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natequarter · 1 year

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38 & 41 for Humphrey & Sophie please!

38: “I could never leave you, not that I’d tried.”

41: “I’d never guess that I’d end up here with you.”

Ao3 | prompts

Humphrey had zoned out of the banquet several hours ago—which was probably a mistake, because John was next to him, busy chatting his ear off about…

Well, he had no idea; he hadn’t been listening. Nor, he suspected, had his wife; she was nodding with the same glazed-over expression to the courtier next to her, whom he could have sworn was going on about the declining quality of Dutch rugs these days. It was baffling that anyone knew anything about Dutch carpets in the first place, never mind enough to rant about them in Latin.

Never mind that. He forced himself to focus on John, who seemed to have finally realised that Humphrey wasn’t paying the slightest attention to him.

“It’s not your wife, is it?” John was saying.

“Wha’?” he said, through a mouthful of food, then realised his mistake. “Sorry, what were you saying?”

“I was saying, it’s not your wife that’s got you all distracted, is it?” John repeated. “You weren’t listening to me.”

The, And you haven’t been for the last three hours, went unspoken but pointed.

“Oh, Jesu, no,” Humphrey said. “Well, that’s a bit harsh, but, uh … no, not really.”

“Unfortunate,” he said. “Well, that’s the French for you. Good for, ah, how do I put this politely? Not much.”

“Apparently nor are the Dutch,” Humphrey said.

“God’s fish, what are you talking about?”

“The bloke two seats to the right, he’s been droning on about how Holland’s flooring’s really gone down the drain in recent years,” Humphrey said. “I swear, I’ve been trying to tune him out, but it’s like that bloody Heywood everyone’s always harping on about—can’t get him out of my head.”

“Heywood?” John said. “Well, you know me: I—”

“Don’t do books,” Humphrey nodded.

“Yes, that—the only book that matters, if you don’t mind me saying, is the Bible. Haven’t so much as skimmed any plays for years … but if I had, I certainly wouldn’t have gone for the works of a Catholic.”

Humphrey resisted the urge to wince at Sophie’s sudden flinch. “Well … it’s not as if he’s around these parts anymore, is it?”

“True, true.”

“I just wish—with the arts, you know—that they’d come up with something new. Poets, I mean. How many Petrarchan sonnets is it even possible to write before a man goes out of his mind with boredom?”

“I wouldn’t know; I’ve never tried to write them. Perhaps you should find a new hobby, Humphrey. I hear bear-baiting is popular in London these days…”

“I’ll stick to hunting, thanks,” Humphrey said, and took another sip of wine. He was grateful for the spices; they masked the bitter taste lurking underneath. Such drinks unseasoned were almost universally disgusting, but he treasured the drowsy calm of inebriation too much to give them up.

He was, he suspected, well on his way to being drunk—but it was a welcome distraction from the drudgery of thinking, and it wasn’t like he was in the habit of doing extraordinarily stupid things when intoxicated.

Well, mostly.

“Left,” Humphrey said. “No, right. Or … do you know, I think we’re lost.”

“Sans fucking blague,” Sophie snapped, and he blinked at her.

“Did you just…?”

“Oui.”

“And would you happen to know which way—”

“À gauche,” she sighed, and dragged him to the left, which he had not seen coming.

“Right,” he said, swallowing. Her hand was warm against his, and she had quite a strong grip, things he would not have known otherwise.

They stumbled back to his room successfully, which felt like a miracle; he closed the door and collapsed on his bed, and she followed him.

He sat up. “You’re still here?”

He hadn’t meant for his voice to rise like that.

Sophie nodded. She was still holding his hand.

He didn’t know what to say to that. He didn’t know what to say to any of this. On any other day she would have fled: on any other day she would have put as much distance as possible between their two bodies, whether that be to the other side of the bed, or (when he was away, and she was not) to the other side of the country. And yet—she was still here. (She was also most likely drunk. Maybe that explained it.)

“Was he Dutch?” said Humphrey, to lessen the silence.

A series of understandings flitted through her eyes: a comprehension of the words he was saying, though he did not think she had the slightest clue of what they pertained to. And below all that: a subtle disappointment.

“The guy who was going on about flooring. Rugs. Mats. Was he Dutch?”

“No, Flemish.”

“Right,” he said. “It’s funny … I’d never have guessed that I’d end up here with you.”

“On est marié,” she said softly. She was looking at him in a funny way, as if she were searching for something; he wondered if she had found it.

He always worried that he was too easy to read.

“I could never leave you,” he said. “Not that I’ve tried,” he added hastily. “It’s strange, isn’t it? But—well—” Humphrey fumbled for words. “At the end of the day, it’s just you and me. I mean, sure, there’s other people who’ll stick around—but that’s their choice. You and me … like it or not, we’ll be together, in this world and the next.”

Sophie was looking at him with a sideways curiosity, and he wondered if she had seen some loathsome part of his soul that he hadn’t meant to bare. In fact, she was awfully close; she was all warmth and nearness, which was new, her cassonade eyes mellowed by the flickering candlelight. She was waiting for something, and so was he; they were both waiting for a first move, though whether they agreed on what that move might be was up in the air.

“Vous croyez?” she said in earnest.

“Um,” he said.

In that hesitant moment, she kissed him.

He had always dreamed, when he was younger, of freedom from the endless expectations of his parents. He had been old enough that he had not really gone willingly; he had watched his dreams be dashed at the altar, even with the knowledge that that was always how things would end up for him. But still—he had indulged in the fantasy of choice. In truth, he had never really stopped. He would dream of running quite literally into a woman in London, a smiling woman with dark hair and a green patterned dress—though these were mere fabrications to support the narrative—and that she would drop something, perhaps a plate. (He knew nothing of what women carried around in the streets of London.) She would laugh bashfully and apologise—all English, no French—he would smile and say it was his own fault, really.

It didn’t have to be that, even. Sometimes he dreamed that he might marry, well into his teens, his twenties even, for a woman at court had caught his eye; sometimes that his parents would think to marry him off to someone more reasonable, less obstinate, and not French—someone from the Low Countries, maybe, a sensible woman of Amsterdam and not Paris. Venetian, even, or Genoese; just someone who actually spoke English, or would at least concede to Latin. Maybe he would have been content to never marry; there were always men to play tennis and chess with, always friends to go a-hunting with. He would have been satisfied with any of the above, except perhaps a Spaniard; they were too far in the wrong direction—even worse than the French—and he’d always felt that the word Spaniard sounded a little too like bastard.

But any of that would have made sense; reality, on the other hand, delighted in the nonsensical—making out with a woman he didn’t love, who didn’t love him, on his bed, for example. His hands fumbled for direction, for purpose; he grasped her shoulders—bony as hell, but that was true of most shoulders—he let himself be straddled, he felt the hands at his doublet, and he thought of the familiarity of it. He had only ever gone to bed with one other person—dear, sweet Jane: that had been three years ago now, and at any rate it had only lasted two months before he’d lost his nerve and asked her in the kindest way he could think of to leave. Not the house, just his bedchamber, though inevitably she’d left for brighter horizons, and this was completely the wrong thing to be thinking about because Sophie was nothing like Jane; there was none of the same fear of offence to her and certainly there were no illusions of tenderness in the way she moved against him.

He wanted—he wanted—God, did he ever want. Clothing got in the way; there were too many layers and it was all far too fiddly and there, there was a good reason to want Elizabeth dead: the fashions she promoted were far too complicated when one was trying to undress, especially when any ridiculous notions of thinking had completely drifted away (or down south).

“Sophie,” he panted, when she had managed to wrench off his doublet, and he had half succeeded in removing her French hood, “were you planning on—asking—”

She pulled away, momentarily, and said: “Then do you want this?”

Which was a question that didn’t need answering; he pulled her in for another kiss, deeper this time, and took pleasure in her soft moan against his mouth.

“Please,” she gasped as his hands wandered lower, down towards her chest, her eyes wide and wanting. “I—I need you.”

It would have been hot—it was hot—he was already hopelessly distracted and they’d barely gone anywhere—if not for the fact that it was the first and last time he had seen her give in and let herself rely on him.

Humphrey woke up, and instantly regretted it. It was too bright—well, it wasn’t; the room was lit with the muted yellow hue of sunlight through curtains—but that was still too much for his pounding head. He closed his eyes, and opened them again, hoping it might help; alas, it did not.

He sat up, awkwardly, pulling at tangled sheets as he did so. When he tried to get out of bed (he was grateful, for once, that he had slept in his clothes), he was distracted by the strands of her hair, individually a monochromatic array of straw and amber, fawn and roan, shifting as the light did; together they wove a tapestry of implacable brown hair, impossible to be reduced down to one flat shade. Once he had been distracted by such a small feature it was not difficult to let himself admire the rest of her: that normally harsh, unsmiling mouth, softened by the innocence of sleep; those long, deft fingers, perhaps apt for creation in a world where she did not loathe tapestries; her eyelashes, her collarbone, her philtrum—that gentle dint in between a nose and a mouth which both went straight down.

She was beautiful, and he didn’t know a thing about her.

“Humphrey?” Sophie mumbled, halfway between dreams and the waking world. In that haze of sleep she missed out the h at the beginning of his name, leaving it a somewhat softer sound than he was used to. “Quel…”

“We are never talking about this again,” he said. “Ever.”

“À propos de—?” She sat up, as he had, and looked around in bewilderment at the evidence of the careless attention they had paid each other: at the doublet tossed onto the floor with haste, at the tangled sheets around them, at the various bruises blossoming down from her neck, and said, “On ne le discute plus jamais.”

He was pretty sure she hadn’t quite caught what he was saying, and dead certain that she had then repeated precisely what he had said, just in French.

“What John said,” Humphrey said, searching for something else to say without bringing the conversation to an end as abrupt as being thrown from a bucking horse. “Well, you know him, he’s always been very reformist, which is to say, I don’t think that any of what he’s saying is necessarily right, but we are sort of mates, and if you could please not punch him in the face next time we meet? That would be nice. Thanks.”

“Fine,” she said. “He is wrong, but fine.”

“Good. Okay. I mean, not that I’m suggesting you’d punch him in the face—decorum, propriety, etcetera … but that’s nice to know.”

“You ramble too much,” she muttered, and then lay back down again, hair fanning out like a halo for a particularly annoying saint—not that he could picture her ever martyring herself.

“Well, I’m sorry,” he retorted. “Next time, I’ll—”

But she had gone back to sleep, or at the very least closed her eyes and done a good job of regulating her breathing. Typical.

(Now that he thought about it, it was probably the latter.)

He rolled his eyes, and set out in search of a jug of water.

#asks #humphrey bone #sophie bone #hot tudors in your area #bbc ghosts #fic

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theneondemonx · 3 years

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Promising Young Woman | JJK

DRABBLE FROM HOUDINI

▽ summary: this is the first encounter between oc and Jungkook, when she was still a fifteen-year-old who used to sneak in movie theatres.

▽ genre: just.. normal shit.

▽ pairings: jk x fem!reader

▽ words: 886

▽ warnings: none really, I guess.

[⏵playlist]

No more than five people were in the movie theatre that afternoon. It didn’t surprise you: that’s what always happened when they were screening old movies. You had already watched The Big Sleep before, but you went anyways. You loved that movie, and you had a ridiculous crush on Humphrey Bogart – which was pretty weird for a fifteen-year-old like you were.

That’s the kind of man I want. Charming and confident. Effortlessly classy, but not an uptown prick. Unfortunately, they don’t make men like these anymore. Maybe they never did. Maybe he wasn’t like that either.

You sighed, taking a seat in one of the back rows of the dark room you had just snuck in. No one ever noticed you: you were a tiny girl with big innocent eyes, who could easily hide or pass for someone’s daughter. More likely, though, no one in there was paid enough to actually care.

You placed your feet on top of the empty seat in front of yours, resting your elbows on the armrests to comfortably enjoy the movie.

And you did.. for something like ten minutes.

You had felt someone entering the theatre and sitting behind you, but you didn’t feel the need to turn around. Why would you care? That need, however, soon became an imperative when you felt that person crossing his arms on top of your seat and leaning over to talk to you.

“Miss, can I see your ticket?”

You gulped, slowly turning to look behind your shoulders. A dark-haired boy was looking at you with a polite smile.

Shit!

The movie theatre was a small independent one, so their employees had no uniform or badge to show that they worked there. There was no reason for you to not believe the guy, so you started to frantically feel your pockets, as if you were looking for the ticket. It was all an act, of course. You didn’t have one, but you had to make him think you had paid for the movie.

“I think I’ve thrown it away. I can’t find it.” You murmured with your sweet voice, looking up at him with the face of a lost little angel.

He sighed, shaking his head and tapping his index finger on the top edge of your seat.

“I think you are lying to me, Miss. I saw you sneaking in.”

You blushed in embarrassment, and your teary eyes widened while your lips started to tremble.

“P-please, please, I promise I’ll never do it again. I have no money to pay for the ticket, but I will. I-I’ll clean the theatre to repay you.”

He chuckled, resting his chin on his crossed arms and tilting his head to look at you. Even though the room was pretty dark, you could notice that he was a good-looking boy – which made you feel even more embarrassed, somehow.

“What’s your name, honey?”

“Y/N.”

Your voice was a mere whisper.

“And how old are you?”

“Fifteen.”

He raised his eyebrows, smiling to himself.

“You look younger.”

Yeah, everyone tells me so.

“And you like these kind of movies, Y/N?”

You just nodded, sniffling a bit.

“What do you like about them?”

You furrowed your eyebrows, surprised by the question to which you didn’t really know how to respond.

“Mh.. I don’t know. I like the fact that they don’t bomb you with special effects or absurd plots to get your attention. They don’t feel the need to constantly entertain you.” You shrugged. “They have an honest way to play pretend.”

New movies, on the other hand, I find them suffocating. They look like sad clowns trying to force a laugh out of you with every mean they have.

He smiled at you, staring in silence like he was admiring something only he could see. Again, you blushed, lowering your eyes to avoid the intimate contact with his.

“As honest as you can expect a man to be in a world where its going out of style.”

The quote was from the book the movie was based on, but since you had not read it, you didn’t get the reference and just stared at him, speechless, with your lips parted. You felt a sudden admiration towards that boy you knew nothing about.

He noticed and smiled at you like an angel.

“Let’s make a deal, Y/N. I’ll let you finish your movie in peace, but only if you promise me you’ll let me buy you an ice cream once it’s over.”

“B-but.. don’t you have to work?”

He shrugged with easiness.

“My shift ended fifteen minutes ago.”

You bit your lower lip, thinking about his proposition for a few seconds. Then, you nodded vigorously.

“Okay then.”

“By the way, my name is Jungkook.”

It took you weeks to understand that he didn’t actually work there and that he had snuck inside the theatre just like you did. It took you months to realize that a lot of what he said was taken from books. It took you years to figure out that he wasn’t just a smooth talker, but an all around pathological liar.

Maybe he was never a Bogart. But to me he was the next best thing. As honest as you can expect a man to be in a world where its going out of style.

#jungkook fanfic #jungkook x reader #drabble #jk #jjk #jeon jungkook #jungkook drabble #houdini #bts #bts fanfic #bts x reader #bts drabble #fanfic

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lovelyirony · 3 years

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@unfortunatelyevent a late birthday gift for you! special thanks to ava and peachy for giving me this idea :)

When Rhodey got accepted into MIT, he was fifteen, set to turn sixteen when he went there. His family held parties for it, his mama cried, and his dad called about every friend that he’d ever made to tell them the news that his boy was going to MIT.

Outwardly, you couldn’t tell that he was fazed by anything. He got registered for classes, signed up for a random roommate, and kept track of getting his textbooks. His dad bought him a crewneck, told him to start saving up for “the brass rat” ring, and said that he was so excited to help him move in.

Rhodey’s terrified. He doesn’t get sleep, has recurring nightmares about failing out, and he’s much younger than everyone else.

“You’re only two years younger, honey,” Mama says, her hand brushing away flour on his face as he helps her bake cookies. “It’s not gonna be that bad.”

It’s that bad.

Everyone knows more than him, no one talks to him, and he’s nervous as all hell.

He cries for two hours when his parents and his sister leave, telling him to remember to call or write. He thinks that’s the only thing that’ll keep him sane.

He’s one of the younger ones in his engineering class, and someone asked him why he’s taking such hard classes.

“Because this is...my major?” Rhodey answers, confusion written all over him.

“Oh, we thought you played basketball or something,” the other guy says, as if that’s all he can do.

Rhodey doesn’t say anything, doesn’t want them to know how much it burns to hear that, so he just nods and says his coordination is shit.

His roommate also hasn’t moved in yet. Or he has. He has. His name is Anthony, but Rhodey literally never sees him except for when he’s a blanket-burrito in his bed or when he traipses in from spending all night at a frat party or studying at the library.

They say hi to each other. Rhodey asks how things were. “Fine” is the usual response, followed by “I’m gonna go to bed.”

He’s never felt more alone.

He tries not to call his parents often. A lot of people get home-sick, right? But he doesn’t think that anyone else wants to call their parents every single day.

“So, what fun things have you been up to?” Dad asks over the phone. “My boy been partying out all night?”

“I’ve just been focusing on studying,” Rhodey mumbles. “Not a lot of time for parties.”

“Your roommate okay?” Mama asks. “What’s his name again...Anthony?”

“Yeah, he’s alright. I don’t see him much, he stays out late a lot.”

“Even on school nights?”

“Even then, mama,” Rhodey says. “Listen, I gotta head to lunch, but I’ll call you later this week?”

“Be sure it’s not on Friday, we’re headed to Jeanette’s band concert! We love you, Jim!”

“Love you too!” he responds, hoping to god they can’t tell how sad he is when their phone calls cut off. He misses his home, misses waking up to the smell of bacon and eggs in the morning, his mom kissing everyone’s foreheads as they rush out of the house to school or work.

He hates it here.

But he can’t leave.

His chest gets tight when he imagines calling his parents or telling them at a holiday party that he doesn’t want to go there anymore, he’s not ready.

Would his scholarship be guaranteed two years later? No. They would ask him why and he can’t tell them the real reason why. He can keep up with schoolwork no problem. In fact, that’s the least of his worries.

It’s just so goddamned lonely. His roommate isn’t anywhere, no one talks to him, and he doesn’t know anyone in Boston.

He walks back into the room, and Anthony’s sitting on his bed. It’s the first time he’s actually seen him.

His hair is everywhere, he’s looking at Rhodey for the first time and he looks so young. Just like him.

“Are you eighteen?” he blurts out. “You really don’t look like it.”

“I’m, um, sixteen,” Rhodey says. “And you...?”

“Fifteen,” he says quietly.

“You’re fifteen and you’ve been out every night?!”

“I’m mostly at the library!” Anthony defends. “Friday is for the partying, but mostly the library!”

“That’s good to know,” Rhodey says faintly.

“And you’re in college, why aren’t you going to parties with me?” Anthony asks.

“I don’t have time, Anthony!”

“No,” he says. “You are not calling me Anthony, that’s so stupid. Call me Tony, everyone does.”

“You know a lot of people at this school?”

“More like they know me,” Tony says with a shrug.

“How so?”

“What, you haven’t seen my dad on magazine covers or anything?”

“Uh...am I supposed to?” Rhodey asks. “He an actor or something?”

Tony snorts, pulling out a magazine that he’d obviously nabbed earlier on.

On the cover is Howard Stark.

Rhodey looks between Tony and the face on the cover.

“Oh. Shit.”

Tony cackles.

“Rhodey, I think I’m going to like you. How’d you get that nickname?”

“Wouldn’t stop following my older cousins around, they nicknamed me that as word-play off of ‘roadie’.”

Tony snorts.

“That’s so lame. I love it. Hey, listen. I gotta go get a book for one of my projects, you wanna come with me? I know that one of your classes needs a book, right?”

“Yeah, my writing class. Wants some biography.”

“Come on, let’s go.”

Tony...he’s a good conversationalist. For once since he’s gotten here, Rhodey isn’t letting the impending panic of being alone consume him. He walks easily instead of nearly on his toes around campus, and his eyes aren’t darting everywhere as Tony tells him about something stupid that happened in his early morning class.

“You know who you’re doing your biography assignment on?”

“Has to be someone who’s had a profound effect on your life. I don’t know who.”

“Scientist or what? What are you studying?”

“Aerospace engineering.”

“Holy shit, you’re smart,” Tony swears.

“Says the son of a genius billionaire.”

“Yeah but I don’t touch aerospace with a sixty foot pole,” Tony says. “Jesus, you’re incredible. How did you even know you wanted to do this?”

“I’ve always liked the myths and stuff behind space, and I liked how we discovered more and more over time,” Rhodey says. “The moon was cool as shit.”

“Or was it...faked?”

Rhodey shoots him a look, and Tony’s cackling.

“You did not.”

“Who knows? I come from a very rich families. Rich families buy politicians and also cover up every single scandal. Who knows what I know?”

Rhodey looks over at him, eyebrows raised.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Oh my dear,” Tony says, holding a hand to his chest. “You have so much more to learn about your new friend.”

Friend.

That makes him feel better.

He finds a book on Humphrey Bogart.

Bogart has not had a profound effect on his life at all. Ever. He’s never even seen a movie with the guy in it, although it’s the only book that he can find that looks remotely interesting and the library is about to close.

He reads about Bogart quite often. The guy’s...something. Grew up high society, his parents sucked, the typical Hollywood story.

Although he said exactly what was on his mind, which made him popular with the press and unpopular in the business.

It’s intriguing.

It kind of reminds him of Tony, honestly.

The paper itself isn’t due until the semester is over, and the book is over three hundred pages, so he has time to read it.

Tony and him become...closer. Tony hangs around the room more, and Rhodey stops being so lonely, although he still misses Philadelphia badly and calls his parents every week and occasionally talks to his sister.

He always gets a strange look from his roommate, but it never lasts for very long.

Finally, he gets a question from him.

“Why do you always call your parents?”

Rhodey looks at him in surprise.

“I...miss them?”

“Why?”

“They’re my parents. I love them. What, do you not like your parents?”

Tony blinks.

“Uh, no I love them. I guess. They’re just...busy a lot.”

Rhodey doesn’t say anything to that, doesn’t have time as Tony charges forth and asks if he wants to help him present a rocket for one of his clubs.

Halloween comes upon them quickly, and Rhodey has a gigantic test to study for the night of. Tony’s been trying to convince him to come to a costume party with him for the better part of a week, and he was so close until the professor sent out a letter that essentially said, “Surprise! Oops!”

So Tony does something unanticipated: he stays home.

Tony, the life of the party who wouldn’t miss one for the world. Tony, the one who has been talking about how much he loves Halloween parties. He misses it.

“Like you said, I probably don’t need to be at parties all the time,” Tony says. “And I can make you watch Dracula with me. You’re gonna like Lugosi.”

“Who the hell is Lugosi?”

“Oh my god, I’m making you do a monster-movie-marathon. I’ll rent every movie I can find.”

Rhodey shakes his head.

“Okay, but I probably won’t be paying attention tonight. I have to know the difference between a robust and gracile australopithecine.”

“One begins with ‘r’ and one begins with ‘g’, now come on and make the popcorn.”

Tony’s...the best part about him is that he’s himself. He’s loud and sometimes annoying and by god sometimes Rhodey wants to launch him out of a window, but Tony’s also incredibly kind and far more insightful than he ever wants to admit.

They fall asleep surrounded by candy wrappers and a blanket that was definitely too small slung over (mostly) Rhodey.

They get into a good routine, Tony and Rhodey. Rhodey brews the coffee, and Tony doctors it to his heart’s content. It involves a lot of syrups, creams, and sugars. The occasional terrible one, although everyone in Rhodey’s morning lab are jealous when they can smell his coffee.

They go to lunch together, and Rhodey gets the salads and fruits while Tony gets the slices of pizza or hamburgers that they’re so fond of. They argue about philosophy and call each other idiots while stealing the popcorn chicken off of each other’s plates and coexist peacefully.

It’s not until Tony has to leave for some conference that his parents want him at that Rhodey realizes just how much Tony has affected his life. He makes two coffees, almost calls out and asks if they’re still going to get takeout from that should-be-shut-down pizza parlor five blocks off, and realizes he’s all alone.

Again.

So he reads about Humphrey Bogart.

He’s kind of annoying, all things considered. Guy got steady work being the villain/bad-guy type and wants more. It’s steady, what more is there to want?

(His mind whispers that he just views it that way because he has no idea what he’s going to be doing in the future.)

Back to Bogart.

The guy is...kind of interesting. Kind of. He’s still not sure what he has in common with him. He’ll figure it out later. Maybe he can ask Tony for help.

Tony comes back in a whirlwind of emotion, almost all of it rage at his father.

Rhodey sends him a look.

“Shut up about how much your dad sucks and come with me to get food for the week. I had to survive off of hummus.”

“My hummus?!” Tony shrieks. “The garlic?!”

“Yes, I’ll get you more you gigantic baby,” Rhodey says. “Also, what do you think Humphrey Bogart and I have in common?”

“An h, an o, an e, and a y,” Tony answers quickly.

“Besides the letters,” Rhodey scowls.

“Well I’d say you go to different barbers.”

“No shit.”

Tony looks at him, and really looks at him. Rhodey tries to forget how much he loves his eyes, the kindness that’s in them.

"You both like important things,” Tony says. “And you commit to something when you decide you’re going to do it. Just think of the Great Burrito Event of ‘89.”

“We’re still in ‘89, genius.”

“Exactly, still important and still making history as we’re currently living it a day at a time,” Tony says. “Now come on, I need more hummus since you were a monster and attacked the fridge. What, you wanted to be Godzilla for a day?”

"Not Godzilla, just have a power dynamic. Come on, grab the keys. Missed you this weekend.”

“Aw, you do care!” Tony cheers.

“I always care about you,” Rhodey answers.

He misses Tony stilling at the door, feeling the words circle his head like a damned message from Cupid.

(Yeah, he was going to marry Rhodey.)

The holiday season and finals season coexist, which Rhodey thinks is a cruel joke played by God in order to let mortals know where their influence lies.

He’s currently on his fifth cup of coffee in five hours which is most likely dangerous, unsure of if he’s actually seeing the correct numbers on his study guide, and about to blow a gasket if he looks at one more problem. But he has to.

Tony doesn’t study.

He’s of the rare sort that just...remembers, at least when it comes to his important classes. Out of everything he’s had to study, Tony actually had to study something about wine cellars in France, which he hated.

“I’m making you come with me to get ice cream.”

“I don’t have time.”

He’s about to tear his hair out. Everything is riding on these exams, it seems. If he doesn’t do well on these, what are Mama and Dad gonna say when he comes home? What are they going to tell people? He made it to MIT, but he has to make it count.

Tony is looking at him in that way that lets him know that he will get his way.

“You’ve been studying for six hours straight. You’re not gonna learn anything new, and you’re about to cry because you hate stats so much.”

“You’re wrong.”

“You literally have a tear streaming down your face,” Tony deadpans. He crosses the room, wipes it away with his thumb. “Your coat is at the table towards the front, I’m giving you five minutes. And for the love of god, please put on your cologne. You smell like anxiety and anger.”

“Those have scents?”

“Apparently so.”

The cold breeze is a refreshing slap to the face as he walks, hat tugged low.

“It’s cold enough, why do you need ice cream?” Rhodey asks, teeth chattering.

“Never too cold for ice cream.”

“Says the boy who vacations in Malibu for Christmas.”

“Told you that you could come. Not like Howard would notice.”

“I’d rather not take that chance. Besides, I’d miss a Philadelphia Christmas.”

“That a movie or something?”

“No, it’s where I live you son of a bitch,” Rhodey teases.

“I hate you,” Tony says, no real heat clipped to his tone. It’s a back-and-forth they have, all this name-calling and accusatory behavior. “I’m going to request a new roommate next year.”

“Like they’d stick you with anyone else. Or would anyone else cover for the seven fires you’ve nearly started this year?”

“Six out of seven wouldn’t have been fires.”

“They would’ve.”

“Says the man who doesn’t work at all with fire, but with graph paper. Do want your Christmas gift to be a pocket-protector, by the way?”

“Oh fuck you.”

“You wish,” Tony says, winking.

He gets peanut butter chocolate.

When they get home, he makes a bowl for Rhodey.

“Your tests aren’t until noon tomorrow. Get some sleep, babe.”

“And what, you’re going to get some too, honey?”

(Pet names are also a thing. And also more favorable to both, although neither knows the other’s thoughts on this subject.)

Tony grins.

“You want both of us to sleep?”

Rhodey and Tony have figured out a nifty trick: soap operas or Seinfeld. Whichever one is on, they’ll watch that and fall asleep on the futon, which should be as uncomfortable as any futon is.

(They both think the temporary backaches are worth it to be in each other’s arms.)

Tony drifts to sleep, although he makes sure that Rhodey’s first. He pulls him over to his side, head resting on his thigh.

“You this forward with every guy you bring home?”

"Only the cute ones,” Tony grins. “Come on, get comfy. You’re gonna get sleepy.”

“Like hell I am,” Rhodey says. “You’re gonna fall asleep...first.”

Rhodey falls asleep first. Mouth slightly agape, eyelashes fluttering against his cheeks.

“Like hell you are,” Tony murmurs, adjusting the blankets. (They’ve upgraded to fancy hotel ones that Tony may or may not have stolen.)

Rhodey will be okay. He just has to convince himself first.

#i saw a post that was like 'we never get to see rhodey panic about college and so here it is #rhodey #this drew HEAVILY from my freshman year of college #god what an experience #lovelyirony writes #also my dear i am so sorry that this is coming to you so late #time and inspiration got away from me #rhodeytony #tony stark #mit era #rhodey and tony at mit #college au #unfortunatelyevent

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freddiekluger · 3 years

Note

Do you think that if the ghosts sees period dramas set in their time, it will reignite memories of their life?

i think it definitely depends on the accuracy and style of the drama- if they're too poorly researched, any attempts at reverie would be totally disrupted by the historical and visual inaccuracies (think: thomas yelling about the 'roccoco legs' during the byron shoot). of course the other big thing is setting: it's all well and good to watch to a movie set in your time period, but if it's based in a country you've never been to (especially for the older/less privileged ghosts like mary and robin, who probably didn't have much knowledge of the world outside of their continent when they were alive), it's not going to feel particularly familiar.

working on the assumption that we have at least partial historical and geographical accuracy, here's how i think each of the ghosts would respond to

robin: considering how little we actually know about early human history, i don't think robin would be that fussed by any attempt to put that on film- he'd still appreciate a good caveman joke, although he's not a big fan of how stupid every movie assumes they would have been (it's not like they had omega-3 tablets back then!). robin's unspeakably old, and for the most part he seems to have processed through all the parts of his past that he possibly can, and is now committed to enjoying his time at button house as much as he can (a big part of this is his prankster spirit and frankly underrated friendliness), so it would have to take a lot more than a stone age movie to rake up serious conflict.

mary: given her incredibly traumatic death, mary avoids virtually anything that hints of fire or witchcraft which is where things become difficult. i think mary could really enjoy a film set in her time if it follows a working family not dissimilar to her own- it could help her remember some of the positive things from her life, and probably help her feel a lot more seen as she often ends up misunderstood or ignored by the other ghosts (pat initially dismissing mary's advice about the camera work because he didn't think she properly understood what was happening; the ghosts focusing on correcting her speech more than what she actually says). the problem is, almost all movies set in mary's time that follow people from her class end up focusing on the witch trials, which is a BIG no no for her.

humphrey: i think humphrey could really enjoy watching some tudor set films. like mary, he often gets ignored (and straight up left behind), so watching a period film absolutely gives him the opportunity to feel a bit more seen and stew on those long forgotten memories like post-meal games of cards with friends, or the occasional hunting trip when the king came to visit (the trips themselves were more stressful than anything, but mouthing off about them with the king's entourage after he went to bed was always a highlight). humphrey would definitely have a keen eye for inaccuracies, but i don't think they'd bother him. it's just nice to have things be about him for a change (if by him, we mean having all the ghosts watching something that is vaguely related to his alive-period and actually looking to him with questions instead of just using his head as their personal football/security camera/magic 8ball).

kitty: kitty is one of the ghosts who accesses her memories pretty easily- she has no problem with thinking about her life, even when the anecdotes are screamingly sad to anyone listening. so a period film would naturally bring some memories, but i don't know if they'd be anything radical or new- kitty's real growth and drama would come from her leaving behind the rationalisations of what clearly was severe neglect. actually on that note, while not quite kitty's environment, i think she might get a lot out of Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. something about the themes of the loneliness that comes with growing up in high society and only being valued for what your status and your biology can give to your family and your husband (who you likely didn't choose), along with feeling like an outsider and being visibly othered, even by those you outrank, no matter how friendly and approachable and like them you make yourself (while not necessarily linked to the broader themes of familial neglect kitty's character touches on, i think her experiences as a georgian noblewoman of colour would have to have impacted her growing up and also socially- i'd love to hear any thoughts on this from fans of colour, as i'm white and so any theories i could come up with would likely be a poor approximation). and she'd definitely like the pretty dresses and stunning rooms of versailles, and for that i can't blame her.

thomas: most of thomas we sort of got to see in Free Pass- the detail nitpicking, the excitement until a specific trigger from his life (in this case, lord byron, the man thomas considers his greatest enemy, although i’d be curious to know whether byron acually had any idea of thomas thorne’s existence) causes him to go into a full thomas hissy-fit. sure, the emotion is real to him, but he absolutely plays it up, even trying to get humphrey’s body to fetch alison so she can see how ‘upset’ he is (thomas reminds me of a child in this respect). there’d probably be less of the tantruming for a movie that had already been made, although i’m not so sure about the memory point. The Thomas Thorne Affair sort of brought out thomas’s big Unresolved Life Mystery, and now i think all that’s left for him to work through has got to be a lot more internal. sure, he’d be reminded of a few good old parties, and maybe any romance scenes might trigger some of the sad isabelle/general lost love emotions, but i don’t think they’d be anything particularly spectacular.

fanny: now fanny would be a real stickler for accuracy. she would be calling out every makeup, decorative, hair, wardrobe, architectural, and lingual failure with the classic lady button judgement in her voice. this is probably half because she can't help herself, but half a measure to distract herself from actually having to pay proper attention and relive her life. i think fanny struggles a lot with no longer running her own household (along with the shifting morals, and fashions, of the modern world), and so to be reminded of everything she can no longer have would be tough. i'm not saying she would long for a time when women didn't have a lot of rights, but she went from a wealthy society woman who held a lot of power in her own sphere to a ghost, unable to touch anything or even be seen by the living (save for the photo glitch), and stuck spending her days with a motley crew of equally frustrating ghosts whom she doesn't always feel respected by (noting that 'respect' to fanny is much the same as deference). she could have it a lot worse, but i think fanny would much prefer to not have to think about her old life.

the captain: the captain is an interesting one. he's one of the few ghosts who actively seeks out media related to his time, although that's within the impersonal war documentary which focuses on facts and mechanics as opposed to day to day realities and feelings. on the one hand, any war film for the captain would be sure to rake up memories of wartime (even if he never made the front- that remains unconfirmed), and the immense grief that comes with watching the people around you slowly stop returning home. the captain is a war fanatic, and has no problem talking about the great battles, victories, and tactics, so i think the heightened emotional states that a film presents would be the key to unlocking the captain's inevitable wartime trauma and going beyond the surface level facts. for that reason, i'd really like the captain to see Peter Weir's Gallipoli. i know it's the wrong war and the wrong country (although the australian's were technically part of the British forces), but i think the overarching themes of the idolisation of the military, the deconstruction of the glory of war, and the intense (bordering on the homoerotic) although never quite realised relationship between Archy and Frank (which, spoiler alert, ends in tragedy), could give the captain a lot in terms of food for thought and unlocking some of those deeper experiences. on the other hand, the captain watching a period film set in the years before his war could be equally interesting- i think they'd play on some his is insecurities and general issues surrounding the difficulty he may have had fitting in with day-to-day life (not just due to his homosexuel répression, but due to his broader issues with fitting in socially which we see through his interactions with both the ghosts and his own forces- some particularly valid fans have used these to headcanon cap as autistic). in short, films would unlock a fair few memories for cap, but even more EMOTIONS.

pat: with pat and julian it gets interesting because while yes, technically any movie set in a non-current time period is a ‘period piece’, you also have to deal with the fact that they’re going to have less impact on their respective ghosts because you also have actual movies from those periods floating around. for this reason, my answers for pat and julian are relatively similar: they wouldnt have any more memories appear than for any film coming from while they were alive. for pat, this means he’d get pretty excited about ones that came from his childhood (pat would be a giant sci fi fan don’t @ me he loves technology), but i think anything that came with too strong a family attachmet, or that he watched in the weeks/months/year leading up to his death might bring out the angry pat we saw in Happy Death Day and Perfect Day. anger is how his inherent death trauma (and the additional loss that comes from the world moving on without you) manifests, so i definitely think that would come out here, even if he isn’t quite able to put his finger on why specific movies make him so angry/irritated. for pat, childhood memories would abound, but the closer we get to his death, there’s less memories but definitely more unresolved emotion.

julian: see my point above about the whole period-film-vs-regular-film thing. julian doesn’t really strike me as a movie person, and i definitely think he wouldn’t give much care to the influx of 80s/90s set british political media (think The Iron Lady etc). in his words, “i don’t really care for politics, and they’re all too busy trying to push their labor propaganda”. he just makes a captain-inspired noise when alison reminds him that he WAS a politician. julian is another character who accesses his memories pretty easily (although they’re usually either horny or at least slightly morally bankrupt), and i honestly find it hard to give a tory emotions so i’m very excited to see how the christmas special manages. julian is a self-centred bloke though, so i think only things that are directly about him could have the power to rake up buried memories and feelings. now i really want to see julian watching a documentary on himself and just getting outraged.

thanks for this one, sorry for the delay!!

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flowerpowell · 5 years

Text

Meet-Cute (Drake x MC)

PART THREE

Part Three is here! Sorry it took me so long but I had a very busy week. Next part is going to be sooner than later for sure! Also, as I will mention in the end note this is mostly a filler chaper but also quite important. I hope you’ll like and as always, feedback is very appreciated!

All rights go to Pixelberry, I dont own the characters.

Rating: PG-13

Word count: ~1880

“So you agreed to the date with Luke only because your new teacher was near?”

“No! Of course not!” It wasn’t a lie. Maybe only half of a lie. But Amara didn’t have to know.

“I like Luke and you know it. And what if Mr Stagger heard it? He’s my teacher.”

“Uh huh,” Amara raised her eyebrow and turned her attention back to her notebook, “It didn’t sound like it.”

“What do you mean?”

“By what you just said, this new teacher acts like he doesn’t like you and in guys’ langauage it means he likes you and is jealous of you. Man, I thought you were the one studying psychology!” Amara shook her head amused.

“Very funny,” Riley frowned. “He’s not jealous, he’s just being pain in the ass. As usual though,” she added quietly so that Amara couldn’t hear her. Truth be told, if he liked her he would have done something before she had to leave. But he didn’t. And now they were here.

Riley sighed looking at herself in the dress she picked for her date with Luke. It was a black mini dress that she wore to Liam’s second bachelor party. The same one she wore when she played “Never Have I Ever” with Drake. Her smile faded slightly when she remembered that she had to trick Drake into admitting he had dreams about her. And that she had to ask him to kiss her. As always. If only he had tried to fight for me then. Initiate something instead of waiting for me. If only...

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. Riley looked at Amara but her friend only gave her a wink and disappeared in the bathroom. She opened the door and gasped at the sight of Luke. He looked good...very good.

“You...wow, you look amazing,” Luke started, his eyes wide open admiring her in the dress.

“You look amazing too,” she smiled. “Where are you taking me?”

“I thought maybe dinner? My parents’ friends have this cozy Italian restaurant and I wanted to take you there... To cliché?” Luke asked worriedly studying Riley’s face.

“No,” she chuckled, “I like cliché.”

Smiling, he took Riley’s hand and led her to their destination. They talked about Luke’s obsession with cinema, he talked about his favorite Hollywood’s Golden Age actors and Riley felt relaxed, for the first time in weeks.

“Oh no, no, no. Gregory Peck is the best. Have you seen To Kill a Mockingbird? Masterpiece!” Riley laughed when Luke was shaking his head.

“Nope, sorry, Humphrey Bogard is the icon. You can’t change my mind!”

“We’ll see about it. Roman Holiday or Sabrina?” she asked raising an eyebrow.

“Not fair! Roman Holiday is a winner here but I see what you’re doing. I’m still team Humphrey.”

When they finally reached the place, they were in much better moods than in the morning. The inside was beautiful and it smelled really delicious there. Everything would be perfect if it didn’t remind her that much of that one date with Drake in Italy. Oh how she wished she could stop thinking about him.

“Everything’s okay?” Luke asked when they sat down and got their menus.

“Yes! Of course, this place is amazing! Thank you for bringing me here.”

“You’re welcome. After this horrendous meeting with our new history professor you deserve only the best.” He lowered his voice and looked her deep into eyes, “Are you sure you’re okay? If he tried anything we can always report him. No one can treat you, or anyone for that matter, like this. He’s—“

“I’m fine, Luke. Really. Let’s not talk about him anymore, please.”

Riley scanned through the card and decided on lasagna, the one meal Drake forgot to order that night in Italy. Luke never came back to the topic again and soon they were talking about their childhood and dreams for the future.

Time flew by really quickly and before she realized it, it was already nine and she had fifty-four missed calls. All from Nadia.

Shit.

“I’m sorry, I need to call my friend back, I’ll be right back!” Riley excused herself and ran to the restroom hoping Nadia wouldn’t be too mad.

“SPENCER!!!!! Ohmygod, WHY YOU’RE NOT ANSWERING YOUR PHONE!!! I was about to ask Damien to help me find you, I thought someone kidnapped you! Stop scaring me like this or I’ll come here myself. You have no idea what I--”

“Nadia! Take a breath, I’m fine! I’m sorry, I just had a long day and now I’m on a date and--”

“HOLD UP, YOU’RE ON A DATE?!” Nadia started squealing and Riley had to put her phone away from her ear. “Why you’re not telling me anything?! Is it this hottie Luke? Please tell me it’s him!”

“Yes, it is him. But Nadia--”

“I KNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW IT!!! I kneeeew it! Ha! I sensed that, I’m so happy for you Spenc! So happy I can forgive you my heart attacks today!”

Riley shook her head laughing. Typical Nadia. “I’m glad. I’m gonna call you later and you’ll tell me all about Steve but now I have to go back to Luke okay?”

“Okaaaay! Love you Spenc!”

Riley hung up and joined Luke at their table.

“Everything’s fine?” he asked offering her a coat.

“Yes, sorry, my friend was worried about me. What about--?” she started looking for a waiter as they still needed to pay the bill but Luke only shook his head.

“I took care of it. Now we need to go home or else we’ll be zombies at tomorrow’s 7:15 classes.”

“Thank you. I owe you a dinner. Or a coffee. Whichever you prefer,” she smiled, walking out of the building hand in hand with Luke.

They didn’t talk much on their way back and Riley had time to think about everything that happened that day. First Drake who appeared all of the sudden in her life again, then Nadia screaming over her new boyfriend Steve, and now Luke who asked her out. For real. But too surreal.

~~~~

A few days later, when Riley was entering the history classroom, she thought that maybe Drake coming back was only a dream but no, he was already there, freezing her with his stare and she knew the class wouldn’t be easy.

Drake was talking to one of the students and Riley decided to enter through a different door to avoid him.

“Hey, watch it!” one of Riley’s classmates, Amanda, yelled. Riley only rolled her eyes as Amanda was a typical mean girl, the one you’d typically meet in high school.

Guess some people never grow up.

She marched towards Luke’s desk and smiled at him already sitting and rereading his notes.

“Hey,” she said and Luke looked up from his notebook.

“Hey! How are you?”

“I’m good, a little sleep deprived but fine,” she chuckled.

“Hey, I wanted to thank you for the other night. I had so much fun and I was hoping we could do that again sometime soon,” Luke said and Riley instinctively glanced towards Drake.

There was no doubt he heard them. He looked furious.

Riley knew he could be jealous but they were free people after all, they never dated so there was no reason why he should be so angry.

“Mhm, sure. I’d like that too,” she replied not even looking at Luke. He turned his attention back to his notes and Riley was nervously fidgeting with her pen. It was still a minute or two before classes were supposed to start but she already wanted to run away.

She heard Amanda talking about something to her minions and Riley tried to ignore her when she heard Drake’s new name and decided to listen.

For research purposes, of course.

“He’s totally my type. Older. Broody. Well-built. Hot. Sassy.” Amanda started listing Drake’s qualities and Riley felt like she was going to throw up.

“You’re totally his type too!” Minion number one replied and minion number two nodded eagerly.

Oh, please!

“Looking at him I’m sure history is not the only thing he’s good at. If you know what I mean,” Amanda wiggled her eyebrows and her minions laughed.

Yup, I’m definitely throwing up.

But before Riley was able to go to the restroom, Drake closed the door and started his class.

“Next time I want you all to read passages from North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell but today we’ll focus on something else. So, who can summarize what you were supposed to read for today? Mister Harrington, perhaps? Luke?”

“Umm, it was about Industrial Revolution and how it affected social lives of...” Luke started but Drake shook his head interrupting him.

“And what was Industrial Revolution all about?”

“It was the time of huge changes in Great Britain in 19th century--”

“Wrong. Generally it is assumed to take place from late 18th century to mid-19th century.”

“Y-yes, and it was about new inventions, machines being introduced and--”

“And why is it called a revolution?” Drake inquired interrupting Luke once again.

The class was silent but Riley felt as if she was going to explode.

“Because it revolutionized the society?” Riley could tell Luke wasn’t sure of his answers anymore.

“And?” Drake raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t know sir, I--”

“Did you even read the chapter?”

“Of course I did!”

“Maybe you should’ve read it twice.”

“I-I didn’t have the time, sir.”

“Well, maybe instead of going on dates you should focus on studying and--”

“ENOUGH!” Riley yelled, stunning both men.

“Err, I mean, maybe I can answer some of these questions, sir?” she corrected herself realizing everyone was already staring at her. Drake only narrowed his eyes but let go.

He started talking about Industrial Revolution himself and Riley could see relief written all over Luke’s face.

“Thank you,” he whispered when Drake wasn’t looking. She nodded in response and he added, “He should be reported. It’s not his fucking business whether I go on dates or not.”

Riley only smiled but in all honesty, she was ready to report him herself.

The class ended at last and when Riley was leaving the room, Drake stopped her.

“You’re moving fast,” he hissed looking around in case someone could hear them.

“And you’re being a jerk,” she snapped back. “Maybe it’s time for you stop with the jealousy and move on too!” she said before thinking. Truth be told, she didn’t want Drake to move on. She just wanted to talk to him but his attitude made it impossible. But when she noticed Drake glancing at Amanda who immediately straightened herself and smiled widely at him, she felt jealous too.

Drake must have noticed that because he smirked as he waved to Amanda.

With something unreadable in his eyes he lowered his voice and said, coldly, “Two can play this game.”

Tagging: @littlegreenmoo @agent-bossypants @mysteli @gardeningourmet @annekebbphotography @mymandrake @butindeed @walkerduchess @brightpinkpeppercorn @choicessa @violinist3121 @jlouise88 @innerpostmentality @tmarie82 @blackcatkita @darley1101 @littleeeepeach @ooo-barf-ooo @sleepwalkingelite @traeumerinwitzhelden @jovialyouthmusic @nikkis1983 @notoriouscs @melodyofgraves @zaffrenotes @fluffy-marshmallow-heart @rhymesmenagerie @emichelle @drakesroyalromance @drakewalkerisreal @mrsnazariowrites @furiousherringoperatortoad @lynne1993 @drakesensworld @iplaydrake @thequeenofcronuts @jenpo02cutie @brightpinkpeppercorn @tmarie82 @sleepwalkingelite @zaffrenotes @fluffy-marshmallow-heart @flowerpowell

Author’s end note: I know this chapter might seem boring, it’s just a filler. Next part will be slighly more intense AND we’ll learn why Drake changed his name! Also, let me know if you want to be added/removed from the tag list!

#trr #the royal romance #drake walker #drake x mc #choices #choices stories you play #playchoices #playchoices fanfiction #choices fanfiction #the royal romance fanfiction

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transboygenius · 6 years

Text

SE4SON: Chapter 2

[*Following day*]

Libby Folfax was running up the stairs of her best friend's home, holding what appears to be a vinyl record. She was bursting in urge to share the important news. Well, news only important to her. Making a left turn, she reached Cindy's room.

"Cindy! Girl, you won't believe what happened to me today! My cousin's friend's brother knew a guy who was once a manager to a hit 80s' RnB band, otherwise known as the PYTs, and guess what, they managed to get me a copy of their original recorded album, ON VINYL RECORD! You won't believe how much blood and sweat it took to get-"

Before Libby could finish, a piece of cloth hit her face. Cindy has turned her own bedroom topsy turvy. Toys were rearranged, clothes scattered around everywhere, makeup sets piled up and disorganized. Outfits of different colors flew around the room, out of the dresser. She appeared to be wearing a blue and purple ripple blouse. From the looks of it, Cindy may have news more important than hers.

"Cindy, may I ask?" "Shoot!" "What are you doin'?" "Trying to look for something fab to wear!" "What about that cute blouse on you? Isn't that good enough?" "I know, it's pretty, but I want to look BETTER!" "Why do you care so much about how you look? Don't tell me it's about Jimmy."

Cindy stopped what she was doing at that moment.

"If I tell you, it wouldn't be a secret." "Well, I know I shouldn't be poking at anybody's business, so I guess I'll be leavi-” "But I'll tell you anyways! Girl to girl talk!"

Grabbing Libby by the hand, she helped her to a seat on the messy bed, with the clothes supporting as a cushion.

"Libby... Dear friend Libby... Me and Jimmy have been going out for a long, long time. What started out as rivalry and hatred, slowly evolved into something new. We have bonded throughout many courses of adventures, including during our social lives. I've come to realize how much Jimmy means to me, more than any boy in my life. Nick is good looks and all, but he sure lacks some brains and courage. Jimmy, he's much different. He's so sweet, and sensitive. No one has showed me any passion so pure. He'll go out of his way just to keep me out of harm, no matter how the going gets rough. Not to mention, we make a good team together. The whole world would've gone to the pits if not for our collaborating intelligence. ...s. I don't know if you notice, but I think I'm in love."

Some of the things Cindy said would be considered bull by Libby. "He'll go out of the way just to keep me out of harm." He pretty much does so with all his friends, so what makes Cindy think she's so special? "The world would've gone to the pits if not for us." In a manner of speaking, at times, they'd make it worse. Overall, Jimmy and Cindy are growing closer to one another. Their relationship isn't really perfect, to be exact. Whenever Jimmy is slightly late to a date, or if he's not giving Cindy the attention she craves, she would then scold him. Hell, Cindy wouldn't even allow him to talk to any girl prettier than her. Sometimes, she'd pretend to have no money just so Jimmy would help pay for her, because that's what gentlemen are suppose to do. They're still at it with their arguing, continuing to wage brain power, and Cindy can get a little violent when angered. But aside from their flaws, the two are getting along good. Cindy does have a tendency of showing she cares, and Jimmy's not afraid to hold hands with her in public anymore. They are not even afraid to display their affection in front of their own friends. That's all the pros Libby could think of out of her head.

"Why am I not surprised?" "As a matter of fact, I think Jimmy's starting to feel the same way, too." "Huh?" "This afternoon, Jimmy emailed me to come meet him at Paste Pot's Pizza Palace for an important meeting! You know what this means, Libby? He's gonna pop the question!" "Say what?! Aren't you too young for that?" "I mean ask me to be his girlfriend! Finally! OH MY GOODNESS, I CAN'T CONTAIN MYSELF!" "Calm down, Cindy! Calm down! It happens to everyone!" "I can't help it! This has got to be one of the most happiest days of my life! I feel like a princess reaching closer to a happy ending! OH, LOOK AT THE TIME! Why did you hold me back?!"

She grabbed her purse, which Humphrey had been taking a nap on, then dashed out the room within a second, just before Libby could say anything else.

"I hope she isn't like this 10 years from now."

...

Cindy walked through the door of the pizzeria, eyes scanning the room for her lover. Families were dining, and so were some happy couples. Seeing all their smiles gave Cindy the idea why Jimmy chose this place for a proposal. Although, she prefers it'd be done in a place more fancy or formal, instead of a greasy eatery. But, since Jimmy already had this plan reserved, might as well play along with it. She then spotted Jimmy afar by his tall, shiny brown hair, which always stuck out like a sore thumb. He looked like he was about to break into jitters. Must be the feel of butterflies in his stomach. It's completely normal, Cindy understands. Boy, he looked so adorable right now. She walked over to the table, in a fashionable ladylike style to make herself appear more attractive to him. So far, she won the hearts of a few young boys. Jimmy didn't even notice her coming his way, since he was distracted by the reflection on his drink. He then stopped looking at the glass as the sound of throat-clearing got his attention.

"CINDY! Sorry, I didn't notice you there." "It's okay, honey-bear. No need to apologize. What matters is that I'm here. Now, how about we get down to the nitty gritty, shall we?"

It's obvious Cindy came here for the news Jimmy emailed her about. And judging by her expression, she probably knows this whole idea is based around them, and their relationship. She leaned in forward across the table, batting her eyelashes in a flirty gesture. Jimmy became flustered by Cindy's pass, but his red cheeks were merely out of intimidation. Cindy mistook it as a sign of affection. She looked really pretty today, but Jimmy could only look through her beauty with his bashfulness blinding him. Then, she was starting to loose patience, much to the genius's dismay. Cindy can grow a bit of a temper when you keep her waiting. Right before Jimmy could utter a word, their pizza arrived to the table. Jimmy dared not to make eye contact with the waitress, or Cindy will get into a pissy fit with him for looking at another attractive broad.

"Well, I'm vanished! Is it okay we discuss the matter after we eat? Can't think straight on an empty stomach!" "... Sure. Whatever."

However, Jimmy forgotten how aggravated Cindy can be. People know better not to leave her hanging. If Jimmy isn't gonna break it to her unless they're finished eating, that's a challenge she's willing to take. As the boy was about to help himself to a slice, Cindy grabbed the entire pie, folded it, then scarfed it down like a garbage disposal. Shocked, Jimmy never knew she possessed this sort of talent. It was impressive, yet embarrassing at the same time. Everyone began to stare, even the employees. Just goes to show you that Cindy will undertake any amount of challenges just to get what she wants. With nothing left on the plate, she washed the pizza down with a gulp from her purple flurp. She didn't seemed dizzy, or full at all. She wasn't gonna regurgitate anytime soon, either.

"OKAY. We're finished eating now! Now gimme the scoop! Uhh, please, I mean."

Jimmy hesitated for a short moment, just to take a deep breath. This isn't gonna end unless he tells her. He might as well give her what she came for.

"Cindy, it has been months now. I feel like we're getting more closer than ever. Wow. A few more months, and we can make it a year. As you may recall, I transmitted you for an appointment here just to talk about us. You, me, and our communion. I don't know how to put it out, though. This atmosphere is making me irritable. All in all, I'm a little mortified, additionally." "Its okay, baby. It happens to everyone. You don't have to be afraid."

The poor genius was nervous. Cindy could only divide it in two ways. One, he's scared he might be rejected. Or two, if she says "yes," this may change his life forever. They are this close to becoming an official couple. It may be a little too early to think of this, but Cindy just imagined what their wedding would be like. All their friends and family would attend, with a cake 12 tiers long. She'd wear the most beautiful white gown to knock all the girls off their feet. Picture their children. She would like to have at least 18, with majority of them being girls. She'll remain by his side as they both age, hair starts to turn gray, and they're sitting in rocking chairs. What she'd want for them is to be the happiest couple in Retroville.

"I think we should dismiss all this romantic livelihood."

Cindy shattered the glass she had been clutching in her hand.

"Um, Jimmy dear, could you translate that for me?" "I don't think I wanna keep on." "With...?" "...with this relationship." "It's the pizza thing, isn't it? I'm so sorry you had to witness that! It'll never happen again, I swear of it!" "No no no, it's not that! It's about us in general."

Cindy could hear her own heart splitting in two.

"Don't take it personal, Cindy. What I'm trying to clarify is, I care about you very much, but what we have isn't healthy. Sometimes I can't rely on you for trust, you have a temper problem, you tend to get physical based on your mood, your jealousy is keeping me from socializing with any female you feel threatened by, and may I bring up our arguing?" "I-... I only hit you as a way of showing I care! Don't you see it?! And what's wrong with arguing? Every couple does it once in a while!" "You're positive on that one. But for us, we argue way too often. Not even middle aged couples could keep up with us." "And how dare you accuse me of not being trustworthy! Are you saying you don't trust me at all?!" "On certain grounds, yes. For example, you almost betrayed your own friends all because my formal enemy promised to make you the richest girl on Earth. And there was that time I asked you to set my rocket on autopilot, but you went ahead and piloted it yourself, despite having zero experiences!" "You know what I think? You're just being selfish right now." "Cindy, this isn't just for me, it's for you too. Aside from the borderline abuse, we are still obsessed with surpassing one another. Anything related to science, we are bound to compete for it. We can't even admit to each other that one of us are better at some things. You may think our relationship is all hugs and kisses, when in reality, it's based off of competition. Would you wanna remain with a man getting in the way of your goals? Like I said, what we have is unhealthy. We've both had a fair share of sweet times, but it can't erase what we've been through. Who knows if it'll continue like this. We deserve more than each other. Also, we rarely agree on anything, or have anything in common whatsoever. We're solely just opposite gendered counterparts. Let's face it, our personalities just don't balance well together."

Silence took place. The reaction may be too much for her, but Jimmy was only doing what was best for them, and possibly the sake of their future. Speaking of future, "You just reminded me that my life is awful." Sure, that was only the tampered future, but it may be possible to happen in the real thing. His friendship with Carl and Sheen didn't seem any different in that future. In fact, they were still the same loving three amigops. It's likely for Cindy to grow up into that same obnoxious diva who acted like she had control over him. Their relationship is way too dysfunctional. What starts out as only borderline abuse will eventually lead to real abuse. Jimmy's no better in the relationship as well. He's always putting Cindy down whenever she does bring up a good point, and he will never admit to her achievements. Both of them are obsessed with topping each other.

"What do you say, Cindy? Back to our usual lives?"

...

[*The Neutron household*]

Carl was practicing magic in the living room, tapping his wand on the edge of his hat. Sheen accompanied as his solo audience.

"Splunk glunk, flibble flubble!"

Carl looked into the hat, and to his disappointment, was still empty. Sheen applauded, as if that were part of the act.

"Sheen! That's not how it was planned!" "I'm just trying to be supportive! Sheesh!" "The bunny still hasn't come out yet. I think maybe I've lost them. Gee, it's been an hour already. I didn't even get the chance to name them, or figure out their gender yet. How does something so small and cute get lost in such tiny space?" "It's quite obvious!" "Really?" "Of course! Everyone knows you can tell which gender the animal is by *Whispers into Carl's ear*" "I meant how do you loose a tiny critter so easily inside something like this hat?! And... Is that how you really identify an animal's gender?" "Yup." "Ohhhhhhhh."

Not very long ago, ever since Jimmy put on a magic show to entertain his fellow peers, mostly just to impress Betty Quinlan, Carl had been inspired to try his own magic, but using the power of wits. Besides, Spamdini's Magical Kit was proven to be a ripoff anyways. Best trying his own magic instead. He purchased a hat, wand, and cape from a local novelty store. He borrowed a tutorial magician book from the library just to learn a few hacks. He even bought his own bunny rabbit for the job. This was a new life goal for him. He wanted to be a someone for once, not just some socially awkward allergy boy who's obsessed with llamas. His llama loving days are over. It's time for a brand new Carl, one people will actually pay respect to. And, there's another explanation behind this: A week back, he overheard that Judy was a big fan of magic. Sheen doesn't know that, neither does Jimmy.

"Okay, lets give it one more go." "Carl, I'm no expert, but I think you should try saying 'abracadabra.'" "'Abracadabra.'" OF COURSE! Why didn't I think of that?"

Before Carl tapped on his hat again, and say the words that go with it, Jimmy entered through the front door, which caught the two friends' attention. He was covered in bandages, his shirt and pants were torn, his hair was out of shape, and he was left with a right broken leg. He walked all the way home on crutches. Jimmy looked like he got into a fight with three Terry Finsters. Carl and Sheen assisted him inside.

"Cindy didn't take it so well, did she?" Asked Sheen. "No. To be frank, it actually turned out how I expected it to be. She understood greatly, and now we're in good hands! Unfortunately, in my mere excitement, I didn't take any precaution when crossing the street. Then, right there, I got hit by a car." "*Phew* Thank Ultralord! For a moment there, I thought you made Cindy mad. Guess I won't have to beg my dad to move!" "OF COURSE SHE DIDN'T TAKE IT SO WELL!"

Scared, Carl and Sheen let go of their injured friend, dropping him, then held onto each other in their arms. Cindy was a force you can't reckon with, and the two know better than to cross her path. If she's angry at Jimmy, good chance she'll take it out on his best friends, too. Now that Jimmy has broken her heart, Carl and Sheen knows this means serious business. They've encountered an angry Cindy lots of times, and it's not pretty. With Jimmy still on the floor, Goddard helped him up instead.

"Jimmy, I hope this isn't too much to ask, but could you lend us one of your inventions? Like, I don't know, your freeze ray, or your heat vision goggles? Or anything I don't care if it looks stupid but it'll save our butts anyways?" Spoke Sheen. "That's a negatory! Like I'd even trust someone like you to take possession over some advanced gadgetry. Besides, it's only me she's mad at, not you guys. And let me tell you something: I don't really care. She can be mad all she wants. I'm not gonna back down just because of how she's feeling. I made my decision, and it's my life. That's the way human nature cycles. Cindy is just gonna have to open her eyes, and see that real life isn't just some badly written romcom. We can't always have what we want. She'll get over it in the meantime."

Jimmy can be very blunt sometimes, but he's strong. The best way to avoid someone's feelings is to just steer clear from them. Only the weak give in. I'm not wrong, Jimmy thought, she is. And if she's smart as she says she is, she'll move on like any other sane individual. Carl and Sheen say otherwise.

"Hey Jimmy, how 'bout a magic trick to cheer you up? I've been practicing this all morning." Said Carl. "You haven't even found the rabbit yet." Butted Sheen. "Shhhhhhh." "Maybe later. I need some rest." Replied Jimmy, as he limped upstairs.

...

[*One week later*]

Cindy has been making Jimmy's life a living hell. The day after their breakup, Cindy trashed his lab; by smashing heavy machinery, shattering beakers and test tubes, and spraying graffiti, in form of the word "PIG", on his main computer's monitor. It was easy to access inside. All she had to do was harass Carl for a hair sample, since he holds a bag of Jimmy's hair with him. Day after that, she ratted one of Jimmy's personal secrets, which he shared with her from when they were still dating, to her classmates. What was that secret? We may never know. All throughout the remaining week, she treated him badly. Whenever he's about to sit down in class, she pulls out his chair. Every time he walks by, she'd trip him over. One time, a bunch of young girls gathered into a mob, then beat him senseless for breaking Cindy's heart without regret. It seems this won't stop until her thirst for revenge is quenched.

It was time he'd rest this case once and for all. Someone oughta put Cindy in her place. Saturday afternoon, after locating her location, he paid a visit to the Candy Bar. Cindy sat at a table, accompanied by Libby, with seven sundaes in front of her. Having to deal with sorrow, she could only eat away the pain, while crying. Libby supplied her with a box of tissues.

"Slow down, will ya, hun? You're gonna get a brainfreeze." said Libby.

Jimmy walked straight forward to that table, with a game face on. Cindy stopped eating after she caught sight of him. Both of them stared at each other, for what seemed like a couple minutes. Libby, without having Cindy notice, signaled Jimmy through body language. She was trying to tell him to leave, it's not worth it. Libby is quite apprehensive on Cindy's immature actions, and believes the cause of them is merely based off a misjudgment. She was on Jimmy's side, but Cindy should never know, because otherwise she'd allege her for disowning their friendship. It's likely to happen, since she's taking this breakup thing way too seriously. After receiving Libby's warning, Jimmy only declined it.

"You have every nerve showing your face in front of mine!" Cindy was the first to speak. "Cindy, I'm here to make a commitment with you." "Haven't you made me suffer enough, Neutron?!" "You need to forget about this whole thing. It's not making you feel any better. You can't stay mad for the rest of your life." "I CAN, AND I WILL!" "Okay, now you're just overreacting." "EXCUSE ME?!" "I told you, I did this for us! Me and you were unhealthy together! Most of what we did was argue, compete, and degrade each other! Aren't you ever tired of all the fighting? And when we are happy together, you won't let me please you on my own terms. Attention is earned, you know." "FOR US?! We were meant to be! Look at what we've been through, and the sacrifices we made! I've been next to you as much as your two Stooges have! You would've have stayed a hulking oompa loompa if not for me! Did you really decide it was time for us to split cuz you were embarrassed to be with me?! You always take pride in your work, reaching out for that number one! Even while we were dating at that time, you still couldn't stand seeing me ahead of you! Is that it, Neutron? You don't want me cuz I'm not good enough for you, and you feel you're smarter than me?!" "Even though that fact is valid, that's not the point!"

Jimmy admitted; He thinks he's smarter than her. Hearing that come out of his mouth made Cindy believe her side of the argument was true. She was much more angrier at him than before. She balled up her fist. Swinging a blow, she gave Jimmy a punch in the gut. She hit him so hard, she flung him out of the two doors, sending him flying to whoever knows where. Jimmy didn't even get the chance to explain more. Well, it's not like Cindy would've listened, anyways. After that commotion, Libby provided her with some comfort.

"Ya know, Cindy, as much as I agree with you, and what Jimmy did was unforgivable, but he's right on one part: You'll have to get over it. Just look at you!" "I can't seem to get over it! You wouldn't understand. I've always looked at me and Jimmy as a perfect pair, only for him to have it all thrown away. Months of tender loving care put to waste. This aching won't stop until he feels the pain I'm enduring!" "Vandalizing his lab, letting out his secret, sending an angry mob on him, etc., aren't you even satisfied?" "It's not enough, Libby. Somehow, all of those weren't really what I've been looking for. I wanna hurt him good, send him crawling on his knees. None of those felt like punishments, just child's play." "(That is one thirsty chick.)" "So far, I've run out of ideas. Do you have any suggestions, Libs?"

As if on cue, Nick Dean entered the Candy Bar. Cindy began to set a gaze on him, trailing her eyes all over him as she watched him walk forward. He passed their table and headed up to the counter, his usual seat. Of course, Cindy exclaimed, jealousy is the perfect revenge! Just the remedy she needs. Nick was her first crush, back when she and Jimmy were still rivals. She was always fascinated with him for his distinctive qualities; Tall, perfect hair, warm scent, carefree attitude, dresses nice, and everything else that Jimmy lacked. Nick is the most popular guy in school, and he was a must-have to all the girls. Dating him would possibly be the biggest F-U to her ex. She'll have Jimmy begging her to take him back. It's time to give Neutron a taste of his own medicine.

"Wish me luck, Libby!" "Wait, what are you doing?" "Watch me!"

She strutted her way over to the counter, looking her most sultry. Nick ordered himself a large root beer float, slurping it through a bendy straw. Cindy, now sitting right next to him, introduced herself with a simple "Hi!" The surprise made Nick choke on his drink, but he still managed to swallow afterwards. He was now face to face with her.

"Hey, Cindy. Can I help you with anything?" "Yes! You know recently me and Jimmy had eventually split our ways, so that means I'm a free bird once again!" "Good for you." "I was wondering, Nick. Do you have any plans this week?" "Not much I even care about. Why do you ask?" "Well, how would you like to-" "Wait a minute. You're asking me on a date, aren't you?" "Why, yes! Yes I am! You have just been asked by a smart and pretty girl! We could visit a concert, eat out at Paste Pot's Pizza Palace, and maybe sneak into a PG-13 movie!" "No." "No one's gonna catch us." "I mean, 'no.' I'm not interested. Sorry." "But... I'll pay for it all, if you like!" "Money is the least of my problems." "I'll do your homework!" "Already got some geeks on board for that." "I- I know how to access Neutron's lab!" "Listen, Cindy: You're a good girl, but I'm afraid you're not my type. You're too smart for me. Plus, isn't it a little too insensitive to date another person after you've just broken up with someone?"

Cindy felt her heart drop to her stomach. She got dumped by two men. How embarrassing. Angered, she stormed out of the Candy Bar.

"UGHHHHHHHHH! MEN ARE SUCH PIGS!"

As soon as Cindy left, Sheen popped up from under the table where Libby sat. He wrapped an arm around the confused girl, speaking sweetly to her.

"I thought she'd never leave." "Sheen, go home." "Okay."

And so Sheen did. Nick, on the other hand, was still slurping from his throat. He thought about Cindy. She was upset, but Nick didn't care. He thought Jimmy did make the right choice, knowing how their relationship didn't function properly. Nick didn't reject Cindy because she was too smart, but because she was a girl. Boys are his main preference, though nobody knows that. Cindy's no longer in the way, but that doesn't mean Nick will make his move at that opportunity. For all he knows, Jimmy could end up with a new girl. He's still weighed down over the conscience of his sexuality. Single or not, Jimmy must be straight anyways.

#Jimmy Neutron #Boy Genius #Nick Dean #Cindy Vortex #Libby Folfax #Carl Wheezer #Sheen Estevez #Season 4 #fanfic #romance #adventure #TVverse #TVEE

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rye-views · 4 years

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To Have and Have Not (1944) dir. Howard Hawks. 7.4/10

I love Hoagy Carmichael. I’m glad he’s such a likable character here and he plays music so well.

Casablanca vibes.

Nice to know that Humphrey and Lauren were married.

I like Slim’s character. She vibes well with me.

Spoiler: [About Fort de France in Martinique in 1940. Harry Morgan checks in to go fishing on his boat, the Queen Conch. He is told that there is a new order that he can’t go close to the territorial waters. He wakes up his partner, Eddie, as he’s sleeping on the docks after drinking. Harry allows Eddie to have more beer as they welcome Mr. Johnson to pay to go fishing on their boat. Johnson hooks many large fish, but fails to catch them even with Harry’s advice on what to do. Johnson questions why Harry keeps Eddie around since he’s a drunk. Eddie also asks Johnson if he’s been bit by a dead bee. They head back and Harry tells Johnson about the money he owes for the equipment he ruined and the days he’s been on the boat. Johnson doesn’t have the money on him and promises to pay tomorrow after the bank opens. Harry and Johnson go to drink and make a comment about the Vichy. A man writes down their names for what they have said. They get to the Hotel Marquis and get drinks. Gérard, the hotel owner, talks to Harry about having his friends borrow his boat tonight. Harry refuses since he doesn’t want to get mixed up with politics. They discuss more in Harry’s room and a woman enters to ask for a match. After she leaves, Gérard argues that the men are coming anyway, but Harry tells him to get rid of them. Later, Harry notices the woman having drinks with Johnson. They then pay attention to the pianist, Cricket. The woman joins in singing. Gérard reports that he can’t get in contact with his friends, but Harry makes him stop them. The woman heads to her room and Harry follows. He confronts her on stealing Johnson’s wallet and he looks through it to find traveler’s checks for more than enough money than what is owed to him. There is also an airplane ticket for before the bank opens. Gérard brings his friends to Harry’s room. The men request to have help with the French Resistance, but Harry refuses. Eddie enters and asks them if they’ve been bit by a dead bee. The woman, Marie (Slim), asks Eddie if he was bit by one. He takes a liking towards her and says dead bees can sting you if you step on them barefoot. He’s been bit 100x and when she tells him to bite it back, Eddie says that’s what Harry says and that he doesn’t have a stinger. Harry gives him money for drinks and Eddie leaves. Harry refuses to help the men and talks with Slim. He has her return the wallet to Johnson. He’s with her and he brings up the traveler’s checks and airplane ticket. He has him start signing the checks to pay him back. At this time, a shootout happens and two men escape. Gérard mentions that no one but him knows that Harry had talked with the men. Cricket continues to play music and they notice that Johnson has been caught in the crossfire and is dead. The traveler’s checks are no good so Harry takes Johnson’s wallet. The police arrive and have everyone leave except for a few, including Gérard, Slim, and Harry. They are interrogated and Gérard is told not to let suspicious people in. Harry talks about his relationship with Johnson and Captain Renard confiscates the money he took from Johnson and his passport. Slim reveals that she’s from Brazil and Spain. She couldn’t afford anymore so got off here. She gets slapped by one of the guards for not cooperating fully and Harry ends up helping her to stop answering the questions. Harry and Slim leave as Harry explains to Slim all the politics that are happening. They go to get drinks until they realize that they don’t have money. Slim goes to a man to get money while Harry goes back to his room. Slim comes to his room with a bottle and mentions that he’s sore. He says he doesn’t care and that he knows a lot about her since she didn’t flinch after getting slapped. She goes to her room. He goes to her and she explains that he already decided who she was. She says she feels cheap and wants to go home. She’s considering getting a job. Harry talks of helping the men to get money for her. She tells him not to do it and offers him money. He refuses it and they talk and kiss. Harry talks with the men and

agrees to the plan to go get Paul de Bursac and his wife, Hélène, to be transported. The signal is two lights flashing twice above each other after he flashes his light. Harry wants the money upfront and confirms that he’s friendly by helping with a gunshot wound from getting gangrene. Harry gets an airplane ticket to leave that afternoon for Slim. They talk and part ways. Harry goes to his boat and kicks Eddie out and slaps him to convince him to leave. He goes off to his mission and later finds Eddie having stowed himself on board. Harry has him use a gun on the mission. Eddie confirms that Harry was thinking of him rather than being mad at him. They properly pick up Paul and Hélène after using the signal. Paul doesn’t trust Harry and when they see a patrol boat nearby, Harry shoots at them. He knocks out their lights and Paul ends up getting shot. They get away and the two stowaways are passed on to a different boat. Harry gets back to the hotel and sees that Slim is still there and has a job now singing with Cricket. Gérard convinces Harry to help with the gunshot wound in the hotel basement. Eddie is told to stay out of sight. Harry gets the bullet out as Paul goes unconscious and Hélène also falls unconscious after failing to use the chloroform on Paul. Slim also helps. In the morning, Harry asks Hélène why she joined the trip and she says she loves Paul. Hélène apologizes for her previous behavior and thanks Harry. Slim is very hospitable to Harry later and he says he can do everything himself. She reveals that she’s acting like Hélène. They kiss. Gérard reports that Renard is downstairs with Eddie. Renard has Eddie talking with alcohol. He’s talking about the fish they caught. Harry continues the story and how they ran into a German submarine, but Renard confirms it to have been a patrol boat. Renard bribes Harry by offering money and his stuff returned if he gives up his passengers. Slim goes to sing later and Harry notices that Eddie hasn’t been seen in awhile. He has Slim watch over a guy who might be following him while he goes to check on Paul. Paul talks of a story of Pierre Villemars, who is known to be dead. Paul is going to Devil’s Island to go retrieve him since he’s alive and the persecuted look to him. Paul talks of how he does his mission and if he fails, there will always be many others to continue the mission. Paul mentions knowing that Harry won’t give him up to Renard. Harry talks to Slim about leaving for good tonight. Hélène gives Harry jewelry to hold onto as either payment or for when she can get it back. Renard and his men arrive as Hélène and Slim hide in a room. Slim comes out when Renard smells perfume. Renard mentions that he’ll prevent Eddie from getting his alcohol to get him to talk. Harry gets a match and a cigarette from Slim and manages to get to the gun in the drawer. He shoots one of the men immediately and has the others at gunpoint. He handcuffs Renard and has them seated. He reveals that the stowaways are here. He has Gérard get the others to leave. He has Renard call to have Eddie released and fill out harbor passes. They work to leave now and Eddie returns. Slim asks Eddie if he’s been bit by a dead bee and repeats their conversation. Eddie remembers her and agrees to have her on board. Slim says goodbye to Cricket and he sees that she’s happy.]

#to have and have not #have and have not #1944 #howard hawks #7.4 #movie #film #review #commentary #no commentary gameplay #rye-views

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sam-eulde · 6 years

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The Greatest Showman

I usually don’t make movie reviews but I feel like this movie deserves so much more than the critics let on. Yes, there are flaws and let me say those first in every sections but there are good things too. I am not a movie expert but as an aspiring movie critic, here are my thoughts.

(SPOILERS AHEAD)

Plot and Characters:

To be honest, it is cliche and cheesy for the most part. Rags to riches, the classic forbidden love (2 of them, actually) and the feelsy good ‘I finally found a family’ trope. BUT I love my feelsy good 'I finally found a family’ trope. I just wish that they gave the circus folks more focus so that I could see how tight their bond is, but I did feel it in the 'This is Me’ and 'from Now On’ Song Numbers.

I am going to compare this to some stuff that I have seen so far.

Kuroshitsuji: Book of Circus have a different genre overall but the thing is they focused on the Circus Folks, making us invested in them. We saw their background, their history and why they joined the circus. In my opinion, the 'This is Me’ song number would be more powerful if they did the same. I considered the running time of the movie too. Maybe they did not get the chance to put the background of these characters because the movie was getting too long. That’s why I agree with Beyond the Trailer in her review here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nriwcs4UZHc , that this should have been a Broadway musical first. Maybe they would have the time to do the character focus thing.

I also considered that the movie is called 'The Greatest Showman’ not 'The Greatest Circus’ or something. Which is fair. Speaking of which, P.T Barnum reminds me a lot of A. Hamilton. (I am referring to the character in the movie, not the real P.T. Barnum.) Besides their aspirations and visions, they are basically the same person. A once, poor young orphan who married a rich woman (who is basically the best of wives, best of women *wink*), learned to stand up and strive for what they wanted and got overwhelmed with success that they lost sight of their true vision because of this one woman. The difference is Barnum snapped out of it. (out of topic, kinda: the fact that there is a Philip in both made me chuckle. Good thing TGS Philip survived lol.)

I get that the critics are whining about how P.T. Barnum is not realistic. He is not a good person in real life. We get that but it said 'Inspired by true Story’, not 'Based on True Story’. Think of the movie like an AU where Barnum is a better person. If you are looking for a realistic portrayal or anything about the real P.T. Barnum, watch documentaries or read any articles about him. This movie is completely fictional. Never expect anything realistic in a musical, people. I personally just enjoyed the shit out of the P.T. Barnum that was presented to me. Hugh Jackman was AMAZING in this role. You can’t say that he did not enjoy playing The greatest Showman. We don’t deserve him, honestly. I am praising him because if he wasn’t as enthusiastic as he is, the movie won’t be as amazing. Even though J. Franco won that award, you are the winner of our hearts, sir. Zac and Zendaya have great chemistry on screen. I wish we focused a biiit more on these two and their relationship as well. Their love story is nothing new but, again, if you feel the love of those characters, it is presented well.

I think they had enough focus on the Barnum family. Again, reminds me so much of the Hamilton family. I have nothing to say here, honestly. Miss Rebecca Ferguson was great at being Jenny Lind. Shame that she did not really sing Never Enough. I don’t know the whole story but my guess is, she can;t hit that high note or her voice is just not as powerful? Why not Miss Loren Allred as Jenny? Maybe she looks too young for Mister Jackman? Who knows? Like I said before, I wish that they focused more on the Circus folks but Miss Keala Settle was sassy and fantastic. Her voice was fantastic. Mister Sam Humphrey was cute and amazing too. i love that he’s the first one that Barnum discovered. I just wish that they did not lower his voice that much. I saw this one video of him and I think he’s fine having that voice in the movie.

Visuals and Choreography: I have nothing bad to say in this section because EVERYTHING WAS GORGEOUS. Sure, the steps might not be nothing new but the way they are presented makes up for that. The part/song where the choreography shined, in my opinion, is 'Rewrite the Stars’. Considering that Zendaya did most of her stunts, it was a big bonus too. She and Zac made that big stage small with just the two of them on it. They got creative with the ropes and the other things that they had.

The choreography of Mister bartender in 'The Other Side’ was brilliant. If you made a movie where almost everyone is praising an extra with no name, you are doing something right. 'This is Me’ has this aggression to it and it made me feelings aggressive too, which is good. The other songs have nice dance numbers as well but I have favorites and those are those three.

The costumes are creative and beautiful. Zendaya with pink hair and violet costume is fabulous. I like Miss Keala’s dress too but I feel awkward whenever she does this one dance step. Maybe that’s just me though, I don’t know. Oh, Miss Rebecca’s wardrobe was just elegant and pretty. Like, I want those dresses, stat. It’s funny how she always appears so angelic since she wears white so much lol.

The settings are nice too. My favorites are the bar, that stage where zac and zendaya trapezed (?) in and the rooftops because they showed how they can get creative in those spaces.

Music: This soundtrack was gorgeous. Some may shrug it off as forgettable and some may say that some songs are unnecessary but to me, it’s the lyrics that always catches my eyes. Lemme try to break down the songs and what happened during these numbers.

The Greatest Show An obligatory opening number and a good one at that. It’s not my favorite (am not a fan of opening numbers in ANY musicals though so that’s just me) but I do find myself humming and bobbing my head when it comes on. They pulled out their nice and flashy visuals for this one, which makes sense. It is introducing you to their circus.

A Million Dreams This introduces you to the character and the aspirations that young Barnum has. As the song progresses, it became what young Barnum held onto even when going through shit in his life. this song is also the transition of young Barnum to being Adult Barnum. it also shows that Adult Barnum still have bigger dreams and he’s not there yet.

A Million Dreams (reprise) Now, I don’t really consider reprises an actual number since it has the same tune and lyrics (mostly) but what I like about them is how the characters progressed over time. Are they still feeling these feelings? What this number did was it reminded Barnum what his true dreams were by his own daughters. Simple as that.

Come Alive I think this is already obvious. It’s about opening their Circus to the public and how fun it is for the people who are seeing it. The visual and choreography are beautiful as always. It kinda sounds like a Michael jackson song, not gonna lie.

The Other Side One of my favorites because of the creativity with the glasses and shots. The glass hitting and siliding on the table adds to it and I am glad that some as in the soundtrack. It is a negotiation music number. This is a big deal because Carlyle is risking a lot in the deal. it is hard to break out of the routine that you are used to. In a way, it is an intro to Carlyle’s character. My only problem with this is it sounds so Pop? Hearing Hugh jackman sing it is like watching my dad sing an HSM song, which it weird. But the bridge part makes up for it. I love that bridge.

Never Enough Jenny is a singer so of course she gets a song. But during this one, seeing Hugh’s expression just made it more powerful than it is. Miss Rebecca was alone in that stage but Miss Loren’s voice filled the room and filled every empty space. It’s just so beautiful. They could have made this song number just be Miss Rebecca singing but it also showed 2 things. Barnum’s expression. He was moved along with the crowd and his song describes him. Even after all his success, he still wants more. Charity saw this and judging by her expression, she was saddened/scared of what Barnum might be thinking but she trusts him and his promises and clapped for Jenny. The second thing is Philip and Anne’s relationship. the song also describes it. Just being beside each other, seeing each other was never enough. They wanted to progress but it showed that Philip is still afraid of what other people will think of them. (I heard from a reviewer that it is like a taylor swift song and I was like dude, just because she repeated 'Never’ doesn’t mean it’s already like a Taylor Swift song lol)

This is Me This song won the award. yay~ Good props for them. The message of this was simple yet inspiring. The beats and the tune made it more powerful. Kudos to Miss Keala again for giving her best performance in this. I just wish that there are more focus on the circus folks like, maybe, Barnum not really paying attention to them, a family moment or one of them being attacked by a protester or smth. Little moments like those building up to this song would make it more powerful. That aside, this is beautiful as it is. fighting for being free, being who you are. It just hits me all the time.

Rewrite the stars this one had a build up to it so it did make it more special. they had a scene prior to this song and it made it better. The song is catchy and the visual is not colorful but it is creative with their props and I loved it very much. Zac singing made it feel like I’m watching 'Breaking free’ or something. I just love it. Zendaya’s stunts were amazing. It has a simple thing that it wants to convey. Forbidden love. Boy wants girl, girl reminds him that it can’t be. That’s it. Without it, I don’t think you’ll be invested with their reationship.

Tightrope now, everyone may have mixed feelings about this but Miss Michelle’s voice was just so pretty in this one. The downside is that onscreen, you will see montages, which may take away your attention to the lyrics of the song or, maybe, the song itself. Think of this as a milder version of Hamilton’s 'Burn’. Feeling of being betrayed, broken promises and such. the difference is Charity is not really angry in this one. She still hopes that Burnam will remember how they were before like she is doing at the beginning of this song. I just think this song is underappreciated, which is a shame. I love this one too.

Never Enough (Reprise) Well, another reprise. In the original one, Jenny is singing about what some people in the room are feeling. In this one it feels like she realized that she has been singing about Barnum all along. She realized that he never loved her the way she loved him. in a way, she’s now singing about herself too. She may be the character we have close to a villain but i feel her in this one.

From Now On This is like a Gospel song but I love gospel songs so.. That’s a plus. At first I was skeptical about this song but it got catchier and catchier the more I hear it. We are also back at the bar, which is great. They have more people in it and it was amazing. It’s a party and I just wanna dance with them. this is simply about Barnum realizing his mistakes and what he would do to make it right. So basically, it is promise again.

So in conclusion, are some of the songs unnecessary? Not exactly. They all conveyed strong feelings at certain plot points. Also, they only have 11 music numbers. For a musical movie, I think that is a decent amount. La la Land had the same amount plus 4. Broadway musical to film had a lot more so I think It is just right. Are they out of place? With the setting, of course they are. Is that bad? Not in my opinion. If you are talking about out of place soundtrack and setting, just look at Hamilton. But it does not automatically make it bad. You can’t just hate on the soundtrack to be honest. It is one of its charms. The film is trying to tackle every character that they could but it failed that we only got a glimpse of what they might be trying to do. Its heart is in the right place and you could see what it wants to do. It wanna make you feel good after watching it and it worked for me, and a lot others too. It’s just there were things that they could have done if they had more running time. (i guess you could say that it is 'Never Enough’ *wink*)You could see that the actors are enjoying what they are doing and for a first movie of a new director, this was pretty darn impressive. The passion is there, the talent and skills are there. Besides the lack of character exploration aside from Barnum’s, it was a great movie. Visually, this was a treat. I just wish that it has more recognition. If I hadn’t seen gifs or fanarts of it, I would not have heard of so, the fans are doing a great job too. A great way to end 2017 OR start 2018, depending when you saw it. To be honest, it looks like a nice Christmas film. I could see that I would watch it with kids during Christmas. I love it.

#the greatest showman #musical #movie #review #hugh jackman #zendaya #zac efron #keala settle #circus #the greatest show

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douchebagbrainwaves · 5 years

Text

I'VE BEEN PONDERING WORLD

Plus there aren't the same forces driving startups to spread. If you tried now to create a descriptive phrase about yourself that sticks in their heads. I didn't mean it as a practical suggestion, but more as an exploration of the lower bound of what it would do to you if at mile 20 of a marathon, someone ran up beside you and said You must feel really tired. If accelerating variation in productivity is far from the only source of economic inequality, we won't fix these problems. An individual European manufacturer could import industrial techniques and they'd work fine. They did but I am not sure I buy that ABNB reminds me of Etsy in that it facilitates real commerce in a marketplace model directly between two people. We do a lot of lies of this type will get their attention. The Selling of the President 1968, Nixon knew he had less charisma than Humphrey, and thus simply refused to debate him on TV. The spread of startups seems to be a rule with them that everything has to start with statistics.

Whatever their other flaws, laziness is usually not one of them. But not quite. If the Democrats had been running a candidate as charismatic as Clinton in the 2004 election, he'd have won. It's usually a mistake for a promising company less than a year old even to talk to corp dev unless a you want to set yourself apart from other people, you have to do it yourself. The effort that goes into looking productive is not merely wasted, but actually makes organizations less productive. To mislead someone so grossly about the world would seem not protection but abuse. Sometimes the pie fallacy is stated explicitly:. Already spreading to pros. I stopped worrying about it. Between the brief time available and their lack of technical background, many in the audience at startup school. To see how, envision two things: a the amount of cash Microsoft now has on hand, and b any business model you have at this point is probably wrong anyway. A demo explains what you've made more effectively than any verbal description.

Oy. But it doesn't do this out of frivolity. That was probably the best way to get information out of them was to ask what surprised them. VCs are harsh when negotiating with startups is that you've built something based on your own a priori theories of what the world needs, but that you have. Well, there precisely is Montaigne's great discovery. The reasons parents don't want their teenage kids having sex. People won't let you. That's why I write them.

When a man runs off with his secretary, is it always partly his wife's fault? The idea of a foul-mouthed, cynical 10 year old bothers me so much is not just one thing. To be jaded you have to do is expand it. It's a good exercise for you, too, to sit down and try to figure something out. Founders at Work. This group says one thing. The real problem is that you make what you measure. Even Microsoft sees that now. If you work on overlooked problems, you're more likely to work than attacking wealth in the process.1 And kids do need protecting. You must feel really tired.

Which means if it becomes the norm for founders to keep control after an A round? If you're a great public speaker you may be able to brag about the good terms they got. Particularly the sort written by the staff writers of newsmagazines.2 If a kid asked who won the World Series in 1982 or what the atomic weight of carbon was, you could just tell him. And that's certainly not something I realized when I started. In that case, tweak your product and try again. All previous revolutions have spread. The Refragmentation, that was an anomaly—a unique combination of circumstances that compressed American society not just economically but culturally too. Here parents' desires conflict.

Knowing that founders will keep control of the board after a series A is unheard-of. No one is even afraid of Microsoft anymore. It's usually a mistake to talk to corp dev. If we send them an email asking what's up, and the conclusion—uh, what is the conclusion? There are an infinite number of questions. They'd merely seem like incompetent adults.3 But trying to show it by partitioning the presentation is going too far. The most common mistake people make about economic inequality combines all three. But exponential growth especially tends to bite you.

I see around me in Silicon Valley is that you make what you measure. Not even investors, who are imitating classical scholars, who are merely the inheritors of a tradition growing out of what was, 700 years ago, fascinating and urgently needed work. Many published essays peter out in the world for the next several centuries the main work of European scholars, in almost every field, was to assimilate what they knew. They're the ones that set the trends, both for other startups and for VCs. I mean show, not tell. I know, no one has proposed it before. Actually this seems to the student a pointless exercise, because we're now three steps removed from real work: the students are imitating English professors, who are supposed to behave, and it's different from what lawyers do, and the difference is embodied in the name of simplification. Don't assume when this happens that you've failed. Indeed, this is just how most good software gets created. Y Combinator partners found ourselves saying a lot of lies to get us and our parents through our childhood.

If you're only doing a startup, then if the startup fails, you fail. At the most recent true counterexample is probably 1960. In defend-a-position writing that would be a flaw. Fred is. And certainly the founders of a company called Y Combinator that helps people start startups. So we concentrate on the basics. Everyday life gives you no practice in this.4 It's easy to convince investors there will be zero. Ambitious people already move halfway around the world to further their careers, and startups run on morale.

Notes

Later we added two more investors. But filtering out 95% of the lies people told 100 years ago it would have a connection with Aristotle, but mediocre programmers is the last thing you tend to be on the fly is that Steve Wozniak started out by solving his own problems.

Determination is the thesis of this type are also the golden age of tax avoidance. I stuck with such energy that he had more fun than he'd had in grad school in the field they describe. But although for-profit prison companies and prison guard unions both spend a lot cheaper than business school, and the Origins of Europe, Cornell University Press, 1965.

All you have a taste for interesting ideas: whether you have to decide whether you're in the sciences, even if the growth in wealth in a domain is for sale unless the owner shouldn't pay me extra for doing so because otherwise competitors would take up, and at least consider going into the star it was the capital which would harm their all-important GPA. Zagat's lists the Ritz Carlton Dining Room in SF as requiring jackets but I wouldn't want the first year or so, or was likely to resort to in order to avoid becoming an alcoholic. If you extrapolate another 20 years, dribbling out a preliminary answer on the world of the living.

The First Industrial Revolution happen earlier? The two 10 minuteses have 3 weeks between them generate a lot of people starting normal companies too.

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missbemaeve · 6 years

Photo

AN IMAGE OF YOU AND OF ME AND WE’RE LAUGHING AND LOVING IT ALL - YSTLC

vi. reaction to barbara’s disappearance

but you know that there’s no where that i’d rather be, than with you here today ( hold me now ; thompson twins )

thursday, november tenth, nineteen-eighty-three

maeve stepped out of her car, pulling her cardigan tighter around her narrow shoulders. her camera was perched precariously on top of her car as she adjusted her clothes and took her backpack from the passenger seat. today she planned on getting a few shots for the yearbook upon andie’s request-- she figured that joining a group wouldn’t be so bad; she was planting roots here. maeve took her camera and gently placed it in her bag. as she walked to the school building, maeve saw a blonde mass darting towards her.

andie slowed as she got to maeve’s side and took a moment to catch her breath, “maeve, do you know what all of this whispering is about? i keep hearing barbara’s name but no one has told me anything.” she emphasized the last word, a frown creasing her forehead. she couldn’t imagine the pain andie was feeling. a child that she had cared for was dead and she didn’t yet know about a friend that was missing. she’d last left andie the night before after andie had eventually fallen in to an uneasy sleep following the news of will byers’ death.

maeve’s sad brown eyes searched andie’s and found only worry, “andie, barbara never came to school yesterday. they think she was either abducted or ran away tuesday night. i’m so sorry-- i thought you’d have heard.” she squeezed andie’s small hand as a panicked look spread across her face. hawkins, indiana wasn’t one of new york’s boroughs; people didn’t just disappear at random and without a trace but in less than three days, two people had. “maybe she just...” maeve was at a loss as she trailed off. she didn’t know barbara very well but the two had conversed in the library on several occasions and she knew the girl wouldn’t just leave without notice. “what the hell is going on?” maeve murmured, half to herself. there was no chance that her previous residence had nothing to do with these happenings.

“oh my god. we-- we need to do something.” andie stammered, brushing a stray tear from her cheek, throwing herself in to planning. andie continued talking, making plans for the two to maybe canvas and hold a vigil as they had for will. maeve understood that will’s death was hard on andie however she was nearly panicking discussing barbara’s disappearance. listening to andie, maeve half payed attention as she tried to understand her newfound, intense attention on barbara holland. andie had a huge heart but there was something in the manic way she spoke about this; it was as if she had somehow caused it. she was avoiding her feelings about the events the day before and those that lay ahead; maeve couldn’t comment on her emotional suppression, knowing she did the same. she resolved to just be as present as andie needed; their bond strengthened by the events the evening before. maeve had never had a best friend before but she was finding one in the powerhouse blonde who would one day rule the world, or at least new england.

maeve didn’t want to pressure her in to speaking, knowing that andie would tell her if anything strange had happened. as the bell rang out, maeve embraced her tightly. she had slowly become less averse to physical contact and lessened the use of her persuasion however she pushed a wave of calmness on to andie, feeling the girl was close to tears, “andie, everything will be okay. they’ll find her. it’s...not like will.” she pulled away, holding her at arm’s length by her shoulders, “take a breath and go to class and we’ll start working on the posters and plans tomorrow.”

visibly, andie relaxed, her shoulders falling as they lost some tension. “why not today after--” andie’s blue-green eyes lit up with an emotion other than worry for the first time that morning. “oh my god, your date with the police guy! it’s tonight!”

maeve started backing away, laughing. “it is tonight.” she grinned, nervously. butterflies were already flying wild in the pit of her stomach.

“you better call me as soon as you get home.” andie laughed and started walking to her class. “i want to know everything. and don’t do anything stupid!”

“got it, boss!” maeve rolled her eyes, smiling.

maeve went through the day, snapping photos when she had a chance and day dreaming about her evening that was to come. she hadn’t harbored any romantic feelings since she’d been forced from her cozy sanctuary in manhattan; maeve was unsure if she even knew how to properly interact with a guy. she drove home and kissed her mother and brother on the cheeks before going straight to her room.

looking at the clock on the wall, she counted three and a half hours until james was due to arrive. she dumped her books on to her bed and quickly began to work through her homework so she’d have nothing to worry about aside from her date as it was happening. after an hour, she closed her book and cleared off her desk before placing her makeup mirror and cosmetics in front of herself alongside copies of glamour, cosmopolitan, and seventeen magazine to attempt to emulate the appearance of the popular women that graced the covers of the magazines.

two hours, a burn from a curling iron, and three eyeliner attempts later, maeve was finally ready. zipping up her ankle boots and sliding on the large cardigan, maeve spun around in front of her mirror, running her hands down the skirt of the dress and smoothing any wrinkles. mary poked her head in, “maeve, he’s been standing outside for thirty minutes. i think he was nervous and got here early. you better go before your dad sees him and wants a word.” she smiled, only half joking. “mae...” she trailed off, her eyes filling with tears, “you look beautiful.”

“mom! no, it’s just a first date. i’m not getting married.” maeve laughed and grabbed her bag before hugging her mom tightly. “i’ll be back before eleven. i love you!” maeve took a deep breath as she walked to the front door, ensuring she had her wallet, mints, and lip gloss. exhaling, she opened the front door and stepped out on to the covered porch. “so, were you gonna stand there all night or knock eventually?” she grinned, teasingly.

the sun had set only an hour earlier but in the light of the street lamp, she could make out james leaning against the side of his car, his hands in his pockets. he looked shocked for a minute before a crooked smile crossed his face and he ran a hand through his messy hair. “well, i guess i may have been a little eager.” he walked towards her, his long distressed denim clad legs crossing the street in a few strides. james was handsome in a traditional way that made girls flock to him or to pretend their car broke down with the hope that he drove by before hopper or callahan did. he walked up the steps on to the porch, maeve looked up at the taller man, still smiling. “you ready?”

“definitely.” maeve could feel her heartbeat in her chest, the gold necklace around her neck was cool against her flushed, warm skin. he took her smaller hand in his larger, calloused one before leading her to his car. he opened the door for her and closed it before quickly getting in the driver’s seat. she pulled the seat belt across her body, holding her bag in her lap. maeve took pause, looking at him as he turned the key in the ignition, “the bruise is already going away.” the scrapes and purple color that had covered part of his face had slowly begun to fade. the evidence of his less than savory interaction the afternoon before was soon to be nonexistent.

“yeah, sorry. i guess i’m not so rugged-looking anymore.” he chuckled lightly, “so, i figured we could grab ice cream and maybe just hang out?” james was as nervous as she was; she willed herself not to calm him down as she had done with andie hours earlier.

“that sounds great to me.” they drove across town, hawkins was as quiet as ever under the cover of night. he turned on the car radio before adjusting the volume of the one on his hip. maeve gave him a quizzical look, an eyebrow raised in silent questioning.

“with all of the stuff going on in town now, hopper has us keep our radios on twenty-four-seven.” he shook his head, running a hand over his exhausted face, “it’s wild, you know? i’ve lived here my whole life and things have never been like this. what about you? i’ve never seen you around before and i know i wouldn’t forget seeing you.”

looking out the window as they pulled on to the street for james to park, maeve bit her lip in an attempt not to smile too widely, “i’m from new york originally but i just moved here recently. i...needed a change of scenery.” it wasn’t completely a lie but she could outright tell him that she had been essentially forcibly taken and experimented on-- that conversation was for any other time than a first date, perhaps a five-hundredth date.

he opened her door for her as they continued making small talk. they sat across from each other in a booth, reminiscent of the last time they’d been together but in circumstances that were much brighter. they bonded over favorite films; she found his excitement for the next rocky installment endearing and he listened attentively as she described her love for some of the classic, golden age of hollywood films.

“have you really never heard that line? i have a hard time believing that!” placing her spoon on a napkin, maeve traced shapes absent-mindedly on the aged, linoleum table as she spoke. “it’s legendary– it’s iconic. humphrey bogart, staring ingrid bergman in the eyes and baring his soul while saying ‘here’s looking at you, kid’ is probably the most well-known movie scene of all time!” maeve gushed breathlessly, her brows drawn together.

james let out a low chuckle, “here’s looking at you, kid.” he repeated quietly and nodded, a small smile on his lips, their eyes meeting over the melting confections that occupied the table between them.

maeve had to swallow the lump that grew in her throat after hearing his rich, deep voice recount the line back to her. the words wrapped around her like a blanket, the warmth was comforting. breaking eye contact with him, maeve spoke once more, “you have to promise to watch it with me.” she said as she took the cherry from his banana split. “it’s beautiful and it has some history to it so it’s not all just lovey-dovey stuff!”

“i promise.” he grinned before he took a dollop of whipped cream and poked her nose with it. laughing, she wiped it away. as they finished their ice cream, the two realized neither wanted the date to end. their hands had drifted to the middle of the table on their own accord, his thumb gently rubbing against the back of her hand.

james hesitated, “do you want to go somewhere?” maeve raised an eyebrow. “i know this awesome spot out near the pumpkin patches. it’s quiet and you can see every single star. i just–”

“i’d love that.” maeve interrupted before he could start nervously babbling. she knew the spot he was talking about didn’t want to spoil his plans. maeve was smitten. she played with the hem of her dress as they drove occasionally talking about superficial topics like hobbies or favorite things.

fifteen minutes later, james parked his car and turned to look at her, a grin growing on his face, “you’ve got to see this.”

“so, this isn’t the part of the slasher film where you murder me and bury my body somewhere out here, right?” maeve teased darkly, getting out.

“it’s totally not. scout’s honor.” he half-chuckled. he kept the car idling, its radio quiet in the background. “do you trust me?”

for james, it was simple; things were black and white. to maeve, that question felt like the pressure of a loaded gun in her hands. “yes,” the word sprang from her mouth before she knew it. “i do.” he gently took her by the waist and lifted her on to the hood of his car before ducking inside to turn the radio’s volume higher, turning out the car’s lights, and climbing up beside her.

“look up.” he leaned back, propping himself up by his arms. maeve did as he said, a gasp breaking through her parted lips.

“it’s beautiful.” the lack of town lights allowed for a breathtaking visual; the stars had never seemed so bright as they twinkled as if they were winking at her. she could make out constellations she’d never been able to see from the city.

though maeve was paying no attention, james was watching her face intently, smiling to himself, “yeah, it is.” he agreed, earnestly. looking back to the sky, “i come out here when i want to think. it’s always been really nice. i figured, you might like it too.”

“i do.” maeve looked over at james, making eye contact. he brushed a curl from her face before cupping her cheek. as the song on the radio swelled to a chorus, the two began to lean in but just before their lips could touch, a crackling sound on the radio on his hip ruptured the bubble in which they had been encapsulated.

he rested his forehead against her’s, “shit. again?” yanking the walkie-talkie from his belt, he pressed a button, “yeah, i copy.” she had never seen him so annoyed as he mouthed an apology before hopping off the car and walking a few steps away. maeve’s face burned red, embarrassment and excitement still plaguing her. hugging her knees to her chest, she saw his crestfallen look as he returned seconds later. “there’s a lead on barbara holland, i have to go check it out. maeve, i’m so sorry for--” she slid off the car, taking his hand in her’s.

“never apologize for doing what you need to. i promise, i’m not upset. this is your work and it’s important. you are doing something that matters.” she was disappointed but concealed it with ease; she presumed that this had to come with the territory of being involved with someone on the police force.

“yeah, but this was too. i promise that i will make this up to you. soon.” he squeezed her hand before embracing her tightly. “let me take you home.” he murmured, his face buried in her hair.

maeve’s arms wrapped around his waist, inhaling his peppery cologne, “okay.”

as they arrived back to her house, he pressed a kiss against her cheek. they said their goodbyes as they stood on her porch, maeve bit her lip as he began to walk away. she pulled him back by his hand, lacing their fingers loosely. “just, be safe and don’t get hurt again or let anything like that happen. okay?” she was unable to hide the worry in her eyes, “i really want that rain check.”

“i promise. i will see you tomorrow.” with one last squeeze of his hand, he descended the stairs. her eyes didn’t leave his departing car until it turned a corner. maeve couldn’t help but smile despite the circumstances. as she walked in to the foyer, a voice came from a side room.

“no goodbye kiss? i think i’ll like that kid.” robert nodded, continuing to read whatever book he was holding. maeve rolled her eyes as she walked in to her room and flopped down on to her bed giggling. maeve picked up the phone from her bedside table and quickly dialed andie’s number-- she couldn’t keep this all inside.

style inspiration: x

song inspiration: x

#your stranger things life challenge #ystlc #story

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