Where have you sinners gone?

Bennett Chang | 34 | Writer by Day ; knackered by night | My life has become a boring pop song and everyone's singing along.

[bennettxchang]

Bennett Chang 

I wake up to find it’s another four aspirin morning and I drive in. I put on the same clothes I wore yesterday. When did society decide we have to change and wash a t-shirt after every individual use? If it’s not dirty, I’m going to wear it. I take the stairs to the car and there’s fog on the windows. I’m finding the words ( i need caffeine in my bloodstream. I take caffeine to the bloodstream, I grip the wheel once I realize)  and you’re getting away. (My life has become a boring pop song and everyone’s singing along.) 

The Basics:

Name: Bennett Chang  Age: 34 Pronouns: he/him/his Occupation: Screen Writer (which is a fancy way to say unemployed) 

Fun Facts: (tw: death)

Bennett is from Ispwich, England. He is one of five siblings. His mother Mary and father Harrison believed every child was a gift from god. They are a very tight family but have fallen out since Bennett decided not to move home as his Nan died. 

Bennett from most of his formidable bouncing between falling madly in love with the soliloquies of  King Lear and Hamlet to horsing around with his mates. He was constantly torn between both spheres of his life. Being the pious catholic boy or the cheeky mate down the row. His father worked in one of the manufacturing factories and primed a place for his strapping son.

Since surviving through his  time at St Alban's Catholic High School, Bennett dreamed of making more than just pennies operating a forklift. He dreamed of writing and the mystery that came with the stories that haunted his mind. It’s what pushed him to making the decision to move to New York after he graduated. 

Bennett got into Columbia and focused on his craft.

At twenty five, his first screen play was picked up and brought to life on the big screen. He happily watched as his masterpiece was screened at Sundance. His life was changing but he wasn’t happy. He wasn’t writing his truths but what was easy to sell. He promised his Nan that he would write something that mattered. 

After a couple years of selling out and writing bs for networks, he broke off and vowed he would write something worthy of the greats.

The day he met, Billie Dawson, it felt like the world had color and his life changed. The funny girl who couldn’t make sense between a salad fork and a regular fork had intrigued him. He began to craft a story that had been unlike anything he had ever written before. She left so did his spark. 

Wanted Connection :

Friends with Benefits - Bennett is a romantic at heart but, let’s be real, he’s a sexy ass man who has needs okay.

Sister/Brother(s)- If anyone wanted to fill in that connection of his biological siblings or pseudo-sibs I’d be so down for it. 

The other woman- Bennett had a lady friend in New York who fancied him and he didn’t feel the same. She had found ways to complicate his life. 

[bennettxchang]

Bennett’s fingers passed along the rough grooves of the brick and mortar. The fragrant scent of her perfume wafting in the tiny alley. He promised himself that he would focus on the task at hand instead of unraveling in her presence. Billie, the heroine of his life’s story, loved him back. No words could describe the levity that she imbued in this angst ridden world. To know that despite time, distance, and his own idiocy that she could love him was enough to fulfill the sleepless dreams that kept him awake at night. Sucking in a soft breath, he pulled her in closer. 

“I know this isn’t the way but I want to show you something,” he spoke softly into her ear. A secret only for her ears. “Do you trust me and the fickle winds, Mary?” 

@billiexdawson​

[bennettxchang]

adriennediaz​:

@bennettxchang​

Adrienne felt a little out of place in the new environment. She’d hoped that making an appearance at the party would help her meet and mingle with new individuals. At least until she realized how hard it was to make new friends as adults. Especially when everyone knew each other already. Thankfully, her gaze fell upon Bennett without his date for the moment. Sliding through the crowd, she made her way towards him until she touched the crook of his arm in order to signal her presence. “Hey,” she said with a grin as she looked him over. “I love the costume.” 

Dark hues venture over him before they returned to his hues. “Are you having fun or feeling like an outside as well?”

Bennett waded through the crowd waiting for Ms. Poppins to emerge from the depths of the spooky throng of patrons. Billie promised that he would be fine amongst all the pretty ghouls and scary spice lookalikes. Instead, he felt even more like a sore british thumb in a crowd of drunken party goers who rediscovered that his accent wasn’t like their own. Breathing in a side of relief at the feeling of Adrienne’s soft touch, he patted the top of her hand gingerly. 

“You’re the prettiest Tom Cruise I’ve ever seen,” he hummed. “I still haven’t shaken off the rust but at least I’ve delighted a few of the guests with a representation of England that they enjoy. How about you? Are you feeling a bit more native?” 

[bennettxchang]

Bennett Chang + Halloween 001 { The Cheekiest of Chimney Sweeps ; Bert }

Winds in the east, mist coming in. / Like somethin' is brewin' and 'bout to begin. / Can't put me finger on what lies in store, / But I feel what's to happen all happened before.

[bennettxchang]

Billie supposed she would have been more embarrassed if she wasn’t fully aware she had a greater predisposition than others to suffer unnecessary mishaps. Running into a wall because she didn’t have the sense to perceive obscuring her vision and attempting to walk would inevitably end in a collision was a rather mild occurrence. It certainly wasn’t the most compromising position Bennett was witness to and at this point in their lengthy companionship she hardly registered the urge to feel sheepish. He never gave the impression that she need feel humiliated by any of her oddities and peculiarities. Not that she was in the habit of concealing her quirks but she’d been privy to various degrees of aversion because of them. Perhaps that’s what Billie loved most about the man - his kind heart and gentle spirit - she never needed to be anything but herself. 

The feel of his tender touch provoked a fresh wave of flushed hysteria to paint her cheeks, she could see his lips were forming elocutions but they were lost in a fanciful haze. Billie, incapable of registering his concern over her minute abrasion, simply stared at him wide-eyed. He was still partially exposed and good lord were his eyes lovely. Her heart thudded in her chest; she was grateful for his steadying grasp or else she wondered if her knees would buckle. “I’m sorry, what?” she muttered distractedly, blinking rapidly to cease her roaming imagination. “Oh yes, well she sounds like a wonderful woman”. Do get your head out of the clouds Billie. 

Her attention turned to the article in question with a slight pout. She truly was terribly disappointed at the slain remains of the patterned garment. “Do you really think it can be saved? I’m not sure I could stomach its demise” she indicated that the tear severed the blue jay printed along the hem. “Cut down in its prime”. If she possessed any skills in mending practices then she would have been more than happy to shoulder the task but sadly handling a needle and thread – without pricking her delicate skin – was ill advised. “I have a kit in the kitchen, Grams insisted. Onward my friend!” as if embarking on a monumental tailoring adventure she clasped his hand and led him down the corridor. To be fair, Tate’s house was massive in comparison to the humble home she occupied before moving in. Simply traveling down the hall seemed to take ages – but they were perfect for Nerf Gun battles. 

“Now let’s see”. Billie slid around the corner in her stocking clad feet and made a beeline for the cabinet beneath the sink. A tattered wooden box was retrieved from the depths. “Your tools Doctor, I believe we are ready for the operation” 

Time seemed to suspend between them while in such close proximity. He couldn’t recall any of the bad juju that curled around his day the moment his haze befall hers. All of the ailments that plagued his frayed bones evaporated; the only thing left was wonder and concern about the possible head injury she sustained. Bennett’s eyes swept over her awestruck stupor with a faint humor tracing over his lips. He wondered if her immediate collision with solid door frame knocked one too many petals from her flowering garden. Bennett hands curled around her elbows to keep her from stumbling forward. “She is quite the character and I know she’d get a real kick out of you,” he chuckled. 

His gaze brightened at the softness of her question. Bennett would do everything in his god damn power to fix the frayed edges of her skirt; or search to the ends of the earth for its exact replica. Billie’s wardrobe wasn’t just a colorful collection of fabrics and whimsical footwear. It has been a lexicon into the fields of her mood that changed like the moon. Everything had washed in like high tide influenced by the silver lit structure. When she needed a little extra encouragement, she took to this skirt and the demure tights. Don’t wanna take away from the skirt, Benny. Her words echoing softly in his mind. He knew when she wore the blouse with the lilac colored birds she was gearing up for a wondrous adventure with Grams. Bennett studied the quixotic stories that each item of clothing that defined her. All of Billie’s secrets were swept up in the fabric and displayed for the lazy world to overlook. He would never overlook a single detail that she was willing to gift him.  

“I’ve never been defeated by a garment before--at least not one that’s been frayed. Stains I cannot conquer,” he chuckled at the distant thought of the white shirt that sat at the foot of his bed. “I can fix this,” he fired back with a curling grin. “I would be a piss poor Brit if I allowed such a defeat.” Bennett watched in awe as the clouds that hung aimlessly over her head faded in wake of the joy that oozed happily from her pours. In an instant, the grey scale world morphed into the hypnotic rainbow. His heels quickened to follow her as he began to loosely button his shirt with his free hand. Billie’s tiny one happily occupied the space between his right. Bennett felt the electricity pooling right there in his palm and daringly sending pulses of energy right to his heart. 

“Ah,” he said with animated glee. “I’ve been rendered useless without them, Nurse Dawson, until today. Shall we prepare the patient?” He questioned with a soft grin. “You may wanna change out of it because I would not want to stick your thigh with the needle.”  

[bennettxchang]

“It’s a great class to be in. I could have put you in salami and crackers which feels a little more depressing to me.” She winked at her friend before lightly nudging him. If she had a class of food she’d want to be in, she would want the wine and cheese without a doubt. “Oh, is that right?” She was still learning the etiquette for small southern towns. “Kill them with kindness, then? Not my typical route but I guess I’ll have to adapt.”

“Really?” It was shocking given the smiles and kindness she’d seen but perhaps there was tension underlying each smile directed at other townsfolk. “I’m going to need to pay more attention and some kind of road map.” Maybe she was befriending enemies which would force her right in the middle of some kind of mess. “Absolutely not. At least, I hope not. I did sleep with a few people since arriving and that’s just getting my lay of the land so who knows.” Her head shook, promising she’d keep him in the loop if some southern belle claimed she was a homewrecker. At his own experience, her mouth parted open. “You’re kidding… Tell me you’re kidding.”

"I mean dried sausage and salted biscuits are a bit depressing, I cannot lie.” Bennett snickered. “I am would honoured by the former.” He bowed at the waist and waited a beat before rising. Adrienne’s spirit had been what drew him in and her humor was what kept him orbiting her. “Something like that. It’s vastly different than the brash mentality of the vicious New Yorkers I’ve had the pleasure in befriending. I’ll take the killer kindness above the snappy retorts. Honestly, it kind of reminds me of home. Proper pissin’ contests and all.” 

“Yes. There’s a secret world hidden beneath all of the niceties and Elvis memorabilia. We’re just going to watch a bit closer.” Bennett’s hand fell over his ears. “You’re takin’ the piss out of me, right? I mean you are the captain of your fate and the master of your soul--thus you can sleep with whomever you wish..you just speak so causally about it.” He cleared his throat with a light shake of the head. “Not in the slightest. Although, I don’t think telling them that I am the original asian 007 helped all that much.”  

[bennettxchang]

“So, you’re telling me that there are Elvis enthusiasts that flood these streets but reading any other work of the greatest playwright William Shakespeare aside from Romeo and Juliet is rare.” Bennett’s ink stained hand fell over his wounded heart as he balanced along the wooden bench. “I think I’ve experienced my first stoke...do you smell burnt toast?” 

@nicholasxmorris​

[bennettxchang]

“I know. You’re the only thing keeping me sane these days. Well, a lot of cheese and wine, too.” She said with a wink as she peered up at the male. Bennett was a fresh gush of air in the humid town. He reminded her of the place she adored and while she was happy for the change of pace, she was also grasping desperately to any slivers she could get from him. “If someone tells me to bless her heart one more time, Bennet. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“Really? What have you seen and what are you holding out on me, Benny? How big can it get in a town like this? Affairs? That’s got to be the biggest drama here, right?” She couldn’t see anything else but perhaps it was because her stay hadn’t been very long. “I miss the city more than I expected I would and while this place is adorable, I couldn’t see myself settling down for long. I’m sure people have already formed three rumours about me. Apparently I’m someone’s mistress.”

"I am truly honoured to be in the same class as cheese and wine.” Bennett teased. The lightness that imbued their relationship truly illuminated the hopeful parts of him. Tupelo wasn’t half bad when he had such comforts to aid him on his journey. “You cannot turn around and say the same. I believe it’s a backhanded comment here--which is dismaying. Smile at them and they’ll bugger off.” 

“I’ve read enough greek tragedies to pick up on the quiet chaotic energy. At the very least, you and I are safe from the whirlwind. We’ve got no skin in the game,” he smirked. “Someone’s mistress.” Bennett choked out with a fraying expression. “What a preposterous claim! Unless you’re the one withholding information from me,” he joked mockingly.  “If it makes you feel better, I’ve had a few people ask if I were a spy for the British Intelligence--then was promptly told that I would not steal their liberty.”

[bennettxchang]

coachmedina​:

location: tate’s house with: @bennettxchang​

Tate wasn’t one to pry or judge at all when it came to adult sleepovers, and technically Bennett moving in with him and Billie was less “sleepover” and more “roommate” but that didn’t matter. Tate knew enough about the guy to not only trust him moving in, but to know that Billie and Bennett were a thing. What that “thing” was, technically, he didn’t know. He didn’t particularly care about the details, either, as long as they kept it down whenever they got all hot and bothered together.

Finding the man in his kitchen wasn’t out of the norm these days. Tate usually didn’t expect to run into anyone as he made his way through the kitchen, but this morning was apparently going to be different. Reaching for the coffee pot, Tate poured some into a mug. He didn’t drink a lot of coffee, but he’d gotten this when Billie moved in and figured out how to set it to brew on a timer. Other than his one cup as he waited for his eggs to cook, Tate mostly left it out for her. When he heard Bennett enter the kitchen, Tate looked up from the fridge. “Hey man,” he said, “I was just about to make some eggs. You want some?” 

Bennett tucked the check into the crisp white envelope to leave in within the stack of mail set aside for Tate. Despite the oddity of their arrangement, Bennett wasn’t about to live in someone’s place without proper payment. He didn’t think his stay in Tupelo would feel so permanent; but he didn’t have the heart to leave this place without Billie. Bennett didn’t mind opening up a lease on an apartment in town but Billie insisted he stayed with her and the chiseled god. Bennett felt it was unconventional at best but he didn’t have the power to say no to Billie.  

He never had.  

Tate wasn’t a bad guy to be around. His nightly escapades often roused quite the relief in Bennett. He knew for sure that the young man didn’t have trouble in that area and wouldn’t try something with Billie. His gaze peeked up at the man who stood stoically over the stove. They had all operated on different schedules, it was refreshing to see someone else in the kitchen.”Good morning, Tate.” He dropped the letter onto the pile before turning to the cupboard for a mug. 

“Thank you but I’m quite alright. A cup of tea is good enough for me.” 

[spencerhastinghs-deactivated201]

[bennettxchang]

@billiexdawson

[bennettxchang]

It seemed, despite her best efforts, Billie’s day was determined to remain on its steady downward spiral. Generally, the brunette coasted through life on a breeze of unshakable buoyancy. Sunshine spewed from her fingertips and mirth danced behind her gaze. It might have been a bit too naive for people’s liking and lord knew she toed the line of childlike innocence and practicality. It was where she preferred to reside, even when suffering through her own grievances and disappointments. Her Grams always said dark emotions were like salt, just a pinch adds flavour, but too much ruins the entire dish. So she endeavored to battle the darkness with a lopsided grin as her shield and saber. But today, her jovial blade seemed duller, unable to cut through the dismal thickets. Everyone had off days, she knew. But today wasn’t just off it was twisted every which way but right. An unfortunate series of events starting with a tear in her favorite polka dotted skirt in the middle of downtown Tupelo and ending with a missing handbag. Today the bright side of things looked bleaker than normal. By the time she shuffled through the front door, holding the torn edges of her skirt together, she was ready to curl up on the sofa with a cup of tea and Gene Kelly dancing across her television. 

It was only the sight of a familiar pair of shoes in the foyer that exhumed her first genuine spark of delight. Bennett was home. It certainly had felt odd departing that day without their usual morning greetings. Though he’d only been staying with her a short while it felt as if the four years they’d spent apart never took place. He was part of her routine, however erratic it could be at times. Chatting with him over her fruity pebbles in the morning and winding down with him over tea in the evenings were the best parts of her day. Perhaps straying from their unspoken tradition was what shifted the quality of her day to begin with. 

Submerging the remnants of her horrid day, she happily skipped down the corridor to his bedroom. Lips already stretched into a beaming simper as she picked up on him speaking to Chaplin. “Benny!” she cheered, her head was the first thing to pop round the frame, admittedly it took a few painfully languid moments for her brain to process he was in fact half naked. When finally her thoughts did catch up she was sputtering out her apologies. “Oh, oh! Sorry!” she slapped her hands over her eyes in embarrassment. Blushing would have been no problem, but what she did was go as red as a beetroot and radiate heat like a hot pan. You could have cooked a three course meal on her face. And she’d only seen his torso. “I’ll just uh, I’ll wait for you in the living room!” pivoting on her heel she strode towards what she believed was his open doorway but was instead the wall. “Ow” 

'My day has been spectacular, mate. I lounged on the sofa with a good biscuit and watch the birds..’ Bennett soft imitation of what he believed Chaplin sounded like filled the lonely spaces that haunted shadowy corners of his bedroom. His transition into the slow paced, traditional tourist trap of a city had been more difficult that he allowed himself to admit. The people didn’t understand why he turned away from the bright lights for the pallid moonlight of Tupelo. Hell he didn’t know why he did either; aside from the literal physical embodiment of his heart floating effortlessly to her own beat in the heart of this city. Billie brought such life into his quickly fraying soul. New York had been the basin of his moral demise. Bennett wished to illuminate the world with his work; to transcend the trivialities of shock valued texts or the perversion of the human experience. For years he had written stories into existence that he hated for some taste of fame. 

That was until she waltzed into my life and raced out of it. 

Chaplin’s ears perked up and the the smile unfurled along his lips at the sound of her voice. He shook off the bristling chill in his bones as he felt the atmosphere change beneath his feet. Her soft ascending footsteps entrapped his bad fortune and soothed that sinking feeling. Just like that I’m all better. Lost in the whirlwind of her presence and the evident wear and tear of the day, he had forgotten about his current task. “No, no--” he reached over to grab the shirt he had left discarded on his bed this morning; he wasn’t quite in the mood for a light blue moment. Bennett forced his hands through the opening of the shirt and allowed it to hang in order to still her frantic frame. Gluttonously, he enjoyed the warm pink hue that raced along her fair cheeks. 

“Are you alright?” He swept a few stray hairs from her eyes before lightly trailing his fingers along her forehead. “That sounded like it hurt,” he cooed softly. Bennett’s gaze traveled down between them, brows crinkling at the sight of the spilt material that sat along her thigh. “Your favorite skirt,” the words rolled off his tongue with a whining bit. “It’s along the seam so we might be able to fix it. My nenek made it a point to teach me how to sow when I used to visit her in Sarawak. Always said it was a skill all self made men should know.” Bennett smirked fondly at the thought of the days he spent with her away from the chaos of home. 

[bennettxchang]

Adrienne had yet to fully scruff her shoes with the old gravel that Tupelo held. She was new in town and rather out of her depth. Sure, the little country town that was their new town was beautiful and full of charm, but she wasn’t sure how long she could stay here realistically. All she had to remind herself was that this wasn’t a permanent stay. She was here for a few months tops and then she’d heard back to her beautiful city of California. 

“Don’t even worry about it. It’s a learning process for the both of us.” The brunette said as she followed him and let out a small sigh. “It will always be a torn in my side. I think pretty uneventful is the theme in this town.” At least, as far as she could tell. “Apart from the cheating and hidden relationships but I feel like that’s prevalent in most small towns. Do you ever feel like you regret it? Moving here?”

"It’s nice to have someone who understands,” he ducked his head sheepishly. Everyone in this town seemed so connected. From the way the walked down to the way they interacted with one another, they all seemed to be clued in on some unspoken norm. Always smile at the elderly ladies walking by not not with so much teeth. If someone says have a blessed day, they are not being polite. Sunday is God’s day; thus you must dress in your best. Bennett couldn’t help but laugh at all of the rules. It almost felt like he was living in some sardonic parody of Buckingham Palace. 

“Let us not tempt the fates. Small towns have a tendency to deceive you. Uneventful is good because the other alternative is the incoming storm.” Bennett pushed open the door for her, bowing slightly at the waist as she entered. “Yes and no. I miss New York and walked away from quite a lucrative deal to come here and be judged. Although, on the flip side, I’ve never felt so free. I suppose I dance on the fine edge of a sword. How about you? Do you regret it?” 

[tvd-gifs]

[bennettxchang]

@billiexdawson

[bennettxchang]

The world had fell uncharacteristically silent for this time of the day. The subtle chime of the clocks seemed duller. Not a single bird twilled from the trees on his walk up the winding sidewalk up to their flat. Bennett slipped with a soft scowl at the ever growing stain that sullied the crisp white button up. His morning had seemed to just fall right off the rails from the moment he had woken up. A small sliver of him believed it was because he hadn’t seen her. She usually kicked off his day with such unmatched excitement. Yet, when he wake up she had already been off for her day. “Hello ole chap,” his hand passed along Chaplin’s head. “Has your day been as gray as mine?” Slowly, he pushed the plastic buttons through each eyelet before discarding his shirt into the linen bin in the farthest corner of his bedroom.  

@billiexdawson​

[bennettxchang]

adriennediaz​:

@bennettxchang​

Adrienne was glad to finally have someone she could take her lunches with that wasn’t the staff she worked with. While she didn’t mind them so much, it was nice to have a bit of a change. Plus, Bennett had been showing her all the places she visit for a delectable lunch. “So where are we going today?” She asked as she looked up at the male. “I heard that sushi was on the menu if I remember clearly?”

Bennett reminded her a lot of the people from home which was rare in a town that held a lot of hicks and cowboys. It was a refreshing sight for the brunette who was out of her depth. “How was your day, by the way? I didn’t even ask you.”

 The adjustment to the southern lifestyle had been quite the battle for the cheeky transplant from Ispwich who still proudly wore his Metropolitan facade from New York. He didn’t quite understand the ins and outs of Tupelo but the view from his side of things seemed wonderfully promising. His writing had prospered under the neon glow and his gluttonous need to be chose to Billie Dawson. If he had been damned to the sticks; he was happy to do it by her feet. Although, aside from his foolish love sickness,  he found comfort in another wanderer. 

Adrienne brought a familiarity that craved of the city. “Since I mucked up our previous lunch, I thought Yelp would be a good device.” He shuddered at the thought of the roaming food truck with the piercing gaze of the demonic pig. Bennett heard that it had the best BBQ--but maybe he shouldn’t believe everything he read. “Beyond being a bit peckish, it’s been pretty uneventful. How about yours? Has that legal aid still the thorn in your side?” 

[ssoveia]

HENRY GOLDING On The Gentlemen, Crazy Rich Asians & Working w/ Matthew McConaughey | MTV News (x)

[bennettxchang]

“Company I sure can give,” he gave him a small smile, he seemed to be in a better mood than the other was, so maybe he was able to cheer him up, take his mind off everything, “Not sure about that, since so many people have noticed already that I was new,” he supposed he wasn’t surprised, it was a small town after all, “Alcohol helps, at least me anyway.”

"I appreciate it.” He ordered another round of what they both were having. “Was it a good bit of press or did they sneer? I think they’re a bit more weary of a man from the other side.” He chuckled. “Alcohol cures many ailments, I’m sure.”