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ophiexb · 3 years

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Important Discoveries

There are some pretty major discoveries of some changes to the boys after Julie frees them from Calebs spell. Julie started to agree with Alex, this all should of come with some kind of handbook.

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The changes were both apparent and subtle. Julie could touch them now, the sensation of her skin on theirs was welcomed, but very strange. They weren’t alive - No one could see them, only Julie could touch them still. But they were certainly stronger, they could move things around and touch things with a little more force besides their instruments. They cuddle a lot more with Julie the three of them thoroughly just enjoying even the simplest of touch from someone alive. Her touch doesn’t feel like theirs, it’s warm- it’s more solid and the sensation is wildly different. She actually finds herself loving it a lot. The gentle touch and way they all seemed to relax in different ways as she caught them up on media and shows at night just sprawled in her bed.

That was the most obvious change from whatever it was that happened in the studio that night; that was the only change they thought had happened from Julie freeing them from Caleb. What else could have changed other than being able to touch her and the incredible fact they were free and playing again? Turns out. A lot.

“I think they're asleep…” Julie whispered into the phone slowly walking into the studio. She’d gotten home from a lacrosse game with Flynn a little late; heading straight to the studio to check on the guys before she went to bed. She hadn’t expected the sight she’d caught through the window calling the other girl right away.

“Can...can ghosts sleep?” Flynn replied back as Julie took in the sight of the three boys. They were asleep. Fast asleep. They’d made some kind of makeshift bed on the floor with various old blankets and pillows from around the studio the three of them cuddled together in this little space, Alex is curled up against Luke’s side his head slightly on his chest on one side and Reggie is taking the other side laying out on him.

“These ones are…” She smiled fondly at them for a long moment, they hadn’t slept before. She knows because they’d talked about it-a lot. They couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. So she’d managed to set something up for them at night to catch up on movies, and shows and anything else in the studio every night before she went to bed so they’d have something to do. She knew it helped keep the silence of the night from getting to them-so why suddenly did they need to sleep?

“That’s so weird you think it has to do with the other stuff?” Julie headed inside, a frown on her face as she headed upstairs to her room.

“It’s got to-I mean-suddenly needing sleep? Also I feel so bad I get their ghosts but they're just sleeping on that cement floor...but it’s not like I can ask my Dad to buy some beds for some ghosts.” She huffed already working through some ideas on what to do about that. It wasn’t like she could just put a bed in there either her Dad would find that weird…. But she couldn’t just keep having them sleep on the floor.

“I mean, maybe they like it? You said two of them used to live there right? I’m sure it’s no different.” Flynn tried to reassure her but Julie didn’t feel too reassured at the idea of them having to sleep on the floor, or them pretending they couldn’t sleep at all so she didn’t worry about them sleeping on the floor.

“Maybe…” She said softly, in a tone that spoke that maybe wasn’t at all what she wanted to say. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I've got to finish up these papers before it gets too late.” By paper-she means she’s got to figure out this solution to this issue in her head. She goes through a hundred ideas, a futon, but it’s Luke’s couch and she can’t replace that and two couches would crowd the room. Bunk beds cross her mind but that’s weird, a bunch of cots-but again. Weird and cost money she doesn’t really have and can’t ask for.

It hits her like a sack of bricks and she climbs up-the house is silent and she finds what she’s looking for in their downstairs closet with a huge smile.

An air mattress.

Is it comfortable? Not completely but it’s better than the hard floor and can easily be tucked away and put out every night. It’s got it’s own fan attached with a little switch so they wouldn’t need help getting it together, and she’s got enough sheets and comforters around that it would be a perfect bed. Sure they’d have to share it but after what she saw tonight? She’s not sure they’d really mind.

The guys are surprised, and a little embarrassed when she shows it to them the next day. “How long until you told me you had to sleep now?” She demanded her hands on her hips. “I mean really-the floor? If I knew I would have told you to sleep on the couches in the living room until we figured something out.” She gestured.

“Uh-“ Reggie says softly but the guys shush him and Julie gives them a look. “We tried but your Dad sat on Luke in the morning and it scared all of us to the point we’re too worried to do it again.” He explained and she huffed.

“Then come talk to me! This is all so new you could have told me. I would have helped you-I am helping you.” She gestured to the rolled up air mattress. “You didn’t have to sleep on the floor….is that where you slept when you guys lived out of the studio?” She wondered softly, looking mostly towards Alex and Luke.

“We had this-paper thin mattress up in the loft.” Luke said fondly, smilingly wide like he always did when talking about some of the stuff they used to do. “It was horrible and felt like it might as well be the floor but at the same time it was really awesome to have. We couldn’t find it so we assumed it was one of those things that didn’t make it through the years.”

“In all fairness it smelled horrible.” Alex said softly, smiling at her. She teaches them how to set up the new air mattress and inflate it all. How to take it down while she’s at school and they seem so excited it’s...kind of really cute. She can’t resist checking on them in the late night when she notices it goes dark and still in the studio from her window. She only peeks in case they are still awake but they aren’t. There cuddled together the same way they were the other night. Only there’s more blankets and more limbs tangled and she wishes she could take a photo of them.

She leaves, heading back to her room with the widest smile on her face.

The next change they discover catches them all for a loop. There practicing writing songs, playing a couple chords and just overall having an incredible time making music and laughing together. She loves when Alex plays a little too hard to mess Luke up-Or Reggie goes a little country. “Here I had this idea” Luke goes to flip through with a grin when it drops and he hisses. The band pretty much stops right along Julie as he pulls his hand away. His brow furrows looking at the small red line through his finger and the blood welling up.

“You can bleed?!” She worries grabbing it to look at it.

“We-We haven’t before.” Luke fumbles out with a sharp noise as he looks at it, twisting and turning it to really look at it almost horrified. It’s not like it’s a serious injury, but it’s a sign of what could potentially be one if they aren’t careful.

“It’s got to be related right?” Reggie asks softly as he looks at Luke’s hand and back up at the duo. “I mean, suddenly Julie can touch us, we have to sleep, and now we can bleed?”

“We’re going to have to be more careful.” Alex said nervously. “If we get seriously hurt-there’s no telling what could happen. It’s not like we can go to a hospital or doctor and who knows what happens when a ghost bleeds to death. I’m pretty sure it’s that permanent death thing all over again.” Alex said softly, and Julie patted his back again at the anxiety in his tone. He had a point though, If one of them got seriously hurt there would be nothing they could do.

Julie signs up for the First AID/CPR course her school offers the moment she’s able-usually a lot of the sports kids take it and a few others. But she needed to know some kind of basic first aid. She expands on that by watching way to many videos in her free time on how to treat various wounds. She manages to get a first aid kit well stocked and stored in the garage for them as well. It eases some of the worry in her chest, at least now if something happens she won’t be completely lost.

It at least makes her feel better to know she’ll be able to take care of and help the boys, that they are figuring this out slowly, and together.

None of them had any way of predicting what was going to happen next, if it was over and what little changes they managed to have or massive changes were all that was going to happen or if more were coming. It all felt like They should have expected this though, should have predicted based on everything else going on.

“I...I think I’m hungry?” Reggie said slowly, they’d been in a bit of a funk the last two days, lazing around unsure of why they were all collectively in a strange mood. “I think that’s the feeling.” He touches his stomach with a frown and Luke’s brows furrow looking at him.

“We can’t eat food-You know that.” Luke grumbled tilting his head back.

“We can’t bleed apparently either, or sleep.” Alex countered, looking over at them from where he was laying on the floor. Silence falls on the group.

“You don’t think?” It only takes one shared look for them to appear together in the Molinas kitchen. “The last time we were able to eat was Caleb's club.” Luke mumbled softly looking at the fridge.

“Do you think it’s okay? I mean...should we ask Julie?” Reggie worries as they collectively stare at the fridge.

“I’m sure they're not going to notice if something is missing, plus-We don’t even know if we can eat yet!” Alex protested watching warily as Luke opened up the fridge. He pulled out some containers of old pasta and leftovers and set them on the counter. The trio gathered around it for a long pause before Reggie finally caved.

He took a forkful, and slowly took a bite, his eyes going wide. “We can eat!” The chorus of cheers from the trio was loud as they gladly took the invitation the same way they had at the club only a few months back.

“Wait-” Alex gestured pointing at them with the fork. “We should...tell Julie. Because her Dad is going to notice if a lot of food is missing….”

“What is she going to do? Tell him to buy enough food for his kids and three ghosts?” Luke countered pouting massively when Alex shoved the food back in the fridge. “Weve got to eat! We’re getting hunger pains.” He protested.

“Then we tell her.” Alex said firmly, after the last incident and the bed-Julie wanted to know what was going on, she didn't deserve surprises like this. She wanted to know, she wanted to help. They go back to the studio, anxiously awaiting Julie to get home from school. Now that the hunger has been fed slightly, it feels impossible to ignore and by the time Julie comes home there a little on edge.

“Whats wrong with you guys? Still in that funk?” She pouts slightly putting her hands on her hips as she looks at them. “You gotta snap out of it eventually-we’ve got a lot of work to do before next week.” She waved her hand around at them and Luke shot up slightly still sitting on the couch but giving her a little more of their full attention.

“We….apparently need to eat now too.” He said slowly, processing the emotions across her face. “That’s what’s been going on. We’re...hungry.” He says it slowly, realizing they’ve been hungry for days and just had kept ignoring it. Julie stares at them for a long time.

“Oh my-Wait here.” She says firmly tossing her bag down, luckily her Dad and Carlos still aren’t home yet and she fills a bag with snacks, and various food from the fridge. Anything she can think of that might not go noticed as missing and brings it to the guys passing it out to them. “Thank you for telling me…” She says softly, it's a huge sign of trust on their end. Usually they hide things from her until it becomes a problem.

“W-What do we do now?” Reggie asked, slowly shoving a handful of chips into his mouth. “I mean your Dad’s going to notice if a bunch of food is gone.” He countered and she made a face in disgust before realizing he was right. Three teenage boys would be a noticeable amount of food. Like inexcusable amounts.

“I mean-We could just. Get our own food-We’re ghosts still people can’t see us. If we go at night to stores we can stock up.” Luke shrugged. “Not like anyone’s going to notice.”

“That’s stealing Luke.” Julie said rolling her eyes a bit at him. “You can’t just. Steal food from a store.”

“A major corporation! They waste food anyway!” Luke countered, and Julie frowned slightly crossing her arms with a sigh.

“Listen….how you all….acquire your food then is on you. I’m going to pretend I don’t see any of it deal?” It wasn’t as if they had money to buy food, and until the band was big enough for them to have money to buy food. It wasn’t going to happen. It didn’t feel right, but Luke was kind of right the stores were full of wasted food, stuff they just tossed aside. They wouldn’t notice if just a few things went missing.

So she ignored, as promised, the stacks and various food that appeared in the garage tucked away nicely. They didn’t mention it or ask again, and as long as they cleaned up after themselves she wasn’t going to push it. Though it was certainly weird. She didn’t think it could get any weirder short of them being visible to everyone around them.

They ate, they slept, they could get injured, and she could touch them. What more could possibly happen in response to just a simple hug and a wish?

She never should have even had the thought, because the world sure let her know what else could happen just a few weeks later. It was one of the lazier days they had together, the band had just played another show at a bar and they were riding that incredible energy it gave them. Reggie was jamming with Luke while he worked on the tune to another song, and Julie was finishing up some of her homework for the weekend so she could focus on music with them.

Alex had left hours ago to meet up with Willie, the other had been slowly teaching Alex how to skate, and Julie honestly loved when the two of them hung out. Alex always seemed a little more calmed and centered after their outings.

Which is why she wasn’t expecting the duo to just appear so suddenly and violently, Willie looked scared, almost frantic. His eyes were wide and he was holding Alex, the blonde was curled up laying against his chest, his hands clutching Willie's shirt so hard his fingers were white.

“Alex-” Luke was the first to shoot up, launching over the duo. “Willie what happened?” He demanded shifting the other but the moment he saw Alex’s face his whole face dropped. “No...No no Alex-” He was moving, Reggie coming over to help lay him out better still propping him up against Willie and Julie realized Alex was struggling to breath. His body arching, though every breath was a wheeze, one that only got worse and it seemed like his lips were slowly turning a darker blue. Willie was crying, and Julie realized the other two were as well but the motions they moved through seemed so practiced.

“What’s happening?! Help him.” She said frantically it seemed like they knew what was happening. Her shout seemed to jolt the duo back into action and Luke was moving first.

“Do you still have it?” He said firmly, his hands coming up to cup Alex’s face gently. “Alex, look at me. Please tell me you have it?” He begged almost and Alex’s hand moved slowly and very uncoordinated slapping almost against his chest. Against that black strap and Luke was moving unbuckling the pack and yanking it free from him. He’d dumped the contents and yanked something up before it even had a real chance to clatter against the floor. It was almost a blur of movements. “Hold him.” Was the only warning he gave Willie before he was slamming something down against the others thigh. Alex jerked and the others arms wrapped around him tightly holding him close as he arched and gave a strangled cry.

There was a beat as he slowly sank down, and Luke pulled away breathing hard himself as he stared at Alex for a long moment. The blonde drew one, rough breath before another, and another. The crackle and strain slowly leaving as he sank limply against Willie and only then did the tension slowly leave Luke and the others.

“What was that?” Julie couldn’t wait any more to ask, and watched as Luke’s hand slowly relaxed. The container looked different and it took her a moment before she realized. “An allergic reaction?” She asked and Luke nodded slowly turning to check on Alex.

“Guess we can add that to the list of changes.” Reggie said softly, but his voice was shaky. “It’s...nuts by the way. Tree nuts.” He offered helpfully as Willie rubbed up and down the others arms in a gentle soothing motion.

“I mean it makes sense-you can bleed, you can eat, sleep-nothing to say you don’t have the same conditions alongside it.” Julie said softly. “But now-“

“Another thing to be careful about.” Luke said firmly, packing up the rest of the stuff into Alex’s bag. “He’s going to need more of those-and an inhaler.” He shook up the one from Alex’s bag and shifted closer moving Alex in a familiar movement to give him a few pumps.

“Your….familiar with all this.” Julie observed softly, it was as familiar to him as playing the guitar the motions so practiced and smooth. “You seemed so practiced and quick with it all. How do you not panic?” She couldn’t help but ask, because the whole time she felt like her hands were frozen and she couldn’t move.

Luke rubs over Alex back for a moment smiling slightly at Willie before looking at Julie. “Because if I panic he dies. He’s usually really good about everything, all the labels, everything. But he can’t prevent it a hundred percent of the time. Cross contamination happens and knowing what to do helps…” He finished packing up the others bag, zipping it closed and setting it near him.

“I’m sorry I didn’t know.” Willie said softly. “We just-it was a little date idea we had...since we can eat now and he was so excited. I’d grabbed some food from some place that was supposed to be big around here.”

“It’s okay Willie-Alex probably didn’t even think it’s-it hadn’t been an issue in so long.” Reggie said quickly. “Seriously we just had no way of knowing.”

“Is he going to be okay? Julie worried, Alex hadn’t really moved with the exception of curling onto his side and going limp against Willie once he could breath.

“He’s exhausted, he always is it takes a lot out of him. He’ll be out of it for a day or two….he’ll be okay.” Luke reassured softly his voice gentle as he smiled at the way Willies hands were gentle in the Alex's hair. Giving him comfort the only way he knew how, but it worked, soothing the slight curl of his fingers and edges of tension from the other.

“Well we can’t just leave him here on the floor come on.” She gestured up to the loft where they’d relocated the air mattress and Willie smiled at her, the two of them vanishing but they could see them upstairs moving around slowly and adjusting. “Reggie go grab some water bottles from the house.” She instructed him to be quick and smiled at Luke, rubbing his shoulder a bit before giving him a gentle shove. She’d take care of her boys, always.

#willex #julie and the phantoms #luke patterson #Alex Mercer #julie molina #willie nolastname #willie jatp #reggie peters #jatp

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mskinkyafro · 6 years

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Us Against the World ( Flynn x MC)

A/N: VOS is such a great mystery so far, I'm loving this book and I'm loving the chemistry between Flynn and my MC Aaliyah Olivera. This takes place back in chapter 11 and I included most of the same dialogue and added some of my own from the arraignment scene. Plus I wanted to shed some more emphasis over the fact the D.A. publicly discussed Aaliyah's love life in front of the town and how that felt for her. Also this sat in my drive for a minute, I've been feeling insecure about my writing lately but I feel like this fic is worth publishing. Since this does take place back in chapter 11 it isn't compliant to how twelve started so it's canon divergence.

Sidenote: I briefly describe Aaliyah's appearance in this fic and the hairstyle I detail isn't an option in book. The reason I changed it is because sometimes the hairstyles offered do not flatter the darker MCs as much as I'd like so in my HC and this story and any future fics she's rocking a natural shoulder length kinky-curl fro.

Summary: After the hearing, Flynn and Aaliyah head back to his place to regroup from the day. They have a heart to heart about today's revelations and how to move forward from this minor setback.

Rating: PG-13 slight cursing

Aaliyah walks up the steps entering the Birchport's courthouse. Once inside she noticed that it was everything she'd expect for the small coastal town. As she entered the courtroom Aaliyah was taken back by how many people came to the hearing. She was faintly irked at the nerve of the townspeople. Some treating this hearing, Kate's life as some sort of entertainment.

Spotting Flynn in the row directly behind the defendant's table she made her way over. "How are you holding up?" she asked him carefully.

Aaliyah noticed the anxiousness and apprehension radiating off him.

"Considering that this place is just one bad massive flashback? You tell me…" he drifts off his eyes avoiding hers.

Sympathizing with her best friend's brother she squeezed his hand and doesn't let go as she tells him

"I'm here for you, Flynn."

His face is kept neutral but the usual spark that she's seen in his eyes the last few days are not there at that moment. It almost breaks her heart to see him so forlorn. Her thoughts were going a mile a minute that she didn't notice the look Flynn gives as his eyes look her over up and down, admiring the all-white pantsuit that fit her like a glove and accented her coffee colored skin. He opens his mouth and says

"Though...that look is a pretty decent distraction. I'm not gonna lie I think I'm a bit...afraid of you in that suit…I mean that in a good way. " A blush is evident on his face as he tries to regain his composure.

Flashing a coy smile his way she playful shoves his shoulder and says

"Only decent?"

He gives a small eye roll

"You know what I meant…" he rubs behind his neck

"You never do anything just decent and you yourself aren't either. What I meant is that you look amazing."

She places a chaste kiss to his cheek and says

"Thanks, Flynn. Let's hope it has the same effect on the prosecutor."

Then she drops her voice in a sultry tone so that only he could hear her

"And there's nothing you should be afraid about. I only bite when you ask me too." Aaliyah tosses a wink in for good measure.

Flynn grins and shakes his head. He then tells her what he found out when he went to talk with Tony Roz. After explaining they've hit another dead end when the doors behind them opened and who entered was Grant with Kate by his side who held her head down. Aaliyah tried to give her a small, comforting wave but Kate seemed to not notice. She appeared to look distant and haunted. Frowning she murmured to Flynn

"God. We were supposed to watch her walk down the aisle to be married, not arraigned."

"I still can't believe this is happening." Flynn said back.

The chamber doors open, and the judge and bailiff walk in.

"All rise for the honorable Judge Samantha A.Winters" the bailiff announced loudly to the courtroom.”

Everyone rose from their seats and he bailiff continued

"This is a hearing to determine the bail for Kate O'Malley in the alleged murder of Tanner Sterling."

Judge Winters sits down and brings down her gavel and says

"You all may be seated. Mr. Emerson? Proceed when ready."

Spectators sit and Grant rises looking confident and in his element and he begins his opening statement as to why Kate is innocent. As he continues on Aaliyah leans into Flynn to whisper

"Do you know the prosecutor?"

His body tenses in annoyance as he answers her question

"That's Mac Hornby. Birchport's D.A. Let's just say he's a frequent guest at Sterling's garden parties."

As he finishes talking Grant is walking back to sit next to Kate at the defense table when the Judge then turns to the district attorney.

"Mr. Hornby, your opening remarks, please."

"With pleasure, Your Honor" he replies with a million dollar smile.

He then launches into his opening and at every corner attempts to discredit Kate and paint her as a murderer. Sitting next to Flynn, Aaliyah can feel and see him physically tense up as the D.A. spread lies about his sister, from the way his hands balled up into fists to the way his nostrils flared. So she reached to squeeze his hand once more and give him a reassuring look to keep him from exploding in rage. She says gently

"Easy. Easy."

Hornby continues on with his opening. Disapproving of his message Aaliyah whispers again "He's really sticking with Walsh's narrative."

Vindictively Flynn responds "You mean Pierce's narrative."

After ending with closing remarks Grant calls Aaliyah to the stand as a character witness. She stands from her seat and before she makes her way Flynn squeezes her hand in support in which she gives him a small smile in return. She was sworn in and Grant asks her a few questions to shed light on the true nature of Kate. She answers them with ease. Soon she's answering questions from the D.A. and inside she can feel her irritation and loathe of the man build. His next question catches her off guard

"...And yet, your own character is pretty questionable isn't it?"

Quirking her eyebrow but maintaining a neutral professional face Aaliyah responds

"That's up for interpretation. I'm a reporter from New York. I take it that most close-knit communities are wary of visitors. But I believe that most can testify that my character is an open and shut case, just like this ridiculous accusation."

Hornby takes a step closer to the stand and chuckles and moves so he faces the audience.

"My, my, my Ms.Olivera. You're a fiery one, aren't you? You have a sharp tongue and quite the mouth. I'm assuming that's what attracted the defendant's brother in engaging in a romantic and sexual relationship with you?

Stunned and angry at his remark Aaliyah was a taken back but managed to reply coolly.

"Excuse me?"

The D.A. then turns back to Aaliyah, his eyes fierce.

"Isn't true that you have become romantically and sexually involved with Kate's own brother, Flynn O'Malley?"

At this point, Aaliyah is furious with the line of questioning and it takes all her energy not to lash out.

"What…? How would you even…? How does that question pertain to Kate?!" She says, her voice raises slightly near the end.

Not holding back Hornby pushes "Answer the question! Yes or no?"

Feeling challenged Aaliyah was about to answer when Grant interrupted

"Objection! Relevance?”

The D.A. then exclaims "The relevance is her bias! Aaliyah Olivera is so tangled up in the O'Malleys at this point, that she's practically one of them!"

Grant chimes in again more aggressively

"He's badgering the witness! Objection!"

Then Judge Winters voice rings clear throughout the room. "Sustained! I will not let my courtroom become a circus."

She then eyes Mr. Hornby . "Consider this your last warning, Mac."

"Understood. No further questions. "

He steps back and is heading towards his seat but the damage was already done. The crowd is buzzing at the latest revelation regarding the visiting journalist. The bailiff motions for Aaliyah that she can leave but she then speaks

"I have something to say before I step down, may I your honor?"

The judge nods

"I'll allow it."

Aaliyah's voice rings loud and clear throughout the room.

"I may not have grown up with Kate O'Malley here in Birchport but since I've met her it feels like I've known her my whole life. I know that Kate would never, ever hurt anyone no matter if they've wronged her. She's the victim and I refuse to let anyone construe it otherwise."

Her eyes look to the D.A. after she says the last sentence before continuing her speech.

“I'm going to fight to prove that my best friend is innocent no matter how high the stakes grow. I can't be bribed, intimidated or manipulated to leave things be or to go away. I will uncover the secrets and blatant corruption that is poisoning Birchport one way or another." Aaliyah's gaze lands on Chief Walsh and the Sterlings as she finishes.

She then steps down and makes her way back to her seat with her cheeks burning for the fact her love life was blasted out unexpectedly and that everyone's eyes followed her, judging. She sits down next to Flynn who is ready to blow his gasket.

"That...that was…"Sighing she finishes his sentence

"A disaster, I know but losing our cool will only make it worse."

The hearing continues on with a distinct pattern of people detailing Kate's true nature and the prosecution twisting it around. Finally, it comes to an end and Judge Winters weighs in her thoughts. She reluctantly denies bail for Kate and bangs her gavel down.

"This hearing is adjourned."

Aaliyah and Flynn can barely make out Kate's small cries of protest

"But...But I…"

The bailiff grabs her to put her back into her cell, silent tears roll down her face as she's taken away.

"No...Kate…"

Aaliyah sinks onto the bench frustrated that everyone is believing the lies that are fed to them. Not standing being in the room much longer Aaliyah stalks out in anger. She briefly makes eye contact with the Sterlings who give her icy glares. She turns her head quickly and makes her way out the courthouse.

She stands to the side, breathing in and out slowly to calm herself. Especially since the citizens that pass her keep giving her side glances or snidely whispering while looking her way.

"Aaliyah!" She turns and sees both Grant and Flynn coming her way.

"I can't stay long. I'm going to start prepping for the trial but I wanted to say sorry that I didn't prepare you for Mac's question regarding your…" he says looking between Flynn and Aaliyah, his voice is professional but Aaliyah can see a flash of disappointment in his eyes as he realizes that she isn't available and he's not her first choice.

"...personal life. If I'd known that-" she cuts him off.

"It's okay Grant. It's not your fault."

He checks the time on his watch briefly then glances back at the two.

"I gotta run, but take it, easy guys."

He pats Aaliyah on the shoulder and clasps hands with Flynn before walking away. Flynn then turns to Aaliyah his eyes filled with concern.

"Hey, you alright?"

She sighs while running her hand through her kinky curly fro.

"No. Not really. I really need a stiff drink and to get the hell away from other people as I can."

Her other hand motions to a pair of older women who can be seen staring at the two.

"Well, how about hard liquor and a sailing around the local coastline sound? I usually take my place out for a spin when I need to clear my head."

She smiles slightly that Flynn is trying to cheer her up.

"That sounds perfect, actually." They walk to his bike where he hands her the second helmet and they ride to the Marina.

Once there he helps her onto his home and head inside. Making their way into his living room he tells Aaliyah "You grab the alcohol and I'll get us sailing."

She nods and he leaves out of her sight. She rummages through the cabinet and finds two glass and she grabs his bottle of whiskey. She can feel the boat slowly moving as she walks to the roof. She walks to stand by him as they watch the sunset and pours them both a glass. Handing him his their eyes lock and he silently thanks her before turning back to the sky. They take a swig of the alcohol at the same time. Aaliyah wasn't a usual whiskey fan but was appreciative of the warm burning sensation it provides at the moment.

A comfortable silence passes between the two for a few minutes before Flynn speaks. "Look, today in court was terrible. Not just because of Kate but…"

He pauses and gulps down the rest of drink before continuing "What that bastard did to you was terrible. Using our…damn it!"

"I've never been so humiliated and embarrassed before. Not because I'm ashamed to be with you Flynn, but for the fact that he had the audacity to broadcast something so personal. Who I decide to spend my time with is no one else's business, and I'm pissed that he caught me off guard like that."

"I wanted to beat that smug smile off that asshole's face."

He clenches his glass in his hands as his facial expression grows dreary. "I've told you before I'd do anything for you. But at this rate, I'm worried, Aaliyah."

Aaliyah reaches over and places her hand softly on his face to make him look her in the eyes and asks softly

"What are you trying to say?"

His eyes are sad.

"What I'm saying is, I want you to be safe and comfortable. I'm not sure what exactly we are..." She cuts him off and tries to lighten the mood by saying.

"I thought we were a dynamic private investigators duo with not by the book tendencies."

Flynn gives her a small smile but his grim expression returns

"True. But I believe it's much more than that. We don't have to label it just yet but I care about you a lot.”

"I care about you too Flynn."

He sighs.

"This is why I'm saying if you wanted to stay away from the Birchport after today...or me, I'd understand if you left especially after your talk with Walsh, Kate's hearing, and the way the townspeople looked at you afterward."

He breaks eye contact and gazes out at the rolling sea.

“I couldn't protect my baby sister like a good big brother should. She's in the place that to this day gives me nightmares. I've tried so hard these past few days to save and defend her but after today looks like its all for nothing. I've failed her."

Flynn looks down and brushes Aaliyah's hand from his face.

"I'd hate to see you go but I'd hate it even more and myself if something happened to you. I couldn't live with myself if I failed you like I've failed Kate."

She stays quiet for a moment and then she lifts his head, delicately placing her hands on his cheeks to lock her eyes with his and places a soft but passionate kiss on his lips. She breaks away and says.

"Flynn, you're one of the reasons why Kate is alive. You never stopped questioning and searching since the moment she disappeared. You're relentlessness and love for your sister is one of the reasons she's here with us. Even though seeing her cuffs is hard, I rather it be that than us finding her too late. You did not fail her, understand?

He tried to interrupt but she kept going.

"No. I'm not going to hear otherwise. And if you think I'm going to run when things start to heat up you're wrong, mister. I promised that I was going to get to the bottom of this all for Kate. Nothing and no one is going to stop me."

She removes her hands from his face to grasp his hands into hers, gently rubbing her thumb across his calloused hands.

"Plus if I did go, I couldn't imagine not seeing you," she says sheepishly.

Closing her eyes momentarily before opening them again and shaking her head quickly she speaks more firmly, her eyes are determined.

"I don't care if all of Birchport disapproves that I'm heavily involved and sleeping with the "resident bad boy" Flynn O'Malley. All that matters is that I like you a lot and I'm not letting snide remarks or stares keep me from spending time with my partner in crime."

At that moment she turned her head to gaze at the swirls of pink and purple in the sky that she didn't see him move closer to her and places a smoldering, smooth kiss on her plump lips. Any self doubt and worry melted away from him and her heart rate escalated. After a few minutes, he breathes heavily as he barely removes his lips from hers and murmurs softly

"Kate's lucky to have you as a best friend. You're unlike any girl or any person for that matter, that I know. I'm glad that I met you and have you by my side."

Aaliyah smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist "It's up to us to solve this. You and me against the world, you think we stand the chance?"

He smirks at her and pulls her even closer into his warm embrace, she inhales his scent of whiskey and old spice. "I like those odds. As long as you're always in my corner."

"Without a doubt Flynn."

She lays her head on his chest and relaxes for the first time that day. Together they watch the sunset, hoping for a better tomorrow.

#choices the stories you play #choices fanfiction #veil of secrets #flynn o'malley #flynn x mc #choices vos

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codynaomiswireart · 6 years

Text

A Neighbor in Need

A little drabble I had written a while back in response to this post by @sarahhollier, where it was observed that in the episode “Fitzherbert, P.I.”, when Eugene takes on a job as a cabby, he accidentally drops off an old lady in front of Varian’s house of all places. Just wanted to jot down a quick drabble of what it may have been like if had Varian noticed the old lady’s plight and decided to help her out. Enjoy!

Varian was just adding the last parts of distilled vinegar to his latest concoction when he heard the sound of a carriage drawing up quickly outside his house. “Huh…” Varian wondered aloud, having not expected any visitors to the manor that day. “I wonder who that could be.”

Being so far away from Corona’s capital it was, of course, not every day that Varian and Quirin had visitors drawing up in horse-drawn carriages to their door. And with Quirin having left hours ago to tend to the fields with the other farmers in the village, it was clear that he had not been expecting anyone to come calling that day either.

“I wonder if it’s an emergency!” Varian thought to himself, quickly going to the window to have a look, half expecting to see members of the royal guard and perhaps a currier coming up the front pathway. Instead, Varian got to the window just in time to see Flynn Rider of all people hurrying a carriage away in a cloud of dust, and a slightly-dazed old lady Varian did not recognize looking about her in confusion as Flynn drove away.

Varian blinked a few times. This was certainly an unexpected way to start the day.

“But, this isn’t my house!” Varian heard the old lady shout after Flynn. But Flynn was far out of earshot now, and Varian watched as the old lady continued to look about her, obviously not sure what to do now. Varian had no idea what was going on, but he knew he couldn’t just leave the lady in front of his house like that.

“Better see what’s up,” Varian thought as he headed for the front door. Peeking his head out, Varian called to her from across the way.

“Hey! Um, excuse me miss! But I couldn’t help notice you-”

“Oh! Oh my!” the lady cried out as she turned towards Varian’s voice, looking very startled as her eyes caught sight of him. Again, Varian blinked a couple times in confusion. Was everyone behaving oddly today?

“Oh!” Varian suddenly exclaimed in realization, pulling back the welding mask he had been wearing for protection as he had been working. “Oh, no no! It’s ok! Sorry about that ma’am. I…just forgot I was wearing this thing.”

“Oh, th-that’s quite all right,” the lady replied, somewhat breathless from the quick scare. “I say. Do you know where I am young man?”

“In Old Corona,” Varian replied as he set his mask on the stonework by the front door, Ruddiger trotting up behind him at his heels as he approached the confused old lady.

“Oh dear, oh dear,” the lady muttered to herself. “That fool of a cab driver! I told him I needed to get to my cottage at the foot of Mount Saison, not to the castle in Old Corona!”

“Well,” Varian attempted to offer helpfully, not very much liking how the old lady was talking about his revered hero. “Maybe he just misheard you or something?”

The old lady sighed. “Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps. Oh, now what to do though, what to do? Oh! Say, young man! Would you happen to know anyone else with a carriage or a horse who could bring me to my cottage?”

“Well…” Varian began, holding a gloved hand up to his chin in thought.

“Several of the families here own wagons for moving hay and produce and things, but the only real carriage we have is under lock and key in the neighbor’s shed. And most everyone’s out in the fields right now, so…”

“Oh, I see,” the old lady replied, her tone disappointed, but also with an undertone of patience. “Well, thank you anyway young man. Hmm…” she then hummed in a concerned way, looking about her again and up at the sky. “Well, there’s no way I’ll get there before nightfall on these old legs of mine. Would there happen to be a place I could stay the night do you think? I would have to pay for any hospitality later I’m afraid, but if anyone would be willing to let me rent a space for the night, I would be ever so grateful.”

Varian paused to think. Of course there was many a neighbor in Old Corona who would be willing to help this poor woman out (and even if there weren’t, Quirin as the village leader would gladly provide a place for her to stay the night in the castle), but it just didn’t seem fair to Varian that this sweet old lady couldn’t get to her cottage just because Flynn dropped her off at the wrong place, and then none of those who knew how to drive a cart or ride a horse were available to help. Surely there must be something that Varian could do to help! Varian wasn’t much for riding horses (plus most of them were with the farmers in the fields doing their share of the work anyway), but perhaps he could think of something else…

“Ah!” Varian gasped with a snap of his fingers. “I have an idea! You may be able to get to your cottage today after all ma’am!”

“Oh really!?” the lady exclaimed. “Oh, that would be just wonderful! But, uh, how?”

“Just give me a sec! I’ll be right back!” Varian said over his shoulder as he ran to the castle’s shed. Flinging the door open, Varian scanned around the myriad of boxes and shelves and lumpy sheet-covered shapes that lined the walls. Catching sight of the one he was looking for, Varian pulled the tarp off of the fairly sizeable shape, revealing one of his latest inventions underneath.

“Maybe this will do, huh boy?” Varian asked Ruddiger, who cocked his head to the side in confusion as he looked at the invention. It looked almost like a miniaturized carriage, but instead of having a horse or a pony hooked up to it for the motor power, there was instead some sort of spindly thing on more wheels, with a seat and pedals. Ruddiger couldn’t make either heads or tails out of it, but he figured all those wheels and gears were a good sign that it would do the job, so he gave a small coo of approval.

“Yeah, I think so too!” Varian replied enthusiastically as he grabbed the handlebars and walked the contraption to the door.

“Oh my!” Varian heard the old lady exclaim once again as he carefully guided his contraption down the small steps leading up to the shed. Luckily, Varian had designed this particular invention to have a very light but sturdy frame, so he was able to get it down on his own without much hassle.

“What is that!?” the old lady asked in astonishment.

“This is…!” Varian began with a classic showman’s tone…and then stopped, and ended up saying rather sheepishly. “…Heh, Actually, you know, I-I haven’t come up with a name for this thing just yet. But I did get the idea from looking at diagrams of rickshaws from East Asia, and then adding a pedal-powered motor device at the front.”

“You made this!?” the lady asked, clearly flabbergasted.

“Oh yeah,” Varian replied nonchalantly. “Just something I whipped up a few weeks ago while I was studying Newton’s laws of motion.”

“What a minute…” the lady said, looking thoughtful for a moment before exclaiming, “Oh, of course! Old Corona! The castle! Miraculous inventions! You must be that wizard boy I’ve heard about! Quirin’s son Varian, yes?”

Varian cleared his throat at this, trying to hide his annoyance at being mistaken for a wizard yet again. “Ahem, uh, y-yes, yes I’m Varian. But, uh, I’m an alchemist, not a wizard.”

“Oh…” the old lady replied, still looking confused.

“Easy mistake I know,” Varian continued. “But technically it’s not magic. It’s science.”

“Oh,” the old lady repeated thoughtfully, then asked, “…Is there much of a difference?”

“Uh, YES!” Varian answered, quickly catching his almost rude tone spurred on by his passion for the subject of science. “Ahem, I mean, yes, yes there is definitely a difference ma’am. You see, science deals with hard evidence and laws about how the world works, while magic is some sort of capricious, undefined force that people make up in fairytales. Not at all scientific.”

“Huh…” The old lady paused again thoughtfully. “I suppose that makes sense…Though…”

“Though what?” Varian asked.

“Though in all the fairytales I’ve heard – and believe me young man, I have heard many a fairytale in my day – it seems like magic does have rules it has to follow. At least, that’s what the legendary Lord Demanitus was said to have told people. That’s what my own great-grandfather told me anyway. And then there’s the dear princess and her magical hair! Why, everyone in the kingdom knows that it magically grew back overnight, and-”

“And,” Varian interrupted, feeling more and more uncomfortable with the conversation getting more and more steeped in magic, and skating quite close towards something Cassandra had made him promise to not speak to anyone else about. “And I’m sure there’s a perfectly logical, scientific explanation as to why. Anyway, um, sh-should we look to being on our way then?”

“Oh, yes of course,” the old lady said, seamlessly moving on to the change of subject as Varian helped her into the small carriage. “I’m so sorry to have taken up your time like this young man.”

“No problem,” Varian said over his shoulder as he mounted the wheeled contraption at the front, Ruddiger quickly leaping in to sit next to the lady as Varian began to pull away. “Oh, is it all right if he comes with us?” Varian asked, motioning to Ruddiger.

“Oh yes, I don’t mind,” the old lady said, patting Ruddiger’s head and scratching his ears as he set his head onto her lap with a quiet trill.

“Ok, well, here we go then,” Varian signaled as he began pedaling down the pathway out of Old Corona, taking care to not go too fast as he navigated between the ruts left in the road from the larger carts.

“Amazing…” Varian could hear the lady say under her breath from her seat behind him in the carriage, watching the scenery go by as they headed into the forest. “Just like magic!”

Varian rolled his eyes at that remark…but also couldn’t help but feel a warm glow of pride as well at having his invention praised so. “It’s about time…” he thought to himself rather somberly.

For the next half hour, Varian and the old lady steadily made their travels to the patch of forest where her cottage was located, and on the way talked about more everyday things (thankfully nothing having to do with magic), and Ruddiger ended up having a nice long nap on the way. Eventually, Varian pulled up to the cottage that the lady had identified as hers, and as Varian helped her back down from the carriage, Ruddiger giving a small purr of delight as the lady gave him a quick scratch under the chin in farewell.

“Good-bye Ruddiger!” the lady cooed at him, then turned to Varian. “And thank you Varian! You really are a fine young man! Here, allow me to pay you for-”

“Oh, it was no big deal,” Varian replied bashfully, waving his hand in dismissal at the idea of receiving any payment. “I’m just glad I was able to help you out Miss…” Varian suddenly realized he had never asked for the old lady’s name, but she complied to answer his unspoken query.

“Ethel,” she replied. “Ethel Schmitz.”

“Well, it was nice to have met you Ms. Schmitz,” Varian said, shaking Ethel’s hand.

“And you too Varian,” Ethel replied. And then added, “Your father must be so proud of you.”

It took all of Varian’s efforts to not let his countenance fall at these words. Instead he managed to respond with a stuttering, “Uh, y-yeah, um, thank you,” and turned back to get onto his contraption and head home before more could be said on the matter.

“You take care now dear!” Varian heard Ms. Schmitz call to him from her cottage door. “Thank you! You, too!” Varian called back with a wave over his shoulder, hearing the door to the cottage shut behind him as Ruddiger settled back down onto the cushion of the carriage, ready to enjoy another ride on the way back home as Varian pedaled his way underneath the emerald canopy of trees.

“Yeah, someday…” Varian muttered to himself out loud as he went, his thoughts not helping but turning to what Ethel had just said to him. “Someday dad, I will make you proud…”

#tts #tangled the series #fan fiction #varian #ruddiger #fitzherbert p.i.

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twilight-deviant · 7 years

Note

I'm curious. What are the reasons Wyatt might not be good for Lucy?

You’re trying to get me in trouble, anon. lol. I’ve just been mumbling under my breath about it. I guess I shouldn’t be afraid to speak though, even if it is against the (for some reason) most popular ship. Um, I can’t tell from your tone if you ship it, or if you hate it, or if you’re neutral, so if I offend your ship, I apologize. I’m just calling it like I see it.

Can I make this a general post about Wyatt? Since the tag you’re referencing was mainly about my outlook on Wyatt. But I’ll tie Wyatt/Lucy back into it.

Under a cut because it’s really long and also so anyone not wanting to hear a more critical reflection of Wyatt’s character can abstain.

I should probably preface everything which follows by saying I don’t hate Wyatt. True, of the four main characters, he is my least favorite and the least interesting, but that’s neither here nor there. I think he’s an all right character (nothing groundbreaking) and that he is decently three-dimensional. But the reasons I find him to be a departure from the standard, cookie cutter hero character are, apparently, quite different than what everyone else cites.

So… despite what the fandom almost unanimously believes, Wyatt is not a precious cinnamon roll. He is not a good person. I’m not saying he doesn’t want to be one. And he definitely thinks he is. But he is also kind of a jerk. Which is fine. I like my characters with some depth. I just get a little frustrated by people ignoring his faults or sweeping them under the rug. And I definitely don’t get why everyone thinks him having a relationship with Lucy would be the most healthy and well functioning thing. (Look, I ship Flynn/Lucy, but I’m also calling a rose a rose. It is what it is.)

I leave my own preconceived hangups at the door. Ever since I first watched the trailer, I was already rolling my eyes at the inevitability of the show trying to force them together, like every. single. other. show. on. television. It’s boring, if I’m being honest, predictable. But then I watched the Pilot and was intrigued when they called themselves brother and sister. Actually, I was downright giddy. I couldn’t stop going on about it. I thought hey… maybe they’re actually going for a different dynamic, something unique. Then they did it again in the second episode, a third time in Stranded, and I became really excited at the idea that they would develop a sibling relationship instead. How cute is it for Wyatt to be younger than her and yet end up acting like a big brother? Plus, it’s a lot easier to overlook Wyatt’s faults when the relationship between them isn’t romantic. So, digression aside, I’ll answer your question now.

I’ll start off small and build up, kay?

Wyatt is not over his wife. He’s not. He’s still obsessed with her. He regularly prints out pictures of her and stares at them, tapes them to his wall with the newspaper articles. He sits at a bar looking at her picture and drinking. And his obsession isn’t going away any time soon. He isn’t going to wake up one day in the near future and move on. It’s already been four years, and he is still feeling it. And he’s not done yet. Lucy’s journal claims that Wyatt is still obsessed with Jessica. We don’t yet know exactly when Lucy writes the journal, but Flynn does say that it’s, “A few years from now.” So a few years from now, Wyatt is still obsessed with Jessica and her death. We can’t honestly expect him to be all in with Lucy until he’s over Jessica. That’s not fair.

Inappropriate/Inconsiderate. He’s a guy. Fair enough, right? Excuse it if you want, but what he does in the Pilot is still a jerk move. Wyatt and Lucy are locked in a cell together. They’re standing, they’re pacing around, he’s staring at her breasts. It makes Lucy visibly uncomfortable. She scoffs and turns away from him. Oh, but it was all tactical, right? He had to stare at her chest before his eureka moment hit. Sure. Whatever. Okay, but then (and there’s no excuse for this) he watches as she takes off her shirt and bra! That’s downright sleazy. And the fandom romanticizes this instance? How would you feel if this guy you JUST MET was leering at you and, oh yeah, you’re locked in a room with him? There’s a certain expectation of consideration where you don’t make people feel uneasy. Let’s just say “gentleman” isn’t a word I’m throwing around with Wyatt Logan, aight?

Unstable. There was that part in the beginning of The Alamo where Wyatt is being reassigned. And I have to admit, I was surprised. He handled it with integrity, maturity, and respect towards his superiors. Fiction is so full of loose canons, I’d never seen that before. I was impressed. But boy, he got me good. Because just wait until the adults are away. He immediately descends into an erratic mindset. He begins experiencing flashbacks that are one step away from full-blown hallucinations. He is tortured by survivor’s guilt to the point that it affects his decision making skills. He already had enough of that going on because of his wife. In the Pilot, he’s so distracted by saving Kate the first time that he lets Flynn get away. And then a second time. And then a third time. I have to wonder how Wyatt has the psychiatric green light to be approved for combat, much less such a vital mission whose outcome literally affects the fate of the entire world. The episode posed the question if Wyatt is the right man for the job, and somehow the answer was… yes? Come on. This would never happen in real life. Wyatt’s instability is a liability. Let’s be honest with ourselves, he’s about as unstable as Flynn.

Oh, speaking of…

He’s as bad as Flynn. Not “as” bad, but committing a lot of the same transgressions. You know the body count between them is about the same, right? Granted, several of the people Wyatt has killed are Flynn’s men, self-defense shots with a low impact on the timeline. But others?

That’s sort of… what Flynn does. All the time. And why he does it.

And the justification here, why we shouldn’t care, is because the guy was a Nazi? Look, he wasn’t a member of the top brass. He was just a soldier guarding some random spot in the woods. He’s not making a lot of decisions about the war. Was most likely drafted. He was just a guy doing as he was told, and he got shot in the back. And any descendants he might have had disappeared. They certainly weren’t Nazis. He was just some grunt. I seem to recall Wyatt’s outlook on the life of a soldier as, “I don’t get trained in why. Just who, what, where, and when.” It’s a bit… heartless. It shows a lack of empathy. That’s all I’m saying. (No, I’m not a Nazi sympathizer. But I do consider the individual within the cause.)

Wyatt actually killed at least six people in that episode. But there’s really no telling how many more were casualties of the rocket he and Rufus set off. Most likely (and at least) there were the four who were next to it when it exploded. Which would bring Wyatt’s contributive body count in that one episode up to ten. But given the massive fire the rocket ignites, there were probably more. (And we can’t even calculate how many of their descendants were wiped.) Honestly, if I did a legitimate tally, he has undoubtedly killed MORE people than Flynn.

He also killed Lieutenant Louis Coulon’s son, which can’t have not had an impact somewhere. And he was a good guy who wanted to feed them. Poor fella.

Wyatt has killed other people in the past. Like Rittenhouse’s men, but those were in self-defense so we have to let it go. Even though an unscheduled death going back 236 years definitely affected a lot in the timeline. That’s dozens of people who weren’t born, though it could easily be a hundred or more.

Wyatt has NO concerns with preserving the timeline, which is Lucy’s primary mission. And it’s very disrespectful how he OFTEN changes events on a whim, ignoring Lucy’s advice (and sometimes her pleas) to be more careful, leave less of a footprint. In response, Wyatt tells Lucy that history is her job and expects her to be his damage control as he runs about doing as he wishes in his mission and changes almost as many things incidentally as Flynn does intentionally. Lucy is so passionate about history and maintaining it and… Wyatt doesn’t really care a lot of the time.

Wyatt is manipulative. To be fair, this is mostly something seen with Flynn. He does it three times in the Watergate Tape episode. He toys with Flynn a bit, makes him think that he’s really willing to listen him. Flynn expresses that he wishes Wyatt would believe him, and Wyatt decides to run with it, use it. I’d let this go because, hey, Flynn was threatening to kill him and that’s just survival. I actually like the idea that Wyatt was consciously trying to trigger Lima syndrome. It’s devious, and I like it. But there’s one instance that sits unwell with me. There’s the really great scene (Goran is such an amazing actor) where Flynn finally fills in the blanks and says what happened regarding his family’s deaths. It’s extremely raw and emotional, obviously a sore spot, to put it lightly. And after Flynn has basically overshared his soul, Wyatt says, “Look. If any of this were true, you have a time machine. Why don’t you just go back and save your family?” It actually took me a few viewings to realize how, well, insidious the suggestion really is. Wyatt KNOWS you can’t go back to a time you already exist. And yet he’s hoping Flynn doesn’t? So he took the heartbreaking story that was shared with him and he then tried to twist and exploit Flynn’s desperation and love for his family until he could convince the man to go back to the night it happened and, in the process, destroy himself. Wyatt tried to weaponize Flynn’s mourning. It’s just very… unsettling. It’s very cold.

And then a lesser instance with Lucy, though his motivations are conjecture. But I gotta be honest that, once again, it just doesn’t sit well with me for some reason. The scene in The Capture of Benedict Arnold where they find out Rittenhouse is one man and the team is trying to decide how they’ll proceed. Lucy isn’t on board, and Wyatt sort of says everything he can to bring her around, up to and including the illogical proposal that it might even bring Amy back. He wants something, and Lucy’s standing in the way of a united front. Keep in mind, Wyatt’s already on board. Flynn bought his cooperation from the beginning. So every point he makes here is for the sole purpose of convincing Lucy. He mentions all the people who will suffer if they don’t do it, and yeah, it’s a great cause but it’s not his cause. It’s not his motive for why he’s doing it. He wants Jessica’s killer. The plight of hundreds is his tactic for convincing Lucy. And the way he finishes it by saying, “What you really believe in is helping people,” it sort of feels like emotional blackmail. He presents the argument in such a way that Lucy can’t ignore that her disagreement and inaction will cause the deaths of all those people. He’s pressuring her to agree with them. Like I said, his motives there are debatable, but I don’t like it.

Temper. Wyatt is a great guy. So long as everything is going his way and everyone is doing what he says. Source? Just… any scene with him and Judith Campbell, honestly. He immediately flips a switch with her, and it’s somewhat frightening to know how quickly he can turn on a person. He has a temper lying in wait, and it can be unlocked with very minor provocation. It’s an overall bad episode for Wyatt with an unfortunate peek at the darker side he definitely has. He tries ordering Lucy and Rufus around the entire episode, snaps at them when they disobey or lose focus. Lucy even tells him he doesn’t give the orders, not that he gives it much mind. He tells her to take it up with Agent Christopher, which she obviously can’t do in the past. Wyatt knows and takes advantage of the fact that when they are isolated the past, he becomes the default power of authority. He doesn’t use it often, but it is a trump card. Lucy and Rufus cannot stop him physically. He’s a well trained soldier, and they’re nerds. Wyatt is aware.

And, ya know, just adding, he goes on to use Judith as bait, something he knows could be dangerous given his nonanswer when she asks if he would do the same with a woman he loved. Lucy told him Judith is important, and he still used her, risked her.

His temper ties in with this next point.

Everything! In! This! Scene!

youtube

Good lord. Red flags popping up like daisies. Can we extract the facts from this scene? Maybe if we’re not watching two people act, the story will shine through and hit a little better, a little clearer.

Wyatt and Jessica go out to a bar.

Jessica runs into an old boyfriend of hers.

Wyatt becomes immensely jealous. Even though he and Jessica are married. (Now, I don’t know the girl. Yet. But unless he has proven and established reasons to worry about her being disloyal, this is very insulting.) Wyatt is an over the top jealous, possessive person.

Let’s add distrustful.

Wyatt’s jealousy leads to him drinking too much.

I’d like to mention the obvious here in that after drinking “too much,” he then drives them home. So… drunk driving added to the list of offenses.

They leave the bar, and, once they are alone, the fight begins.

The shouting becomes so unbearable that Jessica would rather get out of the car than stay in it with him.

Instead of letting it go, at least until they get home, he actually, legitimately stops the car.

He lets her out on the side of a highway. It wasn’t a city block or a rural street. Only highways have mile markers. Have you seen a highway? It’s typically a long stretch of road that might not have anything on it for miles. That’s why they have mile markers. He let her out there.

Because of this, Jessica is (predictably?) killed.

This isn’t a tragic backstory. Flynn has a tragic backstory. He was just a man doing his job and they killed his family. What Wyatt has is the consequence of his actions. The one redeeming aspect of the whole ordeal is that he does at least blame himself for it. I mean, he should. So at least he does.

I dread the day when (not if) they inevitably show us the flashback of that night and end up retconning so much of how the scene is represented. Because Wyatt is a fan favorite now, so they’re going to make every decision he made that night look like a natural course of events that could happen to anyone. You know they’ll do it.

Jealous. Related note to the above point, people think it’s cute every time Wyatt “gets jealous” when other men pay Lucy attention or flirt with her. Noooooooo. Once again, red flag. We’ve heard what happens when he gets jealous. WHY is this cute?

Did I ramble? Definitely. Is anyone going to read all of that? Definitely not. Sorry I couldn’t keep it brief, Anon. I’m a very contemplative individual who thinks too much about fiction. It’s dangerous to ask me a question. lol. No matter how simple it may sound when asked.

I think what we’re supposed to do with Wyatt’s character (which so few do– no one?) is acknowledge that he is a protagonist who is not 100% good. He is the mirror image of Flynn, an antagonist who is not 100% bad. They have so much in common, I truly believe we’re supposed to draw parallels between them.

So for lots of reasons, I don’t think Wyatt is good for Lucy. Really, unless he changes himself drastically, I don’t think he’s good for anyone. His wife is literally dead because of his jealousy and his temper. And Wyatt just… can’t really handle it when people disagree with him, not when he’s too invested in his own idea. Lucy is too strong willed for something to actually last for very long between them. I hope it never starts. But I rarely get what I want in these matters so…

Once again, I don’t hate Wyatt. He’s still an okay guy. I didn’t list his positive attributes because it wasn’t relative to the question. And there are enough posts about that. But yeah, one day, the glass just sort of shattered and I noticed all of his bad traits that had been building up under our noses the entire time. They add up. He’s just a flawed, unstable hothead. But at least he’s three-dimensional.

#To tag... or not to tag... To tag... or...#NBC Timeless #Timeless #Wyatt Logan #Lucy Preston #What the hey #This has been a Wyatt Logan PSA #No one's going to read all of that anyway. lol #You're welcome to disagree and argue with me #I don't like to argue but you can if you want #but I really only have one instance of opinion instead of fact #which I said was opinion #So I don't know what you'd be arguing but...#Look just admit Wyatt isn't a completely good person #He still has good traits. I'm not denying those!#But yeah a lot of bad ones #They make him human #Acknowledge his many flaws #That's really all I'm asking for #I mean dang MY favorite character is Flynn #Do you want me to list his flaws?#Alphabetically- chronologically- or by severity?#I make no excuses #I can love him as he is #That piece of trash #I can't believe someone lit my fuse #I was going to mumble to myself Anon!#Hahahahaha #I'm sorry I took like three days to answer this #I wasn't ignoring you. It's just long. Haha

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twilight-deviant · 7 years

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How do you think the writers will handle Flynn in Season 2? From what I've read it seems like they plan to use his arrest to push him back in a villain role, but that wouldn't really work in S2 since he doesn't have a time machine. Unless he steals it.. again? Unlikely. Too repetitive. The Garcy-shipping optimist in me wants to see him work with the team, but that wouldn't make sense either if they want him to stay a villain. Plus the 3 person max in the Lifeboat. So where does Flynn fall in S2?

You’re right, yeah. The best we really have to go on right now is the interview with the creators when they said that one of the reasons for Flynn’s arrest is because they want to keep the dynamics between the characters the same for season two as well as delve in a little deeper with what’s there. And all we can do is speculate what that means. Although, honestly, you can’t convince me that Lucy will feel the same way towards Flynn as she did in season one. She feels intense guilt and pity towards the man right now. She’s on his side. To the point where she gave him a list of people to kill. She wants him to succeed. Just as you can’t say Flynn will feel the same way towards Lucy. He is very angry with her– either for deception or carelessness, however he chooses to see it. So in season two, Flynn will also be looking at Lucy differently, most closely resembling his attitude towards her in 1.11, if anything. So when they say they want to keep the dynamic the same in season two………. how? You can’t. Sure Wyatt and Rufus and all other characters will treat Flynn the same (and he them), but his most important relationship (the one with Lucy) is very changed. You can’t reset that to their season one relationship. Unless by season one you mean Flynn in 1.11 and Lucy in 1.16. Do you?

Flynn in season two though, let’s think on that. Like I said, all we can do is speculate. But speculating is fun, yeah?

Futher S2 Flynn ramblings under a cut.

There are, most likely, only four options for Flynn escaping his imprisonment. Well, four big options. Lots of little variables.

The team breaks him out.

Flynn breaks himself out.

Some third party breaks him out.

He is given immunity/a deal if he helps the team, government, and Mason Industries take down Rittenhouse. Since he knows more about fighting them than anyone. (I’ve pondered this possibility before.)

I think whichever option they go with will really set the tone for his character in season two. And I have watched enough television to guess that it… probably… won’t happen in the first episode. Not if they break him out anyway. They will show Flynn in the premiere, of course, but he won’t actually be free until a few episodes in. The writers will leave him there for a little while. If I had to guess.

So for ¾ options, Flynn is still a fugitive. The first one, he would be working with the team but still against the government. …I’ll take it. The second one, he is his own team again, fighting against both our team and Rittenhouse, same as season one. There’s no way to predict what someone else breaking him out means. They need his skill sets. Probably not for good reasons. This one most likely leads to the darkest outcome for him in a “deal with the devil” sort of way. He’ll help these people if they help him. When up until now, he has worked according to his own set of rules and plans. And then the last option for his release is self-explanatory. It is also the nicest possibility, so of course the show won’t do it. Hahaha. But you never know. In the interview, Kripke said, “…he’s going to be really f–king pissed at Lucy. And yet, he is going to be one of the few people suited to being able to fight whatever threats they face in Season 2. So it’ll be uneasy and uncertain.” Sounds like a tentative partnership, yes?

Like you said, Flynn continuing as a villain in a time travel show doesn’t make a lot of sense. There are (that we currently know of?) two time machines. One is under the control of the government. The other has been stolen by Rittenhouse. And while Flynn did sort of like Emma before, there is no way he goes along with her now and furthers Rittenhouse’s goals. No way. I just can’t imagine him working with her. (Unless she promises to help save his family? Would he forsake the rest of the world for that, a world that has continuously wronged him? Hmm… Hopefully not?) So the Mothership isn’t an option for Flynn anymore. Because even if he killed Emma and stole it again, he can’t drive the thing. We have two-and-a-half pilots right now. (Jiya is our inexperienced half. lol.) Flynn has to be chauffeured by one of them. I’m still saying he… probably… won’t work with Emma. Jiya can’t even pilot the Lifeboat by herself and would be useless to him. So Flynn’s best bet would be kidnapping Rufus, a man he has tried to kill and who would not want to cooperate with him. Rufus has some real strength of character now. I don’t think he would respond to Flynn’s threats. Also, if Flynn has control of the Mothership, let’s just assume Emma is dead. So Rufus knows Flynn can’t take out the one remaining competent pilot. The only way it could really work is if Flynn threatened someone else (like Jiya maybe… or Rufus’s family) to force his cooperation. But even then, again, he would be using up the last capable pilot. Our team wouldn’t be able to follow Flynn around. From a storytelling standpoint, you hit a dead end. Unless Jiya really takes to her lessons so she can pilot the team. (…I’m not opposed. That sounds fun.)

But with the Lifeboat only being able to carry three people, I maintain that they can make some modifications. I’m not going to pretend to know the science of it all, but I do know they upgraded the system between creating their initial prototype and perfecting it in the newest model. Because the Mothership can hold at least eight. Though probably exactly eight. (Flynn brought six guys with him in the Pilot. Then add in Anthony. He would have filled every available seat, taking as many men as possible. So eight total. Also there were five of them in 1.03. And four of them in 1.11.) Mason Industries did find a way to increase the number of passengers. It will just require some maintenance. But also, yeah, don’t forget Mason’s line in the Pilot. He calls the Lifeboat “our earliest prototype.” Which means there were others between it and the Mothership. Those have surely been decommissioned, possibly recycled, but there may be a mostly completed model in their facility that’s halfway between the capabilities of the Lifeboat and the Mothership. The Lifeboat is just the only one they kept operational. And while it would take, as they say, a few years to make a machine from scratch, they might be able to fix and complete an already engineered model more quickly. Yes? New time machine in season two? Updated Lifeboat? Yes please.

Anyway, nothing would make me happier than Flynn working with the team. But it does seem the show is intent on keeping him a villain. And with his fury over the arrest in the finale, he may lose a lot of the morals he still had in season one. He will become even more desperate in season two, more uncaring of anything but his goal, more irate with anyone who stands in his way. There was also his final conversation with Jesse James in 1.12 where Jesse implied Flynn will lose his way. Maybe he’s wrong about Flynn. Maybe this is foreshadowing. While I really love watching Flynn struggle with himself in season one, if they want to make him a little more evil, I guess I can be okay with that too. Just never deprive him of understandable motivations and that three-dimensional personality. He can be evil so long as it isn’t a two-dimensional evil. No matter how angry Flynn gets, he is still a good man. I’m with him ‘til the end of the line. Just write him well. You can make him do anything but use good conclusions getting there. He’s very precious to me.

And there’s always our forever ace in the hole we can’t forget: the journal. I know there are differences between the original timeline it was written in and the timeline playing out in the series, but… Flynn and Lucy are still fated to work together. I know she will fall from grace a little. I know that has already begun. But if Flynn does go the full evil, I don’t think Lucy would work with him. Also, even if he is mad at her right now, he will overlook it or forgive her. There’s a finish line we will always end up at. So even if we start season two a little hostile, we know where we’re going, yeah?

It’s weird, but even though Flynn is always citing his and Lucy’s partnership in the journal, he never mentions a third person. If they work together by traveling through time, they need a pilot, right? It clearly isn’t Rufus or else Flynn wouldn’t try to kill him all the time. (After Lucy joins Flynn, there seems to be no mention of Wyatt and Rufus. And he generally has no interest in them, as if he doesn’t consider them future assets. I’ve always wondered what happens to Wyatt and Rufus in the future.) Was Anthony their pilot? In the future. Was he… in the future? Will he? Would he have will be their pilot? (What is the proper grammar for something that happened in the past but hasn’t happened yet?) Is Anthony their pilot? Or is it Emma? The journal did lead Flynn to her cabin. Or… is there a new form of time travel they will develop which does not require a pilot? Jiya seems to be onto something here.

So… they still want Flynn to be an antagonist in season two, but I have to ask: how? How can he remain a superpower in this time travel series without stealing a time machine and kidnapping a pilot? How can Lucy show him anything except mercy and… cooperation(?) whenever they meet up? (She reeeeeeally doesn’t like Rittenhouse right now.) What’s his plan? Will he forge his own or will he continue using what he remembers from the journal he gave away? They surely confiscated the flash drive Lucy gave him that had his family’s murderers on it. Even if he gets that back or Lucy gets him another copy, what can he do with it? Can’t go back in time. Though killing them in the present for fun might feel good.

@Season Two Flynn, what ya gonna do? Asking for a friend.

#Anonymous #Ask #Garcia Flynn #Timeless #I answered your question without answering your question #Hahahaha #All we can do is theorize about this #And keep crossing our fingers for a season two #so we can get some real answers!#Soon guys #We'll get our verdict soon #NBC should make their announcement in just a few weeks #Keep holding out hope #I feel like I should thank you Anon #I had sort of a bad day and rambling about Timeless always makes me feel better #Lots of love ♥

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