#First date

[appledressing]

Ohmygod!!! Bc my head was about to explode from the second hand embarrassment during his very well choreographed’date’ Spence my beloved calmate

THEYVE BEEN ON DATES?? we absolutely need to know how their first date was omg

NOT A DATE. /spencer reid/

your first date with spencer devolves pretty quickly when it doesn’t start all that well.

cold!reader 3.9k fluff? series masterlist. main masterlist.

a/n | all’s well that ends well

You hadn’t expected Spencer to ask you out.

Not in the way that he does, anyway—standing in front of you, fidgeting slightly, the sleeves of his cardigan pushed up just enough to reveal the delicate veins at his wrists.

His fingers twist together, nervous, his gaze flicking to yours before darting away just as quickly. It’s been a few days since that conversation—since the kisses that shouldn’t have happened, since the honesty that followed. You had expected things to shift, but not like this.

“I was wondering if you wanted to, um… go out,”

His voice is quiet, deliberate, like he’s rehearsed this and is trying not to trip over the words. You watch him, tilting your head slightly, waiting for him to elaborate.

“Go out?”

Spencer clears his throat. “For lunch. Or coffee. Or… something,”

There’s something about the way he says it that makes your chest tighten slightly. Not because of the invitation itself—you’ve had people ask you out before, with varying levels of confidence—but because Spencer is Spencer, and you can see the effort behind the words.

The hesitation, the careful selection of phrasing. He’s not asking just to fill the silence, or because he feels obligated. He wants this.

Your eyes narrow slightly, not out of suspicion, but curiosity. “As in a date?”

He blinks, and for the briefest moment, he looks caught out. Like he hadn’t anticipated you putting it into words so plainly. His mouth opens, then shuts, then opens again. You can practically see his mind working at full speed, trying to calculate the best possible response.

“If you want it to be,” he says finally, voice carefully neutral. But his eyes—God, his eyes give him away. There’s a flicker of something there, something barely restrained, like he’s bracing himself for either possibility. Hope, fear, uncertainty.

You hold his gaze for a moment longer, considering him. Considering this. You could say no. Could brush it off, pretend you don’t see the way he looks at you sometimes, the way his lips trembled just slightly when they touched yours that night.

But instead, you say, “Alright.”

Spencer straightens slightly, clearly not having prepared himself for you actually agreeing. “Alright?”

You nod, arms crossing loosely over your chest. “Lunch or coffee, whichever.”

You don’t say it with excitement. You don’t gush or grin or tease him about it. Your tone is steady, your expression unreadable, as though agreeing to go on a date with him is just another casual decision, as inconsequential as deciding whether or not to take an umbrella with you in the morning.

Spencer looks slightly bewildered by your lack of reaction, but he doesn’t question it. Just nods, lips pressing together like he’s trying to suppress a smile, and says, “Okay. Um. I’ll— I’ll text you?”

“You have my number.” you point out.

That time, he does smile, just barely. “Right,”

And just like that, it’s decided.

—

The café is warm, bustling, filled with quiet chatter and the clinking of cutlery. It’s the sort of place you’ve been to a hundred times before—cozy, the smell of freshly ground coffee hanging in the air, the low hum of conversation blending with the sound of a barista steaming milk in the background.

But despite the comfortable setting, you feel a sort of tension hanging in the air, palpable between you and Spencer, a shift that wasn’t there the last time you saw him.

Spencer sits across from you, his hands folded neatly around the napkin in front of him. His posture is stiff, his back too straight as if he’s trying to remind himself that he needs to appear composed.

His eyes dart to you now and then, as if measuring your reaction, then back down to the table when the silence stretches a little too long. The rhythm of the conversation feels off, like a song played slightly out of tune.

“You, uh, you ever tried their croissants?” Spencer asks, his voice tentative, as if testing the waters.

You glance at the pastry case for a brief moment. “They look fine. Not sure I’m in the mood for one.”

“Right,” he says quickly, nodding as if that was exactly the answer he was expecting. His fingers twitch, adjusting the napkin once more, smoothing it out. You wonder if he’s aware of how obvious his nerves are. You wish he wasn’t so... stiff.

He clears his throat. “I mean, I’ve heard their pastries are some of the best in the city. They’re, uh, locally sourced. Fresh, you know? It’s the—uh, it’s the—"

His voice falters and, for a moment, you see the cracks in his carefully constructed façade. Spencer Reid—the usually confident, quick-witted, and slightly eccentric genius—is stumbling over the simplest of statements.

And it’s not just because he’s awkward, it’s because he’s clearly thinking too hard, too aware that he’s on a date now and not just spending time with a colleague.

You can practically see the gears grinding in his head, trying to find the right thing to say, hoping not to say the wrong thing.

You take a sip of your coffee, the warmth of it spreading through you, but it does nothing to calm the slight frustration building in your chest.

This isn’t the Spencer you like—the one who goes off on tangents about everything from obscure animal facts to theoretical physics, the one who speaks without thinking, who lets his words spill out in the rush of his enthusiasm.

This version of Spencer is... careful. Cautious. It’s like he’s reading a script in his head, trying to make sure every line is perfect, every pause measured, as though you’re some delicate thing that might break if he says something wrong.

You resist the urge to sigh, forcing yourself to focus on the conversation, on the half-formed sentences that spill from his lips, even though they make your patience wear thin. He’s trying. He is. But the real Spencer is buried under all this self-consciousness, and you can’t help but miss him.

“So, uh,” Spencer continues, his voice wavering slightly as if he’s expecting you to interrupt, “what’s your favourite... book?” The question hangs in the air like a test, his eyes flicking to yours in uncertainty, as though the answer is somehow going to determine whether the date will fail or succeed.

You can feel the weight of it in his gaze, the subtle pressure he places on himself to make sure everything goes well. But instead of offering the usual stream of thoughts, you just lean back in your chair and let a few seconds pass before answering.

“I like a lot of different ones,” you say, your voice soft but steady. “Depends on my mood.”

“Right,” Spencer says, his head nodding vigorously, though his eyes are wide with concentration, clearly trying to figure out if he should follow up or if he’s already messed it up. “Moods are, uh, definitely a big factor when it comes to choosing a book. Like, um—when I’m feeling—well, I mean, I read a lot of... scientific papers, obviously, but when I want to relax, it’s usually something—uh—fictional. Or... historical. History’s, um, great,”

He trails off, and you see the way he shifts, his shoulders tense. It’s not an unnatural thing for him to say. But it feels forced. A reflexive comment in an attempt to sound normal, to connect.

You don’t need him to talk about books or history or anything else that might be considered ��safe’. You just need him to be himself, to let the words flow as they usually do when you’re not here, sitting across from him on a ‘date.’

But he’s not there. He’s here, across from you, clearly sweating over the details of every word.

His nerves are almost tangible, hanging between you two like a heavy curtain, suffocating the easy conversation that should be flowing by now.

You watch as he fiddles with his napkin again, clearly not able to settle on anything. It’s the small things—the way he can’t seem to relax, the tiny, invisible barrier he’s putting between you with his overcompensating awkwardness.

Finally, you can’t take it anymore.

The tightness in your chest that’s been building slowly starts to bubble up, and with a decisive clink, you set your cup down.

Spencer doesn’t notice at first, too wrapped up in his thoughts, his gaze fixed on the table between you as though he’s waiting for something to give him permission to keep going.

But the moment the sound of the porcelain hitting the table echoes in the quiet space, his head snaps up, startled.

“Let’s get out of here.” The words feel strange leaving your lips. You don’t want to come across as dismissive or rude, but this date isn’t working. Not in the way you hoped. Not with all this tension, this unease. You can’t breathe through it anymore.

Spencer freezes. His entire body tenses up like a deer caught in headlights, his wide eyes fixed on you as if you’ve just suggested something entirely unexpected. His mind immediately jumps to a different meaning of the phrase.

He’s already running through a dozen scenarios in his head—leaving together, walking out of here and heading straight to your apartment, things escalating the way they sometimes do after a date, and all of it making him more and more nervous.

“Oh—um—” His voice falters, thin and anxious. “Are you sure? I mean, I—”

He clears his throat, but the nervousness only seeps through further, making him sound more unsure than before. You can see his mind working, trying to figure out if you’re about to suggest something far more loaded than just ending the awkward date.

You can see the moment when his face shifts into something almost desperate as he tries to make sense of it.

You cut him off, before he has a chance to spiral. “The date is off.”

The words fall out before you can stop them. It’s blunt, maybe too blunt, but it’s the truth. There’s no sugar-coating it. The look on Spencer’s face when you say it makes you immediately regret the way it sounds—like you’re dismissing him entirely.

He looks crestfallen. His shoulders slump just a fraction, and for a second, you wonder if he’s about to apologize, or if he’s just been crushed under the weight of his own expectations.

There’s a flicker of confusion in his eyes, as though he’s still trying to piece together what you meant. And then, as if it just dawns on him, his face shifts into something softer, something closer to disappointment.

It’s not the kind of disappointment that’s angry or dramatic—it’s quieter, more internal. As if he believes he’s ruined everything, and the weight of that belief settles on his chest like a boulder.

He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. He closes it again, his hands fumbling with the napkin in front of him, looking anywhere but at you. He’s so deeply uncomfortable, and it’s painful to watch.

You sigh, rubbing your hand through your hair in frustration, but it’s not with him. It’s with the situation, with how horribly awkward this has become, and how you’re both treading water when you should be walking through this easily.

“Look,” you begin, your voice softer now, “you’re clearly overthinking this. It’s weird. Let’s just do something else.”

The words are simple, but they seem to hang in the air like a lifeline. You don’t know why you’re trying to salvage this—this moment of discomfort—but there’s a part of you that just wants to get past it.

You want to see Spencer relaxed again, the way he was before all of this pressure started weighing him down. He deserves that. You deserve that.

He stares at you for a long moment, his face still shadowed by confusion. “Something else?” His voice is small, unsure, like he’s not quite following you.

You nod, meeting his gaze for the first time since you dropped the bomb of calling off the date. “Yeah. Not a date. Just... something.”

You don’t really know what something means, but you’re tired of trying to force something that doesn’t feel right. You just want to spend time with him—without all the pretense, without the pressure of this being something more than what it is. Just two people, hanging out. You’ve done it before, even if it’s been under different circumstances, so why not now?

Spencer’s brow furrows, still processing what you said, but slowly the tension in his shoulders starts to ease. “Okay,” he says after a pause, though it’s clear he’s not entirely sure what he just agreed to.

There’s a hesitance in his voice, the tone still uncertain, like he’s waiting for you to change your mind, or for the situation to turn back into something uncomfortable.

You push your chair back and stand up, ready to go. “Come on, then,” you say, offering him a small, almost smile. “Let’s just walk or something. No pressure, no expectations.”

He blinks, still looking like he’s trying to figure out whether this is a test or just a real, genuine suggestion. “Walk?” he asks. His voice is soft, but there’s a flicker of something else beneath it. Maybe a bit of hope?

“Yeah. We can talk, or not talk, or just...” You shrug, hoping the lack of structure will make him feel more at ease. “We’ll figure it out.”

There’s a long moment of hesitation before Spencer pushes his chair back too, finally standing. He’s still not fully at ease, but the tension is starting to slip away, and he seems to breathe a little easier.

He nods, almost reluctantly at first, but then his expression shifts, just slightly. Maybe, just maybe, he’s beginning to feel like this could work out after all.

“Alright,” he says quietly. “I think... I think I’d like that,”

As the two of you head out of the café, the weight of the awkwardness starts to dissipate. The world outside is brisk and alive, the cold air pulling you both into a new rhythm. You don’t know where this will go—if anywhere at all—but for now, the only thing that matters is that you’re not forcing anything.

There’s no date, no script, no expectation. Just two people walking, maybe getting to know each other again. Or maybe just existing in the same space for a little while.

And for the first time in what feels like forever, Spencer doesn’t look quite so tense.

You end up walking through a nearby park, the crisp air of the early afternoon cutting through the haze of tension that had built up in the café.

The path winds through trees, their bare branches casting long shadows over the grass. The park is quiet, almost serene, save for the occasional chirp of birds or the soft crunch of fallen leaves beneath your shoes.

With each step, you notice the difference in Spencer. His shoulders begin to relax, the tightness in his posture slowly unwinding. His hands, which had been nervously fidgeting earlier, now swing freely at his sides, and his gaze moves from the ground to the sky, to the trees, to you.

There’s no more overthinking, no more careful words, no more of that jittery energy that was weighing down the conversation. He’s simply Spencer again, the one you like—the one you’ve come to recognise.

You catch a glimpse of his face as he looks up at a nearby tree, and then he stops walking for a second, gaze fixed on something in the distance. It’s like his brain suddenly takes a detour from the cautious conversations and latches onto a thought that’s been quietly simmering beneath the surface.

“Did you know that the Tamiasciurus hudsonicus—that’s the American red squirrel—has a very specific hibernation pattern?” Spencer says, almost absentmindedly, his eyes scanning the trees as he talks. “They don’t actually enter full hibernation like some other species. Instead, they go into a state of torpor, which is kind of like a very deep sleep. It’s not true hibernation because they can wake up every few days to eat, especially if the weather gets warmer,”

He pauses, glancing at you to make sure you're following.

“Anyway,” he continues, his voice shifting slightly as if he realises he’s rambling, “their diet is also incredibly interesting—they store food, of course, but they’re actually very selective about what they store, preferring high-fat foods like nuts over more easily perishable items. It’s all about energy conservation during the colder months,”

He smiles to himself, pleased with his own random piece of knowledge, but it’s not the stiff, forced smile you saw earlier—it’s the real Spencer, the one who can’t help but share his curiosities with the world, even if the world is only you at the moment.

You glance at him, a slow smile tugging at the corners of your lips. That familiar warmth begins to spread in your chest, and for the first time since the date began, you feel something shift. That weird, heavy feeling that had been clinging to your bones evaporates, replaced by something lighter, something easier.

There’s the Spencer you like. The Spencer who speaks without overthinking, who lets his words spill out without caring whether they fit into the neat box of ‘acceptable conversation.’ The Spencer who could talk about squirrels—and probably a thousand other things—and make it feel like the most natural thing in the world.

You stop walking for a second, and your eyes catch his. You find yourself standing a little closer to him than before, the distance between you shrinking just naturally, without any of the awkward hesitation from earlier. It’s not intentional, it’s just comfortable.

There’s something about being in his presence now, something familiar and unspoken, that makes everything feel less complicated.

Spencer notices the shift, too, but he doesn’t say anything about it. He just keeps walking, a little slower now, his pace matching yours. The conversation slips into a quiet, easy rhythm.

He talks about the squirrels, about the weird little things he notices in his spare time, about books he’s read, and before long, it’s as if you’ve known each other forever. Not in a forced, calculated way—just two people who’ve fallen into something simple and uncomplicated.

You glance at him again as he rambles on about something entirely obscure, his eyes lighting up with the passion that always seems to spark when he talks about something he’s passionate about.

It’s contagious, and you find yourself genuinely curious about whatever he’s talking about, even if you have no clue what it is.

At some point, he looks over at you, his gaze softer now, more relaxed. He seems to notice that you’re listening, really listening, not just waiting for the conversation to end.

There’s a small pause, a brief moment of silence between you both, before he turns slightly toward you, his hand brushing against yours as you walk side by side.

It’s a light touch—so subtle at first that it could easily be mistaken for a mistake, but neither of you pulls away. Your fingers brush again, and this time, a small but clear spark passes between you. Spencer glances at you, a shy little smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Without even thinking, you let your hand slip into his, the contact warm and comforting, like something that’s always been meant to be. He doesn’t hesitate either, his fingers curling around yours in return, a tentative but genuine gesture.

There’s no pressure, no expectation. Just the quiet understanding that sometimes, simple things can mean everything.

You walk like that for a while, hand in hand, the park stretching out around you both like a secret you’re sharing, just the two of you. The weight of the world outside this small moment fades into the background, and it feels like time slows down, just enough for you to really be present, here, in the now.

You’ve stopped worrying about what this date is or isn’t. You’ve stopped wondering what’s next. It’s just this—this walk, this connection, this simple moment.

The sky above has begun to turn a deeper shade of blue as the afternoon slips into evening. A breeze picks up, rustling through the trees, and for a second, you both stand still, simply feeling the wind around you. Spencer looks up at the sky, then back at you, his gaze soft, almost shy.

“You know,” he says quietly, his voice almost a whisper as he keeps his gaze on yours. “This... this feels nice. Just being here with you, without all the... pressure,”

You nod slowly, giving his hand a small squeeze, and a small sigh escapes your lips. “I agree,” you say softly, a warmth spreading through you.

The words hang between you, easy, natural, no pretense. And for a moment, it feels like everything else falls away—the pressure of dates, expectations, and all the noise of the world outside this park. All that matters is this quiet understanding that exists between the two of you.

And then, as the sun dips lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the park, Spencer pauses for a moment, his gaze softening again. His thumb gently traces circles on your hand, and without even thinking, he leans in.

It’s slow, almost hesitant, but before you can second guess anything, his lips brush against yours—light, fleeting, but full of meaning.

It’s nothing like the kiss from before, the one that had been full of tension and uncertainty. This is something different. It’s a kiss that feels natural, unforced, like it’s been waiting for this exact moment. It’s brief, but it lingers—leaving something warm and soft behind.

When he pulls back, you’re both standing there, just looking at each other, caught in the simplicity of the moment.

“Okay,” you say quietly, a small smile tugging at your lips. “You’re redeeming yourself now,”

Spencer chuckles softly, the sound light and genuine. “Yeah,” he agrees, his fingers still gently holding yours. “Thank god,”

[foldingfittedsheets]

My beloved @aorryn47 and I met on a dating site. They were one of my top personality matches. Unbeknownst to me Richard helped them game the system to get really high matches. We chatted for a bit and somehow ended up talking about laundry. I admitted that I smell test my shirts and could go a really long time between washes because I didn’t really sweat. This was a bad thing actually, and I sweat now, don’t worry.

They then abruptly stopped talking to me. I was like. :( oh. I’m a gross lil guy, I didn’t think it was that weird but maybe I should wash my clothes more even if they don’t smell. I continued on with my dating escapades.

Then about a week and a half later they were like, “Hey, I hate talking on here, do you just want to meet up?”

I agreed to coffee but somehow assumed that meant breakfast. This would lead to a contentious years long debate that I lost about my assumption that coffee meant breakfast. My beloved generously ordered soup so I wasn’t eating alone. I showed up half an hour early because it was a new location and I get anxious about being late.

I waited in my car, reading a bit to pass the time. After a while I stepped out to head inside. The car that had been parked next to me pretty much the whole time I’d be waiting also opened, and there was my beloved. Equally early.

I felt like that was a pretty good sign.

I generally just chatter when I meet people and they liked not having to fill the silence. I talked about finding blood on showroom mattresses and they told me about being an acupuncture student.

By the time I had to leave to meet an exterminator at my place I knew I’d like to spend more time with them. So I invited them over for board games while we waited for someone to come deal with my ant problem. They agreed.

When they got to my place I wanted them to meet my cat. Leeloo is an oddball and one thing that consistently makes her like visitors is if they sit on the bed. So I ushered my beloved to the bedroom and urged them to sit on the bed so Leeloo would come up and be friendly.

I would learn later that this was viewed as a potential way to put the moves on them which flabbergasted me. I just wanted my cat to say hi, which she did. But when I write the words I asked someone on a first date to sit on my bed to meet my cat I do hear how it sounds.

[theotherendcomics]

[jakei95]

Remembering Nyx and I's first date irl 6 years ago

[itsaspectrumcomic]

It didn't work out

[otterly-darling]

First Date

He can't believe he hadn't put two and two together sooner; the picking him up, the dozen yellow roses, the opening the car door, the shirt with cufflinks.

'What do you think, Moony? Preference for red or white? They've got a nice bottle of Barolo if you're thinking beef or lamb or-'

'Is this a date?' the words blurt from Remus' mouth before he can stop them and he waits, red-faced, as Sirius looks at him inscrutably and then cocks his head to the side with a crooked smile.

'Yah. Obviously.'

'Oh.'

'Is that not okay?' Sirius doesn't sound unsure, in fact it sounds like he knows full well that it is very okay so Remus tries to match his confidence.

'No, no. It's definitely okay. It's just-' he pauses, looking for the words. 'How was I supposed to know that?'

'Hmm? Oh!' Sirius looks up from the menu. 'I think I'm going to have the Beef Bourguignon by the way and I asked you out for dinner, you said yes, therefore a date.'

'But we go out for dinner all the time.' Remus points out and puts his own menu down on the table. 'And I'm going to have the seabass, with courgette fries.'

'Yum.' Sirius nods approvingly. 'And yeah, but this time when I asked I said will you have dinner with me? Not, do you want to have dinner with me?'

'And there's a difference?'

'Yes. So now we're on a date. And after we've eaten and we've gone for a little stroll I'm going to ask if you want to be my boyfriend.'

'Cool. I'll say yes. And then probably agree to come back to yours.'

'Moony, we live together.'

'I know. But I'll sleep in your room, not mine.'

Sirius smiles. 'Sounds good to me.'

@wolfstarmicrofic

[wafflefries13]

First Date Ideas (Multi TWST Cast X Reader)

Summary: Short drabbles of where you would take your favorite Twisted Wonderland guy on a first date, and where he would take you.

AN: Pseudo part 2 to the asking-out fic I posted. Not really much else to say besides I really liked trying to come up with a bunch of unique ideas. Thanks for reading!

Cross-posted on my AO3 TheGhostInTheKitchen

Warnings: Fluff

Part 1: Asking them out

Ace: 

Where you take him: Arcade

It’s fun, it’s cozy, it’s classic, and it gives Ace a chance to show off. You both get a bunch of tokens, eat greasy pizza, and try your hand at the games. You take each other on in skeeball and Ace tries to convince you to go against him in the basketball game but you argue he has an unfair advantage. So you settle for the racing simulator. After, when you collect all your tickets, you pour over the prize counter, probably ending up with something not very impressive, or maybe a snow cone maker that stops working after the first three uses. But you’ll treasure it since it’s loaded with memories.  

Where he takes you: Carnival 

This boy is already a clown, put him back where he belongs.  Besides the fact that it gives him an excuse to impress you by winning prizes at the games alley, or trying to anyway, a carnival date fits Ace’s high energy. You can share popcorn and cotton candy while watching the circus acts and Ace will whisper to you explanations for the tricks the magician uses. There’s plenty of stuff to do and tons of fried food. It’s a classic for a reason. And he’d love it if you hold on to him on the rollercoasters. He ends up screaming more than you. 

Deuce: 

Where you take him: Petting zoo 

I just want to see Deuce fawning over baby chicks, is that so much to ask? NGL, I think he’d love it. You could go to some sort of tourist farm and check out the cows getting milked, sheep shearing or sheepdog herding, and collect eggs from the chickens (the kind that don’t hatch into chicks). I can also see Deuce getting into a grudge match against a goat that keeps bonking into his legs with his horns. At the end of the day you’ll sit at a picnic table eating some treats made at the farm and watch the sunset. 

Where he takes you: Botanical garden  

Deuce would want to do something classic, a surefire, tried and tested dating spot. I can imagine him being nervous, getting you flowers when you are already going to see more flowers. You’ll hold the flowers in one hand and Deuce’s, slightly sweaty, hand in the other. If they have a butterfly room, even better. They’ll have a little booklet with different species and you and Deuce go on a scavenger hunt to identify as many as possible. Winner gets kisses. 

Trey: 

Where you take him: At home food science experiment kits  

Did you ever see those at home science food kits where you made gummies and foam and other candy, usually themed to something really weird like monsters or worms? Yeah, you do those, half making fun of how weird it looks and half marveling at the cool effects of swirling all the different ingredients together. Will they taste amazing? Probably not, but Trey probably knows a few cool tricks to make everything a little more edible. 

Where he takes you: Chocolate factory tour 

Have you ever been to Hersheypark in Pennsylvania? There’s a whole section with a little dark ride that shows you the history of chocolate (that’s worse since they took the singing cow animatronics out), a cute interactive play, a trolly ride with chocolate samples, and two chocolate making experiences. You can stuff a giant Reese’s Cup (which is way too sweet IMO) or design your own chocolate bar including the wrapping. Anyway, there’s probably not a one-to-one replica, but with all that magic you can’t tell me there’s not something Willy Wonka-esque. You’ll both spend the day learning about the history of chocolate and chocolate making in Twisted Wonderland, capped off by making all kinds of treats. You’ll experiment with typical flavors, like raspberry, caramel, and nuts, to the more extraordinary, like jalapeno, lavender, and cheese. In the end, you’ll go home with a full box and a picture of the two of you, melted chocolate smearing your faces. (Trey will remind you at least three times to brush your teeth properly after all that sugar.) 

Cater: 

Where you take him: Thrift store

Listen, you find the right thrift store and you can find amazing treasures. And if not, well, you still find weird, kitschy stuff you can have fun ogling. You and Cater will take turns finding the best and worst outfits in the thrift store, having a makeshift fashion show by the changing rooms. Cater would, of course, take plenty of pictures for Magicam, labeling them #MeetMyNewPartner, #HeightOfFashion, #BestLookingCouple. You’ll also look through the aisles, coming up with backstories for all the various objects people have donated over the years. Whether or not you actually buy something isn’t the point. You end the day with plenty of pictures and at least three inside jokes that will drive everyone else crazy. 

Where he takes you: Crafting class

There’s been an emergence of cute crafting stores. Make your own bag, make your own candle, paint your own pottery, make a phone case, rug tufting, that kind of thing. Not only are they a cute and totally Magicamable couples activity, it also gives you both something to take home at the end of the day. Whichever you do, I can see you both making a craft for each other. Maybe you keep what you’re doing a secret until the end, filming your reactions when you reveal your crafts. If you pay close attention later on, you can catch him quietly admiring your gift. 

Riddle: 

Where you take him: Escape room 

Back during the NRC Halloween event, when everyone was stuck in the ghost realm, Riddle had a ton of fun solving those puzzles. I think he would love an escape room, finding clues and undoing locks, using logic and guile to uncover the story. He might get frustrated at the harder puzzles, but it’s all worth it when you work together to solve everything.  You get your picture taken together with a “We Escaped!” sign that you frame. It would be something unexpected but fun for the both of you. (TBH, I think he would love the Nancy Drew games. Maybe not the part where you keep breaking into people's things and stealing stuff, though.) 

Where he takes you: High tea and window shopping 

Riddle is going for a classic, something prim and proper for a prim and proper boy. I can see him reserving a table at a high class hotel for high tea, a table set with a beautiful porcelain teapot and a tower of tiny sandwiches and cakes. He’d order a bunch of different teas you could try. Afterwards, you would walk along the street, checking out shops and talking together. Bonus points if you both get to wear something fancy and cute. 

Leona: 

Where you take him: Picnic 

Look, while having the title of Ramshackle Dorm Prefect sounds fancy, you don’t have a lot of extra cash. You would need to do something simple and cheap but still meeting Leona’s royal tastes (You can’t tell me this boy isn’t a picky eater.) Thanks to the Culinary Crucible, you have a few new skills to test out. You find a big blanket in some old trunk in Ranshakle and pack everything together in a cute wicker basket. Maybe you’ll eat in the gardens where Leona always takes naps or go out on the beach to watch the waves. You both end up falling asleep with full bellies. (Leona won’t admit it, but he feels like that was the best food he’s had in a long time.) 

Where he takes you: River cruise with a fancy dinner 

Leona is going to see your cute picnic date and immediately one ups it with a super fancy and elegant river cruise with a full five course meal. It’s on a beautiful private yacht sailing down a river in the Sunset Savannah. You’ll sit on the deck, candlelight table, while perfectly dressed waiters serve you. This would probably backfire on Leona, though, as you tease him for acting the most prince-ly you’ve ever seen him. Not that you don’t have a ton of fun. By the time dessert rolls around, you’ve both ditched the fancy setting and started skipping stones in the wake of the boat. 

Jack: 

Where you take him: Canoeing 

Something relaxing and outdoorsy and fun. I’m thinking you’ll find someplace like the Ocklawaha River or Crystal River in Florida. A beautiful river with plenty of turtles and fish to spot, surrounded by lush forests or Everglades. If you’re more confident on the water, maybe you each can have a kayak, but I imagine something like you both share a boat. It would be fun to have a sort of eye-spy sheet, like who can spot the most turtles, identify fish, maybe catching sight of a manatee, and, wait, was that an alligator? You’ll end your journey at a natural spring. Dumping your stuff in the canoes, you’ll jump in and spend the rest of the day swimming in the cool water. Maybe you find a good vine or rope and swing out over the water. 

Where he takes you: Zip Lining and high ropes course 

More high energy and involved than a lazy day river trip, but it gives you two the chance to be close. I can almost guarantee Jack found out about the place you go to from Coach Vargas. You’ll get hooked up into harnesses and climb up to a vast network of bridges and ladders and obstacle courses hung between the trees like a giant athletic spiderweb. Maybe at one point you slip, and, although you’re perfectly safe with the harness system, Jack still lunges forward to catch you, blushing hard after as he realizes how close you too are. 

Ruggie: 

Where you take him: Food festival 

I imagine something like the Plant City Strawberry Festival, the Wilton Blueberry Festival, or the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Heck, even throw in the Epcot Food and Wine Festival if you want to have another Disney reference. Something county fair-like with plenty of free samples. You’re not sure who convinced who, but at some point you end up getting those cheesy headbands with springs on top and plastic versions of food bobbing around your heads. There always seems to be sketchy fair rides at these things, too, so you definitely cling to each other going down a log flume ride, kind of regretting how much you ate beforehand. But that’s not going to stop you from chowing down after. 

Where he takes you: Farmer’s market 

Listen, if something is good at a farmer’s market, then you know it’s the best. The big ones not only have plenty of great food, but also local performers and plenty of fun extras to buy. Even if you don’t want to buy anything, it’s fun walking through the crowds and seeing all the different stands. You definitely get some super fancy ice cream, probably with some ridiculous flavors like lavender, parmesan, or licorice. Serving sizes always seem huge too, so you both definitely go home with plenty of leftovers. (You totally don’t notice that Ruggie has been paying with Leona’s credit card this whole time.) 

Azul: 

Where you take him: Game shop 

One of Azul’s vignette stories has him practicing throwing dice so many times until he’s able to completely control what numbers will come up. Sure, he might be in the board game club for fun, but also because he likes to win. So a game shop that hosts weekly game nights would be perfect not only for him to show off and impress you, but also a cozy space to have fun and take the pressure off first date jitters. Whether you have a game with just the two of you or join in with other patrons there, you can team up to strategize and win. I personally think something like One Night Werewolf would be perfect. (He does feel bad when he accuses you of being the werewolf, though. Too bad he’s right.) 

Where he takes you: Fancy restaurant 

It’s nothing compared to the Monstro Lounge, of course, But Azul is putting his best foot forward with a classic first date spot. Azul plans everything down to the most minute detail. He double and triple checks the menu of where you’re going before you even leave to make sure there’s nothing you’re allergic to and there’s something you’ll like. He goes all out: flowers, pulling out your chair, getting a bottle of something fancy and expensive to drink (non-alcoholic if you prefer). Of course, the moment you start complimenting him he turns red and starts tumbling over his words. Maybe you lean into that, enjoying teasing him, the switch from having everything under control to a mess of complex emotions. Still, you slide your hand across the table taking his, and you both have a perfect night. 

Jade: 

Where you take him: Make your own tea blend shop

Jade is an experimental guy. I think if he wasn’t the founder of the mountain lovers club he probably would be in the science club just to mix together every kind of chemical just to see what happens. You would take him to a small tea shop, maybe in town on Sage’s Island or somewhere else through the mirror portal. You would pick out matching tea cups then choose different flavors and leaves from the jars of dried tea. You could make up little packets of different custom blends, some of them stuff you actually think would taste good, some that just sound interesting all together. You and Jade could trade and drink them together back at the Monstro Lounge. 

Where he takes you: Mountain and cave hike 

This is kind of a gimme, but I think he’d want to show off all his knowledge of local mountain flora and fauna. He’s the only member of his club, which gives you plenty of time to be alone together and use the club’s budget however you want. He would surprise you by showing you an undiscovered cave entrance. Hopefully it’s not the kind where you have to crawl on your belly to get in. I like imagining something like Ruby Falls in Tennessee. He’d bring you in, turn off his lantern, and crowds of bioluminescent mushrooms would glow around you. 

Floyd: 

Where you take him: Roller derby 

You can’t tell me this boy would not absolutely love watching a bunch of people going super fast while trying to beat the hell out of each other. He would immediately pick a favorite team and buy all their merch. Even if it’s just a small local circuit he’ll make his own merch for the two of you to wear while you cheer them on. Floyd already likes shoes, specifically sneakers, so I think he would really like the idea of roller skating, going as fast on land as he can in the sea. Your next date will be at a roller rink. 

Where he takes you: Laser tag 

Similar to going to a roller derby, Floyd would love the energy and competition of laser tag. He’d be vaulting over the barriers and launching sneak attacks against other players. Maybe you two would team up and top the leaderboard or maybe he’d hunt you down in the glow-in-the-dark black-light game room. Afterwards you can catch your breath in the lobby and eat junk food. You’re not sure if you’re excited or nervous when he mentions paintball. 

Kalim: 

Where you take him: Hands-on science museum 

Coming up with a first date idea to impress Buys-A-Restaurant-Chain-Because-You-Said-You-Liked-Their-Breadsticks-Once-Kalim is a little harrowing. Sure, you know he would like whatever you have planned, it’s the thought that counts, but that doesn't mean you don’t want to try and show off a little. You eventually find a hands-on science museum. Think the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia or the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose or even WonderWorks. It’s something that keeps you active, jumping from exhibit to exhibit to try out all kinds of new things while pretending you're learning. Sure, most of the other people there are kids, but that doesn't stop either of you from having fun. With Kalim’s experience with all his younger siblings, you soon have a small army helping you with the replica dinosaur dig site. 

Where he takes you: Fused glass class 

Kalim’s first instinct is to go big. Throw a parade, rent out a theme park, buy a private island. This little ball of sunshine is way too excited to think anything through. Maybe Jamil mentions that you might be intimidated by such an overwhelming show of wealth on a first date, or maybe he implies you need to work up to something that extravagant. Whatever the case, Kalim agrees to start small. He’ll take you to a stained glass shop that offers classes in Silk City. You’ll take a fused glass class together, where you take shards and rods of other colored glass, placing them gently together in a shape. The owners fire the final product leaving you with a beautiful hand-made ornament. Kalim hangs it by his window back in his dorm room, smiling whenever the light catches it. (He’s still thinking about that private island, though.) 

Jamil: 

Where you take him: Aviary 

Jamil mentioned in one of his vignettes that he would want to own a parrot one day. So why not give it a test run with a variety of different parrot species, and throw in some parakeets, falcons, lorikeets, and canaries while we’re at it? You buy cups of food and the birds will fly down to perch on your arms and heads.  The parrots, in colors ranging from green and yellow to blue and purple and red, show you how they dance and talk. There’s a game you can play with them where you hold up different objects and they’ll tell you what they are and what they’re made of. There’s even a falconry show where the birds swoop out into the audience. At the end of the day, the tour guide makes a joke about lovebirds that you both pretend to ignore. 

(BTW, did you know President Andrew Jackson had a parrot that cursed so much it had to be removed from the room during his funeral because it kept swearing? The more you know.) 

Where he takes you: Dance class 

Mr. Jack Of All Trades, Master Of All over here is definitely going to want to show off. No matter who asked who out first, he wants to reassure you, and himself, that you made the right choice agreeing to go out with him. So he sticks with something he knows best, something he has fun with, and something he can easily introduce you too. Whether it’s a classic ballroom dance, salsa, or classic Scalding Sands folk dancing, Jamil just loves the chance to be close to you. It might be better if you have two left feet so he can show off leading you. By the end, you're both sweaty and exhausted, muscles aching pleasantly, but you're also both laughing and wondering if you should enter a couples dance competition. 

Vil: 

Where you take him: DIY spa night 

Like I said before, you don’t exactly have a lot of extra cash, so I can see you relying on a lot of DIY tricks. You’re hoping to impress one of Twisted Wonderland's biggest triple threats with scented candles (bought half-off at Sam’s), homemade avocado hair masks, coconut oil and honey face masks, and a jade face roller and gua sha set you have no idea how to properly use. Vil definitely appreciates effort, so he’ll love whatever you have set up. He’ll even show you how to actually use that jade roller and gua sha. 

Where he takes you: Private movie theater 

Let’s be honest, Vil isn’t exactly the most humble person. And you, a magicless student with pretty much no frame of reference for any pop culture or just plain cultural insights in this new world, are in the perfect position for him to show off. Vil would rent out a private theater showing the best and most iconic movies in all of Twisted Wonderland. Of course, he also shows you all of his films (Like I said, not so humble). He may give you the side eye when you insist on sharing a bucket of buttery popcorn, but if you gasp and laugh and applaud in all the right places I don’t think he’ll mind. 

Rook: 

Where you take him: Art museum 

Quelle beaute! No matter what kind of art museum you choose, modern, sculpture, impressionist, classical, whatever, Rook is sure to love it. He’d be the kind of person to carefully read each plaque to discover more about the artist and what inspired their work. He’ll praise each and every piece, only to turn around and compare it to your beauty. While this definitely will get you a few looks from some of the other visitors, you won’t mind because you know he’s being completely sincere with every word. At the end of the day, you’ll probably end up with an art book from the gift shop and you get each other prints of your favorite paintings. 

Where he takes you: Zoo 

You can take the boy out of the hunt but you can’t take the hunt out of the boy… Or something. We know Rook has a penchant for stalking the poor beastman students at NRC (I bet they have to warn the Savannahclaw first years every year), so I think he would also love admiring animals in a place where you’re actually suppose to watch them. Extra points if there are baby animals. Extra extra points if the zoo has one of those programs where you can go back and get close up encounters with some of the animals, like sloths or elephants. You both definitely get plushies of your favorite animals after. 

Epel: 

Where you take him: Motorcross 

Give the farm boy blood. We know from his dorm uniform vignette that he can ride a blast cycle. Checking out a motorcross race or just a show exhibition would be a high energy outing for you both. Cheering in the stands gives him a chance to cut loose from the stricter rules of decorum in Pomefiore, and sometimes it’s just fun to watch things go fast with a chance of crashing. Maybe you can rent one, or borrow one from Ingenhyde back at NRC, and go for a drive. He’ll probably go a little too fast, maybe from nerves or excitement or just to have to hold him a little tighter. 

Where he takes you: Ice skating 

Do you know how to skate? Great! He’ll take you out to a frozen lake in the middle of a beautiful forest near Harveston. Some place only the locals know about. It’ll be something right off a Christmas card with glitter snow and a perfect clear blue sky. Don’t know how to skate? That’s fine too! You’ll go to an indoor rink, somewhere where the ice is guaranteed to be smooth and won’t crack under your feet. If you’re just learning, please hold on to him and let him teach you, it’ll make him feel super manly and swell with pride. No matter where you go, you both get hot apple cider after, maybe cuddling together in front of a warm fireplace and sharing a warm quilt. 

Idia: 

Where you take him: Cat cafe 

You’re going to need a good excuse to get Idia out of his room, and this is a pretty good reason. Ideally, you would find a place like Tashirojima, the cat island in Japan, but a good old cat cafe will work just as well. You’ll find the least busy time to go which should help Idia’s social anxiety. But once you both settle into plush low chairs and get surrounded by cute kitties, he won’t even notice anyone else. The cafe sells cute frozen cat treats shaped like cat paws that you buy to encourage the cats to come closer. You snuck in some catnip, and you both spend the day enveloped in cute warm kitty cuddles. 

Where he takes you: Video game night 

The boy is a nervous wreck around other people on his best days, so when he decides to venture on a date he’s going to go with something he’s most comfortable with. You’ll camp out in his room for the date. He’s gone to great lengths to make it nice, plenty of snacks and soft pillows and blankets. He’ll introduce you to some of his favorite but entry level games first. Maybe something Animal Crossing adjacent, but I have a soft spot for point-and-click adventure puzzle games. Eventually, you’ll end up playing doubles on something more action oriented, Idia showing you all the best tricks and combo moves. (Ortho is secretly taking pictures to show at the wedding he’s already planning for you both.) 

Sebek: 

Where you take him: Salmon fishing and grill  

You like it because it gives a chance to get out in nature and be alone together, he likes it because he gets to catch his favorite food and prove he can be a provider. Sure, it just might be a first date, but Sebek likes to think ahead and he’s definitely taking your budding relationship seriously. You two go out into the woods, probably near where Camp Vargus was held, and set up next to a river. While most of the day is hanging out on the bank and talking, there’s always a jolt of excitement when one of your lines starts to tug and you pull out a beautiful gray and pink salmon. Sure, there was that one time when the fish slapped Sebek with his fin until it slipped from his hands, but you both agree to forget about that (you don’t forget, in fact you think about it often). Around midday, you both realize you’re kind of squeamish when it comes to cleaning fish. Sebek puts on a brave face and cuts them up while you make a campfire. Is it the best meal you’ve ever had? No, definitely not. Are you picking fish bones out of your teeth for the rest of the evening? Yeah. Did you two have a ton of fun and are already planning your next date? Of course. 

Where he takes you: Tournament 

Does Twisted Wonderland have Renaissance fairs? Who knows, but considering Briar Valley still has knights, they definitely have tournaments. The Bead Brawl is sort of similar to what I’m thinking, but there’s more of a focus on what we would think of as traditional medieval events. Stuff like jousting, sword fighting in full armor, and archery. I don’t think you go all the way to the Briar Valley for this, it’s probably more of a smaller local fair with less serious competition. I think Sebek will be a spectator at this event, but that doesn't stop him from commenting on the participants. He tells you about his own training with Lilia and Silver. He’ll be boastful and loud, but you know him well enough at this point to tell he’s nervous under all the bravado. He wants to make sure you’re having a good time but is too stubborn to actually ask. There are definitely giant turkey legs, homemade soda and mead, and chimney cakes to stuff yourself with. He’ll enter a visitor competition, something fun and light like an obstacle course, and win you a prize. At the end of the day there will be a traditional dance at the fair and you both twirl together under lantern light.

Silver: 

Where you take him: Bookstore date 

Whether a big chain store or a cute local owned place, the idea is the same. First, you both find the cheesiest romance novel cover in the store. Next, you checked out the cook books, looking for the weirdest and worst sounding recipes (you joke about getting it for Lilia then laugh at the glare he gives you). Finally, you both choose a book for the other that you’ll read then reconvene to talk about at your next date. You find him an adventure book, something you would have called epic fantasy back in your world. He gets you a collection of well known fables and myths from across Twisted Wonderland. He’s slightly worried that you’ll be insulted in his reference to your lack of cultural knowledge of your new world, but you love it, especially the gorgeous illustrations for each story. 

Where he takes you: Horse riding along the beach 

This can go one of two ways, depending if you know how to ride a horse/are comfortable around them. If you know how to ride, Silver will borrow someone’s horse from the equestrian club for you to ride. If not, you’ll ride behind him, arms hugged around his middle as you cuddle close. Either way, you’ll ride down to one of the beaches along Sage’s Island. You’ll ride along the beach, darting in and out of the waves. Silver will probably have packed a small picnic that you can eat while watching the sunset. He ends up nodding off for a little while you take a break lounging on some dunes, but you kind of like him leaning on your shoulder like that. 

Lillia: 

Where you take him: Concert in the park 

A few steps down from a full on festival, I’m imagining a lush green park, couples and families spread out on blankets, food trucks surrounding everything making the park smell amazing, maybe a couple of craft tents with knick-knacks for sale. There will be a large stage set up for the bands. Lilia prefers heavy metal, but I think he would like any show that plays something high energy. You’ll set up an umbrella to give you both some shade as you watch the acts. Lilia will regale you with tales of his travels and he’d probably love hearing about all the places in your world. At some point, you both definitely spend time dancing ridiculously. Lilia takes plenty of pictures to show off back at Disamonia. 

Where he takes you: Esports competition 

When Muscle Red told his online bestie Gloomamurai he was trying to come up with ideas for a date, the later said, “I got you,” and set him up with front row seats to the premier esports competition in all of Twisted Wonderland. Arriving at the indoor arena, you get a giant bucket of popcorn to share and Lilia buys you some merch of his favorite team. If you don’t know a ton about esports or the game they’re playing, Lilia will be more than happy to explain the rules to you. You’re surrounded  in deafening cheers when your team makes a last minute score to win, hugging each other while jumping up and down. On the way back, Lilia promises to help you set up an account for the online game and teach you the ropes, while trying to remember to thank his friend when you kiss his cheek. 

Malleus: 

Where you take him: Mini-golfing 

You can’t tell me it wouldn’t be adorable to see a giant Malleus hunched over a mini-golf club trying to gently tap the ball into a hole. I can see him at the first hole swinging like a normal golf course, sending the ball twinkling away, Team Rocket style. Mini-golf is a classic first date, and I think he would like the normality of it all. You’re not trying to super impress him, just treating him like a normal boyfriend, a normal date. And it gives you both more time to focus on each other, between desperately trying to hit the ball through the moving fan blades of the windmill hole. 

Where he takes you: Historic castle ruins 

I can imagine Malleus panicking at first about where to take you for your first official date. Does he bring you to a ball in the Briar Valley? A romantic opera in perfect box seats? Do you start picking out your engagement rings? Instead, he finally decided on an old reliable choice, harking back to how you both first started bonding in the first place. He finds beautiful old ruins, either in Briar Valley or somewhere else, and you just stroll and talk. He’ll tell you about the architecture, maybe the history of the location, pointing out whatever interesting gargoyles he spots. You both understand you don’t need grand gestures or impressive and expensive dates. You’re both happiest being with each other.

[ancientsstudies]

Date night at home is always my favorite night of the week.

ig credit: sveta.averkovich.

[hairmetal666]

The note shows up in Eddie's mailbox cubby on Valentine's Day.

It's nothing fancy, loopy cursive handwriting on lined paper:

"I know this is probably silly but I can't go another day without saying it, and today seems appropriate for this kind of confession. Seeing you in the morning is the best part of my day. You're so gorgeous it leaves me breathless. I hope you don't mind if I don't leave my name. Just wanted you to know that you're beautiful."

His eyes fill with tears that he blinks back, a goofy smile stretching his mouth wide.

"You good there, Munson?" Robin Buckley asks.

"Oh, yup, yeah, all good." He laughs. "Just got one of those 'you're my favorite teacher Mr. Munson!' notes."

He squeezes the letter to his chest before slipping it in his pocket.

---

The worst thing about Eddie's new job is that someway, somehow, Steve-fucking-Harrington works here too. PE teacher, JV basketball coach, of-fucking-course. Once a douchebag jock, always a douchebag jock. What makes it all worse is that he's still the prettiest guy Eddie's ever seen.

---

The first week of March, there's a commotion in the hallway that has him rushing out of his room, ready to breakup a fight. He finds Harrington already there, holding Dustin Henderson and Will Byers by their shoulders. Troy Walsh and James Dante stand across from them, wearing matching snarls.

Of course Harrington is picking on little nerd kids; he knew it. But before he steps forwards to break it up, Steve speaks, voice low and angry. "You want to tell me what happened here, Troy?"

"Byers tripped. He really should watch where he's going," Troy says. James laughs.

Steve's glare goes even more icy, more disdainful (it's so fucking hot, Eddie hates it). "You want to take that again? And try being honest this time, or you're suspend from the team."

Troy splutters for long enough that Eddie finally notices Will's stricken face, the sketchpad and snapped colored pencils littering the linoleum.

"I saw you take those things from Will, and unfortunately, I'll have to call your parents and you will be responsible for purchasing a new sketchbook and pencils. You're also benched for the next four games."

The boys shout, but when Steve raises a hand they quiet immediately. "You want to complain more, or do you want it to be five games?"

"No, sir," they answer before scampering off.

Harrington faces Dustin and Will. "You boys okay?" he asks them.

"We're good, Mr. H," Dustin answers.

"Glad to hear it." Steve begins collecting Will's ruined belongings, stops to study one of the drawings.

"This is really good, Will."

Will flushes. "Thanks. It's my character for dnd,"

"Dnd? That's that game that El and Max are always talking about? With the character sheets and the dice?"

"Yeah!" says Dustin. "You know it?"

Steve's smile is a little bashful, and it tugs at Eddie's heart in a way he has to ignore. "Not much. Just from what the girls have said. You want to tell me about it?"

"Really?" Their eyes light up.

"Really. You can stop by the gym during lunch. Only if you want to, though."

"Cool," says Dustin.

He pats them both on the shoulder, and they hurry away, leaving Steve and Eddie suddenly alone.

Eddie should head back to his class, hasn't been needed in this situation at all, really, but before he can disappear, Steve spots him and his eyes widen.

"You need something, Munson?" Steve's cheeks go a faint pink.

He shakes his head, feels wrong-footed. "Uh, that was really cool what you did just there."

"They're really good kids," Steve says. "I know them a little. Used to babysit El Hopper." He slides his hands into the pockets of his khakis and, seriously, fuck Harrington for looking like that in a pair of Dockers.

"Babysitter, Harrington? Never thought I'd see the day. Or that you'd be the one defending a bunch of nerds," Eddie says. He means it teasing, but Steve's face warps into a frown.

"Y--yeah, I guess. I mean. I'm trying not to be that guy anymore, and Robin's really helped--"

"Shit, man, I'm sorry. That's not what I meant, at all--"

"--I feel terrible about all that shit I pulled back in school. That King Steve stuff? I was awful and you didn't deserve--"

"Steve!" Eddie cuts him off. "I forgive you. For everything." He looks down at his shoes. "For all I didn't want to believe it, you really have changed."

They're both pink faced now, avoiding each other's eyes. "Thanks," Steve says. "I should get going, but--for the future-- I really wouldn't mind--um--trying to be friends."

The grin that passes across Eddie's face is huge. "Yeah, Harrington, I'd like that."

Eddie has to run to make it to his classroom on time. He passes Dustin and Will and the rest of their gaggle of friends, rushing them along, but forgets all about it as he steps in front of his third period juniors.

---

He and Steve are...friendly now. They chat, they joke, they share smiles that have Eddie's heart beating too fast even though it's not like that. Turns out Steve is kind and funny (a little bit of a bitch too, but in a way that ties Eddie's stomach in knots), and a hell of a teacher.

---

His freshman are in small groups, peer-reviewing an essays, when Max Mayfield catches his eye. She's one of his favorite students and absolute trouble.

"What's up, Mayfield." He asks.

"Are you friends with Mr. Harrington?" She asks.

He chuckles. "Sure, Max, we're friendly enough. Why?"

She narrows her eyes, like she knows he's not being totally honest. "Oh, nothing. He just talks about you all the time."

He's blushing horribly and Max, and all of her friends, smirk up at him. "He does?" He chokes out.

"Mmhmm," Lucas Sinclair says. "Says he thinks you're really cool."

"Definitely one of the best teachers here," Mike Wheeler adds.

Eddie rolls his eyes. "Okay, very funny, guys. How're your essays going?"

They answer, but before Eddie goes to help another group, Will says, "he really does like you, Mr. Munson. A lot."

El nods earnestly up at him. "It is true," she says. "I know him."

"Thanks, kids. I'll keep that in mind." He gives them a smile, tries not to let their words get to him. When he reaches the next group, though, he notices his hands are shaking.

---

Gifts start turning up in Eddie's cubby. It starts with a bag of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from his favorite bakery. There's a small note that says "from your secret admirer," on the packaging. Every two weeks or so, something new shows up in his little mailbox; a woven friendship bracelet, a yellow rose, Hershey kisses, a delicately painted dnd figure that gives Eddie a small crisis because it's his own bard character, an Iron Maiden cassette, a bag of dice that almost brings him to genuine tears.

Eventually, he gets another note. This one is typed and reads: "I would love to have coffee with you 11am this Saturday at the Cafe on Main Street."

---

He walks into the cafe at 10:50am, wearing his favorite pair of ripped black jeans and a burgundy button-down, his hair pulled into a loose bun. He doesn't recognize anyone there.

Eddie gets in line, studies the menu, and the little bell above the door rings. He whips towards the sound to find none other than Steve Harrington in little wire rim glasses, a butter colored sweater, and jeans the man must have painted on, Jesus Christ. Honestly, the whole thing is enough to give Eddie a coronary (and to, embarrassingly, chub up in his own tight jeans).

"Steve?" He asks. He's overwhelmed with the (stupid, stupid) hope that it's been Harrington all along. "What are you doing here?"

"Henderson asked me to meet him. He around?"

"Uh, no?" Eddie feels heat creeping up his throat.

Steve shakes his head, as though he expected as much. "You alone? We could grab drink."

"I can't believe this." Eddie hides his face in his hands, knows it's gone horrifyingly crimson.

"What's wrong?"

"My secret admirer told me to be here now, so we could meet," Eddie's misery slices through his words. "I'm such an idiot."

"I--your--what?" Steve stammers.

He gathers himself enough to look Steve in his hazel eyes and ask, "I'm assuming it wasn't you leaving notes and gifts for me at work?"

And he expects Steve to say no. To laugh and ask why he'd ever do something like that, but instead, instead he flushes a deep red. "O-only one note."

"What?"

"I, uh," Steve clears his throat. "I left you a note. On Valentine's Day. I--we weren't friends yet, and I wanted you to know how much I liked you. It's --uh--it's pretty silly, huh? Robin's--"

"Steve," Eddie interrupts. He's going to tell Steve that he reads the note often enough that he has parts memorized; that it's the kindest thing anyone has done for him, but what he says instead is, "Dustin Henderson told you to meet him here at 11?"

"Yeah. Said he had something to show me."

Eddie remembers running into Will and Dustin and their friends that day in the hall, the weird conversation in class, the dice and the miniature. Something must click for Steve at the same time because his mouth drops, blush getting somehow deeper.

"Oh my god. Henderson! I'm gonna kill him. They figured out I had a crush on you."

"They WHAT?" Eddie says, loud enough that several looks are aimed their way.

"I'm so, so sorry, Eddie. Holy shit, this is so humiliating. You have to believe me, I had no idea they were doing this. God, I'm really starting to think it is possible to die from embarrassment."

"You have a crush on me," Eddie says instead of any of the dozens of helpful things he could say.

"Um. Yes?"

Eddie takes a deep breath, straightens his spine, and asks, "You wanna have coffee with me?"

"I'd really like that." Steve's return smile is so beautiful, it makes Eddie weak.

---

Eddie Munson is making out with Steve Harrington in the backseat of Steve's BMW. He and Steve spent the day together. They've kissed for so long that the sun has set, both of their lips are swollen, their skin red from stubble, and Eddie is nowhere near ready for the night to end.

Steve breaks away, gently pulling their mouths apart, but arms still tight around Eddie. "Hey, what kind of gifts were they giving you anyway? The kids?"

"Oh," Eddie blushes. "Uh, cookies, a dnd mini, lots of candy, a set of dice."

"Oh my god," Steve says, he pulls a little more away. "Oh my god, I'm going to kill her, Jesus Christ."

"Who are are you killing, sweetheart?"

Steve groans. "Robin. She was helping them. We found a set of dice at this little bookstore and she told me to get them for you, and--" he breaks off with a helpless, frustrated noise.

Eddie doesn't mean to, but he starts to giggle.

"It's not funny!" Steve says.

That only makes Eddie laugh harder. "Your best friend," he squeaks. "And a group of literal children set us up. That's hilarious, Harrington."

Steve's mouth drops and for a second Eddie thinks he'll be upset, but then he's giggling too, his whole face crumpling into it.

Steve pulls Eddie close once the laughter subsides, his eyes trained on Eddie's lips.

"We could pretend we didn't get together," Eddie manages to say.

"What, like, make them think they failed?"

"Yeah. We could tell them I got stood up, but you and I hung out. Had a bro day."

Steve giggles again, and it's the best sound Eddie's ever heard. "I'm absolutely on board with this plan, but you should definitely kiss me some more."

"Oh, yeah?" Eddie asks, his voice low. "And what'll I get out of it?"

"Why don't you get over here and see."

As if Eddie could turn down an invite that enticing. He slides a hand behind Steve's head, drawing him in, and they're kissing like they never stopped. It only been a few hours, but Eddie knows--without a doubt--he's already head over heels.

[sweetheartbitesb4ck]

part one || part two || this is part three || part four || part five

Simon was not used to being a 'gentleman'. In the coffee shop, he fumbled around trying to slickly pull out your chair for you, just to pull a little too hard and spring backwards with along with the chair. You couldn't stop yourself from laughing... you could tell how unfamiliar this was to him, but the nerves made him seem silly in more ways than one.

Once finally safely seated, Simon glances around, slightly fidgety. "I'll um... I'll order us some drinks. What would you like?" He says, his deep voice clear. "Just a tea if that's okay," You respond, noticing how he looks relieved at hearing your answer.

Thank fuck she doesn't want one of those long-arse coffee orders with all of those sauces. Ghost thinks to himself, as he stands up and nods at you, although he wouldn't mind remembering a long order for you, after all he was pretty damn smitten with 'window lassie'.

"Right," He walks towards the counter, ordering tea for the both of you. It was stupid really- Simon hated tea with a passion, always had, always will- he found it sour and very unpleasant to drink but he just wanted to impress you that much.

The soldier pays quickly, deftly carrying the tray over and placing it onto the table before sitting back down. "Thank you," You smile, reaching for the pot but withdrawing your hand as your date grabs it first, pouring it out and sliding the steaming mug over to you.

Wrapping your hands around the mug, you blow on it before taking a sip. Just as you notice Ghost staring at you, eyes practically in a heart shape, he darts his gaze away to be staring out of the window, which was a stupid thing to do since he was still pouring his own mug of tea.

"Bugger!" He yelps, yanking back his hand after spilling the boiling liquid on it. Your eyes widen and you grab a napkin before leaning across the table and taking his large, rough hand in yours, dabbing at it with the tissue. "Are you okay?" You inquire, brows furrowed.

Simon nods, rubbing his hand once you release it. "Thanks," He murmurs, cheeks hot with embarrassment under the mask. "Just imagine that didn't happen," He groans, imagining Johnny's smug cackles as he peels the balaclava to just above his mouth and lifts his half-full mug to his lips, trying not to grimace as he swallows the tea before swiftly pulling the fabric back down.

After a minute of awkward silence, you tell the man your name after realising he didn't even know it yet. You feel heat on your cheeks as he smiles through the mask at hearing your name. "That's pretty," Simon scratches his neck for a moment before speaking again. "You're also pretty, y'know... thought it since I saw you in your kitchen," Ghost grins, looking down. You feel warmth plaster your face at this, your eyes shining slightly as you take another sip from your mug. "Not that I'm a perv-" He adds, looking up at you quickly as you laugh.

Simon was definitely not used to this whole 'subtle flirting' business He would usually just get shit-face drunk and wake up the next day next to a random woman. Sure, he'd gone on dates before, but every time before now he would have been counting down the minutes before he could leave.

"I would say the same for you, but..." You gesture at his mask and raise your eyebrows.

"Oh.. yeah, that's- it's an army thing," He replies, eyes shimmering with pride. It was a slight lie; yeah quite a few military lads concealed their faces on the battle fields but this was more of a trust thing. All he really cared about was making a good impression, so gushing to you about trauma trust issues would probably be a bad idea.

Besides, Ghost could sort of picture being maskless in front of you. This made him feel a bit fuzzy inside, that butterflies feeling yet again.

Simon Riley, the same man who had practically skipped through life without any of these feelings, had fallen for you.

His only experience with love interests in the past was with fleeting hook-ups; he had never had the chance to build those feelings, so the fact his feelings for you were instant? A very alien experience.

"I'm a Lieutenant," He continues, quickly lifting the mask again to gulp down more tea. You nod, running your fingers through your hair. "Wow... You must be brave." You acknowledged.

No shit sherlock. You think, a bit self conscious. "Not in a patronising way, you kno-" Simon takes your hand in his, nodding. "I know," He murmurs. You couldn't ignore how his hands were shaking slightly, but to be honest, so were yours as the two of you locked eyes.

You look away and pull back your hands, obviously a bit flustered. Simon seems to notice this scratches his neck again, not wanting to make you uncomfortable.

"What do you do for work?" He asks, using the first date advice Soap had given him earlier as a prompt for conversation. He seems fully invested as you explain your job to him, his eye contact so firm it was kind of starting to freak you out. Obviously Simon didn't notice.

In the moment, the only thing he really cared about was you.

hope you enjoyed part 3!

I'm so sorry it's not as good as the others I'm so tired lmao

anyways, should I do a part 4?!

@jajouska @unclearblur @fruitymoonbeams-blog @kissesfromjulia

[lili-the-cartoon]

First date (doodles)

After sometime, Ragatha would finally get the hint that Jax was asking her out on dates for a couple of months and decided to finally go out with him. Jax would in turn get excited/nervous that he’d end up buying a 5k coat just for her because she was complaining about her old coat being too small. However! They won’t officially date after this

[tako01]

First Date

[ancientsstudies]

You want to go on a date?

ig credit: gladisheva.

[looney-paor]

Sirius accompanying James and Regulus on their first date is canon to me

Sirius: Pss, Reg, give me popcorns

Regulus: Get out of here!

[firefeatherftw]

This is literally figayda