#i need more billy being clueless with kids content

[every-dayiwakeup]

I offer you two scenarios:

Billy won't get out of Steve's way, and he just won't stop talking, so Steve lifts him up with his hands under Billy's armpits, and sets him out into the hall

Billy trying to bribe a child to stop crying

"I'll give you twenty bucks if you keep quiet," Billy hisses at the bawling toddler, trying to wrestle his wallet out of his too-tight jeans.

Steve looks on, torn between wanting to laugh and putting a stop to Billy's bullshit. He'd rather jump in an acid tank than admit it, but Big Bad Billy Hargrove being duped by a tiny child is both hilarious and... really freaking cute.

The dream he used to have of a white picket fence and six kids comes to mind. Only it's not Nancy he's with at the altar; it's Billy Hargrove.

****

Tags:

@ouizzyharringrove

@suspiciouslackofclowns

@jaethecreator

@emeraldwitches

@geormenia

@polaris-ursae

@spaceboxkitty

@wixterirox

@shipworm

@thatawkwardlittlefangirl

@whoringrove

@hephaestn

@hardestgrove

@harringroveho

@steveharringronsupport

#billy is rendered speechless #i am a supporter of buff steve #have you SEEN his arms in s4 #harringrove #harringrove imagines #harringroveincorrect #harringrove solos #i want steve to pick up billy just to silence him bc i just know billy likes to brag about being stronger #plus i just think chubby billy who feels sad about not being able to be treated like the cute little boyfriend is 😘🤌 #ahem #i need more billy being clueless with kids content #like imagine the child is fake crying just to swindle money from him #and he feels really bad because people are staring #harringrove scenarios #always have room for more clowns so come on down 😜

[neonponders]

Head canon time:

Okay okay okay okayokayokay so this post has super cute art, but the reblog comment on it aligned with something that’s been percolating in my brain for a ~while~ now:

Eleven as Steve’s sister.

Obviously neither Steve nor Eleven have any idea. From the time El escapes the lab, they don’t interact much. Even if they’re in the same room, they kind of bounce around each other, because...why else would they? Steve’s at least five years older and she’s still building her social skills/confidence, especially around men.

But then Steve gets his hair cut short, and the back likes to curl very similarly to how El’s did when hers was short. Their hair needs its own weight to pull it straight.

And it’s dark brown. Followed by clear brown eyes.

It’s not enough for anyone to connect the dots, of course, but then El’s “mother” dies. Her mind had been a flickering light for a long time, eventually her heart began to match. But when a heart stops, it stops.

Her sister calls Hopper, in case El wants to know, and they show up, at the very least, to attend the funeral and to help the sister go through dusty boxes. Maybe there’s a picture of El’s mother that she wants...

Instead they find surrogacy papers.

Old bank statements.

Apparently at the time of her involvement with government conspiracy, she had been very down on her luck. She made the mistake of doubling up on volunteering to be a surrogate mother, as well as whatever the hell the Hawkins Library did to her.

But the names on the papers are John and Eliza Harrington.

“Like...Steve?” El asks when he finally has gaped at the papers for too long.

Hopper inhales because he isn’t sure when he did that last and scratches his face. “Yeah...like Steve.”

He has mixed emotions: the empathetic devastation at losing a kid, but also the relief that this involves someone already in the know.

They go over to Steve’s house.

The guy answers the door with a slice of pizza in his hand, still chewing. “Hi, Hop. Ellie.”

She offers a small smile. “Steve.”

“Are your parents home, kid?”

He shook his head and swallowed. “Just left this morning. They have a time-share condo in Mexico.”

“You didn’t go with them?”

Steve scoffs while turning around back into the house. “My idea of a good time isn’t with my parents. What d’you need?”

“Well,” Hopper sighs, feeling too big in the foyer. Eleven stabs his hip with a finger and he begins the tedious process of unlacing his boots. “I need to go through your parents’ papers. You got an attic, a cellar, an office?”

Steve, bless him, looks genuinely clueless. “Uh. Yeah...are we in trouble for something?”

“Not in trouble, no. I just wanna cross reference something.”

Bless him twice, because he actually lets Hopper into his attic. His father’s office. Then his mother’s.

He finds it in his mother’s bedroom. It was just a shot in the dark to try the safe in the closet, but so many people actually keep their safes unlocked for easy access.

Hospital documents. Even ultrasound photos.

“Jane Elizabeth...Harrington?” Steve chirps over his shoulder.

He looks up at the chief, who’s rubbing his beard again. Their heads turn to Eleven sitting on Mrs. Harrington’s bed. “My name’s Jane.”

Those big brown eyes blink between her and Hopper. “How do you know that? I thought you came from a lab?”

Hopper intercepted, “She used her,” he gestured vaguely to his own head, “to find her mother. Or...the surrogate your parents paid for.”

“And where’s she?”

“Dead,” said Eleven.

Hopper reiterated, “She passed about two weeks ago. We found your parents’ names in her paperwork.”

“But - what happened? How does a baby just go missing? Better question: why don’t I have super powers?”

Hopper had already read the hospital’s apology and refund of the Harrington’s funds, insurance, the works. “I think that asshole...Brenner...claimed the baby for his work, early enough that it could be written off as a miscarriage. Whatever they did to El’s mother, whatever went on in that lab, landed her with her abilities. It’s nothing to covet, all right.”

Steve looked winded. He crossed his arms and let himself collapse against the wall. “So...what do we do?”

“Uh...” Hopper fanned his face with the ultrasound pictures. “There isn’t a lot we can do. Telling your parents would open up a lot of closed doors that we can’t really afford to open. Dr. Owens, being the swell guy he is, provided me paperwork that grants El as my kid.

“But.

“You already know each other. You already contributed to saving the world together. So...I think that’s up to the two of you.”

Both of them, for all they’d been through, just looked like kids. They were kids, even if Steve now stood in his twenties. And he stood off the wall, now, to approach his sister.

“Can I, uhm...can I hug you?”

El slid off the high bed, easily falling against his body for arms to wrap tightly around her. They stayed like that for a long moment, then Hopper joined them to rub between their shoulder blades.

“Oh god. You’re dating Mike Wheeler.” El hummed a curious sound and he elaborated, “Am I gonna have to pound on him if he pisses you off?”

“I wish you would,” Hopper confirmed.

Fast forward to Mike being extremely confused at his girlfriend suddenly spending a lot of time with Steve Harrington, of all people.

“Maybe she’s gotten a taste for older men?” Lucas teased, and got punched in the shoulder for it.

Max’s eyes rolled but she didn’t grace that with an answer.

Mike fumed, “She was supposed to be with me today! Then she called and said she had other plans - ”

Max chimed, “Are you sure you had plans? Or that you had a plan but she beat you to it?”

“It doesn’t matter! I see her walking around with Steve Harrington all the time and it’s weird!”

Will said for nobody in particular, “We’re not the ones to judge weird anymore.”

Lucas countered, “Or we’re the experts on weird. Speaking of, where the hell is Dustin?”

“With Steve,” Max grinned right at Mike, and stood up. “Speaking of, my ride’s probably here.”

“Where are you going?” Lucas asked.

“Over to Steve’s.”

The boys looked at each other and ran for their shoes. Sure enough, they left the Wheelers’ basement, circled around the house, and found the blue Camaro waiting in the cul-de-sac. 

“Woah woah woah, what the hell is this?” Billy said hoarsely. He peered over his sunglasses at the teenagers filing into his backseat.

Max shoved a bottle of water towards him. “You’re not drinking enough, again.”

“Don’t bitch at me. Tell your friends to scram.”

“Are you really going over to Steve’s?” Will began.

“What do you know about Steve hanging out with my girlfriend?” Mike joined.

“Steve’s got a pool, right?” Lucas directed at Max.

Billy revved his engine with a sharp right turn, throwing all of them to one side of the car. Max held her head from where it had hit the window. “Cool it, you shouldn’t even be driving in the first place.”

“My blood did not turn black for this bullshit.”

The kids in the back stared out of the windows like Loch Nora was a safari tour. At the sound of the Camaro’s engine, Steve trotted down the slope of the lawn in swimming trunks with a towel around his shoulders, waving them through the gate.

Will and Lucas sprinted after him. Mike followed at a skeptical pace while Max lingered for Billy’s sake. No one noticed that Billy wore pink and turquoise swimming trunks that fit more to Steve’s taste.

Mike sure as hell noticed the red and purple, woven friendship bracelets that El and Steve wore, though. The pale, skinny nerd just stared, dumbfounded between Hopper floating contently over the pool, El laughing in a one-piece covered in hibiscus flowers, and Steve sitting at the foot of Billy’s lounge chair.

Then Robin strolled through the gate with a stack of pizza and chicken wing boxes. “All right, we ready? What are you doing, dweeb? It’s a 101 degrees out. Get wet.”

And shoved Mike Wheeler right into the pool.

#steve harrington #eleven #ficlet #neonponders #post s3 #harringrove #for the non-americans: #40º C is 100º F #hot as f!ck #also I just wanted something where steve wasn't scared shitless of his pool #robin buckley

[shan2-d2]

As the garbage fire year of 2020 continues, I have been struggling to find something to fill the Schitt’s-Creek-sized hole in my heart.

Which, come to think of it, replaced the Parks-and-Rec-sized hole in my heart prior to that.  I’ve always been a sucker for “soft” television, but with everything going on the world, whatever tolerance I had for heavier fare has disappeared completely.  Like, yeah, I’d love to catch I May Destroy You or I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, but I just. Can’t. Handle. Them. Right now, anyway.  

I do have some old standards to fall back on-- Bob’s Burgers, The Good Place, The Great British Baking Show, and Kim’s Convenience (bless you, Canada) work just fine.  But with so much time at home, I’ve been getting antsy for new, soft, comforting content.

Then I watched Julie and the Phantoms on Netflix.

And I loved it SO. MUCH. 

(Warning, since this is a family-friendly show: profanity ahead.)

Which, I have to admit, I’m kind of embarrassed about.  Like, look: I fully own up to the fact that my tastes aren’t exactly refined or mature.  I’m one of those contemptible “childless millennials”, after all.  There are things on my Netflix and Spotify lists that would make film buffs and hipsters cry.

But what I will give myself a pat on the back for is that I’m extremely open-minded when it comes to any sort of art consumption.  My tastes are super-varied, and I don’t have the burden of worrying about what is “socially acceptable” for me to watch.  I can watch Barry and Fleabag just as happily as I can watch Sarah & Duck (literally, a show for preschoolers that works better than any anti-anxiety medication I’ve tried) and old episodes of Tiny Toon Adventures.

Regardless, there’s embarrassment. Which is not about the fact that it’s a cheesy, High-School-Musical-esque, pre-teen friendly series, actually (... okay, maybe a little), but because the aging freakout is real, my friends.  Hitting the “Oh-My-God, I’d-Have-To-Play-the-PARENT” period of your life is fucking rough.  

Basically, in the words of Roger Murtaugh... I’m too old for this shit.

But I’m trying to tell myself that 1) Generation Z is delightful and I refuse to feel guilt for appreciating them, 2) god knows we’re all watching Stranger Things without embarrassment, and those kids are, like, twelve, and 3) now that I’m apparently ANCIENT, I’m supposed to stop caring about what other people think.

So: Julie and the Phantoms made my heart grow three sizes and I loved it a whole lot.

Quick synopsis: Julie, our hero, is a performing arts school student who is grieving the death of her mom and unable to continue making/playing music because of it.  One day, three ghosts of teenage boys who were in a mid-90’s rock band show up in her garage.  They form a new band (insert title of show here) and help Julie rediscover her love of music, while she helps them navigate the afterlife.  Bonding occurs, lessons are learned, the power of friendship is discovered, you get the idea.

And okay-- at its surface, it’s family-friendly entertainment, you know? Cute story, funny moments, the music is catchy, the whole cast is super talented (and, hey, can actually play their instruments! Whaddaya know!).

But the CHARACTERS!  THE SOFTNESS! THE REPRESENTATION!  If this is how young adults are going to written from now on, sign me the fuck up.

First of all, the two female leads of the show are women of color-- Julie (Madison Reyes) is Latinx and her best friend, Flynn (Jadah Marie), is Black.  That alone is (sadly, STILL) noteworthy, but I literally wanted to stand on my couch and yell about how wonderfully self-assured, smart, mature, strong, and competent these girls are.  Julie, in particular, is just… she’s just so cool, you guys. She never once has to rely on anyone else but herself to get shit done, and she takes responsibility for her own actions.  The girl very clearly knows her talent, capabilities, and worth, and PHEW, do we need to see more young women like her on our screens!  Like, yes, the boys support her, but they’re complete equals.  Julie doesn’t need any male saviors up in this business. She’s got this.  I LOVE HER. I SOMEHOW WANT TO BE HER WHEN I GROW UP, EVEN THOUGH SHE’S LIKE HALF MY AGE (oh GOD. I’m so OLD).

In fact, throughout the series, the importance of honesty, respect, and healthy support is repeatedly emphasized.  There’s no dependency issues here, and lying of any kind is clearly forbidden.  Which I loved, because the whole “teen lying to everyone” storyline has been done to death.

Then there’s the three boys of Sunset Curve-- Luke (Charlie Gillespie), Alex (Owen Joyner), and Reggie (Jeremy Shada), i.e. the messengers of destruction for toxic masculinity.  THIS IS THE MALE FRIENDSHIP PORTRAYAL WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR, PEOPLE.  They’re so nice to each other! They’re so supportive! They’re tactile, openly emotional, and completely devoid of judgment of any interests or behaviors that don’t follow male social standards.  Bless the Age of the Soft Boys, may their reign be unbreakable and everlasting.

Oh, and Alex is openly gay.  It’s not just hinted at-- he’s out and proud, with an adorable crush/pre-relationship with a skater boy named Willie (Booboo Stewart).  And, apart from a quick mention about Alex’s parents being homophobic, the show pretty much takes the Schitt’s Creek route-- all love and acceptance, with not much of a thing made of his sexuality at all (in fact, there’s enough evidence that none of the boys are completely straight, and I’m here for that, too).

And if all of that isn’t enough of a cuddle to the heart for you, THERE’S MORE:

Julie’s supportive, soft dad

Reggie’s immediate, one-sided bond with Julie’s supportive, soft dad and her brother

Julie and Luke totally have crushes on each other and it’s SO SWEET but completely age-appropriate, good job guys

I’m a sucker for good harmonies and the band HAS ‘EM IN SPADES

Flynn being HBIC the entire series

Julie’s crush Nick being very realistically awkward and dopey in the shadow of Luke’s arms (Nick, dude, lose that HAT, I beg of you)

A surprisingly moving side-plot/song about Luke’s parents

Alex just wanting to dance, and also being a high-key feminist and calling out the others when they slip up

EVERYONE’S JUST SO FUCKING NICE, OKAY

So yeah. Shut up. It’s wonderful and pure, and I WILL TAKE ANY SOFTNESS I CAN GET IN THIS HELL YEAR, WHEREVER I CAN GET IT.

In conclusion, Kenny Ortega can have my entire soul if he wants it, for not only this but also Hocus Pocus and Newsies.

Completely Unnecessary Afterword:

Being old enough to remember 1995-- and, specifically, what was popular that year-- has brought up some important questions regarding the Sunset Curve boys:

We know they died in ‘95, but like… when? Did they get to see Empire Records, for Christ’s sake?! Did they see Casper, because, I mean, they’re basically the Devon Sawas of 2020?  Were they spared their contemporaries’ fate of constantly over-quoting Billy Madison and Tommy Boy?  

OH MY GOD, DID THEY HAVE AOL SCREEN NAMES, AND WHAT WERE THEY??

What are each of the guys’ favorite song off of Boyz II Men’s “II”? This is possibly the MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION.

Did they die before Jagged Little Pill came out?  That would kind of break my heart.  Not that I expect Julie to start portraying Alanis-levels of anger/angst, but ‘95 was a YEAR for women in rock.  Garbage, Hole, No Doubt, PJ Harvey, The Cranberries, Veruca Salt, Bjork, and countless others-- they all had massive hits that year.  I love the idea of Julie and the guys sitting around the garage listening to all of those women for inspiration.  Can we have a resurgence of female-led rock bands taking over the charts, please?

On a much more serious note, given where the AIDS crisis was in ‘95, it’s no wonder Alex is a nervous wreck. It’s not really something I expect the show to delve into, but man… getting transported to 2020 might’ve been a bit of a blessing (not that things are great now, but y’know, medical progress).

How in the world did none of them fall victim to the whole “white boys dressing hip-hop” trend back in ‘95? I mean… Clueless got it right. (Wait, did they make it to Clueless??)

#julie and the phantoms #jatp #blog #netflix #I am old

[yikesharringrove]

i’m sorry that you’re having a rough time. if you need to talk my ask is always open! 💜 something I haven’t really seen in the harringrove fandom is a bookstore aus. do you have any head cannons for that? or maybe you could write something? i can see billy being a pretentious, flirty sometimes grumpy bookstore owner who is simultaneously annoyed and charmed by clueless steve who is obvi not a reader, but keeps coming in. Billy’s clueless why the pretty keeps coming in. robin is not clueless!

(ao3)

“Fuck.”

Billy shook out his hand, just dropped a large box of books on his fingers.

“Dumbass.” Robin was perched at the counter, leafing lazily through some indie zine her friends made.

“You know you could, like, help.” Billy shot her a glare as she rolled her eyes, leaving him and his smushed little hand to shelve the new stock.

“No point in that, Boss.” Billy just kept sorting maneuvering himself through the narrow shelves to sort the new arrivals.

His bookshop had been open for about a month, and was doing well. He had a little cafe in the back corner, run by Heather and her baked goods. There was a second level to the shop he filled with squashy armchairs, and little tables. It had become a fairly popular spot with the kids from the local university as they studied, or avoided their studies with the books he had on the first level.

He had new and used books, had a trade-in program with book donations. It was warm in the little shop, sweet and cozy.

The bell above the door chimed.

“Hi, I was looking for Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals by Immanuel Kant.”

“You can find Billy, he’s in the stacks over there, and he should be able to help you better than I can.” Billy rolled his eyes, could hear the smile in her voice. He kept shelving, could hear the light footsteps approaching.

“Um, excuse me, I was told you can help?” Billy looked up, his breath hitching when he saw the guy. He was tall and lanky, slouching like he wanted to be small. He had all this messy brown hair, these big dark eyes behind his glasses.

“Kant, right?”

“Yep!”

“This is a good one. Have you read the Critique of Pure Reason? That book was pretty big for me, his thoughts on causation in relationship to time and experience were so new to me first time I read it.”

“Oh, it’s uh, it’s actually for a class. I’m not any good at this philosophy stuff.” Billy just smiled weekly. This guy was almost fucking perfect. He wandered over a few stacks to search.

“You at the university?”

“Yeah, I’m a senior. Just finishing up my generals and everything so I can graduate. I’m studying to be a teacher. Sorry, you probably don’t give a shit.” He had red splotches high on his cheeks.

“No, I always love talkin’ with new folks.” He smiled gently at the guy, reaching up for the book. “Immanuel Kant. Robin up front’ll take care ‘a you.” The guy fidgeted for a second, taking the book slowly.

“Thank you, I’m Steve, by the way.”

“Billy.” Steve waved at him, awkwardly and adorably.

-

Steve began coming in just about every other day.

He would say an awkward hello to Billy, would be all fidgety and weird, and retreat to the comfy second floor with a large iced latte, face red, mumbling to himself.

“He has a crush on you.” Robin was poking him over the counter. Steve had just high-tailed it up to work on his schoolwork after asking Billy how he was and looking so fond when Billy just said not so bad.

“Shut up, Rob.”

“He does. He’s in here almost every day, and gets so fucking nervous when talking to you. He wants to date you and kiss you.” She sang it at him, wiggling around a bit.

“Jesus Christ, Robin, he doesn’t. He’s a paying customer.”

“A paying customer that gets all cute and blushy when you two talk, and who never says more than three words to me.” Billy rolled his eyes, retreating to the back office.

She followed him, stomping loudly.

“At least admit you think he’s cute.”

“He’s fuckin’ adorable, but he said he’s not a big reader, and when I started talkin’ about Kant philosophies, his eyes got all big like that shit went way over his head. I don’t think we’d work out.”

“Just because someone doesn’t read and-slash-or comprehend eighteenth century philosophy, doesn’t make them not worthwhile.”

“It’s kind of a deal breaker for me, Rob.” She glared at him.

“You are so pretentious. He’s cute, and he seems sweet, what does it matter?”

“I just like intellectual types.”

“I fucking hate you.” She huffed, stomping back out into the shop.

-

“What in the hell?” Billy was up on the second floor, cleaning up the discarded coffee mugs and books left behind before closing. He heard muttering from the corner, looking to see Steve, tucked in a large armchair, frowning heavily at the book propped in his lap, something thick and heavy, probably for that philosophy class he’s been trudging through.

“You okay, Pretty Boy.” Steve slammed the book shut.

“Yeah I’m fine.” He began shoving his school work away, stuffing it roughly into his bag.

“Hey, whoa.” Billy plopped down across from him, taking one of Steve’s wrists in his own. “What’s wrong?” Steve whipped off his glasses, digging his thumbs into his eyes.

“It’s just been a long day, and my dyslexia gets so much worse when I’m tired, but this midterm is tomorrow and I need to study.”

“I didn’t know you were dyslexic.”

“Oh, sorry, I forgot my button that says I’m dyslexic, ask me how!” Billy sat back, one eyebrow raised. “I’m sorry, I’m just tired. And my brain hurts.”

“You know we have audiobooks. There’s a whole selection in the back downstairs.” Steve looked up at him.

“Wait, seriously?”

“Yeah. We have tapes and CDs. Have a bunch of random stuff. You wanna take a look through it all?” Steve’s eyes were wide. He shoved his glasses back on, following Billy to the display.

They were sitting on the ground, going through the selection Billy had, Steve had found two of the books he needed for his philosophy class.

“Billy I’m heading out-” Robin stopped when she saw the two of them, sitting in a sea of tapes and CDs. “You do know we closed, like half an hour ago.”

“Holy shit. Seriously? Why didn’t you tell me to go! I would’ve gotten outta your hair.”

“Relax, Pretty Boy. I don’t mind stickin’ around. Don’t got much else goin’ on.” Robin was watching them with a smug look on her face, sitting in one hip.

“No I have to, I should go. I’ll, um, I’ll come back for these tomorrow.” He pressed the few he had selected into Billy’s hand, gripping his upper arm. “Thank you, Billy. It really means a lot to me.” He gave him a sweet smile, threw Robin a two-finger salute as he hefted his backpack, leaving the shop with a jingle.

Robin slapped Billy’s arm.

“He’s so hot for you, and you’re practically in love with him too, this is disgusting and gay.”

“Robin no homophobia in my store, please.” She laughed at him as they locked up, Billy cleaning up the mess of audiobooks.

-

“Hi, I brought you this.” Steve was wearing a soft sweater under a pair of overalls. He looked so soft and Billy wanted to cuddle him.

He was currently pushing a plastic container full of chocolate chip cookies over the counter.

“I wanted to say thank you for helping me last night, and I know there’s straight up a cafe that sells these in the back, and you could probably eat as many as you like because you own the whole place, but I thought it’d be nice and I bake when I’m stressed and ramble when I’m nervous, if you couldn’t already tell, but you’re really nice and I just wanted to do something nice for you, and I’m gonna shut the fuck up if you don’t mind.” He was bright red, his eyes darting around the shop, looking everywhere but at Billy.

“Thank you, Sweet Thing.” He took a cookie, taking a big bite out of it. “And I got your audiobooks on hold.” Steve giggled when Billy talked with his mouth full of cookie, rifling through his wallet to get cash for the CDs. “Your midterm was today, right?”

“Oh, yeah. I, you remembered.”

“You told me last night.” Steve shrugged.

“Sometimes people kinda tune me out.” Billy frowned, opened his mouth to say something in rebuttle but Steve plowed on. “I had the test today. I think it was okay, but it always goes either way with me. Sometimes I feel super good about it afterwards, but then I’ll straight up fail and sometimes it goes the other way, so I’m hoping ambivalence is key.”

“I think that sounds like a valid plan. Just keep your mind off it.”

“You read anything good lately.” Billy just gave him a look.

“Take in where we are, then get back to me.”

“I mean, you probably read a lot, but have you read anything good lately?”

“Define good.” Steve shrugged. One of the straps on his overalls fell off his shoulder. It was so cute.

“Like, engaging content.”

“That’s a pretty low bar.”

“Well, I know you probably read like, super smart stuff that goes way over my head. If we were talking about novels I would say, engaging plot, interesting rounded characters, all that shit, but you probably read, like, I don’t even fucking know.”

“I’m gonna let you in on my best kept secret.” He leaned into the counter a little. Steve’s eyes were bright as he leaned over the counter, shoving his nose right into Billy’s space. “I’m a sucker for classics.” Steve had this cute little half smile on his face.

“Like, Moby Dick?”

“Jesus, no. Nobody actually likes that book. I mean like, Pride & Prejudice and Emma and Wuthering Heights and Don Quixote.”

“I think I’ve heard of like, two of those.” He gasped a little, his eyebrows going up. “I have an idea! Would you recommend me audio books? Of all your favorites? I want to be able to like, talk about them with you.” His eyes were shining and bright, so excited to share these books with Billy, these books that mean the world to Billy.

“Sure thing, Pretty Boy. I’ll pick a new one out for you every week or so.” Steve hoped from foot to foot, wiggling and excited.

“I wanna do that! WE can have our own little bookclub. It’ll be so fun, we can like talk about your favorite books, and I’ll actually get it because I won’t have to be, like, translating the fucking wiggly words.” He was crackling with energy over this idea, it was making Billy excited.

And then Steve’s phone started going off in the chest pocket of the overalls. When he took it out Billy caught a glimpse of the name Nance.

“Sorry, this is my ex-girlfriend.” He smiled at Billy who’s heart dropped. “But I’ll be back tomorrow, if you wanna have a book ready for me!” He pushed the cookies closer to Billy with a Look, answering the phone as he awkwardly pushed open the door with his back, and a little hey, Nance!

“How was your boyfriend today?”

“Straight. He’s fucking straight.” Robin furrowed her brows.

“Sorry, there’s no way that boy is completely  straight.”

“He got a call from his ex-girlfriend. He’s fucking straight, and we’re gonna start a stupid bookclub thing because he wants to read my favorite books and he’s fucking straight.” Billy shoved the cookies away from him, taking up on of the heavy boxes of book donations, heaving it to be shelved.

Robin followed him to the stacks.

“Just because he had an ex-girlfriend doesn’t mean he’s straight, Billy. He could be bi, or pan, or fluid, or literally anything.” Billy just ignored he, kept shoving the new arrivals away. She sighed at his back. “Okay, asshole. Give him some queer book, like Orlando and see what he says about it.” Robin tromped away when Billy refused to answer.

-

Steve tripped on the door frame the next day.

He spilled out hard on the floor, smacking his chin and spilling paper. It was so fucking funny, but Billy stifled his laugh, and helped Steve up. His face was red, the flush spreading down his neck.

He took one look at Billy when he stood up, and walked right back out the door.

-

He gathered up the courage to come back in three days later.

“Watch yourself there, Pretty Boy.” Steve’s face went hot again.

“I’m so sorry about that. I was so fucking embarrassed, I had to go have a panic attack for like, six hours after that.” He gave a shaky little laugh. “I believe I was promised an audiobook?” Billy took it out from under the counter.

“Maurice, by E.M. Forster. It’s a gay classic about coming of age, and having to live in the closet, and being in love. It’s excellent.”

“Sounds like my fuckin’ life.” Billy stared as Steve just read the snippet on the back of the box.

“You gay?”

“Pan.” Steve said it easily, didn’t even look up from reading the box. Billy can hear Robin gloating in his head, saying that she’s right.

“Cool.” Steve gave him a weird look.

“You’re being weird.” Billy shrugged. Steve glanced at the large pride flag hanging in the window of the store, looking back at Billy with one eyebrow raised.

“Yeah, I’m a big ol’ homo. I’m really not being weird. I just didn’t know.” Steve reached out to push his shoulder.

“I’m kidding, Bill! Quit bein’ so grumpy.” Billy couldn’t help but smile when Steve was looking at him like that, was giggling at him like that.

-

When Steve finished the audiobook, they talked about it over hot tea after closing.

That became their ritual, Steve would get a book recommendation, would finish it in about four days, he’d stay after closing an they’d talk. The next day, he’d get a new one.

They began talking about more than just the books.

Steve was an incredibly easy person to talk to. Something about his big eyes made Billy want to open, to share his past.

He told Steve about his dad, just the tip of the iceberg, just the basic he’s a homophobic asshole. But then Steve told him he’d been kicked out of his house at eighteen, so Billy told him his father was physically abusive, and before he fucking knew it, they were both tearing up and connecting.

“Who’re you texting?” Robin snatched his phone, dancing out of his reach as she scrolled through the texts between him and Steve. “Oh my God, are you sure you two aren’t dating.” He ripped his phone out of her hands.

“Shut up, Robin.” He stormed to the back office, his refuge whenever Robin started bugging him.

“No. You two have been doing this dance for months. You two have your own special bookclub. You need to ask him out.”

“I just don’t wanna assume anything and fuck up this friendship. I don’t have very many friends, and i don’t wanna lose him. Just because he’s into guys doesn’t mean he’s into me.”

“Billy you’re hot. And me, a whole lesbian, telling you that means it’s true. I’ve seen the way he is around you. Remember when he fucking fell and had to leave immediately? He’s so hot for you and nervous rambles all the time. If you asked him out he would say yes.”

But Billy never actually got a chance to ask him out.

The same night Robin was bugging him Steve came slamming roughly into the shop.

“You okay?” Steve was quiet, something Billy had never seen in him.

“Just a bad day.” He sipped at the tea Billy had placed in front of him.

“You wanna talk about it?” Billy said at the exact same moment Steve looked right at Billy as said.

“You wanna go on a date with me?”

“Sorry, what did-” Billy ears were ringing.

“No, I didn’t say anything.” Steve was looking everywhere but Billy.

“No you asked me out.” He took a breath.

“Look, I really like you. Like a whole lot. And today was shit and the whole time I just kept thinking about how I wanted to see you, and talk to you about it, and I knew just walking in here and looking at you would make the whole awful day that much fucking better and I just wanna go on a date. With you.”

Billy’s mouth was open.

“Holy shit.” Steve was steadily going even more red.

“I’m sorry if I just fucked up this whole thing we had goin’ on-”

“No, I wanna go out with you. I really like you too.” Steve was still, and then he started wiggling, that excited little side to side he does.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.” Steve stood up, shaking and wiggling in the cutest little happy dance Billy has ever fucking seen.

“Oh my God. I’ve wanted to ask you out for like, months. I’m so excited.” He flopped back into his seat. “Okay but first, Animal Farm. I think the pig’s an asshole.”

Billy leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Steve’s cheek.

#yikes writes #harringrove #steve harrington #steve harrington x billy hargrove #billy hargrove x steve harrington #billy hargrove #harringrove fic #harringrove ficlet #harringrove drabble

[transpoettryinghisbest]

Mission Complete

(if anyone can teach me how to link the last two chapters please let me know, thanks. This is the final chapter.)

Chapter Three

Penny looks as if she wants to cry, but has no tears left, so she simply sits there, still clinging onto her dolly like it’s the only thing she has left in the world. None of the kids know what to say to her. There are no words to be shared. Monty starts to pack away his stuff, Carla awkwardly sifts through the contents of her pockets. Every kid looks as if they want out of the situation, discomfort hangs in the air as they all are clueless on what to say or do.

Finally, Penny is the one to break the silence, but her statement is so quiet, it almost goes unheard.

“You shouldn’t be sorry,” she says.

“What do you mean?”

“I…I know what my mommy did was…wrong. I know I shouldn't have helped her. I didn't want to. I didn't want to do any of that stuff, I just…I’m sorry. I should've stopped her sooner, I know. I just…”

“It’s okay,” Lily says.

“We all understand,” Billy adds.

Carla may not know the exact circumstance they're referring to, but she fully understands their sentiment.

“Adults never listen to us or let us do what we want,” she says. “Even if we know we’re right.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Monty adds, offhandedly, unable to hide the salty edge to his voice.

“So even though you were pretty annoying,” Carla goes on. “…actually really annoying, I figured things will be different now. After…you know what. So…I’ll let bygones be bygones.”

“Thank you,” Penny replies. “I’m sorry for any trouble I caused.”

“Don’t sweat it. You’re one of us now, right?”

“I…” She looks doubtful all of a sudden. “I don’t know… It’s not that I don’t want to, I just…”

“It’s natural if you miss your mom,” Lily says.

“Even if you don’t want to follow what she did anymore,” Billy adds.

“I don’t know how I feel,” Penny admits. “All I know is I don’t want to…” She trails off, looking confused. Then: “I feel weird.”

“Are you okay?”

“She’s still adjusting,” Monty explains.

“How long will she take to get fully adjusted?” Tag asks.

“Too long,” Carla declares. “I knew you should've use-”

Not zoned into their conversation at all, Penny cuts them off. “No, I definitely feel…different. Like something’s…missing.” She gently taps her chest, stomach, face and forehead, as if trying to hunt out the root of her unusual feeling. “Do you…have any contraband on you?”

Carla’s face darkens in angry disbelief. “Seriously?”

“Car-”

“After all of that? I thought you wanted to change.”

“Wait, please, you don’t understand, I can't… Usually I can sense when people have things but… I can't feel anything.” She looks panicked. “I think I'm broken.”

“You're not broken,” Monty says.

“But I-”

He takes out a jar - inside which is a small piece of metal with wires coming out of it.

Penny looks bewildered. “What? What is that?”

“They wanted me to bring you back. For a second chance. But the only way I was going to give you that was as a normal kid. No sensors. No lazer eyes. Nothing. You’re no better than any of us now.”

She blinks. “You…? So I’m just…normal?”

“Well yeah, who’d you think could manage this level of robotics? Only the guy who has a custom laser in his chair in case anyone tries to mess with him.”

“Wait, you have what?” Billy cuts in, but is ignored.

Penny stares at the sensor and the lazer in their respective jars, then her gaze slowly shifts up to meet Monty. It's unclear how much she knows or understands about the changes that Monty had made to her, or what she was like beforehand, but she seems to understand that something about her has been changed, possibly for good. She says nothing, but suddenly lunges at Monty. Monty panics, shielding his face as he anticipates a strike of some kind, but insead, Penny throws her arms around his neck and hugs him.

“Thank you. Thank you, Monty. Thank you so much.”

Uncomfortable, Monty tries to gently push Penny off him. “Hey, no worries. Don’t cry again, okay?”

She wipes her eyes and nose. “Sorry.”

Carla crosses her arms in annoyance. “I helped too, yknow.”

“You robbed Dr Danner,” Tag says.

“Not just Dr Danner!” she replies. “I robbed all the teachers. He was just the only one with any cash on him.”

“Thank you, Carla,” Penny says. “And thank you three.” She turns to Lily, Billy and Tag. “For…for setting me free. And for giving me a second chance.”

“You’re welcome, Penny.”

“I bet you two didn't get this much thanks when you killed Jerome’s dad, eh?” Billy jokes.

Carla jumps out of her seat. “You did what?”

“It wasn’t like that,” Lily cuts in.

“Oh, I forgot to mention,” Tag recounts. “Jerome wants to kill Lily for that. I think he’s plotting something.”

“WHAT?”

“Can we worry about that tomorrow?” Monty says.

“Yeah, Jerome went home with the rest of them,” Carla adds. “We can plan our new plan in the courtyard tomorrow, he’s not going to do anything before then. He’ll probably ask the kid…” She points at Tag. “…to help him. We can use that to our advantage.”

“Why is it always me?” Tag whines.

The twins shrug.

“Anyway, I’ll take my payment and be heading home now,” Monty says. “That’s enough work for one day.”

“I’m with you,” Carla declares, digging the money she stole out of her pockets and handing it to him. “I stole Miss Applegate’s phone earlier and I can't wait to get home and start hacking into it. Laters, everyone.”

But as everyone begins to pack up and go, Penny stays where she is with an anxious expression on her face. Tag notices.

“Penny, do you have anywhere you can go?”

“I…I don’t know…”

“Do you have a Dad?” Lily asks.

Penny shakes her head.

All of the kids stop what they’re doing as soon as they realise. For a moment, it seems as if they’re at a loss. Up until now, they knew exactly what to do, but now…no one knew what to do with an orphan with no home.

Eventually, Monty speaks.

“I’ll take her.”

He says it in such an off-hand way, it takes a second for anyone to acknowledge what he means.

“You’ll…take her home with you?” Carla repeats.

“Yes.”

“Forever?”

“For as long as I can.”

“Monty, I… Thank you,” Penny stammers, almost lost for words. “You don’t have to.”

“Well one of us does,” he replies, simply.

“Why are you being so generous to me? After…everything I did.”

“It’s not generous, it makes sense. We have a spare bed, I’m closeby if you need more tweaks or something goes wrong. It’s fine.”

“Won’t your parents mind?” Billy asks.

“Are you kidding? Ever since this-” He gestures at his paralysed legs in his wheelchair. “-situation, my parents let me have anything I want. They wouldn't dare say no.”

Penny hops down from the table she’s sitting on, assisted by Tag who insitincivley goes over to help her down.

“You can lean on my chair if you need to get your balance,” Monty offers.

“I think I’m okay.”

Penny takes a few cautious steps before relaxing into it and walking around like normal. Tag sighs, contented, as he watches this odd new found family leave together. At last, his final mission was complete.

#kindergarten game #kindergarten #kindergarten 2 #kindergarten fanfic #Kindergarten fanfiction #Mission complete

[whistlekick]

Ms. Shelley Devine is a multi-disciplined martial arts practitioner and yoga teacher based in Massachusetts. She is also the host of the Evolve WMMA Podcast.

It meant so much to me to be treated as an equal and not looked at as, you know, “oh, you’re a girl you cant do that…”

Ms. Shelley Devine – Episode 292

Our guest today found martial arts later than some while accompanying her child to a martial arts class. Ms. Shelley Devine might have started later than others, but she’s never stopped since. Ms. Devine’s journey shows her dedication because she has not only accompanied her child to the class but she herself has multiple disciplines under her belt. Not only that, she’s launched her own martial arts podcast that’s a welcome development to our ever growing martial arts community. Ms. Shelley Devine definitely embodies the spirit of martial arts. Listen to this episode to find out more!

[app_audio src=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/whistlekick/292-shelley-devine.mp3″%5D

Show Notes

On today’s episode, we talked about:

Ronda Rousey, Anderson Silva, Connor McGregor, Miesha Tate, Jackie Chan, Jet Li

Ms. Shelley Devine’s Websites:

Evolve WMMMA Evolve Bootcamp I Love WMMMA – Facebook

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Show Transcript

You can read the transcript below or download here.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Hey there, thanks for coming by. Welcome, this is whistlekick martial arts radio. My name is Jeremy Lesniak and today I’m joined by Ms. Shelley Devine. You probably know whistlekick where the ones known for making great sparring gear, fun apparels some training accessories and honestly a ton of websites more than I can go into right now, so the best place to start is whistlekick.com, that’s where you can get links to everything we’ve got going on. Of course, if you want to show notes featuring links, photos from our episode, sometimes videos, and a ton more, oh transcripts, we don’t talk about that too often, there are transcripts you can read right there while you’re playing the episode or download as a pdf, we would make it accessible for you those are all over at whistlekickmartialartsradio.com. Today’s guest is fairly local, she is just a couple hours away from me Boston, Massachusetts area and we spent a lot of time talking about women in the martial arts, we talk about women in MMA some of the folks that she looks up to in mixed martial arts and her interesting journey that has left her starting over a couple times rediscovering the love of being a perpetual student and all the wonderful things that have led her to where she’s at in life and as a martial artist. So, let’s welcome her to the show. Ms. Devine welcome to whistlekick martial arts radio.

Shelley Devine:

Hi Jeremy. It’s nice to meet you.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Well, it’s nice to meet you too. Listeners that this is one of those where you know it’s a referral like most of our episodes, it’s a referral either a listener or past guest and so other than the let’s see what does skype say the seven minutes or so that we’ve been on the phone we haven’t spoken. So, I’m in the same boat as all the listeners I’m gonna take this ride with them and learn all about you your journey through the martial arts.

Shelley Devine:

Okay well it’s funny that you know I’m in the middle of developing a podcast and how I came to you through a referral was I was interviewing one of your listeners who was a black belt who used to be one of my students many, many years ago when I was actually a yoga instructor. And then also training my slides but then teaching like a cardio kickboxing class and she went on to become a black belt so there you go. It’s funny how things you know wind around and you end up in places like I’m in the hot seat right now being you know the interviewee and instead of the interviewer.

Jeremy Lesniak:

It’s weird isn’t it?

Shelley Devine:

It’s very interesting. I mean, I’ve been in this seat before but in a different context and not about so much about myself but it is funny doing it this way. I’ve been on video before and then I’ve also spoken, years ago when women’s mixed martial arts was coming up when you know the women were just getting into the cage and speaking to, oh god what was his name, Goldman he does the no holds barred podcast I think do you recall that at all Jeremy?

Jeremy Lesniak:

I don’t but keep talking and I’ll see if I can look it up real quick.

Shelley Devine:

Yeah, I mean it was some time ago he interviewed me after I been in New York watching, while actually photographing and writing an article about women’s Muay Thai fight in New York, you now like they didn’t they didn’t have an MMA in the art but they would allow for the Muay Thai kickboxing so I was there watching that and photographing some of the women there and also you know, interviewing some of them writing a little article about you know women fighting. It was all that was just strictly women shout which was kind of unusual at that time.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Eddie Goldman does that name sound right?

Shelley Devine:

Yes. Eddie Goldman. Yes yeah. I can’t think of his first and last name but yeah, he spent he was kind of like the first podcast that I can never really remember before like even joe Rogan’s out there. People would listen to him you know he was really pretty much the only show I thought was kind of around.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Yeah. You know it’s fun to go back to some of those early days of podcasting because you had to work for it. You had to work to produce and you had to work to listen to it for the most part. There weren’t the convenient options that you know you and I were talking a little bit before we went live here that you know, there is some work that goes into this but you really at the end of the day it’s about consistency, it’s about the relationships you build in getting the guests and the content the technical stuff which 10 years ago was the limiting factor is not the limitation now.

Shelley Devine:

Not at all it’s become so much easier now to be able to do it. I mean last year when I started even, I had help from a friend of mine who was the videographer and he knew sound so he had all the microphones and he had all the, I don’t know, all the gear and the contraptions know what he did but he put a microphone in my friend my mouth then and I would talk tonight, we had guest and he put mics in front of them you know in front of them and they would talk and then he would go back to shop and I didn’t know what happened how he would put it all together. I was clueless and I’m learning that now and I was like oh wow it just got so much easier. You know, that they have all these like I mean, you can do this on skype now you just need a microphone and the microphones are really great now too so it’s really definitely come a long way.

Jeremy Lesniak:

A very long way. Well of course this is not how to start a podcast, podcast. This is martial arts radio and obviously we have you want to talk about martial arts. Let’s go back, you mentioned yoga we talked a little bit before we started about kickboxing, but let’s go back all the way to the beginning when did you start martial arts?

Shelley Devine:

I started late in life. I started well actually my daughter when she was young probably in elementary school wanted to take a karate class so I think she was maybe you know first grade, 2nd grade and one of her friends parents was opening a school that was local to us so I was like well you know let’s go over and try it out and I got the kids both kids involved and they loved it and then they said that they were going to have a cardio kickboxing class for the women and so I took that and you know it’s kind of funny because I remember hitting, I still it’s a visceral feeling, I remember hitting the heavy bag and I was just like oh my god, I have to like explore this more and as I got into just doing the cardio can boxing class it was a gateway for me to take the karate class, it was a gojiru karate and I did that learn some forms and stuff and then, there was an evening class that was more scary and there was no women in it and want to do that it was a traditional jujitsu class and it was with a ragtag kind of group of guys that didn’t really have a gym and they would go around and they would, oh can we rent space here and use your gym in the evening and they happened to be friends with José Alfonzo who was my karate instructor and I ended up going into that class and I remember watching it being terrified because they actually used like real knives and real weapons and the guys were really kind of hard core and the more I learned about them the more I was like oh my gosh these guys are nuts. And you know it was safe but it actually really was and it was safe under you know while in that environment of the two main instructors José and bob Pasolini but if I went off with those guys to their own like you know what they were out in the street maybe training it was not a safe environment to train at all. These guys were a little nutty and by the time I started, I got to my yellow belt but that then the school shut down and I was lost, I didn’t have a place to go my kids were kind of you know they did have a place in and they were kind of like I don’t want to do this anymore and a couple of women who their kids ended up going in to Hyde park to, actually kind of a bit of a famous school it’s called one step beyond in Boston. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it?

Jeremy Lesniak:

That the name is of slightly familiar but I can’t place why.

Shelley Devine:

Well Billy blanks used to teach there, he used to do cardio kickboxing out in Hollywood whatever he used to teach the stars well apparently, I didn’t know this at the time but he used to work there I guess. And so, some of the women were saying oh you know we know this girl that could teach a cardio kickboxing class so I started teaching cardio kickboxing there. I think Paul [00:10:39.49] was the owner at the time and stayed there for a bit I wasn’t like I was in this place, I was like I need to learn in and I kinda felt like I need something else I didn’t know what it was and then my old instructor José called me cause he had moved to Florida and said Shelley what are you doing you now and I said I can’t find a place and he goes, I think you like this place up in [00:11:07.52] mass called small circle jujitsu with the guy there and [00:11:10.21] he’s a great instructor I think you’ll feel really like it you should go up and check that place out. I trained there for a bit, I think you’ll really like it. So, I went there and I stayed there for a lot of years I got my brown belt, I think I was about third-degree brown belt and I was in there like little black belt club and at that time was opening up my yoga studio with my ex-husband which led into we open up a martial arts studio inside the yoga studio so that was kind of cool. We had both things going on but we you know with having a business together and all that we both ended up going our separate ways he took the studio and made his way with that made it into a great gym it’s a pretty good just now a lot of people go to it and I transitioned to [00:12:03.04] Muay Thai kickboxing. So, went back to kickboxing and I have been there ever since, it’s been my home I have my blue monk called there, trained in Thailand for a little bit, I went there for a month got to train with [00:12:16.01] and also got to go to Singapore and train a little bit there too you know, just for about a month but was such a great experience but that’s when I pretty much my travels in martial arts.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Here you are, you’re bouncing around your finding your way through the world martial arts and I want to go back one of the first things you said that you remembered hitting that heavy bag and needing to, I don’t remember the exact word you use explore that was kind of my take away, what is it about that experience that the light bulb switched on?

Shelley Devine:

It was a really visceral. It was something that like, it’s almost like you recognize the part of yourself that was never really explored and as a young girl I can remember are you now watching say Muhammad Ali fight and you know that was kind of something I will watch with my dad and I used to kinda get in fights when I was a little girl and I was the one that people would come around you know if they were having enough they were being bullied or something and I would protect them or something and I’d have you know, first I talk to the person and then it would lead to okay fist are getting thrown and I would usually walk away. Okay and it was kind of even like boys that happen with girls in my teens and I just never really, I mean, the martial arts weren’t really an option it was only saw boys doing that you didn’t see girls doing it. And so it never really I think you know all those years it really wasn’t an option for me and then when I was taking the cardio kickboxing class, you now, I was in my late 30s and I just was like wow I loved it and I wanted to explore and I got to you know when I, I think there was an instructor there, gosh I wish I could remember his name, on it was a boxing coach and he’s like you fought before and I’m like, not really he goes well you know how to stand and I was like well it’s just innately natural, I’d [00:14:45.00] had no training but maybe just watching fights when I was a kid watching the boxers and stuff. And just one thing led to another and I was just so curious and I loved the, a little bit of that adrenaline rush of being fearful of you know the weapons attacks when I was doing the traditional jujitsu and learning all the technical aspects of things and how the body moved and then I could relate to a spiritual sense so it was just kind of something that was aha! It’s all coming together. And you know how it affects your body that holistic kind of effect that martial arts has where you know, you you’re working in a circular fashion a bit of, you have an opponent and then you have your yourself and the opponent is only a reflection of something that you are fearful of anyways to begin with and its just kind of contrast and that’s what fighting has always been for me. Or are dealing with something in martial arts when you’re training, it just helps to improve you and whole-body sense in that bag I think just when I hit it just brought it all to the forefront and I was like oh my god I love this. You know, kind of crazy but that’s, I think that’s the best description I can give to it. It just embodies everything that I felt like I could I wasn’t you now, experiencing my life, how strange was that right?

Jeremy Lesniak:

Well, it is and it isn’t. Because it’s not that dissimilar to what we’ve heard from others on this show and you know without an attempt at sexism you did bring it up I think sometimes for women, this is a real thing. You know I think this is why typically when I look into cardio kickboxing fitness kickboxing whatever is the ranks and there tend to be women whereas when we look at traditional martial arts the dynamics overall 10 the flip it is a male-dominated pursuit unfortunately but here is kind of the more visceral the more physical aspect in an approachable way for women and I think that’s great. I mean personally and I’d love to see it much more balanced on both sides but it is what is.

Shelley Devine:

Yeah, it’s moving in that direction. You know, we have women now that are fighting on a male platform that you know you have in the UFC, you have women men fighting in the same cage and women are fighting the same cage, you know they were fighting for same-sex opponents which is the way I would want it, but it’s something that’s new, this is you know so new and you know when you look at the cardio kickboxing classes they’re just gateways for women to take it to the next level to enter like say a karate class or traditional jujitsu or Brazilian jujitsu class or a kickboxing and Muay Thai kickboxing class and where they would be typically afraid to do that because there’s a part of them that is just not exercise, it’s the part of their natural law, human, I was talking about this with another woman yesterday about like bringing in that aggressive side of being a human being and I think it suppressed in women and I think it has been for a very, very, very long time and it is just maybe in the last you know generation of women it’s starting to really reveal itself you see it more because it’s more accepted that women are playing sports. You know, when we can play soccer, they can play baseball, they’re playing football, they’re playing you know we see it in tennis but we have, now we have racecar drivers that women. So, you’re seeing women doing things that would typically male dominated by you know now it’s worth seeing, young girls are saying that there are no limits. Not just, you don’t just have to be a hairdresser or not that that’s a bad, you know, I’m not knocking hair dressing but those were the only options is the be a teacher or nurse or a hairdresser or something of that you know or a massage therapist and those were really the only work kind of opportunities that I saw in growing up and or be a mom and stay at home with the kids which is all fine. I mean I think that’s a great, those are great professions and there’s no job tougher than being a stay-at-home mom I think. You know, if your home with kids and stuff there’s no greater job that you could do on earth or even to be a father. But those were the only things that maybe a young girl saw or now they could be an architect or they could be a mixed martial artist and fight in the cage and that wasn’t you know, that’s only in my lifetime that I’ve seen that my generation, you know and it was later in life you know, I’m saying like didn’t start until I was in late 30s and hitting 40s so…

Jeremy Lesniak:

Not only is, say like MMA, an option for women but we had a several year period with the biggest mixed martial arts draw in the world was a woman. And there is not another sport that we’ve had that I’m aware of or that you ever been able to say that. People tuning in to watch Ronda Rousey, this is not an MMA show and listeners don’t worry we’re not gonna, you know take a hard left here and really go down that path but it bears mentioning because at least in the early days, MMA folks were coming out of traditional martial arts and Ronda Rousey I mean maybe she’s moved on the professional wrestling now but you know I still look at her is one of ours, because she came out of judo.

Shelley Devine:

Yes absolutely.

Jeremy Lesniak:

So, I think we get we get to claim some ownership over her and what she has done for…

Shelley Devine:

Absolutely she truly a flashlight as I think you know, being a mixed martial artist is exploring all different types martial arts and that’s the journey of being a martial artist, sticking with one system isn’t necessarily going to you know, limit you but why not explore other you know judo is one thing, you learn how to toss somebody around and in learning leverage and learning your own body’s balance but then if you decide to go online kickboxing that that’s a whole other you know, that’s a whole other way of using your body as a weapon you have eight limbs to use in a different way other than you know, say tossing somebody in judo.

Jeremy Lesniak:

There’s a bit of a Muay Thai reference in there isn’t there? Eight limbs. Not everyone may get that reference.

Shelley Devine:

Yeah so it’s just you know martial arts is, offer’s such full spectrum of how to exploit yourself as a human being more so than you know I we touched on that, I was a yoga instructor and the only downside of it’s kind of I feel like in my own practice being a yoga instructor and then being martial artist, the two were like okay they seem like very at odds with one another but bringing them together I think yoga is a part of mixed martial arts too which I don’t think god customarily mixed martial artist would say that but it is cause it’s another art and it is another way to the body and to connect with source. And I think as much license were trying to do too, depending on you know through our bodies, to our minds, to our spirits and I don’t know. I think you know, going down that road of you know women being in mixed martial arts you know Ronda Rousey doing what she did and she’s on that platform and she created this this this opportunity but she started out as you know a judo player and she became an Olympic athlete but she couldn’t do anything with that. That was her love and her passion she couldn’t survive on being an Olympic athlete and I don’t know too many martial artists unless they open a gym that can survive on just being a competitor.

Jeremy Lesniak:

I would say there are none.

Shelley Devine:

Yeah. And why is that? You know like it seems kind of when we’re on this question, we love this kind of movement in our body and it’s an interactive movement and it really expresses who we are as humans to one another. It’s like oh what do you, how come we can’t, I don’t know what I’m trying to say here but it’s just going down a rabbit hole. It’s just interesting to me and I don’t know where to go with that I guess.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Well you’re not the first person to wonder about that why is it that the best of the best when it comes to martial arts do not have the opportunities that so many other disciplines pursuits do if you are the best biologist in the world you have grant money thrown at you, academic institutions will fight over you and say ‘hey do your research, we just want to support you and maybe we you know, take somewhat some your patents’ or whatever you know that there’s a path there, but the best martial artist in the world are not exploring martial arts. They are not bettering martial arts and moving it forward as I think most of us if we at least considerate would wish they would. And it’s because those opportunities aren’t available and hopefully in the coming years it will be an option, and you know full disclosure that something that we are hoping to do here at whistlekick, we are hoping to be able to take you know these amazing people when they retire from competition or you know they maybe they aren’t even competitors and say okay you know what you go spend the next three years and train and teach and explore and research and figure out what you want to figure out on this sort of sabbatical and then come back and share it with the rest of us. And where would traditional martial arts be now if we done that the last 20 years? It would be amazing.

Shelley Devine:

Yeah exactly I mean yeah there was never really a platform for it and I do think you know, now that there’s say you know these promotions out there you know UFC, they have bellator, those sorts of things. It does give anybody an option to actually excel on a platform and earn a living but it’s a short-term living compared to other sports or other you know.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Well let’s step out of this rabbit hole and jump into another one. Here we were, we told some stories. We heard about your origin story if you will and I’m sure you have others so I’d love for you to share with us your favorite martial arts story.

Shelley Devine:

My favorite. There’s a couple but one of it and this has been… Well when I started sidyotong, I was, there was a few other women there I was teaching and you have an occasional woman come in to class and it was another gateway class where it was like cardio kickboxing but we did put Muay Thai into it and there was this one girl that came in, woman, and she wanted to be a mixed martial arts fighter and but you know, to get there is a lot of process that you have to go through to get there but she, we were having a smoker at the gym and the smoker is an in-house unsanctioned opportunity to go hundred percent against your teammates. You know, you have to go through all the process of you know, having a fighter competing so you know, you might have to cut weight, yeah. You have to prepare, you have to train for it, you have a coach that’s coaching you, all that so she had begged me, begged me, begged me, begged me and I had no intention of really doing that but somehow my name came up and she basically beg me to do it and I was like okay you’re twisting my arm but it turns out that it brought back when I can remember being in that in the ring and it brought back like this little girl in me that wanted to do what the boys were doing and so that was a real high for me and a weird really weird sort of way. And then shortly after that [00:29:26.27] had been here and I got chance to and he’s the instructor, he’s the son of the instructor over in Thailand for sidyutong, and he’s been the lead instructor there for a lot of years and he was back here at the time too so I got to be in the in the ring and he held focus mitts for me and that was just sublime. I was like wow this this particular man is holding focus mitts for me or thigh pads for me and I’m getting to you know kick and punching and he’s guiding me through you know typical Muay Thai strikes and I just was in awe and I was blissful I just because he just had such knowledge and i’s like actually standing in the ring with him and then had an opportunity took over in Singapore while he was teaching a class that involved MMA, he was teaching and I got to open the class with some you know, some warm-up drills and he honored me they are in front of the whole male class and it just was, it was really hugely profound for me, really it meant so much to me to be treated as an equal and not looked at as you know, oh you’re a girl you can’t do that or I just I didn’t even have that feeling it was beyond all that and he’s really centered around I think on that was a huge, huge, huge time in my life I guess and it wasn’t just the one it was the combination of all that and I didn’t realize until now telling it that he was centered around that which is really was really kinda cool.

Jeremy Lesniak:

I’m imagining you in front of that group of men and just having that honor. What was going through your head? I’m imagining you are nervous…

Shelley Devine:

I wasn’t say just what I typically, you know it’s funny because I would do this warm up for the class back at it here in Boston and I used to do it all the time and I know it was appreciated but for some reason being there because it was, there was some guys that were professional fighters and there were students it was all mixed and was a fight team class and for me to lead it and the opening drills of it, it was just really and in another country even, you know it was I was just really, it was a bit surreal and I was just like just so blissed out and having fun, it was so fun and just really happy, just real, real happy I just felt like I was in my own spirit and uncompromised by anything yeah, it was really, it was a really great, great time.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Now, you said that you had a couple story? If you want we certainly have time until another one.

Shelley Devine:

Well, it was pretty much that, you know, having the fight, that was like a cool time. I’m trying to think let me see, some right now I

Jeremy Lesniak:

There’s something behind that laugh. I know what that laugh means.

Shelley Devine:

Well this one’s kind of funny. I think I was getting my brown belt over a small circle jujitsu and what how they do it, you know you go through all the tests you do you like they have a checklist of things that you going to do but at the end of it, they give you want to attack after another. And typically, it’s usually about maybe 10 attacks and you, you know people are lined up and they give you know, they’ll come at you with either a weapon or whatever they got you know. So, I’m standing there and I know how many would be. How many attacks it would be but I knew this was the end of it and a whole lineup of guys and the first one out was pretty like you know I’m 5’5 and half and he’s pretty tall guy pulling out close to 6 feet if not a little bit more, you know like a little taller. You know, big guy and I’m thinking there’s this whole lineup of guys and some of them have clubs and some of them have this and that you know? And I’m like I’m exhausted now as it is and because it is like a full day and I was like ‘ooh, I am going to set the pace for this right now and make this easy’ because I had seen how they were attacking other students and they were going you know not a hundred percent but it’s like, you know they’re going kinda hard and I’m like I can’t keep this up. So, I went low like the guy came at me I think he had a club or something, went I at me, I went in low grabbed him right by the family jewels, if you know what I mean and just held, and I looked around like a quick look but everybody knew this is what is going to come to him when I drop you guys fast and I’m telling you what I’m going for. Then everybody just like they came at me nice and easy after that. I went through, I mean it was still tough but I set the pace where if anybody was going to get wild with me or you know oh I’m gonna like you know especially sometimes white belts get a little  oh I’m gonna have to go against somebody who’s brown belt I gotta have to go hard against them. Everybody was like they all kind of like you know shifted their gis and held their junk in place and they came at me, kinda like a little you know, a little more with caution because they didn’t know, I just set the total tone of the class and then later at the end of it when I was handed my belt or whatever the instructor said yeah we gave you like about you know 10 more attacks than we usually do because of that whole set up they just wanted to see what I could do and it was really funny. But I just remember looking around and then one of the guys was happen to be an MMA fighter and you know, I don’t know if you ever notice that when you, you know when you’re in your element and you connect with like a spirit, the spirit of the soul of somebody and I could just see that little glint in his eye when I did I was like damn girl you just totally set the tone of what’s gonna happen you owned this room. And coming from him, the way he looked at me I was like yep, thank you and you know, just that it was recognized it was kinda cool it’s really a cool experience.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Nice. I’d like to talk about a time in your life when you know, maybe things were off, low, however you want to define it and how you were able to reflect on your martial arts or maybe it was a physical situation you used your martial arts to move past.

Shelley Devine:

Well I’ve a lot of loss in my life. I think martial arts has made me really a lot stronger in ways that I never would’ve imagined. You know I think, as human beings we come up against you know betrayal, we come up against being hurt in different ways whether or not we’re betrayer or somebody else is, we were human and we do things that you know we don’t feel good about and sometimes people do things to us that they don’t feel that great about either and we don’t feel that great about either. And I’ve had my share of that and I think who hasn’t and coming out of it, I think you know you always kinda have to move forward in any part of martial art training that I’ve experienced what it was with jujitsu or traditional jujitsu or karate or the Muay Thai, you’re always moving forward. But you gotta make sure that you keep yourself intact and how I mean that is you have to be accountable for or responsible for whatever actions you take so if you hit someone, I guess I’ll use this is an analogy, if you hit somebody you have to kind own it. Like you know, if you punched them you own it, if they punched you back you know you evade it or take the hit you’re like okay, I’m gonna move forwards, that hurt and I’m gonna move forward. So, I think, in life when you know, crappy things happen like I mean, I’ve been through a divorce that was kind of crappy. My sister died around the same time that was kinda crappy. It’s you feel the pain of loss but you know you have to get up and you have to kind of move forward because your people around you that you’re setting an example for. And I think martial arts has taught me to be a leader and you have to kind of yeah, I gotta get up and move. I got to keep going forward, journey hasn’t ended yet, I still have time here, I’m gonna make the best of it, I’m gonna best possible version of myself and martial arts has help me give me the strength that inner fortitude to be able to do that because I know a side of myself that I didn’t know before like from that day I hit the bag, I recognize something in me that wasn’t being, that wasn’t fully being expressed and martial arts help me express that.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Of all the people that you’ve trained with and under you’ve named a few names, if you had to pick one who was the most influential, the person who without their guidance or training or whatever it was, you would be a completely different person, a completely different martial artist. Who would that be?

Shelley Devine:

People that I’ve trained with already? I would be some somehow different if I can train them?

Jeremy Lesniak:

Yeah who would you know, if you were accepting an award you know, who’s gonna to be that first person that you say, you know without so-and-so I wouldn’t be here today. Or is there a person maybe there isn’t?

Shelley Devine:

You know I don’t think there really is. I think that’s an interesting question and that the people that I attracted into my life and saying in martial arts that have been present there for me. They’re not the only ones that have guided me, or… They’ve been a reflection I guess of something that was in me already and that might sound really egotistical but I don’t mean it that way it’s just about self-discovery and these people might have held up piece of me somewhere and I had to go collect it. So, it would be a combination of many, many, many people that I’ve interacted with over my lifetime which is a bit profound and I’m feeling like as I’m saying this in describing it’s almost like oh wow I didn’t know that about me until really this moment.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Cool. What I’m hearing from you doesn’t sound egotistical at all it sounds like another way of expressing when the student is ready, the master will appear which exists in our world so much that it’s become a cliché. It’s something that we see in martial arts films dating back quite a ways and a lot of us have experienced it and you’re just looking at the situation from a slightly different perspective so, it doesn’t come across that way to me. Now if we flip the question who would you want to train?

Shelley Devine:

That’s kind of a fun question because there’s some really cool people out there that train in martial arts that are really neat. I used to think, which is kind of funny Anderson Silva just because of the way he moves and he interacts like when he would, when he would fight the ring or in the cage. I just thought his style and he was exploring so many different things, not necessarily train with him but I like to go see how he trains and like just be like him vicariously like watch him train. And I think Connor McGregor would be another one. He has recently been trained with Ido Portal and I’m not sure if you’re familiar with him.

Jeremy Lesniak:

I am familiar with him. He is, he is a brilliant man and someone I look up to when it comes to movement.

Shelley Devine:

Yeah, I think you know seeing movement, you know he use movement and then Connor McGregor kinda going to that then it’s not just they’re martial arts aspect of it’s just how they create their world and their life in and what’s important to them and the people that are behind them I find that fascinating and into that there such purpose Wendy perfectionist isn’t really the right term but they execute their craft well and they’re really focused and I admire that. I find Ronda Rousey another one too I admire even though she’s trained in different things but it’s how she’s living her life and she is a true martial artist. Another one that I Miesha Tate. I wasn’t always a fan of hers, I you know, I and now I look at her far differently now that she’s kind of a little more removed from being a fighter and then how she’s interacting with other fighters and training other practitioners coming up. I think she would be kind of really cool to train with a little bit but I think you know Jackie Chan might be kinda fun.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Who wouldn’t want to train with Jackie Chan I mean, come on.

Shelley Devine:

I think it would be hilarious like, just or jet li or something like that. Just they are and you know if Bruce lee was still alive, he’s another one. Just sitting in the room with them you know and listening to them speak or watching them I think that would be really kinda cool thing to do.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Absolutely. Do you watch movies? You know you mentioned a couple martial arts actors there, is that is not a thing for you?

Shelley Devine:

Yeah. You know what I recently just watched and I’m like oh my god this was so good was atomic blonde. I was like oh my word. Her moves in that were so you know, just amazing to me and I don’t know who choreographed all the moves that she performed in that movie. I was just like wow just a cool movie I really liked it.

Jeremy Lesniak:

It was a fun movie I certainly enjoyed watching it and it’s one that hasn’t come up too much on the show of course, Charlize Theron is the star for anyone that hasn’t seen it but I was actually just working on pulling up to did that and of course the imdb mobile website is not the easiest to use.

Shelley Devine:

I just thought about that at the top of my head because I had just watched it and I and I like I could watch it again just for I mean, of course I love style clothing and everything in that she is [00:47:03.03] but I just thought it was really well choreographed and I usually you know, I like all the funny stuff, I like Jackie Chan all his and I can’t think of any of the names of his movies but I always enjoy watching him like when he does that you know the drunken kind of masters and just how he is able to do all these you know stunts and then I always like jet li. I always like the way he moved in his movies and the philosophical kind of you know, him being a master and always know that good and evil kind of thing I was going for the good. There were some other really good ones what is it crouching tiger and then there was that one this kind of a funny one, can’t think of the name of it.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Its ok. There’s a bunch of them.

Shelley Devine:

Yeah there’s so many.

Jeremy Lesniak:

There are.

Shelley Devine:

Those aren’t usually like if there’s gonna be something on like martial arts movie, I have to see it. [00:48:13.08] a lot of good striking and you like a little twisted.

Jeremy Lesniak:

I think I think we all are I think you have to be as I certainly do not coined did not coined this phrase but I don’t know where it doesn’t came from, the idea that we get together, we choose to hit our friends. You know were kicking our friends in the head or punching them in the face, that takes a special kind of person. How about books?

Shelley Devine:

I actually just for this, I’m actually getting I just ordered a couple books that have been written by some fighters and some judo practitioners that one is Ronda Rousey’s my fight your fight and Kayla Harrison she’s also

Jeremy Lesniak:

You like the judo women it seems?

Shelley Devine:

well you know what? They get some attention because maybe they’re Olympic athletes and they’re’ a little more known out there for that and they actually came from you know, they trained in this area with jimmy Pedro and you now and they have books you now and I think they are a pathway for other women to come up. I think that’s probably why I am a little fascinated with them.

Jeremy Lesniak:

And of course, I reached out to both of them no one from Ronda Rousey’s camp is written back but have had some emails exchanged with folks on Kayla’s end so fingers crossed that that will happen at some point whenever on the show. What are your goals? You’re still talking about martial arts in the present tense, so I’m gonna imagine there are things you’re looking to accomplish.

Shelley Devine:

Well I’d like to, I’ve been out of training for a few months just because I moved. I do need to get back to it but I am in the process of working on this podcast so I’ll be interviewing other women that are involved in martial arts and so that’s kind of a goal and then creating some digital online products for you know that involved martial arts training I guess and then maybe helping MMA fighters to help them recover from injuries or keep them injury free, that’s one of the things so I’m kinda looking at those things. As far as training goes, I was training in an MMA class like learning to do take downs again and then I just bounced back into doing the Muay Thai kickboxing because I just love it, it’s just so much fun just you know going into a class and maybe light sparring any of that or learning a new technique of learning a new combination, just those things. It’s very simple, I don’t have just staying consistent in it, over the long haul over the long term. You know, for years and years and not, not doing it. You know, I think that’s pretty much the goal is just staying really consistent in going and doing a class and keep learning. Cause you never know who the instructor is going to be to like you know, what are they gonna teach you that day its gonna come up, you know.

Jeremy Lesniak:

And of course, any of the women that have been on the show the I might be able to make an introduction to, if you want by all means happy to.

Shelley Devine:

Sure, that will be great thank you.

Jeremy Lesniak:

You’re welcome. Hey, were all in this together you know and you know there are people out there that and you know some time I get an email you know you’re helping other martial arts podcast you know, one of my best friends in the martial arts is Jared Wilson who hosts martial thoughts which is probably the podcast most similar to this one out there and we’ve become good friends because of that. You know and I look at it as a parallel to martial arts. Were all doing similar things, but we’re doing them in our own way, for our own reasons and why not lift everybody up? You know let’s make each other better.

Shelley Devine:

Absolutely that’s a great, great way to be you know unifying people and, yeah there shouldn’t be this fear of oh you know they’re gonna you know tap into your business or whatever it is you know, because it’s like now you can have your you to develop your audience. People are gonna like you for you and they’re gonna listen to you for you. For a very specific reasons because of your originality and don’t realize that.

Jeremy Lesniak:

People are silly. Now if some of the non-silly people out there listening or even the silly ones, if they want to reach out to you and how can they find out about you and your podcast and the other stuff that you’ve got going on you know, let’s call this commercial time and just let it rip.

Shelley Devine:

Okay so it would be for my podcasts it’s evolve WMMA. I do have a blog there too, I’ll be writing about you know some of the current fights that are coming up to with say the UFC or bellator and invicta fc and I also do an outdoor fitness boot camp if you’re in the Boston area. Yeah and that’s evolve boot camp, so evolve is one of those names that just goes with everything that I do. Just look for that, you’ll find me.

Jeremy Lesniak:

are you on social media?

Shelley Devine:

I am. I have a Facebook page for women’s mix martial arts, it’s I love WMMA and yeah, I would probably be at an evolve boot camp.

Jeremy Lesniak:

Well of course we’re gonna link all that stuff over on the show notes whistlekickmartialartsradio.com so those of you that might be new to the show that didn’t know about that or those of you driving you know, let’s not risk vehicular manslaughter as you try and jot down domain names. Alright, well thank you for being here and I’d love for you to send this off with just some parting words, wisdom or what have you for the folks listening today.

Shelley Devine:

Oh well just if you’re on a martial arts journey are you having started one, you might want to get into the gym and try it out. It’s a long road ahead but it’s a wonderful journey you’ll make great friends great acquaintances, there’s just a great group of folks that train in martial arts and I love it and I think you will too.

Jeremy Lesniak:

One of my favorite things about this show is that, we get such different people from different backgrounds, different experiences to talk about their journeys through the martial arts and if you like that makes me not only a better martial artist and host of the show, but a better person and that was how I felt even from the beginning of today’s episode that Ms. Devine has a different perspective, not just as a woman, but as someone who’s trained in different arts who started at a different time in life and really has embraced that and made martial arts her life and her lifestyle. You know, I respect that so thank you Ms. Divine for coming on the show. If you want the show notes those are at whistlekickmartialartsradio.com we’ve got pictures and a bunch other great stuff, check that out if you want to follow us on social media we are @whistlekick Facebook, YouTube, twitter, Instagram bunch other places and if you want to get a hold of me directly, you can it’s [email protected]. Hopefully you’ll head on over to whistlekick.com check of the stuff that were making and we’ve got new stuff adding all the time. Seriously. If you saw the pile of samples, products in development on my desk right now it’s insane. We’re growing so fast, so much fun, kinda scary though. That’s a whole other episode maybe we will talk about that sometime. Enough of the sidetracking those tangents, got enough of that, today didn’t you? Until next time. Train hard, smile and have a great day.

Episode 292 – Ms. Shelley Devine Ms. Shelley Devine is a multi-disciplined martial arts practitioner and yoga teacher based in Massachusetts. She is also the host of the Evolve WMMA Podcast.

#Jiujitsu #Karate #kickboxing #Massachusetts #Muay Thai