#but he’s already crushing on Fraser

[sammaggs]

3x04 Strange Bedfellows | Shield

Hey, just write it down!

[emjayewrites]

a bellingham christmas (hey there delilah) • jude bellingham

SYNOPSIS: Real Madrid football star Jude Bellingham has had a big crush on Delilah "Lila" Hamilton, the younger sister of Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton, for a while. As their budding romance unfolds, will they be able to navigate the pressures of fame and family dynamics?

PAIRINGS: Jude Bellingham x Delilah "Lila" Hamilton (face claim Rayan Xasan)

WARNINGS: cursing, f1/football b.s., overly protective siblings, light smut, adult jokes (18+/minors dni)

TAGLIST: @dreamingjude @foreverisntenough @nichmeddar @lettersofgold @judesvirtual @perfecttrashface @alika-4466 @cocobutterqwueen @leilaxaliel @ispywithmylileye @vile-harlot @bellinghaalands @certifiedlesbianbaddie @yeea-nah @empressdede @saturnville @pinkcatcus @shepgurl @ffenthusiastt @serpenttines-library @judesprincess @bbgkoo @enretrogue @liamundi

A/N: Merry Christmas you filthy animals! Also bit of a spoiler for another story!

Bergen greeted them with a flurry of snow, the city's harbor twinkling with Christmas lights. Lila, bundled up in one of Jude's oversized hoodies under her coat, pressed her face against the car window like an excited child.

"It's so pretty," she breathed, watching the snow-covered houses pass as their driver continued down the road.

Jude smiled, watching her reaction. For someone who grew up with the glitz of Formula 1 and fashion weeks, Lila still had this endearing way of finding wonder in simple things.

The Bellingham's rented house sat overlooking the fjord, a modern three-story structure with floor-to-ceiling windows that captured the stunning winter landscape. Traditional Norwegian Christmas decorations adorned every surface and strings of white lights twinkled everywhere.

Inside was cheerful chaos. The massive Fraser fir dominated the living room, while Jobe and Mark engaged in their annual tree-placement debate.

"It needs to be centered in front of the window," Mark insisted, one hand on the trunk.

"Dad, no one's going to see it from the fjord," Jobe argued. "If we put it in the corner, there's more room for presents."

"Your son's thinking about his gift pile already," Mark called to Denise, who was orchestrating Christmas preparations from the open-plan kitchen.

"Both of you stop fussing and just put it where I marked the spot," Denise directed, not looking up from her baking. The scent of her famous rum cake already filled the air, mixing with pine needles and cinnamon.

At the sound of the front door opening, Denise's face lit up. She abandoned her baking, rushing to greet them with flour-dusted hands.

"My babies!" she exclaimed, pulling Lila into a warm hug, not caring about the flour transferring to Lila's coat. "How was your flight? Are you hungry? You look tired - Jude, did you let her sleep on the plane?"

Before either could answer, she was already moving on. "Jude, take her bags up - and yes, I put you in separate rooms so don't even try it." Her eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement. "Oh, and guess who's here? Justine! Can you believe it? Jobe finally worked up the courage to invite her."

She said this last part in what she probably thought was a whisper, but it carried clearly across the room. Jobe's protests of "Mum!" only made her beam wider.

"Now come in properly, you're letting all the warm air out. I've got hot chocolate ready, and there are fresh cookies cooling - unless your father's found them already."

Mark's guilty expression suggested he had indeed found the cookies, but Denise was too happy having all her children (and their significant others) under one roof to mind.

Lila's eyes widened. "Justine's here? Like, here here?"

"Upstairs getting changed," Denise nodded, clearly thrilled. "I've already started calling her daughter."

"Jesus, Mum!" Jobe groaned from across the room.

Just then, Justine appeared on the stairs, looking slightly nervous but happy. Lila hadn't seen her since that Liverpool match months ago, but the way Jobe's face lit up at the sight of her said everything.

"Li!" Justine smiled, coming over for a hug. "Thank god you're here. I need another sane person in this house."

"Oi!" Jude protested while Lila laughed.

"Don't worry," Lila stage-whispered to Justine. "The Bellingham boys are a lot, but you get used to it."

"I heard that," Jobe called out, but he was grinning as he made his way to Justine's side.

As they decorated the tree, Lila couldn't help but notice how Justine hesitated before placing each ornament, glancing at Denise as if seeking approval. It reminded her of her own early days with the Bellinghams, that desire to fit perfectly into their world.

"The star goes wherever you want, love," Denise assured Justine, seeming to sense her uncertainty. "We're not formal about these things."

Jobe appeared behind Justine, wrapping his arms around her waist in a move so reminiscent of his brother that Lila had to hide her smile. The Bellingham boys and their physical affection - always touching, always close.

"Here," Jobe murmured, lifting Justine slightly so she could reach a higher branch. "Perfect spot."

"You two are sickeningly cute," Lila told Jobe and Justine. "Almost as bad as your brother."

"Please," Jobe scoffed, but his hand stayed at Justine's waist. "We're way cuter."

"Don't start that competition," Mark warned, hanging lights. "I already know my sons can't keep their hands to themselves."

"Dad!" both brothers protested while Justine blushed and Lila laughed.

As the evening continued, Lila watched Justine gradually relax, especially when Jobe kept finding excuses to stay close - adjusting her Santa hat, bringing her hot chocolate, stealing quick kisses when he thought no one was looking.

"They remind me of us," Jude whispered in Lila's ear, pulling her onto his lap in the big armchair.

"Mm, young love," Lila teased, earning a playful pinch.

"Young love? You're like a few months older than them," he murmured against her neck.

"Still."

"Oh, Lila Bila. What am I gonna do with you?"

"Love me obviously," she said, turning her head to plant a kiss on his lips.

______________________________________________

Dinner was a lively affair, the table laden with both traditional English Christmas dishes and Norwegian specialties Denise had insisted on trying. Everyone wore paper crowns from the crackers, even Mark who usually protested such things.

Under the table, Lila texted Zuri:

Lila: "OMG. Jobe brought Justine to Bergen!! Like full-on family Christmas!!" Zuri: "NO WAY. Baby Bellingham's growing up 😭" Lila: "Girl, you should see them. So cute it hurts" Zuri: "Denise must be over the moon" Lila: "Already calling her daughter 😂 Poor girl looks terrified"

Watching Justine navigate the family dynamics was like looking in a mirror from months ago. The way she carefully laughed at Mark's dad jokes, how she kept glancing at Jobe for reassurance, the slight nervousness when Denise asked about her studies.

After dinner, they gathered for movies, everyone in pajamas. Jude pulled Lila close on the couch, his chin resting on her head. Jobe and Justine settled on the floor, surrounded by pillows, his hand absently playing with her hair.

The Polar Express played first. During The Grinch, Lila found herself watching the others more than the screen. Denise kept "sneaking" cookies to everyone, while Mark dozed in his armchair, occasionally waking up to quote his favorite parts.

When bedtime came ("Separate rooms, I mean it!"), Lila retreated to change into her silk pajamas. She sent her Christmas messages:

To Lewis: "Merry Christmas big bro! You deserve this break after your farewell tour. So proud of you heading to Ferrari! Give Amara a big hug from me (though I'm sure you're with her anyway 😉)" To her parents, Nicolas, and her sisters & Mama Carmen: "Miss you! See you for New Year's! ❤️"

The knock on her door surprised her - instead of Jude trying to sneak in more kisses, she found Justine.

"Hey," Justine whispered. "Can we talk?"

Lila ushered her in, patting the bed beside her. "What's up?"

Their conversation flowed easily, both girls cross-legged on Lila's bed. Justine confessed her worries about balancing university with Jobe's football schedule, about the media attention, about living up to the Bellingham name.

"I just... how do you do it?" Justine asked. "Dating a Bellingham boy while having your own life? I'm worried about next term at uni, and Jobe's schedule with Sunderland…"

Lila understood completely. "Honestly? Communication is everything. Jude and I make it work because we talk about everything. The good, the bad, the times we miss each other so much it hurts."

"And the fans? The comments?"

"Keep your Instagram private," Lila advised firmly. "Fuck the naysayers. Focus on you and Jobe. The rest is just noise. And remember - you're not dating the footballer, you're dating the boy who still collects Star Wars Legos and can't cook toast without burning it."

Justine laughed softly. "He's so good to me. Like, ridiculously good. Sometimes I worry it's too good to be true."

"Those Bellingham boys," Lila smiled. "They don't do anything halfway. Trust me, I get it. But that's who they are - all in, heart on sleeve, love without hesitation."

After Justine left, Lila snuggled into bed, feeling content. Her phone lit up with messages - Lewis sending a photo of him and Amara in front of their Christmas tree and Zuri updating her about the Megève adventures. And before she knew it, she drifted off to sleep.

In the middle of the night, Lila woke to the sound of wind whistling outside her window. Snow swirled in the darkness, creating shadows that danced across her ceiling. The storm had picked up, making the old house creak and settle.

Then she heard it - the distinct sound of floorboards in the hallway, followed by a particular pattern of knocks she'd know anywhere.

Three quick taps, pause, one more.

Lila tiptoed to the door, careful to avoid the squeaky spots she'd noticed earlier. Opening it revealed Jude wearing flannel pajama bottoms and a soft t-shirt.

"Can't sleep," he whispered, a sheepish smile playing on his lips. "Just want to cuddle."

She stepped aside to let him in, both of them trying not to laugh as the floor creaked despite their best efforts. The storm outside provided perfect cover for their midnight rendezvous, the wind masking their whispered conversation as they settled into bed, Jude's arms wrapping around her waist.

"Your mum's going to kill us," Lila murmured, but she was already melting into his warmth.

"Worth it," he replied, pressing a kiss to her hair.

Jude’s body beside her chased away the chill from the storm outside. Lila had almost drifted back to sleep when his hands started to roam, fingertips brushing lightly along her waist over the silk fabric of her pajama top. She froze, her breath catching as he leaned in closer, his lips grazing the shell of her ear.

"Jude," she whispered, her voice a mix of warning and affection. "Your parents are sleeping in the same house."

"They’re on the floor below," he murmured, lips now at her neck, pressing soft, deliberate kisses against her skin. "They’re older, they can’t hear."

"That doesn’t make it—" Her words were cut off by the way his teeth lightly scraped against the sensitive spot just beneath her jawline. She shivered, her resolve slipping.

"You can be quiet, right, Li?" he teased, his voice low and raspy. She wanted to argue, to tell him no, but then his hands slid under her top, his palms warm and sure as they caressed her breasts.

"Jude," she tried again, but it came out as more of a breathy plea than the admonishment she intended.

"Hmm?" He kissed his way back up to her lips, capturing them in a kiss so soft yet so utterly consuming that she lost herself in it. Her hands found their way to his shoulders, then tangled in his hair, pulling him closer.

He took his time undressing her, the silk of her pajamas slipping away under his gentle yet determined hands. She gasped as the cool air kissed her exposed skin, only to be replaced by the heat of his touch and the soft press of his lips around her nipples. She tried to remind herself of the risk, the fact that his family was downstairs, but every coherent thought melted under his attention.

Jude leaned back briefly, his gaze sweeping over her, full of adoration. "You’re perfect," he murmured, making her cheeks flush even in the dim light of the storm-filtered room. She reached for him, tugging at the hem of his t-shirt, and he obliged, pulling it off in one smooth motion. The rest of his clothes followed until he was settled between her legs, his body fitting against hers as if they were made for each other.

He paused, reaching for the bedside drawer, and he couldn’t help the amused smile that tugged at his lips. "Prepared, are we?"

"Always," she replied with a grin, watching as he tore open the condom and slipped it on.

"Hoping I’d sneak in?"

"Who says I was?" she shot back, her voice light but teasing.

He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers, his smile softening into something infinitely tender. "Liar," he whispered before kissing her deeply, leaving no room for argument.

When he entered her, it was slow and deliberate, his movements filled with care as though he wanted to savor every second. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer as their bodies moved together in a rhythm that felt like home. Each kiss, each touch, spoke volumes of the love between them, a quiet exchange of promises neither had to say aloud.

He whispered her name against her skin, his voice rough with emotion, and she responded in kind, her fingers tracing patterns across his back. The world outside faded away, leaving only the storm, their shared breaths, and the warmth of their connection.

When they finally came undone together, Lila couldn’t help the soft sigh that escaped her lips. Jude pressed his forehead against hers, his breathing still uneven as he smiled.

"Merry Christmas, Li," he whispered, his voice soft and filled with affection.

She smiled back. "Merry Christmas, Jude."

Denise’s favorite Christmas playlist was a thing of legend, and this year was no different. The opening notes of “Last Christmas” by WHAM! blasted through the house, the volume high enough to shake the walls.

Lila stirred, the sound pulling her from the warm cocoon of sleep. She blinked groggily, realizing the weight of Jude’s arm was still draped over her waist. The storm had subsided overnight, leaving behind a blanket of snow and a house filled with holiday cheer—and impending chaos.

"Jude," she whispered urgently, shaking his shoulder. "Jude, wake up! Your mum’s going to catch us!"

"Mmm," Jude groaned, burying his face into her neck. "It’s Christmas, Li. Relax."

"She’s knocking on doors," Lila hissed, her voice rising as she heard Denise’s cheerful voice in the hallway.

"Merry Christmas! Get up, get your presents!" Denise called, her knock sharp and rhythmic as she moved from room to room.

Jude finally opened his eyes, his groggy gaze meeting Lila’s worried one. "Okay, okay," he muttered, sitting up and stretching lazily. "We’ve got time."

"We do not have time!" Lila said, already scrambling to find her silk pajama top. She tugged it over her head just as Jude slid out of bed with a frustratingly calm demeanor.

He pulled on his flannel pajama bottoms and a white t-shirt, taking his time smoothing out the fabric. "See? Easy."

"Your mum is going to kill me," Lila said, tying her pajama pants as Jude opened the door a crack and peeked out.

"The coast is clear," he whispered with a grin, holding out his hand for her. She hesitated before slipping her hand into his, and together they tiptoed down the hall like a pair of guilty teenagers.

Downstairs, the living room was already buzzing with Christmas energy. Mark stood by the tree, fully dressed as Santa, complete with a fake beard and a red velvet suit. Denise, ever the festive one, was wearing reindeer antlers, a white cashmere sweater dress, and fluffy red slippers.

Justine appeared at the top of the stairs, looking a little overwhelmed but still smiling. "Good morning, Mr. Mark," she greeted, trying to stifle a laugh.

Mark, however, was fully committed to his role. "Who’s this Mark person? You don’t recognize Santa?" he boomed in a deep, theatrical voice.

Jobe groaned as he flopped onto the couch. "Why are you here, Santa? Don’t you have to be back at the North Pole?"

Mark clutched his chest in mock offense. "I’m very close to the North Pole, actually. Plus, I had to see my woman." He turned to Denise, pulling her onto his lap.

Denise giggled like a schoolgirl, clearly enjoying the attention. "Have I been a good girl this year, Santa?" she asked coyly.

"Okay, that’s enough!" Jude declared, his cheeks turning red as he began rummaging under the tree. "Let’s get to the presents before this gets any weirder."

As Mark and Denise continued their playful banter, the girls exchanged a knowing look. Justine mouthed, "This family is crazy!" and Lila couldn’t help but laugh.

Jude started handing out presents, his efficiency rivaling that of an actual elf. Justine unwrapped a small box from Jobe, her eyes widening as she revealed a delicate pair of diamond stud earrings. "Oh my gosh, Jobe," she whispered, tears pooling in her eyes. "They’re beautiful."

Jobe grinned sheepishly. "Merry Christmas."

Lila’s heart raced as Jude handed her a small, velvet box. She opened it slowly, her breath catching when she saw the ring inside. It sparkled like an engagement ring, its delicate band and subtle diamond catching the light.

"Something for right now," Jude murmured, his voice soft as he took her hand. "Before the real thing."

Denise let out a gasp, her hand flying to her chest. "Oh, Jude! That’s so sweet!" She wiped at her eyes, clearly overcome with emotion.

Lila slipped the ring onto her finger, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and happiness. "It’s perfect," she said, leaning in to kiss Jude on the cheek.

After the presents were opened and the wrapping paper cleared, they gathered around the table for breakfast. Plates piled high with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and freshly baked cinnamon rolls filled the air with the smell of comfort and celebration.

Mark, still wearing his Santa hat, insisted on leading a toast. "To family, to love, and to making this Christmas unforgettable."

The morning unfolded with laughter, teasing, and stories shared around the table. Despite the chaos and close calls, Lila couldn’t help but feel grateful. It wasn’t just the presents or the festivities—it was the warmth of being surrounded by people who loved each other unabashedly.

After breakfast, they bundled up for sledding. Lila disappeared under layers - thermal underwear, ski pants, and an oversized black Moncler puffer that made her look even tinier than usual. As she waddled towards the door, Jude couldn't contain his grin.

"You look like the cutest little penguin I've ever seen," he teased, earning himself a playful swat.

"Not all of us are built like trees," she retorted, but her eyes sparkled with amusement behind her designer ski goggles.

The hill behind the house was perfect for sledding. Jobe immediately claimed the fastest sled, prompting Jude to scoff.

"Please, you need all the help you can get," Jude taunted. "What's your technique gonna be? Naruto running down the hill?"

"Better than looking like a giraffe on ice," Jobe shot back. "You’re gonna lose, old man."

"Old man?" Jude's eyebrows shot up. "Alright then, prove it. First one to that tree wins."

"What tree? The one you can reach standing still?"

Their first few runs were close, each brother claiming victory while the girls kept actual score. Jude's longer legs gave him an advantage on the trudge back up, but Jobe's lighter frame meant faster runs down.

"That's three-two, my favor," Jobe gloated after another run.

"In what universe?" Jude demanded. "You're counting that wonky run where you nearly took out that bush?"

"A win's a win, bruv."

"Watch this then," Jude positioned his sled. "This is how a Real Madrid star does it."

His run was perfect until Jobe "accidentally" sent a spray of snow into his face at the bottom.

"Oh, you're done for," Jude growled playfully, tackling his brother into a snowbank.

They wrestled in the snow like kids, their expensive coats doing nothing to protect them from the wet cold. Justine and Lila stood to the side, sharing knowing looks.

From the porch, where Denise and Mark sat by the outdoor fire pit nursing hot toddies, came the warning they all knew was coming:

"Jude Victor and Jobe Samuel!" Denise's voice carried clear across the snow. "If you don't cut that foolishness out right now..."

The brothers separated instantly, recognizing that tone all too well. Their mother didn't need to finish the threat - they were already brushing snow off their coats, looking appropriately chastened.

"Every time," Mark chuckled, wrapping an arm around his wife.

"Works every time," Denise corrected with a satisfied smile.

Lila caught Justine's eye and they both burst out laughing. The mighty Bellingham boys, brought to heel by their mother's voice. Some things never changed.

"One more run?" Jobe suggested innocently.

"Clean one this time," Jude agreed. "No cheating."

"Me? Cheat? I would never-"

"Jobe."

"Fine, fine. May the best man win."

"Don't worry," Jude smirked. "I will."​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

As they watched their boyfriends take on another run down the hill, Lila realized how perfectly Justine fit into their chaos, just like she had. The Bellinghams had a way of making family out of love, of turning girlfriends into daughters, of making space in their hearts for more. Christmas with them was exactly that - chaotic, warm, and absolutely perfect.

lilahamilton and 6 others

liked by iamzuriawanto, sen_inthecity, amara_nadine, lewishamilton and 1.3m others

lilahamilton: best christmas ever 🎅🏾 🎄

view all 4.6K comments….

judebellingham: love you li 😘

⤷lilahamilton: love you more 🫶🏾

iamzuriawanto: lilhamilton & judebellingham you guys are sooo cute!!

⤷jadevanderwall: iamzuriawanto I know right!!

⤷lilahamilton: iamzuriawanto I think you and aurelientchm are cuter 😊

judilaforever: merry christmas 🎄

jobebellingham: 🎄 🎅🏾🍪

[russellsppttemplates]

Dad Carlos fluff with the twins and Clara and uncle Lando brining Fraser and Matilda and Fraser has a crush on Clara and the two dads are just watching it blossom

"Welcome, Welcome", Carlos said as Lando and his children stepped inside his house, "Clara, Mateo and Benjamín are in the living room".

The kids all cheered as they saw themselves, The twins catching Matilda and asking her to draw with them.

"Thanks for this, man, I appreciate it", Lando smiled, "they rescheduled Y/N's hair appointment and there was no way she could keep those two in there - she's already busy with Lottie", Lando smiled as he remembered you pushing the pram out of the house with your little girl. One thing was taking the baby to the hairdresser, but taking three kids with you was a different story.

"It's alright, I don't mind and they certainly don't mind it either", Carlos offered as they sat on the sofa.

Many snacks later, they moved to the garden area now that the sun wasn't so strong, Matilda drawing on her own while the twins played with the football.

"Daddy! Clara has a automatic car and she says I can drive it! Can I?", Fraser asked.

"Sure, buddy, but be careful okay?", Lando warned, "don't hurt yourselves!".

"They're really becoming friends, aren't they?", Carlos smiled. For the whole afternoon, Clara always made sure Fraser had enough snacks for him and that he played the same amount of time with the games as she did. On the other hand, Fraser was always following her, hearing all her stories and helping her when she couldn't get the game at the first try.

"It sure looks like it - she's my son's first crush", Lando smiled, "look at how gentle he is, that's a sign of good parenting from me right there", he smirked.

(Thank you for sending this in ✨️)

[frudoo]

Random König Headcanons

Hey y'all! This is my first post on here so I hope it's alright <3

These are all pretty SFW (for now >:)), so I don't think there's really any content warnings??? Idk let me know if I'm wrong.

Likes going to Build-a-Bear. Will definitely make your bear and his bear kiss.

This man can COOK. Oh, you want takeout? Nah. He's already pulling out the ingredients for your favorite dish. Buys the two of you matching aprons.

Talks to animals like they're babies. I also feel like the man just... attracts wild animals like birds and squirrels. Undercover Disney princess??? Perhaps.

Speaking of babies... the man is so good with kids. Laughs all giddily when toddlers climb him like a tree. Wants you to have his babies so bad

Actually has a decent singing voice. Get him drunk enough and he's doing karaoke like a pro. Oh, and if you agree to sing a duet with him??? He's GONE. Goes all out.

Likes to hold pinkies when walking around in public. He likes holding hands, too, but when he's feeling a little more anxious he'll intertwine your pinkies. PDA isn't his strong suit but he HAS to be touching you at all times, and it's like a pinky promise that he'll always be there with you :,)

Draws patterns/words on your back with his fingertips when y'all are laying in bed. Mainly a bunch of pet names, "I love you"s, and hearts. And cartoon penises

This big burly BEAST of a man loves being the little spoon, no matter how impractical it is. Honestly loves any cuddling position though.

Pouts when you're not giving him enough attention. His lips get SO puffy when he's jealous. Talking to one of his friends? He's grumbling German insults to them under his breath. Eventually he'll just scoot closer to you on the couch and rest his legs on top of your lap. BAM, now he's got your attention, even if it's just you telling him that he's crushing you. Big ol' lap dog.

Likes to do your hair!! He'll take pictures of what he's done and show them to you like a hairdresser :,) It could be the worst hairstyle you've ever seen but you're wearing it PROUDLY.

On the rare occasion that you two go out to a restaurant, he REFUSES to tell the waiter if his meal is wrong. Oh, it's shrimp and he's allergic to shellfish? He's telling the waiter he loves it and will just stare at the untouched plate sadly. Also will not let you trade plates with him because what if the waiter sees??? Tries to sink under the table when you finally cave and tell the waiter that the order is wrong. Glares at you the entire time he eats his new correct meal but is secretly so thankful. <3

Is absolute trash at video games. One of the best combat soldiers on the planet, but put a controller in his hands??? He's lucky if he gets three shots in.

Bought an engagement ring two weeks after you two started dating. I mean, he literally fell in love with you immediately upon seeing you for the first time, so are you really surprised??

Is a really good gift wrapper. His hands always start cramping around the holidays because he does most of the wrapping. His love language is 100% physical touch/gift giving btw.

Adding onto the singing thing... I just think he would be a really good musician, specifically a drummer.

NOSE NUZZLES. Like the Brendan Fraser type of kiss where you just rub noses after. He just gives off those romantic vibes <3

Unconventional kisses. Eyelids, the tip of your ear, everywhere you have moles, your calves, ankles... the man is obsessed with you, and he's kissing you wherever he can reach.

ADORES taking baths with you. Candles, rose petals, bath bombs: he does it all. Washes your hair for you. Lots of forehead and temple kisses.

I am unwell. I need him so bad.

Please feel free to reblog if you'd like!! I hope y'all enjoyed my little (very self-indulgent) rambles. :)))

[30somethingautisticteacher]

Truth or Dare

Tommy and Buck were a little tipsy. Scratch that—they were drunk. This was the first time they had indulged this much together, and Buck was delighted to discover that his boyfriend was a giggly drunk.

There wasn't really any reason for their drinking escapade. It had started innocently enough with wine at dinner. Then, when Tommy got to pick the night's movie, Buck suggested they play a rom-com drinking game to go along with it. Tommy had happily agreed, and Buck found one online.

Tommy's choice for the evening was "13 Going on 30," and they were already starting to feel the effects of the alcohol before the age shift in the movie. By the time the iconic "Thriller" scene rolled around, they were definitely drunk.

"Let's play truth or dare!" Buck squealed, his eyes bright with excitement.

Tommy scrunched up his nose, considering for a moment. "Noooo... I mean maybe...Okay, yes!" he finally giggled, unable to resist Buck's infectious enthusiasm.

Buck clapped his hands together, grinning from ear to ear. "Okay, you go first. Truth or dare?"

Tommy pondered for a moment, swaying slightly where he sat. "Truth!" he declared, giggling again.

"Okay!" Buck exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Who was your first celebrity crush?"

Tommy's face scrunched up in thought, a goofy smile playing on his lips. "Well, I used to tell everyone it was Alyssa Milano," he started, his words slightly slurred.

"But it wasn't because you like boys!" Buck interrupted, pointing a wobbly finger at Tommy.

"Obviously," Tommy agreed, rolling his eyes dramatically. "It was actually Brendan Fraser."

Buck's eyes widened appreciatively. "Ooh, he's pretty!" he said, nodding vigorously.

Tommy grinned, leaning in conspiratorially. "Right? Those eyes, that hair... and don't even get me started on 'The Mummy'."

Buck's jaw dropped. "Oh my god, yes! I love that movie. I always thought Rick was so cool..." He trailed off, a look of sudden realization crossing his face. "But actually... maybe I had a crush on him too."

Tommy burst out laughing, nearly spilling his drink. "Look at you, having your own little sexual awakening right here!"

Buck joined in the laughter, his cheeks flushing even redder. "I can't believe I never realized it before. I mean, those blue eyes, that jawline..."

"And the way he rocked that holster," Tommy added with a wink.

"Oh god," Buck groaned, burying his face in his hands but still grinning. "How did I not know I was bi sooner?"

Tommy patted his knee sympathetically. "Better late than never, babe. And hey, at least you have great taste in men," he added with a playful wiggle of his eyebrows.

[gayvecchio]

Chinatown is such a great F/V episode. Obviously, there is some romantic subtext between Ray and Fraser from the pilot and a good bit in every episode after, but this one just leans so heavily into it, it almost becomes text.

The episode starts with Ray just wanting to take Fraser out on a nice date (to a restaurant he likely knows doesn't allow animals, because having Dief around is like bringing along another person, and this is supposed to be a DATE damn it! Of course, he doesn’t want a third wheel/chaperone tagging along!). He wants to impress Fraser with his local insider knowlege and ordering prowess, but everything is out, and of course, Fraser is too impressive himself to be easily impressed, and outdoes Ray by ordering in Chinese. Then just as their nice meal arrives, someone gets kidnapped, and Fraser’s off jumping out a window, ruining poor Ray's plans for the evening.

"Oh no, Benny, not the window! I don't think they have doors in Canada."

Then comes the first in the wonderful (and not at all subtle) running gag of Fraser and Ray in the closet together.

(Just what, Fraser? What were you two doing in the closet?) "I'm sitting in a dark closet with a Mountie being licked by a deaf wolf . . . That was the wolf, wasn't it? " (I love that Ray entertained the thought that Fraser might be the one licking him, not Dief.)

When the case takes a bad turn, Fraser feels responsible. Ray tries to assauge him, but it doesn't work. He pleads with Welsh to let him have the case, so that he and Fraser can continue to work on it and make it right. Because he knows that the only way to relieve Fraser's guilt is if he is able to save Mr. Lee's son. Making Fraser feel better has been a priority to Ray since the beginning.

A small, rare moment here of Fraser making sure that Ray is okay before he takes off after a suspect. If Ray had said no, would Fraser have let the guy go and stayed? Would he have put Ray's well-being above 'getting his man' for once? Interesting to ponder.

Elaine’s reaction in the episode almost does more to imply that something is going on between Fraser and Ray than anything else. After finding them in the closet, she later sounds jealous with Ray on the phone “you two having trouble squeezing into a booth?”

At the end of the episode, Elaine is eating ice cream and venting to Dief about being an idiot and feeling foolish regarding her crush on Fraser. It reads like she found out the guy she likes has been in a relationship (with another man) the whole time. She feels dejected and foolish because she realized she’d been barking up the wrong tree. The only other interaction Elaine has with Fraser is over the phone when he 'thanks her kindly' for her help. He doesn't treat her any differently in this episode than he has previously. There’s really no reason for Elaine to suddenly feel any more hopeless about the possibility of something happening with Fraser other than her now believing he's already taken.

Ray and Fraser’s final scene in the episode consists of them watching fireworks together (seriously, what’s more romantic than that?) then promenading down the sidewalk as they discuss going to out to dinner again—getting a do-over for the initial ruined date.

It’s just such a great shippy episode, and arguably the one where Fraser and Ray Define the Relationship in a sense and become official.

[insufferableprotagonistpoll]

Round 1

Propaganda why Marinette Dupain-Cheng is insufferable:

"shes annoyinng anf shes a stalker"

"I love fanon miraculous but by god she has got to stop obsessively stalking her crush and generally making a ton of other terrible decisions. I’d submit Adrien too but he’s more of a deuteragonist"

"I started the show, watched one episode, and never tried again. I simply do not vibe with her."

"I get she has social anxiety but the way she goes about stalking Adrien is kind of the worst like she even has creep shots of him hanging in her room? That’s weird. I think Adrien’s going through enough without having to deal with the main character being his stalker lol. I know they’re (spoilers) at this point but in the beginning it was so sus"

"In the newest season, Marinette hides the fact that Hawkmoth was Adrien’s dad. This leads to the bastard getting a statue and honored as a hero after his death. Adrien now never gets to know the fact that his abusive and neglectful father was the one trying to kill him and is instead proud of him."

"Her crush on Adrien is like a black hole for her character. Things she’s done because of it:

1) stolen property

2) ruined dates

3) humiliated other characters

4) has a chart of Adrien’s daily schedule for the next year in her room (this is stalking)

5) broke into his room and sniffed his pillow (also a crime)

6) sniffed, took the hair from, and tried to kiss what she thought was a wax statue of Adrien

7) convinced her parents to let her go to China. Why? Not because she wants to connect with her mother’s heritage, not even because she’s a budding fashion designer and Shanghai is considered a fashion hotspot. It’s because Adrien was there."

"She easily gets away with bad, stalkerish behavior, it always feels like she can ‘do no wrong’ unless the show wants us to pity her, and the show writers want us to think she is a quirky and socially awkward girl when throughout the series we see her be friends with basically everyone in Paris with many connections to high up places."

"Listen, if Adrien's here, she needs to be too. I like her, but from the odd stalker-ish behaviour, to straight up lying to adrien and telling him that his abusive father was actually a 'very good person, a hero even and not the main villain of the series I promise', there's no way she doesn't deserve to be in the polls."

Propaganda why Claire Fraser is insufferable:

"She’s just so good at everything and it drives me crazy. She’s always making sad eyebrows and she’s just the worst"

"Her unmerited self-righteousness is beyond belief. Absolutely no coming back from Dragonfly in Amber where she spends the whole book whining OUT LOUD to her CURRENT HUSBAND about how if he doesn't play nice with his rapist her first husband in the future might not be born."

"Claire is so self-centered that she spends all of book two telling her husband that he has to play nice with his rapist because otherwise her first husband in the future might never be born. In those words. 'What about Frank' bitch you picked Jamie already.

She's also so incessantly convinced she's constantly right that she's always making things worse for herself in completely predictable ways, like yelling at her prosecutors in her witch trial about science. Yeah, you're correct about how facts work, but a twelve-year-old in your position could see that they're making things worse and SHUT. UP. Not Claire.

The narrative bends over backward to justify her morally no matter how wrong she is and to make her factually right (and present her with overly-detailed and weirdly niche surgeries to do to show everyone how awesome she is, which is annoying) because she's the author's darling, but even (...especially) inside her own head she's INFURIATING."

[acourtofthought]

I keep thinking about this line from a recent Anon regarding E/riel:

Which was them saying:

Why introduce Az as a rival love interest for Elain, someone beloved by the fandom unless he's meant to end up with Elain because he's not meant to be hated in the way Tamlin was in the Feyre / Rhys / Tamlin situation).

But is that the important question? Or is this one?

Why introduce Elain as Lucien's Mate, one of the authors favorite characters (confirmed in the video below) if she was simply going to cause him pain and suffering with an unfulfilled mating bond?

It really doesn't matter what the fandom thinks of Az or Lucien because we have confirmation from SJM herself that Lucien is one of her favorites. She also found inspiration for his character through Sam Heughan's portrayal of Jamie Fraser in Outlander, an actor she thanked in her ACOTAR acknowledgements.

So what's the bigger slight between two characters she likes? Not having Az end up with Elain over a newly developed obsession with her while it's canon he's not completely over Mor?

Or not having Elain and Lucien happy together by the end of their book? Lucien who already had his first love murdered in front of him. Lucien who has literally done nothing wrong in regards to how he's been handling his Mating Bond with Elain. Lucien who has never spoken of killing Azriel out of jealousy. Lucien who would suffer a lot more over a rejected Mating Bond than Az would over an unfulfilled crush of one year?

There's no denying that adding Az into the mix made things messy but if two main characters who have lived in the same court can move beyond their messy past (Cassian having lust for Mor, sleeping with her, but now viewing her like a sister while Az has loved her for centuries), then I don't think a near kiss with two characters (one who may not even stay in the NC) who barely talk as of late is really the thing to worry about compared to Lucien living with a broken bond the rest of his life.

Considering Az hasn't done any planning beyond his sexual fantasies of Elain, I don't think we have to worry about him suffering for too long.

[missnobodymadness]

I've been wanting to introduce Aisha here for a while but considering that my OC introductions never really go well I kept procrastinating...well, I decided that I have all the right to talk about my babies here and my mental health and enjoyment should always be more important than notes, so I am gonna be who I am today and do what I like even if no one is there to read it, so here is Aisha's introduction, along with some backstory that I already wrote for her profile on TH.

Introduction

“Whenever a scientist finds a cure to something, companies will take advantage of them and sell it to you for the price of your soul, lives weren’t meant to have a price tag, you can’t play God and decide who is gonna live based on who is wearing Prada and that’s what motivates me to keep fighting for a world where science and technology will become a right instead of a luxury” Name: Aisha Fraser (Aisha Fraser Stark after marriage) Meaning: Alive, Well Alias: Hell's Bane or 69676 Date of Birth: 9, May, 1987 Age: 21+ Zodiac: Taurus Gender: Female Pronouns: She/Her Orientation: Pansexual Species: Human (Modified) MBTI: ENFJ Status: Alive More posts about her: Aishamcuoc

Appearance

Height: 5'7" (170cm) Weight: 161lbs (73kg) Skin: White Eyes: Blue Hair: Ginger (Natural); Fiery red (After modifications) Scars/Birth marks/Tattoos: Freckles, a beauty spot on the side of her mouth and a tattoo with her lab name "69676" on the back of her neck, a few non important small scars from the experiments Special features: She has built-in real black wings that come out of a cavity on her back

Relationships

Biological Family

Mother: Unknown scottish woman Father: Unknown scottish man Siblings: None Partner: Tony Stark (Married) Children: Ryan, David, Nelson, Mathew ♰, Lennon ♰, Aron ♰, Henry ♰ and Morgan Other family: None

Other relationships:

Wonderland Circus family (Found Family, they are background OCs) Natasha Romanoff (Best Friend) Wade Wilson (Close Friend, they have some tea like two old ladies while being the most sassy bitches together everytime they meet 8) ) Sam Wilson (Annoying friend that she wants to kick) Bucky Barnes (Friend) Happy Hogan (Good friends, they eat hamburgers together while Tony is not watching, shhh) T'Challa (Good friend, mutual respect) Thor (Friends, he had a small crush on her when they met) Baron Zemo (One night stand lover) Peter Parker (Sees him as a son even thought she wishs she could kick his ass sometimes too) Nick Fury (Confidant)

Occupation & Abilities

Powers/Skills: Fire creation and manipulation, slightly physically stronger than an average human and has wings that allow her to fly, they are real wings and she avoids using them because they are a weakness to her Weaknesses: Her wings, her hair (it let's her enemies know when s he is hurt, her hair changes color according to her status, if she is hurt her red hair will turn into a greyish white, the amount of white hair tells you how badly hurt she is, for example, if she is dying, her hair will be fully white), close combat Equipment: She usually doesn't use anything other than technology, such as suits or technological tools that enhance her powers and skills Job: Science and engineering Affiliation: Avengers Former affiliation: Hydra (As an infiltrator)

Personality

Positive Traits

✔ Extremely intelligent ✔ Independent ✔ Social ✔ Wise ✔ Empathetic ✔ Hardworking

Negative Traits

X Insecure X  Sassy X  Clumsy X Perfectionist X  Forgetful X  Disobedient

Likes: Her family and friends, technology, science, politics, mutants, helping people Dislikes: Cheaters, injustice, hate crimes, mainly towards minorities, shallow and closed-minded people

Backstory

Aisha (Aka Hell’s Bane or 69676) is a very intelligent genetically modified human, she was sold to the organization Leviathan by her own parents, who had close ties to them, when she was only a few months old.

Leviathan is a secret european organization based in Scotland, they have an illegal and hidden laboratory in Portland, Oregon, USA, to where Aisha was sent.

Since then she has been used and modified by the organization, she was nothing more than a weapon in progress and her life was resumed to that for the first 20 years of her life, until the day she was able to escape, burning the laboratory down along with everyone in it, even the innocent ones.

Their project wasn’t completed yet, which means she is considered as an incomplete experiment. With the death of their leader and most important members, who were there when everything happened, the organization collapsed, only a few workers were left and most of them only wanted to go home as they were also victims.

Aisha went through a really hard time after that event, she felt lost and could barely communicate with people due to her lack of social skills, as a fast learner she was able to hunt for food and fend for herself, staying hidden at the Willamette national forest. Sometimes she would adventure into the city of Portland and try to interact, as time passed by Aisha finally learned some social skills.

It wouldn’t take long before she met her future first friends, they belonged to a travelling circus who was currently staying at the city, they were all extremely nice to her and made her feel welcome, some time later she had an idea that would change her life once again, she could use and control fire and a circus would be the perfect place for her to hide and go unnoticed, after all who would suspect she was actually creating and controlling the fire? She could always use a mask as well, no one would ever know who she was during her exhibitions. Maybe they would take her in and let her travel around with them?

Aisha started practicing a few tricks daily and once she finally felt ready, decided to show them what she was able to do and was successful in impressing them with her supposed talent, she got what she wanted, an invitation to join their circus and Aisha was totally ready for that wild trip!

Some months passed and she had learned so much about the world, finally feeling free and like herself for the first time, social skills weren’t a problem for her anymore, in fact, she found out she was quite the communicative type.

They had just arrived in New York, well, most precisely the suburbs, when Aisha found out about the Avengers, she was quite curious about them, mainly about the one named Tony Stark, she had this weird attraction to technology and couldn’t avoid her curiosity. Aisha got inspired and started to create her own cape and mask so she could hide her identity, tracking their activity the best way she could at the moment, she was able to help them whenever she saw they needed it really bad, Aisha had no fight skills but she surely could impress with her fire and wings, so she was quite useful to distract their opponents when everything seemed to be lost for the Avengers.

Eventually she never showed her face, but they could see her blue eyes through the mask, she became a mystery to them and she would always get away before they could even talk to her, until the day things were way more serious than she could’ve imagined and Aisha was knocked out while trying to helplessly help Sam and Natasha who were currently fighting alone, some minutes later Tony Stark showed up and they were able to overcome the situation, but Aisha was still out, they captured her and took her to the tower where she eventually woke up some time later, she had no idea where she was and started to freak out when she noticed she was literally locked inside that room, the Avengers couldn’t risk any danger.

Tony Stark couldn’t help himself, his curiosity was screaming, he needed to know more about what she was and why she helped them several times, Stark studied her for a few days, Aisha wasn’t happy, she didn’t fight for her freedom only to see it being taken away from her again, but she wasn’t dumb, she knew she couldn’t get away the way she did at the laboratory, the room was fireproof and she didn’t really want to hurt any of them either, so she allowed Tony to keep going with his studies and meanwhile they got to know each other a bit better, but what really caught his attention was her intelligence and apparent interest, maybe even passion, for technology and eventually they realized that keeping her locked in a room wasn’t necessary and was making her miserable, she wasn’t a threat at all and not having any stimulation was driving her intelligent mind crazy.

Aisha didn’t think twice before running away, her friends were probably very worried and looking for her and she needed to let them know what has happened and where she had been and so she spent some more time with them while they stayed at New York, however, on the last day at the city, Aisha started to feel very unsure if she really belonged there, she couldn’t even tell them who she really was, how would they understand? How would they take the news once they realize she has no talent and the fire was created by herself all this time? She loved them, they were her family, but did she really belong with them? She wanted to do great things, she wanted to learn a bit of everything and dedicate her life to what she truly loved: Technology.

She would never be able to do that with them, she would just perform fire tricks for the rest of her life, Aisha knew, deep down, that she didn’t belong and so, she decided to part with them and stay at the tower where she knew she was also welcome.

With all the technology on her side, Aisha decided to start her own research and projects, catching Tony’s attention once again who later offered her a place at his laboratory as his apprentice, she was happy to get such privilege and worked hard to impress him and he wasn’t disappointed and later she became an official S.H.I.E.L.D adviser.

Aisha started to be successful with her work and became really popular for her ideas and creations, getting the spotlight on several magazines and scientific journals, little did she know such popularity would turn into a big problem for her.

The spotlight made Hydra notice Aisha and lately find out about who and what she really was, targeting her, especially after Aisha was able to get into their database later on, they wanted her, she would be way more useful to them alive than dead and they knew exactly how to make her behave but they also knew it wouldn’t be easy to fool her, some force would certainly be needed, they also planned to finish what Leviathan had started.

Unfortunately for Hydra, Aisha was no idiot and after successfully escaping from their first try she had started to think of a plan just in case they’d be successful someday, she had read enough articles to know they weren’t gonna stop coming for her and by the time they were finally able to capture her she already had traced one, it wasn’t a easy one, Aisha knew she would need to sacrifice a lot for it and that they wouldn’t go easy on her, she had studied Hydra so well lately that she was pretty aware of how things would work there, she was terrified but she would not give up, she would fool and take advantage of them and they wouldn’t even realize that!

And Aisha did exactly that, she made them believe she was under their control while she gathered information and learned how to fight, they surely weren’t soft with her, but Aisha was used to the pain and she knew it was for a greater good, however, slowly she started to realize she would probably carry a few physical and psychological scars with her from her experience with Hydra.

Tony was the only one who she told about her plans and that also brought him some trouble with the Avengers, she had asked him to not look for her in case she was successfully but how would Tony make sure the rest of them wouldn’t try to rescue her? After all not rescuing her sounded extremely absurd to them.

Okay, this is enough spoiler for now, her story is REALLY long. :'D

Trivia

. Aisha has a very intelligent mind and is very prone to boredoom and frustration, as such, she is always in need of something to keep her stimulated. . Before running away from the Leviathan laboratory, she was learning a few useful languages so she could do her job properly, she learned german and russian with them. . Aisha has a very sassy and sarcastic nature and while some find it amusing, others may find it annoying, her nickname at the tower is actually "sassy pants" because of that. . She has black wings on her back, they come out through a big cavity that she has on her back, on both sides, that goes from the shoulder to her waist, her wings are extremely sensitive and she usually doesn't allow people to touch them. . Aisha is a feminist and when she finally gets famous and rich, she decides to build a safe place for women who are victims of domestic violence, she has helped many people to rebuild their lives, she loves people and wants them all to have the same chance she once had to rebuild hers.

Both artworks on here were made on Picrew. (1,2)

[winterstateofmind]

My Bisexuality Story

Unlike some people, being bisexual wasn't something I always knew I was. There were no big signs when I was a kid, I didn't even get girl crushes on tv show or movie characters.

My attraction to girls started when I was in my late teens/early twenties. It started first with celebrities: I started getting crushes on celebrities such as Chrissy Costanza from the band Against the Current, and Bonnie Fraser from the band Stand Atlantic.

After that, my bisexuality/bi curiosity started to translate to my real life. I started a job at a store where I live, which is where I met a girl. For this story, I will call her Anna. Anna was one of the customer experience leads at the store I worked at. She had a boyfriend, that made me feel jealous, yet guilty at the same time. Jealous of him, guilty for feeling that way. I also was dating my current boyfriend at the time, which just added to the feeling of guilt. I felt like this horrible person for this feeling I couldn't control.

Because you can't control getting crushes on people, especially when they are of the opposite gender and are so different than what you've ever experienced before.

I eventually asked her if she wanted to hang out, not with romantic intentions, just as friends. We never actually got around to hanging out until close to before she was moving. At the time, I remember being happy that she was moving. I wouldn't need to go to work and see her there. I could forget my feelings for her had ever existed.

Eventually, I left that job and found a new one.

Everything was going smoothly, until one day when I was having a hard time at my job and cried. I decided to talk to one of the customer experience leads (clearly I have a type) about what was going on.

She comforted me, and did the thing that may or may not have started my attraction to her. She touched my knee. And I feel like touching someone's knee is just a thing that some girls do, and it doesn't mean anything. I think some girls are just more touchy-feely than other girls. I have never been a touchy-feely girl, and along with my already existing attraction to girls, her hand on my knee just started a lot of feelings.

My feelings for her, however, didn't seem to be as strong until recently. I don't remember exactly what had made them stronger, but I remember going to the work hang out at the bowling alley because of her. I didn't talk to her much, because I am generally a quiet person, but she did ask me to help her carry some drinks to the table. This one act was something I overthought about way too much.

After that event, I added her on Instagram, where I proceeded to overthink even more about what she thought of me.

I remember one day at work, I actually made an effort to talk to her more and it made my day. But since then, I haven't talked to her much. I'm torn between thinking she likes me as a person, a friend, romantically, or not at all.

Then there is also the fact that I feel guilty again for liking her while I have a boyfriend. My boyfriend has already said to me he is not the jealous type, and would even be fine being in a polyamorous relationship if things were to go that way. I still can't help but feel guilty though. And when I think about the fact that she is probably straight, it just makes everything more complicated.

I think I just wrote this whole "article", if you can call it that, to get these feelings off my chest and hopefully feel better about them.

[firstdegreefangirl]

August 2023 Reading Wrap-Up

August 2023 Reading Wrap-Up 

Total books read: 6 

Total pages read: 2,394 

Days read: X/31 

Average star rating: 4.25/5 

Challenge Prompts Filled: 11 in July; 85 total. Popsugar: 4(28)/40.   Romanceopoly: 2 (24)/36. CRAD: 1 (8)/12. BTBL: 4(25)/52 

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Listen. By now we all know how much I love this one. I just wanted an excuse to read it again before the movie came out. Five stars before, five stars now, five stars always.  

Prompts filled: Popsugar– A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2023; BTBL – Five word title 

The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser 

⭐⭐⭐(¾) 

This was adorable! It took a few chapters to ramp up, and I almost didn’t keep going, but I’m so glad I did. I love books about books, so this caught my eye … I think at the dollar store? It’s a gentle, cute read, some perfect escapism for unbearably hot summer days. Once the story picked up, I got to sit back and enjoy friends-to-crushes-to-lovers, with a hearty side of women’s lit as the MC reinvents herself post-divorce. Very cute, but I don’t know that it’s something I would pick up and read again. 

Prompts filled: BTBL – Standalone; CRAD – The same genre as last month 

Bear With Me Now by Katie Shepard 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

I LOVED this one, and I'm already excited to reread it again later. I bought a copy at my local indie back on Indie Bookstore Day, but only just now got around to reading it. I laughed, I cried, I got some strange looks from my coworkers for the laughing and the crying. Right out of the gate, when Teagan gets tricked into rehab (he’s not an addict), I was invested in the relationship between him and his sister. Then he meets a bear, then he meets Darcy and we’re off to the races. They’ve got their traumas, they’ve got their walls, and they’re figuring them out together. There’s something about a love story where nobody needs to be “fixed” to be loved that just hits so perfectly for me, and this absolutely fit the bill. 

Prompts filled: BTBL– All the nature vibes 

Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay 

⭐⭐⭐⭐(¼) 

Again, books about books. Also, books about robotics (tangentially. Anyone looking for books about CIMs and RIOs and such will not find that here. But the MC’s younger brother is into robotics, so I was interested). The first thing I noticed about this book was right there in the forward: it’s designed to be dyslexia-friendly. The author worked with her publisher to use a font that’s harder to flip around, wider leading and bold type instead of italics. The bold text took some getting used to, but I love that McKinlay took such care in putting her story out there. The MC is dyslexic, which made this the perfect story for this sort of accessibility. It touches on mental illness, family drama, friendships, sibling relationships and everything in between. Also, the MC is a chef, which makes this a book about books, robotics AND food. All in all, an excellent book presented in an excellent way. 

Prompts filled: Romanceopoly – The Gym/Longest book on your TBR; Popsugar – Longest book on your TBR 

Chef’s Kiss by TJ Alexander 

⭐⭐⭐(½) 

I grabbed this from the library based on the vibes of the cover alone (it’s a great cover, honestly. I know how the adage goes, but the fact of the matter is that covers sell stories). What I got was rivals(?) to lovers, workplace stress, and a well-handled discussion of sexuality and gender. The book handled the complex nuances of those conversations with grace and class, but the rest of the plot fell flat in places. There were places I was ready to reach through the pages and shake the MC silly for staying with her terrible workplace, or refusing to have one (1) conversation about her feelings. Solid romance, but it’s hard to stay invested in that plot when I’m so frustrated with one of the characters invovled. 

Prompts filled: Romanceopoly – Rainbow Row/Read an LGBTQ+ romance; Popsugar – A book with a queer lead 

Dog Days: A Year in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile by Dave Ihlenfeld 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

My non-fic selection for the month, this one has been on my shelf for ages. I love a good memoir, and this was unlike anything I’ve read before. There was a startling about of parallel between the author and myself – J-school graduates who didn’t want a future in journalism – except he went on to spend a year driving an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile across America. I LOVE a good tourist gimmick ((thanks to this book, I’ve looked to see if the renamed Frankmobile is going to be anywhere near me)), so this was a perfect fit for me. Ihlenfeld wove his personal story together with the history of Oscar Mayer and the Wienermobile, which left me with a better understanding of how and why it worked as a marketing schtick, and how taking unexpected opportunities can change peoples’ lives.  

Prompts filled: Popsugar – A book with alliteration in the title; BTBL – No romance  

DNF: Triptych - Karin Slaughter

[sammaggs]

This is today’s brainrot for sure. Ray talking about how he worries about Stella and thinks about her all the time and how Fraser couldn’t possibly understand, all while Fraser looks at him like THIS.

This poor love-struck Mountie, who it’s possible has NEVER had an unrequited crush like this before, absolutely worries about Ray constantly. Just a scene earlier, Fraser is behind Ray within seconds to pull Ray off the cop he’s decided to beat up. In Eclipse, we see that Fraser follows Ray so closely, physically, that he’s already behind him the second Ray wants to hand off his glasses. Fraser is single-minded about this guy. And so to hear Ray describe the exact way he’s feeling? But about SOMEONE ELSE?

This scene breaks my goddamn heart. UGH.

can we just take a moment to look at how Fraser looks at Ray 

[sluttyhenley]

you know what they say about texas

listen so this has been living as a vague idea in my head ever since i changed my header to the sign in the diaz kitchen from eddie begins but i kept it to myself until this happened and my brain wouldn’t shut up about it.

i thought this was going to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever written but somewhere about halfway through it got kind of serious

anyway this is eddie accidentally comes out to the 118 with a movie reference and that’s really about all I can say about it. (also i cannot stress this enough, this is not spec fic, even though technically it happens sometime around 5 x17 and 5 x18)

~1.4k | Teen | Read on AO3

Eddie hasn't been back at the 118 for very long, but he’s already fallen into the old easy rapport with his teammates. Even Lucy, still there for the foreseeable future, is easy enough to get along with. After a rocky start that Eddie has heard almost nothing about, she seems to have settled in well enough. She doesn’t fit in quite as easily with the rest of them, and Eddie’s still getting used to her, but she hasn’t changed the dynamic so drastically that things are weird.

They’re all out at a bar, letting off some steam after a long couple of days on and Eddie’s missed it, missed being part of the team, missed spending his time with them, working with them. All of this to say: that’s probably why Eddie’s guard is down enough for him to say what he says.

Somehow the conversation has gotten around to the topic of attractive people. He doesn’t really remember if Ravi started it or Lucy did but they’ve been egging each other on, with Buck occasionally chiming in. It’s reminiscent of the discussions they’ve had around the annual firefighters’ calendar. Lucy says something about The Mummy and realizations and he finds himself speaking without really thinking.

“Oh yeah, I had a crush on Brendan Fraser in The Mummy.” Suddenly everyone is staring at him and he plays back what he just said in his head and oh right, he never actually told anyone he’s maybe less straight than previously assumed.

He looks around the table. Hen’s eyebrows are raised, Buck is frowning at him, and everyone else is looking at him with some degree of surprise.

“Wait, are you saying…” Hen trails off, giving him a meaningful look.

“Well, you know what they say about Texas,” Eddie replies, trying to make a joke of it, because that seems easier than just saying hey guys, turns out I’m bi. He can see Chimney make the connection.

“Everything’s bigger?” Buck’s frown has turned into a look of confusion.

Eddie kind of wants to drop his head on the table but it’s a little sticky and that probably wouldn’t help him anyway.  There’s no such thing as secrets with this group and he’s been meaning to tell them anyway. Hiding isn’t going to help him. But he also really doesn’t want to think about what Buck maybe just implied about him. He already feels like he’s losing his mind.

“No– I mean, yes, but not that,” Eddie replies. Hen’s eyebrows are getting higher somehow and he knows Chimney gets exactly what he means but he refuses to help. Eddie can’t make himself look at Ravi or Lucy. “You know,” he gestures vaguely, “there are two things that come from Texas?”

Chimney finally breaks, groaning. “I can’t believe you’re going with that.”

“I feel like I’m missing something,” Buck says. He’s got a little frown on his face and his head is tilted slightly, like he has absolutely no clue what Eddie’s saying.

“Only steers and queers come from Texas,” Chimney says in a bad R. Lee Ermey impression. “Which one are you?”

Eddie is seriously reconsidering his decision to not drop his head on the table. He would really prefer not to be looking at his friends and coworkers during this conversation. He’d actually rather not be having this conversation at all.

“Well, I’m not a cow,” Eddie finally says, strained. He is, after all, the one that started this.

He remembers not watching it with his dad exactly, but being in the same room while his dad watched the film. He thinks, now that he’s older and has served two tours in Afghanistan, that his dad kind of missed the point. Probably a lot of people miss the point of the film, the same way they miss the point of “Born in the U.S.A.”

“Didn’t that guy on the Dallas Stars come out using that quote?” Lucy asks.

Eddie looks at her. He hadn’t expected that from Lucy at all. “Uh, sort of? I think he kind of walked it back later, but yeah, he tweeted that.”

“Wait,” Buck interjects. “Back up. Did you seriously just come out by telling us you’re not a cow?”

“I– yes?” When Buck puts it like that it sounds even more ridiculous than it feels, which says a lot because he already feels incredibly ridiculous. If only he could rewind back to about ten minutes ago when he hadn’t admitted to having a crush on Brendan Fraser in The Mummy when he was younger.

“I’ve heard the quote before but what’s the reference?” Hen asks.

“Full Metal Jacket,” Chim replies. “It’s about the pointlessness of war and the psychological horror of basic training. Standard stuff. Oh, and there’s an incredibly racist portrayal of a Vietnamese prostitute.”

Eddie hopes the conversation can move past him now and maybe past Full Metal Jacket entirely. He doesn’t need to watch a movie to know that war is pointless and even basic training fucks people up. He lived it.

“Hey,” Hen says quietly enough that only Eddie hears her. “I’m proud of you.” She lays a hand on his arm. “I mean, it’s not exactly a typical way to come out, but still.”

His smile feels a little small and shaky as he looks at her. “Thanks, Hen.”

The conversation does move on after that. There’s no more talk of Full Metal Jacket, or Eddie’s sexuality, or celebrity crushes. Eddie no longer has the urge to disappear into the ground or drop his head on the table.

Hen and Chim don’t stay very much longer, both begging off to go home to spend time with their families. Lucy finds someone at the bar to flirt with, and then Ravi gets a text from one of his roommates and goes to meet up with them somewhere else. Which, of course, leaves Buck and Eddie alone at the table, empty glasses in front of them.

Eddie pushes his glass back and forth a little bit, but the motion isn’t smooth, glass catching on the sticky surface. He can’t bring himself to make eye contact with Buck just yet. The thing is, things have been so easy between them since he came back. Since Texas. But Buck is single, and he’s single, and even though he’s come to accept that he is absolutely head over heels, stupid in love with Evan Buckley, Eddie’s still figuring out the way forward. And there’s been some plausible deniability about all of it, because until tonight he hadn’t actually told anyone he’s queer. Now they’re both single, and Buck has been living in his house. He’s become a fixture in Eddie’s life, and Eddie is so, so in love with him.

“Are you okay?” Buck asks eventually.

Eddie does look at Buck then; he can feel his own eyes going wide. The only thing on Buck’s face is open concern.

“Yeah, why?”

“Well, you told the whole table you’re– queer?” At Eddie’s nod, Buck continues, “By referencing a war movie, and then you spent the rest of the time not saying much of anything at all.”

“I was– look, I’ve been meaning to tell you guys since I got back from Texas,” Eddie says. He drops his gaze back down to the table and his empty glass. “I just hadn’t figured out how to do it yet. I really didn’t mean to do it by quoting Full Metal Jacket, though.”

Buck nods and they fall silent for a moment.

“I’m not ashamed of it,” Eddie adds. “I mean, I’m kind of embarrassed that I said I’m not a cow, but I’m not ashamed of it. I’ve spent enough of my life being ashamed.”

“I know,” Buck says. Eddie knows that he does, that he gets it. “Hey,” he adds, looking Eddie in the eye. “I’m proud of you.”

There was a part of Eddie that worried things would be weird, that Buck knowing would equal Buck knowing Eddie’s in love with him, that somehow that would ruin everything they’ve built together. A bigger but quieter part of him knew better, but it’s still nice having the proof.

“Thanks,” Eddie says, looking directly at Buck.

He’s going to tell him. Soon, he thinks. Because Buck deserves to know and he’s starting to realize that he deserves to tell Buck, even if they need more time. Even if Buck isn’t in love with him. He deserves to know. But not yet. It’s enough that Buck knows that he’s queer, or bi, or, well— he’s not so sure on the label, honestly.

They head back to the house together, just like they have been since Buck broke up with Taylor, and Eddie looks at all the signs of Buck’s presence there and it looks like home.

[homeahoy]

Welcome to Jallow High School

Inspired by @wearebackbagels post and the brain rot that came with it.  It will be a series based on these plots but first let's set the scene. 

Warnings: Students are all 18, some have graduated. Rumours, Smut. 

Jallow High School had an interesting student body, especially the sixth form. Interesting to no-one but the students who studied there and who all felt like they were the most important person in the room.  From David Stirling the head teacher's son, who is a poor student and lazy, to the Strange German kid Walter Essener who had, of all things, a pet chicken. The student body was rounded out by Eve Mansour an charming french exchange student who David was rumoured to have a huge crush on, Reg Seekings star of the school football team, Straight A student Johnny Cooper, Resident bad boy Paddy Mayne who was in Juvie more than school, his long haired boyfriend Augustin and his other boyfriend the ever charming Eoin. Dave Kershaw who was often found selling weed at the back of the school, Pat Riley who had already graduated but who could be found buying weed from Dave,  Mike Sadler who everyone had a crush of because of his darn good looks and go with the flow attitude, Jock Lewis who could be found making something explode in the basement. Jim Almonds who is always found with Pat Riley and finally Bill Fraser who can often be found in the library.  

The group made up an odd arrangement of friends but somehow they had been all drawn together. Maybe it was their wasted talents and vast need to cause as much trouble as possible. Although ask any of them and they would tell you they were just living life to the fullest. If even half the rumours that swirled around the school were anything to go by they certainly were.  The most prevalent rumour that Johnny, Reg and Mike were all in some sort of throuple. This has yet to be confirmed by anyone.  The other would have seen a serious scandal hit the school if it were true. It was that certain boy’s were hanging around the back of the school giving out blow jobs to each other.  It certainly was a fanciful rumour but like the throuple rumour it was yet to be confirmed as true.  Only those who were apparently involved knew the truth.  The distinct lack of CCTV in the area made the back of school a perfect blind spot.  The only rumour that had been actually confirmed was that Dave Kershaw would sell you weed during lunch time or anytime in between.  He had been caught on more than one occasion mainly because you could smell it off him. 

The group’s final year at the school was certainly going to be an eventful one if the rumours were true. 

[sammaggs]

Oh yeah oh yeah @dirtyzucchini is bang on as per usual. This is the crush moment!!

Fraser is the angel who literally pulls Ray from hell, bringing him back to life as a truer version of himself.

(They really want you to get the metaphor.)

KOWALSKI: I mean, that guy dogged me my entire life, and now it's like, ah, the sky opened up or something. Ah, I don't know, it's—

And then Fraser reminds Ray that he’s left the underworld for good and has returned to the heavens, or whatever he says about walking in the sky.

Drag that skinny little twink outta hell, Fraser, you know what to do with him.

Also Fraser already sees Ray as an angel. From his perspective, through his eyes:

the way Ray looks at Fraser at the end of Eclipse >>>>>>>>>