Sidemen Shots

Acting Out (No ship)

"Woah, careful there, Simon," Ethan taunts, beady eyes brimming with a playful mirth. Despite this, due to previous conversations the two have had together, Simon knows that Ethan feels worried for him. He'll check in with him later, Simon knows. "Watch you don't anger the Harry stans. They'll get you."

This is how they play it, him and Ethan. As the two members who by far experience the most hate from fans, usually for petty reasons that don't warrant it, the two of them have developed a sense of camaraderie they don't quite share with the others. (Least of all Harry.) The connection isn't understood by the others, really, as they don't face the same severity of social condemnation. They face criticism, but at least for them it doesn't feel like people are trying to tear them down from the inside. Simon can only ever fear his haters trying to do so from the outside as well.

Grinning, Simon huffs his best laugh, choosing from a short line of them the one that can easily hide his feelings of upset. "Is the noose still outside?" He asks Ethan, pointing somewhere else in the studio. He waits for Ethan to nod before making as if to stand up, "Let me go get that, do them all a favour."

Ethan cackles, loud and obnoxious, perfect for the situation and audience. Ammo for their destructive, delusional takes, as well as fuel for Simon's dwindling nerve. He's a good friend, Ethan.

As expected, Ethan takes a pause to check his phone. A moment later, the text 'we'll talk later, yeah?' comes through on Simon's own. He shoots back a quick thumbs up emoji before turning to Josh next to him.

(All the while, Harry watches from the corner of the sofa, eyes darting from one end to the other as he listens to their conversation. He has a harsh frown etched into the features of his face, his ears deaf to the conversation Vik is currently struggling to maintain. The use of his name had piqued his interest; the topic had imprisoned his focus.)

-

Simon snorts as he looks down at his phone, practically glaring at the screen as he scrolls through the comment section of the most recent MoreSidemen video. A stupid idea, really - one that most, if not all, big YouTubers swore off of years ago - but an idea that Simon succumbed to in light of the joke he made the other day being a particularly risky one. "They did not like that."

"Mhm?" Ethan looks over at him, away from his own phone. "The noose joke?"

"The very one." Simon confirms, rolling his eyes exaggeratedly and earning himself a reluctant laugh from Ethan before the younger man turns serious.

"I don't wanna like-" Ethan's lips purse as he pauses, trying to get the words out but they're clearly difficult ones to say. Either he knows Simon won't want to hear them, or he himself doesn't agree with the sentiment he's about to express. Ethan sighs, "I wouldn't normally say this, and I don't agree with letting yourself be silenced but I think... I think you should hold off a bit. It's getting really bad, Simon. I mean sure, we all love a good death threat every now and then, but I just saw one detail how they are going to murder you in your sleep. They're unhinged!"

Simon laughs in response, but it's a small, quiet, sad thing. His sigh mirrors Ethan's in its hesitation and disappointment. "You might be right. I think... I think I'll tone it down like I did after that first Come Dine with Me."

Ethan nods, solemnly, making a big deal out of Simon seeing him exit the YouTube tab and click off his phone. "Might be best, I think."

-

When Harry looks to Simon after telling an (arguably) controversial joke, he's surprised and kind of disappointed to find the older man shaking his head at him, staring over at him with a judgemental expression.