wip amnesty weekend

[lierdumoa]

Fandom:Everwood
Pairing: Bright/Ephram/Madison
Summary: Amy really did run away that Thanksgiving. Shit happened while she was gone.
A/N: I came up with it right after Madison came on the show, back when she was still likeable, so the characterization in this for her is rather off. I only got two scenes written of it. The outline, on the other hand, was over 4000 words. This would have been the longest fic I'd ever written if I'd ever written it.
Circumstances of Death: I had just started writing it when Queer as Folk ATE MY LIFE.




Thanksgiving dinner was a disaster. Bright desperately wished that the night could just be over with. His sister was dating a drug addict, his father was screaming at his sister, his grandmother was criticizing everything and everyone, and dessert was burning in the oven. Fan-fucking-tastic. Bright couldn't imagine how things could possibly get worse.

But then, Bright never did have a very good imagination. He had always been more of a solid, rational thinker. So when his mother came down the stairs to say, "Amy's missing," Bright's inital reaction was flat out disbelief. There was no way Amy would just leave. No way. Bright took his mother's proclamation for a really, really unfunny joke. His brain didn't begin to process what was going on until the police were standing around his living room twenty minutes later, asking for the phone numbers of Amy's friends.

When he did register what was going on, a strange calm seemed to settle over him. He calmly tapped his father on the shoulder and said, "I'll call Ephram." He then picked up the portable phone and began punching in the digits with his thumb. Harold blinked in surprise. Whether the surprise was over Bright's apparent levelheadedness, or the fact that Bright seemed to know Ephram's number offhand was anyone's guess.

The phone rang six times, and Bright fully expected the answering machine to pick up. He was surprised when Ephram's voice, groggy with sleep, muttered a curt hello into the reciever. Surprised enough that for a moment, he forgot what to say. The silence dragged on for a few seconds. Ephram began to clear his throat for a second hello.

And then Bright remembered what he was calling for. "Amy's missing," he said.

"Oh," Ephram replied.

He waited for Bright to say more, but no words were forthcoming. Finally he muttered, "I'll go tell my dad," and hung up the phone.

It occurred to Ephram that waking his father to relay this news was rather unnecessary. Anything that needed to be said could wait till the morning. Unless Amy actually showed up at his house sometime in the night, there was nothing his father could do.

The whole situation was a bit too much for Ephram, anyway. Like a scene out of a bad movie. He decided that everything would make more sense after a night of sleep, and soon was climbing into his bed and burrowing under his sheets, closing his eyes and waiting for the fade to black.


*


The next morning was slow moving. Ephram dragged his way into the kitchen with Delia a few steps behind him. He pulled a few leftovers from the fridge and set them in the microwave. Nobody wants to cook the day after Thankgiving.

Andy started down the stairs just as Ephram finished setting the table. He yawned his good mornings to his two children and the family sat down together to eat. "So what are we doing today," he asked, wiping stray crumbs from his face with the corner of his napkin.

And that's when Ephram remembered. "Amy's missing," he blurted out, the words falling unceremoniously from his mouth and out onto the table. "Bright called last night. Amy's missing,"

Andy blinked. Then blinked again. "I don't remember him calling."

"He called after we went to bed. The ringing woke me up."

"Are you sure you didn't dream this?"

Ephram scrunched his forehead for a moment. "I don't think I did. I'll call and make sure."

He got up and made his way to the phone, quickly punching in the number to the Abbot residence. Rose answered with a somewhat desperate sounding, "Amy? Is that you?"

"Uh, no. It's Ephram. Amy didn't come by here last night. I thought you'd want to know."

There was a short break in the dialogue, and then -- "Ah, thank you. Ephram. If that's all then..."

"Yeah. bye."

Ephram turned back to the dining room table to find his father and sister staring at him, suddenly wide awake. "She's really missing," he said, unnecessairily.

It didn't make any more sense than it had the night before. So Ephram just returned to his seat to finish his breakfast.

---

Inital Notes

Say you don't want it again and again
But you don't, you don't really mean it.

-- lyrics by Tori Amos

Bright -- he's really great with kids, very high EQ, jock hotness, droll sense of humor -- something I'm going to have Madison point out using that exact word to which Ephram will reply -- "He's usually not like this -- more into slapstick."

Bright first hears about Madison from Ephram. Wanted to laugh at the giant spaz attack Ephram seemed to be having over the fact that his dad was foisting a babysitter on him. Almost asked him, "is she hot?" just to piss Ephram off, but stopped himself. Besides, he already knew the answer was yes.

He'd wished forever that Ephram would just get over his sister. She'd been so hung up on so many things she'd taken the guy completely for granted. She was only hurting Ephram, and Bright hated seeing his friends get hurt.

Bright hated seeing Ephram get hurt.


After Amy runs away -- Ephram is too worried about Amy to worry about Bright. Madison, who doesn't know Amy but notices Bright's worry, puts her hand on Bright's knee and asks him how he's holding up. Bright wasn't expecting this. Suddenly wants to just kiss her, bury his tongue in her mouth and forget, but remembers his place -- he's Ephram's friend and he'd never betray him like that.

It's sad -- since he left the football team no one wants to fuck him anymore. Hasn't bothered him till now. Hasn't felt like he needed a mindless fuck till now.

A week later, Bright comes over. Madison answers the door -- Ephram's playing piano in the other room. Lately Ephram's been really worried about Amy. Bright comes in and notices Madison being kind of depressed with Ephram distracted with Amy. He joins her where she's sitting on the couch.

"Hey, don't sweat it. He's just worried about her, you know? Like I am. But he's over her, I can tell. I mean, " -- Bright tucks a hair behind her ear, leaving his fingers at the back of her ear -- "You should see the way his eyes light up when he talks about you." Madison nods, closes her eyes, and unconsciously leans into the touch. Bright snatches his hand away like it's on fire, causing Madison to open her eyes. Madison shakes her head as if to clear it. Bright suddenly doesn't know where to put his hands. *What am I getting myself into?*

"Really?"

"Yeah." Bright bows his head and wipes suddenly damp palms on his jeans.

Pause.

Madison gets a small, mischievious smile on her face. "Kinda like how he looks when he talks about you?"

Bright's head snaps up. "Huh?"

Madison grins, then bites the corner of her lip. "Don't listen to me," she laughs. "I don't know what I'm saying." She stands up and walks away. Bright's eyes follow the movement of her hips for a moment before he tears his gaze away.

*This is so fucked up.*

She walks in to watch Ephram play. Bright consideres following her, but decides against it. Though he'd never admit it out loud, watching Ephram's hands move over the piano keys always gets a rise out of him. Ephram's always too absorbed in the music to notice, but if Madison's standing there...

Cool stuff to explore: Bright has very high EQ. So does Madison, as it turns out. Ephram, on the other hand, only notices when he's really paying attention. As much as he may pay attention to Bright and Madison on the individual level, he's really not aware of the threesome dynamic the way Bright is.

Bright is aware first -- when he's with Ephram, there's Madison standing invisibly in between them. It's only after Ephram starts telling her more about Bright that she starts to feel as if Bright is standing invisibly in between her and Ephram. In neither case is this overt, but it's there.

Okay, note to self -- engineer conversation where Ephram tells Madison about Bright.

Right, so both Madison and Bright are uncomfortable with this -- Ephram's unaware of this percieved discomfort.

...then...

Here's where the Bright/Madison scenes come in. They start to like eachother. The notice that they find each other attractive.

Okay, so lets say that Ephram is completely unaware of his feelings for Bright. He doesn't realize he sees him as anything more than a friend. Madison suspects something when he talks about Bright (the way his face lights up when he talks about Bright).

Three start hanging out together. Weird dynamic, but they ignore it until Madison's 21's birthday. Okay, invent some crazy timing here. Amy comes back, still fucked up, the day before Madison's birthday. Let's put a tentative, oh, four weeks after Amy runs away.

Bright goes by Ephram's house when his Dad is away (?visiting someone? -- invent a reason and Delia's with him) and they decide this all calls for a double celebration, and seeing as Madison't birthday is her 21st, they decide to get roaring drunk. Madison comes over and Ephram and Bright are only slightly tipsy -- it's not noticeable until he kisses her in front of Bright and she tastes the alcohol. She starts to admonish him, but he teases her out of it and convinces her to join them. (oh, before that he gives her some kind of gift, of course, for her b-day)

So everyone gets very tipsy. Madison and Ephram start making out, and Bright is drunk enough to blurt out "No fair. You guys are having all the fun." Ephram, apparently a lot more drunk than he looks, tells Madison, "Kiss Bright so he doesn't feel left out." Madison looks at him quizzically, but is too tipsy to formulate an objection, so she goes for it. Ephram's eyes go big. "That is so hot! Both of you!"

< insert threesome porn here >

Awkward speech in the morning. Some yelling. Ephram crying out to Bright, "Since when are you gay?!" Scandal. Hopefully I won't be overusing exclamation points in the story the way I am in these notes. Madison tries to do her "I'm the adult, so here's what we should do thing" but both Bright shuts her up with a hand over her mouth and he starts laying out the ground rules.

"Before either of you try to pretend this never happened, let me just say this. Ephram, I like you. A lot. Madison, I could say the same for you. *lowers his hand from her mouth* I didn't mean to mess up your relationship. I just..."

Ephram says coldly -- "Bright, maybe you should go."

This time Madison takes the stand. Ephram, Bright is your friend. I won't let you end that because of this.

"So what, then?" Ephram throws up his hands. "You want to make us into some sort of fucked up threesome thing?"

Madison bites her lip and bows her head.

Bright starts to smile. "Actually, that's not a bad idea."

Both of them look at him like he's crazy.

Ephram starts stuttering -- "Hey, no...that's not...You're a guy. I'm not..."

Bright -- "Oh, come on dude. You so are."

"I'm not gay!"

"No, you're bi. So am I. Get over it."

Bright looks to Madison expectantly. She starts shaking her head. "No way am I doing this. I'm not entering inter a relationship with two minors."

"Hey, I'm eighteen. Ephram's the only minor here."

"Bright..."

Bright pouts at her.

Madison shakes her head. Then she laughs ruefully. "I'm so going to hell for this."

Suddenly Ephram speaks up. "Hey, I think I get a say here. And I say no. No."

Bright -- "Dude --"

Ephram -- "No. And you (to Madison) -- I can't believe he gave you the puppy face and you just caved!"

Bright grabs Ephram and kisses him while Madison fishmouths at Ephram.

Ephram gets caught up in the kiss.

Bright breaks away breathlessly and slides his hand down to the ridge in Ephram's pants. "Hey, look what I found." Ephram growls angrily.

Then pulls Bright back into the kiss.

"Hey, break it up you two! Ephram, your dad is gonna be back in an hour. We have to clean up."

wrap this up somehow. make it happy.

---

Outline

start off with Amy leaving -- what is happening, what Bright is thinking; the police call the houses of all Amy's friends as a precaution, including the Brown residence (Bright's the one to tell the police the phone # -- "rattles it off mechanically"); it's late and everyone's home; Ephram gets up to answer the phone -- shocked, stands there for about half a minute saying nothing before finally telling the police he hasn't seen her; dad comes down the stairs and Ephram relays the info to him

next day, nobody's working (day after Thanksgiving and all); Ephram is really antsy -- got hardly any sleep the night before; Madison comes over, having no family for the holidays and all she already had plans to come over; there's an awkward moment when Andy answers the door and Madison comes in; Delia's happy to see her, but Ephram's sitting really tense sitting at the table not eating his breakfast -- kinda spaced out; she asks him what's wrong, he explains -- suddenly Ephram gets an idea; after a short argument, Ephram convinces Andy to let him go over to the Abbot residence; Madison's worried about him so she comes with

--back at the Abbot residence-- Bright has gone to sleep in an uncomfortable position on a couch, somewhere -- wakes up shocked to realize it was all real (thought process time, what Bright is feeling, etc.); Bright starts feeling claustrophobic in the house; doorbell rings -- Ephram is at the door and Harold starts to tell him "Now's not a good time" but Bright wants him to come in -- Harold starts to say how this is a family matter and Bright points out that Ephram is Amy's and his friend and deserves to know what's going on -- Harold says something about how the house is hectic enough this morning and not suited for company and Bright somehow turns this into an excuse to leave w/ Ephram

Drive back -- Bright sees that Madison is already sitting in the car; *flashback* Bright remembers when Eprham first told him about Madison; driving back -- he didn't expect to be relaying everything that's happened to her as well as Ephram, but Ephram is insistent, so he tells the whole story anyway, considerably more subdued/serious/matteroffact than his usual demeanor; last few minutes of the car drive are painfully quiet -- Bright sitting in the back studying his hands, Madison nervous and wanting to look back at him from her front seat location, but not daring

say something about the way Bright is thinking all this while -- he's sort of numb from everything, observing everything with a weird sort of detachment

they arrive back; Ephram excuses himself to the bathroom; Delia is delighted to see Bright; she asks to play something and they decide on UNO; she runs up to get the cards and Bright sits down to wait; Madison Puts her hand on his shoulder to ask if he's okay; (insert scene from previous notes here - changing all pertinent facts)

Ephram comes back down, says a few curt words and then goes to the piano; Madison and Bright and Delia end up sitting together and playing UNO; fade to black, I guess (well, not literally -- I'm not writing this in script form or anything, but you get the gist)

Amy absorption whatnot, and it's a week before Ephram remembers his best friend and girl friend again; they're both in his house, but for once ignoring him -- they seem to have built up a rapport; over babysitting experiences -- isn't that just a trip; it occurs to Ephram that Bright is really good with kids; he's, like, Madison good; Bright starts to think this is his first interaction with Madison where Ephram isn't the invisible personage standing between them; this is when he sees Ephram watching them from the door

Ephram tells Bright about a new manga he got, and Bright is at first jealous that Ephram would include Madison in something that was practically exclusive to them; then he realizes that it was either that or talk more about Amy' The three find themselves in Ephram's room, with him explaining Inu Yasha to Madison while Bright, who's already heard this speil, wanders about the room picking up and putting back down crap; conversation filters though as he looks from one item to another; wax poetic on the sound of Ephram's and Madison's voices from Bright's perception

Bright suddenly realizes that Madison is saying his name; she tells him she wants help making dinner and he says he can't cook; Madison shakes her head -- "You two are completely useless"; after dinner, Bright offers to help with the dishes and Madison acknowledges that he might not be completely useless; Bright stickes his tongue out at her; she flicks water at him, some drops falling on his mouth -- he licks them off; he looks at Madison to find her staring at his lips, biting at her own bottom lip; *Where's Ephramm when you need him* Bright wonders; he hears footsteps and covers for Madison by flicking water in her face; she screeches adn gets a handful of water; Ephram walks in and gets splashed -- everyone stands dead still for about siz seconds and then Ephram starts to laugh; scene closes

Madison is at home tidying -- snow is falling; she feels silly in love, missing Ephram already; she imagines his lips at her mouth, hands at her shoulders, one sliting to her elbow while the other winds up into her hair; for an odd moment the image shifts to larger hands, cpping her face, and the lips are not quite as full, and she is staring into too light eyes and; *blink*; she is alone again trying not to think; Madison was never one of hte cheerleaders, but she had her crushes on her share of jocks; this is different; Bright is to...to close; Madison feels like she's seen too much of him, knows things she shouldn't, seen him when he's vulnerable; she returns her thoughts to Ephram and the warm ache between her thighs matches the constriction in her throat; weren't things complicated enough already?

meanwhile, Bright returns home; he thought it was quiet with Amy not talking, but without her, the silence is almost painful; his father is in his office and his mother is avoiding the world with sleep, having a nap in the living room; Bright goes to his bedroom and tries to think of something pleasant; happy memory of Amy and Colin with him at the lake; suddenly the two are replaced by Ephram and Madison; Madison whose light laughter is deeper than Amy's, Ephram whose build is slighter than Colin's, and suddenly the brief nostalgia slips away from Bright's imaginings; this is not a memory, he thinks, picturing himself lying supine back on the grass, Madison sitting close, her thigh against his shoulder, Ephram leaning over and brushing hair from his eyes, and Bright lying still, still, still...he opens his eyes to find himself rigid beneath his jeans; he worries at the nature of this fantasy -- Madison's presence is new; Ephram has been there for a while, but the boy's presence in his fantasies is still a mystery

Colin wonderment -- Bright has never wanted any boy before Ephram, has he? No, Colin had been like his brother; Ephram had always been foreign, which somehow in Bright's twisted mind translated to available; Madison, she had the perfect body type (Bright considered his attraction to Ephram a curious anomaly among his usual physical attractions); but the way she looked at him intuitive and knowledgeable, *she 's just a girl and her heart is wide open*; Bright doesn't want to think of this anymore; he considers jerking off, but shakes his head and closes his eyes; it's late, and dreams will do what his hands will not

Ephram is uneasy, and he isn't certain why -- he's been trying to fall asleep for the past hour, he keeps seeing the way Bright laughed with Madison and he tells himself it's simple jealous, but it doesn't feel quite like jealousy; Ephram can't figure who he's jealous of anyway, but he pushes that thought away; despite his speech to Madison, there are some things he doesn't think he wants, that he won't bear risking

It is another week and Ephram see's Bright playing cards with his little sister; Madison is going to a cousin's wedding; Ephram, looking at Bright, thinks that Bright has a great deal of honor; he thinks that Bright is probably attracted to Madison, but not the sort to even consider going after her' he's seen Bright's relationship with Madison forming into friends from mere acquaintances; he thinks that Bright is probably attracted to Madison (hence earlier not-jealousy), but not the sort to even consider going after her; he wonders if Bright is close enough friends with Madison to not risk making a move on Ephram and hurt her feelings -- and throws away that thought, reluctantly; Bright turns to him and Ephram realizes that he is staring; he feels himself blushing, but Bright is kind enough to pretend not to notice; Delia looks at the two of them; Ephram excuses himself and turns to Bright -- "He'll break you're heart, you know" -- Bright blinks at her -- "He probably won't even know he's doing it. He's so clueless sometimes."; "Delia, sometimes you scare me."; she smiles -- "Sometimes I scare myself," whispering it like a confidence -- "It's your turn."; "Got any eights?"; Delia grins -- "Go fish."; end scene

[Edit] rework the last part to replace Delia with Laynie. Or something.

Days pass, and Madison stays over more; Bright does too -- he loses the ability to tolerate his house for long periods; thankfully Harold is sympathetic, though maybe that's just guilt; Bright and Ephram and Madison sit in front of hte tv, thighs touching -- it is an unconscious thing; Ephram adn MAdison never complain that they can't make out in frong of Bright; they like having him; Madison likes watching him slowly redevelop the ability to make light of situations, and Ephram has always had his reasons for liking Bright; Bright is thankful, merely; they share a popcorn bowl, oil-slipperly fingers brushing together (find a way to infuse this image with UST); and time passes again

Amy comes back a week before Christmas; the police do not find her -- she just comes with her key and finds her mother in the kitchen; "I'm sorry I worried you," she says to her mother; Rose wraps her arms around her daugheter and asks too many questions for Amy to absorb; she screams for Harold, who comes in and staggers as he sees his daughter; Amy thinks that he looks so broken -- he looks like that because he feels he's failed as a father -- but Amy feels it is because he cannot bear to look upon her failure; Amy tells him "I'll be in my room" -- a curt dismissal; she runs into Bright at the top of the stairs; she turns to avoid him and the questions he's surely ask, but he asks none; he just grabs her and hugs her; she begins to cry in his arms; Bright lets her, then waits till she tips her head back to tell her -- "I'll go get you some hot chocolate"; Amy nods

Bright sets the water to heat in the microwave; he picks up the phone while it heats tocall Ephram and when no one picks up (make up a reason why no one picks up) Bright leaves a message; he debates with himself a moment, then picks up the phone again; he calls information and asks for Madison's number - end the scene either as she picks up or as the phone starts to ring

Amy's parents are worried that punishments will only make things worse -- they decide she can go out when Bright goes with or invite Laynie over; they don't trust her anymore; Bright is more concerned with studying now, and it strikes him as deeply wrong that his smart sister could be ruining her chances; he doesn't really get her anymore, but she doesn't get him either; all she knows is that since she came back he looks older; she tells Bright to leave her alone when she really just wants him to do something that doesn't involve worrying over her; Bright hasn't spoken to Ephram for about a week, so he calls; Ephram tells him that Madison's birthday is on the coming Saturday and to help him shop; Ephram ends up taking a chance and purchasing lingerie, which Bright helps pick out -- they go two towns over to accomplish this -- people talk, after all; Ephram turns to Bright after and asks him what he's going to get her -- "I hadn't really thought about it," Bright says; "Dude, you have to gget her something."; Bright almost suggests that since he helped pick out the first gift Ephram should put both their names on it; luckily he realizes what a bad idea that is before he says anything; Bright gets a scarf that Ephram swears is the exact color of this white sweater Madison owns; *White sweater!*; Bright gets a gift bag and hands the thing to Ephram to give to his girlfriend; Ephram frowns -- "Bright, you give it to her -- Just come by Saturday night"; Bright frowns -- "I'm pretty sure three's a crowd," he says, matter of factly; Ephram replies, "Not when it's you."; Bright looks at Ephram funny; Ephram realizes how that sounded and blushes; Bright really, really wants to kiss him; Ephram mumbles, "Just come, okay?"; "Okay"

After spending the day and most of the evening with her friends, getting quite tipsy (turning twenty-one and all), Madison reserves the night for boyfriend time; she gets dropped home by a sober friend; Ephram drives to her house; Bright comes in a minute or two later; inexplicably Bright finds himself *inbetween* the couple on the sofa when Ephram hands Madison her gift; she grins, slightly tipsily, and then leans over to kiss Ephram, meeting in the middle in front of Bright; Madison braces her hand on Bright's upper thigh and her fingers start unconsciously kneading the flesh there; Bright bites his as Ephram's arm, braced on the back of the sofa, is almost wrapped around his shoulders; Bright wonders briefly if he's dreaming; then wonders just how drunk Madison is; then if Ephram has gone utterly insane; also? Bright is getting very, very hard; suddenly the two stop, and while part of Bright whines at the cessation of hot snogging, another part is really, really relieved that his cargo pants are as baggy as they are; both members of the couple practically jump back

Bright quickly jumps up to get his gift for Madison, taking a detour to the kitchen to stand in front of the freezer and think clean thoughts; he returns expecting the couple to be sitting together, giving him the excuse he needs to leave, but for unknown reasons Ephram really wants Bright to stay, so instead the couple is spread far enough apart that Bright can sit between without touching either; Ephram and Madison are staring intently at the television, and Ephram is flipping channels; without glancing up, he tells Bright to go make popcorn; Madison looks up and thanks him for the scarf before throwing her gaze back at the tv screen

Madison thinks to herself, *Now all I need is for Ephram to find a twilight zone marathon on the sci-fi channel for this night to be complete. I should have brought some vodka home with me.*; a glance to the sixteen and eighteen year olds sitting with her; *then again, that probably wouldn't be such a good idea.*; she resists the urge to bury her face in her palms; Bright resists the urge to look at either of his two companions; Ephram concentrates so intently on the tv screen he might as well be sticking his fingers in his ears and singing loudly the way he's avoiding the situation around him

[Edit] It comes to my attention that I should have an Ephram/Madison sex scene in this fic. That is, Ephram shouldn't be a virgin when I get around to the threesome sex. This is probably the best place for it. I'll have Bright go home, instead of going to the kitchen to make popcorn. Then I'll have to work out the morning after angst. Also, adjust the set up so it is very clear that Madison's original intention was to invite Ephram over and do him, and that Bright's inclusion was unforseen. Might take a closer look in the devirginizing episode's Bright/Ephram dialogue and use it to adjust my Bright/Ephram dialogue in the mall shopping scene.

Madison wakes up slightly headachy from drinking the day before; she thinks that Ephram had a very troubled expression as he left; she remembers the kiss; relationship angst -- the original plan had been for the get together to be just her and Ephram, hadn't it? though now that she thought about it that had never been spelled out explicitly; but why had he invited Bright; more importantly, why hadn't she minded?

well, Madison likes Bright, and she can admit to herself that she likes him in the same way she likes Ephram, but usually that would be a deterrent for wanting him around while Ephram was there, wouldn't it?; no because Madison has a feeling Ephram likes Bright too, and in the same way he likes her, though he'd never admit it and quite likely isn't even aware of it

funny -- Madison, in her slightly drunken state, hadn't even questioned Bright's presence; Bright was welcome; Ephram had never minded his presence, and after Madison had seen him that first day after Amy left, she'd stopped questioning it; Madison starts to think that maybe she should have questioned it, because now everything is more complicated, and it feels like even when she and Ephram are together, the two of them are unconsciously saving a seat for Bright; *We won't talk about it*; Madison realized whenever she was with Bright or Ephram she'd prefer it if the other were there, and whenever it's the three of them things get...weird; have been getting weirder, and eventually they'll hit a breaking point; Madison doesn't know what will happen then; she needs to talk to Ephram about this, but she's afraid her boyfriend will shut down

the next Monday Madison comes to babysit; she kisses Ephram in greeting, then pulls him aside and asks him why he invited Bright to her house; "You didn't want him there?"; "You didn't invite him for me, Ephram."; Ephram opens his mouth, but nothing comes out; Madison continues -- "And from what I could tell, coming wasn't Bright's idea."; "Did it ever occur to you that you might have...feelings for him?"; Ephram is saved from answering by a knock at the door -- Bright, who's come over to do homework (he does that all the time now -- the parents don't mind because his grades are rising as promised); Ephram tells her "You're crazy" before going to answer the door; Madison just gives him a look; she goes to the kitchen to start dinner and demands that Ephram help her (peel potatoes or some such); Bright offers his services at washing vegetables or whatever; Madison looks from him to Ephram and gives Ephram a look; Ephram ignores her

Bright moves close to Ephram to do some kitcheny thing; faces close together, and Ephram freezes; Bright looks at him curiously, wondering why he froze, and finds himself staring at Ephram's mouth, which is panting lightly; Bright licks his lips; Ephram suddenly snaps out of his temporary paralysis -- "I'm going to find a chair now."; but he doesn't move, and then Bright says his name softly and kisses him, lips to Ephram's open mouth, soft tongue and taste of Eprham and strange candy sweetness that must be Madison's lip balm; Ephram stumbles back -- "You...both of you are..." and then flees the room; Bright is by turns kicking himself and pissing on himself (metaphorically, of course); Madison is surprised -- she never expected that *this* would be the breaking point; she goes to Bright and puts a hand to his face, tucking a hair back much as he did that first day after Amy left (this scene is described in my early notes, which are mostly inapplicable to the story at this point except for that scene) -- "I'll talk to him"

Eprham sits in a couch in the living room; Madison comes to stand in front of him and he asks her, "Why are you pushing this? Do you even care about, about us anymore?"; "Ephram, I care, I just."; "Do you even want to be with me anymore? Or is this your creative way of dumping me without actually dumping me."; "Do you want me to dump you?"; "I don't know! I just...I want the world to make sense again."; Madison sits down, unable to meet Ephram's eyes; "Ephram, I really, really like you."; pause; "And I really, really like Bright. I didn't think I would, after first meeting him, but then my first impression with you wasn't much better, what with the...I'm babbling. God, Ephram, I, I...I really, really like...us." -- her arm is flung out in an encompassing gesture to show that Bright is included in that us; "Madison, please say you're not suggesting...my brain can't handle any more of this today." Eprham goes to his room; Madison buries her face in her hands, then grabs a pillow from the couch she's sitting on and screams into it


queenofalostart: okay, i just read it
queenofalostart: it's still a bit dark - i'm nmot sure what you're looking for toward the end there
queenofalostart: and don't you think ephram would give bright a little mor slack than just stomping off - i mean, it's not like he's had an easy time of late
queenofalostart: ephram could be kind of like, "dude, you're confused." or something
queenofalostart: and it's possible that he looks over to madison and sees that she's not pissed. or something.
queenofalostart: and maybe ask if they're in on it
queenofalostart: if this is some sort of fucked up game
queenofalostart: and then he can get mad
queenofalostart: but i think that conversation needs to happen with all three of them
queenofalostart: because bright is really good at defusing situations like that
queenofalostart: just think of his arguments with amy and his dad - they both say really hurtfyul thigs to him, but he always has the last wword
queenofalostart: like, he gets his point across
queenofalostart: and he also gets cute and pouty
lierdumoa: I should get betas though IM more often
lierdumoa: okay, that seems simple enough
lierdumoa: Ephram accuses, storms off, and instead of Madison saying she'll talk to him, she grabs his wrist and the two go in to talk to ephram together
queenofalostart: Right .
queenofalostart: Yoiu don't so much need Bright o advance on him
queenofalostart: Just have Madison hold him in place
queenofalostart: like near the fridge
queenofalostart: have bright at the sink
queenofalostart: leaning against it
queenofalostart: very seriously telling ephram he's not confused, but he doesn't want to fuck up their relationship
queenofalostart: not only his relationship with ephram
queenofalostart: but eph and mad
queenofalostart: say something about how he wouldnt' have been able to get throughthe past month without them
queenofalostart: but that he's aware that other things are happened
queenofalostart: happening
queenofalostart: and he thinks that ephram knwos that
queenofalostart: then ephram comes back with the accusation to madison about the game playing
queenofalostart: seeing that she had soaid something to him earlier
queenofalostart: and she tells him to cut the shit and open his eyes
queenofalostart: it's obvious to everyone
queenofalostart: including her
queenofalostart: that while he loves and wants her
queenofalostart: he also loves and wants bright - or just wants
queenofalostart: who knows
queenofalostart: but she knows it
queenofalostart: and she's weirded out that she's not more upset by it
queenofalostart: and she should confess to ephram that she's thought about it
queenofalostart: that she's had fantasies
queenofalostart: and that it doesn't cheapen her feelings for ephram
queenofalostart: she doesn't know why
queenofalostart: but it doesn'
queenofalostart: t
queenofalostart: and granted, she knows that this is probably goign to be a big fat mess in the end
queenofalostart: but they don't know that for sure
queenofalostart: and just like they took a chance being togehter
queenofalostart: what's so wrong with taking this chance
queenofalostart: because it's obvious that all parties involved are interested
queenofalostart: even if ephram won't see it
queenofalostart: he knows it
queenofalostart: have ephram confront bright, then
queenofalostart: something about
queenofalostart: "so you like my girlfriend, huh?"
queenofalostart: and have bright be like
queenofalostart: "i like you, dude."
queenofalostart: "and i like her."
queenofalostart: "but i don't want to piss you off."
queenofalostart: it's up to you, etc.
queenofalostart: like, have them leave it on ephram
queenofalostart: he needs to make the call
queenofalostart: maybe have him call bright over to where he and mad are
queenofalostart: and tell bright to kiss him again
queenofalostart: have him look at mad
queenofalostart: she nods that it's okay
queenofalostart: have bright kiss him - like, hot and shit
queenofalostart: madison's hands on ephram's back or chest or something
queenofalostart: have them break apart
queenofalostart: ephram say something ridiculous like
queenofalostart: "oooookay"
queenofalostart: hee
queenofalostart: and then kiss madison
queenofalostart: bright's hands on ephram
queenofalostart: then have ephram, kind of shakily
queenofalostart: tell them to kiss
queenofalostart: and he's int he middle, like what they had with bright on the couch
lierdumoa: oh my goodness -- you found the path to the porn!
queenofalostart: then maybe end the scene with ephram saying something like
queenofalostart: "what do we do now?"
queenofalostart: and have madison kind of take control
queenofalostart: and be like
lierdumoa: of course, now I need to think of a reason why neither Andy nor Delia are home
queenofalostart: "anything you want."
queenofalostart: well, yues
queenofalostart: here's a good one
queenofalostart: i just came up with it for something i am doing
queenofalostart: delia is at the age for bat mitzvah
queenofalostart: have her and andy in denver
queenofalostart: because that's the closest temple
queenofalostart: doing something to prepare for that
queenofalostart: like, maybe they're gone all weekend
queenofalostart: or something
queenofalostart: because denver isn't close
queenofalostart: have ephram and andy have "the talk"
queenofalostart: in which andy says that he trusts him and if he's going to have sex, to be safe, etc.
queenofalostart: but that he would really rather not his son do something stupid, etc
queenofalostart: you could make it comedic, sort of
queenofalostart: because you know andy would be a clusterfuck on that convo
lierdumoa: okay, the talk can be the night before Ephram goes over for Mad's b-day
queenofalostart: yes
queenofalostart: because maybe that's a friday night
queenofalostart: and they're leaving on sat morning
queenofalostart: and have madison come over jsut to spend time and help ephram with some proejct andy wants done in the hosue
lierdumoa: which makes more sense, because it explains *why* Andy let his son go over late at night
queenofalostart: like, painting or some shit
queenofalostart: or maybe spring cleaning the kitchen
queenofalostart: like, all the plates and shit
queenofalostart: which can get them in the kitchen - instead of dinner, who knows
queenofalostart: right
queenofalostart: plus, maybe it's that short break most kids have in feb
queenofalostart: which is why andy can pull delia out of everwood for a long weekend
queenofalostart: to go to denver
queenofalostart: ephram can make fun of andy's bad yiddish. it'll be great!
queenofalostart: the n
queenofalostart: then
queenofalostart: PORN.
queenofalostart: how's that?
lierdumoa: I just realized that outlining is so much fun
lierdumoa: when other people do it for me
queenofalostart: ha~!
queenofalostart: see, i don't even do this for myself
queenofalostart: hee
queenofalostart: i just like telling other people
queenofalostart: and then be like
queenofalostart: "deliver me the pron!"
lierdumoa: well, I really owe you now -- any preferences for the porn?
queenofalostart: oh dear
queenofalostart: you do know that threesome porn is my THING. i fucking love it. you are evil.
queenofalostart: let me think.
queenofalostart: okay, question
queenofalostart: have ephram and madison had sex before in your universe?
queenofalostart: that's kind of important
queenofalostart: because we know that bright is a virgin
lierdumoa: nope -- they haven't
queenofalostart: ok
queenofalostart: are you planning on going full out in this?
lierdumoa: everything up to but not including butfucking
queenofalostart: :X
queenofalostart: so funny
queenofalostart: okay
queenofalostart: here's the thing
lierdumoa: well, anilingus is probably out too
queenofalostart: make sure that you have ephram assert his "authority"
queenofalostart: like, if they're going to have sex
queenofalostart: he goes first, ya know?
queenofalostart: i mean, madison is his girlfriend
queenofalostart: LOL
queenofalostart: but the thing is
queenofalostart: they dfon't have to have sex
queenofalostart: like, penetration
queenofalostart: it can just be sloppy and fun and lots of third basing
lierdumoa: gotcha
queenofalostart: that may be less complicated
queenofalostart: emotionally - for both bright and ephram
lierdumoa: true -- it would inconvienience my plot for Ephram to have to run up and get condoms
queenofalostart: okay, i got one for that
queenofalostart: andy's gotta have some
queenofalostart: i mean, come on
queenofalostart: especially with the linda thing
lierdumoa: ROFL
queenofalostart: ephram can say he knows where they are, as delia was putting away the laundry
queenofalostart: found them
queenofalostart: and asked ephram what they were
queenofalostart: and he had to suffer through a conversation about sex with her
queenofalostart: or madison can say it
queenofalostart: like, she obciously does the laundry sometimes
queenofalostart: etc
lierdumoa: I was thinking more along the lines of Andy gave him some during the sex ed convo
queenofalostart: oooh
queenofalostart: that works, too
queenofalostart: and fits in
queenofalostart: have him be a little sheepish
queenofalostart: because he didn't tell mad abou tthe converation
queenofalostart: also, you need to decide on who is the conduit
queenofalostart: because you've made it be able to work from all sides
queenofalostart: like, ephram is interested in both of them, but is obviously the most skittish
queenofalostart: so you may need it to be him
lierdumoa: explain to me exactly what you mean by conduit
queenofalostart: like, who's the meat in the sandwich - who is the person that is most desired by t he other two. ya know? like, it's obvious that your'e trying to set up that madison and bright are interested in each ther
queenofalostart: but i think that ephram is the one that they're both most interested it
queenofalostart: doesn't mean the other two people will hook up
queenofalostart: but who's going to be the "Start"
queenofalostart: like, who's going to get their clothing teared off first, watching the other two people kiss above them
queenofalostart: ya know?
queenofalostart: okay, here's what i want. madison to talk dirty. doesn't have to be all the time. but at least one or two choice lines
queenofalostart: hee
queenofalostart: that's my payment. ;-)
lierdumoa: okay, that sounds somewhat like what I was visualizing
lierdumoa: though not necessarily because they wan't ephram more
lierdumoa: but because they're both a tad concerned he's going to freak out on them so are giving him the most attention
lierdumoa: plus he doesn't show enough skin on the show, so I'm compensating by getting him to show the most skin first
queenofalostart: hee! yay
queenofalostart: okay, i so need to get viggo's new album with the hobbits on it
queenofalostart: because billy boyd is Teh Hawt.
lierdumoa: oh, one more thing
lierdumoa: I was kinda thinking that Bright have experience -- maybe not penetrative sex, but oral sex, given and recieved -- the idea that he's gotten a girl off before
queenofalostart: oh, sure. i'm pretty sure he told harold that he's done "everything but" in that episode
lierdumoa: which episode?
queenofalostart: unless i misunderstood
queenofalostart: he and ahrold have a convo about sex
queenofalostart: in taht episode abou tthe STD
lierdumoa: I'll go back and read the script
lierdumoa: okay, thanks!
queenofalostart: np

Ack! But wait! There's more! IM convo w/ Miss Windy:

pennyproud: I definitely think the "Uno" scene would work better with an older character.
pennyproud: I think Delia's picking up on the subtext and commenting on Bright's attraction is a bit toooooo precious for a 9 yo
lierdumoa: yeah
pennyproud: But Laynie? She is totally jaded enough to comment.
lierdumoa: I'm pretty much going to get rid of Delia entirely, I think
pennyproud: LOL
lierdumoa: figured I just needed an outsider, so Laynie should do
pennyproud: Absolutely. She can speak from experience, there.
pennyproud: Ephram probably broke her heart a little, maybe. =)
lierdumoa: ah! true! -- I'll make a note
pennyproud: Hee!
pennyproud: Are you spoiled for Everwood's upcoming eps?
lierdumoa: nope
lierdumoa: not really
pennyproud: I'm terribly spoiled. And yet I still can't wait to see them.
lierdumoa: I'm not really spoiler phobic
lierdumoa: I just haven't bothere to go looking for them
pennyproud: Hee!
pennyproud: well, Madison likes Bright, and she can admit to herself that she likes him in the same way she likes Ephram, but usually that would be a deterrent for wanting him around while Ephram was there, wouldn't it?
pennyproud: OK. My suggestion would be - even if she's attracted to them both sexually/romantically, she's NOT attracted to them both "in the same way." Similarly how Ephram's attraction for Madison and attraction for Amy are so different.
pennyproud: Even though they're the same "kind" of attraction. They have different reasons and motives.
pennyproud: Ephram and Bright are two very, very different guys. Madison is sharp and likes to psychoanalyze people. She'd be aware of why they complement each other and why it clicks to like them both at once.
pennyproud: That's MHO. =)...
...pennyproud: Bright IS good at diffusing things. Even when he's not trying to.
pennyproud: "Why don't you just get in your... um, car. And... just... drive somewhere."
pennyproud: =)
lierdumoa: ?
lierdumoa: drive what what?
pennyproud: He says that to Amy in "East Meets West"
pennyproud: and it totally diffuses their 3-episodes-long fight.
lierdumoa: agh -- I forget stuff
pennyproud: It's dorktastic and ridiculous, but it's like queen says, Bright diffuses those situations fabulously. ...
...pennyproud: queenofalostart: oh, sure. i'm pretty sure he told harold that he's done "everything but" in that episode
pennyproud: for the record, that's not true
pennyproud: All he says is that while he, like Elsa from The Real World, is "very attractive", he's never actually "sealed the deal." Then he adds it's not because of Elsa's religious convictions but because he can never get anyof his girlfriends to put out "which is why I'm SO over freshmen..." At which point HArold shuts him up =)
pennyproud: I've seen that ep like 5 times.
lierdumoa: oh -- I remember this convo now
pennyproud: Interesting idea about the "conduit"
pennyproud: In my 3some fic, it's Bright.
lierdumoa: if Bright's experience isn't canon, than I'll just make up something
lierdumoa: not too big
lierdumoa: just to make the porn believable
pennyproud: Right =) He's not going to be Ron Jeremy, but he's also not going to be clueless.
lierdumoa: the way I see it, somebody's going to have to get Madison off, and most likely, it isn't going to be Ephram
pennyproud: LOL
pennyproud: See, I think it's a tough constraint, making them both virgins.
lierdumoa: okay, apparently drinking chai at midnight was not a good idea
lierdumoa: I'm really, really twitchy right now
pennyproud: Because a guy who is sexually inexperienced that way - he'll be mad nervous about getting a girl off in front of his male friend to whom he is also attracted
lierdumoa: so I give the whole thing a sort of surreal quality
lierdumoa: like bright is kind of outside himself watching himself get madison off
pennyproud: ok
pennyproud: It might still be a good idea to add in the stuff about him being nervous.
lierdumoa: I mean, the whole situation is rather surreal, so this should be fairly doable
lierdumoa: oh, sure -- all emotions shall be elaborated upon in detail
lierdumoa: I tend to go all out for porn
lierdumoa: like, it's actually my favorite thing to write
lierdumoa: could quite possible end up the longest single scene in the fic