#cheeky nandos: you know I had to do it to them

[housederiva]

Fantasic yes thank you @mt07131 It should be noted I am taking the hottest bubble bath of my entire life while I'm typing this and my skin is the color of Mr Krabs. (these are all cheeses that I have had before so my opinion of each is extremely biased)

We're starting with Neve. I know what you're thinking 'our dear detective has a food pyramid made solely out of the menu of a back alley chippy, obviously she's Kraft cheese or cheese whiz' and you are incorrect. Sit on the floor beside me while I take my bubble bath, we're going on a cheese discovery hand in soapy hand

Neve is specifically a combination of the two cheeses that are in these bad boys that you can find at Walmart for $15. With enough coffee and distractions you can live off these for an entire week. Each piece of cheese is about the size of a quarter, they're powdery, they don't melt well, and the only reason it's in your fridge is that someone brought it to the potluck and no one else ate any of it. We're ignoring the rest of the platter this is only about cheese.

Harding is a fried halloumi stick. It's squeaky cheese that is sooo good when it's melted and somehow still in stick form. The first time an only time I’ve had it was when I lived in the UK. A little cheeky Nandos with Harding? Come on now she's the one suggesting it. This woman eats ham and jam slams, she's eating cold hallumi (bad salty brick ew ew nasty), Taash's first complaint if they ever lived together that would be that they could hear her eating the leftovers right out of the fridge at 3am cause it's squeaking so damn loud while she's chewing

Bellara is the giant babybel. Pictures don't do it justice and the absolute glee of taking off the little jacket before you bite into it like a peach? Undescribable. There's not a doubt in my mind that this woman would collect the wax and leave it in a clump on her bookshelf where she would repeatedly tell you she's gonna do something with it. And yet it grows ever larger with every giant babybel. She's the small ones too but those are somehow worse because she just eats the entire bag of them the second she gets home (not that I do that every time or anything haha dont look in my trash rn)

Davrin is, without a doubt, apple smoked cheddar either from Wisconsin or Lancashire, there's no in between. Once this cheese is in your life you will be fundamentally changed as a person and you can never go back to the way you were. No other cheese holds the same richness and warmth as apple smoked cheddar (either from Wisconsin or Lancashire) It has like this sweetness from the milk in it that's balanced out with the smokiness of paprika. Davrin's bringing this to the cookout and you're going to thank him for putting it on your burger at least four times

Lucanis is Fulvi Pecorino Romano (yes it is Italian why do you ask) This is some of the most expensive cheese I've ever had which is perfect for the man who's offering to pay Harding 6,000 gold to stand around while he kills somebody and then asks if that's too low of an amount when she's speechless. This Romano is made from milk taken from a single herd of sheep that live just outside the city of Rome. It's got this a grainy, crumbly texture that I don't think I'll have anything like again. (I had it at a preview night for this movie I worked on for redacted, I think there was caviar there too it was insane)

Emmrich my sweet vegetarian (and vegan? idk) is Climax Blue cheese. It's plant-based blue cheese, streaked with a natural and flavorful blue-green veining. It is well-rounded, with a creamy, fudgy texture, and with fruity and earthy notes balanced by a warm peppery finish. It's made out of coconut milk instead of animal milk and it's got pumpkin seeds in it somehow. I'm not vegan but my best friend is and she brought me this one time from her work and I ate it all in about 20 minutes. Excellent with wine and those really thin tiny crackers, makes you feel the good kind of fancy

Taash is ghost pepper and fried onion cheddar cheese. Never been hurt by food the way I was hurt the second this touched my tongue. And the cool thing about it is it's also dairy free, and substitutes milk with hemp. The heat from the ghost peppers builds and mingles with the burst from the fried onions and each wheel is aged in a cheese specific cave before it's packaged. It also has that good glowy classic melty cheese flow when it gets hot. If you're like me and you are white people spicy smelling this alone will hurt you

[pitchcom]

soz if u guys arent here for this but these are MY personal grid A/B/O assignments + reasoning:

Max: alpha and i feel like i dont need to explain this one LOL

Checo: omega but i could be persuaded to see beta checo !! like take one long look into his beautiful big brown eyes n little freckles and motherly aura and tell me you dont see it ….

Charles: controversial but …. alpha. omega charles truthers i see you. i love you and hold you dearly. but to me charles is just a softer alpha u know ?? but he still has the bite too him … like hes all sharp teeth grin n you KNOW its all casual with him but you cant help but fall in love w him anyways ….

Carlos: DOUBLY controversial but I AM AN OMEGA CARLOS TRUTHER !!!! like again. look into his big brown eyes n plush lips … look at his quotes about how he was “too soft” when he was younger n just wanted to be friends w everyone … i will die on this hill

Lando: TRIPLY CONTROVERSIAL but alpha lando scratches an itch in my brain actually !! like chest puffed bravado rookie lando wanting to prove himself bc people always assumed he wasnt an alpha … now mellowed cheeky alpha lando whose gone through 2 older omega teammates (spoilers for daniel LOL) and learned a lot from them …

Oscar: alpha but i could be persuaded to see beta !! idk hes just so chill. so unbothered. people assume hes a beta bc of his attitude but hes just been raised so that he literally does not care abt designations at all

Alex: beta but i could be persuaded to others … like this one is not solid solid to me ?? but hes genuinely just so chill with everyone on the grid that hes like a stabilizing force … a calming presence u know … even though he absolutely has the capacity to be teasing n silly

Logan: omega end of sentence. look into those sad eyes and miserable aura and tell me you do not want to bundle him up. hide him away whisper sweet things to him. he would love it too the frat boy logan-ers are lying to you …

Daniel: omega LOL i mean i can see alpha danny n would not necessarily be opposed to it but his kind of mentoring of max n lando … his wide eyed curly hair braces when he came into f1 … also honey badger nickname speaks omega to me. it whispered in my ear and i saw the vision of danny stuck with angry baby alpha max n the two slowly learning how to coexist abd slowly becoming one ot the closest people ever to each other

Yuki: i actually dont have a preference LOL i mean i think the whole “shorter/smaller person is an omega” thing is a tired trope so i feel i have a little predisposed bias against omega yuki BUT i am generally open to all designations for him

Fernando: I AM ALSO AN OMEGA NANDO TRUTHER i am too hung up on his twink days w the old grid to ever really see him as anything more then a conniving little omega who absolutely kicks ass and proves the haters wrong LOL. you love to see an omega whose a little feral out there. like go forth and cause mischief or something

Lance: i wanna say omega but i could be persuaded …. like look at him. plush hair big brown eyes with fluttery lashes pouty lips. hes a little spoiled thing like hes so cat coded to me. lanky ol omega who knows what he wants

Pierre: omega !!! i dont rlly have an explanation for this one it came to me in a vision BUT i love omega pierre … pretty little bratty omega …

Esteban: beta but generally open to all interpretations !! he seems so like neutral to me … like big lanky guy whose trying his best to stand out n get his moment in the sun but gets a little overshadowed by other stronger personalities …

Lewis: alpha 100%. again hes calmed hes mellowed but this man has the calm quiet “i know im the shit. what are you going to do about it?” alpha demeanor to me. like he absolutely tore it UP when he was younger n was brash n confident (and was not the best alpha) but after the nico situation and teaming w valterri he rlly had his eyes opened and now he’s just chilling

George: alpha but i could be persuaded to other points of view … like this man was crazy n dedicated enough to powerpoint present why he should be in mercedes 😭 i think that he is deffo like hyperaware of designations/tries to do his best by everyone in the paddock tho

Kevin: omega BUT i could be persuaded for beta kevin. no real explanation again but i am once again influenced by rookie kev and also his fatherhood

Nico: alpha or beta. again no real explanation for this he just gives off cocky would-be-an-asshole-if-you-didnt-know-him-well alpha vibes but in an uncle way. like the guy who likes to tease you but goes too far sometimes and doesnt rlly apologize for it

Valterri: beta through n through 🫡 again influenced by his stint at merc where he was the perfect second driver and was also brought in to help smooth over turbulent emotions that were left from the brocedes divorce and nicos subsequent retirement. definitely grew into himself a little more post merc tho and now gives no fucks about what people think abt him or his designation. viva la vida

Zhou: i wanna say alpha OR omega. my narrative is that he was a shy rookie who’s not super comfortable in his designation yet when he first debuts but as he spends more time with “no fucks given” valterri he slowly becomes more confident and comfortable in himself. thats it sorry zhou fans im not well versed in the zhou lore 😭

[captainnameless]

I humbly ask for Nando babysitting cheeky little Lando 🙏 cuz every Nando and Lando crumb I see is honestly too cute

no because i can see it!!! Nando claims he’s too old to be “doing the babysitting” *gestures vaguely*

but Daniel’s at his wits end, Lando will not fall asleep, it’s a Sunday night post race which means they’re both knackered. Lando however, has decided he wants Carlos. Carlos who had to fly out the same night because of commitments and has no cell service on the plane.

so Lando’s been crying, wailing really. desperately clutching onto Daniel with “want Papa!”, overly tired but not giving in.

Daniel doesn’t know what to do really, Lando’s finally quieted down a little, but he’s blinking big red rimmed eyes at Daniel that don’t look like they’re gonna shut any time soon.

Lando’s voice is rough from crying, and so Daniel tries room service for some tea, only to find out they don’t have 24 hour room service, Daniel’s almost desperate enough to use the “do you know who the fuck I am?” card; considering the price they’re paying per night and how badly he needs Lando to fall asleep, but hoists both him and Lando out of bed after being told there’s a self service floor that has a coffee machine that serves boiling water too.

he holds Lando’s hand in hopes of preventing a tantrum when they step into the hallway, Daniel praying no one else is awake at this ungodly hour.

to his surprise, they almost bump into Fernando when the round the corner who gives them a just as a surprised look.

“You’re up?”

Daniel sighs, pulling Lando into his side when he can hear the sniffles start up again. “We’re having a bit of trouble falling asleep, huh Bub?”

Daniel can see Fernando melt a little at the sight of Lando, soft despite the tough reputation.

“Niñito.” Fernando coos. “It’s late, little boys should be asleep.”

Lando simply whines, tears gathering in his eyes again. “Papa.”

Fernando looks up at Daniel, who mouths “Carlos” to him and he nods knowingly.

“Entiendo.” Fernando says and then reaches out for Lando, who, to Daniel’s surprise, goes willingly.

Fernando wraps Lando’s up against his chest and Lando melts into the touch so much he even brings his legs up.

Fernando hoists him up with little effort, Daniel’s not surprised. He’s seen Fernando’s workout routine and has definitely never won an arm wrestling match.

Fernando start humming something in Spanish then, speaking words Daniel does not understand and gently swaying Lando from side to side.

He sings no longer than 5 minutes and so when Fernando turns to Daniel and asks “Is he out?” while turning around fully so Daniel gets a look at Lando’s face mushed against Fernando’s shoulder he’s ready to be met with wide open eyes. But Lando’s out. Out cold even, mouth slightly open and drooling onto Fernando’s shirt.

“What the fuck.” Daniel says, loudly. Then clasps a hand over his mouth, terrified he’ll wake Lando again.

Fernando laughs, turns back to face Daniel. “Figured that would work.”

“What did you do? Did you hex him?”

Fernando laughs again. “It’s a lullaby, a classic really. I figured Carlos might sign it to him, lucky guess.”

Daniel slumps against the wall, rubbing his hands over his face. “Congratulations.” Daniel says. “You’ve just been upgraded.”

[shitty-check-please-aus]

Glasgow highlights

free museums!

a very cool cathedral, also free

I really hope this doesn't sound reductive or stereotypical but I do appreciate that I didn't have to feel bad or awkward if I accidentally swore in public.

we went to a Ceilidh! And yeah the crowd was mostly American tourists but it was still super fun, I really liked the folk dances and the way they walked us through them.

loved all the murals!

cider options at all the pubs! I was concerned going in because I don't like beer but I didn't have to be, I just had my boozy little juice and I was very happy. Also way more interesting cider options than I usually see, lots of fun berry flavors.

we did get to go to one tea room, I had a lovely little shortbread and some Earl Grey, which like I could do here but it was about the experience

I appreciate the dedication you have to keeping cones on your statues

y'all were so nice and patient with me when I didn't understand what the fuck you were saying

almost all the food we had was delicious

General Scotland Highlights from the two days I wasn't in Glasgow

went on a gorgeous walk/hike outside of Stirling

got to go to a cafe/bookshop in Stirling that I've been following on instagram for literal years

got to go to another bookshop in Edinburgh that had a fluffy white shop dog named Artie (I think short for Artemis! She was a good girl and I gave her head scritches)

Had a cheeky nando's and learned that, tragically, the UK doesn't have the mango-lime sauce, the superior mild sauce. Ended up having to re-douse everything in the medium garlic, which we tragically don't have in the US because it was better than plain medium. I need Nando's US and Nando's UK to combine efforts so everyone can have the best sauces

got to sit in a folk music pub and enjoy the music!

I thought ScotRail was super easy to use and very convenient

the most touristy shit we did was the Whisky Experience in Edinburgh, and I thought that was fun! I was thinking a lot about my Genealogy Aunt who passed last year on this trip, and one of her favorite ancestors was some great-great-grandmother barrel maker so it was cool to learn about the importance of that to the process

the lower points, for full disclosure

the fucking hills. I was warned that the person we were staying with lived at the top of a hill, I was not adequately prepped to know that the whole city is like doing a goddamn stairmaster workout.

related to point one, I got the worst plantar fasciitis flareup I've had in years, plus some of the blisters that are just inevitable if you suddenly walk like 10+ miles a day when you normally walk 5-7, felt like my feet were being stabbed every time I took a step

related to point two, we were walking most of the time but the people I was with kept making me feel like when you're driving, and the car next to you ZOOMS ahead, only for you to catch up at the next red light, making you wonder why they bothered zooming? that's not on Glasgow, though

I had a really hard time convincing my brain that some of the historical shit was real, like we were sitting in the ruins of Holyrood Abbey and my brain was like "this is a movie set"

I had the worst fucking breakfast wrap of my life in the Glasgow airport, how did it taste like potsticker filling mixed with baked beans and why

miscellaneous travel notes

this was the first time I bought an airtag, which I kept in my suitcase, and it came in SO HANDY when Aer Lingus left my luggage in Dublin, I didn't waste any time lingering around the baggage claim

If you're going from Europe to the US, if you go through Dublin you can do US customs there and then when you get to your destination you can just go home like you're getting off a domestic flight, 10/10 would do again. My parents went to Montreal this week for their 30th anniversary and they found out that they do this there, too.

So, because of the history of when people in Glasgow started to get that colonialism money, a lot of the historical things we saw were in a category of "old, but not SUPER old." As an American with limited travel experience, I feel like I've got this perception that everything in Europe is old as hell, but most of what we saw in Glasgow was like Philadelphia or DC-levels of old. If you are also an American who wants a taste of that old-ass history that we don't get as much over here, I found more of that in the day trip to Edinburgh. This is in miscellaneous because it's neither positive nor negative, it's just something to know

[1d-trashcan]

PSA: not a larrie

I feel like I might have some chill larrie moots and in case they aren’t chill it’s only right that I tell you that I’m a pretty chill anti. I mean chill in the sense that I used to be extremely vocal about it, but now I just view it as a black and blue/white and gold dress situation. We view it differently.

I personally don’t think anyone has any business assigning someone a sexuality, never mind assigning a whole ass closeted relationship to two people. Louis was very vocal about Larry in his tweet in 2012 and I know there’s a theory about that tweet and whatnot, but for me it went like this:

I entered the fandom in 2011 and my friend (who was an x factor fan) basically introduced me like “This is Zayn, he’s vain and mysterious, this is Liam, he’s a cupcake, he’s afraid of spoons and he’s the dad of the group, this is Niall, he loves food, especially Nando’s, this is Harry, he’s really cheeky, this is Louis and he’s mischievous and Harry and Louis are our resident homosexuals. (Did I, at one point have the “I’m in love with five homosexuals that can’t dance” type blog? Yes. Carrot memories are super cringey and don’t define me, please and thank you).

Did I think Larry was a thing during the X factor and when they lived together? Yeah, a little bit. Then Harry started dating Caroline and Louis started dating Eleanor and I was like “ok maybe not”. I’m reticent to dig deeper and analyse it too much because it’s a private thing. Do I think Harry and Louis joked a lot about it because it was everywhere? Absolutely. Do I think management closeted them? No, I always thought that was a decision they made because it was upsetting to Eleanor, and Louis is extremely protective. It would not shock me if the reason Harry and Louis stopped being best friends was because Harry was ready to ride it out but Louis couldn’t stand having someone he was in a relationship with/loved was being hurt, because of how protective he is. But again, I’m super reticent to dig too deep.

Because of Tiktok and Twitter not really being very blacklist/filter friendly I’ve accidentally viewed a lot of Larry content and suffice it so say that, no I don’t think they know about green/blue etc etc. I absolutely don’t think the checkered clothing this was a “clue” because it was literally a fashion trend at the time. Absolutely unfollow me if you don’t think Freddie is Louis’ son.  

I don’t think they’re gonna speak out, because the situation is infected. When Louis tweeted “Larry is the biggest bullshit” people were threatening suicide and all kinds of things. Imagine knowing that if you speak out against Larry, people will threaten suicide. Imagine, hypothetically that they are in a closeted relationship and decide to come out, knowing that a portion of the dark larries will send death threats to antis. AND the thing is - they could speak out, and someone would find an angle. There’s always an “it’s management” angle with Larries. If they ever spoke out about it properly I would actually shit myself because it’s not exactly a high reward situation.

There are a lot of layers to this, and I’ve had a lot of interesting conversations with larries that turned antis etc and viewed it as a cult-like environment. My ask is open for people who wanna talk about how they feel about the discourse and to discuss how they feel about being larries/antis. 

My ask is not open for Larries that want to “prove me right”. I’ve seen everything, I’ve read everything, you will not change my mind. This is not a hateful statement, and it is not a homo/biphobic statement, it is a “this is how i view the facts at a surface level” statement. They do not owe us anything below the surface. It. Is. Not. For. Us.

In summation: their PRIVATE lives are not for us. Their sexualities are not for us. They are not Taylor Swift, who readily welcomes and even now sometimes weaponizes who her songs are about. We get glimpses and we can interpret them and relate to them, but at no point have we been invited to poke and prod a relationship people have projected onto them. That is why I sometimes have beef with larries.

[anthonysstupiddailyblog]

Anthony's Stupid Daily Blog (498): Fri 28th Jul 2023

Last week I got a letter from HMRC telling me that I had paid too much tax and was due a refund of…£16! Wow. Long term readers of this blog (all none of you) may remember that in mid 2022 I got a letter from these idiots saying that I’d paid too much tax in 2021 and was due a refund of £1500. However after a month when the cheque they said they’d send me still hadn’t arrived I rang them up and they said that there was no way of telling for sure when the cheque will be issued / arrive as authorizing the cheque and mailing it out can be a long process. After four god damn months the cheque finally arrived and I put it towards my trip to LA. I got this letter telling me I was owed £16 last week and the cheque arrive this morning! Those cheeky fucking bastards! How come it takes them months and months to send out cheques that could really help people out during financial crises but when it only concerns pittances you can dish them out as fast a lightning? For readers of this blog who also used to read my original blog that I wrote from 2012 - 2020 (all minus 67 of you) may remember that I actually worked for HMRC from 2011 - 2014 and after they lied to me by saying I would only be doing call centre work for three months when they knew full well I would be there forever I pretty much stopped caring and only did the bare minimum. I would hang up on shithead customers and pretend it was an accident, go for a toilet break even when I didn’t need one, tell the customers any old shit just to get them off the phone, take sick days once every three months etc. I think that these bastards haven’t forgotten how I behaved when I was with them and this bollocks with this money they owe me is their way of getting back at me. I remember hanging up on one customer when he started shouting at me because I told him I couldn’t take his call because he’d failed security. I bet this guy now works for HMRC and on his first day looked up my name, saw that I was due a refund and then deliberately threw spanners in the works to ensure my cheque would be delayed. I can just picture him there now, sat in my old chair, giggling and rubbing himself with delight knowing that my money has been delayed. I’d love to arrange a meeting with this guy at Nando’s in the town and tell this guy I’m sorry….sorry I didn’t do it earlier! Before throwing hot sauce in his eyes and running off.

[zaidshair]

"You're joking," Zaid's tone thick with British disbelief as Lokni self-deprecated about his own appeal towards others. Unable to stop a bit of 'nosy uncle-ji', Zaid broke down Lokni's lovelife - or lack thereof. "You, not popular among the women? No offense mate, but unless you're rampantly shy or a monster back at home, I find that hard to believe. Might be you just never noticed, ey? Too caught up in your work to realize when some pretty thing was trying to flirt with you."

Now that, Zaid would believe of Lokni. He didn't think Lokni was innocent exactly, but certainly nowhere close to a player. Zaid wasn't either, honestly; but when he saw what he wanted, he went and got it. Case in point. "Mate, my 'someone' is on this island. If you ever run into a Tej Virani, tell him...actually don't tell him you know me. No doubt he'll count that as a strike against you, and you don't deserve that." A small harrumph. "If you haven't guessed, we're exes."

Lokni tried to be kind. An impromptu vacation indeed. The longer they were all stuck here, it seemed less chance of going home; but Zaid just let it go. Lokni had his own problems, his own people wondering where he disappeared. Perhaps the big man hoped the same, for them. He didn't correct Lokni about the 'Cheeky' part of Nandos, instead nodding in approval. "Sounds like you know how to appreciate a good meal, mate. That's a good thing."

Lokni seemed a very young 30, but didn't most younger people these days? Tej wasn't that much older than Lokni. Zaid felt forever-35, himself, if he was honest. The new decade hadn't clicked in yet. And their fennel and mashua discoveries were summarily cut short at the arrival of the stranger, which then led to the circle of fire.

"Honestly if I didn't know any better..." Zaid started to mutter, but stopped himself from speculating. In truth, the fate of one tiny deer shouldn't matter. Technically it didn't, Zaid told himself - but a fire in the wilderness was dangerous. If it caught and spread, they'd have a forest fire on their hands, which was an absolutely terrifying thought. They were so deep in (the top of Tower was still visible to their left, but nothing else), Zaid could only hope that odd kid had found Lindi or Elijah and was organizing a water-train right now. (with what buckets? and from where? The beach seemed so far away...)

Lokni was their only hope - and he met Zaid's eyes with his own urgent warm ones, and asked for the one thing Zaid had gotten raked over the coals for trying before.

With Selin, ironically. Zaid's attempt to prompt her 'powers', get her to shrink by being an absolute dickhead to her had backfired spectacularly. And now, here was Lokni, somehow asking the same? What was with these two, asking things of him, and Zaid getting things wrong? With, Selin anyway; but Selin hadn't asked for it. Lokni was. Zaid stared at him. He couldn't fuck up with Lokni now.

"Mean...mean and honest. Mean and honest...." Zaid repeated, and the deer's little bleating was heartbreaking (reminding Zaid forcefully of the cries of -- no. Never mind that). A buzzing filled the air, which Zaid wasn't sure if it came from the fire or the sky. No matter - he had to focus on Lokni.

"Right. We need to get that rain going, or that poor little thing is going to die. Only you can save it, yeah? Too much pressure for you, is that what the hold up is? Might be you're not built to save anything, or anyone for that matter. If - if your horse was in trouble, you what. You'd just shrug and walk away? Yeah, I could see that, if I'm honest. You can't always rely on others to be your brains and tell you what to do, Lokni. Sometimes you've got to actually think for yourself, even if it's hard for you. You - you're a slow, thick-headed, self-pitying, useless little sod who don't know his tight arse from his donkey-brained head, yeah. Can't stick to the middle-of-the-road, forgettable, poor little unpopular Lokni, not this time. This isn't fucking high school anymore, so grow a bloody pair. False modesty innt a good look on you, mate. Save that fucking thing or piss off."

The timid prod of Zaid's slim fingers against Lokni's muscled bicep was barely a match for Zaid's sharp tongue. "....Yeah?"

Zaid had a pensive, laidback expression on his face as the conversation volleyed back and forth. When Zaid mentioned that they were "cut from the same cloth," Lokni felt a warmth bloom within his chest. "I agree with you, work is something to be proud of, in its own way," he beamed in response. And it was true, Lokni couldn't imagine himself in any other profession. He wondered if Zaid felt the same in that regard. Upon Zaid inquiring about if he had a girl back home, Lokni felt his face grow hot, the heat reaching to the tips of his ears. "Me? Nah, I was never-" he trailed off a moment, searching for the right words before sighing in defeat, "I was working a lot- and- I don't know- wasn't ever popular. So, you hit the nail on the head, but the only woman in my life isn't Chenoa... there's over a hundred heifers too," a sly wink in return so that Zaid knew he was returning his jest in kind. "But from the way you talk, you've got someone back at home, right?" The concept of owning two restaurants, and in different countries, flew over Lokni's head. One thing was quite clear to Lokni, Mister Zaid here had some deep pockets. "Don't sell yourself short now, it sounds to me like you worked very hard, maybe your employees will just think you're taking a little impromptu vacation," Lokni reasoned, continuing to cut and gather the fennel, only taking what he needed for the time being. The idea of being in charge of other people and their salaries was something that Lokni found daunting to even just think about.

"First time that I've ever heard of Cheeky Nandos, but it sounds good, maybe if we forage enough ingredients we can try to recreate it. On the other hand, Popeye's is my go-to anytime we're in town, if I'm not careful I can finish a pizza and a half on my own." He chuckled, wishing that he wasn't being serious. The lengths that Lokni would go to for food were at times extreme. "Sounds like your Ammi also knows a thing or two about cooking," Lokni heartily chuckled at Zaid's impression. Now he knew where Zaid got his sass and attitude from. "I wouldn't have pegged you for a day over thirty, you being a look'er n' all," Lokni pondered as he took in Zaid's stature and well-groomed appearance, quite the feat considering the situation that they were in. Zaid's features were charming and refined, like an aged wine, no wonder he was "good at fucking," Lokni's thoughts traced back to their conversation while prepping the crab to be cooked, now over a month ago. "I've just left my twenties behind, I'm officially thirty, though it still don't feel like it. Hasn't quite sunk into my bones yet, but I'm sure I'll feel it eventually." Especially at this rate, Lokni was running himself ragged trying to make a sustainable survival system for himself back at camp. Once he got some stuff figured out, he wanted to see if he could help the others as well. Wasn't right- leaving all these people out here without the knowledge or tools to fend for themselves. Intrigued, Lokni listened to Zaid talk about his relationship with meat, pork in particular, as well as the availability of certain things. Sounded to Lokni like the city was a little limiting in the regard of fresh game. However, Zaid's excitement about the fennel was suddenly cut short as a loud crash echoed throughout the forest. Slipping from the trees, there was a young stranger, their clothes a bit charred and hair singed. With the chaos Lokni's mind was goin' into overdrive, his instincts to do something kicking in- but who was this man and why were they here? A new islander? One of their secret captors? Lokni wanted to ask questions, to make accusations, but the fire was spreading and Zaid sent the newcomer off with a quick, and commanding tone. Running to keep up with Zaid, Lokni skidded to a halt to see the wall of flame encircling a deer? It was much smaller than any deer Lokni had ever seen, more like a dainty lap dog than a deer, but one thing was clear, it was trapped. From somewhere in the distance, Lokni could hear the low hum of something mechanical, with high notes of ear-piercing trill that was approaching. Just what in God's green earth-? The tightening of Zaid's grasp on Lokni's forearm brought him from his thoughts, the pleading look in his dark eyes matching his voice which was taking on a desperate note. Make it rain-?! Wracking his brains, Lokni tried to think of how to make it happen. He could make it rain lightly with enough thought, but it took time- a resource that they currently did not have. Putting a hand on Zaid's shoulder, Lokni locked eyes with him, "you gotta' be mean to me- say something mean and honest!"

[feuillesmortes]

After an incredibly stressful week at work, it’s finished! Here’s your weekly dose of fluff and awkwardness and whatnot from our two favourite historical dorks. Set on the flatmates AU verse, I’m tagging my pals @queenbessofyork and @harritudur. Enjoy! 

Henry woke to the sound of a strange mumble, the weight of something pressing down on his arm. The room was dark, safe from the colours coming from his laptop screen. He blinked, trying to adjust his eyes to the darkness. Something beside him moved and he remembered. He twisted around to find Lizzie sleeping on his arm, one arm circling his waist. God, they had fallen sleep on the sofa, hadn’t they? Henry hadn’t even removed his contacts, he could feel his eyes red. The end credits on the screen reminded him of the film night he had sorted with his former flatmates. It all had started during a typical cheeky Nando’s after uni that he had been dragged into, a charmless event and restaurant Henry usually avoided like the plague. Between a spicy chicken wing or two, Lizzie had uttered the sentence “I have never watched Lord of the Rings” for the absolute shock and disbelief of everyone who heard it. It had been settled there and then: Rodrigo (the self-declared greatest Tolkien fan) and Lizzie were to come over and binge-watch the trilogy at his place.

Of course they couldn’t get to the very end. Rodrigo left during the second film, claiming he had heaps of coursework he had yet to finish. Lizzie had stayed, even though she had pulled an all-nighter just the night before to submit an essay. She wanted to know what happened to Faramir. “He’s going to die, innit? Just like his brother.” Henry had brushed it off without telling her any spoilers. Well, it seemed she didn’t find out what happened to Faramir after all, since they both had fallen asleep in the middle of the third film. Henry was lying on his side and Lizzie was snuggled up against him, legs tucked inside his duvet. The bowl of snacks was half-turned on the coffee table, crisps and popcorn were everywhere. Her trainers were messily slumped on the floor. It was all very particularly Lizzie, just like old times. For a moment he debated with himself whether he should wake her or not; she looked so peaceful sleeping. He brushed a strand of golden hair falling on her face, tucked it behind her ear. There was a tingling sensation at the tip of his fingers, a strange pressure in his chest spreading through his body. He wanted to drag his fingertips across her cheek, feel the softness of her skin. Henry let out a quiet, heavy sigh. It wasn’t the right thing to do.

Henry reached for his phone lying on the coffee table, only so he could have something to occupy his hands with. He unlocked the screen and tapped to read the texts he received the previous night - the lads were sorting tickets for their next gig... his mum was asking about his week... and oh, there it was. An overly enthusiastic text from his boss François. At the beginning of his internship Henry had thought hitting off with the boss right away was a good thing. François was a thoroughly proud Breton, one who had been greatly happy to hear his intern had attended a lycée in France, and more specifically, in Brittany. Only now it meant Henry was bound to receive unwanted texts at all hours of the day and night. Suddenly it became a habit to ask Henry personal favours like fetching his relatives at the airport or buying his wife a gift. On top of all his normal responsibilities it was absurdly annoying, but Henry didn’t have much choice in the matter. He needed an internship if he were ever to graduate at Westminster that year. And Henry suspected that Pierre, François’ assistant, would be only too glad to see him go. No, Henry wasn’t a quitter - above all things, he’d stay at the company if only to spite Pierre Landais.

“HENRY!” He read his name the way François called him: Henri, à la française. “I’m giving you the OutCast’s account! I can’t think of anyone better suited for the task. I'm confident you’ll do a great job! Don’t forget to bring a full report by our next briefing. P.S.: Remind me to talk to Paul on Monday.”

Great, another account. Staring at the text he felt the familiar sting of anxiety worming its way into his brain. God, he felt like he needed a cigarette. He put his mobile aside, yet could not think of anything else other than starting the report right there and then, no matter how late in the night. If maybe he was sufficiently sneaky he might get to his laptop without waking Lizzie. He meant to move when he heard a sound. It was her, talking in her sleep. He kept very still and tuned his ears to listen. Amidst a bunch of incomprehensible words he heard “I’m a princess”. He looked at her, entirely bemused himself, and she was smiling. “I’m a princess”, she kept saying, “A dragon princess”. Henry had to suppress a laughter. She might have watched Lord of the Rings that night, but it seemed she was still thinking about the season finale of Game of Thrones. Lizzie mumbled some other words he couldn’t understand until he heard “That’s my home.” and “Henry”. What? Did he hear that right? Henry watched her face going into a frown. “No, no. Mr Dragon, please. Don’t destroy my home.” Henry gently poked her, trying to wake her. “Mr Dragon, please.” Henry started shaking her lightly. “Hey, Daenerys Targaryen, wake up. Wake up, Lizzie.” “Henry, no.” He gave her a hard shake and Lizzie woke up with a gasp.

“What? What?”

Lizzie pulled herself up into a sitting position, Henry following suit. He touched her arm, trying to direct her gaze to him. “Hey, hey. Lizzie, what happened? Was it a nightmare?” In the semi-darkness of the room, Lizzie was squinting her eyes at him. Her hair disheveled, her brows furred together, she had the look of someone who had just been run over by a car. She blinked hard for a few seconds. “Sorry?”

“You were talking in your sleep. It sounded rather bad, actually.” Lizzie hummed a negative response and averted her gaze. “I don’t know what you’re on about.”

Henry let out a growl. “Lizzie, c’mon! You must remember something. You just woke up!”

“I don’t- No. Absolutely not.” Lizzie shook her head in the clumsiest way. 

“So you’re telling me you don’t remember anything? At all?”

Her tone was final. “No.”

Lizzie had her blank face on, but it was all so positively plain she was lying, Henry decided to tease her a bit. He started by scratching his jaw. “Here’s what’s funny, though. You said you were a princess. Actually, there was a dragon from what I heard. Curiouser and curioser... I wonder if-” She covered her face with her hands. “Oh God! You heard everything, didn’t you?” Henry laughed aloud, a full-blown laughter he hadn’t had in days. He soon remembered it was late, so he stopped himself. “Lizzie, but why was I in your dream?” She started shaking her head again and he tapped her hand lightly. “Allons, allons! Don’t you deny it! I heard you saying my name.” Lizzie looked so distraught in her drowsy state that Henry almost pitied pressing her to talk. “I… Oh, alright, alright! You were there. You were the dragon.” Henry sputtered in laughter again. “I was the dragon!?”

Lizzie rolled her eyes, mocking his laughter. “Yes, you were the dragon. Sometimes you were this monstrous creature with big dragon wings and red scales and sometimes you were just like yourself, with your own face. I don’t know how to explain it, but that’s what happened. Happy?” Henry wiped the small tears leaking from the corners of his eyes. “Quite so.” By now he wanted to stop his chuckling, but her vexed expression was too much for him. He couldn’t resist taking the piss. “I’m sorry, Lizzie. But you should’ve seen your face.” She opened her mouth to offer some sly retort of her own, but instead she stopped mid-sentence and her eyes went wide. “What time is it?” Henry shrugged. “I don’t know. Late. Why?”

“I should- I should get going.”

“You’re sure? You can sleep here. I’ll prepare the bed for you and then I’ll take the sofa.” Lizzie frowned quizzically and started to slowly rub her eyes in circles, as if mulling over his offer. After some seconds though, she protested weakly. “Henry, no... You shouldn’t sleep on the sofa.”

“You’re my guest, Lizzie. Of course you get the most comfortable place to sleep.” And you’re not exactly suggesting we share the bed, are you?

She grunted. “Hmm… I don’t know.” She rubbed her eyes again, then suddenly lifted up her head as if a realisation had just struck her.  “Where’s the loo?” Henry gestured her the way. “Second door on the left.” His was a small flat, with just one bedroom. Lizzie slowly got to her feet and dragged herself across the corridor. She spent a long time in the loo, in fact she spent so much time there Henry was sure she was sleeping on the toilet. Henry had enough time to clean their mess and get to his laptop to start working on the report François had requested. He was beginning to wonder whether he ought to go over and knock on the door when he finally heard it unlocking. He saw Lizzie crossing the corridor and going straight into the kitchen, walking on wonky legs like a zombie. Eh bien! He should go and check on her, he thought, as his agile fingers hit the keyboard word after word.

Before he could move from his place, though, Henry heard a loud crashing noise followed by a cry and an emphatically uttered curse. He hastened to the kitchen only to find a mayhem of pots, pans, a variety of kitchen appliances, all lying on the floor and Lizzie simply standing there, rubbing her forehead. Henry hurried to her side as quickly as he could. “Lizzie! What happened?”

“The fuck is wrong with you?”

Henry blinked once, blinked twice. “Excuse me?”

“Why do you keep your kettle so high up there?” While keeping a hand on her forehead, she angrily pointed to the cabinet shelf she had just knocked over. Is she having a laugh? No, she was looking at him with accusing eyes. “Why don’t you keep your kettle on the counter like everyone else does?”

Henry scoffed. “I’m sorry Lizzie, but you could’ve used a stool or a chair, or better yet, you could’ve just called me to get it. Did you forget I was just in the other room?” He tried to keep his tone neutral, but obviously failed at keeping the sarcasm out of his voice.

“Well, maybe I don’t need you to do everything for me. Has it ever crossed your mind that I can do things by myself?”

Henry rolled his eyes so hard he thought he might see his brain. For fuck’s sake, he couldn’t believe he was arguing with Lizzie in his kitchen at 2 am. But Henry wasn’t so daft as to tell a woman to calm down. “Alright, miss independent. You come to the kitchen, absolutely knackered, and you expect everything to go splendid. Well, good luck with that.” 

For once Lizzie didn’t have a reply, she just kept moody and scowling as she bent down to pick up the things that had fallen from the cabinet. Henry let out a sigh, but crouched down to help her anyways. As he put his things back on the shelf he eyed her from over his shoulder. “Why did you even want the kettle for in the first place?” Lizzie simply shrugged. “I just wanted to make a cuppa. Something to wake me up before I went home.” Her lip pouting, she looked just like a sullen child. Henry couldn't resist smirking. “There’s coffee for that, you know.” He pointed to the italian moka pot conveniently placed atop the stove, a pristine steel appliance that granted his coffee a strong distinctive flavour. She narrowed her eyes at him. “You bloody well know I don’t drink coffee.”

All that conversation and Lizzie still kept the one hand on her forehead, Henry noticed. “Oh, sod it! Come here, let me see it.” He stepped closer and took her head in his hands as she warily removed her own to reveal a red swollen bump. He tried to keep the touch of his fingers light on her hair as his thumbs skimmed over her temples. “What hit you?” Lizzie shook her head slightly. “I’m not sure. It doesn’t matter anyway, it’s nothing.”

“It doesn’t look like nothing. It’ll probably look purple tomorrow.”  

“You think so?” Lizzie looked at him through long golden lashes. She had beautiful and expressive doe-like eyes, the sort that could hide thunderstorms behind the guise of sunlit skies. Her eyelids batted softly, but her gaze held a silent question mark on it. He dragged a thumb across her cheekbone, his voice low. “Are you alright? 

“Yeah.” Her reply came out just above a whisper, her chest rose and fell in cadence. There was something... something different shimmering in her pupils at that moment, he surely couldn’t be wrong about that. She said she’s not with Charles anymore, the thought came to his mind abruptly and unbidden. Henry hesitantly let his left hand fall to cup her cheek, afraid he might scare her. He glanced at her lips, rosy and tempting and inviting. She was just so fucking beautiful all the time, it was maddening. He realised that somewhere deep down his sense of pride was hurt; he had never thought he would ever play the fool in love. Do it, you air-headed, useless git. Just do it.

“Well, this is awkward.”

Henry froze. S h i t e. He looked back up to find Lizzie blinking uncomfortably. He instantly let go of her and straightened up. “It is, isn’t it?” He leaned back against the counter, his hands sagged inside his pockets. Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out of it. Henry went to the fridge, if only to do something to fill up the silence stretching between them. “I’ll get you some ice.” He fumbled for words. “You know... For the bump.”

Lizzie lowered herself to a chair and he handed her the ice rolled up in a towel. She thanked him with a half-smile and pressed it to her bump, but kept silent. “Your mother sent me an email a couple of days ago. She told me her hearing is coming up.” Henry said, searching for any topic of conversation whatsoever, but Lizzie didn’t look much pleased by that. “She did?”

Henry nodded. “She’s invited me to the hearing. Do you... Do you want me to go?”

“I- I mean, if you’re up for it. I don’t see why not.” 

An ominous silence fell on them again, so Henry reopened the fridge. “Are you hungry? I’ve got some of those red velvet cupcakes you like.” He had gone out to the nearest co-op the day before just to buy them specifically for Lizzie.

“There’s no need.” Lizzie blurted out, rising up from her seat and placing the towel on the table. “I should- I should just go home now.”

Henry turned back to her, closing the fridge door behind him. “Lizzie, are you fleeing from me?” He crossed his arms over his chest and faced her squarely. He was just so tired of playing games with her. She let out a not-so-genuine laugh as she left the kitchen. “What, me? Don’t be so absurd.” Henry followed her across the room. “Yes, you. I’m not sure why, but you’re fleeing from me.” As Lizzie bent over to grab her things, she let out an agonized puff-like scoff. “I am. Not.”

“Good. Cause if you are, and you forget something in your haste, I’m sorry but I’m not returning anything. You’ll have to come back here and get it yourself.”

Her expression changed, and she gave him a deliciously devilish smile. “I can think of a worse fate than that. Seriously, Henry. You've got to step up your game. You're severely lacking in imagination.” Bemused and half in awe, he couldn’t think of a reply; it seemed it was her turn to leave him speechless. As she got to the door, he hurried after her. “I’m walking you home.” He announced, rather than asking it. His former flat was just a few blocks away from his current place, but he didn’t trust Lizzie to go back there alone, no matter how many times she said London was a safe city. She only lifted an eyebrow at him. “If you insist.”

The way back to his former flat was short, their path punctuated by the myriad of pubs that populated the neighbourhood. The Red Lion, The Horn of Plenty, The Nag’s Head, The White Hart, all of them closed by the lateness of the hour. As they approached her building, Henry called her attention. "Lizzie, before I go I need to tell you something.” She turned to him with an inquisitive eye, her keys in hand, and Henry summoned his most serious voice. "I, the Welsh dragon, vow not to destroy your home. Do not despair." She let out a silvery cascading laughter. "Shut your gob, silly!" She slapped his arm lightly, but straightened his sleeve right after with a smooth motion. “So... If I understood you correctly, I’m invited to visit your place again.”

“Uhm, yes. Yes, absolutely. And Rodrigo as well, of course. We can sort another film night or something.”

“Right.” Her smile slowly died, and the silence that followed turned slightly awkward. “Well, goodnight to you.” As she turned to insert her keys in the door, Henry stepped back to leave. “Goodnight, Lizzie.”

“Henry, wait!” He turned back, only to be surprised by a peck on his cheek. “Thanks for walking me home.” 

He didn’t know how long he simply stood there, staring at her door after she had long vanished inside the building. He was grinning like a blinking idiot, the bloody fool. Down the street, drunk Londoners waddled their way home, brawled and shouted. The sirens of passing ambulances raged loudly off in the distance. Just a typical night in the city. Not for him, though. Not for him. The cold in the air nipped gently at his cheeks like the caress of a lover.

x

[princesstillyenna]

I’m an American and from your writing I would never guess that you’re British, are there any words, phrases or slang that you find your self editing out when you write? And would you ever consider writing a fic where you left it in?

Nonnie I love this question because UGH it gives me SO MUCH TO THINK ABOUT. Firstly, I am so SO pleased you think it's hardly noticable. This is because I have a LOVELY lovely crew of handy american and canadian friends who put up with me bugging them going "this character is from alberta and they want to say xyz what is the appropriate slang" (I also have gen z friends doing the same thing for when beezer has to speak)

That being said. Without a fucking doubt the hardest word not to use is wank. Crush is also super hard. Like, having a crush on someone is apparently not something you say in america? Like "I'm crushing on this guy"  (Edit: I am informed by one of my wonderful friends that it’s ‘fancy’ that I use wrong here, not crushing you guys do use that? But you don’t say that you fancy someone which is just fucked up. You should deffo say that) and yeah, not calling people wankers. That happens a lot in UK hockey. Oh my god, and I had a COMPLETE breakdown in a fic about wanting to use the phrase "Can I ask a cheeky question?" and my canadian friends not only telling me that you guys don't use that, but also THAT YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE CHEEKY AS A CONCEPT, like BRUV WHAT EVEN IS A CHEEKY NANDOS WITHOUT THE FUCKING CHEEKY. Cheeky is like 90% of my fucking personality. Americans must be BAFFLED by me. So yeah, sometimes I get completely broken by words that like, have no fucking translation. Also, ngl, my fic will never contain the word "spunky". And I'm fucking laughing just writing it. Heh. Spunk. (To you americans, that's one of the many words we use for jizz over here)

That being said, FOR a brit, I don't use a huge amount of slang (I talk fuckin proper innit) with only occasional westcountryisms slipping in before coffee in the morning. (And now I'm wanting to write a fic in which a player asks another player "So you're off on a roadie eh? Where's that bein to?" just to confuse the fuck outta y'all). Most of the time, to my shame, I sound like a fucking tory. 🤷‍♀️ (I'm not. A tory. At all.) and of course, I do edit my work. I know it doesn't seem like it half the fucking time, but I do.

If I were to write EIHL or NIHL fic I would totes leave it in, BUT my bestie who I love who got me into hockey fic is super squicked out by the concept of me writing stuff about our local NIHL boys and so out of deference to them, I tend not to (EVEN THOUGH OUR GOALIE AND HIS BEST D-MAN HAVE THE WORLDS MOST FUCKING ADORABLE BROMANCE GOING) But even then, I'd have to be checking my language because I'm super southern and they are both really fucking scottish. Hopefully I have enough scots roots that I could pull that off convincingly though. The temptation to write some Liam Kirk fic with his fucking gorgeous northern accent in though... that's strong. (Fun fact, I saw his big brother play a couple of weeks ago :D). Buuuut yeah, even writing NIHL or EIHL fic, the amount of variety in british slang not only between different geographical areas but also between different classes - There's very few hockey players who I WOULDN'T have to edit my own speaking language to sound like. (Possibly the closest in terms of age and geographical location would be the coach of our local team, but I'd still have to edit the fucking public school out of myself 🤷‍♀️)

Long story short. If there are any middle class, millennial, english hockey players from the south-west of england that you want me to write, I will 100% write you a fic in my natural speaking voice, all slang left in... I just somehow think you'll struggle to find one ;)

[yugirl]

August OTP

ship: Orichalcumshipping

Day 2: boat

A rubber dingy counts as a boat right? My Mum and I did this in the summer once and it was awesome, so have Jim and Axel goofing around while Axel struggles to understand what Jim is saying.

————-

[[MORE]]

“This is ridiculous!” Axel huffed as they sat in the inflatable boat, floating away from the pier.

“Yeah nah, you’re just too wound up mate so I thought we’d drift along the creek and have a little resta”

“A what? You mean a rest?”

“That’s what I said didn’t I?”

Axel rolled his eyes. He don’t know why he decided to come down south and visit the Australian. He guessed it was because he missed him after all this time since the dark world, in any case Jim was happy to see him and so was Shirley. But he had been a bit wound up lately. Probably due to never having actually been on a holiday before so he didn’t really know what to do…

Oh well, the Australian was certainly trying to help him relax and he appreciated that.

Axel watched as Jim pulled out a mini umbrella. He quirked an eyebrow in confusion as it was a standard Aussie sunny day with no cloud in sight “it’s not raining” he said, stating the obvious.

“It’s not for the rains mate, watch this.”

Jim opened the umbrella and the wind gust blew into it, causing the boat to drift faster along the creek.

“Whoa!” Axel chuckled as he leaned back against the boat to steady himself. “A miniature sail! Nice!”

“It gets the the job done! Now lie back, relax for the arvo”

Axel shrugged and lay back. To be honest it was nice. Just chilling in this dingy together letting the creek take them wherever.

Axel couldn’t help but dip his hand in the water only to be startled by the scaly head of Jim’s beloved croc peeking out of the water.

“Shirley!” He sighed relieved, of course the croc would swim along side them. It made sense. Better in the water than in the dingy with them.

“I wouldn’t dip my fingers mate, never know what nasty little blighters will try and have a nip atcha” Jim said gently.

“You’re telling me now!? How is this supposed to help me relax?!”

“Look they won’t come into the boat, Shirley’ll make sure of that, just lay your head back close your eyes and she’ll be apples”

Axel rolled his eyes but did as he was told. He wouldn’t lie, the heat beating down on him did make him want to take a nap. It was quiet peaceful all things considered.

An hour or so later they arrived at the nearest shore where Jim handed the rope to Shirley she she dragged the boat on land.

“You seemed to have a good snoozer!” Jim teased. Axel blushed or was it red from sun burn, either way it didn’t change the fact he did have a bit of a nana nap.

“Well I guess you could say she really was apples!” He chuckled to himself

“Not how you use the phrase, mate”

“Not my fault your slang doesn’t make any sense”

“Aw come off it, that’s an unfair cop!”

Axel laughed as they deflated the dingy.

“So we just hike back to the Jeep now?”

“Too right! and when we’re done we can go for a maccas run, or some cheeky nandos with the lads”

“What the fuck is a cheeky nandos?”

[ryanlockheart]

xander hadn't even really given it much thought about what would happen once he got to cambridge. he didn't realize that, with all the prestige and opulence around him, he might feel like he didn't belong. he was riddled with impostor syndrome already, but there alfie was to rid him of it. "i'm sure it wasn't, but still, i know i could use some work. that way i don't bother you at these hoity-toity events," xander offered up with a chuckle. "well, i'll be right there on your arm, as long as you'll have me. 's gonna be hard to get rid of me." the last thing he wanted to be was an imposition of alfie, but he'd found his first friend at cambridge... and xander was determined to make it last. "well, maybe that is a bit weird, but that doesn't make you a freak. there's nothing wrong with being tall... unless you're like in that tall girl movie, i guess," the redhead answered with a slight shrug. he couldn't help but chuckle at the prospect of anyone choosing him over alfie. that was the funniest thing he'd heard in awhile. "maybe you'll be pushing past people for your, ahem, 'sweet, sweet angel boy'... but i don't think anyone else'll notice me. 'specially not if 'm next to you. i mean, you're like... a statue of a greek god or somethin'. it's kinda crazy honestly," xander admitted sheepishly. a crimson shade took over his pale cheeks as an awkward laugh escaped his lips. the cat was sort of out of the bag — that xander took one look at alfie, and his heart was palpitating just getting a look at him. he'd never quite felt anything like that before. how did someone even manage to be so blessed? not just with the looks but with the privilege too. "o-oh... well, i guess that makes sense. i'd probably make a fool out of myself in front of 'em anyways, so it's just as well," xander offered up. he could hardly imagine going to a black tie event, let alone rubbing elbows with royalty. they were from two completely different worlds, but somehow, xander knew that would just cement their bond further. their differences would make them stronger. "'m always down for a good cheeky nando's. 's always lit," xander tried the word on for size — but somehow it felt like it didn't fit right in his mouth. his eyes widened a little at the thought of all the money being poured into him just for some clothing. he couldn't fathom why anyone would need anything quite like that, but xander couldn't protest. he'd already agreed to it, and all he really had to offer was his word. "well, you'll have to pick me out something nice. 'm hardly the most stylish person, as you could probably guess," he said with a sigh. "oh, boy... this is a lot to wrap my head around. you lot can be so confusing," xander teased with a chuckle. his pale features were still flushed, partially because he'd had to jog after the lanky male but then he was also still reeling from that comment. the last thing he needed to do was getting some kind of illicit fantasy going in his head... but it was too late. alfie had already planted the seed. "that how you expect me to repay you, alfie?" he questioned, laughing softly to mask the fact that he might have been just a teensy bit into that idea. "holy shit, thirty minutes? we're gonna look like absolute assholes walk — nevermind," xander stopped himself as he climbed atop the back of the bicycle. his lean arms wrapped around the younger boy's abdomen, cheek resting against one of his shoulder blades. "don't kill us, alfie. i know my hands are so soft they'll all you'll be thinking about, but keep your eyes on the road... or else 'm out a date for this fancy pants shit," he said playfully.

alfie couldn't explain, even to himself, why forging a relationship with alexander had become so important to him — maybe he was attempting to get in karma's good graces after his last term, maybe he genuinely liked xander, or maybe it was a little bit of both. at the heart of it, alfie didn't want to see yet another first year eaten alive by cambridge's social hierarchy. "i'm sure you're plenty fun, xander... that isn't what i meant," alfie chuckled, gently grazing the smaller boy's arm. "i just meant that i don't want you to hole up in this room all year, out of fear that you won't be welcomed at these stupid cambridge events... anywhere i'm at, you have an invite." he could see that xander hadn't allowed himself much grace, that he'd spent his entire life working toward his aspirations — but he'd made it, and if alfie could help ease his way at all, then that's what he wanted to do. "i dunno, mate. everyone in my family's short, and — at least to my knowledge — my mum's never had an affair with a skyscraper. i'm a total freak of nature, like i said," he chortled. "xander, xander, xander... we gotta get you to stop talking about yourself like that, dear sweet angel boy. you won't be following me around like a lost puppy, because everyone's gonna love you so much they'll be pushing past me to get to you. i swear." cambridge university was a place that people dreamt of, but not many people actually got to experience. xander was of the few who could say that they made it in on a scholarship, which meant that there had to be something special about the boy. "it's not as sick as it sounds... he always has security around, and don't even get me started on the queen. rest in peace, of course... but christ, what a dreadful old wench," alfie rambled, glad to see the other boy was slowly warming up to him. not many people could keep up with someone as wildly eccentric and outspoken as alfie, but xander was trying to give him a shot. and it felt genuine, which was something the posh boy wasn't used to. "i think it might be lit these days, but i can't say that the food will be all that good... but i can promise to take you out for nando's after its over?" he offered with a gentle laugh. alfie could ensure that xander had a good time, that much was certain. "well, i was planning to buy you two suits... with socks and shoes and monogrammed cufflinks, but those will have to be ordered custom," alfie said plainly. "and no! it's not a gift to me, it's a gift to you to say thank you for accompanying me to this boring event." alfie was out the door before anything else to be said, and xander was there next to him by the time he caught his breath. he pushed the doors to trinity hall open and made his way to the bicycle rack. "maybe i am serious, you never know with me," he said with a devious smirk, offering his helmet to xander. "i, alfred carmichael, solemnly swear to let you repay me for the suit, so long as you actually let me buy it for you. for now, put that on and hop on the back. wrap your arms around me, and hold on tight — because the shop clothes in half an hour and it takes twenty minutes to get there on a bike."

[dragonoffantasyandreality]

Kamen Rider Thunderbirds Chapter 3 (Bit 5 End)

Prologue, Bit 1, Bit 2 Updated, Bit 3, Bit 4 

Finaaaly! I finished Chapter 3! :D

Big thank you for @janetm74 for the beta read, thank you @myladykayo for helping me through the story. Tagging @willow-salix, @katblu42, @gumnut-logic and @dreamycloud)

So let’s end this chapter, right? :)

-0-0-0-

“So you are saying that you’ve been attacked by some unknown monsters?” Jeff asked, his fingers gripping the paper. The bandaged up boys nodded.

“Yeah. And we believed it was a set up." Virgil pointed out.

"It seemed like deliberate sabotage by those… things, so we came in and fell into their trap." Scott theorized. He continued explaining: in fact, the way the fires started was suspicious, the flames appeared in random parts of the building, according to the recent investigations. And according to the testimonies of the rescuees who were trapped underground, the humanoid fire-monsters appeared out of nowhere and they are the ones who started the whole fires, and then… they were simply waiting. The field commander finished that the poor fellas acted as bait for the monsters to finish him and his brothers off.

"Long story short: they were after our heads apparently." Gordon concluded.

Their father had a look of extreme concern. To think those threats with impossible yet fantastic power to bring down a building were after his sons was very alarming and pose a threat to their lives and security. Here he thought that time where they had to save the world from a mind-controlling alien sphere was a close call!

"Thank heavens the Kamen Riders came and saved us!" Alan chirped, his ocean eyes sparkled like stars with memories.

"Yes. You guys are very lucky. And those rescuees as well." Agreed Jeff, "However, we don’t know if we could trust those bug-eyed warriors.”

“But dad! They saved us!” Argued the youngster, “They saved us from these creatures! I am pretty sure they are our allies! Friends even!”

"Alan! We don't even know who they are!" Pointed out Gordon.

The young blonde crossed his arms and gave the most dramatic pout. Jeff sighed, gently shaking his head with a slight sympathetic smile, “They may be on our side now, but we still don’t know what their intentions are. Especially when they got those… other-worldly powers. So take their alliance with caution.” he said sternly.

The brothers nodded in agreement, including Alan who simply cocked his head to the side. They did tell John about the whole thing, in which the middle brother had mixed feelings. Concerned, relieved and interested. But mostly worried.

After the debrief, the atmosphere was a lingering silent worry.

“Hey kiddo, don’t be upset.” Gordon smiled optimistically.

“You sure?” Huffed his youngest brother.

“Yeah. As much as I am suspicious about them, I am also curious.” his innocent smile turned into a cheeky smirk.

Alan’s grumpy face slowly transformed into that of an excited gremlin that the redhead knew and loved, “Alright! How about we go talk to Brains? See what he thinks of this rescue.”

Gordon grinned, “Right behind ya, Sprout!”

And soon enough, the terrible two vanished through the door of the lounge, their excited feet echoed through the halls.

“What do you think of the Kamen Riders, Scott?” asked Virgil, placing a gentle hand on his older brother’s shoulder. 

Scott shrugged, “I don’t know.” He was mostly worried about those monsters. Those… things. What are they after? Why do they want International Rescue dead? Of course it was only one time, but what if they do it again? He was beginning to feel dread. Being possessed by an alien was bad enough, but almost getting burned alive by monstrous animal-headed gladiators with powers to control fire was out of the question!

“You know, I do have a hunch that our bug-eyed acquaintances are on our side.” admitted Virgil, “But, I also have a feeling that we’ll meet them again, considering the circumstances.”

Scott looked back at his brother. Sky blue meets earthly brown. There was a silent conversation. An understanding. And then a nod from the eldest brother. They sat there in compassionate silence.

The quiet must’ve been killing his brother, because all of the sudden the mechanic asked, “Say, would you like to play the piano again?”

“Why’s that?” Scott raised a brow.

“My fingers are sore from fixing the Mole in a rush back there.” Virgil smiled with a little embarrassment, as he revealed his bandaged hands.

Scott gently tapped his brother’s shoulder with a chuckle. He got up from the couch and walked over to Virgil’s beloved white piano. He sat on the stool once more, opened the lid and stretched his fingers, “What should I play?” 

“Anything, I don’t mind.” His musical brother shrugged, standing beside him.

As Scott thought which song to play, his mind drifted back to the moment when he looked into the eyes of the golden Rider. It seemed to him that there was something warm behind those bug-eyes… something human. Scott wondered if there's a sensitive soul behind that mask.

Maybe it was just in his mind, maybe it was not true, but it made him relax. Pressing the keys, he began playing a familiar, jazzy beat as he remembered that moment. After a few repeats of the rhyme, he went to the main part of the song.

“Ah, my favorite! Take Five!" Jeff exclaimed, "Just like you guys.” he chuckled.

Scott smiled at his father as a response. There were some remnants of his stress, but it didn't bother him as much as he was in the morning. Jeff gave him a relieved nod before continuing doing paperwork, quietly humming and tapping his foot to the beat. Virgil smiled widely at his brother before humming as well and snapping his fingers along with the melody of the immortal piece of Paul Desmond.

Scott jumped into improvising like he was here to woo the girls at a party. As he was playing, he thought back of their victory. And his tension melted away. Outside the villa, the soothing music echoed through the beautiful nature of the island and into the night sky.

-0-0-0-

The moon shone in the night sky and the cold was a constant companion. The sounds of distant cars driving through the streets could be heard from the top of the skyscrapers. On one of them stood four figures, taking their time enjoying the view from above.

The Kamen Riders were resting after the heated fight. Gills was leaning on a wall next to the entrance, between his legs lay his loyal dog. G3-X was finishing writing a report of the fight on his custom laptop. Kuuga was laying on top of the entrance, admiring the stars. And Agito was standing near the railing, staring into the lights of the city.

"Oi, Agito!" called Kuuga all of a sudden. The golden Rider turned to his best friend.

"Nando(What is it)?" asked Agito.

"Why wouldn’t you come up here and watch the stars?” suggested the red Rider, "It's beautiful up there."

"How can you see stars from here?" objected G3-X, "Ya can't see Shiitake with all those slagging city lights!"

"They can see them through their visors," scoffed Gills, making the robocop Rider whistle a sound of realization before turning back to his computer. 

Raider looked up and tilted his head as if trying to see them, but after a few moments he gave up as he put his canine head back to the ground.

Agito had taken a moment to stare at the city, then moved towards the entrance, climbed and sat next to Kuuga.

"Not too cold buddy?” the red Rider asked, only to receive a shake of the head from his golden companion. The two took a moment to appreciate the stars in the cold night sky. Few stars faintly glowed in the dark sky.

"Man, can't believe we just met with International Rescue in person!" excitedly said Kuuga, "I gotta say, they are quite tough guys, ne? Especially Noodle, he looks quite young!"

"Noodle?" asked the golden rider in confusion.

"The blond kid! The one I saved from falling into a ravine and returned the gun to?" Kuuga sensed Agito raising an eyebrow that cannot be seen from the cover of his mask. "We should give them nicknames. To… you know, to know who's who we're talking about?" He explained, shrugging.

A sparkle of mirth could be faintly seen behind the faceted eyes of his friend, a warm smile could be felt radiating from his breath. "Sure...But why the blond kid 'Noodle'?"

"Because his blonde hair reminded me of noodles. And to be honest, 'Noodle' sounds kawaii~! Don’t you think he looks kawaii, ne?” A big grin was radiating from behind the mask of the red Rider. Agito laughed wholeheartedly. Kuuga continued, "The auburn hair guy; I think we'll call him 'Kuma'! He looks so serious, strong and tough, like a bear! Remind me of someone…"

The golden Rider laughed again as he nodded. "So um… shall we call the leader 'Sky Eyes'?"

Kuuga rubbed his silver chin for a bit, "Hmm…the one who pilots that big-hyper-speedy-rocket-jet thingy? Why's that?" he asked.

"Because… his eyes reminded me of the sky...” The red Rider saw the sparkling human eyes behind Agito’s red bug-like lens. Kuuga nodded, agreeing that the name was well suited for the blue sashed commander.

"What about the redhead guy? What should we call him?" asked G3-X as he looked up at the two Riders, seemingly curious.

"Clownfish..." Gills dropped the answer. There was an awkward pause. "He smelled fishy..." He deadpanned. Everyone laughed, acknowledging his typical 'I don't care, deal with it' attitude as they accepted his answer.

"Noodle, Kuma, Sky Eyes and Clownfish. Sounds good for our mystery gang of rescuers!" Kuuga clapped and rubbed his hands excitingly

Agito chuckled softly before looking back at the stars once more. The more he stared at the little faint glistening lights, the more the made him think of sky… sky eyes… the man whose eyes were always drawn to the sky.

He felt a warm feeling as he remembered those cobalt irises. He wondered why he felt like that. He barely knows that man, let alone the fact that International Rescue seemed to keep themselves secret. Maybe he'll never know. But one thing for sure, they'll cross paths again. Because of those things...

Those kaijins… they were new. He had never seen them before. And they are as aggressive and dangerous as disasters. Agito… Yuuki sensed that whatever they were, they seemed to be after International Rescue. But for what? And why?

The answer will remain unknown, for now...

-tbc-

[rolypolydandy]

Tagged by @kitthefox 💖

1. Why did you choose your URL?

As a very niche reference to an extremely obscure YouTube video that I wouldn't even know how to find any more. But it just feels right you know, I can't change it now

2. Any side blogs?

Nah you gotta put up with all my nonsense in one place

3. How long have you been on tumblr?

Since 2010 which makes me ancient on this site I think. But I had a 5 year-ish hiatus between 2015 and 2020 when I briefly forgot my password

4. Do you have a queue tag?

Nah cba

5. Why did you start your blog in the first place?

Why indeed. I have no idea, don't remember

6. Why did you choose your icon?

Bc Nobby Nobbs IS an icon

7. Why did you choose your header?

*~Rocketcore aesthetic~*

8. What's your post with the most notes?

I'm not 💯% sure but I think it's some cheeky nandos OC from when that was a thing in like 2012? lol, I peaked a long time ago

9. How many mutuals do you have?

I wouldn't know how to find out

10. How many followers do you have?

993 but I think a lot of them are from the olden days and are now inactive or sell raybans.

11. How many people do you follow?

858, but see above. I should prob clear some out

12. Have you ever made a shitpost?

Everything I say on and offline is a shitpost

13. How often do you use tumblr each day?

Idk??

14. Have you ever had a fight/argument with another blog. Who won?

Nah sounds like hard work

15. How do you feel about 'you need to reblog this' posts?

Usually ignore. Dw folks, not reblogging something on tumbler dot corn doesn't make you a bad person I promise

16. Do you like tag games?

Yeah although if I'm working I'll end up doing them like a week later but tag me anyway I always get there

17. Do you like ask games?

I never reblog them for some reason but I like doing other people's

18. Which of your mutuals do you think is tumblr famous?

Is Tumblr famous a thing? I thought only Neil Gaiman came anywhere near that status

19. Do you have a crush on a mutual?

Every single one of them

20. Tags?

Fuckin tag yourselves at this point I can only type on mobile for so long

[sincerelyreidburke]

Sleepover anon here, can i be cheeky and say, why not both? :))

Dear sleepover anon, let me firstly apologize profusely for my delay in this answer. Here’s the original sleepover anon ask, for those who never saw it, and I am so sorry that it’s taken me longer than it should have to answer you.

In a glitch of Tumblr, your follow-up ask (this one) sent twice! So I have another, identical ask from you in my inbox. Which I find fitting, given that you asked to see two different things!

So, first: Quinn and Nando’s very first sleepover. Set the same night as this fic! Thank you very much, anon, for waiting.

(Ask me anything about the crickets!)

//

Sebastián is a good kisser.

Well. It’s not as if Quinn really has anyone else to compare him to, exactly. Of course, there are the handful of stage kisses he’s had, but those have all been acting, and all with girls— nothing attached to him. And his first kiss with a boy— his only one, until about an hour ago tonight— was nothing more than an awkward party dare, a brief thing that left him over-analyzing and emotionally confused for weeks. He counted that, before tonight, as his first kiss— but now he thinks maybe he shouldn’t.

Because this— tonight, with Sebastián, from the first kiss in the lobby at Meelia all the way back to winding up curled up in his bed with him— this , he knows, is what it’s supposed to feel like. And given that he’s pretty sure he’s able to imagine what a bad kiss would be like, he knows that Sebastián is good at it.

At first, he’s a little self-conscious. Sebastián has a bit more experience than he does, and he knows that, and he knows none of that past experience really matters tonight, but it still puts him at a slight disadvantage in terms of figuring out how this goes. But the longer he sits there, wrapped up in this little nest of the blankets in his bed, in this cute boy’s arms, the more that worry dissolves.

He can’t focus on much, if he’s being honest, except the way it feels to actually kiss him.

Sebastián is warm, and he’s holding him by the waist, so strong and so big that Quinn could just about disappear into the embrace. He’s tucked up in his lap, and he thinks his lips might be a little swollen by now, but he isn’t sure he ever wants to move.

They take a pause to breathe, and Quinn opens his eyes for the first time in what feels like quite a little while. Sebastián is smiling; his dimples are prominent, and the string lights catch in his warm brown eyes. “Is this okay?” he whispers, with all the gentle care in the world in his voice. “You’d say if it was too fast?”

“Oh, goodness, of course it’s okay.” Quinn reaches to cup his round cheek in one hand. He feels so hot in the face that he knows he’s blushing all over. That’s alright, though. He doesn’t mind blushing for him. “It isn’t too fast at all.”

“Okay.” Sebastián looks so adorably eager. His curls are still a little damp from the shower he took after his game, and Quinn tries how it feels to run his hand through them. He leans into his touch, then, with that huge smile persisting, adds, “I— I really like kissing you.”

“So do I,” Quinn replies, because gosh , does he ever. He tries pressing a kiss to his dimple, right at the edge of his mouth. Sebastián lets off the softest little hum.

Goodness, he’s not just a cute boy anymore. This is his boyfriend .

Quinn is having a good day .

He pulls Quinn by the hips just a little, settling him more evenly in his lap. And Quinn knew, when he started seeing him, that there would come a time (if all went well) that he’d be man-handled; he imagined that many times, but tonight he’s been lifted off the ground two separate times and now he’s just moving him like it’s nothing and— goodness. He’s such a fan of their size difference.

“You just, uh—” Sebastián says. “Tell me if you need to take a breather or anything, okay?”

“Of course.” Quinn nods. He rests his palm on his chest, near the lettering on his sweatshirt. (He still plans on stealing that sweatshirt, especially now that they’re official.) “And you do the same.”

“Yeah,” Sebastián says, with a nod of his own. His curls bounce a little, which is more adorable than should be legal. “Yeah, for sure.”

And then Quinn can’t resist; he kisses him again, and it is all they do for such a long time. There’s nothing in the world tonight but this— a cocoon of blankets, the pride flag soft-lit by the string lights, the smell of his shampoo, the way his strong arms feel around his waist.

And the sheer joy, the sheer satisfaction, of finally getting to kiss this boy.

He’s not sure how long they just sit there. When they pause for more than a few seconds, it’s not even because of anything either of them does; somebody outside in the hallway passes the door, talking so loudly they can hear him from in here. It wouldn’t be notable, except whichever hallmate it is is cursing like a sailor. “... we’re fuckin’ getting turnt the fuck up tonight!”

Quinn glares through the door over his shoulder, like it’ll shut Marcus from room 304 up, but alas; his loud footsteps disappear without further incident or reprimand. Sebastián, meanwhile, chuckles, and says, “Well, he’s ready to party.”

“Party,” Quinn echoes. “It’s— goodness, it’s too late to party.”

Sebastián chuckles a little. Quinn looks back at him, meets his eyes again. “Too late to party, huh?” he hums, in this little teasing voice. “Y’know, you’re dating me now— you’re gonna see how hockey guys party.”

Quinn literally giggles into his chest— goodness, he’s gone on him, isn’t he? And he doesn’t mind one bit. To hear him talk about the fact that they’re together is so new, so good. “You’re right,” he replies, nodding, with his cheek pressed into the sweatshirt’s neckline. It smells like boyfriend. “You’re absolutely right. I will have to see that, won’t I?”

Sebastián kisses the top of his head, then gives him a tight squeeze. “That and so much more,” he murmurs, and, just… gosh .

Quinn doesn’t want him to leave.

He doesn’t have to, he realizes. But he has to have been here at least forty-five minutes, caught up in all this kissing— and he hopes he isn’t thinking he’s intruding or anything. Quinn should vocalize it. “Sebastián…” he begins, in a voice that comes out soft. “I know it’s late, but… don’t go anywhere.”

Sebastián chuckles a little. He squeezes him around the waist with one arm ( one arm , winding around his whole person!) and replies, “Baby, trust me; there is nowhere I’d rather be right now.”

It’s all Quinn needs to hear.

They swap more than a few kisses in that same spot, him tucked into his lap, but then somehow wind up under the covers. “Do you—” Quinn holds up his comforter, as he makes the proposition. “— want to go under?”

Sebastián, who, by the way, takes up half his bed in the best way possible, studies him for a moment. “Under the covers?” he asks.

Quinn winches at himself a little. “Is that weird? I’m sorry.”

“Wait, hey— no.” He leans to kiss him, and Quinn near melts; it’s a soft kiss but such a sweet one all the same. “No, baby.” His huge smile is back. “That’s not weird at all .”

They wind up snuggled under the covers, Quinn stretched out across his chest, with his leg hooked around his waist. Sebastián props himself against the headboard a little with a pillow, and it is the ideal little kissing position. Except maybe being in his lap, but Quinn is drowsy, and the kisses have grown sweet and lazy. He’s not sure he ever wants to move.

It’s not their first time having a little cuddle session in his bed, but this feels distinctly different from their movie-watching session last weekend.

It’s like an upgrade.

And Quinn is so content, in fact, that he barely pays it any mind when they ditch the making out in favor of just resting there together. Sebastián rubs his back, slow circles with a huge, warm hand, and Quinn rests his head against his chest, closing his eyes with his cheek pressed into the soft sweatshirt again. He hums a little, and then decides there’s only one thing that could make this more relaxing.

But will he think it’s weird? He hopes not. “Sebastián?”

The smoothest, most contented voice in the world answers him. With his head on his chest, he can feel him speak, and it’s so, so soothing. “What’s up, baby?”

“Do you, um…” He swallows, takes a little breath. “Do you mind if I take my hearing aids out?”

“Oh!” Sebastián is nodding, and he looks up to see him as he adds, “I don’t mind at all. If that’s comfortable for you?”

“It’s very comfortable,” he confesses. “I tend to turn them off or take them out when I’m in here. But if you’d rather keep talking…”

“Oh, no— no, you should take them out,” Sebastián says. “If you want to, then definitely.”

“Okay.” He unwraps his hand briefly from his chest, to bring it to his ear. “If you’re sure?”

Sebastián kisses his forehead. “Positive.”

So he turns them off, then takes them out, rolling over halfway to put them into their case on the nightstand. The world is peacefully noiseless, just the way he likes it, and when he rolls back over to snuggle up with him again, he tries speaking. I, um… he starts, and he can feel himself, but not hear himself, of course. I do have a small speaking voice without them, but— I can’t hear it, so— I’m sorry if I’m being loud? I never quite know.

He sees and feels Sebastián laugh, then shake his head.

And I can read your lips decently  , he adds. Plus, I’ll feel you—

It's okay, baby, he watches him say, and wonders if he’s whispering. The vibration doesn’t feel that heavy in his chest. You don’t have to  ... different than ... normal.

He nods. Thank goodness for the fact that he understands.

He kisses him once, and their lips are still a little wet, which feels nice, actually. Sebastián holds the back of his head for its duration, then smiles at him when they pull away, kissing each of his cheeks before he lets him settle back down.

Quinn snuggles into his chest, draping his legs across his under the comforter, and lets out all his breath in one go.

This is so nice.

It’s so nice, in fact, that he doesn’t even notice when Sebastián’s rubbing on his back gets slower and slower, then stops altogether. He just rests there, not asleep but not quite alert, either, and lets the time pass as it pleases. What does it matter if it’s late?

But something does matter. And he only realizes when he decides he wants another kiss, and lifts his head to get one.

Sebastián’s eyes are closed. At first, he thinks he’s just resting, the way he himself was a moment ago. But when he nudges him a little, thumbs at his cheek, his eyes stay closed. And that’s when Quinn realizes that his gigantic hockey boyfriend of a few hours has fallen asleep in his bed.

Oh, goodness.

It’s not a bad thing, right? All they were doing is cuddling. And gosh, this is college ; people meet and hook up all in the same night. His boyfriend accidentally falling asleep in his room is far from scandalous; it’s perfectly alright. As long as Sebastián is alright with it.

Maybe he should wake him, to be sure. He nudges him again, and tries a whisper. Sebastián?

But either he’s too quiet or Sebastián is a deep sleeper, or maybe both. He’s breathing deep, and his eyes stay closed, and he’s not waking.

Quinn feels a little bad. They hadn’t brushed their teeth, or anything. He’s not sure exactly what Sebastián’s bedtime routine is, but he’s quite certain he’s just deprived him of it in its entirety. And goodness, what if Ben is waiting up for him? He hopes he isn’t.

He doesn’t want to disturb him— he really doesn’t want to do that. He looks so peaceful, and he’s so warm, and the position he’s fallen asleep in feels like it would be the ideal one to remain in all night long. But if they’re really going to do this, and Quinn is going to let him spend the night in here— well, he should at least brush his teeth and get the lights.

So he does. He unwraps from him, rolls out of bed, and pads over to his bathroom caddy, where he pulls out his brush and toothpaste, then makes the short walk over to the bathroom. After a quick stop there, he swipes back into his room, closes the door firmly behind him, and hears it lock itself again. He wonders if he’s made a ruckus, and if that will wake him. But Sebastián is still asleep.

And if he is, then so he is.

Quinn certainly doesn’t mind it.

He turns off the string lights, then crawls back into bed, pulling the comforter over the both of them. Sebastián’s arms tug back around him in his slumber, and he presses his cheek into his sweatshirt again, and he sighs.

He hopes, when he wakes up in the morning, that Sebastián will be alright with this.

But until morning, he’ll just lay here, in his arms.

*

Nando didn’t mean to fall asleep in Quinn’s room.

In fact, when he wakes up in the morning, he doesn’t even register right away that he is in Quinn’s room. All his initial thoughts are just warm and snuggly and, when he opens his eyes, cute boy cute boy cute boy . Quinn has his arm draped across his chest, and he’s dead asleep in the morning light, lips still just a little swollen from last night.

And that’s when he realizes.

He doesn’t feel like it’s a problem , really. Like, they’re officially dating now, and even though he’s pretty sure Mama would have his head on a spit if she knew he’d fallen asleep with his new boyfriend on the same night they kissed for the first time, well… she’s 2,000 miles away, and this little secret can be his and Quinn’s to share.

He really, really likes the way Quinn looks in his arms.

Quinn wakes slowly, when he does, and Nando isn’t sure how long he’s been up when it happens. He shifts against his chest, then blinks a few times, bright blue-green eyes all hazy in the morning light through the window. He moves his head, tips it up to look at him, and then, with the tiniest little hum, he inches up to eye level and kisses him slowly.

Jeez. Nando is in deep.

“Good morning,” he murmurs, when they pull away. He makes sure Quinn is looking at him when he adds, “I… I’m sorry I fell asleep without meaning to.”

Quinn shakes his head with a little smile. His speaking voice is different, when he can’t hear himself, and it’s the cutest shit Nando has ever heard. “I’m okay with it if you are,” he whispers.

Nando nods rapid-fire, which is so, so overenthusiastic, but he doesn’t care at all how he appears. He knows it won’t matter to Quinn. “I am,” he tells him.

Quinn smiles bigger. Nando kisses that smile, and the morning melts into more of the same from last night.

Jeez, he really likes this boy.

When, some time later, he’s getting ready to head out for the roadie bus, Quinn sits on the edge of his bed and swings his socked feet. “You know, Sebastián,” he says, “if, um… if you were okay with staying here last night?”

Nando nods at him, as he’s fishing his slides up from where he left them last night on Quinn’s little white rug. “Yeah?”

“I…” Quinn pauses to bite his lip, which is so hot that Nando almost trips over the rug trying to get his slides on. “I’m not opposed to that happening again,” he says.

Nando’s stomach flutters. He smiles at him, so big, and says, “Oh— really?”

“Really.” Quinn nods. He’s smiling, too. “Just… my door is open, I guess?”

Nando laughs. He crosses the small room to cup his face in his hands and kiss him. Quinn giggles against his mouth, and it’s a very good sound.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he hums, as smooth as he can manage, and Quinn swats his chest, laughing with his forehead pressed to his.

“I bet you will,” he says. “Oh, and— one more thing?”

“Sure thing, baby.” He brushes the swoop in his hair; he still has a case of bed head. “Your wish is my command.”

Quinn’s smile looks sneaky, all of a sudden. He looks him up and down, then bats his eyelashes. Jeez. Nando is so fucking gay.

Quinn tips his head to the side. “Can I have your sweatshirt?”

[radramblog]

Australian Fast Food Tier List

Idk ive got work tonight so I’ve got fast food on the mind, found a listing for aussie fast food tiers. Theres a few not on here, so I’m going to slot those in where appropriate- it doesn’t say so when you click on it, but the url implies that this is Victoria-centric so makes sense that some of the smaller Perth-based shops aren’t on there.

(the tier list can be found here)

Never Been/Not in Perth

I mean this one is pretty obvious. Just the ones I haven’t been to or that I’m pretty sure aren’t in this side of the country. Apparently Lord of the Fries is pretty good, but to my knowledge there’s only one around and its in the middle of the CBD so fuck that.

Lukewarm Trash tier

Like, at least with hot trash it’s fresh. Or recently microwaved at least.

I don’t really have a solid comment for Pizza Hut, but there aren’t many around anyway. Like, at least in my parts of Perth, it’s 10 Dominos for every Pizza Hut. So I don’t really know- maybe it’s fine, but I haven’t had it much and when I did it wasn’t great.

KFC is overrated but I’m also extremely biased. I just don’t really like fried chicken like other people do, I didn’t grow up on it at all. I’ve had burger from there like twice, one of them was awful, and the other is tied to an overall shit experience, so.

Hungry Jacks (aka burger king for the not Australians) is also pretty bad, but they at least have pretty good chips. I just feel bad for the people working in the HJs building that my work used to inhabit, that store is a shithole and I do not miss it.

Chicken Treat isn’t on this tier list, but this is where it would go. I think it’s just a WA thing? I’m genuinely not sure how that company/franchise is still alive, I never see anyone go there. It’s just Red Rooster but like, infinitely worse.

Hot Trash tier

Dominos, babyyyyy. Maybe you’d get a few more points if I didn’t have to deal with your ads everywhere constantly. It’s just greasy and awful pizza, and I’ve been having/making homemade pizza since I was a kid, so I know it isn’t hard to make it not shit. Unfortunately, it’s also a common default option.

Maccas is just about as bad as HJs/KFC, but I get a discount since I work there, and I know what to not order as well. Not that I ever get anything aside from the occaisionaly coffee. It’s not that bad, surprisingly, unlike the fries (I refuse to call them chips) which are the worst out of any fast food place I’ve ever had.

Oporto is like, another chicken place, but there aren’t many of them around, and they’re comically overpriced for somewhere that’s going to be not especially high quality. Wouldn’t recommend.

Acceptable tier

Mad Mex is extremely overpriced and not that great! That makes it the worst of the Mexican type places. The other Mexican places are substantially better.

Krispy Kreme has a funny history around here, but at this point, the novelty of having it around again has worn off. Their donuts just aren’t that great, especially all the fancy ones they try to do- leave that to the better shops, hey? Original glazed is still ok, at least.

Subway has lost a lot of luster over the years, and finding out their bread is as bad as ours at maccas (possibly worse??) was a hell of a feeling. It’s just super mediocre, and this is coming from someone who used to go there all the time. The one on campus is always comically busy, too.

Red Rooster gets on here largely based on nostalgia I think, because that was the one we went to when I was younger. It also has the best chips of anything on this list, only beaten out by Jester’s Pies, which isn’t on this list (I assume it’s a WA thing). Jester’s would be on this tier- the pies are decent, not my favourite, never going to beat a local bakery, but yknow the chips are great.

This is also the place on the list where I’d put Pastacup- they’re pricey and it’s only gotten worse over the last little bit but it’s filling and warm and solid so I’ll give them a bump.

Decent tier

A cheeky nandos never goes unappreciated, but I think the reverence some people have for it is a bit much. With that said, I dunno how people go about ordering the very hot sauce, like I’m not the worst with spices but with Hot I could barely taste my paella through the burning.

Guzman y Gomez are probably better than I’m giving them credit for, but last time I went I ordered no beans and they gave me beans. Fuck you, boys.

Cold Rock is… wait what is an Ice Cream place doing here? Didn’t I already talk about these… wait but apparently I missed this one. Cold Rock is a group I didn’t know were in Australia for a long time, having visited one when I was in California at some point (i…think?) and they’re pretty solid as far as ice cream chains go.

This is also the tier where Wokinabox goes, being just like a good stir fry place but as a chain. I wouldn’t go there over a local shop, but it’s solid in spots where there aren’t any around.

Good tier

I didn’t talk about New Zealand Natural in my Ice cream review deliberately because I didn’t think there were any still in the city, but no apparently there’s like 3, just nowhere near me. I’m going to bias a New Zealand based company over a US one, sue me.

…wait, papparich is a chain? And it’s fast food? ….okay????? I didn’t know but sure it’s real solid

Zambreros over GyG might be a controversial pick but Zambreros packs those burritos real thick and that’s the way ya boi likes it. Putting it up in top tier next to Grill’d (its just decent burgers mate) makes me look like a basic bitch but that’s ok.

Top tier

….nothing, mate.

There isn’t a single chain of fast food places I’d put at top tier, because that’s reserved for places I’d go out of my way for, and none of them make that cut. Don’t believe in it. It’s a bit wank maybe, but fuck you? Gottem.

For real though, there are a few shops I can think of that do takeaway that I would put in the top tier, but they aren’t chains at all, so I’m not gonna bother for this. Just throw your local Thai place in, the local fish and chips, that one kebab place that gives you extra hummus. You know the ones.

[thenightlymirror]

So, normal etiquette is that as soon as they know I have a call, the dispatcher should send you there so that you get there and know exactly how much time you will be sitting there before the call. Maybe, say, get some cheeky Nando’s in the area.

But no. This dispatcher prefers the power move (that’s all it is) of waiting until the exact moment you would get to the scene exactly on time, and won’t send you a moment earlier. Easier for them, but for us, we basically have to sit wherever we are anxiously waiting to know where we might go, and you can’t reasonably do anything, get any lunch (12 hour shifts with no lunch breaks to begin with).

So no cheeky Nando’s. I’ve never even had cheeky Nando’s.