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linskywords · 5 months

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Hockey RPF Recs from 2023

I realized recently that I haven't done a great job keeping up with hockey fic beyond the authors I was already subscribed to, so I did some reading in the tag for the past year (and of course fell in a hole and neglected other parts of my life, you know the drill). Mattdrai is even bigger than I thought?? (She said, having been living under a rock.) Also, wow, *amazing* writers out there I had no idea about! Here are my favorites of the stories I've read so far:

so is the longing by dogjuice (mattdrai): This one might win as my favorite fic of the year. You know how sometimes you read something that's not quite as well written as you want it to be but it's doing the thing you want so you read it anyway? This is NOT that fic. It hits such good juicy trope buttons and also is clever and hilariously written. Top marks.

i'll tell you when to stop by dogjuice (mcmattdrai): Sadly this is the only other fic dogjuice has posted, but it is also excellent. The premise could be ridiculous in someone else's hands but rings so true. I was on tenterhooks for it all to work out.

In From the Cold by makeit_takeit (TK/Patty): FERAL. OVER. THIS. All three stories in this (loosely related) series are impeccable, but this one gave me the most feels. I am weak for a repressed closeted character gradually discovering happiness, and the depth of characterization is breathtaking.

Baby, I'm a Wildcard by wearemany (mattdrai): The writing!! This fic is mostly developing/established relationship, which is not usually my fave, but somehow I loved the entire thing?? Just really compelling character-focused writing that had me completely absorbed without needing to rely on angst or drama (much as I love those in other stories).

Edmonton 10 by Helenish (mattdrai): Helenish is incomparable. I cannot express how happy I am that they've (she's?) gotten into hockey lately. Read everything; I don't even know if this is the best one because I *am* subscribed to them so I read the stories as they came out and didn't rank them or anything, but this one is excellent and also you can't go wrong.

this must be the place by rafting (Jamie/Trevor): Love me some sexuality exploration. The USNTDP ensemble was so vividly and delightfully present in this one. Also, Trevor is so dumb. How can you not love it.

let me look at you by isozyme (mattdrai, mcmattdrai): This one is emotionally ROUGH but so well done. Heed the warnings, but there's plenty of emotional satisfaction as well. I read it several weeks ago and it's still living in my head.

roughed up in the afterglow by notthequiettype (mattdrai): This one is pretty short but gets a lot done in not too many words. Really excellent character interactions and dialogue.

linger by bropunzeling (mattdrai): Top-notch A/B/O content. Sometimes you just want Matthew to have heat sex with Leon and pretend not to have feelings until he can't anymore.

in the honey by donderwalk (Jamie/Trevor): Okay it's been a while since I read this one but I remember it as the highlight of my Jamie/Trevor tag search at the time, so I'm gonna say it's probably great. 😄

Serenity in Those Deep Waters by angry_geno_is_score (larsdunn): This mashes the D/s buttons sooooo good. Has it inspired me to write more D/s? Oh yes. Check it out; You Will Have Feels.

how lovely are thy branches by quadratics (mattdrai, Brady/Tim): Hilarious premise, charming execution. This isn't even about characters getting together and yet I loved it.

Hourglass Theory by puckedup (mattdrai): So short, and totally managed to punch me in the chest (in the best way).

#i'm sure there are more great ones but i am but one reader #also i've gotten sidetracked by the necessity of reading everything makeit_takeit's ever written #which is a delightfully large amount #fic recs #hockey rpf #2023 in review

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drysaladandketchup · 2 months

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Mattdrai and 14 please for the Game. Thank you 💜

Thank you, anon! Once again I have failed to understand the word 'mini'. Seriously never ask me to write something short I don't know how to anymore. I hope it's to your liking :)

14. things you said after you kissed me

He expects a lot of things when he walks into the airport toting his life behind him in a suitcase: the drone of hundreds of voices, the inevitable bustle of bodies, brightly lit screens flashing so much information it makes your head spin, lines, because there's always lines everywhere for everything, the smell of fifteen different coffee shops vying for traveller's attention. Fuck knows he's going to need one of those soon.

What he doesn't expect is to be grabbed mid-yawn as he's on his way to check his luggage. If he was already jittery about the move before, he nearly has a heart attack now when a hand latches onto his bicep and drags him into a shadowy alcove, half-concealed by a thick pillar.

Matthew's brain very unhelpfully provides him with the image of being mugged before he's even out of Calgary. Pissed off fans angry he's leaving for bright, sunny, warm-all-year-round Florida, perhaps? Some even more pissed off Edmontonian who saw he was leaving and came down here thinking now's my chance? He wouldn't put it past some of them.

He's not too far off the mark with that last one. When he rips his arm free and spins to face his assailant, he laughs right in their face.

"Jesus, dude, you look like a stalker."

In fairness, Leon usually dresses pretty decent. But right now he's in plain jeans and a thick, unassuming pull-over sweater--it's fucking summer in Calgary, who does that?--with the hood pulled up over a snap-back, head ducked low so the brim hides part of his face.

"Didn't want to be recognized," Leon says, somewhat defensively, like he's only now realising how very conspicuous he looks in a place like this.

"I got that." Matthew checks his phone. He's got a bit of time for... for whatever this is, so he sets his stuff down and leans against the wall across from Leon. It only puts a couple feet of space between them.

"What are you doing here?"

Leon tugs the hood and hat off his head, runs fingers through his hair. It's still pretty long--Leon's let it grow since the spring, and Matthew has very distinct memories of running fingers through it--but it's also uncharacteristically messy. He doesn't look entirely focused, either; there's shadows under his eyes.

"I came to see you," Leon says.

Suddenly, Matthew really wishes he wasn't here. Either of them. It's been two weeks since they've seen each other, since Matthew broke the news. Not that it was Leon's business. They weren't... weren't anything. Not partners, anyways. Not really. And this was Matthew's choice, his career, his future he was considering. That had to come first.

But now Leon's here, and Matthew has never wanted to run so badly in his life. This didn't feel like running before. The earth could split open and swallow him whole, and it would be kinder than that look on Leon's face, all anger and desperation and confusion and... God, he looks so fucking tired.

It's a 9am flight to Florida. It's just past six now. The sun's barely up.

"Have you slept at all?" Matthew asks, instead of a million other questions.

Leon shoves his hands in the pocket of his sweater and shakes his head. "I couldn't."

"So you drove all the way down here."

"Don't sound so surprised."

"Hard not to be when you haven't talked to me in weeks."

Leon's mouth twists. Slumped back against the wall, curled in on himself, it may be one of the few times Matthew could ever say he looks small. Fragile.

Sighing, Leon finally, finally looks Matthew in the eye. He's not scowling like the last time they met, the night he stood in Matthew's doorway and told him he didn't understand anything before storming out of Matthew's life.

"I thought we should talk. Before you go," Leon says.

Matthew does understand, now. He put it together staring at Leon's back as he disappeared into the night. He knows why Leon's really here. What he really means.

I wanted to see you.

It's amazing how many people say Leon is hard to read. He's always been an open book to Matthew, even when he was snapping and bearing his teeth. All his emotions spilling from the pages.

"Okay." Matthew swallows. "We can talk."

Neither of them does, for a minute. They stare at each other, through each other. Remembering. Committing all the little details to memory. Matthew's palms tingle with the urge to touch.

"You kissed me," Leon finally says, "then said you were leaving."

Yeah, not Matthew's finest moment, if he's being honest. But he didn't know what else to do. There was already so much turmoil around the trade and the shit going on with the Flames.

And then there was Leon. There was no way it wouldn't be gruesome.

"How long did you know?" Leon's voice is rigid, but still calm. "Would you actually have told me, if I hadn't come to see you?"

A year ago, yeah, he would have said it was none of Leon's damn business. Why would he care? But they've come a long way since then. Farther than Matthew could have anticipated. Farther than he realised, until he was staring at Leon's retreating back and silently begging him to turn around, to come back, to stay.

Of course Matthew was going to tell him. He's not an asshole. But that's not what this is about.

"Does it really matter?"

"It matters to me."

"You're not here because you're pissed I didn't tell you sooner."

He knows why Leon's here, and he knows why part of him is stupidly happy Leon is here. Even if nothing will change.

"Did you even think about how I'd--" Leon groans, scratches at the back of his head.

"I did," Matthew says, because it's the truth. Of course he thought about Leon. How could he not?

Leon's gaze drops to the floor, and he grits out, "Fuck. I wanted to do this better."

Matthew can practically hear time ticking by. His heartbeat makes a good clock, thudding away in his chest.

"What is this, Leon? What do you want?"

Dangerous question. Leon could say a million things that would make Matthew's entire resolve waver. If they're not done, if there's even a sliver of hope...

But Leon doesn't say anything. Instead he steps forward, cups Matthew's face between his hands, and kisses him. Not rough or desperate. There's no urgency. It's slow and deep and bruising, and Matthew melts into it because he could never do anything else, and Leon holds tight like he thinks Matthew will disappear if he doesn't.

It's an apology and a confession. It's not the first time they've kissed, but it may be the first time it's been an honest one.

It doesn't last long. Matthew barely has time to taste it, savour it, get a fistful of Leon's hoodie like he's the one threatening to leave. There's a moment as Leon pulls back where Matthew thinks he's imagined it all. Where it feels like something precious is slipping between his fingers.

But no, Leon's still there when he opens his eyes, pressed from hip to chest, noses brushing, beard catching Matthew's freshly shaved cheek. Hot breathes mingle between their mouths.

"Would you stay," Leon whispers, hand sliding back to tangle through Matthew's curls, "if I asked?"

He didn't ask the night Matthew told him. He was too angry, too upset. It took Matthew too long to realise why, to recognise what he was seeing on Leon's face was heartbreak.

But they both know the answer. Still, Matthew closes his eyes and takes the luxury of thinking about it. Considers the possibilities.

"Would you actually ask?" he says.

Leon's fingers curl around the back of Matthew's neck. "If I thought you'd actually say yes."

"But you won't."

"No."

"Because you know I won't."

"I know."

"It's not you."

"I know." Leon steps back only as far as Matthew's grip on his hoodie will allow. "Fuck, you don't make things easy."

Matthew chuckles. "When have I ever? You're not winning any awards either."

Leon scoffs.

"Still," Matthew says. "This is better than what you said to me the first time we kissed."

"What did I say?"

"Pretty sure it was, 'Get the fuck out of my arena.' And something about hoping I lose my next game."

Leon smirks. Doesn't look even a little sorry. "And did you lose your next game?"

"Fuck off." Matthew shoves his shoulder, unable to keep a grin from tugging at his mouth.

He looks away only long enough to straighten out his shirt and run a hand through his hair, but when he looks back, Leon isn't smiling anymore, and his brows are pulled low.

"I really fucked up my timing, huh?"

Matthew winces. "Just a little, yeah." Makes two of us. He's about to say more but Leon waves a hand.

"But you were going to leave anyways, I know. I got it."

"Leon--"

"I'm not here to stop you. I just wanted to... you know."

I don't want this to be over. I want to make this work.

Still an open book.

Matthew angles his head, forces Leon's eyes back to him, staring right into that mystifying grey-blue that always reminded him of a thunderstorm. Everything about Leon kind of reminds him of one. What does that make Matthew? A whirlwind? A hurricane? Storms, both of them.

"Yeah. Yeah, okay." Matthew steps closer, crowding Leon against the wall this time. They may not have known what they were doing before, but Matthew knows what he wants now.

Leon must have found his answer too, because he kisses Matthew again, no less meaningful than the last, pulling Matthew into his body, into his hands, his mouth. Breathing his air and tasting his tongue, giving and taking until they're light-headed and fitting pieces of each other together.

"You better not be fucking with me, Draisaitl," Matthew pants out once he's got his breath back.

He doesn't get far before he's pulling Leon to him, into his arms, getting the bulk of him in a crushing hug. And Leon hugs him back, a deep laugh rumbling right in Matthew's ear and fingers carving into his back. That's answer enough.

Somehow, Matthew is strong enough to let go. And just like that the world is moving again. He's too aware of everything outside their little alcove, so loud and invasive. He's running out of time. His future's waiting for him down south.

When they step back out into bright lights and bustling strangers, Leon's got his hat and hood back on, keeping his head tilted low. He doesn't stray far, bumping Matthew's arm every so often as he walks with him through luggage check and down towards the gates.

They get to security, and for the first time since the trade decision was made, Matthew hesitates. This is what he wanted. What he still wants. What he needs. The only variable left is...

Leon has stopped a few steps behind, leaving Matthew stranded and alone. He turns back around to find Leon watching him silently. They may as well be the only ones in the world, the way his vision tunnels.

"Well," Matthew says, words clogging his throat. "Guess I'll... see you around. We'll talk. I'll call, or..."

"I'm serious, Matthew." His name always sounds beautiful and dangerous on Leon's tongue. "About this. You and me."

And fuck, Matthew's only human. He drops his bag, marches back over to Leon and tugs him into another kiss. He nearly knocks the hat off Leon's head with the force, crushing his lips and clacking their teeth together. It doesn't even matter if people see them.

One more time. Just one more. Until they can see each other again.

"I know." Matthew shudders against Leon's eager mouth, kissing the smile that breaks out under his lips. "I want to try us too."

He swallows the strangled sound that comes up from Leon's throat, tipsy with it, like he's getting drunk just from this. Is that possible? Fuck knows, but he sure as hell wants to find out one day.

Matthew jerks back, breathless, hot-cheeked, and beaming.

"And I'm gonna be fucking great."

If Leon wasn't slack-jawed, if they weren't the them they are now, he would have chirped Matthew to high hell. If they were on the ice he'd probably put Matthew into the boards just for fun.

But the Leon here and now only scoffs, shaking his head like he's been well and truly defeated. Then he smiles.

"Yeah, I know. So get the fuck out of here and go be great."

#hockey #mattdrai #matthew tkachuk #leon draisaitl #my writing #asks #florida trade drama my beloved #there's photos of them making out in the airport all over social media the next day. publicity shitstorm. good luck boys #This is over 2k. Even less 'mini' then my last one wtf is wrong with me #I used to be able to write drabbles but no no no too many ideas to write down now it seems #I realise this has the same 'can't admit we're in love until it's too late' energy as my last ask fic but apparently that's my fave trope #I CAN write other dynamics I swear

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bropunzeling · 2 months

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mattdrai 23, the things you said when yånk

(please just give me leon getting his hair pulled or matthew getting his hair pulled or both, they need it so desperately)

(ty anon and sorry for the delay. pls have some explicit horny times)

It's strange, the way that Leon just ends up in Matthew’s bed. Once, it felt like a conscious choice, where every second he knew exactly what he was getting into--or at least, he thought he knew, anyway. Now, it just happens to him. One minute, he's finishing his post-game routine; the next, he's sprawled out over Matthew’s sheets, breath hitching in his chest as Matthew scrapes his teeth along Leon's jaw.

"What do you want?" Matthew asks.

Leon can’t answer. He’s too distracted. Matthew’s mouth is so hot against the thin skin of his neck, hands burning as they rub up and down Leon’s sides. Everything about Matthew is warm, even more so since he uprooted himself from Calgary and settled down here, sun-kissed and self-secure. Leon can feel the heat of him all along his body, the knee pushing his thighs apart just south of his aching cock, the nails scraping against the ridge of his hips.

"Hey." A nip to Leon’s jaw; a pinch to the soft part of his stomach. "Did you hear me?"

"Yeah," Leon says. One of his hands has found the dip of Matthew’s back and is grabbing on for dear life, like if he stops holding fast Matthew will disappear on him, will bring this whole ill-defined chapter of Leon's life to a close. It's a premonition from the summer that Leon can’t shake, even though he knows it's unfair for him to want Matthew to stay within reach. This isn't that kind of thing.

"I don't believe you," Matthew says, breath hot and wet against Leon’s cheek. When he kisses Leon, it hurts, teeth digging in, nose and forehead and cheek pushing so close that Leon can practically feel their skulls colliding. As soon as Matthew stops, Leon wants it back. "Pay attention."

"I am," Leon says breathlessly. Barely keeps from admitting, I always do.

Matthew’s fingers root in his hair, then tug, sharp and unrelenting. Leon hisses through his teeth, and his hips grind up, searching for pressure.

Matthew makes a soft, considering noise. His grip relaxes for a moment, a small island of relief, before it tightens again, harder. Leon's hips shift and roll as if on command, but Matthew keeps his thigh just out of reach even as his hand drags Leon’s head closer. Leon follows unthinkingly, can't dream of doing otherwise. Lets himself be put wherever Matthew wants him.

When Matthew kisses him this time, it doesn't hurt. Instead, it's sloppy and open-mouthed, a counterpoint to the pain of Matthew's hand in his hair. It all feels so fucking good, the way everything they've done together has felt good. Heat and tension building between them, growing and growing as Matthew licks into his mouth and digs his nails into Leon's scalp.

"What do you want," Matthew says again against Leon's mouth. He sounds harsh and desperate, like he's going just as much out of his mind as Leon is.

"I," Leon pants. There's no good answer. He wants Matthew to kiss him again; he wants Matthew's mouth around his dick; he wants to come all over Matthew's stomach and thighs and chest and smear the mess into Matthew's skin. He wants Matthew to keep holding onto him, and to let Leon keep holding on in return. He wants things he isn't sure he's allowed to ask for.

Maybe Matthew doesn't need an answer. His lips smear along Leon's cheekbone, nose brushing near the corner of Leon's eye, before he yanks Leon's head back and shoves his thigh between Leon's legs. It's the exact kind of pressure Leon's greedy for, has him bucking his hips and gasping as his cock brushes against Matthew's. Matthew makes a noise too, a harsh inhale, and then they're both moving, rutting against each other, graceless and incredible.

"Leon," Matthew says, nipping at the hinge of Leon's jaw. Every time Leon squirms or shifts, he can feel the weight of Matthew's hand in his hair, as firm as iron. "You should--"

Leon can barely get a hand between their bodies. All his thoughts have gone, fled from him. The only thing he can keep hold of is Matthew's face tucked against his neck, the bruise he's sucking under Leon's ear that Leon has no chance of hiding; Matthew's fingers pulling his head in place, refusing to let go; the desire rushing through his body like a current, impossible to stop. When he finally does get a hand around his dick and Matthew's, starts jerking them off together, it shouldn't even feel good -- too loose, too fumbling. But it does, the way everything feels good when he does it with Matthew.

"C'mon," Matthew's saying, panting harshly. The skin of Leon's throat throbs in time with his scalp, blood roaring in his ears. Matthew's a long line of heat next to and over him, thigh pinning Leon's leg in place, cock dragging against Leon's own as Leon tries to maintain an uneven rhythm. His fingers are slippery with sweat and his own precome, easing the slide. He's so close to tipping over, can feel it boiling up inside him. "C'mon," Matthew says again, voice slurring as his hips hitch faster and his fingers tighten and flex, "c'mon, show me how bad you want it, Leon," and he yanks Leon's head back again, painful and incredible all at once, and Leon's falling apart before he knows it, barely aware of Matthew cursing and following him.

Seconds or hours later, Matthew releases his grip. Leon makes a soft sound of protest before he can stop himself. Before he can feel embarrassed, though, Matthew's moving in close again, nose brushing Leon's cheek. "Sorry," he whispers. "My hand was getting sore." His thumb rubs against Leon's other cheek, over and over, restless and yet soothing.

Leon hums in acknowledgement.

They should get up soon. Leon has a few days here, but that doesn't mean he has license to hang around. Matthew probably has plans, a life to get back to, and Leon should get back to his own life as well, until the next time he somehow falls back into bed with Matthew.

Leon should get up, and yet he doesn't want to move. Wants to stay here, feeling Matthew's hot breath against his temple and his thumb against his cheek. Wants to wait until Matthew makes him leave. It's selfish and unreasonable, and it is what it is. He'll just keep his eyes closed until Matthew tells him it's time to go.

He falls asleep like that, waiting for Matthew to say something.

#ask meme #ten thousand years late with starbucks but here it is!

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fannyyann · 2 days

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Ooooooh pls share more about connor joins mattdrai's honeymoon 😊

since you and @sarahs-rambles both asked for this one i'm going to give the part that i have written

It’s been years since Matthew flushed bright across his cheekbones but smiled unrepentant as Mitch giggled his way through telling Connor and Leon about how obvious Matthew’s huge, embarrassing crush on Connor was to everyone on the Knights but Matthew. It’s been almost as long since Leon realized Connor couldn’t stop thinking about it and tilted Connor’s world on its axis by admitting he couldn’t either. After all this time, Connor still can’t believe he said yes when Leon asked if he wanted to do something about it. Connor knows the space he occupies in Leon’s life and how much he enjoys Connor fitting himself into Matthew’s, too. He has nothing to be nervous about as he waits for his ride to the resort. This won’t be the first time he’s been in their bed and he knows it won’t be the last time he meets them for the back half of their vacation. He has years of experience with the way they delight in pulling him into their relationship in any way Connor will let them and he doesn’t doubt, for a second, that they want him. But no matter what Leon says, Connor’s almost entirely sure he’s justified in being shocked they want him on their fucking honeymoon.

but also some of the tweets about what happens once he gets there because i love this one sooooo much

#ask things #i could probably finish this one if i put my mind to it but alas

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simmyfrobby · 3 months

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okay fic recs because i feel like you would also go insane about these (dont feel obligated to answer this ask)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/48218191 - one day we'll only be memories swaymark goalie magic fic ft past goalie starters

https://archiveofourown.org/works/49092343/chapters/123855424 - enough for a grave flowergeno centric sea horror fic

https://archiveofourown.org/works/50791294/chapters/128308087 - never can say goodbye mcstrome centric magic au fic where connor creates a reality where hockey doesnt exist

https://archiveofourown.org/works/46283449 - shipping out to boston bergy/marchy/tyler seguin fic where tyler gets traded back to boston

https://archiveofourown.org/works/52068586/chapters/131683960 - The Bartender’s Guide to Flirting or; Cocktails are our Love Language mattdrai restaurant au fic (part of the hamilton gastropub series)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/52434448/chapters/132647365 - The Server’s Guide For Falling in Love with A Regular or; Truffle Mushroom Pappardelle and Churros: A Love Story dumomoto restaurant au fic (part of the hamilton gastropub series)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/48402787 - closer than we've ever been before pens core fic where sid and geno finally get together and kris goes bonkers over it

https://archiveofourown.org/works/51917743 - december - christmas movies pens core + erik karlsson christmas fic

https://archiveofourown.org/works/45755656/chapters/115144468 - the loneliest job on the ice shesty centric fic where hes been stuck on the ice of the rink for his whole life (unfinished)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/49560478 - geno vs sidney crosby's childhood sidgeno fic where sid gets turned into a little kid

https://archiveofourown.org/works/50690347 - vanished mcmattdrai fic where connor messes with black magic to try and win the cup

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18396548 - parenthesis all clicking shut john tavares centric fic set in a dystopian reality where robot players exist

https://archiveofourown.org/works/47750656 - tropism flowergeno hanahaki fic

HELLO????????

#thank you???????#saving this for future ref #fic rec

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puckthisshift · 2 months

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Mattdrai and 15 for the ask game please. Thank you!

things you said with too many miles between us

"So, Florida?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay."

"I know you're not chatty this time of day, but you could give me a little more."

"You want me to be pissed?"

Matthew stops. He tries to tuck his hair behind his ear even though it doesn't work, but it gives him time to put himself together and maybe stare at a sleepy Leon a little bit longer.

"No?"

"That sounds like a question." Leon laughs softly. "Matthew, I knew what I was getting into. Or... what I'd like to be getting into."

"Don't innuendo me right now."

"But I mean it." Leon stifles a yawn. "I didn't think you'd pick the team furthest away from Alberta, but I knew."

"So that's it?"

"I'm not getting in your way."

"So you're bailing?"

"You're an idiot."

But Matthew was going to be his idiot. Maybe. They never actually said the words, just in case. But that's what Leon meant. It's what they both meant. And now... It's too far.

Matthew didn't pick Florida for the distance. He picked it for the team, and he kind of picked it to be closer to his mom, but Leon probably knows that. He knows Matthew. He knows this choice wasn't about him, it was about Matthew.

But... a part of Matthew is eagerly awaiting the result of his little test. It's cruel and it's manipulative but...

"I bet Florida is a really nice place for a first date."

Leon sounds like he's already decided, and Matthew's heart is pounding in his throat because... Because.

"Anyone in particular?"

"Just some guy. Kinda cute when he's trying to play it cool."

"Only then?"

"If you're gonna angle for phone sex again, you can at least take that hideous shirt off."

For once, Matthew decides to pick his battles and take the shirt off. It's nice to get a preview of what their life together is going to be like.

"We should practice our phone sex. Practice makes perfect."

Matthew's innocent look doesn't fool Leon one bit. But it doesn't need to. Leon gets to see right through him.

#mattdrai #kairos44 #puckthisanswers

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rattkachuk · 11 days

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i'm sorry. you reblogged the sensory prompts and as i read each of them i got different ideas for mattdrai and most of them were somehow angsty. if you can, 63 with them? pls and thank you <3

ohhh i was on the verge of sleep but then this ask was too tempting to ignore 💖 it is a little angsty, i couldn't help it. but!!! here's a blurb set in a hypothetical oilers/cats scf !!

63. Indigo skies just before dawn

Usually, when they were able to share a bed, Matthew slept with his limbs thrown over Leon. An arm across his middle, a leg slotted between his thighs and the other around his hips. All askew and taking up room. Leon always rolled his eyes, but if he was honest, he loved waking in the middle of the night and curling in closer, like it was Matthew’s very arms keeping him safe and together. His own personal weighted blanket.

When he woke up this time, there was a noticeable absence of touch. Leon frowns into the dark, stretching his hand across smooth sheets to find Matthew’s side long cold. A glance at his phone tells him it’s 5AM.

He doesn’t want to get out of bed, knows the air outside his blankets will be cold and unforgiving. The concern wins out, though.

Able to scrounge a hoodie from the floor, he trudges out into the hallway. The bathroom light is on (Matthew always insisted on keeping it on at night), but everything else is dark and quiet.

“Matthew?” Leon says quietly when he finds his familiar shape in the living room, curled up with his knees to his chest on the couch closest to the window. The Edmonton city lights are twinkling stardust in his eyes, “Are you okay?”

“Yah. Sorry, I uh…just couldn’t sleep. Lots going on up here,” Matthew waves to his own head, then holds out his hand to Leon once he’s close enough.

Leon takes it, squeezes gently before sitting down beside him. He taps at Matthew’s calves til he lets his legs lay across his lap—the weight he missed waking to moments earlier.

Matthew sighs, looking back out the window. If Leon sees a shine to them, a flash of wet beneath his eyelids, he wouldn’t bring attention to it. Their emotions are so often guarded, so protected and caged, navigating this pocket of vulnerability with Matthew was something Leon was still getting used to. It gnawed a little worry right into the centre of his ribs, though.

The light in the sky is just starting to shift, deep blue and purple shadows casting onto Matthew’s face. Right here in the dark, just them, it’s easy to imagine there’s nothing greater awaiting them when the sun rises. No huge arena with great expectations, no glory of something they’d both been chasing their whole lives (only to know one of them won’t get there, and it will be the others fault). They were now intertwined in a way that Leon wasn’t sure he liked.

In fact, it made him nauseous to think about.

His life goal was right in front of him, and the only thing standing in his way was breaking the heart of the person he loved the most.

“We’ll get through this, right?” Leon asks, nose screwing up as he looks anywhere else in the room, anywhere but at Matthew beside him. If he does, he's not sure what might spill out.

Matthew’s breath is shaky, and that’s it. Leon prepares himself, braces for impact. The big crash and the limb being ripped away from his body. Instead, “Leo. Of course we will. It’s gonna suck, but we will.”

Leon clears his throat, trying to rid himself of the big lump that was forming there, “Okay. Okay. Good.”

“We have to. Cause I can’t-” Matthew trails off, brushes some of Leon’s sleep mussed hair away from his forehead, “We. Just. You know.”

I can’t imagine life without you. I love you, Leon’s brain supplies. He just nods. Rests his chin in Matthew’s palm and savours the indigo light that blankets them both, “Yah. I know.”

#mattdrai #hrpf #my writing #blurb #angst #hurt/comfort #asks #anon #writing prompts #okeyyyy its one am time for bed for reals now #feel free to send more FDGLDFG #this was funnn #i gotta find some more ask games for this blog omg

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msmargaretmurry · 11 months

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idk if you’re still doing the fanfic title ask thing but if you are, mattdrai + neutral zone

i feel like this would be a sweet, funny little story where they have their bye weeks at the same time and coincidentally wind up on vacation at the same resort. big romcommy vibes. more of a @bropunzeling style joint than my own usual style, but i would do my best 😂

obviously leon's there with connor, third-wheeling with him and lauren, since they're coming straight from the all-star game. matthew, also coming straight from the asg, is flying in to meet up with some friends — maybe brady's bye week was before the asg, but robby thomas, or some florida pals, or whoever are there. mostly i just want him to be free of familial obligations so that he can let his freak flag fly.

anyway, the all-star weekend was good for everyone involved — let's say this is set this coming year, so no one was thrilled about going to cold toronto and losing out on three extra days of real vacation, not like florida, which was basically just extra vacation, but it was fun enough. neither the pacific or the atlantic won; none of our main cast here became the main character of the weekend, but there were some fun moments. matthew and leon didn't really talk during the asw, didn't really talk during last year's asw (although, to be fair, matthew was very busy playing host last year), because the thing is, they don't really have any reason to interact now that they're not in the same division.

leon didn't think he'd miss it, but he kind of misses it. the battle of alberta isn't nearly as exciting now. matthew pissed him off a lot when they were younger, yeah, but he has always been fun to play against. the 2020 asg was the first time they ever had a real conversation and it wasn't a big thing or anything, but it was kind of a turning point in the somewhat one-sided animosity, and by the time the 2022 playoffs rolled around, they had developed this kind of almost-friendly (slightly flirty?) respect. matthew still pissed him off on the ice, yeah, but they had some laughs, too, at faceoff circles, between whistles. leon started to believe the people that said, well, if he was on your team you'd love him.

and then matthew got himself traded to florida, built himself a happy new life there, became the main character of the nhl, etc. leon's not not happy for him, but maybe, when he thinks about it in certain moods, he does prickle a little at how easily matthew left the alberta of it all behind.

meanwhile matthew figures they were all just glad to be rid of him. he's been having a great time in florida. a great enough time that it's mostly healed the sting of how his last season in calgary ended and how frustrating his career there was sometimes. there was a time in his life when he would have really, really liked for leon draisaitl to like him, but he's totally past that now.

anyway, due to a series of somewhat comedic near-misses at the airport, they don't realize they're going to the same place until they get onto the plane and they're all in first class: matthew, leon, connor, lauren. everyone's like uhhhhh ?? but matthew makes a joke, retreats to his seat behind them, puts his headphones on, doesn't make conversation except to charm the flight attendants. when they land, connor asks him where he's headed, if he wants to share their cab. matthew politely declines. he's not trying to be anti-social, he's just not trying to intrude on someone else's vacation.

but, of course, the resort isn't huge. it takes, like, a day for matthew's group to run into leon again — at the tiki bar on the beach, where leon is loitering even though lauren and connor are down by the water, because he's feeling particularly third wheel-y today. matthew had the right idea, finding a whole group to glom onto after the asg. all this to say, he's kind of relieved to see other people he kind of knows, even if it all feels a little awkward. but hey, they're on vacation. everyone can be friends here.

cue a beachy vacation montage of drinking and laughing and playing volleyball on the beach and splashing into the water — leon (and often connor and lauren — i feel like there are other wags around with matthew's group of friends) gets kind of folded into the group, and here on vacation away from all the hockey stuff, past rivalries, etc, it turns out that they just kind of click. they're both super competitive, even about dumb things like beach volleyball — but that's fun when the stakes are low, when they're on the same team. matthew's always checking in to make sure leon's having a good time if he's hanging with them while connor and lauren are off doing coupley things — he's always making sure everyone's having a good time, really, and leon starts to really get why his teammates in florida talk about him the way they do. leon is surprisingly funny and surprisingly affectionate when he doesn't want to kill you, and matthew keeps getting that old familiar feeling that he'd really like for leon to like him.

it's only like two days in when they get tipsy and hook up, which is probably a good thing, because it's so mind-bogglingly hot that if they'd held out until the end of the week and just did it once at the end, they would have both gone a little crazy not getting to do it again right away. cue all sorts of sneaking off to have all sorts of gross, sweaty vacation sex, and maybe getting a little obsessed with each other in the process.

the last night of the trip, the whole combined group of them has a big dinner on the beach and everyone just hangs out until late, long after the sun goes down. matthew and leon keep not-so-subtly making eyes at each other, trying to gauge when they're gonna sneak off to go wreck each other, but matthew is also a little in his head about this being the last day of vacation, because he's 100% sure this is gonna be a "what happened in bye week stays in bye week" situation, which is how it should be, anything else would be too complicated and make no sense, but he knows that despite knowing all that logically, it's gonna do a number on him to fly home alone after this whirlwind — whatever it is, with leon, so at some point he disappears, and after a while leon finds him sitting down by the water a little ways away, looking out at the ocean.

leon goes to sit with him. kisses his shoulder, but doesn't try to make conversation. he kind of thinks he knows what matthew's thinking, but it takes him a while to figure out what to say about it in a way that won't be too embarrassing if he's wrong. eventually he settles on, "we should do this again sometime."

matthew looks over, surprised. "you'd want to?"

leon shrugs. "i mean. it's been fun, right?"

and then they make out on the beach, and then they go back to one of their rooms and have sex, and then shower sex, and then morning sex, all of it increasingly clingy in a way they will not discuss until, like, sexcation #4 at least, but leon does kiss matthew's cheek when they part ways at the airport later, and matthew's friends tease him mercilessly about it for the rest of the day.

#ask #writing meme #matthew and leon #hockey for ts #i know it's not like. as spicy as the real enemies-to-lovers stuff #but i am lowkey really into the concept of them not getting together until after matthew's calgary era #when they've had some time and space and are also just a little more grounded and mature as people #this fic however would really just be an excuse to write a fuckload of sex #anyway i have one more of these left!! and then you will all be free from my ramblings for a while ❤

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princesstillyenna · 7 months

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Anonify the already anon: Hope you’re feeling better *hugs*

GC q(s), if they aren’t too spoilerly:

Are there any members who aren’t currently together that you believe are end game?

Is sweet bby Spence like Tbear where he’ll find his person outside of the GC?

Will Matty find his own nesting partner?

Thanks for the question Anon. I had to uh, not answer it as an ask because I wanted to delete part of it.... :D because it WAS spoilery. Maybe. idk... I. D. K it for sure alluded to a pairing that I haven't confirmed in the GCU yet... but which I might confirm in the next chapter. So, a huge part of the answer here comes down to I DON'T PLAN THIS SHIT. Like, I really really don't. If you go back and read the GC tumblr posts you can see me at the start being like "This is never ever ever going to have mattdrai in it because it is NOT a mattdrai world" and then those fuckers just fucking DID THAT TO ME Jeff and Eric were supposed to be endgame and then REAL LIFE ERIC STAAL RUINED MY PLANS which isn't even the most homophobic thing he's ever done. So I try not to be like "this person is gonna be endgame with this person" because I just can't. They will ruin it for me, I know they will. I'm trying to think if there are any pairings that it could be, and honestly, I don't think there are. We're getting progress on Clouder's romantic life in the next chapter though, I've written loads of that :D I'm a huge fan of sweet baby spence kind of, sorting himself out before he looks outwards, and so is he. He is hundo P in his healing era right now and WE STAN OK. WE FUCKING STAN. BUT... there is progress for sweet baby spence (that's his name now I don't make the rules) which I will share in terms of a snippet at the end here. Also, Matty isn't LOOKING for a nesting partner rn, because he lives with Spencer. And he likes living with Spencer and he likes that Spencer has someone to live with. It's important for both of them. If we could sit Matthew down and explain to him that romantic relationships and platonic relationships actually can function pretty much the same he'd probably realise that right now, as he is, spencer is his nesting partner and he doesn't think he's his FOREVER nesting partner, but he is for sure his right now nesting partner.

Ok, have a little snippet of our two favourite fanfic nerds chatting about writing fanfic:

Makar: But for sure if you need me to have a look over stuff, send it to me! I’m not super good at grammar and things but I can have a look.

Makar: What pairing is it?

Knighter: Oh. It’s gen.

Makar: AH AH HA HA HA HA look at me, so obsessed with shipping my teammates with each other that for a moment I lived in a world where gen fic didn’t exist.

Makar: Is it about you?

Knighter: Uh no. It’s about Sid? Which, omg feels so weird to say. Like, I’ve never spoken to him, I think he’d hate me for it.

Makar: I feel he’d mind less about gen fic than slash stuff, it’s just the slash stuff with geno that upsets him

Makar: But don’t feel bad about writing about people we know lol

Makar: I’ve literally written fic about my boyfriend railing his best friend sooooooooo

Knighter: OMG does he KNOW?

Makar: Yup.

Knighter: Can I be you when I grow up?

#group chat shit #tilly writes #gcu #snippet

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allylikethecat · 8 months

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Just wanted to say I love your MattDrai "Hurricane" fic and I'm excited for the next update!! But until then I'm happy just rereading it because I really do enjoy it a lot :)

Oh my gosh thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying Hurricane - especially with that year and a half gap between updates 🤣 It's very exciting to hear from someone that reads my Hockey RPF - I know The 1975 has kind of taken over all of my plot bunnies at the moment - but Hockey RPF was my first love and I still have SO MANY feelings about MattDrai. When I found out that Matty BROKE HIS STERNUM and then CONTINUED TO TRY AND PLAY I just sat there. I was like this is not real life, this is the plot of a fic. Then a whole bunch of very talented people wrote about it and it made me very happy to read, AND I'm now even more happy to see that he is on the mend IRL.

Anyway, I'm hoping to have an update for ya soon! The next chapter is about 75% ready for the world hopefully later this week or early next week it'll be able to get it posted. Thank you so much for reading and for your kind message!

❤️Ally

#allylikethecat #ask ally #anon ask #fanfiction #hurricane #mattdrai #hockey rpf #matthew tkachuk x leon draisaitl #matthew tkachuk rpf #leon draisaitl rpf #matthew x leon #i was also a little mad at matthew for a minute there #i am actually a die hard bruins fan #and he kind of destroyed them in the first round #so i was pissed off and avoiding hockey for a bit there #and obviously had a hard time writing a fic where he is the main character #however then he got hurt and i felt bad #he looked so sad #also i cant even iMAGINE the pain

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bropunzeling · 5 months

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i think the research u do for fics is insane... thinking deeply about the logistics of soulbond/omegaverse/cisswap mattdrai where they invoke a partner clause like... policy writing IS fanfiction actually... would u ever consider diving into the logistics of the partner clause...

hello anon! what a funny/good question haha. this got uh long so under the cut are some thoughts about that (also, like, spoilers for linger if anyone cares)

want to set the table by saying (a) im SO not a lawyer, law school VERY not for me, i know a lot of lawyers and they all terrify me (affectionate) and (b) i do not really do much research beyond my ongoing love affair with hockey reference dot com (and stuff to inform characterization ofc!) -- but i think the existence of the idea of these like, bond clauses (explicit in the omegaverse one, may come up if i write more soulbond) comes from a general question that i think about whenever im writing an au concept which is: how would this one wacky change (people have another form of sexual presentation! people can have half physical half mental all emotional connections to another person!) influence other aspects of life besides me smashing my ken dolls together?

obviously the trappings are fun - reality tv! inane pop songs! if people can get bonded do they also have weddings? how does this influence pbs documentaries. but i often think about things from a public policy perspective because it's what i know lol. and with those examples in particular, my thought process was -- here's this thing that can romantically and sexually entangle people, but there's also a physical component. bonding in omegaverse or soulbonds often changes you/has some sort of tangible impact if you’re separated -- you get bond sick, your heat cycle changes, that sort of thing. there would probably be some sort of sociopolitical movement to protect those social structures because you can't have people getting physically fucked up if they aren't allowed to follow/bring a partner with them! maybe it was a given in many cultures and laws developed to formalize social structures. maybe in the us there's some sort of landmark federal legislation to provide greater protections in the 60s and 70s. maybe the un has a body of international standards.

and in any/all of those cases, it would be something that would get bargained in something like a sports cba because in a world where these kinds of intense bonds are possible between members of your same-gender league, inEVITABLY capitalism will run up against those off ice bonds, and people would feel strongly about keeping their partner with them!

also in linger specifically, i knew i wanted the main conflict to be this sort of, matthew vs his body, matthew vs his identity as an omega/what he perceives being an omega to mean, matthew's desire for independence and control vs his desire for physical and emotional connection and leon. and when i was first trying to figure out my way into a plot (especially how to handle The Trade) and spitballing on twitter, a friend was like what if alpha/omega relationships were a really big deal legally? and the idea of bond rights sprung out of that because it was the perfect narrative tool to be like, here is this tangible economic and occupational consequence if matthew gets bonded. here is a real thing that will happen that will cause him to lose that sense of control over his own life. here is the Threat that is always sitting in the back of his mind. and even though it hopefully comes across that like, leon doesn't think of their relationship that way, he wouldn't actually force matthew to stay close if matthew didn't want to, matthew doesn't know that! he's seen bond rights used before! he doesn't want it to be him! and then that really drives the conflict of the story, because he sees holding himself apart from leon as this way to achieve not just emotional independence and self-control, but also very literally control over his own career.

so yeah idk! world building! not only does it provide color and depth but hopefully it can drive conflict and plot as well!

(also tbc there is no such partner clause in the girl!leon verse, they are just being very savvy about contracts and cap capacity and eventually gonna finangle their way to the same team through guile and playing hardball)

#ask #thanks anon sorry this is so rambling!#also #omega matthew

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