious daughter.

His was furious, an emotion he rarely, if ever, felt. The rage matched his concern and fear.

“I’m going over to that address.” His father announced. “Come with me. We need to find her.”

“Wait! I have to find Vanessa first.”

There was a tap on his shoulder then, Vanessa behind him.

“Oh my god, V. We have to gowehavetofindher—” Lin was frantic, rushing through his words.

“Your mom and I are going home to find Sebastian.” she announced, cutting him off. “I never thought I’d say this, but I really hope she left him home alone.”

Lin pulled her face closer, kissing her forehead. “Go. I’ll get in touch with you as soon as we find her.”

It was a twenty minute drive from midtown to the Upper East Side. Lin and his father had begged the cab driver to drive faster, to run red lights, to do anything to get there as quickly as possible. Lin tried to mask the panic in his voice, but given the circumstances, it wasn’t easy.

When they arrived, the street outside was nearly silent. From the exterior, no one would know what was going on inside.

They rushed in, frantic, determined. There was one employee, a young man, behind the check-in desk when they walked in.

“Can I help you?” he asked as they approached him.

“We need to get to the Renaissance Suite.” Luis glanced at the tweet once more for confirmation.

“I’m sorry sir, that suite is currently occupied.”

Lin rolled his eyes. “Yeah, we know that. We need to get in there.”

“Unless you’re a guest of the person currently residing there I’m afraid I can’t let you—”

“Can we speak to your manager?” Lin interrupted him. “Now?”

The employee nodded slowly, heading to the back. Lin rolled the sleeves of his dress shirt up, realizing just then that he’d left his jacket in the cab. It was the furthest concern from his mind as he loosened his tie slightly, still fuming.

“Hello, my name is Geoffrey. I’m the manager of guest relations. Is there a problem here?”

“Hi Geoffrey,” Lin offered his hand to the older gentleman. “My name is Lin.”

“How can I assist you this evening, Lin?”

“Papá, ¿puedo ver tu celular?”

Luis handed his phone over as requested, prompting Lin to pull up one of the many videos before turning the phone to face Geoffrey.

“Do you know what this is, Geoff—may I call you Geoff? This is a video of my sixteen year old daughter being raped in your hotel. Now unless you want me and my wife—who is an attorney, by the way—to sue you out of business, you’ll take me to the Renaissance Suite immediately.”

Geoff nearly sprinted to the private elevator, Lin and Luis close behind. They made the slow climb to the top, a cesspool of bad decisions awaiting them. At first sight, both Lin and Luis came across mounds of illegal drugs alongside copious amounts of prescription pills and alcohol that were being ingested simultaneously Among them, the occasional used condom.

“She wouldn’t do this.” Lin whispered to himself.

“Geoff,” he said louder this time. “Call 911. Ask for the police.” he paused, another wave of fear washing over him as he remembered the state his daughter was left in. “And EMS.”

The manager pulled out his cell phone, wasting no time.

Lin and Luis went on a search then, carefully looking out for his daughter.

At the far end of the room, the group of boys responsible managed a sarcastic applause when they saw him approaching.

“You,” Lin approached Eric directly, recognizing his face from the photo on this twitter profile. He got uncomfortably close, right into the younger boy’s face.

“Where’s my daughter?”

“Isn’t it your job to know that, daddy?” he mocked, his friends chuckling behind him in response.

“Tell me where she is.” Lin could feel the rage coursing through every inch of his body. It took everything he had not to snap the sixteen year old in half like a twig.

“Or what?” Eric challenged. “You’re gonna write my death and put it in a fucking musical? Oh boy… I’m so scared.”

“Listen kid,” he started, immediately calling out their age difference. “I’m being nice and not kicking the shit out of you right now. If you don’t tell me where she is, I’m not gonna be as nice.”

“Is that supposed to be a threat?” he shot back. “You know I’m a 18 year old heir to a billion dollar company and you’re, what, a 40-something Mexican that practices a dead media? Who do you think the police are gonna go after?”

“Lin!” Luis attempted to pull his son aside, away from what was brewing. “We need to look for Alexa.”

“He’s right. You need to keep an eye out for your damaged goods.”

Lin was instinctive then, winding his arm back to punch the teen directly in the eye. He winced in pain, but was satisfied in watching his target go down.

“By the way,” he added, starting to follow his dad. “I’m Puerto Rican. Not Mexican.”

“You’re gonna pay for that!” he heard, walking away from the scene.

“Try me.” he responded, not even glancing over his shoulder.

There was a wailing of sirens approaching as Lin and Luis attempted every door in the room. All of them lead somewhere else, none of them to Alexa. Finally they approached the last door at the far end of the hall, locked. Frantically, Lin used his shoulder to slam against the door until it forced open. There, on the floor of the bedroom, was his daughter. Completely nude, her clothing scattered aside, bruises around her neck. She lay motionless, having lost consciousness.

“Oh my god…” Lin was choking back tears at the sight. He fell to her side, trying to shake her awake.

“Alexa, are you okay? Please say something, please. Anything.”

Luis left to grab towels from the bathroom, using them to cover her.

“NYPD! Everyone freeze!”

Outside the room, the police had arrived at the scene, taking anyone they could catch into custody. EMS was right behind them, Luis leading them to the room where Alexa was. They carefully pulled her onto the stretcher. Briefly, she regained consciousness.

“Alexa! Are you okay?”

“Can you tell us what you took, sweetie?” A female paramedic asked, making sure her body was covered. “And how much?”

“I… I didn’t.” She tried. “They put something in my drink—” was all she could manage before losing consciousness again.

“St. Luke’s is diverting, so we’re gonna take her to Roosevelt.” a male paramedic announced. “We can only take one of you in the back with us, though.”

“I’ll go.” Lin immediately volunteered. “She’s my daughter.”

They passed Eric, being interrogated by police, on the way out.

“Don’t let the door hit you on your way out of the country when Trump wins!” he managed, getting a stern look from the police while Lin ignored his harsh words.

#hamilton fanfiction #hamilcast imagines #hamilton imagines #foster dad lin au