#I’m emotionally about Juke again what’s new | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

thedeathdeelers · 3 years

Text

a little drabble that came to mind while chatting to and exchanging juke ideas with @phantomsandsunsets (and by chatting i probably mean shouting in all caps)

please enjoy!

——

beating hearts baby

it had been weeks since the orpheum, weeks since he’d finally been able to touch her, hold her, and cradle her face in the palm of his hands. and although it was awkward and a little hesitant at first, they had finally managed to cross that line of will they won’t they the moment luke had accidentally slipped up and whispered that he loved her in her ear one night after a big gig.

she froze in his embrace, his body following suit, but it only took her a split second before she was tightening her arms around him and declaring her love for him, the words spilling out of her like a waterfall.

ever since then, they had become inseparable (well, more so than usual). julie would wake up in the mornings, get ready for school and make her way to the studio. she would wave goodbye to the boys, get a tight hug and a lingering kiss from luke before she made her way to where flynn was waiting for her. her best friend always looked at her with an amused but exasperated expression on her face, probably due to julie’s slightly dazed one. luke always some pride in that.

as soon as she walked down her street after school headed towards the studio, luke would beat her to it, eagerly waiting for her at the edge of the Molina green jungle. he would scoop her up the moment she was within arm’s reach, crushing her into a hug and pulling her further into the garden, away from any prying eyes - they didn’t want to have to explain to julie’s neighbours how she had suddenly mastered the art of floating.

they would walk hand in hand to the studio, julie filling him in on her day, and luke eagerly listening to every word coming out of her mouth, as if scared he might miss out on a crucial detail that made up the very essence of julie.

the day would go on with the two of them nearly attached to the hip; julie eating her lunch and luke sitting on the kitchen island chattering away about all of the new ideas he came up with while she was at school. julie sitting at her desk doing her homework, while luke scribbled away on his journal on her bed. the two of them at practice, rehearsing new songs with the boys while still making eyes at each other.

and then came their favourite part of the day: cuddling in bed and talking about the past, the present and the future, before julie drifted off into blissful slumber.

luke would spend the night eyes closed, arms wrapped tightly around the light of his life, as he tried to burn the feeling of her against him in his mind.

and although luke would never say this out loud, never dare let julie know in fear of upsetting her, he knew that as long as he was a ghost, there wasn’t much of future for them. he couldn’t envision a future where he got to keep her forever. the thought hurt him more than he could ever put into words, but he loved her enough to know that he was going to have to let her go eventually. he was a ghost, ever unchanging, no heart, no heartbeat; no blood pumping through his veins. julie deserved better - julie deserved someone who was alive.

but for now he would cherish these moments for as long as he could - and at the end of the day, he would always be there for her, no matter what.

if only he knew that he had her heart just as much as she had his non-beating one.

——

and so the days bled into weeks and months and years, and still the boys remained frozen in time, still as 17 as on the day they had died.

julie had just turned 17, and luke was trying very hard not to stress about the fact that she was getting closer and closer to outgrowing him, both physically and emotionally. he tried to keep it together, really, he did, but once they had settled into her bed that night, his agitation was starting to seep through his thinly veiled façade.

“luke? are you okay?” came her quiet question, staring up at him through her lashes with wide brown eyes.

her head was nestled on his chest, his arm firmly wrapped around her waist, while hers was loosely thrown over his stomach. they were like two pieces of the same puzzle: always meant to find each other and slot perfectly into place.

he knew he should lie, knew that he had never planned on letting her in on his inner turmoil, but he was never good at keeping secrets from her - especially when she looked at him that with all the trust in the world.

with a deep sigh and averted eyes, he finally shared the thoughts he’d been keeping to himself for years.

“ya, i’m fine. i just- you could do so much better, jules. you deserve so much better.”

“what do you mean?” he could see the genuine confusion on her face, could tell that this was not a conversation she was expecting. his eyes kept twitching back to hers, the growing worry on her face only making it more difficult for him to continue.

he tried to reply, tried to form the words to make this right, but his mouth wasn’t cooperating. she was looking at him, her eyes scanning his face, most likely taking in the pained expression that was slowly taking over his features.

“luke? what’s wrong?” she lifted her head off his chest, her hand moving from its place on his waist to stroke his face, trying to ease away the lines of anguish.

wordlessly, he pulled the hand that was tucked under his head, and pressed it against hers. he closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath letting the the fragrance that was purely julie overwhelm him. he wanted to drown in her, treasure the feel of her soft warm skin on his, and not think of the consequences.

but he couldn’t do that to her.

gathering her hand in his, he slowly dragged it down his face, down his neck and further down his chest, until he reached the spot where a steady beat should’ve been felt.

he held her hand there, and waited. waited for a sign of understanding, an “Oh,” anything. but when a few seconds had passed and he still hadn’t gotten a reaction from her, he forced his eyes open, dreading the look of pity he assumed would be clear on her face. instead, he only found confusion still evident in her eyes.

“jules you..you just turned 17 today, and i’m still 17. next year you’ll be 18, and the year after that, 19...and even then i’ll still be 17. i- i won’t be able to keep up with you and i- i..i don’t want to hold you back, keep you from living your...” luke averted his gaze again, trailing off as the corner of his lip pulled down, twisting in his attempt to hold himself from fully breaking down.

he tried to focus on her ceiling, then her desk - her window, the pile of clothes laying on the chair - anything so as to reel in his emotions. but as the quiet stretched out in the dark room, luke started to get more and more worried. he tried to focus on his breathing, his mind spiralling as he started to truly believe that julie was about to pull away. surely she agreed? surely she realised that he was only holding her back from fully living the life she deserved?

the silence was killing him.

barely a few seconds had passed before luke was opening his mouth again, willing to fill the silence that was suffocating him. but before he could make a noise, a small hand made its way up over his mouth, effectively silencing him.

he turned his head to look at her, only to be taken aback by the fierce determination that blazed in her eyes. she’d never looked more beautiful.

“you are what i deserve. what we have is what i deserve. it’s what i want in life and i can’t do better because this is already the best.”

“but-” he tried to speak through her fingers but she cut him off before he could get past one syllable.

“no. this isn’t up for discussion, luke. i made my decision that day, years ago, and i’m not changing it now. i have faith that we’ll find a way. fate brought you to me, and there’s a reason for that.” she nodded to herself, her eyes piercing his.

“and what’s the reason?” he mumbled, her fingers still pressed against his lips.

“that we’re meant to be together.” she said it so simply, so confidently, that he couldn’t find it in himself to question it, to argue.

but he still needed to make his point across - needed to make sure she understood.

“jules, i- i’m not saying that we’re not. i just...” he pulled her hand away from his lips, and dragged it back down to where a dormant heart lay.

“i don’t even have a heartbeat. you know it’s yours for the taking, julie. but...it’s not even a functioning heart.” the momentary surge of hope that was brought forward with julie’s words was starting to fade.

he was still dead.

“we’ll figure it out.” he just stared at her, her answer so straight forward, so uncomplicated.

“i-” her hand found its way back to his mouth.

“no, luke. we will find a way.” she cocked her head slightly to the side, a small smile making its way onto her lips. “trust me.”

he gazed at this girl, this angel - his wicked beauty - who seemed to have such unshakable faith in the universe, in him, in them, that he couldn’t find it in himself to fight it anymore. at least not tonight.

he quirked his lips up, before pressing them into a kiss against the palm of her hand.

“okay.”

“okay?”

“yeah. you’re the boss, right?”

her eyes crinkled as her smile grew, spreading warmth in his chest and momentarily chasing away his fears.

“yes, i am.”

and just as she was leaning in, closing the distance between his lips and hers, she stopped. luke raised his eyebrow at her, about to lift his head to reach her, but she suddenly moved, ducking her head and changing direction.

he watched, confused, as her head traveled down his neck, dropping kisses as she made her way further down towards his chest. and there, right above the spot where his dormant heart lay, julie lowered her lips and pressed a soft kiss against his thin t-shirt, lingering there for a few seconds before lifting her head back up.

it was fleeting, but luke swore he could have felt a soft thud against his ribs. he knew it was impossible, probably just wishful thinking, but he had felt it.

“i love you.” the words escape him easily, his chest bursting with the love he felt for this girl.

“i know,” her eyes twinkled mischievously, as she made her way back up his chest to rest her head against the crook of his neck.

where she belonged.

——

in the next few weeks, the strange thud in his chest kept coming back, sometimes once, sometimes multiple times in the span of a few seconds. never continuous.

it kept happening until one day, the thudding picked up and never stopped.

he had her heart, and now she had brought his back to her.

FIN

——

taglist: @moreflowersthanweeds , @thesunsetcurvephantom , @fanfics-she-wrote , @pink-flame , @molinashimbos , @ourstarscollided , @ace-bookworm, @williexmercer , @star-astro , @heademptynothoughts , @i-thought-i-knew-what-love-was , @candycornmgg , @blush-and-books , @radioactive-rosh , @tmp-jatp, @tonightthestarsalign

#jatp #juke #julie and the phantoms #luke patterson #julie molina #julie x luke #my fics #jatp fics #ok now scout- YOUR TURN #thedeathdeelers fics

171 notes · View notes

bluefirewrites · 3 years

Text

Juke Sense8 AU

An AU based off the amazing show that is Sense8. It’s about a group of 8 people, from different countries around the world, who suddenly become telepathically and emotionally linked and they often ‘visit’ each other (It’s difficult to explain if you haven’t seen it, but it’s trippy).

This little drabble is loosely inspired by the show.

Enjoy!

_________

"Wait. Am I in London, right now?"

Luke glances up. Dinosaur Girl, as he called her in his head, seeing as though she very well might be in her head, is standing there, right next to him on the bridge.

"Yeah, I guess," he says, unsure if she or any of this is even real. He could be sleeping in his cozy little flat right now and this might all just be a dream.

But he's sure he couldn't begin to dream up someone like her.

She's from somewhere warmer, he can tell.

He's not sure how. But it's almost like he's feeling the sun beating down his back.

Luke blinks.

And he's not in London anymore.

Instead of the muddy bricks, there's sand underneath his shoes.

"You're here too?" The girl says, seated on a chair.

"I'm not-" he looks around. Palm trees, the waves- it all feels so real.

She nods, "I think we're both here and there."

"How is this possible?"

"I don't know..."

The girl thinks for a moment, tilting her head.

"Am I the only one you see?"

Julie snorts, "Wow, and I thought I was special."

Right, there’s no sense in hiding anything. She just knows. And he does too. Like how he knows that her name’s Julie and that she’s feeling anxious and scared but trying to put on a brave face.

The question finally bleeds through and Luke shakes his head, "No. I see another girl-"

He gives her a pointed look.

"A girl. Blonde. I think she's famous. I think she's close. Paris. For some event"

"For her dad," Julie nods, remembering her brief encounter with the girl, "I think he's famous too."

"Who else have you met?"

"A skater, but-" Julie shuts her eyes, and Luke follows her lead somehow...

Opening them they find themselves in a new place completely. One they don't recognize.

They're in a hospital. Julie instinctively flinches at the smell of disinfectant.

Luke notices and reaches for her, startling the both of them when his hand lands.

They could make contact... but it feels strange.

Luke wants to still pin it on a dream. But he's so freakin’ lucid that it might not be.

"He got hurt," Julie says, pointing to the guy currently in a hospital bed, bandaged up, sleeping.

"What happened to Willie?"

Jumping again for the second time, a new person makes an appearance.

A tall blonde guy wearing a fanny pack.

There was no sound of the door opening or closing.

But Luke could tell that whoever this guy is, he's not really here like this 'Willie' is.

He's... visiting. Like them.

This guy is like them.

Tagging: @blush-and-books @lydias–stiles @tmp-jatp @echocharm17618 @pink-flame @rainfallingfromthesky @ruzek-halstead @brightattheorpheum @caffeine-catastrophe @moreflowersthanweeds @willexx @crummycassidy @phantomsandsunsets @shelvesofgold @freeshawarmas @moreflowersthanweeds

#jatp #julie and the phantoms #sense8!AU #sense8 AU #jatp au #juke #julie x luke #luke x julie #palina #juke-box #it all makes sense if you watch the show #trust me

46 notes · View notes

heyoricohannah · 5 years

Text

Post Bar Mitzvah Part 8:

Thankfully, instead of acting really suspicious or corrupt, as far as attitude goes, Amber’s been simply serving everyone without a care in the world, wanting nothing more than to get this over with and for them to leave.

“Is everything okay...?” Walker asks Andi after Amber‘s left.

“Amber isn’t exactly the—nicest person. That’s all. But it’s okay.” Andi forces a smile. “I won’t let her ruin my time with you.”

Walker grins. “Good. And hey, if she ever causes you any future trouble, lemme know.” He giggles with her. “I know a mean girl when I see one.”

“Do you?” Andi asks.

“Yeah. You should see the girls at Union Prep. They’re pretty competitive.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah. I never really bothered to involve myself with them. That’s why I’m glad I met someone like you.”

Back in the booth next door, Buffy’s on the verge of tears, receiving odd stares from the boys sitting with her.

“He’s the only good one left!” She whispers emotionally.

TJ, Cyrus, and Jonah try not to take too much offense to that.

“Here you go.” Amber walks up to them and throws their order of baby taters onto the table.

“What’d you do to them...” Buffy asks.

“Buffy, you’re the one ordered them.” Says Cyrus.

“Exactly. So what’d you do to them.” She repeats, TJ popping one into his mouth. “Tastes fine to me.” He speaks as he chews.

“Who is this.” Amber sounds tired and unamused.

“TJ. He’s on the basketball team with me.” Buffy answers. “Well, technically not right now, but he will be again soon.” She proudly grins at him and gives him a fist bump.

“Okay...” Amber cringes.

“Hopefully you’ll be back on by the time she leaves.” Cyrus brings up.

“You? You’re leaving?” Amber asks Buffy.

“None of your beeswax.” Buffy snaps to her.

“Whatever.”

“When did that come in?” Jonah takes notice of the juke box sitting in the near corner.

“Oh. Recently.”

“Does it work?”

“Yeah. Just don’t play Chicago. I hate Chicago.” This is the last thing she says to them before walking off to wait for Waller’s burger to be ready.

“Cyrus come check out the juke box with me.” Jonah’s already sliding out the booth and taking Cyrus with him, Cyrus being pulled along and grinning at TJ and Buffy on his way over.

The remaining two smirk.

As Andi listens to Walker speak, she can’t help but take notice at the boys who are already giggling and beaming at each other while walking up to the machine.

“Do you know him?” Walker points specifically to Jonah who repeatedly high fives Cyrus before momentarily squeezing onto his hand.

“Oh, uh...” As she watches them giggle to one another contently, Andi feels she might as well be honest. “Yeah.” She looks to Walker.

“He was at the Bar Mitzvah you worked at. We were on and off for a few weeks, but, we’re only friends now.”

“That’s cool.” Walker refuses to waste time feeling jealous over the fact, which Andi is genuinely appreciative of.

“Cyrus, the one next to him, it was his Bar Mitzvah we were at.” She points out.

“Is that who he’s dating now?”

“Huh?”

Before that conversation can continue, Marty comes on inside, eyes of his going right to Buffy and TJ who are enjoying themselves amongst their new game of Rock Paper Scissors.

“Scissors can’t cut a rock.” TJ laughs to her.

“They can now! Oh.” Buffy takes sudden notice of Marty enviously standing at the entrance.

“You can’t even make up your mind, can you?” Marty snaps at TJ.

Andi and Walker and Cyrus and Jonah can’t help but look in the direction of the drama.

“What are you talking about.” TJ asks, Buffy already scowling over at Marty who doesn’t give her a chance to say something.

“I saw you in the gym with Andi.”

The said girl freezes up, instantly knowing where Marty is going with this and fearing it will make Walker assume the worst.

“Suddenly you’re all over her but not without the need to go back to her best friend?”

Andi can barely make eye contact with Walker, at this point. The expression on her face screams that he understands that that wasn’t what was happening.

Buffy’s jaw clenches. “If you were really there, you would see that I was there with them, and that there was no problem.”

“Andi and I are just friends. And so are Buffy and I.” TJ clears up.

“Why is TJ such a threat to you?” Buffy retorts. “‘Cause he plays the same sport as you? You never got this jealous about Cyrus.” She points out.

“That’s ‘cause Cyrus is—“ Marty knows to stop himself right there, his words making Cyrus the center of attention, which just about brings him into shock.

“Here’s your food...” Amber comes walking out with Walker’s platter. “What happened.” She can see the looks on all their faces.

Cyrus is unable to look at absolutely anyone right now, eyes closed and head directed down towards the floor, where his feet nervously shuffle together.

His breaths are deep but not steady, mind either blanking out or going a hundred miles per hour, fearing that this one and only excruciating moment will freeze in time. Physically, time moves forward, but mentally, he doesn’t think he ever will.

Seeing exactly what he’s done, Marty races out of there, but not without Buffy furiously going after him.

“Cyrus...?” Jonah asks, concernedly keeping watch with Andi, TJ, Amber and Walker.

“I...” Cyrus opens his eyes and lifts his head, refusing eye contact with either of them.

“I’ll...” He trails off, forcing feeling throughout his body and taking off into the bathroom.

“What is wrong with you?!” Outside, Buffy pulls Marty by the sleeve and forces him to look at her.

“I thought-“

“Well you thought wrong. Just because you think something, doesn’t make it true.” Right now, she’s purposely in denial because she knows it’s not her place to confirm such a thing.

“Buffy I’m sorry-“

“Don’t you dare say that to me. You know who you need to apologize to. And it is not me.” She lets go of him. “I never want to see you again.” It almost hurts to say.

“Buffy-“

“Just leave before you ruin something else!” Her voice raises. “Go!” Refusing to watch him leave, she stomps back into the diner and announces her entrance by slamming the door, its bells chiming louder than ever.

“Where is he...” She sees that only Andi, Walker, and TJ remain, sitting in utter silence.

“In there...” Andi points in the direction of the bathroom, where Jonah is trying his best to console Cyrus.

“Cyrus...” With a heavy heart, he knocks on the handicapped stall door where Cyrus stands behind and continues to quietly cry.

“Please come out.”

That doesn’t make things any better.

“Uh. I mean please exit, f-from the stall-“

Cyrus flies open the door and looks at him in utter devastation.

“Cyrus-“

“I’m not talking about it right now.”

“Alright. Okay! That’s fine, we don’t have to talk about it, I just wanna be by your side-“

“I don’t want anyone by my side right now. And that includes you.”

Jonah’s never seen Cyrus so angry, let alone did he ever think that he would have to. It makes him want to break down into a mess of tears, but he needs to keep it together right now.

“Cy’ Guy...” He feels like he’s hit a dead end.

“Don’t call me that! Just leave alone. All of you just leave me alone!” Cyrus commands, his scowl driving Jonah away and bringing him to tears before exiting out.

Andi, Walker, Buffy, and TJ see him all at once. “Jonah...” Seeing his tears progress and hearing his breath turn shaky, Buffy needs him to look at her.

Just when he thinks he’s going to have a panic attack, Jonah walks up to the juke box machine, the search for a particular song calming him down but bringing fear at the same time, knowing the possibility that it might lack availability.

Except, it doesn’t, and as it turns out, Amber’s returned at the perfect timing, giving him the needed twenty five cents from the tip jar.

“What are you doing?” Andi asks him.

“Listen. If this won’t make him show up, I don’t know what will.”

Jonah plays the song, turning up the volume in an instant and letting the intro play on as he desperately waits for Cyrus to come walking out of that bathroom door.

At first, Cyrus doesn’t believe it. For a second, he thinks he’s gone mad, that he’s so desperate for relief that he has to imagine things.

Then, the song grows louder, and he can’t not go and see for himself.

There’s Jonah. Only Jonah, as far as he’s concerned. Next to the machine and lighting up at the sight of him. He can’t believe Jonah’s doing the nicest thing he could for him after he’s acted so cruelly.

Only, he can. Because that’s just Jonah’s good nature.

At this point, he can’t tell whether he’s doing more laughing or crying, grinning at him ear to ear in full astonishment, starting to pick up on the presence on the rest of those in the room, along with their radiant satisfaction that he and Jonah have passed on to them.

The song, is Radio Gaga by Queen.

#andi mack #jyrus

13 notes · View notes

miniconrightsactivist · 6 years

Text

★ FILL IN THE QUESTIONS AS IF YOU ARE BEING INTERVIEWED FOR AN ARTICLE AND YOU WERE YOUR MUSE.

TAGGED BY: I stole it from @koi-dog-bot

TAGGING: @heligooddeals, @prowls-analysis, whoever else wants to

1. WHAT IS YOUR NAME? I'm Lingo.

2. WHAT IS YOUR REAL NAME? .........it's... still Lingo.

3. DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU’RE CALLED THAT?

Wh- Uh... well, I ... guess because I'm good at translating? I'm a xenolinguist and a polyglot.

4. ARE YOU SINGLE OR TAKEN? Aheh... aaaahhhhhh um. Well. I.. don't know if any claim has been staked on me but I'm sorta kinda sorta seeing someone sorta...

5. WHAT ARE YOUR POWERS AND ABILITIES? Well mostly I hear really well. A-and I can... translate stuff. I mean it's kind of not the most useful ability since everyone's equipped with universal translators these days anyway, but it's handy to have an inherit knack for it when you run into an entirely new language, or your translator gets disabled somehow.

6. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES? ....Blue... I just wear red lenses sometimes...

7. HAVE YOU EVER DYED YOUR HAIR? I don't.. have hair.. but I've painted myself a couple times since coming here. Does that count?

8. DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS? Yeah. I've got three brothers and two sisters. One of my brothers is my twin...

...don't tell them I'm here.

9. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? Not really. It might be nice to have one, but organic animals are kind of... fragile. And if they got hurt it wouldn't be easy to just take them somewhere to be treated. And they don't live very long. I couldn't handle getting emotionally attached to something and then watching it die in half a decade over and over and over again.

10. TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING YOU DON’T LIKE. We will be here all day if you get me started, I don't really want to spend the next hour dragging out diagrams and historical records but frankly twelve of the original thirteen can piss right the hell off and if I hear one more time that she's his 'lost love' I'm going to go on a killing spree I swear to Primus

11. DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES OR ACTIVITIES YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? Well I used to write about social injustice and the current state of Cybertronian culture wars but... I've... sort of taken a hiatus from that after a particularly outrageous and ridiculous bombshell about the Council.

12. HAVE YOU EVER HURT ANYONE BEFORE? I've probably blown a few audio receptors, but unless you mean hurt their feelings then no.

13. HAVE YOU EVER… KILLED ANYONE? ..... nnnnooooo? Not that I'm aware of...

14. WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL ARE YOU? Ex SCUSE me? I am not an 'Animal' thank you! Minicons are not some feral pre=evolution of Cybertronians that you can call animals!

15. NAME YOUR WORST HABITS. I've been told I kinda have a temper... and my response to a lot of things is just to panic and yell. Not the most constructive I guess...

16. DO YOU LOOK UP TO ANYONE? I used to. I'm kind of between idols right now.

17. GAY, STRAIGHT, OR BISEXUAL? I... have interest in many different frame types, not necessarily on the spectrum of human sexuality that you're referencing.

18. DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL? I guess I could. There was a kind of school on the neutral colony where I grew up but I've been told it's nothing like the Universities Cybertron had before they, y'know, got razed during the war. Not that I'd ever get accepted there.

19. DO YOU EVER WANT TO MARRY AND HAVE KIDS SOMEDAY? Kids come out of the ground. They just happen. They happened to my Host. I'm not ... anticipating or planning for them, but I'll make due if they happen.

20. DO YOU HAVE ANY FANS? BAHAHA. NO?? I highly doubt that...

21. WHAT ARE YOU MOST AFRAID OF? Uuuuhhhh probably dying in some horrible way, specifically if it's dragged out like putting me in stasis just to thaw me at a later date to kill me like what the fuck right?

22. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY WEAR? My frame. A coat of paint. Whatever horrible organic matter gets stuck to me before I can wash it off.

23. DO YOU LOVE SOMEONE? I'm not incapable of love, thanks, I'm just argumentative.

24. WHAT CLASS ARE YOU? Class? ...m-mini..con..?

25. HOW MANY FRIENDS DO YOU HAVE? Uh... like... two. Maaaaaaaybe three. I'm not sure if he counts... I'm not sure if Jazz considers me a friend... I would be very surprised.

26. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PIE? I don't have any strong feelings on pi I mean I guess it's useful for algorithms? Or something? I've never understood its purpose. I'm more accustomed to words than numbers.

27. FAVORITE DRINK? There was ... a fizzy energon drink Juke gave me once... I really liked that....

29. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE? I don't have one. Everywhere I've been thus far has some sort of bad vibe associated with.

30. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SOMEONE? Aheh... You already asked that, didn’t you?

31. WHAT’S YOUR DICK SIZE? My what? Dipstick? I don't ... I think it's pretty standard??

32. WOULD YOU RATHER SWIM IN THE LAKE OR THE OCEAN? I'm made of metal. I do a thing called 'sinking'

33. WHAT’S YOUR ‘TYPE’? Well I can type about 180wpm which I guess isn't the faste- Oohhh. Uh. Well. I like femme frames, they're usually really elegant to look at. I like large frames that look like they should be intimidating but they're the gentlest mech around. I like people who don't talk down to me.

34. ANY FETISHES? *chokes on drink* *flusters* N-none that I care to divulge to total strangers, thank you!

35. TOP OR BOTTOM? DOMINANT OR SUBMISSIVE? Wh- W-well! I uh- *coughs* This took a turn-! There are many people much more open to this line of questioning than me though I do appreciate the attempt to find common ground between our species-

36. CAMPING, OR INDOORS? Indoor camping. It's basically watching tv in a tent.

37. ARE YOU WAITING FOR THIS INTERVIEW TO BE OVER? I appreciate that you saved the awkward sex questions til the end but I'm gonna go now okaybye-

#meme #meme thing #interview meme

2 notes · View notes

trashpandaorigins · 6 years

Text

**Newly Updated** And If You Don’t Love Me Now Ch. 4

While writing “Heaven Can Wait,” I realized that each story in this trilogy contains the song after which it’s been named! “Sweet Child of Mine,” ends with Rocket singing the song to Baby Groot and in the latest chapter of “Heaven Can Wait,” Groot, Rocket and Peter all listen to the song on Pete’s new tape. I realized however the “And If You Don’t Love Me Now,” didn’t actually have the song “The Chain,” in it! So I edited chapter 4 of the fic to include the song, along with some important connections to Groot’s own crisis he’s working though in the story to give the title new meaning. I hope you enjoy and check out the entire series on my A03 now titled If I Ever Loose My Faith In You

——

Being on Contraxia again was like being in his old middle school on Terra, except of course there were sex bots and booze. Peter wasn’t sure which he’d rather face at the moment, his old school or this planet.

“You spoke with her?” Gamora asked, sheathing her sword. Peter nodded, affixing his mini-blaster to his boots.

“Her name is Lady Qula, her assistant told me the location of the headquarters, not far from here. Rocket,” the raccoonoid entered, gun slung onto his shoulder with Groot walking beside him. Peter grinned to himself, it was good to see the two of them side by side; the site of it was getting less frequent and further apart these past few months.

“We ready?” Rocket asked, sounding rather bored. Peter nodded, taking a deep breath to himself as he opened the doors of the Milano. Snow flew into their faces as they walked off the ramp into the crowded multi-colored streets. Beside him Mantis looked around bewildered,

“There are so many people,” she whispered, “so many emotions.” He looked at her wrought face, it suddenly struck him that the empath might be overwhelmed by so many different people pressed together in the streets.

“You gonna be okay?” Mantis glanced at him, looking unsure for a moment before nodding.

“I am Groot,” the adolescent tree appeared to be mesmerized, his game hanging limply in his hands while he stared at the neon lights all around. Peter recalled his first time on the planet, he had much the same look in his eyes. “I think we got time to explore,” he teased, “if you want.” He spotted Gamora’s warning look but shrugged it off. “C’mon, it’ll be fun!”

“Every time you say that, it never ends up fun,” she observed. He shrugged, knowing she was right and ignoring Groot’s agreeable nod.

“Very well,” Gamora decided as she went off to find more sharpeners and cleaning supplies for her knives. Mantis and Drax decided to tag along with her, Drax promising to take Mantis to a less populated market.

“And then there were three,” Peter turned to Rocket and Groot. “We got time, what would you guys want to do?”

“I am Groot?” The flora colossus asked, pointing inquisitively?

“No!” Rocket snapped, “we are NOT seeing what is in there, let’s find a bar.” He grumbled, and Peter watched the teen role his eyes as they made their way down the streets.

“I am Groot,” he said softly, looking from one alien to another as their stares gloated at him.

“Just ignore them man,” Peter gave him a pat on the back, remembering how it felt to have everyone in the crowd train their eyes on you. Out here in the remote quadrants Terrans were rarely seen. Rocket eventually found a dive bar and they slid into the darkened room, finding a table removed from the others. Rocket ordered an Asguardian draft with a shot of fire rippor, Peter his usual Yagger Lager.

“I am Groot?” The trees question warmed the humies heart,

“Of course you can pick the music!” Peter slid him several units, excited to see what he would choose. Whenever Rocket got fed up with coaxing or Gamroa and Drax couldn’t calm him, Peter would lie with Groot when he was little and listen to music with him until he fell asleep. The effect was rubbing off, much to his delight. Taking a sip of his drink, he watched the raccooniod who watched the Flora colossus. The enchanting words of Fleetwood Mac lifted through the bar, “Listen to the wind blow, watch the sun rise, running in the shadows, damn your love, damn your lies and if, you don't love me now, you will never love me again. I can still hear you saying, you would never break the chain (Never break the chain)”

“Damn my own lies,” Rocket muttered starring into his drink.

“You’re doing good man. He’s gonna be fine.” The raccoonoid glared, Peter readied himself for a cutting remark, but it didn’t come. Rocket only shook his head, looking forlorn down at his drink. Peter swallowed. “You’re doing a heck of a lot better than…then Yondu did.” The raccoonoid’s bright red eyes looked up, ears pinned back.

“That’s not sayin’ much.” The humie had no choice but to agree.

“He’s just a kid, I was like that too when I was his age.”

“Yeah, remind you why Yondu didn’t let you get killed by that phsyco planet?” Peter shook his head, laughing as he took another swig of drink.

“Fair enough.” They sat together silently but it was not as uncomfortable as it once was. It had taken a while for Peter to realize that the only good thing to come of Yondu’s death was that it had made Rocket change, for the better. Instead of being a grumpy, emotionally unpredictable drunkard every day, the enhanced raccoon was now a grumpy, emotionally unpredictable drunkard most days. Whatever time Rocket had spent with Yondu, it had been formative.

“And if you don't love me now, you will never love me again. I can still hear you saying, you would never break the chain (Never break the chain), listen to the wind blow, down comes the night. Running in the shadows, damn your love, damn your lies, break the silence, damn the dark, damn the light.” The sultry voice of Stevie Nicks echoed through the juke box,

“Never break the chain!!” Peter pumped his fist at the tune, singing along. Rocket only shook his head, going up to the counter once more.

“I am Groot?” Groot slid into the booth next to Peter. The humie nodded to Rocket who now sat at the bar with said drink alone. Groot listened to the music he’d selected, working through the multiple versions of the question he was so frightened to ask. “And if you don't love me now, you will never love me again, I can still hear you saying. You would never break the chain (Never break the chain.)” The guitar ripped through the air as Fleetwood Mac sang. Rocket’s love is a chain, damn him and damn whatever lie he’s telling, Groot thought vehemently. And if his family did not love him now, when he wanted to badly, so angrily to know the truth, they would never love him again. It’s now or never, Groot decided as the last sounds of “Never break the chain,” evaporated. I will break this chain. He looked up at the human before him.

“I am Groot,” Peter nodded,

“Go for it.” He watched Groot look down at the table, then at where Rocket sat, then back to Peter, those large eyes full of urgency and wonder, and, Peter thought, taking another drink-some desperate need.

“I am Groot.” The question shocked him. He finished swallowing his drink and cleared his throat.

“I…I don’t think I’m the best person to answer that dude…” but the adolescents face was full of longing, something Peter knew all to well. That need to know who you are, where you came from. Peter had once joked with Rocket, over an empty keg, about the inevitable identity crisis Groot would face. He never actually expected to be a part of it.

“I am Groot?!”

“What happened before Xandar….well there was this infinity stone,” Peter stalled, looking over had praying Rocket would come back any minute.

“I am Groot!” The teen snapped.

“Okay, so Rocket told you about that, and so yeah, that was pretty much it.” But one look at Groot’s face told Peter he’d better shut up and answer truthfully.

“Listen Groot…there’s a lot of stuff that happened, before, during and after Xandar. None of it pretty. And I love you man but…I’m not the one that’s got those answers.” Why couldn’t Groot have asked ANYONE but him? He ran his hand over his face.

“I am Groot,” Groot whispered vehemently. He rose to stand, refusing to look at Peter who’s heart sank. Did Yondu feel like this every day?

He forced himself to stand, swishing the last of his drink around at the bottom of the glass before drinking it.

“Call me a rodent one more time!” Oh no. Peter and Groot exchanged horrified glances as the large purple alien creature loomed over Rocket and his fifth shot of Asgardian whisky.

“You heard me,” the plump alien sneered, he spat at Rocket’s bar stool, “rodent.” Everything happened all at once, Rocket reached for his gun, Peter dove to intercept and Groot let loose his left arm, hitting the alien squarely in the jaw, knocking him down on to the bar table.

“Groot!” Peter called, but even as he shouted he knew it was too late.

“What in the name of Quendlin’s stars….” the alien man wiped his tender cheek with a single tentacle like arm, staring at Groot for a moment before standing and barreling into the flora colossus.

“Dammnit Groot!” Rocket shouted, watching as the tree slammed into a table, sending the patrons scattering. Peter slapped his hand to his face, checking the time. They were supposed to be meeting Lady Qula in a half hour. Gamora was right, as usual Peter thought, wishing she was here now.

“I am Groot!” Groot cried out, wrapping his vines around the large alien who pummeled him.

“Rocket,” Peter half warned, half begged, watching the raccoonoid cock his gun, that trigger-happy look on his face all too familiar. “Rocket, Rocket don’t…” Shhhcrraaakkk!! Peter growled to himself, running for where Groot now looked down at himself in shock. The alien man’s yellow teeth twisted into a grin, a knife in his hand.

“Freak!” He hissed, advancing on Groot. If it had been a less dire situation, Peter might have laughed at that same look he’d warn himself many times before. The flora colossus’s mouth hung open in shock and panic. Peter flung himself ontop of the squishy alien,

“Rocket, get Groot!” But Rocket was already at the tree’s side, ears pinned back, gun ready. “What are you doing don’t shoot!” He screamed, struggling to hold the thug down.

“I’m gonna shoot him in his kurtuckan head Quill, move!” The alien wiggled in the humie’s hold and Peter let out muffled “Ummph,” as a burly fist knocked him in the side.

“I am Groot!” Groot righted himself, sending his vines flying and constricting around the alien who screamed.

“No! Groot! Just let Quill and I handle this!” Peter managed to roll out of the way as one of Groot’s thorn ridden vines struck out, missing the purple goon by an inch.Said goon clutched his knife and slammed the butt of it into Groot’s eye. Scrambling to his feet Peter watched Rocket attempting to pull Groot away from his advisory but to no avail. It was easy to forget sometimes, how larger the flora colossus was compared to the raccoon like creature.

“A flarking animal and a flarking tree, I’m gonna tear you limb from limb and roast your friend over a fire!” The alien growled, spitting out bloody fangs. Peter reached for his gun as he lay on the floor on his belly. Quickly he switched the weapon from kill to stun and took aim,

“Groot move!” He shouted at the teen who had moved easily out of Rocket’s hold and now was suffering for it. The heafty thug clobbered at him, swinging his fist which Groot tried with increasing failure to block. The small cuts of thorns doing little to hinder him.

“Groot!” Peter shouted, struggling to aim, “move it!” Flarking listen to me for once, he begged. Groot looked up, his left eye closed over with cracked bark. He pivoted just in time for Peter to shoot, striking the alien in the shoulder. He stopped, eyes large, went to raise his arm for a final swing at Groot but only shook all over before collapsing. Without wasting time, Peter ran forward, grabbing Groot’s arm and Rocket’s tail, hurrying out of the bar.

“You fucking dumbass, let go of me!” Rocket’s sharp claws smacked at Peter’s hand. Groot stood, slouching, one arm holding his torso. The humie himself panted, examining his own wounds as the three of them panted in the ally way.

“Let me see,” Rocket instructed. Struggling to look up at Groot’s side.

“I am Groot!”

“Yeah I’m sure it’s fine, I just wanna look.” Peter watched him reluctantly move his arm away and his stomach dropped at what he saw. The outer layer of brown bark and leaves on Groot’s left side had been stripped bar, leaving exposed whiteish yellow wood in place, shorn and splintering from just under his armpit to his waist.

“Dammnit Groot you can’t pick fights with people who are stronger then you.”

“Rocket you do that all the time,” Peter put in, hoping to win Groot over. The raccoonoid only hissed,

“Shut up Quill.”

“Guys, we gotta meet our contact,” Peter mumbled, glancing at the time. Rocket cursed but started walking with a slight limp. “C’mon Groot,” the humie tried, patting Groot on the back. The flora colossus shoved him off,

“I am Groot,” he whispered nastily. Peter watched him go. Sure Groot had every right to be mad at him for not telling him anything about what happened before. But Peter knew that duty didn’t belong to him. Like so many other things, that was Rocket’s burden to bare.

#rocket raccoon #my writing #groot #teen groot #and if you don't love me now

4 notes · View notes

dljohnsonmusic-blog · 5 years

Text

Six Shots – Juke Joint Revival New EP Interview

On July 8th, 2019, I jumped in my truck and took the drive from my Southern Indiana home over to Justin Scott Spicer’s house on the Southern side of Louisville, Kentucky. Justin is the lead guitarist and provides background vocals for Juke Joint Revival (JJR). Arriving at a little before I was supposed to be there, 6:30 pm, I pull up to Justin’s house, with him sitting on his porch, awaiting for his bandmates and I to arrive. I was the first one there, and after a small chat on the porch, we proceeded into his the living room and to hang out until everyone arrives. He and I sat on the couch, proceeded to catch up, as I’ve known Justin for about seven years. While we chatted about music, I asked him what was in the case sitting next to me here by the couch and he told me I could open it and take it out. It is a classic Hondo, Z style guitar in a near perfect natural finished top. So, while we chatted and waited, I picked at the strings.

He, Kevin Cox (Lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Juke Joint Revival) and I played a small gig together about seven year ago, which was the first time that I had met him. Kevin played rhythm guitar and provided vocals that evening while Justin played lead and rhythm guitar and I played drums. It was mostly a long jam session, but it was a great time!

The reason I am here at Justin’s this evening, is a direct result of a conversion that I had with Kevin Cox (Lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Juke Joint Revival), which he asked me if I would do a review of their new EP that is due to be released on July 19th, 2019. I graciously said I would be honored to do it. In our discussion, we talked about it being a little bit more than just a EP review of their music, but a short interview session. As I said, it’s an honor, as I have known Kevin for over 8 years, even playing with him for some time. He is a great singer and songwriter, that has a knack for developing lyrics and hearing the musical that needs to accompany it.

It’s also because, well these types of articles are rarer now days than they were when I was growing up, as he had to hustle to get our hands on a Rock magazine to keep up with what was going on outside of what we could get from the radio personalities. Now everything is scattered throughout the internet, interviews are posted on Youtube and it’s a little harder for the local bands to get their names out in front of people. Word of mouth and social media are the norms now.

So as Justin and myself sat and enjoyed a cold one, Freddy was the next to arrive, hauled in his bass and pedal board, took it down to the basement, where they conduct their practice sessions. I have known Freddy for about four or five years through watching the band over this period. He is one of the best bassist in the Louisville area and I believe to be really underrated.

Eric was the next to arrive, brought in his snare and just needed to the rest of his kit that was in the back of Kevin’s vehicle and he would be set. This is the only the second time that I have met Eric, the first being several weeks ago at JJR’s show at a small music festival here in Louisville, Ky. The cat can surely hold is own with any drummer that I know.

The four of us, sat around and talked music and shooting the bull, until Kevin arrives. We all chip in and help load in the drum kit. Eric gets setup and they are ready to go. A fine tuning and right into playing through their new songs.

If you have not heard of Juke Joint Revival (http://facebook.com/kyjukejointrevival), they are a Louisville, Kentucky based band specializing in Rock ‘N Roll blues music with their own bit of favor, they call Stank.

The group consists of course from the previously mentioned member: Kevin Cox on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Justin Scott Spicer on lead guitar and background vocals, Freddy Griesbaum on bass and background vocals and Eric Vaughn Schneeberger on drums.

After their practice session, he had a chance to sit down and me be able to field them some question's in regards to this new EP. I was also fortunate enough to be provided a copy of the new EP to listen to before I conducted the interview.

The first question that I asked them was in regards to the title of their new EP, which even though I had listened to the songs that are included on it, the name was yet to be known to me. They informed me it was called “Six Shots” and I asked why they decided on this title. Justin was the first to answer with, “It’s six shots to the listener’s ears!” We all chimed in with laughter and then Kevin added, “6 songs = 6 bullets = Six Shots!”

The EP itself was recorded and produced by James Wood in the sticks of Tennessee as Kevin put it. Referring to James Wood studio in Nashville, TN named, “Another Voice Without a Sound Studio’s” (www.anothervoicewithoutasound.com). Eric had made joke earlier in practice that they recorded this EP in a day and a half, which Justin confirmed saying, “Eric wasn’t joking….6 songs in a day and a half.” Which even in today’s world of recording, is a feat, but if you are prepared such as they were and have some recordings ahead of time and have put the work into getting the songs right before going in the recording studio, this can happen.

I asked the members, what they thought their fans could expect from this new material. “They can expect a pure rock ‘n roll album with the “Stank on it!” as Justin put it. “Good old fashioned rock ‘n roll with some of that juke joint stank!” is how Kevin put it. This stank that they refer, sort of hard to put into words, it’s more of a feel, something like mixing the rock blues with a bit of funk thrown in there, but let me say, it makes them distinct in this regards compared to other rock blues bands.

This is the first time that James Wood and the band have worked together and first time that the band had made the almost two hour drive down to the Nashville, TN from Louisville, Ky as Kevin informed me. Justin reflected this by saying, “We had a great time. First evening we got there and just hung out and partied and got acquainted. He (James Wood) had been working on our setup a couple of weeks before we got there. So he was ready, he had heard the songs before we got there. We got up early had some breakfast then went to work. We recorded everything live, then over dubbed (the) lyrics, then my solos last.” Justin also informed me that James Wood also provided some of his musical proneness, just just his recording, production and mastery, he also plays the cello on one of the songs on the EP.

We discussed what the fans might expect from this new EP, but let’s take a second to talk about what your style of music is like, for those that have not had the opportunity to experience JJR. Justin described it, “It has that old school 70’s throwback classic rock/heavy blues thing going on. Great stripper music, we like to say!” Now, in reality you can never have enough stripper music, supply and demand will not go away anytime soon, and as we joked, AC/DC has made millions with their songs.

Our attention then moved to discussing the songs that make up this EP, with the first one entitled, “Above the Law.” It’s “...a fictional song that entails breaking free from prison and going on a crime spree with this lady friend,” as Kevin put it. Now that is truly a good old fashioned rock ‘n roll blues journey. As Justin put it, “That’s what makes good rock ‘n roll. And all these tunes have that element.”

Your next song is named “I am”, you start off with a special intro, that I won’t give away, but the lyrics, “I’ll be your light, when you have none.” Some power stuff in this one?

“It will be hard for me to answer many questions about these songs because, I don’t think we ever discuss as a whole much where these songs come from in Kevin.

Which I’m (in) a way cool (with) because it leads us to our own interpretations. When I play this song, I think of all “I am” to people who need me. I feel like I can be those things sometimes and sometimes I’m not those things. Both emotions give me that chance to deliver them emotionally. This song is a personal proclamation for me and I didn’t even even write (it). I feel like Kevin is great at bringing us all into his words this way, time and time again,” added Eric.

“I feel the same. Not so much about these six tunes. But a lot of our other tunes, I can swear he wrote them about me at times!” as Justin proclaimed.

The next song that we discussed, has what I think is straight outta rock ‘n roll stripper music, as far as the music goes, it’s named “Say Your Prayers.” As Kevin put it, “Say Your Prayers” is a fictional song that represents, for him, how he often sees a toxic relationship. “Basically a guy telling a girl he doesn’t care for her.”

Kevin took a moment to respond to Justin and Eric’s comments on his song writing saying, “You guys are way to kind. 90% of what I write now is inspired by my bandmates. I feel an energy when we play that I don’t feel any where else. It is a wonderful feeling for a songwriter.”

Eric then added that for “Say Your Prayers”, “I’ve also been able to loose myself in these words, as I’m playing. It’s a chance where Kevin has spoken for a feeling we have all had at one point or another. A girl who is attracted to many, but not good for most.

That whole thing of “I don’t love you, I don’t care” gives me those chills of that I do care and I do love you but, I know this is no good.”

The next song that we discussed from the CD is entitled “Get Us Out of Here,” and I must admit, it made me speechless when I first heard it. “This song to me is about being reminded to be humble. How you can have everything you ever wanted and still not be fulfilled and that we all know there is a place for us to grab a piece of that peace that we all seek. Quoting Kevin, “We were down to nothing,” that starts me already in a place where I have to be humble and I try to reflect that in the beat itself. Sparse, simple, held back, humble,” as Eric put it.

Kevin said that it’s, “Definitely a personal song to me. It’s the struggle of being poor...finding success...then being rich and miss the simple times of being poor. Basically promising his women he will get them out of any situation she wants.”

“Drinking Song” is the next one of the EP, in my opinion is the perfect gig song, since most of us play in bars and this is about drinking. “Drinking Song is a song about who I used to be back when I drank. I liked to drink, fight and have sex,” as Kevin put it. Justin concurred as he really relates from the days that he was out of control, it was him, all the way. He also added, “That’s why I say it’s like he’s (Kevin) writing about me. And he (Kevin) always says I’m the way he used to be.”

We have now arrived at the final song that you guys included on the EP, named “NBR 13?” “Number 13 was written right after a big fight between a girlfriend and I. Her favorite number is 13, which is considered an unlucky number.” as Kevin informed me. However, Eric stated that what she doesn’t realize is that he is her rare, lucky ball and that this song makes him feel, “Above the Law” like I’m some undiscovered luck or unlucky gem.” Justin added, “I love the was we jam this song! It might be 4 minutes...it might be 14 minutes!”

Eric also added talking about the band: “We all come from different backgrounds, projects and we all line up like stars to give these words a life of their own. And no one is rocking it quite as straight forward as us!”

There you have it, Juke Joint Revival talking about their new EP, due out July 19th, 2019, along with some details of the recording and production and some insight on their rocking blues with some stank songs.

They have a CD release party on the same day as the release, at Tim Faulkner’s Gallery (www.timfaulknergalleryart.com), located at 991 Logan Street, Louisville, Ky 40203. This includes a star studded lineup supporting them on this night.

Opening the show around 7pm will be solo performances by Louisville’s own recording artist’s Country Cat Hugh Hill, Matt Jaggers and Chad Kaiser.

Then at 9 pm, another of Louisville’s own recording artist, the Tunesmith’s will be taking the stage working the crowd to a frenzy,

About 10 pm, Juke Joint Revival taking the stage and if they were playing under a roof, they would probably blow it off, but I’m sure that neighborhood association will have a thing or two to say to the owner of Faulkners.

As Justin stated, “Be ready to rock your asses off. Because to this band, this a big deal putting out our hearts and souls. So we’re going to bring the fire and Stank!”

Come out and support Juke Joint Revival and the other the local artist performing on this special night and make sure get your hands on one of these “Six Shots” EPs. This first batch are not going to last long! I can guarantee it!

Check out Juke Joint Revivals Facebook page here for more details and other details in regards to getting your hand on copy of this EP if you can’t make it out: http://facebook.com/kyjukejointrevival

#music #music review #rock #blues #bluesrock

0 notes

junker-town · 6 years

Text

The Rose Bowl made me wonder how it took me so long to fall in love with college football

An unbelievable game opened my eyes to everything I’ve been missing.

When the clock struck midnight before New Year’s Day, I’d never watched a Rose Bowl from start to finish. I’d seen the iconic opening shots of those hazy mountains in the late afternoon sun and I had watched a few plays, but I hadn’t stuck around. My flimsy excuse is that I grew up in New England, where college football doesn’t matter the way college football is supposed to matter (read: very much and on an almost spiritual level). The NFL has always been my jam.

That changed January 1, 2018, which will henceforth be known as Charlotte’s Day of College Football Reckoning At Long Last, Hallelujah, Praise The Lord.

It starts around 2 p.m., when I turn on the Outback Bowl. Ryan Nanni, my SB Nation colleague/the internet’s #FryinNanni, is dressed up like a giant fried onion on national television (long story) and I don’t want to miss my opportunity to make fun of him on Twitter. I don’t watch the game between Michigan and South Carolina very closely because I’m distracted by the fact that the grown man I work with is wearing a shiny red bodysuit; an unwieldy, multi-tiered foam girdle; and has a bucket shaped like a bowl of dipping sauce strapped to his head. He performs beautifully and makes us all very proud.

The bit of the game I do pay attention to is fairly enjoyable, however, so I keep the the bowl games on as I go about my afternoon. As I fold some laundry, I hear the strains of a Sia song, and look up to see that ESPN is playing a kind of pump-up montage before the Rose Bowl. I start to feel a tingling anticipation.

I watch the players take the field. UGA’s coach Kirby Smart runs out there, too, and ESPN zooms in on him. I decide that in 2018 I’m going to wear a visor, polo shirt, and khakis, and speak in vague phrases like “we’re just thinking about the next game” to see how long it takes before a school offers me a job.

Oklahoma’s Heisman-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield was apparently sick with some sort of flu this week, but he looks pretty healthy right now. He must be feeling better. I wonder how many bottles of DayQuil he’s mixed into his water bottle. Party on, Wayne.

The sound of cadets singing the national anthem fills the stadium as fighter jets roar over it. I get chills at kickoff. I can’t believe how much I’m feeling. This seems like it matters. I find the expectation on the players’ faces deeply moving.

Oklahoma executes a masterful drive, scoring with a swift and ruthless precision that blows me away (Mayfield is good at football — I’m not sure if any of you knew that). Georgia answers with a touchdown of its own. I’m pretty sure this is the best game I’ve ever seen, and we’re only in the first minutes of the first quarter.

Mayfield throws up a “surf’s up” hand gesture, and Rodney Anderson threads the needle between two UGA defenders so beautifully that I suddenly think I’m a Sooners fan. But then Roquan Smith tackles an Oklahoma guy and I’m certain I’ve been saying “Go Dawgs!” since birth. Touchdowns fly back and forth, and by the end of the half I’m pretty convinced that both teams might score 70.

The game is fast and fun, but every once in a while something decidedly unprofessional will happen to remind me that the college game is more human than the NFL — like when the Sooners leave a hole big enough for nine Sony Michels to run through.

The halftime marching bands are incredible. The choreography is so intricate, and involves so many people that I think the schools must use incredibly advanced technology to map it all out (update: they kind of do.) People dance in the stands as band members play their horns and bang their drums and raise their batons. Honking pomp and glittering circumstance.

The ads playing for SEC schools during commercial breaks make college look so fun that I want to go back and enroll at a real football school. I didn’t go to one, and I feel the loss of something that I never had.

By the third quarter, Georgia appears to have finally realized that teams from their state should just always run the damn ball. I’m convinced Smart didn’t actually speak to players in the locker room, but instead just played T.I.’s “Bankhead” very loudly. That’s the only way to fire up a group of people to this extent. They look ready to kick down doors.

Mayfield is intercepted. Maybe his DayQuil is wearing off? Smart looks like he may be having an out-of-body experience as the Dawgs pull ahead after being down by as many as 17 points. But then Steven Parker scores a touchdown and Oklahoma is back on top. AND THEN UGA TIES IT UP AGAIN!

I’m stress-eating Thai food at this point. I’m sweating. I’m laughing. I’m tweeting. I’m short-circuiting. I’m obsessed with the Rose Bowl. I want to move into the Rose Bowl. I am a rose. I’m made of bowls. My hands are footballs. I’m laughing again, uncontrollably now, as we go to overtime for the first time in Rose Bowl history.

What did we do to deserve this? I love that moment when you realize you’re watching a sports game become legend — when you witness something you know people will talk about for years to come with can-you-believe-it-I-still-can’t levels of awe.

The game is tied 48-48 in double overtime. I want to stay suspended in this glorious moment of intense anticipation forever. Freeze me here, without a winner and without a loser, when everything wild is still possible, before anyone’s heart has broken and no one’s dreams have yet come true. Make this my Groundhog Day.

UGA blocks a Sooners field goal. And then Michel takes off, running the ball for Georgia, and — oh my god, he’s juking defenders, he’s running, he’s still running, he’s going to run forever, he’s going to do it! He does it! He scores a touchdown! Georgia wins! They won! The game, the best game in the history of the world, is over. I’m elated for the Dawgs and devastated for the Sooners. I can’t look at Mayfield and I can’t look away from Michel. I didn’t have a horse in this race, I just didn’t want the race to end.

I’m emotionally drained. I have been reborn like the new year. I am now the biggest college football fan to have ever walked the earth. I’m sorry it took this long.

0 notes