So Pacey Witter might be one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. I vividly remember watching the first few seasons of Dawson's Creek and wondering why anyone would waste their time with The Beek when Pacey was right there.

I always thought that, even though I'm sure it made a lot of people happy, having him drop his entire life to move to the city with Joey in the finale was stupid and lame. And Joey had totally turned into a bitch by then. So I kept having (ok, I won't lie, I still have them) all these scenarios pop into my head where he ends up back in Capeside. They're sort of the same story again and again, but exitsign was shameless in encouraging me.

Below are two of them.



I had been flipping channels one night and the truly shitty Reese Witherspoon movie, Sweet Home Alabama came on and the idea of Ethan Embry's character showing up in Capeside sort of broadsided me. I mentioned it offhandedly to exitsign and she got a little excited:

OH. MY. GOD. WHAT IS THERE TO DISCUSS? BOBBY RAY/PACEY NOW BITCH. I NEED TO SEE THE WHOLE MOVIE TO GET FACTS AND CHARACTERIZATION ON BOBBY RAY, BUT I THINK A LITTLE OF THE WITTER HOTASS COULD TOTALLY BE JUST THE THING FOR HIM. PACEY CAN BE ALL NNGSKHSJ WITH THAT LOWDEEPCAREFUL VOICE HE GETS AND BOBBY RAY CAN BE ALL "NNNAGSHSKJ JESUS." AND THERE CAN BE KISSING AND HUMPING WITH CLOTHES ON AND THEN FINGERING, OH THE FINGERING, AND THEN HOT ASS FUCKING THAT'S ALL INCREDIBLE AND INTENSE AND THERE MOUTHS ARE LIKE THISCLOSEOMG WITH HANDS IN HAIR AND QUIET GASPY MOANS BECAUSE, SHHH, AND MAYBE THE LIGHT IS REAL, REAL LOW SO IT FEELS LIKE THE WHOLE WORLD IS MADE OF NOTHING BUT JUST HOVERING THERE LIKE THAT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER. BEST EVER! BEST EVER! BOBBY RAY/PACEY FUCKING NOW, I SAY!

==

I was thinking about it last night, you know?

And maybe it was an open secret in town about Bobby Ray before Melanie came back home, but after, when everyone *knew* it was different. Things were OK when Melanie and Jake were still there, but for all of her big epiphany at her not-quite-a wedding, she loved the city and it wasn't but 3 months before she had transplanted Jake, dog and all, up North.

It's not like he was *scared* or anyone had threatened him or anything, but the whispers were a little louder in church on Sundays and at work. And when he went to pick his cousin Jimmy Ray from school one day, the principal made him wait until he called Jimmy Ray's momma to double check.

It's just after the New Year when his momma and daddy sit him down and tell him they're worried about him. That they love him no matter what, but somebody at the born again church on the other side of town has been trying stir up a hornet's nest and Aunt Sally's grandma's cousin's boy has a daughter that needs help running her bed & breakfast up the coast.

"How far up the coast?"

"Massachusetts."

"Momma!"

"I know it's not fair, Bobby Ray, but sometimes you just have to make do."

"But -"

"Don't argue with your mother. Sally's already called Bessie and she's waiting on you."

And that's how Bobby Ray ended up half under the stove in Bessie Potter's kitchen.





Heh. Second verse, same as the first!

carleton97: Because Pacey has realized NY and Joey? Not for him. But he doesn't want to go back to Capeside either. And poor, much maligned Bright just wants away from Everwood.
carleton97: Actually.
carleton97: No.
carleton97: Pacey does go back to Capeside.
carleton97: Because he had a life there.
carleton97: He was a business owner and everything.
exitsign: Right. He had a good life.
carleton97: And what was in NY? A life as Joey's boytoy.
carleton97: Bleah
carleton97: So he goes back home. He misses his brother and Jack and jen's baby.
exitsign: AWWW! Yes, he does. He goes home.
carleton97: And... I don't remember what he did with the restaurant, but he gets it back.
carleton97: And he settles back in. And it's weird because for so long, he had this huge Joey shaped regret hovering over him, but that's gone now. He's totally free and he... doesn't quite know what to do about it.
exitsign: hee. Freedom will do that to you, I imagine.
carleton97: Right. And he wants what Doug and Jack have, you know? The togetherness.
exitsign: Aww. Yes. Of course.
carleton97: He just doesn't realize he could want it with a boy as well.
exitsign: hee. Oh, silly Pacey.
carleton97: So it's a shock when this huge, shiny guy shows up in tow and immediately Pacey's lizard brain is all, "We wants the precioussssss"
exitsign: heeeee! Yes!
exitsign: Bright could make any guy gay, I'm just saying.
exitsign: *cough*
carleton97: And he's like 'whoa' but, you know, he's *always* been Jack's champion, so it's not like he's grossed out. He's just... surprised he didn't realize this about hismelf. But really? like he was going to have a crush on Dawson? No.
exitsign: ewwww. The chin!
exitsign: *gag*
carleton97: But Bright is younger and obviously adrift ... but, man, with the hot.
exitsign: guh. super hot.
carleton97: And the *nice*.
carleton97: And that's what gets Pacey the most because he? Has had terrible luck.
carleton97: Joey? BITCH.
carleton97: Adn that's the sum total of his serious relationships.
exitsign: hee. Yes. But Bright is pretty and shiny and always nice. Oh, God, what to do?
exitsign: So hard to decide. heh.
carleton97: But Bright is just this gigantic marshmallow of a dude. And everyone in town just immediately LOVES him.
exitsign: How could you not love Bright? He's so... lovely.
carleton97: And, of course, he's immediatly got a posse of little kids demanding his attention.
exitsign: Piggy back rides for EVERYONE! wheee!
carleton97: Yes!
carleton97: What's Bright doing? I mean, where's he working?
exitsign: um. hmm. Well, what are job options in Capeside?
carleton97: Becase he just shows up in town. He like pointed to a map and went.
exitsign: OH! Love that idea.
carleton97: And he doesn't have a degree.
exitsign: I've always wanted to do that.
exitsign: Just go somewhere.
carleton97: Oh! But the Potter B&B always needs a handyman.
exitsign: And Bright is all... guh. He could totally fill that position. heh.
carleton97: Right. All dirty in a wifebeater after fixing... something.
carleton97: Because Bright strikes me as a doer. Like he's not one for class or school or sitting.
exitsign: Oh my God, I think my spine just melted.
exitsign: Yeah, I don't really... think he likes to be still. Which will be a plus in the sack!
carleton97: That's how Pacey meets him.
carleton97: He's heard about the new guy at the B&B and goes to check him out.
exitsign: *nods* Good, solid reasoning, I think.
carleton97: Not like that, but just concerned, you know?
exitsign: Yes. Concerned. And then... *like that*. Because hotness.
carleton97: Yes.
carleton97: And every time he sees him it's just another, different jolt of hot. Like Bright in the wifebeater WHAM Bright frolicking with kiddies WHAM Bright helping Mrs. Leery with heavy boxes
carleton97: And at some point, Jack and Doug have to stage an intervention. "Pacey. You're STALKING the handyman."
exitsign: wheeee! Yes! ahaahh! I just squee'd so loud.
exitsign: Does he deny or does he cave in and admit?
carleton97: And Doug is just in smirky big brother HEAVEN because of how much Pacey tortured him.
carleton97: He tries to deny. He's all, "No! I"m not! I'm just... He's... Aw, fuck."
carleton97: And the Doug tries to give him a Barbra album
exitsign: bwah!
carleton97: Then Jack smacks Doug.
exitsign: hee. Of course he does.
carleton97: and, of course, Jack has befriended Bright, not just stalked him, so he knows that Pacey will have to tread carefully.
exitsign: Does he give him advice? Advice is good. Pacey needs it.
carleton97: Yes.
carleton97: Jack is all, "Pacey. Do not do this lightly. You can't play with Bright. I know he seems pretty much bulletproof, but he's not, OK? Just be sure."
carleton97: So Pacey has to think. But it's not that huge of a decision. It doesn't bother him to be bi and what the good folk of Capeside will think doesn't bother him either, so he's all, "OK, have thought. Want boy."
carleton97: And Jack is all, "Pacey..."
carleton97: And Pacey is all, "Jack, come on. You know me. You know how I am with someone, how I was with Joey."
carleton97: Because, really, Pacey? Best. Boyfriend. Ever.
carleton97: When he loves, he LOVES.
carleton97: So he begins his pursuit of Bright.
carleton97: Which actually means he starts talking instead of stalking.
exitsign: hee. yay! Talking is good, Pacey, talking means people know how fantastic you are.
carleton97: So Bright knows who Pacey is. He has gotten to know Bessie, and is friends with Jack and Doug, so he's heard most of the horrifying Joey, Pacey, Dawson saga.
carleton97: Plus? He thinks Pacey is kind of cute for a straight guy.
exitsign: heeeee!
carleton97: Even if he has been sort of skulking around.
carleton97: But THEN, Pacey starts talking to him.
exitsign: You're doomed, Bright. You cannot fight the Pacey.
carleton97: And Pacey is kind and attentive and charming and, dude! Is he flirting with me now?
exitsign: ohmygod, he so is.
carleton97: Yes, Bright. Yes he is
carleton97: And Bright realizes he had more than friendly feelings for Ephram and that he did for Colin too, but I don't think he's done much exploring in that area.
girlcalledjane: Well, I do believe that the ladies love Bright so, like, you know, he wouldn't have to really... take what's there, you know?
carleton97: So it's kind of a shock when Pacey leans over and kisses him one night when they're babysitting for Jack and Doug. But a good shock.
carleton97: And it's a no pressure kiss, just sort of 'hey, how about this?'
exitsign: hee. I think maybe *Bright* was babysitting. And Pacey just "happened by".
carleton97: But then Jack and Doug come home before he can do more than go "Uh..."
carleton97: Yes!
carleton97: Heh.
carleton97: Like Pacey "forgot" it was their anniversary.
exitsign: hee!
carleton97: So Pacey is all, "I'll walk you home."
carleton97: And walking is good. Bright thinks better when he's moving.
exitsign: Yes! But still, like... uh... home.
exitsign: Home where beds are and, really, he hardly *knows* the guy.
exitsign: He likes him. Would like to like him more. But just... whoa.
carleton97: But little does he know that Pacey? Does not care about having to wait.
exitsign: Because he's FANTASTIC that way.
carleton97: Anyway, so Pacey walks Bright home and would like nothing more than to hold his hand, but he knows that might be a bit much at this point, so he resists his white knight impulses temporarily. Plus, he can see that Bright is working towards a mini freak.
exitsign: So just with the talking and the normal and the not 'I just kissed you, how about that?'
carleton97: They get to Bright's and Bright is uber nervous and all, "Uh, I don't think..."
carleton97: Right.
carleton97: And Pacey just laughs a little and says good night and starts to back away. Yes. He walks down the block backwards, heading back to his own place.
exitsign: Oh. Eee. Ah. Aw. Oh.
exitsign: Pacey is... Bright, dude, seriously, you're DOOMED. Don't even TRY to fight.
carleton97: And he's just got that smile on his face. That, wow, I'm happy right now smile.
exitsign: Awwww. My HEART!
exitsign: I hate you. *wibble* So sweet.
carleton97: And Bright is just... guh. Like, he thought Pacey was cute before, and nice, but that smile just killed him. *NO ONE* ever smiled at him like that. LiIke just being there was enough.
exitsign: Like, he can't, you know, mess up with Pacey because anything he does is going to be the PERFECT thing to do just because that's what he did. Like, Pacey seems to expect nothing from him but whatever it is that Bright is willing to give.
exitsign: And that's... really nice.
carleton97: Yes!
carleton97: And they continue in that vein. Just... it's like a courtship.
carleton97: And Jack and Doug find it charming and horrifying and it is their entertainment.
exitsign: heeee! Yes!
exitsign: Like, popcorn and everything.
carleton97: Yes.
carleton97: Now, at this point. There is slight angst potential.
carleton97: Because, of course, the gossip would get back to Joey.
carleton97: and/or Bright's 'best friend' Ephram could deign to visit.
exitsign: Okay. um. Anyway. Yes. Right. You could do angst there. But, like, how long do you want the story to be?
carleton97: It could be mini angst.
carleton97: Like Joey comes sweeping in and is just denied
exitsign: Oh. And then he could be all proud of himself.
carleton97: And Bright, who had this fear of the Great Joey he'd heard about, could just relax
carleton97: Because, yeah, Pacey gave her a wall, but *he* gets everything.
carleton97: Then? There is mad sexing.
exitsign: Yay! Sexing!
carleton97: There has been kissing and making out up to this point at various points in the courship, of course.




Picture this:

Pacey abandons his life in Capeside to follow Joey back to NYC. After a few months, it becomes apparent to Joey, yet again, that Pacey just doesn't fit her up-and-coming yuppie lifestyle, so she's all, "You know I'll always love you, Pacey, but this just isn't going to work out. You belong in Capeside. Now get out of my apartment."

He is, of course, heartbroken, but he's not going to pine this time because *he* feels like it's over. Like there is nothing left between them but a distant friendship from the past. Plus, he's angry now. I mean, he *knew* this was going to happen and the last thing he wants is to go back to Capeside with is tail between his legs, but what else can he do?

So he heads back and if he secretly wants to eviscerate everyone who looks at him pityingly, well, that's his secret fantasy and no one can take it away.

So Pacey hibernates. He has the restaurant back, and all he does is work and play with the baby. Jack and Doug are ready to kill him, but he refuses to even look at a woman because there is NO way he's putting himself out there like that again. Nope, nuh uh.

Then, as spring turns into summer, this kid rolls into town. This beautiful, golden boy who loves kids and puppies and is nice to little old ladies and is respectful to Jack and Doug even after - especially after - one of the bastards in town takes it upon himself to tell him all about 'that pervert English teacher who ruined the sheriff.' In exchange for room and board at the B&B, he takes care of all the little things that go wrong and he is always helping *someone*.

Pacey is halfway convinced he's possessed by the devil.

It seems like every single (and some not so single) woman from 16-60 is tossing themselves in Bright's path and, while Pacey is glad the pressure is off of him, he's also kind of... uncomfortable. But Bright seems to be nearly as dating-phobic as he is, so all the women are disappointed. Until Pacey overhears Doug and Jack talking, he doesn't realize Bright is avoiding les girls because he has recently come out of the closet and left home to avoid the simmering disappointment of his father.

It also becomes clear that Jack has appointed himself yenta for Bright and there has been a steady stream of pretty, pretty twinks and hairy, scary leatherboys and pretty much everything in between parading through Capeside. Bright seems... amused by the effort, but doesn't take any of the boys up on their *very obvious* offers. Pacey is at a loss as to why until he realizes that Bright is hitting on him.

Except not. Because it's not that...blatant.

No, Bright is *courting* him.

He's luring Pacey in with conversation and friendship and daytrips up and down the coast and Pacey is... lost. Not that he's lost his heart (yet), but he just doesn't. Know. What. To. Do.

No one, NO ONE has ever pursued *him* before. Not like this. Not...with care. And it's that care that pushes him over the edge. He doesn't care Bright is a guy or that he's x years younger. Bright *likes* him, likes *him* and it's seductive. So he lets Bright court him. He lets himself be the object, but not an object because Bright sees him. Sees how important it is for him to care about someone, to be successful, to stand on his own feet.

In my mind, they're both total white knights, you know? But always riding to the rescue is *tiring* and Pacey's been doing it a lot longer than Bright and, frankly, for a much less appreciative crowd and he's about ready to give up. To just permanently declare himself the third wheel in Doug and Jack's relationship and devote himself to his business and his pseudo-niece. And he's sick of demanding partners, of giving in to those demands, so when Bright smiles like it's Christmas just from holding his hand, it heals all these ...bruises he didn't really even feel anymore.

It's all just very lovely and fluffy like a cloud in my head.