NDrewRndll

Ooh new story. You know, I've been slowly catching up on Arcum Nights, but it's been going so slowly, purely bc my April got super busy super fast. But it should be easier to keep up with this one since it's just beginning. Lwk wondering who's gonna die now, too. This is gonna be fun... in a non-morbid way anyway.👀

Well, then I guess I have a lot of catching up to do 😛

I have not, in fact, read the first one. I do want to, tho. Is it required reading? Will I be missing anything if I haven't read it beforehand? 🫣

Hm, interesting. Quite the tonal shift from PBaB--and don't get me wrong, I don't mean that as a bad thing. I am intrigued. I do have a huge soft spot for high fantasy, having grown up on LotR and ASoIaF (and to a lesser extent Harry Potter, but we don't have to talk about that, lol), so I'm probably gonna enjoy this. 😛

Well, whatever you write next, I'll be reading it for sure.😛

Okay. I can't say I'm surprised that I'm having a hard time letting go of these characters. This story was just that good from the start. It's not often that I encounter characters with that much depth, so clearly rounded, with pointed flaws and real struggles. But Shaun and Jesse are definitely those characters, and really, everybody else, too. Even Monica, whom I dearly detest, lol. I want more. I really do. But if this is the end, then it's a damn good one. Shaun and Jesse deserve their Happy Ever After, Brian deserves the right to call Shaun his dad, and Sam deserves the right to call Shaun hia brother-in-life. That life they've built for themselves in the epilogue, they've completely earned it. And so does everyone else, tbh. Kinda wish we'd gotten a glimpse of the diner crew, but tbf they came late into the story, and with ao many other characters, there's only so much you can cover before there is just too much going on. Anyway, yeah. I'm really gonna miss these people. You should feel about that.

Pfft. I wish. It's just work kicking my ass lmao

Lowkey trying not to get all misty-eyed right now bc I can't believe we're here. This story has been such a bright part of my free time for a long while now. I almost don't know what I'll do with myself when there's not another chapter to patiently wait for. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I got taken in by a story like this. I'll leave the commentary for another post bc I'm really sleepy. But for now I'll juat say it was an amazing final chapter. And Shaun and Brian lowkey made me melt! Lol

Well, I guess I was right! Holy shit! Really, I should know better than to not expect you to throw a wrench at Shaun's life the moment things start settling, but even this caught me by surprise. After Shaun and Jesse's week from hell finally came to an end on Friday, the last thing I thought would happen was Ben and Gretchen kicking up the weekend's shitstorm with a freaking pegging video L O L. For once, I'm fully with Shaun on this one. What the hell were they thinking? It's almost too freaking funny, but ig here we are. OTOH, though, Shaun handled it all a lot better than he would have a week earlier, and that's honestly impressive. Yes, Jesse had to rein him a little in the beginning, but he still managed to pull himself together in record time for Brian's sake, and he even managed to salvage Harry's relationship along the way. Really, that whole phone conversation with Quinn was a feat in and of itself. Side-note, buf ofc Sam would be the one to find out about Gretchen and Ben first, lmao. I'm starting to wonder just how chronically online he really is. Also, Brian, my precious little dinosaur- costumed bean, had the best halloween ever, even if the world was lowkey on fire all around him. He must be protected at all cost! 😤 Can't believe we're down to the last chapter. What am I gonna do when it's all over? 😭 Could I maybe interest you in a sequel or a spin-off? 'Cause that'd be cool, js. 👀

Okay I just read the last chapter. I'm gonna have to leave this one for tomorrow bc I'm just too tired, but I couldn't go to bed without saying fuck you Monica, you are such a horrible mother. Also yay Shaun actually had a great Friday where nothing horrible happened to him. So, naturally, I expect Saturday will be a shit show, but I'll have to wait till tomorrow to find out if I'm right.

Oh c'mon, man. We were doing so well... I don't wanna hate on Imani, I know she's just doing her job and trying to do what's best for the kids. But God, did she get on my every last nerve. I guess I'm just experiencing anxious irritation on Shaun's behalf. Also, someone give Brian a hug bc none of this is his fault and he was just being a kid trying to be helpful... and failing. 🫠 Also yay Monica, get shit on! But also, where tf is Cliff? Is he just gonna bail on his unborn child? Is Jesse about to get a fifth sibling to stress over? I mean, I guess that was always gonna be the case, but... Oh well. I guess that's Thursday. I hope Friday turns out a bit better, tho I'm not holding my breath.

Oh yeah! I completely forgot to bring this up last night (blame it on the hour😛), but it was definitely on my mind. I don't wanna call it hitting rock-bottom bc that's not quite what it was, but it was for sure a wake-up call for Shaun, that he could really hurt Jesse bc this is how he's been dealing with all the ugly parts of himself. Maybe he could afford to be so cavalier with his own life when it was just him, but he's not just living for himself anymore; he's also living for Jesse, just like Jesse's living for him--and they're both living for Sam and Brian. Just imagine what could've happened if Brian had left his bed and come after Shaun. Forget seeing Shaun naked--he could've found Jesse covered in blood! And what if Sam had heard them, too? What if he had come up from the basement? That whole episode could've caused a lot of damage; far more than Shaun and Jesse could hope to repair on their own. My hope is that he'll be leaning on Jesse more after this. I mean... they do have a better way of dealing with the anger now lmao. Also yes, bring Dallas over to hang wiith Shaun. They could use the buddy time and they're both free, and Shaun could use some perspective 'cause he might've gotten too caught up on the job. I get it, finding a sense of purpose in your work is not a bad thing, but at the end of the day, his passion is Defaced, not digging trenches.

... Well, that happened. I shouldn't be reading this late. It just makes it harder for me to process things, but I just couldn't help it after seeing the notification. Whatever. Anyway, yeah. Okay, that was hot. lmao. But yeah, I guess Shaun's learned a couple things about himself tonight. He can't just fix everything himself, partly because not everything can be fixed. But also, he doesn't have to. Jesse can help if Shaun just let's him, and that's what it means to be together, to build a life and a family together. Miguel's also absolutely right. Nobody said Shaun needed to apologize or justify himself before anyone. It's not about seeking validation, it's about owning who he is, for his own sake first of all. Also, idk what's gonna happen with his job, or Dallas, or anyone else, really, but I think this is one thing that Shaun really needs to let go. Yes, it sucks for everyone, but this isn't something he should blame himself for bc ultimately he didn't cause it; Bobby did. But even more than that, in the end, it's just a job, just a paycheck. It was never Shaun's lifelong dream to work at Texas Waterproofing. It's just a stepping stone, and there will be others. Now, idk what you're planning for Erin, but I hope it's painful. I relate to Shaun's frustration over essentially watching from the sidelines on this one, so I hope he and Jesse at leastcget the satisfaction of watching Erin truly pay for everything he's done; to them, and everyone else whose lives he's wrecked. Also the whole diner was cute again today. No notes. Brian and Olivia and adorable little beans.

... Ykw? I think I'm just gonna sit here and quietly hum the Gilmore Girls tune to myself while I wait for the next chapter instead saying something that will make me look even more like a goober (Lalalala-laaa...)

... WAIT! That is not what I meant, omg 😭