hardparade: (narnia; anna (as susan))
likecharity ([personal profile] hardparade) wrote2011-05-21 05:42 pm

a flicker of the future could've saved the cindered sister

THIS IS AN ANNA POPPLEWELL APPRECIATION POST. (Mostly.)

She did a photoshoot for THAT magazine, which isn't actually out yet, but there are behind-the-scenes pictures from it which are gorgeous.


















I am much more in favour of these clothes than her NMAs dress. *gazes* CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR EVERYTHING, ANNA. Oh, there is also this picture from the NMAs, though, which is beautiful:



But sadly there aren't any pictures of Anna and Georgie together (besides those ones of them in the audience) or with James. And speaking of sad things, her new project—Brave New World—wasn't picked up by NBC, so that really sucks. :(


In other news, I've been watching a ridiculous amount of TV. I'm watching Game of Thrones and The Borgias, and generally enjoying both. Game Of Thrones, I'm less sure about—some of it really disturbs me, and I know that's kind of the point, but I just feel kind of nervous and uncertain about it. But I do like it! It gets like +1000 points for the incest and the slash. I really like The Borgias a lot—shipping Cesare/Lucrezia, obviously, and generally enjoying François Arnaud's face, and also there was consensual whipping which I approve of. I find the Cesare/Michelotto relationship really interesting. And now I want to read A Song of Ice and Fire and lots of books about the Borgia family, but I still suck at reading lately.

I'm also watching Camelot which, um, is not so good. I don't know, maybe Arthurian legend shows just don't do it for me, but it's just kind of boring, and really at this point I'm only watching for Eva Green and her OVERALL AWESOMENESS, being all crazy and powerful. (Also maybe a little bit for Jamie Campbell Bower.) What else? Baffled by the Fringe season finale, and growing increasingly concerned about the state of House (and also suddenly shipping Chase/Thirteen, where did that come from??). Rewatching the first season of The O.C., because I kept seeing stuff on Tumblr and getting nostalgic. I got so much of my music taste from that show back in the day, it's amazing—at least twice an episode, I'll be like "hey, I like this song!...oh, this is where I first heard this song."

In the past week or so I've also been marathoning Community and Parks & Recreation and wondering why I didn't do that sooner. SO GOOD, YOU GUYS. I don't actually laugh out loud that often at TV shows, and it's not like I don't find them funny, but it's more like...I appreciate the clever writing and I'm amused, but I'm not actually cracking up, you know? But both of these shows have been making me laugh regularly. Especially the flu episode of Parks & Rec. My Dad actually came in and asked me what was wrong because I was laughing so hard. "I can't go home! I have to get ready for the Chamber of Secrets!" "...Commerce." SPEAKING OF WHICH: I love Ben Wyatt. Can we talk about Adam Scott and his delightful face?

Can we talk about any of this, actually? I've basically just been sitting here watching all this TV and not really talking about it.

AND FINALLY, a meme which could be fun maybe if anyone is interested:

Mini-DVD Meme: Pick any paragraph or any passage of between 500-600 words from any fanfic I've written and comment to this post with that selection. I will then give you a DVD commentary on that snippet of what I was thinking when I made or wrote it, why I wrote it, what's going on in the character's heads, why I chose certain words, what this moment means in the context of the fic, and anything else you'd expect to find on a DVD commentary track.

My masterlist is here but I guess if you pick something I wrote ages ago I might not remember what I was thinking at the time. :/

[identity profile] smellyleaf.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Gah, I love how every episode of House causes me to ship a new pairing from that show. Usually including, but not limited to, House/Patient Chase/Patient Thirteen/Patient, et cetera, et cetera.




...Cuddy/Cuddy's hand...

[identity profile] aubade-saudade.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
avalanche (http://likecharity.livejournal.com/98234.html)

He's not that surprised that when he bursts in the first thing he sees is Effy, sitting on the dirty counter top with a little plastic baggie between her fingers. Cook's bent over beside her, snorting. Her eyes flicker up to him and she doesn't say anything. Cook straightens back up, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.

"Freddie," he cheers, "you made it."

He says it like everything's cool between them; like he didn't kiss him on the lips the other day and then spend all his time since then fucking the girl Freddie's crazy about. This sort of thing has always been in Cook's hands, though, it's always been up to him what happens after a fight—Freddie and JJ have always just followed his lead.

Cook gestures to the coke in Effy's hand. Freddie doesn't want any, but even so he finds himself nodding, and then snorting the neat little line that Effy cuts for him. He swings back, leaning against the cool tiles of the bathroom wall as he feels it course through him.



:)))

***
i'm downloading Community right now and was gearing for Parks & Recreation next so like, coincidence or just general raving about these two shows. ;D (where are you d'ling P&R?)

[identity profile] yaoisex.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
That pic of her sitting...GUH she looks gorgeous!!!

And yeahhhh the Borgias!!
I ADORE Cesare/Michelotto, but I also like Cesare/Juan, though it's really mostly in my head because Juan is too interested in whores and Cesare in that horse-face-woman and his sister....
(And you follow me on tumblr ;D)
I've been thinking about watching Game of Thrones but I'm too lazy to start another show. Though I've seen a clip of someone and his lover? that was lovely and usually one clip can get me hooked on a show, but I'm not sure yet...

[identity profile] iamshunpike.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Just another reason for me to get THAT magazine.
Except I don't think it ships here.
DAMN. :(((((

[identity profile] likecharity.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Lol! I know what you mean.

[identity profile] likecharity.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh. Well, I know I wanted to get like, a clear division in there, between Cook&Effy and Freddie, and particularly to have it seem (to Freddie, at that moment) like Cook was the one in charge of the situation. But mainly to make it clear that he felt like he was facing a couple, you know? And in that bit, I wanted there to be some uncertainty as to how Cook and Effy were treating him, like I wanted them to be acting cool (Cook's greeting, offering him the coke) but for there to be some animosity there as well.

I always find it quite hard to a) get inside Freddie's head and b) write about drugs, haha, and it's been a while now so I can't quite remember what else I was thinking. It's just kind of the moment that kicks everything off - like, I like to think what happens later would have happened without the drugs, but it changes the way they're all acting a little bit and makes them more hyped up and ready for something.

And yeah - there's been SO much raving about Community and Parks & Rec! That's why I ended up watching them, I was just seeing them everywhere and people say they're like the best shows ever. I hope you enjoy them! I was mostly getting P&R from torrents. There are some downloads here (http://fuckingbruges.tumblr.com/post/5447977184/parks-and-recreation-download-links-the-series), but some of the links are broken.

[identity profile] likecharity.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I think that might be my favourite! So beautiful.

Yesss, I love your Borgias posts on Tumblr. :D I didn't really see the Cesare/Juan at first - I'd seen people mention it as a pairing and I was kind of like "eh", mostly because I care less about Juan in general, but last episode definitely gave me thoughts. Possibly just because I really liked seeing Cesare manhandling him like that. XD

Game of Thrones is really interesting. I was going to say you could watch the first episode or two and give it a go, but it's the kind of show where you don't get the whole feeling of it right away. It still seems too early to judge it properly, actually. You could always try it once one of the others shows you're watching ends or something.

I should have a Borgias icon.

[identity profile] likecharity.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I've never even heard of it! Is it French or something? I'm sure there'll be scans, anyway.

[identity profile] yaoisex.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 06:38 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm always keen to ship the brothers first....^_^;;;
Last episode this week!! It came so fast.

I've actually loved David Oakes (Juan) before The Borgias, because I've seen him in Pillars of the Earth and loved him there. I started watching The Borgias because of him, even though he's a troll there. But right now I like Cesare more..

[identity profile] smellyleaf.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 06:45 pm (UTC)(link)
In reply to your question down there: Yeah, THAT is a french mag. They have a tumblr that is english though I think. But they're sort of a fashion-y magazine, I love their photographs!

EDIT: I found out about them because I'm a photograph junky, haha. They did a piece of nicole richie I liked.
Edited 2011-05-21 18:47 (UTC)

[identity profile] likecharity.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 06:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I can't believe it's the last episode already! I got a nasty shock when looking at the episode guide the other day, because I hadn't known how many episodes there were going to be and I guess I'd assumed there would be more. :(

Lolol a troll. His hair really upsets me. Like, it is a really really terrible hairstyle and it makes me sad every time I see him, it's just distracting. When he was all wet in the last episode, it looked so much better, and I was like "Oh! He's actually pretty attractive!"

[identity profile] likecharity.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh, I just took a look at their Tumblr and they do have some really nice photos. They're the people behind those gorgeous Colin Morgan pictures! I approve.

[identity profile] yaoisex.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
I've known the number of episodes from the beginning. I love knowing what to expect to. But it's not enough lol
But there will be a second season so I'm happy. :D

I thought it's a wig, but I'm not sure...and yes, it's ugly. In PotE he looked MUCH better.

[identity profile] likecharity.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I wish I'd known, because I was all geared up for a longer season. Sigh. At least there's another one!

I hope it's a wig, for his sake! It's amazing how much of a difference hair can make to a person's appearance, because I was genuinely surprised that he was attractive when his hair was different, lol.

[identity profile] woodwind.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Everything about Cesare/Lucrezia is beautiful.

And so is Anna. HOLY SHIT.

[identity profile] aubade-saudade.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
ty for the links! \o/


yeah, when Cook said "you made it" it kinda felt like there was some sort of an accusation there/challenge. then at the same time it's like there's this weird power imbalance somehow, except that Cook is as vulnerable as anyone else there because then why else would he say "you made it"? something rly insecure/needy just underneath.

you're really good at creating this kind of thrilling kind of doomy/dready pit of yr stomach tension. and yeah, it's a bit about peer pressure but it kind of reminds me of novels about the 1920's where people were trying to cut themselves out of these predetermined roles or whatever but the more they rebel the more trapped in another way they seem. idk. i just rly liked that one. it was all 3-somey but deep too and made Effey seem all Daisy-like in a weird way, which i rly like. <3

thanks for the insight!

[identity profile] iamshunpike.livejournal.com 2011-05-21 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't know where it's from but it just looks so cool.

[identity profile] portraitofafool.livejournal.com 2011-05-22 12:44 am (UTC)(link)
Game of Thrones (the books) is something I am at turns curious about and totally put off by. I'm put off because it's a HUGE series (12 books or more) and is incomplete. I don't want to get engrossed in something that long and then have the author faff around and never finish. My God, I think I'd kill someone. Because of that, I am growing more and more curious about the show since maybe I can get the gist of the series in bite-sized pieces without possibly investing myself in something that goes nowhere in the long run. *thinky* Also, slash and incest you say? Slashy incest? I wish to know more. lol

Fringe's finale did leave me going, "BZUH?!" but I also loved it, which makes me glad in my own television junkie way. This has not been a good year for finales to me--of all the shows I watch, I've liked THREE of the finales; the rest left me going, "NO NO NO DON'T DO THAT!" Fringe is one that left me torn, but utterly enthralled at the same time and looking forward to seeing where they take it because Fringe is one of those "next level" shows. It's consistently good and marvelously fucked up. Plus, Walter is awesome. :D

House... just... *hands* Idek what is going on there and while I still enjoy the acting in the show immensely, House is just way too out of control and I am finding it difficult to believe that, with some of his truly AWFUL behavior (breaking shit in Wilson's office comes immediately to mind) that people would be that willing to put up with him. He's totally abusive and out of control; he's just gotten horrible. I used to love his snark and crassness but I watch now and most of the time all I can think is, "You fucking bastard" and find myself wondering why he doesn't get (A) fired or (B) beat down to the ground because he totally deserves it.

I have no idea who Anna Popplewell is (don't throw things!) but she has beautiful eyelashes and lovely skin.

For the DVD commentary thing I chose this part because the last line truly resonates and is beautiful to me. So, I'd love some commentary on it:

Sometimes, Nathan is the one who shares too much, the one who's all gory detail and sickening mental image. Sometimes, when he whispers "Dr. Reid?" into the darkness and Reid does not respond, when Nathan isn't sure if he's awake or not and starts talking anyway, just for a release, he talks about what he wants to do, what he can't stop thinking about doing. And Reid stays silent with his eyes squeezed shut and his fingers digging into the mattress and he wants, wants, wants to hold Nathan close and tell him no and tell him stop and teach him what it's like just to feel somebody in your arms, what it's like to feel someone's heart beating beneath your fingers without wanting to tear it right out.
Edited 2011-05-22 00:49 (UTC)

[identity profile] alexi-lupin.livejournal.com 2011-05-22 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
THAT Magazine is like my new favourite thing lately, after it gave us some terrifically sexy pictures of Colin Morgan :D

I haven't watched Game of Thrones, but I do watch The Borgias. Cesare/Lucrezia FTW and a huge YES on enjoying François Arnaud's face. And his VOICE.

I WAS watching Camelot but I think I was just keeping up with too many shows at once and that one fell by the wayside. It didn't grab me like the others, but it's possible I might catch up on it at some stage.

Ryan/Seth ftw.

OMG you know what I only found out yesterday? Jamie Campbell Bower and Bonnie Wright are ENGAGED. It blew my mind!

Oooh DVD meme! I pick:

Harry says nothing. He slips William's shirt from its hanger, and helps a reluctant William into it, sliding each tensed arm into the cool fabric of each sleeve. He begins to button it and William does not protest. He wants to say I can dress myself, you know, but he's not sure that he can. His hands are clammy and shaking a little. Harry tucks the shirt into the trousers. William has been dressed by someone else before, all brusque and businesslike with practised hands. This is not the way Harry does it; Harry is slow and careful and deliberate, almost torturously so.

"I meant it, you know," William murmurs. He doesn't even know if he believes himself anymore, but he wants Harry to believe him, wants a reaction.

Harry won't give it to him. He doesn't speak, instead lifts up William's heavy jacket and eases him into it. It is a weight on William's shoulders. Harry straightens the sash, pulls the belt tight, steps back as if to admire his work. He is still only in his trousers, and they are unfastened, a triangle of white boxer shorts visible where they open. Their image in the adjacent mirror is strange, William thinks—he sees himself, the full military uniform bright, extravagent, official; and then his little brother, bare-chested with bare feet, trousers undone, messy—but in some ways it seems oddly perfect, right.

"You look good," says Harry. He manages to make it sound emotionless, somehow, a simple statement of fact, not a real compliment, with no hidden meanings.

He brushes the jacket down, though it's not at all necessary. The thing is spotless, but Harry wipes from it invisible dust and lint, and the slide of his hands over William's torso makes William ache. In a flash, without thinking, he grabs at Harry's arms, finds his fingers clenched tight around them.

"Stop it," he implores, and then, words falling from his lips before he has a chance to hold them back, "you're driving me crazy."

His grip loosens; his hands fall and he crumbles.

"I'm sorry." He takes a deep breath, lets it out shakily. "You're being...you're being very mature. I'm sorry. I should be thankful."

He swears under his breath again, and Harry says "hey," takes him by the hand, smoothes soothing fingers over his skin. William feels Harry's thumb against the frantic pulse in his wrist. It adds fuel to the fire, somehow; William misses him like they haven't touched for years, misses him fiercely and hungrily. He wants to pull his hand from Harry's grasp and get as far away as possible, or he wants to push him up against the wall and fuck him, deep, slow, forgetting everything.

He does not do either. He stands and he quivers under Harry's touch, and he thinks of Kate, and wedding vows, and the thousands of people who are gathered outside, and he leans into his brother as though they're being drawn together by some outside force. Their foreheads touch. William is sweating, his uniform thick and hot. He wants Harry to kiss him, wants it with every fibre of his being. There are footsteps and chatter outside, and he doesn't even care. He is leaning in for the kiss, wanting it so badly that he doesn't even realise that Harry is still, standing straight-backed, simply waiting.

[identity profile] prunesquallormd.livejournal.com 2011-05-22 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
This comment really confused me at first. I spent the entire post thinking you were calling it THAT magazine because it was somehow dodgy so you didn't want to actually name it.
THAT is such a silly name for a magazine :D

[identity profile] prunesquallormd.livejournal.com 2011-05-22 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
ANNA ♥
Oh my, I think she actually gets prettier. Also, HER SMILE <3<3<3

A quick general warning re. A Song of Ice and Fire. I've been intrigued about it for a while, but I've held off on checking it out because George RR Martin is famously bad with deadlines. The next volume in the series has been 5 or more years in writing, and there's no sign of it yet. I suspect he may have an enormous case of writer's block, poor guy. So, if getting heavily into a series that has no apparent end in sight really hacks you off you might want to hold off on it for a bit. Saying that, though, it's still supposed to be really good :D

I'd not heard of The Borgias before but now I really want to see it. Is it on UK TV?
(Oh, and I too very much approve of consensual whipping. There should totally be more of it :D).

I've heard more than once about the awesomeness of both Community and Parks & Recreation. Must give them a look!

Such a shame that Anna's new project didn't get picke up :( Did you ever get to see the pilot?

[identity profile] prunesquallormd.livejournal.com 2011-05-22 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd love you to talk about any part of "do it like a brother (do it like a dude)", because it's one of my favourite of your recent stories. Because, well, ANNA/GEORGIE <3. Also, there will never be a time when Georgie topping Anna isn't both hot and adorable, so.

I particularly like the afterparty scene, so how about this bit?
"This turns out not to be the case. At all.

The afterparty seems to intensify her feelings—whatever these feelings are—as she watches Georgie drink (mostly Ben's beer), and dance (mostly with other girls), and then take breaks from dancing by sitting down in a very stereotypically masculine way with her legs open, and all the while she's wearing that suit, and whenever she comes into view Anna can't take her eyes off her. 

She can't do much of anything, actually, spending the first half of the night slumped next to Skandar and complaining at him. After a while, Will comes over, and Anna is suspicious of the timing of this—Skandar was just texting surreptitiously a moment ago, and she has the feeling he was sending an S.O.S. for someone to take over as Anna's shoulder to panic on.

"Anna's having a sexuality crisis," Skandar informs Will. "She wants some girl-on-girl action."

Will frowns in bemusement, and then there's a sudden flash of realisation across his face. He looks back at the crowd behind him, spotting Georgie and pointing at her, looking between her and Anna several times. Then, for good measure, he exclaims, "With Georgie?"

He sits down on Skandar's other side, and looks at him, wide-eyed, waiting for elaboration.

But Skandar just shrugs. "She's wearing a suit. You know how it is when women wear suits." Anna can't tell if he's serious. 

"Really, though, Anna?" Will asks. "I mean—it's Georgie."

"No. Yes. No...maybe," Anna stammers. "I don't know," she wails pathetically.

"But it's Georgie," Will stresses.

"I knowww," Anna groans, cradling her head in her hands. "Don't remind me."

"Don't you think she might be up for it?" she hears Skandar asking Will.

"I don't know," is Will's indignant response. "I don't want to think about it." He pauses for a moment—clearly thinking about it. "She has been dancing all night with—thingy, you know, the girl who plays Jill."

Skandar laughs. "You're so rude. You could at least make an effort."

"Hang on," Anna interrupts, sitting up straight again. "She has?"

"Yeah, let's get back to the real issue at hand," Skandar snorts into his champagne, "Anna's desperate struggle against her oncoming gayness."

"I say give in to it," Will says, reaching across her for Skandar's champagne glass and taking a sip, ignoring Skandar's half-hearted protests. "It's more fun that way."

"Is this really just because of The Suit?" Skandar asks. (Anna has begun to think of it with capital letters.)

"The Suit has evil, sexuality-warping powers," Anna replies helplessly.

"Tilda is wearing a suit," Will points out, "do you have massively inappropriate feelings for her tonight too?"

Anna has no time to explain the intricate—and probably not immediately obvious—differences between the two suits, and all the ways in which Will clearly doesn't understand, because at that moment she spots Georgie making her way through the crowd towards them. Anna gulps. "Give me that," she hisses, grabbing the champagne glass from Will's hand and draining it in one. 

Will shakes his head in disbelief. "I still can't believe you're getting like this over Georgie," he mutters. "She's like our little sister."

"Oh, ew, don't say that," Anna groans. Skandar laughs. "In fact, don't say anything, she's coming over here."

"Hey," says Georgie, arriving in front of the three of them and hooking her thumbs through her braces in a way that makes Anna find it difficult to focus on the conversation that follows.

"Got tired of dancing with Jill?" Will asks, smirking a little.

Georgie looks at him, tilts her head on one side and frowns. "Yeah, actually."

"Well, maybe there's someone else who'd like to take her place," Skandar says, not at all subtly, even going so far as to nudge Anna with his elbow.

"Oh, really?" Georgie is grinning. 

Anna feels like her body is folding in on itself."

[identity profile] fakebody.livejournal.com 2011-05-22 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
gah, I just started rewatching the oc too! love love love that show.

[identity profile] umbrrrayla.livejournal.com 2011-05-23 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
She is super pretty. And I like that she doesn't 'pose'. I mean, obviously she poses, but not in that ghastly "I've been recently media-trained" way. Georgie is good at posing nicely for cameras too. Plus she has awesome style. Which is unfair. She is fifteen.

Anyway, hey, we're in the same tv boat! I've been too busy watching Luther and Parks and Recs to watch last week's Game of Thrones which I'm not as in love with as I was for the first two eps. I feel let down, do you? The first ep gave a different impression of what the atmosphere for the show was going to be. Luther has scared the crap out of me and caused me to have dreams I actually remember for the first time in years. Unfortunately, they all involve a sociopathic killer who sneaks into my house and calmly makes herself a cup of coffee so that when I wake up in real life to an empty house, I have to convince myself that she's not downstairs. It's a really good show.

Camelot - I didn't realise that was a tv series because it's always mentioned along with Eva Green's name, so I assumed it was a movie. Now, I'm curious. Even if it's crap. (I trust your opinion - you know, because of your 'weirdly specific powers' *solemn nod*)

House - must buy the last two boxsets, totally lost track even though it was my favourite show, and now you've scared the crap out of me about how out of control it's got - should I be scared? Also... I think Hugh Laurie might leave the show soon. Gahhhhh :(

The OC - man, I loved that! It was shown where I live before it got big, so I loved it, and then it got huge, but then after the first two series it got crap. But it was good while it lasted. Nothing like a good bromance and Peter Gallagher's eyebrows.

Parks and Recs - oh my god, SO good! And totally not what I thought it was either. I didn't know it was an Office-y format. Which is great at helping with my Steve Carell grief. Andy running in his casts with his penis hanging out will not ever stop being funny! Plus Ben Schwartz from Jake and Amir is in it.


Ooh, cool meme - there's too many to pick from, so here's the first one I found in my favourite fic of yours. Except I'll have to post it as another comment because apparently I've wittered on for too many words.

[identity profile] umbrrrayla.livejournal.com 2011-05-23 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
Skandar is the first to put his thumb to use, finding that it is in the perfect place to touch Anna's clit. He's scared of hurting her like Will did, so he brushes the pad of his thumb against it gently, watching closely for her reaction. She sucks her bottom lip between her teeth, squeezing her eyes shut, and tightens her grip on his cock. He takes this to be a good sign and does it again, slicking his finger in circles against her clit. If anyone had told him the first girl he'd be doing this to would be Anna he would've thought them crazy, but as it is now, there's no one else he'd rather. Will's thumb nudges his out of the way, and at first he's a little cross, but then he realises it's only fair that they share.

A moment later Will is disentangling himself from the two of them, and they turn to him in confusion. Anna sits up straight, closing her legs, and Skandar's cock throbs at the loss of her hand. He looks up at Will, who is standing now at the foot of the bed.

"I'm sorry," he says. "I just—I can't wait any longer. Hold on."

He disappears into the bathroom and comes back in a second later with a small box in his hand.

"Oh," says Anna. "Oh...er..."

Skandar feels very lost until Will sits down on the bed, the box by his side, and Skandar reads the writing on it. Oh.

"Oh, Anna, I'm sorry. I just assumed," Will says, all in one breath. He looks down. "You've never...?"

Anna shakes her head. "No," she says quietly. "But I—well, I want to. With you."

Neither of them ask Will the same question—if he's ever...—Skandar because he doesn't want to know the answer, and he assumes Anna's reason is similar. Anna scoots back on the bed and lays down so that her head is on the pillow. Her dark hair pools around her head, standing out against the pale cream colour of the sheets. Will is still sitting at the foot of the bed. He pulls off his boxers properly and fumbles with the box, tearing it open and taking out a shiny foil square packet.

"You okay, Skandar?" Anna says softly, and Skandar looks back to her.

"Yeah," he says, dragging a hand back through his hair. He answers the question as if all she's asked is if he'd mind if she ate the last biscuit or something. "No, no, it's cool."

She smiles at him—a wide, happy, genuine smile that makes it hard for him to be so jealous—and then looks behind him at Will, who is crawling up the bed towards them, holding a condom.

To his surprise, Will hands the condom to him, and says in a low voice, "Can you give me a hand?"

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