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monsterintheballroom · 6 months

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Interview under the cut :-)

Penelope Wilton: ‘The Queen Mother was an extremely clever woman’

The actress, set to take up the royal role in Backstairs Billy, reveals the sadness behind the corgis, hats and handbags

By Elizabeth Grice 29 October 2023 • 11:00am

Penelope Wilton can still travel incognito. It’s curious that half a century of exposure on stage and screen, packed with glorious parts, awards and a damehood, has not spoiled her secret satisfaction in being able to merge with the crowd. Yet the moment she opens her mouth her cover is blown. That voice! Classy, correct, crystalline and absolutely unmistakable. It could launch a thousand ships.

It gives emotional heft to the graveyard-bench confidences of Anne, the empathetic widow in Ricky Gervais’s comedy-drama After Life. It’s integral to the brittle dignity of Isobel Crawley in Downton Abbey and it vibrates with controlled passion in the 2014 play Taken at Midnight for which she won an Olivier as Irmgard, the Jewish mother confronting the Gestapo over the incarceration of her son.

Soon it will be trained on Queen Elizabeth, the late Queen Mother, and in case you might imagine that she’ll be wafting gently along on a wave of public adoration she issues a prompt corrective.

“There’s nothing sentimental about this. The Queen Mother was an extremely clever woman – very, very quick. She could be acerbic.”

When she refused to leave London during the Second World War, “Hitler said she was the most dangerous woman in Europe. I think she was marvellous and I hope this play makes her more Technicolor and sharp so she’s not just a pale lady in chiffon. There was nothing she didn’t find interesting.”

Backstairs Billy, by the British-Brazilian-Australian playwright Marcelo Dos Santos, is about the unconventional relationship between the Queen Mother and her loyal but wayward servant, William Tallon, who more or less ran her life for 50 years until she died in 2002 at the age of 101.

“Although we are attempting to make me look like her physically,” says Wilton, “I’m not going to be doing an impersonation of her. It’s fiction. A made-up fantasy about what their lives were like at Clarence House. We don’t know how they talk. Biographers who put thoughts into words [spoken by their subjects] are rather annoying, actually, because how would they know?”

Still, by way of research she has immersed herself in the biographies so that no detail of the Queen Mother’s dress, mannerisms, heel-height, handbag size, salmon-fishing expertise or courtly extravagance escapes her. And, being Wilton, she absorbs the central truth that the party-loving ex-queen was probably, deep down, a lonely woman, widowed at 51 and needing to find a new way of living. There are poignant scenes as well as funny ones.

“She was of her time,” says Wilton, “an Edwardian lady. She was politically incorrect. She had served her country well and went on living the life that she wanted to live.”

More than anyone else (except perhaps Queen Elizabeth II, who bailed her mother out when she overspent) “Backstairs Billy” made that possible. Tallon was the ultimate devotee, anticipating her every need, getting her breakfast, ordering the flowers, looking after the corgis, organising guests at luncheons and receptions and always over-diligently topping up the champagne.

Above all, he was amusing. She enjoyed his gentle mockery of some of the people she met and overlooked his sexual forays. “He made her life much more entertaining,” says Wilton. “She trusted him. She enjoyed his company. He didn’t have a family because he was gay and she adored him.”

The year is 1979. Britain is crippled by strikes and riots. The action takes place in her apartment at Clarence House which has caught some of the febrile atmosphere outside the palace gates. “The country was having a sort of nervous breakdown, as indeed it is now,” says Wilton.

The play’s comic potential lies in the Queen Mother’s relationships with her friends and the behaviour of people in her presence. “People about to meet the Royal family say, ‘Oh, I don’t care,’ but actually they do,” says Wilton. “They find themselves tongue-tied. They forget to curtsy. The Queen Mother was very good at putting them at ease.”

The play was commissioned by its director Michael Grandage, whose friend the late Una Stubbs had often told him, from first-hand stories of the Clarence House court, that Tallon would be a brilliant subject for a play.

The part lured the Welsh actor Luke Evans, 44, back to the stage after 16 years in film and television (including Beauty and the Beast and the Fast & Furious films) and Wilton, 77, is coquettishly pleased to be his Queen. “In fact, I’m thinking of taking him home,” she told the BBC’s The One Show. “We all need a Billy.”

Side by side on the television sofa, they presented a delightful, teasing twosome. Wilton’s fine hair is silver these days, swept up in a large comb at the back. She has a lovely smile and a slightly challenging air of expectation.

She is still fondly remembered for the 1980s BBC sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles. She was Regan to Michael Hordern’s Lear.

Theatre is her first love. “It is the last place where language is really, really important,” she said.

“I like doing new plays because that’s the future. I like the difficulty of it. I like solving the problems.

“My job is to put onto the stage what the writer has written, not what the director feels on Monday about the play. Somebody has bothered to write this play, use this language.”

She’s fascinated by where a character will take her. “In the theatre you go on a journey every night.” In one of her favourite Shakespeare plays, Much Ado About Nothing (in which she was an award-winning Beatrice to Michael Gambon’s Benedick in 1981), “Beatrice starts the play very scornful of Benedick and he of her. By the end they are madly in love; they have gone on a journey of self-discovery. And you take the audience with you.”

This is certainly true of Wilton and Gervais, whose characters are both bereaved, in After Life. The series had such an immediate and grateful response from the public that she was asked to become patron of The Good Grief Trust, a charity for those who have suffered loss. Wilton’s eldest sister Rosemary died of a Covid-related illness in 2021. She has much to draw on.

Wilton was born in Scarborough, the middle of three girls. Her mother Alice Travers was an actress, as was her uncle the late Bill Travers. She married two actors – first Daniel Massey who died in 1998 and then, in 1991, Ian Holm with whom she starred in Harold Pinter’s Moonlight. Holm died in 2020. Though both marriages ended in divorce, a warm connection was never broken.

With Massey, after the loss of a premature son, she had a daughter, Alice, a theatre producer. Alice, 46, and her family live close by in west London and Wilton enjoys being a big part of the lives of her grandchildren, Daniel, 11, and Ella, seven.

She likes the freedom of living by herself in a house ever-open to family and friends. “I can do what I like. I can go to bed at half-past eight if I want and I can eat what I want, when I want.”

After a well-paid film, such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel or Downton, she will buy herself a painting.

Wilton’s trend-averse way of thinking as well as of being is refreshing.

She’s vehement about social media. “I’m not interested in people knowing where I am and what I’m doing. It’s terrible that people are chosen to be in plays or films because they have a following. If you’re a wonderful actor but a rather shy person you might not have a following.

“I wouldn’t say I was shy but I’m not a great extrovert either. I’m just sort of middling.”

Predictably, the pursuit of celebrity is not on her radar either. “It’s not a world I’m interested in so I don’t know much about it. I have absolutely nothing against people doing whatever they want to do but I don’t have to be part of it.” She cherishes her privacy in the same measured way. “I don’t make a great thing of it. I just go along, you know.”

Wilton tries not to think of roles she’d like to play. “Because it’s always a disappointment. It’s a bit like wallpaper. If you try and find that something in your mind you’re never going to find it.

“So it’s best to have a look and see what’s out there. This came as a tremendous surprise: to do a new play by a new writer who is really clever. I hope we do him service.”

Grandage has no doubt. “In everything Penelope Wilton does,” he says, “she avoids sentimentality. You know you’ll get something many layers deeper than that. With the Queen Mother, she offers an insight into someone we thought we knew

#finally a new pic of her <3 #love it that she has to give more interviews now even when she hates it lol #penelope wilton #downton abbey #netflix after life #queen mum #british royals #backstairs billy #theatre

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easthavenhq · 4 months

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EAST HAVEN'S 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EVENT: THE WIND STORM

With the 1 year anniversary of East Haven's opening, we have decided to have an event that centers around a wind storm that is blowing it's way through town, inciting chaos where ever it goes. The event will start on January 5th at 12pm (noon) and end on January 15th at 12am (midnight). No new starters should be posted after January 10th.

You were placed into groups that are listed below. You will be expected to write with at least one character in that group that you normally do not write with. You are still free to do other threads with others in the group, but are required to at least one.

Participation for this event will be mandatory. Acceptances and checks will be held as usual. Reminder: Injuries need to be in by January 3rd*. You can find the form here. Details of this will be posted on the 5th.

Characters and locations are listed under the cut and will be updated with acceptances & unfollows. Please use the tag easthavenevent007.

East Haven Memorial - Maple Hills

Stevie Wagner - Kayla Johnny Wagner - K Sunny Hussan - Jennie River Jackson - Star Sarah Ruiz - El Gale Peterson - Nadine Callum Jackson - Madison Alec Kincade - Justin Aubrey Miller - Lital Wesley Levitt - K

City Hall - Downtown

Nate Clairmont - Kayla Brody Evans - Jackie Aarin Duskin - K Chantel Bedford - Katelyn Ann-Marie Seigert - Jennie Maggie Sommers - Kayla Mallory Sinclair - K Verity Wagner - Mat Max Diax - Star Isabella Castro - JimJam Andrew Jackson - Nadine

Willow Springs Apartments - Downtown

Ashi Hussan - Kayla Emre Ediz - K Orion Blakely - Justin Jude Sanchez-Khalid - Star Amerie Chen - Mat Dana Allen-Lopez - K Apollo Williams - Desi Riley Day - Marie Celine Ediz - Gigi Beyza Senkan - Kayla

Heywood University - Downtown

Liliana Santos-Blake - Nadine Cami Quintana-Lopez - Marie Cristian Hernandez - Dix Asher Spring - Kae Wyatt Wheeler - K Prue Cassidy - Kayla Marcus Reyes - K Alex Fontenelle - Madison Frederick Sullivan - Star Genevieve Hernandez - Beki

Fire Department - Downtown

Connor Bowen - K Penelope Ruiz - Nadine Benjamin Jackson - Justin Harlow Hanlon - S Eddie Castro - Kayla Ari Seong-Paterson - Katelyn Keely Seigert - Desi Brady Levitt - Jennie Roman Rhodes - G Javier Rivera - Dix Renee Thompson - K

Mount Aston Lodge - Mount Aston

Josiah Huddington - Katelyn Neena Wagner - Gigi Dilara Baysal - K Malik Farouk - Jackie Travis Jackson - Kayla Samuel Bradford - S Cameron Hatcher - Dix Mason Paterson - K Josh Pryce - Nadine Diego Castro - Star

Gas n Go - Sutherland Park

Shane Marshall - Jay Alice Cheung - K Bridget Levitt - Kayla James Morrison - Sam Quentin Levitt - Nadine Hunter Renner - Star Bee Bowen - El Estella Harris - Lital Julieta Alvarez - K Alliannah Vaughn - Katelyn

Animal House Shelter - Maple Hills

Evren Osman - Katelyn Morgan Fontenelle - K Alaric Farrow - S Lance Browne - Justin Roberta Rhodes - Kayla Gavin Gunther - Jackie Chanse Ainsworth - Kae Chloe Austin - Madison Mateo Torres - K Isla Ricci - Mat

South Pines - Primrose Heights

Abraham Wilson - K Julian Heywood - Nadine Luciana Medina - Kayla Owen Bentley - Star Ricky Thompson - Jennie Luna Morales - Lital Simon Heywood - Marie Matt Wheeler - Kayla Valentina Delgado - K Rohan Belton-Stone - Justin

Old Maple Way - Maple Hills

Dean Walker - Dix Nicole Peterson - Kayla Haven Sinclair - Katelyn Oliver Hensley - JimJam Aster Moon - G Hazal Senkan - K Kanyon Webb - Jackie Aindreis Blythe - Marie Yasmin Ansari - K Sydney Heywood - Gigi Demir Ediz - Lisa

Tequila Cowboy - Sutherland Park

Donovan Morgan - Star Marcel Vaughn - Mat Amayah Fontenelle - Nadine Abel Morgan - K Teagan Weatherford - Katelyn Jaslene Clairmont - K Maverick Bennett - Dix Sofia Carmichael - Kayla Romeo Clark - Jackie Graham Winters - JimJam

Maple Hills Mall - Maple Hills

Parker Campbell - K Xia Huang-Clark - Kayla Viktor Pierce - Dix Lenny Clairmont - K Nancy Lee - Kayla Nora Sinclair - Beki Tyler Day - Star Summer Cassidy - El Ali Webster - Sam Daniel Kwon - Nadine Harrison Lee - Jennie

Moose Lodge Rentals - Primrose Heights

Nick Wagner - Kayla Eli Browne - K Vivek Virani - Jackie Charlie Davis - Star Waverly Erickson - Em Cael Montgomery - Nadine Adem Sahir - Madison Jeremy Lieberman - Kayla Jo Spring - Marie Logan Walker - K

*We did change this so we could have time to talk to and plan these injuries.

#easthavenevent #easthavenevent007

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hillzhqs · 5 months

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'𝚝𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗

hear those silver bells? it's christmas time in los angeles. some families actually do make the yuletide gay, managing to leave their troubles far away. other families have a merry little christmas even when their troubles aren't so far away. some presents might end up returned but some gifts are for keeps. other presents come when you least expect them and everyone knows the biggest present comes in the smallest box. then there are those boxes you wish you had never opened. have a holly jolly christmas, xoxo.

‹ ⅰ. › you have been cordially invited to celebrate christmas eve at the kennedy estate in hidden hills, california. this year's theme is 'the colors of the season.' there will be different themed rooms throughout the home that will be color coordinated - red, green, white, silver, gold and black. the dress code is to wear one of these colors. admission to the party will not be granted if you are not following dress code. this is not a casual event by any means, so please do dress your best.

‹ ⅱ. › the party will be taking place on discord. please keep an eye out for the link. while the event will be taking place over the span of one night rp time (december 24th, 2023), you can start writing on sunday, december 10th, 2023. threads can continue until everyone completes their writing.

‹ ⅲ. › in the spirit of the season, kathy kennedy hosts an annual 'kathy kringle' where she pairs up people from the party to exchange gifts with one another. under the cut, please find your partner. there will be a channel in the event server where you can drop pictures and edits of the gifts called 'kathy kringle' and you can write out your characters exchanging gifts in the 'grand foyer' channel

‹ ⅳ. › gossip girl has eyes everywhere, especially in an event as star studded as this one. if there's anything specific that you don't want leaked, please be sure to come to me before hand. if not, everything is up for grabs and can potentially be blasted for everyone to see.

‹ ⅴ. › be inclusive! make sure you're writing/plotting with everyone and most importantly, have fun!!

✳ 𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐤𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 ﹕please see under the cut!

LEX -adrian fitzgerald . - DEE - julian calvary

SOPHIE -mallory wells - T - travis buckley .

KELLY - tyler cobb - SOPHIE -kaya khalid

KELLY - drew monroe - CANDICE -bentley hart

CANDICE -sienna spencer - T - vincent hart .

KELLY - madeline kennedy - CANDICE -genevieve evans

DEE - lilian hawker - CANDICE -sebastian davis

KELLY - roman barlowe - LEX -teddy taylor .

LEX -camryn kennedy . - T - hunter valmont .

BECCA - juliette hart . - KELLY - matteo rossi

SARA- oliver van horn - LEX -madden kennedy .

BECCA - stacey ortiz . - KELLY - franz wanger

SOPHIE -angel griffin - CANDICE - felicity dupont

SARA- avett marie - LEX -keanu carter .

SOPHIE -ford anderson - LEX -jade santos .

LEX -beau calvary - SOPHIE -archie sinclair

DEE - ezra basel - T - james vanderbilt .

SOPHIE -everly blackwell - CANDICE -jackson blackwell

SOPHIE -zion davis - FREY - na-eun seo

T - austen sinclair . - CANDICE -johnny kennedy

KELLY - charlotte windsor - SOPHIE -maddox mckelvie

CANDICE -adelaide windsor - BECCA - erin halliday .

KELLY - ayaz demiric- SARA- caleb khan

DEE - dominic law - FREY - penelope kennedy

DEE - gigi majok - SARA- finley kennedy

T - jordana kennedy . - CANDICE -brooke hawker

KELLY - ethan briggs - T - hana hershey ratanavadi .

SOPHIE -kacey king - DEE - carter talbot

KELLY - afia amoabeng - T - caiden sharpe .

FREY - kwame amoabeng - KELLY - seo sieun

KELLY - merve baysel - CANDICE -persephone sinclair

SOPHIE - ophelia evans - BECCA - farrah osmond

LEX -selene sinclair . - T - alabama messi .

DEE - derek taylor - CANDICE -bianca sinclair

T - bristol decker . - SOPHIE -mackenzie kennedy

#hillzevent

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heyymikki · 2 months

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did i grow up according to plan?

LOCATION: Mikayla Beaumont's home MENTIONED: @elliottortegax @nikodimopoulos @hernando-valdez

It had been weeks since the news of Hernando's connection to Los Santos had gone public and the man in question had gone dark. There wasn't a day that had passed since then where she hadn't worried about him, but she had work and class to think about and couldn't completely abandon her responsibilities. In between those, though, she found herself spending more time with Niko, finding solace in his comforting presence and reassurances that Nando would be alright. Penny had spent more time at the B&B and if Mikayla hadn't known better, she would've thought her mother was avoiding her.

Saturday came and Mikayla finally pulled herself away from Niko's apartment, heading home just before lunchtime so she could get a few things done before work later that night. She hadn't expected her mother to be in the kitchen with a serious look on her face, and dread settled into the young woman's stomach.

"What is it?" she asked. "Have you heard from tio?"

Penelope shook her head, lips turning down in a frown. "Not yet, but I need to talk to you about something."

Mikayla took in her mother's face for a few silent moments, trying to judge what emotions she should expect, but it was a mask with no discernible feeling on display. She pulled out one of the stools at the kitchen island and took a seat, steeling herself.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the room, the weight of everything left unsaid over decades bearing down on Penny's shoulders. This was a conversation she knew she'd have to have some day, but she had always feared her daughter's response to it. There had been opportunities over the years, times when Mikayla would ask questions about who her father was or how Penny had met him, but she'd always revealed the bare minimum in an effort to spare herself from reliving the trauma of finding out she'd been pregnant -- of being torn away from everything and nearly everyone she knew and loved -- but doing that wasn't fair to Mikayla or Elliott, something he'd so graciously reminded her of when she'd given him the news.

"Before we start," she said, voice barely above a whisper, "I need to ask for your forgiveness."

"Forgiveness?" Mikayla repeated, brows knitted in confusion. "Why would you need that?"

"Because I've been keeping something from you." Penny pulled her gaze away from the counter and looked at her daughter. "It's about your father."

Mikayla sat up straighter in her seat, curiosity piqued. A part of her had wondered if the woman had never revealed her paternity to her because the nature of her conception wasn't born out of a loving relationship, but she respected her mother too much to go behind her back to investigate on her own. She nodded once, a silent plea for Penny to continue.

Her mother took in a deep breath and let it out slowly before continuing. "Elliott and I were best friends as kids. We did everything together, with your uncle Devon and our friend Nellie. Basically inseparable. But something changed when we got to high school... and we began to see each other without our parents knowing. Mine didn't approve of him or his family, so I had to keep the relationship a secret, which was easy enough until... until I found out I was pregnant with you." She shook her head some. "I was so scared, I didn't know what to do. Before I had a chance to tell anyone, they found the test in the trash. They were furious, especially when they found out who the father was, and before I knew it, we were moving across the country. I had no way to reach out to him once we were there. They monitored all of my phone time, and I couldn't send him a letter or anything. At one point, it became easier to forget instead of break my heart over and over again with the hope we'd be reunited someday."

The longer she spoke, the more tension fused into Mikayla's bones. "You've... known who he was this whole time?"

Penny nodded slowly, the fear of Mikayla's reaction growing alongside her daughter's emotions.

"Did he know about me?"

Penny nodded again, but added on quickly, "I left him a note before we left to tell him I was pregnant, but it was the only information I could give to him. If he ever discovered who you are outside of that, I don't know."

Mikayla took in a few deep breaths, trying to keep herself calm. "Why are you telling me now?"

"Because he's here. In Tonopah," she said. "And he wants to meet you."

In that moment, Mikayla's world flipped upside down. Not only had Penny kept his identity a secret from her throughout her entire life, but she had also failed to mention that he was somewhere in the town Mikayla had called home for the past three years. Had she seen him around town? Had they occupied the same space and had no idea that they were extensions of each other?

"How long has he been here?" Mikayla's voice was quiet, and Penny had to strain to hear her question, the one she'd been the most afraid of answering.

"He... he never left." She swallowed around a lump in her throat. "He's always lived here."

She was quiet. "Did you know that when I said I was coming here?"

"No, conejita," she responded quickly, walking around the island to wrap her daughter in a reassuring embrace, but Mikayla pulled away before she could, standing from her seat. "I swear I had no idea he never left. He ran a chain of hotels around the country, so I assumed h--"

"So you must've looked into him at some point if you know that. Did you ever try to reach out?" she asked, her voice rising with every new question.

Penny, trying not to show the hurt on her face, shook her head once more.

"He could have helped us, mami. When you got sick. H-he could have-- do you have any idea what I've done for yo--" Mikayla stopped herself, hand covering her mouth as the rush of hot tears that had been rising to the surface finally bubbled over and raced down her cheeks. She turned away from Penny, inhaling a shaking breath and forcing herself to be steady.

Penny had never put the responsibility of her care onto Mikayla's shoulders and never would have asked her to go to the extremes that she had done in order for her to receive the best care possible. She should have seen the signs, though: the long hours of 'studying' at a friend's house and coming home in the wee hours of the morning, the night terrors that kept her awake at night for fear she'd never be able to escape the next one, the sheer amount of money a barely legal teenager was bringing home at the end of every week. It would break her mother's heart to learn the truth about where all the money had come from, and Mikayla knew in her mind it wasn't fair to hold the choices she had made against her, but she mourned the life she could've had if Penny had just picked up the phone to call him and ask for help. She was the mother; she was supposed to be the one protecting Mikayla, not the other way around.

"M'ija," Penelope pleaded, placing her hand onto Mikayla's shoulder. Mikayla shrugged it off.

"Don't," she choked out, sniffling. "You should have told me sooner." She turned towards Penny, a harsh glare hidden amongst the pain in her eyes. "I gave up my childhood and put my life on hold for over a decade because you let your pride get in the way of asking for help. I don't know if I can forgive you for that."

Mikayla had never seen this look on her mother's face before, but it was unmistakable: heartbreak.

Any other time, for any other grievance she may have carried, she would have wrapped her mother up in her arms and apologized in that moment, but there was no way for her to moved past that feeling of betrayal that came with the knowledge she never would have had to go through everything she had if her father had just been allowed to be a part of her life.

"I don't want to be near you right now, so I'm going to stay with a friend for a few days." She walked past her mother towards the stairs. Thankfully, she didn't follow.

#it took me longer to write this than I wanted but here we are #self para.#threads.#idk if I had a tag for these so shrug emoji #t: penny

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wrestlekingdomhq · 4 months

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REVAMPED GROUP!!!! LOTS OF PEOPLE STILL OPEN!!!!

WrestleKingdom HQ is a Discord based, BEHIND THE SCENES roleplay server. This is what happens in the lives of our favorite wrestlers as they navigate the ups and downs of working in this crazy business

-Group oriented roleplaying -Friendly and knowledgeable staff -OC friendly -Lots of muses available

This is NOT an E-Fed. We will NOT be doing any kind of in-ring action, this is purely behind the scenes!

Most wanted below the cut!

Gunther, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Rey Mysterio, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Ilja Dragnov, Tony D'Angelo, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, Noam Dar, Chad Gable, Drew McIntyre, Dexter Lumis, Johnny Gargano, Ludwig Kaiser, Shinsuke Nakamura, Austin Theory, Cameron Grimes, Dragon Lee, Santos Escobar, Baron Corbin, Tyler Bate, Butch, Orange Cassidy, The Acclaimed, Christian Cage, Adam Copeland, Adam Page, Austin Gunn, The Young Bucks, Brody King, The BCC.

Roxanne Perez, Candice Lerae, Indi Hartwell, Raquel Rodriguez, Samantha Irvin, Sonya Deville, Tegan Nox, Trish Stratus, Xia Li, Alba Fyre, Charlotte Flair, Kayla Braxton, Michin, Ava, Blair Davenport, Jakara Jackson, Lash Legend, Kelani Jordan, Lyra Valkyria, Athena, Lelia Grey, Penelope Ford, Jade Cargil, Ruby Soho, The Bunny, Willow Nightingale.

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madaboutmunson · 1 year

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Again - Part 18

Part 1 | Part 17 | Part 19 | Full list of Again series links inc AO3 Link

Steddie fic where Steve and Eddie are in their mid 30's and everyone has sort of drifted apart

Notes: Sorry this one is a little late in posting. I had a bit of a strange birthday and got a bit down about it.

Taglist: @adaed5 @grtwdsmwhr @swimmingbirdrunningrock @mightbeasleep, @jewellthebooknerd, @fentiibratzz @rvllybllply2014

================================================

Steve raises his fist to knock, and the last time he remembers being this nervous here was the first time his kids were on his side of the door.

He looks down at the phone clutched tightly in his hand, the screen displaying Eddie's message.

Whatever happens, we'll figure something out. ILY x

He hears a singular bark and a rush of feet toward the door. Then, finally, it swings open, and he's greeted by the beaming smile of Val, but Steve notes he looks a little tired around the eyes.

"Steven!!" He enthuses loudly, grabbing his shoulders and kissing each side of his face, just before he is almost pushed out of the way by a very excitable Beans. Steve ruffles the fur on her head, and she circles his legs until she's perfectly at his heel as Val waves him into the house.

Steve's stomach swirls with worry as he sits at the kitchen table, and Beans must be able to tell because she rests her chin on his leg as he pets her head gently. Steve laughs awkwardly, "Thanks for letting me come over. I know you're both gonna be so busy with everything now. I just wanted to speak to you both while the kids were at school" His voice drops to a whisper, "Speaking of which...Did you tell the kids yet?"

Val nods in response, "Oh yes, Jenny reminded me that you are almost as bad at keeping delicious secrets as I am. They also had The Talk again," Val adds, "Plus a little extra about it being early. Thought I'd let you know in case you get any questions fired your way about it.”

“Right, got it” Steve nods as Val hands him a very uncharacteristic mug of hot chocolate. Steve’s eyes move to his in question.

“For your nerves, Steven,” Val says fondly, sits opposite and looks from side to side before leaning over the table and dropping his voice to a whisper. “Don’t worry. Your Valentino has been putting in the groundwork for you.” He makes a sure upside-down smile expression on his face, “We’ve got this covered. It only occurred to me the other day that, in some ways, you and I are similar, and I thought maybe Jenny and Eddie might have similarities too. Common ground, even if it is just caring fiercely about you?”

Steve’s stomach swirling turns to a full-blown spin cycle, “Oh Christ, Val. I didn't even think about that. This is going to be so bad.” Steve whimpers quietly.

Valentino tuts and amps up his accent. “No, Steven. Listen to Valentino. It’s going to be ok. She doesn't want to ruin anything for you.”

“Oh no, it’s not that, Val. You don’t understand. You’ve met a much mellower Jenny for the most part” Steve checks over his shoulder and leans in again, “Remember that time Penelope Hasselbank’s mom insulted Corey’s finger painting? Said it looked like a brown blob because he mixed all his paints together?”

Val’s eyes widen as he leans back in his chair, twists the kitchen towel over his shoulder between his fingers, and says quietly in horror, “And then she laughed at it….”

“And then she laughed, Val. For months later, that woman had to continually replace tires because a ‘Masked youth’ kept slashing them, then had to change her cell number because she was getting calls from people asking for a ‘good time’ and to this day, she always looks like she sparkles because of how many times she got glitter bombed at least once a week, at home, at work, on holiday. Remember that?” Steve raises a finger on his hand at Val before submitting the one next to it, “Now times that by two, and put it in the same room.”

“Il mio dio e lo spirito santo” Val says, crossing himself.

“Precisely! Though I trust whatever you’ve done will have helped,” Steve says with as much of a smile as he can muster.

Footsteps approach the kitchen. “Where is he?” Val whispers quickly.

“I’ve hidden him in the back seat of the car,” Steve says, trying not to laugh, but Val's booming laugh makes him completely lose it into a fit of giggles, probably mostly charged by nervous energy.

“And just what are you two laughing about?” Jenny says with a smile leaning in the doorway.

“Nothing!” They reply in unison, and Jenny blows a raspberry.

“Zero out of ten guys. Your worst performance yet.” She sits, and Val brings over her tea, “So Steve, let's hear it.” Val reaches over and taps Steve’s hand in support.

“Well, as I told you on the phone, things are moving quite quickly between Eddie and me. And I was talking to him the other day about him moving in, but he said he wanted to make sure you and the kids were ok with it first, you know?” Steve manages to look between the table and Jenny, and Val gives him an ok sign of support.

Jenny steeples her fingers and leans forward a little, “Ok.”

“Ok?” Steve asks in surprise.

“Look, I trust you wouldn't put our kids in danger, not for anyone, even if you have clearly gone a little crazy over this guy. I am well aware of how quickly you move, Steve. The kids. I can’t speak for but as far as I’m concerned, ok. On a few conditions though, Steve,” She warns, and Steve gives her his hopeful undivided attention, “If he’s free, and he should make time to be if he’s serious, he attends the dinners, birthday parties, events, whatever. I don't want this guy to be someone I see once and then he changes where I can’t see. He’s in with us, or he’s out, got it?” Steve nods. “He does not ever try to muscle his way in with parenting our kids. Val has coped just fine without treading on your toes. I expect the same from Eddie. I imagine this one goes without saying, but he does not upset our Kids.” Steve shakes his head, “And last of all, he stops hiding in the back seat of your car and gets in here, so I can make my final evaluation.” She says, leaning back in her chair.

Steve and Val exchange a look, and Steve gets out of his seat and scrambles to retrieve Eddie from the car.

Steve can see him lying across the backseat, happily playing that snake game on his phone. Not a care in the world. He gently taps on the window, and Eddie jumps to a sitting position and opens the door.

“Yeah?” He says, looking at Steve with a great big smile.

“Almost,” Steve answers, takes his hand, assists him to his feet, and shuts the car door.

Eddie pulls uncomfortably at the collar of his shirt, “Well, I never thought I’d hear myself say this, Steve. But let's go charm the pants off your ex-wife.”

As they enter the kitchen, Val greets them with a warm smile and pulls out a chair for Eddie, who sits, and Steve can see his hand twitch forward for a handshake, and then he retreats, and it looks as if Jenny and Eddie are assessing one another via silent communication and occasional side-eye. Val and Steve’s eyes ping pong between the two like they are watching tennis.

“Hmmm,” She says, finally, “You swear you won’t, right?” She asks

“Absolutely not! Never again,” Eddie exclaims.

“I’m serious, buddy,” Jenny warns.

“Yeah, well, surprise, me too, actually,” Eddie fires back, gesturing at his clothes and the room. There is an exchange of nods, like two strangers acknowledging another of their own kind.

"Job?"

"My own business. Reading, gaming, music for kids."

"You drink?" She asks

"Not especially. Beers are nice on a hot day, something stronger on a hot date" The corner of Eddie's mouth twitches up for a second.

"Drugs?" She asks, and Steve can feel the sweat forming in his palms.

"Mostly for my nightmares or really shitty days, but never if I'm driving," Eddie says. "And only green. I don't play around with anything else," Eddie says, waving a hand in front of him.

"Kids?"

"Godson," Eddie beams.

"Exes?" She asks, eyeing him carefully.

"Lots, but…er…no ties, all the paperwork is done. I couldn't give them what I'd given to someone else," Eddies says, rubbing his arm awkwardly. Val grips hold of Steve's hand, and as he turns to him, he can see Val's bottom lip quiver. He looks back at Eddie and Jenny quickly before Val starts him off too.

"On the back of that answer, I feel like I need to ask…."

"Negative." Eddie interrupts quickly.

"You got any questions?"

"How long?"

"Did he-" Jenny starts to send a frown towards Steve, but Eddie shakes his head in a no. "A few weeks. Nearly a month." Jenny smiles hugely down at her tummy and runs her hand over it.

"You tried ginger?" Eddie asks gently. Jenny shakes her head. "I don't mean this ask a bribe, but er, after this is over, I can make you the tea my mama taught me."

“Did he ask you to wear this?” Jenny smiles at Eddie.

“Yes!” Eddie complains, unbuttoning the top button of his shirt and finally relaxing in his seat.

“Ah, that explains it” She gestures a hand in a circle over Eddie, “Because this is not what I envisioned. Not to get Steve’s attention anyway,” she laughs.

Eddie leans forward, resting his chin on his fist toward her with a smirk, “Do tell me more about what get’s Steve’s attention. I wish to wield as much power as I can”, he jokes.

“Do you know about the….” Jenny says as she leans over to whisper something to Eddie.

“HEY!” Steve shouts and points a finger at them both, “No, not this. No way. Switch seats immediately!”

“Oh, like you and Tino haven’t been doing this for years.” Eddie gestures at Val. Causing Val to sit a little straighter in his chair as he runs his hands over his slicked-back hair, and Steve nudges at him.

“Ok, easy there, tiger,” Jenny says, laughing at Val’s reaction, before turning back to Eddie, “You know what? It's nice to have an even playing field for once in this house. You’re ok by me so far, Eddie” She smiles. “Welcome to the madness.” She extends her hand across the table, and Eddie shakes it enthusiastically. “Good luck with the kids. They are brutal.”

“You know I might just keep my win for the day and get grilled by those tiny tyrants another day”, Eddie smiles at Jenny, who mirrors it back.

Val kicks Steve under the table, wiggles his eyebrows and mouths “Cute” at him. Steve's instinct is to rush out of his seat and spin Eddie around the kitchen, and he almost does, but he falters and looks back to Val, who smiles reassuringly and nods. Steve isn't really waiting for permission, it's more like he doesn't want to throw something in Jenny's face if it might upset her in some way, but at Val's nod, he's pulling Eddie out of his chair, he's squeezing his face in his hands and pressing their foreheads together. For a moment, all Steve can do is sigh and look at his love. Another easy hurdle. Done. One left, Steve thinks. He can't believe how close he is to dreams becoming a reality again. Maybe's are yes's. Impossible things are possible. As Eddie blinks back at him, unable to speak because his face is still being squeezed, Steve can't help himself, and he kisses him. Just a small chaste one. He didn't want to overdo it. A small sob from the table breaks it off fairly quickly, and Steve turns back to see Val dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief and Jenny consoling him.

"And I'm the hormonal one right now." She laughs, smiling at Eddie and Steve.

"Jennifer! I cannot help it. My heart is overflowing, with romance, with love. It is too much to keep inside. And it's Steven. You know how much I love my Steven!" Val protests through sniffles. "Do you know where my other handkerchief is, my love? This one is done for." Val wipes his eyes and blows his nose loudly as Jenny rolls her eyes and leaves the kitchen.

Steve feels Eddie press closer to him, and his arms squeeze around Steve a little tighter at Val's words. Steve looks amused at Eddie's actions, and Eddie shrugs and laughs a little embarrassed, "Sorry?" he whispers and sneaks his hand into Steve's back pocket, and in return, Steve runs his fingers down Eddie's spine.

"This is my first meeting with your family, babe. Let me at least keep some cool around them," Eddie says quietly out of the corner of his mouth, and just as he finishes the last word to Steve, his face is grabbed by someone else. Val's strong tan hands hold Eddie's face and pinch his cheeks. Steve can tell Eddie is trying to remain composed but is probably internally screaming, and if it had been anyone else, Steve probably would have stepped in to save him, but it was Val, and really, Eddie was just going to have to get used to it. Which, ultimately, he surely would, as they were just as space invasive as one another.

"Look at you, uh? You take good care of my Steven now. He's very special to me." Steve looks at them both, and though Eddie is the essence of cool on the outside, Steve can feel the tension in his arm. "Having said that, he didn't make it tough for me, so I won't make it tough for you here." Valentino flashes his huge pearly white smile, but then something happens that Steve hasn't seen before. He laughs and shakes his head before fixing Eddie with a look, "Unless you make me. Capisce?" Eddie nods, and Steve can see Eddie analysing Val's face, and he lets him and leans in to say quietly as he twists the gold ring on his pinky finger, "My cousin Frankie owns a lotta bars in Chi-town, Eddie. Said you are one hell of a guitar player." Eddie gulps, and Steve feels the nervousness spread to him. He isn't sure how much Val appeared to know, but Steve hadn't told him about Eddie's past. Then Val's eyes flick up to Steve's, and he gives him a fond smile, "But if it's right by Steven, it's right by me." And with that, he turns back to Eddie, grabs him by the shoulders and kisses him on each cheek, "Welcome to the family, Eddie," he says, tapping his face playfully.

"I got you this one, hon-" Jenny says as she re-enters the room. "Now, what are you boys up to?" She says with a laugh, and Val rushes over and scoops her into his arms and plants kisses all over her face until she's pushing him away.

Eddie turns to Steve and whispers, "I think, they might be just as crazy as us, babe" Steve thinks back to how quickly things happened between Val and Jenny and smiles hugely. If they felt the way he did about Eddie, he was so happy he didn't make any of it a problem for them, and maybe that's why they were being so open to the situation now, because they understood it, in a way. Steve thanks the ceiling again for blessing him with such luck.

"Yeah, I think they might just be," He says before kissing Eddie on the forehead.

They sit back at the table, some small talk is passed around, and Steve moves his chair right next to Eddie's. Eddie reaches for his hand under the table, and though maintaining the outward appearance of cool, calm, and collected, he can feel how excited he is about all of this as the grip on his hand pulses with tight squeezes. Steve leaves it that way for a little while, and once the squeezes are a little softer, he puts their joined hands on the table. Eddie glances bashfully out of the corner of his eye at him, and Jenny gives him a smile and nod, but then suddenly, her face changes, and she speed walks out of the room. Val chases after her.

"Was she like this with the other two?" Eddie asks, a little concerned, as Steve almost follows her, getting out of his seat, but Val waves him down kindly and runs after her.

"A little, just on a few mornings, but they both look pretty tired. I don't think it's like before," Steve says, deeply concerned.

"Listen, it might not work, but I was pretty anxious when I was a kid, and nausea was ruining my tiny little life. My mom used to fix me this ginger drink. I made it for Alice a few times too. It seemed to work then. So if it's ok, and you know where everything is, we could make her some. Or I can make it, and you could, uh, write it down?" Steve tears his eyes from the doorway to Eddie, and although he didn't think it possible five minutes ago, his whole being is filled with even more love for his man. He almost gets lost looking at him. He was so perfect. The noise from the bathroom brings Steve back to Earth, and he helps Eddie find the ingredients and grabs some notepaper and a pen.

Eddie makes two things, one in a pot simmering on the stove, another he employs a cocktail shaker and some crushed ice for, and splits it into four glasses topping up with soda water and sets them on the table.

Steve holds the jug and sieve whilst Eddie pours in the ginger honey, lemon and mint tea from the huge pot, and he can't help himself, "Where did they make you?" He asks softly.

Eddie looks more intensely at the jug, and a sweet shy smile creeps over his face, "If most people were to be believed by the devil himself," he says in his best Walter Cronkite voice and laughs.

"Yeah, if only they could see you now, going out of your way to help someone you've known for less than an hour," Steve says dreamily before he accidentally says aloud, "I can't believe I get to call you mine," and immediately shuts up.

Eddie freezes, and a huge smile spreads across his face as he tries to hold back a laugh, “Did you mean to say that out loud, babe?”

Steve concentrates fiercely on the jug and sieve, "Well…I meant it, but maybe it was supposed to fall out of my mouth like that." He grimaces awkwardly.

Eddie puts the pot down, takes the sieve away from him, dumps its contents, and puts the lid on the jug to cool on the counter before returning to Steve, who is busying himself with the things in the sink. Soon he feels Eddie's hand cradling his jaw and turns his head to face him. Eddie looks deeply into his eyes and says gently, "I don't mind you getting a little shy sometimes, it's actually kinda cute, but we spoke about this. You can tell me anything ok, you don't need to be worried. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere unless you ask me to. Even if you say the dorkiest things imaginable, I'll still love you" He smiles and pecks a kiss at Steve's lips, "Maybe even especially when you say the dorkiest things" He chuckles, "I'm not gonna fight you on it, but I feel lucky too. How many people get to go back to rekindle a first true love and find it's even better than they imagined? I don't know any, do you?" Eddie asks, kissing his cheek, and Steve shakes his head, words altogether leaving him again as he gazes at Eddie lazily. “We’re gonna make it. We are making it happen, and honestly, I can’t believe our luck. Your family is just so great. They really care about you. I really care about you. I love you,” he says, poking Steve in the chest before smoothing over it with his hand, “So stop worrying!” he says, widening his eyes and waiting for a nod of confirmation from Steve, which of course, he obliges with.

"Sorry about that, guys. The sickness is pretty awful this time. I'm hoping it's temporary," Jenny apologises as Val helps her to her seat, "Is this the drink?" Steve can hear that innocent, hopeful tone in her voice, and he figures it really must be bad.

Eddie bustles around and shows them the jar in the fridge by opening it for a second, “In here is the tea, and in front of you is just a sort of mixer, cooler thing. Pretty much the same ingredients, just much quicker to make.” There is a sort of pause as they all migrate towards the table. Eddie looks a little nervous, so Steve picks up his drink and takes a big gulp. It wasn't the greatest thing he’d ever tasted in his life, but honestly, Eddie could make him a million weird drinks, and he’d at least try every single one. Val follows Steve's lead.

"Well, that packs quite a punch, Eddie," Val says with a big smile, "Let's take a look at Steven's list here" Val takes a look over the instructions, "Looks safe to me, mia cara. Wanna check?" Eddie fidgets with his rings, and the way his mouth twitches, Steve can tell he is dying to say something.

"You know Eddie made this for his housemate who was pregnant. She had a healthy baby, right?" Steve takes over, and Eddie nods with a smile and stops fidgeting, "Also, Eddie here drank it a lot as a kid, right, honey?" Steve reaches for Eddie's hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze.

"Yeah, that's right. I mean, maybe don't sell it on how I turned out, but I got this far, so" Eddie laughs and takes a drink, and Jenny looks between the three of them. "Take no notice of these guys if you don't feel safe drinking it. I understand you've only just met me, so zero offence taken." Eddie sends her a warm smile across the table.

"Honestly, I'm desperate for some help," She replies, looking longingly at the glass, "Sleep is like rocking horse shit. But, you know, I’ll check with the doctor. I’m sure it's fine. I just," She glances over at Val, “I don’t wanna take any chances.” Val scoops up her hands in his own and kisses each one, her eyelids droop a little, and she lets out a small yawn.

Steve takes that as an indicator to leave, he even offers to have the kids a few days earlier, but Jenny declines, not wanting the new baby to cause changes so early when she promised it wouldn’t. So they make their new affectionate goodbyes and head home.

As they drive back, Steve notices Eddie fidgeting with his rings again, “Everything ok, honey?” Steve asks and puts his hand on his knee.

“Yeah, really good,” Eddie replies, and Steve relaxes hearing the grin in his voice, “Just, uh, this kinda lame,” he huffs out a laugh, “I’m just, um, excited, you know? About all this, and it's weird.”

“Like, weird, how exactly?” Steve asks, mostly amused with a garnish of worry.

He feels Eddie’s hand cover his, “I just am finding it a little strange, to, um, be looking forward to things, to have hope and life not kick me in the nuts for once. Told you it was lame.” He punctuates it with an adorable dorky little snort.

“What did I tell you that first night? No more struggling. You get everything you want because I’m gonna do whatever I can to make it happen, ok?” He wiggles his fingers so they slot between Eddie’s a little. “I know we’ve still got the kids to go, but I think it's gonna be fine. They already like you, so worst-case scenario, I have to not have you in my bed every night for a week. Which, ok, already sounds like hell on earth,” Steve hears Eddie chuckle, “but it would only be overnight, and I could always make up for it the week after, maybe?” Steve inquires suggestively.

“Well, I guess that doesn’t sound too bad” Eddie flexes his fingers so they grip Steve’s hand. “You know, the only thing I really want,” Steve feels Eddie fidget with their hands for a moment before he feels the warm metal slip over his finger, “Is to be yours and stay that way. Forever. No matter what.” Eddie sighs, and he feels the ring on his finger get removed and replaced with another. “I don't much like religion, honestly, but all those things they list, richer, poorer, in sickness or in health, for better or worse, to love until death tears us apart. That’s what I want.”

“Then that's what you’ll have, my love,” Steve says gently and continues to let Eddie test his rings on him, “But I mean, if death tears us apart, you best believe I’m gonna haunt you. I’m gonna haunt you so hard, and if you meet someone else, I will terrorise them.” Eddie laughs a little too hard for Steve’s liking. “You think I wouldn't? You think that I would just watch it happen. Hell no! Once I’m dead, Eddie, I don't have to be a good person anymore. I can act exactly as I would like, and scaring the shit out of all your future potential love interests would be not only the top of my list, it might be the entire list, except for maybe checking in on the kids.” Eddie is still laughing.

“Oh, I wasn’t laughing at that. I was laughing because you think someone would still be here to haunt. You think that at your funeral, I wouldn’t dramatically throw myself down there with you? You’re crazy!” Eddie chuckles and removes the ring from Steve’s hand.

The next few days are spent in various love nests around the house, making plans, designing a studio for Eddie, marking out the road trip plan for next year, watching movies, dancing, play fighting, eating supper by candlelight, star gazing on inflatables in the pool after eating some of the special brownies Eddie made. Steve feels like Eddie has weaved his magic and encapsulated their home in a great big bubble of love.

Sunday arrives, and they spend the morning transferring all of Eddie’s things back into the RV. Which initially starts out as a team effort until Eddie picks up his acoustic guitar and decides to follow Steve around, serenading him with Happy Together by The Turtles, With A Girl(Guy) Like You by The Troggs, Oh, Pretty Woman(Steven) by Roy Orbison, and Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen, whilst Steve does the transfer of things. Suddenly most of Steve’s neighbours have front lawn or driveway projects to do, though he notices not a lawn mower to be heard, just Eddie’s voice and guitar ringing out down the street. Sure, Steve should be a little annoyed that he was doing all the sad, hard work and maybe even a little embarrassed about the attention of the street, but Eddie’s theatrics had won him over on the first strum. He knows he’s lost so many memories, but he will never forget this. Steve wonders how many more memories they’ll make together, and his heart blossoms with possibilities. Memories with their big extended family, memories with the kids, and things that they might tell their grandkids about.

It makes the day a little bittersweet.

Eddie had thought he’d take the chance to go back and check in on Wayne. Unfortunately, Jack had taken a turn for the worse. He was declining rapidly and was being moved to a care home by his kids. Wayne contemplated going with Jack but didn't want to admit defeat. By giving up their home, he felt he was giving up a place for them to return to, so he was travelling to and from the place every day, and Eddie suspected he was just gonna tucker himself out.

Their goodbye takes much longer than either of them intended. Steve tries to savour every feature, look, touch, and sound he can absorb from Eddie. He wanted them embossed into his brain and skin, so he would never be without them.

They part ways at the end of the driveway, and Steve heads to pick up the kids and Beans to bring them home.

On arrival, he gets a massive hug from Jenny, which was destined for Eddie because his ginger tea drink works like a charm, but as he isn't here, Steve agrees he will happily pass it on for her. The kids bundle into the car, shoving their new schedules at Steve as they pass. For most of the journey home, the kids appear to be in their respective headphone universes, but occasionally he’d hear whispering, but every time he glances in the mirror, they go back to looking out of their windows. Something suspicious was afoot, and Steve would get to the bottom of it one way or another.

“What are you two plotting back there?” Steve says, looking in the mirror and narrowing his eyes at them.

“Plotting? Us? Together? NEVER!” Corey says with a laugh.

“Oh please, I can hear you whispering!” he tries again, looking at Zee for a second.

“Look, you’ll see, ok? OW! Corey!” Zee exclaims.

“Don’t blow it for us! Make him wait a little. He can sweat about the unknown for a bit,” Corey says seriously, and Steve has to swallow a laugh.

“Fine, be like that!” Steve says with pure mischief running through his veins, and he turns up the car stereo as loud as it will go before distortion, winds down the window and starts singing along loudly, which just happens to be Sisqo’s Thong Song. He doesn’t know most of the lyrics, but he makes up some of his own and sings even louder in the bits he knows.

The kids start to complain and protest, but Steve cups his hand to his ear and shakes his head, “WHATS THAT? NO, SORRY, CANT HEAR YOU. WAIT UNTIL WE GET HOME, YEAH?!” and then continues to sing along with whatever he can until they get home.

As they pull up onto the drive, the kids and Beans rush for the door, but Steve can see something wrapped around the knocker on the front door.

Zee turns to him, confused, and holds the tag attached, “It’s for you, Dad.”

Steve makes his way over, arms laden with bags, but when he gets there, Zee nudges Corey, and they take them from him. He lifts the gift tag attached to the red ribbon and reads it.

I’m sorry I had to go. I hope this makes sure you won't forget me. E x

P.S. Hold on tight

Steve pulls the tag and ribbon from the door knocker, steps in front of the kids to open the door, and gasps audibly.

There are heart balloons on the ceiling, all different colours and sizes, each with a ribbon floating all the way to the floor, with a red rose attached to the bottom. Beans completely forgets her routine and begins sniffing a trail between each one. There are fifteen in total. Steve rushes to the kitchen to put them in a vase but walks in to find it is already occupied by a colossal rainbow bouquet. Around its base, tied in a neckerchief knot, is Eddie’s favourite bandana.

“What is wrong with this guy?” Corey laughs, helping to collect some of the ones around the TV area.

“I think it's kinda sweet, right, Dad?” Zee asks, collecting the ones near the stairs.

Steve is busy, carefully folding up the threadbare black and white bandana into a pocket square that he puts in his blazer pocket, “I think you both are correct.” he manages to say, carefully swallowing down the emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

“Say, Dad?” he hears Corey’s voice a lot nearer now, “Can we talk to you about all this?”

Steve feels the dread start to rise in him, this could be the beginning of an impossible decision, but he knew the answer would always be his children. They were his priority, even up against the love of his life. He tucks the bandana down, hiding it in his pocket out of sight and turns around with a big smile.

“Of course,” he says and turns to have two bundles of balloons thrust at him from his kids, which he gathers up and puts on the side.

They sit on one side of the table, steepling their fingers, looking at him intensely. Steve sits in a chair opposite them, feeling like he’s been called into the principal's office for something. They look at one another, and then Corey nods towards Steve, and as they turn back, Zee speaks.

“Sooooo, we’ve basically overheard Val and Mom talking, and we have some questions,” Zee says gently.

Steve tries not to, but he gulps along with his, “Ok, sure, ask anything you like.”

As the words leave his mouth, Corey pulls out a notebook and pencil, tears out the top page and pushes it towards Zee. He is then laser-focused on Steve with his pencil poised. Steve looks between the two of them and wonders which one is the good cop and which is the bad cop.

“So, first of all. Whilst we haven't been here, Eddie has been living here, right?” Zee asks, and Steve replies with a nod. Corey begins scribbling something down, and Steve can't help but be distracted by it.

“And he’s been, what, staying in the guest room?” Zee asks, eyebrows raised, and Steve thinks about lying, but he shakes his head in a no, and the pencil scribbling starts up again.

Steve quickly defends his actions, “But it’s not what you think. I’ve known Eddie a long time and-”

“Please, Dad, just answer the questions we give you. No need to elaborate unless asked, ok?” Zee interrupts him.

“So you and Eddie are in love, right?” Zee asks.

“Yes.” Steve answers, “But you see, if I could just explain, things like this don't normally happen this quickly, it's just that-”

“Are you hard of hearing? A simple yes or no is sufficient for our investigation, ok?!” Corey says in a new york accent as he hits the table, making Steve and Zee jump. Clearly, Corey is Bad Cop.

“Well, let’s not get overly dramatic about it, Cor, geez. He’s already nervous!” Zee frowns and turns back to her paper. “Corey, I think the answer to this next one is obvious. It feels a little redundant to ask.”

“Could you just stick to the plan for once, please?! The answer may be obvious, but his micro-expressions might give away something else.” Corey complains.

“Fine!” Zee rolls her eyes and focuses back on Steve, “Are you serious about one another? For example, this is not just some kind of whirlwind romance thing?”

Steve folds his arms, and Corey’s pencil scratches away, so he quickly unfolds them again, “Er, yeah, very serious. Write that down.” Steve replies pointing at Corey’s pad.

“Cor, this one is stupid. It's been a week. They haven't got this far.” Zee complains with a sigh, but Corey ignores her, so she reluctantly reads it out, “Do you intend to marry him?” Steve pulls a face like the answer is obvious, and Zee smiles smugly, “See?!”

“Yes, I do.” Steve answers, and Zee’s jaw drops.

“What did I tell you?! I knew it! This is crazy, so fucking crazy,” Corey says, vindicated.

“Hey, you’ll watch your language, young man!” Steve interjects, pointing at Corey firmly.

“Sorry,” Corey says a little sheepishly.

“Ok, well, I’m assuming you want him to move in then?” Zee says with a tone and look of disbelief.

Steve sighs, leans over, and takes one of their hands in his own, “Listen, I like Eddie. Yeah, I love him. I’d love to have him live here, but not without your blessing.” Steve says genuinely, looking at them both compassionately. “There are plenty of other arrangements we could come to. Eddie was the person that actually brought it up. He didn't want to do anything that made you guys or your Mom uncomfortable. He knows he’s new to you all. He’s not gonna just waltz in here and take over your lives or home, ok? You are my priority. Always.” Steve gives their hands a squeeze.

Corey tilts his head to the side, “That's great to know, Dad, but we are more than aware of how obsessed with us you are. Like, I mean, Eddie could be doing us a bit of favour, taking up some of that attention, honestly.” he lets out a little laugh. Steve half smiles with a frown.

“You aren’t worried about that?” Steve asks, looking between them.

“No,” Zee laughs, “Not at all. We just wanted to make sure you were keeping your heart safe. That’s all. We heard…well overheard, that he broke your heart before, and we talked about it and thought we’d just ask, you know?”

Steve shuts his eyes for a moment to stop the tears welling up. He hadn't accomplished a lot off his own back in this lifetime. He was mainly fortunate and managed to land on his feet. But as his two children sit before him, he can see his lifetime achievement right there. Two brilliant, sassy, funny, talented, confident, thoughtful kids and his heart could just burst. He clears his throat, hoping the lump developing in it will dissipate.

“That was a long time ago. We were young, and it was more complicated back then than it is now. Eddie-” Steve tries to defend.

“Eddie can answer for his crimes when we see him next!” Corey says in his new york cop voice again.

“What? He’s gotta go through this too?” Steve says in surprise.

“Oh yeah!” Zee laughs, “We’ve drawn up a roommate contract for him too.”

#steddie #steddie fan fiction #eddie munson x steve harrington #steddie fan fic #steddiefanfiction #steddiefanfic #madaboutmunson #madaboutmunsonagain #eddie munson #steve harrington

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thanksforthedinosaur · 5 months

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december 2023

brye - recover

addison grace - pessimistic

ixaras - sprouts

rosie tucker - unending bliss

hana eid - between your teeth

marika hackman - slime

katy kirby - table

michelle - agnostic

klee - mutual symbiotic relationship

tinyumbrellas - zombies

madds buckley - paper and ink

rainbow frog biscuits - clean

julia cooper - sweet n sour

bel - read the room

holly humberstone - lauren

elio - sorority

devon again - still can't dress myself

savana santos - idk the title of this cause i’m not calling it ‘vibin’

exxy - afternoon depression

king mala - bug

emei - 711

towa bird - drain me!

lia lia - angst

madge - tall grass

zoe ko - baby teeth

ko aka koala - sorry in advance

griff - vertigo

chloe george - outward

dounia - space (528hz)

quinn xcii - georgia peach

emily vaughn - invented it

misha - keep on

julia wolf - burning house (i wanna kiss you)

raffaella - rowan

searows - collector

laura veirs - swan dive

madilyn mei - cryptid

isabel pless - practice erotic

gregory and the hawk - for now

sun june - get enough

alice phoebe lou - shine

eliza mclamb - anything you want

the beatles - now and then

penelope scott - over the moon

meljii - frog and toad

savoir adore - when it rains

mini trees - push and pull

blond in car - short hello and a long goodbye

hazel english - heartbreaker

ellis - forever

middle kids - dramamine

ian sweet - emergency contact

drizzly. - bitter to see you

pearly drops - get well

los campesinos! - avocado, baby

hovvdy - jean

chloë doucet - stormy blue

momma - sunday

pony - peach

time spent driving - milligrams

hot mulligan - shouldn’t have a leg hole but i do

teenage halloween - lights out

weakened friends - awkward

blink-182 - anthem part 3

nai harvest - missing summer

awakebutstillinbed - adapt

alkaline trio - blood, hair, and eyeballs

tigers jaw - constant headache

eyedress - separate ways (feat. the marías)

sunmi - 덕질 (call my name)

oohyo - i give you love

yaeji - easy breezy

sumin - human theater (feat.sunwoojunga)

baek a yeon - lime (i'm so) (english ver.)

seventeen - god of music

talitha. - apple pie

slayyyter - makeup (feat. lolo zouaï)

tkay maidza - out of luck

satica - show up

loony - counting thunder

kennie - cool with your girlfriend

trella - taxi driver

aurora - your blood

perc%nt - roller coaster

caroline polachek - dang

vtss - steady pace

vacationer - resemblance

tusks - artifical flame

alaina castillo - running water

venbee - messy in heaven

ivri - inversion

nia archives - that's tha way life goes

juliet ivy - bestfriend

piri - bluetooth

pinkpantheress - another life (feat. rema)

elley duhé - reborn

baby tate - lollipop

l.ucas - l(in)ve

love-sadkid - out of body

r u off - jordan

enny - charge it remix (feat. smino)

sampha - suspended

mxmtoon - cliché - revisited

emhahee - time travel

august greenwood - taroko

laufey - from the start

sushisingz - dissociated

tiffi - lucky (bonus track)

justin nozuka - twyn https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3iyQUu7rpOvkTdnW8pOuaF?si=c887c6eeb415481a

#mae makes playlists

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hernando-valdez · 7 months

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“The world is almost peaceful when you stop trying to understand it.”― Elizabeth Acevedo

TW: mentions of drugs, death, blood, grief and violence

One of the earliest memories Hernando has is of his father hunched over the kitchen sink at 4 o’clock in the morning, washing blood off of his hands. It was the first time Hernando was clued into the world his father was involved in and it was the first time his father was honest with him instead of trying to hide it. What Nando didn’t know then was that it was the start of the rest of his life. A career he never really had a choice in. His father used to say it was destiny, their loyalty to the cartel. But Nando knows now it was just shit luck and poverty. There never really was another choice.

Born Hernando Benito Valdez, he grew up in the streets of East Harlem, New York. His father, a Tonopah Valley Native, had moved his family to New York in an effort to keep them safe from retaliation from any of his enemies. And the list of them was long. His father was a long-time Los Santos soldier. Becoming a member the moment he turned 18 but he had been dealing drugs for a little longer than that. He prided himself on being loyal, useful, always following orders, finding himself a family that he would remain a part of up until his death at the age of 62. A heart attack. But Hernando has convinced himself it was something else.

The only son of Hector Valdez, there was no doubt that Hernando would follow in his footsteps. And Hector would not have it any other way.

The only family the older man had known was the cartel and they looked out for Hector and his family like they were their own. His mother too is a Tonopah native and though she stood by Hector through it all and she took raising her family away from Tonopah as a serious task. Which was why his younger sister has nothing to do with the cartel. She didn’t even know of its actual existence until recently, the family doing well in convincing her that Hector was really “away on business” and that Hernando was doing the same.

Hernando was a relatively active kid. He was involved in all the school sports but was especially fond of basketball and baseball. He did alright in school and was always responsible for taking care of his sister and being where he was supposed to be. When his cousin Penelope moved to New York with her family, he was over the moon. Penny had always been his favorite cousin and she was the closest he came to having an older sister. When he thought he couldn’t love a person as much as he loved Penny, Mikayla was born. Early on, even though he was a teenager, he stepped in to help as much as he could, especially when Penelope separated herself from her parents. They never spoke it out loud but somewhere along the way, there was an unspoken rule that he would always be there. And it’s a promise he’s kept til this day. Despite being Penelope’s cousin and Mikki’s second cousin, he has very much positioned himself as an uncle to Mikki and a Brother to Penny. There are few things he’s proud of but being Tio Nando has always been his biggest pride.

Mainly because his life has never left him much else to be proud of. Hernando got involved in Santos work at an early age. At 12, his father took him on a trip back to Tonopah Valley and it was the first time he was truly shown all that his father was involved in. Showing that this would be his future. It’s where he met the LS members and came to learn that there were generations of people who would always be looking out for him and his family. These trips to Tonopah Valley became more routine throughout his adolescence and as soon as he graduated from high school, he flew to Nevada to officially begin his initiation into the cartel. And he was ready for it, born for it some would say. Never seeing another option, Hernando is known for his ruthlessness and relentless loyalty. He never questions, never complains, and never even winces when enacting some seriously violent acts. He doesn’t believe in unnecessary violence. You’ll rarely see him getting in a bar fight (unless he’s backing someone up) or raising his voice at someone undeserving. In fact on the outside, he comes off as a very sweet and thoughtful person.

After his father’s death though, he’s been struggling a lot, spiraling into conspiracy theories about someone taking his father out, even if the autopsy proved otherwise. He’s been unable to face his grief or anger, conflicted with a world without his father telling him what to do. Now a Capo himself, he feels his father’s absence daily and for the first time in life has struggled to see his purpose in anything. But that’s something he keeps to himself. On the outside, Hernando is just your friendly neighborhood florist. First & Vine first belonged to an aunt of his. It was used as a front then for Los Santos and still is to this day under Nando’s ownership. Though he does love the flowers. A gardener himself, he enjoys the brief escape of helping someone pick an arrangement for any occasion. He tries to be pretty knowledgeable, which is evident from the amount of plant and flower related books that line his bookshelves. Still, his life is what it is and he’s come to accept that.

He moved to Tonopah permanently two years ago but last month his mother had a bad fall so he had to spend time in New York taking care of her and ultimately deciding to move her back to Tonopah Valley to live with him so that he could take an eye on her. A month away from Tonopah has done him good, despite him still being as plugged into cartel work as he could possibly be. He’s struggling even more now with his mother’s health, though she seems to be in much better spirits now that she's back home. Hernando can only pray that it lasts.

Headcanons:

Live in his family’s home in Webster Village that has been passed through generations. Has been working on fixing it up and making it more modern.

Big on fitness both physically and mentally. Or at least he tries, he’s been much better at the physical than mental lately. Loves to run in the mornings and hit the gym at night when he can.

Loves to cook and prides himself on being able to host friends at his place. It’s definitely one of his love languages and another form of escape for him.

Tries to be smart about his money. His father stressed how important it was for them to live in Webster Village and not live flashy lives. But Hernando can’t deny himself a good pair of sneakers. Imagine getting beat up by a guy wearing crips jordans?

The dude is brutal. Can’t stress enough how much shit he had been doing for the cartel since he was 18. He is indoctrinated as much as anyone can be. No matter the hour, no matter where he is, if he gets a call, he will drop whatever he’s doing. He prides himself on being reliable and carrying on the Valdez name with honor.

Bisexual af. Probably has never had many successful relationships unless they’re involved with Los Santos and even then he probably has a hard time maintaining them. Loves a good hook up though. He has probably only been in 1-2 serious relationships but often wishes he had someone solid in how his mother was always for his dad. (though since his father’s death, he’s finding out a lot of shit about their relationship he wishes he never knew.)

Loves, loves, loves music. It’s probably his closest form of therapy. If he’s in his truck he’s blasting his music and if he’s home he’s blasting shit on the dozens of speakers he set up in his apartment.

Lowkey has a board he hides in his home office with conspiracies about his father’s death that he looks at every night. Men would literally rather have an evidence board than go to therapy.

Definitely a big sports guy. Native New Yorker is a die-hard Knicks and Yankees fan, but he loves some Las Vegas Raiders.

#about nando #intro #tv.intros

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