Tina Cohen-Chang. Respect.

Tina Cohen-Chang I'm a beautiful person. I'm in love with myself and I would never change a thing. McKinkley High Junior. New Directions Founding Member. Swaying in the background. Fiction writer. Costume designer. Future female glee lead, so JBl, get ready to acknowledge that Rachel Berry isn't the only girl in the world. THE NEW DIRECTIONS ★ ♕ ❤ ✿ ♚ ✡ be the change you want to see in the world.

[milacoleman-blog]

Oh man, Sawyer and his stupid love triangle. Or I guess quadrangle, since Jack should probably be thrown in there too. Honestly I was never a fan of Sawyer’s. I know he was supposed to have redeemed himself by the end and I’m supposed to sympathize with him because he had a rough childhood, but I don’t buy that that excuses being a terrible person. I’m a little scared to say more, though, if opinions might be deal breakers here. “Woman, get me some punch”? Really? Nah. Like you said, he’s self-proclaimed and also unchallenged. He’s never going to get his drink game together unless he absolutely has to to keep his title.

[truecolorstina]

That’s how I feel about Kate, actually. Maybe Sawyer just got more sympathy from me because he had nice abs, but I felt like his repentance was more believable, and he was traumatized form a younger age. Kate just felt... really self-serving to me, I don’t know. I was kidding! I think. I hope. I’m happy to hear opinions and will absolutely not actually hold it against you, I like you too much for that. Other people, though, they better watch out if they aren’t smart enough to agree with me. Hmm... Who do we know that could make for a good challenger? I’d like to see this now, it would be reality television material being seen up close and personal. 

[milacoleman-blog]

Sounds like the beginnings of the next Great American Novel to me. It’s funny that you say that, since I’m not sure most people are aware that I do talk. But either way, I don’t see that happening. If things went bad and I moved away, it would be easy to stop talking, but I can’t ever imagine not wanting to talk to you over something so petty. No, you’re safe from having to learn about other sports. I liked basketball a lot when I was a kid, but I was never all that good at it so I kind of grew out of my interest. What about you? What other interests do you have that I should be trying to understand? Magic and a lot of luck. That’s the only explanation I can come up with. 

[truecolorstina]

Fast Times at McKinley High... I probably shouldn’t rip my first novel’s title off of an iconic movie, that’s a bad way to start a career. I can’t argue with that; it’s what makes you such a hidden gem. People think you don’t talk so they don’t make the effort to get you to, and then it’s their loss. If I missed you enough, I’d probably just pretend I was looking at schools near yours and ask you for advice about how to get in, even if I was so not interested in them at all. I can’t handle watching basketball, I know that, although that’s one of the more fun ones to play because you can just throw the ball at the hoopy thingy and spell out the word HORSE when you miss. I mean, I played VAMPIRE instead, but it’s all the same idea. Cooking, maybe? I may have seen an advertisement for a place called ‘School of Wok’ and it got me to thinking that I’d actually like to learn how to make Asian food, since I didn’t grow up having to eat it all the time like other people I know. That seems as good an explanation as any to me.

[truecolorstina]

Scrabble Night → Tike [Private]

[milacoleman-blog]

Is now a good time to mention that, not to brag, but I’m pretty good at coming up with solid plans myself?

Especially now. Beiste was a good coach; I really think we could have had a bigger and better sports program if they’d given her more time to get the team into shape. I want to say yes? I mean, I think it’s worth dealing with the possible backlash…and there’s a possibility that Artie will stop short of trying to revenge kill me, right?

[truecolorstina]

Hey, if it helps me break into the school at night and get all these feelings of teenage rebellion out of my system, then brag away, Mister Chang!

I still won’t say I’m disappointed because I’d much rather the Friday night attractions be musicals and orchestra and dance performances and all the other things McKinley hosts now... But I know it must be hard for you guys, so I’ll try not to celebrate too much. Hint: yes is the right answer. I’m sure there are no clandestine murder plots in you or Artie’s futures, though, if that’s extra incentive.

[truecolorstina]

Scrabble Night → Tike [Private]

[truecolorstina]

fleetfootchang:

What kind of potential future teenage criminal mastermind are you if you haven’t even scoped out the security guards’ schedules? 

I don’t know if they did, actually. When I wasn’t playing I didn’t usually go to games, but I don’t ever remember seeing anyone with a program in the stands. Oh God, I’ve been blissfully ignoring the prospect of Artie’s reaction until now…

One who clearly needs a trusty sidekick that’ll help her find such glaring holes in her plans! And one who doesn’t know where to even find a security guard schedule. 

That seems too organized for McKinley; maybe it’s something they have at schools that are better equipped to handle big sports programs with lots of fans. So have I, but if we’re going to make things more official... Are you sure you’re ready to deal with that?

[truecolorstina]

fleetfootchang:

Either you’ll reach your critical level of weirdness and things will even out after that, or you’re in for the strangest year of your life next year. Personally I’m hoping for the latter, because it guarantees I’ll get to hear interesting stories. I mean, assuming we haven’t stopped talking for some reason before then. You never know, right? I spent most of the summer listening to you sing while we were at camp, it’s hard not to believe in you after that. And yeah, a baseball metaphor seems appropriate there. I wonder if they make him turn in test schedules and evaluations months ahead of time just to be sure they’re actually getting done.

At last if it’s weird I could write a truly great novel that no one would need to know is somewhat autobiographical. They always say write what you know; things going absolutely crazy could be good for my career. And interesting stories for you, which just makes it better, you’re right. No matter what happens this year, I hope we don’t stop talking; you’ve become one of my favorite people to talk to.  You aren’t secretly also a baseball player, too? Because I’m willing to try and learn about football, and I already know a decent amount about dance, but I’m not sure I could handle trying to understand another sport you might like. I really wish I could be a fly on the wall at one of Mr. Schue’s schoolboard meetings now, I’m way too curious about how McKinley hasn’t burned down by now.

[truecolorstina]

fleetfootchang:

You mean love-love kind of show, right? The last few seasons got completely out of control and it took watching them a few times through before I think I figured out what was going on. But, if you’re willing to listen to me geek out, I know of a decently smart senior guy who’d love to join in on your rewatch and compare theories. Maybe it was Figgins’s way of being a good guy and trying to make up for us being social pariahs the rest of the time? What does the cliche prom dream entail for you? You know, for science.

That was back in the days where watching things online didn’t happen much, and my parents never subscribed to needing a Tivo, so for me it was usually the one viewing and then I had to try and remember details as best as I could. Of course I’m willing. Mom and dad were not the best viewing companions, it’d be great to have someone who appreciates it. Although I need to know in advance how you felt about Sawyer and his two ladies, because that might be a deal breaker that we need to promise not to comment on if we don’t agree. You know, I’m not entirely sure, but I can definitely tell you it doesn’t include the words, “Woman, get me some punch,” nor does it include getting slushied or having to drink Puck’s spiked Koolaid monstrosity. For someone who’s such a self-proclaimed party king, you’d think he’d be better at proportioning drinks.

[truecolorstina]

Scrabble Night → Tike [Private]

[truecolorstina]

fleetfootchang:

Breaking into school at night could actually be fun, as long as none of the faculty showed up and busted you.

Letterman jackets don’t have numbers, and with the helmet and pads it’s not much of a surprise you couldn’t pick out any of the rest of us. Or that’s what I’m going to tell myself, at least. And then Jesse’s inevitable retaliation against Finn for breaking them up in the first place…you know, I totally get why people always said the glee club was melodramatic. 

I haven’t exactly studied security guard schedules or anything, but I heard that some of the seniors did it last year to have a lock-in when theirs got cancelled.

I should have asked for your number, that might have been a little more visible. Or was it in the programs? Did the game even have programs? Oh, God, I was such a terrible football fan. So much melodrama, it was much more fun watching it than being a part of it. Although... I wouldn’t expect us to totally get off scot-free, I’m sure Artie’ll find it easier to blame you for our break up than to admit that I really just wasn’t feeling it anymore. 

[truecolorstina]

fleetfootchang:

High school has been even weirder than TV set me up to believe, so maybe I’ll get lucky and just get all the craziness out of the way before college even starts. There’s no way that would work; once everyone finds out how talented you are, they’d never let you go back to ensemble projects. It’s not the most comforting thought, is it? But now he’s got more responsible people holding him accountable than he did when he was just our teacher. I hope. 

That’s true, we have had a disproportionate amount of weirdness. And I’ve still got nearly two years, who knows what might happen. Hopefully it won’t involve Rachel trying to swipe her credit card in anyone’s buttcrack again, that stands out as a weirdness highlight from our trip to Nationals. I don’t think I’d be in that high of demand, but I like your confidence. If I believe in myself even half as much as you seem to believe in me, I’ll knock my performance out of the park... That’s the right sports analogy, isn’t it? I hope so, too. Maybe the school board’s keeping a close eye on him...

[truecolorstina]

fleetfootchang:

Please, you’re giving me an excuse to eat trash food. I’ll happily be the taste tester for both of us. All I can think of now is that I need to rewatch Lost. Does it make you think of polar bears and smoke monsters, and a mysterious vault buried deep in the jungle? At the time I never questioned you and Artie and Blaine being allowed at prom, but that is kind of weird. I guess they figured if you were part of the entertainment they couldn’t really say you couldn’t be there.·

Oh, Lost. Such a love-hate kind of show, but I could stand to do a rewatch of it. Especially in the later seasons, where I just completely lost track of what was going on. Maybe it would help if I watched it with a certain smart senior guy who would compare theories with me? Right? Performing just seems like a flimsy excuse for us to get to stay the entire night and act like we belong there, but maybe they were just that hard-pressed for entertainment. At least now I have more opportunities to achieve the fantastic cliche prom dream.

[truecolorstina]

fleetfootchang:

Something about acknowledging the reality of the situation makes the embarrassment sting even more. You know what? I would definitely try a cereal topped donut. It sounds like it has the potential to be mind-blowing. You don’t like coconut?! That has to be the first time I’ve ever heard someone say that, and I’m not sure I can recover from the shock. Mhm it really wouldn’t be much of a surprise if we were just covering for Figgins in the past. And at least we can honestly say that no one ever threw things at us when we performed at school dances; it’s about the only time we sang in front of people that I can think of where that didn’t happen.

Really? I was thinking it was a poor substitute for sprinkles, so I think you’re going to have to do that taste test for the both of us. I know, it’s weird, but I think it’s a texture thing? That and it has weird, ‘lost on an island after a plane crash’ connotations, which you totally shouldn’t judge me for. That’s true. Punch just might not travel as far as slushies, but either way, I’m so glad I was spared from red stains all over my prom dress. Even if me being allowed at prom as a freshman and a sophomore was a little weird...

[truecolorstina]

fleetfootchang:

I just hope living in the dorms doesn’t end up being too bad even if the idea of getting assigned someone to live with based on the roommate lottery makes me nervous. I can’t say I wouldn’t be interested in seeing you try to combine all of that into a single act, but yeah. It wouldn’t be the easiest approach. And that’s true; for as much as Mr. Schue talked about how much glee club meant to him, he really didn’t do much to help ensure our success. Leaving our set lists to the last minute couldn’t have helped our chances in competitions when we were up against groups who had been perfecting their performance since before we even knew what songs we were doing. Have I mentioned lately how great you are?

TV has to make it seem worse than it really is, right? I mean, there’s no way roommates can really be as terrible as they seem to be on every sitcom about college freshmen. Maybe I’ll save it for a talent show act or something; give the world a tiny taste of Tina Cohen-Chang before I retreat back to just focusing on ensemble projects. I’m glad that Mr. Schue’s not in charge anymore, even if I’m a little scared to think that he’s supposedly managing year-long calendars for the entire school now... You might have, but I don’t mind hearing it again. 

[truecolorstina]

Scrabble Night → Tike [Private]

[truecolorstina]

fleetfootchang:

What kind of rebellious teenager things did you have in mind?

You’re right, that doesn’t make me feel better, but it does confirm what I already thought so I’ll try not to hold it against you. I think Finn was the only player most people knew; quarterbacks get most of the glory just by virtue of being the quarterback. That rendition of Jessie’s Girl gave me the single most awkward case of secondhand embarrassment I’ve ever had; there’s no way I would have had the guts to pull something like that. Ever. How’s Saturday?

Well, Sugar’s last party was actually pretty fun. And I’ve always secretly wanted to break into the school at night, just to see what it’s like.

I knew you guys wore letterman jackets in the hallway, but when I tried to play ‘spot the Glee guys on the field’, it didn’t go so well. It was a little embarrassing, considering it didn’t work, but I feel like it would have been more awkward to have Rachel break up with Jesse right there on the spot, so... thank you for refraining. Saturday sounds absolutely perfect.

[truecolorstina]

Scrabble Night → Tike [Private]

[truecolorstina]

fleetfootchang:

No?

I think this school has a way of making people feel invisible. Even when we still had an athletics program, I didn’t really feel like I existed outside of the football team. Well it would have been weird to do it for your benefit when you had a boyfriend, and you probably would have thought I was a creep for it. In a way it would have, yeah. I don’t think I would have been ecstatic about it or anything, but I wouldn’t have thought you were a shitty person for it either. But either way, I’m glad it’s a non-issue. Perfect. Are you free this weekend?

I wouldn’t be totally opposed to a few rebellious teenager things. 

This probably isn’t going to make you feel better, but to agree with your point...The only person I ever recognized at football games was Finn, since I don’t really understand what all the other positions besides quarterback do. That’s true, too; it was weird enough watching everyone else’s love triangle serenades, I’m not sure how I would have felt getting caught up in one of my own. And no one was ever going to beat Finn singing Jessie’s Girl while Rachel was dating Jesse; that was just too easy. I’m glad it’s a non-issue too. Friday my aunt’s coming over for dinner, but I don’t have anything Saturday or Sunday?

[truecolorstina]

fleetfootchang:

Fair enough. It’s definitely my backup plan if dance school doesn’t work out, but hopefully I’ll never have to find out exactly how stressful a journey that would be. You’re just good at too many things: singing, writing, costume design…it’s too bad there’s not an obvious way to combine the three with a single major. After you and Puck killed it at Invitationals I can’t imagine her not being serious about letting you show off at Sectionals. I’ll try to make sure you don’t end up regretting it, in that case.

At least freshman dorms are generally pre-furnished; it seems like it’s the later years when people start living off campus that make it even more of a pain on move-in day. I guess I am pretty good at most of those things, but I don’t know how to combine them short of becoming a one-woman singing show, performing original material in my own costumes. And as much as I want solos, I actually kind of like the ensemble aspect of things. I keep waiting for Rachel to mention something about is getting a part at Sectionals, but so far nothing. At least Miss Holliday makes us pick our set lists sooner than Mr. Schue did, so we ought to know really soon. I don’t think I could ever regret anything that has to do with you.

[truecolorstina]

fleetfootchang:

You can do it, I believe in you. If you go through the drive through, you don’t even have to look anyone in the eye when you order. Seriously, honey nut cheerios. I don’t know what whoever came up with the recipe was thinking, but it doesn’t sound like something I’d ever want to drink. I’m taking it as a sign that I should avoid the secret menu website for the foreseeable future. I always assumed the “ruining your voice with too much dairy” thing was something Rachel made up, but apparently I was wrong; can you not switch out soy milk or coconut milk and avoid the vocal damage? Not that I’m encouraging a frappuccino binge anytime soon. Not having to be the entertainment this time around would be fantastic. I never understood why Mr. Schue did that - it’s not like our performances were all that well received in general.

It’s true; eye contact makes embarrassing situations all the more humiliating. The only way to make it worse is if they actually topped it with the cereal -- which reminds you, did I ever tell you that I saw a donut with fruit loops on top one time? People eat the strangest combinations. No, she didn’t make it up; it does coat your throat and it affects your voice, at least immediately after you’ve had it. But it’s Rachel, so she did grossly exaggerate it, and I can’t blame you for not taking her seriously. I could switch it out, but I’m actually not a big fan of coconut milk. Or coconut anything; I didn’t even like it when I used coconut shampoo. I tried it for one bottle and then immediately switched to something different, no matter how good coconut oil supposedly is for my hair. I don’t know; he thought we needed visibility, but McKinley dances really weren’t the best way to get it. Maybe Principal Figgins just always forgot to book real music and recruited us instead.

[i-can-hardly-say]

[truecolorstina]

icanhardlysay:

You don’t talk that much, you hardly ever sing, but when I see you do that, it’s who you are. It’s what makes me feel you. Mike, you gotta know by now, when I see you dance… it’s why I fell in love with you.

[truecolorstina]

Scrabble Night → Tike [Private]

[truecolorstina]

fleetfootchang:

We’re clearly doing the teenage experience wrong.

You were never just the quiet girl. But it took some of us a while to realize it; I’m kind of kicking myself for not getting to know you better sooner. Or at least not showing the world my awesome abs sooner. …It would have been ok if it was a rebound, you know. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really glad it wasn’t, but you don’t owe me anything and if it had been a summer thing for you I wouldn’t have held it against you or anything. But since that’s not really relevant, what do you say to giving going a real date a shot?

Well... maybe not all of it. 

It felt that way sometimes. Once Artie added me on Facebook and I had more friends than just my parents, I knew things were looking up, though. Don’t worry, if you had showed your abs sooner I might have assumed it was for the Cheerios’ benefit anyway. It would have? Because I would have felt bad -- I never would have wanted to make you feel like you were being used, you’re worth more than that. I think a real date sounds perfect, though.