#alpineshift

[jeanie-g]

your prompts are open!!!!!! ❤️ if it hasn't already been asked yet, may I request 17 - bookstores for jacknico? (if it's taken, carte blanche to choose anyyyyy other one that you desire hehe)

perhaps not quite what you were thinking, but i had a great time w it hehe <33

[#17] bookstores

Jack is at the end of his rope. Intro to Russian Lit is in three hours and he cannot find a single copy of Crime and Punishment within a 30 mile radius. This might just be hell.

You could argue that it was his fault that he didn't check the syllabus until this morning, but who the hell assigns the first three chapters of a Dostoevsky novel for the first day? And sure, he Sparknotes'd it, but he still needs a copy for class. Jack has a feeling Professor Keefe is going to be formidable, and he doesn't want to start his college career with an enemy already.

Jack checked the central library and the foreign library—even the fucking law library, and those students can smell the undeclared liberal arts degree on you—as well as the campus bookstore, but it seems like every Freshman at Newark U is reading this goddamn book, because every shelf was empty by the time Jack made it there. Even Amazon won't deliver in time; fuck Jeff Bezos.

So, it's with a rapid heartbeat and a prayer on the tip of his tongue that he enters a small, cramped bookshop a few trolley stops from campus. It's gotta be the size of two dorm rooms, but the shelves are floor-to -ceiling, filled with books in ever color, size, and age. "Hischier Books" it's called, Jack catching the wooden marquee painted red and white above the entrance.

Jack can't deny that the little shop is cute—he could see himself window shopping in a place like this—but he's on a mission. He only has two-and-a-half hours now.

Eyes darting around the different hanging signs showing the genres, Jack makes his way over to "Russian Literature." He traces the spines from A to B to C until he gets to D. Okay, The Idiot, The Brothers Karamazov, Short Stories: Dostoevsky...

And then it's onto the E's. That's it? No Crime and Punishment?

Jack groans and knocks his head against the shelf. Did every student in Newark have the same idea as him, just a few days earlier than he did? It's actual cosmic punishment is what it is—for the high crime of procrastination. He doesn't want to linger on the irony.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a voice pipes in. "Those shelves can only hold so much weight."

Jack jumps back, cheeks turning red. He turns to apologize but stops short.

The man before him is not much taller than he is, clad in a grey, cable knit sweater that hugs his frame, and a crimson red apron tied around his waist. His small name tag reads "Nico." He's brunette, bearded, and maybe the most handsome man Jack's ever seen.

His eyes, so big and brown, pin Jack where he stands, kind but slightly mischievous. They're slightly squinted as he smiles, lips soft and lithe, and Jack sees the cute little dimples carved into his cheeks. Pretty is the first word that pops into Jack's head, and it just pings around there like a waiting screen logo as he stands—stupidly—silent.

The man before him—Nico—crosses his arms and holy shit he's gotta go to the gym every other day to get arms like that! Jack hasn't even said anything and he already looks like an idiot in front of this beefcake.

"Sorry," Jack finally blurts, probably cherry fucking red at this point. "I...I just—"

"Looking for something?" Nico asks, and he has this sexy fucking accent, too. How did Jack not notice before? He's checking off every damn box on Jack's list and Jack is, well...

"Um, yeah, but you've—you know, book?" Jack wants to melt into the floor and die. He shakes his head and exhales. "Crime and Punishment?"

Nico seems unaffected though. He purses his lips. "Well, this is Russian Lit, Dostoevsky..." He walks closer to Jack, and he's only got a couple inches on him honest, but it feels like Nico's towering over him. Jack is very normal about it.

Nico comes to a stop a shoulder's length away and eyes the shelf Jack was looking at. His thick brow furrows as he scans for it, and Jack can only stare at him—his eyes, his barely-there stubble, the way a cowlick swoops down across his forehead...

Nico stands back up and faces Jack. "Yeah, I guess we sold our last copy," he says, and that kinda kickstarts Jack's brain back up.

Fuck, right, the book. He doesn't have time to flirt. Besides, he's making himself look like an idiot anyways.

He tears his eyes away from Nico. He's got a little over two hours. A little over two hours before he enters his first class and completely embarrasses himself, no doubt setting up the worst expectations for himself for freshman year, hell—probably his whole academic career. Because of one stupid, overrated—

"I'm sorry," Nico continues. "I could order it for you if you like."

"No, I kinda needed it, like, yesterday." Jack huffs out a laugh and turns away. "That's not your fault though, obviously."

"Need it for an assignment I'm guessing?"

Jack clicks his tongue. Nico at least seems semi-interested in his plight. What does he have to lose in detailing his woes to a stranger? He turns back around.

"My Russian Lit professor assigned the first few chapters for the first day, and my stupid ass didn't check the syllabus until this morning."

Nico chuckles, and then immediately apologizes. Jack has to smile at that.

"No, it is funny, trust me," he says. "And now I'm gonna totally humiliate myself when I show up and can't even read a passage from it."

"Let me guess, Professor Sheefe?" Nico asks.

Jack startles. Nico looks to be around his age, sure, but he kind of assumed he wasn't in college—not if he's working a shift during the day. "Yeah. You go to Newark U?"

The man shrugs, and his lips turn up into a tiny smile. "I'm a junior."

"Freshman," Jack replies, then instantly cringes. If he could seem any less cool—

"Well, I happen to be reading Crime and Punishment," Nico offers, trailing his finger along one of the shelves. "Some light leisure reading during my lunches."

Jack gapes. "Shut up, no you are not."

Nico nods. "I am."

"Dostoevsky is not leisure reading."

Nico, again, shrugs. It's too damn cute. Fuck.

"I can lend it to you if it'd help."

And Jack can't believe his ears. "You'd...you'd do that? I mean, you don't even know me."

"What's your name, then?" Nico asks, cool and easy.

Jack blushes. "Jack."

"Nice to meet you, Jack." He twiddles with his name tag. "Nico."

Jack smiles, not trusting his mouth to betray him and say something lame and embarrassing.

But then Nico's turning and walking, and Jack rushes to fall into step behind him. He leads him to back of the store, where the register is, reaches behind and grabs a book—and lo and behold, it's Crime and Punishment. Its pages are wrinkled from water damage and a corner's ripped off the cover, and it's perhaps the most glorious sight Jack's laid his eyes on.

Well, second glorious maybe.

Nico hands it to him. "It's not in the best condition, but—"

"It's perfect," Jack interrupts, flashing a gracious smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Nico's gaze is unrelenting, and Jack has to look away before he does something stupid like blurt out how hot he is.

"I can pay you or something."

"That's not necessary. It's my duty to assist our customers." He says the latter like he's reciting it from a handbook.

Jack snorts. "I'm not technically a customer if I don't buy anything."

Nico rolls his eyes. "Why are you trying to dissuade me?"

Jack lifts his chin, defiant. "Well, how are you so sure that I won't just keep it? Free book."

Nico pauses. "I'm not, but it'll help if I keep something of yours as collateral."

Jack chuckles. "Like what? I don't have much on me that'd interest you."

"How about your phone number?"

That stops Jack in his tracks, heart going double-time now.

Nico, sly like a fox, just raises his eyebrows in question.

Jack drops his gaze to the ground. "That could be arranged." And tapping some well of courage, "We'll have to figure out a rendezvous point for the book's return. Maybe Cafe Frejo, Friday?"

Jack finally picks his eyes back up, and Nico's grinning. "Works for me."

Jack gives Nico his number, inputting it into his phone with humiliatingly shaky hands. He says his thanks again, catching sight of those beautiful eyes one last time before he turns and exits the shop.

Two hours. Plenty of time to familiarize himself with the first three chapters.

It might be hard to focus now though. He's got a date on Friday, after all.

[imperatorrrrr]

nearly fell down the stairs racing over to ask about your WIPs!!! as you know. I'm v intrigued about the ocean's 11 au or your emma au and will sit here kicking my feet waiting patiently to hear about it 😇 (or, if you've already talked about those WIPs - literally ANYTHING else on your list ehe)

I feel like I've already talked your ear off about both of these, but lets do the Emma!AU

Jack will be our good intentioned matchmaker

this is a modern re-telling of Emma with all the players still remaining hockey players

Jack wanting to see all of his friends and family happy and being the world's worst matchmaker and learning things about himself along the way that lead him straight to Nico being the love of his life

Jack thinking love is friendship (because he's thinking about Nico but he doesn't know he's thinking about Nico) and deciding that Cole and Trevor should be together because they're best friends but is thrown for a loop when Trevor wants to be with the quiet Jamie and Cole wants to be with his captain Nick Suzuki.

and it all throws Jack for a loop because Trevor's so loud and rambunctious and Jamie's so quiet and he's pacing around in Nico's apartment telling him all this and Nico's like well sometimes opposites attract sometimes you need someone that'll store all that energy for you and then Jack's thinking about Cole wanting to be with his captain and he's confused because they're teammates tho isn't that weird, wouldn't that be hard. and Nico's very calmly telling him that sometimes the chemistry on the ice translates to chemistry off the ice

and then there's some Quinn and Roman Josi because I gotta I absolutely gotta

and, of course, we need the Mr. Elton type that throws a wrench into the NicoJack of it all and kind of catches Jack's fancy for a bit and makes Nico sad and run away to Switzerland at the end of the season after losing in one of the late rounds of the playoffs. I'm thinking maybe Ty Smith for the memories?

and this is when our MVP Luke comes in and does some meddling. I'm thinking that at this point in time every one of Jack's attempts at matchmaking his loved ones has failed spectacularly tho they've all ended up with someone they love and are happy and he misses Nico and he's coming to terms with the fact that every single thing he's learned and everything he knows about love leads him to Nico

and so he's got Nico on the brain and he's thinking about matching Luke up with someone (but Luke is already happily with Nemo but Jack doesn't know that yet) and Jack's waxing poetic about how Luke needs someone like Nico and Luke goes "well what about Nico" because he's a magnificent troll

and so Jack tries to matchmake his brother with his captain which will finally lead us to Jack getting something right and declaring his love for Nico

[honeylemonicedtea]

voila! (except my hair isn't quite that big and i don't own any pink lol.) i had to break the train, cuz while i still love hockey and my boys (obvi), charli xcx is my current hyperfixation!!

this was so much fun to make!! thanks for the tag @alpineshift !! <3 i shall, in turn, tag @rohruh and @solip1386 :)

cute thing im coming up with

this picrew of yourself and your current hyperfixation !!

no pressure tags @pearlzier @julesssyy @reidsfavoritegirl @whitney23317 @willowsblanket @flowercrownsandtrauma @rottenletter

[sleepretreat]

Thank you for the tag @alpineshift you're such a cutie 🥰

This was so cute and fun to do. I'm tagging: @puckology101 @sweethischier @alles--oder-nichts @sunflower-lilac42 @nol-pat @puckinghischier and anyone else who wants to do it. 💜

(sorry if you've already been tagged 🫣)

[honeylemonicedtea]

tagged by @alpineshift - thanks!! this is such a fun lil prompt. tagging @rohruh @hugheschierdaddy and @solip1386

[jeanie-g]

that's so cool!!! wow self-publishing must have been difficult (but hopefully rewarding?)

i also write outside of fics, and i would love to see my stuff published (once i actually submit them to a magazine or something haha)

so i already left a hefty comment on your latest (lol LOVED it) but it got me thinking about something i was always curious about. do you write outside of fanfic? you're so incredible, and ik i would eat up a fantasy horror romance novel by you. obviously you don't have to share anything too personal, but i'd love to hear about your outside projects/interests/genres/media if you do!!

ahh you diddd your comment was so lovely!! 🥰 the mr. darcy hand flex bit made me laugh LOL it was perfect, thank you for reading!!

also this is such a sweet ask 🥺 I have written outside of fics! I do wish I had a fantasy horror romance novel in the works LOL that is truly the dream. I've published with short story collections before and went thru the arduous task of self-publishing once (and that was enough for me looool)

so for now, I'm simply enjoying writing fics at my leisure with y'all on tumblr 🥹🫶

[sparrowandthesong]

rules: pick a song for each letter of your url and tag that many people (if you can)

tagged by @alpineshift thank you!!

S - Steal My Sunshine by LEN

P - Priceless by Copeland

A - All We Are by OneRepublic

R - Romance Is by Lights

R - Ribs by Lorde

O - Oblivion by Bastille

W - We Are Young by fun.

A - Art of Moving On by Heffron Drive

N - New Fears by Lights

D - Drive My Soul by Lights

T - Things We Lost in the Fire by Bastille

H - Human by The Killers

E - Empire by Of Monsters and Men

S - Speed of Sound by Coldplay

O - Over You by Daughtry

N - Northern Attitude by Noah Kahan

G - Get It? Got It? Good by Jessica Jung and Amber Liu

I’m tagging @ribspureheroine @sunhitsthewater and anyone else who wants to bc my url has too many letters lol

[jeanie-g]

hello the way I dashed over immediately when I saw your prompts post!! could I please request #14 - “If you do that one more time I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself.” ?

I'll leave the setting up to you! sweet, spicy, silly, emotional, angst, anything goes. I'm always defaulting to jacknico but I also see trevor/jamie on your blog so feel free to choose either!

(& good luck with your fics! 🍀)

as requested!! thank u <3

• Nico can be all talk sometimes. Sometimes, Jack has to be the one to make him take action. Behind closed doors, he's so affectionate—and wicked. He says things that make Jack's knees go weak and his brain go fuzzy. The boy-next-door he is not. Don't let the pretty face and cute accent fool you. But in front of the guys, he keeps it capped. It's like pulling teeth getting Nico to show any kind of PDA, but the thing is: Jack knows he wants to. He knows he runs hot with want just as much as Jack does.

• So, Jack has to be the one to go for it, to force him to shed his captaincy complex for one minute and just touch him back. Jack loves to push Nico's buttons as it is, so it's not too difficult. What is difficult is figuring out what will make Nico bite. Tonight, it starts with an innocent hand on Nico's thigh under the table at their twelve-person booth. At first, Nico doesn't react to it, and Jack seizes the time they have before their food arrives to gradually slide it upwards. Nico, in the middle of a story, chokes when Jack wraps his fingers around his hip and squeezes. He blames it on spit, and Jack has to hide his smile.

• He keeps it up all night, just these little touches searing Nico's skin like a brand. His legs draped over Nico's thighs after they've finished their meals. Falling against his back as Nico lines up a pool shot in the guise of bettering his aim. Rubbing his hand up and down the small of his back as they stand by the bar, chatting with Luke. And every new touch, their close proximity—Jack can tell it's driving Nico insane. But every time, he doesn't reciprocate. Every time, he holds himself back. Jack never understands why. Because when they meet each other's eyes, Nico's looking at him like no one else ever has, and Jack knows how much Nico wants him.

• It's because they're in public, and Nico is always worried about what the guys will think, even though they've been dating for months now. "Keep things professional" he always says—in the locker room, on the ice, in their hotel rooms because God forbid the walls are a bit too thin for his liking. But Jack doesn't want to be professional. Jack wants to be reckless, and he wants Nico to know that he can be reckless, too.

• Because Jack's favorite move of the night, and arguably his most outwardly slutty, comes from a bowl of cherries the waiter dropped off at their table that no one else has been touching. Jack pops one into his mouth, tying the stem with his tongue absently. And then he catches sight of Nico just a few feet away. He slowly grins, popping the cherry between his teeth like a fox to a grape, and Jack swears Nico's pupils dilate. He pockets several, eating the cherries around Nico over the next hour, making sure to tongue the stem, pop the thing, and then lick the juice off his red lips. Jack can only imagine all the nasty images he's conjuring in Nico's mind right now.

• Eventually, when Jack has to piss, he heads to the bathroom, and when he comes out, Nico is there outside the doorway, crowding into his space. He can only smile as Nico boxes him in. His face is so close to Jack's, his sandalwood cologne mixing with the whiskey on his breath in a way that makes Jack's heart stutter. He fumbles in his pocket for a cherry, and before Nico can stop him, pops it in his mouth.

• "Jesus," Nico says. "You're impossible."

• Jack takes his time rolling it around in his mouth before answering. "You know I have a sweet tooth." He positions the cherry between his front teeth.

• Nico leans closer. "If you do that one more time," he says, rumbles into Jack's ear. "I don't think I'll be able to control myself."

• Jack's belly goes warm with the thought, and he has to hide how pleased he is. When Nico pulls back, his eyes are dark, his tone all business, but when Jack looks down, he swears his hands are shaking ever so slightly. It's all the confirmation Jack needs; he's got Nico right where he wants him. He knows this game, and he plays it well.

• His smile widens, snapping the cherry between his teeth with an audible smack. Then, he leans forward, his lips tickling Nico's ear. "And what makes you think I want you to control yourself?"

• And then it's like all the air in the building funnels down to the two of them alone. All Jack can feel is the distant pounding of the bass from the neighboring club; all he can hear is the rapid beating of his heart in his ears. Nico's mouth parts, and his eyes drop to Jack's wet lips, and Jack only has a second to prepare before Nico's mouth is on his, hot and demanding. The atmosphere is thrown back to him as Nico pushes him up against the wall, cupping his jaw and kissing him senseless.

• "All night, fuck, all night you've been torturing me," Nico growls between kisses.

• Jack bites out a laugh. "I'm the one being tortured, baby. I just want you to touch me."

• "Well, isn't that what I'm doing?" Nico says, and his lips leave his to trail down Jack's neck.

• Jack hums contentedly. "Mission accomplished, then."

• "Shut up," Nico whispers against his skin, and Jack laughs.

• Nico can be all talk, but in the end Jack always gets what he wants.

[jeanie-g]

I'm in YOUR inbox now hehe bc I am so curious about your writing too!! (only if you're comfortable sharing, of course!). any genres you like to write for? anything in the works you've got on your mind? anything you find similar/different to writing fics? I'm seated 😇

hi!! i love working in different media - in school, i wrote scripts for tv, film, i've done some playwriting, and then poetry and prose! prose is my favorite, though i also love screenwriting. i actually co-wrote a script for a short film that's being made (super exciting!!)

my favorite genres to write are coming-of-age, comedy, horror/thriller, and drama. as you can see, i love to dabble in a lot of different areas/genres lol.

i pretty much save all my love for romance for fics! and it's fascinating really cuz w fanfic, we're already working with "pre-existing characters," where w original writing, we make our own - so sometimes it does feel easier to write fanfic haha. you already have a character w a set personality, you know?

as for outside projects, i'm (slowly) working on my first novel, which is so special to me, though i have to do a lot of research (on boat construction lol) to really get down to the nitty gritty of it. i'm also reconstructing a short play i wrote in school to be full-length, which would be a dream to direct one day....oh, and then there's the musical i'm writing LOL. i've only written two songs but hey, it's a start!

tldr, i start new projects before i finish old ones, but there are worse things i could do!

[imperatorrrrr]

before the season officially starts...what are some predictions you have for the boys on njd this year 👀 (nonchalantly starts handing you apollo's red dodgeball)

oops. I'm sorry was in Prague and didn't answer this before the season officially started, but I'll answer it now!

how do I do this without jinxing them...I feel like I am asking for the wrath of the monkey's paw. this is tough. every time I go to write something I get scared about how it can be interpreted by the universe.

erm okay I'm not going to make any big big big predictions because again need to be careful...

there will be some sort of trade for a forward at some point. I see Fitz potentially going big or getting a rental depending on how we're looking come Dec/Jan

my emotional support prospect could potentially make his debut at the end of this season

Nico and Jack will be Nico and Jack on main

I will come out of the season with like three new ships

Paul Cotter will become a fan favorite a la BFF Curits Lazar

I think we could potentially start out slow which may be alarming to some fans/hockey media, but new coach, new system, new guys, its gonna be understandable, don't lose your cool too early

the vibes will be restored. love is stored in the new jersey devils

people will have shitty takes about Bratter, Jack, Nico, Luke, Timo, and Dougie, because they always fucking do

I will have to admit that I do actually like Tomas Tatar

Ondrej Palat will finally have a good year, finally

the DAWG part of Dawson Mercer will come back

Siegs will have a bounce back year because I think this season is a make it or break it season for our beautiful D man

twelve is good yeah? yeah I'd say twelve is good.

[imperatorrrrr]

ok bear with me here. ITS GONNA BE A LONG ONE. bc you had so many lovely fics out ❤️ these ones in particular made my brain spin around on a hamster wheel ❤️

rookies - this sideswiped me!! I was so delighted by this fic!! short and sweet, a nice introspective Lukey piece that made me laugh thinking about Luke observing the narrative around Jack in the devils core and how he fits into it. The Dune reference had me cackling. I enjoyed the softness of the fic too - Luke just observing all the nice things about Nemo. also: "To Simon, Luke is Luke. And that means something." I love this so much. this line has moved into my brain and it's staying rent free.

unfollow/dinner and a show - these two fics gave me such a SPECIFIC kind of feeling - that silent and almost unnoticeable disappearance of a once-good friend (or at least someone you got along quite well with) that leaves some kind of hollowness inside you when you finally realize just how long you've gone without talking. or that they've removed themselves from your life too I quite liked Jack's "outsiderness" in dinner&show, and the kind of untouchableness of the whole "Nico doesn't talk about Nolan" vibe. but also the humour in every baseball reference was peak.

eavesdropping - once again Luke perspective!! observing the mess that is jacknico and being sneaky about it. I liked the bit of Nico's "tough love" approach that somehow still retains that good/encouraging/kind Nico-Hischier-Quality that we know and love about him. I especially liked "...I'm here to make sure you have the ice you need to do your thing. You don't have to do it all alone. None of us do." Arrrrrgh so good. Also Luke envisioning Jack's actions even tho he's just listening in - he knows Jack so well and it's perfect. I loved the jacknico banter and how these two loveable idiots can't help but compliment each other even in the middle of a tough conversation.

absolutely delightful collection of fics!! thanks for sharing them!! 🦭

omg omg omg omg, when one of your favorite writers talks about your writing. I'm dead.

I've died.

I've peaked.

rookies - I just love the NicoJack NemoLuke parallels and I adore them together. I adore that we're gonna see them right from the start together.

unfollow/dinner and a show - eeeeeeeeeeep! Jack's POV is so much fucking fun to write. he's such a fun little guy for getting into his head.

eavesdropping - this fic was me projecting so hard 'cause I just wanted to sit Jack down and be like, my buddy, my pal, please, you don't gotta carry it all on your own. god, its insane how both Jack and Nico are like that about this team. plus, Lukey Boy is kind of my favorite Hughes, needed his very unique viewpoint of brother, rookie, teammate, (brother-in-law).

god, thank you so so so so so so much for reading. I'm not worthy. I am absolutely not worthy.

and thank you for matching me step for step in our DMs about these idiots.

<3

[jeanie-g]

tell us about "the one you reached for" please? 🥹

🎵 all throughout the great warrrrr 🎵

yes! this is a magical medieval au one-shot inspired by the anime berserk. jack is the lonely, powerful swordsman and nico is the fiercely loyal warrior who teaches him that it's ok to be vulnerable <3 it also features a lot of cool cameos

i have like 90% of it written, it just needs to go through some major edits....here's a couple snippets! tw for blood and violence (mentions of murder and gore)

For the longest time, Jack felt invulnerable. He knows he's mortal like any man, that one of these days his sword will fail him and he'll join the ranks of so many of their ascended brethren, but still. Being so close to death deep in that forest was frightening. Fighting them, face after face, sword after sword, being outflanked on all sides with no reinforcements, and holding his own for so long anyways...it made him fear for his life more than anything had before.

He thought it'd feel more thrilling than it did, excited by the adrenaline of survival and the satisfaction of another fight won—that’s why he elected to do it, after all, why he took on the men himself. But he had underestimated their abilities. These were not the same men of the infantry of whom he’d picked off before. No, the Baron—in a rare flash of intelligence, and perhaps self-preservation—forgoed his pride and brought along soldiers who were superior to him in battle. Instead of an easy fight, it was a tiring one, a painful one. The edges of sharp blades scraped Jack’s sides and abdomen, finding patches of skin not protected by armor and milking crimson from them. Arrows launched from crossbows in trees sliced through the air right besides his head. It all made him lunge farther, strike faster—try and be rid of the enemy before they could completely overtake him, all while he could feel the warm blood trickling down his legs.

and!

He tries to separate the feeling of the application with the knowledge that it’s Nico’s hands that are doing the applying, and he thinks he’s succeeding rather well. That is until Nico begins speaking again.

"The others were troubled, you know," he says, and for a moment, Jack doesn’t know what he’s talking about. "They weren't sure if you were returning."

Oh.

"Technically, I didn't. You found me."

"I thought you were dead." Nico’s voice is even, emotionless.

A cold snap of wind breaks through the tree leaves, and Jack shivers. "Well, I wasn’t."

"They say Nolan was inconsolable."

"I think that was more for your sake than mine," Jack says, and then bites his tongue.

The only consolation that came from the slaughter was the confirmation that Nico had survived. When Jack lay slumped against the tree, and he saw Nico ride up just behind their captain, safe after all, Jack heaved a sigh of relief. Their plan had worked. And when Nico was before him, begging for him to wake, Jack knew that despite all the bloodshed, it had been worth it. The enemy hadn't gotten him. He could return to Nolan's side unscathed, right where he belonged.

wow i kinda forgot how much fun i had writing this! i definitely gotta return to it cuz the language is so fun :)

thanks for the ask @alpineshift <333

[imperatorrrrr]

what are some of your predictions for the unconfirmed devs halloween costumes this year? 👻 🎃

Okay!

So far we have...

Erik Haula - Tennis Player?

Dawson Mercer - Astronaut? EDIT: I have been informed by a kind Anon that Merce went as a Fighter Pilot!

Jacob Markstrom - I don't actually know what he is, but some sort of spooky, medical, bloody vibe

Jesper Bratt - Talladega Nights

Tomas Tatar - the eighties

Paul Cotter - Chucky

I feel like we saw at least one minion and one Bowser in the background of one of the photos.

So maybe the singles went as minions? or they went as Mario Party characters? Imagine Luke and Jack as the Super Mario Brothers? Timo as Bowser? Nico as Yoshi?

I could also see Luke, Timo, and Nico just saying fuck it and going as minions, because why not.

but like in my wildest dreams what could they have done?

well, you already know about this, but might as well release it to the public, but Addams Family...

Jack - Gomez Addams

Nico - Morticia Addams

Luke - Uncle Fester

Nate - Pugsley

Dougie - Thing

Jesp - Wednesday

Marky - Lurch

I would also so be down for like imagine Nathan Bastian dressed up as Chappell Roan? Or like Luke Hughes dressed up as Moo Deng? Dougie Hamilton as Ziggy Stardust? Jonas Siegenthaler as Gladiator? Timo Meier as Venom? Curtis Lazar as Beetlegeuse? Simon Nemec as the worm from Dune?

actually, no. I got it. all of the Devils dress up as different Deadpools. done.

[imperatorrrrr]

Re: your tags so obsessed with the very small bit of hair in the space between his collarbones LOL he is such a character https://www.tumblr(.)com/imperatorrrrr/764460242126897152?source=share

he is so

like sometimes there's no hair there at all and sometimes there's hair there and sometimes he has chest hair and sometimes he doesn't.

Nico, pls, let me put you under a microscope, pls.

what makes you tick.

why are you the way you are.

why do you make the hair decisions you make.

explain.

[imperatorrrrr]

ahem! I'm here officially about "Luke Hughes, Personal Assistant" bc the JOY of this fic has turned my rainy Sunday into a--well, it's still rainy right now, but now I have this fic locked and loaded in my brain at all times 🖤

If there was anybody in the world who deserves/needs a personal assistant, it WOULD in fact be Captain Nico Hischier of the NJ Devils. And I looooooove how committed to the bit Luke is you can't tell me he isn't getting assistant of the year award. NHL awards rejigging their whole system to include this one and L.Hughes is sweeping the category.

Some of my fave parts:

Nico does his best to pay attention to the road ahead, but ends up looking adorably confused at Luke. / he’s basically useless until he hits the ice for morning skate. ← grumpy anti-morning nico my beloved ahhhhh he needs a travel buddy he needs his coffee he uses eyebrows to morse code his way thru pre-pre-morning skate communication. I hear you and see you Morning Nico.

Nico has somehow moved Luke’s stall to temporarily be next to his ← just imagining Nico earnestly asking whoever is normally next to him to trade LOL and everyone around him going "of course captain beautiful eyes anything you want" bc he's Earnest. So Earnest. and also committed to the bit this is so funny.

Nico the travel sleeping machine. Do you think he might be one of those babies that parents would put in the backseat of the car and drive around until they fall asleep from the rocking motion? Is that why he passes out the second the Public Transportation Machine starts moving?

patented European Noises™️ ← so far I have eeearghh and mmmmmmumuhmhumum on that list. love the trademark symbol.

ALSO the entire suit section was just me 🤝 Jack over the plum suit. PERFECT CHOICE. Jack having an opinion on everything Nico is so perfect. EVEN HIS KNEES and tiny waist. Luke and the art of filtering Jack's rambling out. Even more perfect.

Assistant to the Personal Assistant of the Captain of the New Jersey Devils ← nemoooooooo being so helpful!! being an assistant is hard work so of course Luke could use a hand!!! however the allegations of the assistant to the personal assistant being the personal assistant's bf....the possibilities....dare I say it. nepotism. nemo-tism, if you will.

So maybe it's a mouthful, but so is Nemo. ← HNFSFMSNFH MFISFMK HKSLF

minutely shakes his head a little trying to clear the daze being around Jack Hughes puts him in ← they're in love it's so gross ❤️

Roman Josi mention LET'S GO. I've been very on board this train you've introduced me to simply for the fact that it's hilarious. Handsome older Swiss man with even better beard comes sweeping in and Jack Takes It Personally. As if his whole "Switzerland is my entire personality" bf would not be all about that. I like to imagine every couple of months Jack's duolingo app gets a fervent and violent burst of activity. Nico's absolute cluelessness in the face of meeting his idol again made me cackle out loud.

he grabs Nico’s helmet from the shelf above his stall and places it on Nico’s head as a final touch and pats it once for good measure and leans in a little to place a small kiss on his Captain’s helmet. ← very very very very cute. Love is stored in the new jersey devils core.

Also - Luke going around giving player stats to ppl Nico has known longer than he has was the best. A glimpse into the bit. Nico indulging Luke at every turn with a "Thank you Luke". Everyone getting read as Luke perceives them. He is the jester of the NJD locker room and everyone should fear him a little.

 “This is Jack Hughes. Nickname: Jacky. He’s one of the two first overall picks on the New Jersey Devils right now. The other one is you. He’s your Alternate Captain and you love him or something and I’m pretty sure he’s gonna kiss you now.” 

“Shut the fuck up, Moose.”

“Thank you, Luke.” ← perfect perfect perfect end. Luke's return!! wonderful codependent captain and his A!! Nico chant!!

I love this fic. I would read 30,000 words of it. I will also read all 3K of it 10,000 times. thank you for sharing! absolutely delightful!

these are my purposes on this earth: LukeNemo supremacy, bottom!Nico rights, the Nico and Luke youngest child bond, and Jack Hughes v. Roman Josi is real.

I'm so so so so thrilled you are on this ride with me and enjoying it thusly.

NEMOTISM, you've killed me dead. Nemotism. I am adopting that into my vocabulary ASAP. Luke suffering from Nemotism, but loving every minute of it.

They should just give Luke a camcorder and have him follow the team around while he's out of commission and give us content. He would get the best bits.

We need to get Rino and Katja on the horn to give us more Nico as a child lore please. I need to be even more chin hands, kicking my feet, swinging my legs about him.

Just wanted Luke and Nico to get up the shenanigans.

Having you read my writing is one thing, having you enjoy it is another thing, but having you tell me in painstakingly loving detail why and how much you love it could fly me to the moon, my friend. It is always, always an honor.

so happy to have our little corner of the Devils fandom where we just sit and say "exaaaaaaaactly" to each other over and over again with an obligatory seal video/picture/gif inserted in randomly. I love sharing this space with you and it makes my absolute life that you liked something I wrote this much.

here's to many more unhinged messages, play time in our little sand box, and Jack and Nico making us scream on main.

[imperatorrrrr]

ship classification! I was thinking about them the other day and I peep the Pens on your blog...sid/tanger?

oh!

makes sense, compels me

I think any iteration of the Pens core works honestly and then obviously all three of them together. I do think Sid/Tanger don't get the love that say Sid/Geno do, but I totally totally totally see it.

resident nerd gets most beautiful man, tis my favorite trope, and actually they're both feral freaks.