#wearing a blue jacket and drinking a green smoothie to boot!

[larrylimericks]

6Oct23

With hues blue and green, Lou was tinged, Sang ‘7’ in Barça, then grinned Cos sharing is caring And H still likes wearing Lou’s jumper — Um, bro, they’re unhinged.

#larry #harry #harry styles #louis #louis tomlinson #the umbro shirt #the fucking umbro shirt #i was literally just thinking the other day how big a deal that was #and how we haven't gotten anything unhinged in ages #and how wild it would be to see harry in it again but knowing that would never happen #and yet #AND harry chose to wear it to be widely seen #as he was with tyler and kid on a pap walk #wearing a blue jacket and drinking a green smoothie to boot! #of course the other larent arsehole couldn't be outdone #so at his show in barcelona tonight louis bluegreened #and sang 7 like the little shit he is #and smirked after the line in chicago that says 'i bet sometimes you still like to wear my jumper' #nothing like a little unhinged larry to reel me back in #limerick-lt #limerick-hs #october 6 #2023 #discarded rhyme: #H woke up and went for a plunder / then sported the world's eighth great wonder

[1dclicheficfest]

The time has come, my dears! We’ve compiled, organized and sorted your submissions and we’re ready to share them! We’ve had so much fun reading your clichés and we hope it’ll give you a good laugh.

Important disclaimer because it has to be said: we do not endorse any of the clichés submitted and these are not meant to spark Discourse™ . This is all in good fun, to spark your imagination and perhaps inspire some prompts!

Before we get to the fun part, don’t forget that prompt submissions open on February 1st and will run until March 28th. The full schedule can be found here.

And now, without further ado, here are your brilliant clichés.

HARRY

Green eyes

Huge eyes

Dimples

Always smirking

“The flirt”

Jobs: Works in a flower shop/Used to be a baker/Frat boy/LA socialite/Mermaid

“Quirky”

Clumsy/balance issues

Health nut/Workout junkie/Eats a lot of avocado and kale/loves yoga/gross green health smoothies

Very slow speech

Paints his nails

Beautiful long luscious curly hair

Long legs/large hands

Tall/large/big

Nudity/loves walking around starkers

Obsessed with being pregnant/babies

Kind to everyone

Bites his lip a lot

Tells terrible jokes/loves puns

Naive and oblivious

Clothing: Pearl necklace, Chelsea boots/gold boots/boots in general/Gucci everything/Flared, high-waisted trousers/’red and black sheer floral shirt with black skinny jeans’

Always unbuttons his shirt to show off tattoos

Baby seal laugh

Bad at driving

Hipster/takes artsy photos

Acting out for attention/Petty jealousy for no reason or because of a misunderstanding or when anyone comes near Louis

Bad dancer that gives it his all/makes awkward shapes with his limbs when trying to dance

Cat mom/Wine aunt

Resting bitch face

Rides a motorcycle

LIAM

Little clueless

Insecure

Louis is constantly messing with him

Roommates with Louis

Puppy/a lost puppy/puppy in human form/puppy eyes/puppy who doesn’t know how hot and strong he is/loves puppies

Manly muscle man/buff af/loves working out/sweet himbo beefcake

Bullied in the past

Giant heart/incredibly kind/soft/super loyal

Worry-wart/mother hen of the band/gets nervous when things don’t go to plan

Voice of reason/the responsible one/Daddy Direction/level-headed/most serious of the five/keeps the others grounded

Doesn’t know how to let loose and have fun

Lacking in experience/innocent about sex things

Oblivious to his feelings/other people’s feelings for him

Jobs: Firefighter/boxer/athlete

Super soft for Zayn

Protective

“Wants to cry as soon as Louis opens his mouth and doesn’t know if it’s because he’s scared, because it’s too funny, or because he just can’t handle any of it.”

Fear of spoons

Timid/

“being very shy/awkward in the beginning and then getting more confident because of Louis”

Snake habitat turn around!

Can’t spell

His turtle losing a foot

“Smelly pasta house”

Loves batman

Being alpha in ABOs

Unruly curly hair then trimmed to a crisp buzz

LOUIS

Blue eyes: ocean blue/blue as the sky on a sunny winter day/twinkle eyes

Arse and/or tummy as a defining feature

Sassy/sass master/feisty/snarky/cheeky/witty/playful/funny/sarcastic/joker

Flamboyant

Heart of gold/”Louis IS the sun”

“Does not suffer fools gladly (that’s your job you fooking loosah)”/hot-headed to pick fights only in defense of those he loves

Protective/Mama bear/loyal/Daddy of the group

Small/Dainty stature emphasized

Runs fingers through his fringe/hair always styled

Jobs: Footie player, teacher, drama teacher, actor, plays in a band

Loves music and writes songs

Plays footie (even if it’s not his job)

LOUD

Can’t cook/chicken wrapped in parma/”Can’t cook to save his life and if he does the kitchen ends up in flames”

Soft with Harry

School: Studying drama, being the bad boy, pop!punk Louis

Bratty/petty/snappy

Smoking

Zayn’s partner in crime

Rooms with Liam

Calls everyone ‘love’/uses too many terms of endearment

Yorkshire accent emphasized/always talks about Doncaster

Clothing: Vans or Adidas shoes/Toms/trackies/braces/red jeans/dressing in comfortable clothes only/no socks/scarf

Very good with kids/loves kids/family-oriented/looking after siblings/having a huge family

Eats junk food only

“The gay who cannot drive”

NIALL

Drinks a lot/Drinks everyone under the table because he’s Irish/Guinness lover/fun drunk/Will sing Gaelic folk songs when drunk/big social drinker-always making friends via alcohol/will kiss anyone when drunk

Food: Eats all the food/doesn’t season his food/loves Nando’s/”100% will take the last slice of pizza and not feel bad about it”/can and will eat you out of house and home/actually eats and cooks healthy but everyone thinks the opposite

Irish/Irish and proud/Wey Hey lads!/leprechaun Niall

Carefree/nothing bothers him

Romantic: falls fast and hard

Captain Niall!/Captain of the ship(s)

Music: guitar always present/Goes into the zone when he has an instrument in his hands - nothing will distract or get through to him/The Eagles fanboy/Damien Rice fanboy

Funny/always laughing/joking around/head back cackle of a laugh

Single/hooks up with a ton of people but no serious relationships/sleeps around/Serial Ladies man/Friends with benefits with multiple people at once/

Turns up the charm 100% and never half-asses it/”Scrunches his hair in thought and knows he looks cute doing so (like girls that purposefully bite their lip)”

Friends with literally everyone/has a thousand surface-level friends that think they’re close to him but keeps all at arm’s length/the greatest friend but also pickiest about who he becomes friends with

Clothing: Constantly shirtless/shorts over trousers/flip-flops as house shoes/gold chain/coin necklace/hoop earring/”golf dad that tucks in his shirts and unironically wears polos”

Obsessed with golf and football/practices his putt in the hallway with an empty loo roll

A bro

Secretly insightful/Tactless but gives essential advice as a result

Secretive/keeps his shit quiet/Definitely the guy with the most secrets

The blond one

Hairy chest

Worst poker face

Finger guns/peace signs

Blushes when he’s excited

Adores Shawn and Lewis

Cares a lot about what others think

Says no judgment but really judges a lot/judges you based on music taste

Rings in at 0 on the gaydar but could surprise you/the only het one

Tries to avoid conflict by remaining ‘on the fence’ and not picking a side

Always the roommate

Face mask selfies

Emotions rotate between sad, sexy, and fun - combination vary

Never a villain

Close with Harry

“Violent masturbating in the next room”

Constant pet names for everyone/”Even has pet names for his devices (like his vacuum robot”

ZAYN

Super smart/nerd/wise/The Ravenclaw

Smokes a lot

Secretly very soft/gentle/biggest heart/”His confidence and aloofness hide a sensitive heart of gold”/Bad boy secretly soft

Heart-eyes at Liam/Soft with Liam/”Lee-yum”

Mysterious eyes

Best friends with Louis

Jobs: Artist, tattoo artist, English teacher who loves art, works in comic book store,

Shy/withdrawn/mysterious/brooding best friend/quiet/”Seems intimidating until you realize he’s just shy”/bad boy outside, soft boy inside/”not as cool as he seems but way sweeter”

The artistic one/tortured artist/art student/skater/also does graffiti/spray-paint

Marvel fan/comic book fan/superhero fan

Clothing: Wears his clothes like armor/leather jacket/”He’s the only one with good taste and he knows it”

Most ‘devil may care’ about his sexuality

Family-oriented/family man

Involved with his religion

Model figure/carved by gods/vain but not obnoxious about it

Catchprase is ‘sick’

Needs time alone to recharge

Changes his hair a lot/that one strand of hair that falls over his eyes

Thinks Malibu is called Malabami

“Eats candy underwear off of Harry’s crotch”

#1dclicheficfest #cliche results #resources #masterpost #character cliches

[lovecinnatwist]

Cute RomCom Meeting - JayDick Flashfic

Dick feels confident when he walks into the quaint cafe. He looks good, he knows he does. He had gotten the seal of approval from both Tam and Tim. His outfit casual but showing off his fit figure. 

Blue eyes look over the room quickly. Trying to secretly find the person he's meeting. His gaze finally catches sight of a leather jacket. Making his breath hitch. 

The guy is gorgeous. Actually scratch that he's beyond gorgeous. He's Godly. Dick walks to the bathroom, checking his appearance again. Suddenly feeling under done in the tight white jeans, a blue button down and black shoes. Musing up his hair he takes a deep breath.  Summoning all the courage and confidence 'Brucie' Wayne put into him as a child.

He could do this- blind date here he comes. 

After giving the mirror a wink Dick sashays out and over to the table. He takes a seat. Fluttering his eyelashes as he places down his phone, keys and wallet. 

" Sorry- am I late? Were you waiting long? "

The man in front of him straightens. When he looks up. Dick stares into the most beautiful pair of seafoam eyes he's ever seen. This close he can really appreciate the man's features. Plump pink lips, straight white teeth, goofy smile and high cheekbones with a jawline that Chip and Dale would kill for. He's almost drooling.

" No- I just got here. "

The man is shy. His gaze dropping down to the menu. Hands slightly fidgeting. He was cute. The leather jacket fit him well.

" When you said the hottest guy in leather I must admit I thought you were being conceited. Now though I see that it's definitely an accurate statement. "

The man gives him a funny look. Before he can speak however the waitress sweeps in to get their orders. Dick settles on a smoothie. While Redhood_670 orders an iced tea. 

" Oh shoot where are my manners. I'm Dick- Dick Grayson. " 

He offers a hand which the man readily accepts.

" Jason, Jason Todd. "

Even his name was dreamy.

" Jason, nice- guess that means I can fantasize about Jason Mamoa sometimes without worrying about a name slip. "

He fixes Jason with one of his killer smiles. The man sputters cheeks flush. Dick wants to coo at him. He didn't expect the man to be so shy, especially after their Rated R IMs. Still it's something Dick finds incredibly charming. 

Somewhere in the back of his mind he hears the cafe door ring. 

" you're pretty forward aren't you? "

It seems once the embarrassment fades away Jason can give as good as he gets. He raises an eyebrow. When he does Dick's eyes get drawn to the piercing there. 

" I prefer the term shameless actually."

Jason laughs and Dick's heart tightens in his chest. For a moment he look ethereal and perfect. The sun from the streets making his features glow. From the smile lines and dimples to the crinkles of his eyes. Dick wishes he had his phone out to snap a picture.

It would probably be rude on a first date though. 

Dick's phone buzzes. Apologetically he checks the message quickly.

Redhood_670: I'm here. Are you on your way?

Dick's eyebrows wrinkle. He looks at Jason then back at his phone.

" I'm sorry just a moment ".

Dick types a response quickly. Cheeks turning pink under Jason's gaze.

Night_Wing52: What are you wearing?

Redhood_670 is typing…

Redhood_670: black leather jacket, ripped jeans, white undershirt and choker. 

Fuck.

Jason was wearing a brown leather jacket, black undershirt and casual cargo pants. No choker in sight. Well wasn't this awkward.

" Uh- well it seems there's been a misunderstanding. "

Amusement colors Jason's expression. 

"Figured as much. Blind date? "

Dick nods, suppressing his urge to bang his head on the table. Of course he wasn't the right person. Studs like Jason didn't need to use dating apps to get laid. 

Blue green eyes discretely scan the room. A moment later he's gesturing to the corner.

Dick peeks over his shoulder and groans. There's an anxious gentleman in the booth. He's shorter than Jason and Dick. With ashy blonde hair and brown eyes. He's cute but next to Jason he might as well be a potato.

Looking back at Jason, the man looks curious . Expression clearly asking ' watcha gonna do? '

Going back to his phone Dick types furiously. Sending a message into the open app.

Nightwing_52: Something came up sorry. Msg you when i'm free again. 

Redhood_670 is typing…

Redhood_670: Bummer babe. : (

Dick doesn't watch for his expression. He doesn't have to because Jason decides to narrate it.

" aw Dickie he looks heart broken. "

The teasing way the man speaks has Dick's heart picking up again. 

" Can't blame him though. You're definitely worth being heartbroken over. "

They smile at each other. The waitress coming back over with their drinks. Yea, he definitely made the right decision.  

3 months later.

" So how did you two meet? "

They're at the manor having tea. Bruce is sitting in the leather arm chair. Tim in the love seat, while he and Jason share the couch. Damian took Titus for a walk half an hour ago.

Jason flashes a grin making Dick groan.

" Well Dickie here confused me for his Grindr hookup and made the executive decision to upgrade. "

" Jason-"

Dick's face burns in embarrassment. Jason loves telling this God awful story. Even though it's the most humiliating thing in the world.

After their accidental date. He met up with Redhood_670 a few days later and it went horribly. Not that it was the guys fault. Dick was just head over heels for Jason already.

Tim laughs out loud. " Sounds like something out of a romcom."

Jason's eyes light up. " I told him that. I'm the 'misunderstood bad boy with rock hard abs ' and he's the  ' ditzy heiress who falls in love at first sight.' "

Tim and Jason laugh.

" It was love at first sight for you too asshole. " Dick hisses. Hiding his burning face into his boyfriend's shoulder.

Jason gives him a dorky grin and Dick can't help but forgive him immediately. He could never stay mad at Jay for long. 

" What can I say baby? You're irresistible. "

There it was again. That warm feeling Jay carefully grew in his heart. It's so lovely Dick feels his toes curling in his boots. 

Looking over privately. He judges his father's expression. Bruce scrunching his nose down at his tea cup.

"What's Grindr?"

Jason snorts while Tim howls with laughter.

Could this be more embarrassing?

 *Thanks for reading! This was a really fun prompt to do. 

Feel free to check out more of my fics if you liked this one! 

 https://archiveofourown.org/users/CinnaTwist/pseuds/CinnaTwist

#jaydick-flashfic #jaydick #jaydick-flashfic: romcom meet cute #Jason Todd #dick grayson #red hood #nightwing #fanfiction #prompt #ficlets

[people-observations]

types of people: pride family™ edition

gay grandpa: highly caffeinated at all hours of the day, says "back in my old day" too much, fuzzy cardigans, brown leather jackets, brick walls, "do it for the 'gram", lovely smiles, very soft, always sending wholesome memes to the group chat, animal person, blushing when he's around that one specific boy, messy handwriting.

lesbian mom: baggy jean jackets, tattered converse sneakers, loves plants, very responsible when the time calls for it, hayley kiyoko, feather earrings, mischevious smile, isn't afraid to stand up for herself, protective, tangled headphones, tea person, old cars, has a pocket full of rants for a rainy day, has nothing to prove to you.

trans sibling: shops exclusively at thrift stores, movie marathons, rainy days, squeezes their own juice, friendship bracelets, always choosing kindness, coffee with honey, environmental activist, shameless self-love, can't sit still, cranberry-orange muffins, puts their hand up in class a lot, strong, emotionally supporting their friends.

bisexual sibling: neon lights, cat-eye eyeliner, probably instagram famous, wears vans shoes too much, poetry books, the new trend with sequins that flip over, gives amazing hugs, early morning jogs, late night coffee-runs, hand-drawn cartoons, "you might like getting choked, but turtles don't, so keep you plastic out of the fucking ocean".

pansexual sibling: smudged lipstick, tire swings, yellow sweaters, takes polaroid pictures, pink nailpolish, wanted to be the garbage man as a child, modern art galleries, always pursing everything they're interested in, passionate, peaches and cream, blue demin, shops at the farmers market, wholesome, drama festivals.

polysexual aunt/uncle: independent, self-satisfied smirks, loves all mediums of art, very decisive, but their decisions are a mash of every option, thinks outside the box, hates being limited, mom jeans, black pens, the smell of airports, strawberry-kiwi-blueberry smoothies, lovely laugh, unconventional to say the least.

polyromantic aunt/uncle: their hands are always inkstained, architecture magazines, values happiness over exorbitant wealth, sleeping in late, sunday cartoons, tea with honey, diy croptops, lives for black and white movies, turtleneck sweaters, trustworthy, pizza margherita, has a few really close friends, ice-cream runs.

queer grandparent: vintage shirts and combat boots, has dyed their hair at least twice by now, origami fortune tellers, blacklights, glow-in-the-dark paint, ripped jeans, nimble fingers, needs to teach their facial expressions to use their inside voice, a map with several plotted road trips hanging on their wall, accepting of everyone.

non-binary cousin: unironed clothes, doesn't half-ass anything, aveeno moisturizer, holographic backpacks, not a morning person, has broken at least three alarm clocks by now, alt-indie music, was that one kid in class who actually took social media safety seriously, summer rain, reading a good book under the blankets.

asexual cousin: loves fantasy novels, old photo albums, green t-shirts, has read all of rick riordan's novels, grey sunsets, hates being told what to do, white bathroom tiles, only looks at the photos in brochures, purple pens, keeps movie ticket stubs, drinks their milk with a lot of honey, eating leftover pizza for breakfast, plastic hairbrushes.

aromantic aunt/uncle: leather jackets, would die for their friends, smoky eyeshadow, never uses plastic disposable water bottles, lacy underwear, lace-up boots, their wardrobe is black skinny jeans and black skinny jeans only, hates diet culture, promotes body positivity, comes off as intimidating, is actually a sweetheart.

#types of people #people as #tag yourself #original #happy pride month y'all #sorry this is late #pride month #gay #lesbian #trans #transgender #bisexual #bi #pansexual #pan #polysexual #polyromantic #queer #non-binary #asexual #aromantic #lgbtq+ #lgbt community #saga #inclusivity #pride #gay pride #lgbt pride #this blog is anti-straight pride #everyday is straight pride

[auroraphilealis]

How To Win A Boy: Fumbling Punk Edition

How To Win A Boy: Fumbling Punk Edition | Dan Howell, local punk, and his friends need a new cafe to hang out in, now that Dan has ruined starbucks for them (don’t ask). So they try out the new family business that just opened up a few days ago… and somehow Dan falls in love with the Pastel Goth kid behind the counter who just so happens to be his waiter. Why Phil seems to think disgusting smoothies are going to win Dan over, no one knows, but… well, they do. | Phan | Teen and Up | PastelxPunk | 8,359 Words

Thanks to @botanistlester for the title, and the fic inspiration, not to mention listening to me talk about this fic for the last 3 hours of writing. I apologize for any typos, but screw proofreading, I really want to post already.

Art: (Dan & Phil) (Mini Comic) (Full Comic)

(ao3 Link)

**

The first time Dan saw the boy, he was cleaning the lobby of some cafe that had only just opened up a few days ago. Dan and his friends had popped in for a quick cuppa with the express purpose of staking a claim on one of the back lounge areas, intent on making it their new “hang out” after school, when Dan spotted him.

He was a colossal 180cm’s at least, if Dan’s own height was anything to go by, with dark purple hair he whipped out of his face with a casual hair flip the second Dan and his friends set the door to ringing. His eyes were bright blue as turned to took in Dan and his friends with a look of absolute disinterest painted across his face, and then he was turning away and getting back to work on the counters at the front of the shop.

In his hands he held a bright yellow wash rag he used to wipe down all the surfaces, but it was his fingers that really caught and held Dan’s attention. They were long, and skinny, paler than anything Dan had ever seen before, but sure in their movements. Firm, long strokes over the counter tops made Dan shiver with the mental image of the boy touching him like that, and he had to shake his head when his friends jostled him to get his attention.

The boy was wearing a bright pink sweater that cascaded far past what appeared to be skinny wrist bones, and he wore tight, light blue skinny jeans that were plastered to his too skinny legs, but that’s all Dan got to take in before he was being forcefully turned away to find a seat.

Dan’s head was spinning with the image the boy had presented, nearly the opposite to everything Dan was. He hadn’t gotten a real good look at the boy’s face, or his features beyond the dead look behind his eyes, but it was clear he was an entirely different breed of human to Dan and his friends.

While the boy’s hair was dyed an intriguing purple, Dan’s was his dull, natural brown, and while the boy wore bright, pastel clothing, Dan wore nothing more than black on black on black, on a daily basis. He couldn’t even begin to imagine, as he sat down in a booth next to his friends, picking up a crisp new menu from the table, what it would be like to wear something as bright as blue, let alone pink, and he found his gaze flicking up from his place in the cafe to stare unashamedly at the staff there.

When he and his friends had decided to come check the new place out, glad to be away from Starbucks and the hipsters there for once, Dan had not been expecting to find a wait staff who were so… well, one might say intimidating, but Dan would say attractive.

Or, at least, the boy was as intimidating as his dead eyed stare was, and the unnatural downward tilt of his lips that Dan would have found more natural on someone like him, rather than the pastel beauty taking up residence in his new favorite cafe. Dan sighed, probably more loudly than he’d intended, and dropped his menu on the table to instead prop his face up with his hand.

“Uh-oh, guys. Looks like Dan fancies another bloke,” one of his friends teased, only for Dan to move one hand strategically up at him to flip him the bird.

“Shut up,” he grumbled, but didn’t even try to hide the way he was unashamedly staring.

His friends giggled at that, the one next to him shoving him a little and making another teasing remark that Dan pretended not to hear (yes, Mark, Dan was aware he was being incredibly gay right now, but could he just shut up for one second) before they all rolled their eyes at Dan’s ridiculous staring and turned back to their menus.

Dan could hear them all discussing lowly with each other what they wanted, a small smile quirking up his features at the image that left him with of what he and his chav friends must look like sat in the back of the cafe laughing and pointing out ridiculous sounding menu items to each other, but still managing to be far more polite and quiet than almost everyone else in the cafe. He could see a few other patrons already staring their way, taking in the piercings covering most of their faces, and the tattoo’s on clear display.

Dan himself was wearing black skinny jeans and a dark black jacket covered in zips, but he knew his sleeves were perfectly visible just at his wrists because the jacket arms were cut a little too short, and his face was absolutely covered in piercings. He had snake bites in his lip, and a stud on the side of his nose, not to mention an eyebrow bar and four piercings on each of his ears.

On top of that, Dan had a tongue piercing and a belly button piercing, with a smattering of tattoos covering his thighs and his sides, a myriad of his personality printed deep on his skin because Dan liked nothing more than to be a walking piece of art. He even had a blue bird inscribed on his collarbones in memory of the bird he’d had as a pet from age seven to age fourteen, the one and only companion he’d ever been able to call his.

He’d admittedly been pretty broken up over the loss of his pet, but he didn’t like to tell anyone that, so the tattoo was the next best thing, a little story he could tell that made him smile rather than sad.

Dan’s friends were nearly as tattooed and pierced up as Dan himself, which left it no surprise to any of them that they were getting stares, but it still made Dan want to stick his tongue out at the other customers. At least he and his friends were less disrespectful than them, who seemed to think it was a competition to see who could talk the loudest in the loud cafe.

For a new place, it was rather crowded, though. Dan found himself grinning at the idea of actually enjoying the food for once, and not just the view, though the view really was quite nice, particularly when cafe boy bent over to pick up something he’d seen on the ground, and his ass pressed rather firmly against the seat of his pants.

Damn, he had a round ass.

Mark jostled Dan from next to him again.

“Okay, seriously, Dan. You’re the only one who hasn’t looked at the menu. Planning on having cock for lunch, or something?” he asked with a laugh, the others following along with him. Jordy waggled his brows from across from Dan, and kicked him lightly in the shin with his overly big combat boots.

“Yeah, Dan, looking for some good arse tonight?”

Dan groaned, and covered his face in embarrassment for his friends, shaking his head as he finally tore his gaze away from pastel boy across the way. He’d just ducked behind the counter and seemed to be pulling on an apron, so Dan could expect him to be arriving at their table any time soon. The least he could so was not get caught too blatantly staring, even if he wanted to.

“Didn’t I say shut up,” he complained quietly, moaning a bit as he pulled the palm of his hand away from his face to glare at his friends. The expression, he knew, would be completely useless, as he’d been told on multiple occasions that despite his many piercings, he was far too cute to be in the least bit intimidating.

As it was, his friends just laughed at him.

“Come on, Dan. The waiters coming over now. What are you gonna have, cause I’m not waiting for your slow ass to pick something before we can get our drinks,” Lyle complained, shoving the menu at Dan once more for good measure. Dan ignored it completely and rolled his eyes, leaning back in his seat with arms crossed as he stretched his legs out, uncaring if he kicked Jordy or not.

Jordy grunted, but merely shifted his legs a bit over, much to Dan’s appeasement.

“Don’t worry, mate. I’ve got a plan.”

The words had barely left Dan’s lips before the pastel cafe boy he’d been staring at this whole time finally appeared next to them, holding a notepad and a pencil with one carefully styled eyebrow quirked at the boys in front of him.

“What can I get you?” he drawled, expression still rather neutral for a guy who was staring at them all with an expectant lilt to his mouth, seemingly bored out of his mind.

That wasn’t what caught and held Dan’s attention, though. No, it was the fact that this guy appeared to be wearing black eyeliner and possibly a bit of mascara from the way his eyes popped, the blue glinting with shades of green and yellow. His eyebrows were very obviously plucked and filled in, and he had a fucking eyebrow piercing of all things. That still wasn’t the most surprising thing about the pastel boy, however.

No, that was the fact that he was wearing a goddamn black lacy choker with a cross on it, and damn, did it look good pressed against his pale skin.

“Dan? What about you? Hey Dan?” Mark was asking, poking and prodding at Dan until he got the other man’s attention. Startled, Dan blinked rapidly, and then turned to look at his friends, who were all staring at him knowingly with little smirks on their faces.

Dan turned back to face the cafe boy with a bright blush on his cheeks.

Wasn’t he meant to be being sauve right about now?

The boy quirked a brow at Dan.

“I - uhh… Whatever you’d recommend?” he managed to squeak out after another second of blatant staring, his eyes roaming over the boys features to pink, plump lips. The boy smiled, somehow still managing to look bored, and noted something down on his notepad.

“Will that be all?” he asked, voice carrying a deep, northern drawl that made Dan shiver from the intensity of it. Oh, how he’d love to hear that drawl whispering dirty things in his ears.

“And maybe your number for our mate Danny over here,” Jordy piped up, much to the humor of the rest of the table, who all burst into laughter as Mark reached over to pat Dan roughly on the back. Blushing even darker, Dan hid his face with a hissed “fuckers,” from the corner of his mouth as he did his best not to groan, terrified to look up and take in the expression on the poor pastel waiters face.

The cafe boy didn’t say word, though he did chuckle dryly at their commentary, and then he walked away.

“What the fuck was that!?” Dan hissed as soon as he’d heard the retreating footsteps of the guy he’d been mooning over for less than ten minutes now. “You fuckers! Are you trying to get us kicked out on our one chance to wave goodbye to Starbucks for good?”

Jordy and Mark rolled their eyes, but it was Lyle who replied, snorting loudly and reaching over to grasp Dan’s chin in his hand.

“Don’t forget you’re the reason none of us want to hang out at Starbucks anymore. I don’t know what you did to that poor barista, but I’m like ninety-nine percent sure he’s been spitting in our drinks for months now, thanks to you. If we don’t force you to get over your stupid little crush on pastel boy over here, we might end up in the same boat all over again,” he complained quietly, quirking a brow at Dan that told him just how serious the other boy was.

Dan gulped, and dropped his gaze with a soft little sigh.

“It’s not my fault I was more into his best friend than him,” Dan complained, but shook his head all over again. “But alright, fine. I’ll try not to mess this one up.”

And by not messing this one up, Dan got the feeling all of his friends knew he meant he’d at least try not to get caught fucking some other guy in the restroom of cafe boy’s workplace during cafe boy’s shift. Not that cafe boy was bloody likely to be at all interested in Dan now after the mess his friends had just made of his flirting, but, well, Dan could try and be a little bit more suave the next time cafe boy came around.

Turned out he wasn’t very suave after all, however, as the next time cafe boy returned, he looked disgruntled and was wearing a name tag that read Phil, and was carrying two trays of drinks, one of which held some kind of desert Dan was certain Mark had ordered. Phil propped them both down carefully on the edge of their table, and started to hand them out, brushing his fingers causally against Dan’s when Dan reached out for his.

Whatever it was was bright pink, and sloshed over the side onto Dan’s fingers. It was cold, at least, rather than hot, and looked a bit dubious, but Dan wasn’t going to complain. Instead, he offered Phil a bright smile, and asked, “What’s this?”

Phil, dead behind the eyes Phil, finally offered back a grin that bordered on sinister smirk, his eyebrow bar lifting with his expression.

“Shirley Temple’s Dream. I made it myself. Premium, not on the menu yet,” he explained, a sparkle in his eye that Dan was unsure he liked very much. His own smile twitched a bit into a frown as he turned his expression dubiously back down to the drink.

“Well?” Phil drawled in that agonizingly hot northern voice of his, and Dan’s gaze snapped back to his. “You going to try it or not?”

Dan gulped, but nodded his head, unable to hide the fear in his eyes as he stared back down at his drink once more. It was really pink, but there was something colorful like… like… fruity pebbles, or something, floating throughout the thick substance, and was that… a seed?

Dan would rather drink straight coffee than whatever the hell this crap was, but he was supposed to be impressing pastel cafe boy, wasn’t he? Especially after seeing the rather punk aesthetic had had going on about his face, not to mention the fucking make up. So Dan picked up the drink, and dragged the straw over to his lips before taking an experimental sip.

It was like… it was like… drinking cotton candy and pop rocks and bubblegum all mixed in one but somehow made up with the consistency of a fruit drink, pulp and seed notwithstanding, and it was the most disgusting thing Dan had ever drank.

Still, he forced himself to swallow it, and did his damned best not to let his expression show just how disgusting he found the thing to be, keeping his head low and his fringe hanging in his face for all of a few seconds before he finally looked back up at his waiter with an expression of strained enjoyment.

“It’s good,” he mumbled, trying to force back down the vomit that was trying to crawl up his throat. “Definitely - definitely worth putting on the menu,” he continued, clearing his throat quickly and trying to hide the fact that he was about to sick the whole thing up by taking another long sip of the thing.

Once it was in his mouth, however, Dan couldn’t help wondering where the fuck he was meant to put it, and swallowed almost reflexively. Jordy, Lyle, and Mark were all stifling giggles as Dan visibly grimaced, but it was Phil’s expression Dan was most interested in.

He looked - surprised? Almost taken off guard as he peered at Dan with shrewd blue eyes, the black of his eyeliner making them look bigger than they actually were. The smirk that had been pulling at once side of his mouth had fallen until he was back to frowning, eyes narrowing at the sight of Dan.

Then, just as suddenly as he’d began to glare, he brightened back up - as much as Phil seemed able to, which was about as far as his lips quirking and his eyes retaining some kind of life in them other than the words kill me - and said, “Thanks! I’m glad you like it. Make sure you finish it all for me, okay?” and then turned on his heel and walked away.

Dan was left staring slack jawed at the way his hips and bum moved, not particularly attractive, but catching his gaze nevertheless, as he slowly began to realize that is had been a joke.

Whatever the hell Phil had just served him hadn’t been meant to be taken as anything more than the disgusting monstrosity that it was, and yet… Dan couldn’t bring himself to mind.

As his friends laughed around him, jostling each other and making fun of Dan’s expression, daring each other to try Dan’s drink and laughing when they all said no, Dan merely smiled to himself and stared after Phil with a pitiful look on his face, taking the straw between his lips and sipping once more at the god awful drink.

The finished the whole damn thing, because Phil had asked him too, and when he and his friends left a few hours later, he made sure to wave goodbye, catching one last look at the pastel cafe boy before he left for the day.

**

They returned, as planned, the following afternoon, with Dan dragging his friends along behind him not moments after the final bell for school let out. He hadn’t ever seen the boy from the cafe before, and didn’t know how old he was, but he didn’t seem that much older than Dan himself. Dan was half expecting to see him cleaning the counters again like yesterday afternoon, but when he and his friends first stepped in, the pastel beauty was nowhere to be found.

Dan frowned, put out for all of a second before he realized it probably made sense. The boy couldn’t be too much older than Dan, really, and there was a chance he hadn’t gotten home from school yet. Still, Dan was disappointed as he, Mark, Lyle, and Jordy all sat down in the same vacant booth from yesterday, and picked up their menu’s.

Today, an older woman was manning the front counter, her hair a beautiful blonde pulled back in a little bun. She wore a pink apron, the opposite of Phil’s, but they both held an insignia of the name of the cafe, Broderia. The lady’s smile was practically beeming as she carried out cakes to the front and stowed them in a little glass case to keep them fresh, and brewed coffee all at the same time.

There was far more life in her step than had been in Phil’s yesterday, and yet… Dan couldn’t help finding himself missing the tall pastel boy he was rather enamoured with at this point. He sighed, and placed his head down on the table with a little put out groan as the others snickered at Dan’s misfortune.

“School just let out, mate, what were you expecting?” Jordy asked, but Dan didn’t respond. Instead, he stared despondently out the cafe window into the street across the way, and tried to ignore the buzz in the cafe.

It was just as busy that day as the day before, with most people settled in at the bar area, and a few on the other side of the shop. A couple was settled in the booth in front of Dan and his friends, but they were quick to leave, leaving them mostly alone. The little old lady manning the front was busy with the other customers at that moment, but Dan didn’t care.

He was sort of hoping she wouldn’t get around to serving them until Phil showed up - assuming the other boy even worked that day.

With another heaved sigh, Dan moved to prop himself back up on the counter and actually take a disappointed look at his menu, when the front door opened. Instantly, Dan’s head snapped up at the jingle, overly hopeful that it would be Phil, and yes, it was the other teen! His hair was just as dark as it had been the day before, the choker a glisten against his neck, and his eyes still rimmed darkly in black eyeliner.

Today, though, he was wearing a pale blue shirt with a cute little flower on the breast, and high waisted white shorts with three buttons that buttoned up to his belly button. They hung kind of low, mid way down his thigh, showing off creamy pale skin that Dan wanted to lick more than anything else.

What made the entire outfit even better, however, was the fact that his shorts showed off the highly detailed, watercolor tattoo cascading down from his upper thigh about midway to his knee. There were two delicate flowers, one done in a light pink, and the other in a light blue, with delicate leaves and light weeds growing out and around them, all in light shades of black and green and yellow. Dan wanted to scream at the sight of it.

He was fairly certain his jaw had dropped open as well, if his friends giggles were anything to go by.

Phil, on the other hand, was giving Dan the utter most blank stare he had ever been given, and it made him want to shrink back. He suddenly felt kind of gross for staring so unashamedly, only he couldn’t help it, and it wasn’t as if it were any secret by now that Dan had a massive crush on the pastel cafe boy.

That eyebrow piercing, though. Dan kind of wanted to smooth his fingers over it, kiss the boy and find out what his mouth tasted like. He licked his lips unconsciously just as the boy drew closer, and watched his eyes widen subtly.

Dan smirked as he realized he’d shown off his tongue ring on accident, just a glint, and locked his gaze with Phil’s as the boy wandered by, a backpack slung casually over one shoulder. Definitely a student, then.

The lady who’d been manning the front counter finally started to make her way over to Dan and his friends, but Phil shook his head at her.

“I’ve got this table. Let me just wash my hands,” he promised, expression not changing for even an instant, and yet the lady began to smirk.

She cast a glance Dan’s way, offered him a wink, and said, “Alright, honey. I’ll get back to the kitchen, then,” her voice just as motherly as Dan had imagined.

It was then he realized this must be a family business, and that that had been Phil’s mother winking at him. Dan colored darkly all over again.

Lyle snorted at him.

“Oh man. Dan’s got it good this time.”

“Shut up,” Dan mumbled for the millionth time, and tried to hide his face in shame.

It wasn’t his fault Phil was everything Dan had ever wanted in a guy, soft tattoo’s and piercings galore, make up and an aesthetic that Dan would not mind hopping on if he didn’t think he looked ridiculous in any other color besides black. Dan groaned all over again, embarrassed out of his mind, and looked back up at his snickering friends just in time for Phil to appear, once again in his apron and with a notepad in hand.

His expression was just as bored as it had been yesterday, the choker bright against his pale skin. Dan wanted to press his lips just there against his thudding pulse -

“What can I get you today?”

Mark, Lyle, and Jordy rattled off their orders in quick succession, just as polite as yesterday, but there was a knowing look on their faces as they turned and waited for Dan to offer up an order of his own. Dan’s fingers shook on the menu in his hands as he considered his options.

He could either admit that he needed a little more time and actually look at the menu for once, or he could… stomach another one of Phil’s horrible drinks for the sake of impressing him.

Yeah, well, it was obvious which one Dan was going to pick.

“Whatever you’d recommend,” he stated again, this time far more calmly as he grinned at Phil, who did nothing more than stare bemusedly at Dan. His eyes narrowed for a second as he seemed to take in Dan, gaze trailing over his face and down his chest.

Was… was Phil checking him out?

Apparently so, as his gaze moved slowly back up Dan’s body and stopped at his lips. Dan wiggled under his intense scrutiny, cheeks turning pink, until Phil finally, finally stopped staring to offer Dan that same half smirk smile from yesterday.

“Coming right up,” he declared, and turned on his heel to head back behind the counter once again.

Dan felt like his heart had stopped, and he was certain his flush went far beyond his cheeks by now.

Lyle whistled.

“Well then,” he stated simply. The others were eerily quiet. “I guess… stomaching disgusting smoothies is the way to win a guy over, then.”

Dan couldn’t help but to agree, and he swallowed thickly as he imagined just what it would feel like to get those soft, pale pink lips on his. Damn… What Dan would do to bring some life to those bright blue eyes.

He found himself grinning to himself. Phil was a sight to see, and Dan knew next to nothing about him, but he wanted too, and wasn’t that enough? He’d like to touch that beautiful pale skin, have those long skinny fingers running over his skin, hear that voice moaning his name -

Dan was brought up short from his thoughts by a thump on the back of his head, and turned just in time to see his friends shooting him soft little grins.

“Lover boy,” Jordy said, “We were just talking about maybe doing something over the weekend, unless…?”

Dan stared at them for a moment, and then tossed a glance over at Phil, who was staring rather blatantly at Dan as he mixed up something in the blender. It was a horrid green color this time, and Dan had no idea if he was going to like it or not, but, well…

“We’ll see,” he decided, and offered Phil a smile. The other boy’s lips twitched from across the way, but he didn’t give in to the expression. “I think I might just be… busy,” he decided.

The green drink Phil brought him a few minutes later was almost more horrid than the nightmare pink think from yesterday, but Dan still slurped the whole thing down, even managing to prevent himself from sicking it back up from how fast he drank it.

Phil watched him the whole time, looking satisfied, and Dan was rewarded with a smirk at the end of it.

**

It was Lyle’s fault the four of them ended up in detention the following day, and normally, Dan wouldn’t mind so much if it weren’t for the fact that he’d been rather interested in seeing Phil that afternoon for another round of cat and mouse. Whether Dan was the cat or the mouse, he didn’t really know, but he had a horrible feeling he was more the lab rat than anything else.

Still, the hour delay after school had left Dan in a bit of a bad mood, and he stomped to the cafe, friends trailing after him, the moment they were free.

“...your fault, Lyle,” Jordy was complaining as they pushed into the warm place, the smell of baked apple pie instantly assaulting Dan’s nose. He couldn’t help inhaling deeply and closing his eyes for a moment, and then continued on his way to what was fast becoming his and his friends booth, still empty, as it always seemed to be.

There was no sign of Phil, but Dan wasn’t giving up hope just yet. If the job was a family thing, than surely Phil was just - in the back, or something. Besides, there was no one manning the front, so it wasn’t an impossible dream.

“Shut the hell up, you guys didn’t have to go along with a damn thing. I was the one who made the joke,” Lyle whined in response, sliding in next to Dan this time, and boxing the taller boy in against the inside of the booth. Dan tried not to pout at this treatment.

Mark rolled his eyes.

“You knew we’d back you up. Don’t give us that shit,” he complained. “Never again, please. The last thing I need is to spend another hour in detention with Miss. Catterpiss, or whatever the fuck her name is. Seriously, how could anyone smell so bad!?”

The other two snorted in laughter, but Dan was distracted.

Phil had just walked out from the back carrying what appeared to be a freshly baked apple pie, and he was staring right. At. Dan.

There was a furrow between cafe boy’s brows, almost like worry, but it smoothed away the minute he seemed to recognize Dan, and a slow smirk began to spread across his features instead. Dan stared at him, trying to take in his outfit of choice, the nice pale aesthetic of the off-white t-shirt he was wearing this time matched with an almost bright blue pair of skinny jeans.

They were off-colored as well, however, just light enough to be considered pastel, and highlighting his frame quite nicely. The color really suited Phil, Dan decided right then and there.

“So when are you going to ask him out, then?” Mark asked rather suddenly, drawing Dan out of his thoughts. He jumped a bit, but tore his eyes away from Phil, who was still staring at him. Dan had to shake his head to get his mind out of the gutter, having been unable to imagine what lay just beyond the boys zipper, and tried to focus back on his friends.

“I - uhhh, I mean…” Dan stuttered, going bright pink all over again.

Not for the first time, Dan realized he must look a sight. A boy with multiple face piercings and sleeves that were currently on display due to his t-shirt - a mishmash of dying flowers and a few aesthetic nintendo pieces inked on both arms, as well as a cascade of nimble looking fairies which spoke loads of Dan’s sexuality - blushing. Actually blushing.

Dan couldn’t help it if he colored easily.

His friends waited for a response.

After a moment, Jordy reached over and nudged at Dan’s arm.

“You are planning on asking him out, aren’t you?”

“Asking who out?” Phil asked, his norther voice far more husky now than usual. He looked… almost put out, if you wanted to try and read the bored expression on his face, and it made Dan’s heart shrivel up into a tiny little mass. He could practically feel himself sweating as he shoved at Lyle’s side next to him, wishing he was on the outside, and shook his head.

“N-no one, I - they were just joking,” Dan promised, staring imploringly up at Phil. He wasn’t sure asking the pastel boy out was exactly… appropriate, but he also didn’t want the teen to think that Dan was interesting in anyone else, either.

Phil didn’t seem to like this response, however, as he narrowed his eyes chillingly at Dan, and then turned his attention to the other half of the table, namely, Mark and Jordy. Dan felt his heart plummet even further down his stomach, and moved his gaze miserably down to the table in front of him.

His fingers picked at his menu, but he didn’t open it, didn’t scan it over with his eyes, determined to do as he’d done the past two days and ask Phil for his recommendation.

“And for you…?” Phil asked, trailing off as he seemed to realize he didn’t know Dan’s name.

“Dan,” Dan piped up, instantly snapping his attention to Phil and grinning at him. Phil hardly blinked, though he did seem to start to glare. Dan nearly wilted into himself, but he remained as positive as he could. “I, uh… whatever you’d recommend?” he squeaked out.

Phil nodded curtly, and started to turn around, his posture all wrong for how it had been the past few days. Dan frowned, and, before he could think twice said, “And maybe a slice of that apple pie you had earlier?”

Phil stopped, but didn’t turn around, and then carried on his way.

Dan sunk back into his seat, miserable.

“Thanks a lot, guys,” he complained.

Mark made a sound of regret, but Jordy merely pursed his lips.

“It’s not my fault you didn’t take the chance and hop on his dick.”

Dan chose to ignore that comment, and sighed as he turned his gaze to stare out the window.

It was the middle of winter, and it grew dark rather quickly these days, not that Britain was ever particularly sunny to begin with. Still, it was clear just how late Dan had been to the cafe that afternoon, and he wondered if he’d been right in assuming Phil’s expression earlier had been one of worry.

Was he worried now that Dan had hooked up with someone at school, or something? Did he think that was why Dan had been late?

He didn’t know, but he let his thoughts drift as he waited for Phil to return with his and his friends meals.

The loud sound of a glass plopping down in front of him drew Dan out of his thoughts, and he looked up, astonished, as Phil practically threw a black smoothie at him, followed by a plate holding what appeared to be a perfectly ruined slice of apple pie.

Horrified, Dan risked a glance up at Phil’s face, only to find him practically sneering.

“You did ask for my recommendation,” he stated, and then turned and marched away.

For the first time, he didn’t for Dan to try the smoothing, nor did he turn and look at him once he was back behind the front counter. In fact, he seemed to be studiously avoiding Dan’s gaze all together, determined not to pay him even one iota of attention, and Dan felt his heart plummet still further.

Letting out a brief sigh, Dan cradled his cheek in his palm

“Uhm. Mate. Are you seriously going to eat that?” Lyle asked after a moment, pointing at the slice of apple pie sat in front of Dan. It was covered in whipped cream and sprinkles, a bit of what appeared to be hot chocolate dripping off the sides, and its crust was badly crumpled.

Dan considered it for a moment, then the shake, and said, “I’ve eaten everything else he’s given me so far, haven’t I?” and picked up his fork to dig in.

The apple pie was horrendous, the worst thing Dan had ever eaten, but even the black shake couldn’t help him wolf it down. That tasted almost like burnt hot chocolate mixed with cinnamon or something, and if Dan was being honest, he wouldn’t be surprised if it was.

Still, he slurped it down good naturedly, only gagging a few times, and tried to keep his glare even as he stared at his friends, all of whom were quite enjoying their normal coffees and shakes. Dan couldn’t help envying them, but he was in way too deep now. Unless Phil was the one to offer him something actually good for once, Dan wasn’t sure he could enjoy it anyway.

Just as the last two nights, Dan finished every last drop of his shake, even when he didn’t want too, and managed to stomach the apple pie, too.

When he left with his friends, he waved to Phil, but the other boy didn’t so much as bother to look up at him.

Dan was pretty sure apple pie had been ruined for him.

**

Dan returned the next day completely alone. It was a Friday afternoon, and while his friends had come to quite enjoy Dan’s antics with the pastel cafe boy at their new favorite cafe, they weren’t really inclined to return until Dan had fixed things with their new waiter.

Mark was convinced his chocolate shake had tasted funny, while Jordy and Lyle had mostly made fun of Dan, but it had been enough to scare the three of them away. Dan, on the other hand, couldn’t just give up. Not after the mess he’d made the day before.

Phil hadn’t even been able to look at him, and Dan wasn’t entirely certain that his finishing of the terrible dishes Phil had left him would be enough to win him over. Instead, he was left with a bitter taste in his mouth and a bowell system that pretty much hated him at this point, and nothing more to do than at least try.

When he entered the cafe this time, Phil was already behind the counter. One glance up at the door, however, sent however fleeting of a smile had been on his face into a grimace of epic proportions. Dan quailed under the look, and scuttled away to the same booth he and his friends had been sitting at for the last three days.

It was a little strange being back in the cafe without his friends, and, unwilling to look at the menu like he did every other day, Dan merely fidgeted with his phone in his hand, and then the salt and pepper shakers, and then his own tongue ring against the back of his teeth as he stared out the side window and waited for Phil to come and take his order.

It took an inordinately long amount of time, but Dan was too afraid to face Phil ignoring him to glance up and see if Phil was even pretending to head to his table. He couldn’t bare to see the other male glaring at him, or worse yet, going about his work day as if Dan weren’t even there.

Of course, that meant when Phil did appear at his table, it came as a complete shock to Dan, particularly when the arrival was announced with the sound of a glass landing rather roughly against the table.

“Drink your shake and leave.”

Dan stared up in absolute horror as Phil glared at him, his arms crossed rather harshly over his chest. He was wearing some kind of light purple sweater with an upside down cross of all things on the front, and black jeans, which took Dan completely by surprise.

Phil never black jeans, and it seemed to belly his mood at the moment as he glared down harshly at Dan.

Was it just Dan, or was his eyeliner thicker than usual, as well.

“I - uhm - what?” Dan stuttered out in response, when it became clear that Phil was waiting for something. “You didn’t even take my -”

Phil glared at him.

“I didn’t have to. Now finish it, and leave.”

Phil didn’t wait for Dan to say another word. Instead, he turned on his heel, and stomped away.

For once, Dan wasn’t staring at his ass. Instead, he stared miserably at the back of Phil’s head, terrified he’d just fucked everything up.

Slowly, Dan turned his attention back to the drink Phil had left for him. It was red, this time, and for some reason, it looked like art. Dan could see little lumps of something all around, mostly dark black and seeping into the red like they wanted to take over. There was a bit of orange, something that looked frighteningly like a cockroach, and lychee oozing down one side.

As Dan looked at it, he couldn’t help thinking it looked like what heartbreak felt like, and he felt his own heart break. Slowly, he risked a glance at Phil who was determinedly not looking at Dan, and sighed.

He’d royally fucked up this time, and it had all been a stupid mistake. He’d just thought - it was kind of a game, he and Phil were playing, right? He wasn’t supposed to ask Phil out… they were just supposed to… Dan dropped his forehead down on the table, and groaned loudly to himself.

Why was he such an idiot? He had snakebites and an eyebrow bar, sleeves on both arms, and he couldn’t work up the courage to say “You, pretty boy,” or something when Phil asked who Dan was meant to be asking out?

How in the world was Dan meant to fix this now? He didn’t know, but he kind of wanted to punch himself in the face.

Drinking Phil’s drink came close enough, so, with a determined look on his face, Dan drew the straw to his mouth, plugged his nose, and began to drink.

It tasted worse than heartbreak, and he nearly vomited it right back up, but he squeezed his eyes shut and drank it faster, determined to finish this if it was the last thing that he ever did. As he drank, he couldn’t help imagining the way Phil had looked yesterday when Dan had apparently hurt him, and he felt his heart squeeze all over again.

He’d been a jerk, and he kind of deserved this, he knew. Still. It was - painful, to say the least.

Even with his nose plugged, the drink was the worst thing he’d ever had, and he was almost certain the cockroach looking thing had been a fucking piece of chocolate. That did not mix well with whatever strawberry, pineapple, pomegranate thing Phil had given Dan, either, and was that chunks of mango!?

Dan knew better than to ask, and merely sipped faster at the drink, swallowing thickly, and tried not to gag.

About half way through, Dan was forced to stop and take a breather, gasping as he pulled his mouth away from the disgusting drink, and wishing desperately for water to chase the taste away. He didn’t have the luxury, however, and was left with nothing but that same disgusting taste on his tongue as he risked a glance upward at Phil.

Phil, who was staring at Dan with an expression of clear surprise in his eyes. Dan only had a moment to take it in before Phil was glaring again and turned away abruptly, but it was enough.

It was enough to tell Dan… that this was the right way.

Suddenly, an idea formed in his mind, and Dan turned to dig through his backpack for a pen and a piece of paper, determining to clear things up right here and now, and finish his drink in the meantime.

Dan returned his mouth to his straw as he began to write.

**

Pastel cafe boy, or Phil, if you prefer

Sorry about yesterday. I’m quite a bit shyer than my exterior would… imply. I was scared of scaring you away, but now, i think i’ve well and truly mucked that up anyway, so, well…

My friends were teasing me about asking you out, so i figure. Better late than never?

Xxxx-xxxxx-xxxxxxx call me

- Dan

**

Every time Dan’s phone went off for the rest of the night, he practically jumped on it, he was so desperate for it to be Phil. Unfortunately for him, every time he picked it up, it wasn’t from an unknown number, and, by midnight, Dan had all but given up.

He’d had maybe three shitty conversations with a couple of facebook friends, had played a bit of crossy road, and had even managed a few youtube videos before giving it all up for good, and climbed into bed. He wanted Phil to text him more than anything, and he didn’t realize quite how desperate he’d been until Phil hadn’t done so. Had he really fucked up that bad? Was it really something that Phil couldn’t forgive?

The thought made Dan’s chest ache. He’d drank Phil’s heartbreak shake, and left him a note. What else could he do?

As Dan laid down to sleep, one final thought popped into his head.

Of course. He had to show his face one last time, and proved he meant it.

**

Dan didn’t know what time Phil worked on Saturday, but that didn’t matter. He woke up at eleven, the earliest he’d ever woken up on a weekend, and shrugged on an old ratty grey t-shirt and a ripped up pair of skinny jeans that showed off his legs. He pulled a beanie over his curly mess of hair, and made sure he at least looked well kempt before heading out of his house and back towards the city center.

It was a twenty minute walk to Phil’s cafe, but it was worth it. Dan would do anything to get one last shot with the darkly pastel cafe boy, even if that meant drinking another one of his horrendous shakes. Dan still had no idea if Phil would even be working yet, but he didn’t care. He’d wait in the shop all day, waste all his money if he had to.

He was determined to see Phil if it killed him.

For the second time, Dan was completely alone when he walked into Phil’s family cafe, the door tinkling above him. Instantly, Dan’s gaze shot around the cafe, finding business as usual, one side of the small building rather crowded, the bar filled with guests, and Dan’s usual back of the room completely empty bare from -

Phil.

Dan’s mouth practically went dry as he took in the boy who was leaning casually back against the booth with a tiny little curl at the corners of his lips, gaze clearly locked onto Dan’s. There were two drinks in front of him, as if he’d known Dan would be coming, that looked… remarkably horrifying, if Dan was being honest, but the fact that there were two and a Phil gave him at least a little bit of hope.

He took a surprised step forward, still trying to take in the fact that Phil was wearing those high waisted white shorts again and a cute black top, this time, with pink flowers all over it, tucked into his waist. Phil just looked so good, with his eyebrow piercing and his mascara, which was clear as day today, the eyeliner and his hair down such a dark, wonderful purple.

His thigh tattoo practically glared at Dan as he made his way across the cafe floor to Phil.

“Is - is this seat taken?” he asked as casually as he could once he reached the booth. Phil was still smirking at him.

“Yeah. My boyfriends just in the bathroom,” he explained, his expression bland as ever, eyes sparkling with -

Dan blanched. Boyfriend?

His gaze darted backwards to the bathroom, and then down to the two horrible drinks sat in front of Phil as the slow realization started to set in. Of course Phil had a boyfriend. Why else would he be sat in a booth with two drinks sat in front of him? As if he could have known Dan was coming today.

No wonder he hadn’t texted… no wonder… no wonder he’d served Dan the worst drinks ever, just for looking at him.

Dan took a startled step backwards.

“Oh, I’m - I’m sorry, I didn’t -”

But before Dan could get the rest of the words out, Phil was laughing at him. It was the first time Dan had properly heard him laugh. Phil threw his head back, and the sound burst right out of him, high pitched and adorable as his face scrunched up and his tongue stuck out between his teeth on one side. The sight made his entire face light up like Dan had never seen before, and it was killing him.

He could feel his heart racing in his chest, eyes wide as he stared at Phil, and found himself impossibly falling even more in love with him than before.

“Dan,” Phil stated, when he finally calmed down. For the first time, he didn’t look dead behind the eyes as he looked at Dan. “You idiot. Of course the seat isn’t taken. I’ve been waiting for you,” he said with a dramatic eyeroll, gesturing at the seat across from him. “Who the hell else am I going to get to try my shakes, after all?”

Dan blinked for another moment, still startled and a little bit scared that he’d flirted with someone else’s boy, but eventually felt his heart beginning to slow down a bit. Phil just looked so precious, smiling up at Dan like he was his whole world, and surely there could be no boyfriend? Not when Phil had been flirting back...

Slowly, Dan took the seat across from Phil. Phil’s leg bumped his, sending a jolt of something through Dan, and he found himself blushing and looking down at his lap. It was hard to keep looking at Phil when they were finally so close.

But why… why hadn’t Phil texted him last night?

“Did you get my…?” Dan started, avoiding Phil’s gaze.

The other boy, it seemed, was having none of that, as, after just another moment, Dan felt a cool hand brush his cheek, and then cup just under his chin, forcing Dan to look up at him.

“Course I did, but where’s the fun in texting you when I knew you’d be back?”

Phil’s eyes were sparkling with that same old mischief, but this time, he was actually grinning, and Dan felt his heart do a somersault. Slowly, a grin of his own started to curl up his cheeks, as he thought, who could argue with that?

#phanfic #phanfiction #phanfictioncatalogue #dan and phil #punk dan #pastel goth phil #punkxpastel #snowbunnylester

[remnant-chronicles]

Dust Stars

Stella Smoothie was as busy as ever during the summer months, the line would wrap around the shop and down the street. Alabasians enjoyed a fresh and cold smoothie when the air was as hot and sticky as it was that day. Sitting underneath the orange decorative umbrella was a woman in her mid twenties; sipping on a apple-blueberry-banana concoction. Her dark-red hair clashed with her blood-red eyes, something she hated growing up. She had her hair tied up in a ponytail so it would avoid sticking to her sweaty neck as she swiped her scroll vigorously upward. Her name was Faith Vermelho, leader of team FRST – an advanced guard to King Tris, the leader of Alabasia. Occasionally she would look up with her eyes squinting in the bright sunlight as people walked by, she was waiting for someone. She graciously picked up her cup, her pinky finger raised, and sipped her smoothie. She then patted her mouth with a pink napkin and placed it gingerly next to the cup. “You know,” came a voice from behind Faith that made her jump slightly, “I can't tell if you're always like that, or if it's just an act.” Faith turned around frowning at the person who commented and saw her teammate Serina Lapir. She was wearing her usual getup: a dark-blue, medium length battle skirt with silver and black greaves, chest plate, a pair of gauntlets on her arms and a single pauldron on her left shoulder. Her dark, blue hair was held in a ponytail and her dark, pumpkin colored eyes were cold and calculating as she watched Faith take another sip. “You should know that it's from being part of the King's audience during his dinners and get-togethers and that we have to maintain manners even when we're out in public.” explained Faith as she took another sip, she continued, “Forget about me. It's like an oven out here and you're dressed like there's a war going to start at any moment.” “It's better than looking like you've been held back a dozen times at Mantis.” said Serina coldly as she pointed out Faith's outfit which was similar to the the type of uniform that was worn at their primary combat school, just different colors: white high top sneakers, blue knee socks, a dark-red plaid skirt, black arm socks, and a black sweater vest with red trim. “What? I like this style!” defended Faith as she rolled up her sleeves a bit. “Still,” continued Serina as her armor tinkered and clanked as she shrugged her shoulders. “Come and sit down for a bit,” said Faith, cutting Serina off, “The others still aren't here yet.” Serina sat down and crossed her arms and stared at the people inside the cafe. She would eye them as they walked out carrying their cups, and some carrying pastries. “Why don't you get something for yourself?” asked Faith, following Serina's gaze. “No.” she said simply. “I know you want something.” insisted Faith as she smirked, “Go on.” “I said no already. Leave it.” said Serina harshly. “You're looking a bit peckish, if you ask me.” said Faith as she pulled out her wallet. “Well I didn't ask you.” said Serina as her face started to redden a bit. “I have to look out for my team,” said Faith as she pulled out some money, “Here just take it. Don't worry about owing me later. Go on” Serina begrudgingly took the money after a moment and stomped her way toward the inside of the cafe; her armor clanging loudly with each step. Faith sat back and pulled out her scroll again and began scrolling with her thumb absentmindedly when she heard her name being called out. “Hey, Faith!” called out a female voice. She turned around and smiled as her teammates Rin Grau and Tessa Braun. Rin was Faith's friend that she knew the longest. They had met while at Andromeda Academy (their secondary combat school ) and had been nearly inseparable since; they always had each others backs no matter the situation. Rin was wearing her usual outfit, which was ninja-like in appearance with black shin guards and forearm guards with silver lining, a grey chest plate, and thin pauldrons. Underneath the armor was grey tight pants and a tight cross over jacket adorned with a black hood. Her silver hair shined brightly in the light as she kept her cerulean eyes squinted to see in front of her. Next to Rin was their final teammate, Tessa "Tess" Braun. Being nearly two years in FRST, Tess was still the newest member in the group. She was quickly drafted into the team after Rin witnessed Tess stopping a robbery at a bank – taking down six men all by herself in mere seconds. Her smile reached her canary-yellow eyes as she saw Faith standing up and waving; her dark brown hair being jostled in the breeze as she waved back. In her short time on the team, Tess highly considered her like family, even if Serina scoffed at that idea. She was wearing her typical daily attire of a sleek business suit fitted with a dark brown tie. They sat down next to Faith and began talking while Serina plopped down a few seconds later with a bright green drink in her hands. “You know,” said Rin as she pulled out her scroll, “I heard a rumor that the king might venture outside the walls soon.” “Really? Where'd you hear that?” asked Tess as she looked up from fixing her tie. “Overheard a meeting when I was making my way to the west garden."said Rin. "How long has it been?” asked Tess. “Since the King ventured outside the walls? It's been a while. The prince was still a child.” said Serina as she fished a cherry from the bottom of the cup. “That long?” asked Tess, remembering that the Prince just celebrated his nineteenth birthday. “Yeah. I remember those days like it was yesterday.” said Faith reminiscently. “Those were dark times indeed.” said Rin nodding her head. She continued after seeing Tess' confused face, “We technically don't talk about it, more like 'not really allowed' because of King Tris' wife.” “That makes sense,” agreed Tess, “Didn't they say it was an assassination attempt meant for him?” “I wouldn't trust anything said. Once information becomes a rumor and starts spreading around, it becomes so diluted and muddled that the original story becomes lost in a perilous void.” said Serina gloomily. “I bet you're a real riot at parties, Serina.” teased Rin while Faith and Tess laughed. “Jokes aside,” said Faith, “This one sounds serious. Expect a summons soon. The tournament is coming up fast and preparations for transport have to start. This is a damn big deal.” “How far is Vytal from here?” asked Rin. “Considering that Tris wants to travel via motorcade, it's actually not that far from here. Maybe three or four days with limited stops for rest.” said Serina. They sat in silence for a few moments before Faith pulled out her scroll and started swiping on the screen before all of theirs started ringing simultaneously; catching Serina by surprise and making her spill her drink. “It says that we're needed back at the castle.” said Tess looking up from her scroll. “Well then,” said Fatith as she stood up and stretched, “Let's go.” “Wait,” said Rin as she stood up as well, “What happened to you Serina?” “Ugh...Nothing.” she said as she tried to wipe her spilled drink off of her front. “It looks like 'nothing' is all over you.” teased Tess. “Oh shut up!” Serina snapped back to a laughing Rin, “Just go ahead, I'll meet you there.” Faith, Rin and Tess walked together toward the castle that was located at the back of the city atop of a rather large hill. The castle itself was the tallest point in Alabasia standing hundreds of feet over all other buildings. It was a stark contrast compared to the surrounding buildings in the city, which were varied in colors from blue to yellow and everything in between. The castle itself was a bony-white in color lined with blue incandescent edges that flashed slowly. Ships could be see arriving and departing from time to time carrying important people and secretive shipments. FRST worked directly and lived in the castle alongside King Tris as his personal guard. They escorted him anywhere in the kingdom he needed to go, and protected him inside the castle walls. BOOM! An explosion rocked the street Faith, Rin and Tess were walking on that sent shards of glass, pieces of rubble, and people flying. Running out of the smoldering store that had just exploded were four masked individuals carrying large black duffle bags. They were all wearing the same outfit which consisted of dark-gray long-sleeved shirts, black armored vests and baggy black cargo pants and military style boots. They were shooting behind their backs blindly at anyone who was making an attempt at following them. People were ducking for cover as dust fueled bullets were whizzing past their bodies as the the thieves ran down a narrow alley with Faith, Rin and Tess quickly taking pursuit. “Go left!” ordered Faith as she saw two of the burglars turn left at the end of the alley. Rin and Tess banked left as Faith ran straight towards the other burglar. All of a sudden, Rin stopped dead in her tracks. Tess looked back in confusion. “What're you doing? They're getting away!” she shouted. Rin shook her head as she arched her back and her eyes grew wide. In an instant, she disappeared from behind Tess and reappeared in front of the two burglars causing them to stop in their tracks and raise their guns; their barrels glowing ominously. “How the-” said one of the burglars in surprise, but was cut off when Rin bashed him across the face with her bow. Tess dove out of the way as the body flew past her and slid on the ground in a crumbled heap and looked at Rin who motioned at something behind her. She looked around and ducked just in time at the burglar that she was dealing with swiped at her with a rather long, red blade that had transformed from his gun. “Oh! You're crafty one, aren't you?” giggled Tess as she raised her hand. A peculiar blue glow emanated from her palm and the burglar's knife zipped from his hand to Tess'. Her palm glowed again and the knife started to hover over it. She then angled her arm behind her head and smiled as she sent the knife whizzing straight into the burglars foot; pinning him on the spot. He yelled in pain as he tried to move but couldn't as his foot was firmly staying in place. Tess walked forward and raised her arm again and let out an electric pulse that made him fall backwards in an unconscious pile. “You're a sadistic one, you know that?” said Rin as she walked up to Tess. “No, that's Faith.” laughed Tess, “Speaking of, let's find her. She might need us” Rin nodded her head and followed Tess as she pulled out her scroll to find Faith's ping on a tracker app that she downloaded. Meanwhile, while Rin and Tess took care of their problem, Faith was in pursuit of the three remaining burglars that were trying to escape. She dodged bullets as they whizzed past her, deflecting a few of them with her halberd. “Oh no you don't!” she grunted as she took a leap forward to try and trip one of them. One of the burglars merely skipped over the curve of her halberd and twisted in midair and pointed his gun at a defenseless Faith's head. Her eyes grew wide as she saw a flash of light from the muzzle. She closed her eyes and prepare for what was coming, but nothing happened. She opened her eyes and, to her surprise, saw a lancer wiggling in the ground with the burglar's sleeve impaled in the ground. Serina aimed a well timed kick at the trapped burglar's head and knocked him out. Faith slid belly down on the ground past the body and twisted herself around to see Serina sprinting toward her; her eyes glowing. “Found you.” said a huffing and puffing Serina at Faith. “Took you long enough.” said Faith as she took Serina's extended arm and helped herself up and picked up her halberd. “One of them is getting away!” said Serina, pointing at the last burglar that hopping onto a motorcycle to get away. “I.” grunted Faith as her palms flash a bright shade of lime green, “Don't. Think. SO!” She threw her arms over her head and brought down her weapon with a mighty yell. The energy in her palms transferred to the blade and shot out in a beam of light toward the burglar. In an instant, the bike exploded so violently that a shockwave formed and broke all the windows of storefronts, restaurants, and apartments all down the street. The burglar was launched in the air and landed in a tree; his clothes smoking. “Shoot a damn gun at me,” said Faith quietly as her aura flashed on her body as it weakened slightly, “You're lucky I missed.” Rin and Tess caught up a minute later, Tess uttered a low whistle as she looked at the damage. “Wow, Faith,” said Rin as she eyed down the street, “All the way down...The windows.” “Yeah, that's gonna be expensive.” said Tess. “Whatever,” said Serina as she wiped sweat from her brow, “It's over now.” “Yeah, and the police are arriving.” said Rin pointing behind Serina. The Alabasian authorities pulled up in their cars and vans and stepped out. They wore white uniforms to symbolically show that they were pure of heart, and only sought out justice for the good of the people. Their belts only had a gun and a baton to aide them in certain situations. “We'll take care of it from here, ladies. Thank you.” said the lead officer as he walked over to them. “Don't worry, love,” said Faith as she walked up the officer and brushed his cheek with her thumb, “We already have.” Serina picked up her weapon, and held it at her side as FRST began to walk towards the castle once again. There was no doubt that news of this attack will spread like wildfire throughout the kingdom.

#rwby