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theyonlyhadeachother · 11 months ago

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i have so many bookmarked midam fics its insane. i dont know if i've read all of the midam fics on ao3, but i've def read a very large majority of them

just a few of my absolute favorites are below the cut. none of them are rated E, but if anyone is interested in some of those, shoot me an ask and let me know

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Gen, 3,693 words, No Archive Warnings Apply, 1/1 chapters

bound to the marrow of how it feels by paradisecas

Summary: Ask any kid what their superpower would be, nine times out of ten the answer will be flying. Adam, son of a nurse and a bit of a goody-two-shoes, was always the odd one out choosing the noble imaginary superpower of healing people. If Adam could go back in time—and technically, he could��he’d change his answer. Not to flying, and not from healing; he knows now that he can have it all. He’d like to kneel down in front of baby-Adam and say, hey kid, someday you’re going to have everything anyone could ever want at your fingertips, and you’ll be sharing it with the love of your life. You’ll fly straight through the atmosphere and fix broken bones with a snap of your fingers and sit invisible in the corner of a room you’re not allowed in. You’ll eat until you can’t anymore and still have room for seconds. You’ll be able to pick up a car to save a baby, if that situation ever arises, and it won’t even be adrenaline that does it. He wants to say, no matter what nightmares come your way, something good is waiting for you too. You’ll share your body with someone who loves you. You won’t ever be alone again. You’ll always be warm.

Tags: Michael/Adam Milligan, Michael (Supernatural), Adam Milligan, Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester, Lucifer's Cage (Supernatural), Post-Canon, Michael Possessing Adam Milligan, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, michael dies but he gets better tho

hook and eye series by thishazeleyeddemon

Series rating of Mature, 19,945 words, No Archive Warnings Apply, 2 fics (2/2 and 1/1 respectively)

Tags: Michael/Adam Milligan, Michael (Supernatural), Adam Milligan, Sam Winchester, The Empty | The Shadow (Supernatural), Witch Adam Milligan, Episode Fix-It: s15e19 Inherit the Earth, Post-Episode: s15e19 Inherit the Earth, Grief/Mourning, Bitterness, Men of Letters Bunker (Supernatural), Break Up, would you all like to hear about Michael essentially getting his ex to get back together with him, of course you would, Emotional Manipulation, Self-Esteem Issues, Adam Milligan is Not Forgotten, Adam Milligan is So Done, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Adam is such a bitter bitch in this one, it's okay y'all they'll get through it, I just was like Adam can have a little Being Mean and Unreasonable. As a treat, Men of Letters (Supernatural), more tags for Part 2!!, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Gaslighting, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, THE PROMISED. HAPPY ENDING., I REWROTE THIS SO MUCH I AM GOING TO BED, prays the rewriting paid off, Michael Steals From The Rich, Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Angelic Grace Kink (Supernatural,) arguably - Freeform, Body Horror, although Adam would gut you for saying such things about Michael, obviously Michael is beautiful and perfect no matter how many eyes, Consensual Possession, Making Out smidgeon of angst. just a spicy dollop, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, by virtue of being a hook and eye-verse fic

Summary of the First Fic: you fit into me like a hook into an eye a fish hook an open eye - Margaret Atwood Michael succumbed to his Father's manipulations. He never wanted to destroy the Earth, but it was so hard, so hard, to find the words to fight back against his father when he was all alone. He never wanted to do that. He never wanted to leave Adam. Adam doesn't know that.

Two Weddings and an Engagement by lumpy_space_princess

Teen, 7,812 words, No Archive Warnings Apply, 1/1

Tags: Michael/Adam Milligan, Gabriel/Eileen Leahy/Rowena MacLeod/Sam Winchester, Michael (Supernatural), Adam Milligan, Gabriel (Supernatural), Sam Winchester, Eileen Leahy, Rowena MacLeod, Kevin Tran, Charlie Bradbury, Claire Novak, Kaia Nieves, Dean Winchester, Castiel, Post-Canon Fix-It, Minor Castiel/Dean Winchester, Midam at the Destiel wedding, Midam at the Saileen wedding, Everybody Lives, This is crack so don't think too hard about it, Adam & Kevin & Charlie & Claire & Kaia Michael & Gabriel - Freeform, Fluff and Angst, Didn't Know They Were Dating, Seriously everybody knows it but them, The Love Is Requited They're Just Idiots, They work it out in the end though

Summary: Adam massages fingers over his temples, and tries not to look morose. "Listen. You're not exactly telling me anything I haven't told myself. But there's just - there's baggage there, ok? It's been hard to look at the future when we've barely gotten used to having a present again." He huffs. "Anyway, I don't think he'd even want that. He's an-" "-an archangel, yeah, you've said. It was crap the last time you said it, too." Kevin props himself on his elbows, gazing intently at Adam. "How will you know if you don't try? How is it fair to him, that you just decide what he feels without asking him about it?" Charlie nods. "Would you want him to treat you that way? It's obviously weighing on you. How would you feel, if he was keeping something this important from you?" ----------------- Or: Michael and Adam, bless their hearts, are mutually in love. Strangely, they're the only ones who can't seem to see it.

the past is made of stardust (the future's shifting sand) by Anonymous

Teen, 30,461 words, Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply, 1/1

Tags: Michael/Adam Milligan, Minor or Background Relationship(s), Castiel/Dean Winchester, Adam Milligan, Michael (Supernatural), Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester, Castiel (Supernatural), The Empty | The Shadow (Supernatural), Lucifer's Cage (Supernatural), Post-Lucifer's Cage (Supernatural), Post-Episode: s15e08 Our Father Who Aren't in Heaven, Post-Episode: s15e19 Inherit the Earth, Non-Chronological Fix-It, Post-Canon Fix-It, The Empty (Supernatural), Adam Milligan Saves Michael from the Empty, Michael Possessing Adam Milligan, Hurt/Comfort, Grief/Mourning, Angst with a Happy Ending, Established Relationship, Kinda Fluff, Temporary Character Death, i am going to rewrite this. i mean it.

Summary: Adam knocked on the door and waited. And waited. And waited. He knocked again, and then it opened to Sam brandishing a gun, Dean behind him with a knife and a bottle of whiskey. When they saw him, they didn’t relax, but they didn’t attack either. “Adam?” Sam asked, hesitantly. “Or… Michael?” Adam knew he had to look ridiculous. Before, they’d seen him while he still had an archangel maintaining his body, but after the last day and a half? He was sweaty and sunburnt and dehydrated and he could almost feel the bags under his eyes. But another gift of the Cage was losing the ability to give a fuck what he looked like. “Michael isn't home right now,” Adam said. “And I’d like to know why.”

Mirror Of Change by QuicksilverCastiel

Teen, 2,127 words, No Archive Warnings Apply, 1/1

Tags: Michael/Adam Milligan, Serafina (Supernatural), Michael (Supernatural), Adam Milligan, Raphael (Supernatural), Serafina is going through it, Or at least she's bluescreening on account of Michael's heart-eyes at Adam, Also Heaven ecology yay!, they/them pronouns for Raphael

Summary: When all is said and done, God defeated and the world righted again, Serafina takes on her biggest challenge yet: Going back to Heaven. Not to stay, but to see if the rumour of it 'changing' have any truth to it. Turn out, at least some archangels have definitely changed. And it may be because of another Adam.

your mother's son by darkmillennium

Teen, 10,633 words, No Archive Warnings Apply, 1/1

Tags: Michael/Adam Milligan, Michael & Adam Milligan, Michael (Supernatural), Adam Milligan, Alternate Michael's Grace-Enhanced Monsters, POV Adam Milligan, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Slice of Life, Fluff and Humor, Post-Episode: s15e08 Our Father Who Aren't in Heaven, Michael Possessing Adam Milligan, Adam Milligan is So Done, Developing Relationship, Romantic Tension, listen they're in love with each other we've all seen it, this is just 10k words of michael and adam living life, Enochian-Speaking Adam Milligan, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence

Summary: Adam wants a normal life. He really does. He wants, at least, as close to a normal life as he can get after spending ten years—a thousand years—in the Cage. And he’s got it, mostly. He’s got an apartment and a job and a closet full of clothes that aren’t the clothes he went to Hell in. He thinks he’s been managing pretty great, all things considered. But one day, Michael warns him that he’s sensed a pack of werewolves move into the area, and then people start dropping dead with their hearts ripped out, and.. Life isn't going to be as relaxed as he'd like it to be, is it?

#these fics changed my brain #this is not all of the fics i have but they are some of my favs #midam #adam milligan #adam milligan x michael #michael spn #spn #supernatural #ao3 #fic recs #midam fic recs #hex posts

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muirmarie · 5 months ago

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Title: pull you in and hold you tight (love you through the heart of night)

Fandom: Star Trek: The Original Series

Ship: McCoy/Spock/Kirk (mcspirk)

Rating/Warning: T / no archive warnings apply, minor warnings for descriptions of anxiety

Word Count: ~12.8k

Written for Day 2 - touch-starved - for @mcspirkevents's mcspirk month

(my mcspirk month fics)

___________

After a month of near-isolation while helping a planet navigate an epidemic, McCoy returns to the ship, healthy but touch-starved. Kirk and Spock have a plan, though, and they're not above railroading the good doctor into going along with them.

The plan? It's fairly complicated. Fairly technical. You might not understand it.

(It's cuddling.)

___________

“Do you and Doctor McCoy ever...” Spock pauses, and tilts his head slightly to the side as he thinks, “I suppose the most accurate term would be 'cuddle'. Do the two of you ever cuddle?”

Not much shakes their unflappable captain, but this—this appears to have him well and truly flapped. His mouth is hanging open, and the hand he'd begun to swing over towards his couch is frozen mid-swing.

#mcspirk #leonard mccoy #spock #james t kirk #star trek #star trek tos #star trek the original series #james kirk #fanfiction #mine #mcspirk month #mcspirk month 2024 #fic #IT IS FINALLY DONE!!!!! this one took me wayyyyyy too long lmao <3

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eris090 · 6 months ago

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Title - Delicious Defeat

No archive warnings

Relationships - Gabriel/V1 (ULTRAKILL)

Tags - Verbal V1, Degradation, Gabriel has a new god now, (It's gay sex), V1 has bodily fluids somehow, Fluff and smut, only a little fluff though, Anal sex, Anal fingering, Rough sex, Praise kink, Bottom Gabriel/Top V1 (ULTRAKILL)

Description - Basically my version of what happens after the second Gabriel fight.

Words - 1,666 (that wasn't on purpose)

A strange sort of shame filled Gabriel's complex as the machine knocked him to the ground for a second time.

He was ashamed to have lost, yes, but a separate emotion that he could not identify overwhelmed that ten-fold. Whether it was anger, joy, hysteria, or anything else, he found himself laughing. His trembling form on its hands and knees, facing away from the wretched machine was laughing weakly, a warmth filling his gut that made him want to cry for no apparent reason.

His eyes burned as he tried to keep tears from escaping, too focused on that to hear the metal clanking behind him as the machine approached. "Gabriel." The machine spoke in its voice that would be unnerving to anybody, except Gabriel apparently. Not that he noticed. Not until the machine planted its feet on either side of Gabriel's body and grabbed hold of his head, roughly pulling it up to get his attention.

"Gabriel." V1 repeated with the same cadence as before. The angel's attention had certainly changed subjects, however not to V1.

Gabriel had already felt it during the fight, but had then opted to ignore it. Now however, it was simply impossible to ignore. His armor made it near impossible to see, but his cock was straining in his bodysuit, the cold metal of his crotchguard pressing against it and making Gabriel see stars.

The angel arched his back, pressing his hips against the marble floors of the cathedral in a futile attempt to apply more pressure to himself through his armor, shuddering at the heat filling his gut and tipping his head back slightly into the machine's grasp.

V1, seemingly having noticed the angel's strange reaction to its touch, dropped Gabriel's head, a loud clank echoing through the room as his helmet hit the floor. The machine used its foot to roll Gabriel onto his back, leaving the angel feeling exposed.

Although it was near impossible to see underneath his armor to the human eye, V1 wasn't human. Nor was anything else in this wretched world anymore technically. The bulge in his crotch was visible between the plates of armor that had been damaged during the fight.

The machine crouched down to inspect Gabriel closer, gripping his crotch guard and ripping it off with one strong pull, causing the angel to shudder as his cock was relieved of most pressure, only the thin fabric of his bodysuit containing it.

"Machine, what in the lord's name do you think you're doing?" Gabriel questioned, his voice shaking. Instead of responding, V1 opted to quickly grope Gabriel's bulge forcing a truly horrific sound out of the angel's throat. “May the lord forgive me-” Gabriel whispered as he could not help but grind up into the machine's cold touch, at which point V1 quickly retracted its hand.

The angel elicited a profoundly pathetic noise at the machine's rejection, covering his face with his hands as if the robot could see his face either way. V1, in turn, began to emit a mechanical noise similar to a laugh as it grabbed the angel's wrists and pinned them either side of his head. “Bad boy.” The machine scolded and in that moment Gabriel was certain he belonged in hell because those two simple words did something to him.

Before the angel knew it he felt tears rolling down his cheeks and onto his neck where they could be seen by the machine. “No, no…” Gabriel repeated through ragged breaths as he felt his body react physically to the degradation. “I can be…good.” Promised the angel, hesitating before deciding he wanted to be called a good boy more than anything else. “Please…” He whined, back arching off the ground slightly. V1 responded with a content sounding noise before using its sharp fingers to cut open the angel's bodysuit, sliding it off of him tantalizingly slowly.

The angel squirmed but did little else in fear of the machine stopping again. His patience was rewarded when V1 had fully removed his bodysuit, Gabriels cock springing out of its confines and into the cold air of the cathedral, making him shudder. V1 surprisingly however did not throw the ruined clothing to the side, instead deciding to use it to restrain the angel, tying it around his wrists above his head.

Gabriel tugged at the fabric, more for show than an actual attempt to break free before V1 finally wrapped its cold hand around his member and gave it a slow pump. “Machine! Machine, oh lord- forgive me!” The angel moaned, the one simple action showing how truly touch starved the man was. V1’s singular pupil dilated, becoming larger as it stared down at the fallen angel as it repeated the motion a few more times, turning Gabriel into a writhing, moaning mess on the floor.

“More, more, I can take more- please!” Begged the angel, leading V1 to let out another cold laugh. Despite its assumed cruelty however, the machine took pity on Gabriel, prodding at his hole with its sharp fingers before suddenly shoving one inside up to its knuckle. V1 found it incredibly amusing how whenever it would do sudden, unpredicted motions like that Gabriels moan would sound more like a scream, a noise that the machine found much more familiar.

The machine did not slow down after that, pushing in one finger after the other until it deemed the angel stretched enough to take it. By this point Gabriel was crying once again, internally begging for more as whenever he actually opened his mouth the only noise he could manage was a scream as the machine destroyed what little dignity he had left. Changing its position to a more comfortable one, V1 lined a phallic metal object attached to its pelvis up with Gabriels waiting hole.

A few seconds passed of the machine just sitting there, not putting it in, and Gabriel, now slightly recovered energy wise, was becoming irritated. “Machine, I am the angel Gabriel. I can- I can fucking take i-” The angel was cut off of his complaining when the machine pressed all the way inside of him, filling Gabriel to the brim with cold metal that pressed against the angels walls exquisitely. “Mrrrrr…” V1 let out a mechanical purr as it felt the cold metal of its body warm up slightly. Though, the noise was barely audible underneath the echoing cry that Gabriel emitted at the movement inside of him.

Gripping uselessly at the marble floors as he writhed underneath the machine was Gabriel, wanting to beg for more but only able to let out cries of ecstasy as he felt his angelic system flood with euphoric sin. After what felt like hours to Gabriel the machine began to move, sheathing and unsheathing its member from Gabriel, progressively making its thrusts harder and harder.

“Hmmmm…” The machine continued its mechanical purring at the feeling of pleasure as Gabriel screamed, eventually adjusting its hands beneath both of Gabriel's thighs and pushing him back into a mating press, its purrs becoming more intense as it sped up its thrusts.

“Machine- Machine! I-I Feel like I’m going to ex-explode!” Gabriel screamed and V1 responded by sliding its hand down and onto the angel's cock, beginning to jerk him off in time with its thrusts. “Good boy.” V1 said, the words layered on top of its now constant mechanical purring. Gabriel was humiliated that those words are what did it.

Bucking his hips up into the machines hand in sudden, erratic motions as it continued to fuck him Gabriel came for the first time in his life and didn’t want to ever stop. At least until his orgasm eventually passed after about 20 seconds, then he definitely wanted it to stop. The machine was still fucking him, its movements becoming less calculated like they were in battle and more erratic and fast.

The angel couldn’t manage a single thought as overstimulation flooded his brain, the machine's eye now closed although the yellow light of it still shined through the gaps around it and Gabriel couldn’t help but admire the beauty of the golden light, similar to that of gods. He hadn’t even thought to think of how sacreligious that mere thought was until he felt a hot liquid fill him, and somehow make him cum again as he felt like he was being used for the machine's pleasure.

When the angel came to, he saw the machine slouched above him, its internal cooling clearly doing some hard work as Gabriel listened to the sound of fans as he laid his head onto the floor. A minute or two later the machine had quickly lifted him off of his feet and sat him up straight, beginning to clean the already drying semen off of the angel using the ruined bodysuit.

Now even more ruined, V1 threw the bodysuit to the side and sat itself next to Gabriel, who despite himself clung to the machine like it was god's light. Its surprise turned into amusement as Gabriel seemed to be cooling himself off using the machine's internal cooling fans. They sat in silence for a while, Gabriel clearly not knowing what to say and V1 just not being a very big talker.

Eventually Gabriel spoke. “V1.” The machine quickly directed its attention towards Gabriel, surprised that the angel even knew its name, let alone would say it. “For so long the council has been chasing a god that disappeared a long time ago. In fact, I think your creation is what made him finally give up on humanity.” Gabriel glanced out of the cathedral doors and into the raging inferno outside “He was right to, look where they ended up. But…” The angel paused, “I think you’re at least a little bit human. In some ways anyways…” Gabriel presumably finished, not saying a word for the rest of however long they spent there. though he looked like he had something more to say, he didn't say it.

#ultrakill #cw // suggestive #gabriel ultrakill #v1 ultrakill #gabriel x v1

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midnightpink · 3 months ago

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Bridges

read it here on ao3

Yaomomo sighs. “We’ve got a little bit of a situation, Bakugou. Ashi—uhm, somebody might have accidentally signed you up for that modelling gig.”

Katsuki holds up a hand. "So what you’re telling me here," he says, "is that you told Calvin Klein I would model for them. In my underwear.”

Ashido sinks behind a desk to hide. “Yes.”

(The thing is, they really do need the money. And Katsuki's technically the leader of this bunch of morons, so he finds himself taking the job even though his pride will never recover. And even though nobody thought to tell him that he'd be working with his ex-boyfriend. You know, the cute freckled guy from high school who went and broke his heart.

So, yeah. This whole situation kind of sucks.)

by: supercrunch

Words: 18,018, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Collections: GBFOAT: Greatest BakuDeku Fics Of All Time 💥🥦, HighQualityBNHAFics, A Labyrinth of Fics, The Good (finished) BkDk, Best of BakuDeku, Favourite_fanfics_of_all_time_mixed_fandoms, BakuDeku AO3 Collection (Shin), All Time Fave BakuDeku Fics I've Read (Shin), Mha fanfics I’ve read/reading, The "I wish I had amnesia so I can read this all over again" BKDK Collection, bakudeku love :) <3, fics i wanna hold hands with, Worth It BNHA Fanfics Reading List - Completed, Stellar Fics: A Wonder Duo Collection ☆★, BakuDeku is HEART, Read in reverence by rune, Almost every Bakugou fanfic I have read, losing myself in, Re-read ALL the time, bkdk one-shots that will make you scream, mha fics that make me want to scream into the void, BNHA_FICS, class1akids bnha recs, BKDK Brainrot (TiaLee), Literature I could lick off my fingers, Cheesing or crying I can’t tell, clips best of bkdk, lil’ bkdk box of skittles (+others), bkdk goodness, my hero academy <3, my top top bkdk/dkbk faves, The Foxy List

Fandom: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Bakugou Katsuki, Midoriya Izuku, Yaoyorozu Momo, Todoroki Shouto, Kirishima Eijirou, Kaminari Denki, Ashido Mina, Sero Hanta, Bakugou Mitsuki

Relationship: Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku, Midoriya Izuku/Todoroki Shouto, Todoroki Shouto/Yaoyorozu Momo, Bakugou Katsuki & Yaoyorozu Momo

Additional Tags: Past Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku, Past Todoroki Shouto/Midoriya Izuku - Freeform, Endgame Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku

yaomomo joins the bakusquad, Characters Are Pro Heroes (My Hero Academia), bakugou gets bullied into underwear modelling, bakugou's personality issues present Real Problems, deku is Tired, they should really learn to communicate i mean honestly boys what are you doing, Yaomomo is a good friend, fake dating with a slight twist, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, i saw the opportunity for manservice and i ran with it

#bnha #mha #bakugou katsuki #izuku midoriya #deku #momo yaoyorozu #todoroki shouto #kirishima eijirou #denki kaminari #mina ashido #sero hanta #bkdk #fic rec

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jegulusficrecs · 4 months ago

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To a Happier Year

By @cukrkandl

———————————⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊———————————

Summary: James isn't technically supposed to make any elaborate plans all by himself, but Sirius is sad, and James has to do something about that. Surely, befriending Regulus to help the two brothers reconcile is a good idea, right?

Regulus is the smartest person in Hogwarts, and all he wants is to make his brother pay for leaving him, so coming up with a plan is surprisingly easy. It seems that the best way to exact revenge is to steal James Potter from Sirius and make him his best friend.

or: Two stupid plans with opposing end goals, queer book clubs, and falling in love.

Rating: Mature

Relationships: Regulus/James, Regulus&Sirius, Sirius&Remus&James, Regulus&Barty&Pandora&Evan, Minor or Background Relationships, Sirius/Remus, Barty&Evan

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Words: 200,000

Chapters: 38/38

———————————⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊———————————

My Thoughts: Not sure the offical term but the ace spectrum representation in this is so amazing. I actually died. Like I’ve gone through periods of my life and identified as some of those sexualities (I’m still figuring things out) but it just made me feel so warm and idk it’s hard to explain but this fic absolutely owns my heart. JAMES REGULUS SIRIUS YOU ARE THE LOML! The black brothers angst and arc in this is so incredible ahhh! Jegulus actually taking it slow (like the build of of the relationship, like not a slow burn necessarily but like it is- I just love that they got to know eachother before they actually got together and omg- anyway) this fic is so beautiful, it has so much lgbtqia+ representation and I couldn’t be more in love with it. Also special mention to the queer book club.

———————————⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊———————————

@klarolinexluv <3

#james potter #jegulus #jegulus fic recs #regulus black #starchaser #sunseeker #fanfic #fic recommendation

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deityoftherain · 4 months ago

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chord crush - Scwhip Band AU Fanfic

Rating: Teen

Relationship: M/M, Gen

Archive Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Status: Completed Oneshot

Word Count: 7,578

Summary: Being a musician himself, Fwhip often found himself admiring another's music, even if their style wasn't what he normally went for. When scrolling through their socials after practice, they stumbled upon an influencer who managed to peak their interest the moment he opened his mouth to sing for the camera. Fwhip had expected his infatuation to stop there, but, as luck would have it, that very influencer decided to visit Empires Nightclub during one of the nights WRA was working a gig there...

Written for @djpurple3, my artist, through @mcytblraufest!!!

Full fanfic underneath the cut! Please reblog, leave kudos on the AO3 fic slash notes/likes here on Tumblr, comment either place, and etc if you enjoy the story :D

𓆩♪⛧₊˚ Fwhip ﾟ₊⛧♪ 𓆪

“Good practice, everyone!” Joey clapped his hands together quickly. “Gem, you were a bit pitchy, and there was some stumbling on timing from a few of you, but only a trained ear like mine would pick that up.” “...Thanks Joey,” Fwhip replied flatly, trying to keep the annoyance out of their tone. Joey could be frustrating to deal with, especially when almost every praise was paired with criticism, but Joey was a good employer and a pretty decent friend deep down. Fwhip tried not to let it bother him too much.

Wither Rose Alliance (WRA for branding purposes) was currently practicing at Empires Nightclub, preparing for the gig they had there the next day. Though they often practiced in Pearl’s garage, when Joey offered them the venue, they’d take it. Getting on the stage they would be performing at allowed them to get a feel of the room and also see for themselves how their new songs bounced off the walls.

Joey waved his hand dismissively. “Get some water in you and start wrapping up. I need you out within the hour so we can start opening. Cod Alliance is supposed to be here soon and I don’t need you all distracting each other.”

Cod Alliance was another rock band that played here regularly. They were more of a punk band, whereas WRA had more folk influences in their music, especially considering they had a violinist. The two bands have known each other for quite awhile, which was unsurprising considering the town they lived in wasn’t that huge and their music styles had some similarities.

“Distract each other?” Sausage gasped dramatically, even as Joey turned away to start setting up. “Why, I would never!”

“Uh-huh, sure you wouldn’t.” Gem snorted with a roll of her eyes. “Last time you and Jimmy saw each other, you got into an argument and ended up making out.”

“It’s not my fault you walked in on us!” Sausage exclaimed with a playful smirk. “You’re just jealous you’re not the one to kiss him. You know, he does this really hot thing with his tongue–”

“Shut up!” Gem pressed her palms against her ears, turning away from him. “Nope! I don’t need to hear this!”

“But Gemmm!” Sausage draped an arm over Gem’s shoulders, blue eyes twinkling with mischief.

Jimmy and Sausage have a very messy and complicated dating history that honestly gave Fwhip a headache to think about. No matter how many times they fought, Sausage always managed to win back Jimmy, even if it was only for a night. Fwhip was aware that Jimmy’s other partners, Katherine, Joel, and Pix, disapproved, but they also couldn’t stop her anymore than the WRA could stop Sausage. Technically, what they were doing didn’t hurt anybody. It just made it extremely awkward for Gem and Pearl to try and foster a relationship beyond friendship with Katherine and Lizzie respectively.

WRA didn’t have any in-band dating going on– at least, not now, but anything could happen in the future– much unlike Cod Alliance. They were in a big string of polyamorous relationships, only further complicated by Fwhip’s bandmates crushing on some of them as well. Fwhip had to admit that he and Jimmy also had a bit of a thing going on at one point, but that had since ended.

Fwhip wasn’t necessarily against being in a polyamorous or open relationship, but he did tend to learn more towards monogamy himself. Part of it was probably due to their grayromantism, making it so they didn’t experience romantic attraction for others very frequently. When it did hit them, though, it usually came at them like a freight train, hard and fast. They still had a hard time identifying it when it came, unfortunately.

Sausage, Gem, and Pearl (they dragged her in at some point) continued to bicker, as they often did, while they put away their instruments. Fwhip shook his head fondly, but he didn’t engage. He would normally love to join in, but he wasn’t feeling up to it at the moment. He finished packing up his guitar before them, so he put in his wireless earbuds and pulled out his phone to scroll through his socials.

Fwhip followed a lot of music related tags, especially ones specific to their area. When browsing through a series of photos and videos, he must have lingered too long on one because one of the videos started to automatically play. The video opened with a melancholic solo guitar, a much more moody style of country music than Fwhip typically listened to, but he found himself drawn in. The allure only increased when the artist began to sing, his voice enchantingly beautiful.

Intrigued, Fwhip clicked open his profile. Their jaw dropped at the follower count for just a second, before they quickly recovered, playing it cool before anyone could ask what he was looking at. He had several thousand more followers than WRA did! Looking a bit deeper, that was no surprise. The account was filled with aesthetic pictures and videos, usually including music and some sort of pretty imagery. WRA’s was more to share information about their gigs than anything else.

The profile belonged to someone named Scott Smajor. Fwhip left the app to search the name on Mezalea Music, the current top music streaming app. Unsurprisingly at this point in his search, Scott was there with a fairly impressive following for an independent artist. Fwhip pressed the shuffle button and they were instantly greeted by Scott’s pretty singing voice. His voice seemed to scratch Fwhip’s brain in all the right places, making them want to melt into it.

They switched back to their social app to put a face to the name and voice. It wasn’t hard to find for there were several recurring photos of who Fwhip assumed was all Scott. The music paused when the video started, showing the singer strumming on an acoustic guitar covered with custom decals. When the singer opened his mouth, Fwhip could instantly tell it was him.

Scott was as stunning as his voice would suggest. He had fair skin that was partly flushed red from exposure to the sun-- almost like he had done it on purpose with blush. His eyes were an icy blue, though his features were soft and sad, not cold. Fwhip wasn’t sure how, but he pulled it off. Scott’s dyed cyan blue hair was wavy and reached down to his shoulders. Fwhip could get lost staring at him forever.

The end of one of Gem’s arm crutches poked Fwhip’s side, startling them out of their trance. They turned off their phone and removed one of their earbuds, looking up at their sister, though music still played in the other ear. “Yes?”

“We’re ready to leave.” Gem jutted her head in Sausage and Pearl’s direction, who were chatting by the door. “I don’t know about you, but I would like to get home and off my feet. You can get distracted by your phone in the car.”

Fwhip opened his mouth to respond when Joey burst through the backstage door.

“Don’t worry,” Fwhip told him, “we were just leaving.” “You’re running slow,” Joey huffed briefly with a shake of his head, “but no matter! Your tardiness benefits me this time. I wanted to be the first to inform you of the competition I’m putting on."

“Competition?” Gem parroted, furrowing her eyebrows. “What competition?”

“A coin flipping competition, duh,” Joey responded before rolling his eyes. “No, dumbass, a music competition. I’m a music gay talking to other musical queers. What else would it be? It’s in three months, but sign-ups are open now. Just got confirmation that we’re good to go, which is why I’m telling you all now.”

“Is there a prize?” Pearl inquired. Pearl had always enjoyed some friendly competition… maybe a little too much. Gem ended up keeping a running tally of stupid bets the band still had active on her phone, twelve and counting, and most of them were Pearl’s fault.

“What kind of competition would it be without a prize?” Joey puffed out his chest, looking extremely pleased with himself. “An old friend of mine is looking for some new talent for his record label, so I told him I have tabs on multiple other bands in the area, especially the ones working at my club. One thing led to another and we’re hosting a competition together. We will have a panel of judges, ticket sales, just everything! It will be absolutely gorgeous and bring in more business for me. It’s a win-win! So, you’ll sign up, yeah?” The four of them glanced between each other, looking for signs of protest, before Sausage spoke up. “Oh, yes, we would love to.”

“Okay, wonderful!” Joey grinned ear to ear. “The sign up form is on Empires’ socials, which I’m sure all of you follow. I expect to see your submission soon or I will have to talk to you again after your shift tomorrow!” “We’ll get right on that,” Fwhip promised. He took one look at Gem and realized by the way she was shuffling on her arm crutches that her fatigue levels were at their limit. It was clear to him that they needed to get a move on. She'd said it was a good day this morning, but rehearsing always took it out of her, and Fwhip could read that off her face easily– especially considering they still lived together. She couldn't hide it from him even if she tried.

“Perfect, now shoo!” Joey flicked his hands out towards them twice. “I’m trying to run a bar here.”

Not wanting to get on his bad side, they did as they were told, scurrying out to Sausage’s car. The four of them chatted about the competition the entire car ride to Fwhip and Gem’s apartment, and Fwhip participated, but he still had Scott Smajor’s music playing in his ear.

𓆩♪⛧₊˚ Scott ﾟ₊⛧♪ 𓆪

Yelling was, unfortunately, something Scott Smajor was quite familiar with. For as long as he could remember, it had been part of his life. He'd always tried to avoid raised voices as best he could, hoping he'd stay under their radar and that they would forget about him just enough to help him stay out of needing the therapy he likely still should sign up for. His “golden child” avoidance strategy only semi-worked because Xornoth, his older brother, took most of the heat.

Xornoth protected him from a lot. Scott hadn’t always realized it, especially back when their father, Exor, and their uncle, Aeor, got into his head. They each wanted to mold Scott and Xornoth into their own image, absolutely stuck in their own ways. They'd hate to be compared, but they both had a god complex a mile wide and their egos were far too easy to inflate. It was... not easy to live with.

Scott could recall several times (usually when the yelling far escalated beyond simply yelling) where Xornoth would promise that, once he was old enough, he would get them out of there. The yelling in Scott’s life had reduced significantly when Xornoth turned eighteen. He kept true to his promise, taking Scott with him when he left the small farm they lived at for most of their childhoods. They couldn’t afford to move very far (they moved closer to town than the more rural-esque area they resided in their youth) so “home sweet home” wasn’t too far away, but Exor and Aeor tended to stay out of their lives… for the most part, anyway.

“How many times do I need to tell you ‘no’, old man?” Xornoth snapped, his face contorting with fury. He tugged at his long, dyed purple hair, trying to ground himself. Scott noticed a few strands snapped by the action, but he didn’t say anything. He’d had the habit for years; Scott knew it would be hard to shake. “You may have been able to drag me into that shit when I still lived with you, but I’m not facing jail time because you need someone to take the fall.”

Scott quietly picked out a little musical line on his guitar, seeing if he liked how it sounded, before jotting it down in his songwriting notebook. Phrases and half finished phrases hummed from his lips as he thought out loud to himself. It was all a part of his process. Xornoth’s conversation with Exor was merely background noise; Scott was used to finding focus in their chaos.

“‘I wouldn’t put you in harm’s way.’ Oh, you have other guys for that?” Xornoth mocked before scoffing. “Like I believe that, asshole. You know I’ve already been in juvie, I can’t risk– Exor, I swear I will– What kind of father gets their eleven year old to deal drugs? Or brings their thirteen year old along to a fucking armed robbery for ‘experience’? Go bother someone else and stop calling me. I’m tired of blocking your numbers and ignoring your calls.”

Xornoth hung up the phone and tossed it down on the couch. It bounced off of the cushions and landed on the floor, though it didn’t appear damaged in any way. He groaned loudly, practically stomping over to the alcohol cabinet and swinging the door open. Xornoth considered his options for a moment before pulling out some whiskey. He turned toward Scott and held up the bottle. “Do you want any?” “Nope, go for it.” Scott wasn’t in the mood for alcohol, especially not whiskey. His preferred choice of drink was vodka with some sort of fruity mixer in it. Maybe some sort of cocktail, if he was in the mood.

“More for me,” Xornoth murmured, twisting off the cap most of the way before flicking it off. He brought the bottle’s rim up to his lips and shot some back with a sort of gurgling noise Scott recognized as Xornoth’s response to the cheap whiskey’s burning sensation.

“What did he want this time?” Scott inquired, passively strumming a few more chords. Neither Scott nor Xornoth referred to their father as ‘dad’ for he didn’t deserve that title. Exor was strictly referred to with he/him pronouns or by his first name. Well, they occasionally threw in she/her pronouns if they caught him being transphobic. That method managed to kick that “nasty habit” out of him real quick.

“Someone to do his dirty work.” Xornoth plopped down heavily on one of the arm chairs. He took another swig of the whiskey before setting the bottle down on the coffee table. “Tempted to block his new number too, but I don't want him coming over here again. I already had to change the locks this year and I don’t want to do it again.”

Nothing Scott could say would be new information, so he let silence fall between them besides the music coming from his guitar and the sound of pencil against paper.

“I like that tune so far,” Xornoth complimented after a moment, noticeably calmer than before. Either the whiskey had kicked in already or their time sitting peacefully allowed him to blow off enough steam. “Sounds good.” The ends of Scott’s lips twitched up at the praise, a warmth sparking in his chest. He knew his style of music wasn’t exactly Xornoth’s typical taste, so it felt extra pleasant to know Xornoth supported him and his dream of pursuing music. He always had, even when Scott was first starting out. “Thank you. One of the last songs I released got fairly popular, so I want to capitalize on its success and try to get something else out as well. I’ve been trying to fine tune some half-finished songs I’ve been messing around with for a while.”

Xornoth straightened up, his eyes brightening as Scott reminded him of something. He quickly got up to grab something before returning to hand Scott a flier. “There was a guy handing these out when I went to Empires Nightclub the other day.” “I thought you didn’t like that place?” Scott raised an eyebrow, partly amused as he took the flier from Xornoth. “Something about the nightclub’s owner coming on too strong? Or have you changed your mind?”

“Joey’s not that bad. I was just pissed off about something else that night and wasn’t in the mood.” Xornoth scrunched his nose. “I may have over exaggerated, but it’s whatever. Either way, nothing has happened or will ever happen between Joey and I, so don’t even think about it. They just have good drinks for a half decent price, and the music’s pretty alright as well.”

Scott turned his attention toward the flier. It was promoting a band competition with the prize being a record label. Scott would have to look into the fine print, of course, but the initial impression was fairly positive. They seemed to be looking for bands, which didn’t include Scott for he ran solo. Still, checking it out was an excuse to get himself to leave the apartment.

“I’ll check it out,” Scott promised, setting the flier in his guitar case for safekeeping. “Thank you.” “No problem.” Xornoth appeared pleased with himself as he turned to grab the whiskey he had set aside before leaving the living room. He headed toward his bedroom, leaving Scott alone to work on his music in peace.

𓆩♪⛧₊˚ Fwhip ﾟ₊⛧♪ 𓆪

Fwhip knew they would never get over what it's like to play for a crowd. There was a special type of adrenaline that would pump through their veins that they couldn’t get quite the same doing anything else. Messing around with Gem, Pearl, and Sausage during practice was one thing, but these live gigs were something else entirely.

They were booked for three hours that night: three sets and got a ten minute break in between each. Reaching their first break, Fwhip wiped the sweat from their brow before chugging down a cold bottle of water Joey provided.

His eyes wandered over the crowd, not really paying attention to anything in particular until he caught a flash of cyan sitting in the corner. Fwhip squinted, attempting to focus on the figure and confirm his suspicion.

“Who are you looking at?” Gem asked, hitting the side of her arm crutches against his leg like she often did. Those things helped her walk, yes, but she enjoyed using them as assault weapons. Fwhip must have grown calves of steel at this point because it barely hurt anymore.

“I think the guy sitting over there is Scott Smajor.” Fwhip nodded in Scott’s direction– or they were fairly sure it was Scott, anyway. He had the same blue hair and fair skin. They tried to discern other details, but he was too far away and the lighting didn’t do them any favors.

“That musician guy you’ve been obsessed with?” Gem gave him a knowing smirk before nudging his shoulder. “You should go talk to him.” “What? No!” Fwhip shook his head, waving his hands frantically in front of him. Scott looked busy writing down something in his notebook. Besides, they didn’t have too long before they had to start the next set.

“If you don’t go talk to him, I will,” Gem threatened with a gleam of mischief in her green eyes, and Fwhip couldn’t tell if she was serious or not. “I will tell him all about how you’ve developed a little celebrity crush on him–” “I have not!” Fwhip denied, wrinkling their nose. They stared at each other for a long moment before Fwhip groaned. He took another sip of water before pushing himself to his feet. “Fine, I’ll go talk to him. Just, don’t do that.” “Yay!” Gem cheered as Fwhip weaved his way through the crowd to get to Scott, very pleased with herself for her insignificant triumph.

Fwhip chose to ignore her, adjusting his signature red scarf. He paused for a moment, sniffing the scarf to make sure he didn’t smell too bad. The closer they got to the cyan haired man, the more they were sure it was him.

Before he had a chance to speak and introduce himself, Scott glanced up and noticed him. He gave them a polite smile before speaking in the very accent Fwhip had grown used to hearing from the speakers of their phone. “Hey, you’re Fwhip, right?” Fwhip blinked at him in surprise. “Yeah, I am. How did you know?” “I looked up who was going to be performing tonight before showing up,” Scott explained nonchalantly. “I’m impressed by your fingerpicking technique. Some of those songs moved very quickly, yet your fingers hit every note perfectly. I don’t think I saw or heard you stumble even once. You know, I wonder if that skill transfers to anything else.” Fwhip was caught off guard by the flirting tacked on at the end. He coughed to try and cover up his shock enough to respond. He didn’t wish to become a mess, at least not that quickly. “Thanks, I’ve had a lot of practice with it so I’m glad it’s paying off. That’s some high praise, especially coming from another guitarist.”

Now it was Scott’s turn to blink in surprise. “How did you know?”

“Your fingertips are calloused, so I would assume you play some sort of string instrument,” Fwhip explained, “but I also found your music recently. I love finding indie artists, so when you stumbled upon my feed, I had to check you out. Your style isn’t what I typically go for, but I'm always open to expanding my horizons.” “Well, I appreciate it.” Scott swirled his drink as a small, pleased smile grew on his face. “Fortunately for you and your band, I enjoy a diverse amount of music, including folklore rock. I don’t typically come out to these sorts of things, though, but I told my brother I would check it out. He gave me a flier about the competition Empires Nightclub is hosting, which I assume you know about already.”

“Yeah, we’re going to take a shot at it.” Fwhip nodded in the direction of the stage. “The possibility of a record deal is too big to pass up.”

“That’s why my brother told me about it.” Scott sipped his drink, mildly dyeing his lips red from the fruity drink. Fwhip wondered (though he wouldn’t admit it) what it would taste like to kiss him, the phantom taste of sweet cherries, strawberries, and raspberries on his tongue. “I don’t think I will compete though. I’m doing fairly well on my own without a company backing me up.”

“Has no one offered you one yet?” Considering Scott’s follower count and musical talent, Fwhip was sure producers would have approached him. In this modern age, music labels loved snatching up people who already had a devoted online audience to build off of.

“They have, but I haven’t found one that didn’t want to trap me into an awful contract.” Scott shrugged, unconcerned. “I read the fineprint for this one, and the deal is actually a good one, so I’m rooting for you and the rest of the WRA. I thought about going for it, but they seem to be looking more for bands, not solo musicians.”

“Nah, c’mon! You could and should totally compete. You would have a good shot at winning!” Fwhip was confident in that, but he wasn’t going to push someone who he was still getting to know too hard. “If you’re adamant about that, you could try just playing here. It’s a good, regular gig to land; we play here often. Have you talked to Joey yet? The club owner?”

Scott hummed softly, considering the prospect as he surveyed the crowd, before giving his attention back to Fwhip. “I haven’t, but I wouldn’t be opposed. I’ve heard things.”

“I’ll introduce you,” Fwhip promised. “Or, I’ll at least tell Joey ‘bout you. If you give me your number, I can share it with Joey.”

“Smooth.” Even Scott’s laugh was musical and practically addicting to hear. Fwhip grinned, proud that he made Scott laugh. He wished to do it again several times over. “I don’t normally hand out my number, but for you, I’ll make an exception.”

“You’re just trying to butter me up so I put in an extra special word in with Joey.” Fwhip teased as he pulled out his phone.

“Is it working?” Scott fluttered his eyelashes, a playful smirk on his lips.

Scott’s icy blue eyes sparkled warmly at their back and forth– like moonlight through stained glass– and Fwhip wanted nothing more than to stare into them. His previous enchantment by the man standing in front of him didn’t feel as silly now that they were face to face.

“Maybe.” Fwhip passed his phone over to Scott, already open to the correct screen. As Scott typed in his information, Fwhip glanced back toward the stage. He knew he was pushing it on time already, but he did want to keep talking to Scott.

They made eye contact with Pearl, who tapped her finger against her wrist before mouthing “hurry up!”

They wrinkled their nose briefly before turning back to Scott, who promptly gave their phone back. “Are you planning to stick around?” Scott clicked his tongue in consideration, eyes shifting from Fwhip to the stage and back again. “I’ll be here when you finish your next set.”

“Awesome! See you then.” Fwhip grinned widely, suddenly feeling more energized than before. He headed back towards the stage, prepared to pour his heart and soul into his music as he often does, but even more excited to go back to talk to a certain blue haired guy.

𓆩♪⛧₊˚ Scott ﾟ₊⛧♪ 𓆪

Scott hadn’t expected to stay at Empires too long that night, but he did, hours past what he had anticipated. He allowed himself to fall under the Wither Rose Alliance’s trance, making him unable to focus on his own lyrical writing. Scott didn’t find himself minding, contently under their spell. Besides, if he were to give an excuse, he would claim that tucking his notebook away allowed him to take note of how they played to properly compliment Fwhip in even more detail.

After WRA’s last set, Scott and Fwhip managed to chat a bit more before the violinist (he soon deduced her name was Pearl) dragged Fwhip off to go home. She shot a few teasing jabs at Fwhip, which amused Scott, but he had also been subject to a few looks himself.

Needless to say, Scott headed back to his and Xornoth’s apartment with a bigger smile than he could remember wearing in a long time. Xornoth even commented on it, gloating a bit about being right about Scott enjoying himself. Scott couldn’t even deny it. It’d only been a few weeks since they met, but Scott felt like he had known Fwhip for years. It was a strange sensation, yes, but it wasn’t unwelcomed.

“You’ve been smiling at your phone a lot.” Xornoth clicked his tongue, reminding Scott of his presence. “Tell me, have you developed a little crush on that red-headed guitarist?”

Scott scrunched his nose, glancing back at Xornoth as he opened the tab on his soda can. “How do you even know that’s who I’m texting? I could be texting literally anyone else.”

“Because I know you, little brother.” Xornoth came up behind Scott and ruffled his hair with his free hand. “You’re too much of a workaholic to text people back. At least, you were until you met them-”

Scott swatted their hand away before combing their fingers through the blue locks to try and fix the damage inflicted on it. “He’s just a friend and a fellow guitarist. Plus, he got me a well-paying gig at the nightclub you liked so much.”

“Yeah, and I’m the protagonist of a preteen, slow burn, baby’s first monsterfucker fantasty romance.” Xornoth fake-gagged, plopping down on the couch nearby. “But, sure, don’t tell me. Just make sure to use protection.”

Scott tried his best to bite back his blush as he tossed a throw pillow at Xornoth. A surge of pride washed over him when the pillow hit Xornoth exactly where he had aimed for. Before Xornoth could protest more than a “Hey!”, Scott fled to his room, out of Xornoth’s pillow projectile range, muffling his giggles all the while.

𓆩♪⛧₊˚ Fwhip ﾟ₊⛧♪ 𓆪

Fwhip wasn’t a songwriter and they were okay with that. It wasn’t their passion nor their strength, and that was fine. That didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy messing around with chords and lyrics to try and create a song from time to time, even if it wouldn’t be something he could perform with his band.

They often stayed away from such a thing, but Scott’s encouragements were so genuine and inspiring (probably because they came from Scott Smajor, someone known for his sound and meaningful lyrics) that Fwhip couldn’t imagine abandoning any project they mentioned to Scott.

“It just isn’t flowing and I don’t get it,” Fwhip complained loudly. He was laying on his bed with his phone by his head and Scott on speaker. “It’s meant to be a duet, but the two parts aren’t complimenting each other like I intended. I’m honestly sick of hearing my own voice recording.”

“You? Sick of your own voice? I never would have guessed,” Scott teased lightheartedly with a laugh. Fwhip simply huffed in response, but he wasn’t upset at Scott’s words. “You’re at home, right? How about you go grab your guitar and we can fiddle around with it.”

Fwhip hesitated for a brief moment before propping himself up to go retrieve his instrument. “You’re lucky Gem is out on a date right now. I never would play something so rough around her. She would never let me hear the end of it!”

It was an over exaggeration, sure, but it wasn’t that unlikely. Poking fun at one another was just a thing they did. Gem wasn’t much help with his music because the stringed instruments Fwhip played had different techniques than the keyed instruments Gem specialized in. This just left them to vaguely pointing out things that sounded off and hoping for the best.

“Her date with Katherine, correct?” Scott asked to confirm, which Fwhip appreciated. He was slowly becoming a part of Fwhip’s friend group, yes, but even before that, Scott was making an attempt to keep mental notes on the people Fwhip mentioned. Scott actually did a good job at it, especially considering half of Fwhip’s friend group was in a sort of web composed of various polyamorous (both romantic and queerplatonic), platonic, and familial relationships. Even Fwhip struggled to know who was with who some days (especially with Sausage and Jimmy… doing their thing) and he’s known them all forever!

“Yeah, you got it!” Fwhip nodded as he settled back down on his bed and propped up his phone to video call with Scott. “Gem has been crushing on her for awhile, but chickened out on telling her several times despite me telling her to just do it already! Katherine clearly has a lot of love to give, considering she’s already dating Lizzie and Jimmy and is so affectionate with her friends. Katherine is also one of my closest friends out of the lot of ‘em, so, believe me, I would know.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Scott replied before sending the request through to Fwhip for them to switch to video. Fwhip leaned forward to accept it and waited for their phones to switch over. When it did, Scott was revealed to be sitting with his custom guitar already sitting on his lap. “Okay, show me what you got.”

𓆩♪⛧₊˚ Scott ﾟ₊⛧♪ 𓆪

Scott wasn’t sure when the switch flipped from not really having friends to suddenly being accepted into a gigantic friend group. It was sometime after meeting Fwhip– a good few weeks, that was for sure– but the line of them being Fwhip’s friends to being his friends was too blurred to pinpoint.

Seemingly without Fwhip’s knowledge, several of them DMed him and they got to talking outside of their relations with Fwhip. Not to mention that he’s gotten to know several of them face-to-face at Empires between gigs and simply being invited out. Scott hasn’t taken any of them up on that, though. He’s been keeping his distance, feeling as if he were intruding, but they weren’t ready to just accept Scott’s reluctance just like that.

That was proven by Joey insisting time and time again that Scott should go out on the town with him, which Scott always wormed his way out of. That was, he had succeeded until Joey showed up at his apartment one evening.

“I can’t have my performers living like hermits!” Joey always had a sense for the dramatics, but Scott could tell he genuinely cared about those who worked for him even if he didn’t always show it like a normal person would. “You need friends and to have fun every once in a while.” “I have friends,” Scott insisted, though he knew that most of his friendships were still fairly surface-level. The deepest he’s gotten with anyone was Fwhip and, even then, there were still some walls up.

Joey gave him a pointed look before pushing past Scott to slip into his apartment. “I know your whole thing is ‘gay moody country boy’, but the mood doesn’t have to be depressing all of the time!”

“Joey, you can’t just barge into my place!” Scott exclaimed, following Joey as he beelined to Scott’s room. His door was decorated, making it well-labeled. “How did you even know where I live?”

“I have connections,” Joey replied nonchalantly as he swung open Scott’s closet doors. He started to sift through Scott’s outfits with precision and skill. “Besides, if I don’t drag you out, you’ll never have fun!” “I have fun!” Scott insisted defensively. Still though, he switched out his piercings for something a tad more dolled up in preparation of being dragged out against his will.

“Mhm,” Joey hummed, doubtful. “Sure you do. Now have you agreed to come or am I going to have to get Sausage to throw you over his shoulder?”

“Sausage?” Scott echoed, furrowing his eyebrows. “Why Sausage? He’s not even here.”

“Void knows I won’t be doing it!” Joey huffed, amused. He gestured at himself, already dressed for going out clubbing. Granted, he was always dressed up like that. Scott didn’t know if Joey knew what a casual, comfort-over-style outfit was. “This body wasn’t made for manual labor. Now how about this one?”

Scott eyed the blouse Joey selected, considering it for a moment. “Yeah, okay, hand it over.” “Perfect!” Joey practically jumped for joy as he handed the blouse to Scott. “The pants you’re wearing now are fine, so just get some shoes on. We’re supposed to meet up with Sausage and Gem soon.”

Scott turned so his back was to Joey to secure himself that minimal amount of privacy before stripping himself of his top and pulling the blouse on. “They’re coming too?” “Yeah, Sausage and I are besties, so we go out frequently, but we wanted to switch it up a tad. Add some new faces, you know.” Joey whistled at Scott when he turned around, eyes wandering down Scott’s body. “Okay, damn! Hey there, sexy.”

“You say that like I don’t always dress well.” Scott rolled his eyes, not really offended. Joey was the type to comment on other’s outfits like that so he knew it was intended to be a genuine compliment over anything else. “We can go now. Just let me tell my brother I’m leaving so he knows I’m not home.”

“Xornoth, right? Hot goth guy with purple hair?” Joey straightened up at the mention. “Is he here?” Scott sucked in his lips briefly before deciding to avoid the question. “I’ll meet you outside, Joey.”

Joey was on his phone outside the apartment complex when Scott approached him, and, when Joey noticed Scott’s presence, he grinned widely. “Perfect timing! Sausage just pulled in.”

He grabbed Scott’s hand and dragged him along to Sausage’s sedan. Joey called shotgun and left Scott to sit in the back next to a ginger who reminded him a lot of Fwhip.

“Oh!” Scott put a few pieces together with the recognition of the woman sitting beside him. “Gem! Fwhip’s sister, right? The keyboardist of WRA?”

“Yeah, you got it,” Gem confirmed. She was wearing a green dress with purple crystal accessories and her hair was tied into a long braid. “And you’re Scott. My brother hasn’t stopped talking about you.” Scott ignored the heat he felt on his cheeks at that. “He hasn’t?”

“Nope.” Gem popped the P before lowering the register of her voice, leaning in toward Scott. “Hurt him and I hurt you. Understood?”

Scott blinked at her rapidly, caught a bit off guard. Her threat was clear, and Scott didn’t want to be on the receiving end of whatever that ended up being. Besides, considering how his relationship was going with Fwhip, he didn’t want to piss off their sister. “Understood.” “Good.” Gem brightened up before glancing at the two chatting away in the front seat. “Now do you know where they’re taking us?”

Scott had not known any specifics, leaving Gem and Scott left to the wills of their captors. He had learned that Sausage also dragged Gem out of her apartment to go out with them. They were both in this together, and it gave Gem and Scott a chance to get to know one another better.

They must’ve gotten to know each other a bit too well, because they woke up to birds chirping and the rising sun on their faces. Scott groaned, sitting up from the tree he was leaning against with a hand pressed against his head. It took a second to register, but he was near positive he was hungover and he was not enjoying the feeling.

Gem stirred beside him, muttering nonsense that Scott couldn’t understand. He poked her side and she woke up with a start. “What happened? Where are we?” “Shhh, not so loud.” Scott shushed her, his head pounding aggressively. He squinted at his surroundings. “Where are-?”

Before he could finish his question, Scott realized someone had spotted them. He squinted at them too, as the person approached, trying to place them in his foggy memory.

"There you two are!" the person called, their voice so very familiar.

Gem rubbed the sleep from her eyes before asking, "...Jimmy?"

“Yeah, yeah, I found them,” Jimmy spoke to someone who wasn’t one of them. That is when Scott realized she was holding a phone to her ear. “Here, I’ll put you on speaker while I check they aren’t hurt.”

The person on the other end spoke something to Jimmy before he placed them on speaker and set down his phone. The Caller I.D. read off Pearl’s name, but another voice came over the line that wasn’t Pearl’s, if Scott’s memory was serving correctly. It should be, but his mind was still hazy from inadequate sleep and alcohol.

“Are you out of your mind?” Jimmy snapped at the person on the phone, causing Scott to wince. She muttered an apology to Scott before going back to her conversation with no-longer-Pearl and checking for wounds on Gem. “Sausage, you and Joey lost two drunk people and we couldn’t find them for hours.”

“I’m sorry, mi amor!” Sausage pleaded over the call. “Next time I see you, I’ll kiss it better.” “I don’t want to talk to you,” Jimmy grumbled, sounding totally over him. “Either put Pearl back on the phone or I’m hanging up on you.” “But, Jimmy-” Before Sausage could finish speaking, Jimmy hung up. Not acknowledging it, he turned his attention from Gem to Scott. “Okay, you both look fine. Can you walk?” “I can probably stand, but I don’t see my arm crutches….” Gem used the tree to try and push herself to her feet, though she was fairly unstable. “Ugh, I need some water. And a nap. Another one. Preferably in a bed this time.” “Me too,” Scott agreed, his body aching from sleeping on the ground.

“My apartment is nearby. I’ll just let Lizzie and Joel know that I’m bringing you, and you can nap the hangover off there,” Jimmy offered, moving Gem’s arm over his shoulders to help her walk.

Gem leaned into Jimmy’s support, leaving Scott to walk on his own. Luckily, he’s had his fair share of hangovers and was otherwise able bodied so he was stable enough to walk on his own. He was passively concerned where Gem’s arm crutches ended up though… “Thanks, Jimmy.”

Scott was fairly sure Jimmy replied with “You’re welcome” or something along those lines, but he honestly wasn’t sure. That was the last thing he remembered before he woke up again, snuggled under the covers within an ocean themed bedroom. Scott didn’t dwell on it, keeping his eyes closed and relishing in the bed’s comfort. He would deal with the repercussions of whatever was waiting for him later.

𓆩♪⛧₊˚ Fwhip ﾟ₊⛧♪ 𓆪

Fwhip felt like they were on the top of the world. It may be a little silly to feel that way for winning a competition, but that competition was a big deal for his band! WRA was moving up in the world and it only filled him with determination, motivation, and energy. Cultivating that energy, Fwhip sat down to polish the song he had been working on for a while now.

Scott helped him out with some parts, and now, thanks to him, the chords flowed perfectly and the lyrics matched. The chords flowed perfectly and the lyrics matched. The song was a duet, and he’s heard both parts played together by recording himself and then layering them, but it wasn’t the same. Fwhip wanted to hear the song as intended, and he could only think of one person that would fit the part perfectly.

That led to Fwhip asking Scott to meet him at Empires during the day. He got permission from Joey, as long as Fwhip got the keys back in a timely manner. After all the continuous daydreaming of Scott, his singing voice, and his guitar playing skills, Fwhip finally worked up the courage to ask him and it was starting to pay off.

“Do you like it?” Fwhip asked shyly as Scott looked over the sheet music.

“Like it?” Scott parroted with a laugh. “Fwhip, I love it. This is amazing! It has the folk rock elements you’re used to, but there’s also inspiration from my style of music. Theoretically, it blends together perfectly.”

“Oh,” Fwhip blinked, before leaning forward to look down at his own handwriting again. “What would make it no longer theoretical?” If Scott had notes on how to improve it, Fwhip would absolutely take them into consideration.

“Playing it and seeing how it sounds together.” Scott grinned as retrieved his guitar, threw the strap over his head, and set the guitar in his lap.

They didn’t waste anymore time to start playing. The spirit of the music overtook them, bliss swelling within them and being poured onto every stroke of the strings. Fwhip didn’t consider himself a good singer, but Scott had a way of complimenting Fwhip’s voice and making him sound even better than he actually was.

Fwhip knew the lyrics and chords by heart, so he didn’t need to rely on reading the sheet music to help guide him. This meant that they stared at Scott, all their focus on the beautiful man across from him. When the song ended, Scott turned his attention to Fwhip, catching them staring at him.

“You’re incredible,” Fwhip admitted with a breathless whisper.

Scott laughed an airy, baffled laugh, his cheeks flushing a light pink. “Me? Fwhip, this was all you. Sure, I helped a little, but this is still your song. I’m just honored you picked me to play it with you.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Fwhip asked, blushing dark red. Before he could overthink it, he took his shot. “It is about you, after all. About… us.”

The song was about new relationships and getting to know someone that they previously admired. It contained lots of subtle praises and compliments that Fwhip knew Scott was smart enough to pick up on. He just wouldn’t have known that Fwhip meant those things genuinely about Scott.

Fwhip wasn't sure when they had drifted so close to each other, closing the distance, but... here they were, only a few inches apart. His eyes flicked to Scott's lips, then back up to Scott's icy blue eyes. Icy yet glittering with such beautiful warmth.

“Can I kiss you?” “I thought you would never ask,” Scott murmured in return, leaning down to lock their lips together. As the kiss deepened, Scott climbed onto Fwhip’s lap with his legs around Fwhip’s waist and Fwhip’s hands supporting Scott’s back. A three-legged metal stool was probably not the best place for two people to make out, but Fwhip couldn’t care less right now. All he knew was that he felt happy. Everything was looking up for him and he couldn’t wait to see where everything led to next. The future held many opportunities and experiences to be had, and Fwhip was more than ready to brave the unknown with Scott by his side.

#deity writes #scwhip #band au #empires fwhip #empires scott #empires fanfic #empiresblr #empires smp fanfic #empireshipping #empiresshipping #empires s1 #empires au #fanfic #fanfiction #empiresfic #MCYTBLR Aufest 2024

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ao3feed-superbat · 4 months ago

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Green isnt Just the Color of Kyrptonite

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/hk3XAvr by IllLightUpTheSky4You Lois knows and hears the rumors about the relationship between her husband and Bruce and how there’s something deeper there. But she knows Clark and knows that he would never do anything to jeopardize their marriage. So in an attempt to show him that he’s not missing out on anything with their relationship, she sits Clark down and tells him he’s gonna invite Bruce over and they’re gonna fuck while she watches. Because what can go wrong. Words: 2680, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types, Superman - All Media Types, DCU, Batman (Comics), Superman (Comics) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Lois Lane, Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne Relationships: Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne Additional Tags: Cuckolding, Is it cheating if your wife told you to do it?, Minor Clark Kent/Lois Lane, they are technically married, Exhibitionism, Idiots in Love, Gay Sex, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Oral Sex, they’re in love your honor, Emotional Sex, Bruce Wayne Needs a Hug, Meant To Be, Top Clark Kent, Bottom Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent Loves Bruce Wayne, Lois Lane Needs a Hug, Lois is so done with their shit, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Touch-Starved Bruce Wayne, Everyone Needs A Hug read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/hk3XAvr

#ao3feed #superbat #world's finest #Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne #Bruce Wayne/Clark Kent

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femslashhistorian · 4 months ago

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3 Great Lae'zel/Shadowheart AUs (femslash fic rec)

Shadowheart and Lae'zel are two characters (companions) from the roleplaying video/computer game Baldur's Gate 3. Their ship name is Shadow'zel and there is a good amount of femslash (F/F) fanfiction for this ship on AO3: Lae'zel/Shadowheart (link)

The three fics I've picked for this fic rec share a few common themes: They are modern setting AUs and fit broadly speaking into enemies to lovers category. Plus: there is a bonus (non AU) rec.

You don't need to know anything about the game's canon to enjoy these fics and there is no danger that you might get any spoilers for BG3. Of course, it is helpful if you have seen a few pics / gifs / snippets to get a feeling for the vibes between Shadowheart and Lae'zel.

(There is also an interesting short article about what Shadowheart's voice actress things about this ship.)

I really love their dynamics in these three fics and the tension and bickering are delicious.

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Mrs and Mrs K'llir by justasimplelesbian

Complete, 1 chapter, 22k words, 2024

Teen and up; Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Summary: Mr and Mrs Smith AU

Shadowheart and Lae'zel is the focus, Astarion, Karlach, and Gale all make like very minimal appearances.

Note: there is an additional smut chapter (in a separate fic): link

I guess technically you might get spoilers rather for the movie Mr and Mrs Smith (2005) than for BG3.

But to be honest is has been many years since I saw the movie and thus, I don't know how closely the plot of the fic follows the plot of the movie (according to the author's notes it is pretty close). What I do know is that the author did a great job to fit Shadowheart and Lazel into this AU and a few other BG companions also show up and fit in perfectly as well.

This fic is probably the most literal enemies to lovers fic of the three, as they actually get to fight each other, however technically they start as a married couple.

I really enjoyed this fic. Highly recommended.

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the gith in 14G by yeahitshowed

Complete, 1 chapter, 3k words, 2024

Teen and up; No Archive Warnings Apply

Summary:

The door swings open just as Shadowheart slams her fist forward to knock again; the apartment’s occupant, a githyanki woman in workout gear, catches Shadowheart’s wrist to avoid being decked in the face. “Whatever you aim to sell me,” the githyanki says testily, “I hold no interest, and I dearly hope whatever two-bit company you shill for files for bankruptcy.”

“Are you being murdered?” Shadowheart says, yanking her wrist free. “Or possibly doing the murdering?”

The githyanki cocks her head. Each of her long ears sports a line of piercings; the little hoops clink together. “Hm. A unique sales strategy. I will listen to your pitch if you speak quickly.”

Modern AU; Shadowheart moves into a new apartment, and the githyanki next door is infuriatingly loud.

Told mostly from Shadowheart's POV, the author did a tremendous job to capture her frustration and annoyance towards Lae'zel. Switching the POV in the last scene to Wyll is working very well. What Shadowheart does to pay it back to Lae'zel is kind of relatable and also very funny.

Loved the fic. Highly recommended.

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put her canine teeth in the side of my neck by yeahitshowed

Complete, 1 chapter, 3k words, 2024

General Audiences; No Archive Warnings Apply

Summary:

“Hey!” shouts an unfamiliar voice. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Maintaining her grip on the wriggling German Shepherd, Lae’zel looks up. A woman’s stalking over from the benches, arms tightly crossed over a deeply un-dog-park-like goth getup.

“Thwarting an unsportsmanlike assault,” Lae’zel says. “The dirty one baselessly attacked – ”

“Yes, she’s playing,” the woman says. “How dare she. Can you let go of my dog?”

Meeting at a dog park, Lae'zel and Shadowheart's dogs are instant pals. (Lae'zel and Shadowheart, not so much.)

In contrast to the other two fics, the enemies to lovers aspects are handled without violence, however this does not mean that the bickering is not deliciously strong. A nice change of pace and a very cute fic. The names of the dogs also gave me a good chuckle. Highly recommended.

Also check out the cute fan art that inspired the fic.

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Bonus rec: non AU

to feel love (like a sinner) by mermaiddrunk

Complete, 1 chapter, 9k words, 2024

Explicit; No Archive Warnings Apply

Lae’zel’s breath grows heavy. “You feel it too?”

“Yes.”

“Tsk’va!” Lae’zel swears even as the knowledge makes her sick with lust. “I believe we have been poisoned. The wizard’s confections—”

Shadowheart lets out a small manic laugh devoid of any real humour. “It’s not poison,” she says with a trembling voice. “I think they were aphrodisiacs. I assume one or two are sufficient to do the job.” Lae’zel isn’t sure if Shadowheart is going to laugh or cry when she says, “We ate an entire bag.”

Note: There is also fan art inspired by the fic (tumblr)

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Notes:

This was cross-posted to tumblr and my WordPress blog. Check it out for more femslash fanfic recs.

Image credits:

Pexels from Pixabay

Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay 1 2

Ralf Seemann from Pixabay

#lae'zel x shadowheart #shadowzel #baldur's gate 3 #fanfic rec #fanfiction recommendation #other femslash fic rec

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daisydogox · 5 months ago

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Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Words: 2.8k

Summary:

“I do need to make this quick before people notice half the leading troupe is missing,” Tsukasa admitted, “but I wanted to check in with you.”

His tone was friendly but Rui knew there was more to it and he froze. He knew his acting abilities were the weakest among the group, his talents more on the technical side of things, but he was sure he’d done a well enough job of projecting confidence. “What for?” he said with a grin that felt too wide. “Everything’s fine.”

Tsukasa gave him a look, brow furrowed. “There’s no need to pretend we’re not all running ourselves ragged. I’ve been so busy running lines at lunch I’ve barely had time to eat, and you’re directing on top of everything else. I’ve seen you lose track of things when you’re working on a normal show and the scale here is something else, I just wanted to make sure—”

“I’m fine, really,” Rui interrupted. It was like Tsukasa said, he got wrapped up in every project.

#project sekai colorful stage #project sekai #rui kamishiro #tsukasa tenma #nene kusanagi #wonderlands x showtime #sorry it has been a long ass time since i've posted fic #my writing #the algorithm is going to eat this regardless but i press on #fanfiction #character study #hurt/comfort #Wonder Magical Showtime #PLEASE READ MY FIC PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

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hardly-an-escape · 1 year ago

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I'm stuck on you (I'm mighty glad you stayed)

Square: D3 - "Why did you do it?" (June monthly prompt replacement) Rating: M Word Count: 8767 Ship(s): Dream of the Endless | Morpheus/Hob Gadling Warnings: No archive warnings apply Additional Tags: Dreamling Bingo fill, alternate universe - human, alternate universe - no powers, stuck in an elevator, claustrophobia, panic attacks, strangers to lovers, love at first sight, first kiss, post-break up sex, bog people, poetry recitation, bisexual Hob Gadling Summary: Hob is a secondary school teacher running late to meet his exacting girlfriend for lunch. Morpheus is a famous novelist just trying to fly under the radar on his way home. But when the elevator they’re in together experiences mechanical difficulties, Morpheus’s claustrophobia leads to a bonding experience that changes the lives of both men. Read on AO3 | fill for @dreamlingbingo | prompt from #dreamlingweek2023

The elevator has barely lurched into motion when it suddenly shudders to a stop. Hob is willing to bet it hasn’t even surfaced from the depths of the underground parking garage he is trying to exit. He rolls his eyes, checks his watch, and presses the door open button. Nothing happens. He presses it again, and a third time. Nothing. “Fuck,” he mutters under his breath. “I don’t need this, I’m already late.” He hits the emergency call button with perhaps a little more force than is necessary and glances over his shoulder at the other occupant of the elevator, a handsome, dark-haired man who nods tightly when Hob catches his eye. “Alright, mate?” he asks. But before the man can answer, a tinny voice crackles through the speaker.

Hour Zero, 12:08 PM

Nothing happens.

He presses it again, and a third time. Nothing.

“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath. “I don’t need this, I’m already late.”

He hits the emergency call button with perhaps a little more force than is necessary and glances over his shoulder at the other occupant of the elevator, a handsome, dark-haired man who nods tightly when Hob catches his eye.

“Alright, mate?” he asks. But before the man can answer, a tinny voice crackles through the speaker.

“Templeton Elevator Company. Are you experiencing an emergency?”

“Yeah, we’re in the lift at the underground car park on Monteagle and it’s just stopped.”

The tinny voice asks a series of questions, which Hob answers with increasing impatience.

There are two people in the elevator. Yes, they’re both adults. No, they don’t have any food or water with them. No, they don’t have any pressing medical issues (after waiting for a headshake from the stranger). Yes, he’ll hold while they contact technical services.

The tinny voice is replaced with tinny hold music. Hob curses under his breath again.

After a moment the voice returns. The elevator they are currently occupying appears to be experiencing a mechanical failure. High demand on technical services at this time. Their safety is important to the Templeton Elevator Company. A repair technician should arrive within the hour.

Click. And then silence.

“Fuck,” says Hob again, feelingly. “Fucking fuck.”

He sighs. Sits down. Takes out his mobile. No signal, of course. Or wait – maybe one bar? He dashes off a quick text to Gwen and sets the phone down gingerly on the floor in front of the door, thinking vaguely that the signal might filter down through the elevator shaft. It’s probably daft.

Heh. Shaft, daft.

He is going to lose his mind.

Hour One, 12:08-1:08 PM

“My girlfriend’s going to kill me,” he says conversationally. “We’re supposed to be getting lunch with some old school friends of hers. I’m already on thin ice, she’s always getting on me about being late all the time. This’ll probably be the final nail in my coffin.”

“Surely,” says the stranger, “being trapped in an elevator is a reasonable excuse for tardiness.”

“Yeah… She’s a bit strict about some things. I don’t know. She just wants the best for us, she’s just a little intense about it sometimes.” Hob shakes himself. “Sorry, mate. I shouldn’t be whinging to a total stranger. My name’s Hob, by the way. Hob Gadling.”

They are both sitting, now, on opposite sides of the elevator. Hob’s legs are stretched out casually and the stranger has his knees up, his arms wrapped tightly around them, hands gripping his own elbows, knuckles white. He looks almost defensive, Hob thinks, extending his hand across the elevator to shake. After a moment, the stranger takes it, squeezing briefly.

“Hob. That’s an… atypical name,” he says.

“Suppose so,” Hob laughs. “It’s Robert, actually. Hob is an old-fashioned nickname, but I got saddled with it in uni and it just sort of stuck. I studied history,” he adds in explanation.

“I am – you can call me Murphy,” says the stranger. Murphy. It has the flavor of untruth about it, but if a stranger on an elevator doesn’t feel comfortable giving his real name, who is Hob to judge?

“Pleasure. Have we met before? Only there’s something about you that seems familiar.”

“I do not think so.”

Murphy curls, if anything, even tighter in on himself. Hob does not pursue the topic.

They sit in silence for a while as the air grows slowly stuffier.

Hob taps at his phone and tsks when he sees his text has failed to send.

“I don’t suppose you have any service?” he asks hopefully.

Murphy pulls out a slim, expensive-looking phone from the pocket of his slim, expensive-looking suit jacket and gives it a cursory glance.

“I am afraid not,” he says.

“Damn. Oh well. Nothing for it but to wait, I suppose.”

Murphy clears his throat.

“How long has it been now?”

“About… twenty minutes?” Hob looks at his watch. “Twenty-five?”

“Thank you.”

Murphy’s voice is taut, and his knuckles are white where he is gripping his knees. Looking more closely, Hob can see sweat beading on his forehead, and realizes his chest is moving a little too quickly.

“Are you alright?” he asks.

“I am fine.”

“No offense, but you don’t look fine, mate.”

“We are not mates,” snaps Murphy. “Nothing is wrong.”

“Okay, okay.” Hob holds up placating hands. “Whatever you say. No need to bite a bloke’s head off.”

Silence reigns for another minute.

“I. Apologize,” says Murphy finally. “That was uncalled for.”

“No worries.”

“The truth is that I am. Not fond. Of confined spaces. I am finding the prospect of being in this elevator for much longer. Distressing.”

“God, I’m sorry. You should have said. I ought to have told the elevator company, I’m sure claustrophobia counts as a medical issue,” says Hob. “Especially under the circumstances.”

But Murphy is already shaking his head.

“It does not rise to the level of a diagnosable condition,” he says.

“Even so,” objects Hob. “Do you want to call back? Tell them? Maybe it’ll get someone here more quickly.”

“It does not matter.”

“Isn’t there… is there anything I can do to help?”

Murphy looks puzzled.

“Why would you want to help? You do not know me.”

“Because I have a basic sense of empathy?” Hob says, slightly appalled. “Because you’re a human being who’s distressed? Jesus, what kind of people do you hang out with?”

“You will probably be shocked to hear,” says Murphy dryly. “That I have very few close associates and even fewer friends.” Hob snorts. “But I. Thank you. For your willingness to help. Unless you happen to have a Xanax somewhere on your person, I doubt there is anything you can do.”

“And here I am fresh out of benzodiazepines. I knew I’d forgotten something at the chemist’s this morning,” Hob says, and is rewarded with a tiny chuckle.

The rest of the hour passes slowly, but not too badly. They chat, stiffly at first, but more fluently after Murphy admits that the conversation is helping to distract him from the little metal box they find themselves in. Hob certainly talks more – but then, Hob generally talks more than everyone, something Gwen not infrequently rolls her eyes at.

He learns they both were graduated from Oxford, although their time there didn’t overlap. Murphy is cagey about what he does for a living, but shares that he studied literature and dabbled in student drama. He seems interested when Hob tells him about the secondary school where he currently works, teaching history.

“It’s funny, I used to picture myself as a professor at a university, you know, doing my own research on the side, publish or perish, all that,” he says. “Gwen – that’s my girlfriend – she thinks that would be better. Sounds better to be a professor, I guess; more money, too. But now that I’m working with teenagers, I can’t imagine doing anything else. They get a bad rap from everyone, you know, but they’re so interested in the world, and all they want is for someone to listen to them and take them seriously…”

Read on AO3 >>>

massive massive thanks to @tryan-a-bex and @karalynlovescake for beta reading. I can't thank you enough!

green = complete, orange = WIP

#the sandman #dreamling #dreamlingweek2023 #dreamling bingo #dream of the endless #hob gadling #my writing #once again coming in hot and barely getting a monthly prompt filled in time lmao

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