#im just a terrible consumer of western content right now

[thebookdragonsden]

Omg my wife's I just resolved a weeks long misunderstanding and I'm dying. Little backstory and to set the stage... we're both heavy readers but for the past five years my tastes have leaned pretty far outside of the general Western reader's interest sphere (about 50% danmei web novels, 40% manga/manhua, and 10% western published media) and my wife, while much wider in her reading tastes has recently been caught up Korean manhua and those really trashy translated web novels that FB advertises.

So her coworker had recently mentioned he was looking for LGBT SFF recs, specifically YA because he was not interested in reading sexual content. She mentioned this to me and after In Other Lands and FT Lukens we both just kind of stared at each other blankly. Most of my western media consumption has been LGBT but it's also been adult or new adult.

So anyway she starts poring through ideas and the going through other rec lists. I'm playing a timed game demo so I'm only half paying attention to what she says and finally we have an exchange that goes something like this:

Her: you've read the Witch King right?

Me: yeah, not too long ago.

Her: would you recommend it?

Me: definitely. I really enjoyed it. But I thought he wanted YA and LGBT recs?

Her: he does.

Me: ??? Okay. Well the LGBT content is pretty minimal, mostly side characters, no romance, and i wouldn't really characterize it as YA

Her: ???? But it's on this YA rec list

Me: ???????? They crazy

Her: Isn't the main character Trans?

Me: he's a demon possessing bodies. Sometimes they were male sometime they were female. Pretty sure the author stuck to male pronouns though. Is that trans?

Her: hm

Me: I'm serious though. Almost no romance. There's an established side lesbiam pairing but one of them is missing for most of the story and the MC has some ambiguous relationships and accusations made about other men but it's never overt or the focus.

Her: alright

Three weeks later I'm sending her a screenshot from Illumicrate's upcoming special editions for HE Edgmon, gushing about the editions but mentioning I didn't know the books themselves. My wife sent me screenshots of the original covers, a funny post the author had made when doing cover reveals and then mentioned it was the same author as the Witch King. To which I'm like ????????? But i thought... And then i start frantically googling.

So that's the story about how my wife and I had a very confusing conversation for both of us regarding a book recommendation, where I was talking about Witch King by Martha Wells and she was talking about The Witch King by HE Edgmon and titles are hard.

#book recommendations #the struggle when books have similar titles #had authors been stated this problem would not have been a problem #my wife's been trying to get me to read murderbot for ages #i knew martha wells #im sorry i forgot your book he edgmon #im sure its very good #i see it recced a lot #im just a terrible consumer of western content right now #witch king only got read because i needed to listen to an audiobook and it was already dled months ago

[kyber-kisses]

Promises

(gif not mine, credit to owner)

Carl Grimes X Reader

Warnings: Tooth rotting fluff? idk

Summary: The reader and Carl have been best friends since the beginning of the end. It was only a matter of time before one fell for the other, or they both fell for each other.

You caught Carl Grimes attention the moment Rick brought you through the gates of the prison. Your y/h/c hair was tied back in boxer braids, stray strands sticking out all over the place due to your time on the move. dirt caked your face which in the end only made your y/e/c eyes even bolder. Rick held your weapons in his hands, still unsure if the group could trust you or not. He was being cautious, you understood that. Carl had been standing just within the entrance of the prison, holding his three week old sister in his arms. Usually when the group came across new people they were weary and alert, but something about you was different. One look at you and he knew he could trust you. He couldn't explain it. 

Needless to say, The young Grimes instincts turned out to be right. You became a valued member of the group at the prison. You helped take care of Judith, you were one of the best when it came to quick supply runs, and to add onto that you were extremely skilled when it came to weapons. 

It didn't take long for you and Carl to become attached at the hip. Carl and y/n. y/n and Carl. The dynamic duo, partners in crime, Butch and Sundance, Calvin and Hobbes, Thelma and Louise, Rocky and Bullwinkle. You two were the ultimate duo. When the people from Woodbury moved into the prison the two of you desperately tried to desperate from the group of helpless children who now occupied the compound. So your time was spent mostly patrolling the outer fences or helping Rick garden. 

During the time that the deadly sickness was spreading through the prison, the western fence collapsed, sending dozens of walkers into the prison. You, Carl, and Rick cut down and shot every reanimated corpse in your path. You didn't realize your changing feelings for Carl until the last walker hit the ground and he kissed you right on the lips, thus propelling you into a crush on your best friend. 

You stayed quiet about it for years, pushing those feelings to the back of your mind because, lets be honest, there were bigger things to worry about. But once you found Alexandria something in your dynamic shifted. It was a good shift though. . .

*             *               *                *                 *

You tapped your foot impatiently as you stood at the closed gates of Alexandria. Carl and Michonne were supposed to be back any minute now, yet you were starting to grow worried.

“Y/n! Open the gates, they’re back!” Rosita’s voice echoed down from the platform across the street from where you stood. You quickly let out a sigh of relief, rushing forward to open the large gate. A smile immediately spreading across your face as the car rolled into the safe zone. Quickly closing the gates behind them you crossed your arms, striding towards the figure sliding out of the passenger seat. 

“Okay Grimes, what do you have for me?” You smirked, walking up to the blue eyed boy. You watched as he rolled his eye, before ducking back into the car to grab something. A moment later he was tossing the unknown object over to you with a similar smirk. You caught it quickly, looking down at what was in your hands your smile widened.

“No way. . .” 

“Yes way.” Carl laughed, tucking his hands back into his pockets and walking over to you.

“Where did you even find this?” You questioned, turning over the object in your hands to make sure what you were actually seeing was in fact real. Gripped tightly in your calloused hands was an unscathed, unopened bottle of Coca-cola. It was the one item you constantly looked for when you went on supply runs. 

“ An old factory a few miles north. There was a tipped over vending machine in one of the hallways. Had to fight a few dozen walkers to get it.”

Your smile fell as you looked back up at Carl.

“I told you not to risk your life to get me anything.” Carl shrugged his shoulders, looking at you with a soft expression.

“I had to. You brought me back that record a few weeks ago.”

It had become a tradition whenever you or Carl went out on runs. It was like a little game- maybe a promise even. If one of you was going on a supply run, you had to bring something back for the other. Weather that be half of a smiley face eraser or a license plate. The intention was that if they were bringing back an object, they would come back along with it. 

“Okay, fine.” You twisted the metal cap off of the bottle, shoving it into your back pocket.”But your sharing this with me.” 

“Its yours, take it.”

“Carl Grimes, you deserve half of this for going through the trouble of getting it.”

He knew there was no point in fighting you, so he surrendered, following you as you walked down the street towards home.

“Where are we going now?”

You raised an eyebrow in surprise, turning to your best friend.

“Your insane if you think im drinking this thing warm. The only proper way to drink this is with ice.”

The two of you soon found yourselves leaning against the kitchen island, chilled glasses resting next to your hands. It was one of those moments where you found yourself desperately wanting to turn to the boy next to you and tell him how you felt. How you liked him more than a friend- much more in fact. You turned to look at him for a moment. His one good eye was closed, letting the sun filter through the window and onto his face. He looked peaceful. Content. You knew it wouldn't last though. In the world that you were living in peace never lasted too long. It was that though that gave you that last ounce of courage you needed to speak.

“Carl, I need to tell you something.” You spoke- breaking the comfortable silence. Carl opened his eye, turning to you in worry.

“What happened?”

“Nothing! Nothing happened, its just something that I have been meaning to tell you for awhile now.” You looked down at the tiled floor, fidgeting with your hands. You fell silent again- worry consuming your thoughts. “Okay- so what are you going to tell me?”

“I have a big, fat crush on you Carl Grimes.” Your eyes widened as the realization of what just came out of your mouth sank in. “Now I totally get it and understand if you don’t like me that way, but I just needed to get that off my chest.” Before you could continue you were stopped by Carl.

“Your joking right? About thinking I don’t like you back?” He chuckled, turning his body towards you. You squinted your eyes in confusion, not knowing how to answer.

“No. . .?” You questioned slowly, not sure where this was going.

“Do you not remember at all what I said to you back at the prison?” He smiled again in amusement. Your eyes widened as the memory came back to you. This whole time you thought it didn’t mean a thing. How dumb could you possibly be?! You mentally slapped yourself.

“I though you were joking!” You raised your voice in surprise, eyes somehow widening even more.

“Why?! Why would I be joking?! It was the end of the world!- Hell it still is!” The both of you were in a mutual state of confusion and shock. Just two dumb ass, oblivious best friends who were completely head over heels in love with each other. Before you could retaliate, Carl was grabbing your face and pressing his lips against yours in a passionate kiss. Your eyes widening for a moment before fluttering shut and melting into the kiss. After another moment, he pulled away, the faintest hint of a smile dancing across his lips.

“I’m going to be ding that a lot more- if you don’t mind.”

“Hell- i’m not stopping you.” You smirked, wiping his bangs away from his face.

“Good.”

*                    *                    *                    *                    *

And so the ultimate power couple was forged in a world gone sour. Some things changed in your dynamic, but many stayed the same. You still brought Carl junk and trinkets from your supply runs, and he did as well. The amount of flirting had risen though, and greetings and goodbyes always ended or began in kisses, and terrible pick-up lines were thrown left and right just for amusement and to get the other person to cringe. In other words- you were just two love-sick idiots living in a world ruled by the dead. It was like that for awhile- probably around the time span of a year before Carl threw another curve-ball at you.

Like always, you found yourself checking the time on your watch again, waiting for Carl and his dad to return from their current supply run. You were not on gate duty this time, so when you head the gentle hum of an engine entering Alexandria, you began your trek down the street towards the gates. When you saw the figures of Carl and Rick you rushed forward, pulling them each into an embrace.

“Glad your back. I was starting to worry.” You chuckled.  “You don’t need to worry Y/N. It was just a quick run to Hilltop.” Rick countered, resting a hand on his Sons shoulder.

“I cant help it. I’m a worrier.” You chuckled, turning back to Carl and holding out your hand to accept whatever trinket your boyfriend had brought back for you.

“Hand it over Grimes.” You watched Carls facial expression shift from amused to more serious. But not the kind of serious that would have you concerned. It was softer. He gently took your hand before using his other to reach into his pocket, he then pressed the small object into your palm, closing your fingers around it. As his hands fell back to his sides, you opened your hand to reveal a small, simple ring- cast from iron. Your eyes widened as you looked up at Rick and then to Carl himself.

“Carl Grimes-” You began, - but were cut off by him.

“We’re both 18 now arn’t we? Or somewhere around that age at least right?” He lightly titled his head, a smile gracing his features. Meanwhile Rick stood to the side- a confused, and amused expression on his face.

“You two mind telling me whats going on?” He questioned lightly, crossing his arms. Your eyes went back to Carl as you softly chuckled.

“We should probably tell him. . .”

“Probably a good idea.” Carl nodded. The two of you turning to look at Rick. Carl spoke to his father first.

“Back at the prison, the night where the walkers broke through the fence. . .” He stopped for a moment, waiting for Rick to show that he remembered what he was talking about.” I Kissed Y/N. It was a heat of the moment decision. All the walkers were dead and she had completely blown my mind. - So I kissed her, and I asked her to marry me. I was a kid who had a crush.” You watched an amused smile spread across Ricks face as he chuckled, crossing his arms.

“Is that so?”

“Oh yep! Your reckless, stubborn son did in fact ask me to marry me when we were 14 years old.” You laughed lightly, turning to look at Carl.

“Of course he did.” Rick spoke, massaging his temple, a smile still on his lips.

“I said to him: “Oh Carl, we’re too young. Ask me again when we’re 18 and Ill say yes.” I didn’t find out until about a year ago that he actually meant it.” You added, looking back down at the small ring in your hand.

“So I wanted to follow through with my promise.” Carl spoke up, looking at the smile on his fathers face.

“Michonne is going to get a kick out of this.” Rick laughed. “But I’m not gonna stop the two of you.” He shouldered his duffel bag, still laughing. “Ill meet you two at the house.” And with that he walked off, leaving you and Carl to walk home together. You slipped the small band onto your finger, admiring the simplicity of it.

“Where did you even find this?” 

“I didn’t. I asked the blacksmith at Hilltop to make it.” Carl took hold of your hand, watching your features soften even more. You shook your head in disbelief.

“You never cease to amaze me Grimes.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too Cowboy.”

A/N: This is longer than my normal pieces and it took me forever, but I had this idea awhile back. I hope you guys like it.

#twd #the walking dead #the walking dead imagine #the walking dead x reader #carl grimes #carl grimes imagine #carl grimes x reader