I'm hearing you, and I'm INTRIGUED. Music is so tied into this world and all the universes with the Scroogeverse (especially the classic & modern timelines).
And for this to be separate from the Dickensian High AU is also extremely intriguing. That opens the door to a variety of meet-cute opportunities for all the friends and couples as well!
So, yes, I'm INTRIGUED. because, how many bands? One? Multiple? Are there rivalries between the Yanks and the Brits? Are we talking potential rivals-to-lovers? The options are endless.
Also, the variety of different backgrounds at play means they all might be coming from different schools, which would be such a fun dynamic to play with for a band.
And also ... imagine the duet potentials. And battle-ballad potential.
Also, I can so imagine Bess having a style like Scene Queen (with annapantsu vocals, of course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpEW8J3Lfio&list=RDfpEW8J3Lfio&start_radio=1
(Every time this comes on, it gives me SUCH Bess vibes. Same with this one: http://youtube.com/watch?v=M08t_KJsPg4&list=RDM08t_KJsPg4&start_radio=1)
I don't know if bubblegum pop/trance belongs in a garage band, but I feel like that would be Connie's speed, haha.
Now...what else can we flesh out. We need to chat about Addie and Gal, of course!
Me, fully in Halloween mode: Realizing the Pack girlies have such perfect group vibes because they all have elements of the Big Four classic MGM monster movies.
Bess: The Wolfman (an honorary nod to ‘American Werewolf in London’ decades later) Themes of changing, loss and acceptance, feeling self-conscious in your body/form, breaking generational curses, love as a cure.
Connie: Dracula (traveling to a new land, escapism away from codependent relationships, being drained of life by someone who says they love you, sacrificing everything for protection only to realize it’s a prison of her own creation)
Addie: Frankenstein (having brilliance few respect, proving yourself in a ruthless world, the power of empathy, people judging you based on your looks, the similarities humans and toys, creation as the ultimate art)
Gal: Creature from the Black Lagoon (hunted by something dark beneath the surface, fear of the unknown, respect the waters/sea/nature, risk yourself to the greater good and safety of others, ‘are the monsters in the sea really the real monsters?’)
Soooo I sent a lil bit of an ask to @rom-e-o regarding their 2022 Netflix Scrooge movie OC, Constance DoGoode being a Pictomancer from Final Fantasy XIV (and THE 2022 Ebenezer Scrooge as a Dark Knight) so I thought... why not mess around and make Connie herself a Pictomancer?!
So, I feel like the press struggles for forever how to tell the Twins apart. It boils down to, "Grump in the office? Probably Ebenezer. Grump stalking the streets? Probably Ben."
Then the changes happen, and the girls come, and physical differences become more obvious between the two. The press starts to rely on the hair to tell the Twins apart.
But then, one, something happens at the Wolves'. Either gum or a mechanical toy gets caught in his hair or something bad happens, but Wolf has to have his hair lopped off. Of course, he still slicks it back and has the little curly-q instead of the Scwoop, but like the press takes the time to notice that. So the next time the Wolves are caught being romantic in public, the tabloids are subsequently filled with pictures of them smooching, accompanied with accusations of scandal and cheating because obviously that's Ebenezer with Bess--he's got short hair!
Cue the Scrooges all standing side by side together at the next photo-op, to showcase the stupidity of the press. Of course the couples are as lovey-dovey as ever.😅
This is so funny, because we've kind of noodled the idea around a bit, but i do think it would be very hard to be around a pair of identical Twins at first. Ngl, I would definitely be relying on visual cues at first, too.
So by the time something happened to Wolf's locks later in the relationship, the girls can tell of course ... but the press? Yeah, you're right, that's not happening. They don't notice. Even with the subtle body chances and the curly-q instead of the swoop (and the fact that he rides a motorbike sometimes, and has a different clothing/suit preference) ... the tabloids don't care. And even the photogs that notice don't care, because the photos will still make a killing for them.
So Bess and Wolf's next smooch? BAM! Scandal. Front-page, right in the corner in full-color: "FROM STOCKS TO SHOCKS: Scrooge Twins Caught Trading Broads Instead Of Bills"
The ladies?
Bess: I'm sorry, BROADS?
Connie: Well, that's a little rude.
The men? HATE the 'broads' comment (nobody disrespects their women like that), and also ... they would be petty. They are going to invoke the classic Scrooge rage and dish out a little public humiliation. AKA, the most memorable kind.
I love the shadiness of them all lined up beside each other, lol. All four of them there, both Twins in shorter hair and flashing those signature glares and scowls at the crowd as they deliver a public chastising statement to the press.
The publications WILL print a clarification. They are not asking, they are being told to do so. Any does anyone refuse? Nope. Nobody in the room has a death wish.
This anger then immediately dissolves when they return to their ladies and each one receives an appreciative embrace/kiss for their efforts. Shutters definitely fly for that moment, and seeing how their faces and postures immediately relax around their lady is very visually telling. Try to accuse them of wandering eyes after that, lol.
I won't speak for the Wolves, but you know how the Sunflares/Bunnies don't love PDA usually? In this case, they will hold that kiss. Maybe add a little extra head tilt. Adonis giving that waist a little extra squeeze. Anything to hit the point home.
The message from the Twins is crystal clear:
"Do NOT accuse me of having wandering eyes."
They know their Wifeys know better than to suspect them of anything (especially with their soul-sister of all people), but if the paparazzi poses even a tiny threat to the relationship security? I get the vibe they would not take that kindly, and might act a little more strictly than anyone anticipates. Perhaps even the ladies themselves. It's not a different side of them, but perhaps a protective/possessive little reminder of their affections.
Imagine, for a minute, a timeline where Connie was Bess' babysitter growing up. Teen Connie and baby Bess.💕
This would make for some adorable scroodle-fodder for times when you want to just do something cute.
This was just too lovely of a visual. Connie would be a fun-loving and role model for Bess; and Bess would be a great inspiration for Connie to slow down to enjoy the realness of life. Connie encourages Bess to play in the mud and jump in puddles, and Bess reminds Connie to stop and admire the roses (and butterflies dancing around them.)
In every universe, these two find a way to each other, and they can’t be stopped. 🌹🦋
Anyway, I imagine the fist pic is after a day playing in the rain and mud, and the second is one of many lullabies hummed at the end of a long day. (I picture her humming ‘Once Upon a December’, as meta as that would be, lol). But it works like a charm to knock a certain rambunctious type out like a light.
I may do more of these, because even as an AU, it was so much fun!
Sooooooo, do we think the girls have probably all walked in on each other with their respective gentlemen during... various stages of spicy time?😅
Oh, absolutely. For better or worse for them. ^^;
We've established that the Wolves & Sunflares will often bump into each other when trying to find a private place to canoodle at soirees (AKA Adonis & Connie finding a little closet at the ritzy hotel only to open the door and find Wolf & Bess mid-make-out already, lol).
AND we've had both gentlemen walk in on the poor ladies making spicy video content or prepping for some woohoo later on (Poor Bess and the not-a-crankshaft vibrator and Connie with the ... harnesses) AND seeing them nude/naked.
So, there's already been some exposure (pun intended) ...
BUT that was only with the Wolves/Sunflares, not Jake/Gal and Tom/Addie, who because of close proximity and share diving quarters, are also thrown into the mix.
(NSFW content ahead - minors DNI)
Seeing another's partner naked or in other delicate states is one thing, but it's not the same thing as catching two people in the act, so to speak. Caught red-faced with with their pants down (literally and again, literally).
The early stages of spicy time are no big deal, I think. They're all adults, after all. The flash of a boob here or a tented bulge there is awkward, but not truly detrimental. Again, they're adults, and they can laugh things off reasonably thanks to being close friends.
But those more intimate moments? THOSE are definitely a little more embarrassing to encounter.
I can see it happening to each lady multiple ways, but a few scenarios come to mind immediately:
Addie goes to return one of Maisie's books to Gal and Jake one night. She enters the diner's back room after hours with her key, only to find Gal nude and a shirtless against the wall with Jake's face buried between her legs. Needless to say, the door is SHUT and the book is pushed under the door crack. "H-Here."
Gal's passing by the toy store late at night and sees that the lights are still on despite the 'Closed' sign being flipped. She investigates, knowing first-hand how rowdy teenagers can sometimes make themselves right at home to prank business owners if they leave an unlocked door unguarded for one second. She pokes her head in the back room and finds Addie with her legs around Tom's waist, pressed against the nearest wall. Gal blinks once, twice, then just shuts the door with incredibly restrained slowness. Honestly, it's VERY admirable. There is a very lightly mumbled, "S'rry" before turned on her heel. She then leaves, locks the door, and makes it about a block away before she bursts out laughing. Not in a cruel way, but in a disbelieving way. She can barely contain the chuckles when she gets a call from Addie minutes later, but can't help but cheekily said, "Ya f'nish all up in thar, lass? Or, p'haps he did?"
Bess and Wolf get caught after a party in his flat. All the guests leave, and they have been salivating for each other all evening (with him looking so dashing in his suit and Bess looking lovely in a shimmering gown that hugs every curve.). As soon as the last guest leaves, he picks her up and carries her to the sofa. The second he has the top unlaced and breasts in his hands, her stocking-clad legs already hooked over his broad shoulders, Con opens the front door. "Hey, sorry! You guys had a parcel at the wrong door. I think it's a Christmas present. Here, it's -- OH! Um. I-I'll just leave it here. H-Have a good night! Together. Haha. Be safe. B-bye. I'll, um, lock the door."
And of course, there is canonically at least ONE TIME where Bess enters Adonis's office after hours (I imagine it's to decorate someone's desk for their birthday, maybe to leave a few gifts and decorations) only to try the door and find Connie with her skirt shoved up and riding Adonis in his office chair. (They both have TOO MUCH of a kink for sex at work/boss & secretary shenanigans for them to get away with never being caught.)
The sweet silver lining to all this? I think all the men, regardless of who walks in on them, always have the FIRST priority of covering their lady to preserve her modesty before they even think about themselves.
Bess having a brief dating experience with a guy that was incredibly weirded out (i.e. threatened) by how close she is with girl friends.
Like, she shows up to their first date and sends a quick check in to the girls just to let them know she found the place okay. Already he's annoyed.
"Why do women have to share everything?"
"I mean, we don't? But when you're single girls in a big city, you tend to watch each other's backs. Besides none of us ever heard of this cafe before, and directions were a little weird."
"Whatever. Just don't go giving them a play-by-play of our entire date, okay? I hate when girls do that and I really hate people up in my business."
"Okay. I wasn't planning on doing that anyway."
Apart from that the date isn't... terrible? He mostly seems super nervous and like he doesn't do this a lot. So Bess decides to give him another shot.
They try an afternoon date this time. Less pressure. A walk and maybe some tea, just some time to get to know each other a little more. They pass by a youth selling single, long-stemmed flowers to raise money for some school thing. Bess buys three, one for each of her girls because why not? And she's helping out the boy.
Dude, again, is not happy.
"You know the kid is probably just scamming."
"Those fliers looked pretty real to me."
"And what are you doing buying flowers for your friends for?"
"What's wrong with it? They like flowers and I thought it'd be nice."
"It's weird. Girls only buy other girls flowers if they're lesbian lovers, unless they're, like, family or something."
"... Where did you get that from?"
"It's common knowledge."
"In weirdo world? Look, anybody can buy flowers for anybody for any reason if they want to. It doesn't have anything to do with being lovers or not."
"Whatever. I just think it's weird, you buying stuff for your friends. Who does that?"
"... Friends. Friends do that stuff for each other."
"Not me and mine."
"I'm not convinced you actually have any."
That should kill any further progression right there. And it almost does. But he shows up to the cottage to apologize, even brings a big chocolate sampler for the girls. And flowers. He and Bess have a talk and he does his best to explain himself. He had a rough childhood, moved around a lot, didn't ever make any friends except some online. He's been living almost like a shut-in ever since he got out on his own, only ever had a couple other dates before Bess. The thing that really seals the deal for Bess to give him another chance? Abusive, overbearing mom. Of course, compassionate sweetheart Bess connects to that. They try once more.
He shows up for the third date, squeaky clean and dressed to what his definition of the nines is. He tries his best to connect with the girls as Bess puts in her finishing touches for the night, and he's actually doing a decent job. Everything seems really good. He teases the girls that he promises to have Bess back my curfew as they leave. He takes her to a nice dinner, then to a movie, then ice cream. This is the itinerary he gave the girls.
"Hey, I just heard about this new club that just opened up. It's supposed to be pretty cool. Why don't we go check it out."
"Sounds fun--I'm game." Bess pulls out her phone to start updating the girls about the change in plans.
"What are you doing?"
"Just letting the girls know I'll be later than planned. What's the name of the club?"
"Seriously?"
"What?"
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Letting your nosy friends all up in our business where they don't belong."
"Why is letting my friends know where I'm going to be, especially if where I'm going to be isn't some place they expect, a bad thing?"
"Because it's weird! Why does everyone have to know?! Why is it so important they know the plan?! What, like I'm gonna make off with you into the night and make you disappear?! Don't you trust me?!"
"I've been only been one three dates with you, all of which have turned out weird now--no, I don't trust you enough to not let my friends know where you plan on taking me! I trust you even less now!"
"Woman! Bloody hell you women! You're all so enmeshed and up each other's asses! What does a guy have to do to get one of you alone?! The guys online are right--no e of you are worth it the goddamn headache!"
"Well, if that's how you feel, let me get rid of your headache for you." She starts to collect her things to leave.
"Oh, don't get all huffy."
"I'm not huffy. I'm just done. Here." She tosses a wad of cash on his dash. "That should cover my half of everything tonight. If there's anything extra, keep it."
"I don't want your money."
Bess gets out of his car.
"Hey! At least let me drive you home!"
"As if. For all I know, you really will make me disappear."
"Oh, come on, don't be like that. It was a joke! I was just venting!"
"Sure. Thanks for dinner. And lose my number. Psycho."
Ughhh, men like this. Poor Bess.
Listen, the dating scene out there? Dire, especially for young people. So in a sea of fish, you're bound to encounter your fair share of rotten ones ... like THIS guy.
Any guy who sees a girl communicating basic plans with her friends as an attack on his character is ... well, a red flag. Why does he take a single message so personally? Hmmm, makes you wonder.
The worst part is that the dates that follow these little incidents are JUST normal enough to make one feasibly think, "okay, well, maybe that was a fluke. We all have off days. Maybe it won't happen next time we go out."
Annnnd we have the flowers tiff. Again, VERY weird and telling thing for him to take personally. Of course, only 'lesbians' give flowers to each other in his mind, because otherwise it would mean HE should have thought to get her flowers first. She thought of her friends before he thought of her, a potential girlfriend. I imagine it mauls his baby-soft pride.
And the third date. Woof.
At this point, it can't be denied any longer. The guy has some SERIOUS trust issues at best, and is a total creep at worst. If he's that worried about Bess being close with her girls when she's just communication the bare bones of her location details ... yeah, that's not good.
"What does a guy have to do to get one of you alone?!"
Oh. Hell. No.
You KNOW the girls come get her ASAP after Bess texts them that she ditched him.
"He actually said that?" Addie asked, brow pinched in disgust. She was still wearing the matching pink set she'd changed into after work, but had thrown a coat over top to look slightly more presentable for the walk.
Bess nodded morosely.
"Bastard," Gal grumbled, arm slung protectively around Bess's shoulders. "N'thing worse than a piss'r on a high 'orse. Chocolate was shite, too."
Connie walked on the other side of Bess, between her and Addie. Her arms were linked with both women, and she kept flicking her gaze behind them cautiously.
"If he skulks a'ter us, I give 'im a five-fingered kiss o' my own," Gal hissed. All three ladies knew it wasn't a bluff.
As they neared the corner, Connie stopped and gestured to the sign. "Ah, here's the spot."
A sign bearing the golden words "The Flying Horse" in an all-caps serif font lingered over their heads. The words shimmered in the lights from the nearby traffic signals and merciless London traffic. The sign was huge, making it a great landmark. It helped that it also fronted a gorgeous brick building on Oxford street that looked straight out of a romantic film (with the exception of the first-floor McDonald's located immediately next-door).
Just as the girls settled outside the pub's massive front window, the beep of a car horn grabbed their attention. At first, they all bristled in apprehension, thinking it was perhaps the same man Bess had left in the dust.
To their collective relief, no man emerged from the vehicle as it stopped in front of the club. Just a dark hair woman in a chocolate brown pantsuit, mink coat, and fabulously large pair of Telfar sunglasses.
"Darlings, there you are," Theresea DoGoode said, gesturing the ladies into the rideshare quickly. "Here, get in."
Bess blinked, but didn't argue as Connie urged her onward inside the large sedan. Once seated, she looked up quizzically to the mother and daughter duo. "TeTe? W-What are you doing here? What's going on?"
"I was on the phone with Mama when we got your message," Connie supplied, buckling Bess in before tending to herself. "I said we'd just gotten a text from you about your date, and were rushing to get you to make sure you got home safe. When she asked where we were meeting you and I told her, that's when she told me to head toward the pub."
Constance then leveled a playful smile at her mother. "I had no idea you were going to call a car, Mama! You sneak."
TeTe smiled, tossing her hair of her shoulder, the locks moving like a curtain of liquid obsidian. "I was not about to have you ladies walk home. So, I called a car. I would have had marguerite or Ritz drive, but in this traffic, I opted for a true professional."
The woman behind the wheel turned and waved to the girls in the backseat with actress-perfect timing. "That you kindly, Mrs. DoGoode."
"Y-You didn't have to do that," Bess muttered, blushing at the act of kindness. It seemed that for every morally bankrupt person she met in this new metropolis, her friends and found family found ways to make up the deficit in spades. "I mean, thank you so much. that was unbelievably generous of you, but I hope I didn't cause you any trouble."
"You are never trouble, Bess," Constance said seriously. Gal and Addie nodded in mutual agreement.
"Quite right," TeTe corrected. "That horrid man was the issue. I do hope you've blocked his number."
Bess laughed and pulled out her phone. "You just reminded me. I was going to wait until I was home, but since I have this slick ride, I can check that item off my to-do list early."
"Very good," Theresea said. Then, she leaned over and politely signaled the driver. "Excuse me, madam. Could you please drive us to The Connaught?"
There was no need to provide an address; the hotel was infamous to everyone in the city, especially professional drivers employed by members of the upper crust like Theresea.
Meanwhile, Addie went pink in the face. "I-Is that where you're staying, Mrs. DoGoode?"
"It is not, on this occasion, but their bar is lovely," she said. "What do you say, ladies? Let's celebrate with real drinks for real women."
As the driver pulled up to the glamorous hotel, the staff opened the door and helped easy lady out one by one. Bess waited to go last, staring down at her phone. Her message app was open to her contacts, and her dates' messages cast a bright blue light across her face.
For a moment, she stared at the sweet words. All the compliments. All the promises, typed in tiny and non-threatening font. All the little heart emojis.
... For a moment, she paused. Her finger lingered over the 'Block' button for a beat, her pesky inner voice suddenly making her second-guess her previously iron-clad certainty.
"Ahem."
Bess looked up to see Constance leaning into the car, hand extended outwardly to her. As their eyes met, her soul-sister gave her an encouraging wink.
"If he was mad about gifting flowers, something like this would probably make his head explode," Constance said, an impish gleam in her eye, "Wouldn't it?"
Bess immediately read her soul-sister's mind and flashed a matching grin back at her. She quickly grabbed her hand and climbed out of the car. Before they went inside, she quickly called the girls and TeTe over to the front of the building. There, they all gathered around as Bess lofted her phone high over their heads.
She made sure that the sign was in full view as she snapped the selfie, complete with all the girls gathered around her, with Constance smooching her cheek for added emphasis.
She sent the picture, and before he had a chance to reply, blocked his number.
With that last reminder about how unneeded he was, she turned back to her friends and joined them. There was a spring in her step that had been missing before, but was now back in full vigor. Even the doorman noticed, and tried to hide an appreciative smirk.
"Now that that's over," Bess smirked, strutting forward proudly with renewed confidence, "Let's enjoy our evening, ladies."
Sorry gents, this is for the ladies (especially ones who stick together).
