#I'm already lacking the motivation to finish this stupid story and now this shit?

[laurfilijames]

Moooooood of the day.

[raisinghellonstarbug]

Stumbled Into Laughter, Stumbled Into You Ch.2 - A James Acaster x Reader story

Basic plot: The year is 2019, and life has been quite dull for you since working in a job that you hate for the past two years after graduating from university. You used to do stand up comedy at uni, but you’ve been putting off pursuing it due to lack of confidence and motivation. Your best mates decide to encourage you to try a comedy mic night for the first time ever and while there you incidentally run into an old mate of yours, comedian Rhys James. That’s when your life gets turned around as you end up diving into the world of the comedy circuit and becoming close with other famous British comedians. In the midst of it all, you end up meeting a particularly distinctive red headed fellow who might end up being the very thing that brings meaning to your life again.

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A/N: Hi guys, apologies for the month delay! I hope you can forgive me. I'm like quite a few ao3 fanfic writers I guess. These things take time but I also like to make sure the writing is decent. I really appreciate those who have already given such enthusiasm to the story and have written lovely comments, it really does mean a lot.

Anyway life has been busy and so that's also why there has been a delay. Sooo I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint!

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The next chapter of the story is available on Archive of our Own if you prefer to read it there, otherwise scroll down further to read the latest full chapter below...

https://archiveofourown.org/works/33748507/chapters/85854727

Rating: M

Characters: James Acaster (duh), Original Female Characters(s), Original Male Character(s), Rhys James, Ed Gamble, Nish Kumar, Josh Widdicombe

Relationships: James Acaster x Reader/you (female reader or gender ambigious if you prefer), Original female character/Original Male character

Story tags: Romantic comedy, domestic fluff, slow burn, fluff and smut, British comedy, eventual relationships

Chapter 2 word count: 2847

Chapter summary: You are ready to get home and tell your flatmates that you can't go through with performing on stage. Somehow it doesn't quite turn out that way.

It was Friday now and you still weren’t sure how to process last night. It amazed you how your friends had felt compelled to go behind your back like that and make such a hasty decision for you. Especially as you weren’t entirely prepared for it.

A part of you did wonder whether you had been a bit childish in your behaviour last night… and this morning. You knew grumping and pretending to ignore your best friends while leaving the house was probably a stupid way to handle the situation; but you didn’t feel very apologetic and stood by it.

But maybe they were trying to do a good thing for me. They meant well. They always do.

You sighed and took a sip of your tea while staring blankly at your laptop, knowing that you had work to get on with that wasn’t going to get finished if you just kept pondering about other things that would only distract you.

Nevertheless, you looked around the office, seeing your colleagues working hard at the desks, answering phone calls, and you couldn’t help but think about what the fuck am I doing here?

Maybe you would have the confidence to quit one day but today wasn’t that day.

You decided that this wasn’t the time to be spontaneous and go ahead with your best mates’ well intentioned plan. You would simply tell them that you politely decline and that you aren’t prepared to do the comedy gig this time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You got home just the same as you did yesterday - a clockwork routine.

And oddly enough it was more or less the same shit as yesterday. Grace came hurtling to your attention to blurt out something or other. You felt yourself preparing to roll your eyes as you weren’t up for the conversation that was probably about to happen.

Standing in the hallway with your jacket and shoes still on, your best mate hadn’t even given you the chance to settle down this time.

“So? Are you talking to us now?”

You sighed, and while feeling somewhat defeated by the heavy day, you put away your stuff in their rightful place. You turned back around to your best friend’s face, an expression of hope and uncertainty spread across it. Her eyebrows were raised in a manner that expected a response.

“Well - yes, I suppose so,” you grumbled while shrugging your shoulders.

Grace had her hands out in a gesture that you knew was likely to be followed with a speech of some kind, her face exhaling. She took a deep breath.

“Look. I’m sorry about yesterday. Perhaps me and Theo weren’t exactly thinking of what you might have wanted, but at the same time we can see you everyday coming home, seeing the look on your face. And we - we couldn’t see you looking like that anymore. We - I just want you to be happy. That’s all.”

You stared at your friend with a look of despondency. You weren’t really sure what to say. You nodded and mumbled, “Okay, I appreciate that.”

Theo then came out of the kitchen with his comfy jim jams on. He looked like he had just gotten out of bed. Maybe this was so. He had a glass of water in his hand and proceeded to try and give it to you gingerly. He gave you a timid smile. You gave him a slither of a smile with a hint of squinted eyes.

You took the glass and pointed at it, “What, have you poisoned this or something?”

Grace snorted and had her arms folded. Theo just stared at you with an inability to respond to such an accusation, except with a notion to speak but with stuttered whimpers coming out instead. Grace put her hand on Theo’s shoulder and shushed him. Even after all these years he still struggles to understand my sarcasm?

“Is this the sort of quick wit that we might expect from your stand up routine?” Grace retorted.

“Not exactly. More er - a whimsical observation.”

Grace smiled and gave you that look that you would probably give a lost puppy, and questioned, “Can’t you see that you’re destined for more than what you’ve got?”

“That’s sweet of you to say babe but I can’t do it. I really can’t.”

“But my dear yes, yes you can. Please - at least consider it! I mean hell, I’m up for a promotion at work as you know, and Theo really is going to start playing music again. He’s even working out a potential band with a couple of friends. You know he’s been between jobs anyway.”

You frowned with a snort and twitched your lips, “Wait. Theo has more than us two as friends?”

Ooo shit, was that a low blow even for me?

Theo scoffed and placed a hand on his hips, “I happen… to have… contacts in places.”

You scoffed harder, “Oh OK Theo. Sure. You have contacts. And I have a fairy godmother who grants my every wish!”

Theo winced a little and he almost looked upset. You were about to respond but you were cut off.

Grace chimed in again sarcastically, “Well - surely the fairy godmother has given you everything you want out of life then?” She then put her hands on her hips and a firm tone replaced the joking one, “Don’t pick on us because your life isn’t how you planned it.”

You pursed your lips together, arms folded and stared down at the floor. You felt yourself almost pouting like a child being told off.

“Ok fair enough - I’m sorry. I just. I can’t do this comedy gig guys. Please accept that I have to say no. You should understand why I can’t. It’s too hard. I don’t think I can handle the pressure.”

Theo and then Grace glimpsed at each other with a tug of a smug expression across both of their lips.

Theo asked, “Would a potential wager be of interest if you decided to do it?”

You pondered this for a moment and frowned, “And what exactly would I need to sign with my blood?”

Grace rolled her eyes and smirked, “Nothing that strenuous. Just… let’s say, a nice offer of perhaps a weekend away to the beach might sweeten the pot?”

“Are you saying we’ll go to the beach if I do this comedy gig?” Theo and Grace nodded in unison.

You contemplated this and thought for a moment if this was worth it for a weekend away.

But could I deal with the humiliation? Could I handle being heckled or booed off the stage? It’s not exactly like it went all that well the last time...

You huffed heavily and gritted your teeth, residing with a simple shrug of your shoulders. Amering

“Well look, if and I do mean if I decide to do this, then you guys are going to be there to support me right? I mean you can understand that I’m doing this against my will. I don’t really want to do this.”

That was seemingly a half lie. You did want to, but you were petrified.

Grace sarcastically quipped, “Oh sure, we’re totally holding a gun to your head.”

You were still standing in the hallway with your best mates looking at you wistfully, almost pleading with their eyes for you to agree to their demands. You rolled your eyes and huffed. You resignedly gave in.

“So. Which weekend would we go to the beach then?”

A gleeful smile was beginning to form on Grace’s lips.

“Does that mean you’ll do it?”

You scoffed, “Don’t hold your breath too hard-”

Grace yelped in excitement and wrapped her arms around you. You eventually fell into it with graciousness. Theo then has his arms wrapped around the both of you. You huffed slightly and then frowned, starting to squirm after you felt the gesture go on for too long. You felt them both release you.

Suddenly, your throat felt a bit hoarse, almost closing up. What you had just agreed to was now settling in your brain and you weren’t sure that it was a good idea after all.

“Oh, but guys… I’m terrified! What if I’m fucking awful?!”

Grace shushed you and placed a hand on your shoulder. She shook her head.

“You will be fine. It’s your first gig in a while. You can’t expect to be amazing straight away. But then - I’m your biggest fan so I might be a little biased,” she winked.

Theo agreed, “We both are. But that’s okay. At least you’ll have two people who will laugh at your jokes.”

You couldn’t help but let a grin escape from your lips and you shook your head in the despair that was your meddlesome but endearing friends.

Oh fuck, your brain freaked once more.

Can I really put myself through this again?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was Saturday now and you had pretty much spent almost all of the previous night figuring out old jokes that could still work and writing new ones. You knew it wouldn’t need to be a long set of gags. Just a handful of observational anecdotes and a few quick-witted punchlines. Thank fuck it’s only a 10 minute section at most.

You were unsure if you knew what anecdotes would work. I mean, you had your familiarities of the London communities, what might make them chuckle and what would be good to avoid to start off with. There might be a fair share of men so you were weary that being a woman was not always easy when it came to comedy. Somehow you had to figure out how to be as relatable as possible due to being an unknown entertainer.

You took a deep breath while looking at yourself in the mirror while finishing up the touches of light makeup and took one more glance at your face and the outfit you decided to wear. You chose a classy maroon coloured jumpsuit with nude stilettos. You wore hoop earrings and a nice necklace to match.

Just as you were about to head out of the door, Grace came in almost disruptably and looked straight down at what you were wearing.

She smiled and nodded approvingly, “Yes - I approve. You look gorgeous my dear.”

“Cheers my dear! I hope it won’t be too busy tonight.”

“It will be fine. You’ll be fine. Remember - we will be with you there.”

Grace gestured for you to take more deep breaths like you had practiced with her before. It felt silly but absolutely necessary. She then grabbed your hand and you both scattered to head out the door together with Theo following close behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was time and you felt your legs shaking. As you stood behind the curtains backstage, you had your friends in the very front of the crowd as a matter of reassurance. It wasn’t a huge venue, perhaps around sixty people at most would have been there. You kept taking further deep breaths, waiting for your name to be announced by the host.

You then heard a few laughs that were being directed to the comedy act before you. It was weird to hear someone else performing but not being able to concentrate on a single word they said while you were panicking in the back.

You wished you could concentrate on something else, but no matter what, you couldn’t shake the fact that you were about to be up there, and if the guy before you was really funny, then how the hell were you supposed to follow through after that?

You shook your head to will away those thoughts of disbelief. It wasn’t going to help to compare yourself to the guy before you or to put yourself down. And so instead you stood up, took one last deep inhale and exhale, and held your head up high with a smile across your face as you knew any minute you would have to walk out and pretend you weren’t nervous as all hell.

As the comedian before you said his thanks and waved the audience goodbye, the host of the show then took over the mic and bellowed in a deep voice, “thank you everyone, that was Jamali Maddix! Let’s give him another round of applause!”

You frowned as though you recognised that name from somewhere else. Maybe he is a well known comedian. Perhaps a local one. But it was far from what you needed to think about right now. Stupid brain. You politely clap along with everyone else as though you had been listening. You felt almost guilty that you hadn’t but it was too late to worry about it now. It was now your turn.

“Ok folks, so thankfully that isn’t the end of the night! We also have two more comedians for you to enjoy, and the next one is new, so give her some pity laughs so she doesn’t go home crying too hard. Give it up, for Y/N!”

You took your steps leisurely onto the stage, pulling a face as a reaction to the host and retorting, “Don’t worry guys, I already cry at home alone at night. It won’t have anything to do with the shitshow that is about to ensue!” A couple of hearty chuckles and laughs filled the room.

“And it went all downhill from there…” you spoke further with a whimsically hard stare at the audience. You saw Grace and Theo sitting at the front past the harsh overhead light. You swore you caught a glimpse of Grace rolling her eyes, but they chuckled just the same.

You spoke with a deadpan expression and voice - “So hello and good evening. I’m Y/n as already introduced. And well, I don’t really know what I’m doing here really. I guess this was better than throwing up after a few pints and a kebab-’ a pause for laughter.

‘...although I suppose you probably thought I would be at home drinking wine and eating chocolate, because apparently that’s what women are always doing.” A couple of guffaws and slight jeering reactions, coupled with some laughter.

You didn’t know what to do with your body. You wondered if you were using your arms and your facial expressions enough to further enunciate your points, but by the time you went on to say your next few jokes, you had managed to forget what you thought you should be doing and just go with the flow.

5 minutes in...

“My dad is a simple fellow. I don’t suppose anyone else has noticed how most dads will laugh? There are two different ways in my experience. Either they’re laughing softly, that little chuckle at something that they either feel weirded out by, or that secret envy for the other person who said the joke. ‘Oh shit, I wish I had said that…’ and while thinking about it, holding back laughter because they wish they had come with it first.”

You further continue: “But the other one, the more distinct laugh… is the one where they could be heard for miles. A roaring, obnoxious cackle that you could imagine how a 1950’s jazz singer would laugh. The forty cigars that he smoked that day curdling in his throat, you know just adding extra gruff to it. It’s that boisterous chortling that can be heard from somewhere in Asia or something. There is no inbetween. It’s funny because my dad pretty much wishes he were a 1950’s jazz singer…”

As you finished the punchline of the joke you then felt yourself return back to the room. It was like you lost yourself on stage and just told the jokes to get them done and over with so you wouldn’t have to concentrate too much on the crowd. You made eye contact with some people but couldn’t be sure with who. You saw them laughing but didn’t focus on the sound…

You were just glad that the ten minutes were up and you actually had stood on stage again.

The next time won’t feel as daunting. Will there be a next time?

You no longer feel dread that you were there in front of all these people. You were then finishing off and saying your thanks. You smiled wide and appreciated those that enjoyed your performance. It seemed that you had done alright. You were just grateful you got some people to laugh. A round of applause was given to you and you waved.

Now you could step off the stage and feel normal again. But despite this, a sense of glee overwhelmed you. You couldn’t deny that you enjoyed being up there again after all this time. You couldn’t help but compare this evening to your day job. And you swore at yourself when you realised that you had to admit that there was no comparison to this and your boring office work.

You had to knowingly admit defeat to Grace and Theo. They knew you better than you did yourself.

You knew that you would have to quit your day job as soon as possible.

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[syubub]

Hoseok soulmate reading

Let's get the disclaimer out of the way: This is for entertainment purposes only and shouldn't be taken as fact! This is my interpretation of the cards.

Oki. Before we begin I must say... I put this off as long as possible. For those of you who have followed me for a while, you know that hobi is THE HARDEST to connect with and tbh this was no different. I'll probably revisit this reading again at a different time (you'll see why)

So. To start things off... Hope has some.. strange(?) energy. His energy was really vague and weak. The color too is intresting because its 100% not a color I've ever seen and I'm not sure if something is afflicting the color of his energy? Its ruby red but also deep grey blue? Its really strange and honestly pretty but it doesn't feel like the normal color? The color is usually a nice red with some deeper hints but...Its usually a bit more... lively? It just feels dull right now.

It looks like this right now but with a little more red? Its really peculiar.

Now. Idk maybe some shit is going on with him right now? Or maybe bc there was a fuckin lunar eclipse in Gemini last night? Idk but the energy was a little.. hostile. That's not a bad thing but it kinda felt like he was being broody? Its all really strange but he was not very into the reading (more so than usual) blah blah he didn't want to talk and I asked some questions I probably shouldn't have and some stuff happened. Long story short his soulmate(?) Showed up and pushed our foreheads together so we'd have to connect.

I asked his soulmate if they could tell me what the fuck was going on and they said that they don't know him well. Idk if that means that they don't know him well on a soul level? I'll get into this more later but this feels like something that's already been concluded or comes back up from time to time.

"He's pretty closed off huh?" Yes soulmate. He is.

I asked for more info about them and they said May. I was like cool, is that your name or? "Nah" sick is that like you're birthday? "Not really" cool cool cool.

They did say that he deserves better than what he has. I'm gonna leave it at that but hobi is possibly going through some shit.

Now we can get onto the reading part. I do want to say though, this reading felt very disconnected and weird? Just like somethings off and I have a feeling that this soulmate is more of the "life lesson" type soulmate?

Oki. We have temperance, chariot, two of cups, queen of coins. This is a person who is definitely motivated and driven and 100% a business savy human. They are also very likely loyal and know how to balance work and play time very very well. Is well-off (or materialistic) lol. There's a very ride or die energy that tells me this person is the type of friend that will do anything for you but when you do stupid shit then you get a stern talking to. Idk why but it also feels lonely? Like they're on their own journey to find themselves and their path/happiness/self and if it doesn't fit in the wagon then it gets left behind. This person might move too fast and miss out on important things because they're always chasing after something. They take "its not the destination that matters but the journey that does" to a whole new level and they just never stop to enjoy the scenery bc they'd rather get the rush of newness.

As for their relationship. As I said before I think this soulmate specifically is the "life lesson" type and could definitelybe a platonicsoulmate too. The kind that provides you with an opportunity for growth. With the 5 of swords rev. I kinda think that this could be someone from either a past life or back in a less favorable time. The fool card to me makes me thin that this relationship provides a sense of being born again? Its that newness of having a new perspective and a whole new understanding of self. With the magician rev. Its about issues with communication i.e not being able to get across your needs and desires for both of them and a lack of energy to figure it out. I also feel like this was just something that they didn't fix and didn't want to fix. (I'm talking in past tense bc this reading feels like its someone from the past) This card also talks about deception. I'm not gonna go into this much. With the 3 of wands though!! Yay! This talks about progress and I feel like this points to them learning more and more about who they are and what they truly want. They're kinda like lines that were moving towards eachother, intersected and then continued going in their own direction. Its like this time together was formative in who they are as people and what they dream of! And with the father of cups it does seem that over all the relationship was/is (I don't know how to talk about this) relatively balanced and they had/have respect for eachother. This card specifically is about balanced emotions and emotional intelligence and I think that this is what they gain from this relationship.

Moving right along we have the oracle cards! Stand by you commitment, financial healing, unconventionality, socialize or join in and sensitive emotions. The flower cards are from hobi to soulmate and the others are from soulmate to hope. Now. Maybe his soulmate went through a failed business venture that they're recovering from or just general money trouble bc the whole world is being fucked over by a virus. Either way hobi is very strong in the message of commitment (that makes me think that its specifically about business or something they started but never finished) onto cards for Hope. He might kinda be going through the shitty times and his soulmates advice is to not isolate and celebrate himself more. He might be having some issues related to self image or a soul-identity crisis? Idk but hobi needs that good good self care and love.

Now the two unicorn cards. Those are also from his soulmate to hope about some personal shit and I will be leaving that out because its not my fucking business. (Hobi is fine don't worry)

Woo wee lets get on to traits! First for zodiac sign. Earth, fire, air. Possible Libra and Taurus placements.

Tiny cards. Light hair, dark hair, sweet, extrovert, hard working, tall, business oriented, loud, fate, sorry, open, faith, happy, wait.

First off I get brown hair vibes (maybe medium brown?)

The word cards sound like his soulmate trying to give him a pep talk so I pulled an affirmation card that says in stillness I receive. I think hobi is going through some soul stuff and I'm not sure if this specificly translates into his life right now (though I think it does and he's repressing it or hopefully he's sorting it out on his own privately)

Oki oki oki. Idk why but it also might be that hobi is doing work to heal his inner child? I honestly don't know whats going on or if its affecting him in his day to day life at this time but I want to come back and do this reading at a time that he might be in a better energy space?

Hobi is ALWAYS hard to read and its even harder when he's less open than usual.

I'll get another soulmate read from hobi at some point and see if I can catch a "future/current romantic soulmate"

I am confused 😕

Also!! I have a Ko-fi now! I'll drop the link here but its in my bio! Absolutely no pressure but its there for people who want to tip me and were looking for a way to support me! (Also, I'm not taking readings through ko-fi so please don't drop money and request a reading there.)

Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/syubub