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the_water_clockAuthor: Clio
Title: Goodbye, Mr. Seacrest, or, To Simon, with Love: Rymon Missing Scenes from the Fast Times at Idol High 80s AU
Pairing: American Idol: Ryan Seacrest/Simon Cowell
Rating: PG
Summary: Duran Duran:
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, clearly, as Ryan could never convince Simon to dress up as Andrew Ridgley.
Notes: Fast Times at Idol High,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lillijulianne's 80s high school AU, can be read by joining stepintomyocean.
Special thanks to Juli for writing this awesome AU, letting me be a part of it, encouraging me get my teacher kink on, and of course being an amazing beta. Oh, and for writing Ryan and Simon into her story in the first place.
Prologue: September 1981 | 1: September 1984
october 1984
Ryan's friends Ben and Jason like having themed dress up dinner parties on Halloween, and Ryan and Simon go as Wham!, complete with white denim outfits and poofed-out hair. The dinner is a great deal of fun, with pop stars all around—Giuliana comes as Madonna, but there is also Hall and Oates and a Boy George; Ben and Jason are the guys from Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Simon has promised Randy that he'll look in on the end of the party some of the students were having for the younger kids, so on the way home they park in the far dark corner of the teacher's lot and Ryan hides under a dark hat and blanket while Simon runs inside. The little kids are gone by that point, and the teens are hanging about in the parking lot, playing rather loud music and dancing around one car that from the shape of it, is not a vehicle of what Ryan refers to as the smarter set. Then again, the smarter set wouldn't dance to Prince and the Police with such abandon, in the school parking lot or elsewhere. Blake Lewis, in particular, seems to be given to throwing his top hat up in the air, as though if he gets it right it will just stay afloat. But like most mortals, Blake is more Rhoda than Mary, and the hat keeps coming back down, sometimes into his hands, sometimes not, and the girls are trying to take their turn with it, too, Amy putting it on and shimmying like a Broadway baby.
Then the smarter set emerge, Maroulis (whom Ryan is very glad isn't in any of his classes) leading the way as usual, but coming up short when confronted with the show the others are putting on. Ryan holds his breath; if things get out of hand he'll probably have to go in and help, and that will lead to questions, not to mention that nearly all of them outweigh him by as Simon puts it, a good two stone. But there is some sort of conversation among the smarter set, and they move to their cars and depart without incident, Ryan scrunching down behind the dash to avoid being seen. After they clear, Simon comes out of the side door of the school, locking it behind him, and his mere appearance breaks up the dance party, though Ryan can tell by his body language that he isn't being all that stern with the kids, who deserve a bit of fun after entertaining children all evening, but simply asking them to take the party elsewhere. The music is turned off and they all leave, waving gaily to each other, the opposite of the rapid slinking out of the smarter set, and once the coast is clear Simon walks back over to the BMW.
"Anyone ask about your costume?" Ryan asks.
"No, actually," Simon says. "Perhaps they think this is what I wear in my off hours."
"Ha!" Ryan barks.
"They did a good job cleaning up," Simon says, starting the car. "All I had to do was lock up and turn out the lights."
"There was almost a thing in the parking lot. See that?"
"Yeah. But Maroulis knows he puts a foot wrong and he's out of the homecoming game. So."
"So." Ryan turns the tape deck back on, sliding in the new Smiths album that Simon has mysteriously acquired pre-release: this town has dragged you down.
"Melancholy?" Simon asks.
"A little," Ryan admits.
Simon is quiet for a bit, clicking on his high beams along the rolling country road, then says, "There's only so much—"
"I know."
"If I—if we—would you be willing to leave here? With me, I mean?"
Ryan sits up in the seat. "You're leaving?"
"I don't know. I had an answerphone message last night from an old friend about an opportunity, the kind that doesn't come along every day. But it's in New York."
"New York City?"
"Yeah."
"If it's that good you should take it."
"Well, I don't have it yet. There's just interest. I need to send them my credentials. So—"
"Yes, Simon, I'll type up your resume."
Simon smiles. "That wasn't what I was going to ask, but thank you. Look, you went to a good school, you have awards and commendations from the state and the AP people. You could go anyplace. Would you come with me?"
"Would you go if I didn't?"
"I don't want to have to make that decision."
Ryan stares out the window. "Can I think about it?"
"Of course."
"And will you send your resume in the meantime? I don't want you saying no because of me."
"If that's what you want."
"That's what I want. So what is this great opportunity?"
"Well, this organization Bruce has been working for, that outreach to gay youth? They want to start a small school."
"Oh? That's—that's really interesting."
"Yeah. Would you feel comfortable teaching more than literature? Because I think we should send yours in, too." Simon turns into the drive, hits the automatic door opener on the dash.
Ryan unbuckles his seat belt, but doesn't move. "Wow."
"Yeah."
"And you've come to all of these conclusions since last night? What did your friend say?"
"Well, I picked up the message this morning; I haven't spoken to him yet. And these aren't conclusions. I'm just asking." Simon gets out of his car as the garage door closes.
Ryan follows him into the house. "You're asking me first, then? Before doing anything?"
"Ryan, look," Simon says, leaning against the kitchen counter, "you know I'm not the marrying sort, whether you were a man or not. And 'I love you' means almost nothing these days. But you're the most important thing in my life, and I don't want to make this decision without you."
"Really? Wow."
"So now you know how I feel."
"Yeah." Ryan is looking through the kitchen window out into the dark back yard, at the treeline and the starry sky above it.
"So what do you think?"
Ryan turns back. "I can't believe we're having this conversation standing in my kitchen dressed like pop stars, is what I think," he says, which makes Simon laugh. "And if you don't know what you mean to me, you haven't been paying attention. Or you don't have the ego I think you do."
"Look who's talking!" Simon protests.
"I was fine before you came here," Ryan continues, "but I can't go back. I'm not a backwards kinda guy."
"So?"
"So let's see what happens. Let's send our packets and see what happens."
Simon smiles. "Guess what's on the VCR?"
Ryan's eyes widen. "Ooh," he says. "I'll dish out the ice cream."
"I'll get the blanket."
"You know," Ryan says as Simon walks out of the kitchen, "next to the sex, naked Dynasty might be the best part of this relationship."
"Might be?" Simon calls out. "Is!"
3: November 1984
Notes:
Not all of the chapters will be as literal, but of course you've seen the other side of the opening of this already, from Chris's pov, in chapter 8.
Hatful of Hollow, a compilation of BBC-1 Radio sessions for John Peel and David Jensen plus singles and b-sides, was released in November 1984. The Smiths were required listening for all Xer and slightly older gay men, and I'm still shocked when I meet younger ones who didn't spend their 16th year listening to "Hand In Glove" on repeat. With his references and obfuscations, Morrissey would absolutely have been Mr. Seacrest's favorite lyricist, particularly if Ryan were feeling morose.
As for the whole "more Rhoda than Mary" business, here is the famous opener of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which ran from 1970-1977:
and here is a not-often-seen open from Rhoda, the spin-off featuring Mary's best friend, which ran from 1974-1978:
Title: Goodbye, Mr. Seacrest, or, To Simon, with Love: Rymon Missing Scenes from the Fast Times at Idol High 80s AU
Pairing: American Idol: Ryan Seacrest/Simon Cowell
Rating: PG
Summary: Duran Duran:
sure eyes awake before the dancing is overor U2:
wise or naked in secret October
OctoberLength: 1200 words
and kingdoms rise
and kingdoms fall
but you go on … and on…
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, clearly, as Ryan could never convince Simon to dress up as Andrew Ridgley.
Notes: Fast Times at Idol High,
lillijulianne's 80s high school AU, can be read by joining stepintomyocean.Special thanks to Juli for writing this awesome AU, letting me be a part of it, encouraging me get my teacher kink on, and of course being an amazing beta. Oh, and for writing Ryan and Simon into her story in the first place.
Prologue: September 1981 | 1: September 1984
october 1984
Ryan's friends Ben and Jason like having themed dress up dinner parties on Halloween, and Ryan and Simon go as Wham!, complete with white denim outfits and poofed-out hair. The dinner is a great deal of fun, with pop stars all around—Giuliana comes as Madonna, but there is also Hall and Oates and a Boy George; Ben and Jason are the guys from Frankie Goes to Hollywood.Simon has promised Randy that he'll look in on the end of the party some of the students were having for the younger kids, so on the way home they park in the far dark corner of the teacher's lot and Ryan hides under a dark hat and blanket while Simon runs inside. The little kids are gone by that point, and the teens are hanging about in the parking lot, playing rather loud music and dancing around one car that from the shape of it, is not a vehicle of what Ryan refers to as the smarter set. Then again, the smarter set wouldn't dance to Prince and the Police with such abandon, in the school parking lot or elsewhere. Blake Lewis, in particular, seems to be given to throwing his top hat up in the air, as though if he gets it right it will just stay afloat. But like most mortals, Blake is more Rhoda than Mary, and the hat keeps coming back down, sometimes into his hands, sometimes not, and the girls are trying to take their turn with it, too, Amy putting it on and shimmying like a Broadway baby.
Then the smarter set emerge, Maroulis (whom Ryan is very glad isn't in any of his classes) leading the way as usual, but coming up short when confronted with the show the others are putting on. Ryan holds his breath; if things get out of hand he'll probably have to go in and help, and that will lead to questions, not to mention that nearly all of them outweigh him by as Simon puts it, a good two stone. But there is some sort of conversation among the smarter set, and they move to their cars and depart without incident, Ryan scrunching down behind the dash to avoid being seen. After they clear, Simon comes out of the side door of the school, locking it behind him, and his mere appearance breaks up the dance party, though Ryan can tell by his body language that he isn't being all that stern with the kids, who deserve a bit of fun after entertaining children all evening, but simply asking them to take the party elsewhere. The music is turned off and they all leave, waving gaily to each other, the opposite of the rapid slinking out of the smarter set, and once the coast is clear Simon walks back over to the BMW.
"Anyone ask about your costume?" Ryan asks.
"No, actually," Simon says. "Perhaps they think this is what I wear in my off hours."
"Ha!" Ryan barks.
"They did a good job cleaning up," Simon says, starting the car. "All I had to do was lock up and turn out the lights.""There was almost a thing in the parking lot. See that?"
"Yeah. But Maroulis knows he puts a foot wrong and he's out of the homecoming game. So."
"So." Ryan turns the tape deck back on, sliding in the new Smiths album that Simon has mysteriously acquired pre-release: this town has dragged you down.
"Melancholy?" Simon asks.
"A little," Ryan admits.
Simon is quiet for a bit, clicking on his high beams along the rolling country road, then says, "There's only so much—"
"I know."
"If I—if we—would you be willing to leave here? With me, I mean?"
Ryan sits up in the seat. "You're leaving?"
"I don't know. I had an answerphone message last night from an old friend about an opportunity, the kind that doesn't come along every day. But it's in New York."
"New York City?"
"Yeah."
"If it's that good you should take it."
"Well, I don't have it yet. There's just interest. I need to send them my credentials. So—"
"Yes, Simon, I'll type up your resume."
Simon smiles. "That wasn't what I was going to ask, but thank you. Look, you went to a good school, you have awards and commendations from the state and the AP people. You could go anyplace. Would you come with me?"
"Would you go if I didn't?"
"I don't want to have to make that decision."
Ryan stares out the window. "Can I think about it?"
"Of course."
"And will you send your resume in the meantime? I don't want you saying no because of me."
"If that's what you want."
"That's what I want. So what is this great opportunity?"
"Well, this organization Bruce has been working for, that outreach to gay youth? They want to start a small school."
"Oh? That's—that's really interesting."
"Yeah. Would you feel comfortable teaching more than literature? Because I think we should send yours in, too." Simon turns into the drive, hits the automatic door opener on the dash.
Ryan unbuckles his seat belt, but doesn't move. "Wow."
"Yeah."
"And you've come to all of these conclusions since last night? What did your friend say?"
"Well, I picked up the message this morning; I haven't spoken to him yet. And these aren't conclusions. I'm just asking." Simon gets out of his car as the garage door closes.
Ryan follows him into the house. "You're asking me first, then? Before doing anything?"
"Ryan, look," Simon says, leaning against the kitchen counter, "you know I'm not the marrying sort, whether you were a man or not. And 'I love you' means almost nothing these days. But you're the most important thing in my life, and I don't want to make this decision without you."
"Really? Wow."
"So now you know how I feel."
"Yeah." Ryan is looking through the kitchen window out into the dark back yard, at the treeline and the starry sky above it.
"So what do you think?"
Ryan turns back. "I can't believe we're having this conversation standing in my kitchen dressed like pop stars, is what I think," he says, which makes Simon laugh. "And if you don't know what you mean to me, you haven't been paying attention. Or you don't have the ego I think you do."
"Look who's talking!" Simon protests.
"I was fine before you came here," Ryan continues, "but I can't go back. I'm not a backwards kinda guy."
"So?"
"So let's see what happens. Let's send our packets and see what happens."
Simon smiles. "Guess what's on the VCR?"
Ryan's eyes widen. "Ooh," he says. "I'll dish out the ice cream."
"I'll get the blanket."
"You know," Ryan says as Simon walks out of the kitchen, "next to the sex, naked Dynasty might be the best part of this relationship."
"Might be?" Simon calls out. "Is!"
3: November 1984
Notes:
Not all of the chapters will be as literal, but of course you've seen the other side of the opening of this already, from Chris's pov, in chapter 8.
Hatful of Hollow, a compilation of BBC-1 Radio sessions for John Peel and David Jensen plus singles and b-sides, was released in November 1984. The Smiths were required listening for all Xer and slightly older gay men, and I'm still shocked when I meet younger ones who didn't spend their 16th year listening to "Hand In Glove" on repeat. With his references and obfuscations, Morrissey would absolutely have been Mr. Seacrest's favorite lyricist, particularly if Ryan were feeling morose.
As for the whole "more Rhoda than Mary" business, here is the famous opener of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which ran from 1970-1977:
and here is a not-often-seen open from Rhoda, the spin-off featuring Mary's best friend, which ran from 1974-1978:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-03-06 11:44 pm (UTC)If I were Paula I'd say: Another fun chapter sprinkled with shining bits of tenderness!
(And naked!Dynasty made me giggle. Hee.)
no subject
Date: 2008-03-13 12:08 pm (UTC)Aww, thanks sweetie! I'm so pleased you like!
no subject
Date: 2008-03-07 01:04 am (UTC)And Simon and Ryan! As Wham!
I love the little details throughout here, like Simon getting his Smiths album somehow pre-release and how they deal with the kids, including Blake with his ridiculous hat toss (perfect background that I'm watching Blake right now on AI).
And of course naked Dynasty, because you have to have naked Dynasty.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-13 12:25 pm (UTC)The pre-release is actually just my being pedantic because the album wasn't released for another few weeks. Blake and his hat is from Juli's original scene but as she'll tell you I have this tendency to take her Magical!Blake and bring him back down to earth. (See, you have to friend
Naked Dynasty is the roxors, especially since even IRL Simon can't keep his hands to himself, so there's a lot of "I am trying to watch the show" going on.
Thank you thank you thank you!!!!