I have a small part in the 1987 television movie (failed pilot) version of The Man Who Fell To Earth. Lewis Smith played the titular character. Beverly D'Angelo played my mom, his love interest. (Fun Star Trek connection: Bob Picardo is also in it).
My character was a Troubled Youth, which I gotta tell you was not a stretch for me at all. I was deeply, deeply hurting at the time we made it. I was struggling not to suffocate on all the emotional and financial burdens my mom put on my shoulders, and fully aware of just how much my dad hated and resented me. You need a kid who doesn't want to be an actor, whose eyes can't hide the pain? I'm your guy.
Anyway, one of the scenes I was in took place in a record store, where Troubled Youth steals some albums, before he is chased by the cops and saved by the Man Who Fell To Earth, who uses a glowing crystal to save his life from ... some scratches on his face.
We filmed the interior of the record store at Sunset and La Brea, in what I think was a Warehouse, and at the end of the day, I was allowed to buy some records at a modest discount.
I was deep into my metal years, on my way from my punk years to my New Wave years, so I only bought metal albums. I know I bought more than I needed or could carry (I was making a point that I was allowed to spend my own money, mom), but the only ones I can clearly remember are:
Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
Judas Priest - Turbo and Defenders of the Faith
W.A.S.P - The Last Command
(I know this was in March of 1987, because Turbo had just come out.)
Of those, Piece of Mind is the only one I never really stopped listening to, even through all the different it's-not-a-phase phases. I still listen to it, today.
Ever since I became an Adult with a Fancy Adult Record Player And All That Bullshit, I have kept my records in two places: stuff I want right now, and stuff I keep in the library because of Reasons.
Generally, records move in one direction toward the library, even if it takes years to happen. I just don't accumulate albums like I once did, because I'm Old and set in my ways.
Earlier today, I decided that I wanted to listen to an album while I cleaned up the kitchen, and because I wanted to make my life more interesting, I opened the library cabinet for the first time in at least five years.
There was the very same W.A.S.P album from that day in March, 1987. I don't have any of the others -- I looked -- but The Last Command was right there.
Before I really knew what I was doing, I put it on the Fancy Adult Record Player and dropped the needle.
I watched four decades of dust build up with a satisfying crackle, and there was something magical and beautiful about hearing all the skips and the scratches, realizing I remembered them from before.
The title track was just as great as I remembered it. It struck all the same chords in me that it did in the late nineteen hundreds. The rest of the first side was ... um. It just didn't connect with me, and for the few moments I spent trying to find a connection, I don't think it ever really did. I would remember.
But I did remember how much I loved making those mix tapes, and what a big part of them that song was. I did remember how empowering it felt to not just spend my own money that I earned doing work I didn't want to do, but to spend it on music my parents hated, right under their noses. I did remember how impressed Robby Lee was, when I showed him my extensive heavy metal album collection.
Remembering all of that, in one of those cinematic flashes of rapid cut visuals and sped up sounds, told me why I kept this record, while I gradually sold or replaced the other records I bought that day with CDs, then mp3s, then lossless digital files, before finally coming all the way back to records, where I started.
I didn't listen to the second side. I didn't need to. I took it off the Fancy Adult Record Player, and put it back into the library, next to the George Carlin records.
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Faking It | Part I
Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x F!Reader
Summary: Fake dating your friend, Bradley Bradshaw - what could possibly go wrong? Your sister is getting married and you need a date. You enlist Bradley's help and the rest is history.
CW: none that I can think of except that the reader's height is described as shorter than Rooster's.
This idea has been plaguing me so I had to get it out haha Hope y'all enjoy!
Bradley watches you skeptically. You have yet to convince him that pretending to be your date for your sister’s wedding is an outstanding idea. Your mother has undoubtedly invited a whole slew of bachelors because she thinks you might need some help in the romance department. You decidedly do not. Despite the fact that you are struggling to even get a fake date.
You make a face at him. “I will owe you,” you say. “Anything you want.”
He shrugs. “I don’t want anything.”
You roll your eyes. “C’mon, Bradshaw,” you plead. “I’ll do your laundry for a week.”
He purses his lips, not looking overly enticed.
“I’ll come over once a day and do all your dishes.”
“We’ve got Hangman for that.”
“Hangman does your dishes?” you ask incredulously, trying to picture Jake Seresin in an apron with a dishtowel thrown over his shoulder.
Bradley chuckles. “He lost a bet last week.”
You let out a soft laugh, then get back to business. “I’ll clean your room,” you offer.
“I’ll have you know that my room is immaculate,” Bradley replies.
You scoff. “Then do this for me out of the goodness of your heart!”
Bradley chuckles slightly. “I don’t know, Y/N. This is a big ask.”
“Please, my mother is rounding up all the eligible males on the western seaboard as we speak.”
Bradley laughs. “What does your mother have against landlocked states?”
“I don’t know. Political ideology?”
Bradley snorts. “Have you asked Hangman?”
You groan. “Please don’t make me ask Hangman. He will never let me live this down.”
Bradley nods. “That is true.”
“It’s just a weekend. A few photos here and there. Some superficial chitchat with my grandparents about the importance of educational funding for our nation’s youth. My niece loves airplanes so you can tell her all about your latest mission” –
“My classified mission?”
“Well, leave out the classified parts,” you retort impatiently.
Bradley contemplates your proposal while your mind scrambles trying to determine something that might make it worth his while.
“Free drinks for a week,” you say, wiping the already dry bar to give your free hand something to do.
Bradley raises his eyebrows. “You can’t do that.”
You roll your eyes. Bradley Bradshaw will never go along with a scheme unless it is one hundred percent above board. “Meaning I will pay for them. I get a discount on the alcohol.”
Bradley gives you an amused look. “So, you wish to buy my services.”
You let out a frustrated groan. “I told you, I will do anything you want.”
“Well, I don’t want you paying my tab,” he replies casually.
You lean into the bar with a heavy sigh, bringing your face closer to his. “You are really grinding my gears, Bradshaw,” you say.
His eyes lift to your face as he lets out a wry chuckle.
“Do you really think a weekend with me will be so torturous?” you ask.
“Nah,” he says, leaning back in his stool nonchalantly, but you wonder if he does it to expand the space between your faces. “I wasn't actually going to refuse. Just like to see you sweat.”
He chuckles, ducking as you go to smack him with the towel you just used to wipe the bar.
…
“Aunt Barb is a hard-ass,” you say in a low voice, turning your head toward Bradley as your aunt makes a beeline for you at the rehearsal dinner. You end up talking into Bradley’s shoulder because he’s so much taller than you and he instinctively lowers his head so he can hear you better.
“What’s that, shorty?” he mutters, and you roll your eyes at the nickname. But the next moment, you can feel his breath on your forehead and you gulp when his palm flattens against your back. You had been the one who'd asked him to pretend to be your boyfriend, but you hadn’t actually considered what that might entail. Apparently, it entails Bradley Bradshaw’s hand on your lower back and a woozy sensation in your gut akin to a 200-foot roller coaster drop. You aren’t too fond of roller coasters.
You glance up at him and your eyes meet for a split second. Bradley promptly straightens his back. You let out an unsteady sigh and say, “Aunt Barb will be questioning you; be prepared. Have you read my notes?”
Bradley gives you a pointed look. “Of course, I read your notes.”
But as Aunt Barb approaches, you feel Bradley’s touch along your back waver until his hand finally drops at his side.
“Y/N!” your aunt exclaims, giving you a kiss on each cheek. She blinks up at Bradley expectantly.
“This is Bradley,” you say. “This is my aunt, Barb.”
Bradley holds out his hand. “It’s great to meet you,” he says.
Aunt Barb gives him a crafty smile. “Is this your boyfriend, Y/N?” she asks, but her question is directed more at Bradley than at you.
Bradley returns her smile. “That’s me,” he replies, giving you a quick glance.
“Oh, good,” your aunt says. “We were starting to get worried after that whole fiasco with Steven.”
You stare at her as Bradley turns to you. “Who’s Steven?” he asks.
Aunt Barb gives him a probing look. “You don’t know?”
Bradley eyes you inquisitively. “Should I?” he asks, still looking at you.
“Her ex, of course,” Barb continues. “He’s here, you know?”
You peel your gaze away from Bradley to look at your aunt. “What? Why?”
She shrugs. “He’s friends with the groom, of course. Or have you forgotten?”
You grimace. You don’t remember Steven being exceedingly close with your sister’s fiancé, so the fact that he somehow weaseled his way into this function aggravates you greatly.
When your aunt walks away, Bradley turns to you with his eyebrows raised. “Steven wasn’t in your notes.”
You give him a sour look. “He wasn’t supposed to be here.”
Bradley shrugs. “Still think you should’ve mentioned him. Was it serious?”
“Nope,” you respond curtly, ready to put the topic to rest.
Bradley seems to sense your reluctance to engage in this particular conversation and drops the subject. “Shall we go grab some drinks?”
You’re about to respond when your mother appears before you and you nearly bump into her. “Mom!” you exclaim in surprise.
“Y/N, why are you so jumpy?” she asks.
You shoot a nervous glance in Bradley’s direction, but he appears unfazed. “Afternoon, ma’am,” he says, bowing his head slightly.
Your mother looks over at Bradley with a judgemental air. “Are you the aviator?” she asks with a hint of distaste in her tone.
“Indeed,” Bradley responds, giving you a confident look before glancing back at your mother.
But your mother is no longer paying Bradley any attention. She turns back to you. “Steven is here,” she says.
You let out a sigh. “Yes, I know, mother.”
She gives you a knowing look before glancing back at Bradley. “We all thought they were going to get married,” she says with an artificial smile.
Bradley raises his eyebrows and nods his head slowly. “You must be disappointed,” he says.
Your mother seems pleased with his response and nods at Bradley vehemently. “They have a lot of history,” she says.
You close your eyes. “Mom, stop.”
“I’m just saying, he’s here,” your mom says. “Do with that what you will.”
You blink at her. “I will do nothing.”
Bradley watches you squirm sympathetically and, when you glance up at him defeatedly, he takes you by the hand. “Ma’am, it’s been a pleasure,” he says and starts to pull you away. “We just want to hit the bar before the first course.”
“Sure.” Your mom gives him a quick nod and throws a pointed look in your direction.
You cling to Bradley’s hand gratefully, even going as far as clutching at his arm with your other hand just to get away faster. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” you whimper.
He looks down at you, squeezing your hand. “It’s why I’m here, right?” he says.
“Right,” you agree, feeling his bicep flex under your fingers as his hand tightens around yours.
…
After dinner, you make your way through the crowd to the bathroom. The evening is nearly over and it seems that you and Bradley have put on a reasonably convincing charade. Bradley’s relaxed disposition has made the evening infinitely more enjoyable than you could have imagined and you find yourself feeling almost sorry that the night is coming to an end. Almost. Because, after all, you won’t be able to take a real breath of relief until you’re in the comfort of your room.
You’re lost in your thoughts as you walk back to your table and you completely miss the fact that your ex-boyfriend has spotted you and is heading your way.
“Y/N!” he exclaims as if he’s surprised to see you attending your own sister’s wedding rehearsal.
You blink at him in alarm. “Steven,” you say with a slight grimace, kicking yourself for not checking your surroundings before making your way across the open floor.
Your eyes scan the tables, desperately searching for Bradley. When you locate him, you can see that he’s already watching you.
Steven steps closer to you, holding out his hands. “It’s good to see you, Y/N,” he says, leaning in for a hug.
You recoil as he tries to put his arms around you. “Is it?” you ask, holding up your hand to keep him back. The last time you saw him, he was throwing every insult imaginable in your direction.
Over Steven’s shoulder, you can see Bradley getting out his seat and starting to make his way toward the two of you, a stony expression on his face.
“You look great,” Steven continues, finally lowering his arms.
“Uh, thanks,” you say uneasily just as Bradley steps around Steven to face him.
“Everything alright here?” Bradley asks, his eyes sliding between you and Steven.
“Mm-hm,” you say, instinctively shifting closer to Bradley as Steven continues to scrutinize your every move.
“I’m Bradley,” he introduces himself, confidently extending his hand to Steven.
“Steven.” Steven takes his hand tentatively and you can see the slight wince on his face as Bradley crushes his hand in a handshake.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Steven,” Bradley says, and you look up at him sharply.
“Oh, really?” Steven lifts his eyebrows, giving you a smirk.
“No,” Bradley replies flatly.
Steven blinks at him in confusion, clearly taken aback.
Bradley slides his arm around your waist possessively and you lean into him slightly, relieved that he’s playing his part so perfectly.
Steven gives Bradley a hostile look which Bradley expertly returns. Then, he lowers his face, saying, “Drink?”
“Yes, please,” you say, letting out a sigh.
“You take care, Steven,” Bradley says, wheeling you around in the direction of the bar.
Part 2
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