#╰☆╮ / drabble (long susan) .

[thelostexperiment]

27. for Collin

Usually, Collin was the one who set surprises for everyone, for better or worse. But he wasn't expecting the store-bought tiramisu cake with a #5-shaped candle on top to be placed on his desk as he was reviewing his company's profit margin.

“Surprise!” Susan cheered with her hands giving a jazzy wave as his attention shot towards her. "Happy fifth anniversary, Mr. C!”

Collin blinked confused for a moment. "Fifth anniversary...? Of what?”

His assistant pulled back and her arms gestured to their surroundings. "The company, Ruppells' Poultry."

"OH! Five years already? I didn't even notice... I...", he trailed off as he ruminated on what they've done over the half-decade.

Five years ago Ruppells' Poultry was just an idea he came up with once he stumbled upon the foreverglade fountain in the lost library and found out its water's youth restoring and aging properties. The original reason for the business was just to cultivate a stable revenue for him and Susan while he reshaped his identity, both intrinsically and physically thanks to the de-ageing powers of the fountain water. Now that he looks back on it after all the work, planning and resources that brought them this far it's hard to believe it's only been five years, so much has changed.

His gaze went back to the cake, pensively looking at the transparent reflection of himself in the clear plastic dome protecting the confection. While he was reflecting on how far he'd come since the Lost Library Susan spoke up again as she slid some papers in front of him. “An', more good news— I got the new stock report an' we're actually in the top of the food industry! Ain't that cool? I mean we're actually number two but pretty close, right? At least when it comes to meat products, I mean, we're no Scrooge McDuck but—”

Collin quietly read through the new documents with a deadpan stare of surreality as his assistant rambled on, slowly but surely a small smile started to form as his emotions caught up with the occasion. Pride was swelling in his chest as he reread the document glanced up at the cake and reread it again, his energy bubble as his knee started to shake under the desk. Out of his expansive vocabulary only one word escaped his throat in a horse little whisper— "wow..."

"Right?" The duck woman enthused back, "Ah, Mr. C, I'm just so happy for you. Congrats, really."

Collin rocked forward in his chair, now with a big gaping grin while his eyes swapped between the paper and the cake. His assistant's hype was finally rubbing off on him.

This has to be his proudest moment yet.

"Wow. I've actually gotten us this far—" He said in amazement before, pausing for a little ego check and looked up at his assistant, "I mean we've gotten us this far, of course."

Susan humbly waved him off, "Aw Sir, you're the one doing all the big business stuff I'm just the secretary."

"You're still a great help, Ms. Spruce, to me and this company." He reassured her, standing up, moving around his desk towards her and laying a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you, Susan."

She couldn't resist hugging him for that which he reciprocated.

[radioisntdead]

I have an idea.

Mom susan and daughter are reader

How about the reader tries to introduce her husband to her mother??

Good evening my dear! I wanted to see a Susan and Alastor in-law showdown and I wrote a drabble and then some headcanons, so I hope you don't mind, but if you do just let me know and I can replace Alastor with another requested character or an oc or something,

The mother in-law

Susan & daughter reader, Alastor x female reader

Warnings!!

Cannibalism, violent elderly, implied Violence AGAINST the elderly in the headcanons mostly, Susan invading boundaries, Alastor gets insulted by Susan, Reader needs a drink, poorly drawn Cat Alastor in a suit, OOC characters, not proofread, does anyone know a replacement for Grammerly??

Alastor made the most of falling to eternal damnation, seeing it as a new opportunity,

He become an overlord, a cannibal, the feared Radio demon,

It was shocking enough to him that he had met you, and while it did take awhile and a long long friendship he did end up realizing he had feelings for you, a sweetheart of a cannibal, who worked with his dear friend Rosie and asked to court you in the gentlemenly way, with a bouquet of seven roses and a kiss on your hand, He was the happiest lil' deer in all of hell.

He'd take you dancing, you'd do something like reading or taking a nap as he did his radio broadcast, the two of you would go on walks,

It was bliss

Unfortunately or fortunately depending how you look at it, Alastor disappeared for seven years taking you with him, much to the distain of your mother.

During the time away you were wed, it was a small ceremony, only the two of you and the fucked up cat thing that looked strikingly like Alastor you adopted as your witness.

Anyways with the sudden seven year disappearance and marriage, he never got to formally meet his mother in law that you've told him so much about,

So once everything was settled and you got to visit your dear mama a couple of times, you decided to finally introduce them,

Unfortunately they already knew each other.

Oh no.

Alastor wore his best suit, he even put that evil radio cat into a suit, you wore a lovely dress that matched the aesthetics of cannibal town [Or an exact copy of Alastor's regular suit if you wanna give Susan a heart attack]

He walked arm in arm with you to the cannibal town home your mother lived in, and from the moment the door was opened there was only one thought on his mind.

Oh shit it was Susan, you were the daughter of the Ornery old bitch,

How was someone like YOU related to SUSAN??

Were you adopted? You had to be, he refused to believe that old lady had spawned you in any type of way, maybe she picked you up off the street?

Susan grabbed your hand pulling you in and looking over you, not bothering to greet the radio demon beside you,

"Where have you been I thought you died, Why are you with the guy with the shitty haircut that looks like someone went at him with a fucking hedge trimmer"

"Mama I visited you last week,"

Susan questioned immediately as you laughed nervously, barely two seconds in and she had already insulted Alastor,

you look over to Alastor who stood awkwardly in the door way, waiting to be invited in, the cursed cat in a suit standing by him also waiting to be invited in.

"And apparently you already know my Alasto-"

you were cut off swiftly by Susan squinting at Alastor

"You married the fucking embodiment of red-40?"

Alastor blinked, "Excuse me?"

"You're excused." Susan moved to shut the door in Alastor's face but was stopped by you stopping her

"Ma, please, Alastor come on in"

You said gesturing for your husband and the thing to enter, Susan scoffed mumbling about something as she turned around and sped into the kitchen.

Alastor leaned into you, hooking his arm with yours as the messed up cat clone moved around immediately crawling upon Susan's rocking chair.

"My dear it's not too late to leave and dine elsewhere''

"Alastor please, It's just one dinner with my Ma''

"Who's an ornery old-"

"ALASTOR."

It's a very very awkward dinner, Alastor tried to compliment Susan's meatloaf? He got bullied, you did step in to shut that behavior down but that didn't do much, Alastor tried to help wash the dishes after supper? Susan stood over him watching as he washed every plate and each piece of cutlery, judging him.

Susan did not fear the overlord, and you were concerned.

After dinner was finished and dessert was eaten Susan stared both you and Alastor down as you sat on her couch.

"How long have you been married?"

"Six years."

"Where are my grandchildren then?!"

You hold up the mini Alastor, it's tail wagged slowly as Susan looked upon it with a look of disapproval,

"That's a shitty looking rat, is your husband dysfunctional?"

"Ma, can you not- NO, Alastor put away the tentacles she will RIP THEM OFF-''

AND HEADCANON TIME BECAUSE I am not the best at writing action.

You poor soul.

They can't kill each other because you exist,

It's like stopping two toddlers from fighting except one's well over a century old and your married to the other one,

You're an unpaid babysitter I'm so sorry

Alastor was raised to respect woman and the elderly but he is very close to attacking Susan

He can't do much because he doesn't want to get into trouble with Rosie because attacking one of her cannibals no matter who it is, was a whole can of worms he rather not open, and also she was unfortunately your mother,

He's questioning that, like after this dinner expect him to sit you down and just start throwing questions, like how?

He liked Susan's meatloaf well enough, he could live without it though,

Susan runs into him randomly on the street? She asks if she has a grandchild yet, no? He's getting attacked with the cane and asked if he cannot perform properly Violence on the ace deer

She tries to convince you to leave him and tried introducing you to a random cannibal she pulled off the street, but she stopped after you got upset at her.

Assuming you live at the Hazbin hotel with Alastor Susan visits, she somehow got a key to the room you and Alastor shared so you could be sleeping and Susan pops in swinging her cane, dropping lore

Alastor lives in mild fear, he's changed the locks, he's put Niffty outside the door as security,

Susan always GETS IN.

You have boundaries with her but she breaks them and your working on getting her to stop,

It becomes a hotel wide situation of getting Susan to not break in

She oddly enough likes Angel dust and you use him as a distraction whenever she appears without warning,

You owe Angel several favors.

You are in debt.

Susan eventually grows a fondness for the freak grandchild, she gets clothes, dresses him up and calls him sonny,

Alastor's not the most pleased but it's better then getting asked if he suffers from certain conditions

They sometimes fight over your time, like he's taking you out on a date and Susan pops in and drags whisks you away for tea or something,

They can't do much aside from verbal Insults and glares, but they did get into a physical fight, Alastor got hit with a chair, Susan almost got eaten, Alastor sent Niffty on her and she almost got stabbed

You threatened to tell Rosie and they both stopped, thankfully

Susan keeps divorce papers on hand just in case you ever change your mind, she's not afraid to attack an overlord, this woman is down below for a reason and she is FERAL.

If she catches Alastor chompin' down on your arm he's getting whooped with a cane and the both of you are getting a full lecture on if he's doing anything he's not supposed too, and if he is, he needs to go.

Alastor is very adamant that he would never intentionally harm you apparently the BITING DOESN'T COUNT AS HARM???

Dude has a fear of becoming like his father.

They have issues but they agree on things like this,

There's eventually a group meeting about Susan breaking into the hotel and while she's welcome she needs to stop popping in at late hours of the night or at the crack of dawn,

There's a Susan security system set up now.

Susan's never going to fully approve because you'll always be that small child she found on the side of the streets long ago to her and no man, woman or whatever is going to be good enough for her little girl, but she'll put up with it, she knows that while Alastor isn't the best person it could be worse.

She eventually respects your boundaries, yay!

Good evening folks! Thank you for tuning in! I hope you liked whatever this was, I'm slowly working though requests! Now it's 3 am and I'm tired, goodnight! Have a cursed cat Alastor in a suit that I drew with my fingers

He looks like a tatortot

[fbfh]

I just read your rodrick heffley x reader hcs/drabbles and I NEED MORE OF YOUR SHORT!READER X RODRICK.

roddy has graduated from exclusively calling you shorty and shawty to calling you his backpack. he figured out you can carry stuff in your bra or non skin tight jeans or whatever and now insists on having you carry his stuff in exchange for piggy backs. it made you giggle like an idiot for a while, but then you started to grow really fond of it. no more barely being able to hear each other in crowds, no more getting fucking scoliosis from trying to kiss each other. now you're right there, chin on his shoulder talking and kissing him all day long. his big buff tatted (don't tell susan) drummer's arms can carry you like it's nothing, no matter how insecure you get about it. even if you get insecure he will literally start pick you up and flipping you like a swing dancer at a wedding so much that it makes your husband unable to recognize a pig in a nixon mask. (0:57)

you and roddy generally have such an april and andy vibe that if you do pull a sweater swap 1:27 his stretched out old loded diper shirt practically comes down to your knees and and your shirt barely coveres his nipples (which are also pierced. seriously don't tell susan.) he thinks you always look so pretty because he always sees you from that high up angle that makes you look all cute and adorable. he loves just pulling you into his lap and burying his face in your hair that's always so soft and smells like your shampoo and conditioner and on occasion that grape hair dye smell. roddy will always be the first to call out those "omg I'm so tiny and short and little!!!!" pick me girls. he takes so much pleasure in being like hmmm.... nah. they try to flirt with him, they put their hands against his and he sees through that shit in a second. he pushes the heel of their hand so it's actually level with his and chuckles.

"my shawty's fingers barely come up to here..." he laughs. I stand firm in my statement that he will place his hand on a pick me girl's head and line it up with him and be like "nah, my baby's way shorter and is actually short, I think you're just average height lol"

briefly circling back to the whole backpack thing roddy especially loves it when you wear those big chunky shoes that make you average height because you look cute, you like feeling tall, and he gets to carry you around when your feet get tired. honestly I think roddy just has a thing for super short girls. if he can't see the crown of your head when you're standing next to him he doesn't want it.

[cobaltperun]

Congrats on the 500 love!! You deserve so much more❤️

Can I request a drabble or something really short of Lost!Tara and Reader where Tara is about to pick up the kids from school while R is out of town doing CEO stuff and comes to surprise Tara and the kids at school but all the people are drooling over r cause she is still in her ceo attire but R only having eyes for Tara and her kids while ignoring literally everyone else. (It's alright if this is weird and you don't wanna write this.)

Lost (Side - 2) - School Visit

Tara Carpenter x female Reader (Request)

Summary: After a brief business trip all you want to do is surprise your family and pick them up from school. (Set between Lost 29 and 30)

Lost masterlist

Word count: 0.8k

If there was one thing you absolutely loved about your job, it was that most of it could be done from home, which meant that you could maximize the time spent with Tara and your children. Both you and Tara worked from home, with fairly flexible working hours, so you never missed anything in Zack and Susan’s lives. The twins were so used to having both you and Tara at home that they actually got a bit fussy up until like two years ago when either of you was gone for more than a day when work did demand you to actually go somewhere. So, there were still some occasional business trips you needed to leave them for. This one was supposed to be four-day long, but you managed to get everything done in three, so here you were, fresh from the airport and checking the time as you rushed to the garage.

You still had time to drive to the school and pick the kids and Tara up, as long as you didn't waste time. So, while still dressed up in your navy blue three-piece suit with a white button-up shirt underneath you jumped in your car and got going.

It's been years since Tara drove a car, seeing as you being home most of the time meant she didn't exactly need it, so that meant she wasn't exactly keen on driving for the first time in years with the twins in the car. And they were still just seven, so you picked them up from school, either driving or walking there depending on the weather. And the weather today was great for a walk, but you wouldn’t make it on time if you chose to walk.

When you parked on the school's parking lot you noticed people coming out of the school with their children, so you were just in time. You saw the three of them immediately. Tara, holding Zack and Susan's hands and laughing with them as she listened to them telling her about their day, and you paused. No matter how many times you got to see the scene in front of you, you were always mesmerized, thankful for the family you wished for all your life, though you didn't quite know it until Tara brought it up for the first time.

"Mom!" Zack was the first to notice you and he let go of Tara's hand and ran toward you, with Tara and Susan still surprised to see you walking to meet them in the middle of the schoolyard.

"Easy buddy, watch your step," you easily lifted the boy up and hugged him.

"Mom!" Susan got over her initial surprise and you dropped to your knee so she could run into your arms as well.

"Sue," you went and kissed both of your children as Tara walked over to you and kissed your cheek as you got up with the twins now in your arms.

Tara looked you over, her eyebrow rising a bit. "Baby, maybe you should be more considerate," she smirked cheekily and traced the collar of your suit.

"Hmm?" you tilted your head a bit.

"Let's just say it's good I'm no longer jealous," she whispered, though she still leaned closer, her hand going up and sliding around your neck, just a tiny bit possessively. “Some people are drooling,” she shot glares at several people and she wasn’t subtle when it came to the ones blatantly ogling you.

"Just a bit possessive?" you chuckled and finally looked around. Some people were staring at you, and you guessed the suit you were wearing did show off your muscles a bit more than your casual clothes did. You just didn't notice all the attention you were getting until Tara pointed it out.

Tara did though. Not that she was attracting any less attention, hell, more people were looking at her, seeing how beautiful she was that was hardly a surprise. "Just appreciating what others can only look at," she smiled, winking at you.

"Mommy/Mom!" Susan and Zack complained, making you and Tara laugh, and just like that all the stares were forgotten. It didn’t matter, they could stare, as Tara said, that was the only thing they could do.

"Okay, okay, sorry about that," you apologized.

"How about we take you on a picnic this Saturday as an apology?" Tara offered, it was a bit of a habit the four of you formed, at least once a month you all went out for a picnic and the twins loved it.

They looked at one another before grinning widely and nodding. And with the twins now happy and willing to forgive a tiny display of possessiveness you lowered them down and walked over to the car with your family.

A/N: Come on, you know I had to write a Lost request before most of the other requests, and Anon, you have no idea how thankful I am you requested this! ���😁💙💙 Also, thanks!

Lost masterlist

Taglist: @alexkolax

[isaadleer]

Hola! I don't know if requests are open, but could you make a drabble where young! Arthur teaches a young reader how to shoot and how to ride a horse? She's a newcomer to the gang and has a little crush on Arthur; which only intensifies if he gets close to her.

hii sweetie!! tysm for your request, i loved your idea so much, so here it is!!!!! i did something really basic and short but even so i still liked, maybe i could do a part two 🤭 but i always say that and don’t do it, so i don’t know… i hope you liked <3

————————————————————————

shy shots

summary: Young! Arthur found young! fem character trying to learn how to shoot and he decides to help her. pairing: Young Arthur x Young fem character. words: 1836

On the sunny morning, the sun shone intensely against your eyes, causing the rays of light to disturb your vision. The trees swayed slightly with the gentle breeze, and your hair flew in rhythm with the leaves. The sound of a distant gramophone echoed through the camp where you had been staying for a few months since you were saved from an attempted robbery by a few thieves.

-

During a harsh winter in the mountains north of West Elizabeth, you were in dire conditions after the death of your father. Even though he was a violent and bitter man, he always returned with some food at the end of the day, which helped back then, but no longer, as you now didn't know how to hunt on your own.

At the same time, the Van der Linde gang had been camped in an isolated area. With life’s challenges, Dutch decided to explore the surroundings in search of supplies or opportunities that could benefit the group. He rode until he heard a muffled sound in the distance that made him stop. Driven by curiosity and suspicion, Dutch followed the noise until he reached your old wooden cabin, partially covered by snow, visibly worn by time. As he approached, Dutch noticed two men trying to break down the cabin door. Inside, you, an 18-year-old girl, were trying, with all the strength you had left, to defend yourself from the invaders.

Seeing that you were about to succumb, Dutch decided to intervene. He drew his gun and shot the thieves before they could even look him in the eye, leaving you alone and terrified inside the cabin. After the action, Dutch approached you. He moved cautiously upon seeing you curled up in a corner, wounded and wide-eyed with fear. The cabin was cold, almost without furniture, and there was little food in sight, all indicating that you had lived in poor conditions for some time. In a softer, but still firm voice, Dutch reassured you. He offered help, saying no one should go through that alone. You, hesitant and distrustful, initially resisted trusting a stranger, especially someone who had just blown the heads off two men in your home. However, Dutch's natural charisma and his promise of safety began to break down your resistance.

Dutch told you about the gang, describing it as a family, something you had lost a long time ago. He offered you the chance to join them, at least until you recovered and decided what you wanted to do with your life. With few options and nowhere else to go, still stunned by the situation, you accepted the offer.

Dutch then placed you on his horse and took you back to the gang’s camp, where you were met with a mixture of distrust and compassion. Dutch became a father figure to you during that time, comforting you over the loss of your biological father. As you tried to adapt to your new reality, you began to realize that maybe this unlikely gang was the family you had never had, even though you still weren’t sure if that was truly what you wanted.

During the months you spent with the gang, you tried to redeem yourself in any way you could, grateful for having been saved, by cooking, chopping vegetables, or cleaning the camp. The gang didn’t have many members, just Dutch, Hosea Matthews, Susan Grimshaw, and Arthur Morgan, who was the only one closer to your age.

You had a slight crush on Arthur, which made you watch him around the camp, when he arrived with his horse or when he chopped wood, showing off his muscles pressing against his shirt, or when he spoke to his horse affectionately. Even though you knew there was no reason to be jealous of a horse, he somehow made you feel that way. Arthur was probably about two years older than you, but his skills in the criminal life made him appear a bit older since you didn’t even know how to use a revolver.

And so, you found yourself that morning a little away from the camp, in front of some glass bottles, with Hosea’s revolver borrowed in your hands. You fired a few times and couldn’t hit anything. The next time, the same, and the next, again no success. Even without experience with guns, you didn’t realize it was this hard. The sound of the shots from the revolver hurt your ears, as you weren’t used to such loud noises.

Silent footsteps blended with the noise of the shots, making you turn around in worry, as you were a little away from camp. But when you turned, already pointing the revolver at whoever it was, you found Arthur standing in front of you.

“Are you gonna shoot me with that thing?” he said jokingly, though also a little nervous with the gun pointed at his face.

He wore a white shirt with a yellow vest, his traditional hat, and a black bandana wrapped around his neck. His blonde hair made your heart stop, every detail of him made you feel like having a heart attack every passing day.

Realizing he wasn’t a threat, you lowered the gun, embarrassed by your reaction. "If I could shoot with this thing, maybe I would," you joked, venting your frustration with your lack of skills.

He looked around, seeing the bottles without even a scratch, and realizing you had been trying to shoot them.

"How is that working out?" he asked, pointing to the bottles in front of you.

"Well, let's just say I’m not the best shooter I’ve seen," you turned, trying to point the gun at one of the bottles again. "But I’m trying." Then, you fired, trying to aim at the glass bottle, but again without success.

"Well, I wasn’t the best shooter either, but with time, it gets better," he tried to comfort you. "Look…" He approached from behind, trying to help. "You gotta..." he raised his arm, trying to position you correctly, "hold steady..." his hands found your shoulders, sending chills through your body from the closeness. "And firm," he added, increasing the pressure of his hands on your shoulders. "You just focus…" he said in a low tone near your ear, his warm breath against your cold skin. "Breathe slowly," he spoke again. You raised your arm and pointed the revolver at the bottles again, and inhaled as he instructed, but your attempt to stay calm failed, as Arthur's proximity made you tremble from head to toe. "And always pull the trigger on empty lungs." Then he exhaled with you, trying to help you concentrate, but little did he know that the more he talked, the more nervous you became. "Now, try again," he said, removing his hands from your shoulders, making you miss the weight of his touch.

Even so, you straightened your back and pulled the trigger again, but now following Arthur’s instructions. "Wait to breathe out, wait to breathe out…" you whispered to yourself, trying to reinforce your actions. Then you fired again, and the sound echoed through the trees around you. During the noise of the shot, you closed your eyes, and when you opened them again, the bottle you aimed at was no longer standing on the tree stump, only shards of glass remained on the forest floor. "Did you see that? I did it, I did it right, Arthur!?" you were almost jumping with happiness. "I haven’t hit one bottle the entire morning," you said with a mixture of laughter and relief, as it was your first time hitting anything.

Arthur watched you, happy and smiling with your achievement, and couldn’t help but smile along with you. "Not bad! You’re a natural!" he praised you, drawing more smiles from you.

His words made your heart warm, making you fall even more in love with him, even though you thought it wasn’t possible. "Good girl, you’re not that bad like you said." Looking into your eyes intensely, he said.

"Don't be a fool, this is the first time this whole morning," you corrected him, feeling your cheeks heat up from his compliments.

Arthur looked at you with a confused expression, but also with a slight smile on his lips. "I’m serious," he insisted, his voice softer now but still full of sincerity. "Even with my help, you’re really good at this." He reaffirmed, making your heart race even faster.

"Thank you..." you murmured, feeling your cheeks now turn red, but very happy with the unexpected compliments.

"Now..." Arthur began, getting serious again. "We need to go back to camp. It's not safe to make this much noise with you out here alone."

“Okay…” you replied, still a bit embarrassed but obedient.

You would always obey Arthur, anything he said. Anything he asked, you would do—comfort him after a failed job, clean his clothes, or tend to his wounds. Your heart was entirely his, even without realizing it, you were already completely in love with Arthur Morgan.

During the way back to camp, the silence between you two was comfortable, but you couldn’t help but glance at him from time to time. Arthur, with his calm demeanor and the way he handled everything around him, seemed like the most secure man in the world. The wind made his hair fly in a way that you found incredibly charming. At times, you noticed his eyes on you, and when your gazes met, both of you smiled briefly, as if sharing a secret.

After a few short minutes, you arrived at camp. Arthur turned to you and said, with a slight hint of shyness in his voice, "It’d be a pleasure to help you again, if you want." He rested his hands on his belt, trying to ease the anxiety of fidgeting with his fingers.

Without hesitation and with a smile on your face, you quickly replied, "Of course I would, Arthur..." You took a step toward him, and with all the courage you had left, you thanked him with a quick kiss on Arthur's cheek, which instantly blushed. He smiled, an embarrassed smile, as he brought his hand to his face where your lips had touched.

"Now I need to go back and help Miss Grimshaw," you said, trying to hide the smile that insisted on appearing. "See you around, Arthur." You waved briefly before turning to walk away.

"Yeah... I need to... hum... I need to feed Copper too..." Arthur tried to speak, but you were already too far away to hear, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

As you returned to camp, you couldn’t stop smiling like a fool. Susan Grimshaw, who was busy organizing the day’s tasks, noticed your unusual expression and asked, somewhat suspiciously, "Are you alright, girl?"

"Of course!" you replied, laughing in happiness.

Susan frowned, confused. It wasn’t common for you to smile for no reason. Maybe she thought you were going crazy, but, in reality, maybe that was it—you were crazy for Arthur Morgan.

[astroboots]

NOOO please bcs that leather jacket is giving me heart palpitations. Imagine you join Marc to the movies after work and of course he's there early just chilling. You see him with THAT and you're like "you, me, restroom, now" and he'd look so confused at first but then he'd caught on and practically run after you. Also he likes that jacket, he doesn't let you borrow it and he gets so frustrated with you when he fronts and realizes you took it for the day. He'd text "babygirl it's cold outside" and you'd reply "I know thank god I stole your jacket"

DATE AT THE CINEMA

ooooooof. Holy shit nonny! THIS WAS JUST HNNNNNNG. You got a woman fucking unhinged with that thought is what you did.

Summary: You're late for cinema with Marc. Mini Drabble

Content: nothing too explicit, just horny admiration.

ASTROBOOT’S MASTERLIST | MOON KNIGHT MASTERLIST

You're late. You're so fucking late.

It's hardly your fault. It's Friday. There's a tube strike. And Susan brought pistachio cookies from her trip to Florence into office and you couldn't bloody well just eat and dash without a polite twenty-minute conversation afterwards. That'd be rude.

But that does mean you're now, very very late. About half an hour late for a man who is chronically on time.

Your phone pings in your coat pocket, as you're dashing up the escalator from the tube exit.

Marc

You're late.

Speaking of the grumpy devil...

You

I know I know! I am literally down the street. I can see the cinema from here.

You tuck your phone back into your pocket, as you make a dash against the yellow light, looking right and left as you evade people as best as you can.

God, if the movie's started before you get there, you're never going to hear the end of it from Marc. Luckily commercials drag on, but even with them being half-hour-long nowadays you're pushing your luck right now.

You can just imagine him now, scowling, and probably scaring the living hell out of some poor bloke standing next to him.

You cut through a crowd of tourist just standing there, obliviously blocking traffic, as you loudly mutter "excuse me" and push your way through.

Then finally, finally, you reach the entry door of Everyman Cinema and push your way through to the warm air inside.

There's a long queue forming by the tills. The smell of buttered popcorn makes your mouth water, and you try to ignore it all in favour of scanning for Marc.

You almost miss him in the crowd. Can't catch the sight of his regular tan jacket that he so often wears to blend into the crowd. Then you do spot him and your knees nearly give in at the sight of him.

He's wrapped up in a thick leather pilot jacket, broad-shouldered and the softest white shearling fur for a collar that makes you want to nuzzle into that gorgeously thick neck.

Marc is just standing there looking like some far superior and more handsome, dark-haired version of Steve Mcqueen. Raven curls smoothed back against his forehead. Dark brown eyes, like they're carved from the most exquisite aged mahogany as they drill down on you, staring you down. Practically fuming. And bloody hell -- that shouldn't be as attractive of a look as he makes it.

He walks over to you, both hands shoved into his pockets in what is almost a sulky stance. And fuck, that looks good on him too. Because all you can think of is all the ways you are going to earn your forgiveness back from him.

How you're going to wipe that scowl right off his face, until his mouth parts with a broken moan.

How you're going to make his eyes flutter all pretty the way he does, throat bared to you, seconds before he comes.

How you're going to make him keep that fucking jacket on all the while as you do it.

"You're late," Marc says.

You bite your lip to stop yourself from practically salivating all over your chin as you stare at your boyfriend.

"I'm sorry," you say and smile at him. "Let me make it up to you."

a/n: to be notified of new writing updates follow @astroboots-writes and turn on notifs 🤡💖🤡

[homerjacksons]

Fluffy February - @fluffyfebruary Day 29: Fresh Word count: 2,264 Fandom: Ripper Street Pairing: Homer Jackson/Edmund Reid AO3

A/N: This turned into another long one (as far as drabbles go anyway). Fresh brought to mind a fresh start, a new beginning, and instantly made me think of post canon and all the potential there ignoring certain details. But it felt like a leap to go from this bubble in time I created for them to something post canon in America. And so I decided to fill in the gaps, to build a bridge between certain moments. I played with canon very loosely, conveniently ignored some things whilst leaning specifically into others, and ended up with this finale for this writing challenge. Enjoy!

i. a glimpse

Jackson was all self-assuredness and cocky bravado, sure, but something in him flickered at the sight of the man in front of him, the man he’d been prepared to fight before he saw him almost keel over, leaning against the barstool while his friend stepped in.

He tried to push away the flutter of sympathy in the pit of his stomach, the feeling in him that screamed familiarity and kinship, screamed that this was a man like him, just as broken, just as scared, but not wearing it half as well as Jackson himself. He tried so hard to push it away, knowing the other man was police, knowing he should steer clear for his own safety if nothing else.

But long after Inspector Reid had left his presence, when he was once again tucked up in his bed at Tenter Street after another bout with Rose that failed to distract him from the gaping chasm inside his own chest, it wasn’t Susan he thought of, but the Sergeant. He thought of the Sergeant curled up beside him, snoring softly, his own arm draped across that solid, warm body.

It would have been so much easier if he’d simply dreamed of fucking the man, if his stupid, traitorous heart hadn’t latched onto something instead.

But then, he supposed, life was never easy, and it wasn’t as though he’d be seeing the man again any time soon.

ii. lust

Jackson hadn’t had to work hard to forget any thoughts of Edmund Reid soft and cosy beside him. The reality of the man doused that flame all too quickly, with his demands and his temper and his ability to use the people around him and make them think they wanted to be used. It infuriated him, the way he acted like he had a right to other people, like he had a right to Jackson, had a right to make demands of him when they were acquaintances at best.

But the man had a way about him, a way of inspiring loyalty, a way of drawing people toward him, and Jackson, try as he might, couldn’t resist that pull. The excitement, the adventure of it all, was far too enticing, and the perks of being friends not foe with law enforcement was definitely enticing.

He felt himself softening again, unable to stop it, unable to halt the unravelling of his heart. He told himself it was just friendship, that he not only saw a kinship with this man, a man whom he could share his knowledge and passions with and receive more than blank stares and feigned enthusiasm, but also a man who needed him, needed a friend who would push him, draw him from his comfort zone, force him to confront the dark depths of his soul when others would shy away from that for fear of something Jackson hadn’t quite worked out.

And then he went too far, and Reid had him pinned to the wall, chest heaving against his own, full of a breathless fury that made Jackson’s heart pound against his ribs, made his throat go dry and his brow bead with sweat, made his trousers seem unbearably tight.

It wasn’t until Reid let him go that the reality of the moment crashed down on him hard and fast, making his legs feel weak and his breath shake. The pure want coursing through him was damn near unbearable, and Reid seemed somehow unaffected, somehow so put together it made Jackson’s chest ache.

He thought about that moment for months after, in the depths of the night when he couldn’t sleep, in the early mornings after yet another argument with Susan, in his lonely moments when he couldn’t bring himself to pay for company, and he let it consume him each and every time until he’d wrung himself dry, a panting, sweaty mess filled with far too much longing for something he could never have.

iii. love

Jackson shouldn’t have been surprised to hear Reid declare his love, not really. He was more surprised that Reid said it first, that he’d let himself be vulnerable like that in a way he couldn’t come back from. He’d shown Reid he loved him so many times and in so many ways, but the fact that Reid had said it, had got there first, damn near took his breath away.

“I love you too,” he managed through a wet laugh, body pressed close to Reid’s.

“You needn’t feel obligated to say so,” Reid said quietly, pulling back just a little, and the uncertainty in his voice threatened to shatter Jackson’s heart.

“No,” he said quickly, taking Reid’s face in his hands, forcing eye contact. “I said it ‘cause I mean it. I’m pretty sure I’ve loved you since I first set eyes on you, Reid.”

Jackson smiled as Reid’s cheeks tinged pink, a pleased little smile tugging at his lips. “As I recall, the first time we met was with you behind bars.”

“Nah,” Jackson said with a small laugh. “It was before then.” Reid leaned back a little, brow furrowing in confusion, and Jackson sighed gently. “You were drunk. Very drunk. Drake had to all but carry you out of that pub. I was trying to be pissed at you for knocking my drink from my hands on your way past but it’s as though my heart knew, even then.”

Reid’s frown deepened for a moment before his expression softened in realisation. “I’m sorry you had to see me like that.”

“Are you kidding?” Jackson said with a laugh, brushing his thumb across Reid’s cheek tenderly. “You’ve seen me in far worse states and with far more frequency.”

“It’s not the first impression I would wish for.”

“Well it worked on me,” Jackson said with a wink, which startled a laugh from Reid, loud and genuine.

“I’m not sure that’s the compliment you think it is.” An affronted retort was on the tip of Jackson’s tongue when Reid added, “Besides, this is not the first time I’ve told you I loved you.”

Jackson gaped at Reid, racking his brain for the missing memory and coming up completely empty. He was sure he would remember those words from Reid’s lips, already knew he’d cherish each and every time he heard them for as long as he was allowed.

“You were very drunk and quite possibly asleep,” Reid admitted quietly, ducking his head. “I wasn’t quite so brave, then. I wasn’t quite so sure of your heart.”

“Can’t be in doubt any longer,” Jackson said before pressing a kiss to Reid’s lips, hot and heady. “I love you and I ain’t ever gonna stop.

iv. moving in

“Move in with me,” Reid said quickly, the pink tinge to his cheeks the only thing betraying his nerves.

Jackson half groaned, half laughed. “Not that I don’t love the thought of waking up beside you every damn morning, but I don’t wanna be that far from my surgery.”

Reid’s expression softened and he took Jackson’s hand in his. “Run your surgery from my–from our–home.”

Jackson snorted, then did a double take when he saw the earnestness in Reid’s expression, the serious gleam in his eyes. “Seriously?”

“Yes. Whatever you want, whatever is in my power to give, you can have, Homer.”

Jackson studied him for a moment, heart pounding against his ribs, unable to fully believe that Reid was offering this so easily, so readily, was offering up everything Jackson wanted and had been too scared to ask for, to even dare dream of.

“You don’t have to decide–”

“Yes,” Jackson cut him off quickly before leaning in for a kiss. “God, yes, of course I’ll move in with you, Reid.”

v. moving on

Jackson was sure he felt his heart break in two as he boarded the ship to America without Reid by his side. It took everything he had to hold himself together for Connor, to not let his breath stutter and shake, not let himself cry.

Every day for months he woke expecting to see Reid beside him or feel the fresh warmth left behind across the bed from him, and the absence tore through his chest anew every single time.

He thought about writing to Reid so many times, thought of all the ways he could convince him to uproot his life so they could be together again, of all the ways he could talk of his heart, his pain, his grief, his longing. He thought, too, of all the little things he could share, about how well Connor was doing, how they went fishing together every weekend, about the people he’d met and the friendships it felt like he was tentatively forming.

But he could never quite bring himself to put pen to paper, could never quite bring himself to put his heart on the line like that when Reid had made his choice already, had allowed both their hearts to break in the process. The worst part was, he’d known Reid would stay before he’d even asked the question, had known he was just setting himself up for failure. Reid would never leave Whitechapel, not truly. That godawful place was a part of him, and he a part of it, and no matter how badly he wanted it, he’d always known Reid would never–could never–leave.

He wasn’t sure he could ever move on, not really. He’d given away so many pieces of his heart over the years and Reid had taken more than most. Jackson knew he needed what was left to look after Connor, to be a father to his child despite how much it still terrified him every single day. He knew he needed to let Reid go, make his peace with his past, so he could be the father Connor deserved.

It wasn’t easy, but he thought he’d managed. Eventually.

vi. new beginnings

Jackson was sure he was dreaming when he looked across the field and saw Reid standing there, light haloing around his head, lighting him up like he was some divine gift from God Himself. He shielded his eyes against the glare, trying to get a better look at the man as his traitorous heart hammered painfully, hopefully against his ribs.

Reid raised a hand, a hesitant wave, so Reid-like that Jackson’s breath caught in his throat and he dropped the shovel he was holding and took a faltering step forward, then another, then another, until Reid was matching him stride for stride, closing the distance between them.

Reid reached for him, eyes alight and face pale and drawn but oh so hopeful, and before Jackson could think, before he could question his movements, his fist landed squarely in Reid’s jaw.

“Shit,” Jackson hissed, shaking his hand out, knuckles smarting from the impact.”

“Christ,” Reid winced at the exact same time, nearly losing his footing as he recoiled from the impact, hand instinctively coming up to cradle his jaw. Then, “I rather imagine I deserved that.”

“You’re damn right you did,” Jackson bit out, flexing his fingers. His heart was still beating painfully against his ribs, stomach doing somersaults in a near-nauseating fashion.

“I’m sorry,” Reid whispered, daring to take another step towards Jackson. “I am truly sorry, Homer.”

“You’re really here?” Jackson whispered, tears blurring his vision before he could stop them.

“I’m really here,” Reid said softly, reaching out tentatively, cupping Jackson’s face when he didn’t move to pull away.

Jackson leaned into the touch, a shaky sigh leaving his lips as he let his eyes fall closed, savouring the feel of Reid’s touch after so long. He covered Reid’s hand with his own, breathing him in, terrified that if he opened his eyes, Reid would be gone, just an overly vivid dream and nothing more.

“I’m really here,” Reid said again, louder this time as he moved minutely closer, placing his other hand over Jackson’s chest, and Jackson crumbled at that, fell into Reid as a shaky half-sob left his lips.

Reid’s arms came around him, sure and strong and so achingly familiar that Jackson very nearly let out another sob, very nearly let go of the pain he’d been holding onto for the past two years, very nearly let himself unravel right here in Reid’s arms. But instead he took a deep breath and pulled himself upright, not quite out of Reid’s touch, but enough to feel as though he were standing on his own two feet, as though the world hadn’t come undone beneath him.

“Two years,” he whispered, cupping Reid’s cheek, catching a stray, unexpected tear with his thumb. “Two damn years, Reid, and not a word.”

“What was I to say?” Reid asked through a wet laugh. “That I missed you? That my heart ached for you? That I was an absolute fool who’d chosen wrong and yet couldn’t muster the courage to rectify it in case I was too late?”

“But you did,” Jackson said with a shaky smile, sliding his hand into the back of Reid’s hair, pressing their foreheads together.

“And I am not too late?”

Jackson was in half a mind to tell him he was, that he’d missed his chance, but the hope in Reid’s voice mirrored the hope in Jackson’s heart far too closely to even consider putting up walls between them. So instead, he kissed Reid, hungry and desperate, like a man starved, because that’s how he felt; starved for contact, for affection, for passion, for Reid.

“You’re not too late,” he whispered shakily. “You could never be too late, Reid.”

[dancingdryads]

Narnia Fic Recs - Post LWW

This is part of a short fic rec series to spread some love for Narnia authors, they aren’t in any sort of order other than the really long ones are on the bottom.

A lot of these stories are on ff.net which I know is a pain of a site to use, however, I sorted through a lot of Narnia fics to find these and I think they deserve some love. I did check if anything was on ao3 and put that link instead if I could find it. Please give these authors some love, kudos, favorites, comments, etc. They’re all great and it’s always fun to find older fics!

If y’all have any fic recs you can send them my way, or if you know if any of these authors are on tumblr let me know. I’ll be releasing more rec lists sorted roughly by era so look out for those under #lillys fic recs

This list is more miscellaneous, one Prince Caspian fic, a few around VotDT, and a couple about Susan. There are also general author recs at the end with authors that have a decent amount of fics to look through. 

Passing Down the Crown by Elecktrum

Rated Gen, 4.5k words

Fic about how hard it is for the Pevensies (and Peter specifically) to help make Caspian the king of Narnia and only coming back for a short time. 

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by Elecktrum

Rated gen, 8k words

Fun fic with world building starting in VotDT but Edmund and Lucy describing the Golden Age. Dawn Treader was a real dragon and it’s an interesting expansion of star mythology in Narnia, it’s written to feel more like a myth retelling. 

Knight of Narnia by ElouiseBates

Rated K, 5k words

A short fic of Edmund knighting Eustace during Votdt, then a bit of his further adventures. Really great at showing his mistakes but also his growth.

The Difference by Ariyah

Rated K, 700 words

Eustace’s mom, Alberta, reflecting on her son and how he’s changed.

Of Knights and Butter Knives by Quecksilver_Eyes

Rated Gen, 400 words

Basically a cute fic of Eustace getting knighted by Peter when they’re all back in England. 

The Queen’s Return by HonorH

Rated gen, 4.5k words

A Problem of Susan fic that has some light shipping with an OC near the end and is generally positive rather than overly angsty while still dealing with the trauma. 

Never a Friend by Elecktrum

2k words

A conversation between Peter and Tirian in Aslan’s Country about Susan, (or the Problem of Susan) which I love because it shows that Susan doesn’t have anything to apologize for and her siblings definitely know her better than distant friends of friends.

Authors

Ao3

Elecktrum

https://archiveofourown.org/users/elecktrum/

I can’t lie or even try to hide it, Elecktrum is one of my favorite authors in general, and definitely one of the best Narnia authors I’ve ever found. I was so surprised that their work doesn’t have more love on Ao3, though that’s possibly because I think it might have been backdated so people just haven’t seen it. Overall the stories are non shipping fics, though there are some background ships that can be cute. Their stories and series are already on the list above, and 99% of their stories are connected to the same world, but there are very few that CAN’T be read as stand alone’s, so go read whichever ones strike your fancy. 

@quecksilvereyes

https://archiveofourown.org/users/Quecksilver_Eyes/

They’re on Ao3 and Tumblr and they have a bunch of drabbles and ficlets on a bunch of the Narnia ‘eras. Most of the fics have the Pevensies (but not all) and there are some shipping fics if that’s what you’re looking for. 

Fanfic.net

Adalet - https://m.fanfiction.net/u/94096/

Tons of really good fics, generally one shots but some good long ones too. 

Lirenel - https://www.fanfiction.net/u/241274/Lirenel

She has some long series that are interesting, and just a lot to read from if you’re looking to binge Narnia. 

These two don’t have current stories but it’s good to find older ones and I think all the long series are done.

[radioisntdead]

I need to see it immediately.

Where is Susan, our grandmother, and we are her grandson/granddaughter

Give this woman love!!! 💗💗

What sweet nonsense is where the reader spends time with his grandmother

Good evening my dear! I am SO GLAD Y'ALL WANT SUSAN CONTENT LIKE I DO, I ADORE Susan, I think this counts as a drabble? Anyways I added a sprinkle of angst, definitely differs from my Susan & child/nibling reader headcanons but we're not gonna talk about that, anyways I hope you enjoy!

Grandma Susan

Warnings!

Cannibalism, and Susan

Down in Cannibal town lived a pair of a cranky old lady and her grandchild,

Her old lady babysitting may or may not have been picked up off the streets grandchild,

You see your grandmama Susan was a MENACE TO SOCIETY, to be fair she earned it, she went through life in the 1800's but that's not an excuse for her smacking people she didn't like with her cane, or cursing them out,

the majority of the cannibal town residents were excused, as they were a tight knit community and Susan was, somehow, respected

only a few unlucky cannibalistic souls were smacked harshly with the cane.

You were dubbed the Susan handler at some point by Rosie so whenever Susan was Susan-ing you were called to calm down your dearest grandmama, it did come with the risk of getting gently smacked with the cane but you didn't particularly mind it, the most you said to do was calm her down and offer to get her some tea and pray that she would quit cursing at random overlords and the princess of hell.

But caring for your elderly grandmama wasn't all chaos and fearing for her life, you did have bonding moments, such as now, your grandmother much like many old people liked knitting, mainly because she could stab someone with the needles if needed, you on the other hand preferred crochet. [Spreading my crochet propaganda]

It was days like this you adored, acidic rain pouring outside, the radio playing some type of classical music, you sat cozily in the couch listening to your meemaw Susan ramble on about kids these days and how back in her day they were more respectful or whatever, or maybe drop lore about how she was involved in supporting woman's rights movements from the shadows, maybe how when she was alive she did this or that while she knitted a throw pillow,

You'd get her nagging at you about how you should hurry up and get hitched, although she didn't approve of anyone for her dear grandchild, secretly afraid of the day you would finally grow up and move away from her, leaving her alone, sure she had the cannibals but they weren't her beloved grandchild,

She'd never tell you that though, but you knew, after all you were closest to her, and frankly you weren't planning on leaving her anytime soon, even if you did you wouldn't go far.

Or the days where you'd cook together bonding over her teaching you how to make cannibal meat loaf, or you grilling a sinner thigh during the summertime outside, with Susan under an umbrella going on about something.

Specifically winter holidays of gifting your Nana Susan something you made like a blanket or something you saved up for like a parasol,

She'd make a comment about it but would use it all the time, after all actions speak louder the words,

She'd give you something expensive that you mentioned in passing about liking, waving off your excitement by saying she got it last minute like it hadn't been hidden in her woredrob for the past two months.

Birthdays with her were bittersweet, they were a sign that you had survived another year in this hell, that you both were growing older and older, how long it had it been since you were alive? You'd bake her favorite cake, pick up pinkie fingers, and get her something nice,

She'd order a cake for you, cursing at the poor employee to make it perfect for her grandchild, she'd buy you a set of pearls or some type of jewelry.

You'd sit down Infront of her rocking chair and place a brush in her hands asking her to brush your hair, no matter the length {unless your bald then I guess she's brushing your scalp? With a soft brush}

You curled into her arms, it was after the extermination, Many Cannibals were lost, friends you had known for ages gone just like that, she couldn't say anything, no snappy comment, no words of comfort, she could only watch as you sobbed into her, the only thing she could do was pat your back until you were smoothed to sleep.

You woke up the next day with warm soup on the stove and a blanket on you with Susan snoozing away on her old wooden rocking chair.

Actions speak far louder then words.

Your grandmother was cranky, grumpy, had zero fear towards death, she cursed like a sailor and she had a soft spot for you,

And you wouldn't have it any other way.

SUSAN SUPREMACY, also I switched around calling her Nana and Meemaw Susan because she wouldn't have just the classic grandma Susan,

Anyways I got one more Susan request and part two of Eldritch horror reader coming up so tune on in for that! Have a wonderful evening everyone!

[elennare]

Poetry-inspired flash-fic

It has been far too long since a. I posted here, b. I wrote fic, c. I did this fun little meme, so here I am again!

Rules 1: Pick five fandoms. List them in alphabetical order. 2: Visit this site to find your first RANDOM POEM OF POWER. Write down the 5th line (yes, even if it's an E.E. Cummings poem and you wind up with an apostrophe). Repeat five times and - you guessed it - list them in alphabetical order! (No cheating, mind! This is a challenge and it's always been about creativity.) 3: I think you can see where this is going. Write a very quick 50-word half-drabble for each fandom (try to do it all in one sitting), using the line from the poem as a prompt. You don't have to include it in the half-drabble - it's just inspiration. 4: Bravo! Have a cookie.

(I always forget to alphabetise the poems, I just take them in order - and I had to find another random poem generator, the old one was broken. This one is very Canadian, but it's the best I could find - suggestions for other ones welcome!)

Chalet School - informed crowded alloys detect no (Rita Wong, “fluorine” from forage) “I don't expect scientific brilliance from Corney and Co,” Nell Wilson assured the Staffroom. “But is basic coherency really too much to ask for?”

Hilda Annersley's eyebrows rose as she read some samples. “Leave them to me, Nell,” she replied, in a tone that boded no good for the miscreants.

High Rollers : Aerois - too large for this body. Too willing to (Joshua Jennifer Espinoza, "COMFORT" from There Should Be Flowers) It's not that Quill doesn't feel the lure of the spark of divinity. But it's too big, too powerful. What will he be if he takes it? Not an aarakocra any more, not really… will he even still be Quill? No. He'll stay mortal, stay with his friends, stay himself.

High Rollers: Curse of Strahd - “Forward, the Light Brigade! (The charge of the Light Brigade, Tennyson) Yesper hears stories, on his trips outside Barovia. Songs of glorious last stands, heroic charges, victories against seemingly insurmountable odds. He likes these tales, memorises them for the campfire. But he doesn’t believe them, not really… Maybe they’re true, maybe in Faerun they can be true, but not in Barovia.

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London - Forsaken by my parents (Alootook Ipellie, "Walking Both Sides of an Invisible Border," from Gathering: The En’owkin Journal of First North American Peoples: A Retrospective.) Vivien and Merlin rarely talk about their parents. What is there to say? Their father is birthday cards with dutiful invitations to visit Cambridge, that Vivien takes up occasionally and Merlin mostly avoids. Their mother is a case file Vivien doesn’t want to think about and Merlin can’t leave alone.

Swallows and Amazons - travels a direction it cannot find, (Kevin Irie's "Current") Susan peers blindly into the fog, trying to make out anything at all. Why did she let Titty and Roger go back by themselves? It’s all very well Nancy and Peggy saying they’ll have been back at camp for ages; Susan won’t be happy until she sees it for herself.

[alj4890]

Sparks of Hope

(Thomas Hunt x OC) in a Choices Red Carpet Diaries Drabble

Thirty Kisses in Thirty Days Challenge with the prompt: a kiss shared underneath fireworks

Rating G for fluff

Masterlist

@hopelessromantic1352 @krsnlove @trappedinfanfiction @my-heart-beats-for-ya ​ @aworldoffandoms ​​ @flyawayboo ​​ ​​  @sophxwithers @twinkleallnight @tessa-liam @choicesficwriterscreations @harleybeaumont

A/N Special thanks to @trappedinfanfiction for requesting this couple with this particular prompt. I guess this is a sequel to this drabble a while back 😂 I loved the subterfuge Thomas and Amanda did in pretending to be in a romantic relationship. His family not only bought it, but it ended up being true in the end. For this drabble, the pair have been together for about five months or so and are going (with his pushy yet well intentioned parents, sister, and brother-in-law) to his cousin's wedding.

Hunt Family Home, Stowe, VT

"You're bringing Amanda with you to the wedding, right?" Susan asked.

Thomas rolled his eyes over his mother's need to remind him to bring Amanda with him wherever he went. It was as if she doubted he knew how to act in a relationship.

"Yes. You know she arrives tomorrow to travel with us to Ben's wedding."

"I know that." Susan rolled her eyes. "I only wanted to make certain that you weren't going to send her back home before the ceremony."

He didn't know why his mother was making such a big deal out of seeing his cousin get married, but here he was back in Vermont, instead of his Los Angeles home, and surrounded by his parents, sister, and brother-in-law .

"It would be a missed opportunity." His sister, Rachel, grumbled.

"A missed opportunity?" Thomas snapped, not particularly liking his sister's tone, "for what exactly?"

"Are you serious right now?!" Rachel snapped back. "Tell me you aren't this clueless."

"Rach." Her husband, Stephen, tried to get her to calm down.

"I can't believe you don't see it!" She ignored her husband pulling on her hand.

"See what?" Thomas raised his voice.

Before things got too out of hand, their father stepped between them.

"The wedding," Richard explained before his daughter had a chance to throttle his son, "is an excellent opportunity to bring up the subject of marriage."

"For what purpose?" Thomas demanded. "Ben must be all for matrimony since he's the one getting married."

"Idiot." Rachel smacked the palm of her hand to her head. "The purpose is for you to bring up matrimony to Amanda!"

She sat down in a huff.

"Honestly Mom, are you sure we're related."

"Trust me. I was awake the whole time. There's no denying the relation." Susan teased.

She leveled a disapproving stare upon her son. "Though I do wonder at times where our DNA failed in making you hurry Amanda to the altar before she has a chance to meet someone else."

Thomas had to bite his tongue. First off, he knew he shouldn't be disrespectful to his parent. Secondly, he couldn't very well admit that he'd only been truly dating Amanda for about five months, unlike the lie he gave last Thanksgiving that they'd been dating for a long while.

By his calculations, that meant that his family was still under the assumption that they were nearing their one year anniversary as a couple.

Though he was in love with the lady from Cordonia and could honestly see himself taking that massive step forward in their relationship, he didn't know what Amanda would think of the notion.

Weddings were highly emotional anyway, he argued with himself. Who could trust any decision made under an event practically dripping with romance and sentimentality?

He prided himself on being one of the few to see past the heartfelt vows and such. He'd attended a number of weddings in the past where he'd seen weaker individuals succumb to the moment and end up either engaged themselves or claiming they were madly in love with their dates. Most did not work out once the ceremony concluded.

He wasn't about to chance what he had with Amanda with a suggestion that they give it a try.

The problem he now faced though was keeping his family from suggesting it to her before he did.

******************

Burlington Airport...

"There's that greeting I love." Amanda mumbled against his lips.

Thomas kissed her again before taking her luggage from her. "How was your flight?"

"Good." She looped her arm with his as they made their way out of the airport. "How's your family?"

He rolled his eyes in response.

Amanda began to laugh. "Oh no. What have they done this time?"

"Since they are still in the dark over when our relationship officially began," he grimaced with having to tell her what had been the main topic of conversation ever since he arrived a few days earlier, "they want me to take advantage of the wedding."

"Take advantage to do what exactly?"

He eyed her quietly.

Her eyes widened with realization. "Oh!"

She began to smile at the notion. "That's actually really sweet."

Thomas snorted while opening the passenger door for her. "More like manipulative."

"I think it's sweet. Clearly they see we're happy together." Amanda wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him close for another kiss. "And they like me enough to want me as part of the family."

"They adore you." He deepened the kiss. "Almost as much as I do."

"I've missed hearing you say things like that in person." She sank into another kiss of his. "I love what always follows such declarations."

Thomas smiled against her lips.

"So?" She said a touch breathlessly. "Shall we at least pretend to give the notion of marriage a fair try or should we be upfront and say that you aren't quite there yet?"

"I think we should--" his eyes widened. "What do you mean, I'm not quite there yet?!'

"I don't mean anything other than that. Thomas, you've said yourself that you never saw the need to rush into any institution, especially marriage."

Amanda's brow furrowed over the dark expression forming on his face.

"What? Is something else wrong? Is it something I said?"

She didn't know why he would be upset. The entire world knew he preferred the life of a bachelor. He'd certainly said so in more than enough interviews in the oast to prove his point.

"I..." He trailed off as anger choked him.

Thomas refused to let his first moment reunited with the woman he loved be one where they argued.

He gestured silently for her to get into the car.

"Thomas?" She reached for him when he pulled away from her. "I didn't mean--"

"It's fine." He bit out. "Let's be on our way, shall we?"

Amanda reluctantly got into the car. She didn't know what to do or say when he was in this type of mood.

The two spent the next forty-five minutes in tense silence as they made their way back to his parents' home.

***************

"Perhaps I should say I have an emergency back at home." She mumbled while helping get her bags out of the car. "Then, you won't have any worries over the wedding."

If her visit here was going to be like this, she didn't want to remain stuck in the same room with him, much less the suite he'd booked for them at the wedding venue. It was already killing her to be at odds with him, especially when she didn't understand what she'd done to make him so angry. She'd expected nothing but romance after nearly a month of their schedules conflicting and keeping them apart. Now that seemed as likely to happen as her sprouting wings.

Thomas jerked around in surprise. "I don't want you to go."

Her eyes narrowed. "You certainly don't act like you want me to stay either."

"Of course I do!" He snapped, slamming the trunk closed. "I've missed you, damnit!'

"I missed you too." Amanda fought back a smile over him cursing about it.

Thomas grimaced once more as he realized she was the last person he should be angry with.

It was himself he was furious at. He'd been the one to live his life in such a way that the moment he believed he'd possibly met the one, he'd given her the illusion that marriage was not for him. He didn't know how to rectify this assumption of hers without it appearing as if he was giving in to familial pressure.

"I apologize for my outburst." He tugged her into his arms. "I'm not angry at you."

"I hope not." She slid her arms around his neck. "Because I couldn't wait on seeing you again."

"Neither could I." He hugged her close.

His lips brushed against her ear as he whispered all he'd missed.

She moved closer within his embrace with each spoken attribute of hers he missed. She stopped his list with a heated kiss.

Stephen clearing his throat had them both turning to him with irritated expressions.

He held his hands up. "Sorry to interrupt, but I was sent out here to see what was taking you two so long and to help with the bags."

He quickly swiped up the luggage and led the way in.

Amanda went through all the warm hugs and questions from the family she'd gotten close to that fateful Thanksgiving. Thomas watched the interaction with a slight smile upon his face. His family truly loved her. He knew that if he were to ever feel the need to propose that they would be beyond overjoyed with his choice of wife.

Perhaps one day, they might all get what they wished for.

******************

Lake Placid, New York, three days later...

"How do I look?" Amanda twirled around, checking all sides in the mirror. "Does the dress hang right in the back?"

Thomas stopped her twisting about by placing his hands on her hips. His eyes met hers in the mirror while he took in her figure.

"You look beautiful." He kissed the side of her neck.

"You're just saying that." She sighed as she critically took in her features. "I wanted to look my best tonight since I'm meeting your extended family for the first time."

"You do." He pulled her back within his arms when she huffed in disbelief. "I've always loved you in teal."

"You say that about every color." She teased, slipping her arms around him.

"I happen to love you in every color." Thomas admitted. "But there is something about teal that makes it my favorite on you."

"Really?" She smiled at him. "Then I'll just have to wear it more often."

He kissed her, softly groaning at the knock on their door.

"If that's my sister, she won't survive the rehearsal dinner." He muttered.

Amanda's laughter was smothered by another kiss.

Rachel's voice came loud and clear through the wooden door.

"We're going to be late! Mom and Dad already went downstairs!"

Thomas glared at the door.

His date eased out of his arms and gathered her wrap and clutch. Taking his arm, she tugged him out the door.

Ignoring the smug expression on his sister's face, Thomas followed Amanda towards the elevator.

He began to make plans for how to spend their first night in their suite as they all made their way to the wedding pavilion.

*****************

The night was filled with speeches, good food, and a great many toasts. Ben and his soon to be bride, Bailey, were everything a picture perfect couple should be. They never stopped smiling and they stole kisses every chance they got.

Guests soon took to the outdoor patio to dance and mingle.

"It's beautiful out here." Amanda leaned back in Thomas's arms to look up at the night sky. Stars twinkled above and shimmered on the lake's surface.

"Yes, it is."

He rested his chin on her shoulder while watching his family members. Everyone was distracted with either discussions or as in his parents' case, slow dancing. Though now was the perfect chance to slip back upstairs, he knew his family would never let him live it down.

"Would you like to dance?" He instead asked.

"I'd love to."

Thomas set his hand low on her back while taking her hand in his. He pressed her close while leading her in a slow box step.

The entire party stilled with the first firework shooting out over the lake.

Oohs and Ahhs followed with every burst of colorful light.

Heart shaped sparklers were passed around in honor of the bride and groom.

"How sweet." Amanda said to Thomas after Ben claimed that Bailey was his spark in life.

Thomas thought it was a corny line, yet kept that opinion to himself. He instead focused on Amanda's face lit up from the lights of the fireworks.

He tipped her chin up and pressed a tender kiss to her lips.

"Speaking of sparks," she teased him, kissing him once more, "I'm very happy you invited me to this, Mr. Hunt."

His lips curved. "I'm very happy you accepted, Lady Bridgerton."

She rested her head on his shoulder as the fireworks continued.

Thomas couldn't help but notice how right everything was at this moment. His family was distracted. He'd just shared a kiss with the woman he loved. The setting couldn't be more perfect to at least hint at what he hoped might happen soon.

"Amanda?" He murmured near her ear.

"Yes?" She looked up at him.

"I love you." He tugged her back from the crowd.

"I love you too." She bumped into him when he stopped in the shadows.

He cupped her face to kiss her passionately.

Amanda gripped his dinner jacket to remain upright.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she looked up at him.

Thomas swallowed and then spoke from his heart.

"I want this one day."

"Want what?" She asked a touch breathlessly.

"I want our loved ones around us, celebrating the fact that we are about to be married." He admitted.

"Thomas." She couldn't quite believe he said something like that.

Not one family member was near enough to hear what he was saying, so she knew it wasn't an act on his part. The flashes of colored light from the fireworks revealed his somber expression along with the vulnerability reflected in the dark depths of his eyes.

Knowing she wanted nothing more than that with him, Amanda rose up to kiss Thomas once more.

He clutched her to him, wishing she would say something to keep that spark of hope alive.

She smiled against his lips as their kiss came to an end.

"I want all that with you, Thomas." She told him. "And I can't wait until that day comes."

[when-did-this-become-difficult]

Rules: Share the first line of your last ten published works or as many as you are able and see if there are any patterns!

tagged by @nerdsandthelike - thank you! can't be arsed to login as my writing tumblr so i'm just posting on here and tagging people however i please @alliluyevas, @imperatorkhaleesi, @drabbles-mc, @hausofmamadas, @narcolini, @saathi1013, @cositapreciosa, @garbinge, @salt-is-a-terrible-currency, @axreliono, @proceduralpassion

do i know you — The Bear (TV 2022)

two in the morning.

Frolic — Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis

"I say," said the new King, astonished.

Gift — Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis & Game of Thrones (TV)

Susan knew her wife did not enjoy it when she sojourned to other worlds, so once she had hugged her children and changed out of her mud-stained clothes, she found Sansa in the solarium.

Wager — Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis & Game of Thrones (TV)

With Brienne behind bars in the slave holdings, the passing spectators talked about her like she wasn't even there, and Brienne decided that the best course would be to pretend they weren't there either.

on eagles — Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis & Game of Thrones (TV)

In the fifth month of siege, Brienne was so much herself with him that she was almost, at times, not a Knight.

no witness — Narcos: Mexico (TV)

It’s been so long that his old phone number doesn’t work, but if there’s one way to reach Walt Breslin, it’s to call the DEA and lie.

blood on vacation — Narcos: Mexico (TV)

You’ve only been Mexico City for a week, and you’re already all vacationed out.

Sugar — The Bear (TV 2022)

The morning after Pete's first Berzatto Christmas, Natalie sleeps badly all night long, getting up to use the bathroom, pulling covers on or off, batting away half-remembered dreams.

deep breaths — The Bear (TV 2022)

Kitchen, dead.

he keeps his rules. you keep him. — Narcos (TV)

He has a key to your apartment, but he’s not used it in a while.

Very odd! I tried to spot patterns, just like nerdsandthelike did. The first thought I had was that I am sometimes a woman of many commas, arguably too many commas.

Then I thought, hm, not all of these are the best they could be. But even "Kitchen, dead" I don't really think I would go back and change? Maybe I'd change the intro to blood on vacation if I could.

There's not much of a pattern in terms of how I treat the small-r reader, either. Sometimes I just throw em in and to hell with it, other times it's a very nice, normal, understandable easing into the fic.

I guess I don't have much of a uniting style! Or maybe I have a variety of different vibes. Hmm.

Thank you for tagging me! <333

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Saturday, December 31st

MAYOR: For all of you it may be that there is a place in Sunnydale's history, whether you like it or not. It's been a long road getting here. For you- for Sunnydale. There has been achievement, joy, good times- and there has been grief. There's been loss. Some people who should be here today- aren't. But we are. Journey's end. And what is a journey? Is it just- distance traveled? Time spent? No. It's what happens on the way, it the things that happen to you. At the end of the journey you're not the same. Today is about change. Graduation doesn't just mean your circumstances change, it means you do. You ascend- to a higher level. Nothing will ever be the same. Nothing. (eclipse begins) MAYOR: And so as we look back on- (flinch) on the events that brought us to this day (flinch) BUFFY: Come on. MAYOR: We- (flinch) we must all- (screams) It has begun. My destiny. (smiles) It's a little sooner than I expected. I had this whole section on civic pride- (shuffles cue cards) But I guess we'll just skip to the big finish!

~~Graduation Day Part 2~~

The Sunnydale Herald is looking for at least one new editor. Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more here.

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

My Tears They Cried Aloud by kerk_hiraeth (Buffy, Amy, R)

blood & coffee by humancorn (Buffy/Spike, PG)

Unexpected Christmas by tbd (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

The Trapeze Swinger by Electric Heart (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Flashes by rkm (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

I Ragazzi Sono Tornati in Città (the boys are back in town) by Dynamite (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Nel Bacio by Dynamite (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Sir Crabby Cakes Wishes You A Very Merry Christmas by Yummysushi17 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Life Revised by B_Red (Buffy/Spike, R)

Rising by DarkVoid116 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Split Second Decisions by JaneRemmington (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Only If For A Night by alittlemoretime (Buffy/Spike, R)

Devotion and Hot Chocolate by WitchWives (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

The Speed of Choices by StrawberryPoet (Buffy/Spike, R)

Winter Wonderland by Daxeah (Buffy/Spike, R)

Visions by EllieRose101 (Buffy/Spike, G)

Stepping Back In by SzmattyCat (Buffy/Spike, PG)

Interagency Cooperation by Slingshot (Cordelia, MacGyver crossover, FR15)

Hers by bookishy (Buffy/Spike, PG)

Baking Cookies by sandy_s (Buffy/Spike, PG)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Darkest Before the Dawn, Chapter 62 by Luna_delCielo (Buffy/Finrod Felagund, Tolkien crossover, T)

Eros' Curse, Chapter 10 by Deviantelfguy (Buffy/Dawn, E)

Different Lives, Chapter 47 by BuffyBot3000 (Faith & Tara, E)

Whispers In Pegasus, Chapter 7 by calikocat (Xander, Teen Wolf & Stargate Atlantis crossover, T)

Dawn of the Caribbean 3: Dawn of the Pack, Chapter 59 by BrennaLynn (Buffy & Dawn, Women of the Underworld crossover, T)

Heartless, Chapter 4 by LSquared1501 (Buffy/Angel, T)

Wonderland 1: Down the Rabbit Hole, Chapter 37 by BrennaLynn (Buffy/Angel, Star Wars crossover, T)

Narnia 2: The Dawn Chronicles, Chapter 1 by BrennaLynn (Dawn/Susan Pevensie, Chronicles of Narnia crossover, T)

anything you can do, I can do better, Chapter 5 by princesstomaz, truelittleblackstar (Giles/Jenny, T)

She came back wrong, Chapter 8 by desicat (Buffy/Spike, T)

Charming the Slayer, Chapter 22 by BrennaLynn (Buffy/Paige Matthews, Charmed crossover, T)

Sleigh Fest 06, Chapter 6 by QuillBard (Buffy/Faith, T)

Fire In The Blood, Chapter 3 (complete!) by BeauNorth (Buffy/Spike, M)

The Twelve Days of Christmas, Chapter 6 by RachaelJurassic (Giles/Jenny, E)

Who Shat on the Floor at My Sister's Wedding? Chapter 3 by thoughtsofahouseplant (Buffy/Spike, T)

She came back wrong, Chapter 8 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Roses for the Devil, Chapter 4 by davidf89 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

take me home, Chapter 2 by HappyWhenItRains (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Bring him back, Chapter 3 by acb6293 (Buffy/Spike, R)

take me home, Chapter 2 by HappyWhenItRains (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Lost Holidays, Chapter 1 by MaggieLeFay (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork: Fray by who-is-hex (worksafe)

Artwork: Buffy Summers by sundayroadkill (worksafe)

Vidlet: Faith x criminal by Fiona apple

Artwork: Icing on the Gingerbread House by bewildered (Buffy, Spike, Dawn & Joyce, worksafe)

Artwork/manips: Banners: stealing kisses under mistletoe by Double Dutchess (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Fanvid: Buffy Summers || R.i.p To My Youth by Buffyfandom

Fanvid: Buffy and Spike - In The End by T

Fanvid: Spike & Buffy - IDFC @blackbeardiaries by 6aliph77 TV

Fanvid: Spike and buffy - The shallow by Mia Amer

Fanvid: Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Centuries by juliaroxs241

Fanvid: BUFFY - "Normal Again" - Sleeping Beauty by Prior

Music: Rap - Buffy The Vampire Slayer by C L N RAP (in Portuguese)

Music: Under Your Spell Cover by Nostalgic Cookie / Inmagia Star Productions

Video: Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Season 1 | Best Outfits | Women & Men | Fashion Files by The Art of Fashion

Video: "Buffy, The Chosen One" - Hunting Vampires In Cemetery by Monika Varro (Buffy re-enacted with cuddly toys)

[Reviews & Recaps]

ReWatch: Buffy the Vampire Slayer - S5, E10 - 11 by kimannebb

[Recs]

A Forever Christmas , Spike/Buffy by slaymesoftly recced by petzipellepingo

Top 10 Spuffy fics I’ve read (Dec 2022) by mcgnagallsarmy

I Miss Buffy The Vampire Slayer (music album by Megan Gogerty) recced by RyanAyr83

[Fandom Discussions]

the black thorn doublecross was amazing, but the ending wasn't good by badrecognition

I may have thought of a plot hole in Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel & Faith Season 9 by oveliagirlhaditright

Thinking about Angel and the Shanshu thing by oveliagirlhaditright

Passing the visions (cordy x angel, cordy x doyle and angel x doyle) by thepunkmuppet

They made Cordelia part demon and then just did NOTHING with it by thepunkmuppet

Certain major events that happen to certain characters [in AtS] are HEAVILY foreshadowed by thepunkmuppet

Angel and his sister Kathy make me so feral by hellisoursalvation

How Giles and Xander think of Spike based on their dreams in "Restless" by ifihadmypickofwishes

BB's Top 50 Most Memorable Scenes in The Buffyverse - Redux (Week 14) by Buffy Summers| Buffy-Boards

How do you label the seasons? continued by thrasherpix and others

I found the Angelus in S04 really underwhelming by Buffvamporigfan

I liked Fred but I loved Illyria so much more by Captainoats88

I’ve got a theory: “You taste like strawberries” by JeSuisLaCockamouse

What made you want to watch Buffy? by aerolies

Well Adjusted comic Connor is so. much. better by Almighty_Push91

Thoughts on Glory as a villain?? by buffyandwillowbtvs

What Are Your Overall Thoughts On Faith? by Antwuan89

What would Willow as a Vengeance Demon been like? by invisiblebyday

Glory's Morality Discussion by PixelatedBoats

What do you think was the healthiest romantic relationship in the show? by aerolies

Thoughts on Tara Maclay?? by buffyandwillowbtvs

Character Criticisms by Thick-DimensionBeezy

Anya’s character deserves better.. by buffyandwillowbtvs

Buffy is better off without Spike or Angel by buffyandwillowbtvs

Podcast: Allusionist 159: Bufflusionist by The Allusionist

Video: Buffy/Angel Analysis: Doyle, Angel's Sponsor by Twisted View

Video: You Can't Reboot Buffy | Jaynalysis by Jayniac Jr.

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

[thebeckster]

Hope I'm not late!

150 drabble prompt 79 for Wayne, Brad, Ethan and Ford?

Here you go Nonny!

This was a fun prompt, though a little short, I wrote 90% of it on my phone's notes while in a car for 6 hours today, but gosh I'd love to see some more Westown Boys shenanigans. The four of them together could be such a fun dynamic to play with. This fandom's gotta get on writing more friendship stuff!

I hope you enjoy Nonny! Thanks for playing along!

📛📛📛📛

When Ethan got engaged, Wayne insisted they throw him a proper bachelor party. The kind that would go down in history. (At least amongst the Westown boys.)

It would be a real blow out. Wayne had booked a hotel suite for the party in the nearby city. He'd mapped out a number of clubs, bars, and restaurants for them to visit. It would be great!

And it was!

... at least as far as Wayne could remember.

Things were a little fuzzy, the later in the night Wayne tried to recall, but when he woke up the next day (just a little bit hungover) he saw everyone had made it back to the hotel room alive and in one piece. And they hadn’t brought any additional guests that might raise some questions from Ethan’s Bride-to-be if she heard about it. So all in all that was a very successful night!

Of the four of them, Wayne was the first awake. Brad and Ford were sprawled across one bed, Ethan and Wayne had passed out in the other bed.

Chuckling to himself, Wayne called for room service - enough bacon, eggs, toast, and coffee to return even the most hungover to the land of the living. By the time it arrived, the other three had blinked into consciousness with varying levels of grace and bedhead. They were grateful for the easy, and appropriately greasy breakfast to soak up any remaining liquor in their systems. Even Ford, who hadn’t had more than a couple drinks and was far from hungover, didn’t raise any objections about the lack of nutritional balance found in the meal.

Ethan was halfway through his second cup of coffee before he noticed an additional accessory on his shirt that he had not been wearing at the start of their evening. It was a name tag. A small plastic badge with white lettering against a black background. He stared at it upside down for a long moment before slowly declaring, “My name’s not Leslie… Who’s Leslie?”

“Waitress at the bar last night,” Brad supplied, snagging another piece of bacon, “You don’t remember?”

Ethan blinked at him. “No…”

Wayne laughed into his coffee. “You thought she was friendly, and you thought she and your fiancée would be great friends.”

Brad picked up the explanation. “You wanted to get her name, but you didn’t wanna be a creep and ask her for her number. Somehow you talked her into giving up her name tag. Claimed that was how you’d get in touch with her.”

“You were rather drunk at the point.” Ford added.

“Yeah, but it was adorable,” Wayne ribbed. “So in love with your girl you started collecting new friends for her at your bachelor party.” He poked at another name tag on Ethan’s shirt. “Every person you thought was nice and funny and friendly you begged their name tag. Ended up with quite the collection once word got around to the staff at the clubs what you were doing.”

Ethan began searching his person, finding the numerous name tags pinned to his shirt and even a few on his pants, laughing harder for each new name he discovered. “Maggie, Susan, Judy, Janine, Liz, Todd, Ryan? Oh my god, how many did I take?”

“Well over a dozen,” Brad laughed, picking name tags off Ethan’s back. “At some point people just started giving them to you.

“All these future pen pals for you and the missus!” Wayne gathered up the name tags and rained them over Ethan’s head. “Only one problem,” Ford interjected, dropping a stray ‘Becca’ in top of the pile, “You only have first names. Hard to write letters without surnames, or addresses.”

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

✩✩✩ RELEASE BLITZ ✩✩✩

Flowers For You

Mother's Day Drabbles Microfiction Collection

Romance Café Publishing

Collection Book 33

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198359414/

Hosted by DS Book Promotions

𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔. 𝑨 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔.

AMAZON

Read on Kindle Unlimited

Description:

One hundred perfect words. A thousand heartfelt emotions.

For Mother’s Day and all year-round, we at the Romance Café are shouting about this collection of perfect, bite-sized celebrations of moms, mums, mas, mothers and other caring figures in your life. These 100-word stories celebrate the many different ways that carers show their love, from the everyday acts of kindness to the sacrifices they make for their children.

Warning: may cause a sniffle or three.

Participating Authors:

Gabbi Powell Gabbi Black Trinity Wood Kaje Harper Tami Winbush L Mad Hildebrandt Hannah McKee Lisa Gwizdala-Cody Alexa Santi Cara north Sonja Flowers Michelle Mars Tori Fields Rhianon Ruby Elaine Reed Danika Bloom A. Boss Niki Brazen DL Gallie Mila Chase Debra Deasey Susan Horsnell USAT Bestselling Author Jeanna Louise Skinner Cecelia Conway Suki McMinn Annee Jones Gabbi Grey J.E. Feldman Kathleen Ryder Sarah Stein Angela Kady MacKade Heather Osborne Harper Michaels Sofia Aves Bonnie Poirier Ryleigh Sloan Niki Trento Yolanda Olson Sera Taíno Kat Long Katherine Moore Melissa Kendall LoLo Paige Aurelia Foxx Krithika Vanesa L. Perillo G.R. LeBlanc Jade Glas Brianna Malotke Tori Fields

About The New Romance Cafe

The New Romance Café is the place to get your daily dose of romance books.

Hang out with like-minded readers and authors at different stages of their writing journey, in a diverse and inclusive group.

Find out about new releases, take part in fun discussions, and recommend your favourite reads in the safe space of the Café.

The New Romance Cafe Links

Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thenewromancecafe

Website: https://thenewromancecafe.com/

Romance Cafe Publishing: https://romancecafepublishing.com/

@TheNewRomanceCafe @DS Book Promotions

[alphareleasemedia]

Daily Drabble Project Mar 11-20

3/11/23 Lulu splashed happily in her little puddle. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and all the world was fresh and shiny. The sunny day was a complete opposite to the heavy rains of the day before and Lulu was glad to be able to get out of the house again. Tommers was less enthused. He sat grumpily on the front porch and watched Lulu frolic about in the many muddy puddles around the yard. Lulu paid no mind to him. She was having a great day and there was nothing Tommers could do to ruin it for her.

3/12/23 Susan tipped forward and fell face first into the bed. She snuggled into the blankets and tuned out Walter who was still rambling on about something or other. The mattress was soft and the comforter was warm and smelled vaguely of lilacs. Susan sighed deeply as she rolled over onto her side and curled up in a ball. Walter tapped her on the thigh with some inquiry that she couldn't quite contemplate in the moment. She murmured incoherently in response to him. Walter sighed and draped a blanket over her, leaving her to slowly drift off to a blissful slumber.

3/13/23 Fizzy whacked the side of the vending machine and growled. His potato chips refused to budge from where they were wedged against the glass. Fizzy didn't have any more change on him to buy another bag and he was desperate for some food. The chips were up on the top rack of the machine, so trying to reach in and grab them was a no go. He kicked the machine a few times. It didn't do anything, but it made Fizzy feel better. He pressed his face against the glass staring longingly at his prize. Fizzy sighed. The bag fell.

3/14/23 Tally licked her ice cream cone and watched the birds circling overhead. The sun was bright in the sky and heat rose off the pavement in hazy waves. The grass was parched and yellowing and the leaves on the trees hung limply. It had been a scorching summer so far, without any reprieve in sight. The ice cream in Tally's hand was rapidly melting, she had to lick up a long white line that had dripped over her fingers and onto the asphalt at her feet. Tally had to hastily finish eating her ice cream before the whole thing melted.

3/15/23 Omen hopped along the windowsill watching the people pass by in the street below. He knew most all of them by now, as well as most of the animals who lived around town. They all had their plain ordinary lives that were largely uninteresting to Omen, but there were a couple he liked to keep an eye on. Primarily the two that his mistress was currently living with. Omen didn't trust most wizards and these two had an air of danger about them that he did not like. He flattened his feathers as he watched the younger one walk by.

3/16/23 Goldy pranced through the meadow tossing her long luxurious mane as she went. Spring had returned and all the clover was in bloom again. Goldy paused to stand magnificently in the breeze and let all admire her beauty. Fred Meyer trotted up to her stupidly with his big dumb hooves stomping all over the clovers. Fred Meyer had persistently tried to befriend Goldy since the moment they first met. Goldy had tried to dissuade the big idiot, but he seemed incapable of taking a hint. Fred Meyer shook his shabby mane and pranced ridiculously around Goldy. What a big showoff.

3/17/23 Paddy giggled quietly to himself as he moved another shovel full of earth. He was all alone in the glistening forest and far enough off the path that he was unlikely to be snuck up on by anyone. The earth was soft and damp from the recent rain, but the skies were clearing up. A bright rainbow shone clearly overhead. Paddy giggled again as he glanced up at it while moving the final pile of dirt over the now filled in hole he had dug. They could follow the rainbow all they wanted, but they would never find the bodies.

3/18/23 Sugar leaned over the water peering at her reflection. Piper snuck up behind her and shoved her into the lake. Sugar screamed and splashed water at Piper who was laughing heartily on the edge of the dock. Sugar splashed again and then started to heave herself out of the water and back onto the dock. Piper reached out a hand to help her up and Sugar couldn't help herself; she grabbed Piper's hand and yanked hard. Both girls fell into the lake, Piper screaming even louder than Sugar had. Sugar smirked at Piper and then splashed more water on her.

3/19/23 Jymie came careening around the corner with Tobby close on his heels. Both men raced across the city park at a full sprint. Jymie leaped over a bench while Tobby ran around it. The two ran through a flock of pigeons, scattering them and sending them flying in all directions. Tobby gained the lead when Jymie stumbled over a tree root, though he managed to keep himself from falling over and was as close behind Tobby as Tobby had been behind him. Their end destination came into sight and Jymie barely pulled ahead to reach the ice cream truck first.

3/20/23 Janthra laughed hysterically at Pipya's mildly funny joke. She leaned forward over the table to bat her heavy fake lashes at him. Pipya smiled nervously and took a deep drink from his glass of water. Janthra leaned back in her chair and twirled a strand of her golden wavy hair around her finger while she waited for Pipya to finish chugging his drink. He scarcely had, however, when the waiter arrived with their food. Whereupon Janthra promptly forgot about Pipya and dove happily into devouring her entrée. Pipya sighed quietly in relief as he also tucked into his own meal.