Work Text:
The group wakes up in an empty room. The space is filled with blankets and nice soft sofas. The table in the middle is overflowing with a mountain of snacks.
Hayden: What the fuck!
Jackie: Swear jar!
Hayden: The kids aren't here. Do I really need to?
Jackie: Fine. But where in the world are we?
Cliff: You tell me-, oh hey! Svetlana right? I've heard lots about you from Ilya.
Svetlana: Cliff, correct? Why are we here exactly?
Yuna: That is what I'd like to know!
David: Dear, deep breaths.
Yuna: *does as told
Jackie: Damnit! Who is going to look after the kids!?
Hayden: Well, I was with Shane before I got teleported. I'm sure he has it handled.
Rose: Well I'm not the least bit mad about getting a break. The camera crew had denied me water-breaks for 3 hours now. They deserve a little disappearing act.
Cliff: Ouch! That's gotta be rough...
Rose: *nods
Jackie: *Walking around and finds a dvd among the snacks, as well as a note.
Jackie: I found a note guys!
Jackie: *hands the note to Yuna
Yuna: The letter reads, Welcome! Do not fear, you are in no danger. You are in a separate dimension. Time isn't running outside of this place, so no one will notice you guys missing until you return. Your memories of the experience will also be wiped afterwards to preserve things as they should be. Your escape is simple. Watch this dvds contents. As soon as it had run it's course, it will trigger the teleportation back to the place and moment that you came from. You may ask why I am doing this? Well, I know of the things happening in your universe that you yourselves are not aware of. Some of those things are recorded inside this dvd. I am simply curious of how you might react to the truth. Personal curiosity, you might call it. No, you are not being recorded, but yes I am watching you. No, you may not communicate with me unless it is for essentials or emergencies. Including, but not limited to: bathroom breaks, more food or drinks, sleep and medical help.
David: *hums
Svetlana: Oh! This is going to be interesting...
Rose: Something we don't know? If it's worth brining us here, it must be mindblowing.
Hayden: Let's not hope it's some matrix stuff...
Jackie: Even if it is, our memories will be wiped afterwards, so we will be none the wiser once we return.
Cliff: Is this going to be one of those things where we will resist the memory wipe despite the inevitable and it will be scary as fuck?
Svetlana: Fuck, Ilya was right, you are a drama queen.
Cliff: Hey!
Yuna: Whatever, let's watch.
David: *puts in the dvd
Everyone: *settles down
Video starts with showing Shane's and Rosanov's first meeting. Rosanov is smoking and Shane walks up to him to introduce himself.
Yuna: *Smiling proudly at her son.
Hayden: This is their first meeting isn't it?
Rose & Svetlana: *shushing Hayden
Rose: Shut it! I can't hear what they are saying.
Yuna: I can't believe how much Rosanov's English has improved. He is barely stumbling through a few sentences in here. He's fluent now days.
Svetlana: He did work really hard on it.
Cliff: Yeah! The guy is a beast once he sets his mind on something
Showing the end of the conversation. Shane walking away and talking about who will win tonight.
Jackie: No way! The trash talking started all the way back then?
Hayden: Of course Rosanov instigated it...
Yuna: They had been pitted against each other even before they met. It was inevitable.
Next video is of draft night. The longing stares.
Rose: Well they are... aware... of each other...
Svetlana: * quirks and eyebrow and smirks while nodding in agreement
Hayden: I don't see it. They just hate each other?
Jackie: *shakes her head
Jackie: Of course you don't...
Yuna: *glances at David
David: *shrugs, grabbing her hand in comfort
Rose: Oh my god! Did that guy really just call Rosanov lazy?! Who does he think he is?!
Svetlana: Ilyas father. Stupid, bitter man. No need to worry.
Cliff: Fuck... I knew Roz didn't have the best relationship with his family, but damn!
Yuna: Oh, poor boy...
David: *shakes his head in disappointment
Hayden: Okay... not nice, but also, what the hell is it with that one guy talking about Shane's Asian roots like it's a marketing strategy?
Yuna: That is true, but back then we didn't have the power and leverage to really do anything about it.
Gym scene. Starting with Shane not being able to sleep and deciding to get a workout in.
Hayden: Damn! All that must have gotten more into his head then any of us realized.
Jackie: Yeah, he would never let anything ruin his meticulous sleep schedule.
Rozanov enters and they escalate to racing each other.
Rose: Stupid men. Always making a competition out of everything.
Hayden: Hey! We aren't all like that!
Cliff: What's so wrong with it? It's fun!
Svetlana: I don't think this is just some friendly rivalry
Hayden: Yeah. There is nothing friendly about them. They are enemies.
Jackie: *rolls her eyes
Yuna: What is the point with all this?
David: Well Rosanov had just won first draft pick over Shane just hours before. I'm sure there was some lingering tension.
The conversation after racing. Both sweaty and panting, Ilya drinking from his water bottle and offering some to Shane
Rose: *squeals
Rose: Come on, I can't be the only one who sees it.
Svetlana: No totally, I see it too. They are so obvious.
Yuna: See what?
Rose & Svetlana: Nothing!
Yuna: *frowns
Cliff: Okay, I'm not gonna lie, how the hell is Rozy so good at getting under peoples skin without even using a third graders vocabulary? It has to be a talent of some sort.
Hayden: More like a curse then a gift.
Jackie: Omg, did he just wink?! And right after an indirect kiss. Boy you are not subtle...
Hayden: No, can't be. Shane wouldn't...
Rose: He is smiling.
Hayden: ...
Hayden: Like, it's cool if he's gay, just... Rosanov ? Really?
Jackie: *patting her husbands shoulder in comfort, trying to calm him
Svetlana: I knew it!
Cliff: You did?
Svetlana: You didn't?! I have to reevaluate Rosanov's choices of friends.
Cliff: Ouch...
Rose: I knew! Well not about Rozanov, but about the gay thing. It's the reason we broke up.
Yuna: Really?
Rose: Not a big deal. 80% of my ex-boyfriends have turned out to be gay.
Svetlana: crazy statistic.
Rose: What can you do. Theater kids are naturally a little fruity.
Cliff: And how did you know, Svetlana?
Svetlana: *miming a zipper over her mouth.
Cliff: Ok, keep your secrets.
The commercial shoot. Ilya asking when Shane found out about the change in plans and telling him that he suggested it.
Cliff: Damn Rozy! He is really putting the moves on him!
Jackie: He is basically admitting to wanting to spend more time with Shane. Can he be any more obvious?
Svetlana: He can't. Other wise he would be found out and taken by Russian police, never to be found again.
Everyone: ...
Hayden: Fuck... I didn't really get how much Rozanov is risking in all of this.
Yuna: *twisting her ring in her hands
Jackie: Is it bad that my mind is both screaming "be more obvious, he is an oblivious idiot!" and "be more subtle, someone could see you", at the same time.
Svetlana: Welcome to my life.
David: We can at least feel reassured that all of this happened years ago and we know there hasn't been any leaks yet.
Yuna: That is true. They have been careful. Our lack of knowing is clear proof of that.
Shane and Ilya laughing, ruining take after take.
Rose: Omg! They are adorable
Yuna: They look so... happy
Hayden: Shit! Am I going to start to like Rosanov? If he make Shane this happy, I have to, right?
Jackie: *nods
Hayden: *groans in frustration
Cliff: Can we focus on the fact that Rozy called Hollander pretty ?
Rose: Well he is pretty, duh!
Svetlana: Can agree with that.
(skipping the showers)
Video of locker room and Ilya walking over in a towel to get Shane's room number.
Svetlana: Fuck, that was fast. Even for Ilya.
Rose: Well look at Shane. He is trying so hard not to stare at those abs. Can you blame him?
Jackie: You really can't.
Hayden: Hey!
Jackie: I'm loyal, not blind.
Yuna: Never thought Rozanov would be Shanes type.
Cliff: I don't think Hollander thought so either. From what it looks like right now, it seems like a casual hook up.
Jackie: Oh, Shane doesn't do casual.
Rose: We'll see. He seems pretty tempted to me.
Cliff: No fucking way! "I might open","I might knock". We know very well where this is going.
David: Good for them I guess.
Shane opening the door for Ilya, getting gently shoved into the wall. Ilya grabbing his chin. Shane saying "this is such a bad idea".
Svetlana: Well he didn't chicken out. I'll give him that.
Hayden: Shane is right. This might be funny for us now, but for them it must be terrifying. What they are doing really is a bad idea.
Yuna: *nodding, holding her breath.
Cliff: Rozy is gentler then I thought. You can tell he is looking out for signs that Shane might become overwhelmed.
Svetlana: *rolls her eyes
Svetlana: One does not grow up in house of abuse and come out without knowing to read room and people. Basic skills.
Rose: Kiss, kiss kiss! Yeeeessss!!!!!
Fades to black for a moment, before one last subtitle without on an all black screen. "Do I make you curious?"
Rose & Svetlana & Jackie: Noooooo!!!!! We want to know more!
Hayden & Cliff: You girls are so weird.
David: Yes. This is already an invasion of privacy. Let's not make it worse then it needs to be.
Yuna: *staring at the black and silent screen.
Rose: My god! I get it now! Rozanov was Shane's gay awakening. It all makes so much sense!
Ilya bumps into Yuna in the elevator
Yuna: Oh! How could I have forgotten that? In hindsight it was quite suspicious
Cliff: Haha! Look at his face! He is about to shit his pants, bumping into the mother of the man he just was with minutes ago!
Svetlana: I can assure you, he probably had a minor heart attack.
Jackie: Did he even know who Yuna was at this point?
Svetlana: Why wouldn't he? Not only is Yuna Shane's mother , but also his manager. Also, Ilya does good research on every player he plays against, searching for material for his chirping.
Hayden: Of course he does...
Video of all stars where Ilya gives his room number and Scott Hunter overhears.
Svetlana: For a gay man, that mans gaydar is broken as fuck.
Hayden: Rosanov said that! In public!
Rose: Holy shit!
Cliff: Okay, but give credit where credit is due. Shane was able to clap back at Rosanov with that joke about Finns. Gotta respect that.
Yuna: Should I feel disappointed that my own son made such an offensive joke.
David: It was all in good fun. Lighthearted jabs.
Svetlana: Yeah. I just texted the joke to a Finnish friend of mine and she says she approves.
Jackie: I though time doesn't run outside of here.
Svetlana: *shrugs
Hayden: ok...
Video of the boys exchanging numbers in the hotel room.
Everyone: ...
Hayden: How didn't I figure it out?
Cliff: Because it's none of our business?
Yuna: And I for one thought that my son was smart... I guess not.
Rose: In his defense, the names were chosen by Rozanov, not Shane.
Svetlana: Stupid boys...
Jackie: Maybe Shane would have remembered to protest the name choices if he wasn't so distracted by something else.
Rose: Oh please. They kept the names for years afterwards, that isn't a valid argument.
David: Well, after a while, it really would be much more suspicious to change the names then keep them.
Hayden. Yeah. I knew Shane was regularly talking to this girl named Lily. You could tell from the smile it was her he was texting. If that smile suddenly was for someone else, I'd feel suspicious about it.
Jackie: Yeah, but unlike most of us, you wouldn't ask or push.
Hayden: And that is why I am his best friend. I respect his boundaries, unlike you lot.
Svetlana: Yeah. Really respectful for those boundaries as we watch their secret sex-life unfold in high definition.
Balcony kiss
Rose: For the first time in a long while, I can't choose who's side I'm on in this argument...
David: I'm betting each of us want to subconsciously be on our own closest friends side, but arguments are never one sided. No one is ever right, just more or less wrong.
The first hookup at Shane's house after Iyla sexted him before the game. Racing up the stairs and so on
Hayden: Oh my god, Shane looks so pissed...
Rose: I'd be afraid of being murdered too if I was Rozanov.
Yuna: I wasn't aware he owned that apartment.
David: Neither did I.
Svetlana: Hah! Look at Ilya's face when he got pushed into the wall! He is so into it.
Rose: Yeah. You can see his brain leave the room at the force of that push.
Cliff: Aaaand there goes the flirting again. Shane has to come up with some comebacks soon. He did even bother to try this time.
Jackie: Shane looses the ability to articulate things clearly when he is sufficiently pissed off. It wouldn't have made a difference even if he had comebacks written down and on hold.
Svetlana: A race up the stairs... really ?
Jackie: Aw! They are adorable how competitive they still are.
Yuna: *sighs. At least some things never change.
Ilya forced to meet Sasha again, and rejecting his advances
Rose & Jackie: *looking at Svetlana with disappointment
Svetlana: *throwing her hands up in defense.
Svetlana: I didn't know, okay! That's his ex, and my best friend was clearly needing a pick me up.
Cliff: Well, it's not like they were exclusive...
Yuna: True. So there is no one to blame. Nothing immoral has occurred.
Copresenting MHL awards show
Jackie: Wait! This was six months later?! I would kill Hayden if he ever would have ignored me that long, casual or otherwise.
Cliff: Got to admit, this one hurts to watch.
Rose: You can tell Ilya was trying to get over Shane. He noticed that he was getting to attached and tried to create distance.
Svetlana: That sound pretty accurate. I can vouch for that.
Hayden: It's still pretty shitty...
David: As a father, I am enraged. As an empathetic human being, I can tell that Rozanov is struggleing.
Shane arrives at the penthouse. Start of the penthouse scene.
Rose: He is just standing there, drinking vodka.
Svetlana: *stares intently
Svetlana: He is holding himself back. He is trying to return to casual. He is so badly trying to keep his distance.
Rose: You can tell Shane doesn't like that.
Hayden: Okay, demanding congratulations as soon as Shane steps in. He will never beat the asshole allegations.
Cliff: I think that is the opposite of what he is trying to do.
Jackie: What do you mean?
Cliff: He puts up this front of being a tough asshole, but he actually really sweet and feels many things very strongly. The mask is a way to protect himself from being to vulnerable. Aren't I right, Svetlana?
Svetlana: *nods. Bullseye.
Shane and Scotts brawl/fight
David: When did Shane start chirping?
Yuna: What has my child become...
Cliff: Ha! That is the weakest chirp I have heard in my life.
Hayden: Oh shit! Did Scott just threaten to out the pair?!
Yuna: He did hear the "1221" back at all-stars... he also was in the adjacent room... Could very well be...
Hayden: Now we know why Shane pounced. Fuck! I wish I didn't stop him...
Cliff's and Hayden's teasing about their texting
Everyone except Hayden and Cliff: *looking disappointedly at the two.
Cliff: Hey! We already went through this! It wasn't our place to pry!
Hayden: Hate to agree with a raider, but Marlow is right!
Jackie: *shaking her head
Rose: This is what I mean when I say men don't know/talk to their friends. You seriously don't know anything about the girl your BEST FRIEND has been seeing for a DECADE! Seriously?
David: *Pats a pouting Pike on the shoulder in consolance
Tuna melt disaster. Ilya trying to woo Shane.
Svetlana: OMG! Ilya is finally talking the step. He knows he wants more then casual. I'm so proud.
Yuna: He has ginger ale in his fridge? That is surprisingly sweet.
Cliff: *scoffs. Tuna melt? I know Roz can cook well, but I know he doesn't have any recipes for Shane's crazy diet.
David: It's called macrobiotic diet, and it's not that hard to follow once you get into it.
Rose: Why does it feel like I'm watching a mating dance on natural geographic?
Svetlana:* speaks to the TV. Shane, for the love of god! I know you are nervous, but please return his feelings. I have never seen that man be this vulnerable in my life! It's all in the context clues! Read the room! He is obsessed with you!
Shane running away.
Rose & Svetlana: Nooooooo!!!!!!
Yuna: Oh honey...
Jackie: Give Shane some slack. He paniced.
Rose Landry becoming a thing
Rose: Fuck! I totally forgot about that! It was right after Shane ran away?
Yuna: *realizing. This is what he meant by trying... this was his last attempt at being "normal"...
Jackie: I hate that he was ready to be unhappy for the rest of his life, hiding that part of himself...
Rose: Well... I'm less mad about being a rebound then I expected.
Cliff: * realizing what is about to come and remembering that time in history
Cliff: Oh god no...
Ilyas jealousy
Cliff: Conner... I'm going to kill you... It was all your fault
David: What was?
Cliff: Rozy went on a psycho spree right after he found out. Wouldn't go to clubs with us. Made us do bag skates until we passed out. Locked himself in his hotel room for hours. Barely talked to anyone. He looked like shit and acted even more violent then before.
Yuna: I do remember both boys' statistics heavily dropping during this time in their careers. They were preforming badly due to the headspace they were in.
Hayden: I thought I would be glad to see the reaction of when Rozanov finds out about Rose, but he looks so devastated I can't feel any satisfaction for the bruise in his playboy ego. The only thing I can focus on is the fact that I can tell Shane was more to him then a casual hook up. That last meet-up solidified it.
Cliff: Shit! How didn't I notice the face he made at the Instagram picture...
Rose: It's not as if you could have hidden it forever...
Ilyas mirror scene where he decides that he has to get laid
Hayden: ... so are we just going to watch him stare at himself i-
Svetlana: He is clearly making some type of decision.
David: And looks like the decision has been made...
Rose: Clubbing?... wait... this was that day!
Cliff: He needed to get laid. Decided that brooding time was over.
At the club
Jackie: Oh these boys...
Rose: I'm gonna cry.
Cliff: Why? You are the thing standing between them?
Rose: I didn't know!
Shane admits he is gay (conversation with Rose)
Rose: Oh! This conversation.
Jackie: He is so nervous... Precious baby...
Hayden: I'm surprised he isn't having a full on panic attack.
Cliff: Well, he isn't speaking much, so that's that.
David: Hole and Peg? Very... eloquent of you Ms. Landry
Rose: I panicked okay?!
Svetlana: Haha! Omg! Shane.. that is the most diabolical shit I've heard. "Rather be the hole then the peg" Rose, I think your awkwardness released some of his tension. Just enough to let him admit it.
Rose: Glad to be of cervice
Emotional discussion about Russia and Ilyas family
Hayden: Holy shit... I feel really bad for Rozanov...
Cliff: Everyone in the team knows not to ask about his family. Never knew why though...
Svetlana: As someone who has spend most of my childhood around those people. I can assure you, you don't want to know more then the bare minimum...
Phone call from Russia during Ilyas fathers funeral
David: And then his father dies? That is horrible timing. Poor boy.
Yuna: At least he has Shane and Svetlana
Svetlana: *nods
Rose: He is about to start talking in Russian. Svetlana, could y- oh never mind, there's subtitles.
Everyone: *watching silently, trying not to cry.
Svetlana: Oh... Ilya...
Yuna: He told Sane that he loved him...
Jackie: And Shane doesn't even know...
Shane gets injured
Cliff: I will have to remind you all, it was an accident. I still feel really bad about it, even without the reminder.
Hayden: Yeah... I know I pounced at you back then, but in hindsight it was a clean hit... just really difficult to remember that when your best friend is out cold on the ice.
Svetlana: Ilya probably had flashbacks...
Rose: What did you say Svetlana?
Svetlana: *shaking her head
Rose: *shrugs
David: The sight still makes my blood run cold.
Yuna: *grabs her husbands hand and squeezing it tight.
Hospital scene (asking to cottage)
Hayden: How did he manage to sneak in?
Yuna: Is he crazy , he could get caught.
Cliff: But he is just there as opposing captain, apologizing for me, right?
Hayden: But-, but, he's Rozanov. There is no way that would be enough of an excuse for him.
Yuna: Just another reason the public rivalry never should have been. The narrative has made them lots of money, but has taken the one person they love away from them more times then they can probably count.
Rose: Aw! Shane is so cute on his pain meds.
Cliff: Damn! They gave him the good stuff.
Svetlana: Look! Ilya can't say no to Shane when he looks that adorable. He knows he can't come to the cottage, but he says maybe coz the word "no" just got erased from the vocabulary.
Jackie: Can you blame him? Just look at him. He is in love!
Scott kisses kip on TV, leading to Ilya agreeing to come to the cottage
Yuna: Oh yes! We do owe Hunter a huge deal for taking that scary first step.
Rose: He and his boyfriend look so cute together.
Cliff: I think the boyfriends name is Kip, but don't quote me on that.
Hayden: Oh! And There goes Rozanov standing up and calling Shane. I wonder what he has to say, huh?
Jackie: Oh sush, you!
Rose: He is coming to the cottage!!!
Arrival at the cottage
Svetlana: Wow, Shane is carrying Rozanovs bags...
Hayden: And thy are already bickering like an old married couple. Who would have thought.
Cliff: Cheers to them!
Yuna: They look so happy... god, We will have a son-in-law soon will we not?
David: Yes dear, I think we will.
"I love you"s
Yuna: Isn't that just beautiful?
David: *Holds her close
Svetlana: I'm so glad to se Ilya so content, letting himself be loved. He deserves it...
Hayden: They really do love each other...
Jackie: They are perfect for each other
Rose: Literal soulmates! I'm so honored to be part of their story, even if I was the villain for half of my screen-time. What can you do?
Cliff: I think we all did our parts, don't you guys say?
Everyone: *nods
Cliff: *Takes one last sip of his bear as he watches the credits roll
Cliff: See you guys on the other side? I'm more then ready to experience the adrenaline of finding this out for the first time, a second time.
Hayden: Hah! True. But also, I'm glad I can have my memory wiped. I don't want to bleach my eyes once I get home.
Svetlana: Such a baby! They didn't even show anything explicit. Toughen up.
Rose: I kind of wish they did... too bad, I'll just have to harass Shane for the details at a later date.
Jackie: Count me in! I'll bring the wine!
David: As long as they come over for dinner once in a while, that's enough for us.
Yuna: Yes. That is more then enough.
The End