_{His greatest act on his grandest stage.}

and if you’re still bleeding, you’re the lucky ones
‘cause most of our feelings, they are dead and they are gone
we’re setting fire to our insides for fun

AU MEME: MAGICIANS

Cora Levinson is talented - no one can argue with that. Specializing in hypnotism, the magician has captivated all of American. So, with nowhere to go but up, she sets her sights on an English audience instead. However, nothing happens without complications. There’s Robert Crawley, frustratingly intriguing and also her biggest financial sponsor - much to the chagrin of Violet Crawley, his mother. As far as she’s concerned, funding Cora’s show is the biggest waste of her fortune her son could dream up. And then there are the stage hands: a certain Thomas Barrow and Sarah O’Brien. Cora is sure they have only the kindest intentions, but good will doesn’t explain the clear sabotage going on behind stage.

Basically an AU where Cora uses her crazy eyes to hypnotize people, Violet objects a lot, and Thomas and O’Brien create complicated plans to ruin the whole show - but O’Brien usually has a change of heart at the last minute and saves the day.

CURTAINS: a carson/hughes fanmix [listen]

01. Curtains - Josh Ritter

instrumental

02. Don’t Confess - Tegan and Sara

Don’t think I’ll confess
Don’t think I’ll confess that I -
Don’t think I’ll deny
Don’t think I’ll deny that I -

03. Big Man - Boy & Bear

But you came in the middle and you fell in my hands
Oh, a wonderful woman and an average man
See, that makes me the lucky man
I won’t be deserving, but I won’t be denied
See, I fell in this position, I will still teach my kids pride
Because failure’s a part of it all

04. Gray or Blue - Jaymay

You haven’t written to me in a week, I’m wondering why that is
Are you too nervous to be lovers, friendships ruined with just one kiss
I watched you very closely, I saw you look away
Your eyes are either gray or blue, I’m never close enough to say

05. Spirehouse - Woodpigeon

On the way from who knows when
Down the road from never been
On the way and movin’ in
Found the spot where love begins

06. Bright Smile - Josh Ritter

Man is only half himself
The other half is a bright thing
He tumbles on by luck or grace
For man is ever a blind thing

07. Honest Songs - Noah Gundersen

That our troubles never over
And work our work is never done
But with the turning of the season
We will always see the sun

08. And If My Heart Should Somehow Stop - James Vincent McMorrow

Then in the forest I made my home
Laid down on hard and ancient stone
Then if my heart should somehow stop
I’ll hang on, to the hope
That you’re not too late

you’re all that I need, though I know that it never can be, I’d be pleased
to post your decrees, to fall at your knees, to name all your streets and
to sit down and weep when you’re carried back through them
and set down to sleep, and to lie by your side for sublime centuries

AU MEME: CLASS SWAP, LADY O’BRIEN AND THE HEIR

LORD CARSON: What about Lady Parks? She’s an heiress.
THOMAS CARSON: But her nose is a bit funny, isn’t it?
LORD CARSON: Lineage before beauty.
LADY O’BRIEN: Funny, I didn’t think Lady Hughes had much of a pedigree.
LADY CARSON: I didn’t realize the O’Briens were so superior to the Hughes.
LADY O’BRIEN: The O’Briens have their assets.
THOMAS: You would know - you inherited them.