I want the monopoly on Modern!AU McGrawHamilton
That said I can’t have it so instead have my bullet point ideas.
1) Thomas and James meet an a political rally and end up spending a night in holding together when the peaceful protest is interupted by the po-po who ain’t having it. Imagine Socialist!Thomas taking James to all of his meetings with various unions, and political movements and stuff and showing off his perfect boyfriend. For his part James was also always a socialist, but he could never imagine doing all the political manoeuvring that Thomas is doing with ease.
2) James and Thomas as dads. Their kids are Abigail, Eleanor, Ben Gunn and Jack Rackham. Think “My family”, so a slightly off beat family of people who are sarcastic and wild but fun and love each other. (”What’s the time?” James asks Thomas when he hears something in the kitchen smash. “Uuuugghhhh....... 8 am.” Thomas responds groggily. “Why the fuck are they already awake?! I thought teenagers sleep in!!!!” Something metallic clutters on the floor. Thomas gets out of bed. “Kids, can’t you practise QUIET vandalism, or break things outside where your father and I can’t hear them breaking????” There’s silence for 5 seconds, then aparently the entire china cabinet hits the floor. “SORRY!!!!” Eleanor yells up the stairs. “The cat got stuck, and has now unstuck itself.” Jack explains. “At the cost of all our bloody china.” James says from somewhere behind Thomas. “Not all of it.” Ben offers brightly. “Have kids, you said.” Thomas whispers to James. “It’ll be great.” James grins brightly before leaving the bedroom to deal with their wayward kids and cat. Thomas rubs his head before huffing out a laugh. “Mirandas’ porcelain survived!” James yells from down stairs. “But Uncle Johns mug is dead.” Abigail says. “YES!” James exclaims. “I mean, I’m sad.” James corrects quickly. Thomas goes down the stairs to deal with the disaster.)
3) James is in a death metal band called The Wailing Walrus. Thomas is a classical violinist, training for the conservatoire. They are also dating each other. Other people don’t get it, but they get it. Cue Thomas playing the electric violin for one of James’ song and James being excited to wear a fancy suit to go and see his boyfriend perform. James also plays the piano and he a Thomas make music together.
4) James and Thomas work on a film together as Director and Director of Photography respectively. Stuff happens. The film is cancelled (after production). James is distraught. Thomas is also distraught. They end up working on the film together after buying it’s rights, licenses and acquiring all the footage they shot. It takes 8 months before the first cut is produced. They ran out of money and move in together to save money and to get the film together. It’s released to lukewarm reception, so they go back to the drawing board with the story and start again from scratch. It takes them 3 years to get the film out, this time to mass applause and accolades. (At which point in time they’ve begun dating and are now getting married). Yay.
5) James and Thomas in the same college. James is there because he wants to go to Uni and get a PhD in Literature. Thomas is there because it’s an escape from his family and their overbearing bullshit. They date, fight, make up and finally graduate. James goes to uni, Thomas becomes an artist. They rent a flat together and make it their home. (At this point Thomas’ father has disowned him so he has no money. He also has no clue how to “working class”. “Where are you going?” James asks Thomas. “To Waitrose. We need a cake if we are having guests over. Cake, and biscuits and finger sanwiches and mini-quiches-” “What the fuck Thomas?” Thomas looks at James blankly. “We’ll offer them Doritos and salsa dip, which we’ll buy at the Aldi around the corner.” “Maybe some cake, biscuits and small sandwiches.” Thomas insists. “Fine, but Aldi brand cake, simple biscuits- you can’t go wrong with HobNobs and Fig Newtons- and we’ll make like 6 grilled cheeses and cut them into small dainty shapes.” “Okay.” Thomas concedes. They spend seven quid at Aldi. “We would have spent over 20 quid at Waitrose.” James tells Thomas. Thomas says nothing because he had been planning on spending 50 quid at Waitrose (he hadn’t mentioned the pate, the cheese and cured meat platter and the wine he had wanted to buy). James goes to uni, has a breakdown in third year and can’t graduate. Thomas gives him encouragement and he finally gets his Masters after 6 years at uni (as opposed to 4, there’s a year gap where he isn’t at uni, he’s just recovering from his breakdown, and he does the final year after this year break). They’re happy, James gets into his PhD program and ends up working on education reform after his breakdown. Thomas’ ends up going to Uni to study video game design and, with James, designs a video game that becomes quite popular in indie game circles. They live relatively happy lives.
