#and I keep thinking about the proposal | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

njessie · 22 days ago

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Jack’s been trying to propose for weeks now, but he keeps getting interrupted. No one notices, because everyone thinks they’re engaged anyway. Joke’s secretly egging them all on because he thinks it’s hilarious.

(G, 2,359 words, 5+1, post canon)

1. Proposing at the school almost feels like a full circle moment. Regardless of what happen after, Joke was one of the first people Jack told about his dream. Since then, Joke's done everything possible to make it into a reality and together, they've been able to firmly establish themselves in the community. The school is a little haven for them as much as it is for the kids, a safe place to learn and grow. Not to mention, it's also where they promised to stay together, sealing it with their rings.

They're both in the office, wrapping up for the day. The paperwork has piled up and Jack's in the middle of creating a math curriculum he hopes is easier to understand, especially for the kids that missed out on earlier lessons. He can see Joke is starting to get restless though, sitting for so long. Sure enough, Joke's out of his seat in the next minute, telling Jack they should call Ama and see if she's made anything for dinner.

"Maybe we can get some take out if she hasn't. There's that new noodle stall in the market I want to try," Joke says as he organizes his papers.

Jack grabs his hand, turning Joke so they're facing each other. He rubs his thumb softly over the ring and smiles at Joke's puzzled look. The moment feels so right.

"Wait, Joke, I—"

The door to the office bursts open and Toi Ting rushes in, talking a mile a minute.

"P'Jaaack, P'Joke, what's taking so long! Let's go home already, I'm hungry and there's a new noodle stall in the market. Ama won't mind if we get noodles, right?"

Joke smiles at him before he lets go and moves towards Toi Ting. He has a gentle hand on her shoulder as they walk towards the door, discussing noodle options. It's only been a second but Toi Ting has somehow already roped him into also buying ice cream. Not that it takes much to convince Joke when it comes to sweets, but it's impressive how quickly she did it.

Jack didn't even manage to get the words out, so he's a little exasperated, but if anyone's allowed to interrupt them it's Toi Ting. She deserves all the attention they can give her, so he grabs his phone and keys from the table and follows them out the door.

2. Hoy is the first to crash through the gate, as usual. Jack was halfway to his knee, question at the tip of his tongue, Joke waiting with a small smile on his face. They both startle and look towards the entrance, where Tattoo and Aran are walking in behind Hoy with bags of clinking bottles.

“We’re here for dinner and brought drinks! Why are you crouching like that, P’Jack? Are you practicing lunges? I want to workout with you too!”

Jack pinches the bridge of his nose and wonders if Hoy’s voice has always been this loud. The proposal is obviously off the table, again. Joke has already moved towards the kitchen to help Ama bring food in. His grin is wide and there’s a glean in his eyes as he passes by, giving Jack’s hand a quick squeeze. Jack thinks he might be missing something, but he’s soon swept up. Tattoo has complaints about the assistant Jack hired to help him and Aran thinks he might be ready to lead a knitting class. Hoy’s still going on about lunges and fitness plans, regardless of anyone listening.

He sits at the table and closes his eyes for a moment, but Jack can’t bring himself to be too annoyed. His house is full and Joke’s a warm, solid presence next to him, nudging him to put more food on Toi Ting's plate.

He figures proposing can wait another day.

3. They're tucked into a small corner of the bar, sitting close together on a sofa. It's not often they get the chance to go out like this, so Jack's savouring the moment. Joke looks so lovely under the dimmed lights. He's smiling in that way he only ever does for Jack, small and secret, like there's no one else in the world he'd rather be looking at. Jack loves the way they're huddled together, warm where their legs are touching, turned towards each other in conversation. Jack didn't think he would be able to love anyone as much as he loves Joke. There's something about him that Jack's always felt drawn to, since they first met at this exact bar. There's an easiness to their conversations, a trust that took time to build but has since solidified, a warmth to the way they fit into each other's lives.

Joke's resting his head on the back of the sofa, turned fully the side so they can see each other while they speak. Their drinks lay forgotten as they lose themselves in conversation. Jack idly plays with Joke's hand, running his fingers over his knuckles, his palm, his ring. He's not sure if Joke's noticed how often he's been doing that lately, but given how many times he's tried and failed to propose, it's always on his mind. Jack gears up for it again, thinking he's safe from interrupting friends or daughter in this little bubble they're in. He thinks Joke might be expecting it too, if his soft expression is anything to go by. But of course, nothing in his life seems to come easy, and it's at that moment the music changes tempo, from soft jazz to something more upbeat.

There's a crowd of people coming in through the door, the makeshift dance floor filling up. He looks over and sure enough, there's Rosé at the centre of it, surrounded by friends and, inexplicably, Nang. Jack notices two of her bodyguards at the bar, carefully watching the crowd. Rosé spots them as she twirls around, squinting at them before she smiles wide. She's definitely already wine drunk.

"My friends!" Rosé nudges the woman next to her. "Look at my lovely friends! Isn't Jack handsome? You know, I used to be in love with him." Her voice breaks a little at the end, somewhere between a laugh and sob.

Jack's sure she tried to whisper the last part. He hopes. Joke is laughing next to him but shifts over slightly when Rosé starts to walk towards them and that just won't do. Jack moves back into his space and they share a look. He knows Joke still feels a little awkward around Rosé, but given Jack was two seconds away from proposing, he doesn't feel like putting any distance between them. He doesn't care if anyone thinks they're sitting too close, he just needs to feel Joke beside him.

4. Joke has spent most of the day in the kitchen with Ama, learning a new recipe. Jack's noticed he gets into a state of single-minded focus when he's doing something he loves, especially when it's hands-on. He works at recipes until they're perfect, has learned enough about mixing drinks that there's new ones on the menu at the bar, and scribbles away at his sketchbooks almost every day.

Today's no different. Ama taught Joke the basic technique and has since gone upstairs to rest, but Joke's determined to get the recipe right. Jack has a rare day off, so he brings a chair to the kitchen and pretends to read while he watches Joke work. His movements are precise and skilled and once everything is in the pot and cooking, he steps back and stretches. Jack comes up behind him and wraps his arms around Joke's waist, rests his head on his shoulder.

"Tired?" Jack asks.

"A little. But I think I've gotten the recipe right. It should be ready in 15 minutes. Do you want to go call Ama? She must be hungry by now too."

Jack hums into the back of his neck. Jack loves how much Joke cares, especially for Ama. He's always thinking of everyone around him, so much so that Jack worries he doesn't think about himself enough. He wants to be able to do that for Joke too, to find a good balance in caring for each other. They're definitely getting there in their own relationship and Jack is so excited to spend his life trying. He spins Joke around, grabs his left hand, and gets down on his knee.

Joke's smile slowly gets bigger, until it lights up his whole face. Jack smiles up at him, clears his throat and—

Ama chooses that exact moment to walk in.

"Jack, why are you kneeling on the floor like that? It's dirty, your pants will get stained. Get up, come on, get up quickly."

Ama's waving at him impatiently and he stares back at her, disbelieving. Joke pulls him up by the hand he's still holding, laughing at his plight. He stands and groans, rests his head on Joke's shoulder again. Joke pats his back for a second, before pushing him back for some space to turn back towards the stove.

5. Jack knows Joke is tired. It's been a long day at the school, but it turns out Joke is excellent at handling sponsors and managing staff. He doesn't love it, there's too much paperwork and Joke prefers the work at the bar but he also loves Jack and wants to help out as much as he can. So Jack knows Joke is likely halfway asleep, but he figures if there's anywhere he won't be interrupted it's late at night, safely tucked in bed.

Joke's curled into Jack's side, as he often is. Jack runs a gentle hand through his hair and steels himself up for it. He doesn't think Joke will say no, but he's worked this up in his head so much at this point.

"Joke. I know it hasn't been that long, and we've been through a lot together, but I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else. I want us to take the next step together. Let's get married."

Jack lets out a breath and waits, knowing Joke sometimes needs a minute. He continues to run gentle fingers in his hair, waiting a moment, then two. But Joke still hasn't said anything, and that's unusual.

"Joke?" Jack looks down at him and Joke is...asleep. Jack stares at him for a second, convinced he's tricking him. But Joke's breathing is even and relaxed and Jack can't help but laugh a little at the absurdity of it all. He shifts onto his side and hugs Joke closer, presses a soft kiss to his forehead.

There's always tomorrow.

+1.

It's a rare evening they're having dinner alone. Usually, there's a host of random friends and family joining them, eager for Ama's cooking, often the only meal they get with warm invitation. If no one else, it's them and Ama or Toi Ting, but today Ama has gone to bed early and Toi Ting is studying with Tattoo. Joke arranges the table full of small dishes, plates of vegetables and fish and chive dumplings he's spent the afternoon making.

Jack feels like he's going to burst with the question. It's been weeks and there's always something, or rather, someone, getting in the way. If he doesn't get to ask soon he might just drag Joke to the courthouse and elope. Joke piles his plate high with food, saying something about a new recipe and I think you'll like this Jack, and yeah, Jack's not waiting anymore.

"Joke. Let's get married."

Joke freezes, the sauce from the vegetables he was about to add to Jack's plate dripping on the table. He stares at Jack for a minute before his face splits into a huge smile, and Jack's so happy he feels his heart might burst.

"Yeah. Yeah, okay, let's get married."

They both move at the same time, pulling each other into a tight hug, swaying with laughter and joy. They stay like that for a while, breathing each other in, foreheads touching. Joke is the first to pull back and his eyes are shining and Jack loves him, so much.

"Hoy is going to be so happy he won the bet," Joke laughs.

BONUS: It's hot and crowded in the house, just another evening everyone has joined them for dinner. Hoy, Tattoo, Aran, and Toi Ting fill in the extra chairs at the table, replacing their usual calm dinner with banter and quick-fire conversations. Jack feels like he hasn't stopped smiling since he proposed and he wants everyone to know, wants to share the love and joy. He's holding Joke's hand under the table, playing with the ring on his left hand. He clears his throat, not that it helps in quieting anyone down.

"So, Joke and I are getting married."

Everyone looks over at that. They all stare at him, but it's not the reaction he's expecting. They’re looking at him like he's grown a second head.

"Well obviously. We've known that for months." Aran rolls his eyes so hard Jack's surprised he hasn't given himself a headache.

"What, no. I just proposed yesterday, what do you mean!" Jack says.

"I just proposed yesterday!" Tattoo mocks, "yeah okay, whatever P'Jack."

Jack splutters, looks over at Joke for support but Joke's silently laughing and Jack knows he's lost. He looks to Ama, but she's frowning at him.

"What do you mean you just proposed," Ama says. "Joke's been wearing your ring for months, are you telling me you've been making him wait for months?"

"The ring was a promise! Not a proposal! I mean obviously I was always going to propose, eventually, at some point, but—"

Ama’s shaking her head at him and Joke's doubled over in laughter now and Jack realizes explaining it is making everything worse.

"Sorry Ama."

He concedes to losing this one, but Joke's hand is warm in his, his laughter vibrant, and his ring is on his finger. He's sitting at a table with people he loves knowing he'll be spending the rest of his life with Joke. So really, it's not a loss at all.

#so apparently im writing fic now? the brainworms are real #in this scenario aran catches the bouquet at the wedding #looks over at tattoo very pointedly and tattoo stares back at him before he's like alright alright i'll propose too #and that's how everyone finds out they're together #this all came about from a convo with cangse-sanren where i lost my mind a little thinking of this and since we're not gonna get it in #the special ep y'all are getting it here #enjoy! lol #jack and joker #jack and joker the series #keeping it under the cut so i dont clog up the tag #untitled cause i can't be bothered

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