#colin hughes fanfic

[lassofics]

Air Jordans

Word count: 923

Timeline: Season 1

Warnings: None

Summary: Keeley teams up with Colin for a product promotional video, but Colin is hilariously awkward on camera.

“Aw, Colin! You look stunning!” Keeley exclaims excitedly, bounding up to him with a wide grin.

Colin, dressed in his kit, just offers her a hesitant smile. “I’m… literally just wearing my kit.”

Keeley lets out a laugh. “No, I’m talking about your eyes. Is that… mascara?”

Colin just groans, knowing full well what the makeup artist had done. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”

Keeley grins, then just makes her way over to the camera. “Right. Well, you know your lines, yeah? You know how you’re going to say them?”

Colin looks up at the camera and suddenly feels a slight flutter in his stomach. It’s so stupid to him — he can perform in a football stadium filled with 50,000 people, but the second he steps in front of a camera, he starts to sweat more than he’d sweat in a ninety minute football match.

Keeley, always perceptive seems to sense this and offers Colin a soft smile. “Take a breath.”

Colin internally curses himself, realizing how fucking stupid he probably looks. Quickly trying to salvage his image, he somewhat exasperatedly replies, “I’m fine.”

Keeley, used to this kind of attitude from the boys, doesn’t let her smile falter. Instead, she just gets ready to press the record button.

“Right, then. From the top.” She grins, then presses the record button, causing Colin’s heart to leap into his throat.

“And… action!”

As soon as Keeley utters the word “action,” Colin immediately — and embarrassingly — forgets the entire script. His eyes go wide for a split second before he decides to just improvise. After all, this is only the first take.

“Hey,” he says, trying to channel some natural swagger by picturing Jamie Tartt. “It’s Colin. Got these new, uhh… Air Jordans.”

He kicks his foot up to demonstrate. “Whether I’m on or off the pitch, they make my feet feel, like, really good. Feels like I’m getting a foot massage every time I take a step, innit?”

Keeley tries her absolute hardest not to cringe, but after the mention of a foot massage, she just lets out a little noise of discontentment and stops the recording. Colin’s cocky grin, meant to emulate Jamie’s, fades immediately.

“So, uh…” Keeley bites her lower lip with an awkward smile. “Good start, but… try and stick to the script, yeah?”

Colin lets out a quiet groan, one that only he can hear, then nods. “My bad. I blanked.”

“That’s all right!” Keeley’s voice is sweet and encouraging, as usual. She flashes Colin another small grin. “Do you need to review it?”

Colin quickly shakes his head. “No, no…” He holds up a hand. “I’ve got it. I swear.”

“All right.” Trying to take some pressure off, Keeley decides not to call “action!” this time. Instead, she just presses the button to start recording. “Whenever you’re ready, Colin.”

This definitely helps. Colin runs a hand through his hair, then flashes the camera that same cocky grin.

“On the pitch, every move counts,” he starts, sounding much more confident this time. “But it’s not just about what you do on the field — it’s about how you walk off it, too.”

He grins, gesturing down to his shoe. “Air Jordans are built for performance, but designed for that off-duty look, too.”

Keeley, watching from behind the camera, grins and flashes him a thumbs up, nodding for him to continue. But the moment Colin shifts his gaze from the camera to her and back again, his mind goes black.

Quickly, he tries to save it. “They feel bloody great, and… and look at the design, too. Makes you look rich.”

Seeing Keeley’s face change, Colin quickly holds up a hand. “But… not in a… spoiled, rich boy sort of way.”

Keeley lets out a soft sigh and stops the recording. “Aw, you were doing so well! What happened?”

Colin, now embarrassed for the third time within five minutes, just groans and drops the act. “I don’t know! I blanked again!”

“Well, that’s still okay,” Keeley says gently, still trying to reassure him. “We can cut the video into different segments. That first part was perfect!”

Colin lets out a sharp exhale. He isn’t sure why this isn’t coming naturally to him. He wonders if any of the other lads have had this much trouble making promotional videos before.

Keeley offers him another soft smile. “Oi. You’ve got this. Just… be you, yeah?”

Colin nods, watching as Keeley hits the record button once more. He takes a breath, then launches right back into it.

"Whether I’m training hard, or just keeping it chill, they’ve got me covered. Comfort, support, and that iconic style. It’s all in the details."

He grins again, more naturally this time. “‘Cause it’s not just about the game, but how you own the moment. Air Jordans — step into greatness.”

Keeley lets out a little squeal as she stops the camera. “Oh my god, Colin! That was perfect!”

Colin, feeling genuinely proud of himself, just smiles even wider. “Thanks. Felt pretty good about that one.”

Keeley just giggles. “You should! You should be proud of yourself!”

The way she’s being so sincere and genuine actually warms Colin’s heart a bit. He feels like she could actually be a really good friend if he got to know her.

Plus, the way she’s openly queer makes him feel some sort of connection to her, but that’s a topic for another day.

“I am,” he finally responds, a gentler smile coming across his face. “I really am.”

[drfranklangdon]

Learning in Public

Chapter 2: There's Something Happening

Colin & Michael's first date! :)

The slightest bit of angst and sexual content mentioned, but overall it's still 95% fluff.

[resurrectionist3]

Praying for Love, Paying in Naivety

The Worst People Trilogy - Part I

Daniel Cleaver x fem!Reader (18+) 🖋️- 02/14/2025 🔏 - 02/15/2025 ⏳ - 3038 words

⚠️CW - 18+ NSFW, brief p in v, general smut, cheating (dont do it), debauchery and devious acts, mentions of drug and alcohol use, cigarette smoking, Daniel Cleaver again (im sorry), small Mark Darcy appearance at the end (sorry again)

✧─── ⋆⋅✧⋅⋆ ───✧

Author’s Note - been planning this little stunt for a while (but of course I wait until the last minute to write it). I was going to say that this isn’t good but now that it’s done, I definitely believe it’s good and I hope you like it. If you cant tell by the song, it’s inspired by “But It’s Better If You Do” by Panic! At the Disco. Stay tuned for the next two parts coming this weekend, this trilogy will be wild. And no, I don’t want to hear about the logistics of them not recognising each other with just face masks on. I didn’t come up with the entire concept, I’m just filling in the fun details. This is also only partially edited. So if there are any egregious errors, return in about a day or two and they might be fixed. Timex Part ii WILL exist, I promise! But Valentine’s Day arrived so quickly and I told myself I’d do this idea for the holiday!!

✧─── ⋆⋅ ✧⋅⋆ ───✧

I looked over the ornate invitation a couple more times before exiting my car.

Rarely would I ever attend such an event but I had been in need of some excitement.

A certain line on the invite stuck in my mind as i secured bronze eye mask to my face:

‘Consider bringing a spouse or partner along. Or don’t.. if you would be so bold.’

“Are you busy on the 14th of February, dear?” I had asked my fiancé.

He paused and thought in silence, as he always did. “Busy with work that day, love. So sorry.” he said finally.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. What was new? All he ever did was work.

“That’s alright,” I had responded. I repeated it again to myself there in the car as I pulled the diamond engagement ring from my finger and placed it in the locked glove compartment.

I checked the invite once more for the address; this place looked .. abandoned. Certainly no place for a party. It was located in an older part of London, tucked into an alleyway. A proper secret hideaway, one that I wouldn’t have noticed if I weren’t looking for it.

I knocked on the heavy metal door, not sure what to expect. A moment later, footsteps sounded and a small opening in the door slid to the side.

“Password…?” Came a soft voice from within. I furrowed my brows at the invite and spoke loud and clear to the person on beyond the door.

“Vices and virtues.”

The opening shut and a lock clicked open. The heavy door opened slowly with a loud, ominous creak. I swallowed hard, wondering if this was honestly a good idea. But I was nothing if not a curious bitch with a desperate need for more excitement.

I turned around the door to thank whoever let me in and found myself shocked when there was no one there. A chill ran down my spine as I searched the dark corner with my eyes before continuing on.

Dance music played in the distance growing louder as i approached the main room. The smell of cigarettes and something illicit hit me before I entered. The room was full of different people, all hiding their identities with some form of mask on their faces. Various attendees crossed the room in all directions around of me, each of them lost in their own conversations.

I grew disoriented as I navigated the crowd, nearly bumping into a group doing lines of coke off of a glass top table. My chest tightened as I excused myself from them and I sighed in relief when I finally stumbled to a bar.

‘My god, I’m truly past my days of partying, aren’t I?’ I thought to myself.

“This crowd too much for you?” A voice said behind me, making me jump. The bartender stood there, a young man with slicked back dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes. He even wore a mask of his own, a white one adorned with gold filigree on the edges and decorated with black music notes.

He chuckled lowly at my jumpy reaction and sipped his own drink, a peach and lime daiquiri. “Didn’t mean to startle you, miss. Is this your first time here?”

I nodded slowly and settled myself onto the barstool. “It is. I haven’t been to a party like this in ages.”

He began to mix up a drink, something that looked light and refreshing. “Well, try not to overthink anything. Or overdo it. Most people are just here to have a good time. In more ways than one.”

He glanced to a couple further down the bar who were … very interested in each other. I looked for a moment and widened my eyes at the sight.

“Well.. I’d be lying if I said I had come here for anything different.” I admitted to the bartender.

“I can guarantee, miss, there’s plenty of people here who would be more than willing to get lost in you.” He responded.

“Do you know anything about who’s throwing this party? And who invited all these people?” I asked him, taking out my invitation.

The bartender sucked air through his teeth and shook his head apologetically while he continued the drink in a silver shaker. “No, miss. Afraid I don’t. I get an invitation, same as you lot. I come in, make the drinks, I’m paid on the way out, and that’s that. And I get paid enough to not ask questions.”

I sighed and nodded in understanding while i watched him strain the drink into a glass and begin on an orange garnish. “But I’ve worked these parties enough times to know how they go,” He slid me the drink as he finished and I took a sip, feeling myself physically relax.

He paused for a moment and took a hard look at me. His brow furrowed momentarily as he looked from me to the crowded room.

“You know, I saw a gentleman earlier with a mask quite similar to yours,” He said gingerly as he scanned the people around the room. I turned in my seat to look as well, surprised.

“You did..? That’s… is that common at these types of parties?” I ask, turning back to the bartender who was wearing a satisfied smile.

“I wouldn’t say common but, it happens,” He nodded behind me and I looked again, this time catching him. A tall gentleman in a black suit, wearing a bronze mask that indeed looked oddly similar to my own.

“When it does happen,” the bartender said, having leaned closer to me. “I like to think of it as a sign.”

My brows raised at him and he shrugged wordlessly, returning to his own dignified beverage. He said nothing else to me as I finished my drink and pondered my decision.

‘What the hell…’ I thought. ‘That’s what you’re here for.’

I left the glass on the bar and slid from the stool to walk to the man. He seemed to notice me right away, a subtle smile forming on his lips. I returned the look and stopped a bit further from him as some party goers walked in front of me. From what I could tell, he was surely handsome. And a breath of fresh air compared to what waited for me at home.

Whatever that bartender had put in my drink seemed to have an effect on me, or maybe it was the atmosphere of the party finally pulling me in. Whichever it was, it had made me far more confident. Or at least extremely bold.

I strode across the room to the man, feeling my heels click on the concrete floor below.

When i reached him, he smirked wordlessly at me and only paused a moment before leaning down to press his lips to mine. I didn’t object, instead sliding my hands up to his broad shoulders and sighing. The man held me to him and for a moment, everything around us faded away. The music became muffled along with the voices of the crowd around us and nothing else seemed to matter.

Not the party. Not the people. Not the drugs. And certainly not my fiancé back in his office at work, no doubt. Just me and this illustrious stranger.

Before I knew it, we were moving from the main room down a hallway off to the side. Several doors were at varying degrees of openness, revealing the rather unholy acts being committed in the rooms around us. When we reached an empty one, I wasted no time at pulling my new lover back to me. My tongue slid across his lip and made its way into his mouth as his hands caressed along my back gently. I felt the zipper of my dress slowly falling and my dress gradually slipping from my body, eventually ending up a pool of black velvet on the floor.

The man’s suit jacket and shirt went as well, tossed carelessly to a corner as I pushed him to the red velvet bed adorned with various pillows and blankets. I kneeled down by the edge of the bed to pull down his trousers and pants beneath them, revealing a large and erect cock. The man let out a groan and let his head fall back as i stood and straddled his waist over the bed.

‘His .. voice, it’s.. no, it’s nothing.’

I smiled as I leaned over him and kissed him once more, our masks gently tapping against each other.

I gasped and released a long moan as i sank down on his length, pausing immediately to adjust to his size. My breathing was heavy as i planted my hands on his chest to keep myself up. Soft, slight moans slipped from my lips as I lowered myself onto him, finally settled when he was fully inside.

I slowly shifted my hips, unable to shake the feeling that this was all … familiar. His voice, his groaning and moaning. His hair, his eyes. His cock…

It was all faintly familiar somehow. I opened my eyes to look at him once again and noticed his mask.. slipping.

I did what i knew I shouldn’t have done. But curiosity got the better of me in the moment. My hand trailed up from his chest, to his neck, and eventually to his face where I lifted his bronze mask…

“DANIEL??” I shrieked, entirely too loud. He jumped, suddenly startled, and so did I - directly off his cock.

I stared in horror at him, finally taking it all in. It was HIM. My ex boyfriend. That I hadn’t seen in TWO YEARS. I tore my own mask from my face and let it fall on top of my discarded dress.

“(Y/N)??” He responded, suddenly also aware of the situation.

We both stuttered and stammered at one another, each trying to simultaneously explain ourselves and scold the other person.

“What on EARTH are you doing here??”

“What am I doing? What are YOU doing?? I thought you despised parties!?”

“I swear to god, Cleaver, you orchestrated this whole thing, didn’t you? Like a pathetic Jay Gatsby??”

“Me?? Oh please, (Y/N), like I’d invite you and that fiancé of yours if I did!”

My hands shook with frustration as I began to gather my dress. “I will NOT do this Daniel, not again! I left you for a reason-“

I turned from him, tired of his voice, and began to dress myself. Daniel then paused and scoffed at me. “Oh, well… that’s too bad, (Y/N)! I could honestly tell you were enjoying it. Seems like you needed a good fuc-“

I sighed hard and turned around to kiss him again, furiously this time. Unfortunately, he was right. I *did* need a good fuck.

When the deed was done, the room was eerily silent compared to how it had been a few moments ago. Daniel and I sat quietly and civilly beside each other on the bed, each smoking a cigarette. The room was beginning to become foggy, the ceiling clouded with the noxious blue smoke from the nicotine sticks. I felt more relaxed than I had in a year. Unfortunate to say, I really needed that. Needed this. Needed him.

“So, how’s life treating you..?” Daniel asked nonchalantly. I immediately scoffed at him and rolled my eyes, taking a drag on my cigarette.

“Oh please.. spare me. If I wanted small talk, i would’ve stayed home.”

“Oh?” Daniel mused. “Trouble in paradise..?” I glared at him and his shit-eating grin. “Is Arsey Darcy not all you thought he’d be….?”

I rolled over and stared at the other wall ignoring him, as Daniel chuckled behind me.

“Ah, no more engagement ring? Call off the wedding did you? A shame, really.”

I furrowed my brows and panicked for a moment at the feeling of my ring being missing before I remembered I had left it in the car. I sighed and sat up, taking a long inhale of my cigarette. “Nope… No, still very engaged. And so ready to be married.” My sarcastic tone was so obvious, it almost sounded scripted. “The wedding is in a week.”

Daniel reacted, recoiling. “Oh dear, a week? And you’re here?? Alone, and with no engagement ring on?? My god, he must’ve really screwed it up… Not that I’m shocked by that, though.”

Daniel’s surprise changed to satisfaction as he leaned back casually and breathed in his cigarette. “I supposed he wasn’t actually worth it after all.”

The venom in his tone was undeniable and it stoked the flames of anger that had already grown inside me. I huffed and tossed a velvet pillow at his head, groaning as he laughed. “Oh, it’s so funny, isn’t it? What about that woman you slept with behind my back, then? Brenda, or Brandy, or whatever her name was?”

Daniel’s expression changed and he looked away from me. I nodded and it was my turn to laugh. “Oh, I see. Divorcing her soon?”

Daniel put out his cigarette and took a moment. “No. We never married.”

He was uncharacteristically quiet when he said that. He seemed genuinely defeated, truly upset about the situation perhaps. It made me quiet in response, my grin fading. I flicked my cigarette ashes into the tray and took another deep drag.

“I uhh… I left here there. In the church,” Daniel admitted quietly. Something about his tone pulled at my heart in an annoying way.

Why did I feel bad for him?

“I just couldn’t bring myself to do it… with her,”Daniel looked to me then, his blue eyes meeting my (y/ec) ones, and for a moment … I remembered the time when I loved him.

I paused and thought of the night we ended things. The night we caught each other. The look on the girl’s face as she realised who I was. How Daniel looked when he saw me with his best friend. I remembered how it felt when Mark Darcy confessed his feelings for me, and told me that I deserved more than what Daniel was willing to give me. I thought of him at work, late at night so he could afford to buy me nice things and plan the wedding we were to have in a week.

All of it flooded back to me then as I sat nearly naked beside the man who had cheated on me, and whom I had cheated on. And it dawned on me.

“We’re… bad people, aren’t we?”

“The worst.”

We both sighed in unison, sitting with our silence for a few moments. My eyes drifted to Daniel, slowly meeting his again.

And we laughed.

I stood without another word and retrieved my dress, and Daniel did the same with his own clothes. I felt his warm hands on my skin as he helped me zip my dress in the back, careful and gentle like he used to be when we were together. Like when he would help me get dressed to attend his company parties.

A commotion beyond our room broke our quiet moment, startling us both. We took our masks and went to open the door, just as it opened on its own - revealing the bartender.

He grinned at us, a mischievous and entertained expression as he stuck his head into our room. “I do hate to intrude but, the police have arrived.”

Me and Daniel both reacted in unison, gasping. “Police?? What on Earth for?” Daniel asked in shock.

“Well, the drugs, of course. But follow me, I’ll get us out. I know a way.” The bartender responded effortlessly. He disappeared from the room and began to walk in the opposite direction of the main room which had fallen to chaos since we were last in there. Daniel and I rushed to keep up, following close behind as the odd bartender weaved in and out of dark unused hallways walled with bricks.

Eventually, we reached a set of metal doors which the bartender pushed open and walked us onto the street. The cold February winter hit me hard, sending a chill across my body. I couldn’t help but laugh at the situation, hearing the police sirens around the corner. Daniel laughed with me, the both of us doubling over in our amusement.

“Oh my god, of course this would happen,” I said when I recovered. I turned to thank the bartender who helped us, but found myself confused when he was nowhere in sight. Daniel was equally as confused, looking up and down the alleyway and street for him, to no avail.

“Strange chap, truly..” Daniel said finally. I nodded in agreement and looked at my mask in my hand. Daniel looked to his own and back to me with a grin.

“We mustn’t tell anyone about what happened here,” I said firmly.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Daniel responded. We nodded to each other and tossed our masks against the brick wall behind a few discarded crates. They landed together with a subtle click, falling into the snow quietly. I waved as i walked in the direction of my car, while Daniel went the opposite way down the alley waving as well.

✧─── ⋆⋅ ✧⋅⋆ ───✧

“Other news: police raided a secret party near Old London last night, making several arrests and collecting evidence of various different illicit substances,” The newscaster said sternly on the telly the next morning. I rubbed my eyes sleepily as i poured myself some tea and went to the table beside Mark Darcy who was reading the paper.

I eyed my magazine casually, flipping through the glossy pages as Mark glanced up at the screen for a moment. “My god, how ridiculous. Such frivolous nonsense lead to so many arrests. I would never engage in such debauchery in my life.”

I scoffed out a laugh and looked up to the screen myself. There showed a photo of two bronze masks lying in the snow outside of the building. They were set almost perfectly next to each other, making for a wonderful and ironically pleasing image as the newscaster droned on about the raid.

“Oh I agree completely, dear. I wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like that.”

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Of course, let me know what you think! Sorry to edge you with a short smut scene but part iii will make up for it hopefully. Part ii will hopefully be out by tonight for everyone’s viewing pleasure! And if you’d like to be tagged in the next two parts, just let me know!🫀Happy Valentine’s Day!

✧─── ⋆⋅ ✧⋅⋆ ───✧

Tag List:

@incorporealbombchelle (bc i know you’re gonna want this)

[you-see-something-strange-here]

Imagine a “Best Friends-Off” with the Richmond team; Keeley pairs up the lads to answer questions about each other (with the classic whiteboards and dry erase markers yes) and it’s a fun little promotional video for the season.

Obviously with Isaac and Colin would be paired, then Jamie and Sam, I could see Jan Maas and Bumbercatch as an underrated duo, Dani could be paired with anybody on the team because he’s best friends with everyone.

The twist is when Jamie gets called to do the quiz with Roy at the end of the shoot, and both protest it (he’s not my best friend!). Needless to say, they end up mopping the floor and getting all the questions right, leading AFC Richmond to declare Roy and Jamie as the best besties on the team.

[fangirl-k8ee-ladyknight]

Is there/can there be a fic where for a team night, Richmond goes to see Deadpool and Wolverine and Collin loses his shit over welshpool?

1) Colin nearly crawls into the lap of whoever is sitting next to him in the theater with excitement.

2) Jamie giving Roy shit about “if the wolverine bloke can still look like that at sixty, what’s your excuse?”

3) after listening to Colin rave about welshpool (and the rest of the team rave about the movie in general), Roy sets up a friendly with wrexham so Colin can meet welshpool.

4) none of the team knows that Roy sets up the meetup but Jamie suspects and is adorable about it.

[sloth-babied]

Love Will Find a Way

Sam Obisanya x reader

Summary: After a year of trying to get over Sam Obisanya, Colin insists you attend a speed dating event with him. 

And would you look at that, Sam’s here too. 

Contains: Drinking, light angst, and fluff. No use of y/n.

Word count: 2.8k

Notes: The fact that there aren't a numerous amount of fics about Sam is actually a crime so I had to step in.

Enjoy!

“Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life,” Colin reads the pink chalk-written words on a wooden A-frame sign in front of the restaurant. He turns to you, pursing his lip while nodding as if he were impressed. 

You simply smile and nod, indulging your friend who suggested you come here with him.

You observe the room once you two enter—the quintessential red and pink balloons at every corner of the room, including pink lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Red and pink decor are set all around the place with a banner hanging maliciously over the seating area:

FOR SINGLES READY FOR LOVE

You sigh before you continue to look around. There’s a lot of older people here; people in their mid-forties and up. Makes sense. Those around your age usually rely on dating apps, but there are a few exceptions which, you guess, is a relief. 

You’re able to identify two other young people and realize one of them is Isaac. And the other is…oh, fuck, oh, fuck, oh, fuck.

You grab Colin’s bicep, hoping to reroute your plans. “You know what, actually I think I change my mind—”

“Wait, is that Isaac and Sam?” He notices, raising his damn hand excitedly. “Isaac! Sam!” Colin places his fists on his hips, shaking his head. “Who knew they’d be here?”

You give him a hardened stare before offering the other two footballers a disingenuous smile as they walk your way, drinks in hand.

Naturally your eyes drift to Sam and you can’t resist admiring his outfit for the night. A black turtleneck and brown khakis.

This is going to be a long night.

“Wild seein’ you here, innit?” Isaac says.

Colin nods fervently. “Yeah, weird coincidence.”

Sam gestures his drink in your direction. “What brings you here?

Oh, god, he’s talking to you.

You scratch the back of your neck nervously. “Colin was nice enough to invite me,” you tell him, though ‘nice’ is not the word you would honestly use. ‘Cruel’ sounds more accurate, but you digress.

Sam smiles thoughtfully, though he can’t say he doesn’t feel as awkward as you. “I’m sure you’ll find a match. Anyone would be lucky to have you.”

You ignore Isaac and Colin glancing at each other, gripping the strap of your tote bag just a tad bit tighter. “And to you, also,” you shoot him a finger-gun with your free hand. “ As well. Too.”

You’re insufferable, but Sam chortles anyway, thank goodness for that.

“Finally got Sam off Bantr.” Isaac pats Sam’s back.

Sam shakes his head. “I deleted my account a long time ago.”

And you know why. It’s hard to think about Sam’s relationship with Rebecca without feeling a little jealous…okay, a lot.

Sam sips his punch. “Isaac suggested I come here, so here I am.”

Ding, ding, ding!

You all turn your heads to a woman holding a call bell in her hand. “The event begins in five minutes!”

And so the night begins.

Each date feels prolonged despite being on a three-minute timer. Many people who are much older than you discuss topics beyond your time or too early in your longevity to experience. And when you meet people around your age, well, let's say a severe lack of chemistry is the only thing that comes into mind.

Admittedly, you debated pregaming before Colin picked you up. You decided against it until you saw Sam here, therefore during the five-minute break, you mumble, "Eh, what the hell?" to yourself before sneaking off to the bar, ordering a shot of tequila before you and Sam meet.

Liquid courage.

Sam greets you with a pursed smile, waving his questionnaire card (cutely) and taking a seat in front of you. "Hi."

“Hey.” You smile back a bit more enthused than usual. Less nervous. More loose.

“So how are your dates going?” Sam wiggles his eyebrows.

You lean forward closer to him, balancing a pen between two fingers. “Hmm. Oh, see that guy over there?”

Sam’s head stealthily turns to the man you point at—slick back gray hair with a salt and pepper beard. 

“Apparently, he owns 0.5% of West Ham.” 

Sam looks back at you, leaning closer. “Dealbreaker?”

You nod exaggeratedly, leaning away. “Very much so, Sam. You know I’m ride-or-die for Richmond.”

He pats his chest, smiling playfully. “I’m flattered.”

From two different areas of the room, Colin and Isaac are seated with their respective dates. Colin and Issac narrow their eyes on you and Sam, shushing their poor dates whenever they attempt to speak.

When you feel your neck practically burning, you swivel your stool, catching them do a questionable job at pretending they weren’t just hyper-focused on you and Sam.

Colin mouths fake words to his very confused date who will certainly write him off later. Isaac looks upward, chin on his palm, eyes squinted, and mouth parted as if he were in deep thought.

“Okay…” You murmur to yourself before facing Sam again. “How about you, huh? Meet anyone you fancy yet?”

He offers a sigh, tilting his head towards his previous date. “See that woman over there?”

You discreetly look to the left and see an elderly woman speaking with her date, a man fortunately around her age. They seem to be hitting it off.

Sam shakes his head, feigning a disappointed sigh. “I thought we had something.”

“Another older white woman stolen from you, man. You gonna take that?” You tilt your upper body towards the perhaps soon-to-be couple before sipping your ice water.

Sam’s shoulders bounce, chuckling. He turns to them. “Yes, I am.”

You also turn, feeling envious from the sight. You observe the woman’s incredibly pink face and the subtle red on the olive-skinned man’s cheeks. Mutually smitten.

You and Sam face each other in unison, both of your hands below the table as you lean your torsos against the round table. Sam’s hands clasp beneath the surface while yours continue to fiddle with your pen.

Colin hides behind his questionnaire paper below his eyes—espionage still at work—and Isaac ignores his date once again, enthralled by your date as if it were a movie. 

If only there were popcorn, he thinks.

Sam says your name, but you’re stuck in his trance, buzzed and hypnotized. His voice swims around the atmosphere he tends to unintentionally create whenever you speak to him.

Then you remember what occurred a year ago; you remember the reason why you slightly furthered yourself from him in hopes of moving on. Frankly, it didn’t work very well.

Isaac’s brows furrow even deeper than usual, and he looks over at Colin who shrugs at him, sharing the same concern as you back away from Sam. You sober your deluded mind with another drink of water, reminding yourself that Sam is just…Sam. He’s naturally kind, charming, and genuine. He gets along with everyone. You’re not special.

You hold your questionnaire out, smiling tightly. “What am I doing? We’re supposed to be asking each other questions. Uh, okay, let’s see.” You scan your sheet. “What’s your dream career?” You ask hastily. You awkwardly laugh at yourself. “That’s a stupid question.”

Sam repeats your name, but you’re too lost rambling about the stupid questions in your hand.

“Where are you from originally?” You cower behind the paper. “Know that, too. Uhm, okay, let’s see. Oh! Here, if you were an animal, what would you be—”

Sam says your name louder and places his hand on yours, lowering the paper from your face.

“A goldfish. If I were an animal, I’d be a goldfish,” he answers.

You peer down at your hands. “The ten-second memory thing Coach Lasso told you about.”

He slowly pulls his hand off yours, but it sits close by. He nods. “Exactly. There are certain things I want to forget; things I cannot change. But there are things that I can change.”

Things he can change? Where is he going with this?

He continues. “Last year when you asked me—”

Ding, ding, ding, you both hear, jumping at the sound of the call bell. Chairs scrape the red-checkered floor and the sound of shoes patter all around you. Time to go.

“See ya, Sam,” you hurry to your next date who just so happens to be the captain of the Richmond football team. “Isaac, hey.”

He simply shakes his head. 

Four more rounds pass until the host of the speed dating event gives out the last announcement.

“Alright, everyone! Whoever you scored most with is your match. Say ‘hi’ to your potential partner! And give yourselves a round of applause for putting yourself out there tonight!”

Two pairs of hands clap with her, hands belonging to Colin and Isaac. You refrain from rolling your eyes at them when the bartender approaches you.

“What can I get you?”

“Uh, a Jack and Coke please.” You face her before turning around again.

You observe Sam speaking with one of the organizers of the event. The organizer reluctantly hands Sam his score sheet with a confused expression on her face. He nearly catches you staring until you turn back to the counter.

“One Jack and Coke.” The bartender sets down your drink, but not without noticing you eyeing Sam. She smirks, wiping down a glass cup with a cloth that was previously on her shoulder. (Classic bartender move.) “Obisanya your match?”

You study the small sheet in your hand, analyzing the scores and the contact information of someone already on your phone.

“Oi! How the hell did you match with me?” You hear Isaac stomp behind you. 

You smile mischievously, gesturing your head toward him. 

The bartender nods, pouting her lower lip before finding another customer, and you use the counter to spin yourself around to your distressed friend.

“Maybe we’re soulmates,” you suggest facetiously, lifting your drink towards him.

Truth is, you might have taken a peek at his questionnaire sheet when he kept exchanging looks with Colin. His disappointment earlier combined with Colin’s invasive questions about your date with Sam after you got through all your sessions helped piece things together.

Plus, Colin’s insistence that you come to this event in the first place. 

“Get in line.” He stands with his arms crossed next to Issac.

Isaac sits and harshly waves his sheet. “Why copy my sheet when your real match is-”

Colin clears his throat, poking his elbow against Isaac’s arms.

“Somewhere in this room,” Isaac finishes.

The only one in this room who piqued your interest was Sam. Towards the end, there were potential candidates. However, neither was Sam Obisanya.

You scoff, sipping your drink. “Nice save, Lindsey Lohan. I’ve seen Parent Trap enough times to know what’s going on here.”

You wonder why they’d want to pull something like this, especially after you told them that Sam turned you down. Pestering Sam to go on a stupid date with you is not something you would ever do, nor something a normal person should do, period.

God, you hope Sam doesn’t think you did this on purpose.

Isaac continues to eye you disapprovingly before his gazes shifts upwards to a new presence behind you, this presence being none other than Sam leaning his side against the counter. And now you’re sitting between him and the other two sneaky bastards.

“Sam! Who’d you match with?” Colin reaches in front of you and snatches Sam’s score sheet. He frowns. “No one?”

Isaac yanks the sheet from Colin’s hand. “What? How’s that even possible?”

Sam plucks his sheet back from Isaac, stuffing it in his back pocket. “If it’s alright with you two, I’d like to discuss something with them.” He looks down at you. “Alone.”

Your cheeks burn up, easily. Is it the whiskey? Is it Sam? Either way, you’re taking another sip. 

Isaac gets up immediately, rapidly nodding alongside Colin, saying, “Yeah, ‘course, bruv,” before the two footballers leave, whispering to each other. 

You place your drink down and fold your arms on the counter as Sam sits beside you. 

His sweet smile doesn’t cease. “Hi.”

“Hi,” you respond sheepishly. You take a third sip before speaking again. “So no one, huh?”

Sam shakes his head. “Thought I maybe had a chance with her,” he jokes.

You find the elderly lady from earlier matched with the elderly man. He leans on his cane with one hand and his other hand snakes around his date’s arm, hooking it with his. 

Maybe speed dates work after all. 

“Who’d you match with?” He asks curiously. You hand him your sheet. “Isaac? How did that happen? Wasn’t he just glaring at you the whole date?” 

“Pretty much, yeah.” You laugh, placing the paper back on counter.

Wait a second. Sam was watching you?

You try not to look too much into it.

He reaches for his earlobe, lightly tugging at it. “There was something I wanted to tell you before our date ended.”

Oh, god. Is he going to admit how uncomfortable you make him? Is he ending your friendship right now? Yeah, you added some distance between the two of you, but in your defense, you had no intentions of actually ending your relationship.

He speaks a little louder. “Last year, you told me you liked me. Romantically.”

Fuck, you despise the recap.

“And I told you I didn’t feel the same way.”

You clasp your hand around your glass, however Sam stops you, hand on yours.

“Let me finish. Please.”

You dubiously comply, releasing your hand from the cup and nod, letting him continue with whatever gut-wrenching news is going to wreck you for the next few months.

Your head faces his direction, but you stare off at nothing in particular.

He continues. “I was telling the truth when I said I didn’t feel the same way. But as time passed, the more we got to know each other and the more things in my love life started to unravel, I started to fall in love.”

You furrow your brows, meeting your eyes with his. 

“With you,” he adds. “And I understand if you don’t feel the same way anymore. But I just…wanted to tell you how I felt.”

What the hell is happening? This is a prank, right? 

You take a look behind you, wondering if perhaps there was someone beside or behind you who he was confessing his feelings to instead.

Nope, just you. You’re barely tipsy, so there’s no way you’re misunderstanding him. 

You remain quiet, not quite sure what to say. The expression on your face worries him and he calls your name.

You softly shake your head. “I’m sorry, can you repeat that?” 

Now it’s Sam’s turn to internally freak out. He glances at your drink, wondering if he could ask for a gulp.

“Uh…” Sam tugs at his earlobe again and chuckles nervously. “I like you?”

Maybe two sips, he thinks. Three? No, no, that’s irresponsible, he decides.

“Can I have a glass of water please?” He raises his palm at the bartender, politely ordering to fill the silence.

You grab his wrist and lower his hand on the counter, sliding your hand over his, adding, “Make that two,” to his order, because there is absolutely no way you’re getting drunk after what he just told you.

Sam looks away from the bartender and he takes notice of your hands. His ears warm up.

“Definitely wanna be sober for this,” you tell him quietly, and the edges of his lips curve upward. Hesitantly, he entwines his fingers through yours like they belong there.

“Two waters.” The bartender drops off your drinks, glancing at your hands. She raises her brows before leaving you alone.

Sam uncombs his fingers from yours, getting up from his chair. He moves closer to you and spins you by the backrest of your chair, so your body faces him. Then he cups your face. “I don’t know if they allow PDA here, but may I kiss you?”

You gently hold on to his wrists. “They host speed dates every week. I’m sure one kiss is fine.”

He giggles, moving his face closer to yours, murmuring, “One kiss?”

You flicker your gaze between his eyes and mouth. “Or two.” You shrug. “But yes. You may.”

Sam licks his lips before sinking them into yours, and his eyes and yours instinctively shut. You inhale deeply through your nose, breathing in the person you didn’t know would expect to eventually reciprocate your feelings.

His lips are so soft, pillowy against your own. He massages his lips on yours, enveloping himself deeper against you by tilting his head. You feel lightheaded—a delightful combination of his kissing skills and the faded work of the alcohol you ingested earlier. 

Your daydreams do not serve the real thing.

You’re the first to pull away, catching your breath. “Seriously though, how didn’t you match with anybody?”

Sam smiles proudly and pecks your lips. “I asked one of the event-coordinators not to score my sheet. Told her I changed my mind.”

You stand, removing his hands from your face without letting go. “Good.”

From a distance, Colin and Isaac sit at a table, gazing at the other couple like before.

Isaac holds his plastic cup out, smirking. “Too easy, man.”

Colin clinks his cup against Isaac’s. “Too easy.”

[tobebbanburg]

I just wanted to imagine a world where Trent writes a completely under-the-radar article for Colin’s hometown newspaper to address the rumours of him being gay without making a big deal about it.

Full article text under the cut:

At 28 years of age, Colin Hughes is something of a late bloomer. After a mediocre start to his career saw Cardiff City relegated to the Championship, the Barry native was transferred to the struggling AFC Richmond, a harsh environment for any young footballer trying to make his mark on the world. But after years of flying under the radar, Hughes is finally making himself known at both national and international levels, and one can’t help but marvel at how far this young man has come.

Hughes’s love for the sport was nurtured from a young age, here in Barry, and despite his recent success it is clear he hasn’t forgotten his roots. The modest yet respectable history of Welsh football is something that Hughes could lecture on at the drop of a hat (and indeed needs to be stopped from lecturing once he gets started), and even his favoured position as a left winger was chosen in homage to Welsh footballing legend Gary Speed, a man who still acts as an inspiration for Hughes today.

“He did wonders for our national team. He was the one who made us all believe that Wales could hold our own against the rest of the world. I don’t think we’d be where we are today without all the work he put in: now that I can, I’m doing my best to continue what he started,” Hughes says.

Hughes’s ‘best’, in this instance, has been to fund a new development program throughout Wales, offering summer bootcamp scholarships to children from underprivileged areas. One can’t help but feel that were Speed still with us, he’d be proud of what Hughes is trying to achieve, although perhaps a little bemused at lending his name to an indeterminable breed of dog that Hughes affectionally refers to as ‘Gazza’.

“Me and my boyfriend got him from the shelter last week,” he says, showing a picture of a large but scrawny dog being embraced on both sides by Hughes and his boyfriend, one Michael Chen. “We got him to celebrate Richmond’s second place in the Prem.”

Buying a dog is perhaps an unusually tame way to celebrate for most footballers, but unusual is rather how AFC Richmond operates these days. Whilst most teams would be disappointed with losing out on winning the Premier League by the slimmest of margins, many often claiming that third place is preferable to second, both Hughes and AFC Richmond are treating their status as runners up with dignity, and no small amount of delight.

“I’m not being funny, right, but if you’d told me a year ago that Richmond’d avoid relegation, let alone make it to second place, I’d’ve said you were full of ****,” Hughes says, then apologises after a gentle reminder not to swear. “It’s gutting to miss out on winning the whole thing, of course, but we’re proud of what we’ve done. And besides, it gives us something to aim for next year.”

Hughes succinctly brings us to the elephant in the room: the recent departure of Coach Ted Lasso. Whilst Lasso himself has always maintained the humble adage that Richmond’s recent success wasn’t wholly his doing, the fact remains that the club have never before performed so well over a single season, nor so swiftly reversed their declining fortunes. One can’t help but wonder what a future without Lasso looks like. Hughes, for his part, remains optimistic.

“Coach Lasso made a real difference. Not just in how we play as a team but in how we think, how we work. That kind of change is here to stay,” he says, before adding, “plus we’ve got facetime and all that **** so it’s not like he’s properly gone. I mean I could call him right now if you want?”

But what of Hughes’ future as an international player? After making his debut for Wales a little under a year ago, and with a surprise win against Uruguay under his belt from April, surely his prospects on the world stage are looking encouraging? With Gareth Bale announcing his retirement, is there a possibility for Hughes to follow in the steps of childhood hero Speed and take over as captain of his national team?

“****,” Hughes says, once again forgetting the request to forgo swearing. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I mean that’s the dream, isn’t it, but I know that any of the lads on the team’d do a great job in the role. Any one of us would bring something different to the job, so who’s to say?”

It’s modest, considered statements like these that give weight to Hughes’s earlier words of change: Lasso may have moved on, but his impact on the team is here to stay. I, for one, cannot wait to see where Colin Hughes takes it from here.

[abubblingcandle]

🌹🌹🌹 Any Dutch sky blue update? 🙏🏻🌹

Always! I've actually decided that I am going to be aiming to post Dutch Sky Blue in it's entirety as part of whumptober for the prompt Making Amends on Day 31. So I am going to be working on it and trying to push through to the end.

Here's a little tidbit!

They had an emergency meeting the night after they got back from Amsterdam. As soon as everyone was in various seats in Colin’s living room, he dived into the tale. “It can’t have been Jamie,” Zoreaux muttered. “It was, you don’t think I’d recognise Jamie?” Colin exclaimed, throwing his hands up as he paced. “He does have a very distinctive butt,” Reynolds whispers and there were murmurs of agreement around the room. “Where’s he been the last two years?” Sam asked, quiet as a mouse. Colin sighed, it took even a mention of Jamie for all the hard work of the last two years in bringing Sam out of his shell to disappear. Colin and Isaac had been assholes and others had jumped on the Jamie Tartt Bandwagon but Sam was the main player that bore his ire. Colin had never worked out why. He had never worked out why meek little Obisanya had irked Jamie the way he did. He had never bothered to ask Jamie when he was around. “That’s not the important bit,” Colin exclaimed, shaking those thoughts out of his head. “The important bit is why he’s hanging off Jan in a Dutch club when Jan told the coaches he was going for food with his family.”

[veryace-ficrecs]

Ted Lasso fic recs

This list will include all ratings and tags, so read at your own discretion! :)

Wings Wouldn't Help You Down by ViolentlyRed - Rated G

He thought the most awkward thing he'd have to endure was a rigid Roy Kent embrace in the Man City locker room months ago. He was wrong. And he’s getting better at admitting when he’s wrong, so. Turning up on Coach's doorstep at two thirty in the morning was infinitely, infinitely more awkward. Or, Jamie's hurt and not about to say much about it, and Ted's a good coach.

Reset With the Sunset by fandomfrolics - Rated G

Sam tries to figure out how to navigate his first Ramadan in the English Premier League. Set in S1.

Mull River Shuffle by bibliothekara - Rated G

Ted falls in the Thames; Beard, Rebecca, and Sam to the rescue.

The First Rule of Fight Club is No Fight Club by Lolapola - Rated T

A few days after relegation, an angry investor pays a visit to the Richmond AFC locker room, and he has his sights set on Ted Lasso. Fortunately, Roy Kent has been well and truly won over by now, and - yeah. He's not about to stand for this.

Diary by TwoAces - Rated G

It’s not a diary, really. At least, not in the traditional sense. It’s supposed to be an appointment book—a gift from Keeley, so she’s not having to text him reminders all the time. He’s promised to use it, and is surprised that it’s actually mad convenient to help remember events, so he starts using it for other things, too.

that mask will never look the same by tensecond_memory - Rated T

“Right. Okay. Is that… it?” “No, actually,” she says after a beat in which she fights back another wave of that mysterious Guilty Face, “there’s one more discussion on the agenda courtesy of one Coach Ted Lasso,” her voice is quieter now, and suddenly something shifts in the air and it feels like she’s the one who’s turned back into a scolded child. Jamie stares at her. “There are some… specifics regarding the… premature termination of your loan last season that Ted, rightfully, believes you deserve to be informed of, now that we’re all more aware of how the decision impacted your well-being,” OR Jamie isn't the only one who owes some apologies.

Little Kitmen Have Big Ears by andrealyn - Rated T

Most people don't really notice when Will's in the room, which leads to him hearing some very unique conversations. Every now and again, though, he's seen and it makes all the difference.

we're not in kansas anymore (we're now in missouri) by ceterum - Rated G

Shortly after the devastating loss on final matchday, the West London’s Finest are back in action. After a compilation of their… innovative plays goes viral, they are invited to play a friendly against Ted Lasso’s home state’s MLS club. AFC Richmond’s pre-season one(-and-a-half)-stop American tour, as observed by Trent Crimm, The Independent.

Adding Steel To The Team by BrittaTheBest - Rated T

“I feel… really weird, Roy.” “Yeah, I’m not surprised. Listen, I think you should lie down, yeah?” - Quick little fic. Ted is stabbed outside Richmond the night before a match. Mostly Roy-centric, but also feat. the rest of the club

Journalism Continues To Be The Villain That Moves The Plot Forward For This Show by MagpieWords - Rated T

When the press finds out Ted uses an unknown intramuscular substance, speculation runs wild while our favorite coach avoids dealing with his feelings. alternate titles lovingly include : "lost in the sauce" and "a saucy misunderstanding"

The Official AFC Richmond TikTok by mariip - Rated T

Keeley isn't there to manage their socials anymore, so when Jamie and Sam ask to make a TikTok for the club, everyone decides it will be a good idea. (Or, completely self-indulgent AFC Richmond silliness)

Make them Gold by mariip - Rated T

Roy realizes he has no idea when Jamie's birthday is, and when he realizes it's only a week away, the only solution is obviously cake in the dressing room after training. Or, the himbos manage to pull off a surprise party.

every boy wants to be like his father by themightyduck - Rated G

"It turned out all right in the end, though," Jamie says quietly, ears burning red. "Oh yeah?" Ted asks. "How's that?" Jamie gestures at the pizza and the beer and the TV. "Watching a game with me old man, ain't I?"

did i really say that? by believeinbelieve - Rated G

For the first time in history - AFC Richmond have won the premier league trophy. It was a tie game until Colin scored a historic goal in injury time. Everything was going perfect for him — until the press conference. The game went to his head and next thing he knew everyone was telling him about how brave and inspiring he was — but he had no clue why. or ~~~ Colin accidentally comes out after a major victory.

stand a little stronger as I walk a little taller all the time by inlovewithnight - Not Rated

Post season 2, Jamie does a PSA for the National Council on Domestic Violence. He does not expect anyone to notice this. He is not aware that he's surrounded by people who notice everything.

The Art of Seduction by jumpfall - Rated G

"Is Coach cheating on us with another football team?" Sam asks. "Worse," Roy says. "An American football team."

[writer-and-thrasher]

The Dichotomy of a Friend

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Ted Lasso (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings Characters: Colin Hughes, Isaac McAdoo, Trent Crimm, Roy Kent, Trent Crimm's Daughter, Trent Crimm's Ex-Wife, AFC Richmond Players (Ted Lasso), Ted Lasso Additional Tags: Character Study, Canon Compliant, Missing Scene, Episode: s03e09 La Locker Room Aux Folles (Ted Lasso), Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Hurt/Comfort, Homophobia, Coming Out, Internalized Homophobia, sorta, Homophobic Language, More Homophobic Language Than in Canon, Homophobic Violence (past), LGBTQ Themes, Friendship, Team as Family, The Author is a Lesbian Your Honor, I have to say it this time, Because I wanna fuck Trent's Ex-Wife, Trent Crimm's Crush on Ted Lasso, It features heavily

Summary:

Colin was adamant about maintaining his well-crafted disguise, and Trent couldn’t begrudge him that. So there were no rendezvous or late-night text messages or even casual hangouts. Just because Colin now had someone who saw him in the closet didn’t mean he was keen to crack the door open any wider. He’d been doing just fine without Trent, and he could be fine for longer with him.

Which is why Colin’s presence in the office, clearly to talk to Trent individually, is so alarming. The blinds are open, his teammates are feet away, and yet Colin is breaking every rule he has to talk to Trent right now. ________ Or, Trent's perspective on Colin and Isaac's fraying friendship.

SEE NOTES FOR RATING AND WARNING-RELATED INFORMATION

---

It took me over a month extra to write it, so I more than doubled the word count for what I expected -- seemed fair. For real, though, I really hope you enjoy this, it's a huge labor of love for me, so let me know what you think!

[jamietarttsnorthernattitude]

5. 10. 15, 20!

5. Is there any scene you're excited about writing?

I’m excited to rewrite the Mom City scene where Jamie goes home for there is no other land. Roy has already lived it where he and Keeley followed Jamie home so he knows about the posters and Georgie and Simon. It’s also Roy’s first full scene with Jamie after the boot room disaster and trying to convince him that he cares for him, etc.

10. If unpublished, can you show a sneak peek of what you've written?

Here is a bit earlier when Roy is discovering some of the changes that happened without him training Jamie via googling:

He ignores the tremble in his hands as he types Jamie Tartt + Roy Kent into the search bar.

Articles, tweets and videos filled the screen and most were dated within the last week.

Dejavú at the Dog Track - Tartt & Kent come to Blows…Again

Rivalry Reignited at Nelson Road

Tartt Bloodied and Booed

Roy reluctantly clicks on a video, ignoring the slight trembles of his hand.

The video shows the match from a little over a week ago, they were home playing against Liverpool. They’d won the match 3-1 with goals from Sam, Richard and Dani. Jamie had assisted on all three. The video shows the score as 2-1 with Liverpool leading. Jamie is subbed off and then it shows Roy getting into a screaming match with him on the sidelines. Eventually yelling turns to pushing. Roy closes the screen before he can see more. He wouldn’t fight Jamie. Only he had, only a few short weeks ago. His fist clenches reflexively and he can almost feel Jamie’s nose under his fist.

15. Do you have any unwritten scene that you think about a lot?

There’s a scene in rage, rage against the dying light where Jamie and Roy are recovering together and they’re just Grumpy Old Men-ing it and complaining to and about each other.

20. Give a vague description of something that will happen without revealing too much

I’ll drop a random tidbit from all of the WIPs in no particular order.

Jamie worries Roy will knock over his Christmas tree.

Someone wraps Jamie in a blanket.

There’s a bus ride.

Richmond plays a football match.

Ola’s hosts a New Year’s Eve bash.

Rebecca is unhappily married.

“Roy, mate. You’re not that special.”

Jamie FaceTimes with Roy.

Phoebe takes money from Jamie.

Even when he’s not there, Roy Kent is still everyfuckingwhere.

Colin posts about Welsh Independence.

Roy calls his sister.

Jamie cuddles his Mum.

[dior4ma]

the casual fic has been finished and posted! i'm actually sorry if anyone wanted to read it when i first posted about it (i know no one was but one can dream)

i missed writing and the world needs more colinjamie so here i am, hope u give it a chance and if u do, i hope you like it!!

[allthingsmustfall]

Ted Lasso, Season 3, Episode 6

Look you know, I don’t even go here, but That Episode of Ted Lasso in Amsterdam, with Trent and Collin and the complexities of coming out has been sitting in my head all week (I mainlined the third season in about 2 days, sue me).  

I’m sure Tumblr has already had several schisms on whether or not this was done well, but as someone who came relatively late in life that I’m a dyke, the conversation between Trent, who has a complex backstory that implies that he came out while he was still married to his wife and whatever hell and heartache that followed after (even if she was unhurt and supportive, that could not have been easy), and Colin, a young man with very simple, heart wrenchingly wants and goals from his life, while they sit quietly, gently in front of Homomonument while the bells of Westerkerk chime is just - 

OK, back in ye olden times of fanfic, so many of the stories were a bit hamfisted (me, me, i’m talking about me) treatises on coming out or coming to terms with attraction or what have you.  Character A wants Character B, but to see if they really want Character B, they have to bang some chicks to prove they’re not REALLY gay or something something - it wasn’t always great, but what i remember from that era was that the fear of being gay/being exposed was a part of those stories.  And I’m not saying it was always necessary or done well, but it did feel a bit more grounded in reality.  In more recent times, probably as a function of fanfiction being more acceptable and some of the stigma around queerness that i felt in the 90s and aughts easing (things aren’t good now, not with our trans brothers and sisters suffering so acutely and publicly, but i’m just saying there’s been a culture shift), those sentiments have become more of a footnote in fanfic.  And good!  Not everything has to be a realistic take on every inch of what queerness looks like, and I am 100% behind the freedom of enjoying fiction in which the sorrow and anger and confusion that I have felt is not an important part of how the characters feel.  We deserve uncomplicated joy and happy endings.  

But what I think might be missing from stories now (and oh yes this includes my own) is how earth shattering a queer community is when you’re making your first forays into being out.  Pride is our celebration because for so long what the world asked of us was shame.  The celebration of a history that you weren’t born to but came to later, that you claimed as part of your lineage because suddenly, things like Stonewall aren’t just historical events of note, but your progenitors throwing bricks through the obstacles we’ve now never known.  

So yes, a young and somewhat fearful gay man sharing his pure hopes with another gay man, who has been through his own struggles, while they sit in front of a monument to queer folk who lost their lives to blind persecution, while bells of hope peel on - it reached into that small aching part of me that clawed my way to a community that loves and accepts me, and a community that taught me my own history.  

I just adored this representation deep down in the depths of me

[lightningeyesthunderingskyes]

I have combed through Ao3 and even Wattpad (I know it was a low point for me) but I really don’t like Ted x Rebecca and I don’t like Ted x Trent. I want Ted Lasso and Flo Collins. I want Rebecca Welton and Keeley Jones. Please someone help me find a good fic. I’ll write one but I need to wait until im down with school so until then I need help please.

[you-see-something-strange-here]

tbh comedy peaked in ted lasso s1 when colin said “he hit my head so hard, the doctors said I couldn’t drink”

…..and then proceeds to take a slug of his beer.

[babytarttdoodoo]

Fanfic Masterpost (Ted Lasso)

Gen

i should be the poster kid for this shit The team finds out about Jamie’s first experience in Amsterdam. Post-S3 | 6,979 words | Content warnings: Implied sexual assault, discussions of underage sex, canon-typical swearing. (Original Post) (Read on Ao3)

high hopes are getting low Jamie seeks out Roy’s company after a run-in with his dad. Post-S3 | 2,278 words | Content warnings: Discussions of alcoholism, implied/referenced child abuse, canon-typical swearing. (Original Post) (Read on Ao3)

every emotion that i'm meant to express Jamie has a panic attack during the events of Mom City. S3 Coda | 1,802 words | Content warnings: POV description of a panic attack, canon-typical swearing. (Original Post) (Read on Ao3)

just remember to smile The AFC Richmond players discover something unpleasant about Jamie’s childhood and react accordingly. Post-S3 | 963 words | Content warnings: Implied/referenced child abuse, mentions of blood and dental injury, discussions of anxiety dreams, canon-typical swearing, canon animal death. (Original Post) (Read on Ao3)

why am i bent and burned Jamie is diagnosed with ADHD. Post-S3 | 1,520 words | Content warnings: Discussions of neurodivergent behaviour, canon-typical swearing. (Original Post) (Read on Ao3)

act like you're torn apart Jamie doesn’t tell anyone he’s injured until it gets very bad. S2 | 3,177 words | Content warnings: Canon-typical swearing, physical injury, vomiting. (Original Post) (Read on Ao3)

reignited with a vengeance Roy watches Jamie tackle his Manchester demons in very different ways. S2 & S3 | 1,189 words | Content warnings: Canon-typical swearing, physical injury, implied/referenced child abuse. (Original Post) (Read on Ao3)

pick up the pieces Jamie and Roy go for a drink. It goes much better than last time. Post-S3 | 1,567 words | Content warnings: Canon-typical swearing, mentions of surgery. (Original Post) (Read on Ao3)

before i get put down again Colin is injured during a match and Isaac worries. Post-S3 | 1,362 words | Content warnings: Canon-typical swearing, physical injury, implied/referenced homophobia. (Original Post)

Roy Kent/Jamie Tartt

accused of appearing insincere Roy becomes protective of Jamie when a fan makes unwelcome advances. Post-S3 | 1,852 words | Content warnings: Mentions of sex and alcohol, non-consensual physical contact, exceptional levels of swearing. (Original Post) (Read on Ao3)

effort to make it look effortless Jamie attends training at Nelson Road while sick and makes everyone very worried. Post-S3 | 1,364 words | Content warnings: Implied illness, canon-typical swearing. (Original Post) (Read on Ao3)

puzzled together again Jamie has a bad day. Roy helps. Post-S3 | 1,697 words | Content warnings: Canon-typical swearing, plus Spanish swearing. (Original Post) (Read on Ao3)

laugh about it all All of AFC Richmond get a big surprise - and not the one they planned for. Post-S3 | 2,185 words | Content warnings: Canon-typical swearing. (Original Post) (Read on Ao3)