#valkyrievamp

not me *le shrug*

It all started with this set

Read at your own risk (I'm not sure i gave it justice but the pervy plot bunny insisted …)

And for writing purposes, let's all agree that Welton turned into Dalton, 'kay ?

Todd Anderson had loved his years at Dalton.

Especially his Junior year, when he had cracked his shell under the guidance of one Mr. Keating, and with the help of great friends, both long dead and very much alive.

The death of Neil had been difficult to overcome, especially since his whole support system seemed to fall apart and unravel like crazy from that point.

As a matter of fact, standing on the table as a final tribute to their teacher had been the last time Todd Anderson had been proud of himself, his choices and his actions.

In the privacy of his mind, he could admit it.

Once out of Dalton, his love for poetry and the performing arts had been relocated to a far corner in his mind. His father was not a patient man, nor a loving father, but he had tried to show him the "right" path.

- Choose the right college, son, you don't want to mess up everything we worked hard for.

- Choose the right major, Toddy, or you won't get an internship in a proper firm.

- Stop dating that … actress, and find yourself a proper companion. Have you met Genevra Danburry ?

- Ginny ?

- Yes, Genevra. You should date her, see if you two … have something in common !

- You do know that all the time you spend in theaters should be focused on your work ? The first years in a firm are the most important ones, son.

After a while, his chances to remember that he had a voice, that he was able to arrange words to express his feelings became a faded memory.

When Ginny gave birth to his first son, Cooper Neil Anderson, he cried himself to sleep in his empty bed, his long-forgotten, ratted edition of Whitman's poems clutched in his hand.

8 years later, when Blaine John came into the world, he actually spent the night back at home with Cooper, the book opened on their laps, both reading in turns.

There was a child went forth every day; And the first object he look'd upon, that object he became; And that object became part of him for the day, or a certain part of the day, or for many years, or stretching cycles of years. The early lilacs became part of this child,

...

Somehow, through the years, he had forgotten the promises he had made to Neil on his grave. To keep the flame of poetry always alight in his heart. To remember to keep a fresh eye on all things. To not be afraid to express his feelings to his future kids like his father had been.

When Blaine actually came out to them, he froze. Not particularly because he was horrified or disgusted - God knew that he had stumbled onto enough of his friends tangled into an embrace that was anything but gentleman-ly at Dalton - but because he simply didn't know how to say "I love you, no matter what".

The old, battered car had not been an attempt to "straighten up" his baby boy - yes, even at 14, he was still his baby, Hell, Cooper was 22 and he was still his baby boy !- it had been an attempt to create a bond between them, so that it wouldn't feel so weird when he finally managed to say those 6 words.

Two years later, Todd Anderson found his opening.

He had come home earlier, simply tired by the way his days all looked alike.

Coming up the stairs, he could hear Blaine's voice coming out of his bedroom, but he couldn't quite make out the words he was, what, proclaiming …?

Come my tan-faced children,

Follow well in order, get your weapons ready, Have you your pistols? have you your sharp-edged axes? Pioneers! O pioneers!

For we cannot tarry here, We must march my darlings, we must bear the brunt of danger, We the youthful sinewy races, all the rest on us depend, Pioneers! O pioneers!

O you youths, Western youths, So impatient, full of action, full of manly pride and friendship, Plain I see you Western youths, see you tramping with the foremost, Pioneers! O pioneers!

The power behind his son's voice brought him back to his time at Dalton. It brought back to the forefront of his mind all those nights they spend, as a band of brothers, huddled in a cave, reading poetry or their own words.

It reminds him of the advice Mr. Keating had given to them like precious gems that he has left on the side of the road to … what ? success ? fortune ?

Pushing open the door, Todd can see his youngest son, looking so much like his mother - Ginny is in every single detail of his face, except for the eyes - and he spots his battered edition in the younger man's hand. That's the moment when he realizes that : his baby boy is a young man, and if he doesn't do something - anything ! - it will be too late, and he will lose him just like his father lost him, so many years ago.

Listening carefully to the words, a smile spreads on his lips, and Blaine is suddenly aware that he is not alone anymore.

"Dad ?" he says, cutting in his reading, and holding the book up. "I-I'm sorry, I know I should have asked, but I couldn't find my own book, and i know that the test will focus on Whitman tomorrow, I just know it, and …"

Todd can't help his chuckles. "Blaine, you're rambling."

A sigh. "I know, Dad, sorry".

The fact that his son apologizes because he is making him nervous enough to ramble is like a punch to the gut.

"Don't apologize, son, and hand it over, there is something I need to show you."

Blaine rises one eyebrow in question. Clearly, this situation starts to look like a repeat of the Twilight Zone for him.

and already 4 want them

Ellie, Adam, Adam's rper of which i forget the name, Reed.

O_O

can i rant?

short rant?

very short rant?

WHY IS SPENCER SUCH A DICK AND GODDAMNIT MERRIL IS LIKE A COMATOSE RIGHT NOW AND UGH UGH UGH

I was so unbalanced today cause I'm still not well

but my boss gave me chocolate... I like chocolate omnom

but I'm tired....

and I nearly threw up

and I tried to eat (SEE ELLIE!!) cause otherwise SOMEONE (see former named person) will want me to go to a doctor...So before I went to work i had a slice of bread with peanutbutter omnom then during work another one and a cookie and then at my grandmothers i had two small sandwiches with cheese.......that's it :) and i forced it in cause i REALLY WASNT hungry or didn't feel like eating so if it had been up to me i would've just eaten the first slice of bread and nada after