alex claremont-diaz and henry fox — a playlist

a wonderfully patient and creative nonnie asked for a list of prompts based on interactions between two good friends in the aftermath of a trauma that happens to one of them, and i’m nothing if not a sucker for angst and deeply emotional connections! so here we go! i’m hoping these will be up to the nonnie’s expectations! have a wonderful day, my lovelies, and DO NOT ADD TO THIS LIST !!

“ i really hate seeing you like this… “

“ why don’t we hang out tonight? like we used to, you know? order in cheap take-out, watch crappy movies, go for a walk… whatever you want, right? “

“ please say something… anything. even if it’s telling me to shut up and leave you alone… just say something. “

“ i really miss you, you know. “

“ i’m here. you got that? i don’t care if you never say anything to me ever again. i don’t care. i’m not going away, and i’m not going to stop being here for you, no matter how long you glare at me or ignore me or pretend that you’re okay. because i know you’re not. i know. “

“ talk to me. i don’t care what we talk about. it doesn’t have to be anything big. we don’t need to talk about whatever happened to you, not unless you want to. i just… just talk to me, will you? “

“ you know, i talk to a lot of people every single day. i hear all their voices telling me all kinds of stuff; i hear it all. and the only voice i really wanna listen to is yours, you know? even when you’re driving me crazy. so come on. please… just drive me crazy again? “

“ …seriously? no come-back? no witty retort? no… sarcastic shot at me? come on, i… i know we never ask these things, but, honestly, i’m worried about you. what’s going on? “

“ penny for your thoughts? hell. a dollar? ten? fifty? my whole life-savings? damn, at this rate i’d give away everything i own just to hear your voice again. “

“ this is like, the ninth voicemail i’ve left, and i know you hate voicemails, so i’m thinking this might be the one that pisses you off enough to pick up the phone and talk to me. because despite the number of times i’ve told you to shut up, i’m actually begging you to say something, now. weird how things work out, isn’t it? anyway. pick up your freaking phone, moron. please. “

“ will you please talk to me? please? “

“ i have exhausted every single topic that i can think of to get you to open your mouth and say something to me. all of them. you leave me no choice… how are you? “

“ listen, we’re all really worried about you. okay? and we wanna help you, but we don’t know how. so how about you write us a note, or something? maybe just, open the door, huh? i just wanna know that you’re okay. “

“ you’re not alone, you know. you’ve got people who love you. who care about you. you’ve got me. and i’m not going anywhere. “

“ look, i don’t know what happened to you. and i don’t need you to tell me, okay? i don’t… i just want you to know that i’m here. i got you. no matter what. and if you need some space, then… then i can leave. just tell me what you need, okay? “

“ i don’t need you to say anything. you don’t even need to open the door. i’m just gonna slide this paper under the door, okay? you tell me what you want for dinner, and i’ll bring it up. “

“ i’m sending you on a list of therapists and group support meetings in the area, okay? you don’t have to go, but… promise me you’ll take a look at the list, right? “

“ listen, i know you gave me a copy of your key for emergencies, and this feels like an emergency, but… if the silent treatment is part of you trying to get some space, then i don’t wanna intrude. you know? so just text me if that’s what this is, and i’ll leave you alone. “

Sentence starters meant to be used as roleplay prompts & sentence starters. These are from the book Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. Please feel free to change pronouns and words as needed!

“  rule one: don’t get caught. ”

“  my kind of love story is much more shakespearean. " 

"  aw, little buddy, it’s cute how you think everything is about you. " 

"  you’re like a cardboard cutout of a person. " 

"  you’re used to sleeping alongside ghosts. " 

"  there are a lot of things worth overthinking, believe me. but this isn’t one of them. " 

"  it doesn’t matter where you come from or who your family is — you can always be great if you’re true to yourself. ”

“  can you move? i’d rather not be the little spoon. ”

“  i feel like you’re missing the point that it’s a douchey thing to say either way. " 

"  doing what we do is fucking hard. " 

"  you’re basically a living reminder that i’ll always be compared to someone else, no matter what i do, even if i work twice as hard. ”

“  isn’t there something to be valued in a happy ending as well? ”

“  you keep doing that stupid smile every time you look at your phone. ”

“  one does not foster a lifelong love of star wars without knowing an ‘empire’ isn’t a good thing. ”

“  you are a thistle in the tender and sensitive arse crack of my life. " 

"  i’m not going to have a marriage of convenience with you if you’re always embarrassing me with the way you eat burritos. ”

“  hey, so, uh, remember when we dated? " 

"  he’s gay and you’re hot, so. ”

“  you’ve been, like, draco malfoy level obsessed with him forever. ”

“    when someone asks who you’re texting, you act like you got caught watching porn. ”

“  cool to see you’re not dead or anything. " 

"  is this a scheme of seduction? " 

"  are you going to stop this now that it’s real? ”

“  god, you are the most insufferable goddamn bastard on the face of the planet, do you know that — fuck — you’re infuriating, you’re the worst, you’re— " 

"  i’m gonna take your pants off now. ”

“  we’re still whatever we were before, just, you know. with blowjobs. " 

"  what in the rich white people sex dungeon hell? ”

“  i’ve thrown men in the dungeon for less. " 

"  hey, don’t threaten me with a good time. ”

“  i don’t know if i have it in me anymore. to be a part of someone’s happiness. " 

"  nobody’s ever outright told me to lie about who i am. " 

"  oh my god, how are you so smart and so dumb at the same time? " 

"  you have so much in you it’s almost impossible to match it. ”

“  maybe there’s more than one dream for you. or more than one way to get there." 

"  it pisses me off sometimes, thinking about everything you’ve been through. " 

"  stop trying to jane austen my life! " 

"  you really think it’s a good idea to present me with a challenge, sweetheart? " 

"  ready when you are, love. " 

"  you are so fucking beautiful. " 

"  your arse in those trousers is a crime. ”

“  you’re brave. i could use some of that. ”

“  are you sure you don’t want to talk about it? ”

“  someone else’s choice doesn’t change who you are. ”

“  most things are awful most of the time, but you’re good. ”

“  you’re a dumbass, but i trust you. ”

“  you’re way too close to the sun. ”

“  have you ever read any of alexander hamilton’s letters to john laurens? ”

“  history, huh? bet we could make some. " 

"  the phrase ‘see attached bibliography’ is the single sexiest thing you have ever written to me. ”

“  are you angling for a revolutionary soldier role-play scenario? " 

"  should i tell you that when we’re apart, your body comes back to me in dreams" 

"  do you feel forever about him? ”

“  i swear, you don’t make it fucking easy. but i’m in love with you. ”

“  you’re not even gonna try to be happy? " 

"  my birthright is a country, not happiness. ”

“  i want you. but i don’t want this. ”

“  a curious thing about grief is the way it takes your entire life. " 

"  you love so much bigger than yourself. ”

“  i deserve a fucking nap. " 

"  you’ve always had a choice. perhaps today, you’ll make the right one. " 

"  my life is a cosmic joke and you’re not a real person. ”

“  my whole life has been about fighting. i fought. ”