CH.7: FURT - THE PHILOSOPHERS
–FINN–
THE MONDAY AFTER THE BUS…
"...Ok Burt, thanks for the heads-up. I'm pretty tied up this week, but Marty will be here the rest of the week to do training & show him the ropes, hold his hand. Assuming it goes well, I'll get him on the permanent schedule beginning next week."
— "Sounds good Finn - and that's why we made Marty the Supervising Mechanic. You can only be as successful as your team - remember that."
"Yeah exactly. Oh, FYI. Since I have a mid terms coming up and a music piece due soon, I'll be on campus longer than usual the next few days, plus band practice. I don't want to cut back any hours here if I can help it, but I probably wont get to the shop here til the new guy's shift has ended, for the rest of this week anyway. I might not even get to meet him til next week."
— "Hey Finn, don't sweat it. Your education comes first, we already talked about that remember? Besides, I know part of you secretly loves being a grease monkey, I know you'll get the work done and done right. So you go ahead and fit in the time when you can. And if you can't, just talk to Marty about prioritizing anything your working on. It'll work itself out - I trust you."
"Thanks Burt, I appreciate that. Yeah I honestly am pretty tied up this week. I also have a new client at Adam's on top of everything else.. He's a really good student though, and a cool guy. But y'know, the money's good so I can't pass it up. "
— "I'm proud of you son. You've really taken the bull by the horns, you're living your dreams. You're gonna have a hell of a future, I just hope I'm around long enough to really see it all happen for you."
"Thanks dad. And I mean that. You've helped me find my way to make a lot of these decisions for myself whether you know it or not. I really appreciate all your support. And I'm so happy mom has you. We're a family, and I'm glad for it, for you, and for Kurt."
After their father-son moment, they turn the discussion back to business. Finn continues to listen to his stepdad on the other end of the phone as he explains the new guy's preferred nickname is "PUCK" as in hockey, and he'd like that stitched on his uniform because 'nobody but his mother and his cousin calls him Noah'. Finn thinks that's hilarious, and a great nickname.
"Is that spelled P-U-C-K? Let's just hope there's no typos this time at the uniform place… remember that poor guy Bucky?"
The pair share a good laugh over the rep for the uniform company's embarrassment - who reassured that there was no excuse in mistaking a 'B' with an 'F' - even though they'd made it right by offering a free month of uniform laundry services and a 10% discount for new uniforms for the next year. He tells his step dad the shop is doing great, business has been picking up a bit and that hopefully this Puck fella is going to jump right in & carry his weight. Burt reminds him he's a big part of this location's success too, and that he wouldn't have opened this shop if not for Finn being there.
They go over a few parts supplier issues and an insurance company payment dispute for one of their regular customers. Burt reminds him he'll be in D.C. for another month but will try to stop back at the shop again in a few weeks. As they make their goodbyes Fin sends his love to his mom Carole, who he misses a lot and knows he really needs to call personally, because it's been a while. His mom usually gives great advice too, and he could probably use some right now. She's been his best friend and confidant for.. Forever. Ok he's kind of a mama's boy, so what?
But he isn't sure he's ready to tell her about his muse, even though her advice might be most valuable in this matter. With college graduation looming near, truth is sometimes Finn feels a bit nervous for the future… and sometimes he feels a bit lonely. As good as it would be to hear her reassurances, he just doesn't want to give her any false hope unless - and until - he knows there actually IS a special someone in his life whom he probably WILL someday settle down with. Certain things for now, mom doesn't need to know about. At least not yet.
Its raining outside again. Hard. Finn isn't looking forward to the bus ride home tonight because it's just going to remind him of THAT night, but he's pretty sure there won't be anything electric or special about it on this night, as much as he wishes differently. And all he's going to be is wet.
xoxo-gleegleeglee
THE TUESDAY AFTER THE BUS…
Color me surprised! Blaine is a really cool dude, but I'm starting to wonder if he lied about not playing drums til now. If his this is only his first drum lesson then I'm Jon Bonham. I don't think he'll need more than a couple more sessions and he could probably take over my instructor job. Dude's got great timing and a real natural talent.
I already know he's hiding HER from me… I just wish I knew why? I'm a nice enough guy. I definitely don't have a criminal record (i double checked that one myself; wasn't too sure about that freshman year prank thing if it stuck or not). I'm polite and affable to everyone (except for ass-hats, like peddies, womanizers, wife beaters and other likewise low-lives). I open doors for ladies because it's courteous, not because I think women are inferior - and because my mom says it's the gentlemanly thing to do. And she's right. Because I love my mom and I know she's usually right. I spoil my little cousins and my friends kids because kids are awesome, they are fun and full of innocence, they are the future. I love music and art and animals. I'm not an addict (unless COD counts), I don't gamble. So WHY won't Mr Coffee at least confirm he knows her, or throw me a little bone & tell me her NAME?
Ok Finn. Put yourself in his shoes. If you had a friend - like her, specifically - wouldn't you protect her from some rando-weird-stranger who came asking about her? HELL YEAH. Totally would. Jesus I wanna do that already and I don't even know her yet. In a lot of ways I'm glad Blaine's protecting her. That's maybe the biggest reason I have respect for this dude - and I really hope Kurt figures that out too, that Barista Blaine is a good guy. I saw the way they were checking each other out, there seems to be chemistry there. I think they could be good together. (Yeah, definitely getting that Brother of the Year award hehe.. Even if i WON'T be the recipient of anymore designer polos for a while. Right. I knew there'd be some fallout… Whatever.)
Okay so. Why does she need protecting. Does she have something to hide, or something to protect? Some-ONE to protect? A kid? Nahh. I don't think so, she looks like a dancer type or something, and just the few times I've heard that magical voice of hers, I guarantee she can sing her face off. Or my face off. Or.. - NOPE stop right there Hudson, you're not gonna think about what she can do to your face.. remember those 'gentlemanly traits' you were just waxing poetic about? This could be your future wife for all you know, don't be a misogynist.
SEE that there's another positive thing about me! I know what that word means and why it's a BAD thing!
Maybe she's had her heart broken. Maybe she has a nasty psycho ex. I'd certainly take out the trash for her, if need be. And anyone who could hurt her, s'gotta be trash. Or maybe she's suffered some personal loss, maybe she isn't ready to meet someone new yet. Yeah I get it Mr Coffee. Keep on percolating, I can wait.
Ok dude time to get a grip. FOCUS. You can ponder the 'whys' and 'what-ifs' all night, but you will not find the answers tonight and you have way too much to do this week. Like finishing that senior music piece. If - no WHEN- you finally meet her, you can thank her for the inspiration to this piece. Now get yer arse to the kit and SMASH IT man! Practice makes perfect, and this, it needs to be perfect. It was inspired by perfection. If i'd never have seen her, wonder how well this assignment would be going right now.. I just hope I get to play it for her someday. That would be cool.
xoxo-gleegleeglee
THE WEDNESDAY AFTER THE BUS…
Finn arrived ahead of the other guys. Wednesday is their flex day, they only get an hour practice time and not all the guys always show. This way it gives them at least some individual rehearsal time and creative space even if they aren't playing together. They rent this space and it's shared with other artists and it's usually fully booked; but tonight there was an opening due to a cancellation, so Kippy the building manager agreed to let Finn in 30 mins early, which works great because he needs some music therapy on his own anyway.
It's been about a week since that 'electric bus' encounter. Finn's been berating himself daily for not getting off the bus when she did, at least he would've had a chance to meet her then. So as long as Blaine for the love of Pete is still withholding his prize, at least he can put all his focus into the music she inspired within him. Yeah, he totally remembered to lay down that new drum track.
He wants to test this new song out in the practice hall on his personal kit. Sometimes the rhythm feels different on different kits and in different spaces. He's already got all the other instrumentation recorded on his iPad, courtesy of the recording equipment and guest student musicians at school, so he connects it up to the Bluetooth speakers.
The surprise for his professor on this piece is that HE's gonna sing lead vocals too. Writing the song was easy, singing it.. Well, that might be easy too, he's a little rusty but his heart is in this thing. He figured it was time to shine and Finn's not afraid to go big. He grabs his sticks and counts the beats to begin…
Call it magic
Call it true
I call it magic
When I'm with you
And I just got broken
Broken into two
Still I call it magic
When I'm next to you
And I don't, and I don't, and I don't, and I don't
No, I don't, It's true
I don't, no, I don't, no, I don't, no, I don't
want anybody else but you
I don't, no, I don't, no, I don't, no, I don't
No, I don't, It's true
I don't, no, I don't, no, I don't, no, I don't
Babe you know you're the glue
Ooooh ooh ooh
Call it magic
Cut me into two
And with all your magic
I disappear from view
And I can't get over
Mysterious you
Still I call it magic
You're such a precious jewel
And I don't, and I don't and I don't, and I don't
No, I don't, It's true
I don't, no, I don't, no, I don't, no, I don't
want anybody else but you
I don't, no, I don't, no, I don't, no, I don't
No, I don't, It's true
I don't, no, I don't, no, I don't, no, I don't
want anybody else but you
Wanna fall, I fall so far
I wanna fall, fall so hard
And I call it magic
And I call you my muse
I believe in magic
I believe in you
You're my muse….
As the music ends Finn is startled by the sound of applause echoing in the hall.
"Of course you do. You sneaky motherfucker holding back on us," Josh says with a look of astonishment on his face.
Finn tucks his chin down to his chest and scrubs his hand across the back of his neck, peeking up sheepishly at his bandmate "Dude what do you mean? I'm not holding anything–"
"Hell you're not Huddy. You never sang like that on our stuff. You've been reluctant just to do some simple backup vocals up til now. And what is this damn song, where did THAT come from? Even though I already know the answer…. "
"Josh it's for school. My senior piece. That's why you haven't heard it yet - although I was gonna get you guys to run it through with me before it's due."
"Yeah I figured it was for school, but I meant where did it come from, you wrote it right?"
"I was inspired."
"By her. Your muse. Like I said, I already knew the answer," he chuckles. "Maybe you're onto something with this chick man. I hope for all our sakes you find her… fast."
"So do I. And don't worry, I'm on it… What did you think of the song though?"
"Finn. Serious? It's fan-fucking-tastic. Just the way it is. Don't change a thing. Arrangement is outstanding. You do that too?"
"Yeah, part of the assignment."
"Like i said, you've been holding back. And you're gonna sing it too? You got the chops man. Why haven't you manned up for us here yet?"
"Josh you're the lead singer. Why would I–"
"Because you CAN. Maybe you don't want ti all the time, and that's cool. But dude, don't sit idle on my account. We can share. And I don't know what the hell we could add to this track or help you with, sounds solid already – IT is magic, or maybe you are."
"Nah, not me J-man.. Not me. Her. It's all her."
xoxo-gleegleeglee
—KURT—
My brother is SO infuriating sometimes! How could he LIE to me and get me all panicked like that! He knows how I feel about perspiration! He knows what a good designer polo means to me, and he KNEW I'd freak out. Apparently he also knew I'd just drop everything I was doing to rush right down there at a moment's notice, be at his beck and call. Like I have nothing better to do than clean up after his messes - literally. Oh lordy, let's not remember that unfortunate chili cheese dog incident - no, FINN, club soda can't fix everything! He really has no couth sometimes… but i suppose he has a big heart and his intentions are usually good, even if he fumbles on occasion, even if there's ulterior motives attached.
He really knows me too well sometimes. Funny…
Who would have guessed it, considering that when we first met we were on opposite ends of the high school social spectrum. No, Finn was never like the worst of that ILK that was McKinley's jock 'in-crowd' - he was always above them; it just took him a while to believe it for himself. Thank Gaga for Glee club. We might not - no, most certainly WOULD NOT - be the family we are today without it.
What a difference music makes, I suppose? It's like magic the way it transforms and transcends and touches the spirit. Or like fire. Fire is also magical; the way it transforms is more tangible, more physical. Instant, permanent gratification.
Music and fire have so much in common. They can be a slow kindling that creeps up on you, like the frog in the pot of water (gradually bring it to a boil & the frog doesn't notice he's boiling) or they can be an EXPLOSION that changes everything all at once! A supernova ushering the birth of a star. Volcano eruptions. Yes, music and fire, they're both exciting, and either way the change is everlasting. Your soul can't go back whether it's been touched by the likes of a jaw dropping aria solo or has a torch lit by an eternal flame.
Love, magic, music, fire.. It's really all the same isn't it? PASSION. The thing that makes you come alive, feel alive, BE alive. That makes life worth living? Well that just sounds cliche… but is it any less true?
Maybe it's the origins that make all the difference. Finn's origin was assumed to be a selfish stereotypical go-with-the-status-quo popular jock, but his true origin was love. The love and respect he had from his mom, that she instilled in him; the kind that nurtured a desire to see the world full of equals, a world of peace and harmony. He was never cut out to be just a quarterback. He is also fire - the slow burning kind. He changed the landscape of McKinley and Lima forever. He changed the landscape of me forever too. I hope he realizes that. I couldn't have found the strength to be the person I am without him.
Speaking of explosions, that Blaine is something pretty amazing! He's smart, and funny, and talented to be sure - if that little bit of drumming I heard is any measure. When he started singing Teenage Dream Ion the baby grand in the music shop I thought I'd swoon! Ok, ok, I DID swoon.. Just a little! Don't tell him that yet. He's clearly got similar interests as me - including and especially fashion. That little red bow tie was SO adorable! Maybe this is MY year, finally, maybe EVERYTHING'S COMING UP KURT!
When he offered me his phone number I thought I might pass out really. He's just SO unbelievably charming, so debonair, and realllyyy good looking. I had to call him as soon as I had a chance to check - err, clear - my lunch calendar. I hope this works out, he seems really sincere.. A keeper maybe? I guess time will tell..
My brother is pretty amazing. He might have just won 'Brother of the Year' for his little ruse - except I still deserve it for being his reliable 'beck and call girl' all the damned time! But I love him for trying, and for having such a big heart. Okay, we'll call it a tie.
Finn deserves happiness too. More than happiness, he deserves love. Peace. SO many years it seemed like he was struggling, searching for something. Wrestling inner demons. For all the little successes he's been building into bigger successes, I don't think he's ever been truly fulfilled or made whole yet.
I know he's been playing this insane smoke and mirrors game of 'Where in the World is Carmen SanDiego' for the longest time over some mysterious peacoat-clad girl. (and yesss… He can thank me for the fact that he's able to identify a PEACOAT.) If and when he finds her, she'd better be worthy of HIM. Or she and I WILL have words, you can be sure of that! We may already need to have words if I can trust FInn's description of her outerwear - matching rainbow striped ensembles seems a bit gauche, and sweetheart, all-season short skirts seems like you're trying to hard… but I suppose it depends who the designer is? And whether you have the legs to pull it off. Finn claims she does, for now I'll have to take his word for it.
I hope he finds her. Even if it's just to put him out of his misery, he needs to reach the end of this quest. Whatever is happening to him, I'm seeing a change.. I think it's for the good. She seems to have sparked some passion in him, and right now it's barely more than the idea of her that's driving him. But even if it's all just smoke and mirrors, y'know what they say, where there's smoke…
—gleegleeglee—
CH6 & 7 - A/N
OOOOO CLIFFHANGER some Rachel/Brody drama looming…! I'll fess up: I DESPISE BRODY WESTON. Sorry not sorry, I'm a finchel purist, if it were up to me they'd (f&r) never have dated anyone but each other! :) LOL. If you're a brody fan i think you may be in the wrong place.
Hope you enjoyed finally getting some Kurt, Puck & Burt! Burt was a last minute inspiration (that was a phone call between Finn & Burt, if you were confused.. Burt was at the autobody shop but then left back to Washington DC. his politics is canon, his affiliation with DC is therefore implied canon) but i hope you liked it, i was pretty happy with that part.
I wasn't really planning to make Kurt seem so philosophical there, hahaha. it just kinda happened. Hope it didn't come off too weird? Or dumb? But in Kurt canon, he's an onion. He has these deep philosophical layers hiding in there, we've seen peeks at it on the show many many times and i imagine it makes sense he'd be a deep thinker given his life struggles. Also it's one of my pet peeves in fanfic when Kurt is only portrayed as a cartoon outlandish GAY-DIDDY-GAY-GAY version of himself, boisterous and obnoxious and one dimensional. I adore the character and Chris's portrayal (totally earned those emmys); he sometimes just needs tempered for me to find him palatable, and this is MY AU Kurt, so i did it. LOL.
Same with Puck - yes he's usually the rough gruff neanderthal, but he also has many layers. Right now so far only his caveman self seems to have presented itself, but i believe that's gonna change very shortly. And in case you're wondering - or maybe you caught on, Puck is a TERRIBLE speller (ooooo the RED in my editor! Was so hard to resist and override the spellcheck stuff!), and he's pretty lazy (as am i usually, i heavily rely on spell check and autocorrect so i don't need extra keys like SHIFT lol) but hes also a dude, he abbreviates, so.. If you got lost in the chat room with RB & NP, pls ask me i'll try to clarify! Hope that scene wasn;t too long & boring, i just wasn't ready to let it go.. It coulda been longer i think, if i didn't reel myself in! HAHA
AND HELLO READERS - Thanks so much for your reviews! I really wasn't sure if i'd be writing anything anyone would be actually be interested in reading, so glad to see i'm not here alone! Yes I KNOW I KNOW, Blaine is being SO STUBBORN right? Jeez he could just introduce them already! Or at least tell FInn her name! But where's the fun in that? :) Plus, he has reasons for guarding her, many of which have been revealed already and i do stand by that. I think IRL a coffee barista isnt gonna just dole out info to strangers, but also on the personal/character side, Rachel IS very much in need of being saved from herself sometimes. I think tv Finn figured that out immediately and is one of the reasons he was drawn to her, to be her protector. In this story, RB does not HAVE a Finn from her past to ground her, she doesn't have that history (its also my this Rachel currently feels closer to tv sophomore Rachel, who was totally annoying hahaha).. So Blaine is kind of filling the gap a bit. Change Blaine's name out with Finn re-read then consider his motives.. I think its why this FInn is already liking Mr Coffee so much. Mirror reflections :)
And yes, the Finchel Meeting is imminent. I accidentally jumped ahead of myself a bit, so I know where its happening and what is said - its mostly already written.. Just be Finn, be patient and wait for the universe to explain itself! xoxoxo
—-
Couple of parting thoughts.. I LOVE non-linear story telling, ala Tarantino (GENIUS). Im not positive i'm pulling it off very well, it might be a little confusing but when i step back and re-read it makes sense to me.. Finn Blaine Kurt and even Rachel all are telling their thoughts/versions of events, its mostly a straight timeline per character but its interspersed in the chapters. If anything doesn't make sense - or if i fumbled it - please LMK! Happy to answer Q's!
—-
Also. I wanted to mention my story title at some point, and in the process of writing this chapter it seemed appropriate to do it now. The title is borrowed from an Angels & Airwaves song. Mostly because I thought the title had sooo much hidden poetry in it, but the lyrics fit the sentiment of this story too, i think so anyway.
And I'll let the cat out of the bag a little, this isn't the last AVA song reference, its only the first - in fact they are MY muse in writing this story… I'll leave it at that for now!
"Some Origins Of Fire"
Cars crash through the streets
The west end waves break city heats
The east coast storms fill in the sky
Winter weekends
Cold, unbearable, life's so terrible
Shots ring out in blind stellar night time
Town lights come alive like a land mine
Eyes wide up in five second intervals
Unpredictable, life's a miracle
We all are love and love is hard
We're hard to love
We all are love and love is hard
It breaks my heart
We all are love and love is hard
We're hard to love
We all are love and love is hard
So here's my heart
I can't close my eyes
The east end girls, it's summer time
The west coast lives got butterflies
So literal
Cold, unbearable, life's so terrible
Kids live fearlessly and curious lives
Grow up to be so serious
Lost time, broken dreams
So usual
Unpredictable, life's a miracle
We all are love and love is hard
We're hard to love
We all are love and love is hard
It breaks my heart
We all are love and love is hard
We're hard to love
We all are love and love is hard
So here's my heart
It's lonely, this cycle
It's deafening though
This age-old recital is king of all sounds
There is no release, we are silently numb
A slow rolling wave with a wake that's yet to come
I don't own anything - except my free will to borrow from great artists who've been showcased within… thanks be to them!
THANKS FOR READING! PLEASE REVIEW!
FAITHFULLY FINCHEL FOREVER XOXO
—gleegleeglee—