#alpineshift

[imperatorrrrr]

sitting and pondering that jacknico bench kiss. (lol). I think I have to quit writing bc whatever these two are up to all by themselves on a random thursday night is enough to launch all my brainstorming clear out of the water and put me out of business (looool).

its something about the Jersey Jerseys, its like it makes them forget they are being watched by thousands of people at all times and they forget how to act.

you think this is why Jack sits at the edge of the bench so often because he's been banished there by the rest of the team so Nico and Jack can get up to their own shenanigans and all the rest of the Devils don't have to be subject to that on their bench.

this is also why Jack was in such a good mood during the post game interview. smiling. being congenial. being pleasant. he knows he's gonna get the good good tonight and he's in a very good mood about it. its also why he started skating away when the interview wasn't over because he needs to get back to Nico ASAP.

Jack's first penalty kill point? Nico's gonna show him so much love.

the best part of this is that Nico did this before the beginning of the third period and then Jack goes and scores not only the go ahead goal but is a part of the scoresheet for the insurance goal.

meanwhile, Nico goes out and flirts with a Kings player to give Jack even more motivation.

I know what you are, Nico Hischier, a massive troll.

this game had everything.

we are getting spoiled.

[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 Keefe?" 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 as 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.

[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

[ice-ball-again]

tagged by @alpineshift !! 🫂🫂

if you had a spotify wrapped but for which hockey players you talked about the most, who would be your top 5?

i looked at my tags and it is exactly as predicted except for the last spot LOL

Nico

Jack

Quinn

Luke

BRADY? TKACHUK?

tagging @verraxes @atwhughesversion if you would like to !!

[imperatorrrrr]

hiiii jumping into your inbox for spotify wrapped fic! 🥹 #63 for your song, and Jesper + carte blanche, your choice of a ship! (need some Bratter love for the dash 🥰)

Song #63 on T's Spotify Wrapped is...

Uptown Funk feat. Bruno Mars by Mark Ronson

I'm too hot (hot damn) Say my name, you know who I am

If we show up, we gon' show out

TimoJesp:

who are two of the best dressed fellas on the New Jersey Devils? two of the most suave, smoothest, generally coolest fellas on the New Jersey Devils? why its Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt, of course.

its summer of 2025, I'm thinking July.

Timo and Jesper are on a fuck ass yacht off the coast of I dunno Greece or Italy, somewhere in the Mediterranean on a big ass fucking boat.

Uptown Funk is playing somewhere on the big ass boat, so you can faintly hear it in the background, but its seems so far away.

The sun has already reached its zenith in the sky and has started to make its descent, the sky turning darker shades of orange. but its not time to go inside and think about dinner yet. there's still a chance to soak in the last of the sun's rays.

Timo and Jesp are both lounging on a deck their tree trunk thighs out for the world to see, in their floral, expensive swim shorts.

Jesper's opted for a flowy, white button up shirt which he has left unbuttoned under the pretense of not wanting to get burnt.

Timo is completely shirtless, letting his glorious chest be out and about.

(insert incredibly charged and drawn out scene of them putting sun screen on each other)

They both have hilariously large and ostentatiously colorful fruity alcoholic bevvies in their hands that they drink through crazy straws.

and you know they have their sunnies on.

everything is meticulously styled, not a hair or thread looks out of place, but they look so effortless.

they're hot. they know it. they're flaunting it. and they're having a grand old time together.

they decided to go on this impromptu trip together and maybe not tell anyone else about it because they're fed up of being the armchair therapists to their disaster friends and teammates who can't get their love lives together.

why is everyone going to them to solve their problems, fashion and otherwise, and why does no one ever listen to them!

they're better than this! they're too hot to be bogged down by whatever new tragedy has befallen their lineys

so they've escaped and found themselves living the lifestyles they so rightfully deserve, at least for a few days anyway before its back to the regimented diets and workout routines

Jesper maybe looks over and appreciates how well sculpted Timo's torso is and Timo maybe looks over and appreciates how sturdy Jesper's legs are.

(and maybe both of them know to stay absolutely fucking silent about each other's hairlines)

so they've spent a couple of years together now on the same hockey team, and they've spent a couple of years together now rolling their eyes in the background as they watch their teammates and friends be stupid and in love, and maybe they realize some of that love, some of that silliness can be for them too with each other

because there's nothing that brings you together like shared life experience, especially shared traumatic life experience of being wingers on the New Jersey Devils to two first overall centers

and Timo likes how Jesper tucks just perfectly into his side and Jesper likes how he feels completely covered and enveloped by Timo when they hug

and here underneath the southern sun off the coast of some island it all seems possible

I'm thinking at one point Timo gets out of his lounge chair and tries to dance or move his hips or wiggle about and Jesper tries his absolute hardest not to burst out laughing.

instead he gets up grabs Timo by the shoulders and pulls him in for a kiss that they both laugh into.

[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!

[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

[jeanie-g]

just casually dropping by to say I'm on my fourth reread of 'jack hughes' misadventures on medically-mandated bed rest' and it never fails to make my day ❤️ one of the most delightful little social media fics ever!

omg ty!!! i was quite literally giggling and kicking my feet while writing it in the notes app on my phone lol. thanks (as always) for your kind messages!! they make MY day 💕 also i just re-read "every little thing about you" last night (still obsessed) and im gonna read "close violence" and "personal violence" asap cuz i can't believe i haven't already!! the quality and quantity of work you put out is truly awe inspiring!

[jeanie-g]

you mentioned the berserk au before!! so here I am!! literally anything from your fic would be so lovely - I'm v excited about it (also hollering with excitement for aries pt 3 since I binged it earlier on but that's for another day ehe) 🤩

yeah baby, berserk!!! ok so this fic is inspired by the couple of episodes that take place when guts and casca get chased off the cliff by the baron's soldiers, and they have to take refuge in a cave, and casca opens up to guts and they become friends :) well, friendlier lol.

so (loosely), nico is casca and jack is guts, and nolan is griffith (but, like, not evil lol). jack is the greatest swordsman in the north with a ~mysterious past~ who refuses to get too close to anyone and doesn't know how to process his feelings (relatable, am i right?). over the last couple of years in nolan's band, he and nico have grown from strangers to acquaintances—friends, even—but jack's growing ~romantic~ affections make him hesitant to get any closer. especially cuz nico is already w nolan, right??

well, then they take a tumble off a cliff together and have to hide out in that cave, and—oh, no, they must remove all their wet clothes so they don't freeze....and cuddle together for warmth....how unfortunate....

originally, i had the story take place post-cave, with jack reconciling his feelings (and kinda letting the audience in on what happened slowly) while he talks to nico, and i really loved playing w jack as an unreliable narrator. but then i was like "man, writing the actual cave scene would be fun" and then i was like, "why am i only alluding to the best, most angst-filled and suspenseful part??"

so now it cave. jack is still very much gonna be an unreliable narrator (a trope i always love to write), but now we're gonna be IN on the action. i feel good about this new direction, but i've got a lot more ground to cover lol.

here's my intro so far!

***

The cave is at the edge of the forest—its opening tiny, blending into the dense foliage around them. Jack’s heart still thrums like a bell toll in his ears, but he can finally take a breath. No one will find them here, at least until the both of them are healthy enough to venture out and make their way back to camp. That is, if the band, who have every reason to believe them dead, haven’t abandoned their temporary post by then.

The entrance is slim enough for a single body, but its insides are gorged with space. Rock beds litter it, retaining the roughness that a lack of rain has left them with. Jack sits on one, holding his abdomen, which, to its credit, has patiently waited for the danger to dim before buzzing with a dull, aching pain.

***

not much haha but i've been crazy busy and need to make time to write. you're my no. 1 cheerleader for this fic and i can't wait for u to read it :) <33

[jeanie-g]

I finally had some time to sit down and I immediately blasted through your aries series and oh my goddd. it was a marvel. I had so much fun I had to physically slow myself down as I was reading so I didn't miss anything LOL

first of all the tender-feelings-angsty-soft ache that was can you see my red light was phenomenal. it was so moving. I took like three or four pauses bc the near heartbreak I was feeling on Jamie's behalf was UNBEARABLE. so many little points, so many little details and internal dialogue pieces made this fic sooooo good. much to think about. I loved the set up of jacknico's wedding and their vows. I love the banter between tzjd and the moments where I was like I swear they're both going to go for it...! but nothing!! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, which made the ending all the more satisfying to reach.

fave line was hysterically: “ABBA right outta the gate?” TK cries, scooching back in his chair to stand. “Say less, brother.”

not even main pairing related I just love TK being the most iconic fella ever.

and on the other hand, reading stay by my side made me feel like I was sinking into a hot bath after a long day - all fuzzy and warm on the inside, and just so. so nice. and comforting. the domesticity but liveliness of a jacknico anniversary made me nostalgic for something I haven't even experienced yet LOL. their little jokes back and forth, the bit of a time jump into the near future, all the possibilities of what everything could be...man I love stuff like that. this fic was absolutely delightful, from the sweet moments to the spicy ones to the very relaxed, easygoing banter. but also the jacknico revelation w/ jamie and trevor's engagement made me laugh so loud like oh no, they really WERE the catalyst.

“Oh, we’ve created a monster,” Nico says. “We couldn’t have waited until after midnight to request the Coldplay song?” - had me cackling.

I can't wait for the final fic! thanks for sharing this!

dude this means so much!!!! thank you for reading and sending such a lovely message. i'm a sucker for angsty yet satisfying love stories, and writing these two couples puts such a smile on my face.

honestly, these are two of my fave fics i've written cuz they just feel so real. they're pretty different, like you said, but they have similar cores i think. i loved loved loved getting into jamie and jack's heads and detailing their pov through the narrator - creating such different worldviews that, in turn, create two fics with such different tones! like, we start w jamie as this cynical, very self-aware guy in love. he wants things to change but is afraid of pursuing it. he's angsty, forlorn, sad - and we see that. meanwhile, jack is this positive, slightly oblivious guy in love who wants nothing to change. everything is sunshine and rainbows - and we feel that. and ofc by the end they both learn their respective lessons. i love writing!!

also, finding ways to tie "stay by my side" back to "can you see my red light" was too much fun - besides themes, there's some similarity between the language and general structure (i really am a language nerd and can gush about the semantics of writing 24/7). i also made a list of "things jamie didn't notice about the nicojack wedding cuz he was too busy staring at trevor," like jack's hickey and the presence of quinn's girlfriend LOL. but i will tell you, nico and jack being the catalyst for the "yellow" moment was a happy accident. i didn't think of it until i was writing stay by my side and thought it tied things together neatly.

and the fact that you're the second person to call out the abba line is sooo funny.

i've started writing the third and oh man the ANGST. the FLUFF. it's luke's pov, and let's just say some time has passed and now he's the one looking for love (and change)

thank u thank u for your kind words! (also, i'm working steadily on the berserk fic and im hyped) <3

[jeanie-g]

got tagged by @alpineshift ! shuffle your liked songs and have y'all vote on the first five :)

tagging these lovelies! @rohruh @solip1386 @july-1804