harborshore: (Default)
harborshore ([personal profile] harborshore) wrote2009-06-18 12:21 am

Scratch Your Name: Epilogue

Master Post | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Epilogue



--


It's been two weeks and four days; they settled on their new headquarters after spending those two weeks switching hideouts faster than was good for any of the injured people. Though the third one was fun: meeting Mikey and Gerard's parents had been both amazing and informative, especially in how much it explained about the Way brothers. And Lindsey will always respect a woman who can rock that kind of bleach.

But having their place is good for everyone. Bob's infection has finally gone down and he's walking better (and Brian is less of a fucking nuisance as a result). Alicia is moving a lot faster, Frank hobbles around with a hilarious boot he made mostly by himself (Ray helped), and the others are maybe starting to look like they might get there eventually. Gerard's fingers aren't functional at all yet, but that isn't getting in the way of him arguing with Lindsey about the mural they're working on.

“I think it needs more blood and guts,” he says decisively, pointing at the scene where she's sketching dancing skeletons.

She raises an eyebrow at him. “You know, there's a point when it just goes beyond thematic.”

“What's your point?” he asks, and she's pretty sure he actually means that.

Sighing a little, she points at the far corner, where she'd started this morning. “We have people eating their own flesh over there,” she says, and then points further up, where she'd balanced on a chair to sketch before. “And there, there are your two bleeding lovers. Also, battle scene. Don't you think we could leave the poor skeletons alone? I'm sure that's why they became skeletons, so they wouldn't have to deal with all those guts and blood anymore. I mean, fuck, there's such a thing as too much, right?”

He smiles. “I like too much.” She rolls her eyes, because of course he does.

Amanda's laughing at them, further down the wall, drawing a set of stars with a marker, half on the wall, half across Dusty's cheeks.

Amanda still walks with a cane, though she's becoming steadier day by day. Dusty is acting as conversation partner and I-will-get-you-the-damn-chair-when-you-need-it partner right now. Their third, Katie Kay, is off with Alicia, trying to figure out the last of the relocations of funds from Chantal’s clothing companies--the money’s coming in now, from the complicated series of transactions that Kitty did at the last minute. This hid the money they need access to now. The problem with a secret hideout is the same as its primary virtue: it's secret, and so you don’t want to be too open about buying large quantities of anything. Thankfully, now that the money has finally gotten through, Katie Kay and Alicia can set up the last needed supply chains so they can keep the operation hidden. Chantal sent them off with excruciatingly clear instructions. It's a good thing they did manage to get Jimmy back for her, or the fact that she's still so limited in what she can do (the tendons in her arm aren't healing quite right) would drive her and everyone else up the wall.

“I agree with the needs more gore,” says Frank from right behind Lindsey, and she jumps, her pencil skidding on the wall.

“Warn a girl,” she says, mock-glaring at him. “And of course you agree. Guys, you know it's not that I give a fuck about the blood, it's that I want some more understated creepy.”

Gerard looks interested. “Like what?”

“Like, okay, what if we sketch the city skyline in the background over here? Only, they're not just houses, you can see their shadows behind them, much bigger, and like they're alive? That's not--that's not exactly subtle, but I remember thinking the city had changed back when it all started. I was never scared of the dark at night before I was ten.”

“You're not scared of the dark now,” Frank objects. Gerard has a faraway look in his eyes, hands moving in little twitches across the portion of wall she'd been gesturing at.

Lindsey shakes her head, swallowing. “My sister gave me my first knife when I was eleven, when she couldn't always walk me home from school anymore. And then she and Steve taught me to use it. That shit helps.”

Frank nods, looking much more serious than he usually does.

Gerard turns around from the wall. “I like it,” he says. “Especially if you can mix it with some of your stuff from before. They should be up here, too.”

She nods, already seeing it. Nighttime and skyline shadows; Steve, Greta, Pete and Cassadee. She wants to see if she can make the music appear up here too, if she can remember the way they smiled and shone on stage. But she thinks she might change the lights some. There’s more than red in her mind now.

“Put yourself in, too,” Mikey says, spinning around on his chair from where he and Kitty are setting up the computers. Vienna still can't use the arm she broke in the fight she got in while leaving the city, or she'd be helping too: her elbow is shattered and it's going to take a fuckload of time to heal. She directs, though, especially when it comes to the equipment they managed to salvage for her.

Lindsey grins back at him, because yeah, that sounds about right. Herself, and “You too, Mikeyway, I want all of you in here.” Change is a tricksy bitch, but damn if there isn't something about all this that just works.

Lindsey hums under her breath, sketching out her new universe across the wall, and listens as Gerard hums along. Amanda starts up, clear and strong in the corner, and Vienna joins in, voice rising the way only hers can. There's a symmetry to singing as you work, singing as you draw, and Lindsey wants the music in every line if she can get it there. She can draw all night if she has to, but she wants to start painting in the morning. They can always repaint it if they start hating something, but only if they want to, not because someone paints over it or washes the walls clean at night.

It's strange to feel freer than ever in a building where your freedom is contingent on you being really fucking careful about when to go outside, but free is the way everyone in here is smiling, even Mikey. Free is the way Bert and Quinn keep climbing up to the roof. Free might be lying to yourself, but there's something, something, and she can't touch it or say it or figure it out, but she thinks she can draw it.


--


Master Post | Part 3 |

[identity profile] wasoncedelight.livejournal.com 2009-06-18 12:44 am (UTC)(link)
I love YOU and I love this story, so much. And I love that you let me be a part of the process. <333

[identity profile] onigaminanashi.livejournal.com 2009-06-18 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, DAMN. I nearly passed this one over for not knowing anything about Lindsey or MSI and I'm SO glad I didn't. Except you made me cry for the Hushies. And then killed me with those three paragraphs of Bob/Brian. Like, they weren't a focus, but fuck if it wasn't just as powerful.

This kind of makes me want to be a rebel if my world was ever shit like this.

I really wish I had something else to say except wow and then stare creepily.

I just... Yeah. Wow. I'm sort of in love with this.

(Also, your link back to part three at the end of this part is fubard. Just a heads up ;))

[identity profile] absenteye.livejournal.com 2009-06-18 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
HOLY FUCKING SHIT, I. VEE! I AM ACTUALLY CRYING, REAL TEARS, OH MY GOD. THERE WERE LIKE WAVES OF GOOSEBUMPS ALL OVER MY SKIN, I SERIOUSLY DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW YOU DID THAT, BUT HOLY SHIT. I LOVE EVERY SINGLE WORD OF THIS, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS ALL THE FEELINGS STUCK IN MY CHEST RIGHT NOW, JESUS. I WANTED TO KICK THINGS AND BURN SHIT AND PUNCH PEOPLE WHILE I READ THIS, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO HUG PEOPLE AND CRY (WHICH I DID ABOUT FOUR TIMES) AND SAVE THEM, AND JUST.

AMAZING IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE, WONDERFUL, CRAZY, MIND BLOWING WRITERS IN THIS FANDOM, AND I AM SO FUCKING LUCKY TO KNOW YOU, HOW ARE YOU EVEN REAL? SERIOUSLY, EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS WAS WONDERFUL AND VIVID AND IT JUST PLAYED OUT IN THESE STARK CONTRASTING COLORS IN MY BRAIN, AND EVERYTHING WAS OVERWHELMING AND FAST AND SHARP, AND I JUST. WHAT. YOU'RE AMAZING! I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY. IF WE ARE EVER IN THE SAME CITY, LOOK OUT! I WILL BE THE QUIVERING LITTLE LUMP OF ADORATION THAT JUST TACKLED YOU AND HAS ITS LEGS WRAPPED AROUND YOUR WAIST. 'SUP!

[identity profile] tygermine.livejournal.com 2009-06-18 11:51 am (UTC)(link)
This was a phenomenal story and eerily prophetic in a way. Just look at the world around us - censorship is makign a come back.

The imagery was breath taking and Lynz's journey was heartbreaking. Seriously - if I wasn't at work right now, i'd be in tears!!!

*mems*

[identity profile] extemporally.livejournal.com 2009-06-18 11:55 am (UTC)(link)
God, I don't even know what to say. I just - I think this is wonderful and I love it, okay? Stories about art and music and rescues and fighting back are the greatest, and the fact that you wrote it, in this way, just made it fantastic.

[identity profile] tescohatesme.livejournal.com 2009-06-18 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
this is awesome. everything just felt so real, y'know? the second part made me cry actual tears, which, just so you know, not one fic has ever done before. sorry I'm not leaving more in depth feedback or whatever, but I just wanted to tell you that I absolutely love this.

[identity profile] velocityoftime.livejournal.com 2009-06-19 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
I don't even have the words to tell you how incredible this is. I don't even have a favorite part, because everything was SO GOOD. I love the universe you created, and this is so amazing and so awesome and really, really gorgeous writing. You nailed EVERYTHING.

[identity profile] mourning-night.livejournal.com 2009-06-19 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
This is an incrediable story. I really liked how even in the end things were still uncertain and the government was still there. I was really happy to see a LynZ story and to have as just gen was 100 times more awesome (not that LynZ pairing would have been bad I just am tickled that it's just Her story not the story of her relationship with somebody). The descriptions of art were really good and Ann's appearance at the end was awful and sad.
ext_3762: girl reading outside in sunshine (music)

[identity profile] harborshore.livejournal.com 2009-06-20 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
*hugs* You helped, so much. And I'm glad you still love it after reading it three? four? times, seriously. I'm sort of itching to write the sequel, which won't be gen, but we'll see. *grins*
ext_3762: girl reading outside in sunshine (oh love)

[identity profile] harborshore.livejournal.com 2009-06-20 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm really glad you didn't pass it over--the fact that it's gen, female-pov and about MSI of all bands, well. I knew I was a little crazy, but this was the story I wanted to tell, you know?

Oh man, I'm so glad the Hushies and the Bob/Brian came off as powerful and important, that's great to hear. ♥

That's what I was trying for, kind of, as silly as it sounds.

You've said plenty--I really appreciate the thoughtful feedback.

Ahaha, thanks! I will never ever post my entry to a fic challenge in the middle of the night again.

[identity profile] wasoncedelight.livejournal.com 2009-06-20 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
It got better each time I read it, how could I not still love it? *HUUUUGS*

(Are you back already?! I have no goodies yet!)
ext_3762: girl reading outside in sunshine (Default)

[identity profile] harborshore.livejournal.com 2009-06-20 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Dude, I wrote this to be able to write the Mikey-and-Lindsey friendship. The original ending was them walking off into the sunset to wreak havoc in the city. It, um, may appear in the sequel I'm not writing?

And I'm so, so, so glad you liked it and made such fantastic art for it. ♥
ext_3762: girl reading outside in sunshine (Default)

[identity profile] harborshore.livejournal.com 2009-06-20 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
*beams* Well, STILL. It's enormously heartening.

(Saturday night my time, dearest. I know, I know, this whole Swedish thing is stupid. But dude, whatever--it/they can be Sunday Morning presents?)
ext_3762: girl reading outside in sunshine (oh my love)

[identity profile] harborshore.livejournal.com 2009-06-20 09:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't even know how to respond to this, just, oh my god YOU. That--I wanted to write that, something inspiring and heartening and sad and happy and rebellious (I know, I know, I take my fanfic too seriously, but this is also super-self indulgent for me, this story, I mean), and if I made you think about all that, oh man, that means so much. Plus, it's YOU. That makes it even better.

And oh my fucking god, sweetheart, the adoration is so mutual. I still haven't gotten over that gorgeous, gorgeous art you left me, jesus christ, I adore it so fucking much. *clings*

[identity profile] wasoncedelight.livejournal.com 2009-06-20 10:14 pm (UTC)(link)
<333333333333333

(Stupid time zones! I will have pressies for you tomorrow, for sure. XOXO)
ext_3762: girl reading outside in sunshine (Default)

[identity profile] harborshore.livejournal.com 2009-06-20 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh man, thank you so much. And yeah, I know--it's one of the things I feel really strongly about and as such my writing sometimes becomes, uh, issue-oriented?

♥ I will take that as a very high compliment indeed.
ext_3762: girl reading outside in sunshine (music)

[identity profile] harborshore.livejournal.com 2009-06-20 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
I, oh, the fact that you're using an icon from the protests in Iran still makes me, I don't even know how to put it--I'm going to have to untangle some of it in an email to you, I think. Thank you for even associating this little story with something that is real and terrifying (which I've been trying to post about, but my best friend's dad is there and I'm just scared and can't put anything into words).

Just, thank you, love. Thank you.
ext_3762: girl reading outside in sunshine (oh love)

[identity profile] harborshore.livejournal.com 2009-06-20 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
This feedback is plenty enough, thank you so much. ♥ Also, I'm sorry I made you cry but I'm glad the story was emotionally powerful, if that makes sense?
ext_3762: girl reading outside in sunshine (Default)

[identity profile] harborshore.livejournal.com 2009-06-20 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
*twirls* This is a fantastic comment to get, thank you! It was a hard story to write, for many reasons, and I'm so glad you liked it.
ext_3762: girl reading outside in sunshine (Default)

[identity profile] harborshore.livejournal.com 2009-06-20 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, that, exactly. I wanted to write it as her story, that was really important to me. Ann and Lindsey broke my heart, no lie, so it's good to hear it came off as powerful as well. Thank you!
ext_3762: girl reading outside in sunshine (Default)

[identity profile] harborshore.livejournal.com 2009-06-20 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
*beams* Half of it was totally on purpose and half of it was a complete accident, but I'm really glad it worked. And man, you made it work, too.

*chinhands* That is excellent news. Oh, Mikeyway. ♥

It's not at all going to be half-Chicago, half-NYC, nope.

ext_3762: girl reading outside in sunshine (Default)

[identity profile] harborshore.livejournal.com 2009-06-21 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
That was a total accident, too--I started talking about this-verse Ashlee and Patrick after they find out, and man, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

(Clearly you could not, no. I approve of all fixing of Mikeys! \o/

[identity profile] nightlilac.livejournal.com 2009-06-21 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
This is seriously wonderful and inspirational. You wrote the characters so well, beyond their normal stage personas, I feel like I'd give anything to be friends with them, y'know? And I love that there were just so many awesome women in this as well. I wanted to cry so many times, because Steve, and what they did to Alicia, and poor Gee's hands; but then there was Bob's reunion with Brian, and the Way brothers together at last! And oh god, this: Mikey's grinning a little at them both. “What?” Lindsey says, quirking an eyebrow at him but not letting go of either of them. She should wash up, but she can't see any water, so she's not taking a step back to actually look at her arms, no thanks, that's not quite what she feels like doing right now. “You're just so fucking alike, is all.” ♥ I can't wait to see any sort of not-gen sequel you might write :)
ext_3762: girl reading outside in sunshine (music)

[identity profile] harborshore.livejournal.com 2009-06-21 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, fuck, you have exceptional timing, thank you. ♥ I'm so glad you thought I managed to make the characters real--that was really, really important to me, even with the ones that have two-minute appearances. This is kind of a cast of those-that-I-love, so. And ha, yeah, the women. *beams* That was so very intentional. Also those reunions? So my favorites. I didn't get to write the Bert-and-Quinn one (for the record, Bert calls him a fuckface and then crawls onto his cot (Quinn is pretty seriously injured, for all that he pretends he's not when he's getting in Brian's face) and doesn't leave until Quinn convinces him he won't die.

What not-gen sequel? *looks innocent* It doesn't have Ashlee Simpson, nope.

[identity profile] tescohatesme.livejournal.com 2009-06-21 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I get what you mean about how powerful it was. Also, I meant it as a compliment, because I thought it was really emotional and well written and stuff, but I'm sorry if it came across weird, I didn't intend it to. <3

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