#alternate title: taste the rainbow

[mangomonk]

to feel warm in cold love

↳ summary: in his attempt to make tav touch-starved for him, astarion realizes he's lost his own game. (alternatively, astarion is dreadfully cold and touch-starved, and tav is dreadfully warm and respects boundaries.) ↳ content: mentions of blood and battle, named tav, astarion is a little mean and very emotionally repressed, act 1 and 2 plot mentioned ↳ a/n: inspired by astarion's "don't touch me" dialogue and that one post that basically calls him a loser lol. title is from "cold love" by rainbow kitten surprise! also i'm a little confused by tagging convention — is tav alright to tag if they're an OC and not 'reader?' cross posted on ao3

The first time he fed on her, she sat perfectly still, her legs criss-crossed and posture straight as she swept her hair to the side. The perfect image of a monk. He would’ve teased her for it, had he not been distracted by the gleaming skin of her neck and the ache of hunger with his fangs. He couldn’t believe his luck.

How perfectly foolish to trust a vampire, he thought dimly to himself as he crouched over her, eager to take the opportunity — no matter how ridiculous it was — before she changed her mind. His fingers slipped into her hair to cradle the back of her neck as he tilted her head back carefully for better access. He moved with perfect precision — though he had never fed on a person before, he had imagined it in the darker moments of his hunger, even more so after he had met Xuan as he had begun scheming of ways to earn her favor. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that he had been dreaming of it.

The moment his fangs pierced her skin, all previous notions of what he had dreamt of before melted away and all he knew was the rich taste of her blood. He didn’t notice her shuddering in his hands or her slowly going limp against him as he swallowed gulp after gulp. He nearly forgot all restraint too, until she pushed at his shoulder hard enough for him to draw back. 

He felt warmth spreading through him, his hunger satiated, and then, shame roiling deep in his gut. A trickle of her blood dribbled from the corner of his lips. She was pale-faced, a dazed expression on her face as she stared up with him. Astarion, swept by this newfound satiation and familiar shame of his hunger, was at a loss for words. “This is a gift, and—” he began, just as she seemed to snap out of her daze.

“Sorry,” the monk said, “I didn’t mean to touch you but you didn’t seem to hear me.”

Astarion stopped short to stare at her in disbelief, reeling a little. Had her blood been drugged with hallucinogens? Why was she apologizing? He stared at her for a beat longer, but she seemed to be entirely sincere.

“Oh,” he said ungracefully as he recovered, straightening and letting his expression fall into one of familiar charm. “Oh, darling, you can touch me however you want if it means I have a little snack as sweet as you.”

She frowned at him, but Astarion was too distracted by the bead of blood forming on her skin where his fangs had been to notice.

— — — — —

The next time he fed on her, Astarion was less controlled by his hunger, though the same thrill of anticipation ran through him as he crouched next to her. She insisted again on sitting, and though the position was awkward for the both of them, he wasn’t going to bite the hand that was feeding him. Not metaphorically, anyways. And not the hand, at least.

This time, he noticed her hands clasped tightly in her lap as if she was anticipating the sting of his fangs. He paused, hovering over the nape of her neck. “My sweet thing,” he murmured, amused. He noted the goosebumps that formed along the pretty curve of her neck where his breath ghosted across his skin. He noted the way she shivered in his hands. He noted that she smelled wondrously sweet beneath the smell of soap. “You can hold on to me if you’d like to.”

“Do you want me to?” She asked.

Astarion blinked, grateful that she couldn’t see his surprised expression from her angle. “Whatever you want,” he said after a beat. When she kept her hands clasped carefully in her lap, Astarion shrugged to himself and dove in.

— — — — —

The third time, he perhaps had gone too far because when he withdrew, she swayed for a moment and slumped forward, her forehead falling against his collarbone. For a moment, panic flared within him as he caught her, before she mumbled something into his shoulder. “Sorry, got dizzy for a moment there.” Another apology — he thought he’d get used to them by now, but each one left him equally bewildered and baffled. “I didn’t mean to touch you.”

In his arms, he felt her try to withdraw weakly. Instead though, he held her firmly, supporting her boneless weight against him. “Let’s stay like this for a moment,” he hummed, tucking his chin carefully over the crown of her head and letting his fingers splay against her back. She was always so unfamiliarly warm. It felt like he was being scorched alive. “Would hate for my favorite traveling companion to crack her skull open. Our other companions would immediately have a stake through my heart, I suspect.”

To his pleasure, she didn’t protest, instead going even more limp against him. “Thank you,” she said into his shirt.

Astarion felt a warmth, similar to the one that she was radiating, flare deep in his stomach. It must have been because he had just fed. “My pleasure,” he said simply, meaning it.

— — — — —

Strangely enough, Xuan seemed to have no qualms with touching their other companions, Astarion began to notice. She linked arms with Shadowheart occasionally when they were walking — Astarion noted that Shadowheart never complained. She leaned on Karlach whenever they were standing close, despite the tiefling’s obvious warmth. Even Gale, the wizard who hadn’t touched a mortal being in years, she greeted with a fond hug.

Astarion though, she never touched.

It wouldn’t have bothered him if she didn’t make such a show of giving him a wide berth or nearly jumping out of her skin whenever he brushed by within an arm's reach.

It definitely wasn’t because he watched Wyll’s arm loop over her shoulder affectionately one night as they sat around the campfire. In the name of keeping warm from the cold, Wyll had teased. Cold? What did Wyll know about being cold? Astarion was always so miserably cold, but in that moment he felt something like angry heat flare up within him as he watched her lean against The Blade.

That was definitely not why it bothered him. Though Wyll flirted with Xuan in fleeting, light-hearted comments, it was Astarion who was putting honey in every word he shared with her. And he had made his advances even more than clear, quite literally spelling out his propositions for her. He knew she was interested in him with the way she flushed or the way she looked at him when she thought he wasn’t looking at her. So why was it that they never touched, not unless he had his fangs buried in her neck?

Soon, Astarion came up with a new scheme. And he thought himself clever for his plan too as he followed the sure-footed monk closely across the goblin camp, docking and releasing arrows efficiently the moment he spotted a goblin. He was feeling impatient. At the end of each battle, it seemed ritual for her to give the nearest companion a crushing sort of hug of relief and triumphant. So the faster this battle was over, the faster he’d—

“You’re fired up today,” she remarked to him as she clubbed another goblin with her staff. She didn’t even have to shout at him across the sounds of the battle because he had stayed within an arm's reach of her the entire fight.

Astarion preened a little, flashing her a devilish smile. He opened his mouth to smarm when Karlach bellowed across the courtyard. “I think that’s the last of them.” He watched Xuan’s face break into a triumphant grin as he took a step closer to her. The others were mostly across the courtyard, though Lae’zel was a few yards away.

“We did it!” She beamed, whirling around. Astarion now was only two steps away from her, his arms already preemptively outstretched when she stepped past him, throwing her arms around… the Githyanki warrior.

Astarion blinked once. Then twice. Then he turned, incredulous, to see Lae’zel pat the monk on her back awkwardly.

“The customs of this plane never fail to baffle me,” the Githyanki warrior said stiffly.

“You did brilliant today!” Xuan said brightly, practically glowing.

Astarion stared at the two, still slack-jawed. “And what about me?” He spluttered now, entirely undignified, but he couldn’t help it. Not when she was being so obviously stingy in her affections!

Xuan drew back from Lae’zel. Astarion couldn’t help the sick anticipation growing in his stomach as she took a step towards him. His hands twitched at his side, but he forced himself not to raise them. 

“You were brilliant too,” she beamed. “Your aim for the one in the tower was so precise—”

Astarion’s anticipation fell flat as she stopped several feet away from him, still prattling on about his fighting.

“Spare me the praise,” he snapped irritably, turning on heel swiftly to stalk back to camp.

— — — — —

He spent the rest of the evening brooding in his tent as the others celebrated their success with a hearty stew that Gale cooked and some cheap wine they had looted from a cellar in the Blighted Village. 

Was it possible that she wasn’t interested in him? He had made his advances perfectly clear, and though they had often rolled off of her like water, or she had just smiled embarrassedly down at her feet, she had never rejected him. 200 years of perfecting the art of seduction, and he couldn’t even get within a foot of a naive monk? The thought hurt his pride. And then another thought, one much worse, that spurred him to his feet and out his tent to seek out the target of his thoughts.

Was she disgusted with him? So much so that she couldn’t bear even touching him?

“Darling, are you decent?” He asked from outside the tent, letting his normal drawl tinge his voice as he added, “Though I wouldn’t mind if you weren’t decent.”

“Astarion?” She asked from inside. “Come in.”

He lifted the flap of her tent and stepped in. She was standing in the center of her tent, a crude, wooden comb in her hand — he recognized it a little bitterly as the one that Halsin had whittled for her. She must have just come from the nearby stream, because her hair was still damp and hanging in tangled tendrils, a sharp contrast to the dreadful braid she normally kept it in.

“Are you hungry?” She asked, blinking up at him owlishly. Astarion ignored the bubble of irritation in his gut. He couldn’t seek her out unless he was hungry? Though to be fair, which Astarion was not, the only times he did were when he was hungry.

“No, no,” he lied dismissively, waving his hand airily. Now to disprove his theory. “Darling, I can take care of that for you,” he offered, closing the distance between them and reaching for the comb.

To his dismay, she shied away from him swiftly with a nervous laugh, putting that cursed two feet of space between them again and nearly stumbling over her own bedroll in the process. “No, I got it, but thank you—”

“I don’t bite, you know,” Astarion blurted, half-irritatedly, half-miserably. She shot him a raised brow and quickly, he waved his hand dismissively. “Okay, fair point, I do bite, but you already know what it’s like, so there’s really no reason for you to jump out of your skin the moment I’m in an arm’s distance from you.”

“Well,” she said, not quite able to look him in the eye as she inched back imperceptibly. Astarion huffed under his breath at the sight. “I didn’t think you liked being touched.”

Astarion stared at her for a moment, expression slack. “Darling, what in your sweet mind has you thinking that?” He dropped his voice in a well-rehearsed manner. “Haven’t I been clear with you in my propositions that I’d like to be more than touched by you?”

A pained expression flitted across her face, but it disappeared tactfully. He only caught it because he was studying her carefully, quick to pick up any changes. She bit the inside of her cheek. “You told everyone not to touch you.”

Oh. Oh. He did have a vague memory of sneering, “Don’t touch me,” at the start of their travels. But he hadn’t expected anyone to respect it, let alone remember it. He felt like she had just clubbed him over the head and sent him reeling.

“If it’s you, it’s fine,” Astarion said quickly. He found himself surprised to know that he meant it.

“Oh,” she blurted, mouth opening and then closing. She looked equally dumbfounded.

Perfect. This was the perfect moment he had been building towards, when her guard was down just enough for him to sink his teeth in. Metaphorically, of course.

Astarion took a step closer to her. And then another. She looked like she was ready to flee, but out of pure stubbornness, stood very still. They were so close now that he could feel her body heat rolling off her in waves. He held back a shiver.

Astarion skillfully let his posture slouch in an attempt to not tower over her, tilting his head to catch her gaze again. He had a plan. Proposition her, offer her his services so she could enjoy his range of touch. He’d say it coquettishly, perhaps brush her hair to the side. Maybe drag the tip of his finger down the angle of her jaw. Something that would make her cave, that would make her so starved for his touch that she would devote herself to him. That was the plan, he reminded himself, and this was the perfect moment—

 “Well, maybe if you said please once in a while,” she huffed mulishly, clearly just to regain face, though her gaze darted away from him in clear embarrassment as a dark flush began to bloom rapidly across her cheeks.

Astarion was clubbed over the head with the sudden, newfound realization that she looked wonderful when she was flustered. His fingers twitched — he wanted to cup her cheeks and confirm that her skin was as warm as it looked. He stared at her, entirely distracted by this line of thought, any previous thought melting away as he watched the blush spread to the tip of her ears. He was so entirely distracted by this new image of the monk, that without much thought or resistance—

“Please,” Astarion murmured in a soft sigh, the yearning in his voice an unfamiliar ache even to his own ears.

She swallowed thickly, her throat bobbing. Astarion’s vision would have normally pigeon-holed to her neck at the motion, but he couldn’t quite tear his gaze away from her hand as it raised slowly, palm up between them. And then she stopped, her hand hovering between them, her gaze intent on his, brows raised in almost a challenge. Astarion found himself moving by himself, his hand moving to rest uncertainly over hers.

Her hand was wondrously warm. 

“Is this okay?” She asked softly, as if not to spook a wild animal.

Astarion swallowed. How could he tell her that this was more than okay? That it felt like she was lighting him on fire with just a mere touch? That he would happily burn? That he was warmer than he had been in the past 200 years? “Yes,” he managed instead, voice tight. “This is nice.”

Encouraged, she covered his hand with her other one, the callouses on her fingers brushing against his skin. Gods. She was devastatingly warm. 

— — — — —

When Ketheric Thorm finally fell to Dame Aylin’s blade, Astarion breathed out a long sigh of relief, undocking his arrow as he surveyed the mess and rubble. From his higher vantage point, he did a quick headcount. Shadowheart and Aylin seemed to be in a private conversation, the latter handing the cleric Selune’s Spear of Night. Gale was putting his spellbook away, looking haggard, but otherwise in one piece.

Astarion frowned, scanning the tower again swiftly. He always had a mental tab on where the monk was in battle given that most of his arrows went into picking off enemies that he deemed too close to her — most of them, if he was being entirely honest. He could’ve sworn she had been by Ketheric Thorm when he fell, but he still couldn’t spot her. Swallowing back his growing panic, he turned to hurry down from the little cliff he had used as a vantage point.

“Astarion.” His alarm melted away instantly at the sight of his monk straightening from where she had hauled herself up. The thought that she had sought him out after the battle sent a pleased thrill through him. “I never understand how you get to these places,” she huffed, brushing her bloodied hands against her tattered robes. He really wished she wore armor.

“Are you hurt?” He asked, reaching out to cradle her wrists and inspect her fists. He really wished she used her staff more. His stubborn monk. “As much as I love blood, this is quite a lot.”

“Not mine,” she said with a tired, but triumphant grin. Astarion thought he couldn’t tire of seeing her post-battle, breathless and beaming, even if she was covered in blood and grime. They stood staring and grinning at each other perhaps foolishly for a moment longer. “I can’t believe we did it,” she said finally, eyes still bright.

“I can,” he huffed as he rubbed his thumbs over her wrists, marveling at the warmth of her hands. “With a monk as stubborn as you are, I wouldn’t be surprised if you found a way to punch mindflayers back to their original form until your hands are just nubs. You really ought to stay out of the front lines,” he chided half-heartedly.

“But I have these hands watching after me,” she said, twisting her hands in his so that she could grasp his hands. Astarion stilled instantly, fighting the urge to close his eyes to immerse himself in the warmth of her hands. “Thank you for picking off the Necrolites.” Before he could respond with a shrug or a huff, she brought his hand towards her.

Astarion’s brain, for lack of better words, short-circuited as he watched and felt her lips press gently against his palm. Gods, the post battle adrenaline made her bold.

Inwardly, Astarion hoped for more battles to come in their near future. 

“Oh,” he blurted inelegantly, dead heart jumping back to life in his chest. “Do that again.” A pause. “Please.”

He could feel her lips curve into a smile against his palm. She pressed a firmer kiss against it again before brushing a ghost of a kiss against his fingertips and then one more against his wrist, as if she was feeling for a heartbeat. Astarion sighed, curling his fingers around her jaw.

“Oh,” she hummed, her eyes tracking over his face carefully. He felt entirely wrong-footed, as if he was losing a battle he didn’t know he was in. “You’re blushing.”

He jolted, scowling. “I don’t blush,” he retorted, before correcting himself. “I can’t blush.” In a poor attempt to distract her, he glared down at her a little impatiently. A little shamelessly. “Anyways, aren’t you here for your victory hug?”

Xuan arched her brow as she stepped closer. Astarion fought the urges to flee and close the gap between them and instead stood very still as she stepped even closer until there was only a hair's width between them. And then she paused, as she always did, a question in her stillness. Is this okay? 

To answer, Astarion closed the gap between them, looping his arm around her to place his hand against the small of her back. In all honesty, he was still getting used to it, his actions clumsy and stiff at times. But she never pushed him, instead always letting him take the next step in closing their distance. Once he did, she shifted a little in his arms to wriggle her arms around his waist. 

“You’re getting blood on me,” he huffed softly, though he made no move to shift away from her. Instead, he dropped his head to rest his forehead in the junction of her neck. He let his eyes flutter close as he marveled at how warm she was.

“I thought you liked that,” she said. He could almost hear the coy smile in her voice. 

Astarion sighed in defeat, smiling against her skin. “Only if it’s you.”

— — — — —

my masterlist

a/n: if u liked this, i would love to read ur thoughts tee hee it's always honestly a giant encouragement to write more when i read everyone's comments + i can't tell if i'm writing him ooc!

[1997thebracket]

Round 4

Blur's Self-Titled: And when she lets me slip away… Some bands make their debut with an eponymous album (Placebo did the year before, as would Albarn's second great success Gorillaz) but Blur knew that declaration of self-actualizion was worth saving. Blur by Blur is the fifth studio album by the acclaimed English pop-rock-alternative-shoegaze-anything that'll stick-band, fronted by 90s coverboy Damon Albarn. The album brought us the singles Beetlebum and Song 2, the former of which debuted at #1 on the UK charts, and the latter of which would properly break in the US and give the band the footing on American soil they'd previously missed. Woo-hoo! Despite its mainstream success (the album is certified Platinum) Blur has a distinctly more experimental sound than their Britpop classics and explores rougher indie production sentiments; guitarist Graham Coxon centers his widening musical tastes and produces some of his proudest work, while Albarn has stated that the track On Your Own may be regarded as the first taste of Gorillaz-before-Gorillaz. Although it would not be the end of the road for the band's internal turmoil and eventual reconciliation, it would come to represent an era of growth and emotional authenticity in their music.

Mario Kart 64: You're in a car with a beautiful boy, and he won't tell you that he loves you, but-- goddammit, blue shell! Mario Kart 64 is a classic racing game for the Nintendo 64 console, and the second in the Mario Kart series. Sailing overseas in early 1997 for the Western market, it featured eight recognizable characters from the Mario franchise (in later years, a free-for-all selection of beloved Nintendo characters would appear regardless of their prior connection with Mario) racing for death or glory on gaudy, self-referential, and otherwise nostalgic tracks littered with power-ups and hazards. The point of Mario Kart is not so much winning a race as it is systematically breaking down your real-life relationships with other players through sabotage, subterfuge, and guerilla tactics (gorilla tactics, if you're Donkey Kong.) The game introduced 3D track design and four-player support to the franchise and is renowned for iconic courses like Rainbow Road and Wario Stadium, as well as birthing two harbingers of chaos: the infamous blue shell and the powerslide mechanic.

[foundmywei]

Boreo Fanfic Recs

Here are my favorite boreo fics, I will be updating this as I read more. Enjoy!

(last updated on 12/05/23)

Masterpost

sunday morning (and i'm falling) by thenewgothicromance

post-canon

(11,424 words | Not Rated | Chapters: 1/1)

“How long will he be staying with you?” Mrs. Barbour asks him one evening, when he mentions that Boris will be picking him up after dinner.

“I’m not sure,” he tells her, keeping the details, as always surrounding Boris, as vague as possible. “Just until he figures something else out.”

Mrs. Barbour clicks her tongue at him.

“You have such a kind heart, Theo. Be careful you don’t let him take advantage of you.”

you are my sweetest downfall. by punkrockdog

post-canon

(22,530 words | General Audiences | Chapters: 1/1)

There's nothing wrong with sleeping with his best friend of almost ten years on a regular basis.

If Theo tells himself this enough, he might start to believe it.

a symphony of love in several movements. by theweakestthing

post-canon

(29,364 words | Mature | Chapters: 5/5)

It reminded him of the version of Musée Rodin’s The Kiss that sat in the Tate’s collection, pockmarked and scarred from sitting in a parlour among soldiers during the war, but still standing as a testament to the carnal desires of two lovers. Twisted around each other, hands on the bed between them, their positions almost exactly mirrored that of the sculpture. The thought that together they could be a work of art pushed Theo forward.

Alternatively titled: Theo Decker needs to get his shit together.

the red sun by thefinnkinnie (orphan_account)

vegas era

(2,705 words | Not Rated | Chapters: 1/1)

Theo slid his tongue across his lower lip, considering the choice. Sober, he would be safe. These thoughts in his head, about Boris, about feeling for the first time since the museum, they would disappear, tucked away in some fold of his mind, and Theo could sink back into his soft non-existence. He was nearly there anyways, close enough he could taste the gray on his tongue like cotton balls. It would be so easy.

And yet.

something in a major key by boxedblondes

post-canon

(7,454 words | Teen And Up Audiences | Chapters: 1/1)

“Why the fuck is it so busy?” Boris asks some hours later, twinkling lights a messy rainbow swirl around them, late December cold starting to eat a hole through Theo’s less-than-ideal camel’s-hair coat.

“It’s four days until Christmas, you idiot,” Theo says. “You should have had your weird holiday epiphany like a month ago.”

sound formed in a vacuum may seem a waste of time (it’s always been just the same) by theparadigmshifts

post-canon

(3,750 words | Teen And Up Audiences | Chapters: 1/1)

The year after Amsterdam, Theo follows his conscience; Boris follows Theo.

Neptune by pavlikovskyslittlebird

post-canon

(40,202 words | Mature | Chapters: 14/14)

Post Amsterdam, canon divergent, book and movie references.

Theo tries to figure things out while buying back the changelings.

"I must be a poster child prodigy

Thread by thread I come apart

If brokenness is a work of art

Surely this must be my masterpiece

I'm only honest when it rains

If I time it right, the thunder breaks

When I open my mouth

I wanna tell you but I don't know how

I'm only honest when it rains

An open book, with a torn out page

And my inks run out

I wanna love you but I don't know how"

Neptune-Sleeping at Last

Selling a Fake by argylemikewheeler

post-canon

(35,522 words | Explicit | Chapters: 3/3)

Theo didn’t fly home right away; he stayed in Antwerp and together, he and Boris flew back to New York. They start over, two troubled teenagers all over again. They’ve replaced scorching Vegas summers with chilling New York winters. It was never about the place anyway.

They’re together-- they’re something-- but Theo still struggles to be open to strangers passing by.

(PLUS an extended part two/epilogue to give us more comforting boyfriends and less internalized homophobia for Theo!)

overlap by rosekings

Antwrep

(12,886 words | Teen And Up Audiences | Chapters: 1/1)

“Promise me you’ll come. Eventually. Just…come see me. Sit still with me for a while.” He holds back everything else he wants to say. Get a place with me. Run the shop with me. Laugh and make dinner with me. Let me wake up next to you every morning and not have to worry if I’m never going to see you again.

“I promise.” Boris says it like it was already obvious, something that didn’t even need to be said. “Of course I promise.”

You're coming back and it's the end of the world by BalalaikaPattycake

post-canon

(89,940 words | Mature | Chapters: 17/17)

We spent hours joking and laughing at the bar over a bottle of vodka, our heads together, just like we had done as boys. Trying to convince myself that the only reason I was holding my hand on his shoulder, giggling in his ear, my face mere inches away from his, was because otherwise he wouldn't hear me over the music, even though he was the one doing most of the talking. I had been drinking considerably less than normal over the past few months, so it didn't take me long to start feeling disoriented and weirdly courageous, the mass of people around me blending into each other, becoming unidentifiable like droplets of water in an ocean, with only Boris standing out as a steady beacon of light.

Set after the book ends, Theo and Boris meet again after a year and half.

And Nothing Has Changed by WhyDoesEverythingHappenSoMuch

Amsterdam

(8,361 words | Mature | Chapters: 1/1)

“Potter, maybe you have one more drink and then try and tell me you are ‘not in the mood.” He raised a hand again, but before the waitress saw, I grabbed him by the leather-clad forearm and pulled his hand back down.

“Boris, I'm engaged.” I tried again in vain to make him understand the significance of that.

“Sure, but you are here with me, drinking with me, and you are going to get to know some very good girls with me.” I hadn’t realized, but somehow his fingers had ended up laced with mine.

___

Boris and Theo's first night in Amsterdam they wind up in a bar and Boris can't seem to get off the topic of how unfair it is that Kitsey is cheating. Boris thinks Theo should have his own extramarital fun too.

To quote Donna Tartt, "matters progress"

to remember your mouth, how it tasted true by nosecoffee

post-canon

(6,422 words | Teen And Up Audiences | Chapters: 1/1)

(i don’t smoke except for when i’m missing you)

*

Theo got it into his head that the cigarettes would start the chain reaction that would send them to early graves if they weren’t careful, all spouted into the darkness of Welty’s room, while Boris perched on the windowsill.

And yet, he had grinned and put out his cigarette on the ashtray there, and said, “Then of course I will stop.”

Which was so lovely at the time. It was significantly less lovely when he found Boris smoking in the bathroom three days later.

Repression is just a Love Language Best Ignored (Looking at you, Decker) by Lemonyfreshness

post-canon

(92,031 words | Mature | Chapters: 16/16)

It's a year after "The Incident," as what Theodore Decker liked to call it, that one strange turn of events in which his childhood best friend had come to reconvene and it had been interesting to say the least...But now he was back in the real world. And broke. And high out of his mind. And depressed as ever. Theodore Decker isn't one to naturally listen to reason but maybe he will when once again his morally-grey best friend with attachment issues comes back to save the day. Or at least try in his own way. Wish him luck.

Find Other Muses by deadspy

post-canon

(38,844 words | Explicit | Chapters: 6/6)

Theo folds and unfolds the old postcard from Boris. GREETINGS FROM KANSAS! it reads, same as it always has, but now it just feels like a taunt.

Ten years after Amsterdam, Theo and Boris find themselves, and each other, in the most unlikely of places.

philophobia. by theweakestthing

post-canon

(36,292 words | Mature | Chapters: 11/11)

philophobia [ fil-uh-foh-bee-uh ]:

(n.) (from Greek "φιλέω-φιλώ" (love) and "φοβία" (phobia)) the fear of falling in love or being in love. The risk is usually when a person has confronted any emotional turmoil relating to love. This affects the quality of life and pushes a person away from commitment. A negative aspect of this fear of being in love or falling in love is that it keeps a person in solitude. It represents certain guilt and frustration towards the reaction coming from inside.

Theo knows what the problem is, but that doesn't mean that he's going to do anything about it.

Little Bird by redborya

Amsterdam

(19,376 words | Teen And Up Audiences | Chapters: 6/6)

With The Goldfinch retrieved (and returned) Theodore Decker is left in Amsterdam wondering where to go and what to do from there. It seems simple enough at first. Return to New York, marry Kistey, and continue on his life as he had before. Boris, however, suggests the complete opposite.

The Before, After, and Forever by makkachincrossing

post-canon

(13,893 words | Explicit | Chapters: 4/4)

“The attack at The Met… That wasn’t the first explosion it had survived.”

“No?”

“No, a gunpowder factory exploded nearby Fabritius’ studio, killing him and destroying nearly all of his paintings,” I took a breath, unsteady. “But The Goldfinch… The Goldfinch survived.”

A hand on my shoulder. Long fingers, a firm squeeze, grounding me to earth. “You survived too, Potter.”

I looked to him, eyes aching behind my glasses.

“Life exploding around you. You survived. You, too, are Goldfinch.”

corrina, corrina by curlymcclain

(12,821 words | Mature | Chapters: 1/1)

canon-divergence, boris follows theo to new york

Seeing him here, in New York, surrounded by the deep browns and golds of Hobart and Blackwell, is so alien to me I have to repress the urge to pinch myself like a child would after a dream. It looks incorrect, him standing here. Like someone has taken a pair of scissors to my memories of him, cut him out of his rightful place on the abandoned playground, and pasted him sloppily into a corner of my life where he doesn’t belong. Has it only been a few weeks? It feels like ages longer, like it’s been a decade, like we’re different people trying to see what exactly we liked about each other so much way back when.

But then he says it again- “Potter.”- and that feeling vanishes as quickly as it arrived.

“You came,” I say dumbly.

He gives a cheery smirk that I don’t believe. “Promised I would.”

fragile (that much he could admit) by successsionhbo

(12,592 words | Explicit | Chapters: 1/1)

post-canon

Theo has been having nightmares after his trip to antwerp. Boris comes for a visit

heaven help the fool by BucketofWater

(12,140 words | Teen And Up Audiences | Chapters: 2/2)

vegas era + post-canon, soulmate AU

He knew why. He wished that he did not but deep down he knew. They both did, at one point or another. Maybe not in words, but it was between them all the same. The way that they knew that the sky was blue and how the sun-warmed sand burned like fire. Theo loved Boris and perhaps, although he was a fool to believe it, maybe Boris loved him a little bit too.

Alternatively: the soulmate au in which every significant person in your life leaves a smudge of colour on you.

I've got the story of us written (on my skin) by Thegoldenfnch (I_write_fanfiction_sometimes)

(18,017 words | Mature | Chapters: 5/5)

all eras, soulmates AU

My mother didn’t like to talk about the marks. I still don’t know if it’s because hers had all failed her (her first love didn’t love her back, her life-friend died, and her Life Partner, well, Dad didn’t believe in soulmates) or if it was for some other unknown reason. Maybe she just couldn’t answer the questions I’d asked, like why mine were all the same. After I was around eight I stopped asking, and by the time I was ten I’d stopped telling people. They never seem to know what to say. It was only when I got older —after my mother died, but before my dad came back— that I realized why. People never know how to react to what they view as a tragedy. 

------

or: No one talks about soulmarks, Theo is in denial about many things (as he usually is), and Boris never says the things that actually matter

A retelling. Now with soulmarks.

a study in inevitability by EdieFalcoRising

(14,523 words | Explicit | Series - 3 works)

post-canon

One time Theo leaves, one time Boris leaves, and the one time they make it work.

And twice more our paths crossed through the night by liminalweirdo

(2,506 words | Mature | Chapters: 1/1)

Antwrep

Takes place immediately after the end of the novel, in Boris's flat in Antwerp. Theo muses on the things they did as teenagers, and the tension between them finally reaches its breaking point. Almost.

I'm not living/I'm just killing time by lolneptune

(19,359 words | Explicit | Chapters: 3/3)

post-canon

Of course he had seen the journals. Pages and pages of rambling accounts, an encyclopedia. How could I have hidden it from the one living person who knew me?

So cruelly you kissed me by foundmywei

(4,096 words | Mature | Chapters: 1/1)

post-canon

The biggest problem with the two of us had never been whether or not we knew that we loved each other, but rather whether or not we would choose to be with one another.

Even after Boris and Theo start sleeping with each other, they struggle with talking about what they are and their feelings. Well, until an incident of jealousy forces them to.

a spring memorandum by yowler

(42,706 words | Mature | Chapters: 4/4)

WWII AU

In the dark where no one can see, Boris presses his lips to the thin knot of scar tissue over Theo’s wrist. It’s a request; for forgiveness, for absolution, for something neither of them has a name for.

“But you are alive,” he says, “you idiot.”

  (Theo and Boris meet during the war.)

the letter in the drawer by shamefulshameless

(4,136 words | Teen And Up Audiences | Chapters: 1/1)

post-canon

Before he left Amsterdam, Boris found an envelope with his name on it. He’d wanted to open it in Antwerp, but he was so caught up in it all- his wound and Theo’s illness and the high and the movies, all of it so strangely different and yet exactly the same as when they were kids- that he put it out of his mind. He didn’t want anything to interrupt them. Now, it’s like the envelope has expanded in size, every day growing bigger and bigger and threatening to crack his bedside table in two. He doesn’t know what’s stopping him, but whatever the letter contains, he knows Theo doesn’t want him to know about it. It could be nothing- there’s always been so much innocuous bullshit that Theo keeps to himself for no good reason. Or it could be something. It could be something that Boris would be content staying oblivious to. There are lots of things like that.

Uncle Francis to the rescue by foundmywei

(32,582 words | Mature | Chapters: 8/8)

post-canon

“Oh! By the way, how is your man doing?”

I blinked, confused. "My what?"

"Your man? About 5'9, dark curly hair, gorgeous green eyes, looked vaguely European…?"

"Excuse me?" He couldn't mean…

"You know, the guy who whisked you away from your engagement party?" Mr. Abernathy raised an eyebrow suggestively.

Or, how Francis accidentally ended up becoming Theo's unofficial uncle and got involved in the stupidest love drama of the 21st century when all he wanted was to learn some juicy gossip.

[crmsnmth]

September Sky Chapter One, Part One

-467 "A little bruised never hurt anything." "I really wish you'd reconsider this, Chris," Erin said as she looked at me from across the desk. She was my English professor's aide. I had just told her I was done. I was dropping out. This wasn't the life for me, and I no longer had the will to try and make it work. "I really think you're going to regret it."

"There's nothing to reconsider. This just isn't the path for me." I said quietly. Erin had for some reason taken me under her wing during my short time at the UW-Milwaukee. I was quiet to a fault, but Erin didn't let it be. She would always say hello and always try to have a conversation with me. That's just who she was. She was a rainbow for the alternative kids. My guess is that at one point in her life, she was part of the loser's club.

She looked at me with her big brown eyes. It looked like she was reading some unknown words on my face. In front of her, on the desk, sat a small stack of papers, paper clipped together. She picked it up.

"I've read this," she said, showing me the short story I had written earlier in the month. "It's really good. It's original, it's interesting, and you have a style all your own. You don't want to pursue this?"

I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing. I didn't think the story was all that good. It was a confusing mess about a guy who ends up falling in love with one of his own hallucinations. I liked the idea, but my execution was awful, in my opinion. We are our worst critics.

"You could go somewhere with this," she flipped through the pages. I could see red pen marks all over it, marking spelling errors and broken grammar.

"I don't need a degree to write, Erin. This place just isn't for me. It wasn't for me when I did the two semesters in Waukesha, and it isn't for me here in Milwaukee. I didn't even want to do this in the first place." I said, trying to make her see my side, but she wouldn't. And I knew that. Nobody really would, unless they got a taste of the anxiety and mental health issues.

I wasn't always like this. At one point, I was loud and obnoxious. I was a major extrovert, living life like I was immortal. Things happen and people change, and now I'm the exact opposite. I spend most of my time alone. I don't mind it really. I've grown to maybe even like my isolation.

"No. You're right, you don't. But it couldn't hurt either," Erin sighed, putting my story back on the desk. I could see its title, 'Nothing's Real That Matters,' and thought how stupid of a title it was. It was circled in red ink that I sure as hell didn't put there.

"Erin, I appreciate it but..."

"I'm not going to talk you out of this, am I?" She interrupted me and finished my sentence with a question. A question that was exactly what I was going to say.

"No. Nobody is. I'm done."

She sighed again, studying me with those doe eyes. A few loss strands of her blonde hair, fell out of her ponytail and into her face. She made no effort to push them away. Finally, she leaned back in her chair and put her arms up. She wouldn't understand, but she wasn't going to try and change my mind anymore. She had reached her resignation.

"Can I keep this?" She asked, pointing to the packet of papers on the desk. I nodded at her. It wasn't like it was the only copy. "Thanks. I'm keeping this for the day you end up famous for this kind of stuff."

I laughed at her. "Never going to happen."

[frostcorpsclub]

'Keep it together Cryssy, you just gotta deal with little miss gremlin twat for a couple hours'

The frozen woman sighed as she set the cookies Jack had made onto a plate. How she wished her husband were here right now but of course today had to be hunting day with the boys and Claudia.

Crystal didn't like Suzy. She would have liked to get to know her, talk to her since they are both married to variants of Jack, but.... differences got in the way. Not for Crystal, but for Suzy. It seemed everything about Crystal was wrong in Suzy's eyes, and Crystal really really really didn't want to deal with her today but hey, she had to.

She looked towards the portal that rested in the living room every now and then, taking a bite out of a cookie herself. It tasted of blood, fat, and white chocolate chips. Nice. Maybe some blood will cool her down while she waited.

They were for the kids, but she knew Didi wouldn't mind if she took one. She was sweeter than a cake made of rainbows. Which was also why the play-date was happening. The little princess inviting a new friend.

"MAMA!"

Speaking of-

"Are they coming yet? I've got the kool-aid in the tea pot and turned Just Dance on!" The little Di-Di grinned, gesturing towards the living room where said things were indeed showing.

Crystal smiled at her young daughter's excitement. "Any second honey."

Hopefully.

Suzy clutched the edge of her vanity so hard there was claw marks on the surface, despite the fact she was wearing gloves.

She had done things that would make hardened detectives cower in a pool of their own vomit but this time reality was going to have to take her kicking and screaming.

A play date at those people's house.

Normally she was the type of mother that made other parents feel like they were just bad at their jobs but today she truly struggled. Maybe Jane would simply...get over it? She handed out lies to her children like they were cookies all the time.

She told herself that it wasn't a matter of personal pettiness. As a mother it was her job to raise her children with the right decorum and values, going into a home where there was no clear hierarchy in sight just wouldn't do. The man of the house just did whatever that woman told him to do. On top of it that was somehow an alternate version of her husband. She wasn't sure whether the idea made her want to laugh or made her stomach turn with rage.

As her mind tumbled down the spiral staircase of her thoughts she stared at herself in the mirror, the rest of the world falling away.

"Mommy? Is everything alright Mommy?"

A soft voice called out, the feeling of a mitten like hand patting her leg pulling her back. There stood her daughter, almost as tall as her already. Suzy immediately began to pat Jane's sides, pulling here prodding there, making the plaid coat she wore as tidy as possible.

"May I bring these with me Mommy? I think she would quite like them."

Suzy looked to the collection of books that Jane held, the titles beyond her ages normal reading level making her beam with pride. This smile stayed as she studied the rest of the girls face, her meek voice and expression matching the fragile form it came from.

Suzette began to ponder if this would do Jane some good. Crystal's children were quite, how would she put it kindly, generic. Perhaps Jane wouldn't feel as pressured to perform and come put of her shell. Even further, Suzy herself saw her as much grander than her own mother, perhaps Crystal's children could come to impress her. It was almost complimentary.

However, it came out as...

"Yes you may Jane darling, I would wager that your new friend is a tad behind as one might say."

She waltzed out of the bedroom and took a stop at the kitchen to pick up a little something she was going to bring with her. No matter what she felt about Crystal, today she was hostess and Suzy was guest.

----------------

On the other end of the portal Suzy stood like a statue, holding the tupperware to her chest and staring into Crystal's eyes. Her smile almost stretched off of her face, not a nerve or wrinkle or a tearduct twitching.

It was almost like she was just Jane's accessory.

Jane rolled forward and curtseyed using the edges of her coat.

"Hello Mrs. Frost. How are you today? You have a lovely home. My name is Jane! May I please play with your daughter?"

[dweemeister]

2022 Movie Odyssey Award for Best Original Song (final results)

TAGGING (even some folks who didn’t do this but I hope will join/rejoin us someday): @addaellis, @emilylime5, @exlibrisneh​, @halfwaythruthedark, @idontknowmuchaboutmovies, @introspectivemeltdown, @machpowervisions, @maximiliani, @memetoilet​, @metamatar, @myluckyerror​, @phendranaedge, @plus-low-overthrow, @rawberry101, @rosymeraki-blog, @shadesofhappy​, @shootingstarvenator, and @theybecomestories, @umgeschrieben, @underblackwings, and @yellanimal

Hello everybody,

This is being sent much later than it has been in the past, but hopefully the first few weeks of 2023 have been treating you all well. Whether or not you participated in 2022′s Movie Odyssey Award for Best Original Song (MOABOS) final, I thank you for your consideration, your time, and your support. This was, as many of you know, the tenth edition of MOABOS and the ninth with outside involvement from family, friends, and tumblr followers. This strange little tradition has some history behind it now. Stunning upsets, controversy, runaways and nailbiters, my friends asking what is up with the musical taste from my other friends, and much more.

Only the basics can be found in the body of this post (if you did those over email, I also sent you some details over Excel). The “read more” includes the ten Best Picture winners for this year's Movie Odyssey Awards.

Over the last few years, we've alternated between upset winner and mainstream winners. Last year for the 2021 edition of MOABOS, the upset winner was "Lullaby in Ragtime" from The Five Pennies (1959) - stunning the prohibitive favorite, Billie Eilish's title song from No Time to Die (2021). That year saw parity at the top (when you used the points system used in the preliminary). Only two points separated 1st and 3rd last year.

This year was a two-horse race and it was apparent, from less than a dozen rankings submitted, the direction this year's edition of MOABOS was going. Once more, MOABOS alternates between an upset and the mainstream. This year was decidedly mainstream.

First, the standings on points. It should be noted that MOABOS 2022/MOABOS X smashed 2019's participation record for the final. Up from 33 rankings received (including yours truly), this year we had 40 participants in the final (and we still had people who i invited who didn’t have time/didn’t participate).

STANDINGS ON POINTS (USED ONLY AS A SECONDARY TIEBREAKER... the actual final result is the list below this one). Using the method used in the preliminary round, the count would’ve looked like this (“Song”, Film title (points) / #1 votes).:

“9 to 5”, 9 to 5 (255) / 9

“Someone’s Waiting for You”, The Rescuers (229) / 7

“Why Should I Worry?”, Oliver & Company (172) / 1

“A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow”, A Mighty Wind (163) / 4

“Island in the Sun”, Island in the Sun (149) / 1

“Johnny Guitar”, Johnny Guitar (145) / 2

“Tomorrow is the Song I Sing”, The Ballad of Cable Hogue (144) / 3

“I’ll Never Stop Loving You”, Love Me or Leave Me (144) / 3

“Love Survives”, All Dogs Go to Heaven (135) / 4

“A Journey to a Star”, The Gang’s All Here (128) / 3

“Never Look Back”, Love Me or Leave Me (121) / 1

“Good Morning”, Babes on Broadway (114) / 1

“Pillow Talk”, Pillow Talk (113) / 1

“No Love, No Nothin’”, Love Me or Leave Me (73) / 0

 “A Mighty Wind”, A Mighty Wind (71) / 0

Using the points system tiebreaker alone, 9 to 5 ran away on points. It is the second-largest point differential in a final ever, behind only the result in 2017. That year, “Remember Me (Recuérdame)” from Coco (2017) beat out “Knockin' on Heaven's Door” by 39 points. That year also marked the final year - due to too many participants ranking only one, two, or three songs on their rankings - I used the points system above as the primary tabulation method to determine the winner.

One more note here: "Tomorrow is the Song I Sing" and "I'll Never Stop Loving You" were separated on the tiebreak which averages out both song's placement on my rankings and my sister's rankings. Taken together, the former averaged higher than the latter.

THE OFFICIAL TABULATION FOLLOWS AND DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE READ-MORE. We used a single transferable vote (which is explained visually here). With 30 votes, a song needed 50% + 1 vote of all #1 and transferred votes to be declared a winner. Thus, a song needed 16 votes to win. One ballot was discarded midway through the count due to that person ranking ten songs, but having their top ten completely eliminated as the count progressed. Thus, the magic number to win was lowered to 15. The top ten songs became nominees; the bottom five are considered honorable mentions:

2022 Movie Odyssey Award for Best Original Song (FINAL STANDINGS)

“9 to 5”, Nine to Five (1980)

“Someone’s Waiting for You”, The Rescuers (1977)

“A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow”, A Mighty Wind (2003)

“Johnny Guitar”, Johnny Guitar (1954)

“Love Survives”, All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)

“Tomorrow is the Song I Sing”, The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970)

“I’ll Never Stop Loving You”, Love Me or Leave Me (1955)

“A Journey to a Star”, The Gang’s All Here (1943)

“Island in the Sun”, Island in the Sun (1957)

“Why Should I Worry?”, Oliver & Company (1988)

“Never Look Back”, Love Me or Leave Me

“Good Morning”, Babes on Broadway (1939)

“Pillow Talk”, Pillow Talk (1959)

“No Love, No Nothin’”, The Gang’s All Here

“A Mighty Wind”, A Mighty Wind

NR (honorable mention because I couldn't find a replacement audio/video in time for the final after the Criterion Collection copyright striked it): “Nous sommes seuls dans la forêt (We Are Alone in the Forest)”, music and lyrics by Armand Bernard, Philippe Parès, and Georges Van Parys, Le Million (1931, France)

The bottom five and “Nous sommes seuls dans la forêt (We Are Alone in the Forest)” all received honorable mentions. The top ten received nominations.

SUMMARY

Composed by Dolly Parton, the title song from Nine to Five wins it in a (mostly) comfortable affair. It took - as detailed further in the attached spreadsheet - the full 12 counts for it to eventually emerge victorious, but it does so here. From the 1980 workplace revenge comedy film of the same name co-starring Parton with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dabney Coleman, Elizabeth Wilson, and Sterling Hayden, "9 to 5" was Parton's breakthrough outside of country music circles into pop music. She received an Academy Award nomination, two Grammys, and the #78 spot for the American Film Institute's (AFI) admittedly flawed "100 Years, 100 Songs" list (flawed because the list includes songs not original to their respective movies).

Along with the likes of "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" (most associated with Whitney Houston, but the writing credits are all Parton's), "9 to 5" is among her most recognizable hits outside of country music circles. Parton is damn funny in 9 to 5, as well as another movie I saw her in this year, the 1982 musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. For whatever reason, Hollywood hasn't been knocking on her door to star in more musical films. Our loss. Will Parton appear in MOABOS again? Given her limited filmography, probably just one more time, but goodness knows when that will be. "9 to 5" is the first MOABOS winner to be confined completely to an opening or closing credits; the song is never reprised and its melody is never quoted in the film's score. 2016 MOABOS winner "Stayin' Alive" first appears in the film's opening credits, but is reprised later in Saturday Night Fever (1977). It is the first 1980s MOABOS winner.

Runner-up "Someone's Waiting for You" benefitted from a greater number of people who had previously watched The Rescuers (1977) more than I anticipated. Set aside the song's instrumentation, and, lyrically, it sounds like something composed in the late '40s or '50s. It was, as many of you have related to me, the tearjerker for this year's edition of MOABOS. In third was "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow", with Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara as the fictional folk music duo of Mitch & Mickey. A Mighty Wind, a mockumentary sending up American folk music, leads up to that very moment - the emotional climax to one of the better Christopher Guest mockumentaries. We'll see the Christopher Guest mockumentary troupe another day on MOABOS.

Elsewhere, we had a few people make their MOABOS debuts, all overdue. Harry Belafonte was more of a recording artist and civil rights activist than he was a film star, but his calypso title song for Island in the Sun is a good introduction for many of you to one of the smoothest entertainers in the business in the second half of the last century. We'll see Harry again.

Two blonde singers that represented their respective contracted studios also made impressions here. We've seen Doris Day (Warner Bros.) here before, having made her debut last year (I really, really should have had multiple Doris Day entries in 2013, but that was in the before-times when younger me wasn't sure what to make of her ughhh). Over the last few years, I've been so happy to see so many of you take to Doris - a brilliant singer, an underrated comedic and dramatic actress due to her image hoisted upon by the media. Doris will be back another time.

And of course, debuting this year was Alice Faye (20th Century Fox). In the decades since Faye's star burned brightest (1930s and early '40s), the singer with the distinctive alto has seen her work buried by a studio that did not see much value making their older movies easily accessible to the general public (as opposed to Warner Bros., who own the pre-May 1987 MGM and RKO libraries, too). In recent years, Fox was bought by Disney - a company also known for not making available selections deep in their back catalogue - and encountering these Old Hollywood Fox movies comes once in a blue moon. Hopefully we get luckier more often than not. Alice will make another MOABOS appearance some day.

CONCLUSION

MOABOS is only a small glimpse into the larger 2022 Movie Odyssey. But I hope you enjoyed even this sliver of a look into that moviewatching journey.

“9 to 5” joins our past winners for MOABOS:

2021: “Lullaby in Ragtime” from The Five Pennies (1955)  

2020: “Can't Help Falling in Love” from Blue Hawaii (1961)

2019: “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”     from The Perils of Pauline (1947)

2018: “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” from Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955)

2017: “Remember Me (Recuérdame)” from Coco (2017)

2016: “Stayin’ Alive” from Saturday Night Fever (1977)

2015: “Amhrán Na Farraige” from Song of the Sea     (2014)

2014: “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie (1979)

2013: “The Gold Diggers’ Song (We’re In the Money)” from Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

The 1970s was one placement away from a third winner, which would have broken a tie with the 1950s and 2010s. Among all full decades since synchronized sound was introduced to movies, only the 1990s and 2000s have yet to get on the board.

Once more, thank you all for participating in 2022′s Movie Odyssey Award for Best Original Song. Thank you for your friendship, time, effort, and personal support over this last year.

I end every year not quite knowing if we are going to do MOABOS for the following year. There are many factors going into it, and I never know what movies might come my way by the year's end. So it is my hope that I will see you again next year, for what will be the eleventh edition of the Movie Odyssey Award for Best Original Song. Until then. 

40 ballots were submitted; twenty-one #1 votes and transferred votes needed to win

2ND COUNT: One vote from “Pillow Talk” to “Someone’s Waiting for You”

3RD COUNT: One vote from “Good Morning” to “Johnny Guitar”

4TH COUNT: One vote for “Never Look Back” to Island in the Sun”

5TH COUNT: One vote for “Why Should I Worry?” to “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow”

6TH COUNT: Two votes for “Island in the Sun” to “9 to 5”

7TH COUNT: One vote for “A Journey to a Star” to “9 to 5″, another for “Someone’s Waiting for You”, another for “Johnny Guitar”

8TH COUNT: One vote for “I’ll Never Stop Loving You” to “Johnny Guitar”. The others to “Someone’s Waiting for You” and “9 to 5″.

9TH COUNT: One vote for “Tomorrow is the Song I Sing” to “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow”. Another to “Johnny Guitar”, another to “Someone’s Waiting for You”.

10TH COUNT: All four votes for “Love Survives” to “9 to 5″.

11TH COUNT: For the six votes for “Johnny Guitar”, two went to “9 to 5″, two went to “Someone’s Waiting for You”, and one went to “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow”. One ballot was discarded. 39 ballots remain; 20 to win.

12TH COUNT: For the seven votes for “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow”, four went to “9 to 5″ and two went to “Someone’s Waiting for You”. One ballot was discarded. 38 ballots remain; 20 to win.

“9 to 5″ won on the 12th and final count - 23 ballots to 15.

[hannahraehum]

My Manifesto: View Life Through Rose-Tinted Glasses.

Stop and Smell the Roses… Please!

After reviewing my previous posts from the beginning of the class semester in late June to the most recent post of just yesterday, August 5th, I have noted the pattern throughout my blogs. Ever since I was a small kid I was taught to view life around you with a careful eye or it will whiz by. The perfectly shaped heart pool of water beneath your sweating cup could be easily dismissed, and quickly passed over, but if given a few moments to gaze at the average person would be surprised how beautiful the world is around them. A butterfly or moth is just that to some, but watch her for a while and you may capture her taking a rest on a leaf or landing on your shoe before she takes off to her next destination. My manifesto is all about taking it all in, the good and the bad is all beautiful and something to learn from. View life through the lens of an artist and suddenly it's not so mundane.

During the review of my manifesto, I urge the viewer to listen to the soundtrack of my eighth post, titled The Sound of the Rainbow. Within it is six completely different songs to give a taste test of many genres and decades all under the theme of color. As you pass through the rainbow beginning with the first two shades of red and yellow, you may review two of my blog posts. The first is “Punta Gorda Sculptures” in which I share with the reader a slice of beauty from my hometown. My post covers the striking sculpture “Calostimucu,” a Native American head that represents great power and honor. Thousands drive by him each day off the port charlotte highway 41 bridge, he’s seen many through his 50 years of sitting there. What he represents to every passer byer will be different, the emotions he brings forth may be sadness, strength, honor, pride, or wonder. The next art piece in the post is “Ostriches” and the tower over a road in the Peace River Botanical Gardens. The man and woman loom over in their fancy red clothes, making the viewer feel small compared to the mighty giants. At this point, the song Red by Chevelle should overlap as you view my post and ponder over the pictures of the sculpture. Perhaps, passion or strength may pump up your energy while you consider the pisces of artwork.

When Orange plays by Zach Bryant you may review the post titled Casablanca and Lost in Translation in which I review these two films and analyze them. I want individuals to exit a film with more questions than answers, every movie and video should make the viewer intrigued even after the credits roll. Casablanca is an old film, but the cinematography has influenced so many after it. Many shows and films after it have referenced great and classic films. The plot may raise questions, like what would you do in the role of the main character, and have you ever had to give up a person you love for the greater good. The other film I analyze is an all-time favorite film for me, it represents a time in my life when loneliness ruled all and this film was my therapy. Has the reader ever had a relationship that existed only as a life lesson even if they existed in your timeline for a brief moment? What does aging mean to the reader, is it something beautiful or is it scary.

For the song Yellow, you will stop to smell the roses of my post titled Ekphrasis of the Kiss. In this post, I reviewed the stunning painting by one of my favorite artists, Gustav Klimt. I wanted to create an alternate point of view of the woman in the painting, even if it’s different from what Klimt intended. To me that is the beauty of art, otherwise, every piece of work would have instructions to read it. My manifesto urges the reader to view the painting and come up with how it makes them feel, and what the colors and textures suggest to you. Is it comforting, romantic, glamorous, suffocating, or empty? How does it relate to the viewer's psyche and life? My poem will not strike a chord with every reader, to some, the poem may be about how there is a pain in all romantic relationships, to others it may be about how some women experience men taking something from them without full consent.

An interpretation by a Ukraine photographer named Andrey Kezzyn 2022.

For the songs Green Light and Blue on Blue, the posts Unintentionally Picturesque and Ever is Over All come to mind. The prior is a post all about stopping to smell the roses via photographs taken by me. I walk the reader through five photos taken in various places in which I captured a visually beautiful moment that I didn't want to forget. Starting with the interior of a Kansas art museum, then a mini-golf course in Fort Myers, Florida, a lakeside dock in Kansas, an art museum in Sarasota, Florida, and a park in Estero, Florida. Can the viewer imagine being a part of the photos, what sounds and textures do they feel. At the Kansas art museum, the echoing sounds of discussion and small children screaming as they play, cutlery hitting the table, and soft cafe-style music playing over speakers. Can you feel the texture of the last photo, the dead oak leaves crunching beneath your feet and the soft moss hanging from the grand oak overhead? For the next post, I analyze the art film by Pipliotti Rist called Ever is Over All. The film can have many interpretations and the appreciation for what it could mean comes from inside. Reading my interpretation, what does the reader think when faced with difficult ideas like natural disaster being inevitable or being swallowed by a tsunami. The reader may find a strange comfort in knowing one day the world will revert to wild nature, the buildings and cars covered in sprawling plants and insects. 

The last song is a wild card, “Purple People Eater” is a Halloween classic and I think couples perfectly with my short story post called The Last Yupperknuffle which follows a made-up creature that is struggling to survive. Inspired by children's books and films, I want the reader to transport themselves to childhood wonder when the real world seemed light years away. Can you imagine the Yupperknuffle in your arms or the pain of being alone without its family? I was strongly inspired by the film called the Last Unicorn which came out in the 1970s and was based on a children's novel of the same title. It follows a Unicorn who is the last of her kind and her journey to find answers. I think as adults we can try to stray away from what it was like to be a kid, lost yet having fun and exploring. I urge the viewer to relate to their younger selves by doing what they used to love to do, like coloring books, and legos, playing outside, and finding fun shells at the beach. 

This concludes my manifesto with the overarching theme of taking it all in, stopping to truly feel and connect with the art around you. I have found that this class made me think and analyze a lot more than I had imagined and I’m urging others around me to do the same. I have shared and read my posts with some of my family and loved seeing their reactions. Some of the assignments made me quite surprised by my interpretations and analysis’ like the Ekphrasis when I had to create a poem. Suddenly, the idea and words came to me quite easily and I felt proud about how it turned out. In the end, my manifesto is about appreciating the world around you and not getting caught up in mundane patterns. Your knowledge is power and greatness can come from even the smallest actions!

[macaronyy-da-lame-guy]

Title: A Memorable Co-op Shift: Engaging Passengers and Exquisite Sushi Adventures

Introduction:

Working as a PSA (Passenger Service Agent) for Cathay Pacific Airlines can be an exciting and rewarding experience. From interacting with passengers to ensuring smooth operations, the role of a PSA is crucial in providing a positive travel experience. In this blog, I will share my recent co-op shift experience, highlighting a challenging situation with a passenger and a delightful sushi adventure with fellow students.

Engaging with Passengers and Overcoming Challenges:

During my co-op shift, the flight was full, and we had the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of passengers. While most interactions were pleasant, there was one particular challenge that required problem-solving skills and quick thinking. I encountered a passenger who had a connecting flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne, but he did not have a visa for Australia. This posed a significant problem as he needed to enter Australia during the layover.

As a PSA, it was crucial to remain calm and assist the passenger in finding a suitable solution. I promptly contacted the airline's supervisor and explained the situation. Together, we explored alternative options and found a solution. We arranged for the passenger to rebook his connecting flight to a later date, allowing him enough time to acquire the necessary visa. By communicating effectively with the passenger and collaborating with the airline's staff, we were able to alleviate the passenger's concerns and ensure a smooth travel experience.

A Sushi Adventure in Toronto's Finest Restaurant:

After a fulfilling co-op shift, my fellow students and I decided to treat ourselves to a well-deserved dinner. We chose to dine at the renowned sushi restaurant, Sushi Extravaganza, located in the heart of Toronto. This upscale establishment is known for its exquisite sushi creations and elegant ambiance, making it the perfect choice for a memorable evening.

As we settled into our seats, the aroma of freshly prepared sushi filled the air, tantalizing our taste buds. We began our culinary journey with the chef's special appetizer, the "Ocean Symphony." This dish consisted of delicate sashimi slices arranged artistically, featuring a medley of flavors from the sea. Each bite was a sensory delight, as we savored the freshness of the ingredients and the chef's meticulous attention to detail.

For the main course, we indulged in the "Dragon's Roll," a signature creation that combined succulent grilled eel, avocado, and cucumber, enveloped in a thin layer of sushi rice and topped with a drizzle of eel sauce. The combination of textures and flavors was a true masterpiece, leaving us in awe of the sushi chef's culinary expertise.

As the evening progressed, we explored a variety of sushi rolls, including the "Golden Tempura Roll" and the "Rainbow Roll," each showcasing unique ingredients and innovative presentations. The evening was filled with laughter, good conversation, and an appreciation for the artistry that went into each dish.

Conclusion:

My co-op shift as a PSA with Cathay Pacific Airlines provided both challenges and moments of joy. From assisting passengers in overcoming travel obstacles to indulging in a memorable sushi adventure, the day was a testament to the diverse experiences and opportunities that arise in the airline industry.

As a PSA, it is essential to approach challenges with a calm and problem-solving mindset, ensuring that passengers' needs are met to the best of our abilities. And after a long shift, treating ourselves to a fancy dining experience like the one we had at Sushi Extravaganza allows us to relax, bond with colleagues, and appreciate the finer things in life.

In the end, it's the combination of unique experiences and shared moments that make the journey as a PSA truly rewarding. It's the fulfillment of helping others and the joy of savoring the culinary

[americanmoths]

the DMV at the end of the rainbow

RED

“Do you think anybody has ever fallen in love at the DMV?” Harry nods at the Veela romance novel Draco’s reading — Red Hearts After Dark. The cover matches the blonde’s red sweatshirt, red pants, red socks and red trainers. A splash of color in the Department of Magical Vehicle’s gray waiting room.

Harry’s been waiting to get his flying motorcycle license renewed for … well, long enough that striking up a conversation with Draco Malfoy seems like a good idea.

“Nobody has ever had a single positive thought at the DMV let alone fallen in love,” Draco says.

“Sounds like a challenge then.”

Draco drops his book. He reaches down to pick it up, eyes narrowed and focused on Harry. “Are you flirting with me? What are you planning, Potter? Stop smiling. I’m an Unspeakable. I will figure out what is going on and I will put a stop to it—”

“Potter comma Harry,” the sole DMV employee calls. Perfect timing. Harry imagines Draco tossing and turning in his bed, trying to work through Harry’s plan. I bet his sheets are red. His bathrobe too. I bet he sleeps in red pajamas. I bet when he gets ready for bed he uses red toothpaste. I bet —

“Potter comma Harry,” the employee calls again.

ORANGE

Harry’s been at the DMV for 41 minutes when Draco walks in wearing an orange fringe jacket, orange jeans and orange cowboy boots. “Oh dear Merlin, you’re here again, Potter?”

“They misspelled the name on my license.” As Parry Hotter, not that Draco needs to know the specifics. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here on important Unspeakable business. Business I’m not allowed to speak of.”

“He keeps failing his driver’s test,” the DMV employee says.

“Steve!” Draco swears colorfully and in at least two languages, and Harry definitely Does Not find it endearing.

YELLOW

“Seems we need to renew the registration on the Ford,” Arthur reads off a yellow sheet of paper. “I’ll clear my schedule and go tomorrow afternoon.”

“I’ll go!” The beginnings of an idea start to take shape in Harry's brain.

GREEN

“I will do unspeakable things to you if you do something like this again.” Draco says. Harry’s wearing green glasses, a green hat and the green robes Luna made him buy so they could dress up as The Forbidden Forest for Halloween.

“We match,” Harry says. Draco’s in a green poncho and sage jeans. “Even though you’re not quite as committed as I am. Even my eyes are green.”

“This isn’t some flight of fancy, Potter. It’s important. How dare you.”

Draco grabs his green tote bag and marches out of the office. Harry stares at gray walls and tries not to think about eyes the same color.

BLUE

“I’m, ah, sorry. I didn’t realize the monochromatic thing was important to you. Maybe you should explain it to me?”

Draco crosses one blue ankle over the other. Studies him.

“When I was a kid, I had a blind chameleon. I could always find him. He’d be green on my desk; brown in the grass. Except. He was also eating the grass, and I didn’t realize for almost a month because I was too focused on how he was always the wrong color. I want people to notice what I want them to notice and not—”

He yanks the blue sleeve of his left arm up. What’s beneath is splotchy, tacky, multicolored. Harry traces the dark mark with his middle finger, travels up Draco’s arm, over his collarbone, neck, chin, lips. He holds the other boy’s face and leans forward, finally! —

The lights go off.

“DMV’s closed,” Steve says. “Both of you need to leave. Especially you, Parry comma Hotter. You didn’t even have an appointment today.”

Draco stares at Harry, almost tender. “Maybe I could drive you to my place then? I passed my test yesterday.”

PURPLE

Draco’s bedsheets are purple. At the end of the rainbow, Harry kisses him gold.

--

for @drarrymicrofic prompt: wait | on ao3

[bones-of-a-rabbit]

Saccharine Sentimental (and a little bit affectionate)

(Alternate title: Kissing teacher afterhours)

FlipparooAU Eclipse (’Solar’) x Reader oneshot ✨✨✨

based off the prompt of comparing hand sizes, but that’s only like a tiny part of it im so sorry shdfjd

pure fluff, Solar likes to make you flustered but in a wholesome way, kissing and cuddling and confessing in the sappiest way possible, Solar is a sucker trying hard to look smooth, Reader is even more of a sucker that is physically incapable of looking smooth at this time

-

You glanced around the daycare room, then made a very good attempt at a casual wander towards a pin board hung on the wall beside the security desk. It was hard to tell there was a board there, really- it was entirely smothered by stickers, pins, little kids’ art projects, messy attempts at kids writing their name for the first time, a few papers of very simple math plastered with gold stars… It was the embodiment of ‘sentimental value’ hung neatly on the wall beside a poster of a cat in glasses with a calculator beside it.  

… Okay, so maybe Solar’s tastes were a bit… tacky, but it was extremely endearing. At least to you. 

Solar was the ‘plex’s local preschool-daycare-attendant-combo animatronic, spending his working time teaching the kids very simple concepts and showing them how to make arts and crafts, sometimes telling them about the weather and how rainbows were made… Half the time, the kids weren’t really absorbing the knowledge, but he kept their attention and entertained them all the same. 

Today had been a crafts day. You stopped beside the desk to empty an armful of paper scraps into the recycling bin, dusting yourself off as you continued on your lazy closing-hours stroll through the room. 

You peaked around again. You could hear Solar humming somewhere in the daycare, far enough away that you felt confident in hurrying the last few steps. You reached into your pocket, feeling the edge of the pristine photograph you’d been carrying all day.

You paused in front of the board, giving it a scrutinizing once-over. There were at least a dozen of these boards hung up around the room, each laden with their own memorabilia, but this one was the most crowded- it was hard to find an empty space for the picture to fit into without covering some drawing or hiding a plastic star-shaped pin. You want it to fit in, but you also don’t want to shove anything aside to make room...

You hesitated, then pulled a square of tape from the dispenser on the desk and, quickly, pressed the picture into a spot and trapped it there. The heart pounding thrill of getting caught started to ease as you stepped back to admire your handiwork. 

It was a simple, slightly lopsided picture you’d taken several weeks back, of Solar smiling down at the kids as he read them some story. The kids were gathered all around him, laying on his legs and hugging pillows and giving him their rapt attention… It had been a sweet moment at the time, not exactly special considering he had nice moments with the kids thousands of times in a day, but… It was the best picture of Solar you’d seen… anywhere. And it helped you feel a little like you belonged in this place, too, had contributed in some way and could be as comfortable in it as Solar always was.

You were so lost in thought that you didn’t register the sound of quiet humming coming up behind you.

“...hmm hmm-mm, how very, very sweet it will seem…” 

A pair of long, slim hands rested on your shoulders, then turned you as a dancer might twirl their partner. 

“... once more just to dream, in your moonlight.”

Solar grinned, tapping your nose lightly with a fingertip before bringing you to a stop in the same position you had been in when he had first reached you. You clutched at your chest, dizzy mostly from the surprise rather than the movement.

“What are you up to?” Solar hums, stooping slightly to lean over you- you still hadn’t found out if he was a really tall seven feet or actually the eight he seemed to fill every room with- to follow your gaze properly. You laughed a little, hoping he wouldn’t notice your newest addition to the board right away- you had wanted it to be a pleasant surprise for him to find at some point in the future.

“Just admiring your scrapbook,” you joked, touching one child’s drawing of Solar standing beside a giraffe. “You have quite the fanclub, I think.”

He hummed happily, one arm reaching over your shoulder to smooth the corner of a tiny paper chain of people holding hands. “Little scholars, not fans.”

You chuckled, rolling your eyes. “You know, the other animatronics here are tickled pink to have fanclubs of their own. But you get drawings like these daily and you want to downplay how much the kids love you.”

He let out a warm, cheerful hum. It’s something he does often, and you’ve spent enough time here with him that you’ve come to know which hum or purr or chuckle means what. His voice is naturally soothing, the hums and gentle, sometimes simplistic sentences he uses enough to lull you into easy relaxation without even trying. You wondered if that had been the point of his design, or if he had developed such a habit on his own. 

“Love is… often unappreciated. Especially by those with… fans.” He murmured above you, still stooped over you- warm and close but somehow not making you feel trapped. “But not here.”

You tilted your head back to look at him more clearly. He peaked back at you, smiling wider as he did. He blinked curiously, a silent ‘what is it?’, and you smiled back, laughing a little.

“Feeling especially sentimental?”

He hummed, leaning down enough to lounge his chin on top of your head. Taking that as a yes, you rolled your eyes and leaned into him slightly- it had been a long day, and Solar always was easy to lean on, comforting and warm and safe... You looked back at the board, watching Solar’s long, elegant fingertips trace the edge of one hand-drawn Valentine’s card received from a child sometime last year. You looked over the board yourself, wondering if there was some pattern you couldn’t see at a glance.

You reached out to straighten one drawing of a bunch of clouds and sunshine. Solar’s fingers drifted across to your wrist, then walked lightly down to cover the back of your hand, then to shadow your own fingers. You snickered, a little ticklish, but humored him and let his hand lay over yours, barely hovering over your own. His hands were warm and smoother than the finest polish silver.

You paused in admiring his hands to fully register the way his hand completely covered your own. You couldn't help but laugh, wiggling your fingers to tap at the underside of his. 

“Hm?”

You had to force aside the giggles, taking a deep breath. “Sorry. It’s just that, your hands are… a lot bigger than mine.”

“Hmm…”

He held still for a moment, then pulled back from his hover over you. You turned to face him and he grasped your hand, tugging lightly so you followed him to the section of the daycare room dedicated for the most comfortable naps and reading times known to mankind. He dropped into a cross-legged sit elegantly, patting the spot in front of him invitingly. You raised an eyebrow, confused, but did as suggested and sat, mirroring his own position.

“Okay, we’re both sitting now. Now what?”

He positively beamed, then held out his hand. You looked at it, again confused, then, tentatively as you waited for him to correct you, put your hand in his. He nodded, looking at you more softly now. 

With an easy adjustment of his hand under yours, he lined up your hands so they were palm-to-palm, fingers splayed. You blinked dumbly, then laughed. Oh! You should have realized. He loved little things like this- something as small as comparing your hand to his made him so soft he looked more like a star-shaped cloud than anything. 

He pressed his hand to yours and you straightened yours so your palms were more evenly aligned. His palm was about as wide as yours, but longer, but his fingers certainly made up the difference- long enough that he could curl his fingertips over the tops of yours if he wanted to. 

You traced the pale, lavender-hinted silvery edges of his fingers in the places they were about as wide as yours. It was a soft color, and slightly shimmery- as though dusted with the smallest stars. It was… a very nice color, you thought to yourself, wiggling your fingers against his. It hadn’t been one of your favorites before you met him, but now… It was definitely a strong contender.

You missed the gentle, dreamy look on his face before he shifted his hand slightly, fingers slotting between yours as though made for that purpose above everything else. His fingers curled to cover your hands in his, your much smaller palm being almost entirely hidden in his feather light grasp. You blinked, waking from a sleepy stupor you hadn’t realized you’d fallen into, and took a moment to look at his hands tucked into yours and yours into his. You glanced up, silently questioning, and felt your heart jump suddenly at the look on his face- or in his eyes, really.

He looked so… happy. Content, maybe. And he was staring right at you, blinking slowly as though he, too, was sleepy, stuck in a daydream. Your heart was pounding loudly, making your face warm. You swallowed, mouth suddenly dry, and went to say… something, but he moved before you could even start. 

He leaned in, letting go of one of your hands to gently brush your chin and bring you in slowly. You closed your eyes on instinct, holding your breath, and then felt his mouth brush against yours, so light, just enough to touch ever so slightly, then closer, more surely as he knew you weren’t pulling away in disgust. 

He stayed completely still for several moments, your heart pounding so strongly you could feel it shake your chest, then pulled away. At first it was just enough to take his mouth off of yours, a small pause, then away completely. 

You sat, shellshocked, heart pounding, and suddenly had to remember how to breathe as your cheeks burned hotter than the sun. 

Solar smiled at you, somehow even happier than before, maybe giddy? Lovestruck came to mind, but that- that was a foolish term to give him. Wasn’t it? Wasn’t it???

He let out a hum that was low, slower than the rest, from a place a little lower in his chest, then tucked his head close enough to rub his forehead against yours. You struggled to remember how to speak, and when you finally could, your voice was tiny, croaky.

“S-Solar?”

He pulled you closer by your still-intertwined hands so that you splayed across his chest and lap. He adjusted you so you were tucked safely into him, just low enough that he could peer down at you or lean in to- to, to-

“Acceptable way to show appreciation for you? Hm?”

“Uh hwuh?” 

You felt his small, silent chuckle, still dizzy and flabbergasted by… the kiss. He had… he had kissed you. He had kissed you?? He had KISSED you!

“Sh, sh.” His grin brushed your temple, a soothing motion that made butterflies flutter all over your skin. “Break time. Lay back, rest your feet.”

“Um. O-okay.”

You stared stupidly into space for a bit, then looked up at him. He was looking back, eyes nearly closed. The lights overhead were dim, slightly golden- when had the rest-hour lights come on?

“...Okay, sweet?”

You registered the question almost instantly- ‘are you okay?’ ‘was that okay?’ ‘do you need a breather?’ And found yourself giving the smallest of nods as you quickly averted your gaze.

“Uh, yeah. ‘Swas okay.” Your voice was barely above a mumble, not really wanting to be heard. He smiled anyway, curling into you to nuzzle you closer. Your face was hot enough to rival a small star at this point.

“Hmmm, must do this… more often…” He breathed an artificial sigh into your hair, relaxing his cheek on the top of your head as naturally as one possibly could. “If you liked it… as much as I did, of course.” “H-huh?”

Your mind was racing, and you knew he could tell how fast your heart was beating. You were scrambling to find something to say, coming up with only vaguely jumbles of words that didn’t really make sense together, when he pressed a small peck to your temple. The squeak you let out was far from dignified and you slapped at his chest lightly when he began to laugh.

“S-Solar!”

“Hmmmmmmm, very cute, little bug.”

You sputtered, somewhere between horrified and outraged, and settled for extremely-flustered-but-not-necessarily-complaining grumbling. He continued to chuckle, drawing himself closer around you to lean down to kiss you again. The touch was as gentle and slow as the first, but not quite as timid, and you felt weirdly out of breath when he pulled away. His smile was broad, soft, eyes warm and soft and full of light, and you were dizzy and felt briefly mesmerized by that look on his face.

“Heheheh, cute, cute, cute…”

“S-stop that! That’s- that’s not fair, y-you-!”

“Cute when you stammer.”

“UGH! I’ll get you back for this, just you wait!” “Hmm. Love you, shooting star.” You tried to speak, couldn’t, and settled for hiding your face in the velvet of his vest while mumbling incoherently. He downright purred, now holding you so close he was practically curled around you entirely, and gave you a squeeze as he buried his face in your hair. This close, you could hear the staticy fizzle of his processors running overtime, and the highest-setting whirring of his internal fans nearly vibrating the rest of his chassis. Huh. That was funny, it kind of reminded you of your heartbeat racing even at that very moment. So maybe your suave robot… companion? b- boyfriend?? wasn’t as confident and undaunted as he seemed. 

That was… really cute.

[egcdeath]

the mediocre american bake-off

pairing: steve rogers x reader

summary: when you and steve participate in morgan’s annual bake-off, things get a little ugly.

word count: 2k

warnings: established relationship, joke arguments, fluff, poorly described process of baking, comedy, competitive spouses

author’s note: thank you all for being patient with me while my updates have been lacking.

you can find the rest of my masterlist here!

You and Steve had a strong relationship.

Your marriage was built on a foundation of mutual respect, strong communication, and the purest, most genuine form of love. Frankly, you were a marriage counselor’s wet dream. 

But just once a year, you two got ugly. 

You see, both you and Steve found yourselves to be competitive people. Typically, your competitive natures were able to be put into use in constructive ways. As a pair, you dominated team game night, and kicked ass on every mission you found yourselves working on. But, once the week of Morgan’s birthday rolled around, everything changed. 

For some reason, Tony thought it was a great idea for everyone who wanted to participate, to participate in an annual baking contest to make the best cake, and who were you to decline? 

It happened to be right up you and Steve’s alley; your first date was a dinner you’d cooked together at his place, one of your favorite de-stressing habits was working together to bake bread, and of course, you’d annually created and donated hundreds of cupcakes to children in the hospital together as a unit. Logically, it would make sense for you two to work together on the competition, but every year without fail, you two split due to ‘creative differences’.

This split was to the rest of your team’s pleasure, ultimately getting to indulge in two amazing cakes by the end of the week, and having a whole week to watch you bicker like children. Nat liked to say that it was humanizing to see that your relationship wasn’t all flowers and rainbows. 

For the past four years, the title of “Baker of the Year” had alternated between you and Steve. After the first year of the competition— despite Morgan being an extremely young child— your teammates saw just how ‘all out’ you two went, and decided for their own safety to not participate again. It was always some lame excuse for them, like their fridge broke or they couldn’t find any icing at the store at all. But deep down you knew that the team did not want to get caught in the crossfire of the Y/N/Steve brawl. 

This year was no different. You stalked behind Steve at your local Whole Foods, tilting your floppy hat down as you grabbed a gallon of milk from the refrigerator. Steve tossed a few boxes of butter into your cart— some for you and some for him— and you peered over at him.

“What’re you making this year, Rogers?” you questioned.

“Wouldn’t you like to know, Rogers,” he hummed, setting a carton of heavy whipping cream into the basket. 

“Yeah, I would like to know. Maybe that’s why I asked,” you sped up your pace a bit to catch up to Steve. 

“You’ll find out exactly what it is when Morgan declares my cake the winner,” he shrugged. 

“Mhm. Very likely,” you said dryly, finding a large carton of eggs and gently setting it in the top section of your cart. “I admire your wishful thinking, though. Not only is my cake gonna taste amazing, it’s gonna look super cute too.”

“Shouldn’t you have a cake that looks and tastes good regardless?” Steve asked with a quirked brow as you strolled into the produce section. 

You stood by his side patiently as he inspected apples and tried to come up with a quippy response, but you were drawing a blank. “I mean, it’s gonna look really good. I ordered some things off of Amazon. It’s gonna be great.”

“I don’t know why, but buying extra props online doesn’t exactly sound fair,” he set the bag gently down in the cart. 

“Oh sweetheart,” you chuckled, “all is fair in love and war. Now let’s get out so we can start baking!”

——

When you arrived at the compound—where Tony insisted you cook, because of the good facilities and it’s closer to my place than your apartment! and definitely not because he wanted to have FRIDAY record you two fighting like dogs— you two got straight to work, setting aside your ingredients so that you wouldn’t mix them up with Steve’s. As you set your individual ovens to their proper temperatures, you stood back and took one final glance at your husband. 

“Let the games begin,” you said, grabbing the biggest bowl you could find from the cupboard. 

It was mostly quiet in the kitchen as you worked, with only the occasional joke being made or a ‘Behind you’. But it was only a matter of time before playful banter devolved into less playful taunting.

You were leaning over your stand mixer when Steve threw the first stone, idly standing by the stove while he watched his apples soften in a pan. 

“You sure that’s not box mix, babe?” he asked, sauntering over to the countertop where you were working and dipping a finger into the batter.

“Steve!” you slapped his hand away, and he licked his finger with a pensive look on his face. 

“Definitely boxed. Does Betty Crocker know you’re calling her work yours?” he locked eyes with you and smirked smugly. 

“I’ll take that as a compliment, but you’re being annoying. Get away from my station,” you bumped him lightly with your hip, and Steve took the message with a chuckle. “I hope you get salmonella,” you told him as he walked off. 

Not too long later while you greased your pan, Steve came up behind you and grabbed your hips, causing you to nearly jump out of your skin out of reflex. 

“Jesus, Steve! What are you doing?” you gasped, turning around and gently slapping a peck. 

“Just letting you know that my cake is in the oven…” he nuzzled your neck, “please, remind me where yours is again?” 

“Ha ha, very funny, Captain Obvious. I had no idea,” you reached for the batter that was still sitting in the mixing bowl on the stand. “This is your cue to leave, you horny bitch. You may be done, but I am not.”

If you saw Steve, you suspected he’d be pouting— or at least pretending to pout— but you refused to subject yourself to that. Hands released your hips, and there was suddenly an absence behind you. 

Once your cake was in the oven and your icing was going to be whipped for quite some time, you decided to go bother Steve, sitting on top of his countertop while he stood across from you and scrolled on his phone. 

“Is the loser doing the dishes?” you asked, swinging your legs. 

“Mhm,” he hummed before looking up at you. 

“Okay, cool. If that’s the case, then I think I’m gonna go paint my nails. Or maybe I’ll accidentally get an open wound or two,” you said with a smirk. 

“Very likely,” Steve chuckled, setting his phone down and dramatically taking a whiff of the air. “Do you smell that?”

“What, the scent of victory?” you teased. 

“No, I think your cake is burning. Or maybe it just.. naturally smells like that,” you rolled your eyes at his faux concern. 

“Ooh, you got me,” you couldn’t help but giggle. It felt weird to be poorly trash talking your husband in the manner that you were. “With all the shit-talking you’re doing, you better have the best cake I’ve ever tasted in my life.”

“I can’t believe you’re doubting my baking abilities!” 

At that moment, Sam peeked into the kitchen, made eye contact with Steve, then promptly turned away. You two howled with laughter for a moment before you received a text telling you how good the kitchen smelled. 

By the time your cakes were out and decorated, FRIDAY had alerted you that Morgan’s party was starting in just a few minutes. You stared proudly at your devil’s food cake, quite accurately decorated like a beehive. It was probably your best work yet. If Mary Berry were in the kitchen with you, she would be proud. 

You stood with your hands on your hips and admired both of the beautiful cakes in front of you, thinking of the hard work you’d put into making the delicious treats. “That looks like shit, Steve. Maybe you should stick to showing off the cake that’s attached to your body,” you teased. You’d be lying if you said your mouth wasn’t salivating at the sight of that upside-down cake. 

—-

You sat with an almost smug face at a wooden picnic table next to Steve while Morgan examined the three cakes in front of her: Steve’s apple upside-down cake, your devil’s food cake, and what looked like a last minute thrown together Funfetti cake from Scott.

She decided to try your cake first, directing Pepper to cut her a slice while your team members watched in excited anticipation. You had to admit, it looked pretty amazing. 

She used a fork to get a nice big bite, and hummed as she chewed. Things were looking promising for you. You glanced over at Steve to give him a smirk as Morgan clearly enjoyed your cake. At the sight of you, a small smile quirked on his own face. 

Morgan simply nodded, keeping a neutral poker face, then received a slice of the upside-down cake. You really couldn’t read her reaction, but unless you were losing it, it seemed like she felt the same way about Steve’s as she felt about yours. A simple hum and a nod was all you two received. Steve gave your foot a light tap under the table, and you shook your head at him.

Finally, Morgan grabbed a slice of Scott’s sloppily put together cake that appeared to be straight out of the box. Morgan grinned as she chewed, then went in for another forkful. And another. 

Oh no.

There was a collective tension in the yard from your teammates as they all looked back at both of you in shock. The next words that were about to come out of Morgan’s mouth would surely rock your world. 

“Mm, this one is the best!” she cheered, “whoever made this is a winner winner chicken dinner.”

Scott stood up at his table, and everyone in the backyard clapped, including a hesitant applause from you and Steve. What an absolute wild card. 

You gave each other curious looks; your brows creased, and his raised with surprise. Both at a loss for words for just a moment, you extended your hand before bursting out into laughter, “Good game.”

Steve shook your hand vigorously as he laughed right along with you, “Good game indeed. Now, I’d love to try some of your cake. It looks fucking delicious.”

“Really? Just a few hours ago, you were telling me just how bad it looked,” you teased, standing up and taking his hand as you walked over to the table where Morgan was poorly slicing your cakes.

After receiving lopsided slices, you made your way back to your picnic table and dug right into your cakes. With just one bite, you both were making muffled moans. 

“Christ, Steve. What did you put in this?” you gasped, immediately going in for another bite. 

“Are you kidding? This is like, better than sex.”

“I’ll remember you said that,” you said as you chewed. 

There was a silence between you two for a few minutes as you chewed and appreciated the talent of one another. 

“So will you be doing the dishes, or will I?” you asked between forkfuls of Steve’s cake. 

He paused to take another bite of your cake, humming in satisfaction as he did so. “Well you know what they always say,” Steve began before away some yellow icing from his lips. “Teamwork makes the dream work. I’ll do your dishes, and you can do mine.”

“Mm, sounds good,” you nodded. “I still can’t believe Scott beat us. There had to have been some sort of bribery going on.”

“Oh absolutely. We’re not just being sore losers on this either,” Steve agreed. 

“When have we ever been known to be sore losers?” you teased. “I guess we’ll just have to up our game next time.”

“No idea how you’re going to do that.”

“You flatter me, Steve,” you giggled. “Well, I guess this is the end for now. ‘Till next year?”

“‘Till next year. But we should probably work on our recipes so we don’t get bested by cake from a box again.”

[bottomlouisficfest]

Now that the Bottom Louis Fic Fest 2020 has concluded, we know that a lot of readers will have more time to catch up on some of the amazing fics they may have missed over the past two months. We encourage everyone to check out the full collection and to scroll through this masterpost of the 70 incredible fics that were posted during this year’s fest.

Please be sure to give all of these fics love - offer kudos, leave comments, reblog their fic posts on Tumblr, and retweet the fic posts on Twitter to help spread the word about these fics. The fest ending does not mean that our appreciation and reading of these fics has to end too.

Thank you for following along with this fest! We appreciate every single one of you - and we’ll see you later this year for the Bottom Louis Fic Fest 2021. 😊💜

Rainbow Bloom

A fic by dandelionfairies on AO3 | @dandelionfairies on Tumblr | dandelionfairi1 on Twitter

22k | Mature | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Louis is in denial. Louis has been in denial for far too long. Then Harry enters his life and everything changes.

Breakable Heaven

A fic by amomentoflove on AO3 | @daggerandrose on Tumblr | dagger_rosefics on Twitter

44k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“What do you think?” Louis gets captured by Harry’s green eyes, unable to look away or even take a breath.

“I think you’re the most magnificent creature I’ve ever met.”

“You must not have met many creatures then.”

Harry’s eyes glance downward to Louis’ lips and his tongue darts out to wet his own. “None like you.”

bang bang (my baby shot me down)

A fic by thepolourryexpress on AO3 | @thepolourryexpress on Tumblr | ZOUlSBUSONE on Twitter

16k | Not Rated | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“I walked in on them having sex again,” Niall says after a beat of hesitation.

Liam still looks confused. “Why’s this different from every other time we’ve seen them having sex?” Liam asks, and oh, Harry knows Liam really doesn’t want to know the answer to this one.

Niall’s gone silent then, and Harry almost thinks they’re in the clear. Liam is back to scrolling through his phone, and Zayn is whispering something to Louis that makes the older boy giggle. They’re going to get through this car ride without a murder.

But then Niall’s covering his face with his sweatshirt, taking in a breath and on his exhale, Harry hears him mutter, “Louis was wearing knickers.”

Liam’s phone clatters to the floor of the car.

Don't You Know That I'm a Moon in Daylight?

A fic by wildholly on AO3 | @bottomlwt on Tumblr | bottomloulou on Twitter

58k | Mature | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Prompt 79. Louis and Harry fell in love in the 18th century, Louis wanted Harry to convert him into a vampire, but he ended up resenting Harry for it. Fast forward to our modern days, they haven’t seen each other since then, but one day they meet again through a mutual friend. Harry was bitter for a long time, but he accepted that being angry wouldn't erase the fact that Louis was the love of his life. He wanted to court and spoil Louis like in their original time period, but Louis avoided him every time Harry tried to reconnect. Happy ending!

practice in pencil, seal it in pen

A fic by loubellies on AO3 | @loubellies on Tumblr | loubellies on Twitter

16k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Prompt 174: AU where drunk Harry lifts Louis up after someone says “bottoms up”. Louis blushes at Harry’s antics, flustered that his best friend knew him more than he thought. Friends to lovers with a happy ending please

or Harry is in love with Louis but he doesn't know.

tastes like summer, smiles like may

A fic by outropeace on AO3 | @outropeace on Tumblr | outropetals on Twitter

47k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“Is this true?” Harry grabbed the beta by the shoulders. “Bryce, where did you hear that?”

“There’s rumors going around the castle,” he smirked. “stories about his beauty and his cold attitude. They know he is an omega only because of his scent, but he has never had a heat.”

“Do you know what this means?”

Bryce smirk grew into a big smile. “He can’t give you an heir.”

A cold prince, an alpha with nothing left to lose and a kingdom with a secret.

blinded by the sparks

A fic by wallstracktwo on AO3 | @wallstracktwo on Tumblr

22k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

"You can’t even keep your lies straight. Mike has the memory of an elephant and can remember every single detail about every single person he’s ever met, so don’t stand there and tell me that he mixed you up with someone else.” He took back Harry’s cigarette. “I saw you exchanging lower chips for higher ones. I saw you counting the cards. There is no fucking way you won seven thousand dollars tonight honestly. And so I will repeat myself — I want in. Fifty-fifty.”

Harry was completely taken aback by the stunningly attractive man standing in front of him. He made several attempts to say something — opening and closing his mouth at least twice before he was finally able to string a few words together. “What? No. No way. No. Sorry, but I work alone.”

That was the truth too — he had never trusted anyone enough to let them get close, especially when it came to his scamming, so having a partner was completely, utterly out of the question.

“Don’t you think you need someone on the…” Louis’ tongue darted out, licking his lips as his eyes flickered to Harry’s mouth, one eyebrow cocking up. “...inside.”

Or - Harry is a scammer who drifts from casino to casino. Louis is the new waiter who wants in on the scam.

somewhere in between

A fic by soldouthaz on AO3 | @soldouthaz on Tumblr | soldouthaz on Twitter

42k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Louis wakes up early. He brushes his teeth and can only stomach a piece of toast for breakfast, dressing quickly and heading for the car. He pulls into the parking lot of the Department of Dominance and Submission just as they’re unlocking the doors. It takes him all of an hour in the uncomfortable chairs to fill out the paperwork to the best and most accurate of his ability, handing it over to the receptionist as soon as he’s finished and wiping his sweaty palms on his business trousers.

There’s a high chance that within ten to fifteen business days, Louis will be matched with a dominant.

Shit.

On My Mind All The Time, Say You're Mine

A fic by Safetypinprince on AO3 | @roselouis on Tumblr | femboyIouis on Twitter

9k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“Dude, we’re inside, and it’s night time. Those don’t look as cool as you think they do.” Louis could kick himself, he sounded so stupid, but it certainly got the guy’s attention.

It was at that unfortunate moment that he noticed several other things about this hot asshole, that he hadn’t noticed just staring from afar. First, when Louis spoke to him, his gaze was kind of unfocused behind his sunglasses, and secondly, that he had a red and white cane folded up under his arm.

“I’m… Blind,” the man chuckled, awkwardly.  

Louis wanted to melt into a puddle out of pure embarrassment.

“I— am so sorry. I have to go.”

“Hey, wait, wait,” the man soothed, grabbing at Louis’ shoulders before he could get away.

“I’m sorry,” Louis repeated, looking down at his shoes.

“It’s alright,” He cackled. “I get it a lot. More than you know.”

Alternatively titled: and they were roommates.

A Silent Whisper (That's Left Unsaid)

A fic by MyEnglishRose on AO3 | @lwtisloved on Tumblr | darlinlou on Twitter

50k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“So… we’re doing this?”

Louis shrugs, suddenly acting disinterested.

“Your call, Curly.”

Instead of a verbal response, Harry suddenly takes Louis’ left hand in his. The black ring seems to nag him as the fire’s light reflects its polished edges. He ignores Louis’ curious gaze as he quickly takes off one of his own rings — the rose one —, sliding it on Louis’ middle finger. It is a little large and when he lets go of his hand, Louis has to curl it into a fist so the ring doesn’t immediately fall off.

“We’ll tell them it’s a promise ring, not an actual engagement,” Harry declares, trying to ignore how warm his cheeks feel. Hopefully, it can’t be seen as he is facing away from the fireplace.

“Right… could have gotten me a fitted ring though, my Harry ten years ago was more thoughtful.”

Louis’ tone is light and teasing again. It creates a small smile on Harry’s lips.

“Someday,” he whispers before he even registers it himself.

They both ignore it.

Or. A Fake Relationship & Exes to Lovers AU ft a failed proposal ten years ago, an oblivious Harry, an overworked Louis, Zayn as the protective best friend, a meddling aunt and a lot of talks about weddings and rings.

sweet like honey

A fic by falsegoodnight on AO3 | @falsegoodnight on Tumblr | falsegoodnight on Twitter

33k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Weeks of flat shopping with their limited budget with Louis as a librarian aid and Harry as a barista and arguments about whether a balcony or extended bathroom suite were more important (Harry wanted to be able to feel the crisp night’s air and watch the sun set and Louis just wanted to take long bubble baths) led to them stumbling across the perfect fit. A small flat only ten minutes from campus with a cramped but lovely balcony and an included bath.

It’s affordable too… well, sort of. But they always manage. Louis picks up more shifts as an aid, adapting a habit of bringing his Psych textbooks and homework with him to finish in between duties, and later his script so he can quietly practice lines with little distraction.

Harry also increases his number of shifts at the cafe and valiantly endures the nasty customers who for some reason flock to their establishment like moths to a flame.

For a while, it’s enough.

-

Or, Harry and Louis need money and they find an unconventional solution in the form of PornHub. It’s not supposed to be a big deal.

Spoonful of Sugar

A fic by zanni_scaramouche on AO3 | @zanniscaramouche on Tumblr

42k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Harry Styles.  

A name better suited for a myth than a man. Like the name of the devil, people either whisper it in fear or laugh it off as fable. Cut it open and this city’s heart doesn’t bleed red. It’s snowy white, and it pulses in the tight grip of Lucifer himself.

Louis Tomlinson cares for his family above all else, a fact that’s led him on a twisted path peddling drugs to support them. Just as he’s made the decision to jump ship, Louis gets snared between the two largest crime syndicates in the city. To keep his family safe he’s forced to trust the man that failed to keep his promise two years ago, the resident drug lord he’s unknowingly been working for, Harry Styles.

Let's Break the Internet

A fic by louizsv on AO3 | @ashleyjohnsonfanaccount on Tumblr | piccadillyplum on Twitter

9k | Explicit | Louis/OMC | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“I’ll tell you what,” Sam leans forward in his chair and steeples his fingers in front of his face, “If you actually make an account and sell nudie pics and porn for more than three months, I’ll believe you.”

Louis purses his lips, ignoring the returning blush on his cheeks at the thought of having to film himself in compromising positions or taking photos of himself without any clothes on. Raising his chin defiantly, Louis accepts the challenge.

“Fine,” he agrees, “But when I win, you have to make one too.”

Lips quirked, Sam nods and holds out a hand, “Deal.” -- Or, the one where Louis is an Only Fans baby.

in a sea of mist

A fic by tomlinvelvet on AO3 | @tomlinvelvetfics on Tumblr

126k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

A Greek Mythology/Camp Half-Blood AU where Harry is lost, the road to peace is a wretched one, and somehow, through a mist of confusion and regrets, Louis seems to be the only thing that makes sense and everything Harry needs.

Across the Grey, Salty Sea

A fic by thecheshirepussycat on AO3 | @the-cheshire-pussy-cat on Tumblr | Bee_With_Mee on Twitter

19k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Prompt 212: Alex from Dunkirk and French escort/prostitute Louis who ends up in Alex’s quarters more nights than not. Alex gives him his dog tag to wear maybe just a lot of smut and dirty talk with Louis being a pretty princess.

When Our Worlds They Fall Apart

A fic by edensrose on AO3 | @holdingthornsandroses on Tumblr | thetrashpigeon on Twitter

42k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Harry put his hand over his heart as if Louis had wounded him. “You’re so harsh, my liege! Perhaps you need to relieve some tension…” He let his voice trail off suggestively.

“The day I ask YOU to relieve tension is the day I lose all my wits and join the Imperials,” Louis said. “It will never happen.”

Written for the Bottom Louis Fic Fest 2020- Prompt 325: Star Wars AU with Harry as Han Solo and Louis as Leia.

Thank you, five.

A fic by nouies on AO3 | @nouies on Tumblr | _nouies on Twitter

5k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“Harry?” He says as soon as he recognises the other man.

“Louis? Wh-what are you doing here?” Harry asks with a frown.

“Well, I’m here for rehearsal,” Louis announces with a proud smile.

There’s a flash of confusion on Harry’s face. “What do you mean rehearsal? I got the part, you didn’t.”

~

Prompt 195: Hamilton AU

Know I Think You're Awesome, Right?

A fic by princesshalo on AO3 | @princesshalo on Tumblr | tpwkorra on Twitter

60k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“Well, that’s not very Treat People With Kindness of you.”

“Neither is approaching someone with the sole intent of criticizing a cause they’re clearly passionate about, given the amount of time they’ve dedicated to advocating for it,” Louis snaps.

“Sure, but I’m not the one with the button,” Harry shrugs.

“So, is there actually something I can help you with, or did you just come to push me into pepper spraying you as well?” Louis is quickly growing impatient. Hell, he was impatient the moment that Harry made his grand entrance on campus yesterday.

“I’m just trying to assess the environment here,” Harry says, “Because if this is all you’ve got to offer trans people who just want to be able to use the bathroom in peace like the rest of us, then I’m not sure I fit in.”

“Allow me to save you the trouble, then: you don’t.”

~

Based on the prompt: a college AU where Louis is a hippie, very good vibes activist and Harry is a punk, anarchist that always gets involved in violent protests.

show you the stars in daylight

A fic by bruisedhoney on AO3 | @yvesaintlourent on Tumblr | bruisedhoney on Twitter

13k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Louis laughed, the sound loud and borderline obnoxious. Harry winced. “Are you kidding, Haz? I wouldn’t even look twice at someone that couldn’t pick me up.”

And, well. That was new information to Harry. It’s not like Louis had ever mentioned to him that he was his type in any way, shape, or form.  Harry shifted closer into the space between Louis’s legs, even more intrigued than before. “Why not?” he asked curiously, all pink lips and big curls. Louis smiled.

“Tiny, innocent, little Harold. Need someone that can pick me up, don’t I? I like being tossed around a little. You know, pinned down and made to take it. Lifted up like I’m nothing,” Louis said it all with a confident smile, his sharp little teeth tugging at his bottom lip as he locked eyes with the jock across the kitchen. “Think he might come over here. Move over. I don’t want him to think we’re together.”

Or, the one where Louis has a type and at sixteen and scrawy, it's definitely not his best friend's little brother Harry...ten years later, he changes his mind.

Freeway of Love (In a Pink Cadillac)

A fic by MsHydeStylinson on AO3 | @mizzhydes on Tumblr | MsHydeStylinson on Twitter

33k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“Did you like them?” Louis asked in a seductive tone, propping his elbow against the armrest, chin resting against his fingers.

“I’m not going to answer that,” Harry informed, lips pressed in a hard line.

“I don’t think you have to,” Louis smirked nodding slightly towards his telltale bulge and watched as Harry reddened from his neck to his forehead in a flash.

”Please, I beg you to put that phone away,” Harry pleaded with a suffering expression plastered on his face.

“Please…” Harry whined.

Or,

Louis was on his way to Miami to visit an old friend. Harry was going there for a little R&R and take in the sights and sounds.  A sudden upgrade in seating brought these polar opposites together. The universe works in mysterious ways and they are unknowingly about to embark on an adventure they will surely remember for a lifetime.

Prompt 107: Sugar daddy AU inspired by this tweet: “going to sit next to the richest looking middle aged man on my flight and scroll through my nudes for three hours straight” with rich daddy Harry and bratty baby Louis.

Won't Keep You My (Dirty Little) Secret

A fic by lovelykits on AO3 | @lovelykits on Tumblr

16k | Mature | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“I got asked out today,” Louis comments.

“Okay,” Harry shifts.

“Did you hear me? I said I got asked out.”

"You always get asked out.”

“Yeah well this time they didn’t believe I had a boyfriend!”

Or Louis and Harry have been together since the end of last year and somehow no one knows about it.

A Place With Skeletons

A fic by whoknows on AO3 | @crazyupsetter on Tumblr

50k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“I would choose anyone other than you,” Louis says, picking up his train of thought again. He feels a lot more cornered and defensive when they’re in Harry’s house, for some reason. It doesn’t really make sense, considering that this time, Louis was the one who couldn’t hack it any longer. He broke first. There’s something about being in Harry’s space, though, the green and earthy feeling of it. It should feel like open space with all the plants, but Louis has never felt more claustrophobic than he does when he’s here.

Harry’s chest moves against his back, a sharp intake of air. Before he can open his mouth to defend himself, Louis keeps going, “If I had a choice in any of this, I would have been saved by that elderly security guard over you. I wouldn’t mind having to have the occasional cuddle with her.”

Pretty and Pink

A fic by LarryInPanties on AO3 | @larryinpantiess on Tumblr | babielouu on Twitter

12k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Louis points a finger at the man’s pec, “I’ll have you know Harry, anyone would be lucky to have me as a hitchhiker buddy. I’m nice, I don’t take up too much space, and I’m pretty.”

He’s not lying.

“Let me get this straight,” Harry gives Louis a look when he lets out a tiny laugh. “Ya’ want to take a ride with me but you don’t even know where ya’ wanna go yet?”

-

Harry never lets anyone come on the road with him.

Then, a cute hitchhiker, Louis comes around.

Cold As Ice And Everything Nice

A fic by harriblou on AO3 | @harriblou on Tumblr | harriblou on Twitter

40k | Mature | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

A young boy about Harry’s age was zoomed into the camera, blushing a bright red and breathing heavily and as he bowed. The crowd was cheering for him loudly and every movement he made was bashful and flustered. He had on a very nice skate dress that was purple. His name, hometown, skate scores, and all sorts of information was in a banner on the bottom half of the screen. He was really young, especially compared to all the other competitors, which was the second thing he noticed.

The first was that the boy was easily the prettiest in the entire world, the prettiest boy Harry’s ever seen. He felt his asthma squeeze his throat and his heart beat faster and his hands get a little more clammy.

or in which Louis is a professional ice-skater and he meets Harry, who offers to clean the ice for him.

You'll wait for me only.

A fic by signofthetmies on AO3 | @tired-eyes-lou on Tumblr

9k | Teen & Up | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Harry nips at the bondmark on Louis’ neck, Louis’ hands go to his hips, grounding him. He allows himself this, knowing that his Omega needs it too. Harry pulls back, “Go on a date with me.” He rushes out, looking at Louis’ eyes.

Louis laughs and shakes his head. “No, Louis, I’m serious. We’ve bonded for life anyway, might as well try.” Louis looks at him, “You’ve been thinking about this a lot.” Louis points out, Harry nods. “Okay.” Louis says and walks out leaving Harry. “Okay what?!”

_______________________

Prompt 15: Omega Louis is a lawyer that worked on omega rights cases. Alpha Harry is a corporate lawyer. Louis and Harry used to be childhood archenemies, until Louis moved to another school and they never saw each other again. Now, they’re both adults that happen to work in the same place. They behave like children and still share a mutual dislike. Both travel to work together for a case. One night they both bond accidentally. Slowly but surely, they fall in love. Enemies to lovers!

through the wheatfields and the coastlines

A fic by thepolourryexpress on AO3 | @thepolourryexpress on Tumblr | ZOUlSBUSONE on Twitter

53k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“You’re not from around here, are ya?” Hot Cowboy asks, tracking his little lamb with his eyes. Louis frowns slightly, having thought he was doing pretty well at not sticking out like a sore thumb. It’s not like he’s not from around here — it’s not his first summer he’s spent at his grandparents'. But he supposes that the Manhattan city lifestyle that he’s used to is always going to shine through.

“I’m visiting family for the summer,” Louis explains, cheeks a little pink. “Trying to get some work done without distractions.”

Or, alternatively, the one where Louis needs inspiration, and a certain cowboy and his lamb are the perfect distraction.

The Boy with the Tin Chest and a Glass Heart

A fic by louloubaby92 on AO3 | @louloubabys1992 on Tumblr

18k | Mature | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Alpha Harry Styles, world-renowned author of fairy-tales, is being persuaded by the Beta, Liam Payne to hire a new illustrator. Since Harry’s own illustrations are too graphic for what is supposed to be children’s stories, Liam feels the need is dire. Omega Louis does not agree with Liam since he believes that Harry’s stories are fine just the way they are. Of course this has nothing to do with Louis being totally biased or totally head over heels for Harry. It certainly has nothing to do with being jealous of the mysterious omega illustrator Liam has in mind to team Harry up with.

Seriously, it has nothing to do with that at all. Nothing, absolutely nothing, zilch, nada.

Yeah...

This Glass House

A fic by BabyPowderLou on AO3 | @compactblue on Tumblr | princessbluelou on Twitter

42k | Mature | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

While deployed, Alpha Harry gets injured by an IED explosion, leaving him to deal with severe injuries in its devastating aftermath. During his road to acceptance and recovery he learns with the help of Louis and their children just how important family can be for the mind, body, and soul.

singing your praises

A fic by loubellies on AO3 | @loubellies on Tumblr | loubellies on Twitter

6k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Prompt 86: Louis rides Harry while wearing his packer’s jersey/sweater and gets his ass ate.

made for lovin' you

A fic by cuddlerlouis on AO3 | @cuddlerlouis on Tumblr | burntromances on Twitter

52k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“I’m in,” is all Louis receives. He blinks a few times, making sure he’s reading this right.

“For real?” he asks, just to be a hundred percent sure.

“Yes,” pops up. “How do you wanna pursue?” The alpha adds, like he’s on a special mission or something.

“I’m gonna call us a cab to go to mine. Once I know it’s here, I’ll leave and join you there,” Louis explains. “I’ll text you to go around five minutes before it arrives, so it doesn’t look suspicious, and our friends don’t notice us leaving together.”

“Noted.”

So Louis does, and ten minutes later, he’s sat in the backseat of a cab, next to Harry Styles, the person he hates the most but unfortunately still finds attractive. They’re on their way to fuck in Louis’ flat.

Splendid.

-

Or the one where a quick, horny decision ruins Louis’ summer plans, but may also lead to unexpected discoveries. Featuring the road trip of dreams, misunderstandings, and a bit of fate.

Stuck On You

A fic by WritewhatIwant on AO3

34k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Louis’ life revolves around his stickers. Harry’s life revolves around his job. The universe has decided their worlds should revolve around each other.

On the Edge

A fic by zanni_scaramouche on AO3 | @zanniscaramouche on Tumblr

47k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Figure skating is as vital to Louis’ identity as his DNA, so when his skates go missing right before the last Olympics of his career there may be a meltdown only vanilla bath salts can fix. Well, that and the stupidly charming hockey player he met on the plane.

Harry’s too old to be the wonder kid and too young to be taken seriously in the NHL. As an alternate thrown in at the last second, he fights to prove himself on the national team at the largest sporting event known to man. Or he will, once he gets off this flight and can focus on something other than the fussy figure skater and his stunningly blue eyes.

A baggage mix-up skews both of their perfectly laid plans for gold, forcing the two to work together as the clock clicks towards the minute they’re expected to shine on centre ice.

Be a Good Girl For Me

A fic by wannabebestseller on AO3 | @sincetheywere16and18 on Tumblr

9k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Based on this prompt: “AU where Harry is Louis’ older brother’s best friend. He catches Louis dancing around his room in panties and blackmails him, saying that Louis has to do anything he says or else he’ll tell Louis’ family that he wears girly underwear. Secretly soft for him, Harry gives him easy tasks and uses the whole thing to spend more time with Louis. Eventually, the orders begin to escalate and Harry teases Lou about his secret, making Louis shy and embarrassed. Louis loves the attention though, and forms a crush on his brother’s best friend. Lots of feminization, secret relationship, and enemies to lovers. Thank you!”

dripping like spider milk

A fic by raspberryoats on AO3 | @raspberryoatss on Tumblr | raspberryoatss on Twitter

64k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

When he sees the alpha, his brown hair curling around the top of his neck and his broad back that’s filled out over the past couple of years, Louis freezes for a moment. The alpha turns around, Louis’ surprised expression mirrored on his own for a fraction of a second before he schools it into a big, yet shy grin and a wave of his huge hand. With his nostrils flared, Louis knows that he can smell him, too.

They never hired alphas, except for—

“Harry.”

or prompt 110: Louis is a retired porn star and he gets invited back to test a new line of sex products the company he worked for is releasing (would include photoshoots and videos of Louis sampling certain toys). Harry is there to photograph, film, and intimately help him along the way (preferably in a private setting).

But It's Useless

A fic by thinlines on AO3 | @thinlinez on Tumblr

26k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“Hey.”

Louis was even hallucinating now. He closed his eyes.

“Hey, you.”

He chuckled wetly, head still leaning against the door.

“Can you get out of the way? You're blocking the door.”

He exhaled sharply before slowly turning around. His eyes fixed onto muddy Nike trainers before it traveled up to impossibly short jogging shorts. The yellow color was atrocious, simply ghastly.

“What happened to being polite, Harold?”

OR Omega Louis would never guess that he would be trying to hack into Alpha Harry's Wifi. That is until everything changes when he tries to get to know his enemy.

Yours To Lose

A fic by loulicate on AO3 | loulicaterecs on Twitter

26k | Mature | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“I think I know the person that matches your descriptions of your dream alpha.”

“Who? And oh not my dream alpha, god you’re making me sound like a teenage school girl. I’m a mum, H.” They laugh as they watch kids gather in front of the verandah, getting ready to go back to the orphanage.

“Well, you’re gonna have to find out.” Harry winks before standing up to start cleaning their spot.

-

Or Louis always gets distracted with his mummy duty and he eventually catches Harry's attention.

Sweet Scary Creatures

A fic by Specklesock on AO3 | @specklelouis on Tumblr | specklelouiie on Twitter

13k | Mature | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

They stare into each other's eyes for a while until Louis remembers this is too intimate and looks at Harry’s hands on his thigh. It spans a big portion of his thigh and Louis has always been insecure about how thick he is, so he loves that Harry has huge, dustbin hands that hold him and makes him feel smaller, safer.

We Are But Dust and Shadows

A fic by louisbarnes on AO3 | @tomlinsonbarnes on Tumblr | dreamersdiving on Twitter

51k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“Um, okay. I’m going to…” Harry gestured over his shoulder and gave the two of them an awkward smile.

“Wait! You got a letter.” Zayn held out the letter and Harry’s face dropped. He took the letter from Zayn, gaze locked on it like it was a bomb ready to explode. “What is it?”

“Probably just from the New York Institute,” Harry muttered. He hurried away, ripping the envelope open as he went.

“Remember when you said you didn’t want to fuck him?” Zayn broke the silence and Louis scoffed.

“Quite clearly, actually.”

Zayn grinned. “Your eye twitches when you lie.”

“Fuck off.”

Or: Louis is part of a well respected Shadowhunter family, and Harry is the Mundane turned Shadowhunter who just can’t seem to get it right.

it's hard to fight naked

A fic by bluestarwitch on AO3 | @loustarlight on Tumblr | IwtstarIight on Twitter

11k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Prompt 6: Louis and Harry are roommates, but they cannot stand each other. When Harry heard Louis moan his name while Louis was riding a dildo in Harry’s room (Louis thought he was alone at home), Harry couldn’t stop himself and so he ended up fucking Louis against the mattress. Happy ending!

or where Louis leaves dirty socks on the couch, Zayn does assignments while he's high, and Harry is hopelessly crushing on his roommate.

social cues

A fic by outropeace on AO3 | @outropeace on Tumblr | outropetals on Twitter

56k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

To Harry, Louis was becoming as tangible and essential as music in his life. He still was a mystery but at the same time, he was one of the most real things Harry had. He just hoped he could live up to the image Louis probably had in his mind of him.

He could play the part, after all, what was published of him wasn’t as detached from reality. He didn’t think of himself as a rockstar cliche, although he couldn't deny he did sleep around, partied a lot, and did some drugs. But then again, wasn’t that what the majority of his friends back in his hometown were doing at college?

Harry wanted to impress Louis, he didn’t want to disappoint or leave his expectations unfulfilled, so he’d give him the full rockstar experience.

It was a very simple plan, what could possibly go wrong?

hereafter

A fic by larryent on AO3 | @larryent on Tumblr | oflarryent on Twitter

13k | Mature | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

"A legacy is every life you’ve touched. And you’ve touched mine twice."

On the coast of San Franciso in 2024 is when Harry falls in love all over again.

OR

“This thing upon me is not death but it’s as real, .... this thing upon me like a flower a feast, believe me is not death and is not glory.” — Charles Bukowski, old man, dead in a room

smoke between your teeth

A fic by soldouthaz on AO3 | @soldouthaz on Tumblr | soldouthaz on Twitter

37k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“Alright, fine. What is it, then?" Louis asks. "Give me the best you’ve got. What’s this big reason why I smoke?"

Harry’s head lolls backward on the back of the sofa, a dopey grin on his face even though his eyes are already halfway closed - that look he gives Louis when he’s about to spout some incoherent bout of psychological bullshit.

“Oral fixation,” Harry mutters as delightfully as he can muster, his tone suggesting that it should be obvious.

--

Louis tries to stop his addiction to cigarettes and discovers he's been addicted to Harry for much, much longer.

calm me down (before i sleep)

A fic by leeanndarling on AO3 | @erodiansunflower on Tumblr | leeann_darling on Twitter

6k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Prompt 24: Harry is a sex shop owner that has a crush on Louis, the shy customer who flirts with him while buying cute buttplugs, lace panties, and collars. One day, Louis asked Harry to help him put on a corset (they end up fucking in the dressing room). Things escalate quickly from there, so they start seeing each other seriously while trying other sex stuff.

This World’s Ashes

A fic by sunshineandthemoonlight on AO3 | @sunshineandthemoonlight on Tumblr

34k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

The man stares at him, and all Harry can hear is his own heartbeat, racing.

Then the stranger turns away. He walks a few paces and bends down, picking up a large knife from the ground and shoving it into a pouch attached to his belt.

“I won’t hurt you, you know.”

Harry’s eyes snap up to the man’s face. He’s looking at Harry sincerely, palms held up as though in surrender. There’s still a knife in his right hand, though, so Harry is only slightly reassured.

Harry swallows to combat the dryness of his throat, and then says, “I won’t hurt you either.”

A post-apocalypse AU where Harry, battling his past as he survives in the woods, has learnt not to trust anyone except his dog. Then Louis crashes into his life, with his bright spirit and soft lips, pulling Harry from the depths of a loneliness he hadn’t realised he was drowning in. But there is danger lurking, and Harry’s not the only one wrestling with his past.

A Springtime's Wilt, an Autumn's Bloom

A fic by snowcaplou on AO3 | snowcaplou on Twitter

20k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“What about you Harry? Maybe you should apply for the position,” she teases.

“Oi! You better not be trying to get rid of my best driver-- I can’t go looking for a replacement, I’m too busy!” Louis says with a playful slap to Savannah’s shoulder. It's jestful, like the rest of their conversation, but there is a possessive bite to his words-- my best driver-- the words bounce through Harry’s ears until he can just hear the words my and mine. It falls deaf on Savannah’s beta senses, but for a minute Harry thinks he can sense the same words zooming through Louis’ thoughts.

My, mine.

My alpha.

And woah, Harry’s taking it too far. At least, he thinks he’s taking it too far, but when he looks back up from his plate, Louis’ eyes are heavy on his, and for a fleeting second, Harry can pretend he heard Louis say it.

OR

Harry is Louis' personal chauffeur, and although he hides his feelings for his boss behind a wall of rigid professionalism, Louis still manages to squeeze through the cracks.

Starlight’s Crossing

A fic by smittenwithlouis on AO3 | @smittenwithlouis on Tumblr | smittenwlouis on Twitter

30k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

He can picture it so clearly, as he holds onto Louis’ sleeping body. How they’d go exploring every inch of the galaxy without a care in the world. He builds a fairytale future in his mind, one that includes marriage, kids, and growing old together. Even after such a short time together, Harry knows that he’d say yes to anything and everything this man ever asked for. He’d follow him to the ends of the galaxy if that’s what Louis wanted.

And that thought terrifies Harry.

Or: All it takes is one night for Harry and Louis' life to change forever. Fast-forward four years, and they embark on an adventure of a lifetime across the universe.

Floating

A fic by littleLouve on AO3 | @larents on Tumblr | louvees on Twitter

10k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

The one where Louis has control over water in every form but he doesn't know what to do with it. Harry is here to guide him.

don't want no other shade of blue

A fic by padfootyoudog on AO3 | @louisisworthit on Tumblr

43k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“I know you’re putting on an act,” says Harry after a moment, and Louis scowls when he realises the prince is actually amused.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” says Louis.

“All I’ve heard over the past couple of years are rumours of Prince Louis’ kindness, and generosity, and oh, he’s so handsome I can barely pour his tea without shaking!” says Harry, putting on a silly, high-pitched voice for the last bit. Louis’ scowl deepens. “I would already know if you were just another selfish, bratty omega prince. You can’t fool me, darling, but I admire your efforts.”

“As you said,” Louis grits out, “those are only rumours. I assure you, I’m a terrible person.”

—

prompt 339: it was foretold that Alpha Prince Harry would be mated to a beautiful male omega with eyes that could rival the stone amethyst, but Omega Prince Louis refuses to believe it.

Loving You's the Antidote

A fic by neverheartbroken on AO3 | @neverheartbroken on Tumblr

5k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Prompt 302: Alpha Harry & Omega Louis are divorced but still spend each other’s heat/rut together because they only really trust each other but things get complicated when Louis (or Harry, author’s choice) spend it with someone else. Cue angst with a happy ending. (Prompt Inspiration: Prompt 98 from the 2019 BLFF)

dirty laundry looks good on you

A fic by tomlinvelvet on AO3 | @tomlinvelvetfics on Tumblr

50k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

When Louis Tomlinson finds his clothes lying in a sad soapy mess on top of the washing machine in which they are supposed to be, he acts upon his anger and retaliates. What he doesn’t expect is having to deal with a six-feet tall, curly-haired and dimpled man in return, who seems to arouse confusing feelings within him and to make his life take an unexpected turn for the better (or worse?).

OR; the utility room is a great place to fall in love.

no good unless it's real

A fic by fackinglouis on AO3 | @fackinglouis on Tumblr

17k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“Here,” Harry says, pulling a strap off his shoulder so he can dig his phone out of his bag. “We can get each other’s numbers.”

 Louis shakes his head. “I have the practice’s number already,” he tells him. “And my number is definitely on file somewhere.”

Harry pauses, smile quirking a bit as he stares at Louis. The sun is still in his eyes, though, with his sunglasses pushed up onto his head still, so Louis credits his funny face to that.

“I’m trying to give you my number, Louis,” Harry explains around a breathy laugh.

“Oh,” Louis blinks, processing that. He scratches his temple, moves a piece of longer fringe back behind his ear, and then nods. “Okay.”

Or: Louis is a very busy farmer who’s just trying to make it to his next nap and Harry’s the new hot vet that’s determined to infiltrate every area of his life.

Since the Future

A fic by bluestarwitch on AO3 | @loustarlight on Tumblr | IwtstarIight on Twitter

49k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

"It's done."

The words were barely above a whisper when they left Harry's mouth, but they hit Louis with the force of a freight train. It was done. Holy fuck. They had created a time machine. And tomorrow, they were travelling to the future.

To Love without Reason

A fic by MuggleMirror on AO3 | @mugglemirror on Tumblr | mugglemirror on Twitter

8k | Not Rated | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“Come on in, soldier,” Louis pats Harry’s chest and walks away, leaving Harry to follow behind.

Harry stands in the living room, looking around at Louis’ dwelling. Family pictures placed high on a shelf, certificates of Louis’ practice, and other trinkets that make Harry entirely too nostalgic.

“I have to warn you,” Louis says as he puts the kettle on, the water droplets from his hair trickling down the golden skin of his back. “The door jams if you lock it so you'll have to leave it ajar.”

Harry acknowledges with a soft hum, too entranced by Louis’ glistening skin to form a coherent reply.

Sedative Duty.

A fic by daddyharrie on AO3 | @daddyharrie on Tumblr | daddyharrie on Twitter

46k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Pop-star of the moment Louis Tomlinson is on his third-world tour. He decides to hire renowned professional dominant Harry Styles to unwind while on the road. In an effort not to raise suspicion by the crew, fans, and press,  Harry pretends to be his bodyguard. He ends up being far more than that.

You and I 'till the day we die

A fic by Allmylovelarrie on AO3 | flightlesslarri on Twitter

10k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Prompt 124: A fic inspired by Groupie Love by Lana Del  Rey, where Harry is a Rockstar and Louis is his cute little boyfriend  who tries to hide himself in the middle of the crowd. (Preferably set in  the 80s)

Give So Much (Not Enough)

A fic by skinsuk on AO3 | @wifeylouis on Tumblr

24k | Mature | Louis/Harry, Louis/Alex, Harry/Tess | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“For my little lion,” Louis slid the smoothie bowl in front of  Oscar, letting him dig in with his little hands. “And for daddy.”  

He didn’t process the bowl in front of him, the  push across the table causing a raspberry to roll off and fall on his  lap, because Louis calling himself mummy may make him feel all sorts of  mushy emotions, but Louis addressing Harry as daddy was suddenly having a  very different effect on him. Since when did Louis saying daddy out  loud render him speechless?

“Daddy’s still  sleepy, but we’re up bright and early right Ossie?” Louis’ cooing shook  him out of his daze. The man coughed, picking the raspberry off his lap  and swallowing it with unintentional, and very unnecessary, eye contact  with Louis. “Well, is it better than your protein smoothies and why?”

Harry chuckled, spooning another heap of the strawberry banana goodness into his mouth, “Way better sweetheart.”

A friends to lovers au with tons of mama Louis and domesticity.

New York's Beauty

A fic by nocontrol_lou on AO3 | @saxophone17 on Tumblr | nocontrol_louis on Twitter

5k | Mature | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Prompt 104: AU where Harry is an alpha wolf and  Louis is a hybrid kitten. They were roommates. While they were arguing  about something stupid, Harry wanted to bend Louis over the kitchen  table and knot him right there. He slowly accepted his feelings and  extreme desire for Louis, so he started to tease the hybrid until he  would beg Harry to fuck him. They fall in love. Louis needs to feel comfortable with the camera so Harry fucks him until he is blushing and calm and gentle.

feeling borrowed, always blue

A fic by falsegoodnight on AO3 | @falsegoodnight on Tumblr | falsegoodnight on Twitter

67k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Louis’ own heartbeat picks up, eyes widening right as  Dr. Zoyansky hits a button and the unsteady pattern of thumps echoes  into the room. His breathing hitches, eyes watering as the rhythm seeps  into his insides and reverberates in his mind. A heartbeat.

He doesn’t register the tears at first, eyes fixed to the screen and vision blurring.

The  situation seems insane. Here he is, twenty-four years old, sitting in  the examination chair and listening to the heartbeat of his future  child, clutching the worn material of his changing gown with pale  fingers, one of which is weighed down by a gaudy engagement ring.

And  most noticeably - he’s entirely alone. It’s just him in the room with  his doctor, experiencing one of the most groundbreaking, life-changing moments of his entire life and he’s all alone.

-

Or, Louis has been dreaming of his wedding since he was young - he just never expected that it was going to happen like this.

Hamartia

A fic by tomlinvelvet on AO3 | @tomlinvelvetfics on Tumblr

66k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Eight years is a long time for Louis to mend his heart  back and erase every lingering, stubborn memory of his ex-lover, Harry  Styles. But when news of the war being over spreads across the world  like wildfire, and he stumbles upon the alpha he vowed himself to never  see ever again, he realises that not even a lifetime will be enough for  him to pick up the scattered, broken parts of his soul. He's far from expecting the alpha he loved to struggle the same way.

All the ointments in the world might never soothe the pain out, but it doesn't  take long for both of them to come to the conclusion that, maybe, the  only medicine to their heartbreaks are what caused them in the first  place.

moonlit sky over gentle waters

A fic by stardustx on AO3 | stardxstlwt on Twitter

11k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

"The King of the Pirates! Captain Harry Styles! The one  who conquered the seven seas!" Louis boasts, sarcasm drips from his  tone, mocking him.

The bar is clean, but he still scrubs just as  fervently, his brows furrows and a small pout forms on those pink lips  Harry desperately wants to kiss. He looks down, dubiously, at the  address in his hand.

“Every lass and lad dreams of bedding a  pirate like you.” Louis huffs, gazes up at him with a despondant look  that reminds him of a grumpy kitten.

Silence fills the space as Harry mulls over his words. He finally looks up at Louis, blinking slowly. “Do they really?”

"You're an idiot."

-

OR Harry left his hometown to sail the seven seas and returns seven years later, yearning for something — or rather, someone  — that he isn't sure he can have.

Short and Sweet

A fic by 5ft9 on AO3 | cinnamouroll on Twitter

29k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Louis is a shy university student in a world scarce of  male omegas.  He's always dreamt of having an alpha despite his sheltered  upbringing,  fantasizing about being loved and cared for. He's  immediately smitten  by the mysterious alpha with curly hair, broad  shoulders, and the  addictive coffee scent.

under thorn and bramble

A fic by thedeathchamber on AO3 | @louehvolution on Tumblr

32k | Explicit | Louis/OMC | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Prompt 445: A historical AU where Louis is working as a  servant on a farm. The family that owns the farm is exceedingly cruel  to him and he is often exhausted and in pain from his work. A mysterious  stranger boards at the farm and is very intrigued by Louis, but Louis  doubts his interest in genuine. Any pairing fine.

Late night devil put your hands on me (and never, never, never ever let go)

A fic by summerandsunshine on AO3 | sunshine_Iou on Twitter

12k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Harry is a demon that feeds off of people’s nightmares. He finds his next meal in Louis’ dreams where he changes and molds them to become scary nightmares. Soon harry learns Louis is a lucid dreamer- he can act on his own in his dreams. They interact in the real world and have sex in the dream world. when Louis catches feelings the devil, Harry promises to come back to earth once and for all.

No Easy Choice, But You’re Mine

A fic by alltheselights on AO3 | @alltheselights on Tumblr | alltheselightts on Twitter

45k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Louis’ feet pound on the pavement as he runs, and the echo reverberates through the alley behind him. He drops the gun near a trash bin as he passes, his gloved fingers ensuring that it will never be traced back to him.

He’s panting, his thighs ache, and there’s a cramp forming beneath his ribs on the right side, but all of that is nothing compared to the exhaustion clouding his brain.  

I can’t do this anymore, Louis thinks.

Or: Louis is an omega hitman with one last job that goes a little sideways. Harry is the alpha bartender that looks a little too closely and cares a little too much.

Joker Is Wild

A fic by Typosmyown on AO3 | @palosquared on Tumblr

19k | Explicit | Louis/Harry, Louis/Various | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Prompt 390: A reality show AU where Louis, Harry, Liam, Zayn and Niall are selected to stay at confined in a luxury mansion for 1 month, where they are required to have explicit, graphic sex at all times, like a porn Big Brother kind of show. Every week there are several different sexual tasks and trials that they must overcome together, which all ends in orgasms for all of them. When the boys all discover Louis is strictly a bottom, and a slutty one at that, they all can’t wait to get their hands on him. Bonus if other hot celebs are there too, like Shawn Mendes, for example. Includes lots of hard gay sex, rimming, blowjobs, gang bangs, ass worshipping (Louis ass, of course) and double penetration.

The Pirate and The Piper

A fic by jacaranda_bloom on AO3 | @jacaranda-bloom on Tumblr | jacaranda_bloom on Twitter

38k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

Banished from Neverland by Captain Hook and the evil Siren Minerva, Louis is forced to live in the Other World. He makes a life for himself, resigned to the fact he’s never going to see his beloved home and Lost Boys again. Five years later he’s kidnapped and returned to Neverland, only to discover a far worse fate awaits him. But with an unlikely ally by his side, can he overcome those who seek his demise and restore freedom to his homeland?

Or the one where Harry is Hook, Louis is Pan, and nothing is what it seems.

Coeur de Pirate

A fic by louizsv on AO3 | @ashleyjohnsonfanaccount on Tumblr | piccadillyplum on Twitter

34k | Explicit | Louis/Harry, Louis/OMC, Louis/Harry/OMC | Tumblr post | Twitter post

He tilts his chin up as the Captain strides across the deck, his footfalls falling loudly against the planks. The crew watches them from afar.

Stepping into his space, the Captain wraps an arm around Louis’ waist and pulls him in. He lowers his head to breathe his words against Louis’ cheeks. “I won,” he whispers, “I’ve come to claim my prize.”

if you're feeling lonely

A fic by ifthat on AO3 | @lovehl on Tumblr | omegalouis on Twitter

12k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

The guest list is on the desk. Louis runs through it and stops a third of the way down when a familiar name catches his breath.

Harry Styles.

All he has to do is verify whether Harry Styles is the same Alpha whose scent beckoned him closer.

it's a game we play in the sheets

A fic by loubabyworship on AO3 | @strawbabyloucake on Tumblr | pillouprincess on Twitter

9k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

“Louis is… He’s a boy I’ve been talking to.” He bit his lip, grin evident. “After I watched one of his videos during a Harry Reacts a few weeks ago I messaged him and…”

His sentence was cut short by the sound of a timid little “Hi” being whispered into his ears.

Harry closed his eyes for a second, pausing to take in the online presence of the real-life fairy, before he opened them and smiled. “Hey Lou. Ready to play with me?”

Mind Over Matter (You Under Me)

A fic by youreyesonlarry on AO3 | @youreyesonlarry on Tumblr | youreyesonlarry on Twitter

73k | Explicit | Louis/Harry | Tumblr post | Twitter post

It’s dark outside when Harry finishes practice for the day.

--------

Prompt 21: Harry stopped playing hockey (after 10 years of a professional career) because of a severe injury. The dream he worked so hard for vanished in the blink of an eye. His family insisted that he had to go to physical therapy, even if it only helped his health. Cue to personal assistant Louis, the most efficient and kind PA one could hire.

--

View the 2020 BLFF collection here.

View the 2019 BLFF collection here.

[avinaccia]

A Completely Objective and Logical Ranking of Every Hetalia Character Song

New character songs are dropping,  I have too much time on my hands, let’s go. 

Also here’s a Youtube playlist for the ~✨nostalgia✨~

Bring it on in the tags 

71. Ah Legendary Class⭐The Awesome Me Highway [Prussia]: Absolutely tearing it up on the drums and on the vocal cords alike (I pray for Atsushi Kousaka). Great for the memes. 

70.  Happy Thoughts Museum [???]: This is listed as an official song but I had literally never heard of the title. Then I listened to it and BAM! Smack back to 2013 watching the teasers for the show on Funimation. Not sure I’d count it as a character song though...

69. (Nice)  My Song that is written by me for me [Prussia]: Deafened me but I can appreciate the industrial grind.

68.  My House is...Quiet. ~With the Trolls~ [Norway]: I have never heard this song, nor can I find any version of it online. By default it goes here and I am so sorry Norge.

67.  Make a Wish to Santa♪ [Sealand]: The discordant notes and childish exuberance only serve to make this sound like a demonic plea to Santa to eliminate the singer’s enemies.

66.  Heaven and Hell on Earth [Rome]: Rome sounds like he’s been in the corner of a restroom. Extra points for the metal version, minus points for the fact that the beach scene was replayed like 1764 times.

65. Canada Complete Introduction [Canada]: Quiet af until Kumacheerio shows up and blows out your speakers. they did you dirty my darling 😔

64.  It’s Easy!!! [America]: I don't think any video of this has ever stayed up for more than 20 seconds. Sounds cool, but like I was listening to 20 different genres at once, someone make him calm down.

63.  Bù Zàiyì the Small Stuff ☆ [China]: I cannot for the life of me find the complete song anywhere, clips have a cool beat though

62.  Let's Boil Hot Water♪ [Italy]: Exactly what it says on the tin..though a bit too close to elevator music for my tastes.

61.  The Fragrance of Early Summer [Japan]: Very ‘from the books’ Japan-esque song

60.  Peace Sounds Nice…[Baltic Trio]: All well and good until the radio demon shows up

59.  W●D●C ~World Dancing~ [America]: How a song can sound like it’s from 4 different decades at once is beyond me

58.  Overflowing Passion [BFT]: This is just drunken karaoke and I have 0 clue what’s going on #iconicforallthewrongreasons

57. Ren●Ren●Renaissance♪ [Rome+Chibitalia]: Wholesome Grandpa with Grandson content - barring the fact that Italy sounds on the verge of a nervous breakdown and Rome has had too much wine.

56.  Roma Antiqua [Rome]: Similar energy to any one of China’s songs - there’s a part of the song where it sounds like he’s singing in the shower, and I will never not laugh at [CENSORED]

55.  Country From Where the Sun Rises, Zipangu [Japan]: Very chill, very Japan, but just meh for me.

54.  Moon Over Emei Shan [China]: Good message, okay song.

53.  My Friend [England]: What a mind palace you must have Mr. Kirkland

52.  With Love, from Iceland [Iceland]: Three words: Heavy. Metal. Puffin.

51.  Having Friends is Nice...♫ [Russia]: Russia is the cutest thing ever

50.  Mm. [Sweden]: Smooth transition from WWE Smackdown to shopping at IKEA.

49.  Why don’t you come over? ~Beyond the Northern Lights~ [Iceland]: I don’t want to be mean but...this does sound like the second closing theme to an anime whose first closing was much more popular (à la Soul Eater)

48. Gakuen☆Festa [Germany, Italy, Japan]: Sounds like a 60s song of the summer but oh dear their voices do not go together. Hella cute though.

47.  Wa! Wa!! World Ondo [Main Cast]: One time I travelled 10 hours in a coach bus with a bunch of teenagers to a city of note in my country, and the only souvenir I bought was the fucking PAINT IT WHITE DVD. Perfectly chaotic, UN ĐĕùX~~

46.  In the Bluebell Woods [England]: In the album cover for this song he’s holding a guitar but this is not a rock song. Still has ‘running through the hills’ levels of dramatism though.

45.  Poi Poi Poi♪ [Taiwan]: You’re telling me that Taiwan, someone whose has *ONE LINE* in Beautiful World (which is criminal tbh what kind of representation-) managed to get an eNTIRE CHARACTER SONG???????

44.  White Flame [Russia]: There’s something to be said for a song that is 3x the length of any Hetalia episode

43.  Ich liebe… [Germany]: Baking cakes for your friends has never been so wholesome.

42.  We Wish you a Merry Christmas [America, China, England, France, Russia]: Nice to see they’ve gotten their shit together since United Nations Sta-hmm.

41.  Ah, Worldwide à la mode [France]: Sounds like a Disney Princess song, hard not to picture France frolicking in a field of flowers.

40.  Che Bello! ~My House is the Greatest!⭐~ [Italy]: Would not be out of place in an advertisement for Sea World.

39.  May You Smile Today [Japan]: THE feel good song of the summer

38.  Let’s Look Behind the Rainbow [Italy]: I will protect you.

37.  I'm your HERO☆ [America]: “Anyone who’s sad or sullen will be arrested” did NOT age well.

36.  Mein Gott! [Prussia]: Alternating headphone effect at the beginning is cool, so is the confidence...the actual singing on the other hand...

35. Nihao⭐China [China]: Listen, all of China’s character songs are great, I just can’t vibe with this one like some of the others.

34.  Pechka ~Light My Heart~ [Russia]: I’m still having difficulty wrapping my head around the fact that this and Winter were released at the same time.

33.  Pukapuka⭐Vacation [Germany, Italy, Japan]: Seems just a bit too much like they’re running on a treadmill that’s picking up speed and trying to sing at the same time. Peppy.

32.  Santa Claus is Coming to Town [Germany, Italy, Japan]: This is unironically the best song sung by this trio; can only vibe with for two months out of the year though.

31.  Excuse Me, I Am Sorry [Japan]: Japan’s character traits speedrun. Gives me barbershop quartet vibes for some reason but is catchy as hell.

30.  The Story of Snow and Dreams [Russia]: A superhero anime opening in the making

29. England’s Evil Demon Summoning Song [England]: Sir that is not how you roast a marshmallow, don’t cut yourself on that edge.

28.  Moi Moi Sauna♪ [Finland]: Exactly the type of song you’d expect and it’s wonderful

27.  United Nations Star⭐ [America, China, England, France, Russia]: This isn’t as much of a song as it is a four minute struggle for everyone to sing without America yelling every 5 seconds...Like a particularly musical episode of Hetalia.

26.  Paris is Indeed Splendid [France]: Paris-pa-pa-pa-paris

25.  Absolutely Invincible British Gentleman [England]: Poppy, rocky, polka-dotty

24.  Vorwärts Marsch! [Germany]: To quote the comment section: “This sounds like a German version of I’ll Make a Man out of you.” There’s some truth to that.

23.  Hamburger Street [America]: The product of America’s rapper phase. 8/10 because he’s trying so hard and because I can unironically sing along to all of this.

22.  Hoi Sam☆Nice Guy [Hong Kong]: A song that would absolutely destroy the ankles of anyone in DDR.

21.  I Am German-Made [Germany]: There was once a version that had Germany and Prussia singing at the same time and it sounded positively demonic and Broadway could never

20.  La pasión no se detiene ~Unstoppable Passion~ [Spain]: Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping...

19.  Fall in Love, Mademoiselle [France]: Sounds like it should be in Mozart Opera Rock, I have kiss kiss falled in love.

18. Embrace the Très Bien Moi [France]: This is the definition of SELF LOVE PEOPLE. 

17. Carrot and Stick [Belarus&Ukraine]: Absolutely DRIPPING in 2000s power ballad energy. The type of song that plays on repeat in the mind of the widow whose millionaire husband ‘mysteriously disappeared’ (and the only legit character song ever acknowledged by the anime)

16. C.B.C (Cowboyz Boot Camp) Vol. 1 [America]: AH MAH GAWWDDD

15. Winter [Russia]: Heavy metal fever dream and the perfect song for an angst-ridden teenager

14.  Seychelles Here ⭐ Vacation Island [Seychelles]: UN👏DER👏RA👏TED SONG👏OF 👏THE 👏SUM👏MER👏

13.  Nah, it will settle itself somehow [Romano]: One day I aspire to reach this level of chill

12.  Let’s Enjoy Today [England]: I will never not feel happy when listening to this.

11.  Einsamkeit [Germany]: Ludwig manages to air every single one of his worries about not being good enough compared to his friends and always being perceived as mean or uptight when he’s actually just a softie and now my heart hurts. 💔

10.  Aiyaa Four Thousand Years [China]: A very poignant and beautiful song about the passage of time and the inevitability of its passing; comparable to an ancient ballad complete with explosive crescendos and meaningful lyrics.

9.  Bon Bon Bon❤️C’est Bon C’est Bon! [France]: Peppy, cheerful, adorable, groundbreaking; has been my alarm tone for six years and I’ve yet to tire of it. 9/10 The moaning interspersed throughout has been an interesting wake-up call.

8.  Let’s Enjoy! Let’s Get Excited! Cheers! [Denmark]: This is on par with Everytime we Touch by Cascada in terms of rage potential unlocked (the good kind)

7.  Dream Journey [Japan]: Whoever’s playing the shakuhachi is absolutely KILLING IT. Dramatic, wonderful, great metaphors.

6.  Gourmet’s Heart Beginner Level [China]: Absolute banger, I’m a vegetarian but this would inspire me to eat shumai.

5.  Always with you...Nordic Five! [Nordic FIVVVVVEEEE]: Everyone harmonizes beautifully except for Denmark. Extremely catchy, number placement seemed appropriate. 

4.  Pub and GO! [England]: I love this trash man

3. Maji Kandou⭐Hong Kong Night [Hong Kong]: If you thought Denmark’s song was a banger JUST YOU WAIT. I WILL BLOW OUT MY SPEAKERS LISTENING TO LO-HA-SU.

2. Steady Rhythmus [Germany]: THIS SONG IS METAL AF. Seriously, if it can be classified as ‘hardcore’ by my father and his group of 50-somethings who have decided to single-handedly gatekeep the metal and hardrock genres, it can do anything.

1.  The Delicious Tomato Song 🍅 [Romano]: Beautiful, absolutely awe-inspiring, poignant, catchy lyrics with an extremely deep meaning that only years of meticulous research and analysis can unlock, Romano I love you.

BONUS: Closing Songs

5. Hatafutte Parade (World Series) 

4. Hetalian⭐Jet (The World Twinkle): The song is good, the dancing is cursed 

3. Chikyuu Marugoto Hug Shitainda (World⭐Stars)

2. Marukaite Chikyuu (Hetalia: Axis Powers): nE NE PaPA

1. Mawaru Chikyuu Rondo (The Beautiful World)

[hpdrizzle]

Below is the list of all the fic for 2020 drizzle fest! Thanks for all your support - reveals will be posted on 10th October, Saturday. 

FEMSLASH Title: Time After Time Pairing: Ginny/Luna Summary: A few weeks after the Battle of Hogwarts, Luna buys an ice cream truck. Title: sugarcane in the easy morning Pairing: Ginny/Pansy Summary: “I mean, it’s not like there’s anything special about Ross,” Pansy continues. “Why do the most beautiful and powerful women go for the most painfully average men?” Title: Under Adverse Conditions Pairing: Ginny/Pansy Summary: With most of the castle away at Hogsmeade, Ginny and Pansy use the time to fly together. Title: Asbhury Manor Pairing: Millicent/Hermione Summary: Millicent farms the land on her manor. She enjoys the work and the weather, but she is lonely. Enter Hermione Granger.

There are many more awesome fics under the cut! 

GEN / MULTIPLE PAIRINGS Title: You Don’t Know [how you betrayed me] Pairing: Voldemort. Tom Riddle Sr. [GEN] Summary: Tom Marvolo Riddle meets his father on a cold and wintry night. He never meant for things to unfold the way that they do but there had been something inside him that wanted to investigate where he came from. Title: Thunder & Lightning Pairing: Hermione Granger/Fabian Prewett/Gideon Prewett Summary: A thunderstorm and a little bit of magic bring Hermione a pair of unexpected guests. Title: Getting some Vitamin D Characters/Pairings: Hermione/Adrian/Marcus Summary: Hermione takes advantage of the warm, Caribbean sun.

SLASH Title: Storms of Stars and Scars Pairing: Remus/Sirius Summary: Seven storms over seven years of Hogwarts tell the story of how Remus and Sirius fell in love. Title: Come In From The Cold Characters/Pairings: Remus/Sirius Summary: The first Hogsmeade weekend of the Marauders’ sixth year. Alternatively: In which Sirius frets and works to keep Remus warm, James argues it’s not that cold, Remus wishes the cold brought something more, and Peter just wishes everyone would get their heads out of their asses. Title: Hourglass Characters/Pairings: Remus/Sirius Summary: Sirius encounters a boy who got mugged. He offers to give him a ride home. Title: time, curious time Pairing: Remus/Sirius Summary: “Do you still remember how it started?” he asks. “How could I forget?” you ask back. Title: Riverbank Pairing: Remus/Sirius Summary: While looking for an escape from his broken family, Sirius finds the riverbank. And a boy with pink hair. Title: A Summertime Thunderstorm Pairing: Remus/Sirius Summary: Summers in Wales were ideal. Sunny, windy, warm without being sweltering… and the perfect time for Remus and Sirius to explore the feelings they’ve been dancing around for the better part of a year. Title: Freedom They Can Reach Pairing: Remus/Sirius Summary: Under rising thunderclouds in late July 1980, Remus and Sirius take a different road towards home or freedom. Title: That Summer was Good to Us Pairing: Remus/Sirius Summary: Summers in Wales were ideal. Sunny, windy, warm without being sweltering… and the perfect time for Remus and Sirius to explore the feelings they’ve been dancing around for the better part of a year. Title: Eye of the Storm Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: A storm rages blindly around a cabin with no doors. Without magic, Draco and Harry are trapped inside. Title: The cold never bothers me anyway Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: It takes Harry one pointless mission to the Arctic, three falls into the snow, a few lines from Let It Go, and thousands of floating ice crystals to realize just how beautiful Draco Malfoy is. Title: Brighter Than The Sun Characters/Pairings: Draco/Harry Summary: Draco was promised a relaxing day at the beach. This was certainly not it! Title: Winter has called you [and me] Characters/Pairings: Draco/Harry Summary: Draco decided to visit his aunt in the countryside to be a little bit away from the city. While going back, he didn’t notice a snow storm was coming, trapping him in the snow a few cities away from his aunt’s house. He didn’t expect a handsome man to save him. He also didn’t expect Harry to be his soulmate. Title: A Fault In The Weather Characters/Pairings: Draco/Harry Summary: Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes have brought out a new item: a Portable Swamp. As one of their most trusted amateur prototype testers, Harry is ecstatic to get this latest object. The only problem is that it…doesn’t seem to work. It’s generating storm clouds that sweep through the Hogwarts corridors, and showering the students with rain, hail, and snow. The storms are getting stronger, but Charms Professor Malfoy and DADA Professor Potter are on the case. Title: Key to my heart Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Harry Potter gets locked out in the rain. He goes to his neighbour Draco Malfoy for help. Title: (You’ve Gotta) Taste The Rain Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Harry can’t take the rat race anymore and quits Auror training just before graduation. He hopes a move to the country will bring him what he’s looking for. He doesn’t factor in a wandering neighbour who turns out to be very familiar. As the rain continues to pour, things get heated. Title: The Locus of the Fracas Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Harry is assigned community payback, and it’s all Malfoy’s fault. Title: Only Happy When It Rains Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Weather-Be’s, the up-and coming business of Draco Malfoy, guarantees* perfect weather for your event! If you need warm sunshine, Weather-Be’s will provide it. If you want atmospheric fog, we can make that happen. We have a 100%** success rate at giving you the weather you want. | *guarantee invalid if Harry Potter is in attendance | **success rate drops to 97% when Harry Potter’s attendance at events is counted. Title: Golden Daffodils’ Sea Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Harry returned to Grimmauld and curled alone in Sirius’ bed, the night weighted on him and he choked with fear. A crack inside him had the shape and sound of their portkey disappearing. He didn’t sleep that night, Fred’s funeral fresh in his mind too. The guilt at his lack of tears or emotions the previous day overwhelmed him and kept his eyes opened so he could feel how undeserving of the Weasley’s love he was. The months after the Battle of Hogwarts are sunny and beautiful, even though it feels like the sky should be falling around Harry. He tries to get through grief while fixing Hogwarts, capture some Death Eaters, return to his last year of school and befriend one Draco Malfoy. However, he’ll have to realize grief is not the only thing he has to fight now that he came back from death. Title: Let him be kind Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: A ghost is haunting the halls of Malfoy Manor, wailing at all hours of the day. Unfortunately for Draco, the only person to happily offer their ghost-be-gone services was none other than Harry Potter. Title: Forever In My Mind (Be My Golden Sunshine) Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Harry Potter flees London and a broken engagement. He finds solace in the vineyards of Châteaux Malfoy and finds a love that he could never have expected. Title: No Rules in a Breakable Heaven Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: When a magical rainstorm reveals everyone’s deepest desires, Harry learns far more about his friends and colleagues than he ever wanted to know. Worst of all, he suddenly has to face his own deepest desire. Title: What the body wants is coolness Pairing: Draco/Harry Summary: Draco and Harry have been seeing each other for months, and Harry decides the best way to tell their friends is to bring Draco to a group beach outing. Draco’s given up enumerating all the ways this plan could go wrong. Title: Comfort In The Storm Pairing: Harry & Ron Summary: “Storms are even scarier outside of the cupboard. Title: I will answer thy prayers (if thou wouldst drink of my life) Pairing: Voldemort/Harry Summary: Instead of duelling Harry in the graveyard, Voldemort kisses him instead. Title: The summer of 1899 Pairing: Albus/Gellert Summary: The cicadas are humming on that humid summer day when Albus meets Gellert for the first time. What follows is an intense, passionate affair that lasts for one perfect summer. Title: Kick In Characters/Pairings: Severus/Sirius Summary: Severus loves his husband, he really does. Even if his obsessions with nudity and rain drive him crazy sometimes. Title: Unexpected Companion Characters/Pairings: Harry/Theo Summary: While picking up a birthday cake for Hermione in Knockturn Alley, an unexpected rainstorm causes Harry to take shelter where he finds himself bumping into someone he hasn’t seen in quite a while. Title: A Loss of Control Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Hugo Weasley Summary: Bored at yet another Ministry charity event, Hugo goes for a wander and finds himself with someone he never expected to. Title: heartbreak was never so loud Pairing: Marcus/Oliver Summary: Oliver starts out wanting to help Flint fit into the team. Somewhere along the way, he loses his heart to the large, surly Beater. Title: Searching For Comfort Pairing: Snape/Harry Summary: Severus was mostly there for the air-conditioning. He didn’t know it would change his life! Title: What the rainbow never tells me Pairing: James Sirius/Teddy Lupin Summary: When James is challenged with an impossible task—to find the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow—no one expects him to succeed. But what they don’t know is that James has a pretty good in with England’s premier Weather Wizard, Teddy Lupin. Title: His Reward Pairing: Snape/Draco Summary: All Draco wants for Christmas is protection. And snow. Title: Too Good To Be True Pairing: James/Regulus Summary: He couldn’t help but peruse James’ body as he answered his question. It was slowly distracting Regulus, but he couldn’t think about that now. HET Title: Funny Weather You’re Having Pairing: Zach/Luna Summary: Zach notices a strange weather pattern around Luna’s house, and decides to investigate. Title: Windy and Windy Roads Pairing: Ron/Hermione Summary: After a shopping trip in Flourish and Blotts, the wind decides to kidnap Ron’s hat. If only the wind knew what that hat meant to the Granger-Weasleys. If it did, the wind would likely have left it well enough alone. Title: Sitting in the Rain Pairing: Luna/Rolf Summary: Luna is sitting in her garden out in the rain and Harry decides to go out and join her. Title: Storming Love Characters/Pairings: Harry/Daphne Summary: Harry never expected to wake up to a rainstorm in his bedroom without a hole in the roof. Can an owl to Theo break the storm that seems to be following him? Title: Brighter Than The Sun Characters/Pairings: Pansy/Ron Summary: Ron Weasley has found the love of his life. All he needs to do is get the asking right and he’s sure Pansy Parkinson will agree to tie their lives together… if only the weather would cooperate. Title: Weathering The Storm Pairing: Ginny/Blaise Summary: Ginny’s invitation to her first quidditch match as a Harpie has Blaise a bit nervous. The storm brewing in the sky is almost as strong as the storm brewing in his heart. Can they both survive the match and its aftermath? Title: I want to feel the thunder (I want to scream) Pairing: George/Luna Summary: Sometimes things don’t need to be said, but they’re nice to hear anyway (especially when it stops your boyfriend from turning into a frog every time it rains). Title: How It Falls Pairing: Ron/Pansy Summary: Pansy Parkinson wants to live life her own way, but her mother has other ideas—specifically, she wants her to marry a certain type of wizard. Title: Corazón De Mi Alma Pairing: Harry/Hermione Summary: Harry and Hermione travel to Mexico for the repatriation of a cursed Mayan artifact. Title: Pathetic Fallacy Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: ‘I have an idea,’ he said quietly, ‘but I don’t think you’re going to like it.’ Title: Suddenly this rain, This defeat Characters/Pairings: Hermione/Draco Summary: A weeks long storm of mysterious origins brings more than just a headache for Hermione Granger. It also brings Draco Malfoy back into her life and her heart in a way she never expected. Title: Anchors In A Storm Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: Draco’s current mistake—well, it wasn’t simply one, but three—was a chain of seemingly unconnected events that, when spliced together just so, made one hell of a shit storm. Title: Queen of my heart (long may she rain) Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: Draco likes Granger./Granger likes books./This could be useful. Title: Make it Rain Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: It is raining the first time Draco Malfoy kisses Hermione Granger. Or more accurately, the first time she kisses him. Title: though she be but little Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: He wasn’t Shakespeare, painting pictures with his quill tip; just a boy with a festering mark on his arm and a storm in his head. Title: Shifting Sands Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: Hermione notices a discrepancy during an audit. Draco tries to convince her that nothing is amiss. Lightning strikes at least once. Title: Flaming Tears Pairing: Hermione/Draco Summary: He set fire to the rain and watched it pour as it touched her face.

[walks-the-ages]

Wiki page isn't very helpful so I have some random questions for the Doctor Who fandom:

1) where do the names Theta and Kochei (I'm probably spelling that wrong) come from in terms of referring to the Doctor and the Master during their.... Childhood/days in the academy? Are these their ""real"" names, or was it some kind of designation given to them by the Academy?

2) do we have any concrete guides on Time Lord abilities? Like, I know they're touch telepathic and can read/erase memories, but can they feel someone's emotions just by touching them? Ive heard of the "Respitory Bypass" ability that lets then survive strangulation, but was that just a throwaway line for plot drama, or does it ever go in depth about HOW it works? Do they start breathing through like, , their skin when their lungs stop working properly? Is it as Nine said, they can feel the rotation of planets when they're standing on them? Can taste time on objects as well as idenify their chemical makeup? (hence the Doctor constantly licking things)

3) uh,,,, did the Time Lords straight up murder the Second Doctor??????????? Like. Wtf. I know that.... Three(?) Was banished to earth for awhile, and that's why he was working with UNIT, but like. What on EARTH did Two do that was so bad???!?!?

4) Romanadevoratrelundar. I can almost guarantee you that I spelled that wrong. How come Romana and Rassilon do not have "title" names, like the Doctor and the Master do? Do other Time Lords have "regular" names instead of titles, or is it a mix? What's the deciding factor? Is it something to do with the Academy (which I know nothing about other than the name) or is it just a personal choice based on aesthetic preferences?

5) who/what is the Valeyard? I've seen them referenced before,but no lore or concrete answers. Are they an alternative regeneration of the Doctor? Are they an EVIL alternate Doctor?

6) last but not least, when do the Classic Who episodes become a more.... Modern format, is ever? We tried watching from the beginning with an Amazon prime free trial of Britbox, but my GOD. ADHD does NOT pair well with six, 40-minute "parts" of an episode, especially with Susan shrieking every five minutes lol. We TRIED watching in chronological order for awhile but that got very tiring very quick so we started skipping forward to mid-season, then next season, then the next doctor, etc, but it seems like every freaking Doctor has nothing but 6-parter episode storylines and I do not have the patience for that. We DID watch the Fourth Doctor's first episode and I already loved him in his first five minutes, but the pacing was very slow and our trial had run out. Any particular Doctors you guys reccomend for more condensed / ADHD-friendly storylines?

7) ALMOST FORGOT! So. The Sixth Doctor... He's the one in the rainbow coat, right? Didn't he try to freaking MURDER his companion because of Regeneration Sickness or something???

~ I can assure you, any answers to these questions can and WILL be used to write angsty/epic fanfiction :)

[macaronyy-da-lame-guy]

Title: A Memorable Co-op Shift: Engaging Passengers and Exquisite Sushi Adventures

Introduction:

Working as a PSA (Passenger Service Agent) for Cathay Pacific Airlines can be an exciting and rewarding experience. From interacting with passengers to ensuring smooth operations, the role of a PSA is crucial in providing a positive travel experience. In this blog, I will share my recent co-op shift experience, highlighting a challenging situation with a passenger and a delightful sushi adventure with fellow students.

Engaging with Passengers and Overcoming Challenges:

During my co-op shift, the flight was full, and we had the opportunity to engage with a diverse range of passengers. While most interactions were pleasant, there was one particular challenge that required problem-solving skills and quick thinking. I encountered a passenger who had a connecting flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne, but he did not have a visa for Australia. This posed a significant problem as he needed to enter Australia during the layover.

As a PSA, it was crucial to remain calm and assist the passenger in finding a suitable solution. I promptly contacted the airline's supervisor and explained the situation. Together, we explored alternative options and found a solution. We arranged for the passenger to rebook his connecting flight to a later date, allowing him enough time to acquire the necessary visa. By communicating effectively with the passenger and collaborating with the airline's staff, we were able to alleviate the passenger's concerns and ensure a smooth travel experience.

A Sushi Adventure in Toronto's Finest Restaurant:

After a fulfilling co-op shift, my fellow students and I decided to treat ourselves to a well-deserved dinner. We chose to dine at the renowned sushi restaurant, Sushi Extravaganza, located in the heart of Toronto. This upscale establishment is known for its exquisite sushi creations and elegant ambiance, making it the perfect choice for a memorable evening.

As we settled into our seats, the aroma of freshly prepared sushi filled the air, tantalizing our taste buds. We began our culinary journey with the chef's special appetizer, the "Ocean Symphony." This dish consisted of delicate sashimi slices arranged artistically, featuring a medley of flavors from the sea. Each bite was a sensory delight, as we savored the freshness of the ingredients and the chef's meticulous attention to detail.

For the main course, we indulged in the "Dragon's Roll," a signature creation that combined succulent grilled eel, avocado, and cucumber, enveloped in a thin layer of sushi rice and topped with a drizzle of eel sauce. The combination of textures and flavors was a true masterpiece, leaving us in awe of the sushi chef's culinary expertise.

As the evening progressed, we explored a variety of sushi rolls, including the "Golden Tempura Roll" and the "Rainbow Roll," each showcasing unique ingredients and innovative presentations. The evening was filled with laughter, good conversation, and an appreciation for the artistry that went into each dish.

Conclusion:

My co-op shift as a PSA with Cathay Pacific Airlines provided both challenges and moments of joy. From assisting passengers in overcoming travel obstacles to indulging in a memorable sushi adventure, the day was a testament to the diverse experiences and opportunities that arise in the airline industry.

As a PSA, it is essential to approach challenges with a calm and problem-solving mindset, ensuring that passengers' needs are met to the best of our abilities. And after a long shift, treating ourselves to a fancy dining experience like the one we had at Sushi Extravaganza allows us to relax, bond with colleagues, and appreciate the finer things in life.

In the end, it's the combination of unique experiences and shared moments that make the journey as a PSA truly rewarding. It's the fulfillment of helping others and the joy of savoring the culinary