#coming to terms with what he did to his friends

[gyaruhana]

Do you write for hyun ju? Cause i have this idea where she and reader are dating and in the mingle game, we saved young mi and took her place in dying hehehehehe thats all tyy

Hyun-Ju/Player 120 - Sacrifice

Synopsis: you sacrifice yourself to save Youngmi.

A/N: sad sad sad idea ughh

Warnings: angst..

From the moment you stepped foot in this hellhole, death had been looming over your shoulder.

If it were up to you, you would've left after the first game. Sure, money was an issue but you valued your life more than you valued money. Even if the sum was 45.6 billion won, you didn't want to risk your life so carelessly. Besides, there were 455 other people who you'd have to compete against. You didn't see the odds being in your favor.

Fortunately, you managed to make a nice group of friends who you grew to trust through each passing game. You grew closest with a trans woman by the name of Hyun-Ju. You were honestly surprised to make such a good friend here of all places but you were certainly glad you did. Hyun-Ju provided you with much needed comfort and your conversations always filled the quiet air after a particularly challenging game.

Strangely enough, you didn't feel as scared when she was close by. Even though you watched so many people die, you didn't fear you'd be next when she was around. You knew she'd keep you safe and you'd gladly return the favor.

That's how you're here now.

The game was mingle and it involved making groups based on the number called out before the timer runs out. Things had gotten a little messy as Youngmi had accidentally been knocked down while running behind them. Of course, Hyun-Ju realized this after stepping in the room when there was little time left on the clock.

She ran out to try grab Youngmi when someone else barged in, pushing her back and telling her there wasn't enough time. You looked at Hyun-Ju's distraught face as she tried to move past and get out to help Youngmi. It was a rather reckless desperation but Youngmi was important to her. A friend who she cared for.

You glanced toward the timer and read the clock. 6 seconds left.

Without another thought, you pushed past them and opened the door before grabbing Youngmi and helping her up. You didn't waste any time in pushing her in the room before closing the door behind her knowing that you couldn't stay when they already had enough people in the room. On que, the door locked and Hyun-Ju immediately went to it, banging on it desperately.

"What are you doing? Why would you do that?!" She yelled angrily as she looked at you. Hyun-Ju wanted nothing more than for this door to burst open. She would've pushed that guy out for you. She didn't want you to die - not like this. Not when you were one of the few people who actually showed her a shred of empathy and kindness.

"Hyun-Ju, it's fine. I'm fine," you say reassuringly. While you were scared that death would soon take you, you put on a brave face for her. Even as tears formed in both your eyes and hers. "I'm sorry," Hyun-Ju spoke and you quickly shake your head in disapproval. She had no reason to be sorry. This was your choice.

"Don't apologize. You did nothing wrong. This was my decision. My decision, okay?" you speak with a smile that didn't match the fear and worry in your eyes. "You're still going to win that money and go to Thailand, yeah? For me?" you speak and Hyun-Ju couldn't help but let out a choked sob at your words.

"..Yeah," she responded with a nod as she averted her gaze for a moment to compose herself. "Good," you say before the sound of footsteps comes closer to you. You turned around and were met face to face with a guard holding his gun to your face. The sight immediately made Hyun-Ju panic as she started banging on the door again and yelling again.

"No! No!" Hyun-Ju cried out but her cries were quickly cut off by the sound of a gunshot. Some of your blood splattered on her face leaving her in a stunned silence as she came to terms with what just happened. She closed her eyes and leaned against the door as she cried. She was upset and angry. You were supposed to live. Not die like this.

But it was too late now. You were dead, and you were never coming back.

[pedriache]

Merry Christmas, I miss you 𖦹 Quinn Hughes !

summary. quinn was back home for christmas and all he could think about was you. his highschool sweetheart. one he hadn’t seen in a very long time. but now, with the holiday bringing you both home… whats a better time to rekindle what once was?

wc. 1.39k+

disclaimers. ex’s that left off on good terms, fluff, reader being slightly awkward & this may be a little ooc but IDC IDC.. also reader went to college for something unspecified.

notes. i had two drafts for this idea but i liked this one better lolsss.. also i fucking decided i hated this but i also am just like whatever i need it out of the drafts!

Quinn’s fingers hovered over the green button. He had been sitting on the living room couch, chewing on his lip for about thirty minutes now. His mom had informed him that you were back in town for the Holiday’s. Your mother had stopped her at the grocery store to chat, and you’d rounded the corner. Ellen practically raced home to inform her son.

Jack and Luke sat on chairs not far from their older brother, both sharing equally as annoyed looks.

“Man, just press the button.” Jack grumbled, sinking into the chair, his foot tapping the ground impatiently.

Quinn’s head snapped up, eyes narrowing on his brother before they flickered back to his phone. “It’s not that easy. What if she has a boyfriend now and I—“

Before he could finish his sentence, Luke shot up from the couch, passing the distance in a few long strides. The youngest Hughe’s brother wrenched the phone from his brother’s tight grasp, not giving Quinn a second to retaliate, he presses the button.

Ring.. Ring..

“Hello?”

Quinn glared heatedly up at Luke as the curly haired boy grinned, handing the phone back to his brother. Jack stood from the chair, nodding his head toward the door for Luke to follow and give Quinn space.

Clearing his throat, Quinn’s mouth parted. Shit, shit, shit. What did he get himself into? What did Luke get him into?

“Uhm.. Quinn?” God, your voice was still as sweet and melodic as the last time he’d heard from you. The small hint of a smile in your voice was the thing had gave Quinn the strength to reply.

And, you still had his number saved.

“Hey, yeah, sorry. Hi!” He sunk into the couch, free hand rubbing his thigh in a comforting motion. “Heard you were back in town?”

Shuffling was heard on the other end before a soft sight left your lips. “Yep! Are you here too?” There was something in your voice, something hesitant that raised a hint of concern in Quinn.

Did you have a boyfriend? If so, that would explain it. Not wanting to hear from your ex.. what was he doing!?

“Yeah, yeah. Just for a few days. How’ve you been?” He really should just get the question that’s been nagging at his mind for hours now.

On the other end, your heart was slamming into your chest. You’d always been shy, even in high school. The only reason you had a friend group was because of Quinn. He’d helped you come out of your shell.

But now? Now he was your ex, a famous hockey player, and incredibly good looking. Why wouldn’t you be a little shy?

“Good. Been good! College is tiring, but worth it..” A pause, “How are you?”

Quinn felt a smile pushing at his lips despite himself. “I’ve been alright! Listen, I really gotta ask..” Now or never, Hughes. Now or— “Do you have a boyfriend?”

Choking. That’s all Quinn heard, even when you so clearly moved the phone away from your face. “I—Uh, I, well— no. No, no, I don’t. Sorry! That caught me a but off guard!”

A laugh slipped out of the brunettes lips, his head dipping with a low shake. “No, it’s my bad. I should’ve eased that question in. Just.. didn’t want to overstep.”

Once you’f collected yourself, did you allow a small chuckle to escape your lips. Red blossomed on your cheeks and you’d never been so grateful for it being over the phone.

If this had happened face to face? Well, you might be in the hospital for passing out from sheer humiliation.

“You aren’t overstepping anything, Quinn. I promise.” You stood from your seat, walking toward the kitchen to get yourself some water.

Quinn waited a second to speak, not wanting to seem too eager—he couldn’t scare you off just yet. “Good. We should catch up, soon. The cafe on main street is still open, you liked their espresso’s if I remember correctly.”

He did remember correctly. As if Quinn could forget anything pertaining to you. You liked it with an extra shot, claiming it was necessary or your whole day would be off. Not that you needed more energy, you’d always seemed to have an endless supply of that.

The Hughe’s man supposed that’s what he’d loved the most about you. Your energetic side that made it easy for him to sit back and relax while you took over the conversations.

“You remember very correctly.” You laugh lightly, “and, I’d love that. When are you free?”

Quinn sat up straight, smiling. Then, he turned his head, noticing his brother’s peeking over the corner. Their eyes widened and their heads disappeared.

He had to hold back the groan as he turned his attention back to the woman he was on the phone with. “Right now, if you are.”

“Oh! Oh, give me thirty minutes to get ready. I can drive—“

“I’ll pick you up. My brothers are here and they are being.. well, them.”

You nod in understanding, forgetting he couldn’t see you. A grin tugs at your lips as you imagine the younger Hughe’s boys being oh-so-nosey.

“Alright. I’m staying at my parents. Come whenever, I’m sure they’d love to see you.” And with that, you both said your goodbye’s and you sprinted to your room.

When Quinn did arrive at your house, nerves wracked his body. His stomach churned at the realization he was about to see you after so many years. Sure, he still followed you on Instagram.. but you didn’t exactly have a big social media presence.

The click of the door opening had the mans back straightening, pulse quickening in his throat like he was a high schooler all over again.

And when he saw you, his breath hitched in his throat. You looked so much more mature, somehow even more beautiful than the last time he’d seen you.

Yes, four years had passed since he’d seen you in person. But this was.. well, he forgot how to speak. The flowers in his hand long since forgotten.

“Grip those any tighter and you might snap the stems.” You spoke quietly, teasingly. Heat rushed to your cheeks as you watched him blink, his throat bobbing. Was that a stupid joke?

Then, he laughed. And you saw that he was the same Quinn you’d loved all those years ago. His cheeks puffing and his head shaking.

His grip loosened on the flowers, his arm sticking out to give them to you. You took them gratefully, cheeks flushed as you murmured a thank you.

Quinn shifted on his feet as you brought the flowers up to smell them. “You look beautiful.”

Your eyes paused on the flowers before slowly lifting to meet his. You didn’t think it was possible for your face to get any warmer, but here it was. Ablaze.

“Thank you! So do—well, I meant—“ Your mouth clamps shut. “You look handsome.” It came out gritted which caused Quinn’s lips to twitch.

Setting the flowers on a table beside the door, you grab your purse and step outside. The cold air cooling you down and stifling your humiliation. The walk to Quinn’s car was brief, thankfully.

Inside, you settled into the seat. You really needed to control yourself, this awkward vibe seeping off of you was only making you more embarrassed.

As if nothing had changed, Quinn disconnected from bluetooth and turned to you with a loose grin. And just like that, you were back in high school again, refusing to go anywhere until you gained control over the music.

Your mouth quirked as you pulled out your phone. “Always a gentleman, Hughes.” You tease lightly, which was met with a short chuckle. That simple sound shot something so familiar through your chest.

Your fingers hovered over the song you were about to play, when your eyes flitted back to Quinn. He was looking at you still, his lips pulled into a small smile. And you knew that what you were feeling wasn’t just a one way street.

“I missed you.” He spoke quietly. His eyes softened as they moved around your face like he was trying to memorize every new detail to store beside the old ones.

Tearing your eyes from him, you press play. “I missed you too.”

likes, comments, & reblog’s are all appreciated. lmk if you’d like to be tagged in any or all of my posts.

ᝰ.ᐟ tags @halfwayhearted @lechrts @spidybaby @joaoflms @sakashq @be11ingham @piastri-fvx

[strwberri-milk]

Hello!

Can I request about what your headcannons would be if the boys were in a schoolAU instead of the original

(request was inspired by the official post of their info in deepspace academy)

hihi!! i recc you read this set of hcs too!! i honestly kinda sandwhiched my thots of them in a school au in here so these might be a little repeatative/ theyre super short bc i just dont have anything outside of what i already posted awefoaifjaoiawfa did you have anything specific you were seeing?? bc its really hard for me to extrapolate from just like, gen hcs sometimes :(

Zayne's tutoring sessions can go pretty late sometimes. He does use them to do his own homework and also likes them because it forces him to go over concepts over and over and reinforce them in his mind. He's the kind of guy who is super smart but still studies a lot to ensure that he doesn't leave testing up to chance. To him, he wants to make sure that his good grades are the result of his efforts and nothing is left up to chance.

He's a part of a lot of like, academic student bodies or anything that aims to support student's learning. He doesn't have a lot of time to go to social events but he does manage to grab a meal here or there with you. He's just got a lot on his plate to keep him busy. The only time he'll carve out time for social events is if you ask him to come with you and usually that means he's even busier leading up to it trying to get all his work done.

Xavier isn't big into clubs so he doesn't really seem to have many friends. He could totally be convinced to join a club by you though. He has a very tight knit group that would consist of you and Jerimiah. It'd have to be like, childhood friends because he isn't super into making new friends so any new friends he does make are directly introduced to him by his primary friend group.

He much prefers going over to yours or you going over to his place to study or hang out after class. He's the type of friend that basically lives at your house, staying basically until the sun sets. He'll spend the night too if he's allowed to, crashing on the floor of your bedroom. Definitely the kind of friends everyone assumes are dating and have to be convinced if you two aren't.

Rafayel is really standoffish and quiet so people just like, think of him as the really hot but also really scary guy. People don't really talk to him directly unless they really have guts to get cussed out by him if he's in an especially bad mood because he really doesn't care how people perceive him.

He really only talks to you and Thomas, and teachers also aren't safe. He's nice enough not to do anything to antagonise the teachers but he also isn't really an active participant in their classes. If they want him to participate then it's generally on his terms but when he does participate he's surprisingly cooperative when he puts in his two cents.

Sylus is popular and in that cool kid way. He's intimidating because everyone knows him and wants to talk to him and he also knows that he's popular. He doesn't really do anything with it, just acting like people aren't desperately trying to get his attention. He doesn't pay it any mind, ignoring it because it doesn't really matter to him.

He doesn't seem like he cares about classes but he actually kinda does. He doesn't work as hard as Zayne because he's smart enough and willing to leave things up to chance if needed to study. He excels primarily at classes that challenge him or require him to work with his hands as the mental stimulation keeps him focused.

He gets invited to parties a lot. The question becomes whether or not he'll attend - and generally he'll only go if you're there too. If you aren't there he really doesn't see any purpose in showing up.

[buckevantommy]

1? For dialogue prompts

꒰ 1 ꒱ “i can’t fucking believe this.”

"I can't fucking believe this."

"Sal.."

"Where in the hell does he get off—"

"Sal! It was my choice."

That brings his friend up short. "What?"

"I broke up with him."

The worst of it is: there's no confusion in Sal's eyes. Just horrid understanding sinking in. And not without pity. "Jesus."

Tommy scrubs a hand down his face, stubble catching on his calloused palm. He hasn't bothered shaving on his days off. Evan was always so vocal about how much he enjoyed the texture of Tommy's scruff - beneath his fingertips, against his lips, between his thighs.. His next inhale is a heady rush. "Yeah."

The couch dips where Sal settles beside him. They sit in silence for a minute, maybe two, maybe more. Tommy fiddles with the label on his beer bottle and doesn't taste it when he takes a sip, the flavors bitter on his tongue.

Sal finally breaks the uneasy quiet. "What happened?"

He ran away. He ruined the best relationship he's ever had because he got scared. "I fell for him. I let myself think—" It was stupid. Foolish. He should never have let things get as far as they did. "It doesn't matter. He doesn't want me."

"He tell you that?"

"He's not seeing things clearly right now, but he will."

"Oh my god." Sal sways forward in his periphery. His tone is accusatory, which: rude. "Is this because of Jason?"

Tommy looks away.

"Jesus, Tommy. I know you cared about him, but that guy was an asshole."

Jason was Tommy's second serious long-term relationship with a man. They dated less than a year before moving in together. Three months later they broke up because Jason wasn't ready to commit and Tommy found himself on Sal's couch for the next two months.

That's putting it nicely. The harsh truth was that the man Tommy saw himself buliding a life with got bored of their relationship. Bored of Tommy. And Evan— Buck, would've soon realised the same: that he wanted more than Tommy could give him, wanted something different, someone better, wanted to explore this newly discovered facet of his identity without hindrances.

Not that Tommy was ever going to move into the loft, even in a perfect world where things turned out better for them; Tommy has a house for fuck sake, a mid-century ranch he's spent the better part of a decade making his own. And living alone. But he'd be a liar if he said he hadn't pictured waking up to a certain someone there every morning and going to sleep together every night.

Why be apart when we can be together?

"Hey," Sal knocks a knuckle against his knee. "I'm sorry."

Tommy gives a tight nod, doesn't trust himself to open his mouth in case what comes out is something more embarassing than words.

"For what it's worth, I thought you and Buckley were good together. Hadn't see you that happy in years."

He was happy. Happiest he's ever been in a relationship - except maybe for the giddy euphoria he felt with his own first boyfriend; it was fun but it ran its course. Same with Jason. And he was Buck's first, it wouldn't last. It didn't.

He let himself ignore the inevitable for six amazing months. He doesn't regret their time together, but the ease of being with Buck had lured him into a false sense of security. Buck didn't know the real Tommy - he barely knew himself - so it became apparent that moving forward together was not an option.

Foolish Tommy's happiness always seems to spell heartache down the line. He tried to spare himself this time but it was too late, and that notable happiness that was is juxtapose to a consequential pain that is and which feels like it could last a lifetime.

"I love him," Tommy confesses suddenly, voice quietly ragged. A heated sting presses behind his eyes and he squeezes them shut. Tries to steady his breathing.

And only resists for a moment as Sal pulls him in, big hand bracing Tommy's head, tucking into his friend's shoulder as the floodgates open.

"I know, pal. I know."

doing this thing

[quitealotofsodapop]

So in DMs for my pilgrim time warp I we discussed courtnapping and I had an idea that in aus where Wukong isn't on good terms with Macaque and not currently pregnant (probably soft (not slow) boiled, drafted fates, etc.) by the end of s3, he and Macaque don't get together easily. In fact their courtship is quite tumultuous.

After the battle with Lady Bone Demon, Wukong is utterly exhausted and hurt and filthy! He wants nothing more than to jsut sleep the next two weeks away and not worry about anything. So he does exactly that! He calls off training to give MK time to recuperate and just let everyone get their lives back in order, and makes plans to just relax and sleep. He'd been holding on through sheer determination and adrenaline to prevent MK from noticing just how badly hurt he still was and how badly his possession by LBD had effected him. So he basically crashed out the moment everyone left his island and he finally got to sit on his couch. Only problem is, when MK comes by after hsi two week break, Wukong isn't there.

Because he's been courtnapped.

When Wukong wakes up, freshly bathed and injuries tended to, it's to fresh, clean silken sheets in a bed he hasn't been slept in for over a thousand years. His bedroom in the now abandoned and forgotten Stone Palace, the original one from the book. After Macaque's first death he couldn't bring himself to live in the same palace and sleep in same marital nest he once shared with his beloved anymore, so he'd had his subjects build him a smaller hut on a cliffside to live in. The house he now lives in.

And while he's groggily trying to figure iut exactly how an why he is there, sthis bedside was Macaque, resting a hand against his cheek as he leaned over him, looking entirely too pleased with himself. Apparently a good chunk of his previous fights with Wukong had been half out of revenge and half courtnapping attempt, he'd finally gotten an opening to catch his snatched bride by simply waiting for Wukong to finally pass out from his ordeal with LBD. This was actually something that had been a thing all the way back to his debut episode, the seal he had placed in MK's jacket hadn't just been to siphon MK's powers. It was a tracker, because when Macaque was first revived the first place he looked had been the Stone Palace he and Wukong had once lived in only to be unable to find him there. The barrier in the waterfall curtain would block his hearing whenever he tried to use his ears to find him. So he was left with the only known connection Wukong had left in the modern day. A fresh, naive young student desperate to prove himself.

At the time he hadn't known WHAT he wanted with Wukong, whether it be to kill him (which he knows is impossible) or to take him back. He gets his answer when he sees Wukong again in person for the first time. Both. He wants both to kick Wukong's ass for killing him and to get his mate and husband back. And he almost did then too, but he'd gotten distracted by MK. And he'd inadvertently activated Wukong's parental instinct by threatening MK.

The fight on the airship was something similar, except MK and Mei had both intervened, and LBD was a threat. Same as the fight in the desert, where Wukong was unresponsive due to deep meditation only to be separated, and Macaque had found MK before he found Wukong. After that point fear fir LBD had overwritten the courtnapping attempts.

But now that the main threat is over and Macaque is finally free, he's able to focus entirely on his scheming and getting his husband back.

With courtnappings, there is traditionally a trial period before it's considered official in any capacity. After all, no matter who you are, being randomly stolen away from your friends and family can be frightening. So a month or two is generally set aside for the potential bride to get to know their new groom, this is also a very chaotic time in the courting because this is the time for the demon who stole their bride to then prove their strength to them by not only protecting them, but to be able to hold on to them and prevent them from being either stolen but rival suitors or being able to escape themselves. So a lot of fighting is expected among demon couples. If the match just simply doesn't work out after the trial period, the bride is free to call it off at any moment and the demon would be duty bound to obey their request, failure to do so is to lose honor and respect from all their kind.

So needless to say Macaque is fully prepared for Wukong to spend the first week fighting with him over every little thing and constantly making escape attempts. After that he begins to begrudgingly settle down because he, unfortunately, is still too weak from the LBD to be able to properly fight back. It's about then Macaque is also able to properly make his intentions known, which passes Wukong off to no end, an expected thing when a powerful demon ends up courtnapped as it can sting their pride to be considered the 'wife' of a suitor. Macaque takes great advantage to Wukong being touch starved and jsut overall weak to affection to spoil and groom him over the next few weeks in an attempt to woo him. Wukong is embarrassed to admit that he only needed approximately a month and a half to accept his former mate back into his life, and begrudgingly accepts his courtship. When they finally return to the hut, it's to a worried MK, an angry Pigsy, and a lot of people thinking Wukong broke his promise again only for Pigsy to notice that A) Wukong looked a lot healthier than he'd ever seen him and B) Macaque was smugly hovering near him and Wukong wasn't pushing him away. He quickly puts two and two together.

Pigsy: Courtnapping?

Wukong, grumbling: I'm embarrassed to admit it.

That feel when Demons are a whole race of tsunderes XD

Post-S3 Macaque realising that LBD's defeat is the perfect opportunity to re-courtnap his mate and reinstate his place as Wukong's doting spouse;

Wukong: "Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Macaque: "Don't know. Somewhere where I can do a bit of scheming, probably."

It sort of becomes a Beauty and the Beast situation at the Stone Palace, even tho it's Wukong's own darn palace that he hasn't cleaned in ages.

I just love the idea of Macaque deciding that the best revenge is making Wukong remember why he missed him all those centuries.

And also have it be publically known that the feared Sun Wukong is the one being courted/wooed. Some demons (especially former humans) find it near scandalous that the Six Eared Macaque is the one "wearing the pants" in the courtship! XD

Also come S4; you now have a furious husband monkey chasing down the Brotherhood for stealing his mate from their nest!

I adore this concept. It has so much room for some tasty scenarios and standalone fics X3

[butts-bouncing-on-the-beltway]

While I'm on a kick of being really open about my sexuality, lets just start throwing shit out there and seeing how people interact with it

People who have followed me from the beginning will know that most of my partners get some quippy little nickname assigned to them in place of a name for the internet, and I want to name that this actually DOESN'T come from where might think (or rather it's still infosec, but it goes beyond "don't post the actual names of people you fuck online"

In the scene I have most cultural context for, people often came to group play sessions with an alias (I have one too lol, and it's the only name I ever introduce myself to partners as, mine has been static for going on a decade now). You would introduce yourselves to playmates under your alias, and often you would continue to use it as a marker of in-scene vs out-scene topics of conversation (e.g. sometimes people will talk about their aliases in third person as a whole entity with their own motivation, life, and power, my mom used to talk about "her friend [redacted 1]" if she ever needed to be able to reference a thing without naming explicitly that she and [redacted 1] were the same person, and there are friends of hers who still call her exclusively by that name in private because they have loved each other for going on 50 years now and [redacted 1] is still their partner and love even if mom isn't and vice versa).

So for example, on here, I will refer to any metamours by the plural-inclusive term The Metamour with very little discussion of which one or how many there are or whatever. But in person, I call one metamour [redacted 2] and another metamour [redacted 3] because they were introduced to me by their aliases first, and I genuinely DID NOT KNOW THEY'RE ACTUAL NAMES until after we had become real friends lol.

Anyway, Youtube Boy doesn't know that his nickname here is Youtube Boy, and that's not his alias in scene, nor his actual name, but critically these terms allow me to side step early uncertainties around terms like "boyfriend/girlfriend/datemate/etc" which may imply a degree of romantic entanglement I'm genuinely uncomfortable with. On occasion during this round of posting, I have gone "well it's CLEARER tho" and tried to type out "my boyfriend" about one of my current partners (partner does not carry this same issue for me, as I have always carried dual connotations of Romantic Oartner and Play Partner, so I feel no discomfort/cognitive dissonance with it's implications) and every time I do it I physically cringe away from the screen and delete it. Maybe he wouldn't feel the same way, and hell maybe I won't forever either! But I have almost never been willing to use a word like boyfriend without fairly explicit conversations about commitment, meaning to each other, and boundaries that just don't come up all the time in play partnerships for me you know?

Anyway, what I'm saying here is that sometimes the point of being a slut is to get to be every iteration of yourself that you love being independently from each other in a space that adequately facilitates that iteration of you. I like the people I play with to each get absolutely all of me that is available to them, and I **LIKE** that this often means I get to spend time as different important aspects of self, wholly and without self-doubt or minimization.

And hell, sometimes I even name the iteratioms and let them become something bigger than just a "version of me" and that can be fun too.

[herrmannhalsteadproduction]

I’m greedy. Gimme some a dat spy tommy and guardian Angel Kevin please 🥰🥰

Hello, @rdng1230! Thanks for the ask! And you got it!

Here's a wee snippet from Spy!Tommy aka Live and Let Spy. This is from the scene where Buck and Tommy have caught up to Sal and Tommy who are trying to complete a mission. Buck is under the incorrect impression that Tommy is cheating on him with Sal. Things are not going well for anyone. Enjoy some Sal POV:

Sal eyed Tommy’s boy as he holstered his gun—his Evan—smirking when his scowl grew deeper. “Why don’t you kids run along home?”

Tommy shot him a look; his voice holding a note of warning. “Sal.”

“Why don’t we what? Screw you, Sal,” Evan said, charging forward.

Sal held his ground, used to much bigger and scarier dogs than this little pup. He huffed out a laugh at the kid’s bluster and shifted his weight, ready to take him down if he had to. Tommy could kiss his booboos better after they finished this fucking mission.

If they survived anyway.

The kid’s eyes narrowed as he crowded into Sal’s space and Sal jerked his head back when he started sniffing near his friggin’ mouth. What the hell?

In a flash, a large hand had him pressed against the side of the building. “I’m only going to ask this once and you’re going to tell me the truth,” Evan said, his voice going low and dangerous. “Did you eat my lasagna?”

Silence stretched out in the alley as no one dared to move. Never had Sal heard five words more loaded with extra meaning in his entire life. And he was a friggin’ spy.

He could see Tommy putting the pieces together just as quickly as he was, horror dawning on his face as he realized what kind of conclusions his boyfriend had come to about the two of them and the nature of their relationship.

A little too much horror if you asked Sal.

He was a catch.

Tommy had only himself to blame when Sal shot his boyfriend a shit-eating grin and said, “Yup. Both pieces. And I loved every last bite.”

Evan looked about ready to deck him when his buddy Eddie piped up behind him. “…is lasagna code for something? Because I’ve never heard that one before and Buck usually fills me in on all the terms whether I want to know or not.”

I put the Guardian Angels snippet under the cut!

Okay so this one is going to be fun, I think! It's based on this ficlet that I started here and I'm working on turning it into a whole story. It's going to be from Kevin's POV, but it will eventually include everyone's guardian angels in some way (that's all I can say without spoilers, lol) Here's a bit of the opening:

Kevin woke with a gasp—the echo of a strangled scream dying in his throat.

Dying…

Falling.

Sitting up with a jolt, he patted himself down frantically, breath finally slowing when he realized that he was okay. He was fine. He was…sleeping on Howie’s couch and having incredibly vivid dreams, apparently. Because he was alive.

Not dead.

Unless the afterlife was in Howie’s apartment in which case Reverend Michaels had really been overselling things on that front.

But…

He remembered the fire—working the scene with Howie up on the roof and the woman, the pregnant woman who stumbled out, she was going to fall through and he—he’d pushed her out of the way and fallen through himself. He remembered choking smoke and flames roaring up around him and pain. And fear. And then…nothing.

So, what the hell was going on?

A door creaked behind him and he whipped around to see Howie step slowly out of his room. Kevin’s breath caught at the look of utter devastation on his best friend’s face.

“Howie?” he whispered.

Thanks for the ask!

[mirkwoodshewolf]

Sweetest treat; Fred Weasley x reader

*Author's note*

Now this was just a sweet little treat (haha see what I did there?) after viewing the James and Oliver Phelps tasting British candy video on youtube. Now as an American I can't describe the taste of the following candies I've done so to any Brit readers out there I apologize and if you want to reach out to me to tell me what these selected candies taste like to you, just give me a shoutout.

Not really any warnings here this is mostly a fluff piece but if I had to have some warnings it would only be mentions of Parental death and past mentionings of Umbridge. Other than that nothing else to be warned about, enjoy my darlings!

Taglist:

@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels

@waddles03

@queen-paladin

@plethora-of-things

@psychosupernatural

@remussl0vers

_____________________________________________________

While it’s always felt like a home at Hogwarts, there’s just no place like home.  Especially when your home is just above a sweetshop just outside of Birmingham but that’s the perks of being a muggle-born witch.  My dad owns the sweetshop, in fact it’s been passed down in his family for nearly a century.  And sure while the Wizarding world has it’s own sweets and treats to thoroughly enjoy, I guess the nostalgia in me just can’t allow any wizard sweets to top the candies I’ve grown up with.

Which is why I always sneak some ‘muggle candy’ with me to Hogwarts every year and when I come home, I pick and choose what I’ll want to take for the next term.  And during the summer, my dad’s shop truly becomes the go-to for kids during the summer holiday which is why I help him out with the shop, especially since mum died last year.

I was currently doing some inventory and writing down what candies we needed to restock when there was a loud thump at the window.  I jumped at the sudden crash since there had been nothing but pure silence since closing up shop.  My dad rushed out from his office frantic and exclaimed.

“What the bloody hell was that?!” I went over to the window and let out a sigh of relief.

“It’s alright dad, it’s just Errol. The Weasley’s owl. Poor old bugger.” I walked outside the shop and knelt down beside him.  He lay there on the cement floor on his back with a letter in his beak.  “I swear Errol you’re hopeless. Nearly gave my dad a heart attack thinking someone was vandalizing the store.” I took the letter out of his beak and he soon recovered squawking.

I held arm out and he perched himself on my forearm and I adjusted him to my shoulder, his wings flapping and ruffing my hair as I went back inside.  I opened up the letter and I smiled warmly.

“Can’t your wizard friends use the phone like everyone else? Or use the normal mailing system?” asked dad.

“I told you dad, this is how the wizarding community sends messages. They forbid muggle means of communication. Kinda old school they are, much like you are with your filing system. I’m surprised you’re not using a computer to keep all the records together.”

“Touche you bring up a good point, darling. So who is it from? That lover boy of yours?” I shushed him and read the letter.

My beloved (Y/n),

I know you said you wouldn’t be able to come over for the yearly Weasley summer getaway, but you never said anything about any of us coming there.  I talked with mum and dad and they’ve allowed me to come and visit you for the week.  Perhaps you could educate me on why you believe your muggle sweets surpass our own (which I’ll still fight you on till my last breath).

And don’t worry, I’ll come the ‘normal muggle way’ don’t want your dad freaking out now do we with the fireplace like last time? Hope to hear back from you soon, it’s been lonely not having you in my arms.

The handsome twin,

Fred W.

P.S. Ignore what he just said and don’t mention this to him but I’m the better looking one and you know it.

From the real handsome twin,

George W.

Oh those boys.  I shook my head and said.

“Hey dad, Fred got his parent’s approval to stay with us for the week, is it okay with you?” dad let out a deep sigh as he put on his thinking face.  “Please, please?”

“I don’t know. Though I approve of you dating I just don’t know how to feel about having your boyfriend stay over.”

“C’mon dad. I promise no hanky-panky. I’ll even get him to help around the shop. No magic I promise.” I crossed my heart swearing by it.  He pondered the idea for a while but he kept his stoic face and that usually meant he could go either way with this decision.

“He takes the guest bedroom. And you two are not allowed to have the door shut when either of you are in a room together.”

“Deal. Oh thank you daddy!” I set Errol down on the checkout desk and ran up to my dad and hugged and kissed him.

“You’re welcome. But I’m trusting you two.”

“We swear, no hanky-panky.” I quickly went upstairs and wrote my response to Fred before sending it off with Errol.  God I hope that bird doesn’t get lost and keep him waiting too long.

A few days went by and as I was ringing up a few customer’s the bell chime over the door signified another costumer.

“Welcome to Nikki’s Candy shop I’ll be right with you. There you are lads, now don’t overdo it less you let your teeth rot.” I told the young boys as I handed them their candy basket and they raced out.  When I turned to the customer who had just entered, I was greeted with a familiar red-haired boy.

“If I didn’t know any better I’d say this was Honeydukes.”

“Well when this shop first opened, my great-great grandfather wanted to make sure that when the customers entered inside it was like entering a magical wonderland of sweets.” I came around the counter before wrapped my arms over Fred’s neck while his hands rested at my waist.  “I missed you.”

“Not as much as I missed you. How is it that you’ve turned me into such a sap?”

“Oh didn’t I tell you that my gran was part bunny? Whoops guess I left that detail out.” We both chuckled before softly kissing each other.  But a throat cleared sounded off behind us and there stood my dad.  Fred and I quickly separated and Fred greeted my dad.

“Hello again Mr. (L/n).”

“Hello Fred. While I don’t mind the fact that you’re dating my daughter, I kindly ask that you both keep your snogging to a minimum especially during business hours. Folks sometimes don’t take kindly to seeing that type of affection be displayed in public, especially in a food shop.”

“Yes sir. (Y/n) mentioned in her letter that you could use some help reshelving some inventory in the back room.”

“Yes, but first have you gotten settled into your room?” one thing about my dad is even when he’s in business mode, he’ll take the time to check up on you to make sure you’re okay.

“Yes sir, trunks all there and everything. And I solemnly swear it is in the guest bedroom you said I could use for the week.”

“Alright. Grab an extra apron just down the hall and get to work. (Y/n), you too. The McCallister’s should be in to pick up their birthday basket any minute now.”

“Got it dad.” He gave us a firm nod and a stern look that told us to not fool around anymore before he left to go back to the office.

“Wow, you were not kidding about your dad.” He whispered lowly.

“He’s had a lot on his plate. Ever since…..” I looked down solemnly.  It hurt that I couldn’t even leave Hogwarts for a few days to go to my mum’s funeral all because of Umbitch.  Fred came over and embraced me as he rubbed my arm comfortingly.  “I’m okay, even though I couldn’t go to the funeral, I at least got to say my goodbyes to her once school let out.”

“She was a nice woman. Her and mum got along fairly well whenever you guys came to join us for Christmas. She knows it wasn’t your fault.”

“I know. But it still hurt that I couldn’t say goodbye to her in her final moments. Epilepsy is rubbish Freddie.”

“I agree love it’s total rubbish.” I felt him kiss the top of my head and it was at that moment the bell chimed signaling the arrival of a costumer.  Quickly I put on a smile and went to greet the woman and gave her the birthday basket and continued to keep myself busy to distract me from my grief.

The work day continued to be busy just as it is every summer’s day but at the stroke of 6 o’clock, we closed up the shop and could finally eat some supper.  Dad and I warmed up some left over chicken and steamed vegetables.  As we all ate around the dinner table my dad said to Fred.

“So Fred, how goes your new shop? (Y/n) told me you boys had recently gotten the deed to the building in that magic corner of yours.”

“Yes sir, all the paperwork was finalized a few weeks ago. Our stocks are currently being madly produced at a good pace. Hopefully we’ll be able to be open for business just before the next term starts.”

“Got all the inspections checked and approved of?”

“Yes and we just completed the design for the front of the shop. It has our faces on it and every other time when the top hat comes up, a rabbit will disappear and reappear.”

“Impressive. Good thing I don’t have to compete with you boys, you’d run me out of house and home.”

“Not a chance Mr. (L/n). Kids still need their sweets.”

“Guys, no business at the dinner table.” I gently reprimanded but it kinda hurt to say that since that’s what mum used to say whenever dad got too deep into the business outside working hours.  He could do whatever he wanted when it came to running the shop after work hours but whenever it was meal time, business needed to stay out of the dining table.

“Sorry poppet.” Dad apologized.

“Sorry love.” Fred replied before we continued eating and discussing things outside of work.  Once we were done with our meal, I gathered up all the dishes and got them cleaned up and set to dry.  As I came back toward the dining room, I saw my dad and Fred shaking hands before he left to head back downstairs to his office.

“What was all that for?” I asked.

“Nothing big. Said that if Georgie and I ever ran into any business trouble whether for contracts or faulty inspections to give him a call. Even though the wizarding community and muggle world is different there is a commonality between the two. And that’s when it comes to starting up a business.” I smiled softly and said.

“C’mon, I think now’s a good a time for your muggle education on candy.”

“Lead the way milady.” I headed lead him towards the guest room and we got him set up and ready for his education.

In the guest room, all of Fred’s stuff was now unpacked and the two of us were in our lounge clothes with sweets both wizard and muggle treats scattered across his bed.

“Now the first lesson of your muggle candy education is the best way to start a conversation when you go to the Underground, mention the price for this guy.” I held up a Freddo caramel bar.

“Freddo the frog?”

“Correct. And what’s cool is he’s like the mascot of Birmingham because this is where his candy originated from the company Cadbury.” I unwrapped the chocolate frog from his wrapper and commented, “Ohh it’s melting already. That makes the caramel inside taste even better. Try it.” I held the Freddo bar out to Fred and he took it.

“I’m kinda left disappointed that he’s not coming to life like our chocolate frogs can.”

“Well not everyone likes live frogs hopping around. And if you were asked to eat one even if it’s chocolate covered most wouldn’t. But I promise you Fred, it’s worth it.” He took a bite and chewed it up before I saw his eyes go wide.  “Didn’t I tell you?”

“That is actually really good. But still not as enjoyable as the classic chocolate frog.” He said holding up the case for it and handed it to me.

“First time you and George tricked me into eating it.”

“I swear never did I think I’d hear someone who could out scream my own mum.” I shoved him with my foot and I opened it up and the magical frog leapt out at me but I grabbed it before it could land on my face and bite it in half.  “But I will admit you are right. The caramel really does compliment the chocolate of this Freddo so that gives him some points for lack of being alive.”

“And I gotta admit, the cards inside really do make the frogs worth stuffing your face for.” After eating the second half of my frog I took out the card and said, “Another Professor Minnie. Best add her to the other 15 I’ve got of her.” Fred finished his Freddo bar and licked his fingers clean.

“As you’ve come to learn and love, there’s nothing better than gambling your friends into eating something revolting or sweet than the Bertie’s Botts every flavour beans.” He held up the box and took his gamble with a bean.  “Huh, earwax. Hadn’t had one of those in years.”

“I still can’t believe that you actually ate a boogey flavor one once.”

“I swear by it. Worse thing I’ve ever tasted.”

“Uh-uh, the worst flavor is vomit.” I disagreed with him.

“I’d take a vomit flavour over a boogey flavor. At least with vomit I’d know it’d taste like what I had just eaten.” I groaned in disgust.

“Why do you have to say stuff like that around me?”

“Because I know it disgusts you and you look cute when you scrunch your face like that.” He teased as he gave my knee a squeeze.  I let out a yelp and quickly covered my mouth.

“Fred Weasley don’t you dare.” I threatened.

“Or what love?” he challenged as he eyed me mischievously  with the smirk.

“I’m not alone this time around.”

“Clever girl.” He released his grip on my knee and I reached out and grabbed the bag of wine gums.

“Now these require a unique taste. My dad really loves them but I can tolerate them occasionally. Wine gums. Got different flavours and sorts and each color represents a different wine brand. But despite their name they don’t actually contain any alcohol. Yellow, orange and brown for rum, black for port, green and beige for cider, and red for claret.”

“Shame that they don’t actually taste like the muggle alcohol they name them after.”

“Yeah well can’t have underaged drinking for kids who eat these. London’s already filled with bad drivers already don’t need them to get any worse, especially if they’ve got the munchies.”

“The what?”

“Nothing, don’t worry about it.” I tore open the bag and took Fred’s hand and poured out a small handful of wine gums into his palm while I grabbed the Bertie’s bean box.  Together both he and I took a bite of a random sweet but I immediately spat it out.  “Ugh gross! Vomit flavour! Fred Weasley I swear if you jinked me to eat a vomit flavour sweet first you’re sleeping on the couch.”

“I am deeply offended that you’d think I’d do such a thing!” he gasped dramatically holding his hand to his chest.  I closed the box and tossed it aside as I grabbed a tea cake and unwrapped it before shoving the whole thing in my mouth.  The marshmallow and chocolate immediately over compassing the vomit taste in my mouth.  “You are an odd one.”

“Odd? You’re the one whose opening the joke shop.” I said through my chewing.

“I thought a lady doesn’t talk with their mouth full?” I wagged my finger at him in disagreement.

“Mmm. I maybe a girl but I am no lady, Umbitch saw to that.” I said after finally swallowing the tea cake.  Fred scooted closer to me taking my left hand and stroked the back of my left hand that once had I MUST ACT LIKE A LADY scarred into my skin.

“I would’ve done far worse to her if I could. George would too.”

“I know you boys would. But no sense in throwing yourselves in Azkaban for my sake.”

“We’d still do it.” I smiled softly and gave the tip of his nose a soft kiss.  “What was that you had just a second ago?”

“A tea cake. Don’t ask why they call it that cause it doesn’t really go with tea nor is it a cake. Best way I can compare it to is they’re like the chocoballs on the trolley. A marshmallow sitting on top of a crisp biscuit and covered in chocolate.” I handed him another tea cake while I grabbed another one.  We both unwrapped our tea cakes and this time I bit into it half way as did Fred.

“Mmm that is good.” He said through his chewing.

“My mum always made the best ones. She even knicked a recipe from my aunt in America where instead of a marshmallow my aunt uses blended oreos.”

“Now that is something I’d like to try. Think you’d be able to make some?”

“Don’t you remember the last time I got near a stove at your house?”

“Right yeah. At least mum didn’t blow her top off knowing it was you. Had it been either Georgie or I we’d be six feet under.”

“Now for this last sweet treat, I want you to do something for me first.”

“And what might that be?”

“Close your eyes.”

“The last time someone asked me to do that, I ended up being shoved into a closet with a dungbomb.”

“Yeah well I’m not Lee. Just trust me on this babe.” He looked at me but with one loving gaze up at him, I knew I had him at the palm of my hand.  He closed his eyes and I took the Cadbury dairy milk bar and unwrapped it.  “Open your mouth.” I told him and he opened his mouth letting out an ‘ahhh’ to which I rolled my eyes playfully and placed the bar in his mouth.

He then began chewing the chocolate bar the second he felt it on his tongue.  His eyes opened wide for a second as his facial expression turned to pure satisfaction and he let out a loud moan.

“Oh Godric…..”

“I told you. Cadbury is the best chocolate in the world. Eating these bars really make me feel like a kid again. Pre-Hogwarts days.” I took a bar for myself and unwrapped it and placed it between my teeth.  I then felt Fred’s fingers underneath my chin and he turned me to face him.  Keeping hold of my chin between his fingers, he leaned right into my face taking the other half of my bar between his teeth and snapped it in half before eating his half of my chocolate bar.

I let out a small squeak and actually dropped my half of the bar and even though my heart was racing at what he had just done and my cheeks were probably as red as the Gryffindor colors I snapped at him.

“Fredick Gideon Weasley, how dare you—” he cut me off with a kiss.  His hand that held my chin now moved to the back of my neck gently stroking or rubbing certain spots that made me weak in the knees.  With one pressure point he knew that would get me to open my mouth, his tongue soon slipped into my mouth and our tongues soon danced with each other.

After our intense snogging and the desperate need for air became too great, Fred separated from me, the two of us panting softly and he licked his lips.

“Now that was by far the sweetest treat I’ve had.” I snorted softly as I shook my head at him.

“I really have turned you into a softie.”

“If you tell anyone, I’ll deny it.”

“Everyone but George. He’s always going on how you’re whipped for me.”

“I swear he’s a liar. In fact did you know that it was actually him that switched your muggle marshmallows with that canary cream?”

“He didn’t.” I said exasperatedly.

“Oh yes, saw him do it with my own eyes.”

“And you didn’t think to try and warn me about it?” I asked backing out of his arms and crossed my arms over my chest.  Fred then began stammering out an excuse while I arched my brow at him.

“You’ve got to admit it, you did sound adorable making those canary sounds.” I didn’t flinch.  “I’m going to be sleeping on the couch as you once said, aren’t I?”

“I might be able to overlook this matter, if you help me come up with a revenge prank on him.”

“Did I tell you how much I love you?”

“Not nearly enough.” I said with a shrug.

“Then I’ve got a whole week to not only say it repetitively, but also might have some ideas you can pull on Georgie the next time you’re around.” He pulled me back into his lap and captured my lips in a softer, more loving kiss.  “We were truly made for each other.” He whispered against my lips.

“Like chocolate and caramel.” I whispered back before leaning back and deepening our kiss once again.

[cosmotheo]

My friend came to me recently with really good news. Firstly, he'd finally come to terms with the fact that he's not interested in sex or romance. After his last relationship ended so poorly, he decided to take some time to work on himself, get hobbies, and do some self reflection. He took up botany and archery, and it turns out that pouring that much time and effort into things that matter to you really does you good!

While he never went competitive with his archery (which is absolutely wild, btw, he's basically Robin Hood 2), he actually DID find a way to get into botany competitions! There's two divisions, which can be divided into Knowledge and Practice, basically how much botany stuff you know and how well you can apply it. My friend has a special interest in medicinal plants and herbs, so he enters into both sides and basically focuses his entire thesis (?) on Yarrow plants. You've probably seen it before, it's a plant that's both pretty AND can be used for natural coagulant/anti-inflammatory.

Anyway, if you want to win these competitions, you can't just, like, grow a flower. You have to do something that's actually got some scientific legs to it. So my buddy comes up with the idea to make these long, thin flowerbeds that are designed to be put alongside buildings, sidewalks, pre-existing structures. This is kinda huge, cuz it's a huge help to bees since they're long lasting pollen factories, and putting them in urban areas helps to provide them some food and shelter. Apparently there's a lot more to these flowerbeds than meets the eye, though. He's gotta design it, build the prototype, write an essay for its benefits and applications, and then prove that it works by actually growing something.

All this to say that this past weekend was the finals, and they absolutely adored his project. He got basically the highest marks you can receive, and they're in the process of offering him grants if he wants to proceed with development long term. He was absolutely beaming about it, I've never seen him so happy in all my life. He said that he's considering it, but he's basically spent the last several months burying himself in nothing but plant studies. He wants to continue in botany, but he's thinking he might give Yarrow a bit of a break once this is all done. I'm so proud of him, I really can't wait to see what he does next.

TL;DR - An Aro/Ace Arrow Ace Aces His Narrow Yarrow Spaces Era

[patheticjayce]

My thoughts on Mel and Jayce (as of 1/28/25- subject to reevaluation)

I shouldn't need a disclaimer for this but these are my own observations, they're not static, they can and will probably change at some point, feel free to discuss in the comments but don't attack anyone cause we're all adults here and that's just a really shitty thing to do ok??? thanks I love you !!

What if I say that I don't think Jayce and Mel are endgame because their paths just no longer align at the end? ( And this is without putting Viktor in the equation)

I just think that, in the end, Mel grew more into her power and her confidence and her role in the universe. Jayce, on the other hand, spent most of s2 riddled with guilt over the decisions he made in s1, which made it difficult for him to move on.

I believe their relationship started as something transactional (and yes, maybe a bit of manipulation on Mel's part.. but HEAR ME OUT!!! It's second nature to Mel at this point to use manipulation tactics as a means to an end. I do not think she did it with any ill intent, it's just who she was at that point in her story, and the only way she knew how to put into action the things she thought needed to happen)

Mel was a young woman in a position of power that she carried well, of course, because she was prepared... but she was still a young woman and wasn't completely confident in what she could do or not do. And Jayce landed in that council seat with absolutely no knowledge of politics whatsoever. The man was a scientist from a minor house, not a politician who had been groomed and prepared all his life for this kind of work. Mel's " manipulation" was not with bad intent, it was just who she was trained to be.

They found allyship in each other because of their closeness in age, and began the relationship based on physical attraction ( have you seen them?? those two are hot as fuck). I do wholeheartedly believe that they grew to genuinely care for each other. Not in a huge flames of passion way, but in a steady glowing ember. Their love and care for each other is soft, stable, a safe harbor for both of them. They navigate the rough political climate together, Jayce allows Mel to be more vulnerable, and Mel makes Jayce more aware of what his new roles in society require him to be. They were lovers, but they were also friends. And I do not think up until that moment Mel had ever had a genuine, disinterested friendship such as the one provided by Jayce.

But I think that in the end Mel is too powerful and Jayce still has a lot of maturing to do. He has to come to terms with a lot of the things that haunt him and the consequences of being " The Golden Boy", trying so hard to not be disliked that he messed up a lot along the way. Mel needs to be able to continue on her path without anything dragging her behind, and Jayce needs to learn to hold his own head above water.

**edited to remove some stuff that didn't make sense in context, but read the reblogs for more of the discussion though**

if you made it to the end, kudos to you and blessings to your people

[sunflowervoltwentyeight]

Happy 28th! Here is my January 2025 fic rec, organized by word count, from longest to shortest. You can view my other fic recs here. Enjoy!

Where You'd Rather Be by Itsmotivatingcara / @itsmotivatingcara (103k)

Louis runs the best Canine Search and Rescue school in Augusta, Maine, one that trains dogs to track missing persons. He lives an idyllic life on Togus Pond where he's built his career from the ground up. He has everything he could ever want, a beautiful home, friends he adores and a dog that aids his students in their training. Romantic entanglements have never been high up on his list of priorities.

That is, until he stumbles across a body in the woods. A woman was brutally murdered and dumped on his doorstep. It doesn't help that the Detective on the case happens to be devilishly handsome and just the right amount of broody.

Detective Harry styles has a murder to solve, he's just gotten out of a long-term relationship and he's certainly not looking for another. Regardless of whether the man who run's the SAR unit's blue eyes sparkle with promise and a sense of belonging. Something he may or may not have been searching for all his life.

Or

Detective - Search and Rescue AU

With Venom on Your Tongue by wildestdreams / @thelavendrhaze (91k)

While Louis had to try so hard to stay focused and be the best, Harry somehow did the same things with ease and confidence. He hated how Harry glided through life, carrying happiness on his shoulders like it was nothing when it was arduous for Louis. His carefree demeanor made Louis feel crazy.

But that feeling just motivated him to always keep his eyes on the prize. Number one in the class rankings every year and the valedictorian spot the next year when they graduated. He was so close he could taste it. And if the only thing in his way was Harry Styles, then Louis was willing to up the stakes to figure out what made him weak just to beat him.

“Whatever,” Louis eventually said to Liam. “He’s a fucking cliche.”

or a boarding school AU where Harry and Louis are academic rivals until they realize they’re more similar than they thought.

You're All I Ever Dreamed Of by staybeautiful /@harruandlou (53k)

Harry sank lower until his chin was hovering just above the water line. He had his mug balancing precariously against the lip of the bath. It had to be cooling already, but he still looked serene, like there was nowhere else he’d rather be.

“I could live here,” Harry said, smiling with his eyes closed.

It was as if the words sprung from Louis’ mind, his mouth, and twisted into Harry’s. His heart picked up and before he could stop them they were tumbling out.

“Okay, you should,” he stuttered and Harry turned to look at him. “You should move in with me.”

 Or after a Monday lunch with Zayn, Louis finds himself reevaluating what "too soon" means, especially when it comes to Harry.

Part 2 of such a beautiful dream

The End Should Be A Good One by bananasandboots / @anylessreal (43k)

It doesn't feel like falling in love, the way it had felt the first time around, easy, simple, almost like floating, wrapped up in a whirlwind of touches and kisses, late nights spent laughing breathlessly into each other's skin. This feels broken, complicated, like every move carries the weight of their past. Like the floorboards beneath them could collapse at any moment. This doesn't feel good.

Or, the one where Harry loses the love of his life on New Years Eve and finds him again, six months later, ready to open some poorly-stitched wounds.

I Want To Tell You That I Love You (but i can't speak) by tippitytap / @tippitytap (30k)

“Tell me what’s on your mind.”

“I said go back to sleep,” Harry replied with a chuckle, completely and absolutely endeared by Louis’ casual stubbornness.

“I need a bedtime story.”

“Trust me, my mind is not made to be a bedtime story.”

“I don’t care, it’s the bedtime story I want to hear. I love Harryland, I want to take a visit before I fall asleep. If I’m lucky, it will follow me into my dreams. So,” he said, poking Harry in the ribs with one finger, “take me to Harryland.”

AU: Harry is hit with another depressive episode and his therapist is only available in six weeks. In contrast to when he went through this the first time, he has Louis by his side and together - and with a lot of love - they make it through those six weeks.

If I Had no Love to Give (I Wouldn't Give It to You) by kingsofeverything / @kingsofeverything (30k)

Small town restaurateur Louis Tomlinson needs someone competent to work in his kitchen.

Chef Harry Styles needs a job.

The Dead Things We Carry by MediaWhore / @mediawhorefics (25k)

September ‘49   He hasn’t seen him since that day in France, that horrible muddy day where for one terrifyingly long second, Louis really thought he was going to die. He winces with the phantom pain, the hand not holding his cane going to his stomach automatically, remembering the franticness, the tenderness, of Harry’s hands while Louis was bleeding out.

This is the man who saved Louis’ life.

For one second, Louis fears Harry won’t recognise him, but his eyes widen when he turns to his left and they meet Louis’. He takes a step forward, reaching for him with a shaky hand before stopping himself.

“Louis,’ Harry says with a shudder and Louis doesn’t think his name has ever carried more weight.

This is the only man Louis ever thought about kissing for real.

“Oh,” Mrs. Padley says, clearly taken aback. “You two know each other?”

There are some things people never fully come home from. Until, one day, if they’re lucky, home comes to them.

Your Lips in the Low Light by etherealbliss / @givesuethemoon (20k)

“What?” Harry asks, turning towards him with a sympathetic little pout on his face. “You think she’ll let you put your hands on her throat like me? Give it up like me? Ask you to call her dirty names like me?” Harry laughs at him again, saccharine sweet yet unequivocally deriding, all at once.

And fuck, there’s a fire that ignites inside Louis when Harry speaks to him like this, almost as though he’s talking down to him, bitchy and uncaring. Louis doesn’t know whether he’s feeling a need to regain control of the situation or a want to stoke the fire even more until it consumes him entirely.

-

Set over the course of one night, at one fateful frat party. Louis and Harry find that there are not many things they will ever need more than each other.

Told You So by hazzahtomlinson / @itsnotreal (5k)

“Harry, come outside and say 'hello' to Loretta.”

Louis rested his forearms against the fence. He wondered who Harry was? Maybe her son? He turned back briefly to check on his grandma. She had a sly smirk on her face, so he turned further to face her. “What? What’re you smiling like that for?” He chuckled.

“Nothing. Just— thought of something funny. I’ll tell you about it later.”

Louis squinted at her. Hm. Weird.

“What’d you need, Gram?” A new voice said.

Louis turned back towards Mary’s yard and nearly choked on his tongue. Holy fucking—. Harry was in fact not Mary’s son. Jesus fuck. He had brown hair that curled a bit at his ears, long legs on display in some mesh shorts, toned arms showing due to the tanktop he was sporting. Christ. He was hot as fuck. A thousand percent Louis’ type— and then he turned towards him and their eyes met.

“Oh. Who’s this?” Harry questioned, a soft smile on his lips as his eyes danced over Louis.

Or Louis' grandmother loved to meddle in his life no matter how much he told her to give it up.

A Man After Midnight by galactic_larry / @galacticlarry (4k)

Harry thought kissing Louis on New Year’s Eve would be a one-time thing, but they keep running into each other and it becomes a tradition.

What happens when feelings start getting involved?

Or the five times Harry kisses Louis on New Year’s Eve and the one time he kisses his boyfriend.

Coming Home to You by Anonymous (2k)

A very self indulgent drabble of Harry coming home to Louis featuring the overuse of the word cuddle.

[rustedleopard]

Hi, I would like to share my opinion about the idea of Lucky Clover.

Well, let's start from the beginning, Clover's death at the end of the plot is completely logical and justified, he will not be able to live in the underground, due to many factors including the guard. But if someone decides to take him in?

1) Martlet - maybe she's a kind monster who invites Clover to stay... But kindness alone cannot raise a child, after all, she is not attentive and clumsy, she has not even decided on her life direction. (I imagine how Undyne, in his manner, suddenly comes to visit Martlet and sees Clover in front of him.)

2) Ceroba is one of the most interesting characters, it's always been fun for me to watch people make her into Clover's foster mother. Although she respected him at the end of the trip, it seemed to me that she didn't care about Clover, and all these tears and sadness were from the fact that her plan had failed. Even if Clover stays with her, Ceroba may try to implement her plan again.

3) Starlo is one of my favorite characters. He may get along well with children, but he's not good as a parent (Starlo is that cool uncle who doesn't have a family). But even if you take this into account, the upbringing of a child by the management of the Wild East and his gang will not be well suited. Although he matured at the end, he didn't grow up enough to raise a child.

So the death of Clover is not a bad option for others...

I'm going to assume that you are referring to an AU where Clover lives in the Underground with their friends when you use the term "Lucky Clover AU," because the Lucky Clover AU specifically belongs to @/northstarscowboyhat and I am not them. Any questions specific to that AU should be directed towards the correct recipient.

As for my thoughts on this ask/Clover lives in the Underground AUs...

I think everybody who has a "Clover Lives" AU understands that it's a bit of a stretch for Clover to live peacefully in the Underground. There is the Royal Guard to be concerned about as well as any random monster attack that could do them in or expose them. Plus, they still have an interest in stopping Asgore. Would Clover be willing to set aside their mission and live with their friends in peace or would they try for Asgore? What about when Frisk shows up? Would that change the choices they make? And so on. This stuff is self-indulgent. I like the idea of Clover getting to live life and enjoy themself among their friends though, especially because it's implied that they didn't have a happy home life on the Surface.

I heavily disagree with the points that you raised as to why they couldn't live with their friends though.

Martlet may be clumsy but she's not inattentive. At all. Out of all of Clover's friends, she's the one that goes above and beyond to be there for them. In Pacifist, she accompanies them 3-5 times throughout their journey through the Underground: on Ava (optional, you can drive her away by fighting her instead of continually sparing), in the Dunes before the Wild East, throughout the Ketsukane estate, at the end when she's escorting Clover to face off against Ceroba, and (if this is a Flawed Pacifist Run) escorting them to King Asgore like she promised. In one of her Talk dialogues, she brings up how she's a homebody; yet here she is on the other side of the Underground, accompanying Clover and ensuring their safety when she could just... report them to somebody else and pass along the bill. She recognizes that Clover is a child and treats them the most accordingly out of the Main Three (compared to Starlo and Ceroba). The worst she did was abandon them after Ava crashed to go sit by a cactus for an hour and feel miserable for screwing everything up, and even then she tries to make up for it by making sure that Clover isn't alone for the rest of their journey (she had to be put in jail so she couldn't accompany them in the Wild East and only stopped accompanying them when Ceroba, a trusted acquaintance, offers to do it for her). This is just what I'm remembering off the top of my head. So, no. Martlet isn't inattentive and would do a great job of looking after Clover.

(Also, while we don't know her fate at the end of the Flawed Pacifist Run, we do know that she quit being in the Royal Guard in the True Pacifist ending because of Clover. I imagine she'd do the same if they were living with her and would try to find another job.)

Ceroba did come around to liking Clover by the end of the Steamworks, though. A lot. So much so that she was shaking and crying as she was about to deliver the final blow on them in their fight (before she goes into her Devoted form). She goes through with it only because she's so damn devoted to Chujin that she'd do anything to make him happy (even go against her judgement as a mother and inject her daughter with an experimental serum because she felt like it'd make Chujin proud). This is Ceroba "I save the tears for the moments that matter" Ketsukane that we're talking about. Crying over a human that she had just met the same way she cried over her dying husband and daughter. What do you mean she didn't care about Clover in the end?

Also, part of Ceroba's arc is learning to carry on her husband's legacy in other ways than with some super serum that'll "save the monsterkind" or whatever. Chujin did more than that: He helped people. Gave corn to Dalv. Taught Martlet woodworking. Tried to make existence in the Underground as easy for everybody as possible. That's the version of Chujin that she should be looking up to and carrying forward, not the version of him that wanted to make a super serum straight out of a sci-fi story. Now, do I like the idea of Ceroba having moments where she considers killing Clover for their SOUL so she can make Chujin's serum? Yes. But that's from the perspective of how healing and moving forward in life sometimes has you sliding backwards. I don't think she'd reenact her/Chujin's plans to make the serum just because Clover is conveniently there and Martlet and Starlo are conveniently not there. She's learned how much her tunnel visioned thinking got her in trouble.

(Plus I can't see a world in which Martlet and Starlo would let her be around Clover while she still has Chujin's research in the basement. Both of them want Ceroba to move forward and to also protect Clover. That stuff would all be destroyed long before Clover would ever get to stay over at her house. So, no chance of using Chujin's research to start this mess all over again.)

Starlo may not be the most responsible but he's still good with kids and not just in a "fun uncle" way. Ceroba trusts him enough to let him hang out with Kanako on a regular basis and watch movies together. On their missions, Starlo spends most of his time encouraging Clover and trying to see the best in them/their actions no matter what they do (you can make Clover screw up everything: miss with the gun/miss-time each shot with the practice round against the dummy, be too slow to draw on the dual, choose to save Ed instead of the five others on the track, and he'll still reward and encourage Clover for it). That's the sort of behavior you want to exhibit with kids, trying to lift them up instead of berating them. (I'm not gonna get into how some of Starlo's treatment of Clover, such as giving them the gun, is because he sees them more as a human than as a kid because that's more headcanon territory, but I do have thoughts on it.) Plus at the end of True Pacifist, you see him reaching out to his family and taking those first steps to be more responsible. He's helping around the farm again and reconnecting with his family instead of just shutting them out. He knows how to handle kids and is also becoming a more mature person.

(Also, Clover can take care of themself. They got themself up Mt. Ebott and journeyed through a lot of it on their own. They handled the puzzles and fought their own battles, they're not helpless. Even before they ended up in the Underground, there is a lot of evidence that they know how to take care of themself, like knowing how to cook basic foods. They're not a helpless toddler.)

All of Clover's friends developed over the course of the story. Martlet is taking charge of her life instead of just drifting through it. Starlo is being more responsible. Ceroba is healing and starting to move on from Chujin. They aren't the same people that they were at the beginning of the story. In my mind, none of them are perfect parent material. Clover wouldn't see any of them as their mom/dad. But they can still be guardians to them, even if they're imperfect ones.

Lastly, the sentence that you concluded with really bothers me. "So the death of Clover is not a bad option for others..." It sounds like you're saying that Clover's death is also a matter of convenience for their friends, like having them around would have caused them too much trouble. That is not a stance that I agree with, full-stop. Just because having them around would make life difficult for their friends doesn't mean that it isn't worth it in the end. Their life has more value than whatever difficulties it would entail for their friends and if Clover had chosen not to sacrifice themself, Martlet and Starlo and Ceroba would have raised them.

[numberonetacostan]

Just thinking about whatever continuation is coming out this year and a few things that might happen.

I do hope to have atleast some slice of life stuff, I would like to have a full season of the characters lives now that they aren't tied to the show anymore but I also feel like there's going to be some lore, might relate to whatever it is the Shimmers gave them, I've seen the idea that it's something to block outsiders from entering the island which would make sense with the Shimmers loosing their young to outsiders but at the same time I want to see the contestants (and also any other characters if they show up but mainly the contestants) interact with objects outside the island.

It's definitely non-contest though, none of them want to compete anymore, some of them would probably rather jump into a vat of acid and without the shimmer Mephone can't make anymore but honestly I doubt he would want to do it again Cobs is gone now too so he doesn't have to hide or rebel either.

On the topic of Mephone, I hope 4s shows up in some way, obviously he can't play the red line game since he isn't Mephone4's creation so at best it might end up forecibly taking control of the body and he wouldn't want that so the best he can do is make use of call feature.

Also, Taco's (and possibly Toilet's) grief over Mepad, I do see a lot of people have them stay by his corpse for a big chunk of the day, in Taco's case Mic being the only one who can actually convince her to do things like eat or sleep in an actual room (probably theirs since well I don't think she'd be willing to be roommate with anyone else and as bad as the terms they're on are OJ isn't someone who'd purposefully put her in a room with someone else)

As for Toilet, I do want them to be friends, even if it's bonding over the person who believed in them dying I think they could form an actually pretty good friendship and as much as I wanna see more Tacomic interactions, it'd be good for Taco to have other people, even if she will likely stay by Mic atleast for the majority of the time.

Hi there!!^^ Welcome, and thank you for sending in an ask!! :]

I'm also excited to get lore bits as well as slice of life stuff for the characters. I'm pretty confident we'll be getting at least some new lore with how the world has opened up so much for our contestants, yeah? And I am SO excited to get an answer on what she Shimmers gave them!! I do NOT want to interpret what it is, I want an answer!!!! :D It being made to block outsiders from coming in is an interesting thought, though whether or not anyone even knows where the island is anyways isn't something I'm sure of.

Yeah, there won't be another competition of that sort, not for them. As much as I love the 'tehehe the object species all love love competing in shows!!' little idea, it fits much better for series like bfdi with a usually lighter tone. The closest I can imagine things getting is Fan watching reality shows in his free time, since he was made to love that stuff, yeah? But he could also branch out!! Put that guy in front of an anime and he'll lose his little mind.

I hope for the call feature too!! It would be good for Mephone to get back someone he had lost, especially after losing Mepad so recently. His other brother coming back from beyond, or in this case MeLife, to check on him every so often would be really sweet, even if it's done in a 4s-y sort of way.

YUP yes yup uh-huh I like to imagine Taco & Toilet going about it in opposite ways!!! Taco can't take her eyes off the body and sits there for hours and hours just staring at it, and Toilet is shut in whatever room he has in Mepad Mansion and can't stand to look at his best friend's broken body. I definitely think, pending a solid talk or a few about what happened between them, Taco and Mic will definitely be staying close together. They've both never been closer to anyone else before.

DID SOMEONE BRING UP TOICO FRIENDSHIP?? TOICO FRIENDSHIP REAL!!!! Taco would be very reluctant to connect with Toilet at first, but his swaglessness and the fact that he was the other person closest to Mepad will win her over in the end. They'll spend a lot of time talk about him, yeah? AND! They can believe in each other in his absence. BOOM! i love them so much they're gonna get an episode in season 4 guys it's gonna happen it's gonna.

[esnuppi]

i like this interpretation! before, i had the idea that anya was acting in a panic mode, partially kickstarted by the revelation of her pregnancy, partially from the birthday party incident a few days prior, finding out she would be coming back to earth with no job or savings— now feeling like she has nothing left to lose by taking action. another detail about the party scene i don’t see discussed: jimmy’s outburst at the table likely did not help her fears regarding how he might behave as time goes on (if he can lash out at their captain, in front of everyone, what could he do to her and get away with? like her, would he also have nothing to lose now? if so, what does that make him capable of?). so i think it could be both, she’s panicked and she’s trying to push curly to do something.

besides, it was only a matter of time before she starts to show as the pregnancy moves further along, might as well tell jimmy now on her own terms instead of waiting for the inevitable (something that i also feel ties into the themes for her as a character from how she takes her final action of locking herself in the medical room— choosing to end her life her way rather than wait for supplies to run out, or worse, for jimmy to make the choice for her)

more on the topic for why anya wouldn’t just wait a little bit longer for curly, because i find these details really compelling and i feel the urge to ramble:

when you think about the timeline of when anya was assaulted by jimmy in order for her to find out about the pregnancy herself in the week of the crash (assuming she just tracked missed periods since pregnancy tests on the ship are unlikely) it was probably between 1-2 months prior to the start of the games events. which means she was suffering alone for all that time, keeping the incident to herself (likely out of a combination of fear for jimmy further harming her, pony express retaliating against the entire crew, AND not knowing how curly, the person with the highest position of power, will even respond since jimmy is a longtime friend of his that he has so far been leaving unchecked. even if anya and curly had a good trusting relationship before this, it’s still a terrifying thing to talk about with anybody).

im sure a major factor in her unwillingness to continue waiting for curly to take action at the final day mark is because of this. for curly, he’s only had knowledge of what jimmy’s done to her for about a day. but for anya, its been months. months of feeling trapped, not knowing what will happen next, not once ever feeling safe, not having any assurance that help will come.

reading the final part of @mikoworks comic “always there” and it’s making me Realize things. i always wondered why anya decides to tell jimmy about the pregnancy. if she’s seen what kind of man he is, why would she ever put herself at risk by telling him?

it’s because curly is failing her. but she knows she can get his attention by setting jimmy off. to make him a “real” threat that even curly can’t ignore. anya wanted jimmy to lash out, or to at least get aggressive. then curly would actually have to do something about him. an immediate action instead of hesitating even longer. unfortunately none of them could’ve predicted how extreme jimmy’s reaction would be

[myhomiesarestuckathome]

Earth C Gamzee (definitely hasn't taken proper care of himself for sweeps)

[felassan]

What kind of spirit do you think Felassan waz?

Swag