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leam1983 · 3 years

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Felix the Reaper - Thoughts? Review?

Can't really go into too much detail, it's rather late as it is and the ol' bed is beckoning, but I also want to couch this down somewhere while it's still fresh...

So, Death as a concept - as a character - obviously permeates the whole of human civilization. You've got Anubis and Osiris, Humbaba the Undying, thousands of years of mythology surrounding the concept of life leaving you and your flesh-bits rotting, generation after generation of people processing grief in visual and abstract forms - and now, we're sort of living in a context where Death isn't really all that scary anymore. We understand it, we can push it back in some cases - and when we can't, then we can sort of map out its occurrence. What started as just this inexplicable force swiping at hunter-gatherers and that warranted Danse Macabre paintings across Medieval France is now something we can put an almost-precise date and time on. There's a bunch of "death clocks" online that project a potential DOD based on your age, gender, health status, habits and BMI; sort of turning the concept of memento mori into a shockingly literate manifestation.

You will die, one day. We're so aware of that that a bit of science and Web design wizardry can shit out a half-serious guesstimation of when it'll happen. Pre-Colonial aspects of Death survive in Mexican culture in the forms of both calaveras and the Santa Muerte cult, and the inevitability of death now even counts as a game mechanic in the SoulsBorne genre. You've got Terry Pratchett's extremely Humanist rendition of Death and, well, Hollywood faff à la Meet Joe Black. The short of it is we're far from the robe-wearing zombie we used to plop everywhere as a reminder of our own supposedly sinful urges or on the fleeting nature of youth.

Another item that's of interest is the notion of life and youth being represented as the Maiden - and of Death being in love with her. Sometimes, the affection isn't returned and disgust is shown. That's most of Holbein's death-related works, in this case. In others, the Maiden leans in, lets the skeletal figure push a hand underneath her skirt and against one of her thighs. They share a kiss, press against one another in the way honest lovers might. He's a dried-out corpse with a bloated midsection and she might've stepped out of some sixteenth-century church in the Netherlands, but their liplock is intense and genuine. In one statue, the Maiden looks like she might've just surrendered to the Reaper's arms, but her hands are also touching his scythe....

Eroticism, a commentary on suicide or plain acceptance - there's several ways to look at that duality, and it's even managed to worm its way over to cultures that don't natively have similar associations with human remains. The Japanese, for instance, do have their own Gashadokuro concept, but the locals of Nagasaki needed their initially-exclusive exposure to Portuguese traders to shrink down their massive skeletal eidolons of doom and to design woodblock prints where a Danse Macabre effectively meets the dress codes and habits of the locals under sakoku, or the Emperor-mandated closing-off of Japan to the outside world.

Death as a dancer. Death, especially, as a force that's quite lively, despite its attributes. A force that falls head-over-heels for Life in its own anthropomorphized form.

This is what Danish devs Kong Orange opted to work on in Felix the Reaper. Their Death has a human name, has a thing for the stuffier ends of Business Casual, is maybe eighty pounds overweight - and won't ever, ever, let the music die. He's also in love, obviously - and in love with Betty, the equally portly and nimble personification of Life. The pair look a bit like a Fernando Botero couple waiting to happen, with ample waists and sagging breasts held aloft by spindle-thin legs - but if Ghostbusters taught us not to cross the streams, then you can assume that Life and Death starting a tango in the same workspace could have severe coincidences on the biosphere. Not that Felix cares, he'd want nothing more than for Betty to notice him. His supervisor is voiced off-camera by Sir Patrick Stewart, who's as delightful as always, and who sort of plays the part of the well-meaning supervisor who eventually realizes his new employee's quirks don't diminish his potential.

And what is Felix's job, exactly? Well, he's Death. He's not getting paid to distribute hugs and kisses, obviously. He gets sent to the mortal plane to, well, kill people, and more specifically, to kill people in precise and pre-ordained ways. His "televator" takes him to an instant frozen in time, and he has to alter the surrounding scene so that once time resumes its course, the requisite accident or happenstance occurs. You do that by picking up items, flicking switches, and placing targets in the path of whatever it is that's set to kill them. You also move the sun around the world using a magical sundial doohickey, as Death can only move in shadows. You're basically Death in the same sense as in the Final Destination movies, except you really, really, really want to twerk and sashay your voluminous heinie through the small changes needed to turn a nothing-burger into a drunk huntsman getting his head stuck in the stump of a decapitated deer, so the dejected and near-sighted hunter you've been following mistakes him for a target and shoots his spear through his brain-case.

And yes, Felix does twerk and he certainly sashays. Dude dresses like a stuffy librarian, sure, but seemingly loses all inhibitions once his headphones come up - which allows the player to share in his personal soundtrack. This particular Reaper seems to have a thing for very bass-driven and samply EDM, with occasional forays into Ambient and Jazz. His many, many, many idle animations all sync with whatever it is that's playing, and so does the variety of prances, somersaults, grands jetés and twirls he goes through while moving from place to place. Comparatively, you get the sense that Felix's coworkers are more the dour and solemn type - with a few unsubtle cameos from Skeletor and Manny Calavera in the opening cinematic - and Felix, well...

Let's just say it's a wonder he has those hips and that paunch. If he twirls around for every little thing he does, then you'd assume he only sits down to hoover an Olympic athlete's worth of food once a day. Or maybe I'm overthinking things because, well, death.

And therein lies the problem, honestly. In thinking, I mean. Felix is a puzzle game through-and-through, and also ties into a Challenge system in order to really tickle those completionist nerves. The starting scenarios are braindead-easy, but the later ones left me stumped for fifteen minutes per screen. Add to that the notion that the game doesn't check off some of them as complete if you only do the bare essentials, and you're left with another would-be mobile offering that doesn't reach its endpoint until you exhaust every little bit it has to offer - even if you're effectively done with the main gameplay loop. It's a great game, but there's just not a whole lot to do in those six chapters, beyond repeating bits of drudgery until your noodle clicks or you give up and look up a solution online.

It's a shame, too. The isometric perspective is perfect, and the game could've been pitched as a hybrid between a puzzler and, say, XCOM: Enemy Unknown. You'd take cover to hide from moving targets or to escape daylight and instead of shooting at them, would emerge from cover to move items around or solve puzzle elements. You could've had Death evoke the illusion of a friendly face to inject some more concrete narrative delivery, for instance. Steal a friend's features, magically conceal yourself, and then have your target piece her own weaknesses together, leaving you to retreat and regroup before executing your plan of attack. But no, everything is out in the open and everything is spelled out for you. Kong Orange could've also stolen a page from Hitman Go and set multiple triggers in place to truly sandbox the experience.

What is there is fun - it oozes personality and charm - but there's just not enough of it to justify Steam's full asking price, IMO. Comparatively, the Switch's online store is currently running a sale for it (as of Sunday the 15th, at least) and lists it as being 2,15$. Two bucks for a few hours of harmless fun is a pretty good deal, as far as I'm concerned. It also underlines why the devs and Daedalic Entertainment alike consider it as having "bombed", as the marketing effectively targeted Devolver's usual stable. It's not crunchy enough, however, and not exactly irreverent enough to warrant that comparison. A more hefty Felix could've earned its full 20$ price point on PC - and Kong Orange's very design for Betty makes it obvious that if Felix ever returns, it'll be in a co-op setup with the love of his, well, unlife.

I'd be up for more of this cuddly, swinging skelly - assuming the devs mature a tad and put something together that's just a smidge more compelling.

#felix the reaper #pc #switch #ps4 #review #puzzle #game #indie #felix #the #reaper #fat #skeleton

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lockdownfest · 4 years

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Lock Down Fest Masterpost PART I (20-30 March)

1917

feed me just enough that i’ll never need a cage by Cunninglinguist. (E) 7.4k, Tom Blake/William Schofield. “Come on.” Sco stops walking, runs a hand over the faintest marking on a tree trunk. “It’s just a little farther now.” “I’m coming.” Tom huffs a sigh, yanking his shotgun strap over his shoulder so the barrel lands in his hands. They’ve been on the road for nearly a week now, an unfortunate consequence of their last shelter getting swarmed by an army of dead ones. Though skinning rabbits to eat over hastily made fires and taking turns sleeping against trees, spending the days and nights consumed with fear, and jumping each time a stick cracked were hardly desirable circumstances, it certainly wasn’t their longest or harshest stint on the run. They had endured worse, by far, and Tom had no doubt that this particular stretch of time would come to an end when Sco said it would. He knows the way, he always knows the way. Plus, Tom wouldn’t want to spend this time with anyone else in the entire world.

If The World Was Ending by RisingShadows. (not rated) 3.7k, Tom Blake/William Schofield. When a dangerous virus begins spreading across the country William Schofield and Tom Blake quickly find themselves the last two standing of the team working in their lab.

AKB48

#unmeida by summoninglupine. (G), 788 words. Sashihara Rino/Watanabe Mayu, Kashiwagi Yuki/Watanabe Mayu. Ready for an all-girl vacation in Okinawa, Watanabe Mayu doesn't see why she has to be the one to nursemaid their sick tour guide. Things would be different, she is sure, if Yuki was there!

ALL FOR THE GAME

I see truth somewhere in your eyes by DeyaAmaya. (M) 2.8k, Kevin Day/Thea Muldani, Neil Josten/Andrew Minyard, other background relationships. In a moment of insanity, Kevin decides to check Instagram. In the multitude of inane celebrity posts telling the mass people to stay home, he finds a lovely, recent photography of Thea. Someone from their College took it. The lighting perfectly captured the dried tear tracks down her unmoving face. Kevin disregards the emotional caption and instead checks the date. 18 March, the night he- (The night he thought he had a hallucination.)

Quarantine and exy by Fornavn. FANART. (G) 116 words, Andrew/Neil. The monsters is stuck at home while coved-19 is terrorizing the world. They are bored.

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

Alone and in a Circumstance by middlemarch. (T) 700 words, Gilbert Blythe/Anne Shirley, Marilla Cuthbert & Anne Shirley, Diana Barry & Anne Shirley. Anne had a key, so she let herself in, quiet as a mouse, arms laden with bags from the market. Her sophomore class's papers on A Tale of Two Cities were poking out almost jauntily from the quilted bag Diana got her for her birthday.

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE

Worry by Neverever. (T) 2.4k, Steve Rogers/Tony Stark. During the pandemic, Steve wants help the best he can but immuno-compromised Tony worries about his company and his health.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Poetry and Plants by the_many_splendored. (T) 1.9k, Adam/Belle. It's amazing how much you can open up to a person when you're locked in a bookstore reading together.

BELLEVUE

Knives and Lighters by goreds. (M) 2.1k, Annie Ryder/Peter Welland. Annie Ryder finds herself in Bellevue's psychiatric hospital. She pretends to tolerate the whole experience, even if she really hates it. When a new, quiet guy comes to the ward, though, she finds herself intrigued.

BLACK SAILS

If this is Our Last Night by remuirius. (E) 2.3k, Captain Flint/John Silver. Silver and Flint are locked up together on the Walrus. Certain of their looming death at an enraged crew’s hands, Silver finds the courage to do things he’d only dreamed of until now.

BLACKKKLANSMAN

Someone Like Him by cowboykylux. (M) 2.2k, Flip Zimmerman/Reader. 'If there was one thing true more than anything else about all the reasons you loved him, it was that once your husband had his heart set on something, he was going to accomplish it.' Or, a sudden snow-storm cancels your plans for a date, and Flip Zimmerman decides that nothing, not even snow, will get in the way of treating you to something special.

BOKU NO HERO ACADEMIA

Tell me it won’t always be this hard by Graendal. (T) 4.3k, Midoriya Izuku/Todoroki Shouto. He’d met Midoriya a few months ago during a field trip to the library. The kids had adored him, of course, even the ones who were usually shy about participating in new activities. Midoriya had a way of projecting a sense of all-encompassing safety and comfort with just his smile.Shouto had adored him too, maybe, even back then. A silly crush that had only grown during every subsequent field trip — which is truly absurd, considering the vast majority of their interactions at the time consisted of occasional eye contact while singing children’s songs.But now that they’ve spent hours talking almost every day for the past few weeks… calling it a silly crush might be an understatement. The idea that he’s actually been able to help Midoriya through this is inordinately pleasing.If there’s a silver lining to this at all — for him personally, at least — it’s that he’d seen Midoriya’s post requesting a virtual board game buddy. And that Midoriya is a patient enough person to teach Shouto how to play everything from scratch. He’d actually seemed excited at the opportunity.Maybe the opportunity for any sort of ongoing social interaction is worthy of excitement. These are strange times.

CALL THE MIDWIFE

Sanctuary (In Each Other) by WednesdayGilfillian. (T) 2.6k, Bernadette-Shelagh Turner/Patrick Turner. Set during the Christmas Special in S2. Specifically, during the unsettled night that Shelagh turned up on Patrick's doorstep.

CAPTIVE PRINCE

When We Went from Strangers to This by Aerica_Menai. (T) 3.5k, Damen/Laurent. Laurent is really sick, and decides to shut himself in his apartment and deal with it alone. His downstairs neighbor, Damen, gets worried enough to check on him, which went just fine - and then Damen got himself locked in. Featuring Star Trek TOS, coming outs both accidental and intentional, and Damen being his usual sunshine puppy self.

DCU

would you lie with me by Glove23. (G) 660 words, Diana (Wonder Woman)/Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne. Bruce catches a virus, and Diana and Clark come to help him.

DEADPOOL/SPIDERMAN

Avengers Monopoly by MsCaptainWinchester. (E) 1.4k, PeterParker/Wade Wilson, James “Bucky” Barnes/Steve Rogers. The Avengers are quarantined in Avengers Tower, and Peter and Wade see this as the perfect opportunity to try the new Avengers Monopoly set. They have their own house rules for property negotiation. No one told Tony. Oops?

omg they were quarantined by Jdragon122, LunaStories. (M) 2.6k, Peter Parker/Wade Wilson. Spidey has a cold and Deadpool, being the sexy boyfriend he is, goes to take care of his baby boy. But they're under quarantine and oh no, there's no more lube? What should they do?

Superheroes Don’t Get Scared by DefendersofMCUniverse. (T) 3.6k, Peter Parker/Wade Wilson. Peter, fresh out of college, gets invited to the tower to stay in one of the guest floors that has been left unoccupied for some time since the previous tenant ‘hero’ decided to leave for unknown reasons. Of course, a few weeks into living there and getting into a routine, the last hero pops onto his balcony. Peter offers for him to stay on his old floor because the dude looks like he could use a familiar place, and also dude is kinda terrifying, and like hell he is gonna admit that to the other heroes in the tower.

DETROIT: BECOME HUMAN

Games. Family. Love. by heizl, NickEllis1314. (G) 1.8k, Carl Manfred & Markus. Because of some rebellious protesters, Androids, and owners of said Androids, were ordered to stay inside. It'd been a long day of restlessness, and boredom, and Markus was almost genuinely excited to get Carl to bed so it could all finally be over. Carl wasn't exactly tired yet though, so they reminiscence for awhile.

DOCTOR WHO

What We Did During Our Quarantine by badxwolfxrising. (M) 4.6k WIP, Metacrisis Tenth Doctor/Rose Tyler. Rose and the Metacrisis Doctor return to Torchwood from Bad Wolf Bay and are placed in a mandatory 72 hour quarantine. However will they pass the time? }:-)

DRAGON AGE II

shaking fingers, open palms by asexualf. (T) 2.4k, Fenris/Merrill. Kirkwall has issued her people remain in their homes until the sickness overtaking the city is gone. As always, the Alienage suffers the most under this new rule - and those who enforce it.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Three in a room by Tagus Knoll. (T, Underage) 4.6k, Kazuto/Darius Maynor/Chester Hayes. When Kazuto finds out they all have to be in the same room, he didn't expect that Chester, Darius and him end up dating.

FALL OUT BOY

‘Cause Everything Else is a Substitute for your Love by PadawanRyan. (G) 1.9k, Patrick Stump/Pete Wentz. Patrick and Pete are each self-isolating with their kids during the coronavirus pandemic but well, Patrick’s in Chicago and Pete’s in LA.

quarantine, or: how to land a boyfriend in 14 days by TooRational. (T) 6k, Patrick Stump/Pete Wentz. Patrick turns his head in Pete's direction and sees him, Patrick sees him, and his frown goes up a notch, and a fisted hand settles on one hip in that typical Patrick-is-a-grandma-pose, and Pete grins and runs full-tilt into Patrick's arms, disbalancing them both until they slam into the side of the house, tangled and half-frozen and definitely soon-to-be-bruised. He interrupts whatever rant Patrick had prepared that starts with 'you idiot' by tucking his frozen nose into Patrick's neck and sucking the warm air coming from Patrick's skin into greedy lungs, and grins even wider when Patrick yelps, offended as he always is by a breach of his personal space.

FIRE EMBLEM SERIES

Shelter from the Storm by Dameceles. (T) 4k, Elincia Ridell Crimea/Tibarn. It's a dark and stormy night when Elincia lends aid to Tibarn. He wants to return the favor, but she doesn’t have wings.

FRONTIER

Fever 1793 by goreds. (M, MCD) 2k, Samuel Grant, Cobb Ponds. Cobbs Pond and Samuel Grant experience the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, 1793. One of them gets better.

FROZEN

It all comes out in the wash by middlemarch. (G) 1.1k, Anna/Kristoff. She'd knocked. Really, she had. It was their en suite bathroom, the room he said was over-the-top and extravagant and aggressively tiled, so it wasn't exactly her fault that she'd effectively barged in on him.

GAME OF THRONES

The Luckiest Man in the Whole F***ing World by OrangeTabby. (M) 7.2k, Sandor Clegane/Sansa Stark. Sandor Clegane is in isolation at home after picking up the virus in the line of duty. Luckily, he’s got his cat for company and plenty of rubbish TV to stream. Then Stranger decided to go next door for a visit…. A story about friendship, food, romance and dubious television. And a pandemic.

GARGOYLES

Cabin Holiday by Isimile. (M) 1.2k, David Xanatos/Janine “Fox” Xanatos, Owen Burnett/ David Xanatos/Janine “Fox” Xanatos. After everything that happened, they decide to spend a week away in a cabin, to relax and to perhaps talk about their relationship. They're unexpectedly snowed in, which triggers memories of the Unseelie War.

GILMORE GIRLS

How dare the robins sing by middlemarch. (T) 900 words, Rory Gilmore/Jess Mariano, Dean Forester/Rory Gilmore, Dean Forester & Jess Mariano, Luke Danes & Jess Mariano. The two of them, the diner, for how long? At least the coffee shipment had made it in time. What he wouldn't have given for a fifth of Jack-- or anyone else. Literally, anyone.

HAIKYUU!!

Anchor by farfetched. (G) 5.3k, Semi Eita/Tendou Satori. Spreading their arms out either side of them, they stare at the ceiling. This is pulling on them in so many ways they didn't expect; laying here, on Tendou's floor, in Tendou's clothes, right down to their underwear because who expects a lockdown to get enforced overnight? They didn't bring anything much. They should have. They ought to chance going home. But they can't, so they don't. Home is an empty place right now anyway, and here there is food and laughter and music and in between all that is their realisation that they're not so over this Tendou thing after all.

Lockdown by needles. (T) 1.5k, Iwaizumi Hajime/Oikawa Tooru. You never know what will escape from a box when you open it, just ask Pandora. For some it may be a disaster, for Iwaizumi could it be a golden opportunity?

Lockdown With A Fox by runningfromrealitytoanime. (T) 4.1k, Miya Atsumu/Sakusa Kiyoomi. Sakusa Kiyomi was a very careful person when it came to cleanliness so what happens if a certain setter with no sense of hygiene crashes at his place when Japan goes under a 2 week lockdown period?

HANNIBAL

Crumbles of unfulfilled expectations by Cinnamaldeide. (M) 11.9k, Will Graham/Hannibal Lecter and other multi. Collection of ficlets of the length of a tweet or two ❀

Professor Graham’s Cheekbones Hotty & Extraordinary Foodie Husband by TheSilverQueen. (T) 3.3k, Will Graham/Hannibal Lecter. Online classes due to the quarantine are Professor Graham's students learn that: 1) Professor Graham has a cute dog; 2) Professor Graham is married; and 3) Professor Graham's husband is smoking hot.

HARRY POTTER

A Long Night on The Bus by CuriousEmWanders. (E) 3.5k, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter. In which Draco & Harry are Auror partners stuck on a bus overnight. Draco has some memories that cause him to make some choices. Smut ensues, obviously.

A Pandemic by Theodore_Writes. (T) 611 words WIP, Luna Lovegood & Weasley Family. A new strain of Dragon Pox breaks out becoming a global pandemic. Many were unaware due to Fudge covering it up in an attempt to look better as a minister but when Xenophilius Malfoy/Lovegood reveals to his long time friend Arthur Weasley about what is happening around the world the entire Weasley family is horrified and takes immediate action. This is the story of what happens when a pandemic hits the Magical and Muggle world's.

A Welcome Distraction by MaesterChill. (E) 2.9k, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter. Draco and Harry get trapped in a Ministry lift. Whatever shall they do to distract themselves?

An Intangible Embrace by Drarrelie. (G) 365 words, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter. Harry is bored. Thank Merlin his husband had finally agreed to start using Muggle mobiles after Score was born, or he would've surely gone mad now.

And on the Seventh Day... by slytherco. FANART. (T) 0 words, During an Auror raid, Harry and Draco are separated from their partners and end up being hunted by the wrong people. Desperate times require desperate measures, so both men are sent to an unmarked location where a temporary safe house was set up for them. Stuck for Merlin knows how long, they have plenty of time to examine their turbulent relationship.

“Are you sure you know how to play that?” by julchen_in_red. FANART. (G) 0 words, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter. Harry and Draco offer comfort and entertainment to their neighborhood under lockdown by performing a traditional wizards' evening ballad on their balcony.

Better Side of the Bed by gnarf. (T) 2k, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter. It was all Malfoy's fault. Harry could be at the Burrow right now, but instead he was trapped in Malfoy's tiny flat. All because that dick couldn't stop bothering him about a stupid life debt he didn't even care about.

Breaking Point by Drarrelie. (T) 365 words, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter. After almost two years as Auror partners, they've learned to function quite well together most of the time. Right now, though, Malfoy seems to be more on edge than ever.

Civil Hands (Unclean) by p1013. (E) 8.5k, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter. While he and Malfoy reached something like a truce in the years between the end of the War and now, their Quidditch rivalry has only grown. And with it, a simmering tension that is absolutely not sexual, no matter how many times Hermione raises her eyebrow when Harry's drinking at her and Ron's house. Not even when his head is resting on the kitchen table next to his empty glass, and he's moaning about Draco bloody Malfoy, and his bloody perfect seat on a broom, and his bloody perfect technique.But as Harry stares over his teammates heads towards the Puddlemere United bench, he catches a flash of wet white-blond hair and flashing grey eyes, and he thinks that Hermione's eyebrow might have a point.

Conservation for Beginners by Aneiria. (E) 4.6k, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy. Hermione Granger didn't think twice about taking guardianship of Hoddholm Island for the summer. A deserted, peaceful island among the endangered Golden Snidgets is just what she needs to escape the anxieties that the end of the war brought with it. When Draco Malfoy arrives as the other guardian and they are left to themselves for a month, they both seem to be struggling in their own ways. Can they be there for each other when they most need it?

Exposure by Bridgette_Hayden. (M) 2.6k, Harry Potter/Severus Snape. Snape and Harry volunteer to quarantine themselves for charity, and to comfort the world. Isolation leaves them feeling exposed.

Flames by Aneiria. (E) 3.9k, Hermione Granger/Theodore Nott, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy, Draco Malfoy/Theodore Nott, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy/Theodore Nott. The whole of the Ministry of Magic and its workers are forced into an in-place lockdown quarantine following a magical accident at the DMLE. When Hermione Granger and Theo Nott are put into isolation away from their boyfriend, Draco Malfoy, how will the triad cope?

G Guess I'm Stuck With You by LittleSixx. (T) 4k, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy. Draco and Hermione are stuck in a Ministry lift on New Year's Eve.

In a Week by Suchsmallhands. (M, MCD) 12.4k, Sirius Black/Remus Lupin. Sirius goes under quarantine in his flat, but fortunately he was able to get some reading material and a friend to keep him occupied during isolation.

Into the Wine Cellar by vivi1138. (E) 2.5k, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter. Harry should know better than to touch random objects that do not belong to him. Getting stuck in a cellar with Malfoy, of all people, leads to an interesting development.

Lockdown with the Malfoys by a_reader_and_writer. (G) 1.2k, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter, Lucius Malfoy/Narcissa Black Malfoy. Dracos's parents are just visiting Harry and Draco for their weekly dinner when the Ministry of Magic announces a total lockdown. Awkward situations happen.

Lockdown Husband by Houseofmalfoy. (T) 4.7k, Rodolphus Lestrange/Augustus Rookwood. "Got ready to leave after a hook-up for the guy to break the news that we’re on lockdown. We’re stuck together. this is the start of my bad rom-com."

Risk and Reward by nagemeikenu. (G) 2.6k, Rodolphus Lestrange/Augustus Rookwood. Augustus (Gus) Rookwood manages to survive completely alone in a burned down cabin for nearly three weeks. He's rescued by a gorgeous state trooper. Fluff ensues.

She’s A Rainbow by Ladderofyears. (M) 4.8k, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter. Draco never dreamt that he'd have to give birth without Harry, but when his beloved husband is put under MACUSA quarantine, he finds that he doesn't have a choice. With all the bravery he can muster, the best friend in the whole world and a pilfered magic mirror, Draco discovers that hope can be found even when you least expect it.

Stay with me through the storm by Pinkelephant42. FANART. (NR) 23 words, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter. Dragon Keeper Draco finds ways to keep his boyfriend Harry on the dragon retreat longer. Harry probably doesn’t mind.

Ten below and falling by agentmoppet. (E) 8.6k, Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter. In which a pandemic results in Harry being locked in the Astronomy tower with Malfoy while they struggle to find the cure.

The Question of When by Misdemeanor1331. (G) 5.3k, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy. When a global pandemic emerges, Draco and Hermione are once again called upon to discover a vaccine.

Unlikely Quarantine fellows by Isimile. (T) 861 words, Neville Longbottom & Blaise Zabini. Neville and Blaise are quarantined together following an accident in their potions class and they get talking.

HAWAII FIVE-O

Spring Break by stephmex. (T) 3.5k, Steve McGarrett/Danny Williams. Danny had been looking forward to this trip for weeks, ever since the Christmas holidays when he had planned the Spring Break vacation together with Grace. But as much as he’d been looking forward to it, boarding the plane with Charlie's small hand grasped tightly in his own feels slightly off. One thing feeling off is this stupid new virus that you just can’t ignore because the news coverage is all over the place. The other thing feeling off goes by the name of Steve—and Danny is leaving him behind with insomnia and a concussion and the sure knowledge that there is something that Steve is not telling him.

HOUSE OF CARDS

Skilled Hands and Talented Tongues by goreds. (M) 1.2k, Remy Danton/Jackie Sharp/Alan Cooke. Frank Underwood's made enemies, so it's no surprise that Jackie Sharp and Remy Danton get locked down due to a threat during one of their meetings at the White House. But Alan Cooke's there too, which just creates a brand new dynamic.

Isolated by Slashaddict96. (T) 1.3k, Connor Bowers/Richie Tozier. Richie and his parents get stuck isolated at the hospital when a dangerous outbreak occurs. What's worse it's with his least favorite person

IWATOBI SWIM CLUB (MAZE RUNNER CROSSOVER)

Free from the Maze by runningfromrealitytoanime. (Graphic Depictions of Violence, MCD). 33k, WIP, Gen. Haru finds himself without his memories except for his name before he was chucked into the Glade populated entirely by boys. As he tries to make sense of his new life amongst the Gladers, Haru realizes there is only one goal in mind: to run and escape the Maze.

KINGSMAN

Rarely Pure and Never Simple by andthenshesaid-write. (T) 2.3k, Harry Hart/Gary “Eggsy” Unwin. Eggsy and Harry get stuck in a train. Some important things need to be said.

LITTLE WOMEN

a party hardly ever goes the way it is planned by middlemarch. (G) 900 words, Theodore Laurence/Amy March, Friedrich Bhaer/Josephine March. Teddy had written she must come. He had run out of arguments.

Distances by MercuryGray. (G) 1.5k WIP, John Brooke/Margaret March. A Modern March AU - In the midst of global pandemic, the March and Brooke families are trying hold it together.

MCU

Bracing by babywarg. (G) 2.5k, Tony Stark/Stephen Strange. In which Tony Stark makes a few declarations in response to a disease outbreak, and brooks no dissent.

Must Love Dogs (Right Here at the End of the Line) by bookjunkiecat. (G) 2.3k, Bucky & PTSD, Bucky & Pal (dog), Bucky & Steve. During the virus pandemic, an already fragile Bucky has to venture out to pick up more of his very necessary meds. Returning home, he has a panic attack and retreats into an alley. While there he rescues a dog...or rather, the dog rescues him. Once he calms down, Bucky calls a veternarian's office, and reaches a warm, calm man named Steve.

Take Two by heyjupiter. (T) 14.1k, Bruce Banner/Tony Stark. When Tony Stark is injured in Afghanistan, he wakes up in captivity to find that a mysterious American doctor has plugged his heart into a car battery and saved his life. Tony is determined to repay the favor; when he escapes from the Ten Rings, he's taking Bruce Banner with him.

MERCY STREET

I took my Power in my hand by middlemarch. (G) 1.9k, Jedediah Foster/Mary Phinney. It wouldn't do to consider just what it was that had spilled. It was war, it was a kitchen with a corrupt steward, it was a rapidly warming April in Virginia and the man she wasn't supposed to have any finer feelings for was looking at her quizzically.

MERLIN

Merlin Versus Quarantine by coconutknightshade. (T) 1.3k WIP, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon, Leon/Morgana. Merlin isn't quite 50 Shades of Done with Quarantine, but he and Arthur do have dry-erase "Day's Since Last Meltdown" boards mounted in the kitchen.

The Night Is So Long When Everything’s Wrong by Hum My Name. (G) 4.2k, Merlin & Arthur Pendragon. One month after banishing Merlin, Arthur's given a message in the form of a dirty red neckerchief. His ex-manservant's been captured and the captors want the king to pay the ransom.Going after Merlin is the easy part. Spending a long night in a small cell with no one but Merlin with him is a bit more difficult.

MIRACULOUS LADYBUG

Love Bug by onetruthree. (T) 3.3k, Chat Noir & Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Marinette feels the safest with her friends by her side. But when the dead come back to life, that safety is tested.

Quiet by BookGirlFan. (G) 669 words, Chat Noir & Ladybug. Ladybug and Chat Noir sit on a rooftop in an empty Paris.

MIRAGE

Murder Scarecrow and His Pissed-Off Handler by goreds. (M) 1.7k, Gabriel Taylor/Doug Marsh. Gabriel screwed up a fairly simple mission, and now he and Doug are trapped in a tiny safe house somewhere in Eastern Europe. Sort-of romance ensues.

NCT

I Go Where You Go by CocoaBop. (T) 5k, Dong Si Cheng/Lee Taeyong. Taeyong thought he was prepared for another global pandemic. But this pandemic was different. In just a few weeks of isolation, Sicheng went from the shy, awkward roommate Taeyong rarely saw to his only anchor to the outside world.

OCEAN’S 8

Every Princess Needs a Castle by ShadowHaloedAngel. (T) 1.3k, Lou Miller/Debbie Ocean. Being stuck inside is sending Debbie a little bit crazy, even though she knows it's for a good reason. Fortunately she has Lou and a foster dog to help keep her sane.

Your Princess Is In Another Castle by ShadowHaloedAngel. (T) 3.3k, Nine Ball/Tammy. Nine Ball decides if she's going to be locked down, she'd rather it was with Tammy and her kids.

ONE DIRECTION

and the sun will shine by leighbot. (G) 5.1k, Zayn Malik/Harry Styles. They're practicing self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two little boys shouldn't be too hard to entertain, right?

PITCH PERFECT

Basic Sickness by CamGray. (M), 1.3k, Chloe Beale/Beca Mitchell. Chloe snaps the mask over her face and replies, “I was always smart, you just weren’t paying attention. Vet school didn’t hurt either. Now come on. I’m going to rest, why don’t you go get some work done. You can’t nanny me all day. You’ve got more important things to do.” Beca shakes her head. “What could be more important than this?” She says, stressing each syllable.

Dry Spell by aliciameade. (E) 2.7k, Chloe Beale/Beca Mitchell. Tumblr prompt: Just imagine Beca and Chloe casually watching a porno together and when I say “casually” I mean “getting horny and ending up doing it right there.”

High-Speed Connection by aliciameade. (E) 4.1k, Chloe Beale/Beca Mitchell, Chloe Beale/Aubrey Posen, Chloe Beale/Beca Mitchell/Aubrey Posen. So Beca is a bit of an exhibitionist. So what? What could possibly happen when she decides to play with Chloe while she Skypes with Aubrey?Sin. Sin is what happens.

Ready Or Not by aliciameade. (E) 4.6k, Chloe Beale/Beca Mitchell. In a time of social-distancing, Beca and Chloe finally find a way to pass the time.

She’s Such a Bad Girl by CamGray. (E) 711 words, Chloe Beale/Beca Mitchell. “Chloe!” Chloe pauses her singing to call back to Beca. “Yes, love of my life?” Beca rounds the corner. “You’ve sung ‘Work From Home’ every day for the past 128 days. You know I love your singing voice, but can you please, for the love of the Carona gods, do something else.” Chloe pouts. “Well what should I do?”“I don’t know. I’m about to clean the house.” Chloe flips her hair flirtatiously and rests her arms loosely on Beca’s shoulders before saying, “You do too much. You’re not Superman you know.”

Watch Our Bodies Intertwine by tmylm. (E) 7.2k, Chloe Beale/Beca Mitchell. Beca and Chloe are quarantined (yes, another "and they were quarantined!" fic) in Beca's Los Angeles home. Beca has managed to push away the feelings she harbored for Chloe back in college—they're adults now, she can behave herself. Or so she thinks.

you are my favorite thing by iPhone. (M) 3.2k. Chloe Beale/Beca Mitchell. Beca and Chloe find themselves alone in their apartment after the instruction comes to self-isolate. Set pre-PP3. Just pretend PP3 doesn’t exist.

POLDARK

Tenderness is not like money by middlemarch. (T) 599 words, Demelza Carne/Ross Poldark, Demelza Carne & Dwight Enys. What was the real crime?

QUEEN

Stay Right Where You Are by Stormtrooperinclogs. (T) 2k, John Deacon/Brian May, Freddie Mercury/Roger Taylor. Brian and John are under government-mandated quarantine because of the virus. What are they gonna do???

RED WHITE & ROYAL BLUE

bend the rules by perfect-porcelain. (E) 6.8k, Alex Claremont-Diaz/Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor. Alex is stuck inside with his roommate Liam and Liam's boyfriend Spencer and he thinks he's going to go insane but when his neighbor in the alleyway across from his window moves in he supposes that the quarantine won't be so bad after all.

Just Checking In by JessJesstheBest. (G) 1k, Alex Claremont-Diaz/Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor. In an au where COVID-19 happens to Henry and Alex, they try and stay connected through self-isolation.

SHADOWHUNTERS

Malec Malaise by Fluxx. (G) 2.9k, Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood. Magnus has a cold! In the absence of his magic, it seems he managed to catch some common Mundane bug. Well, that should be fine. Nothing a little rest and tea can't take care of... right?

SHERLOCK

Going Viral by trillian_jdc. (G) 1.1k WIP, Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade. Mycroft Holmes has been exposed to the coronavirus and prepares to self-quarantine, which he's very used to. His isolation is accidentally interrupted by Greg Lestrade, who winds up sheltering in place with him.

Thank You John by AnAnYaH. (G), 352 words, Sherlock Holmes/John Watson. Quarantine day fic.

SHETLAND

Remote Communities by aurorlaura. (T) 3.4k, Duncan Hunter/Jimmy Perez. Jimmy Perez, Duncan Hunter and their daughter Cassie experience the Covid-19 lockdown in Shetland.

STAR TREK: PICARD

Of Malady and Mother by Boldlynyooming. (G) 4.1k, Elnor & Zani. There was an outbreak of Beluxian flu on Vashti, and Elnor was not allowed to go out.

STAR TREK: VOYAGER

Confined To Quarters by ShayneyL. (E) 1.6k, Harry Kim/Tom Paris. Tom and Harry are in trouble again. Will they find a way to entertain themselves while confined to quarters? (Spoiler: yes.)

Social Distance by MiaCooper. (T) 1.2k, Chakotay/Kathryn Janeway. The terrible trials of a captain in quarantine.

STAR WARS

Fever of Love by ladyofreylo. (E) 8.1k, Rey/Flip Zimmerman. Rey and Flip shelter in the library overnight during a flu epidemic. Rey believes Flip is part of a racist group, and Flip can't tell Rey he's undercover because it jeopardizes his investigation. He asks her to trust him. Will she? And will she allow him to help her friend's brain-damaged brother escape the clutches of the evil organization?

I Know You by Idrilhadhafang. (M) 739 words, WIP, Poe Dameron/Kylo Ren. After a dogfight outside the Raddus, Poe Dameron and Kylo Ren are trapped on a planet below, with no memories for either of them and only being able to rely on each other.

Please don’t take him just because you can by middlemarch. (T), 911 words, Finn & Rey, Rey/Ben Solo, Finn & Rey & Rose Tico. It wasn't a terrible job, it was the pandemic. Rey kept telling herself that, hoping she'd believe it. Or that it would all turn out to be a bad dream caused by eating government cheese before bed. Still, there were bright spots.

Something To Look Forward To by spacewitchqueen. (G) 1k, Armitage Hux/Kylo Ren. While self-isolating, Kylo manages to make a new acquaintance. Perhaps even a new friend? Perhaps in time something more.

There’s been a Death, in the opposite house by middlemarch. (G) 100 words, Kylo Ren/Rey. Crisis was supposed to bring out the best in people. That was the silver lining, Rey was pretty sure that was the line anyway.

STAR WARS LEGENDS

Cabin Fever by Keldae. (G) 1k, Gen. Theron hates being locked down in one location on the best of days. Being isolated with only a Sith Lord, an irate Wookiee, and (the head of) a protocol droid that won't shut up for company? He's pretty sure he's in at least the second Corellian hell.

Pinned Down by Keldae. (T) 696 words, Female Jedi Knight/Theron Shan. The only option is to stay hidden inside and hope for a rescue.

The Waiting Game by Greyias. (T) 4.4k, Female Jedi Knight/Theron Shan, Satele Shan & Theron Shan. The worst part about all of this was the waiting. Theron hated standing on the sidelines as everyone else risked their lives. He needed something to do. Anything to keep him distracted from his own thoughts.

SUPERGIRL

Darkest Before The Dawn by Val_Creative. (T) 1.4k, Kara Danvers/Lena Luther. Lena ends up diagnosed with a serious virus. Kara gets a little panicky about this and worries enough to visit her.

SUPERNATURAL

Fourteen Days and Four Dozen Eggs by Mandala Rose. (E) 5.6k, Castiel/Dean Winchester, Jessica Moore/Sam Winchester. As the Milton-Winchester household prepare to hunker down and #flattenthecurve, Dean makes a trip to the grocery store, for what was supposed to be their normal weekly grocery run. After all, they aren't the kind of people to panic and over-buy, right?

Hickory Dickory Dean by Carrieosity. (M) 2k, Castiel/Dean Winchester. When Castiel's library has to close because of the coronavirus pandemic, the librarians need to get a little creative in order to keep serving the community. Castiel has no problem recording virtual storytimes, but when it comes to adding in songs and things, he needs to call in a little extra help.

Knock by hit_the_books. (E) 2.5k, Castiel/Dean Winchester, past Dean Winchester/Lisa Braeden. Dean and Cas have been living together as roommates for about a year when the COVID-19 pandemic forces Douglas County health officials to issue a "stay at home" order. With Dean working from home and Cas trapped there with him, Dean starts to realize that he doesn't really know much about the younger man he's living with. And then he knocks on and opens up Cas's bedroom door one day and discovers far more than he was expecting.

It'll Be Fine. by ChloeDarling. (G) 1.4k, Castiel/Dean Winchester. Forced to self-isolate, Castiel finds himself succumbing to the boredom as he runs out of ways to keep himself entertained. Luckily, Dean Winchester has a plan to save the day.

Next Time, I Choose Death by CeliPuff, Winchesterlovr0508. (M) 1.2k, Castiel/Dean Winchester. In light of this pandemic, I decided to write some daily journal entries on how we survived the 14 day quarantine. It’s me, my brother and my best friend, what can go wrong?

No Dent by spnsmile. FANFIC AND FANART (E) 7k, Castiel/Dean Winchester. Because the Impala is the best place to lock Dean and Castiel away when in the middle of another fight. They really need to talk and close the distance created by their stubborn heads. At least, Jack thought so.

Throw Away the Key by CeliPuff, Ketch22. (E) 2.1k WIP, Castiel/Dean Winchester. multiple other relationships. After his father dies and leaves him nothing but the coolest car ever manufactured, the whole world turns to shit. Caught in the middle of a pandemic while attending the funeral, Dean is told he can’t return home and has to find somewhere else to ride out the mandatory month-long quarantine. Out of options, he calls his best friend Benny.Cas has lived with Benny for awhile - the bed was comfy, rent was cheap... the orgies were just a bonus. It wasn’t a half-bad place to live out a permanent bachelor lifestyle, or an irritating lockdown - but he’s about to get more than he bargained for when Benny takes in a stray.

Outbreak 2019 by spnsmile. FANFIC AND FANART (T) 1.7k, Castiel/Dean Winchester. There's a spreading virus around and against it the medical staff are in the front lines. Castiel is a doctor and he just texted his husband he's positive of the virus.He awaits his fate in silence thinking of Dean.

THE 100

In Fair Corona by eternaleponine. (M) 8.3k, Clarke Griffin/Lexa. While returning from a service trip abroad, Lexa volunteers to take another flight when theirs is overbooked, and Clarke is forced to accompany her. When someone on the flight gets sick, they find themselves quarantined far from home with only each other for company. Can they overcome their differences and realize that they're in this together?

THE AVENGERS/MASS EFFECT TRILOGY

Stuck with You by sgteam14283. (G) 3.3k WIP, Clint Barton & Natasha Romanov, Female Ryder/James Vega, Kaidan Alenko/Female Shepard. Adults can handle being stuck somewhere for a long period of time. For the most part.

THE EXPANSE

How to Have Fun in Quarantine at the UN by goreds. (M) 1.4k, Chrisjen Avasarala/Sadavir Errinwright, Arjun/Chrisjen Avasarala. Chrisjen Avasarala and the whole of the United Nations, including Sadavir Errinwright, are on lockdown during a pandemic. Mild non-social distancing ensues.

THE FLASH

Between Hope and Fear by Purpleyin. (T) 4.1k, Cisco Ramon/Hartley Rathaway. During the pandemic, Hartley tries to help. He tries to keep going and do whatever he can, from a distance. Everything is going as well as can be expected, until his world comes crashing down with one phone call from Caitlin Snow.

THE GRISHA TRILOGY

watch the world go by by JemDoe. (T) 823 words, Aleksander Morozova/Alina Starkov. “The plague of 758 was a very serious issue, made worse by the Fold, Alina. Supplies were so hard to reach to the other side of the country…” “Wipe that smile off your face before talking about a plague that was made worse by your actions, then."

THE HOBBIT

Cave in by Isimile. (T) 1k, Bilbo Baggins/Thorin Oakenshield. Of course the cave in has to happen just when Bilbo is accompanying Thorin to a visit of the newly re-opened mines. Thorin just have the worst luck.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS

Nowhere else by Roselightfairy. (T) 1.2k, Gimli/Legolas Greenleaf. In preparation of an anticipated attack from nearby Dunland, Éomer has ordered that Aglarond go into lockdown.At least Legolas and Gimli are together.

THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES

a melody played in a penny arcade by aguntoaknifefight. (T) 2.7k, Martin Blackwood/Jonathan Sims, Elias Bouchard/Peter Lukas. Jon is trapped in the Institute. Things change.Or: Peter Lukas’s post-divorce pettiness inadvertently saves the world.

THE SIMARILLION AND OTHER HISTORIES OF MIDDLE-EARTH

A WORLD WITHOUT GRANDPARENTS by bluehair. (G) 1k, Maglor & Finwe. I really didn't plan this. But it wanted to be written.

THE SOFT DOCTRINE OF IMAGINOS

On the Wrong SIde of the Mirror by Imaginos_Buzzardo_Desdinova. (M) 2.1k, Gen. Trapped on the wrong side of mirror, Imaginos must find his way back to stop the evil Desdinova. He finds only one other person who also was tricked into the mirror.

THE TERROR

Lift Fire by Gigi_Sinclair. (G) 2.5k, Thomas Jopson/Lt Edward Little. "Tom doesn't speak, either, until there's a strange grinding groan, the lights flicker, and the lift shudders to an unexpected stop.Oh, you have to be joking, Edward thinks, as Tom says, 'I'd heard they'd been having some problems with this one.'"

Look for the Helpers by goreds. (T) 1.2k, Captain Francis Crozier/Commander James Fitzjames. Dr. Francis Crozier, stuck at home, lends a hand to his sick next-door neighbor, James Fitzjames.

THE TRANSFORMERS

Maybe it’s enough by choomchoom. (T) 2.8k, Drift/Rodimus, Prowl/Starscream. The boys deal with the pandemic.

Quarantined by pipermca. (G) 2.7k, Gen. Even when the Decepticons are forced into quarantine to stop the spread of a deadly disease, Soundwave still has work to do. If only his cassettes would keep it down...

THE UNTAMED

The Usefulness of Bunnies as Messengers is Strictly Dependant on the Bunny In Question by theskyandsea. (G) 2.8k, Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian is quarantined in an apartment with Jiang Cheng and it's going about as well as one would expect. Which is to say, the second Wei Wuxian discovers just how hot his across-the-street neighbour is he jumps at the opportunity to talk to someone else.Even if that talking is through the medium of messenger bunnies.

We’re on a boat and... by chatcolat. (T) 1.4k, Gen. Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian get stuck on a boat and accidentally end up talking to each other for five minutes while they wait for rescue.

THE WITCHER

Carefully We Gather by tackytiger. (M) 2.4k, Geralt of Rivia/Jaskier. They've been snowed in at the inn for six days now, and Jaskier still isn't speaking to Geralt.It's just, killing monsters is what Geralt does. Just because this one came a little bit too close to killing him first, doesn't mean that Jaskier has to get in a sulk about it. And why does he care so much, anyway?

Distanced Dears by jaskiersvalley. (T) 2.2k, Geralt of Rivia/Jaskier, Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach/Geralt of Rivia, Geralt of Rivia/Yennefer z Vengerbergu, Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach/Jaskier, Geralt/Jaskier/Yennefer/Cahir. Given the fact Geralt worked in the Accident and Emergency department, it was highly likely he would catch the virus, even with every precaution. Not wanting to put his whole family at risk, he and Cahir move into Cahir's old flat and they try to weather the storm by themselves when Geralt does get infected.

No More Water, but Fire Next Time by ladivvinatravestia. (T) 7.7k, Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon & Jaskier, Geralt of Rivia/Jaskier. Jaskier and Ciri take shelter at a refugee camp following the fall of Cintra, where they find that Pestilence and War often ride together.

oh my god they were plague-mates by wombatpop. (T) 4.3k, Geralt of Rivia/Jaskier. “They’ve closed the streets, Geralt. We’re stuck in here.” Jaskier and Geralt stuck in an inn together. What could go wrong?

The Fortnight by Elizabeth. (E) 7.5k, Geralt of Rivia/Jaskier. A plague is ravaging the Northern Kingdoms. First Oxenfurt is locked down, and then Novigrad. Geralt is immune, but Jaskier isn't. Rosemary and Thyme is a pretty nice place to spend a fortnight, but it's still a long time to spend with just one person--even if that person is your best friend.A lot can happen in two weeks.

Trouble In Here by Val_Creative. (M) 2.5k, Geralt of Rivia/Jaskier. Jaskier accidentally barricades himself into Geralt’s room when he’s been cursed, forcing them to isolate together.

YU-GI-OH! DUEL MONSTERS

And they were quarantine-mates by Alecto. (T) 4.8k, Jounouchi Katsuya/Kaiba Seto. The order came down while they slept. Now Kaiba was stranded at Joey's place for the foreseeable future.

YUYU HAKUSHO: GHOST FILES

Six Feet Apart by Penguiduck. (G) 2.4k, Kurama/Reader. You've only been living in your condo for two months, but you have yet to meet your neighbor. When you're sentenced to working from home due to the recent COVID-19 virus, you step onto your shared balcony for the first time. You meet Shuichi and really like him. The only problem? You have to stay six feet apart.

#lockdownfest #lockdown fest #Masterpost #Week 1 #fanfic #fanart #fanfest #multifandom event #multifandom #multiship #cw: coronavirus #cw:quarantine #long post

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ao3feed-ryden · 4 years

Text

The Pros and Cons of Being Outed

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2Y0alQi

by bang-the-smoke (708_things)

Patrick Stump found himself in a predicament. He's been texting a guy who's been going by the name "Satan" anonymously for a while, and things began to escalate. They developed feelings for each other without even knowing who they are. The problem is, the guy he's been texting wants him to come out so they can date. He ends up finding out who Patrick is and outs him to their whole school. Patrick wasn't ready for any of this, but he's got to deal with the situation. And maybe, just maybe, he'll learn that there are some pros to counter the cons of being outed.

Words: 10545, Chapters: 14/14, Language: English

Fandoms: Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, My Chemical Romance

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Patrick Stump, Pete Wentz, Brendon Urie, Gerard Way, Joe Trohman, Andy Hurley, Ryan Ross

Relationships: Patrick Stump/Pete Wentz, Patrick Stump/Brendon Urie, Ryan Ross/Brendon Urie

Additional Tags: Inspired by Love Simon, Blackmail, being outed, Angst, Fluff, Alternate Universe - High School, Cross-Posted on Wattpad, Brendon is an Asshole

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2Y0alQi

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #ryden #brendon urie #ryan ross #slash #ryan/brendon #panic! at the disco #ao

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sn1tchesandtalkers · 5 years

Note

Hello! I was recommended the bad husband story by a friend honestly i am so enamored by it and absolutely loathe it at the same time. It's beautifully written and I just love it! I'm sorry to ask this question because it seems childish sort of but I have a hard time believing Pete loves Patrick, if something were to happen to Patrick I don't think Pete would even care. It doesn't feel like he wants to save this marriage at all but wants familiarity, would he care if Patrick was ever hurt?

I’m so glad you’re reading it!

Pete’s a tricky dude because, right now, he’s spent five years (at least) taking Patrick for granted. If Patrick would just put out more, he’d be absolutely perfect in Pete’s opinion; he deals with the kids, the house, the cooking, he’s made sure Pete’s life runs without a hitch. So, yes, a large part of his initial, knee jerk panic was centered around his good ride coming to an end.

BUT.

Pete’s beginning to unravel, and not for the most obvious reasons. He’s spent five years convincing himself that he’s the linchpin of the Stump-Wentz household and now he’s forced to confront that he very much is not. There’s a good man lurking underneath the bravado and the toxic masculinity, he just has to find his way to the surface because Patrick is absolutely done with trying to help him. Does he APPRECIATE Patrick? Almost certainly not. Does he LOVE him? Well, there’s a reason they’ve been together for 15 years - and why 10 of those years were very happy.

Like I said in the tags, this is a whole family love story - Pete has to fall back in love with the idea of being a family man. He did it once...

Thanks so much for asking and I hope you continue to enjoy it!

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xxfanfiction-emo-trinityxx · 6 years

Text

The Red Dress - Patrick Stump x Reader

Reuqest: Not trying to stress u or annoy u. But when will your next Patrick X Reader be up? I love your work and I need more Stump love in my life

Reader: female

Word count: 2 845

A/N: Okay, so I wrote this more than a year ago, long before I started this account. I was feeling pretty shitty and the thing in the lecture (as in the story) had just happened, so I kinda wrote this for myself, playing around with the idea of what would happen if I met this guy in a few years and how I would love for someone to come and rescue me from that situation. The whole first half of the story is true, so you actually get to learn a little about me. Sorry I couldn’t come up with something new on the spot, but I don’t feel so good lately and need to get a little more routine with writing again.

When you bought the red dress made out of soft, dark, stretching fabric, you tried to fit in with the crowd, tried to please. You were an outsider and the only friends you had were with you because you were all equally scared of being bullied. It was not like you were standing out especially; you had long, nice hair, mostly wore jeans and a nice shirt with a cardigan and a scarf and were trying not to draw any attention to yourself. The wine-colored dress was for the Saturday evenings when you went dancing. It was not a kind of disco, it was a dancing school where you had learned dances like the waltz and cha-cha. Every week there was this ‘dance-party’ where students could train the things they had learned while dancing to pop music and blinking lights. That’s where you first met him. He had a beautiful face and you recognized him from school. You knew he was one of the outsiders as well, a science nerd, completely obsessed with physics and he definitely knew how to dance.

You did not talk to him until a few weeks later, but he was shy, almost rude and you knew that you had gotten yourself into terrible trouble by falling for someone like him. You were basically obsessed with him. You tried not to show it, but it probably was obvious. To everyone but him. You made sure to wear the red dress as often as possible, you knew you looked good in it, and you hoped you would catch his eye. After a while you made friends in the dance school too. You liked them, even though they picked on you a lot. And suddenly he was part of your group of friends too. He was still shy, rude, barely talked and never danced with you, but you got a feeling that you two got closer.

You were an interested person, always eager to learn, so you asked him a lot about physics. Over time he talked more to you, told you more about himself and you would almost go as far as to say that you became friends.

And then he went to college while you were still in high school. You did not see him for half a year, until he announced that he would come to the get together of your clique before Christmas. At that point you were convinced you were not in love with him anymore, but got proven wrong the moment he walked into the restaurant at which everyone was meeting. During the holidays you and your friends, him included went dancing almost every evening, and for the first time in your life you danced with him. He was a better dancer than you could have ever expected and you noticed how you had an effect on him, which made you feel more confident around him.

And then the holidays were over. You felt like you were almost a couple, only a few times meeting him more, and you would have a realistic chance, but there were no more meetings.

The last time you met with him and your friends before he left for college again, he danced a lot with you, but as the evening progressed, he started to sit around more, wanted to dance less, talked less and stared more into his phone. You were angry and let him feel that, but he did not understand what was wrong. After that he never answered your texts or calls.

When you eventually got to college you had almost forgotten about him, even though there was still that dark hole that he left behind.

And in college you made friends, real friends who were not only there so none of you would get bullied, or picked on you the whole time, because no matter how hard you tried to fit in, you still did not. You were happy, the hole in your chest slowly grew back together.

Until you saw him again. You had never even thought about the possibility that you might be going to the same college as him. The hole ripped open again, more painful than ever, but it was not as deep as it used to be.

Sometimes you were visiting the same class as some of your friends who were a year older than you and one day you met him again in a lecture. In the break you walked up to where he was sitting, the very back of the class, and you talked for a while, only being interrupted by the professor announcing that the lecture would continue.

Then you got ill. At first you thought you could deal with it, but mental health has always been a bitch, and soon you realized that you had to drop out of college. When you visited a lecture for the last time, it was a hot summer day. You felt confident and wore your red dress, which made the heat a lot more bearable. The only reason you attended the lecture was so you could go for lunch afterwards with your friends, you had dropped out already anyway. You were almost late for the lecture, the seats around your friends already taken, but as always, he was sitting in the very last row of the classroom, alone.

So you asked if you could sit with him, since none of the seats were taken and you assumed you were something like friends. He said no. You asked why, but he just said you should look for another place. You stared at him for a moment, disbelieve clearly visible on your face, when a switch inside your head turned.

You picked up your bag that you had set down already, looked him in the eyes and told him: “Christoph, you’re difficult.” Then you turned around and found a seat a few rows in front of him. You were aware of the stares of the boys around you. This was a physics lecture, girls were rare. That a boy rejected to sit next to a girl was highly illogical to them. You felt his gaze on the back of your head for the whole lecture, but you felt no need to turn around. You realized that after four years, you were finally, finally over him.

When you met up with your friends after the lecture, you saw him leave through another door. When you sat in the cafeteria, sharing a table with your friends, you saw him the last time. You knew he looked over at you, realizing that unlike him, you had managed to find friends after your time in high school. It was probably mean, but it felt good, after all the heartbreak he had made you suffer through.

~*~

It was two years later. You had changed, oh and how much you had changed. The crisis with your mental health had made you realize that you were not, had never been the girl to fit in, or wear the latest fashion. Your hair was cut short and dyed a bright color. You had a tiny tattoo, the bar code of your favorite book on your upper arm and after years of debating you had finally given into your dream and had gotten your earlobes pierced. Your life was good, not at all what you had expected it to turn into, but good none the less. You had taught yourself the piano, and every evening you played in a small, smoky basement bar. The money was better than you had expected and you were able to live on your own. And you had a lot of spare time during the day, just like now.

You were wandering up a street downtown, your eyes gliding over the people, ignoring the looks at your bright hair, or the once fancy, wine-colored dress that now had a few buttons pinned at the chest, reminding of a 50s rockabilly dress. And after two years of spending no thought on him, you saw him again.

His eyes met yours and for a moment he looked confused before he recognized you, but then he waved at you and hurried over the street. You stopped dead in your tracks, really not feeling like talking to him right now.

“(Y/n)? Wow, it’s been so long,” he stopped in front of you and you could feel his eyes scan you. Your new hairstyle, your dress, your tattoo, your earrings, nothing about you was like he used to know you. And you could feel how impressed he was.

“Hey Chris,” you greeted hesitantly. No. You would not allow someone from your past to destroy the perfect mood you were in right now.

“How are you, what are you up to these days?”

He stood closer to you than you liked, than he used to a few years back. Uneasily you stepped back slightly, trying to get distance between the two of you, but he closed up again. His unhidden attraction to the ‘new you’ made you feel disgusted.

“Not much really,” you told him, not asking how he was with the intention of him getting the signal to leave you alone, but he was as thick as ever and just started babbling about how college was coming along and so on.

Helplessly your eyes darted left and right, hoping, praying to spot someone you knew so you could get away from him. There was an old woman with white hair and a pink dress who used an umbrella to cast shadow over herself. A strawberry blonde man with a hat and a guitar on his back walked past. A short, dark haired guy, covered in tattoos up to his neck was walking a tiny, dark haired and honestly heartbreakingly ugly, yet cute dog. A girl with pink strands in her bleached blonde hair was laughing loudly, talking into her mobile. No one seemed to notice how uncomfortable you felt.

Maybe you were embarrassed, knowing that you had spent most of your teenage years swooning over someone who had never been nice to you. Maybe that’s what made you feel so uneasy. But as you had learnt, you had the right to tell people when they made you feel uncomfortable and remove yourself from the situation.

You were just about to do exactly that, when suddenly a hand snuck around your waist and a person stepped next to you. You stiffened and turned your head to see who it was. You recognized the person as one of the people who had walked by earlier, the blonde guy with the guitar on his back.

“There you are, baby,” he cooed and ran his hand soothingly up and down your side a few times. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

You felt yourself relax into the touch, suddenly trusting the stranger who seemed to have picked up on your uneasiness and had jumped in to help you. You turned your head to look at him. He had bright skin, the hair under his hat almost reached down to his shoulders, slightly curling upwards at the ends and he had sideburns reaching down to his jaw. He was slightly chubby, wore shorts and a bright yellow t-shirt with some comic figure on it. Black rimmed glasses sat on his nose through which blue eyes sparkled. He turned his head to look at you as well, and you felt a ball of excitement form in your stomach, he was incredibly attractive. A gentle smile played around his pink lips as his eyes flickered over your face before he turned back to Chris.

“Who are you?” Chris’ voice was almost rude, his gaze flickering to the stranger’s hand on your hip.

“How rude of me, sorry, I’m Patrick, her boyfriend,” the man at your side introduced. He extended his hand for Chris to shake but he did not move, he just stared at you.

“Oh, so this is how things are,” he mumbled, more to himself than anyone else, but you could not help but be amused. He probably wondered how you had gone from finding a rude, antisocial nerd attractive, to being with a dorky, sweet musician. You just assumed Patrick was a musician, judging by his guitar and the short nails on his left and slightly longer nails on his right hand.

“Sorry, did I interrupt you,” Patrick worried, loosening the grip around your waist and turning so he could look better at you.

“No, no, we were just finished talking,” you assured him, smiling gently. You had no idea where you took the courage from, but your hand reached for his, holding it. Even though he was no tall man, his hands were bigger than yours and slightly calloused.

“Were we,” chimed Chris, who you had almost forgotten, in.

“How about you stick to your promise for ice cream now,” you suggested, playing with Patrick’s fingers before looking up at him.

Patrick immediately got your hint and played along. “Anything for you,” he lifted his hand up that was still intertwined with yours and placed a butterfly kiss on one of your knuckles. “I was thinking Venezia? Best ice cream in town.”

“Perfect,” you giggled, trying to hide the blush that was creeping into your cheeks.

“Hey, how about you come along,” Patrick suddenly suggested, turning to Chris.

You almost coughed, scared that if Chris said yes, you’d never get rid of him now. How could Patrick only do that, after he had played along so perfectly? But to your great relief a frown crept on Chris’ forehead and he shook his head.

“No thanks, I’m fine,” he answered sourly.

“Okay,” Patrick managed to sound almost a bit disappointed. “Maybe another time, I barely meet her friends.” He lent a bit closer to Chris as if to share a secret with him. “Sometimes I think she’s embarrassed of me.”

“’Trick,” you scolded and playfully hit his arm, making him giggle. But Chris’ face clearly read that he really would be embarrassed if he would be associated with Patrick. This made you detest the person in front of you even more. He was judging Patrick solemnly by his appearance, one that you actually liked.

“See you soon,” Patrick waved, wrapping his arm around your waist again and pulling you into him.

“Bye,” you said, letting the stranger lead you away from the person you had spent years crushing on.

For a while you walked side by side down the street. You liked Patrick’s soft body against yours even though it made the heat only worse. He had his arm tightly wrapped around you, keeping you close to him, perfectly imitating a young couple. You struggled slightly with where to put your hand, since he was carrying the guitar on his back, but you ended up hooking it into the band that kept the guitar on his back, letting your arms dangle around a bit.

Just as promised, he led you to the Venezia, an ice cream parlor that sold delicious Italian ice cream. When you stopped in front of the entrance, he let go of you and turned to face you. Your heart was beating fast, realizing that you had just perfectly improvised a relationship with an incredibly cute stranger in front of the person who had made you feel shitty about yourself for most of your teenager years.

“I hope I didn’t just break you up with your boyfriend or something,” Patrick mumbled, shyly looking up at you.

“Oh no, by far not, you saved my life back there,” you laughed.

You could see Patrick relax slightly.

“An Ex?”

“An ex-almost-boyfriend,” you told him and he nodded understandingly.

“I think you really deserved yourself an ice cream now,” he told you and pointed awkwardly to the parlor. “And since I’m apparently your boyfriend, I’d very much like to invite you, if you want that.”

“Oh, smooth,” you giggled, not minding at all that the handsome man had basically invited you to a date. “But I insist on inviting you, you saved me after all.”

“Oh no, this one’s on me,” he told you, a joyful crinkle playing around his eyes.

“Really, I mean it, I insist,” you looked at him seriously which tinted his cheeks pink. Oh god, he better stop being so cute.

He looked at you for a moment, considering his possibilities, then he nodded. “Okay, but only if you tell me your name.”

“(Y/n),” you introduced and followed him as he stepped into the parlor, holding the door open from you. “How did you notice me anyway?”

Patrick seemed to blush more, even though the cool air of the shop was a welcome change to the heat outside. “You looked really helpless, and your dress kinda drew my attention to you.”

You smiled shyly, running your fingers over the fabric of the dress. Yes, this dress always had something to do with Chris, but hopefully that was over now. Hopefully it would from now on only have something to do with Patrick.

#patrick stump x reader #patrick stump x reader fluff #patrick stump fluff #patrick stump #fluff #fluffy #fanfiction #fanfic #cute

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earlgreytea68 · 4 years

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A Review of the Fall Out Boy Biography Inevitably Colored by Shippiness Oops But Really Mainly By My Love for Pete Wentz

I don’t even know who the audience is for this monstrosity of a review, nor do I know the audience for this biography, though, so, like, it’s fitting lololol:

I am a new Fall Out Boy fan. I say that because, if anybody was in need of a Fall Out Boy biography, you would think it would be a new fan. AND YET. I’m not entirely sure who the market for this book is, because it isn’t really Fall Out Boy fans of any duration, because not only can everything in the book be easily located with the simplest of Google searches but also there’s so much he leaves out. And what he leaves out is just…so incredibly telling. It’s like, the facts he chooses to highlight are often pointless and random (although thanks for telling me that Pete Wentz’s jeans were so tight he had to perform without underwear, I’m going to think about that a lot now), whereas the facts he leaves out are the ones that lend both complexity and context. Like, this whole book could be Exhibit A in how malleable facts can be. Given the same set of facts, this man and I would tell two very different stories.

At least partly this is because he’s a music critic (I glean from the book) and I’m a creative writer. I believe he is a music critic because he takes care to dedicate a paragraph of musical analysis to every song on their earliest CDs (he loses interest in them over the hiatus, and more on that later). I appreciated this, because I know nothing about music, and I learned a lot about how talented Patrick Stump really is, like, not as a vocalist, because I knew that, or as a musician, because I also knew that, but as a smart, clever songwriter. I don’t know how to critique music, and I was happy this guy was full of praise for what Patrick does. He also pointed out musical hallmarks of theirs – like their tendency to drop the music suddenly for Patrick to sing an a cappella line – and that was the first time I’d ever really thought about them.

He was full of much less praise for Pete’s lyrics, though, and I think that’s because he’s a music person, not a word person. Not that he thought Pete’s lyrics were ever bad but he tended to stay very conventional about them: emo, confessional, dramatic, and ingeniously juxtaposed with Patrick’s clear-as-a-bell voice. He’s kind of obsessed with the contrast between Patrick’s voice and the lyrics he’s singing, whereas I’m much more obsessed with the contrast between Patrick himself in sweater-paws and glasses snarling, “I am your worst nightmare,” like, sweetheart, I doubt it. AND YET HE PULLS IT OFF. Like, that’s so interesting to me, how much Patrick can make himself embody Pete, that act of alchemy where he sings on his behalf, but this book talks less about that than I think it might, mostly because I don’t think this guy really wants to think too hard about how incredibly good Pete’s lyrics actually are. The thing about Pete’s lyrics – he does this, and it’s so clever, it’s killer clever – is you can read them so easily on one very obvious and expected layer, and then there’s always one or two additional meanings tucked underneath them, and you might never stop to think about them, especially if you’ve already written him off, but his lyrics reward careful study and a lot of thought, he specializes in triple entendres, a turn of phrase that spins out into so many meanings, that’s so hard to do and he makes it look so easy that it’s such a simple mistake to dismiss it, to not even see how dense his poetry is. The conventional story on Pete Wentz is he’s good at marketing – marketing the band, marketing himself – and so he spun in circles to keep the spotlight on him and away from Patrick, and that’s definitely one take, and another take would be to point out that the same whirligig sex-symbol tabloid-fodder act also had the side effect of undercutting any tendency to take Pete seriously from a literary point of view, like, so much easier to just say that, in keeping with his goth guyliner, he wept into his inkwell and scrawled messily over parchment. So anyway: criticism #1 of this book is that they should have complemented the music-critic-ness with an English major.

Criticism #2 is that I feel like people always get wrong what appeals to girls, to speak in the massive generalizations of this topic. Like, someone somewhere was like, “Hey, girls like this Fall Out Boy band, it must be because Pete Wentz is hot.” And they’re not wrong about that, exactly, but they always seem to miss how many entangled layers often come with attraction. Like, yeah, sometimes it’s just he’s got nice abs but often there’s a million other things happening there, and one thing I cannot forgive this guy for is not just his failure to engage with Pete’s lyrics on any real level, but how little he also truly examines Pete Wentz’s genuine marketing genius. He’s a music guy: His interest is clearly in Patrick, and also in Joe and Andy, because they’re musicians, and he can wax poetic about them. Pete gets his standard paragraphs: Oh, he chose the right management, the right record label, the right deal. He can pick out a good band, like Panic! or Gym Class Heroes. All of that is true, but none of it really grasps exactly how smart Pete really is. Like, the book hardly mentions at all how much Pete realized immediately the value of internet fandom. When I first fell for Pete Wentz – that first weekend I spent Googling him – what really was the death knell for me was stumbling upon the old FOB Q&As he used to run in the earliest days. And it wasn’t actually his constant leaning into the Peterick shipping with such dead-on unerring understanding of fandom that did it for me (although that was pretty charming, ngl). It was how often teenagers messaged Pete Wentz with their problems, and how patiently he took the time to respond. My boyfriend broke up with me. My grandma just died. I don’t feel like I fit in anywhere. Again and again and again, Pete Wentz took these messages and wrote out detailed, laborious responses. And I know he was a guy angling hard to be famous but not all guys angling hard to be famous realized how important something like this is, this very personal connection, like, above and beyond the bantering and the smirks, and even if you’re doing it entirely for ulterior motives, that’s a ton of emotional labor he was performing. I finished reading those Q&As and thought, God, Pete Wentz must have been exhausted.

And I’m not sure that’s something the bio ever really wrestled with, because it never really talked about that aspect of him. I don’t actually think the bio read anything Pete Wentz has ever posted online, like, not even those basic Q&As that are the easiest thing in the universe to Google, never mind the secret blogs he still has scattered all over the internet with nuggets of lyricism buried in there for Patrick to mine. It’s just so easy to buy into the Peter-Pan, devil-may-care Pete Wentz picture, and for all I know that’s the truest of the pictures, but it’s also undeniable fact that the other side to that was either really cunning and savvy or just a nice guy, and either way it’s another layer to Pete Wentz that gets short shrift in the bio. Which isn’t surprising because although the author clearly appreciates Fall Out Boy the band, the author clearly isn’t fannish at all, whereas it’s pretty abundantly clear Pete Wentz is fannish. He’s unapologetically fannish. He speaks fan language with a fluency that is hard to fake. And he’s astonishingly well-versed in tropes. He’s instinctively good at creating a good story, not just in his lyrics (although he, like Taylor Swift, is adept at tropey lyrics, so it’s no surprise they have a mutual admiration society), but in his life. In addition to the Q&As, that first weekend was full of me being like, …How is this the tropiest thing I’ve ever read??? It’s unsurprising that the bio doesn’t point out all the tropes in the Pete Wentz / Patrick Stump / Fall Out Boy story, because the author isn’t versed in tropes, but Pete Wentz definitely is. He knows how to use words, well. And you wouldn’t necessarily know it to listen to him – he babbles and uses tons of filler phrases and never, ever ask him what his lyrics are about, it’s like trying to have a conversation in Wonderland – but that’s all part of the aw-shucks-sometimes-I-scribble-some-stuff-down-Patrick’s-the-real-genius brand.

Now I am not qualified to write a Fall Out Boy biography and also I don’t know these people and also everything I do know comes from Google but that said, I feel like I do know for a fact some primary source materials that the writer just chose to leave out that really does display how malleable stories can be depending on what you highlight or not. Like, if he didn’t want to draw psychological conclusions based on the facts that’s fair enough. But he also pared back the narrative so drastically that it left off the true meat of it, like, if you read this book you would not necessarily think there was much interesting about these people, whereas if you really dig into everything they’ve got out there, well, you could start to think they’re super-interesting people. But I am a creative writer and this biographer was a music critic. He settles happily into the song analysis but I’m busy connecting dots into a narrative, and life is complicated, it is not a simple narrative, but that impulse underlies most biography, the idea that we can assemble the facts into something that has something to say about a human life. But that act really exists in how you assemble the facts.

~~~~~~~~TRIGGER WARNING: SUICIDE DISCUSSION~~~~~~~~~~~

A really good example of this is the way the biography deals with the Best Buy incident. Here are the bare facts: Pete Wentz, in a Best Buy parking lot listening to Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah,” took too many Ativan. In a phone call, his manager noticed he was slurring, called his parents, they rushed him to the hospital, he lived. These are the facts that the book gives you, and these are true facts.

If you want to expand slightly upon these bare facts, Pete has given many, many interviews about this incident because he is very open about mental health issues and his bipolar disorder and depressive episodes and anxiety. Pete has said that he’s not sure he was trying to kill himself so much as just make his head quiet for a little while. Pete has said he felt like he was too busy being Pete Wentz for everyone else and he just wanted to rest. These are also facts, although ones I don’t think the biographer truly believes. He does dutifully quote them but he also clearly has his own belief about how much Pete’s telling the truth. Because this is inevitable in any telling of the facts.

If you want to expand slightly upon these facts, you could point out that Pete’s lyrics reflect how noisy his head is (“when this city goes silent, the ringing in my ears gets violent”), which might color how you understand him when he says he just wanted some peace and quiet. You might also point out that, as the bio has already said, Pete was the driving force behind the band’s strategy and it was about to culminate. You might remind the reader that Pete walked away from other possibly very successful careers to do this band (there is much made in the book of the theoretical ease with which Pete could have achieved a soccer career, which made me raise my eyebrows a bit but, you know, Patrick does say Pete’s really, really good at soccer). You might recall that Pete has these kids relying on him whose parents he literally had to persuade to trust him. You might say that so far everything had gone exactly as he planned and he just needed to stick the landing. You might mention the fact that they kept rewriting songs and rewriting songs and rewriting songs; that Pete was in such utter meltdown mode that he was sliding lyrics under Patrick’s door and then retreating, so that the rest of the band never even saw him; that they had scrapped half the album and were furiously writing new music right up until the deadline – all of which are facts not even mentioned. You might say all of those things, because they are indeed all true facts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is appropriate at this point to note that many of these things were simply not germane to the story this biographer was telling, which was a music-critic-focused story. But these things are all incredibly germane to the story *I* would tell, about these four people who found each other, lost each other, and found each other again, and the two people at the center whose creative alchemy was by turns either too dazzling or too explosive and in both incarnations needed to find a way to balance to keep the band afloat. This is the story I would tell, but, to be totally honest, Pete and Patrick’s creative partnership doesn’t really seem to interest the writer of this book. He mentions it vaguely, in passing, once or twice, fairly standard surface proclamations about Pete handling lyrics and Patrick handling music, and Pete drawing the spotlight away from Patrick who didn’t want it. Or he’ll say that the true secret to the band’s success is Patrick’s voice and Pete’s lyrics, like Patrick could be any pretty-enough voice, which I think just isn’t true, there’s so much more to the way they clicked together. I read this great New Yorker article once about how, through history, genius exists in pairs, that often two people need to find each other to push each other to be better than they would ever be apart.

It’s fine to not want to get into that too intensely, it’s just that that means that half the story of Folie goes away, if you’re not focused on how the band was creating. Like, there’s so much about the lead-up to Folie to talk about: Patrick’s control over the music to the exclusion of everyone else, Pete’s worsening prescription pill thing, and the way that their creative partnership seemed to disintegrate while simultaneously leaving no room for Joe or Andy in the band. The book mentions really none of this – nothing about the fact that at one point they had descended into physical altercations over chord progressions; nothing about the story the producer tells that Patrick would get so frustrated after phone calls with Pete that he’d throw things around the studio; nothing about the story that Patrick once told Pete, “I don’t care, I’m going to write a song and call it ‘I Don’t Care,’” such a telling little tale when later Patrick comes to hate the song “I Don’t Care” – so the hiatus feels like it descends out of nowhere, with a paragraph about the fans not liking the album. Which, again, is a true fact, but without the other true facts of the way the entire creative process was crumbling around them, around all of them, it sounds less compelling. The bio does get into Joe wanting to flex his creative muscles more but doesn’t connect it back to the Folie era of being shut-out. The hiatus becomes entirely about Patrick not liking being booed.

Even worse to me is the book devotes a lot of time to each of their music videos, which is awesome, because their videos are important and great, but it devotes exactly zero time to the video for “What a Catch, Donnie.” And I’m so bewildered by that, you can have a field day with the symbolism in that video, even if you want to just make a true factual statement about its plot: Patrick collects all of the detritus of Fall Out Boy and all of their friends come and party with him, while Pete goes down with a sinking ship all alone, to a medley of the words he’s leaving behind. Like. That is literally what happens in this video. And then the hiatus starts. To me this is one of the most ridiculously angsty things ever, that they would go out to their own triumphs echoing back at them and the literal death of captain!Pete Wentz. To the story I would tell, this is the most germane. It merits not a single mention in the bio (other than praising the song itself for being one of the strongest on the album, and talking about the Elvis Costello cameo).

Because he’s much more interested in them musically than as people or relationships, he seems to lose interest in them post-hiatus. He details each of their hiatus-era projects with his typical attention to the music criticism side. And then he spends, like, eight pages talking about the guy who wrote the article that triggered Patrick’s “We Liked You Better When You Were Fat” blog post. I’m not even exaggerating. It’s an entire chapter dedicated to the article and the guy who wrote it. Patrick’s response is described and quoted and even praised, but not in nearly as much as detail as the original article, and Pete’s reaction to Patrick’s blog post gets literally zero attention. Which is fascinating since, in some tellings of the story, that’s the entire reason the hiatus ended. Pete has said on multiple occasions that he read the blog post and was upset Patrick was so upset and called him up and asked him to try writing with him again. But if you’re not actually interested in that creative relationship as a relationship, then you don’t see a reason to explain the motivation behind trying again.

You also don’t really see a reason to tackle why they initially struggled to get back into it. Like, truly grappling with the Pete/Patrick relationship leads to more depth than the surface “Patrick doesn’t like the spotlight, so Pete takes it for him.” That’s too simplistic a formulation, as Pete himself has said. It also discounts Patrick’s obvious dedication to Pete, his complete willingness to step in and publicly defend him on many occasions, like, Patrick’s no shy, retiring wallflower when it comes to Pete, Patrick can let loose viciously on behalf of Pete. Their protectiveness is mutual, although the public narrative often glosses over that. (In one of those “why leave that out” details, the biographer notes that Hemingway was Pete and Ashlee’s ring bearer but not that Patrick was Pete’s best man, Idk.) At any rate, I point that out because the struggle they had to find their groove writing together after the hiatus mirrored their initial struggles, to find their way into trusting each other’s strengths, but the book is just kind of like, “The first session wasn’t successful but the next session was. They were out of practice.” They weren’t out of practice with songwriting, not really, especially not Patrick – they were out of practice with each other. And that wasn’t just a hiatus-era souvenir, that went back to Folie, but we didn’t get that part of Folie.

The biographer also, annoyingly in my view, loses all interest in them at this point. He devotes almost no time to the post-hiatus era, which is fascinating to me, since their ability to launch a comeback as successfully and relevantly as they did is striking, and to do it not by relying on nostalgia but by generating genuinely new hits with a genuinely new audience, and he’s not interested in that at all. Even worse than not being interested in this is the fact that he fails to close the Folie loop, like, he devotes lots of time to Patrick coming to hate Folie because of how much the fans hated it. Then he makes a little note, like, “Maybe someday Patrick will come to love Folie again,” or something, and the thing is, I know the book was written a few years ago now, but there was definitely stuff available about how much Folie had become a fan favorite in the hiatus years. Patrick gave an interview somewhere where he talked about the reunion show and how he read fan reviews of it and the fans were like, “They should have played more songs from Folie!” I always think at that point And then Patrick looked into the camera like he’s on The Office. But, at any rate, Patrick got to see Folie become beloved and that loop could have been closed better and he just leaves it dangling. (I’m almost like, Did he really write most of this book while they were on hiatus and then when they came back he was like, …Goddamn it?)

He doesn’t at all get into the shock of the immediate level of success of their comeback, like, that’s another thing that’s documented, that they were unsure anyone would care and they were so startled by the response that they had to actually add larger venues onto their tour because they’d thought no one would want to come to their shows. He could have talked about how people waited hours outside in the Chicago cold to get into the comeback show, how they started the show with “Thriller” and Patrick says the response was electric and it must have been amazing and he’s just not really interested in it, you can tell that he’s bored. He doesn’t talk about how Patrick hadn’t really thought about having to perform the new songs live because he didn’t think anyone would really care about the new album, so they had to really think about how they were going to make it work, and how he almost permanently damaged his voice having to sing “Alone Together” live and that’s what finally finally drove him to pursue actual voice lessons, like, he mentions none of this, he’s just like, “They wrote Save Rock & Roll, and then they wrote American Beauty / American Pyscho.” He’s just clearly, at that point, bored. Whereas in the story I would tell, that is the most satisfying part, the happy ending beyond their wildest dreams.

Okay, omg, this is SO LONG, but here are some other random thoughts:

· He never – not once – goes back to source Pete’s lyrics to their original blog entries, which can be very interesting. This is because he’s not interested in the lyrics really, but it’s very frustrating to me because, like, SOMEBODY TAKE THESE LYRICS SERIOUSLY, PLEASE, THEY’RE SO GOOD. It also means that he misses things like “Miss Missing You” and the way it echoes Pete’s poem with the line “I miss you missing me,” like, that’s just a fact ::shrug:: He also says “Hum Hallelujah” is about teenage romance, and that is the most straightforward, surface-level reading, like, “Oh, it says ‘teenage vow in a parking lot,’ that’s what it’s about.” This pains me only because “Hum Hallelujah” might be the most perfect lyrically constructed song Fall Out Boy has, every line is golden and stuffed with meaning and emotion, and he’s just like, “teenage romance,” so dismissively, and I wince, like, “I could write it better than you ever felt it” is a line that deserves more than that. Not to mention “I love you in the same way there’s a chapel in a hospital,” god, or “One day we’ll get nostalgic for disaster,” ugh, do not read this book for lyrical analysis. He also terms the best lyrical line on Cork Tree as “To the ‘love’ I left my conscience pressed / Between the pages of the Bible in the drawer” and, while there’s nothing wrong with that line, I don’t even think that’s the best line in XO (I mean, leaving off the follow-up of “What did it ever do for me? I say” undercuts those lines immediately, imo). (He does at least point out that “Keep quiet, nothing comes as easy as you / Can I lay in your bed all day?” is a devastatingly sexy couplet.)

· Can I just say, the entire debacle with Hey Chris gets precious little time in this book, which in a way is fine but in a way is like, just by Googling I got way more information on what went down and the weird, weird words that were being flung back and forth (at one point the term “heterolifemates” is used which makes zero sense at all in this context), but this book does spend a lot of time with Chris and Pete pre-Patrick (fascinating, right???) and there’s this weird part where Chris says he hated Pete before he met him and is like, “He should wear pants that fit,” which is just…such an interesting reason to hate Pete Wentz, like, Idk, Chris, coupled with your heterolifemates thing and weird thing about “whose name do you say every night???” which is also weirdly sexual phrasing and also being like “no one knows how to break a heart like he does,” like, everything about this entire situation has so much queer subtext but the book doesn’t touch any of that, ever, in any circumstance, with a ten-foot pole.

· EVERYONE, THE BORDERS WHERE JOE AND PATRICK MEET IS LOCATED IN EDEN PLAZA AND I AM SO UPSET I DIDN’T KNOW THAT WHEN I WROTE THE DEVIL FIC.

· I did not know that the producer wanted them to change the “We’re falling apart to halftime” line in Dance, Dance because he thought it was too incomprehensible and I’m just like, That’s the lyric where you thought you were going to lose people??

· From the bio, describing the Live in Phoenix performance: a strange moment where Wentz inexplicably gets changed onstage. A strange moment? Inexplicably? Okay, like, germane to my telling of the story is how much those dick pics affected Pete Wentz’s public persona, how much he knew exactly what he was there to sell and he sold it with gusto, and how much of a spiral that ultimately sent him on. Instead, this biographer finds it inexplicable that Pete Wentz would take his shirt off onstage, and his analysis of the music video for “This Ain’t a Scene” gives the dick pic storyline only an offhand reference, calling it “making light” of the scandal, instead of really digging into the obvious pain there, like, that’s not a joyful lark there. (Later, much later, years later, Brendon Urie will manage to actually make light of the dick pic saga, both in the Drunk History and also in the joke of the dick pic being the photo that comes up when Pete calls him, as seen in the promos for the tour they did together, and that feels much more genuine. But that bit in “Arms Race” is kind of heartbreaking.)

· Pete says of their failed attempt to get the Guinness record of the first band to perform on all seven continents that it was the worst feeling he’d ever felt in Fall Out Boy, and the biographer is like, “Really, Pete? Really?” and I kind of want to shake him because Pete Wentz is obviously a dramatic person and he feels disappointments keenly and he made that statement literally just as they were finding out they wouldn’t be able to do it, like, of course it’s just hyperbole! The biographer is weird through that whole section of the book because he never once mentions that, as a consolation to Pete, Patrick stayed up all night with him so they could get the record of most interviews by a duo in a twenty-four-hour period, like, that’s what I would have said about that story instead of trying to get way more out of Pete’s off-the-cuff self-pity (which is just so Pete Wentz, it’s like this writer hasn’t just spend a hundred pages writing about him…).

· Whenever I read about how many songs Patrick shows up with when it’s time to record an album, I always feel this little twinge of solidarity with him, like, sometimes that’s just how it is in your chosen creative medium, you’re just always endlessly writing.

· I had never thought before about the fact that Pete says all the time that he was too selfish pre-hiatus, all the time, a lot, that’s how he describes his problem – and the fact that there’s an entire song on Truant Wave called “Love, Selfish Love” with the line “God bless the sad and selfish” and I’m just going to…sit here and think about who in Patrick’s life could be described as sad and selfish.

· From the bio re: Soul Punk: It’s disarming to hear this garrulous boy-next-door sing so candidly about sex. Yeah, I don’t think you were paying attention to the way Patrick smirks at the camera in the music videos, buddy.

· Detail I knew but had never really thought about before: that Pete got Patrick to really click into songwriting with him again by giving him a puzzle. Patrick says that sometimes Pete gives him homework assignments, “I want a song that sounds like x, y, and z,” and Patrick will be like, “That’s impossible,” but also so intrigued that he ends up sitting and writing the thing. The fact that Pete knew, after a few mediocre songs neither of them liked, like, “You know how I snag him? This way,” is adorable. Also, the fact that it was Pete who adored the song to come out of it, “Where Did the Party Go?,” and that it was his excitement over the song that made Patrick think, Okay, maybe we can do this, like, it was Pete’s joy that drove Patrick’s optimism, they’re so creatively linked, these two.

· He does include the detail that Pete was worried he’d fallen behind during the hiatus because he didn’t spend much time playing music and so he committed himself to practicing and improving with metronome work, like, Pete Wentz ugh <3. In a very recent interview that I cannot blame the bio for not including, Pete said that Patrick helps him with the bass because he’s so musically talented and everything about that offhand statement just kills me.

· I did not know that one of the leaks of their reunion was on a blog that wrote “You can stop refreshing for a journal update,” and I’m in love with that, sorry.

· Ugh, can I just say, the fact that Patrick sang all of his vocals for Pax AM Days live with the band is just so unbelievable, he kills me.

· From the bio: “We were fireworks that went off too soon / And I miss you in the June gloom, too,” Stump sings here, and you can’t help but wonder if the words refer to his public but brief marriage. …I have indeed helped the wondering of that because I have never once thought that about this song lolololol

#long post #peterick #pete wentz #fall out boy #fob #bandom

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ianbrunner · 5 years

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Gayle Forman’s: I Was Here and Suicide Ideation

Trigger Warning: Suicide

If you or someone you is struggling with thoughts of suicide please call this number: 1-800-273-8255

It’s been asked endless times. In Hamlet it’s phrased: “To be or not to be” (Folger Digital Texts. n.d.). La Dispute in the opening track of their album Here, Hear: One allude to Camus and his thoughts of suicide writing “...the only serious question is whether to kill yourself or not” (Robbins, 2008). Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy sings: “I love the world but I just don’t love the way it makes me feel/ Got a few more fake friends/ And it’s getting hard to know what’s real/ And if death is the last appointment/ Then we’re all just sitting in the waiting room (Mr. Stump?)/ I am just a human trying to avoid my certain doom” (York et al, 2017) in their song Church. I’m sure you can think of more examples, but despite all this we’re still here.

After having recently re-read Gayle Forman’s: I Was Here (Forman, 20150), a novel in which a girl named Cody, blindsided by her best friend Meg’s sudden suicide, searches for meaning in her own life, I found myself thinking about myself (shocking right?). A few months ago, while visiting my girlfriend in Atlanta, I experienced my first breakdown, or at least the closest thing I’ve ever had to one. I’m naturally a depressive person. It’s not really a big deal anymore for me to feel sad, or to make a morbid joke, or to have a few days where I feel off. What I never really tell people is how much I think about suicide. Not in the I’m planning my death kinda way. Just in the it’s a thing that happens in the world and I’m really tired and I wonder what it would feel like to not carry my stress anymore. I wonder what it would be like to go to sleep and not have to wake up. Sometimes, when driving I find myself imagining what would happen if I swerved off the road suddenly.

My breakdown was more than likely brought on by stress and work. In order to finish my Masters on time I took six classes for three semesters consecutively including a condensed summer semester. On top of that I was working my job at a bookstore, writing and submitting my own stories and poems, and trying to plan a distant future move to Atlanta. Fast forward to my spring break in Atlanta and it was the first time I had a week with no responsibilities. I wanted it to be a time to unwind. I wanted to read Murakami and sit and relax but instead I couldn’t let go of the idea that I would have to go back to all that work. It kept going around and around and around in my mind. I wasn’t sleeping and when I did sleep it wasn’t restful. I lost my appetite and I had trouble focusing. Basically, the only thing that helped me escape from my own head was playing Pokemon Go. I didn’t really start to feel better until a week after I got back to university and even now, I still know that whatever that feeling was is lurking somewhere inside me.

At one point, in I Was Here, Cody is thinking about her friend’s suicide note in which she writes “This decision has been a long time coming (Forman, p. 10). This led me to wonder how long people carry these thoughts around with them before they act on them? Does ideation lead eventually to suicide or is it more outside factors that eventually push someone to it? Is it better to talk about it, or does weighing your friends and loved ones down by your bad brain chemistry or whatever it is that causes you to feel this way make them feel worse? I don’t have good answers to these except people who love you will support you, however, you also have to be aware that they might not know how.

Later, in the novel, Cody remembers all these vivid memories with her best friend. She remembers sleep overs, and dances, and talking about nothing important till the sun comes up. Sometimes, when I think about those times, I feel like I’ve seen everything and like nothing will ever be surprising again. Whenever I see a terrible headline the dark parts of humanity no longer surprise me. On the rare times when I have a real laugh, the kind that goes on so long it hurts, I remember that I can’t know the next time a laugh like that will happen, and that makes me sad. In this novel, there are two recurring characters. Two kittens named Pete and Repeat who repeatedly bring Cody and a boy named Ben back into contact with one another. These kittens, who Cody discovers that her friend had saved shortly before death seem to symbolize that she was always taking care of other things and not herself. Cody ruminates on these kittens and how she didn’t know about these kittens just like she didn’t know about Meg’s thoughts until it was too late and this lead me to wonder how often we talk about our own pain. How do we communicate this to each other? It’s not always explicit and direct and because of this it's important to be aware of the symptoms. The Mayo Clinic website lists these as:

Talking about suicide — for example, making statements such as "I'm going to kill myself," "I wish I were dead" or "I wish I hadn't been born"

Getting the means to take your own life, such as buying a gun or stockpiling pills

Withdrawing from social contact and wanting to be left alone

Having mood swings, such as being emotionally high one day and deeply discouraged the next

Being preoccupied with death, dying or violence

Feeling trapped or hopeless about a situation

Increasing use of alcohol or drugs

Changing normal routine, including eating or sleeping patterns

Doing risky or self-destructive things, such as using drugs or driving recklessly

Giving away belongings or getting affairs in order when there's no other logical explanation for doing this

Saying goodbye to people as if they won't be seen again

Developing personality changes or being severely anxious or agitated, particularly when experiencing some of the warning signs listed above (Mayo Clinic, 2018)

and because they may not always obvious this is why it’s important to check on your friends.

Why am I writing this? Because I think it needs to be talked about more. I couldn’t find good statistics for the amount of people carrying around thoughts of suicide who never act on it but going through life with one foot in the grave is no way to live, even if we’re all on the way there. Whether you believe in God or gods or an afterlife, or just something (and I’ve had my share of weird paranormal experiences) we’re all going to find out eventually, and when you wonder why it’s worth it, or why you should get out of bed, or why you should enjoy that food you ordered, or why sometimes you manage to get lost in living I recommend reading these two quotes (even if they’re not from the book this whole post was about): First, is a scene from the Doctor Who episode The Lion, The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe (Moffat, S., & Blackburn, F. December 25th, 2011) featuring Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor, in which a character Madge wonders why she keeps shouting at her children. To this, the Doctor replies:

Because every time you see them happy you remember how sad they're going to be. And it breaks your heart. Because what's the point in them being happy now if they're going to be sad later. The answer is, of course, because they are going to be sad later.

Simply put, no matter how sad you are on the regular there will be moments where you feel joy. No matter how hard life gets, or how down you feel there should be something you’re working towards, even if that thing is simply survival.

The other quote, as cliche as it might be is from Madeline L’engle’s: A Wind in the Door, in which she writes “There are still stars which move in ordered and beautiful rhythm. There are still people in this world who keep promises. Even little ones…That’s enough to keep my heart optimistic no matter how pessimistic my mind” (L’engle, A Wind in the Door) and that is enough to convince me there’s something worth it.

References

Folger Shakespeare Library. (n.d.) Hamlet from Folger Digital Texts. Retrieved from www.folgerdigitaltexts.org

Forman, G. (2017). I was here. Penguin young readers group. New York, NY.

L’Engle, N. (1973). A wind in the door. Fraar, Straus, & Giroux. New York: NY

Mayo Clinic. (2018). Suicide and suicidal thoughts[Website]. Retrieved from

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/suicide/symptoms-causes/syc-20378048

Moffat, S. (Writer), & Blackburn, D. (Director). (2011).The doctor, the widow, and the wardrobe

[Television series episode]. In Moffat, S (Producer), Doctor Who, United Kingdom: BBC.

Robbins, T. (2008). One [Recorded by La Dispute]. On Here, hear [MP3 file].

York, K., & Mae, A., & Stump, P., & Trohman, A., & Hurley, A., & Wentz. P. (2018). Church [Recorded by Fall Out Boy]. On MANIA.

#Gayle Forman #I was here #trigger warning #tw: sucide mention #mental health

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shark-myths · 6 years

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4. wilson (expensive mistakes)

part 4 of shark-myth’s mania meta series

so even though there are a few posts of preliminary screaming about this song already (here and here), I haven’t done a proper crawl through the lyrics yet! hold onto your butts, kids. here we go.

Wilson is named for the volleyball in Castaway who is Tom Hanks’ best friend and sole companion as he sloooowly sinks into madness. The bond is imaginary, created entirely in Hanks’ head out of his desperation. There is no hope of the relationship ever being reciprocal—Wilson, by definition, cannot participate in it the way Hanks would want him to. Isn’t that an interesting choice of dynamics to frame this particular song with? ISN’T IT. The initial assumption I made on was that Pete was the Castaway (Pete with his endless endless ENDLESS way down south stuff, Pete with his introducing the song as ‘this is about the person you want to run away to a desert island with’). but later, when we get the video, that perspective shifts: it is Patrick holding the volleyball, Patrick from whom Wilson is violently ripped away in the Beyond the Video.

pair that with the soundplay-over-wordplay quality of certain verses of this song and the mentions of being drunk (which as quite rare in the FOB discography, but quite plentiful in the solo Stump discography), and I think Patrick had more of a hand in writing these lyrics than usual. (oh my god I promise that was an ACCIDENTAL youngblood pun.) I think that there is some sharing of voice, here: some of these verses are from Pete’s perspective, and some of them are from Patrick’s. sonically and thematically, as I have argued before, I anchor this song firmly in the 09 era, around the time of I Don’t Care (this song’s twin, I think) and the hiatus.

the song opens immediately with some classic p. steezy lyrical markers: stutter-singing and emphasis/rhyme by repetition.

I was I was I was I was Gonna say something that would solve all our problems But then I got drunk and I forgot what I was talking about I forgot what I was talking about

If the lyric was got high, I’d think Pete wrote it. But it’s not, and I think this bit is Patrick. It’s the feeling of being the one with the power to say the one thing that would fix it all, but losing your nerve, or fucking up your intention. What could Patrick have said in 2009 that would have fixed every problem faced by the band, by he and Pete in particular? here you are in shark-myth’s creepy museum of queer conspiracy, so I think you know what I’m going to say. I love you. Patrick could have said Pete, I love you too.

and god. wasn’t it a mistake, not to? didn’t it cost them—everything?

Don't you, don't you, don't you know

There's nothing more cruel than to be loved by everybody

There's nothing more cruel than to be loved by everybody but you

Than to be loved by everybody but you, but you

this verse is pure Pete. Pete Wentz, adored and loathed in equal parts, jumping his own fucking shark in 2009, a media mogul and a reality star and our punching bag and our golden son all at once. (aside: even in their February 2018 interview in UPSET magazine, Pete still expressed that he’d rather be hated than ignored. this explains so much about pete wentz.) And all he fucking wants is for Patrick to love him, and he can make the rest of the world hang on his every word, and it doesn’t mean a fucking thing to him. Patrick is what he wants, what he can’t have. and it’s so fucking cruel.

If I could get my shit together I'm gonna run away and never see any of you again Never see any of you again

This is pure way-down-south escapism. I’ve got a whole post about it, linked above, if you want to hear more about that. It’s very consistent with 2009, and fits well as a line of thinking that preluded the hiatus.

I hope the roof flies off and I get blown out into space I always make such expensive mistakes I know it's just a number but you're my 8th wonder I'll stop wearing black when they make a darker color

This verse is definitely Pete’s voice. We’ve got the pop culture Wes Anderson quote, the pop culture Addams Family quote, and the sharp, clever wordplay to prove it. Pete loves Wes Anderson, and very specifically, this quote from Moonrise Kingdom is pulled from a movie about two oddball kids against the rest of the world who decide to run away from their mundane, misunderstood lives in the name of their true love. their love and relationship is very underdeveloped in the film, very adolescent, very becoming; it serves as an echo and an amplifier of each kid’s sense of not fitting in, of isolation. They choose each other as the miracle solution, the cure, to that isolation; an adult looking at their escape plan sees the futility of it: running away with someone else, someone who is totally untested in love, someone you have made into this huge lifechanging idol in your head but you don’t know very well in real life? they’re going to disappoint you. you’re going to get to mexico and you’re going to find yourself, and all your shitty feels, right there. You have to find a way to fit into your own life before you can fit there comfortably with anyone else. The movie is a good one, and it hits every fucking note for me when we layer it in next to pre-hiatus Peterick and the choice of the Wilson/Chuck Noland relationship as the title of this song.

‘I know it’s just a number’ evokes the weird fixation on math and accounting that some of their lyrics have had through the years, which I will write on someday when I sort out my thoughts about it. I like here too the acknowledgment of artifice; we get it again in TLOTRO, with ‘tell me I’m the only one, even if it’s not true.’ Words and symbols, endearments and declarations, we choose those: we wear them. They do not reflect a true quality. They reflect choices. Pete’s saying, listen, this doesn’t have to mean anything to you, but it means a lot to me; you are the most wonderful thing in the world to me. There’s the great pyramid, there’s the hanging garden of Babylon, there’s the temple of Artemis, and there’s you: Patrick fucking Stump of the golden heart and marble thighs. Which. Fucking same.

The Wednesday Addams quote is of course a fucking delight. It says ‘I’m intense, I’m overwrought, I don’t give a fuck. I’m only ever going to double down. I will never back off. I don’t care if you think I’m ridiculous, I am too much, and I always will be.’ I treasure this line. I sing it to my cat like, several times every day (which i understand is the normal amount)

On the wrong side of p-p-paradise And when I say I'm sorry I'm late, I wasn't showing up at all I really mean I didn't plan on showing up at all

The first line here ties well to Y&M—I woke up on the wrong side of reality—and I love the way it highlights the gap between what we say, for the sake of social lubricant, and what we really mean. Pete and Patrick are both self-identified hermits—Patrick has been speaking a lot lately about his horror of interacting with others, and Pete has said that his main goal on any given day is to speak to as few people as possible — so this line could really be either of them.

Don't you, don't you, don't you know I hate all my friends, I miss the days when I pretended I hate all my friends, I miss the days when I pretended with you I miss the days when I pretended with you, with you

OKAY IF THIS ISN’T ABOUT TRYST THEORY I DON’T KNOW WHAT IS

Uses of Pretend in Fall Out Boy Relevant History:

the whole song The End of Pretend, written by Pete during the hiatus

"Pretend you don’t remember,” written by Patrick during the hiatus

“Don’t pretend you ever forgot about me”

“I’m outside the door, invite me in, so we can go back and play pretend”

“But I can’t just pretend we weren’t lovers first”

‘I hate all my friends’ is a good time-anchor too. We have the friends who only like you for your hotel suites, we have the making a few more fake friends, we have pete’s endless blog posts about fake people who don’t really care about him—this mentality is very, very indicative of pre-hiatus Pete, especially during his disillusionment in the Sell Out Era, when he moves from ‘the world’s not waiting for five tired boys in a broken down van/these friends are golden’ to a much more cynical ‘sham friends/friends just because we move units/we’re only good because you can have almost famous friends/these friends, they don’t love you/I’ve got a lot of friends…who are just black holes/my friends all lie and say they only want the best wishes from me’ perspective.

If we hadn't done this thing I think I'd be a medicine man So I could get high on my own supply whenever I can I became such a strange shape, such a strange shape From trying to fit in

THIS BIT HERE! This is SO GOOD! The song really shifts all of a sudden at the end. Pete has described himself of this era as a drugstore cowboy, and speaks very openly (especially in this amazing interview with playboy that will make you fucking weep, I need to own this magazine, yes for the articles, and in post-divorce articles about his mental state at that time) about his misuse of prescriptions during that time. so this is pretty obvious: if they hadn’t done the band, if they hadn’t somehow made it work, the only kind of future he can see for himself is dealing some kind of artificial high and keeping himself medicated, insulated, high above all the rest. Interesting, the lyrics say my own supply, but the actual track says our own supply. That shifts the content for me, a little: it makes it more about a collaborative magic that he makes with someone else. It brings me squarely right to the drug use peterick metaphors, the way Pete has written about Patrick as a drug and a high for so many years.

Finally, I love more than anything this line: ‘I became such a strange shape from trying to fit in.’ This, here in the strange tone-shift of the last verse, takes a step back. This is present-day Pete looking back at himself, the way he became contorted and wracked from trying to please everyone. He’s looking at the Pete who ran away from Chicago and floundered in the neon emptiness of LA, getting drunk and photographed and letting his body be used as a dramatic set piece in the flashbulb frenzy of up-and-coming starlets. He’s looking at the Pete who sold himself cheaply, because he knew he wasn’t worth much. He’s looking at the weirdo behind the awkward tragedy of Fresh Only Bakery, the Pete who bit off his own tongue so he never again had to hear himself speak. ARE YOU CRYING YET? I AM. But the line isn’t just sadness: because it shows us, now, the solid ground that present-day Pete is standing on. The distance he now has from his former life as a demolition derby heart. It shows us how well he knows himself, and what he needs, and what he is newly capable of giving.

To sum up: PETERICK IS DEFINITELY REAL

Love you guys! more MANIA meta soon, and keep your eyes peeled from some v day peterick on wednesday 💘 💘 💘 part 0

part 1

part 2

part 3

#wilson #expensive mistakes #peterick #tryst theory #lyrics meta #mania meta #fob #fall out boy #mania

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stayextrafrosty · 6 years

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Friends Are Golden

Request: I don’t know if you’re doing requests but if you are can you do a Patrick Stump x female reader where the guys tease you two and it’s just really funny and cute like I don’t know you can take this any way you want really. Sorry if this request is weird

This is probably the least weird thing ever so don’t even worry about it! And I’m pretty much always open to requests! This is tttyg era because yea. I thought it was cute. This one ended up being very short and sweet. Hope you like it anyway!

Pairing: Patrick Stump x reader

Words: 1318

Warnings: cursing

I hurried down the crowded streets towards the small theatre. Running late because of traffic. I told Patrick that I would be there for soundcheck. Damn. I always helped him relax before a show. He still wasn’t used to the whole idea of him being the singer.

A line had formed outside the doors. I looked up at the bulletin and smiled.

TONIGHT: FALL OUT BOY

These guys were going to make it big. I pushed through the crowds toward the back entrance. I banged on the door a few times and waited for someone to open it. It pushed open a minute later and there was Joe. I wonder where Dave was. He was usually the one doing this stuff.

“Hey, (Y/N). You’re late. Patrick’s been pacing so much there’s probably a hole in the ground.” He grinned at me as I pushed my way in.

“Yea, I’m sorry. Traffic was killer. Have you guys done soundcheck yet?” We walked down the hall and I could hear Pete and Patrick arguing before we even opened the door.

“We did soundcheck. As you can tell, it went well.” I listened through the door for a moment.

“Damnit Pete, I told you this was a bad idea. I’m not ready for a venue this big. How the fuck am I supposed to go out there if I can’t even remember the words?”

“Get over it, dude! So, your girlfriend was late. That doesn’t mean you can just freeze. She’s not the only one who supports you!” Patrick was silent for a moment.

“Screw you, man. You don’t need to bring her into this.” I glanced at joe and he rolled his eyes. They would all give Patrick trouble for wanting me there. It was usually all in good fun but this didn’t sound like that. I pulled the door open and they were standing almost toe to toe.

Pete looked relaxed, like he knew this argument was pointless. Patrick on the other hand was tightly wound. He kept clenching his fists, running his hands through his hair. Pete knew that once this was oven, Patrick would get out there and perform his heart out. He’d be great and then wonder why he was so nervous.

“Hey, stop arguing already. Patrick, come here,” I said. The guys turned toward me. A look of relief washed over Patrick’s face and Pete rolled his eyes. Patrick walked over to me and pecked my cheek. I grinned and pulled him out of the room. Pete called to us as we were leaving.

“Make it quick and don’t forget to use protection!” I heard Joe and Andy snicker before the door shut. We walked a short distance down the hall before Patrick pulled me into a hug. I rested my head on his shoulder and hugged him back.

“I’m sorry I was late Trick. Traffic was really bad.” He pulled back and brushed some hair away from my face.

“It’s alright. I just get so nervous when you’re not here. I just need to have someone there who will still love me even if I screw up.” He smiled sadly at me.

“I’m not the only one who loves you Trick. The whole band has your back. You’re amazing and every show you prove that. This one will be no different. Even if it is a bit bigger.” He flushed a bit, looking down. He was so cute sometimes.

I took his face in my hands and kissed him. I felt him smile as his arms wrapped around my waist. He pushed me back against the wall gently. I pulled his hat off to run my fingers through his hair. He pulled back with a goofy smile on his face.

“You are everything to me, (Y/N).” I flushed and put his hat on my head. He laughed at me and went to grab it. I dodged and walk backwards away from him, smiling.

“Hey, give that back.” He strolled toward me, not really trying to get it back.

“What? Can’t I wear it until showtime,” I asked, pouting? He rolled his eyes at me.

“You’re lucky you look so cute with my clothes,” he said, smirking. He took my hand and we walked back to the room. Patrick opened the door for me and I tried to contain my grin. I don’t think it worked.

“Well someone’s in a good mood,” Pete said, glancing up from his phone. “And when I said make it quick, I didn’t think it’d be that quick. Hope both of you got off,” he continued, laughing. I felt my face heat up. Pete liked to make jokes surrounding Patrick and I’s sexual adventures. Even though we haven’t slept together yet.

“Hey man, cut it out. We were just talking.” Patrick tossed an arm over my shoulders.

“Man, you guys have been dating for almost a year now and all you do is talk,” Joe poked.

“Clearly, she’s not gunna walk out on ya, Trick. Why not lose your V-card?” Not Andy too…

I felt Patrick tense. He was a bit sensitive about the subject. Not that we never discussed it or considered it, but it was never the right time.

“Hey, knock it off,” I said, wrapping and arm around his waist. “So, I wanted to wait for a bit, what’s the big deal?”

“Aw, does little ol’ Patrick want to wait until the time is perfect? That’s so sweet.” Pete sighed dramatically.

“Don’t get me wrong dude, you two are sweet but man are you whipped,” Joe chuckled. I looked up at Patrick who rolled his eyes.

“What do I care? She’s amazing. Better than anything you guys have brought home recently. At least she doesn’t steal all the good liquor.” I covered my mouth to stifle a laugh. Pete brought home a girl at one point and when they got up the next morning, she was gone and all of their alcohol was gone.

“Ok, that was one time!” Everyone laughed as I snuggled closer to Patrick. He was a good sport for almost always being the butt of a joke. Patrick turned to kiss my cheek.

“Have I mentioned how comical it is that you two are the same height?” Pete stood up and came to ruffle Patrick’s hair

“Oh, shut up you dick,” Patrick said with a smile. He punched Pete lightly on the side. I giggled watching them. There was a knock at the door and Dave poked his head in.

“Hey, it’s about time for you guys to go on. You ready? Let’s try to not get the cops called this time.” The guys all looked at each other and shrugged. Everyone walked out, chatting excitedly. Patrick pulled me back.

“I believe you have something of mine.” I tilted my head in confusion but then he tapped my head that had his hat.

“Oh fine,” I said, surrendering the item. He took it from me but before putting it back on, he pulled me close, lips soft on mine. I my hands wander up into his hair. I heard him sigh and I grinned. He loves it when I do that.

“You know, you make it really hard to leave,” he mumbled against my lips. I smiled and pulled away from him.

“Get on going then. You’re going to be amazing. Just like always. I’ll be cheering for you.” He smiled and set his hat back on his head.

“I’ll see you soon, (Y/N).” He kissed my head and hurried after the guys.

I took my seat on the side of the stage and watched them set up while Pete said hello to the crowd.

“Let’s bring this place to the fucking ground,” Pete yelled. And then they were off. I sang along on the sidelines. Watching them all have the time of their life. I looked at Patrick, smiling. Yep, always amazing.

#fanfiction #patrick stump imagine #fall out boy fanfiction #patrick x reader #band imagine #patrick stump fanfiction #cute #fluffy #requested #i take requests #i can do any fob member #my writing

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f0blove · 7 years

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Good God I Wish I Wasn’t Tall (Patrick Stump)

Based Off of the Request: Could you write a Patrick x Reader where there already dating and she's really tall (like 5"10 or 5'11) and she's insecure about it but Patrick's insecure about being short and she finally says something about it and they both assure each other that they don't mind the others height? also maybe a cute scene about them kissing with the height difference? Thanks!

You grabbed a cookie from the food table, nibbling nervously at the edges as you glanced around the room. It wasn’t like you didn't like this party. In fact, up until right now, it had been really fun. You, Meredith, Meagan, and Marie had all worn similar purple dresses to show solidarity with each other and with the guys’ new album, since this was the album release party after all. You had all gone out to a fancy dinner beforehand, Patrick holding your hand under the table and glancing at you with a sweet smile all night. The beginning of the party had been great too, you had even gotten to meet a bunch of Patrick’s friends that just so happened to be some of your favorite musicians ever. You felt like you were growing closer to Patrick, to the other girls, and to Patrick’s whole world. You didn't even mind the paparazzi that followed your group to the restaurant and then to the party, and even inside of it. No, that had all been fine, but the trouble happened when Patrick left your side. Logically, you knew that it was no big deal and he would be gone for fifteen minutes tops, but you still felt like a deer in the headlights the second he disappeared into the crowd. Being alone around a lot of people was never your strong suit, and being left alone in this big party made you feel like you were back in highschool, not knowing where to sit in the cafeteria. Maybe your highschool experience affected you more than you cared to admit. You were distracted from your self psychoanalysis when two girls stepped in front of you to grab some food. You could tell from the badges they wore on lanyards around their neck that they were either press or hired photographers. The thought made you smile, remembering just months ago when you first met Patrick because you were working as assistant to the photographer shooting during their music video. You had been yelled at multiple times for being distracted- all because you were too busy looking at Patrick. And when he had walked up to you when he was done and asked for your name and then your number, you thought you were the luckiest girl in the world. You’re pulled from your day dream when you hear Patrick’s name come from the mouth of one of the press girl who stand chatting in front of you.

“Did you see Patrick Stump?” the one girl asked.

“Yeah, did you see his girlfriend?” the other asked, prompting you to blush and realize that they had no idea you were right behind them, “She’s really pretty”

“Yeah but she’s weirdly tall right?” the other asked, biting into a brownie, “ At least compared to Patrick” “She does tower over him” the other giggles, “I would never wear heels like that if I was her”

Your heart crashes in your chest as you listen. Is this really what people think when they see you and Patrick together?

“I mean he’s attractive, rich, famous, and ridiculously talented, you’d think he’d at least be able to find a girl that didn’t make him look like an elf” the girls snorts, biting into a brownie.

“Does he look like an elf or does she just look like a giant?”

The two girls dissolve into giggle as you stand frozen, tears filling your eyes, wanting to run away and confront them at the same time. Luckily, you’re saved from the choice when a hand slides around your waist.

“Hey, sorry I was gone so long” Patrick says apologetically.

“N-no problem” you say, filled with dread as the two girls spin around, eyes going wide as they see the two of you.

“O-Oh my god” the one stutters, staring at you with big eyes.

“W-we’re so sorry Miss, we didn’t realize-” the other rushes out, blush flaming across her face.

“It’s, um, It’s fine, no big deal” you say, cutting her off.

“Wait, what’s going on?” Patrick asks, looking concernedly from you to the girls, taking in both your misty eyes and their embarrassed looks.

“Nothing” you say, clearing your throat quickly, “Let’s go”

You grab his hand, pulling him away from the girls and their stuttered apologies.

“(Y/N), what was that about? Are you okay?” Patrick asks, making you stop walking and look at him.

“They were talking about us and didn't realize I was behind them. No big deal”

“What did they say? Are you okay?” Patrick asks, squeezing my hand and looking back towards the two girls.

“Patrick, it’s fine, I’m fine, there's nothing to worry about. Just enjoy the party, okay?” you reply, looking at him, suddenly aware of the fact that he has to look up to meet your eyes. Shaking The thought out of your head, you smile and earn a smile back, and the two of you fall into the party. For the rest of the party, you can’t help but think about how much taller you are than Patrick. It never seemed like much, five or six inches, but suddenly you feel like a monster standing next to him, and you fight a grimace every time you meet someone new or are asked to be in a picture. You feel an immense sense of relief when Patrick asks if you want to go home, so you agree and the two of you head back to his house.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Patrick asked as the two of you walked into the house,dumping his jacket on a kitchen chair.

“What do you mean?” You asked quietly, toeing off your heels.

“You just seem a little...off, I guess. You okay?”

“Im okay” You say with smile that falters as Patrick walks over to you and slides his hands around your waist, looking up at you. You avoid his gaze, twisting out of his arms.

“See, something is wrong. Please just tell me” Patrick begs, staring at you pleadingly.

You stare at him for a few seconds, debating whether you should tell him. “I’m too tall” you finally blurt out, looking away from him.

“What?” Patrick asks, confused.

“I’m too tall and I wore heels anyway so the whole night I looked like a giant next to you and made you look short when you’re not, I’m just too frickin tall and I-”

“Woah woah woah” Patrick says, walking over and grabbing your hands, “Slow down. First of all, you’re not too tall, you’re perfect” he argues, only prompting you to roll your eyes, “Second of all, where did this all even come from?”

“Nowhere” you murmur. Patrick raises an eyebrow. “Okay, okay, it’s what those girls were talking about, the press girls at the table” you add.

Patrick furrows his eyebrows, “Why would they even be talking about that? What’s their problem” he says angrily.

“Nothing, they were just pointing out the facts- I’m freakishly tall, and chose to wear heels anyway, so I looked like a giant freak standing next to you”

“Listen to me, you are not too tall!” Patrick repeats, “You are the perfect height, and you wore those heels because you loved how they looked right?”

“Right” you agree quietly.

“So who cares what two random girls thought”

“It's what everyone thinks, Trick. I’m too tall, I make us look weird together” you argue, all of your insecurities about your height flooding into your voice

Patrick furrows his eyebrows again, staring at you with intense concentration.

“You never finish all your food- you always leave at least one bite on the plate” he suddenly says.

“What?” you ask, blindsided by his random topic change.

“You don't laugh at all of my jokes. You talk in a baby voice to animals. You insist on wearing socks to bed every night, but always pull them off almost immediately.”

“Patrick what in the world are you doing?” You interrupt him, now irritated and confused.

“Listing everything that’s wrong with you” he replies, leaving you even more confused and a little offended.

“You’re really bad at Guitar Hero. You leave your windows rolled down in parking lots all the time. You never know what time it is. Your hair looks crazy in the morning. You sing to the radio even if you have no idea what the song is. You-”

“Patrick, what the hell?” you stop him, glaring.

“Those are all things that are “wrong” with you, or weird.” Patrick says softly, grabbing on of your hands and looking at you sweetly, “And every single one of them makes me love you more and more every day. I could go on, but no matter what, that list will never, ever, ever include your height. You wanna know why?”

“Why?” you ask in a whisper.

“Because I love you and you are perfect in every single way and I would never change a thing about you.” he says sincerely, squeezing your hands “The problem isnt that you’re too tall, it’s that I’m too short”

“Wait. What?” you ask, thrown off.

“Yeah, it’s my fault you feel like this, it’s because I’m so short, I’ve always known that”

“Patrick you are not too short” you say abruptly. He just looks at you, gesturing to his body sarcastically .

You sigh, and then smile, deciding to give him some of his own logic.

“You take really long showers. You forget to clean up your dishes. You know way too much about Star Wars”

“Oh no” Patrick comments, “Guess I set myself up for this one”

“You leave your socks literally everywhere around your house” you continue. “You wear weird smelling deodorant. You always have to sleep under a blanket, no matter how hot it is. You-”

“Alright alright, I get it” Patrick says with a laugh.

“Those are the things “wrong” with you” You repeat his point, “And every single one of them makes you who you are, and makes me fall in love with you more and more every day. I could go on and on, but that list would never, ever include your height. You wanna know why?”

“Why” Patrick asks with a smile.

“Because I love you, Patrick, for who you are and I would never want to change you in any way”

“I love you” he says, grabbing your hand.

“I love you too Patrick”

“So, in conclusion, you are not too tall” he says.

“And you’re not too short” you add with a smile.

“We are the perfect height and the perfect couple” Patrick finishes. “And I am the perfect height to do this”

He stands on his tiptoes, making you giggle, before he places his hand softly on the back of your neck and pulls you into a slow, sweet kiss. You kiss him back, leaning down so he doesn’t have to stand on his tiptoes, and for the first time since you heard those girls talk, you don’t worry about your height or how you look next to Patrick. Instead, you think about how incredibly lucky you are to have found someone as wonderful as Patrick.

Tag List: @imke-vd @imsocutekl @deltablue202 @theghostofpatrickssideburns @thepatricktreestump @memyselfandwifi @jigglypuff1999 @goldenlifevsgutter1996 @emoxxtrash @everybodywantsapete @the-doctor010

#patrick stump #patrick stump fluff #fall out boy #fall out boy fluff

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coffeesforfuckers · 7 years

Text

Our Summers Together Are My Best Kept Secrets And My Biggest Mistakes // Chapter Ten

Ships: Peterick, Brallon, Ferard, Trohley, Jalex, Zian and others in the background

Description: Summers for most kids are spent going to the beach and on vacations with your family but lots are shipped off to summer camps for the whole summer. But the kids at Hempman Summer Camp actually beg to go! Patrick Stump, Andy Hurley and Joe Trohman all met there, they had all known each other for probably over a decade because of this absolutely amazing stay-away camp for kids from the ages of six to nineteen. All the kids that were there came back until they couldn't and they always had the same kids except a few new, younger, kids every year. That is until the year that the weird kid with the jet-black, dyed, black fringe and the crazy piercings and a couple tattoos comes in like he owns the place. That year also happens to be the same year that Patrick Stump gets gum stuck to the new emo kid's face and hair. It was love at first sight... But hate at first interaction for the blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy and the complete opposite for the new kid, Pete Wentz.

Chapter 10: Ten - The Indescribable Word That Is True Love

Pete

“How did this even happen, Mr. Wentz?” The nurse asks as she creates a makeshift sling for me until an ambulance could get here.

Patrick starts to giggle, covering his mouth with his hand, I grin slightly, “I fell out of a tree.” I say and shift around in the bed they’d propped me up in.

“Why were you even in a tree?” The woman asks.

“Adventure?” I glance over at Patrick who looks like he was about to burst.

“Alright then.” The woman shakes her head and walks off to tend to another sick camper. Patrick comes and sits on the edge of the bed, smiling at me.

“Sorry for making you fall out of a tree.” He says with this weird, shaky excitement in his voice. He pushes my hair out of my eyes.

“That’s okay. It was worth it.” I let out a breathy laugh as I take his hand in mine, rubbing my thumb over the back of his hand, which was so smooth.

“What does that mean?” He looks at me funny.

“Uh, like, it was worth falling out of a tree to kiss you.” My cheeks heat up and so do Patrick’s. He pecks me on the lips shyly, it lasted less than a second. My mouth was still tingling from earlier.

Patrick peers up at me from under the long strands of almost ginger hair that hung loosely over his eyes. I go to brush them away and instantly recoil in pain, I had forgotten that my arm was basically a soggy noodle in support beams at the moment. Tears prick at my eyes from the pain, I start to shake slightly as well. Patrick frowns at my pained expression, he presses his mouth to my shoulder, it hurts but he’s so cute that I don’t notice.

“You could say that you fell in love with my kiss.” Patrick says suddenly and tips off the bed as he laughs hysterically at his own pun. I chuckle as well, it honestly hurts since I broke my shoulder and arm and a rib.

“You okay down there, bud?” I roll my eyes and he sits up, wheezing.

“Just dandy.” He continues to giggle as he returns to the bed.

I sigh with a smile plastered to my face. He was so cute, “You idiot.” I murmur and grab his hand again.

“So, uh, Pete?” He suddenly gets serious.

“Yeah? Is everything alright?” I worry.

“Yeah! It’s fine, but like…” He pauses, “You kinda ruined the moment before by falling out of the tree and breaking yourself so I didn’t get the chance to ask if you’d maybe, uh, like to be more than friends?”

“We already are.” I say, confused, “More than friends, less than lovers, remember?”

“No, I-... I don’t mean that… I mean like… More than that.” He’s so nervous, his hands are shaky and he’s holding mine so tight that it feels like he could crush it.

“Do you mean… You want me to be your boyfriend?” I say, almost in shock.

Patrick starts to nod, “Um, yeah… I want to be your really shitty boyfriend that forgets our anniversary and tries to bail at least once a week… If you don’t mind dealing with that then, yeah…” He hums, staring down at his lap.

I go to lift my arm again, cussing to myself as the pain rushes throughout my body. I drop his hand from within my good one and lift his chin so that he’s facing me. I move my hand to the side of his face, rubbing my thumb against his cheek.

“I would love for you to be my wonderful boyfriend that I don’t care if he forgets our anniversary and tries to run away, as long as he stays.” I lean forward and kiss him and I literally can’t even breathe from the stinging pain in my chest and shoulder but it’s worth it.

Everything is worth it for Patrick.

He gently pushes me back, having me lay back against the bed, “Stop hurting yourself for me.” He mumbles, kissing me one more. He climbs on top of me, sitting on my legs with his on either side of me.

“No.” I mutter and Patrick rolls his eyes at me.

“But are you sure? Like, I will actually try and end the relationship at least once a week.” He frowns.

“If you want to leave you can, but I will try and stop you.” I say back and He grabs onto my hand.

“But, I don't want to hurt you.” He starts.

“Are you trying to get out of this already?” I look up at him and he instantly starts to panic.

“No! No, I just… I… I'm worried about you cause I really do have feelings for you. I just… I run away when I get attached, I'm sorry.” He rambles and I watch him as my chest swells. He's so tiny and cute and I'm so in love with him.

“You don’t have to run away from me, I won’t leave you unless you want me to.” I speak softly and move my hand to cup his plump cheek.

“I don’t want to leave but I just get this like need, I’ll panic and it’s scary.” He leans into my touch.

“Instead of leaving come to me and I’ll comfort you until you’re not scared anymore. I’ve fallen in love with you Patrick. You don’t have to say it back if you’re not ready, I just, I’ve been in love with you since I first met you. I don’t want you to leave because you’re scared, I want you to stay because you’re comfortable.” I say as his eyes flutter closed, my thumb running over his smooth skin.

“I’ll try.” He coos, “I really want to try… For you.”

Jack

My fingers tangled in Alex’s hair we’re laid in the abandoned cabin, well, Alex is at least. His head is rested on my lower stomach, looking up at the stars and leaves of the trees through a gaping hole in the roof, he’s laid between my legs which are wrapped around his midsection, my feet between his thighs that were bent upward, swaying from side to side lazily.

“Do you think there really are such things as aliens?” He mumbles, playing with my fingers on my free hand with his own.

“Well, if we’re the most intelligent thing to exist then that’s sad… But yeah, there’s gotta be something else out there.” I reply with a yawn.

“Yeah, you’re right.” He hums as he starts to pull at the loose strands of fabric around the rip in my jeans, “I think animals are smarter than us though… I mean, we’re a pretty fucking challenged species. Human’s are gonna go extinct someday, wiped out like the dinosaurs!”Alex rambles.

“I wish we’d be wiped out like the dinosaurs.” I joke and he pinches me.

“No, bad… Only happy thoughts.” He smiles tiredly.

“That’s the only happy thought I have, baby.” I chuckles and Alex does as well.

“Hey, do you think that someday they’ll invent something so that gays can have babies of their own?” Alex suddenly asks, glancing up at me.

“‘Lex, they still haven’t figured out how to cure the common cold yet, think about this.” Alex erupts into a fit of giggles.

“You got me there!” He’s smiling from ear to ear, I love him, he’s so perfect. I can’t help but admire him.

Everything about him is so perfect, from the lines on his face from laughing too much or the way the corners of his eyes crinkle when he smiles too big. From the way he looks at me to the way his touch feels. From him to everything he does.

I love Alexander Gaskarth.

But, I’m too afraid to say it out loud.

Patrick

Pete looked so comfortable when they knocked him out with all those drugs. It was to stop the pain and it seemed to work pretty well. I held his hand as he slept, I truly felt horrible for him. It was really my fault since I had him go up there. I don’t understand how he would still want me after that but he did.

“I really like you.” I hum and brush some hair out of his face.

Pete was special, he’s the only person I’ve ever felt anything towards other than lust. He makes my heart swell with this weird indescribable ache, and I’ll just doing something with him that we always do and I’m just suddenly so overcome with this flooding in my chest that makes it so hard to catch my breath and it feels like I’m just going to burst because I just want him so much and I love them more than words could ever describe and I want those feelings to be describable but I just… can’t . I try so hard to think of anything that could describe it but I just fail.

Pete Wentz is indescribable. That’s all that I can think of.

“You really are something, Pete.”

Chapter Masterlist ~

Previous -

One - The Gum Habit Gone Bad

Two - On the Rooftop with You

Three - I Have a Forehead Texting Me and He’s Kind of Cute?

Four - Memories I Keep Locked Away for Times Like This

Five - Crying into the Void That is You

Six - A New Year and a New Us and Some New Friends

Seven - Abandoning You Was My Worst Mistake but Somehow You’re Still There For Me

Eight - A Meal For Two, A Car Ride For The Damned and A Love To Fool Them All.

Nine - Falling For You

Next -

Eleven - It’s Always So Hard To Say Goodbye

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