#and there are a couple more I would add to red and lover but tried to limit to one each

[letsbangts]

baby, please come home || jjk

⤷ summary: when he's the only thing you want for Christmas

⟶ pairing: jungkook x reader

⟶ word count: 1.2k+

⟶ genre: fluff, angst (just a sprinkle), married couple au, established relationship au, christmas themed

⟶ content: husband!jk, dad!jk, pregnant!oc, oc is a slightly emotional expecting mother (eight months along), and koo being a deticated expecting father

⟶ warnings: none just some fluff with a dash of angst to make it sentimental because it's the holidays

↬ a/n: this isn't what I thought I would write for this request and I wasn't going to do it so soon but I got inspired by 'christmas (baby please come home) mariah carey's version' & I thought it would make cute drabble so to everyone who reads hope you enjoy and let me know what you think! :) angel xoxo

masterlist

The snow is coming down all around you as if encased in a snow globe. You watch it fall around you as it makes its way to add to the thick layer already accumulated on the ground beneath your feet. You walk through the Christmas market, looking at the stalls and decorations. Your eyes glance at the bodies around you: families, friends, lovers — surrounded by many people, except for the one you want beside you the most.

The church bells ring, blending with the happy sounds of the town's excitement buzzing in your ears. You finally make your way to the heart of the town square; the carolers begin singing "Deck The Halls" just as you arrive. The usual holiday cheer you would feel is absent, along with the person who brings that joy.

Your mind takes you back to this day last year and all the fun it held, all the memories made together. Sipping hot chocolate with his arm wrapped around you, the hand-holding with both your hands stuffed in his coat pocket, and your cold lips pressed against each other to warm them with sweet kisses.

As you gaze up at the enormous Christmas tree adorned with pretty lights like those shining all around the town, the loss of the new memories you should be making together this year creates a lump in your throat. He should be here with you, with both of you.

You pull out your phone and tap his contact; the phone rings for a few seconds before Jungkook's face appears on the screen. A bright smile on his face that rivals all the lights around you. His face is so close to the camera that you can't see anything behind him, but the snowflakes in his hair, paired with his red cheeks and nose from the cold— just like yours—show that he is also outside.

You can't help but smile back at him, although it doesn't quite reach your eyes. As much as seeing him brings you happiness, you can't help but feel a touch of melancholy that his presence can only be through the phone.

"Hey, sweetheart."

"Hey, baby. I wanted to show you the tree this year; it keeps getting bigger, I swear."  

You hold the phone out and lower it, trying to fit the whole tree behind you in the screen.

"Whoa, that thing is massive! I'd hate to be the person who had to wrap the lights on it; there must be at least ten thousand on it."

You giggle at Jungkook's remark as you raise the phone to speak to him.

"It's so pretty here, Kook. I wish you could see it in person," you say with a sad smile.

"I doubt it's anywhere near as pretty as you, but I wish I were there too, darling. I tried everything I could to find a flight back in time, but as you can imagine, I wasn't the only one trying to make it back home for the holidays."

"I know, but it's unfair for them to send you away for work so close to Christmas. Then, to extend it even more, it's as if they were plotting to keep you away," you pout.

"It is unfair, and trust me, I pleaded my case to the airline agents to please let me get home to my adorable pregnant wife for Christmas, but it didn't seem to work on them. They're all Grinches, I swear," he tries to lighten the mood and continues, "Speaking of which, how are my two favourite girls doing? Let me see!"

You hold the phone out again to angle the camera to show your eight-month-pregnant belly. You sigh as you rub a hand over it.

"We're good, just missing you. She hasn't been kicking as much; I swear she knows that Daddy isn't here."

"I miss you both too, but I'll be back before you know it, and we can celebrate then."

"But it's Christmas Day; I need you here. It is our first one as a family, and we're not whole without you. I wish there were a way for you to come home, baby," your voice cracks as you look away from the screen, trying to hold back tears.

Jungkook catches a glimpse of your tear-filled eyes gleaming under the lights and sighs. The cold weather allows you to see his breath as it floats in the air.

"Hey, you know I would do anything to be there with both of you."

You catch him glancing up over his phone before he continues.

"Now, don't cry. You look too beautiful standing by the tree, surrounded by all the decorations like a Christmas angel, to feel sad. The old man selling cookies will be offended; he'll think you don't like their smell if he sees you," he smiles to cheer you up.

You wipe your tears and sniffle as you softly laugh. You look around, trying to find said man, until you eventually spot his stall emitting the delicious aroma, selling gingerbread and sugar cookies.

You furrow your brows once everything processes in your head. You look back at Jungkook on the screen.

"Wait, h-how did you know that?"

"I'm quite aware of how beautiful my wife is," he chuckles.

"No, I mean, how did you know there is a cookie stall in front of me, and an old man is running it? You can't even see it. Did the camera flip, and I didn't notice?"

A hand taps your shoulder, and you jolt at the sudden touch before turning around. Your eyes widen, and a gasp escapes your mouth as you come face to face with Jungkook. Your husband's smiling face is no longer on the screen but right before you, and your hand holding the phone falls to your side. He opens his arms wide for a hug as you stare at him like a deer caught in headlights.

"But you just—when—how did you get here?" you stutter in shock.

Jungkook laughs, and when he sees you make no move to come into his embrace, he steps forward and pulls you into his arms. You snap out of your daze and immediately wrap your arms around him.

He kisses your forehead. "I told you I would do anything to be here with both of you," he whispers in your hair.

"But there were no flights," you mumble into his chest.

"Yeah, but there were still some bus tickets available. It might have been a much longer journey, but I had to be sure I was here." He pulls back and holds your stomach with both hands as he leans down and kisses it before looking up at you. "There was no way I would miss spending Christmas with my family."

He returns to a stand, and you run your fingers through his hair before your hands settle at the nape of his neck. You gaze into each other's eyes and lean in for a long-awaited kiss.

You break apart just enough to whisper over his lips, "I love you so much. Merry Christmas, Kook."

"I love you too. Merry Christmas, Y/N," he whispers back, lips brushing over yours.

You lean back in for a passionate kiss but are interrupted by a kick to your belly. You both break apart with a gasp.

"Did she just?" Jungkook asks with a smile.

"It seems we're both happy that you came home," you laugh.

Jungkook joins your laughter as he takes your stomach back into his grasp and leans back down, giving it another peck before he whispers, "And I love you, too. Merry Christmas, my little angel." 

↬ a/n: there you go just a little drabble for you all to snack on before mutt pt2 ;)

[jester-lover]

Could you do a Diasomnia dorm with their soulmates? Like the guys meeting soulmate for the first time, mc preferably being a human for that extra drama in case you’d want to add that?💙

Soulmate Sorrows

Oh you know I love the drama. Thank you for requesting, I hope my favoritism towards Sebek doesn’t show as much.

Feat/ Diasomnia

CWs/gn! Reader, angst-to-fluff, mentions of mortality, war and discrimination, brief kidnapping/isolation, bittersweet fluff (various soulmate aus), uhh, Sebek insults you pretty heavy

I took the creative liberty of making Lilia and Silver’s more humorous to tone down the angst of Sebek and Mal. (Also, I hope someone notices the flower language in the Sebek HCs.)

Malleus

When Malleus saw the red string on his finger connected to yours, he was filled with a sense of pure and simple happiness

As he holds you in his warm embrace, some realization hits him like a brick

As a human, you would live for a minuscule amount of time compared to him; he would see you grow gray and weak and pass on as he held onto your memory for eons to come

Or, even worse, a simple accident could take you away from him in the blink of an eye

Some sort of dragon instinct fills Malleus for a while, always suggesting to spend time with you away from others who may hurt you

He tries to keep you safe by hiding you from others, but humans like you are social creatures, and even the most introverted of us need some communication every once in awhile

He slowly realized he would be making you miserable by hiding you away and eventually stopped his behavior, apologizing to you meekly

During this process, Malleus breaks.

He cries into your arms, apologizing for his actions and revealing his fears and worries

As you comfort him, you tell him that you’ll be happy to be his for whatever time you have, and he decides from that point onward to keep you happy no matter what

He’s a very tender, affectionate lover

You can expect to sleep in his big bed, with the warm prince wrapped around you, and to hold his hand in between classes

Malleus seemingly forgets any social norms from his home when it comes down to you; he will literally fight tooth and nail with his advisers to keep you as his spouse when the time comes

Mortality rarely comes up in your discussions after a certain point, as he focuses on keeping you happy and safe

“My dearest, long after you’ve passed, I will still only have you in my heart... you’ve taken up all the space.”

Lilia

He’s as playful as ever when he sees the matching tattoo on your arm; his own is practically centuries old, and while he was content with being alone, he's so happy to see you!

Lilia might play his feelings off as being plainly giddy, but deep down he does worry a bit about how the two most important people in his life will most definitely outlive him

Now that he has a partner, a strange form of protectiveness surrounds him, like he’s found another purpose, a reason to grow stronger 

(A reason to cook more!)

 Moving on from that more serious topic, Lilia will be most excited to spend time just lounging about with you, strumming little melodies on his guitar, taking you on upside-down walks, cliche couple stuff, y’know?

(Just wait till he starts spilling historical tea)

To wind down and enjoy the little moments with the family he’s built, however long it lasts, is a major priority in his life

“I need someone to try out my new recipe~, all the ingredients are actually edible this time around!”

Silver

y'all are chill lmao

Okok, but when he sees you start showing up in his dreams, he’s a little freaked out, partially because you’re very attractive to him but mostly because he has zero clue how to navigate romance

Imagine going on a date with him, and he’s down for the count in the first 10 minutes

Thankfully, I assume you are aware of his sleep habit, and he’s always very grateful when you wake him up 

Despite his stern exterior, Silver has a tendency to show his deep affection for you through acts of service, such as helping you clean Ramshackle House, because God knows how much it needs help (thanks, Crow Man).

Another little quirk about him is his tendency to go along with any cute couple activity you want to do

Wanna wear matching outfits? Cool with him.

Walk him to his classes? Absolutely.

Be the loudest spectator at his equestrian club meets? He appreciates the enthusiasm.

Even if you consider yourself to be a volatile or argumentative person, it’s very hard for Silver to get mad at you because of the genuine adoration and respect he holds for you

He can’t wait to grow older alongside you, to see you at your best, your worst, and your most human moments, until the two of you are old and wrinkly

“I saw something I thought you’d like at the store while I was running errands… maybe we could make dinner together…?”

Sebek

NO.

this is Sebek's worst nightmare come true; the words written on his wrist were the first you ever spoke to him, you, you disgusting, vile, no good human...

He runs far away, back into his room, and under his covers

He refuses to speak to you, refuses to look at you, and refuses to do anything involving you

For a couple of days, he just sulks, which is super heartbreaking for you, considering the fact that you can't control who you are, and your only soulmate just harshly rejected you

Sebek cries a lot. Like, a lot. at one point or another, his mother calls him to verbally smack some sense into him (and most likely Lilia too)

You see him standing at the door of Ramshackle House, breathing heavily as Grim offers to flambé him for you

You decide to hear him out, and he practically spills his years of self-loathing and hurt on your lap

Some part of you hurts for your soulmate, and you hold him in your arms

This relationship starts out turbulent, to say the least, but there’s a mental click that happens for him at one point, where he just realizes how if his own mother found joy with a human, he can too

Sebek tries his best to earn your trust, trying to break down the emotional layers his own internal bigotry has put between you

(it’s also very cute when he shows up with a bouquet of daffodils, as per Lilia’s recommendation) 

You two definitely have a long road ahead of you, but Sebek’s affection is loud and unwavering, and while he might be stubborn in his nature, he knows when to cool it down now

For your sake and for the lifelong relationship he wants with you

“Human! I have a few hours to spare before training, would you like to read with me?”

OMG I actually posted??? I'm crawling through requests as fast as I can ya'll, school has been destroying my creativity for the last few weeks.

[long-live-astronerd-ghost-king]

DP x DC prompt. ~“Unstable connection”~ Dead on main.

Part 9.3. "A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you." — Elbert Hubbard

~~~~~

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Part 6. Part 7.

Part 8. Part 9. New: Part 9.1. Part 9.2. Part 9.3.

Part 10. Part 11. Part 12. Meme break №1. Part 13.

Roy: Look, I’m deeply flattered that you decided to talk about your feelings with me because you bats are allergic to them, but you’re seriously telling me that you’re texting a guy from out of Gotham? What for?

Jason: Do I need a reason?

Roy: Usually not, but I know you’re paranoid.

A cookie flies straight into Roy’s head.

Jason: Shut up. I know how to relax. He’s just a guy. No harm from boyf- a friend.

Roy: What you see in him? No, I rather have to ask how he tolerates you. I deserve a reward for being your best friend.

Jason: Hey, actually, I like Bizarro a lot more, just so you know, jerk. And we actually have more in common than it seems. He gets along with dead people who hang out in his town a lot. And.. I don’t know, okay? It’s just easy to talk to him, and he doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would yell if he found out about me something weird for any other stranger. He feels like home. Safe one. I can rest when I talk to him, you know?

Roy: So you trust him? With everything?

Jason: I’m not an idiot and I’m not going to reveal everything until we talk offline. I don’t even know if I want to. Of course he’s not afraid of the undead from his town and he didn’t convict Hood for his actions when I asked him for his opinion, but talking about a specific person and some vigilante from the shadows is different. I don’t want him to be afraid of me or be disappointed in me. But somehow part of me believes that he will take this side of me. I sent him a picture with knives on my thighs, and he didn’t care. And one time, I messed up the chats and I sent him a threat that was meant to check on my new guys. He yelled at me. Because I could be reported to the police.

Roy: Well, if you like him, just try not to screw it up.

Jason: I’m trying. And by the way if Dick finds out about our conversation, I’ll throw you in the river.

Roy: Dude, you’ve known me for years! I bet you don’t threaten your lover like that! Have some trust.

Jason: Okay. So, I don’t know what to do, Roy. Fenton is perfect. But he’s a civilian. Phantom looks dead handsome but I know almost nothing about him. And what I know I learned from Danny. And now the fic that I’m writing is full of adult-rated scenes. Of course, I don’t add them to my work on ao3, but it’s still so weird.

Roy: Have you tried sending this to Fenton? With any luck, he’ll take it as flirting.

Jason: What? Hell no! He thinks I’m a mercenary for Red Hood. He’s gonna think I have wet fantasies about my boss and I’m gonna lose all self-respect, and he’s gonna block me and...

Roy: Okay, okay, slow down a little. We both know you’re weird, but you’re not that weird. And he’s not even your boyfriend. So his opinion doesn’t really matter.

Jason *whispers*: He's my husband. And it does.

Roy: Dude, I mean, I support your vibe but isn’t this guy supposed to know that he’s gonna have the title of the husband of a crime lord first.

Jason: Fair.

~~~~~~~

~Next morning~

Dick: So, I heard my Little Wing has a boyfriend. What’s his name? When are you bringing him to the family dinner?

Jason:…I’m gonna kill Harper. ~~~~~~~

Bizarro *on his way to tell all to Artemis and impress his good friend’s boyfriend*. First, he can leave a Red Hood doll by the window of a couple of his friend. It’ll help him understand that Bizarro isn’t dangerous and then the boy will want to be his friend too. Good plan, Pup Pup!

[scarareg]

From 0 to 10, which grades would you give to PJO ships?

Hi anon! This is such a fun question! Thanks for sending it! I tried to choose the most popular ships because there are so many variations of them, but if you are curious about a specific one that I didn't mention, feel free to ask!

Percabeth (Percy x Annabeth)

3/10 I give it a 3 only because in PJO they are cute but in HOO they are full of red flags and I hate what Rick did with them. I feel like their goals for the future do not align at all, and it is as if they together because that is what they are used to and not because they are in love. It seems like Percy is always trying to accommodate to what Annabeth wants and I think in the long run that would make him miserable, and those feeling will make worst a relationship that is already fragile.

In the future he is going to resent her so bad, because we already see that he doesn't feel comfortable joking/talking about some topics because Annabeth gets mad, now add him feeling like he has to follow everything she says or do just to be "the perfect boyfriend". It is a recipe for disaster

AnnieLuke (Annabeth x Luke)

1/10 this one is complicated. The thing is that I understand the appeal of a childhood besfrieds to lovers, I love those, BUT Luke never saw Annabeth as anything but a little sister. That + the fact that their relationship became toxic, it just make me uncomfortable. Sorry Annie, but this one is not the one, at least in my opinion (and in Luke's lmao)

Perluke (Percy x Luke)

4/10 I see you fans of friends to enemies to lovers or friends to lovers to enemies, I get it, but to me this one lacks that je ne sais quoi to make it appealing. But I can understand why some people like it. And I am part of the team "Percy had a crush on Luke yet he was the last to know"

Percico (Percy x Nico)

10/10 they are my OTP. I like how they complement each other. They have the history, the angst, the complexity. I like the dynamic of two characters who went through a lot, but deal with trauma in opposite ways.

They are ride or die for each other, but they keep that information a secret from each other, which makes their relationship really fun.

Most importantly Nico thinks Percy is cool AF and he adores him just the way he is. Percy is one of the few people who tried to get close to Nico and to understand him.

Their empathetic nature would make this relationship super sweet, tender and calm. For example, if one of them need to rest or are stressed out, they can go to the other and they will know if they need to talk or just want to nap.

Bonus points because their relationship with each other's parents would make their relationship even more interesting and fun!

Perachel (Percy x Rachel)

9/10 love this one! My second fave Percy ship! This is Percy's loss, to be honest. Their chemistry is super natural and they are always having fun! Rachel seems like a low-maintenance partner, so being with her must be pretty easy. She would not make drama if Percy can't be there with her for some time because he has to save the world or whatever. I think he can chill with her, and just like with Nico, Percy just being Percy is enough

Valgrace (Leo x Jason)

9/10 What I like about them is that both are insecure about themselves but always see the best in each other. Jason is Leo's hype man and Leo is always thinking about how impressive Jason is. Where Leo is chaotic, Jason is calm. Where Jason is anxious, Leo is chill. They just screams healthy couple

Jiper (Jason x Piper)

2/10 the problem here is how the relationship started. Both of them are really kind to each other, but their romance is based on a lie, which neither of them is to blame for, but it just feels wrong. To me, after knowing how their relationship started, Piper seems to like Jason enough to stay a couple, and Jason was too kind and just rolled with it, and that is not good reason to stay with someone in my opinion.

Liper (Leo x Piper)

9/10 shout out to @maygirlsposts to make me see the light with this one! Before, it never crossed my mind they could be a couple, but gosh! They are so cute together!

Piper and Leo genuinely have a connection, they share sense of humor, they have been through difficult stuff together and are empathetic towards the other's problems. They have a healthy balance between being chaotic when they are chilling, and having the ability to have honest conversations when necessary. They are overall wholesome AF!

Extra points for being the healthy version of Hephaestus x Aphrodite

Jasico (Jason x Nico)

10/10 this one is not my ship,only because I prefer them as besties, but I see the vision of their shippers; and I give them a 10 because they are probably the healthiest ship Nico has, to be honest.

Jason is always so patient with Nico, and sincere yet kind. Is great to see Nico feeling at ease with him. Jason has the stability Nico needs in a relationship.

Both bring the best of each other, and push the other to do and be the best they can be!

Jeyna (Jason x Reyna)

8/10 oh what could have been! The tragedy of the lost potential! They were too powerful together and Rick couldn't handle that.

They have history together and understand each other deeply. They are both strong mentally and physically, so they could be the standard of a demigod couple. They are both healthy people on their own, so their relationship would naturally be nice.

Their love story could have been so interesting, like: separated by war and the gods, reunited by fate!

To tell you a secret, I see them as Nico's unofficial parents/older siblings. Basically, they both adopted him separately, protect him, and genuinely care about him. They would have been one hell of parents lmao

Jercy (Jason x Percy)

6/10 this one is fun! Again it is not my ship, but I like their dynamic. They give "Two bros,chilling in the hot tub, five feet apart cause they’re not gay" energy

Frazel (Frank x Hazel)

9/10 this is the only canon ship I like! Frank is super sweet and Hazel is always so kind, both are just wholesome AF! Like two teddy bears! I like that they started out as friends and both were seen as the "weird kids", that makes me think their bond is just genuine!

Lazel (Leo x Hazel)

5/10 they are cute, I just prefer them as friends. And not gonna lie, the fact that Hazel's ex is Leo's grandpa makes them kinda weird to me as a couple.

As friends will give them a 8/10, they need more time to get closer, but they already are super fun!

Fraleo (Frank x Leo)

6/10 They are funny! Like wholesome-awkward meets wholesome-chaotic. They just make me laugh because of how cute they would be, completely adorable! Too pure for this world!

I like this, but personally I like my ships with more angst, so I prefer them as friends. But you guys, their shippers, you must be the cutest, most wholesome people out there!

Leo x Frank x Hazel

7/10 I see the vision, but as you can see, I like Leo being their bestie instead of in a romance. But I understand! What's better than a love triangle? An OT3!

Pipabeth (Piper x Annabeth)

8/10 I like them a lot! This is the ship I like for Annabeth. In general I think Annabeth seems more comfortable with women. It feels like Rick wrote her as a lesbian-who-doesn't-know-she-is-one, but did so whithout realizing. Her chemistry with Piper (and with Reyna) just comes naturally and she looks like she is having fun!

Piper's fun personality complements Annabeth's logical one. Piper is all feelings, Annabeth is all brains, love that!

Also, just imagine their mothers' reactions when they find out they are dating!

Pipercy (Piper x Percy)

5/10 this is fun! But it needs that something else to make it super appealing to me, you know. Both are crack heads so they would be hilarious and a menace together! I can see the appeal! For me, I just prefer them as besties, like "Prepare for trouble! And make it double!"

Solangelo (Nico x Will)

3/10 in canon, 10/10 in fanon

First of all, can we talk about how fucking ethereal their ship name is? The ship name gets an ∞/10!

Now, the ship. I will start saying that I LOVE ships that are opposites attracts, but sadly this ship is a bit like Percabeth, but better. Let me explain. The concept is there, but at the moment of writing their romance, Rick kinda sucks. Genuinely think fic writers do a better job writing them.

For starters I have a problem with Nico being outed by Cupid. And I do not like at all that he doesn't have time to process that trauma, neither his crush on Percy and the heartbreak that comes after his rejection. Will is shoehorned into the narrative because "Nico needs a boyfriend" and Will is the only character available. He was a glorified extra.

This takes me to that I feel Rick thinks a relationship will solve all of your problems. I firmly believe that Nico needed time alone to recover from all of his trauma, which is a lot. But Rick's solution for this kind of stuff is "get a partner!". (Leo and Piper also suffered of this)

Is like: "Did you live through World War II? Your mom died and you were immediately stuck in an hotel for maybe one or two months? When you finally got out, were you in another century? Your sister died one week later? Years passed and you lived on your own for a while and felt scared and isolated from everyone you knew? Did you fight another war? Went to Tartarus and came back and then get kidnapped? You almost died, again? Had to fight again? Don't worry, having a boyfriend will solve all your problems!"

And I HATE IT! This is not Will's fault, it's Rick's. So I feel bad for not loving Solangelo in canon, but I really think Nico needs time for himself, he will have time for boyfriends in the future after he gets in a better head space.

Conclusion Will and Nico deserve better writers.

Once again thanks Anon! Would love to know what you think about this!

[wayfayrr]

hiiiiiiiii

can I have some mulled wine and a bit of Bailey's with Red Velvet to eat in please!

Thank you!!!

Order up! I hope you'll find this to your tastes <3

The first written piece of the event then!! starting off strong with one of my favourite links, wars! this was fun to write and a lovely first request to work on <3

[Event masterlist]

How much has he drank?

We were only supposed to have a couple of drinks here before heading to the room we rented upstairs. I mean Twilight did warn me beforehand that he noticed humans have a much higher tolerance than hylians do, but his can't be this much lower… can it? 

“[name]... [name] I can’t believe you’re still single you’re so - so…”

“I’m in a relationship wars, you already know that, you drunken dork.”

“You- you’re taken?”

He’s on the verge of tears, he looks so worked up that he’s driving himself to cry over this. He really is in love with me that much, I really did get lucky with him. Falling into another world really doesn’t feel as scary when you find yourself a lover even if they can get a bit clingy at times. 

“Well yeah of course I am, I’m taken by you link. We’ve been dating for a month.”

“We have..? OH, we - we-  yeah we have been!”

“Come on wars how much of a lightweight are you to forget that after just one or two drinks? It’s like you don’t even want to be with me like that.”

I - I shouldn’t have said that, even as a clear joke it looks like it’s hurt him way more than I ever wanted it to. The tears are still there but now both his lip is quivering and his fists are clenched so tight they’re bleached white which really isn't a good look when you add in the fact that he's swaying on his feet. There couldn’t be a clearer sign to get him out of here to sleep and sober up. 

“I didn’t mean that link, I was just trying to make a dumb joke without thinking, I’m sorry.”

“..!”

“I know, I know link. Come on let's get out of here.”

Hylians are so much lighter than they have any reason to be, even with him clinging to me like an absolute dead weight he weighs nothing. So while it might be a little awkward at times when he tries to pick me up, I'm more than thankful seeing as it means I can easily rest his head on my shoulder to carry him out. 

Leaving was strange though, seeing as several people started to point and get riled up. Even through his own drunkenness link managed to tilt his head just enough to look up. 

and start grinning?

He might even be blushing too, but there's no way to tell that with how flushed he is anyway. He's so smug about something, I can't help but look at him with a bit of confusion.

“We -hic- we're under the mistletoe honey, does your world not… not have mistletoe?”

“No we have mistletoe, it's got a tradition arou- oh.”

That’s why he’s cuddling up to and laughing at me, we’re standing under the mistletoe. Is it bad I’m almost nervous about kissing him like this? With all these people watching me, watching us, I just feel so unsettled. With the joke I made earlier though, it would be downright cruel to turn him down. “I’m guessing that it’s similar here then? The tradition that is… would you like me to kiss you here link?”

“Is th-that even something you need to ask? I want everyone - everyone here to know that you’re mine.”

Yes, he does. His body language is just as blatantly obvious about it too. Come on [name], you’ve kissed him before, this isn’t something new. He’s so excited too. Could you dare turn him down? Not that I needed to answer that. He decided for the both of us while I was still coming to terms with the idea, seems I was just taking too long in his eyes. 

It’s a nice kiss, not as gentle as when he’s sober but it’s still so tender. Even with the alcohol on his breath, the way he’s acting is nothing short of a clumsy display of worship. One that he seems so reluctant to end, but comes to one anyway as he’s exhausted himself not enough to pass out but enough that he’s let his head fall onto my shoulder yet again. It’s almost inconsiderate of him to expect me to carry him after a kiss like that, he knows how weak I get for him, how much I melt when he’s so tender and demanding of my focus. 

“Is that enou-enough to prove that I care?”

“Wars you didn’t need to prove that to me, I already knew that you do.”

“Wanted to prove it t’ eve’yone else too.”

It’s like he’s considering doing it again, which I wouldn’t mind, but if he does I know I’ll drop him so it’s really for the best that he at least waits till he’s sitting down, in our room preferably. He’s gotten the hint for now, but that might only be because he’s to drunk to move again. Either way I can carry him away from the crowd. 

“Why’ve you gotta do that love? There’s no chance of me ever leaving you for any of them.”

“That’s not how they saw y’... I wouldv’ killed him for how he was talkin bout you… didn’ wanna cause a sce- scene though honeybeeee…”

Link would kill someone for me? I would like to think he wouldn’t ever have a nightmare of doing that, but if he’s saying it so confidently when he’s drunk…. He wouldn’t, would he?

“You don’t need to ever kill someone for something like that, don’t stress yourself out link.”

“Already have… don’ like when they’re rude about you love…”

That made me freeze up, right when I was about to open the door. It has to be the alcohol talking. Yeah it has to be. It has to be.

@sketchyspook seeing as you asked so nicely to be tagged in every post from now on (is this an unofficial start to a taglist? I guess it is one.)

[aziraphales-library]

Hello beautiful people! First of all, thank you so much for this blog. Your work is amazing!

I'm looking for some fic suggestions, if you'd be so kind in answering. I loved Slow Show and Old Vines, so I wanted something similar, a long AU fic that has a lot of pinning and some angst, but has a happy ending. Thank you ❤

Hi! The fics you've mentioned are very popular in the fandom, so I'd recommend checking our #fandom favourites tag, as well as our #pining, #human au, and #long fic tags for more to enjoy. Here are more to add...

Between Comfort And Chaos by anathxmadevice (T)

“And how long have you two been a couple?” “Oh, I—” Aziraphale panics. “Ha, well, that’s a funny… We’re not actually—” “We’re just friends.” Crowley says, their voice clear and calm and lightly amused, either because of or in spite of Aziraphale’s flailing attempts to divert the conversation. “Ah, yes, quite.” Aziraphale says, then takes a sip of his drink just for something to do, instead of focussing on the way Crowley said just friends, and how it causes a painful throb in his chest that he has never fully got used to. His memory can only scrabble at the edge of a time where being just friends with Crowley didn’t feel like a particular form of torture. * Or, Aziraphale has been desperately in love with his best friend and housemate Crowley since they were students, but is too scared to do anything about it.

Keep it casual by Kiez21 (E)

Aziraphale has just been dumped by his boyfriend of thirteen years, right before turning thirty. While out with his friends, he meets a red-haired stranger that gives him one of the best nights of his life. Crowley's just moved into Tadfield looking for a fresh start. On his first night out, he invites a handsome stranger for a one night stand. It is just a one night stand, right?

The Anon Before Christmas by foolishlovers (M)

When Crowley’s friend, blogging buddy and business partner Anathema announces her annual Secret Santa Exchange on Tumblr, she is very adamant Crowley should join this year. The old-fashioned (but admittedly compassionate) man he gets assigned to send anonymous messages to every day until Christmas sounds awfully similar to the fussy bookseller that his friends adore, yet Crowley tries to avoid at all costs. But surely his friends would have mentioned if Aziraphale had taken an interest in the Bad Omens fandom as well… right? Or: An Enemies to Lovers Secret Santa Tumblr AU.

It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine by Dervila, elf_on_the_shelf (E)

After Adam's parents die in a car crash, Aziraphale is forced to start taking care of him as more than just an uncle. Don't get him wrong, he loves the little devil, it's just that he is completely clueless and could rather use some help. In comes Crowley, Adam's new nursery school teacher with his amazing skills in dealing with kids. Could he be the answer to all of Aziraphale's prayers - Adam-related and otherwise? Well, it looks like he might be just that, judging by the weird things Aziraphale's heart seems to be doing whenever he sets eyes on the man. Now, if only the tall ginger returned his feelings...

For His Eyes Only by AFrenchFanWriter (M)

Anthony J. Crowley has been an MI6 spy for 10 years, completing successful mission after successful mission under the guidance of his quartermaster, Aziraphale Fell. But this life is starting to take its toll on him as he is getting older; and when, one day, his past comes back to haunt him, Crowley realizes that it might be time for him to hang up his gun and face all the things he has left unaddressed… (Yep, it is basically a James Bond/Q AU!)

Driving in the Dark by Sarah_hadeschild (E)

Aziraphale, a small town librarian with a troubled past, has resigned himself to the impossibility of love. That is, until he meets a rough-around-the-edges motorcycle mechanic who reads Mary Oliver. TW for mentions of a past abusive relationship.

- Mod D

[xiaojunsdino]

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ─── late night kun

part one of two.

kun x fem!reader.

summary: you're stressed all the time and have been getting shit sleep. you turn to your last resort: melatonin. you go to a drug store and meet the cashier thats always half-asleep: kun. you visit the store in the middle of the night, and kun thinks he is dreaming when you come in.

tags: strangers to lovers, fluff, light angst, talks of (undiagnosed) anxiety and insomnia, reader has a dog, brief mentions of weed, hendery is readers brother, reader shares an apartment with sicheng and ten, lmk if more tags should be added.

word count: 2340

taglist: @blondiedae, @yang4ever

You haven’t slept properly in days. 3:56 am, you crane your neck to read from the red lights of your alarm clock. Slumping your head back against your pillow, you figure that it only makes sense to make use of the time. You leave your bed, grabbing a throw blanket to wrap around your shoulders to fight off the cold in your room. Your yorkie, Appa, raises her head at the sound, eyes blinking into the darkness.

“Shh, go back to sleep baby,” you reach over and pet her back. The feeling of your hand on her fur must do the trick, as she immediately curls back up and starts snoring.

Its exam season in your second-to-last semester of university and senioritis has been kicking your ass. You mark off every day on your wall calendar, counting down until graduation. But with finals comes anxiety, and while you are no stranger to stress, your body doesn’t react to it in a healthy way. Not that anyone’s body reacts to high amounts of stress in a healthy way, but you have stress-induced insomnia, which only adds fuel to the fire.

Growing up, your parents had been the type to dismiss painkillers and other such drugs, opting instead for teas and herbal remedies. They weren’t anti-vaxxers, but this habit of not treating ailments with medicine has stuck with you. But everyone reaches their limit eventually.

You pick up your phone to check what drug stores are open nearby. The closest one, you notice, is called Jaemin’s Drug Store and has a rating of 1.27/5. Despite the low rating, you don’t seem to have any other options. Making sure to grab your pepper spray, you put your headphones on and slip your feet into your shoes. You blow a kiss to Appa before locking the door.

The door to Jaemin’s Drug Store chimes when you enter. It is immediately clear to you why this store has a low rating, it smells like someone sprayed air freshener to mask the smell of weed, unsuccessfully. Unfamiliar with the store, you approach the man at the register. Kun, his nametag reads, looks to be about your age, despite the dark circles under his eyes. He’s a very attractive man, even with the black roots growing in contrast to hiswavy blonde hair. Elbow propped up on the counter with his head in his palm, he slowly opens his eyes when you walk over. You don’t want to startle the resting man, so you try to make your presence known with loud footsteps. He blinks up at you wordlessly with unfocused eyes.

You take off your headphones and wrap them around your neck. “Hi, um, sorry to bother you. Where can I find melatonin?” you question, not quite meeting his (unintentionally) strong stare.

“Aisle 5, on the right,” Kun replies, closing his eyes again. You turn around to search for melatonin. You feel a slight sense of guilt, knowing how your parents would feel about you purchasing drug store melatonin. But that guilt soon gets smothered as you pick up a small plastic bottle of reddish gummies. And it’s not like this is an impulse buy. You had tried everything the last couple of days to fall asleep, from increasing your amount of physical activity to following a strict night-time routine. Plus, you had already looked online for reviews of different melatonin supplements. And the small bottle is just to see if it will actually help. Everyone has their limits.

The sound of the bottle hitting the countertop in front of Kun made him jolt. It wasn’t as if the sound were loud; in fact, you noticed that the man was dozing off so you placed it down as lightly as you could. He looked up at you, blinking in silence again. You didn’t know what to do, so you left the gummies on the counter and walked away quickly to grab a box of sleepy time tea. You return to the counter with the tea and Kun straightens up, pushing aside his fading blonde bangs. He picks up the scanner and rings up your items, reading your total balance aloud.

You reach over to tap your phone on the card reader, pausing when Kun clears his throat. “Are you, uh, having trouble sleeping?” He tilted his head, bangs falling into his eyes again. He almost resembled a puppy, seeming genuinely curious about your state of wellbeing, despite being a stranger. He looks cute, you think.

“Yeah, it’s finals season,” you reply, not really wanting to get into it. Kun’s unfocused gaze softens a bit, and now you feel embarrassed. It’s obvious that the man is half asleep, running on fumes of whatever shitty weed had previously been smoked in here. But you can feel his pity when he looks to the side and releases a deep breath.

“Not being able to sleep is shitty. I hope it works for you.” He tears the receipt from the machine, puts it in the plastic bag with the items, and hands it over. You accidentally graze his hands as you grabbed the bag, but Kun didn’t seem to notice, so you didn’t say anything.

“Yeah, I hope so too.”

☆☆.

A few weeks have passed. You have been sleeping better, partially from the melatonin and tea, but mostly the result of exams being finished. Nevertheless, you find yourself walking down the street with Appa in your side purse to get more melatonin gummies. Your brother, Guanheng, was coming tomorrow to stay for a few nights, and your sleep was getting worse. You love your brother, truly, but just the thought of the man’s loudness and high energy makes you exhausted. While eating breakfast earlier, one of your roommates, Sicheng, asked if you had ever considered that you have anxiety. And the idea of something being wrong with you sent you down a spiral.

This isn’t the first time you have returned to Jaemin’s Drug Store since the initial visit. You stopped by a couple of days ago, hoping to find the sleepy worker during the daytime, maybe strike up a conversation with him. He was cute, after all. You noticed that the smell of badly covered up weed was stronger at this time of day. But sadly, the man you were looking for was not there.

The chime rings overhead as you open the door, and Appa’s head perks up. You hear a loud breathing sound from where Kun sits at the counter. He looks like he conked out, head on the surface, eyes closed, and mouth open overtop some papers. You would feel awful if you woke him up just to get a sleep aid. You turn around and try to leave as quickly as you come in. But to your surprise, a snore interrupts the (mostly) quiet, and that’s all it takes for Appa to start yapping.

You pick up your dog out of your bag, attempting to shush and coddle your dog before the drug store worker wakes up. However, when you turn back around to check on the man, he is wiping his eyes and trying to fix his mussed-up hair. He looks over at you as you finally manage to quiet down your dog.

“Oh!” His voice cuts through the awkward silence. Then he looks downward and tries to organize the papers on the counter. “I must be dreaming because there’s that cute girl again,” he murmurs to himself and looks up. “And she brought a friend,” he tilts his head a little bit, looking more like a cute puppy than the last time you were here. “Hi, friend,” he smiles at the dog in your hands.

You stand still, frozen with amusement, embarrassment, and some other emotion that you can’t quite place. And then Appa’s squirming acts as a reminder why you’re there, and sends you down aisle 5 in search of the medicine.

“I don’t need a bag,” you say, as you put the bottle on the counter.

“No tea this time?” The blonde asks, scanning the item and returning it to you.

“No, I still have some packets left,” you place the bottle in your bag and pay.

“I really like tea and could recommend you some, if you want.” You shake your head and thank him. You ignore the slight sting of loneliness as you leave the store.

☆☆.

A combination of knocking on the door and distant yaps wakes you the next morning. You glance at the alarm clock and a panic makes you sprint towards the door. You don’t even need to check who is at the door before you scoop up your dog and swing the door wide open. Guanheng is standing there, looking the most mad you think you’ve ever seen him. He says something as he walks in, but you can’t hear it.

“What?” You don’t try to yell, but you have to in order to be heard above your dog’s barks. He says something again, and it’s only then that you decide to put Appa in the bathroom with the door closed. You can hear her nails scratching against the wood as you return to your brother and offer to hang his coat.

“What happened man? I thought we agreed you were going to pick me up after my flight. I had to order an Uber, and you know how I feel about those.” He doesn’t look as pissed as he did a moment ago, likely because he notices how scattered and disheveled you look.

“I know, I know. I’m genuinely so sorry Dery. I- I-” you start to stutter. Guanheng cuts you off by putting his arm on your shoulder, reminding you to breathe. And so you do. Three seconds in, hold, three seconds out. You repeat this a few times before you feel ready to speak again.

“Ok. I’m so sorry Guanheng. The last month or so has been really rough and I basically turned into an insomniac. And I don’t want to hear it,” you put up a hand in between the two of you. “But I tried melatonin and it’s actually helped so much. It’s, like, I can actually function during the day and not feel like I am moving through molasses because my body is so exhausted.”

“Like a zombie?”

“Sure, man, I guess,” you bring your palm to your forehead and squeeze your eyes closed, searching your brain to find the correct words. Although at this point, it feels more like fighting your brain, especially as the words tumble out of your mouth and the rambling starts. “Anyways, I ran out of the gummies last night and hadn’t realized until, like, 3 am. I am trying not to become reliant on it, so I try to sleep. But every night, I inevitably give up. But I went back to Jaemin’s Drug Store last night, since I knew it would be open and I had been there before. So I go back and bring Appa because, you know, I’m so tired that I figure having to be responsible for another life will keep me awake during the walk. But when I get there, she surprisingly didn’t even bark at Kun.”

You open your eyes and have to turn around to face your brother - you’d been ramble-pacing, of course. And when you look at Guanheng, he looks thoroughly confused with a pinch of intrigue.

“Who’s Kun? Unless you have more friends other than Ten and Sicheng and you haven’t told me,” your brother says with a teasing lit to his voice and a smirk on his face.

“No, no. Kun is the cashier guy at the store. He seems like a zombie way more than I do, always half asleep.”

“But obviously you’ve talked to him enough to know his name.”

Your eyes widen, suddenly realizing what it sounds like. “Oh, no Kun just has a nametag. I mean, I guess is weirdly nice to me. He even called me cute last night, but again, I think he was half asleep and didn’t even realize what he said.” You shuffle around the room to start boiling water in the kettle. It’s only then that Guanheng’s face shifts to one of shock.

“Wait wait. Did you say that Appa didn’t bark at this man? Are you sure she wasn’t asleep?” The man questions with eyes wide and mouth slightly agape.

“Did my words only just now register?” Despite still being groggy and cranky, you manage to lightly laugh at your brother. He’s never going to beat the himbo allegations. “But yeah, Appa was definitely awake and didn’t bark when he said hi to her. I mean, he was behind the counter the entire time, but yeah.”

Your brother then walks over and grabs two mugs out of the cabinets as the kettle starts to whistle. “I think if you finally met a man that Appa doesn’t immediately hate, you should marry him, even if he’s ugly. You don’t know if you’re ever going to find someone like this again, she’s a cockblock.”

Guanheng is, of course, joking. But as he sifts through the cabinets looking for tea boxes, you find yourself thinking about his words. You can’t deny that the guy is cute, borderline handsome. If he got some proper sleep, took care of those roots, and you saw him in anywhere else than those sterile fluorescent lights, he’d probably cross into sexy territory. And, Guanheng has a point about Appa being a major cockblock when it comes to men.

It isn’t until the two of you are sitting at the counter and your brother taps his spoon loudly against his mug that you realize how stupid you sound to yourself. It’s just a side effect of the melatonin, some sort of daytime delusions. You can’t seriously be thinking this much about a random cashier. (you’re lying to yourself. you did your research before buying the medicine and know there is no such side effect. but you let yourself stay delusional.)

authors note: GUYS i've been talking about this since mid october and i am finally posting the first part!! there will be a part 2 soon! i tried to make the conversation/ talking bits as realistic as possible.

lmk if anything should be added to the tags above and if you want to be added to the taglist! mwah~

[hannyoontify]

beautiful stranger - boo seungkwan

member | non-idol!seungkwan x gn!reader

genre | strangers to lovers au, humor(?)

word count | 2.2k

synopsis | crossword puzzles, cups of coffee, smudged pencil sketches. the attractive stranger you happen to see on the way to work becomes a little more than an innocent crush on your morning commute.

warnings | none (pls lmk if there’s any that i should add)

notes | woooo!! my first published work!! i struggled wayyy too much making this post... i thought of this idea on a whim when i was doing homework this morning hehe this was actually inspired by laufey’s ‘beautiful stranger’ it’s a really good song and i highly recommend it (and the rest of her discography omg i love her music) you might even see me use some of her lyrics almost word for word here haha… anyway hope you guys enjoy!! :D

You first saw him on a hot, weary day in June. 

Your crappy ex-boss demanded requested that you return to his company not even 2 weeks after you had left. You had just quit his company and were looking for a new one, but no one seemed to be hiring. You reluctantly went back because the bills weren’t going to pay themselves and someone had to pay the overpriced monthly rent for your one-bedroom apartment in downtown New York City. 

You moved to New York City from your middle-of-nowhere hometown at the age of 23. You were fresh out of college, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as you swore to yourself that you would make your mark as a journalist and make it big in the City of Dreams. 

3 years and a pandemic later, you were merely a staff member for the local newspaper instead of being the youngest editor-in-chief in history for the New York Times as you had envisioned. 

That morning, your blaring alarm seemed even more annoying than it usually was. After taking a hot shower and eating a filling breakfast, you left your apartment in haste, eager to catch the earliest train to your work. 

The train station was almost empty, since it was still early in the morning, and the train was equally as empty save for a couple of strangers scattered across the seats when you stepped into the railcar. You sat in an open seat, across from a man looking down and reading a newspaper in his lap. 

The train lurched as it started to move again, and you saw the man sitting across from you shift in his seat because of the sudden movement and the moment he looked up, time seemed to momentarily stop.

He was beautiful. His mask was pulled down to his chin because of the lack of a crowd, showing his sweet, rounded face that seemed to be full of youth. His big, round eyes seemed to sparkle, and a small, dark mole under his left eye immediately caught your attention. 

The stranger was wearing a matching gray suit with shiny brown leather shoes. Smart-looking glasses were perched on his pretty nose, and his dark brown hair was swept across his forehead. Calling this man beautiful would be an understatement. He was a work of art, you thought.

You allowed yourself the luxury to look only for a second before diverting your gaze; you didn’t want to seem rude. He went back to reading his newspaper and you felt your face beginning to flush a shade of bright crimson red. 

You were never one to be curious about strangers. Your personality naturally made you a very shy and quiet person who never really concerned themselves with the people around them, especially strangers. But oddly enough, this beautiful stranger intrigued you. You wanted to speak with him, you wanted to know his name. His formal choice of clothing made you question his occupation and for what reason he could be out and about this early. Where he was from, where he was going? What were his thoughts and opinions on mint chocolate ice cream? 

The world was silent, with the rattling of the train wheels and the occasional crumple of the beautiful stranger’s newspaper being the only exception. You tried to make yourself seem busy by plugging in your earbuds and pretending to mindlessly scroll on your lock screen, but in reality, you were watching him through your eyelashes. His long, nimble fingers thumbed through the newspaper, clicking his tongue and shaking his head occasionally whenever he read about something unfortunate, or hummed when he read something interesting in the opinions column. At one point, you swore that he smiled, and you felt your heart melt into a puddle of goo and drop by your feet. 

You became curious about the newspaper he was reading. Could it be the newspaper that you worked for? That would be a good excuse for starting a conversation with him, you thought to yourself. 

After a lot of pondering and internal conflict, you gathered the courage to stand up to go over and speak to him. The moment you stood up, the intercom announced the upcoming stop, which, as luck would have it, was yours. You halted in your tracks, rethinking the choice you were about to make. You heard the doors opening as you came to your stop. 

You reluctantly left the train and looked back until it was no longer in view. What if you had gathered the courage to speak to him a little earlier? Would you have known his name? You could’ve exchanged a few words, and a fairytale moment could have occurred. But now, your beautiful stranger was going to have to remain a stranger until you saw him again. 

The next time you saw him was a couple of days later. He was sitting in the railcar in similarly styled clothing, with yet again, a newspaper in hand. In his other hand was a cup of coffee that was balancing on his knee as he stared intently at the paper. You stared at the beautiful man, watching him as he took a slow sip from the coffee that you couldn’t recognize the brand of. 

You sighed as you pulled out your sketchbook and drawing pencil and you began to sketch the stranger. Although writing was your passion, you also enjoyed drawing. If you had not majored in journalism, you often think that you would’ve been an art major. Your pencil began to move across the rough canvas, drawing the contrasting hard lines and soft dips and curves of the beautiful stranger in front of you. 

By the time the train pulled up to your stop, you were almost done. The only thing missing was his face. During the entire train ride, the man had not looked up a single time–at least not when you were looking. Feeling disappointed, you stood up from your seat and made your way to the doors. 

You looked at your beautiful stranger through the reflection of the glass one last time, but instead of seeing the top of his head like you usually did, you caught him staring at you. Although you were the one who caught him staring at you, you still felt like a child that was caught stealing from a candy store. You felt your cheeks flare up in embarrassment and you quickly looked away.

For the next couple of months, you found yourself constantly looking for the beautiful stranger who showed up on your morning commute at random intervals. He always had a cup of coffee from the same store and a newspaper in hand. 

You began to notice small things about him. You noticed that he always spent the most amount of time in the sports and opinions section. He always had a pen tucked in the front pocket of his blazer that he occasionally used to underline something in the newspaper, or sometimes, when he finished the newspaper earlier than usual, he would solve the crossword puzzle on the back. 

You also learned that the newspaper he was reading was indeed from the same small company that you were working for. After learning about his fondness for the opinions column, you begged your editor-in-chief to let you write more pieces for that specific category. She thought you were out of your mind but still granted it. Now, you were writing a piece for the opinions column nearly every day. It was more work than you were used to, but for some reason, it didn’t tire you out like it usually would have. 

It was definitely too early to call it love, but your innocent crush on your morning commute slowly grew into something more. Almost every day, you stared at the unfinished sketch of the stranger and wondered when you would be able to finish the drawing. Over the course of time, the edges of the paper had begun to fray and wear away. There were smudges from the graphite of your pencil and there were creases from all the times you folded and unfolded the paper. 

It was a little over 10 pm when you boarded the near-empty train after a particularly long shift. Your fingers, shoulders, and neck were sore from bending over your desk and writing all day. There were only a couple of people sitting quietly in their respective seats; heads tucked down, ears plugged in, and eyes closed. Entering the train, you quietly surveyed the railcar, looking for a seat when you spotted a familiar-looking face.

There he was again, your beautiful stranger. For the first time, he was wearing something other than his usual formal blazer and slacks. This particular evening, he was dressed in much more casual clothes; a matching dark blue sweater and sweatpants, and he had headphones pulled over his head. You ran your hand through your hair in a short attempt to make yourself presentable and chose to sit in the empty seat across from him. 

Your beautiful stranger looked much younger and at ease like this. His usually hardened hair was now a fluffy mess (you thought it was adorable) that tumbled across his forehead and temples. His eyebrows were pinched into a frown as he bit on the tip of the same pen that he always uses. His eyes were staring intensely at the crossword puzzle in the back of the newspaper from a couple of days ago. 

You knew it was a tough one. Your editor-in-chief had been giggling hysterically in her office when she made that day's puzzle, so you knew it was going to be bad. You had already solved it the day it was out, with the help of your co-worker who sat across from you, but it was perfectly understandable why he was still stuck.

You abruptly stood up and took a deep breath before walking towards the pretty man. He sensed your presence and looked up at you with bright eyes. 

“Hi.”

“Hello,” the man took off his headphones. His voice was soft and gentle, it reminded you of a warm cup of milk on a rainy day. Yeah, it was weirdly specific, but you liked it. “Can I help you?”

“Is that.. Is that the ‘Daily Seventeen Times’ issue from a couple of days ago?” You asked. Every second passing felt like a sign from the universe telling you to stop. Sirens began going off in your head. ‘Abort! Abort! Abort mission! Bad idea!’

“Yeah, it is! I’m stuck on their crossword puzzle and it’s absolutely destroying me.” Too late now.

“Oh, I actually work at ‘Daily Seventeen Times’, if you want my help.” The beautiful not-so-stranger beamed at your offer.

“Oh, would you? I would really appreciate that. My friend and I are competing to see who can complete 100 crossword puzzles from your magazine faster, and it’s a really close tie so I’m desperate.” He explained. He motioned for you to sit down in the empty seat next to him and you (gladly) obliged.

“I’m [Name], by the way,” you said, in hopes that you can learn his name as well.

The handsome man smiled and offered you his hand to shake. “I’m Seungkwan, nice to meet you.”

You shook his hand and smiled back. He had a nice smile, you thought to yourself. You locked eyes with him and you both just sat there for a minute, staring into each other’s eyes. With someone else, it would’ve been awkward, but with Seungkwan, it didn't feel that way at all.

“Now back to the crossword puzzle,” You were snapped out of your trance-like state by his warm voice and nodded.

“Yes. Cross-puzzle word. Right.” 

You felt the tips of your ears burn bright red at your stutter, but Seungkwan didn’t notice. Quickly recovering from your embarrassment, you looked over his shoulder to see what he was struggling with.

The two of you sat in silence while Seungkwan scribbled out words on the margins of the page, trying to figure out how to solve the puzzle without losing his sanity. You occasionally pointed out a few hints that he accepted gratefully. Before you knew it, 30 minutes had passed, and your stop and apartment was long past you, but you didn’t care.

“Hey, this might seem a little creepy, but where do you live? Because we just passed by my stop,” Seungkwan said. 

“Oh!” You laughed. “We passed by my stop a while ago, but don’t worry about it. I can grab a cab.”

Seungkwan buried his face into his hands and groaned. “Oh man, I’m so sorry. I completely lost track of time. I can pay for your cab fee if you can give me your number-”

Your mouth fell open into a little ‘o’ shape.

“Oh my god, was that too straightforward? Sorry, uhm…” Seungkwan awkwardly sat next to you, trying to find the right words to say. “What I meant was… if you want, do you want to meet up this weekend for brunch or something and finish this crossword puzzle?”

You raised a surprised brow at him and he began to ramble again. “Again, if that’s also too straightforward, forget I said anything. We can both get off on the next stop and go on our own separate ways and-”

Your laugh cut off his incessant rambling. “Is this your way of asking me out, Seungkwan?”

“M-maybe..”

“Then, yes. I would love to go out for brunch and solve this damned crossword puzzle with you.”

reblogs + feedback is always appreciated ^-^

[alavestineneas]

Nothing we can do

pairing: Finnick Odair x fem!reader

summary: Finnick Odair hates everything about the Capitol and has every right to do so. But what if there was someone who made it a little more complicated?

warnings: mentions of rape, typical hunger games violence

chapter 1 -> chapter 2 -> chapter 3

''Mister Odair, what a pleasure seeing you in such a cheerful spirit! I hope I don't ruin it with my presence, will I?''

Finnick wanted nothing more than to agree with a man, but instead, he politely smiled. ''Never, President Snow.''

''That's good news. I've noticed you made friends with Miss Y/N.'' A white-haired man lifted a glass from a tray, studying a weirdly coloured liquid inside. ''Such a remarkable young lady. Very bright, and might I as well add, very favoured amongst the suitors.''

Finnick did not understand where Snow was going with this, but it promised nothing good for him or Y/N. He wasn't that naive to even hope they could keep this a secret, but it wasn't that evident. Besides, Snow still got his money. Then what was it?

''You see, Mister Odair, Miss Y/N managed to catch the eye of our new military commander - such a sweet couple they are. Now, Mister Odair, we don't want anybody getting in the lovers' way, do we?''

''No, President Snow.'' Finnick felt the air leaving his chest. This punishment was clever, he must admit. Still keeping both of them around but reminded of their place. It was cruel. In the best traditions of the Capitol.

''Good. You are a smart man, Finnick. I trust you to make the right decision.'' The President implied their short exchange was over.

The solution was quite simple - Y/N is marrying the man, and Finnick keeps himself as far as possible. It should be easy. They are not even lovers, just acquaintances. If that is true, however, Finnick's hands wouldn't tremble as much as they do now. He was in love with a dumb lonely girl from the Capitol, and now he had to let her go.

He was invited to the wedding, of course. It might have been Y/N's idea or the President's order - either way he was stuck drinking cocktails and chatting with a bunch of assholes while they all waited for the lover birds to appear.

A tremendous garden was filled with live music and laughter. The wedding was lavish: fountains of chocolate, crates of fresh fruits, names of which Finnick could not pronounce, expensive meat and fish, literal pools of champagne and wine. It isn't something she would have chosen, he thinks. But then, does he really know?

The first notes of a famous melody hit the guests' ears - they hurriedly took their seats, aligned in neat rows. The first to walk down the decorated aisle was the groom. A man in his thirties in a functional but high-class suit walked quickly. He was everything you expect from a soldier - serious and cold eyes, lean figure and short hair. The man looked nothing like people here, so Finnick assumed he wasn't from around here, probably from District 2.  

Then, she appeared. Beautiful white wedding gown, with red gemstones covering her shoulders and descending onto the neckline. From afar, Finnick assumed it was made to resemble fire. But when she moved closer, he realised. The gemstones were droplets of blood. People caught that too, judging from a few gasps in the crowd. Y/N smiled at them, a knowing look in her eyes. The goodbye look.

It hurt, Finnick noted with slight amazement. Watching her kiss a stranger instead of him. What hurt more were her tears, which many falsely assumed were happy. Finnick did not miss how her now husband grabbed her forearm in anger or how her mother tried to cover her sobs in Mr.'s Y/L/N shoulder.

''We have two minutes. He promised me he'll kill me if I ever spoke to you again. And I believe him.''

''Snow?"

''No, Derek. They say he turned his ex-wife into the avox. Can you believe that?'' Y/N chuckled, but Finnick knew better. She was scared.

''Snow also made it very clear that we can't speak again.''

Y/N nodded. ''I guess it is for the best.''

He wanted to say more: to comfort her, to say that it'll be alright, to say that he loves her. But it would make no difference, only give them something they can never afford to have - hope.

Y/N seemed to understand that too. ''Try to stay alive, Finnick. It suits you.''

-

The month changed quickly after that. Quite frankly, Finnick lost count of them a long time ago. Nothing new. Same faces, same duties, the same fake smiles and a small voice in his head.

The voice that slowly poisoned his mind. The voice that woke him up at night and haunted him in the daytime. Telling him that he is a coward, that there was a choice, he was just not brave enough to make it.

When the Quarter Quell was announced Finnick thought he might be going insane. He had not slept all night, preferring to stare into the relentless ocean. It has calmed him before, but not this time. Finnick was sure that he isn't seeing this water again - Snow will have him in that damn arena, and the chances of getting out were even smaller than before.

It was like a fever dream - reaping, interviews, countless photoshoots. It felt bitter but, at the same time, very familiar. He did not have to bother to attract sponsors or build a good image for the Capitol - years of work before came in handy. Finnick was left with a week of existence before his death. Very generous.

A few visits to his most generous sponsors. An hour or two. A pretty smile here and a moan there. Nothing of the unusual kind. Some cried, and some assured they will be doing everything possible to get him back. If Finnick could, he would laugh right in their atrociously painted faces.

The last client for today. A huge hotel with hundreds of rooms, very acquainted to Finnick. Golden doors, luxurious lobby. Room 23, the door to the right. He knocked and opened it without bothering to wait.

''Missed me, fisher boy?'' Y/N and her luminous dress. Finnick quickly shortened the distance between them, embracing the woman in a hug. She smelled sweet, with a hint of sourness - probably the healing cream.

''You have no idea.''

She chuckled in his chest. Finnick thought that this is how he would like to go - in her arms. He quickly lost the idea when she started speaking.

''We have an hour, then he'll find out. I am so sorry about the Games, but I won't be able to help you. Derek can't stand even your face in the magazine. Such an insecure asshole he is.''

Y/N looked up at him, a storm of feelings in her eyes taking Finnick's breath away.  And then he did something he never thought he would - he kissed her.

It was thorough and shamelessly hearty, nothing like the usual kissing he has done. Hell, she was not even his client - she was the woman he loved, the woman that he so desperately wanted to be his. Finnick felt her tilting her head to the right, pulling away.

''Don't,'' he mumbled, bringing her closer.

''You know you don't have to do it, right? You owe me nothing, Finnick.''

''But I want to. I want you. If you'll have me.''

Finnick felt Y/N's hands on his neck, pulling him in for another, much rougher, almost bruising kiss. They have an hour.

-

Salty waves touched his feet, bringing a burning sensation to the cuts and blisters - they will heal faster that way. The hot daytime sun was finally setting, allowing a few moments of peace in the blood-soaked arena.

Mags was already dead - it was absurd to think she had a chance to survive, as much as Finnick wanted to believe that. He will mourn her if he ever gets out of here.

The one thing occupying his mind was the birds, jabberjays. Finnick couldn't allow himself to believe another lie - Y/N was probably dead or on the verge of dying. He hoped she had gone quickly and without much pain, although judging from her cries, it was far from that.

Even if she was still alive, the first thing when the rebellion breaks out will be her torture. Finnick had sacrificed her for the revolution, for the future. And still, the thought of her eyes haunted him at night. Y/N will be dead now or later; for supporting the rebellion or being on the other side of it, and he sentenced her.

Finnick hopes she forgives him. He wishes they had met in another life - Finnick can almost hear Y/N's cheerful laugh and her soft hands holding his face. ''I love you,'' she says, and for once, it sounds happy, not bitter.

He will do his task - Finnick will get the lovebirds out alive. But then, he will make her a nice grave. They will be together. Y/N wanted to see District 4, his home. It will be her home too.

-

The plan worked. Katniss was on the hovercraft. The rebellion has started. Finnick tried to focus on what Haymitch was telling although in vain. It felt real now, the deaths of people he loved. The Capitol took the ones left - Finnick wished he could call them dead.

The door to the room opened, and Plutarch spoke.

''Took you long enough. We were almost getting bored, you know?''

Finnick glanced at the man in irritation. How could he say that? The fire girl lost more in that arena than Heavensbee could imagine.

''Plutarch, I suppose being away from the Snow's grasp helped you lose your manners? I can still have your tongue, so don't get too comfortable."

Finnick's head shot up at the sound of a familiar voice. It couldn't be.

But, there she stood. Y/N. Without her extravagant clothes and vibrant makeup, in a simple grey jumpsuit, she looked much younger.

''Finnick, this is Y/N Y/L/N, although I believe you have met before.''

He did not listen. Finnick embraced the woman, feeling Y/N's hands gripping his torso. She was here. Alive. Breathing and muttering something in his ear. He did not detect it at first, so caught up in his emotions.

''Finn, I love you, but I can't breathe.''

Y/N let out a burst of shaky laughter as Finnick instantly let her go, feeling a slow smile growing on his face.

They made it.

[ticklygiggles]

Lack of communication | Victuuri

A/N: After, apparently, one year, we finally wrote this 1 prompt 2 fics thingy Ginny and I came up with. We're so ashamed that it took way too much time, but other projects and irl things happened, but they're finally here and we hope you enjoy them!

Thanks to anon for sending such cute prompt!

Summary: Yuuri has always been shy, but why is he suddenly avoiding his lover?! Victor is in distress and doesn't know what to do anymore!

Words: 3,044

Yuuri was acting weird. Very weird.

Victor couldn't say exactly what it was, but there was something that just didn't fit Yuuri's usual behavior. He seemed constantly nervous and it was true that his cute japanese boyfriend was, most of the times, shy around him, blushing and giggling quietly, but this was just not common. Yuuri would completely avoid Victor's gaze and would quickly turn his head if their eyes ever met, his cheeks turning as red as cherries.

Victor felt more worried about this than what he liked to admit. It was like they were back to base one, when he appeared in Yuuri's family' onsen, claiming that he was his new coach. It was like coming back to the time when Yuuri would try to keep as much distance around Victor as possible, and Victor couldn't help but get a bit nervous himself. 

He had tried to talk it out with Yuuri, like normal couples would do, thinking that that could solve the problem quickly, but his attempts all were useless. Yuuri would simply brush it off, saying that it was nothing yet, he always started to sweat and blush and stutter nervously. Of course it wasn't nothing and, to add to his strange behavior, Yuuri was overreacting to every little thing Victor ever did around him:

If he moved too fast, Yuuri would flinch heavily. 'Oh, I'm sorry Yuuri, did I scare you?'

If he touched any part of his body, Yuuri would squeak loudly. 'Oh no, are you hurt there, Yuuri?'

If he breathed too close to him, Yuuri would jump and flush to the tip of his ears.  'A-Ah, I'm not sure what I did, but I'm sorry, Yuuri!'

It was so frustrating and extremely painful. It had been a while since his heart felt so tight inside his chest. Not even when they had turning their relationship into a romantic one did Yuuri act this way.

Was this because of something Victor had done? Had he made Yuuri uncomfortable in any way? Worse still... Yuuri didn't love him anym- no, enough. Overthinking would not make him any good and it would not provide him a solution to his problem at all, but he just didn't know what to do anymore.

No matter how hard he tried to make Yuuri admit that there was something bothering him, the boy would simply brush it off and Victor racked his brain as to what could have caused Yuuri to start acting this way, but he just couldn't remember anything concrete. Any hint had possibly already been erased from Victor's mind.

He didn't want to get too pushy on Yuuri about this either, he didn't want to make him uncomfortable, but he felt it was affecting their relationship in a way. Now Victor was worried about getting too close to Yuuri, afraid the poor boy would be too surprised. However, the only real solution was to talk about it before Victor started losing hair, not because of age but because of the stress that this situation was causing him. 

He looked over at Yuuri who was fast asleep, still so early in the morning. His rosy cheek squished against Victor's chest. It was certainly a sight he couldn't get enough of, and his heart swelled with love as Yuuri mumbled Victor's name in his sleep and his lips curved into a silly, sleepy smile.

Look at him, being so cute while Victor was having an already stressful morning just thinking about their current situation, but Victor just could never resist Yuuri's charm, especially at the early hours of the day, so before he could stop himself, he started to pepper tiny kissing all over Yuuri's face, his lips melting into the soft and warm skin of his beloved, who was slowly beginning to wake up, his little smile widening.

"Vi-Vihihictor," he giggled softly, his voice raspy, yet soft. 

"Hmm? Good morning, Yuuri," Victor answered, still landing kisses all over Yuuri's face: his cheeks, his nose, his forehead, his lips. "Did you have a good sleep?"

"I- I dihid, but why are you- wahait!" 

Oh his sweet giggles made Victor's body feel so light, like floating in the clouds. It almost made him forget the terrible anxiety nibbling at the edges of his heart. Almost, almost, almost. 

"Because I love you, Yuuri," Victor mumbled between kisses, focusing on a spot near Yuuri's ear that he knew made him giggle most. "I love you so much, I can't get tired of kissing your sweet face."

Yuuri was giggling brightly, flushing and shrugging his shoulders in a weak attempt to protect himself from Victor. 

"W-Whahat are you sahaying? I knohow you lohohove me and Ihihihi- lehehet me tahahalk!" 

Victor whined, nibbling at Yuuri's cheek. "That's extactly what I've been trying to do, but you simply won't talk, Yuuri!"

He didn't want to sound so desperate, but this whole situation was really driving him crazy. However, he felt bad when Yuuri suddenly stopped laughing and looked at him with concern filling his beautiful brown eyes. 

"W-What do you mean, Victor?"

Victor was frowning and nearly pouting as he spoke against his will, his brain screaming at him to shut up, but his lips and tongue moving on their own: "You know! Flinching and squeaking every time I touch you or when I'm too close to you!" He said, repeating what he had already told him a few times. "I know you're shy, but you didn't act like that before? Why can't you tell me what's wrong?"

Victor felt his cheeks getting warm as he looked at Yuuri, still laying between his arms. Yuuri's face was turning redder and redder the more Victor looked at him, but he didn't say anything, his lips sealed in a thin line. 

Victor felt his lips trembling. "Could it be that you don't want to be my lover anym-

"No! No, please don't even finish that sentence!" Yuuri said, pulling his hands out from Victor's embrace to grab his face, but then his hands started to tremble softly and he seemed to turn tinier. "It's not like that. It's just… well… you see… you didn't do anything wrong, I just… the other day you…"

Victor's heart was beating hard against his ribcage. This was more than what he had ever accomplished before, and a wave of happiness coursed through his body. They were finally going to solve the problem. Victor was finally going to be able to get up in the morning without a heavy heart! Could it be that today- 

"It's... It's really... nothing Victor, I promise that- 

"Agh, Yuuri!" Victor groaned, pulling his lover closer, nearly crushing him in his embrace, his face hiding into Yuuri's neck. "C'mon Yuuri! You always say so, but you keep acting strange around me! Please tell me what's wron- why are you laughing?!" 

"Y-Your hahahair! And y-your voice! Stop talking into my neck, it- ahahaha! No! Nohoho, wahahait!" Victor raised his head from Yuuri's neck and looked at him with teary eyes and a pout, (that the former Yuuri quite possibly would have kissed away), his hands suddenly latching onto Yuuri's sides, tickling him with more intent. "We ahahahare tahahalkihihing!" Yuuri giggled, trying to bring his hands back down to protect himself. 

"No, you're just trying to hide something from me and that's so mean, Yuuri!" 

Victor sped up the tickling, making Yuuri squeak in a way that almost made Victor smile, but he was holding onto his facade. He wasn't really mad at Yuuri, he just couldn't, but he did feel a bit disappointed and sad that his lover didn't trust him enough to tell him what was going through his mind. 

"Vihihictor! Plehehease, nohoho!" Yuuri giggled, squealing and squirming as Victor squeezed up and down his sides. "I juhuhust wohohoke uhuhup!"

Victor huffed, "well, if you tell me what's gotten into you, then I'll stop!" 

"Plehehease!" Yuuri's cheeks were bright pink and he tried to hide his face against Victor's chest. 

Victor didn't say anything, instead, he decided to change spots and without any warning, his hands latched onto that horrendous sensitive spot underneath Yuuri's ribcage, successfully throwing him into a loud fit of cackles as he threw his head back. Yuuri shook his head and this time Victor couldn't help but smile fondly at him. He always looked so cute laughing like this. 

"Nohohoho!" Yuuri laughed and his squirming increased, forcing Victor to roll over him to pin him a little better against the bed with his weight. "Vihihictor plehehease! I s-swehehear eheheheverythihing's fihihine!" 

"I won't talk to you anymore if you don't tell me what is wrong, Yuuri!" Victor said, flinching himself when one of Yuuri's fingers weakly poked his ribs, but Victor quickly grabbed that hand and pinned it above Yuuri's head. 

Yuuri shrieked, arching his back and pulling at his arm. "Nohohothing! It tihihickles, Vihihictor!" 

Victor chuckled, "does it now?" He teased, rubbing deep circles on that sensitive spot, making Yuuri tip into nearly hysterical laughter. "Then I think you might really enjoy being tickled, Yuuri, since you don't tell me what's wrong!" 

"YEHEHEHES!" Victor frowned, tilting his head to the side. "Yehehehes, Vihihictohohor!"

"Y-Yes what?"

"Yehehehes, I enjohohohoy beheheing tihihickled!" Yuuri admitted between laughs and Victor slowed down to let him talk, letting go of his hand as well. 

He stared down at his lover catching his bread, red across his cheeks and around his ears. When Yuuri was finally able to open his eyes after a fit of residual laughter, he looked at Victor with embarrassment, shyness. 

"I… I enjoy being tickled…," he repeated. "That's what's happening."

Victor blinked in confusion. "I don't understand, Yuuri."

Yuuri covered his face with his hands. "The other day… you tickled me when we were watching that movie, do you remember?"

Victor remembered it. Gosh, on that particular night he just couldn't keep his hands off Yuuri for more than two seconds and he had just discovered that Yuuri was so deliciously ticklish, so he abused that knowledge until Yuuri was trembling with silent laughter. They'd had fun, Victor would never go on if he ever noticed any discomfort on Yuuri's face, so they had just enjoyed that night amid Yuuri's loud laughter.

Ah, but now that he mentioned it, Victor suddenly realized that Yuuri had started to act strange after that night and Victor had worried that he had done something wrong, but Yuuri had promised him that it wasn't anything like that the next day.

So Yuuri was behaving like this because Victor had tickled him? And because he liked Victor to tickle him? Then…

"... You wanted me to tickle you all this time, but you were too shy to ask me, Yuuri?" His voice was tender, with just a hint of disbelief. It was just that? 

To his surprise, Yuuri groaned behind his hands and Victor swore he saw the skin on his knuckles turning pink as Yuuri nodded softly. 

"Nahaha!" Yuuri let out a surprised giggle, suddenly feeling a playful tickling to his tummy, his hands lowering to catch Victor's.

When Yuuri had uncovered his face, Victor quickly captured his lips in a kiss.

"Vi-Victor, hold-," Yuuri started, but he soon melted under the affection and Victor hummed when he felt Yuuri's arms wrapping around his neck. 

Victor felt Yuuri's lips tensing in a little smile when one of his hands sneaked under Yuuri's shirt, his fingertips dragging ever so lightly against Yuuri's off season tummy. The gentle touch was enough to have Yuuri snickering sweetly into Victor's mouth. 

Victor also started to smile as he spoke against Yuuri's lips. "So, my Yuuri likes it when I tickle him?" 

Yuuri flushed, but nodded softly. "I'm sorry, I know it's stupid b-buhuhuhut- Vihihictohor!" 

"It is not stupid, Yuuri! And why are you giggling so much? Is your tummy ticklish?" Victor asked as his fingers scribbled against Yuuri's lower tummy, making him giggle brightly. "What about here?" Victor asked, slipping a finger into Yuuri's bellybutton. 

Yuuri squeaked. "It's tihihihicklihihish!"

"I can see that," he said with a soft nod and a playful smile. "Hmm, and here?" Victor started to gently poke all around Yuuri's tummy, moving to his side and then to his ribs as he kept asking 'and here? And here?', every time he touched a different spot. Yuuri's giggles had turned into loud, desperate laughs as he nodded and tried to tell Victor that, in fact, every single spot he touched was really ticklish. 

Victor chuckled, and as Yuuri was laughing his little head off, he took the chance to grab his hands and pull them all the way up above his head, making Yuuri shriek with nervous giggles. 

"What about here?" Victor asked, holding Yuuri's wrists with one hand as the other quickly scribbled against his clothed armpit. Yuuri threw his head back, letting out loud laughs. "Ah, it does look pretty ticklish to me, Yuuri!" Victor teased, vibrating his fingers right in the center of Yuuri's underarm.

Yuuri was shaking his head as he laughed and laughed and laughed, no pleas came out from his mouth, just Victor's name over and over like a mantra that barely kept him from losing his mind. Victor could tell that Yuuri was actually feeling the tickling, but just like that night, he was delighted to see that he was enjoying every second of it. He wriggled and tugged at his captive arms, but hardly with intent. 

"Huh, so it does really tickle, Yuuri, but you know what's my favorite spot?" Victor asked, still tickling Yuuri's armpit mercilessly. Yuuri shook his head, but by the way he was trying to hide his lower body, Victor knew that he knew exactly where. "Right here."

"AHAHAHAHA! PLEHEHEHEASE!"

Victor's hand released Yuuri's captive wrists and quickly reached down towards Yuuri's hipbones. He barely had to press his fingers against the bones to have Yuuri howling with laughter. Victor couldn't help but smile when he felt the roundness, the soft skin covering such sensitive spot, he wanted to bite it and so he did. 

"AHAHAHA! Vi-Vihihictor! Not thahahat!" Yuuri howled as Victor nibbled at one of his hips, one of his hands tickling the other one and his other hand wandering up towards that sweet spot underneath Yuuri's ribs.

Victor chuckled when he heard Yuuri shrieking and dissolving into the loudest laughing fit he had ever heard from him, (yet), the sound was sweet and hysterical, loud but light. Simply perfect and Victor just couldn't have enough of it. 

It was also funny how Yuuri didn't know what to do with his hands. Of course, he didn't want Victor to stop, so he didn't even bother to try and catch Victor's hands. Instead, Victor felt Yuuri's hands gripping at the back of his shirt and his knees going up in a futile attempt of his body to protect such a sensitive spot.

"Yuuri, you're laughing so much, could it be that you're the most ticklish right here?" Victor asked, the most playful smile in his lips as he stopped the nibbling momentarily, however, his hands kept Yuuri laughing like crazy. 

Yuuri nodded weakly, he tried to babble out coherent words, but all were washed over by his laughter, Victor laughed too. 

"Poor Yuuri, can't stand some tickles on his hips," Victor teased, his lips closing around Yuuri's hips again, making him shriek when his teeth sunk into the warm skin.

Oh they both were having so much fun. Victor just couldn't believe all this situation would end up like this. Yuuri was simply shy to confess his secret! How cute was his boyfriend? Being all shy just because he wanted Victor to tickle him again, ah, Victor felt like crying, he was so relieved. 

A certain tapping on his back told him that Yuuri wanted to stop and so he did, but not before planting a tender kiss to Yuuri's hip. His darling was already shaking with silent laughter and Victor giggled softly as Yuuri came back from his ticklish high. He firmly rubbed Yuuri's hips to get rid of the residual tingles and Yuuri let him, as he tried to catch his breath. His hysterical laughter dissolving into sweet, unstoppable giggles.

Victor laughed. "Oh no, I think I broke my poor Yuuri!" He teased, moving to hover over Yuuri, careful to not put all his weight on Yuuri so he could still catch his breath. "Are you alright, love?"

Yuuri nodded and Victor smiled as he gently cleaned those tears of mirth from the sides of his face.

What a sight! Yuuri was flushed to his neck, he was slightly sweaty, but his eyes looked so dreamy and his smile was still so big, Victor couldn't help but place a tender kiss to the corner of Yuuri's mouth. 

"I'm sorry, Victor," Yuuri finally said after his breathing had come back to normal. 

Victor smiled, nuzzling his nose against Yuuri's. "It's okay, Yuuri, but next time don't keep any secrets away from me. I love you Yuuri, no matter what. If you like me to tickle you, then I will, if you don't, then I won't. It's as simple as that. I just want you to be the happiest when you're with me, besides… I think I also very much enjoy tickling you."

Victor poked Yuuri's side and Yuuri giggled, barely flinching as he wrapped his arms back around Victor's neck. 

"I am the happiest when I'm with you," he said, his lips brushing against Victor's. 

Victor smiled, feeling his heart beating fast. "Me too. I love you, Yuuri."

"I love you, Victor." He heard Yuuri say before they melted into yet another tender kiss. 

Victor felt a certain tiredness taking over him, perhaps because all the stress he had felt during those days was finally wearing off, and cuddling with Yuuri sounded desperately nice at the time. 

After that bout of tickling, Yuuri also seemed tired and ready to take a short nap in Victor's arms, and so they did. Both feeling lighter after talking things out, finding an answer to all their worries and anxieties. They fell asleep with smiles on their faces, butterflies filling their stomachs, excited to have fun with each other after a well deserved nap!

[justgleekout]

The Purrfect Crime

Summary: Kurt and Blaine were, as you say, “partners in crime”, but like, in the opposite sense… They were a long standing duo at the CIA. Headquarters knew they worked best when they worked together, so they just always did.

On their most recent mission however, their professional partnership is being tested as they go undercover as a married couple.

Rating: T

Words: 3,625

Additional tags: Fake Dating, spies!klaine, Friends to Lovers, crack elements, I really tried to be funny, smitten!blaine, Pining, oblivious!kurt?, Or Is he?, Alternate Universe

Notes: This work is a secret santa gift to @spaceorphan18! Merry Christmas!

First of all, I know this is a little late and I'm so sorry! I was struggling (to say the least) to get this done on time. As you can see, this is chapter one, because I just couldn't finish the whole thing and I didn't want you to wait any longer. I was so busy with work it's litereally not funny. I was pulling days from 7am til 9pm at some point. Then, when I started writing my first idea, I came to the realisation that I was including a very significant trope that was the oposit of what you had written on your wish list, so I had to start over... my own stupid mistake. Then, to make matters even worse, I spilled soda all over my laptop and it broke down completely. So I had to continue writing on my phone and ipad with a broken keyboard (I do NOT reccomend). I know, excuses excuses. I'm just bummed I didn't get it done on time. Also I now have to buy a new computer...

All that aside! I hope you like what I've got so far! I got really excited when I saw you wanted spies!klaine! A trope I absolutely love! Just note that I have never really written crack before, but I tried my best to make it fun add many silly elements! And I promise there are a lot more to come in the next part!!

Chapter: 1/?

Read on Ao3

They walked up to the gates of what could only be described as a palace (if America had those). The long and broad driveway behind the gates lead to a building so large and fancy looking, Blaine instinctively straightened his bowtie and readjusted his cufflinks. He knew he looked the part. Headquarters never sent out their agents in anything less than appropriate attire, but he couldn’t help it. He then glanced over at Kurt, who looked like he was a regular at this place, clad in a striking powder blue suit that perfectly brought out the colour of his eyes- no, Blaine, you are on a mission and he is your friend. He had to remind himself more and more frequently of the fact that they were partners in the professional sense only. No matter how gorgeous Kurt looked and how kind he was and how many flirty remarks he made at Blaine. 

“Did you get any information on what we are actually attending?” Kurt asked.

“No, chief Sylvester only gave me the location and this invitation.” Blaine held up a piece of royal blue parchment with a broken red and gold wax seal. The text on it was written in golden ink and read: 

“ Dear guest, 

Recently I received some incredible news concerning someone close to me that has enriched my life. I would like to share this news with you. Therefore, I hereby invite you to attend a celebratory party to join me in my glee on the evening of the 22nd of may at my residence. I would love to share with you a grand revelation that not even I know the outcome of. All that I will say is that it will be an evening full of surprises. 

Sincerely,

Hunter Clarington”

“What do you think it means?” Kurt asked as he took the paper from Blaine to inspect it further.

“I don’t know. But he is clearly up to something. Chief Sylvester said they got a hold of this invite right after they found suspicious signals and radiation coming from the address. They tracked all the vehicles going in and out of the vicinity. All transporting materials to build some sort of weapon… a powerful one.”

Kurt worried his bottom lip between his teeth and nodded, mulling over the information.

Blaine couldn't help but stare at Kurt's mouth as he licked his lips in thought. Blaine swallowed thickly and his breath hitched for a moment.

Kurt eyed him a little suspiciously. “Are you nervous?” he asked.

“Are you?” Great save, Blaine. Clever. 

Kurt shrugged. “A little, I guess.” 

Blaine didn’t actually expect that answer. “What? Why? You’re never nervous .” 

“Well I just don’t really fit in at these kinds of events… ”

Blaine frowned at Kurt. “What makes you say that?”

“Everyone here is rich, Blaine. I don’t know any of these etiquettes and inside jokes. I’ll stick out like a sore thumb…”

“Kurt, you are a spy for the CIA You are literally trained to fit in anywhere. I’ve seen you act. You’re a natural! And your suit looks incredibly expensive.” Better than mine anyways…

Kurt smiled at the compliment. “Thank you. I tailored it myself, actually.”

“A secret agent with secret talents. Seriously, Kurt, what can’t you do?”

“It’s not “Kurt” tonight, Remember?” 

“Right. Yes. Sorry, Mr. Ralph Murray, what can’t you do?” Blaine said to Kurt with a smile.

“Some secrets I don't dare share, not even with you, Mr. George Murray, darling. ” Kurt winked at Blaine.

And there it was; the reason Blaine was nervous in the first place. Tonight Kurt and he were Ralph and George Murray, husbands of five years, millionaires, and most importantly, on the guest list. It wouldn’t be a hard part to play; Kurt’s husband. Blaine had played that part often enough in his head. But Kurt didn’t know that, and Blaine would rather eat his bowtie than have Kurt finding out and Blaine making a fool out of himself. He just couldn't help but blush at the pet name Kurt gave him. 

Then, a sharp noise pierced his ear. Blaine flinched. This damn earpiece! And then a voice, “Hey guys, I’m glad to hear you are getting into character, but you better get in there. We have no clue where the signal is coming from within that building. And we need to find it fast. 

Right. Blaine thought. The stakes were high tonight. The nation was in danger and it was their job to secure its safety. “We best get in, then.”

“Oh before you do, I have hidden some gadgets for you in that bush over there on the left side of the gate.”

“Hold up. You have hidden our top secret, highly dangerous gadgets… in a bush?” Kurt said exasperatedly into his earpiece. 

“I figured they would be easily accessible…”

“Yeah. To literally everyone , Sam,” Kurt hissed.

“Oh… yeah…”

“Look, Sam, just tell us what you got us,” Blaine said as he crouched next to the bush, pushing the branches aside to reveal a suitcase. He opened it and Sam continued, “Alright. There is of course your trusted grenade pen, anaesthetic darts-watch and bulletproof handkerchief, but I have also added a few of my newest inventions.”

To this, Kurt shot Blaine an apprehensive look. They were a little too familiar with Sam's “ inventions” to say they were always a raging success. They looked into the suitcase and saw, beside their usual gadgets, something that looked like a small beauty case, an umbrella and a pair of sunglasses. “What the…” Kurt whispered under his breath.

Blaine frowned. “Sam, the event is inside… how are we supposed to casually pull out an umbrella or sunglasses?” 

“You're worried about the sunglasses? How do you reckon we are gonna be able to pull off using a, what is this, a lipstick ?” Kurt said as he held up a small golden tube. 

“I- hadn’t really thought about that,” Sam confessed.

Kurt looked like a vein was about to pop in his forehead as he pinched the skin between his eyebrows and pursed his lips.

“What do they do, Sam?” Blaine offered.

“Right, so, the umbrella is not only completely waterproof, it is also fire resistant and creates a perfect shield once unfolded. The sunglasses have infrared night vision and the lipstick is my personal favourite. It releases a toxic fume if you press that button on the back there, but that won't affect you when you are wearing the lipstick as it neutralises the toxins as they come close to it, so when you inhale, you're totally safe,” Sam said proudly.

Blaine had to admit the inventions sounded pretty incredible had they been more practical. “Alright,” he sighed. “Thank you, Sam.”

Kurt side eyed him and Blaine offered a shrug in return. 

“Well, we’d better get going, now. We’ll tune back in when we need you, Sam,” Kurt said and tapped on his earpiece once to hang up. Blaine followed. “Honestly, I can’t with him sometimes. I know you guys are friends, but he sure gets on my nerves.”

Maybe Sam didn't always have the best ideas, but he really wasn't bad at his job. Blaine thought. “He tries his best, though. And he is actually really great once you get to know him,” 

Kurt shook his head. “You’re too kind for your own good,” he said, but there wasn't any actual judgement in his voice. 

Blaine smiled and the blush he was sporting a minute ago returned faintly to his cheeks.

They walked through the gate towards a grand wooden front door in front of which a big woman was standing behind a podium with her arms crossed. "Names?" she said as she was eyeing them up and down suspiciously.

Blaine put on his most charming smile. “George and Ralph Murray,” he responded.

She looked at the register in front of her and her expression changed. “Ah! Splendid!" Welcome to the Clarington residence. All guests are expected in the ballroom for the welcome speech at 8:00 pm sharp. In the meantime there will be beverages and appetisers served in the grand foyer. Please enjoy your evening Mr. and Mr. Murray.”

“Thank you,” Kurt said and nodded to the woman. They walked past her as the doors opened. 

“Ballroom? Really?” Blaine whispered at Kurt as they made their way up the steps leading to the front door. “What is this place? Versaille?”

Kurt sniggered and gave Blaine a pointed look. “Play the part now, Blaine,” he said as they stepped over the threshold. 

They entered an incredible marble room with two grand staircases with golden railings on each side. Large pillars reached to the high ceiling on which, in the middle, hung an enormous crystal chandelier. Blaine’s mouth fell open and he heard Kurt release a low whistle. They quickly pulled themselves together as they were approached by a young handsome waiter. “Welcome, gentlemen. Can I offer you a drink? A glass of champagne perhaps? Cocktail?”

“I’ll have an old fashioned, thank you.” Kurt said with a confident, charming smile. See? Blaine knew Kurt had nothing to worry about. He was a natural. Blaine might have come from money, but Kurt just radiated class. 

“For me a negroni, please. Let’s save the champagne for later after the great announcement, don't you think?” Blaine said with a wink.

The young man blushed. “Certainly, sir.” 

“Say, do you happen to know anything about this speech?” Blaine asked him.

The waiter's eyes grew wide for a second. “I- I’m sorry sir, but it’s supposed to be a surprise.” 

“Of course. I’m sorry,” Blaine gave the waiter an understanding smile. The young man bowed his head gratefully and dashed away to get their drinks.

Blaine leaned into Kurt’s side, “You reckon he didn't know? Or he didn’t want to say?” he asked.

“Not sure… Would you share your secrets with the waiting staff?”

“I don’t know. I never had waiting staff.” 

“Hm.” Kurt gave him a considering look that lingered a bit too long. It made Blaine feel a little hot in the face.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing.” Kurt shrugged. “I’m just trying to paint a picture of you.” When Blaine didn't respond immediately he added, “It's a good picture, don't worry.” There was something suggestive in the way Kurt spoke. Blaine looked at him as if to try figuring him out. Kurt was just good at playing his part. Blaine told himself. Though no one was looking at them at the moment so there was no direct reason for it.

“Let's ask around some more, shall we?” Kurt suggested, breaking the tension.

"Yeah. Good plan.”

The young waiter had returned with their drinks and they started moving through the crowd. They asked multiple people if they had any idea what they were doing here, but no one seemed to know or want to tell them anything. 

“This is hopeless. We are wasting valuable time.” Blaine slumped against one of the pillars. 

Kurt opened his mouth to respond but Blaine motioned for him to be quiet when he heard a woman speak; “See, I told you he was weird. Who hosts a party for their cat?” 

They turned to look where the voice came from. A latina woman with long dark hair in a fitted, red, velvet dress was talking to another woman. This one with blond hair styled in a stylishly messy updo and a mint green dress. 

“I would,” the blonde woman said solemnly. “And I have in the past.” 

“Yeah, but that’s different. You’re cute about it.” The dark haired woman flirted and the blonde one gave her a quick kiss. 

“Excuse me,” Blaine piped in.

The dark haired woman gave him a once over, clearly judging him.

“George Murray, pleasure to meet you.” He held out his hand and the woman took it with only slight reluctance. “This is my husband, Ralph Murray.” He gestured to Kurt who then also shook the woman’s hand. Blaine noticed that the look she gave him was a lot less disapproving. Though Blaine couldn't blame her when Kurt was wearing that suit. 

“Santana Lopez,” the dark haired woman introduced herself. “This is Brittany Pierce.”

The men shook Brittany's hand as well. “I’m sorry, we just couldn’t help but overhear… Do you happen to know what this event is for?”

“I’ve only heard rumours,” Santana said.

“I see. Where did you get these rumours from?” Blaine asked.

Santana crossed her arms. “Well aren’t you the little detective. What's it to you, anyways? 

“Just nosy.” Kurt’s smile turned a little more devious than polite, matching her energy.

“They say it’s his cat’s birthday, but that doesn’t explain the great announcement. Maybe his cat got nominated for an award.” Brittany said

Kurt and Blaine looked at each other in disbelief, and back at the women. “You can’t be serious,” Kurt said.

Santana crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “Deadly.” 

“He can't be that passionate about a cat?”

“Wanna bet?” Santana challenged. “How do you think we know him?”

The men shrugged.

“We know him from cat shows.” Santana rolled her eyes. “Brittany’s cat, Lord Tubbington, often runs against his cat, Mr. Puss. So believe me when I say people are passionate about their cats. Anyways if you really wanna know, we heard it from Sebastian Smythe.”

“Who is that?” 

“He is one of Hunter's closest friends .” She grinned as if to imply something.

“Do you think Hunter told him about his plans for the night?” Blaine asked, trying to hide the eagerness in his voice.

“I’m sure he did. I overheard them talking about half an hour ago. Something about ‘getting it ready in the basement.’ ” She shrugged.

Kurt and Blaine exchanged a meaningful look. “Do you know how we can get in there?” Kurt asked.

“I'm sure Sebastian has a keycard to the elevator. But hold up, why do you want to know so bad?”

“Never mind that. What does he look like; Sebastian?” Kurt asked.

Santana smirked. “Oh you can’t miss him.” 

Brittany then took Santana's hand and whispered something in her ear. They giggled. “Look we’d love to stay and chat, but we, er, we gotta go.” Santana said before she was pulled away by Brittany. Santana managed to add a “good luck” as they disappeared into the crowd. 

“What do we do now?” Blaine sighed. “We have no clue where to find this Sebastian character,”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Kurt said and pointed over Blaine’s shoulder. 

Blaine turned to look, and there, in the middle of a group of people, stood a handsome man who was clearly the centre of attention. The people around him were laughing at his jokes and basically fawning over him. “You reckon that’s him?” Blaine asked.

“ Oh my god, Sebastian! You didn’t!” one of the guys closest to him laughed and flirtily touched the man’s arm. 

Sebastian petted the guy’s hand and smirked. “You should hear what I did with his father,” he said and winked at the woman next to him. The people around him all laughed.

Blaine snorted. “Well that answers that,” he said.

“He looks incredibly obnoxious,” Kurt said and narrowed his eyes. “He is flirting with literally everyone in his little group.” He grimaced.

“Maybe we can use that to our advantage?” Blaine thought out loud. However he didn’t really feel like watching Kurt chat up another man. He would just have to do it himself. “I will go and talk to him!” 

“Wait, maybe-” but before Kurt could protest, Blaine had stepped into the circle of people. Sebastian's eyes were immediately on him. 

“Well hello handsome,” Sebastian said and extended his hand towards Blaine. “I don’t think we’ve met. You look like someone I wouldn’t easily forget.” He grinned.

Despite his better judgement, Blaine blushed. The man was handsome, alright. And definitely charismatic, judging by the effect he had on the people around him. “We haven't. My name is George Murray. Are you Sebastian Smythe?” Blaine asked as he shook the man’s hand. 

“Matter of fact I am. To what do I owe this pleasure?”  

“I was talking to some friends of mine and you sounded… interesting” Blaine smiled a what he hoped was a seductive smile. 

Sebastian raised an eyebrow and turned away from Blaine for a second to make a dismissive gesture to his followers. “Could you give us a moment please?” 

The small crowd looked annoyed, some even jealous, but they obeyed, leaving the two men to themselves. Sebastian turned back to Blaine “Interesting, hm?” he grinned. 

Now that they were talking Blaine realised he didn’t actually have a solid plan. He couldn’t straight up ask Sebastian to give him the key. He would never just hand it over. Maybe Blaine could convince Sebastian to take him to the basement? But he needed Kurt with him. So he had to think of something else.

“They said you were close friends with the host,” Blaine said, trying to imply exactly whatever Santana was implying before. “I can see why he would like you,” he flirted. Apparently this was the right move, as Sebastian looked him up and down let his gaze rest on Blaine’s mouth. 

Sebastian leaned in closer. “You’re cute, George Murray. How come I’ve never seen you before?” 

“I- I’m usually very busy with eh- work. Don’t-“ Blaine swallowed. “Don’t often have time for parties.” Out of the corner of his eye Blaine noticed movement. He glanced over Sebastian's shoulder and saw that Kurt was miming something. “Back pocket!” He mouthed. What about his back pocket? Wait. Sebastian’s back pocket! The keycard was in sebastians back pocket!

Sebastian, who luckily didn’t seem to have noticed anything, spoke again, “Ah, so you're Mr. Professional, hm? Do you always obey the rules or are you capable of letting loose every once in a while?”

“Er, yeah sure,” Blaine said semi on auto pilot. How the hell was he supposed to get the key-card from Sebastian’s pocket? “What about you?” he asked. “Are you a rule breaker?”

“You could say that,” Sebastian quipped. 

Blaine laughed. He needed to get very close and personal with this man but whilst he was doing so, he might as well find out some more information.

“I was wondering,” Blaine said and trailed his finger over Sebastian’s chest. “As you’re such a bad boy, would you mind telling me what tonight is all about?” Blaine looked up through his eyelashes. 

Sebastian inhaled through his teeth. “Oh babe, I can’t tell you that. It’s supposed to be a surprise.” 

“I thought you didn't play by the rules.” 

“Why don’t you come upstairs with me where we can have a little more privacy and I can tell you all you want to know.” Sebastian said and slipped an arm around Blaine’s back. 

This was his chance. He could take it now and Sebastian wouldn't notice. He just didn’t know how to get out of the situation once he made his move. Blaine looked over his shoulder in search of Kurt and found him looking at them. Blaine gave him a quick pleading look, hoping Kurt would understand. Here goes nothing. He put his hand on Sebastian's back and slid it down to rest over his butt. “Sounds amazing...” Blaine felt the card in Sebastian's pocket. “...but I forgot to mention…” He slid his fingers into the pocket over the card, trying to pull it off as a caress, and as he retreated his hand he pulled the card out. Got it. “...that I'm married.” 

As if on cue, Kurt stepped in front of them. “Darling! There you are! I was looking for you.” He smiled a bit too sweetly at Blaine. “Who’s our new friend?” he asked and shot a murdering look at Sebastian. 

“Woah, what the hell?” Sebastian took a step back, letting go of Blaine. 

Blaine quickly slipped the key-card into his own pocket and stepped closer to Kurt. “Ralph, honey, this is Sebastian. He is a close friend of Hunter’s. Sebastian, this is my husband, Ralph Murray.”

“Husband? Wow,” Sebastian said. “Was not expecting that.” 

Kurt held out his hand. “Pleasure,” he said through gritted teeth.

Sebastian took Kurt’s hand and shook it once. 

Kurt turned to Blaine again. “Well it’s almost 8 o’clock. We should get going, darling.” 

“Right.” Blaine nodded. “Maybe we can talk later?” he offered innocently to Sebastian as if nothing had happened. “It was very nice meeting you.” 

“Sure was,” Sebastian said and winked at Blaine, clearly recovered from the initial shock. “I am looking forward to seeing you again, George.”

Kurt then pulled Blaine away by his hand through the crowd, leaving Sebastian behind. 

“Thank you for saving me,” Blaine said once they had found a quiet corner.

“You didn't really seem like you needed saving,” Kurt said coldly.  

“What do you mean? If you hadn’t shown up, I wouldn’t have been able to get away!” 

“I mean, ” Kurt said. “It didn't seem like you had such a terrible time with him. I know you needed to get the card, but how are we supposed to come across as a happily married couple when you are feeling up all the other guests.” He crossed his arms defensively.

Blaine stared at Kurt for a second. Then it dawned on him. “Wait, Kurt, are you jealous?”  

“No,” Kurt snapped. 

“Oh my god, you are totally jealous.”

Kurt’s cheeks turned red. “Shut up, I'm trying to take this mission seriously. Did you at least get the key?”

Blaine couldn't help but grin as he presented it. “Got it right here.”

“Great. Let's go try it out before he finds out it’s missing. We need to get to the basement before it’s 8 o’clock.” 

[wulflynn]

Cullen Rutherford Fanfiction Recommendation...

This is a list of AO3 fics that I've really enjoyed reading, and I wouldn't have found them myself if it weren't for other recommendation posts on Tumblr. There are still plenty more that I've yet to find that I know I'll enjoy, but as of right now, these have been amazing reads that I'm sure others are bound to enjoy as well if they're fond of Cullen c:

WARNING: pretty sure they're all rated for mature audiences, but if you click on any of these please check the tags to decide if you'd like to read any further.

I hope the formatting for this is correct, if there is a correct-or typical-way to format these recommendations. I just did it how it'd made sense to me *shrug. Correct me, otherwise. Teach me how to Tumblr.

Thank you to the authors for your creative prowess and for giving me permission to add your stories to this list! I'll add more over time, I'm sure. May you receive all of the kudos and feedback, and continue to find joy in creating your stories. <3

Wrong fandom but I'm always compelled to say, "kill write well...and often." x3

Updated 04/08/2023: A couple more have been added! c:

Summary: When the Inquisition disbands, Cullen disappears without a trace. After he is found begging in the streets of Val Chevin, his long-time friend and former lover, Mira, comes to find and bring him home. As she tries to help him quit lyrium for good, they discuss their past and finally say all the things between them previously left unsaid.

Summary: Everyone around her seemed incomprehensibly eager to have the rebel mages close the Breach. Never mind that it made her a funnel in some magical experiment, one that they didn't know for sure would even work. No, much better if they found the templars instead - for herself and for Myca. Yet it was only the suspicious commander who shared this view. Suddenly she had a reason to get on his good side.

Broken Song by Decim

Summary: Remy Hawke and Knight-Captain Cullen have been entangled with each other since their first meeting… she’s made sure of that. What started out as an ill-advised affair quickly grew into something more, though circumstances made that certain lines could never be crossed. Once she leaves the city and her position as Viscountess, they say goodbye for good, not anticipating that only a year later they will meet again when the world is coming to an end.

An alternate version of Dragon Age: Inquisition in which Hawke attended the Conclave and became the Herald, with flashbacks to Dragon Age 2.

Thank you to @decimdraws on Tumblr! ✨

Wander the Drifting Roads - Pt. 1 of Nothing Wrought Shall be Lost by mortonsspoon

Summary: After defeating Corypheus, Lavellan thought the worst was behind them. When Cullen is captured and exposed to red lyrium, the Inquisition loses its Commander and Lavellan loses the man she loves.

The two face diverging paths forward: Lavellan attempts to find purpose in life after the end of the organization they built together, and Cullen must find a way to come to terms with the darkness he's faced for a decade before he loses his memories of her forever.

Book of Memories - Pt. 2 of Nothing Wrought Shall Be Lost by mortonsspoon

Summary: There is a book in Comtesse Lavellan’s library in Kirkwall. It has been meticulously bound in leather, with the shape of a tall, spreading tree and a lion embossed on the front. Inside, there are a number of writings: recollections from a darker time, hopes and fears, and moments archived in writing for their own safekeeping.

Or: An anthology of what happened to Emmaera and Cullen before, during, and after the events of Wander the Drifting Roads.

*Tags will be updated as chapters are posted

Thank you to @shivunin on Tumblr! ✨

This is a series of works and I will post the description and notes rather than the summary like with others c:

Description: "When your skies are grey, and your whole world is shaking, to the Moon and back, I'll love you more than that."

Notes: A collection of short fics and drabbles about Cullen Rutherford and Eurydice Lavellan.

Thank you to @star--nymph on Tumblr! ✨

In Waking Dreams by AParisianShakespearean

Summary: They fall in love slowly during the war at the height of the Inquisition. During their romantic and eventually sexual relationship, the former Circle mage and former templar discover they love one another as more than the Commander and Inquisitor, more than the rose that survived and endured the winter, and more than a forgotten goddess of old. Then war, like everything, ends. They dream of dawn after stars. *** The love story between Inquisitor Lydia Trevelyan and her Commander. As the Inquisition begins and unravels, so do their own personal struggles, issues, torrid pasts, and feelings for one another. Sprinklings of other characters here and there. Slightly diverges from canon. Rated E for later chapters.

Thank you to @a-shakespearean-in-paris on Tumblr! ✨

Description: Take a look at the Thedas with Inquisitor Trevelyan, a noble, a mage and a leader. Her adventures weren't filled with just action and fighting, but it came with a hint of drama and romance - something the nobles would often gossip about.

Thank you to PoptartCandy (I'm not sure if they're on tumblr, but this can be amended if so)!

Summary:

Evelyn Trevelyan, once on her way to become a Senior Enchanter at the Circle of Ostwick, now an apostate, has had a very hard last couple of years. And it looks like she can expect to have very hard years ahead of her, too.

Luckily for her, she has plenty of experience hiding just how awkward, clumsy, and terrified she is of everything. Also luckily for her, she discovers that there are people she doesn't have to hide from. Friendships, family, and even love can be found and forged in the unlikeliest of places. Bridges are built to span the breach between warring peoples and hearts even as they fight the Breach in the sky and the one that caused it.

Yet another retelling of the adventures that occur in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Mostly canon, divergences are like a scenic route. Filling in the holes, building the friendships and relationships, and connecting the dots that we don't see in-game. From the light and playful moments to the dark and violent twists and turns, joy and angst, eventual smut, thus the M rating.

Thank you to Kartoonist (I don't know if they're on tumblr either, but if so this will be amended)!

[monocaelia]

Hi!!! Congrats on making it to summer break 🥳 i was hoping I couple get a matchup! My favorite romance trope is enemies (to friends) to lovers. It’s a little ✨spicy✨ but when they start understanding each other and their motivations more the soft moments they share are just 🥺 plus, they already know each other’s flaws, have seen each other at their worst, but also seen through that and seen all the things that there is to love about this person. Plus, the fact that they started out as enemies means there’s usually other outside factors that seek to keep them apart, which makes them a little star crossed and adds tension and angst (…which can add to the spicy bits too lol) any gender for the matchup is fine! Thank you queen ❤️

note : hehe hi and thank u !! i'm so excited to sleep and go swimming and hopefully visit my sister for my birthday hehe. thank u for participating !!

send me ur favorite trope or delusional song and i’ll write you something short !! [closed !!]

one person you were absolutely not expecting to be friends with due to your numerous clashes and the fact that... well, he was working with the enemy, was childe.

your first impression of him was surprisingly good; his charisma and boyish charms were difficult to see through at first. it wasn't your fault that his laugh was so infectious as he played with the local children of liyue harbor, groaning over-dramatically when one of the kids launched themself onto his back with an excited shout.

of course, your positive opinion didn't last long. it wasn't like his affiliation with the fatui was a huge secret; if anything he made it quite obvious with the way he always wore that damned red mask of his on his head and talked openly to fatui agents like they were having small talk over coffee.

sometimes you wonder if you could have been friends had he not tried to drown an entire nation for the sake of his goddess. but even then, could you forgive him for having the blood of the innocent on his hands? could you look him in the eyes for being a conniving bastard that didn't bat an eye to the poor as they begged for mercy or to extend the date for their loan collection?

you didn't know, but you knew you wanted childe out of your life and, if you could, defeated underneath the point of your blade.

you grit your teeth as childe deals a heavy blow to you. he's grinning maniacally, forcefully pushing his blades of water against your weapon as you defended yourself from him. with a last shove, the ginger jumps off of you and lands a few feet away.

"you've gotten stronger since the last time we've met, comrade. have you been sparring without me?" childe teases with a grin. the usual dark water in his gaze is lit up with a twinkle of life, though you know that it was far from anything innocent.

he was having fun fighting you to near death.

without a warning, childe makes a dash forward to slash at your side but, thankfully, you dodge him and attack him on your own. he parries without batting an eye and you watched his grin grow wider as he presses into your weapon.

"i have to say, i'm quite hurt that you would spar with anyone but me. i thought we were friends," he commented with a slight pout and your brows furrow. you shove him off of you with a grunt and point your blade directly at him.

"don't assume things on your own, tartaglia," you hiss out. it's your turn to strike; you take this moment to run up and attack. as you swing in one direction, you quickly change positions to attack him from another. childe's eyes widen for a split second before meeting your blade with his own.

"would it hurt to call me by my alias rather than my title?" childe tilts his head in a cute manner, though you know better than to fall for his tricks. with a swift movement, his other blade of water stabs at your side. unfortunately, you weren't fast enough as hydro slices through your side.

you fall to the ground with a grunt. your hand quickly clamps over the wound at your side. pain and exhilaration fills your body as you see the blood on your hands and there's only one thing on your mind; get out of there.

a pair of black boots enter your field of view and you refuse to look up. there were no ways quick ways out; even if you managed to catch him off guard, with your injuries he would be able to track you down in an instant.

a wet blade is placed underneath your chin and your face is lifted up. a smug smile grows on childe's lips as he sees your demeanor; teeth bared and brows furrowed as your eyes, your sweet eyes, are glaring directly at the harbinger standing before you.

he leans down and it takes everything in you to not bite at him.

"go on," childe hums. "be a dear and call me 'childe' and i'll fix you up."

you want him dead.

[pragmatic-optimist]

This week's theme: Rec a fic that starts with the same letter as your username (or, if you like, a part of your username). 

The rules: Tag a fic that starts with the same letter as your username and describe why it's so good / how it has a hold on you. Then tag some people to see what everyone else is reading. Spread the love! Please tag @welcometololaland or tag #fic rec friday so they can compile the masterlist.

Okay, so clearly, I can’t read because I chose fics that started with an “S” for my actual first name and not my URL lol. I tried to fix this, but the amount of fics that start with a “P” in my bookmarks is almost nonexistent. So I’m going to just stick with my incorrectness; forgive me. Lola - thank you for always tagging me; I finally managed to post because looking through my AO3 bookmarks made this “easier.” You know how indecisive I am. Lol. I also promise I tried to keep this short, and this is what keeping it short looks like.😂

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911 Lone Star

Say You’ll Remember Me: This is a Ryderdie WIP by @myemergence, and I really look forward to more. It’s one of my absolute favorite tropes (Amnesia!) and a canon-divergent AU for 2x9 featuring one of the best fictional couples to ever exist. I love Judd and Grace Ryder so much. Jenny nails the angst in that way where it hurts but GOSH it is good. It’s just *chef’s kiss* and I can’t wait to see where the rest of the journey takes us. 

Searching For A Trail to Follow Again:  Paige’s (@sunshinestrand) fics are classic, butterflies in your stomach, grinning from ear-to-ear, romantic comedies. This AU was so charming and, like all of Paige’s writing, leaves you with the biggest smile on your face because you’re just over-the-moon Carlos and TK have found one another in this story and in all her AUs (again and again and again). Contrary to popular belief among certain showrunners, letting characters just be happy is quality and compelling storytelling, and I’m grateful for fic writers like Paige who know that and give us a slice of that joy. 

So Many Somethings: Rae’s (@iboatedhere) AUs are iconic by now, but this one will always be near and dear to my heart. Not just because it’s the You’ve Got Mail AU and it’s an incredible nod to the film, but also because it was the first fic I ever beta-read for her, and the whole process bonded us. Rae, thanks for trusting me! This fic is remarkable, I love the balance of enemies-friends-lovers and the banter. Oh, the Banter™️. Nora Ephron would be proud! 

Sanctuary: If I had to use one word to summarize this fic, it would be ✨DESTINY✨. Honestly, I think all of Kim’s (@reyescarlos) fics have a destiny vibe to them, you can feel that these two characters are meant to be together, and they will find a way. I loved the first meeting in this one; the tension in the scene was palpable, and Kim’s writing always makes you feel like every interaction is happening right in front of you. She’s magic in that way ✨. 

Slowly Becoming Lovers: I love fics that show us the little moments between Carlos and TK, how they fall in love through the little things, and the way Holly (@morganaspendragonss) portrays that journey in these short vignettes is so so SO beautiful. This is one of the fics I have reread the most, according to the AO3 clicks lol, and there is a reason for that. It is truly lovely. Also, the title is inspired by one of my favorite Ben Platt songs, and fits the story perfectly! Highly recommend! 

Red, White, and Royal Blue

Snowed in? Snow problem: This fic is such a blast to read, lol. I laughed so hard, and I still laugh just as hard when I reread it because the ugh!Hunter slander is top-tier. A direct quote: “Well, I’m not bunking in with Hunter or you’ll be dealing with a murder by the end of the day.” Same, Alex. Same. Forever mood.😂 Add to that, “there was only one bed” plus Rae’s (@rmd-writes) ability to write Sexual Tension™️ x 5467893204858, and this college au is a must-read. Also, THE TITLE. YAAASS. A+ pun. No notes. 

Sink Beneath the Waves: This fic. THIS FIC. You know how in every fandom, there are stories that are essentially required reading, this one by @indomitable-love is one of those fics for me in the RWRB fandom. The love, the yearning, the pain, and the utter joy at Henry’s “I’m into making History.” Getting the chance to see these canon plot points from Henry’s POV is a gift, and I’m so grateful this fic exists for us to revisit again and again. 

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I think this has made the rounds already because it is Saturday for me, so consider this an open tag to whoever has fics they would like to share with us! 

[rachthepoet]

Two Ghosts Analysis

Too often am I forced to bear witness to people publicly admitting they walk right over this song and ignore the beauty under their noses. While I can't deem it a criminal offense, I dream I could. But, fair enough, let's get serious now.

This song is a melancholic and nostalgic reflection of a relationship lost to the past, where the theme of grieving returns after a breather is found in the preceding song. Lots of personification and metaphor at play here, giving way to stunning prose to catalog a relationship that's reached its expiration date. This can be an eerie feeling, in which everything looks the same, one's still with the same person — yet something's happened and shifted the dynamic. Or, something that's changed both people in a way that, when together, romanticism ceases to exist. The soul of the relationship is no longer there, it's dead.

Here's a deep dive into Harry Styles' Two Ghosts, from a poet.

Lyric Pull Apart

[VERSE 1] Same lips red, same eyes blue Same white shirt, couple more tattoos But it's not you, and it's not me

Same lips red, same eyes blue / Same white shirt, couple more tattoos: Attention to detail is forever a soft spot for me, and I will love it forever. For, these are the details one will always remember about a person that one once let themselves become so interwoven with. It serves another purpose too, curating context clues about the partner in question for the listener. Two ex-lovers see each other after the relationship ends, or maybe right before. The line, couple more tattoos, indicates a passage of time, and more indication of change. Yet, with that, there's a repetition of the word same three times in two lines, which brings in the conceptualization of sameness.

With sameness being emphasized, it drives the point home of how things are the same but they're simultaneously not. Establishing this will only uplift the contrasts to come, and it reminds me of the saying that you can't recreate the same memory twice. Even as one tries to find their way back, dancing the same steps, will it ever truly be the same if things have been so different in this passage of time apart?

Same lips red, as many conclude, could be referencing a lip rouge, or lips that naturally pull redder. Though, also, lips can be reddened through being kissed or being bitten, even getting chapped. I love how many different directions one could go in painting the scene in their head. Same eyes blue feels more straightforward in its meaning as a simple description, but there could also be another layer to unpeel — blue often is used to represent sadness, which can add more emotional nuance to this scene being set. I believe these two lines are referencing the speaker's ex-lover.

Same white shirt can be very literal, as in wearing a simple plain white t-shirt in how I visualize it, but also a more abstract reference to just plain, casual dress. It also, deeper, could be a shirt hat was shared between the two, indicating intimacy as we build the history between the two in this setting scene of the first half of the first verse. But that might be a reach, I know. Then, couple more tattoos as mentioned before can indicate a passage of time, and in a concept of sameness, this would be the detail to break the illusion that things haven't changed. The tattoos can be, you know, tattoos, but also anything that permanently marks the body if one wants to lean into the more abstract. I believe these two lines are referencing the speaker himself.

But it's not you, and it's not me: Clever allusion to such a classic breakup line — it's not you, it's me — but there's a subtle shift in its language, shifting the blame away from both. This implies that circumstances and forces bigger than them may have been the reason for their relationship dying off. It's no one's fault that this isn't working.

Despite the sameness illusion highlighted previously, the two aren't the people they were the last time they stood here, face to face. Looks can be deceiving, as the internal state of both parties is so different now. We're both here, but we're not us.

[VERSE 1] Tastes so sweet, looks so real Sounds like something I used to feel But I can't touch what I see

Tastes so sweet, looks so real / Sounds like something I used to feel: A somber symphony of the senses rounds out this study of the speaker himself and this person that's removed from his life, but it's a constant reminder that they're not forgotten. Rather, he's haunted by memories of what the relationship used to be. Still taking over all his senses. In their presence, it's all still so sweet to him that he can taste the experience, or maybe still taste their lips on his. And, lyrically, all of what has preceded this point has been what sounds like something I used to feel — past tense, a memory lost to time. A loss of life and spark.

But I can't touch what I see: Intangible things made tangible, in a sense. The soul of the relationship is no longer there, what's left is merely a metaphorical hollow skeleton of the relationship. He can't touch the love, can't graze his fingers against the spark, the chemistry, the life of the relationship — it's no longer in existence, and there's nothing that remains to grasp onto. Even if he feels like he can see it, in the tricks of his mind or tricks of the light, it's no longer viable or revivable.

[CHORUS] We're not who we used to be We're not who we used to be We're just Two Ghosts standin' in the place of you and me Trying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat

We're not who used to be: The repeated truism throughout the song rings so significant because this is what the speaker's thinking in the back of his mind. They keep trying to make it work, but within his soul and subconscious, he knows that they're both not who they used to be. The dynamic has shifted in a way that hinders the flourishment of romance in contrast to when they were in a good place. Both have changed as people. The repetition is used again, I feel, to emphasize that time has passed and change has happened. Whatever has happened or transpired between them, either a lot of time elapsed or enough events in their respective lives to come out completely changed. There's no common ground for them to stand on — the relationship has run its course. Its lifeline has gone slack.

We're just Two Ghosts standin' in the place of you and me: The symbolism and metaphor within the namesake's Two Ghosts, and just the use of a ghost as a representation brings such eloquence to the song. And it pains me to see it overlooked, or just not appreciated. Ghosts are less substantial, dead inside, and are creatures of the literal past. In the vision of them turning into the quote-en-quote "Two Ghosts", they're each merely a shell of a person that the other once knew. A pale imitation of what they were. This haunts them, living in the other's mind. And, running with the vision of the personification of the relationship itself, I see them going through the motions. But, the spark, the life source of the relationship was no longer present. They're both at the wake, haunted by the ghosts of what they used to be. Maybe also with a tendency to live in the past.

Trying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat: Oh, this line. This beautiful line just makes me ache. Since we were just talking about the personification, we'll continue on that front — the heartbeat of the relationship, trying to remember what it felt like before the relationship flatlined. And, pulling away and looking at the two, indicating them having a heartbeat — in which they felt alive when they felt the spark. A complimenting line to the ghost metaphor truly drives home that the relationship is dead.

Together, they had a steady heartbeat, a constant, something to rely on as if felt natural to them... back then. Now, reiterating, there's been time elapsed with distance and separation, as the constant gets lost to the past. There's the cliche romantic trope about the heart fluttering when infatuated. Usually, one doesn't feel their own heartbeat in normal circumstances, but when you see the person whose capture your love, the heart starts beating like it will beat its way right out of the chest. As the speaker realizes the death of this relationship, he misses the feeling — the adrenaline rush to cause this beautiful but haunting sensation. He struggles to recall how it felt because his heart isn't fluttering anymore, and that can be heartbreaking. But now, he's trying to move on and live again, but still struggles from what I can conclude.

[VERSE 2] The fridge light washes this room white Moon dances over your good side And this was all we used to need

The fridge light washes this room white / Moon dances over your good side: I find these lines so vivid, painting beautiful imagery. It's a scene so romantic and intimate, especially with the diction of the second line, how the moonlight dances over them — it feels a little flirtatious. And it's a memory that remains stuck in his head, back when there was still soul and life radiating. All this domestic imagery and bliss and infatuation — but that was then. Again, a memory.

Moonlight is something fun to interpret, and I'm aware I might be putting on my poet-went-in-too-deep shoes, but I'm throwing it in just in case someone finds their fancy with my ramblings. This is such a beautiful and almost ethereal image of someone, especially one that's revered in the mind, cascaded in the moonlight. But, moonlight doesn't come from the moon, but, rather, light is emitted from the sun and reflected onto the moon which then reflects into the moonlight people are fascinated by. This can lend itself to symbolism of melancholia and somberness sometimes, as the moon can't create its own light, but must rely on the sun. Maybe the speaker felt as if this person was the sun, him the moon, and the moonlight reflected back on the person in this imagery. A light he's giving that he can only credit to the lover, leading to this struggle to find ground to stand on when the sun has left. Just an abstract theorization and a bundle of thoughts, really.

And this was all we used to need: Naturally, this is a companion line to the previous two. Back when the soul was alive and well in the relationship, everything was simplistic and low effort. And that's how you want chemistry to be — a naturally occurring spark, and there's no need to force it in the relationship. Simple things, like intimate domestic moments spent in the moonlight, used to be all they needed to get the heartbeat going. Maybe even racing. But something has shifted, a common thing that's returned to. There has to be more effort now, and the two can no longer expect everything to work itself out. Trapped in the past — haunted by what once was.

[VERSE 2] Tongue-tied like we've never known Tellin' those stories we already told 'Cause we don't say what we really mean

Tongue-tied like we've never known / Tellin' those stories we already told: It wouldn't be a Harry Styles song without a difficulty of communication motif. This breakdown of communication within the relationship plagues the speaker significantly. They stumble over their words now as they try to speak — they don't know how to communicate with one another anymore, something that we can infer came easy to them once. It goes along with the refrain, speaking to we're not who we used to be and the ghost metaphor. There's something about being able to naturally understand the other person, and when that ability is lost, it's a clue that you're no longer in sync with one another. Something is dulling the life.

This all provides such a stark contrast with the beautiful imagery at the top of this second verse — but that was then, and this is where they stand now. A shift, the magic is gone, and the soul of the relationship is no longer viable. they have nothing to talk about anymore, nothing new, and they both revert back to what they've already told each other thousands of times — maybe a reach to try to feel reinvigorated, but it falls flat. The soul is gone, and the relationship has been lost, only a relic of lost time in their minds.

'Cause we don't say what we really mean: Both parties have an awareness, I believe, that the relationship has run its course, but neither of them wants to say it out loud. Maybe, deep down, they both still have love for each other. But there's nothing that can be done when the spark is gone and the body is not revivable. They let themselves succumb to this cycle of repetitious stories that have an association back to their times of flourishment, avoiding talking of the reality — avoiding grieving what they once were, and pushing their emotions down. No true feelings are being said, and nothing real with genuine intentions is being given either.

[CHORUS ADD ON VARIATION 1] We're not who we used to be We're not who we used to be We're just Two Ghosts standin' in the place of you and me We're not who we used to be We're not who we used to be We're just Two Ghosts swimmin' in a glass half empty Trying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat

A repetition of the chorus, but with each additional iteration offers a little variation. One lyric change per repetition could be missed if one isn't listening deeply enough, which could bring in the miscommunication the speaker feels into the lyrical structure, too. I personally believe and will argue that those two lines snuck into the reiterated choruses hold as much significance as the full verses.

We're just Two Ghosts swimmin' in a glass half empty: Pretty metaphorical here, yeah? And a call to Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. Again, we come to the core visualization of the two ghosts, how the two are shells of who they used to be within the context of a relationship lost to time, and has become a relic infused with nothing but memories. A nostalgic mind's trick, even. A glass half empty is an image negative and is one of the classic ways to determine if someone is more idealistic or more fatalistic. If someone views the glass half full, they're optimistic — if someone views the glass half empty, they're pessimistic. The utilization of this creates a foreshadowing of the inevitable fate of the relationship. Even if we want to go in a bit deeper, it shows how they've shifted from the optimistic to the pessimistic — where bright memories once illustrated through an idealistic screen are snapping back to the now, one by one, and reality has a fatalistic film roll.

A glass, even a metaphorical one, doesn't have much room. And it's cylindrical, so swimming in it would result in going in circles again and again. When one swims a lot, it tires the body — but, here, it's such an inefficient activity, getting nowhere. And, with the pessimistic cloud being cost over this imagery, it's swimming to no destination. Of course, there's also the water imagery brought in, something significant here but also to the debut album as a whole art piece. Water, through HS1, has been tied to renewal and rebirth — but, within this song's context, a more somber undertext is adopted. If they make their way out of this glass, could they ever be truly cleansed of constantly trying to revive a dead relationship? Will this always haunt them?

[CHORUS ADD ON VARIATION 2] We're not who we used to be We're not who we used to be We're just Two Ghosts standin' in the place of you and me We're not who we used to be We don't see what we used to see We're just Two Ghosts swimmin' in a glass half empty Trying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat

Another repetition of the chorus, but as discussed before, each iteration offers a new variation, and this is no different.

We don't see what we used to see: It feels almost synonymous with the repeated truism that we're not who we used to be, as it lies along the same theme. Each person's mindset has shifted and changed, in a way that they fail to see eye-to-eye in the way they used to do. They've lost this foundation of understanding with one another, which is a component of the soul of the relationship. A soul is no longer full of life. They could also not see the spark in one another anymore, in which attraction has faded more into neutrality.

[OUTRO] Trying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat I'm just trying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat

More repetition here, but the phrasing of the last line has changed in the slightest bit, and that tiny detail offers up so much.

I'm just trying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat: Now, we switch to first person, which always makes the tone more intimate, bringing everything back to the speaker to conclude. Being the final line we hear him sing, it enhances the emotion at the end. But there's also this almost sense of exhaustion. The speaker is really trying to still care for this person, respect this person, and excavate the spark again — but, sometimes, relationships just run their course. With the switch to the first-person point of view, the listener can sense that the separation is already beginning. We to I. The speaker's looking into himself, trying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat. A heartbeat alone.

In HS1, grief is a concept explored in all its different forms. Two Ghosts casts the end of the relationship between the two as some kind of death, as the life has been snuffed out in the relationship itself, but also death to the individuals. The two people changed so much within the grieving of loss to what meant so much to both, metaphorically becoming ghosts of their former selves, and there's no recognizing the other in the present as the speaker lives in the past. It's a bittersweet pang to grieve what has been, and what's irrevocably changed. And I find it continuously beautiful how these different aspects are explored.

Thank you for reading, you’re absolutely incredible! If there are any songs you’d like me to make an analysis of, please send your request to my inbox! along with any questions or insights you might have yourself!