The Curtis Brothers - Tumblr Posts

Beauty in the Fold (SPOILERS)

I saw The Outsiders (Broadway version) over the weekend and I have so many thoughts. I've never read the book (I will) or seen the movie, but I completely fell in love with the story. I knew Johnny and Ponyboy had a special friendship, but watching Johnny die and seeing Ponyboy (who was an incredible understudy) absolutely shatter nearly broke me. He sat parked in front of their small tv, silent and motionless, save for turning the tv back on when Darry turned it off. I don't blame Darry for turning it off, he wanted Pony to break out of his catatonia, but Pony needed more than tough love. He needed something to ground himself. He needed to feel Johnny near him again. Receiving Johnny's vest from Cherry (which was a nice touch) gave him the physical closure he needed in an incredibly vulnerable moment. He buried his face in the material and breathed in Johnny's scent, realizing how much he missed it. You could see the weight lifting off his shoulders. I forget how much time the brothers say had passed before that moment, but my gut says two weeks. Ponyboy hasn't physically touched anything relating to Johnny for two whole weeks, and they most likely spent every day together. The book also hints that Johnny would spend nights with the Curtis brothers when his house became too volatile. These boys were brothers. Losing Johnny felt like losing a family member.

Stay Gold was obviously heartbreaking, but also beautifully staged. Johnny starting from across the stage and slowly making his way over as Ponyboy acknowledges him was a perfect demonstration of their relationship in this moment. Ponyboy tried to move on by himself, but he needed one more moment with Johnny. The letter gave him that moment. He needed to know Johnny didn't blame him for what happened at the fountain or the church---that his best friend would do everything the same way if given the option because brothers protect each other, even with their lives. Seeing the two boys slide onto the car in synch felt like Johnny was Pony's guardian angel, his shadow, guiding him through this moment. We see Johnny walk into the sunset (of his life) at the end of the song, but we also see Ponyboy rejoin his brothers at the table and eat dinner with them, symbolically beginning his healing journey. These are the stories we need right now. We need to see people, especially young people, endure tremendous heartbreak and overcome insurmountable odds and make it to the other side. We need to see that, given the right support system, anyone can heal.

I imagine Pony, after that day, wakes up extra early in the mornings and goes to the park to watch the sunrise. He writes letters, stories, and poems about his life. He also talks to Johnny. There's never anyone else around now that the Greasers rule the park, and they all understand Pony's ritual, so he speaks out loud to Johnny. He tells him about his life, their friends, and what all happens in Tulsa. Talking to Johnny heals him, makes him feel less gone. He talks to Dally too, but not as often. Their relationship is complicated. Ponyboy describes every sunrise, though he's sure Johnny sees every one. He continues this ritual into college and beyond, always making time for the boy who gave everything for him. It takes some bartering with the police, but Ponyboy also gets Johnny's knife, which he never cleans, afraid to wash away the memories embedded in it. The healing process is slow and arduous, but Ponyboy does eventually heal and create a life for himself, bringing his best friend along every step of the way.

Drawn on an index card cuz I forgot my sketchbook

the outsiders fair hc

Ponyboy likes going to the animal exhibits, especially the duck exhibit it's his favorite.

Ponyboy and Sodapop beg Darry for the giant turkey legs. They never get them, they either leave before they can or Darry says they "have food at home".

Darry used to love going to the fair but after their parents died he had to skip going to it the first two years they passed since he didn't have enough money for it.

Dally's favorite part is the Demolition Derby but he never pays for his ticket so security chases him off around midday.

Sodapop and Steve do the couple rides together since evie and sandy left them(that's there names right?) it's there favorite rides in the park and they refused to give up their joy because they are single

Johnny doesn't pay to get in either but one of the curtis brothers usually pays for him a ticket so he doesn't get thrown out not that he's aware of it.

The only reason Johnny goes to the fair is because Dally brings him. Johnny doesn't actually like any of the rides or anything.

Two-bit absolutely loves the fair even though he usually gets kicked out for being too drunk in a "family fun zone".

Two-bit has also riden every ride there is in the fair and is constantly leaving letters in the recommendations box to get new rides

When the curtis family was all alive they went to the fair every year .

All of the curtis gang have at least one of those huge stuffed animals .

The tv in the curtis family house is from the fair their dad was really good at ring toss.

Johnny has a stuffed fox that dally won for him but he keeps it in ponyboy's room under his bed.

Darry's first ever date was at the fair and he tried to empress her with the ring toss like his dad,that was how he found out he sucked at ring toss but he did get a second date she thought it was sweet he kept trying to get her the stuffed animal.

Two-bit brings his sister every year it's there. It brings them closer.

The day Two-bit got out of rehab for his drinking his friends and sister took him to the fair on the last day it was there and it was the most fun he had in years even though everyone of them got thrown out.

After Dally and Johnny died no one went to the fair for a long time the next being when Two-bit got out.

Ponyboy thought about getting a job at the fair when he was young.

When Ponyboy was packing up for college he found Johnny's fox plush and had to finish packing the next morning having cried for not only the owner of the plush but the person that won it aswell.

Rip the Curtis parents you would have loved self driving cars. 😔

Book Curtis Brothers hcs

because I won't leave you guys hanging just because it got second place

Darry:

-He'll do anything for his brothers even if he hates the thing. (first scene in the book when Pony says he could've just called Darry to watch the movie even though Darry hates them)

-He tries really hard to be gentle when physically comforting people but he's always too rough without meaning to be.

-Genuinely believed Ponyboy hated him for a good while and it would actually keep him up at night at times which added to his stress levels.

-Always makes sure the house is stocked up with first aid supplies for the boys.

-He asks Soda to talk to Pony for him to make sure Pony knows he loves him because he thinks if he were to do it he'd just say the wrong thing and it would go bad.

-The five days Pony was gone were the worst of Darry's life even more so than the death of his parents because to him at least then he got the news the same day but for Ponyboy he had nothing letting him know if he truly was okay.

-Says he would've been okay if Ponyboy never spoke to him again after the slap because he would've deserved it but in reality he wouldn't know how to live with it.

-Hated when people would confuse him for being his dad's brother instead of son because he hated that people thought he looked older when he's only 20. (which doesn't get better now that he's taking care of his brothers)

-Technically this is canon but adding it anyway he is insecure about the fact he didn't get to go to college because he did want a chance to leave tulsa and pursue a career in football.

-Stays by Pony's door until he falls asleep whenever he wakes up screaming from a nightmare to ease his nerves.

-Only irons Soda's shirts because he knows even if Soda has time he won't do it himself.

-When Ponyboy was in denial of Johnny's death he and Soda made sure no one ever mentioned anything about Johnny around Pony.

-He asked Tim to have Curly tell Ponyboy stories about reformatory to scare him from being sent there.

-Used to consider wanting to reconcile with Paul so he'd still have other friends outside the gang. After the rumble happened he stopped thinking about it.

-Apart from his brothers the person he's closest to in the gang is Two-Bit since they're closest in age and he's the only one he truly trusts to leave alone with Pony.

Soda:

-Used to hate being the only blond one of his brothers until his parents died because he liked having his mom's hair color.

-Ever since basically moving into Pony's room because of the nightmares he now uses his old room as a storage space or offers it to the gang if they want to sleep on a bed instead of the couch.

-Will defend his brothers to the ends of the earth over literally anyone no matter who it is (I mean according to Pony the only time he was ever mad at Steve was when he said something about Darry).

-Took everything in him not to tell Darry that he suspected that Dally knew where Pony and Johnny were and almost slipped by wanting to ask him to proofread the letter.

-Slept in his room the days Pony was gone because it didn't feel right to him to sleep in there without Pony but he still didn't sleep well anyway.

-Plays football with Darry even if he's not the best at it just so Darry can still play his favorite sport.

-Contrary to popular belief while he is named the the crier of the brothers it is actually Ponyboy but he lets himself be called that because he knows Pony doesn't like being seen as "weak".

-Even though Sandy cheated on him and everything he couldn't find it in himself to hate her not even a little bit.

-Despite what Pony may think about comparing Soda and Steve to Bob and Randy, Soda would actually be the one to fight even harder and be angry if Steve were the one to die while Steve would be the one to not fight.

-Will gives massages to Darry when Darry works long nights at work because while his brother won't admit it, he doesn't take care of himself as much as he should.

-Misses the days when Darry was just his brother and not guardian because while he gets let off more than Pony the change in relationship between himself and Darry is still noticeable to him.

-Will cling to anything or anyone that is near him when sleeping.

Ponyboy:

-Is quite literally the little brother of the gang even though he thinks it's Johnny. (Everyone including Steve will drop everything for him).

-(pre book but after their parents died) Desperately craved attention/affection from Darry but didn't know how to ask for it.

-He has drawn every member of the gang + Curly but hasn't shown them any of the drawings. His favorite to draw was Dally.

-For the purly/papercut fans (me). Pony is the only one who can keep Curly from getting into too much trouble. (Like we know from Tim that Curly has talked about Pony and even calls him a good kid.)

-After Johnny and Dally's deaths he hangs up his drawings of them in his room. He also keeps Dally's jacket in his room even if he never wears it.

-Tried to finish reading Gone with the Wind after Johnny died but couldn't.

-Has nightmares of him being the one who was stuck under the beam instead of Johnny and being the one who died and wakes up terrified because he truly thinks it would have been better if it was him.

-Makes Darry go into the room with him at doctor's appointments and looks at Darry whenever they ask him a question. He'll also clutch Darry or Soda's arm because he hates being there.

-Quit smoking or is in the process of trying to quit post book because of guilt of potentially starting the fire and because it's not good for him being on the track team and all.

For all 3:

-Darry and Soda go to ALL of Pony's track events.

-Post book they all try to have one day of the week where they all do something together for the other. For Darry, Pony and Soda play football with him. For Pony, they go watch a movie together. For Soda, Darry lets him take them out racing but sits in the back with Pony to keep him safe if anything.

-When they were younger Darry would give shit to anyone who would say anything about his younger brothers having weird names. While Pony and Soda would give Darry shit saying he's the one with a weird name. "seriously DARREL"

-They all sleep in Darry's room together the night before if they know the social worker is coming in fear of separated.

i forget which one of you said that ponyboy was a premature baby but hear me out.

darry being a stone faced kid, literally never crying as a baby even IF he was hungry, and fooling the curtis parents into thinking parenting was gonna be really easy until they had soda, who was a screecher and squealer and the world’s most reactive baby (but that’s besides the point)

when ponyboy wasnt born yet, darry was one of those kids to place his head onto their mom’s baby bump and talk to their sibling. soda did it as well don’t get me wrong, but would probably get distracted when steve comes over and starts hollering over toy cars and one he took apart out on the front porch (darry shushes them both, using the excuse that he was ‘trying to hear the baby’)

soda definitely was the cause of the name “ponyboy” due to his love for ponies (that and he genuinely thought his newest sibling would just be an actual pony), but i feel like darry was the one to (unknowingly) pick ponyboy’s middle name. he kept bugging his parents to name ponyboy ‘michael’ and they gave in, just not in the way he expected

ANYWAY.. when ponyboy comes a little earlier than expected and they all clammer into the curtis family’s beat down truck, darry hasn’t ever seen his father so stressed in his life as he bounds down the streets.

and, as they sit in the hospital lobby and darry overhears some of the risks the doctors list to mr. curtis, who tries to get them away from the conversation— he cries. for the first time in his life, he actually starts bawling. it’s not like darry was forced to bottle up his emotions or anything, he just never felt a reason to actually cry— unlike soda, who cried over every small inconvenience at the time (which darry doesn’t dislike, he just doesn’t relate to it)

so when he hears that his mom, arguably his most favorite person in the world— is in critical condition alongside his new brother, who was definitely going to be one of his favorite people… he literally can’t stop crying about it. soda has to comfort him this time and just hugs him.

tl;dr darry curtis loves ponyboy and sodapop but they’ve been scaring him to death even before they were born

darry is really light footed and it’s kinda concerning because soda will just be standing there talking to pony and darry comes up behind him without a sound and is just like ‘whatcha talking about’ and soda screams like a chipmunk on helium

Nothing pisses me off more than when people treat Ponyboy like he was a bad person for how he viewed Darry at the beginning of the book. Their parents just died, Darry very quickly went from a brother to a guardian, and they fought all the time. Also, Ponyboy is naturally more emotional than Darry, so when him and Darry reacted to their grief very differently, of course it was hard for 14 YEAR OLD GRIEVING Ponyboy to understand how Darry was feeling. NOT TO MENTION the amount of guilt Ponyboy probably feels that Darry put his life on hold for Ponyboy and Soda. Ponyboy’s feelings towards Darry at the beginning of the book are not uncalled for at all. Ponyboy isn’t an asshole for how he talked about Darry, just like Darry isn’t an asshole for how he treated Ponyboy.

NEITHER OF THEM WERE THE PROBLEM AND THAT IS THE WHOLE FUCKING POINT,

I could actually write a paper about the parallels between the March sisters in Little Women and the Curtis brothers in The Outsiders.

Ponyboy IS Amy March and vice versa.