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jolynej · 3 years

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I’m Not in Love

Summary: You and Prosciutto, both determined to keep things casual, are sent out on a mission to eliminate a target, but something goes wrong and you end up hurt, forcing Prosciutto to come to terms with his feelings

A/N: I started this weeks ago, but have been so busy that I haven’t had time to properly finish it until now! I’m a very slow writer, and I struggle with creating longer fics that exceed 1k words, so this was a huge labor of love! I hope that y’all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Warnings: heavily implied nsft, violence, guns, minor character death, blood, Prosciutto being a bit of an asshole, fainting

You both told each other when you made this arrangement that it was strictly physical and that you were only doing this out of convenience and carnal desire. Sure, he’s very attractive, and you’d be lying if you hadn’t thought about lingering in bed and pretending that you’re still asleep if only to savor his body heat and the weight of his arm across your torso for a few more minutes. But you couldn’t possibly cross that line.

The lives that both you led didn’t allow for the luxury of developing and maintaining romantic — or any, really — relationships that were outside of your work. You’d lost friends and family members to the steady passage of time and lack of communication. It came with the territory of the job, and though you’d tried to justify your drifting relationships by assuring yourself that it was done to protect those you used to hold close, you knew that was just an excuse you told yourself so that you could sleep at night.

The initial adjustment to your new job was tough in that aspect, but Prosciutto, aside from being your mentor, slowly became a comfort and a confidant for your bouts of anxiety and late night regrets of leaving your old life behind. You’d joined him outside at night on the balcony of the hideout plenty of times. He would self-soothe with cigarettes, exhaling out his demons in the shape of a puff of smoke whilst he listened to you reminisce on your happier, less bloody days.

“It’s a damn shame you’re so good at you job,” he’d told you one particular night, when the orange and white city lights below cast a bright glow over his sharp features; yet simultaneously, it accentuated the dark circles under his eyes, and the shadows beneath those jagged angles of his cheekbones and jawline made him look far older than he was. Prosciutto looked beautiful as he did horrible.

You just shook your head and smirked, inquiring, “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“Kid, there were many different paths that you could’ve picked from,” He stops briefly to take a drag of his cigarette. “But this is what you opted for.” The blond flicked his cigarette and snuffed it with the toe of his oxfords, answering with, “All I’m saying is that you had your whole life ahead of you, and instead of getting a normal, decent job, you decided that this was worth the Louboutins and those diamond earrings of yours.”

“It’s good that it ended up working out for you.”

His compliments were usually pretty backhanded, but you could tell that this wasn’t just because of his usual condescending behavior. He seemed almost... sad and guilty, but then again, it could just be from the shadows on his face exaggerating his features.

“I’m glad you’re damn good at your job, too,” you remarked, leaning against the railing, savoring in the feeling of the warm, summer night wind caressing your face.

Soon, you found the touch against your cheeks was replaced by his calloused fingers and then his lips, giving birth to a routine that would continue every-so-often: you’d join him outside at night and would wake up in bed next to him in a tangle of limbs and satin sheets.

Maybe it was only natural that you and him would end up growing closer and more intimate.

—

This little arrangement between the two of you continues, and with each time you bare yourself to him, you struggle with your developing feelings. After you had slept together that first night — before you had a real chance to give yourself a proper chance to evaluate your own feelings — he assured you that the prior night’s events had meant nothing to him, that it was a mistake. He apologized, confessing that the rendezvous had stemmed from a place of pent up arousal and convenience and that it wouldn’t happen again.

That’s what he’d said the second, and third, time too. But by the fourth time, you’d both decided to become ‘coworkers with benefits’ as you’d so eloquently put it. It’s purely out of physical need and mutual trust and nothing else. There’s no time for romance.

—

The following spring, you were sent out together to a job on the coast, and were given a shared room at a hotel near the warehouse where your target was supposedly going to be tonight. The assignment had worked in your favor, you’d both arrive mid-morning, have time to scout out the location, go back to the room for a quick fuck, then proceed to the location, clean up, and spend the night between the sheets until you both passed out from sheer exhaustion.

“The target should be on location this evening,” he informs you casually as he’s sliding on his trousers, as if he hadn’t just fucked you into the mattress. He gives his watch a quick glance before speaking again. “Which gives us approximately an hour before we need to head out.”

You nod, reaching for your clothes — his hand stops you, grasping your wrist. “Let me clean you up first,” he says, briefly locking eyes with you, before averting his gaze just as quickly. “If you’re going out you should at least be comfortable.”

While Prosciutto walks off to the bathroom to retrieve a glass of water and a washcloth, you look down at your naked body. Your combined releases dribble down your thighs, and you’re suddenly hyperaware of the sticky, wet sensation on your lower body.

He’s back approximately a minute later, the glass is set upon the nightstand, and he’s kneeling, still shirtless, at your feet with the wet washcloth in hand. He cleans you up in relative silence, and the intimacy and vulnerability in this situation is not lost on either of you. It hangs around like a heavy fog that both of you desperately try to ignore, hoping that it’ll dissipate.

Under different circumstances, you’d love to be able to cradle his chin in your hand and confess every single romantic thought that you’d ever held for him, and in turn, he’d press tender kisses up your thighs, and trade the rag for his tongue, cleaning you up with a few slow licks. Instead, you give him a curt, ‘thank you’ and get dressed.

Your little trysts were littered with subtle, more domestic moments like this one where you wanted to push the boundary between what is and isn’t appropriate when you’re in a friends-with-benefits situation with your coworker. Even without the romance that you so desperately craved, there was still a strong sense of intimacy and familiarity with each ‘Was I too rough?’ or ‘You can sleep in here tonight’ that could only stem from a certain level of trust and comfort.

The rest of the time leading up to your assignment was spent going over your plan of attack and working out any loose ends or confusion on either side, and as he spoke, you couldn’t help but allow your eyes to travel down to his plush lips and the exposed patch of skin from his half-buttoned blouse that, when he shifted at a certain angle, allowed for you to catch a glimpse of a dark red bruise where your lips had been.

You were passing the threshold, the imaginary line. You’d stepped on it, gotten it stuck to your feet, and try as you may to deny its presence and scrub it clean from your skin — you could scrub it raw, until you bled — it wasn’t something you could erase.

As he’s stepping out of the hotel room, you glance back to ask him if he’s ready, but you’re caught off guard by the buttons of his shirt. They’re all closed completely save for a lone button rendering the bruise no longer visible. Inquisitively, the blond quirks up an eyebrow, silently asking if there’s a problem.

“I’m just ready to get this over with,” you sigh, matching your stride with his as you both exit the hotel and journey to the warehouse.

The target doesn’t show as planned, much to your and Prosciutto's dismay and annoyance. You had both searched the large building and its surroundings as thoroughly as possible but still the target hasn’t made an appearance. There aren’t even any hidden clues as to where he’s run off to. As pissed as you both felt in that moment — you were cursing to yourself and your partner was leaning against a metal structure with a cigarette in the corner of his mouth — Risotto was going to be absolutely furious.

Unlike most contracts where you were paid after the deed or half before and half after, the client had paid a hefty sum up front and with a dark leer he was insistent that the job be completed as soon as possible. Something deep within you knew that he would not be the type of man whose bad side you’d like to be on.

Defeated and angry, you both decided to bite the bullet and head back to the hotel to inform your superior of the unfortunate situation. Just outside of the hotel, Prosciutto glances over at a payphone on the street corner.

“Go on inside and shower and eat, kid, I’ll talk to Risotto.”

“Are you sure? We can speak to him together, or I can just sp—“ He cut you off with a hand patting your cheek, gently thumbing your skin. He was stressed and so were you.

“Don’t make me change my mind,” he manages a tiny half-smile. “I’ve got it.”

Yeah, you are stressed as all hell, but at least you didn’t have to be at the receiving end of Risotto’s wrath — for tonight anyway. Thinking about Prosciutto opting to do so in your stead and acting out of concern for you sends a cacophony of butterflies fluttering around in your stomach. He has always looked out for you ever since you’d joined, but this was something more than just him looking out for a junior member of his team. There was no way that he’d touch Formaggio or even Pesci like that, with such a pure tenderness that leaves your skin tingling from where his fingers were.

Making your way up the stairs to your shared room, the sensation of butterflies immediately flees from your stomach and instead, an eerie, insidious feeling begins to tiptoe up your spine, and you get the sense that something is very, very wrong.

One of the hall lights has gone out, and the other is flickering in random spasms as it emits a faint buzz. With each step towards your door, the broken light fixture seems to dim and buzz louder until it makes one final loud screech and dies completely the moment that you touch the door handle, and as soon as your fingers gripped the metal handle, an overpowering jolt of electricity fizzles throughout your entire body, sending you doubling over in pain, desperately croaking out for your stand as you fall to the dingy carpet.

The world around you seemed to morph into blackness and little snippets of sounds — you weren’t sure if you were still awake or if you’d lost consciousness — but you clung onto what you could decipher to the best of your ability. Static, the plodding footfall of someone running on carpet with urgency, the unmistakable click of a gun, a heavy thud, then silence.

You crane your head and espy a familiar pair of oxfords, and with a sigh of relief you feel your eyes grow heavy.

—

You come-to in the backseat of a car, and if it weren’t for the intensity of the events before you passed out, you would’ve happily shut your eyes to the steady thrum of the car speeding down the road. A bubble of panic rises up your throat, throwing your senses in overdrive as you carefully assess your surroundings. You find that a suit jacket has been draped over you like a makeshift blanket, and the familiar scent of cologne, tobacco, and cigarette-smoke is an instant relief.

Looking up, you find Prosciutto is in the driver’s seat of the car with a plain, white tank top in the place of his button-up. The bones of his knuckles are prominent due to the strain and force of his grip on the steering wheel, and they’re dotted with specks of red that extend up to his forearms.

There’s an evident scowl on his lips, which are scabbed and bloody from worrying teeth marks and not from — what you can safely assume given the sound you’d heard earlier — a gunshot to the man that had been in your hotel room.

“The target was dealt with,” he says upon seeing you awake, and he disguises it with a cough, but his entire face softens with a relieved sigh. The visible tension in his bulging veins on his forearms eases along with the death-grip that he has on the steering wheel; Prosciutto settles one hand on his thigh, splaying his fingers out on the fabric of his trousers, feeling for something in his pocket — cigarettes most likely. He’s still antsy and tense, alternating between his hands on the wheel to search his other pocket.

You have a myriad of questions wreaking havoc on your brain, which is still a bit fuzzy from the electricity and has brought on a dull headache. With the blazer clenched tightly to your chest, you fiddle around until you find a pack of his smokes and pull them out, holding them in the air with a dopey, lopsided grin that says ‘lookee here!’. It earns a playful eye roll and a smirk from Prosciutto who brings his hand back to take them from you.

When you offer the box up, your fingers brush, and you swear that he leaves his hand extended towards you a moment longer than necessary. The sensation sends a full-body chill through your veins.

“Put the coat on, kid, I don’t want you freezing up and getting sick in the car.” He’s staring straight out at the road, but you know the sentiment is there, beneath the layer of sweat and blood there’s worry. “Go back to sleep,” he orders in that gravelly, stern but caring tone of his that he uses on you when he gives you orders, and only you. In a way, it’s not that much different from how he talks in bed, and the familiarity has you warm all over. God, you’re in love with this man.

“I’ll wake you up in about an or two, capisce?”

—

You’re awoken by Prosciutto opening the door of the backseat and calling your name. You can barely see him, he’s almost a dark, looming figure in the night. The sky in the countryside is worlds away from the city skyline that you’re accustomed to. Behind him, there’s a sea of twinkling stars, and the bright crescent moon hangs proudly behind his head like a half-halo, and he appears to you like a fallen angel, still clinging on desperately to something good and holy that someone like him does not deserve. In his right hand, he holds a shovel, and his arms and face and tank top are caked in the weight of his sins, blood and dirt and sweat; you surmise that the closer you get to him, the less the moon resembles a halo and moreso a pair of horns. Again, the night is playing tricks on you.

“I’ve buried the remains,” he explains. “I decided it would be easiest to just take care of it myself until we can get you checked out. We don’t know the full extent of the damage that you’ve received or what effects that my stand could have on you in this state.” It’s a poor excuse, and you both know it, but it’s easier for him to lie to you when his facial expressions are harder to see.

Still, you don’t know if it’s from the adrenaline in your blood, your feelings for him, or some leftover electricity that’s done something to your brain, but you decide to call him out.

Sitting upright, you say, “I still could’ve helped, Prosci, otherwise there would be no point for me to come on this mission with you. You’ve done more than enough to help me, and I… I really appreciate everything that you’ve done to help me, but I have to work to earn my share of the payment!

“I can’t just lie back and let you treat me like some doll or damsel in distress!” You spout, wadding up his blazer and tossing it at him. He catches it with a growl, and the shovel clatters to the ground with a resounding clang.

He’s crawling across the backseat, hovering over you like a mangy beast; truthfully, you don’t think that you’ve ever seen him look so unhinged and disheveled. His scent bears no resemblance to the comforting aroma of his suit-jacket, and instead, he emits a pungent odor of grime and sweat, evident by the damp, dirty stray pieces of hair that encircle his face and the thin layer of earth that stains his skin with splotches of gray and brown. He looks like he can hurt you, and for a second you make the mistake of thinking that he will.

“Kid, you need to listen to me! I—“ he huffs, but upon seeing your face up close, all scared and doe-like, he kisses you. It’s emotional and hurried and needy and far unlike any previous kiss that you’d shared. It’s not spurred on by wanting or lust but by love and a great fear of loss.

“I love you,” he whispers like a gasp when he pulls apart from you. “I love you,” he says once more, softer, sweeter. “I love you.”

In his eyes, you can see every word that he leaves unsaid, his confession of how afraid he was that he’d never see you again, how he panicked and saw red and shot the man on sight, how he carried you to the car with a metaphorical knife stabbing at his heart, and how he almost cried from relief when he saw you open your eyes.

“I love you, too,” you say back, smiling, kissing him again with that same passion as before.

#prosciutto #prosciutto x reader #jjba x reader #la squadra x reader #tumblr formats things so weirdly!#jjba #my fics

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onlyhereforangst · 3 years

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I think Emily made the decision last minute to leave. One thing I noticed is that Katrina laws character was introduced as a mother with a stay at home husband in all the reports in March. Originally she was cast to replace Maria Bello so she did not need to be a potential love match for Torres. I think in this time from when her character was first introduced in the press(March) to when she stepped foot on set Emily made the decision to leave.This is why the writing team changed the premise of Jessica Knight to form a replacement for the Ellick ship because it was at this time they knew it wouldn't be happening anymore as Emily would be leaving. Thus, they decided to make Jessica knight a possible love match for Torres to replace the void from Ellick. It seems to be too much of a coincidence and also her first episode her and Torres were very flirty. Also, Wilmer did a ton of interviews about the finale saying grab your tissues and this is the closest to a friendship or a relationship they are ever going to have so he hinted prior to the finale that the Ellick ship was doomed. It is driving me mad that we had no clear picture of what their relationship was after the elevator talk. I think they got together as Ellie said 'I never meant for us to happen' but then she felt guilty because she knew she was leaving and 'blew him off' as he said without reason. That seems to be the most logical assumption. What do you think?

ok so i've let this sit for two weeks, i apologize. i still have a hard time digging into this stuff specifically because i like to live in denial that Emily isn't returning. i can bargain the remainder of the finale away if i forget that Emily isn't coming back. but i'm having a particularly depressive day in regards to her exit so why the hell not twist the knife a little harder and clear out my inbox 🙃 imma put it under the cut though for aesthetically-appeasing dash purposes and long posts

first- i 100% agree that Emily's decision to leave was a last minute *announcement* and i clarify that because i have to genuinely believe that Emily wouldn't take this decision lightly knowing her fanbase. i of course could be wrong about that, but even if i come off as a bitch to people i do like to give people the benefit of the doubt, always. so while I do think Emily didn't come into this decision willy-nilly (and i'm not going to speculate on her reasons for leaving- it's her own life she can choose to live it however she pleases), it does feel as if she didn't announce it to the show until, IMO after they wrapped all filming.

the finale was certainly more akin to a multi-episode arc for a character and plotline, not a final exit episode. Wilmer boasted great cliffhangers and a tear-filled episode because yes, they thought Ellie was ditching and betraying the team- that's heavy angst stuff! And yes we got a taste of ellick being *real* and even got a kiss- of course in his interviews he thought this was going to be good stuff for the fans. all the actors (Wilmer especially though) and the main social media accounts of the show did a shit-ton of promotion for the episodes leading up to the finale and then after 18x15 aired, the week prior everyone and i mean everyone went radio silent. i'm sorry but who THE FUCK does that when you are supposedly airing this big action-filled, cliffhanger, "true" finale that we deserved because s17 didn't get to have one??? NO ONE. the answer is no one. shows that want ratings (aka all shows, it’s a business) promote their fucking finale. they fucking do. my theory? in between that last week, Emily announced to the cast/crew/EPs that she wouldn’t be returning for s19. and then that leaves them with a WTF finale because that’s a shitty write off for a character who spent 8 years on the show. and now, suddenly, the show would prefer as little as viewership as possible to help minimize the backlash. Wilmer does absolutely zero promotion, zero farewell to his co-actor and good friend of 5 years. so yeah, i think her last minute exit was a last minute announcement and it had everyone reeling, understandably. hopefully one day we’ll get answers on the why because between me and you- that’s what absolutely fucking destroys me. for both the actress and the character; not knowing why Ellie did what she did and feeling a little betrayed Emily left and we got so little why and acknowledgement and heads up for it.

anyways, so i don’t think Wilmer was lying in those interviews, i think he was truly excited about the arc and what that meant for their characters. he could have been just as blindsided with her announcement as we were 🥺

as for Katrina Law’s character- that is a little intriguing because you’re right, when she was initially introduced it was as a married woman with an infant child and stay at home husband. zero of this has been mentioned and Katrina Law herself has taken to twitter with Diona to support a Kasie/Jessica ship. so i’m not sure what her background is, if they writers changed it at all or what. BUT i don’t see them putting Jessica and Nick together. I actually didn’t see those scenes as them flirting at all- more of falling into step as good pals, very reminiscent of Ziva and Nick’s relationship frankly. If Emily’s announcement of her leaving truly was last minute, to everyone including the show, I don’t see the writers and EPs putting them together. I see them scrambling to fix their destroyed cliffhanger arc they had teed up and likely writing a desolate Nick or a vengeful swan Nick. I do not see them giving him a new love interest *unless* they decide to go 2 for 2 with character assassinations and have him regress so far and erase all his growth. but you know who the fuck knows with this shit show 🥲🥲

ok and finally ahaha this is why i did a cut. can y’all imagine what will happen if/when i ever do a wwr? 😅 i’m in the boat that they were *not* a thing, ever. i’m in the boat that that was their first kiss. and i’ll probably break this down more at a later date, TBD because when the fuck will i be strong enough to rewatch the entire finale i almost cried this morning watching 13x10. BUT her “i didn’t mean for us to happen” to me was more of a i didn’t mean for us to slowly fall in love and go from partners to best friends to almost lovers. because i think they both acknowledged their feelings during The Talk™️ but i feel like they both mutually agreed that they needed to take it slow or weren’t sure how to take that next step and they sort of tabled the discussion and stalled in their relationship. then, (since i’m in the camp that Ellie did none of this fully willingly, and instead Odette is holding something over her) Ellie “blew him off” after Odette decided it was now (”now...wasn’t my choice” aka i think Odette got worried about Ellie having strings attached and weaknesses) by saying they should definitely take it slow because of the nature of their jobs (”if we had a normal 9-5″...”i get that, i do”). i think Nick accepted that excuse at the time and then when the pieces clicked at the end of the finale, he realized this whole stupid ass mission was the reason she tried to slow them down/push him away. all that to say, i’m still believing that was their first kiss until Ellie turns up pregnant with Nick’s kid because WHY NOT REUSE OLD STORYLINES WHY THE FUCK NOT WE’VE ALREADY COME THIS FAR.

#ellick #if you can tell #i'm going through shit today #is it too early to down a bottle of wine #asking for a friend #once again sorry for letting this sit i needed time to actually write this all out #ask #anonymous

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vanillann · 3 years

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the 1994 battle of the performers (luke patterson x f.reader)

i’m so glad y’all liked this because i loved writing it

word count: 2.7k

the 1994 battle of the performers masterlist

Chapter 1: Milo’s

“Hi, is this the Peters residents?”

Whoever picked up the phone shushed the person that was yelling in the background, missing the reserver as I could hear everything.

“Who’s asking?” The voice was rough and it reminded me of my step-mother and her never-ending cigarette problem.

“I know your son, I was wondering if he was home because I have something of his,” I looked to the well planned out history notes that I held tightly in my hand.

I know I could have, no should have, just waited for Monday to return the papers but I couldn’t stop thinking about yesterday in the gym and that stupid video.

Was I actually decent? I knew I wasn’t the same level I was at one point but I had a chance and according to the four, she wasn’t bad.

“He’s not here, that boy, he’s probably at that Bobby’s boy house,” I nodded even if they couldn’t hear me, understanding this nasty language more than I wish.

“Do you know their address?”

“Yeah yeah, 458 Sunset Road,” I opened my mouth, ready to thank the lady but the phone was hung up quickly and I rolled my eyes. I was thankful that my parents with ahead and divorce when things started getting bad.

I grabbed the papers a little tighter in my hands, realizing I lived a block or so from the house in question and left the keys on my bedside table. No need to waste gas for some notes that I didn’t even need to drop off. I walked down the carpet stairs of my house and walked out the front door.

As soon as I made it from the door I felt the sun run over my skin, calming to my overthinking mind as I grabbed the railing, careful not to make my knee worse.

Did they delete the video as I asked?

Was this stupid?

I knew how desperate they were, it could have been all a plan to get me a part of the team because if I trusted them then some other dancers might. I was respected in the dance community and I knew the numbers to call.

I watched my feet, skipping each crack in the pavement as I did so for something for my brain to focus on.

Would they really help me face this fear?

Were they just selfish?

As I turned down one of the roads I could hear a faint sound of loud music drift over the streets, kids drawing on the road with chalk and bobbing their head.

I couldn’t believe the difference in the two sides of the neighbors, how proper and elegant my side was compared to the dancing kids, and the loud music. I spotted a small lemonade stand across from the house I was heading for.

A light smile graced my lips, amazed at the little community the little space had. It wasn’t just doctors and lawyers packed together trying to be better than the next yard.

I stopped at the driveway for the house, looking over the black roof and the white exterior of the house. Would it be weird just showing up?

We weren’t friends, no problem between me and the four but still, I definitely shouldn’t know where one lives and the only reason I knew that was from a phone call with the Peters, which I got from the phone book.

Maybe this was weird, very very weird. I panicked when I heard some sort of door open, the loud boyish laugh drifting from wherever to my spot at the end of the driveway.

“That might be one of our best works,” the happy voice was nice, the atmosphere obviously better than yesterday.

I panicked, turning around while my sweaty hands gripped the notes in my hand tightly.

“(Y/N)?”

I closed my eyes, taking a small breath in and turning back to the four boys I knew were looking at me widely.

“Hi,” I nodded, looking at each of their confused faces. I knew this would be weird.

“I have Reggie’s notes,” I held them out to the boy who was clad in a leather jacket as he gave a soft smile.

“Thanks, how’d you know I’d be here?”

I was thankful his voice was disgusted and angry but nice and gentle, just what I needed right now.

“Found you in the phone book,” I nodded, wondering if I should apologize for the household, but I backed off when I realized it wasn’t my place.

“You called my parents?”

I watched his shoulders drop, his face psychically panicking as he looked back to his friends for some help.

“Yeah, they seemed Uhm, nice?”

Reggie watched me for a few seconds while I rocked back and forth on my beat-up tennis shoes, doing my best not to combust at the sight.

“Oh, Uhm yeah,” he nodded, a mutual agreement made with each other's eyes not to mention any farther.

“Is that all?”

Patterson, or Luke, stood behind Reggie obviously trying to protect the boy from whatever I might say next.

“No,” I nodded, doing my best to come off as friend and not foe but it felt too late from that as Luke gave a grumpy smile.

“Bye bye then,” Luke waved, keeping Reggie close to his side. Reggie looked up at Luke, begging him to stop his anger to me.

I turned around, doing my best to run away for the four without making myself look more like an idiot, but I’ve never been great about that with boys.

“Do you have the video?”

Shut up (Y/N)!

“Uhm, yeah,” Bobby cut in, his voice calm as if not to scare me or make me mad. I didn’t know which but I understood both sides.

“Can I see it?” I turned back around this time, taking in some heavy breaths as I prepared for faces that looked like they would hurt me, but it never came.

Reggie looked to be bouncing on his heels as his smile grew ten times the size, Alex looked to be taking breaths that were calming his nerves, Bobby nodding his head at me with a smirk, and Luke looked to bite his bottom lip trying to hide his smile.

“Yeah, no totally,” Luke looked at his other bandmates, smirking as he walked past me. I was about to say something, pointing over at the house where they had just left from.

“We have to get Milo’s first,” Luke called over his shoulder, pointing over at the lemonade stand that I noticed once I turned the block.

“Milo’s?” I watched the other three follow Luke, each turning back to me while waving their arms.

“You’ll never have anything better,” Alex called over his shoulder, smiling once the little boy came running from the house. He almost came alive at the sight of the boys standing in front of his stand, the boy couldn’t be more than 8.

I slowly walked across the street, looking to both sides twice before jogging to join the boys that seemed to smile as the little boy made it down his stair railing and skipped to the older ones.

“Morning boys,” he spoke with a small lisp and seemed to be missing a tooth but his smile would have lit up a room in the entire state.

“Morning Milo,” Luke responded, leaning against the stand before it shook slightly and he hurriedly pulled away.

“Who’s that?”

He didn’t seem bothered by my presence, just curious about it. I was wondering why I never knew about what went on around the block from my house, but that didn’t matter as Reggie grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the front.

“A friend from school, her name (Y/N),” Bobby introduces me, the boy smiling as he holds his hand out for a handshake. I reached out, placing my hand in his and he gave a firm shake. I was shocked at his confidence, making me miss my own.

“I’m Milo, Sunset Road official lemonade and bakery stand,” his voice made a smile grace my lips, watching as he left a cute little kiss on my knuckle, earning a laugh from the other boys.

“Okay loverboy, we demand service,” Luke jokily slammed his hand on the table of the stand, pulling the sweater on my arm so he rested back to my side.

“Coming up!”

The boy dived behind the stand, pulling out a cheap bucket he got from a local shop with four mason jars inside. Once he pulled them out I noticed that each one had glitter and colored paper. Each had different drawings and little cut-outs.

I reached from one, Luke trying to grab my arm but I was already spinning it around, in horrible handwritten was the name “LUKE” in all capital letters.

“Oh wow,” I smiled at the horrible handwritten and the little microphone that definitely didn’t look like a microphone. The blue and red glitter made the sight even better.

“They made them once they became regular after babysitting me one night,” Milo cut in, holding up a finger to run back in the house, probably to grab the lemonade.

I smiled turning around and smiling at the others around us. Bobby looked as embarrassed but Alex was simply laughing at the others and Reggie looked proud.

“I came to watch my tape but this might be better,” I tried to turn my laugh into a cough since I still wasn’t that close with the boys.

“Hush,” Luke bumped my shoulder. Milo's wide laugh brought me back to the boy as he held a plain mason jar in his hand.

I couldn’t believe myself as I watched my feet glide across the floor, for the first time in a long time. I definitely wasn’t as good as I once was, which made me upset me but I still wasn’t half that bad.

“See! We told you,” Luke had made sure to sit close beside me on the couch of what seemed to be their studio. He wanted to watch how I reacted, thinking I would change my mind.

I couldn’t help but think I would, I mean I came here on a Saturday for a reason and it wasn’t the return notes.

“I’m not as good as I was, but I’m not bad,” I kept watching, smiling before I watched myself spin. My body falling to the floor as it did all those months ago, the horror-filled me up before Alex ripped the video camera from my grip.

“That’s not important,” he nervously laughed, hiding the camera behind his back but I could still hear their panicked voice from yesterday still.

“Because it will never happen again,” Reggie cut in, I could already tell he was optimistic for the four.

“But it could and one more bad fall and I might not walk again.”

I knew how dramatic I sounded but it seemed the only way to get through their skulls. I rolled my eyes, standing up from the couch, not even stopping as I walked to the open doors.

“I don’t know why I even came, I’ll see you guys around,” I waved over my shoulder, letting the video that I would hope have given me hope finally stop playing behind the blonde boys back.

“You came because you miss it.”

I shouldn’t have thought over Luke’s words, he just wanted to win the Battle of the Performers, but man it struck a deep chord. He took me rooted at the door as a sign to continue.

“You miss dancing and if I was as good as you I would be too,” Luke's voice grew closer and closer as he walked closer to my frozen figure.

“I have a question for you,” I spun on my heel, stepping back slightly when I realized how close he was. I could smell the scent of sugar and musk, which was a nice change to the overbearing scents I was used to.

“Shoot!”

“What if you broke your wrist, snapping it just the right way that you could never bend it around the neck of your guitar the same ever again, you couldn’t slide your fingers over the frets the same, would you still play?”

I knew how harsh I sounded, but the truth was harsher because that is exactly what happened to me. I tried a lift cause I was bored during practice and now my dreams were practically gone, so I knew harsh was the only way he’d see it.

“Yes, because music is more than just being good. Sure, it suck but I could still feel it and love it, why’d give up something that special!” He spoke wildly with his hands, obviously not realizing how close we are as he stepped closer.

“But watching someone else dance and myself dancing are two different things,” I spoke, trying to find a flaw in his logic but his point was clear.

Just cause I wouldn’t be as good doesn’t mean I’ll never be good again.

“But you dancing is still possible, we have video evidence,” at that Alex held up the video, pressing play as I watched myself calming walk into the gym, my hands close to my chest as I looked around the room.

“Join us in the Battle of the Performers and maybe you’ll feel it again, let two dreamers chase their dreams together,” he spoke happily, seemingly happy with his words.

“You listen to way too much John Lennon,” I spoke, shaking my head, turning around, and finally leaving the studio. I felt tears threatened to fall down my cheek but knew better than to cry with a chance of getting caught.

As I jogged down the long driveway I was on, the sign I had been asking myself since the fall. Milo stood in his front yard, talking with an older man I had seen work at a bakery a town or two over.

He seemed to have a children's cookbook in his hand, pointing over different things as Milo smiled and took notes in a black and white notebook. Maybe it was stupid to use this as my sign, their were plenty of others that made more sense, but after listening to little 7, soon to be 8, year old, Milo go on and on about how he was going to be a baker even if he wasn’t great at it now.

Because he liked it, that was all. He was bad, according to Bobby he almost burned his house down, but he liked baking so who was to stop him? The only person that Milo let stop him was his mother, but he said that’s only because he can’t reach the top shelves.

I turned around, my confidence that I had missed washing over me in a wave of adrenaline and I didn’t mind it, I missed it.

The doors to the studio were still open and I could hear much talk, maybe tuning but nothing more. I made my way to the door, standing in the center of the doorway while looking over each boy.

These boys played because they liked it, they just happened to be good.

“Need something?”

People didn’t have to be good at something to like it.

“Is she okay?”

And maybe they don’t win the competition, but you can’t win something you don’t try.

“Is she having a stroke?”

I took shaky breaths, looking at each boy's confused face.

“How long till we bomb this battle?”

My words were simple but the smiles that broke across each face were way more complex and beautiful.

“She came thought!” Bobby yelled, jumping up and down as Alex laughed, pulling his friends into a tight hug.

“Sunset Curve gonna win, Sunset Curve gonna win,” Reggie sang in a loud boom, smiling as he did a funny little dance with some sort of imaginary rope.

Luke pushed himself from the couch, running over and wrapping his arms around the back of my head. My two hands rested on his biceps, smiling at the vibe that had busted the room wide open.

“Look’s like you’ll need your own cup at Milo’s with how often you’ll be here.”

the 1994 battle of the performers taglist:

@gia-kerks @notwonder-woman @poisoned-girl @phantompogues @dovesgrangers

#luke patterson x y/n #luke patterson x reader #luke patterson #reggie peters #alex mercer #julie monlina #julie and the phantoms #jatp x reader

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kpoppwriter · 4 years

Text

JoshH95

Anon asked: could you do viewer!joshua watching camgirl!y/n smut

Genre: smut (Richboy!Joshua x Camgirl!Reader)

Words: 749

Warnings: mutual masturbation

a/n: I’m still very much in my Camboy!SVT feels so like...y’all should send more asks because I love them so much. Y’all are creative. This is also loosely based on an ask I answered also apologies for the shitty username I came up with lmao

Joshua scrolled though the pages and pages of live cams. There were many handsome boys and pretty girls displaying their bodies for everyone to see but he didn’t care for any of them. He was searching for you, his favorite camgirl. The corner of his lips curled up when he saw you waiting on your bed. He clicked on the thumbnail, pulling up your stream.

“I was thinking that- oh, hello Joshua~” you sent the camera a little flirty wave meant just for him, “How’s my favorite donator?”

JoshH95: I’m good baby. How’re you?

“I’m good! I finally got the lingerie you sent,” you got up on your knees, “Doesn’t it look pretty?”

Joshua admired how the pink fabric of the underwear hugged your hips and the lace trim of the bra revealed just enough skin. Like it was purposely teasing him. The baby pink color just made you look so cute despite you being in only your undergarments.

*Cha-ching!*

“You must like it a lot since you’re donating already,” you giggled

JoshH95: It looks so pretty on you

“I think so too. You know just what to get me~”

You sat back down on the bed extending your legs out in front of you. You glanced at the comments, partly to see what your views were saying but also to see if Joshua would say something.

“Ya know, I got asked something the other day and I think now’s a good time to answer that question.”

You leaned back resting on your elbows. You slowly slid your legs open, your knees bent and feet now firmly planted on the bed.

“Someone asked me if I masturbate when I’m not streaming and if I do, what do I think about. I thought I’d give you all a taste of what I think about when I’m on my own.”

Your hand traveled down your body. You stopped at the apex of your thighs, teasing yourself ever so slightly. Your touches were delicate over your skin, making goosebumps appear. You finally slipped your hand down to your clothed core rubbing small circles with barely any pressure. You let out a small sigh.

*Cha-ching!*

Joshua watched your hand move so slowly against the pink fabric. Your wetness began to show up on the thin material. He groaned quietly as he moved his own hand to palm himself through his boxers.

“I see someone’s enjoying the show as usual,” you teased

Your head fell back, a while leaving your lips as you applied a bit more pressure to your core. Hearing your noises sent a shockwave through Joshua’s body going straight to his dick. His hand slipped past the waistband of his boxers to fist around his cock.

“Whenever I touch myself, I like to pretend it’s not my hand but someone else’s,” you hummed, “lately I’ve been thinking about it being Joshua’s hand.”

Joshua’s ears perked up at the mention of his name. He stared at you as your hand slipped past your waistband. You let out a soft moan as you continued rubbing circles. That familiar heat started building up in both you and Joshua.

*Cha-ching!*

JoshH95: What else do you think of?

You smirked as you read the comment, your mind getting clouded with lustful thoughts of the male.

“I think about how badly I wish it was you touching me and it was your fingers making me feel good,” you moaned breathily, “I think about how badly I want to feel you.”

You fingers quickened their pace as you felt your orgasm building. Joshua pumped his cock in time with your movements. The sinful wishes that fell from your lips only edged him on more. You continued to spout thought after thought of Joshua. Your hips bucked into your touch. Joshua groaned as he watched you fall apart before his eyes, his name being the only thing that you could say. Euphoria swept over your body making you feel hot. Your legs trembled as your orgasm rushed over you. Joshua grunted as he came, his seed spilling onto his hand. He breathed heavily watching as you did the same. You let out one more groan as you looked up at the camera with a small smile.

*Cha-ching!*

“Thank you Joshua~” you giggled breathily

JoshH95: Of course kitten

JoshH95: Are you signing off for the night?

“Oh no,” you smirked, “I’m not done talking about what I think about when I get off but now I’d rather show then tell.”

#kpop #kpop writing blog #kpop blog #seventeen #seventeen headcanon #seventeen headcanons #seventeen reactions #seventeen reaction #seventeen scenarios #seventeen scenario #seventeen x reader #seventeen x you #seventeen au #seventeen smut #cam girl au #richboy!seventeen #richboy seventeen #seventeen joshua #seventeen jisoo

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rpbetter · 3 years

Note

I genuinely don’t think the problem is as deep as people are seeing it as, with that whole resource blog and vent blog drama. I was there when it began, and it started because someone sent a submission that was recognizable enough to trace to that resource blog, who ended up calling themself out, and then a bunch of people dogpiling them, and then it turned into the 2021 edition of good old tumblr wank, mocking sockpuppets included. I essentially watched a bunch of 30 year olds call each other doodooheads like a couple kids on the playground, but at least kids forgive and forget after a day or two.

That’s probably why they’re avoiding this situation like the plague. The first time a submission went through about that resource blog, it made people feud like the Montagues and Capulets. Obviously they don’t wanna risk fueling that type of drama again. If it’s true that they aren’t letting these submissions through and it isn’t tied to reasons like tumblr eating the ask, then it’s probably because they don’t wanna be involved in this drama anymore. And I don’t blame them, because honestly, even as an observer I’m tired of seeing it, I can’t imagine how exhausting it must be for y’all who are actually involved. Geez. Who even has the energy for this much drama anyway? I’m tired just getting outta bed.

Sorry, Anon, I really had to!

Anyway, I'm sorry it took forever to get to your message, not only did I need a break from this, I needed to space out things related to it, it had taken over the blog. I appreciate that, despite how over it all you are, you were polite about how you feel. I know that is not always easy, and I do really appreciate it!

I hope that you don't feel I am being hostile to you about anything I say, it isn't meant that way. Differences of opinion, when not expressed hatefully, are always welcome here. I'm just going to try to express some of this situation from another perspective, and full disclosure, I'm pretty pissed off about it whether or not I actively want to be. This did impact my hobby, it did hurt people I care about, and I cannot believe such an unnecessary act lead to shit that is still going on.

On the first point...most things aren't as deep as we're given to feel they are after we've been made to feel incredibly unsafe, targeted, repeatedly let down and lied to, and experienced an astronomical level of sketchy behavior out of muns in a position that one is supposed to have some minor level of responsibility (as well as decent comportment) within. So, maybe it isn't that deep, but at this point, I very much cannot blame people for their concerns and suspicions.

And it was incredibly sketchy. CoaR, I'm just going to say it, everyone knows of which blog we're speaking at this point, did all of the following, breaking their own rules for moderation repeatedly:

allowed an actual, openly stated, callout blog to interact with their posts

allowed a meme blog to use their posts for the point of off-blog drama mongering, callouts, and outing themselves

would not moderate this situation as stated in their rules, when they've a bit of nasty record in the not too distant past of mass-blocking for far less and far more questionable reasons

did bother to post about how they weren't getting involved, as though this did not break multiple rules and absolutely is one's problem if it is your vent blog someone is using to create and foster bullying - simply giving the bizarre statement that blocking won't help anyone, when that isn't the point at all lol the point is being intolerant of people using your blog, that has to operate on a basis of being as safe a place as possible for venting (which is drama), this is about a stance and blog security, not being anyone's parent

just as weirdly vaguely threatening everyone first with all the mods "watching," because that's not actually implying an Orwellian parental role no one asked for, then with Sky once again misunderstanding the difference between being a " disciplinarian" and an ass

consistent lack of transparency on all counts

and then, yeah, there is the choice of publishing submissions/rebuttals combined with all of this and those submissions/rebuttals being what they are - not all related to "the drama," or in violation of the rules either, but the apparent willingness to publish them from one side of "the drama" there for a bit

I cannot blame people for feeling like all of this combined is a legitimately sketchy situation. One in which they've already, again, been made to feel unsafe within because COAR was used as a list for callouts.

When people see someone like Raven getting wildly different treatment by not being so much as warned, they're going to feel suspicion about the mod(s). It makes it so much worse that they chose to make the statements they did instead of a transparent, reasonable one like, "We apologize that CoaR was used the way it was, we should have blocked the callouts blog right away, but didn't. To reiterate the rules we've had in place for years, this blog is never to be used for callouts or taking bullying off-blog. Due to how widespread the problem has become, we will not be publishing anything related to it any longer. Submissions will be deleted so we can begin putting this behind us."

Acknowledge fault, apologize for it, say what you're doing to mitigate it now. That's it. Don't actively make it worse!

About the submissions...I know I'm alone in having tested that out. It isn't limited to things that either break the rules or are related to the issue. It's very select topics that are a bit uncomfortably aligned with the bias displayed, and from very select blogs. That's a problem. It's not selectively publishing based on drama-avoidance or rules, what CoaR has always done and no one here is taking an issue with.

I have 0 interest in things like trackers, they're far too easy/tempting to use maliciously for most people, and at the very best, they foster an environment of paranoia. What I know about them comes from really minimal personal experience (I wanted to see what posts people were most interested in on another blog, but it felt creepy with the amount of information I had, so I dropped that very fast) and what mutuals who use them have told me/questions they've answered.

So, is it possible the mod(s) is selectively deleting submissions from blogs they feel are a problem? Yes, it is totally possible. Do I know that for a fact? No, I totally do not. My point is that this is exactly the sort of paranoia that takes off when too many suspicious things happen back to back. You begin seeking the answers you are not getting, and you're seeking them because every day for a month or two, your experience logging in has been one of what the fresh hell. It's a need to insulate yourself from further exposure to harassment.

It's a very simple formula: act sketchy, people look at you like you're sketchy.

And I'm not going to condemn anyone for that.

I will also say that, unless several people deleted their comments or have me blocked in multiple places they somehow know of and take issue with, I did not see what you are describing when I read over the total explosion that happened...what, like a month, two months ago at this point? It was very fresh at the time.

What I saw was someone having submitted about a meme blog screenshotting their mutual's rules. Raven going off about it in a reblog. Two commentators trying to discuss the issue and finally, just saying they weren't surprised what meme blog it was once Raven outted themselves like a fully hinged individual interested in following CoaR's rules.

One of those s commentators is a friend, the mun whose rules were in the posts is a friend. I've never been anything but transparent about that. I'm also familiar with some of the other parties who ended up going on hiatus, but only from discussions on the vent blog over the years. So, yes, I do have personal investment here, and I do not feel like any of those people telling Raven and the callout blog they were at least involved with that their behavior was bullshit can be equated to immature shit slinging. There were even two muns who repeatedly tried to have a civil conversation with Raven, specifically, and for their efforts, got some of the most wildly juvenile treatment.

The worst things I saw came from hate anons and the callout blog.

The people receiving that treatment were largely driven off tumblr. For a time, forever, it differs with all of them. So, I feel like saying that about the thirty-year-olds thing is a little off. I'm not trying to be shitty, Anon, but the muns who tried to address Raven's bullshit were all of that age range. They're definitely continuing the drama, they're not here. They can't feel comfortable enough to be on their own blogs still.

I also am required ethically to say that we all really need to stop with throwing around ages like this. Again, I'm not trying to be hostile to you, Anon. I've been trying to show other people's perspective in this (it doesn't matter if you agree or not, I just think it's important to understanding, stopping, and prevent problems to have a fuller perspective that we often lack because we are incredibly tired of whatever is going on, and you're right, we are all really damn tired and also Tired), and as it is an advice blog, I try to address problems here. The pervasive ageism in the tumblr RPC is a problem.

It's a problem that gets discussed when it involves adults not wanting to interact with minors and, as I've seen it put several times, "treating them like the plague." There are a billion "conversations" and complaints about that, but there aren't many at all when it comes to the RPC's bizarre ideas about what age constitutes an adult (you're an actual child until around 23, you're ancient and need to die already, you pedo, at 26) and what being an adult actually is.

You do not turn thirty and lose your hobbies. You also do not turn thirty and become an ultra-mature adult, no leveling up into arcane Adult Knowledge and Behavior unlocks when you wake up on your thirtieth birthday. Between the ages of 17 and 27, you go through so many rapid changes in your cognition, but it levels off considerably after that. You're largely the same person at 32 as you were at 27, and you cannot say that about being...17 and 20, 22 and 25. It begins to take longer to see changes in who you are, those changes are less extreme - your personality, preferences, and viewpoints remain largely the same, they just refine a little here and there.

There is no line at which people "should" stop engaging in any hobby, and it's incredibly gross that the RPC seems to think anyone out of college-age should have no interests, let alone passionate ones, outside of going to work, having a family, and paying bills. That's a bit horrifyingly 1950's isn't it? It's also really misogynistic, considering that the primary base of the RPC is female or afab. When you deal in this, you're literally telling thirty-year-old people with uteruses that they should have no interests outside of birthing children and caring for them.

This isn't what you were doing, Anon, but it's part of the tumorous growth of this ideology that we casually throw around things like "a bunch of 30-year-olds" to make a point. We've seriously got to stop doing that, it isn't a message that most of us would agree with. There are other ways of saying "I think these people should behave more maturely since they're adults."

If I said something like, "well, they were just in their mid-twenties lol what do you expect?" I'd get hate anons, pants would be shat in, and more importantly, it would be wrong. That needs to work both ways, this isn't a separate issue.

An issue that repeatedly comes down to the absurdity of finding differences and drawing lines into cages around people in an environment in which we have the freedom to be more equal than in offline reality. We're all just people here, all just writing and interacting and loving characters. That's all we need to be, and all we need to be judged on is our behavior.

I'm sorry that anyone behaved in a grossly inappropriate manner during any and all of this. It was a heated thing that came to involve too many people and too much harassment, and those are factors that will always see people behaving in ways they would not normally engage in.

And like I said, you don't become some wise master of maturity at thirty! There is a problem mun I'm currently dealing with on another blog that is my age who is one of the most immature people I have ever run into. I have mutuals and friends in the early to mid-twenties who I'm confident weren't as childish as this mun when they were literal children. So, do people thirty and over behave in a seriously unbecoming, childish as hell manner? Yes, they so do! Whether it should be this way or not, you can't expect everyone to be at the same maturity level psychologically at any given age. To me, that just says that I shouldn't age-type people negatively. It isn't relevant where their behavior is.

Otherwise, I'm holding people at some nebulous age over thirty to higher expectations than other equally adult-range people. It isn't acceptable for anyone to behave in the ways I witnessed and was subjected to. It's not even acceptable in teenagers, it's just more understandable (not excusable) because they're working with many things they quite literally cannot control at all times. To act this way is telling everyone below thirty that they're just immature, irresponsible, dicks. It's insulting to them to be labeled in this way, too, even if too many of them see it as a free pass and are, thus, okay with it right now. They won't be, eventually.

Anyway, again, I'm not trying to be shitty to you! I don't think you meant anything in your message in a nasty way, and I cannot say how much I appreciate that after the bullshit brought to this blog and that I've been dealing with privately to help some of those affected feel like the RPC is a place they're safe and welcome in again.

I am definitely tired! Everyone else involved is as well. At least, on what I have to term as "this side" of the equation. I cannot speak to the other side, obviously, but I think they got tired enough of it not being tolerated to be quiet at least. When you make it unfun for people like that, that's usually what happens, after all.

So, I don't think it's them trying to continue the drama. Most of the people I know have remained in their corners happily or been obliged to leave for a while. As for the other people with suspicions...like I said, there are a lot more factors going on here than wanting to perpetuate drama. Sometimes, when we try to make ourselves feel safe, vindicated/vindicate a friend, there isn't any other option but to have the topic come up or breed into suspicions, correct or incorrect ones.

It's a situation that CoaR had a great deal of culpability in, and as such, had a lot of power to mitigate this well before it got to suspicions of who was modding the blog. That wasn't done, and won't be. Like Raven's antics, I have to feel like they've brought some of this on themselves. I do not and will not condone any hate messages sent their way, but again, right or wrong, people do have a right to feel the way they are.

If I were you, I'd stay as far away from it as possible. I don't go on CoaR unless I have to in order to answer something. I had a single blog blocked over here until this all went down (hilariously, it happened to be one that was involved, too, sometimes the red flags are legit, folks), now I have a sadly large number of them. It's now added to liberally, and I hate to do that, I like this blog to be open even to people who disagree with me. I can't deal with the constant drama, though, and I'm not going to be in a new callout every month until I die. Outside of being true to my word about accepting any and all vent messages, I don't want to see it, I don't want to be involved with it. I tag the posts so that followers can filter it, but I'm not going to function as a semi-callout blog by telling people who they should avoid. Just that they should avoid anyone who is making them feel this tired and done. Myself included.

I hope things have settled down in your corner of the RPC since you sent this! They have over here, thankfully. I think most people are staying away from the vent blog and hoping a new and better one comes along. It's back to the usual drama of "stop calling muns pedos for aging up characters."

#answered #anonymous #drama cw #misogyny cw #ageism cw #coar drama cw #I think that's all of them...#tumblr rpc

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smallblueandloud · 4 years

Note

aah sending you so many asks sorry!! i’m in love with the andy/cj/toby ot3 from what you’ve said and i’m so excited to finish the show😌 what fics would you recommend? sorry to bother you so much! when in the series do you think i should read “such a winters day”? tysm ily have a great night/day

aaaah no you’re so good, i’m sorry i took a few days to answer!! it’s been... A Few Days. but i absolutely love getting excuses to talk about the west wing and you’re lovely so please don’t apologize!!

as for fic recs... tbh i have not been as good about reading west wing fic as i should. i have a couple of amazing fics to rec, but also, from what i can tell, the majority of the fandom seems to predate ao3? and i haven’t not used ao3 since i swore off fanfic.net in like... 2017. @etraytin has been archiving a josh/donna yahoo group that she saved when yahoo groups died last year, and while i haven’t gotten the chance to check it out yet, i know there’s a lot of good stuff there, so feel free to take a look! i can’t warn about spoilers there though.

the first fic that i have to rec is one that you will already be able to read! ourselves and immortality by the inimitable etraytin is a very, very deliciously angsty fic set after 1x12, with the premise that... everyone at the state of the union dies, and the “designated survivor” roger tribbey becomes president. fun times! very, very angsty times. warning for major character death, obviously. i read that fic last week while in the throes of deep, deep stressing, and i enjoyed myself immensely. no spoilers for anything after 1x12, because nothing... happens the way it did in canon? so you’re safe, lol.

there’s also such a winter’s day (aka the california dreaming series) which is set after 6x09, although i wouldn’t recommend reading it until you finish the whole series. while it’s technically canon-divergent, it parallels a lot of canon events, and you probably won’t notice the easter eggs of changes in the timeline until you’ve seen them in the show. it’s a WONDERFUL fic/series, with the poly rep i need in my life, and i highly recommend it!! just like. after you finish tww lol.

now, the GREATEST injustice of my life is that there are ZERO fics on ao3 tagged with the ot3. zero. nada. ZILCH. i feel cheated. (apparently people used to ship them?? way back when?? i’m a fandom baby though so i have no idea where i’d even FIND that.)

i have found, however, a handful of phenomenal cj/toby and cj/andy fics. i am but one person who doesn’t read explicit fic, so i haven’t seen everything, but may i please present an approximate rescue (featuring the best take on toby/cj i have ever seen, but don’t read until you’ve finished season 3, warning for some sorta-explicit sexytimes) and that obliterated place (featuring the ONLY fic i’ve found that agrees with my take on the ot3, but don’t read until you’ve watched 4x05, warning for some less-explicit sexytimes) and also, y’know, my own fic with these three (set in the sense8 au that i will NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT. but don’t read until you’ve finished 7x21!)

people better than myself have made rec lists of joshdonna fanfic, and i have a migraine, so i’m not gonna list a bunch of fics, but please go looking for them because there’s a LOT of fanfic and it’s all AMAZING. shoutout to heirlooms, which has spoilers for season 3 but which i love very much anyways. (i also have two joshdonna fics but one of them is a spoiler for 5x21 and the other one is a spoiler for... basically the entirety of s7.)

again, disclaimer that i haven’t actually READ a lot of west wing fanfic! for example, @cassiesinsanity is a mutual of mine and i still haven’t gotten the chance to go through her fic (oops). but i would vouch for its amazingness based on her mcu fics and her general awesomeness. check out her ao3!

anyways, all this is to say: y’all! putting out the call! if you have west wing fanfic that won’t spoil things after 2x10, please reblog this with links! if you have west wing fanfic that’s set after 2x10 but you feel you should rec it anyways, go for it! just make sure to note what part of the show it’s set at.

shhh this is not an excuse for me to ask for west wing fic recs. no ma’am.

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starshineandbooks · 3 years

Text

Is it bad if I pretend?

This is the firs in the laoft (by @tulipscomeinallsortsofcolors ) self insert series I have, written with permission.

Warnings: Car crash mention, angst, mutual pining, deals with the fae, General stupidity

Summary: A supernatural boyfriend squad, a faerie blessed human, Unrequited love that is requited but They're idiots, and the start of either a tragedy or a love story. We're not sure yet, but it should be fun to watch.

Also known as a shameless laoft self insert where in I change my name, gender, and style but very few other things.

Ao3

Bailey would like to point out that they were not at fault for the day’s relizations, and if Virgil hadn’t smiled at them like that, nothing would be wrong. They were used to pining uselessly after Roman, Logan, and Patton, they had been since seven, even after they moved away, but now they’re back. Now there’s Virgil dating the boys their hopeless on, and a new boy to pine over. Perfect.

“So?” Angie says, looking up from painting Elliot’s nails, “I still think you should just tell them.”

“But I can’t!” Bailey protests, and they can’t, not now!

“Well, you’re capable,” Elliot says, “And they would never be mad at you.”

“Have you met me? I’ve tried tellin’ them!” Bailey says, and the way their voice strangles is just a little pitiful. “ ‘sdies, last time I tried tellin’ them I ended up talking about how they’re Sickeningly adorable and if they don’t stop making cow eyes I was gonna puke.”

Elliot winces, their own face turning more sympathetic.

Angie just scoffs “Oh my god, Bailey, either tell them, or shut up about it!”

The look they level her with is aggressively teasing, not unfriendly but a little mean, as one is to their friends, “You whine about Jessamine.”

“Jess isn’t someone I’ve pined after for years, Jess is my crush I met online.”

“Meh meh meh meh,” Bailey scoffs, making their hand move as is it were talking, mocking Angie.

“Mature,”

Elliot giggles, “Bailey!”

“Yeah yeah, I know, I’m immature.”

“Yeah, you are.” Angie sighs, “You got two choices here toots, either tell them and worst case scenario it’s a little awkward for a while, or you could sit here and suffer.”

“I like the second one,” Bailey says quickly, “Then only I’m awkward.”

Elliot sighs, shaking their head, “Oh, c’mon Bailey.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“I’ll sick Thomas on you.”

“I said I’d think about it!” Bailey snorts, “Lemme think?”

“Fine, fine.”

And they go back to what they were doing before, Elliot settled on Angie’s bed, Bailey sprawled on their back on the floor, Angie painting Elliot’s nails black. Music playing from Bailey’s phone, softly, Elliot humming along gently.

Thomas would be over in an hour, then two hours after that the whole group, a big slumber party before spring break ended, and Angie’s house was the spot this time, her parents deciding to take a shift with the teens.

“Did I tell you about the new stone I found?” Bailey asks suddenly.

“No, what is it?” Elliot asks, as they know is polite, but also out of interest.

“Dunno, it’s cool though, I’ll show you later.”

Angie blows on Elliot’s nails, wondering how on earth she can be friends with Bailey sometimes.

The door opens to one of Angie’s mothers, “Hey guys, everyone okay? Any one want any snacks?”

“No, thank you Maria,” BAiley smiles.

“Of course,” Maria nods then, “Honey are you sure the floor is comfortable?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Okay if you say so baby,” Maria sighs, slipping away and shutting the door again.

“Twenty bucks Bailey ends up asleep on one of their boyfriends.” Angie says suddenly, looking gleeful.”

“Twenty bucks and a coke I don’t.”

The duo share a look then turn to Elliot waiting expectantly.

“Virgil’s love and affection?”

“No, you can’t gamble that,” Bailey scoffs.

“You be the judge then,” Angie says simply.

“Yeah!”

-------

By the time The Disaster ™ takes place, BAiley has sprawled herself across the living room floor, head in Kai’s lap while he pretends he either doesn't notice, or doesn't care, having already given a token protest.

Virgil looks down at her, smiling, “Do you just attach yourself to someone at all times?”

“No.”

“Yes,” Kai scoffs, “Go bother the boyfriends.”

And thus ends Kai’s quiet endurance of Bailey’s shenanigans, but that’s okay. She rolls her eyes, rolling off Kai, her head knocking Virgil’s foot, and he chuckles slowly, smile widening slightly.

And oh, oh no. She is not doing this. She is not in love with him too.

She’s in love with Virgil too.

Oh god no.

“You okay?” He asks, and his voice is always low, but this time it’s extra rumbly and she nearly squeaks.

“Bailey?” Elliot asks, poking her.

“Uh- yeah?” She blinks, looking to Elliot.

“Virgil has said your name three times now,” Logan says, leaning closer, reaching a hand out, “May I check your temperature?”

“Uh-”

Angie puts the back of her hand to Bailey’s forehead quickly, “I got them Lo, they’re fine.”

“She,” BAiley says softly, “Right now.”

“She’s fine.” Angie says.

Virgil just stares at them, and his gaze is always a little heavy, or maybe that’s just her who thinks so. But he watches her, and she feels distinctly uncomfortable, she wishes she was a better actor, but her face has always worked against her unless she had actively rehearsed something to muscle memory.

“And you are sure you are well?” Logan asks.

Bailey nods, making her face turn into a teasing look, she’s practiced that one enough it should fool the others. Though Angie, Elliot, and Virgil don’t seem convinced, even when she speaks in an even voice, “Yeah, of course, you worried about me Lo?”

“Of course I am,” Logan says, “You are my friend.”

Bailey can’t help the way she reacts, actually jerking back, her face as if she’s been slapped. And the residing silence thickens, she nearly laughs, because it’s funny. Usually she has slightly better control, but here she is, unsteady, newly in realization, and just their friend.

“Oh, Bailey,” Elliot says softly.

She does laugh at that, strangled and high, the others stare at her as if she’s either a flighty pet, or has grown a second head.

“Honey,” Patton starts, reaching out to touch her shoulder and when he does she tenses, “I think you need to tell us what’s going on.”

“I-”

“Bailey,” Roman says, “C’mon, no one here’s going to judge you.”

“Roman is right,” Logan says.

“He is,” Virgil nods.

“Nothing, I’m just- I’ve not been taking my medication, and you know I hear everything said, Angie’s parrot has a very bad temper.”

“Just because you can lie,” Virgil says, “Does not mean you should.”

“I’d rather not talk about it then,” Bailey says.

“Honey,” Patton says, squeezing her shoulder gently, “I really think-”

“Patton please,” Bailey says sharper than she meant, “I’ll talk this out, but this is a Claire thing, not a y’all thing.”

It’s Patton’s turn to flinch back, and Bailey nearly reaches out to apologize, but the way he looks, she almost wants to kiss the misery from his face and then life, and she can not be trusted.

“Okay, sweetheart.”

“Well, is anyone else hungry?” Kai asks, “I could go for some food.”

The others begin to agree, and Bailey excuses herself to the restroom, she settles on the floor, back against the door and lights off, she sighs, starting a breathing exercise.

She rejoins the group twenty minutes later, just as dinner is being served, and no one points out her long absence, though ANgie does take her hand under the table gently.

Virgil continues to watch her, though she ignores him as best she can, without being outright rude.

Bailey happily salts her fries, she has always been a little salt crazy, she jokes it’s to make up for Logan’s inability to eat it.

“So Bailey,” Emile prods, “You said you had a story about the bruised knuckles and cheek from last week?”

Bailey snorts, “He was hitting on Ally.”

“No.”

“Yes, so I told him back off, he didn’t. Then he did.”

“And you didn’t tell me?!” Remy gasps, “Bailey I’m disappointed!”

She rolls her eyes.

#sanders sides #logan sanders #roman sanders #patton sanders #virgil sanders #ssb writes #laoft #self insert #i have no shame #Bailey Whitman #faeries #Ash the faerie #awful desisions #is this a love story or a tragedy? two things can be true

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iced-coffee-and-imagines · 5 years

Note

You say you like suspension and concerned partners? Have I got the ask for you... Hubert and his dear reader are about to be married, but she doesn’t show up to walk down the aisle. He thinks he’s been left at the altar, until someone goes to check her room and it’s revealed she’s actually been kidnapped!

Boy, howdy, Anon; concerned Hubert makes me a happy sap. You got it! Y’all have such good ideas;;;

Also weddings; my lonely heart loves weddings

((I wanted to throw in a line about “It’s improper to see the bride before the wedding,” but, alas, it didn’t fit))

~Latte ❣

Hubert von Vestra/f!Reader - Wedding Woes

Hubert glanced at his pocket watch, shifting his feet as the seconds ticked by

He returned the ornate piece to his inner coat pocket and folded his hands, letting his gold eyes wander around the small cathedral

Byleth stood next to him, holding a leather-bound book; not a tome, but a wedding book, pages marked and brown from most-likely centuries of use

The teal-haired man chuckled, voice low, “Nervous, my friend?”

Hubert responded with a short laugh of his own, “And you would not be? Honestly now”

Byleth smiled, “It’s almost time for the ceremony to begin. Are you ready?”

At the groom’s nod, he cast his gaze to the back doors of the chapel, nodding at the ushers to open the large, dark-stained doors

Hubert took a deep breath, clasping his hands behind his back and letting his gaze fall to the entryway

First entered Caspar, guiding Dorothea; the groomsmen had worn true black tuxedos with wine red bow ties and cummerbunds; the bridesmaids were attired in wine red, floor-length gowns, holding dainty bouquets

Following them were Linhardt with Bernadetta, and finally came Ferdinand with Petra; after the bridal party separated, the guests stood

The first few notes of the organ rang through the church, all eyes cast in the direction of the bride’s place of entry; you were to be led by Edelgard, who happily agreed to give you away to your groom and her best friend

The seconds turned into minutes; Hubert’s heart was pounding, though his face showed no indication of it; the bridal party and Byleth all glanced between him and the doorway, faces growing increasingly worried; Where were you?

——–

No one noticed Edelgard sneak into the room until she tapped the count on the shoulder, motioning for him to bend down; she whispered, only for him to hear, “The bride’s missing”

His face turned fully to her, voice just as low; Surely not; “Lady Edelgard, you are positive?” He motioned for the seven around them to move closer

“On my life. Her dressing room is a wreck. I had only just left her alone to collect herself before the ceremony. I searched everywhere; I fear she may have been taken”

Eight pairs of eyes widened; Hubert, ever collected, even in the most troubling circumstances, straightened, “Then, I leave the dismissal of our guests to you.” Dark magic started to settle in his palm–a teleportation spell, his specialty

Caspar spoke first, “And just where are you going?”

The magic flickered more, his tone surprisingly nonchalant, “To find my bride”

“You can’t go alone!” Dorothea, this time

“We’ll meet you at the stables,” Edelgard then

“I won’t be there; find us when you will,” the spell complete, he vanished

“Huber–!” The Emperor groaned, shaking her head. Addressing the now very much bewildered guests, she began, “My apologies, our beloved guests, but it seems we have had a slight issue…”

——–

Hel had no fury like a lover worried

Your kidnappers had been clumsy: a muddy footprint here, a chipped dagger there; it was easy enough for Hubert to figure out who had taken you–he had acquaintances in many places, after all

The thieves never saw it coming; dark magic condensing and slamming into them, dropping them quickly

Hubert stalked from the shadows, straightening his jacket and dismissing his tome, gold eyes surveying every inch

You sat on a rickety table in one corner of the room, wrists and ankles tied and appearance slightly disheveled, still in your dress, legs swinging gently back and forth

You smiled as his gaze fell to you; you were gorgeous, even in present circumstances; his heart skipped

He quirked an eyebrow, smirking as he approached, “Well, you certainly seem in high spirits.” He paused in front of you, head tilted, expression shifting to a genuine smile, “You look stunning”

You barked a laugh, “Do I now? Still tied and in the enemy’s base?” Your eyes were soft, coy

The Imperial minister huffed a laugh at your response, feeling heat rise at his nape, and snapped his fingers with a role of his eyes; the ropes frayed and broke

“Impressive”

“Child’s play.” He offered his hand, helping you slide off the table

He brought your hand up, lightly kissing the back of it; his other hand found your waist, guiding you closer

You giggled, letting your free hand rest against his chest, “Thank you, by the way”

His expression was gentle, reverent even; he chuckled, voice low, “Of course. For you, I would tear the world asunder”

You smiled, cheeks flushing; you looked down, biting your lip. Your hand curled around his silk lapel, and you felt the hand at your waist skim across the small of your back

Hubert bent and kissed your brow; letting his head tilt to rest his forehead against yours

Your eyes closed; you smiled, dragging the hand at his torso up to caress his jaw and cheek, brushing his hair away from his right eye; Goddess, did you love this man

——–

Hubert was the first to pull away, baritone just barely loud enough to hear, “I suppose we should consider returning”

Your eyes met his, moving the hand still clasped in his to around his neck, thumb hooking under the back of his collar

You blinked languidly, gaze trailing down his sharp features and landing on his sternum; you smiled, echoing, “I suppose so.” Your soft voice found a kittenish undertone, “We have a wedding to reschedule, don’t we.” It was more of a statement than a question

His now-empty hand traced down your side to your waist, locking with the other hand to secure you against him.

He chuckled airily, “We do; however, it can wait until today’s excitement has passed”

You laughed with him, smile broadening, and pulled him back down as you raised on your toes

You kissed him then, soft and easy; one of his hands left your back to cup your chin, tilting your head to deepen the contact

Mutually pulling away, you gazed at each other, nothing but adoration in the other’s expression

His hand moved to hold your jaw as you parted further, your heels clicking softly as they hit the floor

“I love you”

“I love you too”

#hubert von vestra #hubert von vestra imagine #hubert von vestra x reader #fe hubert #fire emblem #fire emblem imagines #fire emblem three houses #fe three houses #fe16 #fe3h #fe three houses imagine #three houses imagine #x reader #black eagles #adrestian empire #happy ending #suspense #imagine

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kinkymagnus · 4 years

Note

Twi YouTube AU?? 👀

dlgjk ok i dont have a coherent au idea i just like the idea of like.

alec being this confident youtuber man who does all sorts of shit, like funny vlogs and maybe some sketches with his siblings or some lets plays or something, idk, he’s just a popular youtuber like, idk, fuckin markiplier or something, you know, kinda does a lot of stuff. maybe some fashion/interior design shit? idk? but like. he’s pretty popular and if there’s any list on tumblr that’s like “some queer creators you should try watching” he’s always up there because he’s pretty open about being gay. maybe at first he wasn’t in the earlier youtube days but he had a pretty emotional coming out video and everyone was like “holy shit”

meanwhile magnus is like, a quietly popular youtuber, you know? kind of a niche audience, but with decent numbers. he does a lot of things, like vlogs about being trans. like, oh my god. magnus documenting his transition? would that even be a thing? wait oh my god is this mundane au, or is this canon? because twi magnus who’s actually a warlock with a youtube channel would be hilarious but maybe not a good idea. you know what? how about a mix. he’s mortal and was born in modern times and all, he’s like the same age as alec–idk why but i’m thinking he’s like a few weeks older or a month or two older than alec and alec jokingly teases him about being old–but he like…. still has magic, because why the fuck not. actually, you know what? fuck it? it’s an au where magic is just openly a thing. not even necessarily canonverse magic, just. some people have magic. magnus does little tutorials and shit, he has a real talent for it and he’s actually really powerful but he hides that. (possible plotline: some paparazzi discover he’s like, a level ten mage, and it’s a scale from 1-10 and 8 is the most powerful u get most of the time, there’s been a few really famous 9s and there’s been one 10 ever and that was fucking merlin. you feel. because why not. idek fuck.) anyway he has little diy make your own magical charms and weaving enchantment and safe summoning circles and tips for writing magical contracts and shit like that. he’s this cute little nerd but he’s like incredibly knowledgeable and he knows how to teach it in a way that’s understandable and accessible? and he answers questions in really clear ways, and he does amazing demonstrations that look so cool people accuse him of editing but he’s just That Good. and he’s like, actually a really well-published wizard/magic scientist, he invented the fucking portal, but probably under a pseudonym because he doesn’t really want the attention. (his last name is fell in honor of his mentor. yes. although if he does multiple ones he may or may not also use loss, santiago, rollins, etc.) anyway he’s just so fucking good, he has all these videos explaining magical theory in pretty easy to understand ways (maybe going from really simple to like “i understand the basics here and am ready for the technical terms but need an overview” videos you know.

also he doesn’t just do magic videos, because i said so. also maybe some blogs, and like. because i want to. some fashion/makeup tips. and it’s weirdly endearing because it’s not something you’d expect since he doesn’t wear makeup that often–although a) there are def gifsets of his full makeup looks on tumblr, and b) when he does occasionally decide to wear lipstick or eyeshadow or whatever, most of his fans are like omg yes!! u look cute! also headcanon: twi magnus wears less makeup in general but he still indulges in nail polish. mostly dark/muted colors on his fingers, but bright silly colors on his toes. NAYWAYWYA

also magnus bane is his chosen name because he wanted something cool and wizardy sounding and undeniably masculine.

also he’s so fucking sweet like look his videos are pretty popular because they’re just handy but he’s not exactly like, a super popular celebrity or anything, you know? but when he does meet fans he’s so incredibly sweet and he does selfies and he’s very appreciative of his followers? he’s so genuine?

and alec is way more popular–not that he’s not kind and appreciative of his followers. it’s just the thing is, magnus and alec are totally opposite sides of youtube. alec is friendly charismatic completely non-magical youtuber, he plays video games with his sister and like, does vlogs and reaction videos and shit you know. magnus is out here with educational tutorials and excited rambles about magical theory. (i feel like sometimes he accidentally starts doing groundbreaking research for a video and forgets to like, publish it first, and people are like wait what the fuck holy shit)

but then they fucking meet.

and a) they’re Instantly smitten. b) this will eventually result in the weirdest collab ever.

like NO ONE would expect magnus bane, tarot reader and tutorial on magic diy and shit, occasionally does makeup videos and little vlogs and talks about Issues sometimes, to collab with typical hot vlogger gamer man alec lightwood. but it happens, and somehow it’s the best fucking thing ever.

i’m not sure how their channels collide. maybe alec plays a game involving magic and magnus talks about all the ways it’s right/wrong but it ends up just being bantering and giggling and magnus may or may not end up leaning into him on the couch their sitting on and giggling as he makes a stupid joke with the character in the game and immediately everyone’s like…… we ship it

not that i support irl shipping but u know how it goes, everyones like “damn they’re cute” and they’re both openly queer so there’s that. i mean, still not cool, but you know

but really tho they keep doing collabs after that and become actual friends and both start kind of….. doing things for each other’s channel? magnus does a thing like “interview with someone who knows nothing about magic” and we just see a total mundane take on magic and honestly it’s really interesting for both of them, we have more “magnus, who’s an Old Soul and despite having a youtube channel is actually not that great with technology, raphael does all the editing, tries to play video games and kinda fails at it but he gets the hang of some of them”?? he likes puzzle games and mariokart, he does NOT like super smash bros because “THE CHARACTER NEVER DOES WHAT I WANT IT TO ALEXANDER” “you’re just jealous bc i beat ur ass” “you wanna play mariokart again, lightwood?!”

magnus does a tarot reading for alec, alec does a vlog with him just like “day in the life of alec lol :P” and there’s moments where he just comes up behind magnus like “hey what’s up” and magnus, who’s in rumpled home clothing, sees the camera and chuckles and kinda half heartedly waves it away, and the audience loses their mind at how cute he looks lkdhjgfh

they just become actual good friends, you know? it’s weird bc you wouldn’t think it would work but it really, really does

also on of alec’s fans at some point tries to make a transphobic crack at magnus during a livestream and alec goes OFF on his ass and it’s trending for the next week, the clip goes viral, it’s like “HIMBO GOES OFF ON HATERS FOR BEING TRANSPHOBIC TO HIS FRIEND/POSSIBLE LOVER?” and alec apologizes to magnus for all the attention it brought them but magnus is like “it’s okay, we can use this” and they end up using the hype to do one of those charity livestreams youtubers do and all the proceeds go to something like mermaids or the trevor project, you feel? they’re like “suck it transphobes look at all this money you got trans ppl” khjfgh

ok but eventually they do get together, not on camera, and while it’s slow at first and kind of secret (from the internet, not from friends and family) they’re also not super subtle. they know they’re not, but they’re just sort of like “it’s no one’s business, we’ll announce it when we’re ready”

and honestly tho they love each other so much

also i’ve just decided it’s not uncommon for strong magic-users, even like, level 4 or 5 and up, to have marks, so while his cat eyes are usually glamoured maybe he showed them after a q&a or in a vlog or something? and there are like. lots of gifsets of this, okay, and like, lots of thirst comments. which are like, this weird mix of slightly uncomfortable, really flattering/validating, and embarrassing (in a good and bad way). anyway, magnus has cat eyes in this au, because i fucking said so.

ANYWAY back to their relationship, they’re in love

how did they meet? maybe at a con they bumped into each other, or a totally random fan was like “y’all should do a collab” and everyone was like “what”

or maybe a mutual friend and fellow youtuber, meliorn, who is a nonbinary youtuber who fucking has a sword don’t question me, introduces them?

idk. but when they meet they hit it off instantly and flirt and end up getting coffee and they don’t date for a while (maybe mutual pining/misunderstandings like “oh he doesn’t like me like that, but it’s okay, we can still be friends :)” or something lkfgjhfgh) but eventually they end up getting together

how? no idea. let me think about it.

idk why but im thinking they’re filming at magnus’s apartment and they’re on his couch and just. late night. they’ve finished up filming but they’re still bantering and maybe playing some video game like mariokart or watching a movie together and just. magnus is leaned all the way into alec, just snuggled up and pressed close against him, alec ends up putting an arm around him, and alec cracks a joke or teases him and magnus sits up a bit to like, poke his chest or flick his nose (you know what i mean? like in an otp person a shifts, still kinda sitting in their lap, and is like [playfully hits shoulder or boops nose or something] and now they’re making eye contact and person b ends up pulling them into a soft kiss???) anyway THEY MAKE EYE CONTACT AND ALEC PULLS HIM INTO A SOFT KISS and alec almost pulls away when he realizes what he’s done but magnus makes this soft little happy noise and leans into him, kissing back, and they just end up kissing for a bit and when they break apart alec is just looking up at him with breathless wonder and magnus is looking down at him with that same soft reverence and alec blurts out something like “you’re magical” and magnus just loses it and he’s giggling and leaning against alec’s chest and alec starts laughing too and magnus can feel the vibrations in his chest and it’s just so nice and pleasant and wonderful and they may or may not end up making out

they have to talk about it in the morning when they end up falling asleep together in magnus’s bed, cuddled close, but they find, to both of their delights, they both want to date and be in a serious relationship and it’s so fucking good ok

they go to dinner and the transition from friendship to romance is a little awkward but so worth it, especially when they realize HEY IT’S BOTH YOU DONT STOP BEING FRIENDS WHEN YOU DATE. i mean like, they didn’t not know that, but it’s like, idk how to explain you know they’re kinda like “are we doing this right” and then they’re like “fuck doing it right we can keep cuddling on the couch and giggling and bantering over stupid shit and watching dumb movies and kicking each others asses in video games it doesn’t matter we just also kiss and have dinner more often and sleep together and also we may or may not be in love”

also they’re That Couple. they’re like straight to the honeymoon, they’re domestic from the first week. magnus is casually doing magic around the house (imagine: he just dyes his hair on a whim and grows it out a little bit and alec is like “i love u no matter how u style ur hair and stuff, and like, ur usual look is so fuckin cute and handsome, but also I Love This.”) but like he’s like (casually summons small ball of light to read book at night) (casually makes alec little protective charms–side note alec def makes him some of these too, but he asks magnus’s old mentor, ragnor, and two of his friends that can do magic, catarina and dot, to enchant it, since he can’t himself, and having magic woven by people who care about him will make it stronger. oh mhyhogfd) and just like. magic used to be something he mostly kept to himself (this def has something to do with his parents–his mom, who he thinks killed herself because of his eyes/magic, his birth dad who’s a powerful sorcerer–level 9, actually, and they think magnus is level 8 for a long time–who was an abusive fuckstick) and then he started doing youtube and it was a kinda show, a gift, something to share, but still not really something he just used openly in front of people he cared about (other than his close friends, since most of them do magic too anyway) but with alec it’s so easy to do that casually?? it’s so easy to just feel comfortable and safe????? yes

anyway they do eventually “come out” as boyfriends, maybe something short and sweet like just. a tweet of magnus sleeping curled up on alec’s chest and he’s like “god i love my boyfriend

they were already not subtle but now that they’re not hiding it they’re so fucking blatantly in love tbh. they do one of those boyfriend tag videos and it’s fucking adorable, at high request they do some couples games kind of videos, like the newlywed game and fuck marry kill (mostly on alec’s channel but magnus has a few, too) and it’s just HIGH QUALITY FUCKING CONTENT

also originally i was just thinking something along the lines of “in canon verse, twi alec is instagram famous/famous on social media and he gets cute tarot boyfriend and is like look at my cute boyfriend and then magnus’s small insta account mostly for his business gets a fuck ton of new followers and alec’s gets a considerable amount too” and now i’m imagining everyone from their respective audiences first thirst-following the other, then actually getting invested

but really tho they’re the internet’s hottest couple for a while it’s great

for some reason i’m picturing them doing a live tour now, with like, accessible tickets and magnus does magic live on stage and idek what else they’d do tbh but it’d be fun as fuck

anyway this au got away from me

me: i dont have any real coherent ideas

also me: [vomits a 2,500+ word ESSAY]

#malec #magnus bane #alec lightwood #shadowhunters #twi #twi malec #trans magnus #long post #youtube au

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dontbesoweirdkira · 4 years

Text

I don’t stare...I just observe -Weasley Twins

A/N : I just fell in love with the Weasley twins and I wanna cry now so I’m writing this fluff// I just started watching Harry Potter and I tried to make the Twins as accurate to my knowledge so please don’t bash me if it’s not as accurate SKSKS THE FORMAT KEEPS MESSING UP IMMA CRY

-Now George and Fred Weasley were one of the most noticeable people at Hogwarts. Maybe it was because their fiery red hair and tall structures stood out amongst the majority? Or maybe because of their loud antics and continuous pranks? You couldn’t tell. But what you did know was, you couldn’t take your eyes off them.

-No you weren’t creepily staring, however if they walked by or you heard their chatter, your attention would go to them for a bit. However you tried to make it as unnoticeable as possible, this seemed to always work out in your favor, the twins never seemed to notice. Or atleast, they never called you out or made it obvious if they did happen to know.

-This went on for your first couple years at prestigious school, that was until this particular day.

-it was a simple quiet day, quite snowy and drowsy, most kids were either outside playing with snow for a bit or inside trying to warm up. There wasn’t much class today so you decided to spend your time doing a bit of painting. The aesthetic of the snow and the warmth of your small quilt gave a rush of inspiration.

-grabbing your easel, a wide canvas, and a few brushes of different sizes, you made your way down stairs, through a corridor, and to a small Lounge.

-setting up your equipment next to a large window with a birds eye view of the icey land, you began to paint. Each stroke was painted with deep passion and a hint of furry. Every detail was painted with close attention to receive perfection.

-Although your eyebrows were furrowed and your face had a deep seriousness, you truly were in a great state of euphoria. School had been extremely stressful and difficult with all the studying and different events going on, it was nice being able to finally sit down to actually do something you have a grave passion for. You forgot how fun it was to paint and play around with all the colors.

-“I never seen someone look so angry while painting.”

-“yeah I thought it was supposed to be something fun and relaxing, she just looks so tense.”

-being started by the sudden break of silence, your body jumped.

-“someone must of had one too many chocolate frogs to be so jumpy like that.” One chuckled

-“appears so, brother.” The other agreed in a fit of laughter

- slowly turning around you’d seen the fiery red hair twins, leaning against the wall laughing.

-your eyes went wide and you turned back around facing your detailed canvas.

-”I can move if you guys need this space.” you mumbled under your breath, but just loud enough for the two to hear.

- Before you could pack up your stuff or even comment for their pestering antics, two identical faces were on either side of yours, one observing the painting and the other observing you with a chivalrous smirk on his face.

“No need miss.” George chirpidly said

-”why do you look so angry while you paint, little o’l y/n?” Freddie chuckled

-”i guess i was just really focused, i didn’t realize the intensity of my body language.” you laughed uncomfortably then shrugged

-Fred nudged your shoulder playfully -” Only joking, But very nice painting Y/N. Very realistic, although you made that owl a bit crooked. What do you think George?” the twin staring at the painting asked

-”I’d say its marvelous.” the other said still looking at you and not even bothering looking at the art

-”hmm, Y/n what do you say you teach us how to do this sometime? The art skills could surely come in handy for out next big prank” Fred exclaimed, pasting around the the canvas

-”wonderful idea Freddie,” George said now moving over to his other half “what do you think L/N? Care to show us how to move stroke these brushes?”

-both of them picked up a brush, both two different sizes and shapes. one of them put it of the bridge of their nose, wobbling back and forth trying to balance the stick while the other twirled it between his fingers.

-looking up at the mischievous bunch, you simply replied “whatever you’d like, now if you’re done staring at my unfinished work, i’d like to continue.... in silence.”

-”we’re just doing what you do to us. How you just stare at us all the time.” Freddie confronted humorously

-”i-i do not stare, however with you two always doing something bizarre and outrageous it’s hard not to observe what the two of you are doing.” you said with a shaky huff. you snatched the brushes from either brother and put them back in the small tin can they previously rested in.

-a fit of laughter broke out among the two.

-”well we are just ObServINg you and your art, just like you do us.” George mocked

-a wave of visible embarrassment splash upon your face.Ducking your head down, you began to pick up where you left off on your painting. trying your utter best to ignore the troublesome twins.

- once their laughing dies down, a few beats of pure silence grazed the room before one of the fellows began again.

-”you know we don’t mind,its adorable how you softly gaze at us.”

- the other finished “yeah, and how your little button nose sticks out of your textbook when your looking at George or I, in class.”

-Fred took the book he had in his hand and started immating your indiscreet behavior, earning a small laugh from his brother.

-with a short click of your tongue, you began, “Pfft, I’m not that obvious, and besides if I’m sooo “noticeable” why didn’t you guys say anything or confront me earlier?”

“ Well, we’ve been meaning to talk to you for a while actually, but you’re quite difficult to approach, you know?” George said

-shocked to hear George’s words, you almost spilled your paint all over yourself. you were now interested in this conversation with the boys.

-”I’m difficult for YOU TWO to approach? Truly i’m intrigued as to why that is. I personally thought you two were the kings of idle chatter and talking to just about anyone and everyone with no problem.” you asked now sitting straight, fully facing the twins, with a furrowed eyebrows across your forehead.

-’Oi, You always have that angry annoyed look on you face, or always avoiding conversation with her peers, you're always in your dorm or in the library which makes it overly difficult to talk to. Plus whenever we did look at you or even walked past you, you’d always hide or look afraid of us. we were scared if we DID approached or pull a harmless prank, you’d call one of the professors on us or something.”

The other twin nodded in agreement.

-hearing the news and the seriousness in their faces, you broke out into a good fit of laughter.

“ Oh, i literally didn’t realize. i guess when i’m focused or paying attention to something my face just gets like that.” you continued laughing “and i always hid because i didn’t want you guys to think i was some weird crazed girl if you guys saw me looking at you and then prank me. But it’s so funny because I seem to give you guys a run for y’all’s money.”

-“I’ll say.” Freddie said looking towards his brother which then looked back at him

-”what? do you think we’re heartless animals or something? tch- We wouldn’t just prank you for something like that. We have bigger and better plans than to mess with you, you know?” The other said jokingly

Looking down at your work station, you begun to open a a new paint capsule, and mix it.

“Haha maybe I did think you were ‘heartless animals’ .” you chuckled

“shake my head Mrs.l/n, I expected more from you.”Fred said pinching the bridge of his nose

“can’t belive yu think of us that way, Y/n. i think you owe us a apology.” George said, while crossing his arms and shooting his nose high up in the air

“What if i don’t give you guys one?” You playfully questioned

“No problem, you just have to sit by us during dining hall” Fred said

“and go to our quidditch game this weekend and cheer us on.” George chimed in

“maybe even make our favorite snacks for after we win the game?”Freddie suggested

“and wear a ‘I heart Fred and George’ jumper made by me mum” George finished off

Cleaning off your brush, and dipping it into another color you replied snootily,

“Well I guess I’ll just have to do all of that because i’m not apologizing, see you at dining hall and please make sure you save a good warm seat.” you smiled, beginning to make small strokes of red onto your canvas

Freddie and George both turned to each other and smiled at the idea of a third party joining their notorious tag team. They both seemed to have a mutual liking of you. Was it because of your light playful manner or outer mysterious demeanor? The both didn’t know, but what did did know is that they couldn’t wait to see what the friendship would bring.

“This should be Fun, huh brother?” they said in unison

105 notes · View notes

fae-fucker · 4 years

Text

Zenith: Chapter 49-51

Chapter 49

So the queen of Adhira, Lira’s aunt, is, like, super disappointed with Lira and her shenanigans. Lira finally explains that while she loves her aunt, she doesn’t want to be her, aka refuses the role of planetary queen once more. I honestly have no idea what reasons Alara has for making Lira her heir, because Lira has evidently never shown any interest in politics. Why she won’t just make Lon her heir? He seems loyal and eager. Idk I guess feminism or something. Oh and we need a character conflict for Lira. Doy.

Anyhoo, Alara says that she’s been in contact with General Cortas and knows about his deal with the crew. She says she can instead offer Lira a position as a pilot for Adhira’s new starfleet. Which they apparently didn’t have before? She says they need a stronger presence “in the sky” if there’s another war, and like 1) that’s not the sky and 2) you mean to tell me that this entire planet of randos that do in fact train pilots judging by Lira’s existence ... doesn’t have a starfleet already?

Oh, but the ship Alara offers Lira is “the fastest model in the Mirabel galaxy”. The fastest model of ... what? Is it a frigate? A cruiser? A fighter? We don’t even get any made-up specs or even a general specialization, all we get is that it’s the fastest and coolest ship ever that everybody wants right now but it’s not even out on the market yet! Because that makes sense for the government that just admitted they had a minuscule starfleet to have. I would’ve accepted it if Alara tied the existence and offer of the ship back to her correspondence with General Cortas and the ship was a diplomatic gift from Arcardius, but it’s specifically mentioned to be Adhiran.

So ... these guys don’t have a meaningful “presence in the sky”, but they DO have the tech, the budget, and the marketing strategy to make the most wanted and advanced starship in the galaxy?

Oh, and this starship? Lira would pilot it as a commercial ship. So the queen wants to invest in a bigger starfleet ... except this one extra fancy ship she’s willing to throw away for regular trade? I mean I guess it makes sense if she doesn’t want to put Lira in danger but does want to sweeten the deal with a sick starship, but then I have to wonder why the previous info about the general and the lacking starfleet is even in here at all?

This whole situation is just doubt dot jpeg.

We find out that the offer only stands this once, and only if Lira immediately removes herself from her current mission and also leaves her crew to stay on Adhira. Apparently the super sexy cool new ship hasn’t even been built yet, it’s literally just a sketch, but Alara has set aside funds to start construction. But it’s also famous enough of a ship already that everyone wants it?

I’m no politician but the logistics of it all make my brain hurt. It’s just really ass-backwards, is what I’m saying. It really feels like Shinsay just wrote one word in front of the other without any consideration of the words that came before.

Oh and Lon is here also. I’m only saying this because he bites his lip and his blood is blue and I need you to remember this for future reference.

Lon and Alara tell Lira to pick them and ditch her friends because her friends are bad for her and tbh are they wrong? Are they though? Lira leaves to go mope about how uninteresting her character conflict is and finds Alfie and Dex.

Alfie sat beside him on the couch. The AI was oiling his gears while Dex oiled his insides with a bottle of Griss.

I had to read about Dex oiling his insides and now so do you.

Wait ... is Dex butt-chugging this Griss? Dex, you know that’s bad for you, bud?

Lira asks Dex if there was truly no way to save both Andi and his dad, to which Dex replies something appropriately dramatic that nobody would actually say out loud (something something tearing galaxies something), and Lira mopes out of that room as well in grim understanding of their symbolically similar situations before the chapter ends.

Chapter 50

We’re back with Andi. The girls are all “training” aka playfighting out in the open and inconveniencing the people around them while Andi angsts about how broken and sad and black her soul is and how everything is her fault including Valen’s and Lira’s pain and how much she just LOVES these WONDERFUL WOMEN she calls her crew and how HARD it was to open up to them after Kalee and Dex but now that she has she would never give them up for ANYTHING.

It goes on for literally pages and I’m not going to include it because 1) it’s pretty much a rehash of shit we already know and have seen her angst about and 2) the fact that Andi’s thoughts and character “development” is happening in her mind alone and the other girls are doing something else makes this feel really jarring and ironically disconnected. There’s nothing wrong with having emotional chapters where not much “plot” happens, but maybe have people actually, like, talk and interact with each other? Instead of just having one character think about how deep and damaged they are? Idk, just a thought.

Anyway, after several pages of pointless nonsense, Andi finally starts crying and tells the other girls that the new info from Dex and Valen’s whole deal has been taking a toll on her. She also apologizes to Lira, which, bonus points, and to the others for getting her into this. Unfortunately Lira undoes the apology and Andi’s attempt at taking responsibility and admitting to wrongdoing by saying she doesn’t need an apology and only needs to hear Andi complain so she can be the emotional sponge and fortune cookie advice dispenser of the group just like Shinsay always intended.

Now, to be fair, this section is honestly quite touching and I wish Shinsay had focused more on the friendship instead of ... well, literally everything else. Observe:

“I tried to kill [Dex]. What if I’d succeeded?”

“You didn’t,” Breck said. Her dark eyes met Andi’s pale ones as she spoke. “And now you know his side of the story, and he knows yours. You both did terrible things, broke promises, ruined a mutual trust. You can hold on to your anger, if you think that makes you strong.” She smiled a little then. “But brute strength isn’t everything, Andi. Trust me, I would know.”

Man, Breck is really wasted on this book, isn’t she? Or at least the concept of Breck. There isn’t much of her to waste in the first place, lbr.

Andi admits that if Valen tries to kill her when he wakes up, she’s not sure she’ll want to stop him. Um. Shinsay ... It’s time to close the laptop and go outside I think. You are not equipped to handle this.

The crew tells Andi that they can carry some of her burdens for her, which is very sweet, if only Andi showed the same thing in return. Right now all she’s done is mope around, think about how much she loves her crew because they’re just so supportive, and then unload her emotional baggage on them. To her credit, Andi seems hesitant and tells Lira she’s there for her too. Lira’s about to spill the blue beans when Alfie interrupts to tell them that Valen is awake. Lira says that whatever she was about to say isn’t important in what I assume is supposed to be dramatic irony? But watch this actually get forgotten and resolved without her input, making Lira some sort of prophet.

All in all, not the worst chapter, but definitely bloated.

Chapter 51

Andi is pacing back and forth and trying to hype herself up before the meeting with Valen. We find out that apparently, the entire planet of Adhira has no military, because they’re just SO peaceful? Yeahh ... no. The only way I’d accept that is if they had, like, some sort of mind-control abilities and networks of spies and agents in the governments of every other planet nation to prevent any conflict to turn on Adhira, which I doubt since they’re supposed to be the peaceful hippies of the story. It would be mad hardcore if that were the case, but alas, I fucking doubt it my dudes.

Besides, wasn’t Adhira in the war against Xen Ptera? Or did they sit it out but still celebrate the victory as if they helped? What’s going on there?

Also, it’s been four years since Andi last interacted with Valen, which I belive makes her 18-19? Meaning Dex was an older teen when he boned down mid-teens Andi. Ok ok ok ok.

Anyway, today is the day of Revalia, which the United Systems celebrate as it marks the end of the Cataclysm. Andi is not hyped. She’s also not hyped for the Intergalactic Peace Summit that’s happening.

[...] leaders from each of the four systems would be present to symbolize that peace still existed in the galaxy, and would continue to exist between the planets that made up the Unified Systems.

So ... Um. I know Shinsay probably think that “intergalactic” is a really cool sci-fi word and they’ve heard it used before so they had to put it here because it sounds science-y and official, but ... intergalactic means between galaxies. Not between star systems or planets. Given how the summit is defined, interplanetary would be more fitting because they’re all coming from different planets from different solar systems all within the same one galaxy. (Not entirely sure what fancy word would be used for multiple systems, but my point still stands.)

The secondhand embarrassment is strong in this one, y’all. Who edited this?

Gilly finds a Marketable Fuzzy Space Pet and convinces Andi to let her keep it, naming it Havoc. It’s impressive how not charmed I am.

Dex enters with Valen and Andi thinks about how different they are and how fucked-up Valen looks.

What horrors had he lived through?

Being thrown down a flight of stairs, for one. He was rotting at some point also. You know, from all the torture you know he went through for two years? Feels like you should probably know that. Oh, sorry, was that a Deep Rhetorical Question?

I should also mention that Alfie is getting on my nerves big time, which is frankly impressive on Shinsay’s part since I’ll eat up any naïve and emotionless robot character, gears and all, yet somehow they’ve written him to be obnoxious in their attempt at making him charmingly socially inept. I think the fact that I’m supposed to be finding him cute or funny is what’s making me really dislike him. Observe:

“I find the name quite fitting, Breck,” Lira added. “Every beast deserves a strong name.”

“Allow me to assist,” Alfie added, walking over on silent feet. “Havoc is defined, in the Great Universal Dictionary, as ‘great destruction or devastation. Ruinous damage.’”

[...]

Valen inclined his head at Alfie. “My deepest apologies that you’re programmed to work for my father.”

Alfie’s unblinking eyes stared at Valen. “I am detecting strong levels of distaste toward...”

“That’ll be enough, Alfie,” Dex interjected. “Why don’t you go check on the ship repairs? Memory could probably use some company.”

At the sound of Memory’s name, Alfie’s posture straightened. “I find my gears are warming at an alarming rate. Excuse me.”

Is this supposed to be cute? Endearing? What is the point of Alfie in this story? Why is he here? It feels like his entire reason for existing is to be the silly comic relief and the stereotypical weird AI with no concept of normal interactions. I’m also hardcore weirded out by how horny he is for Memory. It’s making me genuinely uncomfortable for reasons I can’t explain.

Why do we need another comic relief guy? Dex, Gilly and Breck, and now the fucking Havoc (the weird shitty pet thing) all serve that purpose already. WHY DOES ALFIE EXIST?!

Anyway, Alfie leaves and Dex suggests that they all have an “adult conversation” (lol) and the chapter ends on Andi finally greeting Valen and it’s very dramatic.

#eff reads: zenith

9 notes · View notes

inevitably-johnlocked · 5 years

Note

Hi! Can you rec some canon slow burn fics? I love that kind of thing, friends to lovers, case fics etc. I am also new to the fandom and let me tell you - your blog is amazing. ♡

Anonymous said to inevitably-johnlocked: Hi Steph, do you know of any slow build/first proclamation of love fics? Preferably told from Sherlock’s POV or a mix of both, something like “A Road Less Traveled” by verityburns? Thanks

Anonymous said to inevitably-johnlocked: do you know any really long slow burn fics that don’t have smut? sorry i really just don’t like smut cause im ace

Hi Nonnies!

First of all, thank you so much for your kind words about my blog, Nonny 1!! I’m glad you’re enjoying it, and welcome to the fandom!!

Second of all, of course I can rec y’all some slow burn fics! I’ve a lot of them! I’ll just give them all to you, and y’all can filter out the AU fics / POV fics, etc. because I always write in my tags if it’s an AU / POV fic if I remember :)

Nonny 3, just check out the fics below for anything not rated above T, and you should be good

Love you, Nonnies, and I hope you find something you’re looking for! (thought I did LOL) so I’ve added it to my MFL section!

FALLING IN LOVE / SLOW BURN / DEV. REL.

See also:

T-RATED Pt. 1: Friends To Lovers Fics || [MOBILE LINK]

Friends to Lovers [FULL POST] || [MOBILE POST]

First Time || [MOBILE]

John Will Never Forget by gelos (bia_mpinto) (NR, 244 w. || Fluff, First Time, Love Confessions) – John will never forget Sherlock’s everything.

Of Locks and Keys by Youarethelightoftheworld (G, 574 w. || H/C, Angst, Falling in Love, Friendship) – He listens to the steady beating of John’s heart and thinks of his own; weak and vulnerable, but aching to be released.

A Need To Know Basis by mattsloved1 (G, 934 w. || Humour, Romance) – As the cab door shut firmly, the DI had yelled out they were to make an appearance at Scotland Yard the next day. It was while John watched London pass by that it happened.

Moonshine by CKLizzy (T, 1,408 w. || Cuddling / Snuggling, Touching, Dev. Rel., Bed Sharing, Comfort, Touching) – Sometimes, routines changed. Sequel to “Nightfall”. Part 2 of Solace

I love you, I say by khoshekhskitten (G, 1,576 w. || Pre & Post TRF, Hurt / Comfort, First Kiss, Love Confessions) – “I love you” is a phrase that follows John Watson through his life with Sherlock Holmes.

Blanket Burrito by All_I_need (G, 1,894 w. || Tooth Rotting Fluff, Pining Sherlock, POV Sherlock, Sort-Of Love Confession) – John, a blanket-wrapped burrito of laughing sunshine in a ratty t-shirt, notices. Of all the moments for him to be observant, this is the one he chooses.

Five Times Sherlock gave John a Pebble and One Time John Returned the Gesture by grimmfairy (NR, 1,895 w. || Love Confessions, Penguins and Pebbles, Nervous / Pining Sherlock, Oblivious John) – Sherlock isn’t good with words, so he decides to tell John his feelings the way penguins do, by bringing him pebbles with different meanings. John catches on.

Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil by PipMer (T, 1,895 w. || Deaf John, Mute Sherlock, Friends to Lovers, Romance, Fluff and Angst, Character Study, Morse Code, Love Confessions) – John is deaf. Sherlock is mute. There are no two people more suited for each other.

Duvet (green) by Mazarin221b (G, 2,021 w. || Post-THoB, Mind Palace, Revelations, First Kiss) – Sherlock recalibrates and restructures his mind palace so it looks like 221b. What he chooses to put in John’s room is a bit of a surprise, and a revelation.

The Importance of Torn Papers by MyLittleCornerOfSherlock (G, 2,427 w || Pre-Slash, Love Declarations, Fluff) – Little things make a big difference, even little notes of thanks. Small reminders to show he cares.

Where You Are by Mazarin221b (E, 2,478 w. || Beach Sex, First Time, Fluff, Smut, Holidays, Pining) – He can admit he’s secretly a little glad Sherlock didn’t come with him. He needs a break. Sherlock is a handful at the best of times, and the near-constant apologizing, fixing, dealing-with, and following up on is exhausting. The near-constant unrequited attraction is a bit exhausting, too, to be honest, and John could really use a tiny bit of rest from the relentless hammering on his brain and heart.

Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down by standbygo (M, 3,282 w. || Post-S4, Five Plus One, Missing Scenes, Parenthood, First Kiss, Friends to Lovers, Cuddling & Snuggling, Hurt/Comfort, Declarations of Love, Fluff, Food, John Whump) – Five times when Sherlock and John ate together, and one time they didn’t. A history of the boys, in food.

A Bit of Indulgence by beltainefaerie (NR, 3,364 w. || Fake Relationship, Pride Parade, Declarations of Love, Fluff, Dev. Rel., Case Fic) – A case leads John and Sherlock to fake being boyfriends and John runs into an old acquaintance.

nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands by miss_frankenstein (T, 3,731 w. || Kissing in the Rain, Angst With Happy Ending) – In which John and Sherlock finally confront their feelings for each other - as only they would do - in the pouring rain.

Tell Me a Secret, Sherlock Holmes. by DaringlyDomestic (NR, 3,880 w. || Love Confessions, Truth or Dare, Smut, Gentle Explicit Love, Microscopic Angst) – John’s voice is low and seductive, sending a shiver of want crackling through his stomach. Sherlock’s heart beats frantically against his ribcage, and his breathing grows fast as he feels John’s lips flutter against the sensitive skin of his neck. The kiss, if it could really be called that, is so quick and so light that Sherlock is almost convinced he had imagined it. Part 9 of Tumblr Drabble Challenge

Five Times John Cooked Something with Peas and One First Kiss by 221b_careful_what_you_wish_for (T, 3,915 w. || 5 and Ones, Friends to Lovers, Mutual Pining, Cooking / Food, Sick Sherlock, Music, Domestic Fluff, First Kiss) – After John cooks five dinners that slowly reveal their hunger for each other, Sherlock and John finally share a first kiss.

Jukebox by standbygo (T, 3,990 w. || Fluff, Singing/Music, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Hurt/Comfort, Humour, Friends to Lovers, First Kiss) – After the music halls of Sherlock’s mind palace get damaged by accident, John learns that Sherlock never forgets a song. Even the ones he’d rather forget. But the random singalong brings some unexpected benefits.

The Sum of His Parts by CommonNonsense (T, 4,311 w. || Body Worship, Pining, First Time) – There are eleven major organ systems in the human body. Sherlock knows about all of them to some degree, but none fascinate him as much as the ones that make up John Watson.

Law of Reciprocals by thequeergiraffe (T, 4,377 w. || Fluff, Angst) – “Law of Reciprocals, is it? You’ve saved my life enough times. I figure, turnabout’s fair play.” Sherlock finds ways to reciprocate his appreciation of John.

Overture by Kate_Lear (M, 4,435 w. || First Kiss / Time, Friends to Lovers, Angry John, Introspection, Dev. Rel., Embarassed / Insecure Sherlock, Morning After, Bed Sharing, Cuddles / Limpet Sherlock) – A short snippet on how John and Sherlock might have got together.

A Quiet Murmuration by cathedral_carver (T, 4,684 w. || Fluff, Cuddling & Snuggling, Kissing) – Just pay me back with one thousand kisses.

Confessions by crimsonwinter (T, 4,711 w. || Love Confessions, Fluff) – John and Sherlock finally confess their love for each other.

How Will I Know? by eragon19 (E, 4,895 w. || Pining, Love Confessions, POV Sherlock, Fluff, Sherlock’s Imagination, Papa Lestrade) – Here was the problem: Sherlock Holmes was completely and irrevocably in love with John Watson, and he had absolutely no idea how to tell him.

Laid Bare by esplanade (T, 6,529 w. || Romance, Fluff, Pining, Angst) – “I suppose it comes as no surprise that I always rather detested grand romantic gestures. They struck me as unnecessary and contrived, feeble attempts at desperately holding together relationships, most of which should have been allowed to fall apart.”

where the good things grow by anchors (M, 7,066 w. || Alternate First Meeting, Magical Realism, Gardens, Tea, Friends to Lovers) – “I have a magic garden.” As come-ons go, John’s heard worse.

Speak My Language by Itsallfine (T, 7,479 w. || Thanksgiving, Love Languages, Love Confessions, First Kiss) – When Mrs. Hudson introduces John and Sherlock to the concept of the five love languages, Sherlock descends into a dark mood and John’s curiosity gets the better of him. What is Sherlock’s love language, and why does the whole concept set him so on edge? Part 1 of A Holiday Triptych]

Unwasted by patternofdefiance (E, 8,966 w. || Post-S3 / S3 Fix-It, Developing Relationship, Friends to Lovers, Angelo’s, Fluff, First Time, Anal, Cum Play, Flashbacks to ASiB, Mutual Pining, Love Confessions, Bottomlock, Cuddles, Multiple Orgasms, BJ’s, Bed Sharing) – John finds it three months after he’s moved back. He’s on the hunt for something to make for dinner, is scrounging through the cupboards, when he happens upon the graveyard of pasta boxes Sherlock still seems to create when left to his own devices. Behind seven boxes of pasta, all almost completely empty, is a dark-glassed bottle, with a paler coat of dust.It’s unopened. John’s face falls slack when he sees it, instantly recognises it, and for a long moment he just stands and looks at it.

Inked in Memory by 221b_hound (E, 9,716 w. || Post-HLV, Tattoos, First Kiss / Time, Anal, Cuddling, Scars, Captain John, Kissing, Switchlock) – John has been back at Baker Street for a year, following the debacle that ended in Mary’s death. Things are good. Back almost to what they used to be. Sherlock might wish they were something else, now, but he only has himself to blame, he thinks. It’s too late, now, for the things he first denied before he’d ruined any chances he might have had. Sherlock also thinks that people who get tattoos are idiots. But perhaps he’s about to learn a thing or two, not least of which might be it’s not as late as he thinks it is. Part 1 of Lock and Key

Ravish Me by amalnahurriyeh (E, 10,025 w. || UST / RST, Makeup / Lipstick, Sympathetic Sally, Experiments, Pining John, First Kiss, Face Fucking / BJ’s, Cuddling) – Sherlock is experimenting with patterns of wear on lipstick in daily encounters. John is going to go insane.

You fit me, Sherlock Holmes by orphan_account (G, 10,077 w. || Fluff, Slow Burn, Idiots in Love, Experiments) – An unfortunate series of events leads to John accepting being a part of Sherlock’s study in physical intimacy. As the days pass by, John realizes he might be in for more than he bargained for. He doesn’t entirely mind.

The River Variations by withoutawish (T, 11,619 w. || Soulmates, Emotional Hurt / Comfort, Three Garridebs, Romance, Light Case Fic, Near Death Experience, Angst and Fluff) – John Watson never knew that he wanted a ‘no toast in the mornings’ normal until he realized what an honor it is to be destroyed by Sherlock Holmes.

The Nutcracker by Odamaki (T, 13,758 w. || Nutcracker AU || Christmas, Dark Magic, Dolls) – Sherlock is unimpressed with Uncle Rudy’s present. A doll? What does he want with a doll?

Pattern Behaviour by SilentAuror (E, 14,835 w. || POV First Person Sherlock, Jealous Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Introspection, Stroppy Sherlock, Light Humour, Friendship, John Takes Care of Sherlock, First Kiss/Time, Wall Kisses, Fluffy Angst, Happy Ending) – Sherlock doesn’t even know why he resents John’s dates so much. Until the day he does know. Slight angst, unrequited feelings (but don’t let that scare you off!)

Merlot by Itsallfine (E, 14,844 w. || Christmas, Pining Sherlock, Wine, Slow Burn, First Kiss / Time, Love Confessions, Wine, Holmes Family) – Sherlock and John work toward becoming something more as they prepare to host the Holmes parents at 221B for the holidays. Part of 25 Days of Fic-Mas 2015.

Twelfth Night by yourdykeinshiningarmor (E, 15,139 w. || Fake Relationship, Christmas, Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers, Angst & Fluff, BJ’s, Anal) – John is invited to his aunt’s Twelfth Night ball. Sherlock offers to attend with him as a friendly face among strangers, but John’s family force him to address his true feelings for Sherlock.

Everlasting by cypress_tree (M, 16,884 w. || Magical Realism, First Time, Immortality, Angst & Fluff) – Most lives end. A Tuck Everlasting fusion, in which the Holmes brothers have lived for a very, very long time.

Uncharted Territory by J_Baillier (T, 19,603 w. || Dystopian Future / Black Mirror AU || Angst, Drama, Homophobia, Bisexuality, Technology, Humour, Romance, Near Future, Happy Ending) – The System puts people through a series of assigned relationships in order to determine who their Perfect Match is. John believes that it works; Sherlock really, really doesn’t. One of them is probably going to be wrong.

At the Heart of it All by SilentAuror (E, 19,812 w. || Virgin Sherlock, Post S3, POV John, Domestics, First Time, Kissing, Romance) – John has been back at Baker Street for four months now and thinks it’s about time they had the Talk to see whether or not they could be more than friends. Sherlock has a lot of uncertainty about this concept for multiple reasons. Unabashed romance.

Through the Clouds by Mazarin221b (E, 20,004 w. || Retirement, Sussex, Bees, Home Improvement, First Time, Romance) – Sherlock takes a remarkably early retirement at 47, and convinces John that a change of pace would do them both good. They buy an old cottage on the South Downs, and exchange their nonstop life in Baker Street for quiet contemplation, bee studies, and book writing. They might go completely insane, but sometimes it takes stepping outside of the life you’re living to find the life you want. Part 1 of Through The Clouds

A Life Well-Lived by Kate_Lear (E, 20,121 w. || Original Male Character, Sherlock Woos John, Jealous Sherlock, Reluctant Bi-John, Past Abuse, Insecure John, Reassuring / Caring Sherlock, Protective Sherlock, Understanding Sherlock) – John got scared off men by an abusive past relationship. Sherlock has to try and woo him while not scaring him off with protective possessive rage.

whiskies neat by Ellipsical (E, 20,660 w. || Alternate First Meeting, POV Second Person Sherlock, Slow Burn, One Night Stand, Rimming, Blow Jobs, Anal, Soldier John, Crying, Emotional Lovemaking, Switchlock) – Home and hearth and whiskies neat, or, alternatively, Sherlock Holmes falls in love.

Ghost Stories by SwissMiss (M, 22,256 w. || Pining, Holmes Family, Christmas, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Bed Sharing, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, First Time) – Sherlock’s parents think he and John are a couple. They might be onto something.

Sonatina in G Minor by SilentAuror (E, 22,574 w. || Case Fic, POV Sherlock, Angst, UST, Sherlock’s Violin, Post-S3, Romance) – John has come back to Baker Street, but Sherlock doesn’t understand the strange tension between them, even after he begins teaching John to play the violin at John’s request.

Maintaining A Personal Life by Gingerhermit (E, 24,284 w. || Alternating POV’s, Bisexuality, BAMF!John, Romance / Drama, Sort-of Case Fic, Peril & Angst, Love Confessions, Toplock, Soft Idiots in Love, Post S3) – Sherlock and John discover some interesting revelations about each other’s sexuality, which lead them both to question the assumptions they’ve made about one another for years. In the midst of their mutual discoveries, a dangerous psychopath looms on the side-lines who threatens to destroy their new beginning.

Tomorrow’s Song by agirlsname (M, 24,645 w. || Post-TRF, POV Sherlock, Angst with a Happy Ending, Virgin / Repressed Sherlock, Love Confessions, Slow Burn, Pining) – How can he think a relationship with me would be a good idea? I am the sort of person to take a break from my life and when I come back after two years, I expect to find it exactly as I left it. In reality I find it shattered to pieces. (I actually equate you with my life. When did I start doing that?)

State of Flux by Atiki (E, 24,655 w. || Sherlock POV, Slow Burn, First Kiss/Time, Friends to Lovers, Frottage, Cuddles and Snuggles, Awkwardness, Insecure/Virgin Sherlock, Romance) – John’s marriage is over and he is finally back home (i.e. at Baker Street, where he belongs). Sherlock is awfully insecure and John is awfully hesitant, and they’re both awkward idiots, of course, but they figure it out. Many First Times happen.

Dropping the Act by jadztone (T, 27,258 w. || Parentlock, Fake Relationship, Mary’s Family, Post-S4, Cuddling & Snuggling, Bed Sharing, Pining, Christmas) – Sherlock and John are quite happy living together with Rosie in Baker St. They might be even happier if they didn’t act towards each other like their love is only platonic. Mycroft brings troubling news in the form of Mary’s parents wanting to know just what their grandchild’s home life is like. The boys decide to spend Christmas pretending like they are in love in order to seem more like a “normal” family. It’s easy enough to pretend when all you’re doing is dropping the act.

Don’t Leave Anything Out by lookupkate (E, 27,422 w. || Epistolary, Falling in Love, Misunderstandings, Alternate First Meeting) – The first letter John writes home from Afghanistan is meant to go to a woman he went on only one date with. How it ends up in Sherlock’s hands is completely innocent. What happens next is not. What do you do when you find out the person you’re in love with has been lying about something as monumental as who they are? What do you do when you’re the one who lied? How on earth do you put the pieces back together?

Hellfire by testosterone_tea (E, 28,596 w. || Fantasy / Magic / Mages / Elementals AU || Mage Sherlock, Elemental John, Developing Relationship, Torture, Powerful / BAMF John, POV Alternating, Dark / Blood Magic, UST, First Kiss) – Sherlock is a Mage that gets involved with a case involving Dark Summoning rituals, leading him to John Watson, a man with Berserker blood. The only thing is, Berserkers have been extinct for centuries. And of course, nothing involving Mycroft and his interfering ways is ever simple. This time, even Sherlock may have bitten off more than he can chew.

Another Auld Lang Syne by DiscordantWords (M, 30,234 w. || Post S4, Mutual Pining, Alternating POV, Introspection, Parentlock, Christmas, New Year’s, First Kiss, Past Drug Use, Angst with Happy Ending, Drinking, Sherlock Whump) – There had been years of missed chances.

The Kissing Disease by cottonballz_of_death (E, 30,856 || Sickfic, Angst with Happy Ending, Case Fic, Self-Harm, Slow Burn, Jealous Sherlock, Body Image Issues, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional H/C, POV Sherlock, Oral / Anal, Thong, Frottage) – John brings home a boyfriend, shocking Sherlock, who long ago gave up hope that his straight flatmate would ever take a romantic interest in him. In a bid to reconnect with John, he tries to infect himself with a “harmless” virus. Neither of them is prepared for the emotional fallout that results.

Love or What You Will by miss_frankenstein (T, 31,987 w. || College/Uni AU || Professor John, Ph.D Student Sherlock, Pining John, Poetry, Falling in Love / Slow Burn, Light Angst, Happy Ending) – John is an English professor who specializes in War and Post-War Literature and Sherlock is the brilliant yet impossible Ph.D. student assigned to be his TA because no one in the Chemistry Department is willing to put up with him. And - somewhere between Waugh and Plath, e-mails and takeaway, novels and villanelles - they fall in love.

Five Times They Kissed for a Case, and One Time They Kissed for Real by fleetwood_mouse (M, 32,406 w. || 5+1, Slow Burn, Fluff / Angst, Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers) – A stolen ring! An artful blogger! And many more adventures for your enjoyment.

Chaperones by MissDavis (T, 34,114 w. || 11 Years Post-S4, Fake Relationship, Parentlock, Disney World, Bed / Room Sharing, Friends to Lovers, Fluff, First Kiss, Obsessive Sherlock, Insecure John) – Right. Of course. Everyone assumed they were a couple and no one would question it. John put his elbows up on the table so he could rest his head in his hands. “You want to pretend to be a couple so we can chaperone a trip to Disney World with Rosie’s class and you won’t have to share a room with a stranger?” “Exactly.” Sherlock beamed at him. “Don’t worry about the cost. The Birmingham case last month paid more than enough to cover expenses for all three of us.”

Bedtime Stories by Liketheriver (M, 34,388 w. || Emotional H/C, Romance, Angst & Humour, Bed Sharing, John First Person, TRF, John Whump) – John’s POV during Season 2 and beyond when Sherlock takes up semi-permanent residence in his bed. A collection of codas and missing scenes wrapped up into one long fic and topped with a bow that takes the story beyond Reichenbach and into happy territory once more. Part 1 of Bedtime Universe

Classified(s) by blueink3 (E, 36,153 w. || Wedding Date AU || Fake Relationship, Jealous, PIning, H/C, Idiots in Love, Happy Ending, Mary is not Nice) – Clara’s American father is the ambassador to some such territory that Great Britain probably used to own, but she (and Harry’s undying love for her) is the reason John is getting on a flight at 12:30pm, flying across the second largest ocean in the world, and pretending to be in a perfectly happy, healthy relationship with an undoubtedly perfectly coiffed stranger. See, Clara is not only American (and wealthy to boot), she’s also best friends with John’s ex-fiancée. Whom she’s placed in the wedding party. As Maid of Honor. And John just happens to be Best Man. Bloody brilliant.

The Boy Who Drank Stars by kinklock (E, 36,157 w. || Howl’s Moving Castle AU || Witches and Wizards, Slow Burn, Magic, Jealous John, Happy Ending, Bed Sharing) – “I’m looking for a castle,” John informed the scarecrow. “A moving one.”Except that, as it turned out, it was not a moving one at all.

Nothing to Make a Song About by emmagrant01 (E, 36,833 w. || Post-TRF, First Time, Reunion, Jealous John, Pining Sherlock, Romance, Angst with Happy Ending) – When Sherlock returned from his faked death, John could not forgive him for the deception and broke off their friendship. Ten years later, John returns to London in search of yet another new beginning. Sherlock, not surprisingly, is waiting.

(Never) Turn Your Back to the Sea by DiscordantWords (M, 39,968 w. || Post S4 Fix It || Grief / Mourning, Victor Trevor, Friendship, Sherlock is Not Okay, Nightmares/Flashbacks/Panic Attacks, Parentlock, Pining Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, John Comes Home) – Baker Street is very much the same. Only different. And Sherlock is just trying not to drown.

Act IV by SilentAuror (E, 39,707 w. || First Person POV Sherlock, HLV Fix-It, Indifelity, Angst, Drama) – After Sherlock is shot, John moves back into Baker Street. They spend the autumn together as John tries to make sense of his life and make some important decisions about both Mary and Sherlock. Canon-compliant, excerpts from His Last Vow.

In the Still of the Night by SilentAuror (E, 42,234 w. || S4 Fix It / Post-S4, Sherlock POV, Angst, Drama, Romance, Virgin Sherlock, Awkwardness, Misunderstandings / Miscommunications, Case Fic, Travelling, Pining) – As locals on the Northeastern coast begin to report UFO sightings, life at Baker Street becomes significantly awkward as John brings up his desire for more than friendship and Sherlock refuses him. They embark on the investigation from the confines of the tiny cottage Mycroft has rented for them, attempting to navigate both the clues of the case as well as their own inability to communicate…

The Soul Remembers by i_ship_an_armada (E, 43,636 w. || Oblivion AU || Post-Apocalypse, Movie Fusion, Science Fiction, Action/Adventure, Angst, Dreams, Bittersweet Ending) – John Watson is the lone security repairman stationed on a desolate, nearly-ruined future Earth. His dreams are plagued by a tall, dark-haired man, and when his dreams meet reality, he will be forced to question everything he believes is the truth about his life.

Sentenced by SarahKnight (T, 44,777 w. || Dev. Rel., Alternate S4 Canon, Drama, Angst, Pining, Feelings are Hard) – Virtual series 4 opener. Sherlock’s in prison being targeted by a murderer, John’s married to a pregnant assassin and Moriarty’s back.

The Real Great Perfumers by shelleysprometheus (E, 45,355 w. || Case Fic, Alternating POV, Gay Sherlock / Bi John, Canon Compliant with Divergence at TRF, Friends to Lovers, Oral / Anal, Pining, First Kiss / Time, Dev. Rel., Drugging, Body Worship, Bathing, Love Confessions, Travelling, Bottomlock, Cranky Sherlock, BJ’s, Alternating POV, Jealous John) – The case, this case. This extraordinary, fascinating, scintillating case. A house. Designed entirely by its eccentric owner, built by no less than five hundred expert tradesmen in the heart of Marrakesh. A house that had, seemingly not only driven its owner out, but also to his quite unpleasant death. And a perfumer, a chemist no less, the very thought of the secrets that house could reveal, would reveal was irresistible. Sherlock had to have this case … and it seems, he also had to have John! Part 1 of the Forethought and Fire series

The Norwood Love Builders by flawedamythyst (T, 47,798 w. || Fake Relationship, Slow Burn, Post TRF Angst) – Sherlock and John go undercover to solve the murder of Joanna Oldacre, but things are complicated by the many feelings John has been repressing in the wake of Sherlock’s faked death and return.

The Pieces That Fall to Earth by Itsallfine (M, 49,513 w. || S4 Fix-It, Epistolary, Love Confessions, Slow Burn, Parentlock, Past Abuse, Coming Out, Questioning Sexuality, Mental Health Issues / Therapy, Angst, Happy Ending) – John and Sherlock have hit rock bottom, but with all their armor stripped away, they can finally speak honestly, seek healing, and find the truths that matter most.An epistolary post-s4 fix-it fic. Now complete.(This fic is rated T except for one very clearly marked and easily skippable chapter, which is rated M.) Part 1 of The Pieces that Fall to Earth

Triage by scullyseviltwin (E, 51,612 w. || Character Injury, Introspection, Pining Sherlock, Falling in Love, Slow Burn, Sherlock POV) – Sherlock’s mind goes exceedingly, devastatingly quiet and gray-blank. When he speaks it’s through a thick haze, it’s through molasses, he’s so disconnected from the words that it may as well be the unconscious shooter speaking.

Spare Change by Ermerness (E, 51,966 w. || Rich Sherlock AU, Virgin Sherlock, First Time, Alternate First Meeting) – The Holmes family is one of the richest and most powerful in England. Sherlock spends his time flying around the world on the family’s private jet drinking a lot and shopping at expensive boutiques as a way of trying to alleviate his endless boredom. His mother decides it’s time he settles down with someone powerful, wealthy and well connected. John Watson happens to be none of those things.

Coventry by standbygo (E, 52,020 w. || Dollhouse AU || Case Fic, Slow Burn, Sci-Fi / Fantasy, First Kiss / Time, Attempted Rape, BAMF John) – “Let me get this straight,” John said, wondering when his life had become a science fiction film. “Some guy orders up a personality, a person, to his specifications, and they program this into a real live person, who has consented to do this, and she goes to this person and acts as his wife, or lawyer, or Royal Marine, or Navy Seal or what have you, and she has all the skills, all the knowledge, everything? Then you say the magic words, and she follows you back to The House, and they erase it all until her next appointment?”

Never Change a Running System by Lorelei_Lee (E, 54,246 w. || Pre-TRF, Romance, Humour, Drama, Sex Toys, Anal, Rimming, Masturbation, Frottage, Blow Jobs, Public Sex, First Kiss / Time, Virgin Sherlock / Loss of Virginity, Accidental Voyeurism, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Experiments, Naive Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Jealous Sherlock, Possessive Sherlock, Straight With an Exception John, Hand Jobs) – Sherlock discovers his sexuality – with far-reaching consequences for John.

A Hundred Crimson Sols by elldotsee (E, 55,536 w. || Astronauts AU || Mars Exploration / Space Travel, Slow Burn, Shy Sherlock, Scientist Sherlock / Biomed Engineer John, Alternating POV, Mutual Pining, UST, Angst with Happy Ending, Domestic Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Injuries, Suicidal Ideation, Zero-G Sex) – Will Holmes is a chemical researcher recognized widely for his contributions to the new Mars exploration program. Thanks to his ground-breaking developments, the IMMC (International Mars Mission Corporation) is one step closer to Martian colonization. Will and his team of scientists are headed out on the first of three manned missions before the first group of settlers arrive. Three days before launch, one of the crew has to be replaced. Will panics because…new people. The replacement is of course one John Watson, biomedical engineer and space hottie who was pretty sure he had retired from actual space exploration and was now content to work in the nice, quiet research lab. Can the crew survive this TOTALLY ROUTINE trip? Will they be able to endure each other for the looooooong trip in close quarters? Gonna be a wild ride… prepare for blast off. Part 1 of the SpaceBois go to Space series

One Little Change by jadztone (E, 58,312 w. || ASiB Divergence, Fake Relationship, Bed Sharing, Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers, First Kiss / Time, Anal Sex, Blow Jobs, Bi John / Gay Demisexual Sherlock, Switchlock, Alternating POV, Jealousy, Misunderstandings, Case Fic, Angst with Happy Ending, Emotional Love Making, Butt Plugs, Cuddles) – Our story begins right after John and Sherlock’s first meeting with Irene Adler in September. It splits off into an AU that imagines them taking a case where they act as bait to hook a killer targeting closeted gays in secret relationships. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, many things happen that have our boys wondering if maybe they have a chance with each other. Then Irene fakes her death on Christmas Eve, and things get a lot more complicated - especially since they still have a killer to catch.

floating through a dark blue sky by Lediona (M, 58,966 w. || Notting Hilll AU || POV John, Celebrity Sherlock, First Date / Time / Kiss, Past Drug Addiction, Angst with a Happy Ending) – Of course, I’d seen his films and always thought he was, well, brilliant – but, you know, a million miles from the world I live in. Or, when John is the owner of a travel book shop and the famous Sherlock Holmes stops in one day.

The Progress of Sherlock Holmes by ivyblossom (E, 62,006 w || First Person Sherlock POV, Pining, Angst, Slow Burn, Infidelity, Sherlock Learns About Himself, Happy Ending) – Sherlock struggles with his feelings for John, makes a mistake, and learns just how important he and John are to each other. Non-BBC Mary / John, but it’s a *complicated* relationship.

This Thing All Things Devours by cypress_tree (E, 63,844 w. || In Time AU || Science Fiction, Dystopian Universe, First Meetings, Action / Adventure, Romance) – In 2169, time is money—literally. Humans are genetically engineered to stop aging at 25, when the numbers on their arm start counting down from one year. When that time is up, they die. The only way to get more time is to earn it, borrow it, or steal it.John Watson lives day-to-day in the crowded slums of Zone 13. He never imagined living any differently—until he meets the practically-immortal Sherlock, and helps him on a case to track a local time-thief…

The Bells of King’s College by SilentAuror (E, 64,019 w. || Post-S4, Missed Opportunities, Angst with Happy Ending, Fake Relationship, Case Fic, John POV, Jealous John, John in Denial, Travelling / Holidays, Virgin Sherlock, Wedding Proposals) – It’s only been two weeks since Eurus Holmes disrupted their lives when Mycroft sends John and Sherlock to Cambridge to pose as an engaged couple at a wedding show in the hopes of solving six unsolved deaths…

Summit Fever by J_Baillier (M, 78,802 w. || Mountain Climber AU || POV John, Angst, Tragedy, Suicidal Ideation, The Himalayas, Mountain Guide / Doctor John, Mount Climber Sherlock, Loneliness, Drama, Suspense, Slow Burn, Injured Sherlock / Sherlock Whump, Pining John) – After graduating from medical school, John Watson followed his heart to the Himalayas. Ten years later, he’s a haunted cynic working for his ex-lover’s trekking and mountaineering company. Will leading an expedition to Annapurna I—the most lethal of all the world’s highest mountains—shake John out of his reverie, and who is the mystery client added to the group at the last minute?

A Case of Identity by jkay1980 (T, 91,009 w. || Fake Relationship, Post-TRF, Case Fic) – John and Sherlock have succeeded in rebuilding their friendship after Sherlock’s fake suicide, but an unusual case puts their relationship to the test. They pretend to be engaged and attend a marriage counseling workshop. Under the pretext of the case, Sherlock turns out to be a master of seduction, and John finally learns he might like Sherlock more than he thought. Slowly, John discovers that he loves Sherlock not only in a friendly, brotherly way, but both men have to fight their own demons before they can think of taking their relationship to a new level…

The Cost of a Wish by slashscribe (E, 102,493 w. || xxxHolic Fusion || Spirits / Ghosts and Magic, Love Confessions, Slow Burn, Soul Mates / Fated Lovers, Adventure, Immortal Sherlock, Powerful John, POV John, Frottage, Wish Granting, Angst with Happy Ending, Nightmares) – John has been plagued by a secret his entire life that has made him feel hopeless until he meets a mysterious, seemingly omniscient man named Sherlock Holmes who owns a wish-granting shop. Their meeting sets off a series of inevitable events that will change the course of both of their lives forever.

The Wedding Garments by cwb (E, 105,390 w. || Alternate Future AU || , Alternate First Meeting, Dating / Arranged Marriages, Romance, First Kiss/Time, Heavy Petting, Cuddles, POV Sherlock, Virgin Sherlock, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn / Falling in Love / Dev. Rel., Nervous/Anxious Sherlock, Jealous/Cranky, Hiking, Vacation Homes / Honeymoon, Sherlock’s Family, Horny John/Sherlock, Patient John, Massages, Hand Jobs, Assassination Plots, Hand Jobs / Oral Sex) – This is the story of a young consulting detective who wants nothing to do with marriage and an army doctor who wants to find true love. It’s 2020 post-Brexit England and the British government is encouraging arranged marriages. Candidates meet through state-run agencies and date in hopes of finding love (and tax benefits). Sherlock doesn’t need or want a spouse, at least not until John Watson shows up. Hesitant to give in to his more carnal urges because of the way they derail his mind, how will Sherlock progress toward the more intimate aspects of a relationship? The answer lies in a very special wedding gift.

A Study in Winning by Jupiter_Ash (E, 106,658 w. || Tennis AU || John POV, Dirty Talk, Mutual Pining, Misunderstandings, Happy Ending, Sherlock Speaks French, Switchlock, Wimbledon) – John and Sherlock are professional tennis players and it’s Wimbledon. One is a broken almost was at the end of his career, the other an arrogant rising star tipped for greatness. It should have been a straightforward tournament. It really should have been. How were they to know that a chance encounter would change everything? Part 1 of Tennis

Eyes Up, Heels Down by CodenameMeretricious (E, 107,845 w. || Sports Equestrian AU || Fluff, Angst, Humour, Rider!Sherlock, Groomer!John, Show Jumping, Slow Burn, Happy Ending) – Sherlock is a top eventing rider currently training at Baker Farms. John is the new groom who’s been told to steer clear of the surly rider and his horses. Part 1 of Baker Farms

A Further Sea by i_ship_an_armada & ShinySherlock (E, 125,492 w. || Historical Pirates AU || Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Doctor John / Pirate Captain Sherlock, Sailing, UST / RST, Masturbation, Action / Adventure, Mild Angst & Peril, Romance, Shaving, Molly/Janine, Bottomlock, Hand / Blow Jobs, Past Drug Use, Slow Burn, Mild Violence, Happy Ending) – Here be a tale of adventure for both body and soul, but beware if ye be not of stout heart, for this be piratelock, ya savvy? Luckless ship’s surgeon John Watson takes a chance, and finds himself eye to eye with The Ghost, the scourge of the seven seas and a definite thorn in the side of the blaggard, James Moriarty. But when John finds there’s more to this most cunning pirate than be meetin’ the eye, he has to choose… is it a pirate’s life for him?

To Light Another’s Path by BeautifulFiction (E, 128,654 w. || Post-TGG, Sick Fic, Hurt/Comfort, Drug Addiction / Recreational Drug Use, First Time / Kiss, Case Fic) – Teaching John to observe seems to be a losing battle, but when Sherlock falls ill and submits himself to John’s care, will he realise that there is more to life than the science of deduction? Meanwhile, there is a murder to solve, and John must try and convince Sherlock not to sacrifice his own health for the sake of the case.

Colors by Quesarasara (E, 140,537 w. || Pleasantville-Inspired AU || Soulmates, Colour Bonds, Alternating POV, Angst, Fluff, Pining, Case Fic, Medical Procedures) – Everyone on earth is born with eyes that see in black, white, and an endless series of greys. When you meet your soulmate, you finally see the world in color. We’re all searching for the person who brings color to our lives. John and Sherlock are no exception. Part 1 of The Colors ‘Verse

Mise en Place by azriona (M, 161,004 w. || Restaurant (Kitchen Nightmares) AU || Sherlock is Gordon Ramsay / Celebrity Sherlock, Restauranteur John, Harry Plays Prominent Role, Alternating POV, Mutual Pining, Cranky Sherlock, Bed Sharing, Slow Burn) – John Watson had no intentions of taking over the family business, but when he returns from Afghanistan, battered and bruised, and discovers that his sister Harry has run their restaurant into the ground, he doesn’t have much choice. There’s only one thing that can save the Empire from closing for good – the celebrity star of the BBC series Restaurant Reconstructed, Chef Sherlock Holmes. Part 1 of Mise en Place

The Gilded Cage by BeautifulFiction (E, 326,887 w. || Omegaverse || Omega Sherlock / Alpha John, Friends to Lovers, Dub Con, Reproductive Rights) – In a world where Omegas are the property of the elite Alphas, locked away and treasured by those wealthy enough to buy them, John never questioned his flatmate’s secondary gender. Sherlock Holmes was an Alpha through-and through. Wasn’t he? A chance discovery turns the world on its head, and John is left grappling to come to terms with Sherlock’s past as events conspire to threaten their future.

MARKED FOR LATER

(these are fics I have in my MFL list for future reading and have not read them yet. Read at your own discretion).

And Then There Were Two by NimWallace (T, 10,194 w. || Post S4, Mutual Pining, Case Fic, Slow Burn, Angst, Grief / Mourning, Mystery, Cults) – It’s quiet at Baker Street. Too quiet. It’s been a year since Mary died, but only a few months since the events of the Final Problem, and Sherlock and John have fallen into a state of despairing and monotony. So when a case involving a vicious cult on the English Country side appears, they quickly jump to go undercover as Sean Harmony and John Wales. But how can Sherlock keep a delicate John from breaking? And how can John come to terms with his love for his detective? Most importantly, what really happened the night of the Final Problem?

Out of the Woods by SilentAuror (E, 20,471 w. || Post S4, Romance, Slow Burn, Flirting, Drunk Sex, Practical Jokes, POV Sherlock) – Sherlock is fairly certain that John has taken to flirting with him of late, but can’t be entirely certain of it. At least, not until a case takes them into a forest, along with Lestrade’s team and something happens that will change everything about their lives…

What Friends Do by agirlsname (E, 23,177 w. || Post-ASiP Canon Divergence, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Jealous Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Virgin Sherlock, Infidelity, First Kiss/Time, Fluff and Smut, Cuddling and Snuggling, Platonic-to-Not-Platonic, Blow/Hand Jobs, Angst With Happy Ending) – Sherlock has never had a friend before. He didn’t even know he wanted one until John moved into 221B. But John quickly becomes essential to him, and their friendship turns more and more intimate. It’s all platonic, of course. All perfectly normal for close friends. Part 1 of the Friends series

carrying up his morning tea by darcylindbergh (E, 34,505 w. || Minor Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Wakes & Funerals, Angst, Estranged John, Pining Sherlock, Depression and Insecurity, Slow Burn, Hurt/Comfort) – His fingers tremble as he dials and he can’t force them steady. Familiar number, even though he hasn’t used it in two years. He isn’t even sure he should be calling it now, but she’d asked. She’d made him promise.

Anchor Point by trickybonmot (E, 49,856 w. || Truman Show AU || Psychological Drama, Suspense, Slow Burn, Dark Characters / Fic) – The world tunes in nightly for Sherlock, the ultimate in reality TV: Sherlock Holmes, a real person with a legendary name, unknowingly lives out his life in a staged setting contrived by his brother. Things get complicated when a retired army doctor joins the show to play the part of Sherlock’s closest friend. This fic borrows its concept from the 1998 film, the Truman Show. However, you don’t need to have any knowledge of the movie to enjoy this story.

Focal Point by PuffleLock (E, 60,913 w. || Post-TRF Divergence / Different Reunion, POV John, Slow Burn, For a Case, Friends to Lovers, Suicidal Thoughts, Sad Wank, Sherlock in Makeup, Dancing, Mentions of Torture / Depression / PTSD, Love Confessions, Idiots in Love, Frottage, Blow Jobs, Scars, Rimming, Anal, Toplock, First Kiss / Time, Gay Sherlock / Bi John) – John comes home early from a medical conference to find that every once in awhile, Sherlock can surprise the hell out of him. Can John surprise him back?

First and Only by crimsonwinter (E, 68,390 w. || Kid/Teen/Unilock, Family Drama, Romance, Alternating POV, Slow Burn, Angst & Fluff, Rimming, Anal, Fingering, Grinding/Frottage, Sexual Tension, Oral, Virginity, Switchlock) – Sherlock and John have been inseparable since birth, working through life as neighborhood best friends, attached at the hip. Unfortunately, reality can break up even the closest of us, and John and Sherlock struggle through all that growing up entails. But first loves are unforgettable, and the boys come to realize that their love is the first and only they’ll ever have.

The Vapor Variant by 88thParallel (CanadaHolm) (M, 72,684 w. || Post-THoB, John Whump, Protective Sherlock, Guilty Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, PTSD John, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Suspense, Virus, Sickfic, Big Brother Mycroft) – They stood face to face in the middle of a clearing. The dim light of the moon barely allowed Sherlock to see the glassy terror in John’s eyes and the sweat that glistened off his forehead. His nose was bleeding again, blood dripping in a slow stream from his right nostril. They were both gasping for air, John’s eyes locked on Sherlock’s. There was no recognition there, just wild animal fear. Time stood still for an eternal few seconds, and Sherlock took a shaky breath. “John—”Spell broken, John spun and bolted back into the woods. Still heaving for air, Sherlock took off after him.

The Road Less Traveled Series by verityburns (M, 75,130 w. across 3 works || First Kiss / Time, POV Sherlock First Person, Angst & Fluff, Romance) – Sherlock realises that John’s dating habits involve an unacceptable level of risk… what if he meets an unusually tolerant woman and ends up getting married?

Philia and Eros by distantstarlight (E, 84,660 w. || Historical AU || Friends to Lovers, Time Travel, Kilts, Possessive Behaviour, Love Confessions, Slow Burn, Implied Rape/Non-Con) – Love is timeless but time isn’t necessarily linear. John Watson and Sherlock Holmes are about to embark on an unintended adventure that will take them far away from the comfortable confines of 221 B Baker Street. Part 1 of Strange Paths

How Long? by TheBritishBourbon (M, 111,010 w. || Kidnapping, Slow Burn, Hurt/Comfort, Injured Sherlock, Protective John, PTSD Sherlock, Flashbacks, Dark Themes, Implied Torture) – Sherlock never got to jump off the roof of St. Barts, he never got the chance. Sherlock was abducted and held for 5 years, but now he has escaped. What awaits him as he returns to reality? Part 1 of How Long Universe

Did you feel it? : A soulmates AU by MorganeUK (G, 126,783 w. || Soulmates AU || Kid/Teen/Unilock, Protective Greg, Angst, Big Feels, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Mystrade, Injuries, Slow Burn, Anxious John, BAMF John, Protective John, Est. Rel., Happy Ending) – In a world where 0.01% of the population have a soulmate with whom they share pains and violent emotions… what are the odds that an ex-army doctor and an ex-addict detective open their heart and soul enough to found each others?Finally writing a twist on the soulmates trend… Hope you like it!

“Merry Christmas” I wrapped it up and sent it with a note saying “I love you” by starrysummernights (E, 136,580+ w. || WIP, chapter missing? || Post S4, Slow Burn, Mary is Not Nice, Christmas, Fluff, Smut, Angst, Parentlock, Past Torture / Rape) – John has moved back into 221B with his daughter Rosie after Mary was killed, but things are not exactly comfortable between him and Sherlock. After everything that has happened, they are trying to become friends again…and maybe something more. What better time than the Christmas season?! Takes place after TLD.

The Bang and the Clatter by earlgreytea68 (M, 137,049 w. || Baseball AU || Slow Burn / Dev. Rel.) – Sherlock Holmes is a pitcher and John Watson is a catcher. No, no, no, it’s a baseball AU. Part 1 of Baseball

The Jewel in the Tower by PoppyAlexander (E, 207,079 w. || Dystopian AU, Violence, Rape/Non-Con Elements, Mild Dub Con, One World Government, Class Issues, Assassin John / Geisha Sherlock, Self Esteem Issues, Slow Burn, Espionage, Miscommunication, Sexual Fantasy, Masturbation, Letters/Texting, Phone Sex, Infidelity, First Time, Blow Jobs, Dirty Talk, Injury Recovery, Panic Attacks, Frottage, Scars, Misgendering, Happy Endings) – In a contemporary dystopia, Unity is peace – despite the fact unsanctioned information, illicit currency, and every sort of danger flows unchecked in the world’s pleasure districts. John Watson, a weary hired gun, is assigned by the mysterious Mentor to investigate a subversive element lurking in the Icehouse, the world’s most famous House of Repose. As accustomed as he is to dealing with the unexpected, John is nevertheless woefully unprepared to meet the gem of the Ice house, Xie, the world renowned “drashaskaya,” the living work of art after which all other drashas are modeled. In sumptuous suites, amid trailing puddles of silk and fervent whispers in the night, John soon learns that nothing is as it seems in the floating world of London’s pleasure district.

You Go To My Head by 7PercentSolution and J_Baillier (E, 257,765+ w. across 8 Stories, WiP || Surgeon AU || Medical Realism, Doctor John / Doctor Sherlock, Friends to Lovers, Pining, Addiction, Angst, Slow Burn, PTSD, Pining, Insecurity) – This series is an alternate universe one, featuring the exciting medical and romantic adventures of doctors Watson (senior neuroanaesthetist) and Holmes (neurosurgeon).

Radioactive Trees In A Red Forest by Maribor_Petrichor (E, 280,251 w. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post-S4, Suicidal Ideations, Alcohol / Rx Drug Abuse, Coming Out / Bisexual John, Seizures, Past/Referenced/Implied Child Abuse, Hallucinations, Rehab, Celibacy, Sobriety / Relapse, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Grief/Mourning, Psychological Trauma, Nice /Not Anti-Mary, John’s POV, Parentlock, First Time, Angst, Switchlock) – John Watson is what happens when a man can no longer see a reason to go on. John Watson is what happens when a man starts to let go. “It is what it is.” John Watson is what happens when what “it is” becomes too much to bear. This is a story of the life, death, and resurrection of John Hamish Watson.

The Men Who Talked Between the Words by Odamaki (E, 463,024 w. || Parentlock, UST/URT, Pining Sherlock, Grieving John, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Past Abuse, Slow Burn/Build, Case Fic, First Kiss / Time, Implied/Referenced Suicide & Drug Use, Slow Burn, Sherlock Whump, Panic Attacks) – John expected to be a father some day; he expected to have the house, and the wife and the nice suburban job. Sherlock never expected to have children, in part because he never expected to make it past 30. As it turns out, you don’t get a choice. Crammed into Baker Street with a baby, John struggles with single-parenthood and his own fears, while Sherlock treads the fine line between doing too little and saying too much.

#steph replies #johnlock fic recs #my fic recs #slow burn #long post #developing relationship #falling in love #Anonymous #fic rec sunday

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hunnywrites · 4 years

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Arcade Dreams: Chapter Eighteen

Summary: There’s a new girl working at the Palace Arcade and Hawkins’ Family Video. Billy can’t stand her, and the feeling is mutual. No matter what everyone else seems to think.

Pairing: Billy Hargrove/OFC

A/N: What’s this? A surprise, early Arcade Dreams update? I’ve been dying for y’all to read this chapter. We’re gonna move away from show canon a little, this is something I’ve been planning since I started writing this fic. This chapter has been a looong time coming, and we’re gonna get some insight to Teddi’s dad’s identity. I hope you enjoy!

Billy and Teddi had gone out for pizza a few hours ago. Afterwards he’d been able to patch up her tires for a temporary fix until he had more time to replace them entirely. They had been on a bit of a time crunch. Neither of Teddi’s parents were home, and there was no real way of knowing when her mom (who would definitely tell her dad that a boy had been over) would turn up.

Teddi had spent the rest of the night in her room. Her father didn’t bother her. Out of sight, out of mind she figured. She was working on some homework when he walked into her room a few hours after he had come home from work. “Your mother and I are going out to dinner. I’m imagining you don’t have any plans tonight?” he asked. Teddi thought of her popped tires. Bastard, she thought bitterly.

“No, sir. Just finishing up homework.” she motioned to her books.

“Good girl. We’ll be home in a few hours.” and with that he left. Teddi stuck her tongue out at his retreating back. It was like nothing had happened between them. But come tomorrow, he wouldn’t be able to boss her around anymore or torment her. She would be out of the house and on her own. She was practically giddy at the idea.

Eventually she gave up on her homework. She just couldn’t make herself focus. This had to be how kids felt on Christmas Eve. So excited at the thought of the presents they’d get on Christmas morning that they couldn’t sit still. So she plopped down on the couch with some popcorn and settled in for some channel surfing. It wasn’t something she got to do very often.

Teddi had settled on the Golden Girls when the phone rang. She nearly let it ring. It wasn’t like anyone was calling for her. But then if it was someone from her dad’s work and she didn’t take a message she knew she wouldn’t hear the end of it. So she got up from the couch with a heavy sigh and shuffled over to the kitchen.

“Hello?”

“...Teddi?” it was Max. She was speaking quietly, like she was hiding from someone. It was too late for her to be calling just to chat. Teddi’s gut immediately told her something was wrong.

“Max? Is everything okay?” there was a long pause on the other end and Teddi could feel her palms growing clammy.

“We can’t find Billy.” was all she said.

Teddi’s heart was hammering in her chest. Everything had been fine earlier. What the hell could have happened between him leaving her to go back home? “Wh-what do you mean you can’t find him? What happened?”

“He came home a few hours ago and he got in a huge fight with Neil. He stormed off and he hasn’t come home or called or anything...it was bad, Teddi. Do you have any idea where he might be? I mean, you’re his best friend. I’m starting to freak out.” Teddi almost couldn’t hear Max. All of the images of what Neil might have done to his son were running through her mind at a mile a minute. She almost felt sick.

“Um...I think I might have an idea,” she said finally, swallowing thickly. “I’ll go find him, okay? Just try and get some sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow once everything’s calmed down a little.” they both hung up and Teddi hurried to her room to grab her boots and puffy jacket. She knew there was a good chance that her tires might pop on her way to Billy, but did she really have any other choice? She definitely couldn’t walk out in the snow.

She sped through the streets, praying that her patched tires would survive the drive and that she wouldn’t get pulled over by the cops. Everything in town was closed. There was only one place in Teddi’s mind that Billy could be. The Lake. It was their spot. Well, technically not their spot. They just coincidentally shared it. Teddi shook her head. That part didn’t matter right now.

When she spotted the Camaro parked out at the water’s edge she let out a loud sigh of relief. She parked her van and hopped out, hurrying over to Billy’s car. She could barely make him out in the dark. The only light coming inside was coming from the end of his lit cigarette. The door was unlocked. She slid in next to him. Neither of them said anything for awhile.

“...Max called me,” she finally said. “She’s really worried about you.”

“I’m fine.” Billy spat.

She wasn’t going to let him off that easy this time. He wasn’t going to scare her away. “What happened, Billy? ...Did he hurt you?” he didn’t say anything. He simply blew out a cloud of smoke. “...Can I see?”

There was another long pause. Billy sniffed and angrily pushed on the light above them. Teddi’s hand slowly covered her mouth in an attempt to stifle the gasp she wanted to let out. Billy’s left eye was swollen shut. His eyebrow had a cut in it that was deep enough for Teddi to know it would scar. It had stopped bleeding at least, but the blood had run down over his eye and down the left side of his face. There was also a nasty split in the center of his lip. Teddi was surprised he was smoking at all. The boy in front of her was almost unrecognizable. “Billy…” she said softly.

“I was in my room,” he said finally. “It was after I came back from your place. Everything was fine, you know? Susan was making dinner and Max and Neil were watching tv,” he swallowed loudly, flicking his cigarette out the window. His fingers gripped tightly at the steering wheel. “All of the sudden he starts getting on Max’s case about something. I don’t know what. But he wouldn’t stop. And she was arguing back. Sometimes she doesn’t know when to quit with him. But they just kept getting louder, so I stood out in the hall just in case...he just started screaming at her. And I’ve never seen her scared like that. Max isn’t scared of shit, y’know? But he just kept yelling and I could just feel that he was gonna hurt her if I didn’t stop him,” he trailed off, but Teddi didn’t need for him to finish. The shape he was in told her everything she needed to know.

“I’m not fucking doing this anymore, Teddi. I can’t. Sometimes I catch myself imagining something horrible happening to him. Doing something horrible. And I never feel bad, you know? He deserves it. He’s the reason my mom left. He’s the reason she didn’t take me with her. He’s not my fucking father. Sometimes I think he’s barely even human.”

Teddi’s heart ached when she saw his eyes welling up with tears. She took one of his hands in her own, her thumb running gently over his bruising knuckles. “I think...I think you should come with me. To the apartment.” she said.

Billy let out a loud sigh. “I can’t. Max-”

Teddi shook her head. “Billy, we need to get out. I know that you’re worried about Max. I’m worried about her too. But if we leave, if we get that apartment...it can be like a safe place for her to go. Whenever she needs it, you know? Until we can figure out how to get her out of that house,” she reached up and touched his face, her fingers ghosting gently over his bruised cheek. Her heart ached again when he leaned into her touch. “You can’t go back there,” after what felt like forever Billy finally nodded. “Come on. I have a first aid kit in my van. We can spend the night here, I’ll call Max in the morning and we’ll go see about the apartment, okay?”

Billy followed her silently to her van. They climbed into the back, and Teddi pulled out the first aid kit that she kept under the driver’s seat. “Sorry, usually it’s just me using this so I kinda only have girly band-aids…” she mumbled, wincing and apologizing as Billy hissed at the feeling of the alcohol being dabbed at his cuts.

“A pink band-aid’s the least of my worries right now, Larsson.” he was trying to smile, trying to crack a joke with her. Teddi let out a soft laugh.

“You know…” she said, gently blowing on the cut on his eyebrow before applying the band-aid. “Max said that I was your best friend…” she said with a smile.

Billy shifted uncomfortably. “What am I? A twelve year old girl?” he asked.

Teddi only shrugged. “...You’re my best friend.” she confessed.

Billy scoffed. “Right.”

“I’m serious. I mean...me and Steve are pretty good friends, but you know way more about me than he does. You know stuff about me that he probably won’t ever know, you know? And like...you’re the first person I want to talk to when something happens. Good or bad. I don’t know...you just are.” she awkwardly shrugged again.

There was another long pause as Teddi finished cleaning Billy’s face. “...Are we gonna make matching bracelets?” he asked.

“I know you’re being sarcastic, but don’t think for a second that I wouldn’t do that.”

Billy let out a short laugh. “...Thanks for this, Teddi.”

“Don’t mention it. You’d do the same thing for me.” he would. Of course he would.

Teddi pulled out her sleeping bag and unzipped it completely before kicking off her boots. “I think we both definitely need some sleep.”

Billy kicked off his boots as well and slid under the sleeping bag with her. They laid next to each other, both staring up at the disco ball hanging above them. Teddi tentatively reached out, her hand finding Billy’s. He linked his fingers with hers. “...You sleep in here a lot?” he asked finally.

“I have a few times,” Teddi confessed. “Back in New York.”

“...What about your parents? Aren’t they gonna be pissed when you don’t come home?”

“Who cares? We don’t have to worry about that sort of stuff anymore, right?”

It was a hard thought to wrap their minds around. This was it. No more answering to Greg or Neil. No more unfair rules or punishments. They would be out on their own. Together.

---

The next morning the pair drove to the apartment building in the Camaro. It was obvious that the building used to be a motel. There was a gated pool out in front, with two vending machines nearby. There was what looked to be a working ice machine that sat just outside of the front office. If the old man running the place could tell that Billy and Teddi were obviously teenagers, he didn’t show it. Billy flashed a fake ID that said he was 23 and that had been enough for him.

He showed them an apartment on the second floor. There wasn’t an elevator. Teddi was pretty sure it had been two adjoining rooms that they had turned into one larger apartment. There was a tiny living room with a counter that would be their kitchen. Two bedrooms sandwiched a very tiny bathroom between them. It wasn’t the worst thing. The apartment had gotten a fresh coat of paint and some tacky, flowery wallpaper. And it wasn’t like they were used to anything fancy.

Between their three jobs they would definitely be able to handle the rent. It was close enough to Hawkins that they’d be able to make it to school and work without a problem. And what was most important; it was theirs.

Teddi couldn’t control her smile as they drove back into town. Her cheeks were starting to hurt. Her eyes were stinging from the threat of tears. “...Is this really happening?” she asked.

Billy nodded, a smile of his own spreading across his lips. “It’s really happening.”

They both went quiet as Billy turned onto Cherry road. The Camaro came to a stop outside of the Hargrove’s house, the two of them looking up at the tiny house while holding their breaths. This was really it.

The most important thing would be getting Billy’s things before Neil came home. Or at least as much as they could. Max was outside skateboarding in the street. She hugged Billy tightly when she saw him. He awkwardly patted his step sister on the back. He’d never show it or admit it, but Teddi knew he appreciated the fact that Max cared about him.

Susan was hovering awkwardly in the living room. She was asking Billy if he was alright and telling him that she had been worried about him when he never came home. Teddi believed her. Teddi believed that Susan loved Max and cared about Billy. She knew that Susan wasn’t the same as her own mother. But it didn’t make her like Susan any. She still sat back and let Neil rule his household with an iron fist.

Teddi and Billy went to his room, Max and Susan following close behind them. Susan was asking a million questions and Billy ignored each of them. He went for his stereo first. He yanked the power cord free from the wall, turning and handing it over to Teddi. “Billy, please. Don’t you think this is an overreaction? I’m sure you and your father can work things out-” Susan pleased.

“An overreaction?” Billy let out a dry laugh. “He’s your problem now, Susan. You don’t have to pretend to feel sorry for me and look the other way anymore,” he picked up a milk crate full of his records. “Maybe this is best for both of us, huh? You’ll finally see what a goddamn monster he is when it’s pointed in your direction.”

That was enough to keep Susan out of their way. She sat on the couch, fidgeting anxiously as she watched Billy, Teddi and Max march back and forth between the Camaro and Billy’s room. His music had been the most important thing. Once his stereo, record player, cassettes and records were all safely in the back seat Billy grabbed a few trash bags and started filling it with his clothes.

“...Where are you going?” Max finally asked. She and Teddi were both carefully taking Billy’s things from his closet, folding them before putting them in the large black bags. Billy was grabbing fists full of his clothes out of his drawers, angrily shoving them in the trash bags.

“We got an apartment outside of town.” he muttered.

Max looked between the both of them. “Together?” she asked. Max had never really understood why Teddi and Billy liked each other so much. She knew that they didn’t really have much in common aside from her and working at the pool. Max knew that Billy liked Teddi, and she knew that Teddi liked Billy. She and El had always thought it was obvious, even if they argued all of the time. But they assumed it was just because they were dumb teenagers that found each other attractive. Now suddenly, seeing Billy finally at his breaking point, and Teddi with a bruise that covered her left eye and cheek, she realized that they had more in common than she had ever imagined.

Beneath the surface Billy and Teddi were two very lonely people. And now they had finally found someone to pull each other out of that loneliness.

Teddi nodded, smiling a little. “Together. And Max, you’re allowed to come over whenever you want, okay? It’s small, but there’s a pullout couch with your name on it. You can even have sleepovers with El. Whatever you want. Just promise me that he ever makes you feel unsafe again you call me and I’ll come and get you, alright?”

Max looked over at Billy. He nodded, so slightly that Max almost wasn’t sure she’d seen it. “...I promise.”

“I’ll pick you up from school tomorrow and show you the place, alright? C’mon, Ted. We gotta go. I’ll come back for the rest,” Teddi noticed Billy pulling a small wooden box out of his top drawer. It was about the size of his hand. It was a sandy color with something etched into the lid. He quickly shoved it into the pocket inside his jacket, like Teddi and Max weren’t supposed to see it. “...You gonna be okay, Max?” he asked.

“I’m fine. Mom says I’m allowed to sleep over at El’s since Neil’s being an asshole….I’m sorry, Billy. That he went off on you like that. It was my fault. He wanted me to change the channel and I kept arguing with him…”

Billy placed a hand on his step sister’s shoulder, leaning down to meet her eyes. “Don’t ever apologize for him, got it? If it wasn’t that it would’ve been something else. You remember what I told you back home? At Captain Spauldings?” Max’s shoulders straightened a little as she nodded. Teddi couldn’t help but wonder what their secret was. “You call us if you need us, okay? We’ll be there.” Billy awkwardly ruffled the top of Max’s head before heading back to the Camaro. He didn’t bother to look in Susan’s direction as he passed.

He and Teddi finished loading his things into the trunk and got in. Max was on the porch, waving as they drove off. Teddi let out a shaky breath. She looked over at Billy, who was drumming his fingers against the steering wheel even though the radio was off. He looked...calm. This wasn’t a Billy she saw very often. There was a hint of a smile on his lips. He looked like a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders.

This all felt like a dream. To be in Billy’s Camaro, the two of them finally about to escape the nightmare that was their home lives. It all felt almost too good to be true. Like at any second something horrible would happen, or she would wake up and realize that none of this was even real. Billy bumped his elbow against Teddi’s, bringing her back to the real world. “Hey,” he said lowly. “You okay?”

He fished his pack of cigarettes out of his jacket and held it out to Teddi. She eyed them for a moment before taking a smoke, clamping it between her lips. “I’m just nervous,” she muttered as Billy lit the cigarette for her. Teddi took a long drag, her eyes falling shut and her head falling back against her seat. “My dad’ll be home soon…”

“Don’t worry about him. You just worry about getting your stuff.” they both knew that that would be easier said than done. Billy would be somewhat of a safety net for her. Her dad probably wouldn’t do or say much of anything if there was someone around to see him in action. He had too much to lose. But he had been a little unpredictable lately, and Teddi was worried that Billy might have to take the brunt of what was about to come.

While Billy had been to Teddi’s once before, this was the first time he had ever seen Teddi’s mother. Teddi looked a lot like her. He didn’t understand how Bonnie could look at her daughter, who was the spitting image of her, and feel absolutely nothing for her. Billy hated her. She was sitting on the couch, flipping through the channels on TV when they walked in. When Teddi and Billy walked into her field of vision, she finally looked over at them with a bored expression.

“And who’s this?” Bonnie asked, looking Billy up and down. If she felt any sort of way about him, she didn’t show it. It was like she wasn’t a real person. Like she was one of those mind control victims in those sci fi movies Max liked to watch. Billy briefly wondered if at one point Bonnie had been more like Teddi. Energetic and friendly. Maybe Greg had succeeded in beating her into submission, like Neil had tried with Billy’s mom. Now he had the perfect stepford wife that was loyal only to him. Even at the expense of his own daughter.

“None of your business,” there was a confidence behind Teddi’s voice that Billy was a little surprised to hear. This wasn’t the same Teddi that had been fidgeting nervously in the Camaro just minutes before. “I’m leaving.” she announced before heading down the hall. He wasn’t surprised that Bonnie didn’t follow after them like Susan had.

Billy followed Teddi to her room. He’d never seen it before. It was smaller than his room. There was only a tiny desk, a nightstand and Teddi’s bed packed tightly inside. Teddi opened her closet door, reaching in and pulling out a stack of flattened cardboard boxes. He wondered how many times she had pulled them out before, trying to work up the courage to pack before changing her mind.

They were silent as they started to pack up her things. Teddi made quick work of emptying out her closet before standing up on her bed to peel the little glow in the dark stars off of her ceiling. Billy went over to her desk. There was a Carrie poster taped to the wall next to a tiny bulletin board. There were about a dozen different movie ticket stubs tacked to it. A grainy polaroid of the statue of liberty next to a photo of Teddi standing on a lake dock. She was in a bright blue bikini with white, star shaped sunglasses and she had her arm around a girl with a head of pink, unruly curls. Teddi looked happy. Genuinely happy. It was a gross contrast from the Teddi that was in front of him now. He carefully picked each of the things she had tacked up to the board and tucked them into a box along with the other things on her desk.

“Your mother tells me you’re leaving.” Billy jumped a little at the sound of Greg Larsson’s voice. Teddi’s dad was a big guy. Easily about 6’4. He took up the entire doorway. His hair was shaved close on the sides and longer on top. Like at one point he’d been a jarhead and hadn’t been able to let it go. He looked like the poster boy for some sort of weird super soldier experiment gone wrong. Billy’s hands clenched into fists. It wasn’t like him and Neil. Neil was the same size as Billy. If Billy wanted to fight back he could. Greg was almost three times Teddi’s size. What kind of pathetic asshole picked on someone that was so helpless to defend themselves? You about two months ago? He reminded himself. His fists clenched tighter.

Teddi turned to look at her father with a look of disgust before returning to her packing. “What do you care?”

“Theodora...is this about the disagreement we had the other day?” he asked, crossing his arms tightly across his chest.

Teddi laughed. “Disagreement? You mean when you called me a whore and almost fractured my skull?” she asked, pointing to the large bruise on her cheek. Billy knew that if he hadn’t been there she probably wouldn’t have said that to her father. He didn’t mind that him being there was an extra boost of courage. He was proud of her. “What do you even care if I leave? You don’t care about me. You and mom have never cared about me. So let me go and you can just pretend that I never existed like you’ve always wanted.” her voice cracked a little as she spoke, but she didn’t cry.

Billy wondered what might have happened if he hadn’t been there. If he hadn’t inched his way over between Teddi and Greg in case he decided to do something bold. He was thinking about it. Billy knew that he was. His sharp jaw clenched and unclenched. His hand was twitching as if he was trying to keep himself for lashing out at her. Greg watched his daughter with a cold expression. Like if he could kill her right then and there with a look, he would.

“...If you leave, you are no longer welcome in this home. You’re not going to come crying to me when he gets tired of you and moves on to the next girl. You’re no longer my daughter.”

Billy didn’t see that as much of a threat. Greg wasn’t Teddi’s father. He’d explained it to Max back in California when she had finally seen Neil for what he really was. Billy and Teddi could call Neil and Greg their fathers all they wanted. But men, and Billy used that term lightly, like Neil and Greg couldn’t be fathers to anyone. They were monsters. Monsters that were keeping Billy and Teddi hostage for their own sick enjoyment.

Teddi laughed again. Her eyes were shiny with the threat of tears. She picked up the box that sat at her feet, walking up to Greg with her head held high. “Good.”

---

Billy and Teddi were both sitting on their new couch in their new apartment. They were both silent, staring at their reflection in the blank TV screen in front of them. Teddi had cried in the car after they left her parents’ house. She cried the entire drive to the apartment. Billy had reached over, putting his arm around her and pulling her towards him. Teddi cried into his shoulder, her tears soaking into his denim jacket. Neither of them said anything until Billy pulled into the parking lot of their apartment building.

Teddi pulled away from him, wiping her eyes roughly. Her bottom lip trembled, like she could start crying at any given second. She looked over at him, her cheeks still slick with tears. “...Thank you.” she finally said.

He didn’t really know what she was thanking him for. Leaving with her. Helping her get her things. Letting her cry on his shoulder. It didn’t really matter to him. The corner of his mouth twitched up into a grin. “What are friends for, right?”

Teddi let out a soft laugh. She bit down on her bottom lip as the two looked at each other. Billy could feel his heart beating harshly in his chest. Teddi looked beautiful. Otherworldly in the red light that was shining down onto the Camaro from the building’s neon sign. She sniffed softly, shifting nervously in her seat before her hand gently ghosted his bruised cheek, just like she had the night before. Billy didn’t move as she bit her lip again, leaning forward and kissing him so softly he was almost scared he had imagined it. She pulled away from him, watching him and waiting to see if what she had done was okay.

Billy wrapped his arms around Teddi’s waist, pulling her back to him. He kissed her. Teddi let out a surprised sound, her hands gripping onto his shoulders. Teddi had wondered what this moment would be like. What it might be like to kiss Billy. None of it really matched up to the actual thing. Everything about him was...strong. His arms wrapped around her, the feel of his chest as her hands slid under his jacket. His lips. Everything about Billy Hargrove made Teddi feel safe. She never wanted this to end. She would be content staying there in Billy’s Camaro, kissing him and letting him hold her until the world ended.

“If that’s how you say thank you I should’ve started being nicer a long time ago.” Billy smirked. His arms were still wrapped around her middle, and Teddi was gripping onto his shirt beneath his jacket.

Teddi laughed a little and rolled her eyes. “Funny,” her hand reached up, her thumb stroking his jaw gently. “...We should probably get inside.” she sighed.

They brought the things they’d packed up the stairs and inside their new home. Now they were on the couch, their hands just barely touching. “...We should skip school tomorrow. Celebrate our new freedom.” he finally said.

“Celebrate our new freedom by being irresponsible?” she asked with a smile.

“It’s one day, Larsson. Come on. Let’s do something fun.”

Teddi eyed him carefully, trying to hide a smile as her cheeks blushed. “...You better be real careful with whatever you’re about to suggest, Hargrove.” she warned.

Billy smirked. “Relax. I meant like going to the movies or something. What about that Terminator movie? Freddy said it was pretty badass.”

Teddi made a face. “I don’t know...I’m not super crazy about that Schwarzenegger guy. He’s always reminded me too much of my dad. What about Starman?”

Billy blinked. “...What’s that?”

“It’s the one with Jeff Bridges who’s an alien pretending to be a human and he and he takes Marion from Indiana Jones with him to try and get back to space?” she explained, as if he were crazy for not knowing. Billy only stared at her. “It’s John Carpenter!”

“Is that supposed to mean something to me?”

“Halloween? The Thing? Escape From New York? He’s like the best director ever.”

Billy rolled his eyes and held his hands up. “....Whatever, Larsson. We’ll go see Spaceman.”

“Starman.”

“Whatever.” there was a different energy as they got back in the Camaro. They were both smiling, almost giddy. Teddi flipped through the collection of tapes Billy kept in the glove compartment. She settled on Journey, popping the tape into the deck. Billy’s fingers drummed against the steering wheel along to the beat.

Their eyes met, the two of them sharing a smile. Billy propped his elbow up on the center console, holding out his middle finger to her. Teddi laughed, raising an eyebrow. “What is this, a Billy Hargrove pinky promise? What are we, five?”

Billy smirked over at her. “Says the girl that wanted to make friendship bracelets,” he joked. Teddi let out a chuckle and linked her finger with his. His ring was cold against her skin. “It’s you and me now, Larsson. We’re in this together. You ready?”

She was. Of course she was. They were quite the pair. Two misfits that felt like they didn’t belong anywhere. Battered and bruised. But they had finally found a home. With each other. Teddi smiled as Billy brought her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to her bruised knuckles. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

#billy hargrove #billy hargrove fic #billy hargrove x oc

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qveensbury · 4 years

Text

return to sender; ch. 2

i said February lol here y’all go

AO3; zutara week 2019

to all the boys i’ve loved before AU — ch. 1

“Is this a bad time?”

Zuko stared at Katara.

“No…”

“You look distraught.” She sat at the counter and leaned her cheek against her palm.

“After the day I had, who wouldn’t be.”

“Well, I wanted to talk to you about today. Is that okay? Do you want to head to the patio in the back? Your uncle said it was a good place to talk.”

“Uh, sure.” He stood up and walked out from behind the counter. “Is everything okay?”

“Yea.”

The creakiness of Katara’s voice raised Zuko’s eyebrow.

“Are you sure?” Zuko sat in a chair.

Katara sat across from him. “Positive.” She tapped her fingers together. “A little known fact about me is that I am petty.”

Zuko crossed his arms. He thought of his sister and wondered what storms Katara hid. “Ok.”

“So, when Suki sent me a screenshot of Jet’s subtweets freaking out about us in the library, I just got a little happy.” Katara took in Zuko’s raised eyebrows and scoffed. “What is he gonna do? Dump me again?”

Zuko realized the storm was larger than he’d imagine. “You wanted to tell me we pissed Jet off?“

“No, I’m wondering if you’re interested in continuing to piss him off.”

Zuko frowned. “How?”

“The one thing you never want to do is show someone how to push your buttons. Jet just gave us a YouTube tutorial. He realizes it was a mistake to dump me. And the thought of me moving on is driving him crazy. I think it’s only fair to mess with him a little. He was a royal jerk. You know that better than anyone.”

“He is.”

“So are you interested in being my fake boyfriend just until Jet apologized for being a horrible human being.”

“That could take a while.”

“Jet can be pretty contrite when I’m involved.”

Zuko felt his eyebrows furrow. After the day I’ve had, the last thing I need is another ball to juggle on top of Je—

“And wouldn’t this temporarily solve the Jin situation? It didn’t look like you were too excited to talk to her about your letter.” Katara folded her hands under her chin and leaned her elbows on the table. “You don’t have much to lose.”

Zuko pursed his lips. A fake relationship seemed so over the top. “What would it look like?”

“Well, we’d pretend to be a couple. We’ll say we started dating after you sent me your letter. We’ll go to parties and school events together. I can come to any theatre shows you have. We’ll hold hands—Jet hated it. It can be a win-win.” Katara’s eyes were sparkling.

“I don’t know.”

How many chances would he get to piss off Jet like this?

Katara hummed. “You don’t have to answer right now. Just think about it? Here let me give you my number.”

“Are there any other rules we should have in place?” Zuko handed his phone to Katara.

“Don’t fall in love with me, Ryuku,” Katara winked.

Yea, that’d be a bad idea.

“Here lemme walk you back.” Katara stood up.

Zuko followed her to the cafe. He saw a familiar ponytail and froze. He grabbed Katara’s arm before she could step in the cafe.

“Actually Katara, let’s do it.”

“Really?”

“Yea.” Zuko glanced above Katara before looking back at her. “Yes.”

She squealed before throwing her arms around his neck.

Zuko took a step back to steady himself, wrapping his arm around her. He saw Jin. She blinked and pivoted out of the cafe.

* * *

Katara stepped out of Zuko’s car.

“You’re supposed to let me open the door for you.”

Katara raised an eyebrow at him before glancing to the side. She turned to Zuko and beamed. “Sorry. It’ll be nice getting used to dating a gentlemen.”

Zuko turned and saw Jet. He took a deep breath and let it out. “Ready to go to class?”

“Yup!” Katara skipped around the car and took Zuko’s hand. She pulled out her phone. “Quick picture?”

Zuko nodded, a blush taking over his cheeks. He leaned towards her as she took the photo.

The relationship reminded Zuko of a bubble. It was pretty. But, he knew it wouldn’t last long.

* * *

“Ryuku,” preceded an arm being flung around Zuko’s shoulder. “What’s up?”

“Gas prices, Jet.”

Jet chuckled. “Always the killjoy, huh, Ryuku? Saw you with Katara this morning. What’s that about?”

“We’re dating. I wrote her a letter and the feeling was mutual.”

“I knew you had a thing for her,” Jet said dropping his voice menacingly low. Zuko knocked Jet’s arm away. “And yet, I never ruined your chances with Katara. You managed to do that all on your own.”

* * *

Katara scanned Zuko’s face. “Are you okay?”

“I saw Jet and—”

“What did he say?”

“He wasn’t thrilled we’re dating.”

Katara rolled her eyes. “His problem.” She stuck her hand out. “Are you ready?” She smiled.

Zuko reluctantly smiled back. He took her hand. “Lead the way.”

“This is Zuko, my boyfriend.”

In turn, Katara introduced her friends so quickly Zuko didn’t catch the names. He started to ask for them to say their names again.

But, one of the girls started talking.

Zuko sighed, hoping someone would say a name so he could start to memorize them. But he only heard Iri and Haru’s names.

At the end of lunch, Haru extended a fist towards Zuko. “Zuko, nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you,” he returned the fist bump.

“You have to be at my Halloween party.”

Zuko smiled. “Sure.”

Katara stood beside Haru. “Yay!” She shook her fists in a cheer. “We should have a couples’ costume.”

Zuko looked at the ceiling, raising his eyebrows. “I’m happy to hear ideas.”

Katara giggled. “Perfect.”

Zuko watched Katara take the ball back from a defender and lead the attack on the other side.

“Your girlfriend is great.”

“I don’t know that much about soccer.” Zuko turned to Mai.

Sitting besides him, she scoffed. “You’re supposed to say ‘she is.’ You’re terrible at this. How did you two start dating again?”

“Uh, Katara got a letter and we realized the feeling was mutual.”

“Mhm,” Mai watched as the other team started their counter.

Ty Lee stood in the goal, shouting instructions to the defense. “Romantic.”

“How did you and Ty Lee start dating?”

“We were friends and one day Ty Lee asked me if I liked girls. Sometimes, it feels like I was just waiting for someone to notice…I’m glad it was her. She asked me out and we’ve been together ever since.”

“That’s sweet.”

“Pay attention to the game Zuko.”

The referee on the field blew the final whistle.

“Well,” Mai stood up. “I’m gonna wait in my car for Ty Lee. Later Zuko.”

“Later Mai.”

Zuko looked at the field. The players circled around their coach. She talked for several minutes before clapping. The girls got up and started running around the field putting things away—the flags, the cooler, the soccer balls.

Katara looked at the bleachers and waved at Zuko. She raised her pointer finger. Give me a minute.

Leaning back, Zuko nodded.

This time Katara walked out from the gym and waved again, beckoning Zuko to join her.

“Thanks for coming out.”

“Of course.”

Katara pulled out her phone. “C’mhere.”

Zuko shuffled towards her.

She turned as he stood behind her. She extended her arm before tutting.

“Can you talk the picture? My arm is too short.”

Zuko took the phone and angled the camera to capture both of them.

“Perfect.” Katara smiled, leaning back against him. “Cheese!”

Zuko smiled and took the photo.

Satisfied with the photo, Katara smiled at Zuko. “What a great way to end the day!”

Zuko’s heart fluttered. “Yea.”

After Zuko dropped her home, he stared at the photo Katara tagged him in. The sun had just begun to set when he took the picture and it brought out the gold in his eyes and made Katara’s skin glow.

They looked…good together. Like a natural couple.

Katara’s caption—soccer husbands of Republic City—made him chuckle.

Katara’s having too much fun with this.

“So you’re the guy who’s been dating my sister?” Sokka used a toothpaste to clean his teeth.

“Yes.” Zuko sat opposite Sokka waiting for him to say something.

Sokka was home on break from the magnet school he went to. The school was on the other side of the county so Sokka stayed with his grandmother.

Sweat collected on Zuko’s palms and he wiped them on his pants.

This is just a formality, Ryuku. You need to meet Sokka to keep up appearances and that’s all.

“So, are you a sophomore like Katara?”

“I’m a senior.”

Sokka let out a low whistle. “Way to go, Tara.”

There’s no reason for you to be so nervous.

“What do you do for fun?”

“Fun?”

“Yea. When you’re not at school or work?”

A groove formed in Zuko’s forehead as he tried to recall the last thing he did for fun.

Sokka snorted. “Oh boy. You’re definitely meant for my sister.”

“No! I mean I train at the dojo.”

“And, is your brain completely off?”

The groove grew deeper. “No.”

“Exactly! I have something to introduce you to.” Sokka stood up. “C’mon.” He led Zuko into his room, “Sit,” Sokka said, pointing to a beanbag.

Zuko did, watching Sokka turn on a small tv and the game console next to it.

“We’re gonna play some video games. You need to get a hobby.”

“Uh,” Zuko accepted the controller from Sokka. “Ok.”

“We need to avoid the guards and save the princess.”

“So, I shouldn’t try to think of how to save the princess?”

“Shh. It’s a different part of the brain.”

The game music filled the silence.

“This is going pretty well,” Sokka mumbled.

“Watch out!”

The defeated score played.

“Ugh! Let’s try it again.” Sokka reset the game.

Zuko let his shoulders drop. His brain needed the break. Even though it sounded like a hasty excuse, Sokka was right: the video game felt like a different part of his brain.

“Are you two done in here?”

Zuko looked away for a moment.

“Zuko, look out!”

Turning back too late, a guard captured Zuko’s game sprite.

“Sorry,” Katara sat on Sokka’s bed in between the two of them.

The tiny growl in Sokka’s throat suggested disbelief. “What do you want?”

“Zuko and I were gonna go study.”

“You said he’s like a star student and so are you. Let him goof off once in a while.”

Katara pouted.

Placing his controller down, Zuko turned to Sokka, “Thanks, Sokka. I had fun.”

“Katara gets everyone to do what she wants,” Sokka leaned back against the wall.

Although he could see the expression on Katara’s face, he knew she was either smirking or sticking her tongue out at her brother.

“Fine. I’ll let you kids study. Next time I’m in town we’ll try the new game I got last week.”

“Oh bubby,” Katara used a baby talk tone. “Let’s take a picture.” Katara placed an arm around Sokka’s neck. “Zuko you too.” She handed her phone to Sokka and put her other arm around Zuko’s shoulders. “My two favorite boys.”

“Ooh. How cute,” Sokka mocked. “Smile!”

Zuko was unsure if knowing Katara would visit was contributing to his nerves or bringing them down.

Their high school put on a renaissance fair every year instead of the usual homecoming fair. An alumni helped with the alehouse and the theatre program supplied actors around the grounds for an authentic experience.

“Hey you!” Katara waved. “Earl of the Pearl manor, correct?”

“Yes,” Zuko smirked, “how can I be of service?”

“The show starts in an hour, right?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Good. Can’t wait to see you perform,” Katara smiled. “Sorry, outsell!”

Zuko felt his chest grow light.

“Can we take a picture?” She brandished her phone.

“Is that a new case?” He whispered, breaking character.

Katara blinked, “Yea.”

“It suits you.” He took the phone from her hands and raised it to take the picture.

The fruit from Katara’s shampoo signaled she was getting closer to him. She pressed her head under his chin.

Zuko’s heart stuttered.

“Smile,” she giggled.

He listened.

After Zuko handed her phone back, she cooed looking at her phone. “That reminds me. I found a couple’s outfit that should be perfect for Haru’s party. For someone in the theatrical arts, you’d think you’d be more into costumes. But! This should work,” she turned her phone to show the picture to Zuko. “Your costume will be a lot simpler than mine and we’ll have plenty of time to put it all together. What do you think?”

Zuko rubbed the back of his neck. “Yea. That could work.”

“Don’t forget we’ll all be in costume. And, besides you’ll be with me,” Katara winked.

Before he could stop himself, he was smiling. “Okay.”

“Break a leg, Zuko! Can’t wait to see you in action.”

“What are you wearing Jake from State Farm?” Katara giggled.

Zuko snorted, finding her laughter funnier than the joke she was repeating since he picked her up. Pulling into a parking spot, he shut the engine off.

Clicking her tongue, she showed him the poll results on her Instagram story. “No fair! People think you’d give better insurance than I would.”

The photo Katara’s dad took of them served as the background to the poll Katara described.

“Maybe pointing the price gun at the camera wasn’t the best idea.”

Katara pointed, looking down at it, ”Sokka worked hard on this.”

“He did, but it might not be the best PR strategy.”

“Well, what do you know?”

“Enough to beat you in the polls.”

Katara hmpfed. “Obviously, it’s because you’re cute.”

Zuko froze. “Huh?”

“Don’t try to fish for compliments Ry—“ She blinked at him. “Oh, you’re serious. Zuko you do know you’re handsome right?”

“I, um,” facing the steering wheel, he struggled to pull the key out of the ignition. “Someone may have mentioned it.”

“But, do you believe it?”

He shrugged, before finally freeing the key.

“You should. You’re very handsome.”

The keys bit into his palm. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome!”

“Well, uh, we should go inside.”

Before Zuko could knock on the front door. Katara tugged on his hand. “First, the doors always unlocked. No need to announce yourself. Second, this light is perfect. We should take a quick picture.” She handed him her phone.

At least she didn’t ask me if this was my first high school party. Zuko extended his arm to take the photo.

“You’re getting much better at this!” Katara cooed after she reviewed the picture. “Okay let’s go.” Pushing the door open, she put her phone in her apron and took his hand to lead him inside.

“Zuko! Katara! You made it!” Haru grew out a mustache to complete his pirate costume.

He embraced Katara before giving Zuko a fist bump. A beat later, he laughed. “Nice. If anyone needs insurance, talk to these.

Katara squeezed Zuko’s hand. “Aren’t we so cute?”

“You don’t really give us a moment to forget, Katara.”

The smirk on her face probably meant something different to Haru than it did to Zuko.

It wasn’t flirty or cheeky. That smirk said our ploy is working.

And, that bothered him.

“Let’s get some snacks,” she tugged him towards the kitchen.

When she saw Katara, Haru’s mom’s face brightened. “How are you, my dear?”

“Good!” Katara let go of Zuko’s hand to hug her. “This is my boyfriend Zuko.”

“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“Nice to meet you.” Haru’s mom turned to Katara winking. “He’s polite.”

She giggled, “Stop it. Don’t be embarrassing. We’re just getting some snacks.” The handful of candy Katara took wouldn’t hold her for very long but Zuko didn’t point it out.

“Are you gonna get anything?” Katara asked Zuko, eating a gummy worm.

He shook his head.

“Are you ready to explore?” Katara put the price gun under her arm and placed her hand in his.”

“S-sure.”

She smiled, leading him through the Prakoso house.

It all felt nice. And, Zuko was sure it looked nice, too. The picture of the two of them holding hands, matching costumes, having side conversations.

It would look good until you got too close.

Like fake flowers.

“Ugh, I’d kill to have a relationship like yours. You two are like couple goals.” Pearlista said before wandering off.

“Yea, except it’s fake,” Zuko mumbled.

Katara stiffened.

Crap.

Holding his breath, Zuko let his hand go slack in Katara’s.

“Zuko, I—“

“Hey! Haru wants every one to take a group photo.”

“We should go,” Zuko tugged on Katara’s hand towards where their classmate pointed.

She didn’t protest, letting him lead her.

Every time Katara tried to start a conversation, Zuko blurted something out to steer it away from what he said.

After the photo.

During the pumpkin carving.

And, the dance-off.

“I’m gonna go use the restroom. Can you hold this?” Katara handed the price gun to Zuko.

“Sure.”

“Be right back.”

Katara didn’t squeeze his hand or his face. She didn’t even wink.

Oh no.

Fiddling with the prop, Zuko sighed.

I wonder if she’s mad.

The bass of the music swallowed his tiny groan.

I’m being sucha downer maybe that’s why she left.

Zuko ruffled the back of his head.

Agni, I’m the worst. I should go tell her I didn’t mean it.

His heartbeat was a little faster as he walked around looking for Katara. Spotting her white headband, he walked towards her.

“Ka—“

Zuko’s stomach clenched.

Back against the wall, Katara’s arms were crossed.

Jet leaned over her, talking into her ear. Their body language reflected years of comfort and familiarity Zuko and Katara still hadn’t achieved.

There was another smirk on Katara’s face. She opened her mouth to say something when she saw Zuko. She pushed past Jet, shoving his shoulder away from her.

“Zuko, I—“

“Katara,” Jet called for her.

“I’m ready to go home. Please. If that’s ok.”

“Yea. Totally.”

She took his hand and sighed.

“C’mon.”

Zuko wanted to bring it up. It—his comment or Katara and Jet.

Of course, he knew their relationship was a set-up and eventually Katara would end up back with Jet. That was the plan.

But, Zuko drank the kool-aid Katara was serving.

They were cute together.

And he liked being with her.

He liked her.

Maybe Zuko never stopped liking her?

Why am I so shaken up by the two of them together?

He pulled up in front of her house.

“I had a lot of fun tonight.” Katara looked at Zuko.

“Good. Yea.”

Katara paused. “Thanks for the ride. Good night Zuko.”

“Good night Katara.”

What if Jet was apologizing to Katara?

What if she wanted him back?

What if that meant we’re through?

A sharp pain camped in his chest.

Jet looked like he belongs next to Katara. When have I ever felt that way?

Zuko stared at his bedroom ceiling.

The whole relationship’s fake.

Why is it such a surprise?

Somewhere along the way, the bubble had become solid. Fantasy is incompatible with reality.

Bubbles pop.

Solid things shatter.

A/N: uh khakis?

#Zutara week #zutara week 2019 #zutara fanfiction #atla #alta au #zutara AU #day three; shattered #return to sender; tatbilb AU #zkweek2019

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whateverisbeautiful · 5 years

Text

Reveling in Richonne

#155: The Fair (9x15)

In this episode every character learned a valuable lesson. It’s a lesson that Rick knew since seasons ago but these people had to learn the hard way. And that lesson is; When Michonne has a gut feeling about something, it’s in everyone’s best interest to listen, trust her instinct, and follow her lead.

Sis has great intuition, especially about this fair. As I so often say, Michonne has such a good head on her shoulders...and so would some of these other characters if only they had listened to her.

So the episode begins with King Ezekiel speaking at the fair and I appreciate King Ezekiel opening the fair with a nod to Rick and Carl. He mentions how part of why they have a new tomorrow is because of “a man who’s mission was to build community and strengthen the bonds between us. A man who had to destroy the very thing that connected us, in order to save us.”

He then acknowledges, “It took us far too long to fulfill the promise of what Rick Grimes and his son Carl envisioned.” It’s crazy that the two characters at the foundation of this show have to be spoken about in past tense. 😔

And it’s significant that they cut to Siddiq when King Ezekiel says their names, cuz Carl’s willingness to take Siddiq in has provided him a whole new family seven years later.

So then Michonne and Judith show up to the fair with Daryl and Connie and Lydia and Henry. King Ezekiel sees Michonne and greets her and then Carol walks in front of Judith and it’s cool seeing them together since Carol was one of Judith’s primary caretakers back in the days of season 3 and 4.

She says, “Judith?” and Michonne looks down at Judith and smiles and nods. Carol having to ask if that’s Judith had me like dang so y’all really haven’t been around each other in a looooong time. 🤔😐

I know Michonne (AND OTHERS) decided to keep Alexandria more isolated but I also feel confident that, even with everything Michonne went through and had on her plate, if any of her OG TF members had showed up to see her she wouldn’t have shut them out. So I was lowkey looking at Carol and Ezekiel like after all these years why haven’t y’all...

Carol asks Judith if she remembers them and Judith says she’s been drawing pictures of them since she was little so she def remembers. Judith’s memory is A1 lol.

And then it’s an adorable moment when Judith notes that Carol’s hair got really long and Carol smiles and touches her hair saying, “It did.” ☺️😋

And then Tara approaches (with attitude 😒) and Michonne takes initiative to say, “Gather up all the leaders. We have a lot to talk about.”

So then we get this scene in the Kingdom’s auditorium where Michonne explains how she hasn’t seen eye to eye with everyone in this room but she never stopped caring about any of them.

She looks over at Judith and says, “I was just trying to protect my family and do right by my people.”

And I was like Sis no need to explain cuz these others should’ve been knew that and had compassion on you. 💯

(Side note: I know I’ve touched on it already but it really does boggle my mind that rather than have these other characters express an apology over the way in which they weren’t there for Michonne, instead Michonne was the one expected to explain herself and clear the air of why she did what she did.

She is doing the best she can as a matriarch of a family and leader to a community. And she’s taking on so much responsibility, even despite her own personal pain and trauma. Imo the only apology should be from the people who left her to do so much of this on her own.)

So then Michonne establishes that while they lost sight of it for awhile, Alexandria’s future is with the rest of the communities and she’s here now and they’re here now. Which is great news for these people. But of course the petty in me was looking at the other characters in the room like yes we’re here but uh...

Father G declares that Lydia has been granted asylum and is one of them now but Tara’s not feeling it since it puts a target on Hilltop’s back. Michonne admits to not wanting it at first either and how she told Lydia to run away when she came to her gates and was angry when she didn’t.

Tara says, “Then you know why I’m not okay with this.” Which...

Tara and that attitude needed to find their way to the exit effective immediately cuz I know she’s not about to think being the newest leader of Hilltop gives her permission to come at Michonne with a tone. #StepBack

Michonne is gracious though and understands why Tara wouldn’t be okay with this so she says, “I do.” And then y’all, heres the kicker that got me most. She says, “I also know why Rick didn’t trust me when I showed up at the gates of the prison.” Y’all…powerful.😭

I love that she brings this up. First of all; you know my nostalgic self loves a callback. Especially a callback to where Richonne all started. I appreciate that she remembers the day she showed up to the prison and the time period when she and Rick were first getting to know each other and that she’s allowing that to motivate her to be open to others.

It’s sweet that Michonne sort of has this fond smile as she says this cuz she remembers how her and Rick’s journey begun and also knows where it ended up. They fell in love. 🥰 They have a full on son. 🙌🏽 So that day she showed up to the prison proved to be more impacting than they ever could’ve imagined. 👌🏽🎉 It showed her how far people can come when they agree to go on the journey together.

Also I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again; Michonne is still so in love with Rick. You can just see it on her face whenever he comes up and I’m here for it. I look forward to the times in the movies where Rick will think of and speak of Michonne with that same love for her still visibly ablaze in him too.

And then Michonne gives Tara some personal perspective saying, “And how people didn’t trust you after seeing you on the other side of the governors firing line.”

Tara needed to hear this cuz her past seems to be something she very often forgets. Also I’m here for season 3 and four callbacks all in one scene.

Tara hears this out and acknowledges it’s a fair point. Michonne says, “Lydia didn’t choose where she came from, but she chose where she wanted to be. Just like everyone in this room.” Gospel. And to me, this totally speaks to how Michonne had to make the active choice to commit to this family when she followed Rick and Carl’s footsteps in season 4 and found them in that house. And that decision of choosing where she wanted to be then grew into the beautiful Grimes family we see now. 😌 Won’t He Do It!

So then Michonne proposes this mutual protection pact cuz sis knows how to take foundational steps forward. #MichonneForPresident👏🏽👏

Tara asks how they seal the deal and King Ezekiel takes out the charter that Michonne worked so hard on and that Tara’s rude behind took. And Michonne says a surprised, “How did you…” and then Tara wants to be cute and say King Ezekiel must be magic or something, but I was like...

Cuz Tara needed to fess up lol. Tara then indicates how she took it when she left cuz she did what she thought was right and then she apologizes for the way it went down and then the writers make Michonne say “me too” and thank Tara because “she was right” which had me like…

I was not feeling this from the writers. Y’all, already know why. When Michonne says, “You were right.” Tara says, “You were too.” and someone I watch with was like, Tara should have said “You were first.” instead. I like that cuz somebody needed to acknowledge that Michonne was the one who had this right from the beginning as the originator of this charter six years ago. 👌🏽

Like Tara just took the charter, Michonne straight up worked tirelessly and created it so she’s been right.

So then they all start to sign it and they show each person’s signature and y’all can I tell you about my disappointment. 😪 Like for real this next part had me so excited and then so disappointed within seconds of each other.

Cuz as they were signing the charter and making it a point to show everyone’s signatures, I literally paused my TV before they got to Michonne and took a moment to emotionally rejoice cuz I was so certain that Michonne was about to sign this charter with the name “Michonne Grimes.”

I thought for sure this would be her moment to declare her whole name, like how Maggie got to declare herself Maggie Rhee in season seven. So I was holding my breath with anticipation as Michonne took the pen like...

But then Michonne gets the pen and instead of signing it she passes it to Father Gabriel and I was just so let down. 😞 Literally was just watching like..

This charter signing would have been such a great opportunity to have Michonne Grimes be known. And it’s also a let down cuz sis is the one who worked so hard to even build this document and yet her name won’t even be on it. That just feels wrong. 😑

But at the same time Michonne’s about to bounce from this show so that Danai can soar other places, so I feel like this was her saying I’m about to roll out so this can be y’all’s thing. 😂 And with the way her star has been rising higher and higher I don’t blame her for saying...

Next time we see Michonne she’s walking with Siddiq who tells her King Ezekiel gave a nice speech about Rick.

I appreciate that Siddiq wants Michonne to know that her boys were honored and I love that these two seem to have a real genuine friendship.

Michonne says she heard about Ezekiel’s speech and is sorry she missed it and Siddiq says he’s sure the king would let her read it. Michonne then lets him know she’s actually going out to Hilltop with the first group cuz a Get Things Grime don’t never sleep. Even when Siddiq offers to take her place, Homegirl is like no I got this and wants to stick to the plan.

She also tells Siddiq that he should enjoy his time at the fair cuz he deserves it but I was like sis you do too!! Please rest. 🙏🏽But then I remembered for her she’s without the one man who made resting most possible, the one man who gave her these light and airy moments like no one else could. So without Rick it’s probably hard for her to feel just completely at ease with being celebratory.

Michonne asks Siddiq to keep an eye on Judith who’s cutely playing with Jerry and his kids. 😊 Siddiq says no problem cuz he could probably use the experience anyway. Michonne asks how come and I was like girl you don’t know about this super awkward love quadrangle? Lucky her. I don’t want to know about it either. 😂

But Siddiq says he’ll tell her when he sees her which I’m glad he does see her again cuz he came real close to ending up on a pike.

Before Michonne heads out we see her and Judith share a sweet hug. While of course I’d love if Michonne just got to stay and chill with her daughter (and I really hope they give her moments to do that in season 10 cuz it’s what she deserves), I also know that she’s one of the most capable fighters they have so she feels the need to be out here in these streets protecting people too. Michonne and Rick really are cut from the same cloth. 💯

And then there’s a very cute exchange between Daryl and Connie. ☺️ I love that Connie has brought out this whole other side of Daryl. Like he’s sweeter, and more gentle, and also more willing to enunciate cuz he has to. I like seeing him like this. 👌🏽

Connie tells him to be safe and then he says you too. And then he taps Connie on the shoulder and asks if she’ll feed his dog while he’s gone. Y’all...He basically just proposed to Connie lol. If he trusts her with his dog that means he trusts her with his life.

And Connie’s all sweet and agrees to take the dog. And then as she walks away Daryl has one of the most adorably awkward waves. He’s catching feelings, y’all. 😊👌🏽

And it was pointed out to me by my brother that Daryl actually subtly gives Connie a look as she walks away that is very similar to the signature looks Rick was so famous for whenever he was around Michonne. I’m telling you once you doing that look, you know you’re smitten. Ask Rick. 😋💯

Before Carol leaves she tells King Ezekiel to try and enjoy the fair but he says he won’t enjoy anything until she’s back and I was like that pretty much sums up what Michonne must feel deep inside. Of course she can be happy and appreciate things but to fully enjoy…that will happen once Rick returns back to her. 👌🏽

Michonne, Carol, Daryl, and Yumiko break off into their own group and get surrounded by Whisperers at night. Alpha greets them and I love how Michonne’s just standing there all unfazed like trick I have seen it all, you don’t scare me. 😂 She just matter of factly lets Alpha know all their communities intend to protect Lydia.

I love that Alpha asks Michonne’s name and she’s just like “Michonne.” Ask about me. 😎

Alpha tries to cause some kind of internal division by asking Daryl if Michonne speaks for him but I appreciate Daryl’s saying, “We speak for each other.”

I really liked that response. Plus, Daryl and Michonne go way back so Alpha was wasting her time trying to stir that pot.🙄 #TryAgain.

We see some of how Alpha was able to infiltrate the fair and one of the first things she says to King Ezekiel in order to blend in is about Michonne and how surprised everyone is that she showed up. Alpha, keep her name out your mouth. 😑

They show the movie scene and it’s adorable seeing Judith all excited for the movie. These are like all new experiences for her and it’s fascinating to think about what something like this feels like for a child who was born into and grew up in an apocalypse.

And of course it’d be all nice and lovely if this was the happily ever after of the episode but as we know Michonne, Carol, Daryl, and Yumiko find Siddiq and soon after find a bunch of people they know and care about with their heads on pikes.

Y’all, I admit only like Tammy Rose and that one Highway man who just wanted to see a movie felt sorta sad to me. The others...

#NoShade...ButShade. And while I wasn’t sad over these deaths and even felt it was about time for some of them, Danai and Avi do a great job of really conveying the emotion and shock and appalling-ness of this moment. All the actors in this scene do. 👏🏽

And then it’s nice that they have Siddiq tell the story not of how the pike victims died but of how they spent the last moments of their life fighting and helping each other. That’s what it’s all about. 👌🏽💯😌

So while Michonne Grimes didn’t get to confirm the last name this episode, I hope she will in season ten cuz that’s undoubtedly who she is. And I also hope that these characters will have taken to heart that oh so valuable lesson they learned; trust Michonne. #NothingButRespectForMyQueen👌

gifs source: @michonnegrimes

#richonne #s9 #9.15 #life ain't fair #but it's still worth fighting for

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