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 Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:48 pm
While René liked to read, perhaps even loved it, Alexandre did not have the same affection for books. But he did keep up with things going on in the world, social things, so he’d heard nearly a year ago about a tv series based on a series of books. He’d not seen the series, not yet at least, but he’d heard the reviews and decided to make his own decision.
He didn’t read the books though he had them, on audio, and had gotten through them…finally. There were so damn many books in the series. He’d finished them, after so long, and the original two movies he’d binged the evening before. The first was good, though lacking in some things, it was tolerable. It was the second movie which had him displeased and figuring there was no way the tv series could possibly be worse.
It was worse - so much worse. Sitting on his living room couch he was trying to manage his way through another episode of this drivel but was finding it hard. He’d taken out his phone, at some point, and was complaining to René about it. Long texts of his ranting about books being turned into s**t movies and made into even worse tv shows and why? They had an opportunity and they’d failed it and the deceased writer so horribly. He’d gone on for several messages, not all sent at once either, it was like he’d take a break and then something else would set him off.
He had in secret, at least he thought it was secret, ordered a whole box of books in French for René and added them to the bookcase up in the guest room. He didn’t know if the other had spotted them all yet, all nice and neatly organized, but he’d gotten a nice selection of books along with this particular series. He thought it might be a nice gift though he was certain he should do more with this love of the others, he just wasn’t entirely sure what. But as he sat watching this driven, internally cringing, he was scrolling about on his phone looking for ideas.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:44 pm
René had been lying on the bed in his apartment reading when his phone started to go off, the first ping he ignored as he tried to get to a good stopping point. But as more pings came in and he could see a novel in the message preview on his lock screen, he decided to set the book down open to keep its place while he looked over things. As soon as he got through the first bit, he couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the commentary they were making. It sort of fit with his own opinion on some things but it was always funny to see the small little blond of his getting riled up. They looked so precious when they tapped their foot and huffed or pouted, he knew they probably could handle a lot more than he could but he couldn’t help but see them as just a small little thing and there was just no intimidation there for him.
Flipping through the calendar, he figured he could get away with popping over to Alexandre’s house maybe. Maybe movies weren’t his thing as much as it was theirs but he still liked spending time around them and he could just continue reading while they watched whatever show was getting them all riled up and pissy. Packing a few things in his bag, including his razor, René locked up his apartment and headed on over to Alexandre’s after shooting off a text about how he’d seen all sorts of books having been failed by directors and producers when they were turned into tv shows or movies.
By now he knew the way over there, even if he’d yet to drive it. Alexandre had been picking him up and dropping him off these past few weeks and he didn’t mind it at all given what had happened. A lot of that nervousness had calmed down after the first week had been completely uneventful in a magical sense. Things were feeling a lot more stable when it came to Alexandre as well, they’d been coming around all the time and had convinced him to stay over more often than not. René still had just the smallest bit of worry over if they’d disappear again but the worst of it seemed to have passed.
Half an hour later, he knocked on the door of the converted brownstones and waited to be let in.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:44 pm
At least René had responded to him, and not to complain about his ranting or tell him to go to sleep. René had agreed with him and shared his opinion on the matter, though maybe not on this series in particular, he hadn’t exactly mentioned the booksby name. He’d settled for using character names and such but never named the book series.
As he sat there, glaring at the tv screen, the blond jumped when he heard the knock on the door and got up to answer. He didn’t bother looking, he could handle whatever or whoever might be at his door, and when his eyes landed on René he yanked the other inside and held him close.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming over. Are you here to get me to shut up and go to sleep?” So he wouldn’t bother the other further, of course, because he was fairly certain he couldn’t manage to get to sleep at the moment. He was still worked up at the tv series which was playing on the tv screen half way across the living room. He was so not happy with the series playing on the screen, nor the actors playing the characters he’d come to appreciate and love.
“I didn’t mean to wake up you, if you were sleeping, I just needed to vent.” And he was locking the door and bringing the other to the living room, to sit down if he wanted.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:47 pm
“No, I came to see what was bothering you so much that you were working on your own novel via text. Also, I’m staying the night.” Smiling widely as he let the bag over his shoulder settle a bit lower so they could see it. “I hope that’s alright. I brought the book I was reading along too, I figured I could read it a bit more while you were subjecting yourself to whatever torturous show you’re watching and I could be emotional support?” At this point he was already laughing a bit more while following along.
Setting the bag down next to the couch, he settled in with his book after looking at the paused image on the screen. It wasn’t a show he recognized, not that he really watched much TV even when he was back home. “So what series is it? You mentioned character names but I don’t think I recognize it from that alone.”
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:48 pm
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be so long winded.” He wasn’t surprised the other would be spending the night, given how late it actually was, but it was nice to hear the other was staying. “And that, that is why I’m worked up.” Jabbing his finger at the tv screen. “That travesty which never should have been created.” He’d gone from apologizing to glaring at the television screen in seconds, with no warning of his change in temper. “I mean I did hear this series was so very different from the books but I did not think it would be this bad.” Shaking his head, still glaring at the screen he turned his attention then to René. “I heard a year or so ago and so I downloaded audible and bought all the books, I’ve gone through all of them, I then watched the original two movies and didn’t think it could get worse than the second one. It has managed to achieve that.” And he was displeased and let down, because a television series for the books would have been so good. He actually would have watched it and kept up with it, something he rarely ever did, but if done right it would have been worthy of his time.
Emotional support? That was amusing, because he really didn’t think the other could handle him if he decided to rant and rave and rage at this injustice but he didn’t say this. He didn’t say any of this. He would not turn down the others' attention and presence.
“The vampire chronicles by Anne Rice. This is the first book, "Interview with the Vampire.” He stated, figuring the other likely hadn’t heard of the series just like he hadn’t till he’d seen discussions online. “I only heard about it because of people talking online about it. Some family member of mine was even mentioning it.” And he’d decided to climb his way down the rabbit hole, as delicately as he could. He did not for one moment mention that he’d bought the books for René, in French, and had them upstairs.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:50 pm
“It’s cute, I didn’t know you got so worked up over these shows.” Poking their cheek a bit, René then pulled them down to the couch. “So how many more episodes or whatever of this are there? Are you almost free from the torment of this travesty?” Joking along, he leaned against them and managed to read a few more paragraphs of his book before they mentioned the title. Working it over in his mind, he mumbled what it might be called in French almost questioningly.
“It wasn’t the doctor, right? He doesn’t seem like the type to like fantasy things or supernatural stuff. To be honest I can’t see him looking at anything other than research things probably, whatever it is doctors read to keep up on things.” Waving hand a bit vaguely as he spoke about the stiffer cousin he’d met a few times now at this point. It was still apparent they didn’t like him and it made things a bit rough but there was a reason apparently, even if he didn’t agree.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:53 pm
“I don’t normally get this worked up, I don’t normally read this much. But I did and I found the series to my liking.” Curling into the others side he I paused the show and sighed. “Three and a half episodes,
It’s too many honestly, the series is only seven episodes long but they are going to have a season two. They say they want to do the whole series of books.” And he couldn’t see how that would be possible, so much would be missing or written wrong somehow, he wasn’t even sure how they could replace a whole character that was in half a book.
“Entretien avec un vampire would be the French name of the book. No, it wasn't Lorcan, another cousin of mine, who is younger than both of us suggested it. They were a Twilight fan and have a thing for vampires. Between them and the controversy online, from what I saw anyway, I decided to audible the whole series. It’s a good read though long.” Unless someone was a fast reader and even then it felt like it would be a lot, between the amount of books and the length of them each.
“I ummm…bought you the books in French…” Because after meeting René, and while finishing the series, he did think some parts would appeal to the other. He felt like the bits of romance, and what passion was there, might appeal plus who didn’t think sexual things with vampires and their method of eating? Yes, it might be something René would like though he wasn’t sure if there was a book genre he didn’t like.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:55 pm
“Are you sure it’ll survive to a second season if it’s apparently this terrible? Don’t shows get canceled all the time for no reason sometimes? Maybe it would be a mercy for this one to die?” If it was something that seemed to be dead in the water it would make sense if it got canceled.
Again with the mumbling, the title sounded familiar but some of the other things they mentioned didn’t really check out in his mind. “Audible, that’s the listening thing, right? I guess that’s a nice want to get through a book if you don’t have the time to read it. I would probably have a hard time with it if whoever is speaking it has an accent.” It was a learning curve that he was still working through, especially since there were a lot of… interesting accents in this country.
Earmarking his book, he set it on the table before looking back over the couch towards the stairs. “Oh did you? Maybe I’ll go grab the first one and work through it while you watch the show? I read fairly quickly, and it kind of became a habit between working and sneaking books into class. I used to hide them inside my textbooks sometimes, especially for some of the math courses for the business side of things. They were really too easy since I had experience from my family so I ended up reading through class and taking barely any notes. It worked out in the end but I am very sure it pissed off the people around me.”
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:57 pm
“No, I think it’ll make a season two and perhaps further. It’s gained the attention, and favor, of those of a certain group of people. Those who don’t know the books, those who don’t care that it’s changed so much, they were all over the internet praising the series and trying to shoot down the complaints. Though that was a year back…but I didn’t notice a change in things when I last looked. It still seems to have a decent fanbase, at least I think it does.” Which meant it would likely make season two and maybe a third season, much as that bothered him.
“Mmm, I don’t have the time to read, plus school and a project I’ve been working on. So the audio books have helped, a lot, but I can understand how it would be hard for you especially with accents.” Because it wasn’t an issue for him…though if he got someone with an accent from somewhere in Europe, he’d have it hard as well.
Staring he nodded slowly, almost blank as he stared at the other. He was surprised they were so quick, and easily, going to switch books. “I‘m glad you were able to pass your classes despite that, just speaks to your skills and smarts.” Which told him even more how he’d gotten lucky with René - very lucky. “You can go get the first book, I bought the whole series for you in French.” As well as other books, which he wasn’t sure if René had or didn’t, he’d been a bit random and picked things after looking over the summary of the books. He’d just switched from looking over the English summary to buying the book in French. “I don’t know if you’ll like the book…I think you might though I did think you would.” And he’d wanted to share that with the other, a book he’d liked. He’d thought of these books when thinking of a gift for René, or rather a part of a larger gift that he was still trying to figure out.
“It’s a bit…romantic in a way but not as in your face but it’s certainly there. Nothing I would avoid.” And he did tend to avoid certain things, though he wasn’t sure how much René knew about what he was and wasn’t comfortable with. “If you want to go get the first book you’re more than welcome to it. “You want a glass of wine to go with the book or tea, since it is late.” He asked, already figuring he would get up and get the other a drink while René went to get the book.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:58 pm
“Oh… I see. Well then. I guess maybe that’s too bad. I know some books are hard to move over to the screen, big or small. It’s a bit sad though.” It happened more than a few times, which was why he didn’t really care for most things that were on TV.
“Botany is a lot more hands-on on I feel like than business was for me, so I can get behind listening along while doing other things if you can.” Getting up, he ruffled Alexandre’s hair from behind the couch as he passed. “I wouldn’t say I’m that skilled but clever maybe, just had to be on my toes with things to get by.” Heading up the stairs to the guest room, he noticed that the bookshelf was fuller than it had been the last weekend. Looking over the newer ones, he shuffled the shelf around to be in proper order before taking the first one down and heading back down to the couch where the other was waiting.
Settling back in, he flipped it open and looked over it a bit. “I like almost everything as long as it has a story to it. Fiction mainly but history as well if there’s some drama to it. Thank you though, I can read English but I do prefer French sometimes. It’s just easier still for me. Romance though? Oh, I can get behind that and some wine along with things might make the terribleness of the show easier to bear listening to.” Teasing a bit as he leaned over to kiss them, this was nicer than just sitting in his apartment reading in silence.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:58 pm
Watching the other head upstairs, tracking the others movements, he finally stood and went to find a wine for the other and pour a glass before setting both on the coffee table in the living room. Reseating himself he didn’t have to wait all that long, though it was longer than he imagined it would be.
With a bottle of juice, and a glass filled already, set for himself the blond was smiling when the other returned. “I figured French might be easier for you, more comfortable and familiar. Actually, one of the characters is French, though he doesn’t use much French in the books but he does site places in the past. Another is French born but moved here very young. The romance is..it’s there, more so in other books, but they can’t do anything about it. Though, to be fair, I think it’s better without such.” He spoke softly, leaning into the others side while he pressed play again and sighed, this was going to be a nightmare. The only good thing was the company and that if René got into the books he would soon understand the blonds horror with this television series. “If you don’t like the book, or any of the other ones, you don’t need to finish them.” He’d just wanted to share something he’d enjoyed with the other, in the hopes they might both like it. “Drama…oh there is a lot of that” And he knew how René liked drama, at least when it was kept to the pages of a book or it was someone else's drama. Laughing softly he pressed his lips to the others.
“At least you here makes this far more tolerable, petite souris”
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