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 😭

Shaun being all "domestic" and stuff is making me feel a certain kind of way. This whole family life he and Jesse have built with Sam and Brian is just so cute. Seriously, it's like The Gilmore Girls, but gay, and with metal and Texas heat! I have a feel Shaun's right to be concerned about Brian's particular interest in the Bad Nurse situation. It's probably gonna end up in his made-up stories sooner rather than later. Sam and Tiffany are cute, too, in that "eugh, teens" sort of way. Which is funny bc Shaun and Jesse are still teens themselves, even if high school already feels like a lifetime ago. Shaun remarking how Sam's doing a lot better in the aftermath of the Kyle of it all, did remind me, though, that he wasn't the only one hurt. Jesse was, too, and well, I don't think we really got to him process it for himself. Jesse's really been through a lot, and he's still managed to keep it together for his siblings and his kind, and Shaun. That's actually one thing I really liked about this chapter. For a day, at least, Shaun got to step into Jesse's shoes and experience all the little things he does to keep their little makeshift family running. And it's s not like he's been oblivious to it, but now he should understand a bit better that he's not alone in his struggles; Jesse's right there with him, and he doesn't need to be shielded from the problems, which is what I feel Shaun mostly trying to do usually. Now Shaun just needs to let him in.

Just a thought, like I said 😇

This is the most honest description of reddit I've read in a while. With that out of the way, I had a big read again 'cause I guess you're picking up speed now that you're nearing the finish line, so that means I can't slack on my reading anymore lol. But anyway, I'm gonna try to get through this while my thoughts are fresh. First of all, Monica fucking sucks. The End. The fact that having a couple of literal grandparents take on the burden of raising her kids is the solution to her atrocious parenting almost makes me mad. Don't get me wrong, Ruth and Eli are the absolute GOATs, and I'm sure they can handle it, but after raising Shaun's dad, and then Shaun, I feel genuinely bad that they have to do this, too. But more importantly, it's just feels like Monica's getting off easy, and that woman deserves every bad consequence coming her way. Seriously, I just need her to suffer. Next, I feel really, really bad for Shaun. Like, it feels personal at this point, the way the universe keeps trying to fuck him over. When he broke down and said to Jesse "I just wanted one thing to be mine," that really fucking broke me. It's just too much, and Jesse's absolutely right that he is depressed--and who wouldn't be, really? And him feeling worse after having sex with Jesse makes perfect sense. I appreciate that he has enough self-awareness to realize that his state of mind is very unhealthy atm, but I just can't blame him. In another life, he'd start going to therapy; but since that's not possible, he needs a way to process all of what's happened to him, not just this last couple chapters, but as a whole. He's been through way more than most people would be able to handle, and honestly, that he's still standing after all, and raising a family on top of it. He's way stronger than he knows. I know Jesse's probably feeling not-great after the sex either, and I know he's not gonna blame it on Shaun or anything, but... Idk. It's tough. Shaun really needs him right now. That's all I can really say about it. Also kinda related side-note, Jesse's whole work life, his coworkers, his costumers, just everything about it? Chef's kiss. No notes. One single portion of a chapter and I'm confident I could read a whole fucking story just about it. It's just fucking beautiful, and it's so him. This could be the Gilmore Girls, lol, it feels that cozy. Not gonna lie, I completely forgot Erin existed until you brought him back, which in hindsight was really silly of me. Ofc that was gonna happen. I really hope Sam's little plan works--which btw, Sam being a little evil genius hatching schemes and generally acting like a smart-ass is really funny. Idk, it just reminds me of me at 13, acting like I knew everything when, lbr, I didn't know shit lmao. Oh, and Erin popping up reminded me of a thought I had way back then when his night with Shaun was still fresh and he wasn't an utter piece of shit yet. Completely unrelated to everything that's happening rn, btw, but iirc, Shaun did get really into the ass-play with him, which made me wonder just how open (npi) he would be to the idea of bottoming, at least for Jesse. I mean, at this point the dynamic of their relationship when it comes to sex is pretty clear, but it always did feel to me, especially back then, that Shaun has a lot of issues with control. You can see it even now with how he's struggling with having it taken from him by Bobby and Erin's actions, how he no longer gets to dictate the terms of how people perceive him publicly. So, I think Shaun really could use some help learning to let go. And maybe this is one thing Jesse could help him with...? Maybe? lol Idk, just a stray thought... also a tiny selfish part of me that wants that to happen, js. 👀

Okay. Just finished reading this and it's almost 3, so I'm gonna leave all coherent thought for tomorrow and just say Monica you are an absolute bitch who doesn't deserve the family she has. Also... I know you're ready for this story to come to an end... But I'm not 😭

Well, Harry said it best. That was a night. There's so much I need to wrap my head around! Defaced popping off for realsies this time, to an audience of a quarter of a million people, no less. Shaun really is a freaking rockstar now; after that set, no one can say otherwise. Also lots of personal growth. He could've jumped off stage and mauled Bobby to death, but instead he walked him with his stage presence alone, without having to throw a single punch. But the most important part is that he's finally out! He did it on his own terms at least to the people that matter to him, and sure, there will be fallout from that picture in Bobby's phone, but I think Shaun's strong enough to handle it now (side note, thank you for throwing Shaun's last name in there. I knew it was Wilson, but it's been so long since it was brought up in the story that I was starting to second-guess it lol). And they have a house now! Still waiting for that fresh hell I mention in the comments from last chapter, tho. They can't keep winning forever, even if I want them to. 😖 And now there's the dude in the suit. I'm feeling good vibes, but we'll have to see ig.

Sigh, this was nice. Jesse's really getting things done for his family, and Shaun's slowly making progress at work. Hell, the two of them are even working through the issues in their relationship... in their own, singular way. ... which is why I can't wait to find out what kind of fresh hell's gonna come at them now 🫠 lol. Maybe someone will get shot at the popup show. Maybe Kyle will come back from the dead to ruin everyone's night! Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be a fun read 🤪

Don't even! I love, love, love reading your ginormous chapters, and selfishly wish more people wrote them like this. 😜

Imagine being me, coming back from a whole week away due to work, and getting not one, but two whole-ass chapters to catch up on. Man, that was a lot of reading 😵‍💫 I'm gonna be honest, I dread it when a character in a story hits a streak of good luck, bc usually that means something really bad is about to happen to them. That said, Jesse needed these wins. It made me happy to read him getting shit done. OTOH, Shaun got all the bad karma to balance it out, I guess, which in a way feels deserved--he was never just going to get way with murder, even if he technically did. The universe is still keeping tab. That said, I still worry that it's not over. Something did come loose in Shaun after Friday night, and he needs to confront that before it takes him down a dark path. For his family's sake as much as his own. Random side-note: Monica will forever be a bitch, I guess, but at least Cliff is there now to keep it together when she doesn't. I feel bad for him. I feel bad for that whole household, tbh. Here's hoping it won't all explode by Wednesday night lol. Oh well...

Yeah, I don't think Detective Harris is coming back for a chat with Shaun anytime soon. That's not the problem. Shaun crossed a line. Yes, Ethan was already dead and Kyle was halfway there when he found him, but it was still Shaun that ended his life. There's a weight to that choice and Shaun's already feeling it, and Jesse kind of is as well. And Shaun didn't mean for it, but, well, that's the consequence of his choice. I think it's more than just guilt. I think it's fear. Fear of himself. And Shaun's gonna need Jesse now to get through it, whether he recognizes that or not.

What does it say about me that I kinda like it when stories do that sometimes? 👀