#emma x margo

[moocowmoocow]

Femslash February 17 - Harmony

Emma x Margo

It took until Emma was sick for several days in a row for Margo to realize something was missing in her life.

It wasn’t that she didn’t know that Emma being excellent at her job allowed her to excel at hers. It was like the music of her life was off. Not in the way she loved in jazz, the dissonance building something beautiful. It was an empty chord, missing its perfect fifth.

When Emma returned, Margo waited several days until she didn’t look wan and tired before inviting her for a drink in the evening. “Wow. Ms. Madison, are you breaking out the good brandy?”

“Yep.” She handed Emma the glass and watched as she swirled the liquor and she must have seen Margo do numerous times before she took a drink. “Y’know, at times like this, you can call me Margo.” She sat down next to Emma on the couch.

“What’s the occasion, Ms. - Margo?”

“I realized how necessary you are for my life when you were gone.” She tried to be subtle - at least for her. She placed her hand on Emma’s face, thumb stroking back and forth.

“I’m glad,” Emma replied. Margo felt her lean into her hand.

When she kissed her, she tasted like brandy and competence.

[nadia-el-mansours]

I dunk a lot on how flustered Margo gets in this scene but... oh, Sergei...

[ddagent]

I’d go with red. What? He likes red.

[h4t08]

👀

[allatariel]

For your WIP game: Love At The Drafting Table. I'm not really familiar with the source but I like the title and am curious about it!

Hello friend! Thanks for the ask <3 Sorry it took me so very long to reply. I wanted to get a little more written, it was mostly an idea.

So, a little background on For All Mankind, the show I've been obsessing over for the past few months: It's an alternate history of the space race in which the Soviet Union lands on the moon a month before Apollo 11 and the U.S. has to play catch up. And then while the U.S. is focused on beating them in the race to put a base on the moon, the Russians instead land a woman on the moon and the Americans are playing catch up yet again.

OK, so in this timeline, the Apollo-Soyuz mission takes place in 1983 instead of 1975. On the show, Margo Madison is the Director of JSC and she ends up working with the head of the Soyuz program, Sergei Orestovich Nikulov, to design the docking mechanism.

Love at the Drafting Table is an AU, and also the title of a Life magazine article that gets published in the story after the success of Apollo-Soyuz, a parallel to another in universe article published circa 1967 in Look magazine, "Love in the Air," about pilot Tracy Stevens and her husband astronaut Gordon Stevens. I switched to Life magazine because Look shut down in 1971 and also Life ran a full issue on the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975 so I wanted to parallel that.

The premise is that as a result of the televised handshake in space, the U.S. and the Soviet Union officially collaborate on more space missions after the peace treaty. And that Margo and Sergei, who grew very close working on this project together, become the faces of that collaboration on the ground, while Danielle and Stepan, the commanders of the Apollo and Soyuz capsules involved in the mission, are the faces in space. Aleida Rosales, Margo's protege who worked with them to refine the design, mentions to one of the journalists working on the Life feature that Margo and Sergei developed the initial design on their first date.

I'm still working out a lot of the details and planning, but I do have a little snippet I can share.

Aleida, Margo, and Sergei set to work drawing up new schematics incorporating the shock absorbing ring Aleida had suggested and refining the overall design. Despite Sergei’s facility with rendering, he encouraged Aleida to do the bulk of the work. He and Margo continued to make notes on their existing sketches, updating measurements and calculations for Aleida to work off of. Not fifteen minutes passed before they hit a snag and Margo craved a tootsie roll to chew over the problem with. She wrinkled her nose at the pencil eraser, knowing it wouldn’t cut it as a substitute. And then her stomach gave her away with a gurgle. Sergei had seemed so focused on his notes, but immediately looked up at her with that cheeky little half smile she was starting to recognize as the prelude to a wry joke or clever idea. A warmth bloomed low in her belly and she fiercely ignored it. “Did someone eat your porridge?” His blue eyes danced and Margo pressed her lips together to fight down the smile that pulled at the corners of her mouth. “You’re still drunk,” Margo muttered and lost the battle, her smile breaking free with the lingering vowels of her drawl. Aleida snorted but didn’t look up from her work.

Thanks again for the ask, and for your patience <3

WIP Title Ask Meme

[purereflectionsworld]

That feeling when AO3 is back up, and you finally update your (Aleida & Margo) chapter fic!

Victor attends a JSC holiday party, where he learns how fast Aleida’s star is rising at NASA; Aleida tells Margo what’s really at stake with her father’s immigration woes; Emma Jorgens is very busy.

Link here.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/56135299/chapters/149491345

[caffeinatedcrab]

WIP Wednesday (+1 day)

Thanks to @youreorangeyoumoron for the tag, here's a snippet from a different AU that I'm working on. This takes place post 3.07.

NASA/Roscosmos have landed on Mars, and Sergei’s defection happened much quicker. There's no FBI investigation and Aleida never caught on to the matching engine design. The NASA team is currently trying to figure out how to get Kelly to Phoenix. Things have been pretty busy for Margo at NASA, leaving no additional time for her to address anything in her personal life.

I'm planning to finish this one once Puzzle Pieces is done. :)

---

With a soft knock on the door, Emma peeked her head in and announced her next meeting. Margo continued looking sombrely out the window and nodded. Emma had been finding her like this in her office more often than not these days.

Emma paused before closing the door. “If I may, ma’am…Dr. Nikolov called again, are you sure you don’t want to talk to him?”  That sudden gravitational pull she felt to run to Ellington to meet him when General Bradford had called her informing her of him and his family’s impending arrival six weeks ago still terrified her. She noticed a little piece of that pull return every time Emma told her that he had called again. As usual, she pushed those feelings aside and continued on with her afternoon meetings instead. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Sergei since he arrived in the US. He was safe, that’s all that mattered. She started to wonder at what point in the last few weeks this knowledge had stopped being enough. She barely had time to eat and sleep, much less try to figure out where she stood with the man who lied to her and betrayed her, but for whom she still cared very deeply. “Miss Madison?” Emma said softly, after Margo had not answered. She turned to Emma and gestured at the stacks of unread documents and blank forms on her desk and then at the clock, tears at the edge of her eyes. “When?” Unexpectedly throttled by her conflicting emotions, it came out more harshly than she intended.  “I’m sorry.” She added softly. “Let me see what I can do.” Emma smiled. She somehow always understood.

[theseshipsbesailing]

ugh. so damn adorable.

FOR ALL MANKIND | 2.08 "And Here's To You"

(requested by @h4t08)

[surftrips]

Maybe you could do single dad jj maybank he’s in college and has to do a project with the reader and has to bring the baby with them and they bond and start to hang out a lot then they start to date also maybe she’s a single mom I feel like that would be like a unique thing

thank you so much for this request! i hope you don't mind that i switched it up a bit (and got carried away lol) but reader is the single mom here and her and jj have known each other their whole lives :)

when you know, you know

pairing: jj maybank x reader

summary: y/n needs a babysitter and jj is the only person available.

word count: 3.5k

"Okay, I understand. Thanks, anyway," you sighed, running your hands through your hair and hanging up the phone. Your babysitter had just canceled on you, and the timing could not have been worse. 

You had been planning this night for months. Between your classes, a part-time job, and taking care of your 2-year-old Margo, it was nearly impossible to schedule anything. But you desperately needed a night out and your friend Emma had so kindly offered to set you up on a blind date. 

You scrolled through your contacts list, looking for anyone that was sober on a Friday night, a seemingly impossible task. Glancing at the time, you realized that you only had an hour left to find a babysitter and get ready. 

As panic set in, you received a text from the P4L groupchat. 

JJ: Wtw tonight?

Not now JJ, you thought. 

Y/N: Trying to find a babysitter, mine just canceled :/

Kie: Oh no, Y/N!! I'm so sorry :(

Cleo: Sorry babes, I totally wouldd but I already lost count of how many drnks I've had 2nite xxx

JJ: Wait, you guys went out already?

Sarah: JJ, we told you it's a girls night.

JJ: In that case, Y/N, I'll watch Margo! 

Absolutely not, was your first thought. JJ Maybank was probably the last person you wanted to take care of your child, he was practically one himself. 

Besides, since you had Margo, he was always acting weird around you. Before, you two would hang out all the time, but now he only saw you if there was another person there as a buffer. He hardly visited or called, but you were so preoccupied with raising a baby on your own that you hadn't had a chance to talk to him about it. 

In the beginning, people assumed it was his baby you were pregnant with, but you never crossed that line because your friendship meant the world to each other. He was the first person you told when you found out you were going to be a mother, and you remember how excited he was for you. It was hard to believe how distant he had become, and you wondered why he had volunteered himself tonight. 

You assessed the situation: you hadn't gone out in nearly two years, and who knew when the next opportunity would be? You sighed, hardly believing the words you were about to type on your phone. 

Y/N: Ok. How soon can you be here? 

Y/N: You better be sober, JJ. 

You turned your phone off before the others could protest, knowing that half of them were drunk anyway. 

"Uncle JJ is going to come over and watch you tonight, okay? Mommy is going to be gone for just a few hours," you said to your daughter, picking her up and placing her in your eye line so you could do your makeup.

"Jay Jay?" she repeated. 

"Yes, honey," you smiled, trying to reassure her, or yourself. Out of all the pogues, Kiara and Sarah babysat Margo the most. She had probably only met JJ a handful of times and you worried about how well she would do with him alone. 

As if he could read your mind, your phone began ringing and you looked over to see his face on your screen.

"JJ, please don't tell me you're canceling too."

"What? Oh, no, it's not that. I was just wondering if you needed me to bring anything for Margo?" 

"Oh," you relaxed. "Hmmm, I think we have everything we need here. But thank you for asking, JJ."

"Of course," you could hear him smiling on the other line. "You know, thanks for letting me watch Margo. I've been meaning to visit her more." 

"JJ, you know you're weren't my first choice," you teased. "But yeah, of course. Thanks, I owe you." 

You hung up the phone, thoughts from earlier creeping back into your mind. You always assumed that the baby scared JJ away, but sometimes you couldn't help but wonder if there was something more going on. 

However, now was not the time for you to be thinking about this, considering that you now had 30 minutes left until your date showed up and you had yet to pick out a dress.

"Hmmmm, let's see. Any suggestions, Margo?" you asked your daughter, combing through your closet for something appropriate. You settled on a short black dress with a boat neck, and black knee high boots to go along with it. 

"What do we think, sweetie?" you smiled at Margo.

"Pretty!" she clapped her small hands together. 

"Why, thank you, baby. Come on, let's go see if Uncle JJ is here yet," you picked her up and checked your phone for any notifications. 

Blind Date: Be there in 5! :)

Crap, you thought. Where is JJ? 

You shot back a confirmation for your date and looked out the window for any sign of JJ. You weren't sure if he was biking over or he had borrowed the Twinkie, but there was no sign of anyone outside. 

Growing anxious, you gathered Margo's favorite toys and books into the living room and tidied up your apartment to pass the time. 

Exactly 5 minutes later, the doorbell rang. You smoothed down your dress and checked your hair in the mirror one last time. Putting on your best smile, you went to open the door. 

"Hi–" you started. "Oh, it's you." 

"Come on, that's what I get for dropping everything and saving your ass?" JJ responded. 

"Sorry, weren't you the one with no plans on a Friday?" 

"You know, I can just turn around right now-" 

"Stop!" you pleaded. "Okay, sorry, I've been anxious about this all day and I just want to get back to Margo as fast as I can." 

"Relax, Y/N. I'm here now," he took in your appearance. "You look great, by the way." 

The last time he saw you remotely dressed up like this was prom night. 

You couldn't help but blush, looking around for Margo to hide your face. "Margo, look who it is!" 

"Jay Jay!" she babbled. 

"Oh my god, she knows my name!" JJ replied, looking a little perplexed. 

"You know what, I'm surprised too considering she's only met you, like, four times," you said. 

"Alright, you're no fun," he looked at you as you traded your daughter over to his arms. "Miss Margo and I here are going to have the time of our lives. Aren't we?" 

He tickled her, causing her to giggle. She seemed so comfortable in his arms, you wondered why you were ever worried in the first place. 

"Thanks again for doing this, I know we haven't talked in a while-" you started. 

"So, where's the lucky guy?" he interrupted you. 

"Uhh," you looked over at the clock. "He said he would be here by now." 

"Late to the first date? That's a red flag, Y/N." 

"As if you're not a walking red flag, JJ. What did you get here on? Your bike?"

"Hey! I refurbished that bike all on my own! It takes a lot of skill to do that."

Just then, the doorbell rang. You rushed to open the door, a smile plastered on your face again. 

"Hey! You must be Emma's friend! I'm Tom." he greeted you with a hug and a bouquet of flowers. "I'm sorry for being late, I went to get these flowers for you and was distracted by the girl scouts selling cookies outside. I had to support them, you know?" 

"Oh, no worries! Yes, how can you say no to them?" you laughed softly. You took the flowers from him and went to place them on the table closest to you, beckoning him to come in.

"Tom, this is one of my friends, JJ. He's babysitting my daughter, Margo, while we're gone," you said.

"Ah! What a pleasure," Tom went over to shake JJ's hand and politely wave at your daughter. "I promise not to keep your mom out too late tonight." 

"That's right, need her back before midnight," JJ remarked.

You playfully pushed him in response, grabbing your keys. "Alright, you have my number so please call me if you need anything. Bye Margo, mommy loves you!" 

With that, you and Tom headed outside and into his car. 

On the drive over to the restaurant, you learned that Tom was a psychologist, he liked to cook, and reality TV shows were his guilty pleasure. At the restaurant, which was a higher-end place near the water, he pulled out your chair for you. 

"I hope this place is okay, I wasn't sure what kind of food you liked so I thought somewhere nicer would be safe," he said. 

"Oh, this is perfect. Don't even worry about it," you smiled. "I haven't had a proper night out in so long, I wouldn't have minded if you took me to a burger joint." 

He laughed, "Margo is adorable, by the way. How old is she?"

"She's 2," you said. Then, feeling the need to clarify, "I had her when I was 20, at the beginning of my junior year in college."

"I see, how was that? How did you manage classes?" You were surprised at his demeanor, half-expecting him to judge you or run in the opposite direction any second now, but his inquisition was genuine.

"Well, I could still go to classes during the first trimester, but it got more difficult after that so I took a leave of absence. I'm taking night classes now because I work in the mornings." 

"Oh nice, what degree are you going for?"

"English, I want to be a teacher," you explained.

"My mom was a teacher," he smiled. "What age do you want to teach?"

"Oh no way! I want to teach elementary school kids. Everyone always tells me how hard it will be, but raising Margo... I don't love anything more than that." 

"That's really sweet, are you close with your family?"

You paused, trying to figure out how to answer the question. "Depends on who you consider my family, I guess," you laughed awkwardly. "I'm not close with my parents, but my friends? Those are the most important people in my life." 

He smiled, "I understand. I'm glad you have a support system, being a single mother can be hard." 

"Yeah, I'm super grateful. Actually, my babysitter for tonight canceled last-minute and JJ came to the rescue. I don't know what I would've done without him." 

Tom's smile faltered for an unnoticeable second. "How long have you known him for?"

"JJ? My whole life, probably. I can't imagine a time when he wasn't by my side. He was there for me throughout my entire pregnancy, but after..." you trailed off.

"After...?"

"Afterwards," you hesitated, not wanting to bad-mouth your friend. "I guess he started to distance himself more, I think Margo scared him away honestly."

"You think it was Margo and nothing else?"

"What do you mean?"

"I just mean," he sighed. "Do you think there could be any other reason why he would be so supportive of you before and not after you had Margo?" 

"I-I'm not sure. I haven't had much time to think about it, I guess."

"You want my opinion?" Tom asked. You searched his face for any sign of spitefulness, but came up empty. 

"I saw the way he looked at you and Margo, earlier. That boy is not scared of either of you. In fact, all I saw was love. Did you ever think he’s grappling with those feelings?” 

"His feelings? For me?" It was not the first time you thought about it, but it was the first time you heard it verbalized. 

"Yes, I know I sound crazy, but seriously, Y/N, what other reason could there be to explain his behavior?"

You racked your brain for all the possible explanations. Tom had a point, if JJ had feelings for you at some point in your friendship, or still does, he might feel the need to distance himself to protect you. 

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"I told you, I'm a psychologist. I notice these things," he smiled.

"Is this how all of your first dates go?" you laughed.

"Not all of them, but I’ll admit, a few are like this. But tell me, am I wrong to assume there was something more going on between you two before you got pregnant?"

You sighed, "No, you're not wrong. Our feelings for each other were a truth that neither of us wanted to confront. We were young, we didn't want to be tied down, it was college. But he was always there, by my side, through everything. Of course, I loved him." 

"Well, there you go. There's your answer." 

Tom dropped you off around midnight. You assured him that there was no need to walk you to your door, you both knew that you needed to have a conversation with JJ.

"Thank you again for tonight, we seriously need to meet up again," you said, before shutting your door.

"Absolutely, I'll give you the address to my office," he joked.

You turned the key into your door as quietly as possible, in case JJ was also asleep with Margo. Inside, the lights were off and you pulled out your phone flashlight to search for him. 

You went into Margo's room first, seeing that she was fast asleep in her crib. "Hi baby," you whispered. "Where's Uncle JJ?" 

After making sure she was tucked in properly, you turned to go into your bedroom. Sure enough, there was JJ, fast asleep in your bed. 

You couldn't help but smile, recalling memories from high school when you two would have sleepovers. Being sure to keep quiet, you changed into your pajamas and got ready for bed.

Trying your best to not wake up JJ, you pulled open the blanket on your side of the bed and slipped in next to him. 

"Goodnight, JJ," you whispered. 

—

In the morning, you woke up to the smell of pancakes in the kitchen. For a second, you weren't sure you were even in your apartment, remembering that you live alone with Margo and surely, you weren't asleep long enough for her to know her way around the kitchen.

But then you remembered that JJ was babysitting last night and had fallen asleep in your bed before you got home. 

After a long stretch, you got up and went into the kitchen.

"There she is, good morning pretty," JJ smiled at you. 

"Morning... When did you learn how to cook?" you questioned.

"What do you mean? I've always known how to make pancakes."

"Okay, that is just a straight up lie. In high school you would have chips for breakfast."

JJ put his hand to his chest, taking mock offense. "If you must know, I started teaching myself how to cook last year when I moved off-campus." 

"Wow, I must say, I am impressed, Mr. Maybank."

"Please, that's my father. You can call me JJ," he said, causing you both to laugh. 

Were his eyes always this blue? You thought, as you admired his features in the morning light. 

After a moment, you broke the silence. "Uh- I better go check on Margo. How was she last night, by the way?"

"Oh, amazing. Best kid ever." 

"Really? She didn't give you a hard time at all?"

"Nope, must have remembered me from when she was in the womb."

You smiled, turning around to your daughter's room.

Sure enough, Margo was sleeping like the baby she was. You checked the clock, she wouldn't be up for at least another hour.

"Margo's still in one piece?" JJ asked when you reentered the kitchen.

"Yes, somehow,” you mused. 

"Good, want to try these pancakes now?"

"Yes, please, I'm starving," you sat down across from JJ.

"Starving? Your date didn't feed you last night?"

"Very funny, if you want to know about my date, you can just ask." 

"Okay, how was your date?" he relented. 

"He's a psychologist." 

"Cool, anything else?" JJ looked slightly confused. 

"He was very normal and nice," you added.

“I would hope so.”

“Yes, and he likes to cook too.”

“That’s great, how was the date itself?”

“Oh the date itself…” you trailed off. 

"Y/N, why are you acting weird?"

"Weird? Me? I'm just telling you about my date." 

"You're talking about him like he's your therapist."

"Well, in a way, it was like a therapy session."

"So the date went bad?"

"No, it was really nice." 

JJ looked around the kitchen, "Did I accidentally put something in the pancake batter to make you act like this or...?" 

"These are great, by the way," you said, pointing to the pancakes with your fork.

"Thanks, but can we get back to the date?" 

"Oh, yeah, well, basically," you started. 

"Y/N." JJ was rarely ever serious, but he was starting to look concerned with you. 

"Okay, fine. It started off really well, we got to know each other. Then, he was asking about Margo and my family, and I told him about my parents, you know. Then he asked about you, and I told him I've known you forever, but after Margo, you started distancing yourself and we haven't seen or talked to each other in a while, and then-" you rambled. 

"Then what?"

"And then, he told me, or rather he made me realize, that maybe we need to address the feelings we may or may not have had for each other before I got pregnant," you finished in a rush.

JJ was silent, you weren't sure if the expression on his face was scared or bemused. 

"JJ, please say something." 

"Was that all?"

"More or less."

He sighed, "Y/N, I think one of the reasons why our friendship worked so well was because we both knew that at any moment, we could pursue something more, but we didn't. We both knew that doing that would ruin our friendship, something we've had for nearly twenty years. I thought college was going to be four years of partying and distractions, but instead, I had to face reality”

“Distractions?”

“Everyone that wasn’t you was a distraction, in case that wasn’t clear.”

“Uh, no. It wasn't, actually. JJ, you kept telling me you were trying to meet ‘the one!’” 

“Well, I was lying! Okay? You were always the one for me. I just didn’t feel like I was the one for you. So I was stupid and I decided we would be better off as friends, but when you got pregnant…” 

“When I got pregnant…?”

“When you told me about Margo, I panicked. I knew you were strong enough to do this on your own, but you shouldn’t have had to. I told myself that I was going to be there for you every step of the way, and I was, until you gave birth. I saw Margo for the first time, and I-I’m sorry. I just couldn’t do it.”

“Do what, JJ? You know I never needed you to be her father.” 

“I know, I know. I saw her and I couldn’t imagine hurting her. I didn’t want her to know me, because to know me is to be disappointed by me,” he sighed.

“JJ,” you stood up now to wrap your arms around him. “Are you kidding me? I was never, never disappointed by you. I was just worried, babe, that’s all. You stopped talking to me after that.” 

JJ allowed himself to fall into your arms. “I’m sorry, it just felt like too much at the time. I loved- love you and Margo so much, that I didn’t know what to do with all of it. So I thought it was best to give you some space, until I was better.”

You chuckled, “Is that why you taught yourself how to cook?”

“Stop, I was actually starving and had no choice.”

“And are you better now?”

“When I heard you were going on a date, do you want to know what I thought?”

“What?”

“I thought, I let her go again. I let you go a million times in college, and here I am, letting you go again.” 

When you didn’t say anything, he continued, “You’re the one for me, Y/N. I came over here tonight to show you that. I’m ready for whatever this is going to be, whatever this friendship evolves into. I spent too much time denying the truth, and I think you have too.” 

There were not enough words to describe how you were feeling, so you leaned in to kiss your best friend. JJ held your face with such gentleness, you wondered if this was all in your imagination. 

Eventually, you pulled away. “I’m done lying, to myself and to each other. This is real, yes?” you asked.

“Yes, I love you, really.”

“I love you too, Maybank.” 

You leaned in for a second time, but not before you heard the familiar cries of Margo in the other room. 

“Don’t worry, I got it,” he smiled with that boyish grin of his that you loved so much. That you have always loved. 

[bluetrekker12]

If you want to read a lot of waffle about season 4 of FAM written by a Margo x Sergei obsessive you’re in luck, because I have an evening to myself and lots of thoughts. (I know all of this is obvious, I think I just needed to write it down.)

Here we go - Irina is a great character. I mean, she’s a master manipulator and I loathe her, but a great foil for Margo this year. It’s really interesting that she’s coming back in S5, because it seems like at the end of the season she’s on the outs. I wonder if they had a rethink because of the way she worked out?

ALEIDA and BILL: I love the way the time jumps give extra weight to the relationships on this show (and more space for headcanon). It’s always thrilling to see characters again to see where they’ve ended up. Anyway, I love this whole scene and it’s really interesting that Aleida is still inclined to somewhat stick up for Margo at this point (though not when they come face to face). Also, it’s telling that Bill thinks Aleida should be NASA director and wonder if he’s kind of a proxy for the audience or something, because it feels like that’s maybe the natural conclusion for Aleida??

When Irina and Margo arrive at Star City, and Irina says “I’ve known you for a long time, Margo” it’s a bit sinister, but with hindsight it’s creepy AF. You have to assume she’s listened to all of the phone calls between Margo and Sergei over the years. And most likely she was listening in (if not watching) when Margo asked Sergei to kiss her. And of course she knows exactly how vital work is to Margo, and how it’s the ultimate lever to manipulate her with.

The poem 😭 well done FAM on finding the most Margo x Sergei coded art this year. The poem and “ That’s all it Took” could have been written for them. Is this all Irina playing the long game to get to Sergei? I wonder if, after London, when he stopped cooperating Irina took it as a personal affront?

Leningrad is gold. Margo looking for Aleida on the cameras, my heart. God love the fact Margo must have snacks to operate fully at all times. I love the call back to “work the problem”, that whole scene with Eli, Aleida, Irina and Margo is so great.

“I know what I did in the past and why I did it”. This is a great line and then the following scene with Aleida is just wonderful. The hug! Margo’s face - I’m sure she never imagined the reunion starting this way. Margo talks about regrets, but earlier in the scene she seems comfortable with the choices she’s made, despite the outcome. I don’t think she ever regretted saving Sergei, just that there wasn’t a way to also save herself. Hands down this is one of the best scenes in the whole 4 seasons.

(Aside - killing Emma was really brutal)

Sergei 😍 what a fucking sequence that is. It’s just brilliant, the perfect choice of song, the morning routine and his face when he sees Margo on the tv. You can tell he’s been safe and content, but that’s not the same as happy and the joy when he turns right and heads to Margo is palpable. (Poor Muriel though, wonder what happened to her.)

The Sergei and Aleida discussion, oh the tears in his eyes and such an absolutely crucial scene. The Margo x Sergei reunion is such a mirror of their goodbye scene in 3x07 where she stops him from getting any closer when he steps forward. However the first thing she says is “This can’t happen, Sergei” like she knows even 8 years later that he’s not here just to say hello 😂

Aleida as the go between is interesting cos I guess that means she’s been meeting with Sergei to pass notes, or at least speaking regularly. I love the idea of them getting to know each other.

The CD, he’s so cute. I actually can’t find the words for the rest of the scene. It’s priceless. No character has ever loved more than Sergei loves Margo.

And now pain 😭 she’s listening to the cd, they’re eating the same meal, she’s looking at Brazil. I watched this with my husband and I knew what was coming but he didn’t. Just before the shot I remember he quietly said ‘bang’. You just fucking knew and I hate it.

Episode 10 - more pain yay! I love when Margo tells Aleida that she needs to tell Sergei to leave Houston and Aleida just looks at her and says “He’s not going to listen”. Like she knows what this relationship is now, she knows he would never go.

The rest is just a Wrenn masterclass, like the whole season is. “Don’t fucking handle me” I hate Irina so much in this scene omg her smug face. (Also the implication that if you’ve met Sergei you could never wish him harm *true*)

If the first hug between Aleida and Margo in Leningrad is instinct, the second is deliberate and brings tears to my eyes. Sergei built that bridge.

[froggywritesstuff]

character list

the title is self explanatory. this is a list of the characters i'll write for. it'll probably change over time, and if you see a character you'd like but don't see them on the list, just ask cause i might've forgotten about them

Hamilton

Eliza Schuyler

Angelica Schuyler

Peggy Schuyler

Maria Reynolds

Alexander Hamilton

John Laurens

Philip Hamilton

Lafayette

Hercules Mulligan

James Madison

Thomas Jefferson

Aaron Burr

Umbrella Academy

Viktor Hargreeves

Diego Hargreeves

Klaus Hargreeves

Allison Hargreeves

Luther Hargreeves

Five Hargreeves

Ben Hargreeves (Umbrella or Sparrow)

Sloane Hargreeves

Jayme Hargreeves

Stranger Things

Will Byers (non female readers only)

Mike Wheeler

Lucas Sinclair

Dustin Henderson

Eleven Hopper

Max Mayfield

Robin Buckley (non male readers only)

Nancy Wheeler

Jonathan Byers

Steve Harrington

Eddie Munson

21 Chump Street

Justin Laboy

The Goldfinch

Boris Pavlikovsky

Theodore Decker

Marvel

Peter Parker (any actor)

Steve Rogers

Bucky Barnes

Sam Wilson

Makkari

Sersi

Sprite (platonic only)

Steven Grant

Marc Spector

Layla El-Faouly

America Chavez (non male readers only)

Kate Bishop

Yelena Belova (platonic only)

Shuri

Namor

Riri Williams

X-Men

Mystique

Kitty Pryde

Peter Maximoff

Rogue

Logan Howlette

Wade Wilson/Deadpool

Scott Summers

In The Heights (movie version)

Usnavi de la Vega

Vanessa 

Nina Rosario

Benny

Sonny de la Vega 

Heathers

Veronica Sawyer

JD (Jason Dean)

Heather Chandler

Heather McNamara

Heather Duke

John Doe

John Doe

Ride The Cyclone

Noel Gruber (male or nb readers only)

Ocean O'Connel Rosenburg

Mischa Bachinski

Constance Blackwood

Ricky Potts

Hatchetfieldverse

Paul Matthews

Emma Perkins

Ted Spankoffski

Bill Woodard

Ruth Fleming

Pete Spankoffski

Richie Lipschitz

Max Jagerman

Grace Chasity

Lex Foster

Ethan Green

Hannah Foster (platonic only)

Heartstopper

Charlie Spring (non female readers only)

Nick Nelson

Tara Jones (non male readers only)

Darcy Olsson (non male readers readers only)

Elle Argent

Tao Xu (non male readers only(headcanoning him as bi or pan is disrespectful and transphobic))

Tori Spring

Imogen Heaney

Isaac Henderson (platonic only)

Do Revenge

Eleanor Levetan (non male readers only)

Drea Torres

Wednesday

Wednesday Addams

Enid Sinclair

Bianca Barclay

Xavier Thorpe

Ajax Petropolus

Eugene Otinger

(young) Morticia Addams

(young) Gomez Addams

Beetlejuice

Lydia Deetz

Tomorrow When The War Began

Ellie Linton

Lee Takkam

Fiona Maxwell

Homer Yannos

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse/Across the Spider-Verse

Miles Morales

Gwen Stacy

Pavitr Prabhakar

Hobie Brown

Margo Kess

Miles G Morales (earth 42)

Miguel O’Hara

Maze Runner

Thomas

Newt (non female readers only)

The Broken Hearts Gallery

Lucy Gulliver

Nadine (non male readers only)

Nick Danielson

Treasure Planet

Jim Hawkins

Enola Holmes

Enola Holmes

Lord Tewkesbury

Turning Red

Mei Mei

Miriam

Abby

Priya

Raising Dion

Nicole Warren

Tevin Wakefield

Dion Warren (platonic only)

Julie and the Phantoms

Julie Molina

Luke Patterson

Reggie Peters

Alex Mercer (non female readers only)

Flynn

Carrie

Abbott Elementary

Janine Teagues

Jacob Hill (non female readers only)

Gregory Eddie

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Jake Peralta

Amy Santiago

Rosa Diaz

Love Victor

Victor Salazar (non female readers only)

Benji (non female readers only)

Felix Weston

Pilar Salazar

Lake Meriwether

Lucy

Mia Brooks

Andrew

In Treatment

Eladio

Laila

Spree

Kurt Kunkle

Once Upon a Time

Emma Swan

Regina Mills

Killian Jones

Mary Margaret Blanchard

David Nolan

Henry Mills

Mulan (non male readers only)

Graham

Neal Cassidy

Peter Pan

Jefferson

Dash and Lily

Dash

Lily

Boomer

Juno

Juno MacGuff

Paulie Bleeker

Summer Days Summer Nights

Debbie Espinoza

Frankie Espinoza

Scream (1 through 6)

Sidney Prescott

Billy Loomis

Mickey Altieri

Roman Bridger

Jill Roberts

Charlie Walker

Sam Carpenter

Tara Carpenter

Amber Freeman

Chad Meeks-Martin

Mindy Meeks-Martin

Quinn Bailey

Venom

Eddie Brock

Honest Thief

Ramon Hall

Beth Hall

Wild Child

Poppy Moore

Kate

Drippy

Freddie Kingsley

Monsters and Men

Manny Ortega

Marisol Ortega

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Trevor Spengler

Phoebe Spengler (platonic only)

Error 143

Micah Yujin

Community

Abed Nadir

Troy Barnes

Annie Edison

Jeff Winger

Britta Perry

The Obession

Logan

Delilah

The New Girl

Lia Setiawan

Stacey Hoffman

Mythic Quest

Poppy Li

Brad Bakshi

Adventure Time

Finn

Princess Bubblegum

Marceline

Marshall Lee

Prince Bubblegum

Flame Princess

School Spirits

Madison

Simon

Charley (non female readers only)

Wally

Rhonda

Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves

Simon Aumar

Disventure Camp

Aiden (non fem readers only)

James (non fem readers only)

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies

Jane Facciano

Olivia Valdovinos

Nancy Nakagawa

Cynthia Zdunowski

Richie Valdovinos

Ted Lasso

Ted Lasso

Roy Kent

Jamie Tartt

Keeley Jones

Sam Obisanya

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

Noah Diaz

Elena Wallace

Mirage

Helluva Boss

Blitzø

Stolas (non female readers only)

Loona

Millie

Moxxie

Octavia

Verosika Mayday

Fizzarolli

Asmodeus

Hazbin Hotel

Charlie Morningstar

Vaggie (non male readers only)

Angel Dust (non female readers only)

Husk

Alastor (platonic only)

Vox

Lucifer

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (rise + mutant mayhem + tmnt 2007 + tmnt 2012)

Donnie

Mikey

Raph

Leo

April

The After Party

Yasper Lennov

Space Force

Tony Scarapiducci

Renfield

Teddy Lobo

Robert Montague Renfield

Undercovers

Bill Hoyt

Amazing Digital Circus

Jax

Parks and Recreation

Leslie Knope

Ben Wyatt

April Ludgate

Andy Dwyer

Jean-Ralphio Saperstein

Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja

Randy Cunningham (18+ people DNI unless requesting platonic stories)

The Earliest Show

Josh Bath

House of Lies

Clyde Oberholt

Mean Girls (movie + musical + movie musical)

Cady Heron

Regina George

Gretchen Wieners

Karen Smith/Shetty

Janis Ian/Sarkisian/Imi'ike (non male readers only)

Damian Hubbard (non female readers only)

Warm Bodies

R

Peep World

Nathan Meyerwitz

Your Boyfriend

Peter Dunbar

Invincible

Mark Grayson

Shapesmith

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Sabrina Spellman

Harvey Kinkle

Nick Scratch

Rosalind Walker

Theo Putnam

Prudence Blackwood

Ambrose Spellman

High School Musical: the Musical the Series

Gina Porter

EJ Caswell

[fireandsoup]

WIP Title Ask Meme

Prompt: Make a new post with the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! And then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

Thanks for the tag @syllogism! I am tagging whoever sees this and feels like doing it :)

My WIP folder is such a mess that I had to simplify this considerably in order to wind up with one doc title for each in-progress fic 😂 First up, all the FAM fics that I'm currently working on:

ellen fic

ellen_tracy_post_s1

ellen x pam on mars

margo_sergei_91_92

margo/ellen au notes

tom au

these are all the actively in progress ones, but there's also a folder called back drawer containing:

ellen inauguration post s3

ellen_coming_out_reactions

ellen_speech_writing

lenara

margo & emma fashion

margo 1988

margo post s3 berlin wall fic

and now to really spice it up, here's all the mostly-abandoned shit from non-FAM fandoms (most of these are quite old and i remember fuck all about them, so if you ask about any of them, we're going to make some possibly-fun possibly-cringe discoveries):

lotr:

eowyn_and_sam

grey's anatomy/station 19:

cristina x meredith decades later

cristina x teddy believe

katherine bishop

teddy x amelia x link

fleabag:

nolite timere

atla/lok:

asami alone

azula/suki kyoshi warrior fic

pirates of the carribean:

potc vignette fic

the witcher:

yennaia thanedd ambiguous fix it

yennaia siren au

yennaia pool fic

[bambiesque]

Margo Hanson is young, rich, beautiful and independent. Whatever her happy ending looks like, she's going to earn it on her own. Eliot Waugh might need some help though.

Part 1 of 2. Word Count: 7558. Rating: G

[ddagent]

Okay but a Margo/Sergei AU where their governments turn away from space post S2 so they reluctantly decide to go into business for themselves.

(They spent three hours trying to find a middle point between Houston and Moscow. They decide to settle in the UK rather than Greenland.)

[knivesareout]

take it fast

Pairing: Ed Baldwin x Female!Reader Word Count: 4.9k Summary: It’s not that you didn’t love your husband- you did. It’s just different now. Warnings: Smut. Light infidelity but, not really. A/N: Half based off of this request/the other half is just inspo I pulled while re-watching For All Mankind. I’m super nervous about this but I hope y’all like it!!

—

It wasn’t that you didn’t love your husband anymore, because you did, it was just different now.

You’d grown out of each other- marrying too soon, high school sweethearts and all that, and never really got any other experience but one another. Jack didn’t really want kids so it was just the two of you: moving from Boston to Houston after you graduated college and while he joined the astronaut candidate program, you got a job at the front desk of JSC.

Things were fine at first. The new environment helped and you were both excited to see and do all of the things Houston had to offer but the shininess of a new place dulled quicker than you’d anticipated and once a routine was established, it wasn’t uncommon for his side of the bed to be left cold for a few nights a week.

You wished you could say his infidelity bothered you but it didn’t. He always seemed happier, lighter, after he’d come back and that’s really what mattered. Jack was more of a friend than anything else and that was fine.

There was an agreement made a year into your move, an agreement to quietly separate. While you both continued to live together, he moved his things into the spare bedroom and slowly became a roommate as opposed to your husband. The action of a divorce would cause too much disruption into the life you were both carefully creating- Jack fully graduating the astronaut program and you making friends, settling into your job.

It wasn’t ideal but it worked. For now.

—

While most people hated Mondays, they were actually your favorite and even more after a mission that went smoothly. Apollo 86 had just landed over the weekend and everyone that trickled in through the doors of JSC seemed to be in a good mood, smiling at you as they passed by you at your desk.

You’d been promoted just a few short months ago, working your way up to Assistant to the Director of JSC in your time there. Margo Madison was a tough cookie but your personalities clicked from the moment you’d started working in the building so it was a no brainer when her previous assistant, Emma, needed replacing after moving.

After briefing with Margo, you settle down at your desk and start filing away your leftover paperwork from Friday, wishing you’d finished instead of being in a hurry to leave.

“Mornin’,” Ed mumbles as he passes by you on his way towards his office, coffee in hand and eyes heavy with sleep.

“Oh! Mr. Baldwin, Ms. Madison wanted to talk to you when you got settled in,” you call after him, raising out of your seat to shoot him an apologetic look. You knew Ed hated unexpected meetings, and more so with Margo, as they usually ended in an argument with no solution.

He slowly turns around and sighs, setting his coffee down on your desk, shooting you an expectant look. “Well?”

“She didn’t say much other than to catch you early. Sorry.” You purse your lips with a shrug. “You know she usually doesn’t give me much to go on.”

Ed nods, tapping his fingers along the wood and catching your gaze. “I know. Just thought maybe today might be the day. Tell her I’ll head over in 10. I’ve got a couple calls to make first.”

“You got it.” Glancing down at the coffee, you raise your eyebrows and give him a teasing smile. “Where’s mine?”

The bark of laughter Ed makes rings throughout the room and your stomach flips at the sound- full and hearty. As he catches his breath, the smile that graces his lips makes your heart squeeze and you wonder, not for the first time, how often he smiles like that and for who.

“Next time, alright?”

You nod quickly, “I’m holding you to it, Baldwin.”

He picks up his coffee and starts to walk backwards, pointing a finger at you. “It’s Ed, even at work!”

Once he’s tucked away in his office, you try and catch yourself. Your face hurts from smiling, cheeks strained and your stomach is still in knots. It’s a struggle to calm down but eventually you do, breathing deeply.

There’d always been this thing- with Ed. A spark of some sort that kept you up at times. It’d started just a few years ago after Jack had officially joined the program and you were both suddenly invited to all of the BBQ’s and events that encompassed the astronauts and their families. You and Ed both enjoyed the quiet companionship one another brought when things got too hectic, tucked away in a backyard or a kitchen while the parties continued on. You’d both just drink quietly, offering a small comment or two but in those hushed moments, you got to know Ed better than anyone else in Houston.

A beep of your computer startles you and you chuckle quietly, glad to be knocked out of the silly daydream.

Picking up the phone, you dial into Margo’s office and she answers with a quick, “Did you catch Ed?”

“He’ll be with you in 10,” you tell her, jotting down the meeting in the plans for today.

“Good,” she answers. “And remind me to run something by you later. Before lunch.”

“You got it.”

—

Friday rolls around quicker than you can blink. After the news Margo had given you on Monday it seemed like time wouldn’t slow down as you started to make preparations.

You had started to wonder when you would finally get the all clear to attend a launch. Fly down to Florida and meet the crew, attend schmoozing parties and start networking. While being Margo’s assistant was great, it wasn’t the ultimate goal- not with a degree in mechanical engineering. But with some experience under your belt, it seemed like it was finally time.

Apollo 91 was set to launch next week and you were getting a front row seat.

The office was a flutter as you made sure everything was in place for you and Margo to be gone the next week. Setting up a re-route for all of your calls and messages to come through the offices in Cape Canaveral. Your checklist was long and tedious but needed, not wanting to forget anything and making sure no detail was missed. So, when a cup of coffee is placed on your desk, you jump in your seat, a small shriek escaping your lips.

“Jesus, sweetheart. Gonna break my eardrums if you do that again,” Ed laughs, the noise doing nothing to calm your racing heart.

You try to glare at him but the smile he’s wearing breaks you down and there isn’t much you can do but shake your head, smiling behind your hand.

“It’s been days, Ed,” you point to the coffee, waiting for an explanation.

Ed shrugs sheepishly, “Better now than never? But I can take it back. I’ve been needing a second cup.” He slowly goes to grab the cup but you’re quicker and snatch it back.

“Don’t taunt me like that. I’m desperate for caffeine right now,” you tell him between sips.

His forehead crinkles and he finally takes in the state of your desk. Papers are strewn across what is normally a pristine surface and he crosses his arms over his chest. “Everything alright?”

You nod slowly, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, for the most part. Margo invited me down to the Cape with her for launch week and we leave tomorrow morning. It’s just a lot to try and take care of before then.”

“You’re going down to watch 91?” He seems surprised, happy almost, and you wonder why.

“Yeah. A surprise, I know. But since it’s a longer trip, she said she’d need me down there with her. Why?”

Ed rubs a hand across his jaw, his lips ticking up on the side and he shrugs. “I’ll be there too. Usually don’t go down for these things but since Gordo is headin’ up I thought I’d go and show some moral support.”

“Oh.” You pause, not wanting to make it weird because now your mind is racing, suddenly very aware of the band on his left hand. “That’s really nice of you.”

“Yeah. Well, maybe we’ll run into each other or something. I’ll try not to scare you next time,” he teases and your face heats up and it’s not from the temperature of the coffee you’ve just finished.

“That’d be nice,” you nod, “But please don’t scare me. I don’t think I could handle that embarrassment again.”

“I’ll try my best.” Ed crosses an ‘X’ over his heart and glances down the hall before stepping away from your desk. “I should get goin’ but I’ll see you later?”

“I’m sure you will. Have a good trip,” you tell him earnestly.

“You too.” Ed waves a hand around him before he turns and heads down the hallway, disappearing.

Your heart finally starts to slow a couple minutes later, slumping down into your chair with a huff.

The swift opening of a door breaks the spell and Margo looks at you, head cocked. “You alright there?”

“Yeah, perfectly fine.”

—

The energy at Cape Canaveral was different from Houston.

You couldn’t quite put your finger on why, but it was. You felt like a fish out of water following behind Margo once you’d both checked into your respective hotel rooms and headed towards the main buildings to start prep.

The days were rushed, blending together and while you only saw Ed a few times throughout the first couple of days, it was nice to see a smiling, familiar, face anytime you bumped into each other.

As the week ended and 91 had launched, an after party was being thrown in the ballroom of the hotel you were staying at and as much as you wanted to skip it and relax, Ed had mentioned he was going and looked forward to seeing you there so, back to your room you went in an attempt to freshen up.

It was the first time you felt like you could breathe once you’d locked yourself away in the room, no more work ahead of you. At least not until Monday. You had the party tonight and all day tomorrow to recoup and pack up and then you were headed back home the next day, expecting a slow Sunday to catch up on laundry and maybe have dinner with Jack if he didn’t have plans or someone over.

After a quick change of clothes, from your pants suit to a dress you’d almost not packed, you did a quick touch up of your mascara and headed down.

Margo had already told you she was flying back early, a red eye tonight, so your eyes searched for the only other person you’d know.

Ed wasn’t hard to find.

The tall, broad man stood out in the crowds of people huddled around tables and in groups. His smile was real but the laughs were fake, polite, to the group of three men he was talking to.

You grab a drink on your way over to him, sipping at it quickly and passing by a few people you’d met throughout the week and waving back. Once you successfully reach Ed, and your drink is empty, your stomach slowly starts to twist with nerves. While you’d seen him the last few days, it had only been in passing. Quick hellos and acknowledging nods when you were in the same room.

He’s quick to pull you into his side, squeezing you lightly before pulling away to introduce you to the group of men he’s been talking to. They’re all bigwigs at Kennedy and you fumble at first, not expecting them to want to speak to you but they’re eager to learn about who you are, what you do and what you want to do. You know it’s Ed’s doing with the way he’s smiling in the corner of your eye as you talk to them and you cock your hip against his in a show of thanks.

Eventually they leave, handshakes and promises to talk again soon. You and Ed wave them off with thanks before turning to each other and you’re quick to smack him in the chest.

“Jesus Christ, Ed. Warn a girl, won’t you?”

He catches your hand against his chest and that’s when you notice it.

His wedding band is missing.

Instead, there’s a band of pale skin wrapped around his ring finger on his left hand and suddenly your tongue is heavy in your mouth as he responds. “Didn’t realize what I was doin’ was a bad thing,” he promises, giving your hand a squeeze before letting it go and it falls at your side. “They were nice though, right?”

It’s hard to focus on anything else and when you watch someone walk by with a tray of drinks, you grab two, place your empty glass on the tray, and hand the extra to Ed. “Yeah,” you agree quietly, sipping at your second flute of champagne.

“Everything alright?” His tone is laced with concern and you’re quick to shake your head in protest.

“Yeah, no, everything is fine. Just a little tired is all,” you tell him, polishing off your glass and already on the lookout for another.

You can tell Ed doesn’t quite believe you but you’re thankful he doesn’t bring it up again, instead leading you towards the bar in the back of the room.

It’s a bunch of small talk once you’re both leaned against the bar with another drink in front of you. He asks about your week and you tell him about all of the things you’d seen for the first time and how it only made you want to strive for something better.

You pointedly don’t ask for another drink after you polish off your third. You felt better than before, less nervous, but still were aware of your surroundings and in control. At least you thought you were until you opened your mouth.

“Did something happen?” You can’t help yourself, blurting it out and you hold a hand to your mouth in embarrassment once you realize what you’ve said.

Ed only pauses before he holds his left hand up to the light, rubbing his thumb along the inside of his ring finger. “Yeah uh,” he pauses, like he’s trying to word what he says next carefully and you go to stop him but he stops you first. “We’re separating. I think. It all happened so fast- right before I left but. Yeah. I think that’s what’s gonna happen.”

“God, Ed. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s not my business and-,” Ed cuts you off, places his hand over yours on the bar and shakes his head.

“Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault and,” he breathes deeply, finishes off his drink. “Honestly? It’s the biggest fucking weight off my shoulders.”

“What?” You’re lost, eyebrows knitted in confusion and Ed just chuckles quietly.

“Because now I don’t have to feel so guilty. And she doesn’t either.”

Your stomach sinks and you repeat yourself, “What?”

Ed’s thumb brushes along the top of your hand, turning it over and traces his fingers along the lines in your palm. It’s surprisingly intimate and your lungs are burning as you hold your breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Come up to my room with me? It’s too loud down here.” He asks quietly, pressing his thumb into your palm and it knocks you out of your stupor, gaze finally meeting Ed’s and you can only nod.

The ride up to his room is quiet, the elevator dings filling the space as you pass the floors on the way up. You stop close to the top and trail behind Ed as he finds his room and you follow behind him, shutting the door and leaning against it for stability.

You’re not sure what to expect by coming up here with him but he starts puttering around the room, kicking his dress shoes off and loosening his tie. Getting comfortable.

His eyes find you pressed against the door and he motions for you to come further into the room, “I ain’t gonna bite ya. Want a drink?”

You nod but have no intention of actually drinking it, just wanting something to do with your hands and you walk further into the room. The curtains are pulled open, a view of the Kennedy Space Center below you, bright in the night sky. The stars are shining and clear and for whatever reason, it gives you a sense of calm. Like things will be okay.

“Here ya go.” Ed presses the glass of dark liquor into your hands and you nod in thanks, moving to lean against the desk that sits against the wall next to the windows.

“What did you mean down there?” You ask, dragging your eyes from your drink to meet his hazel gaze. “About feeling guilty? Did something happen with Karen?”

At this point you don’t care anymore, too curious. It’s safer to ask about Karen than to ask what’s going on with Ed and you’re hoping he’ll elaborate on his end on his own without prompting.

“She ah- she slept with someone else,” he laughs, tossing back his drink and rolling his eyes with a grimace. “I’d known something was off for the last few weeks but she told me last Friday right before my flight here and she said somethin’ about counseling but that’s not really my thing.”

You feel your heart squeeze at his confession and you set your drink on the desk, moving to sit next to him on the bed where he hangs his head low.

“I can’t let her take all the blame though, you know? I’m no saint either. I just ain’t done nothin’ about it. Yet.”

Ed drags his gaze up from his lap, meeting your own and your stomach drops, mouth going dry and you lick at your lips unconsciously. Your body warms as you realize Ed’s eyes are following the movement of your tongue.

“Ed,” you breathe in warning, suddenly aware of how close you are. Arms pressed together, thighs barely a breath apart.

“I’ve dreamt about kissing you for longer than I’d like to admit,” he confesses, his words hanging in the stiff hotel room air. “I told Gordo about it once. He told me to just go for it, said you had some sort of arrangement with Jack but-.”

“We do.” You cut him off, trying to explain. “We’ve had one for a couple of years now. We’re separated in the way that we have separate rooms and he has a girlfriend who’s actually pretty great.”

“Huh.”

Ed seems stumped at that, like he doesn’t know what to say.

Suddenly you feel foolish. Coming up here was a mistake and as you go to rise, Ed’s hand grabs yours.

“Don’t go.”

He looks desperate when you turn around to look at him. Eyes wide, neck strained. Like he’s been holding himself back and when you finally lock eyes, he pulls you into him, slides you between his open thighs and says again, “Don’t go.”

You’re quick to slide into his lap, dress hiked up and thighs wrapping around his waist, pressing into him. Your arms wrap around his neck and pull his head up to meet yours.

Kissing Ed is just how you thought it would be. Passionate and all consuming. His tongue presses deep into your mouth, sweeping in and around your own to coax the quietest of moans from you.

You want more. No, you need more and maybe Ed can sense that because he starts to tug at the zipper to your dress. The material goes slack and falls down your shoulders, exposing your chest to the cool air and Ed tugs it further down, off your arms and down your torso to pool around your belly.

His mouth is a hot press against your skin as he maps out all the newly exposed flesh for him to taste. Your fingers weave through the silky strands of Ed’s hair, tugging as his mouth sucks a hickey into the top of your breast.

It’s more passion than you’ve felt in years and your whole body is aching. Crotch damp against the heft of Ed, hard and swelling in his dress pants.

You have to stop him. As much as you love the way he’s taking his time, you need to speed things up, need him buried deep inside of you and you tug his mouth away from your skin before sliding off of his lap to stand between his thighs again.

The rest of your dress falls at your feet and you kick the material away, leaving you in your bra and underwear.

It feels like tit for tat once Ed starts undoing the buttons to his dress shirt, tossing it in the direction of where your dress had landed and so you reach back and undo the clasp to your bra, nipples hardening as they meet the air. His pants and boxers are next, his cock lying thick between his strong thighs and you feel yourself clench, bending down to slide your underwear off toe them off.

You thought you’d feel exposed but instead you feel a confidence rising through you that you’d never felt before because standing here, in front of Ed like this, makes you feel empowered. He looks like a man starved as he takes you in, hands reaching for your hips to pull you closer.

“You’re so fuckin’ beautiful,” he whispers against the skin of your belly, raises his head between your breasts and you just grin.

“You’re not too bad yourself there, Admiral,” you tease, pushing his hair back.

He picks you up then, tosses you onto the bed and positions himself on top of you.

Ed is just so broad and while it had always been apparent, it’s different with him looming over you like this, cheshire grin and sparkling eyes full of need.

He’s ravenous in the way he consumes you, mouth unrelenting as he maps out your body. Hands and tongue working in tandem to make sure they don’t miss anything, your body arching into the press and pull as he works you over.

It’s as he nips at your hip and presses your thighs apart that you finally feel a bit of nerves coursing through you.

It wasn’t common to find a man between your legs. Ever. Jack had done it once, in college, said he didn’t much care for it and that was that. He didn’t expect the same from you so it wasn’t really an issue but with Ed’s blonde hair peeking between your open thighs, his tongue darting out to taste you, you wonder why it had never become a problem because shit it was good.

Ed eats you out like a man starved, tongue lapping and sucking. He uses his fingers to pull you apart, give him more room to work and as his mouth latches on to your clit, you cry out, back arching and pressing into his open mouth for more.

“Shit, Ed,” you breathe out, hands bunching into the comforter below you and you can barely make out him chuckling through the ringing in your ears.

“You taste good,” he comments as he slowly presses two fingers into you, “Could just stay down here all night if ya let me.”

You have to school your breathing as he starts to thrust the two long, thick digits into you and your brain has gone static that you don’t even have a reply other than a moan as he curls them before pulling out and doing it all over again.

It’s torture, the way he’s playing you. Your mouth is open and pressed against the pillow underneath your head, eyes screwed shut. It’s too much and you need more but it’s hard to form words. You’re sure you look a mess, body covered in a light sweat, bottom lip swollen from pulling it behind your teeth too much but Ed seems to think differently when he comes up from between your thighs and presses a kiss to the inside, his fingers stilling.

“Do you realize how fuckin’ sexy you look right now?” He tells you, tone low and he slowly slides his fingers out and waits for you to look at him before pressing them between his lips.

You’re not sure how it’s possible for your body to heat up more than it already has but sure enough, a warmth spreads through you at Ed’s words and you shake your head slowly.

“Stop it,” you tell him weakly, hand unclenching from the comforter to press at his forehead that’s leaned against your thigh.

“You don’t believe me,” he says in surprise, turning his head in disbelief.

Ed crawls up, hovering over you once more and knocks his head with yours. Taking your right hand in his, Ed slides it down his chest to stop at his groin before knocking it against the hard thickness of his cock and groans. “You did this to me. Made me so fuckin’ hard I can’t think straight. And it’s not the first time.”

It’s hard for you to pinpoint what you want to take from that but with him so close, you keep quiet, hand wrapping around the thick of him and sliding down to the tip. He’s wet there, precum oozing steadily and you use it to smooth the way as you pump him in your hand.

“Shit sweetheart, if you keep that up-,” he chokes out, head dropping to your shoulder and you grin, guiding him between your legs.

“Ed?” You ask, hand dropping from his cock to press against his back and he looks up, eyes searching yours.

“Hm?”

“Fuck me,” you breathe. “Please.”

It only takes a few seconds for him to process what you’ve asked him and he’s quick to oblige, positioning himself between your parted thighs and notching the head of his cock against the slick of your pussy.

You both groan in unison as he stretches you open, buries himself to the hilt and you both pause to take in the sensation.

Ed fills you up in all the right places, thick and long and it just feels right. You know he’ll take care of you and that’s the best feeling of it all.

It’s a slow rhythm at first. Ed pulls back only to press in deeper, knocking the breath out of you. Then it’s quick, short thrusts that hit a spot you’ve never felt before, eyes rolling back as you cling to him.

“Fuck you feel so good, so tight,” he hisses and you lift your hips to take him deeper, harder, ankle hooking behind his thigh and you clench.

Ed chokes out, one of his arms giving out and he falls to your chest in surprise at how good that’d felt. You run a hand through his hair, tugging at the root and he snaps out of it, quick to recover. His mouth seeks out your breasts and pulls your nipple into his mouth, hips snapping against yours almost angrily.

Your breaths and quietly slapping of skin fills the air as you fuck, your nails dragging down the expanse of his back, his shoulders. It’s dirty words whispered as he makes you feel so fucking good.

Your body starts to feel tight, wound up and you need more so you tell him as much, “Ed, touch me please,” you cry and he snakes a hand between your bodies and finds your clit, rubs the slick nub in tight circles and it’s over.

Your body arches comically high, pulling him in deeper as you pulse around the swell of his cock. Head pressed back against the softness of the pillow, you whine as you cum, his thumb unrelenting against your clit as your orgasm washes over you.

“That’s it, baby. Cum around my cock. Shit-,” Ed groans, his own orgasm taking over and he pulses long and thick into you and you can feel it. Filling you up in deep pulses.

It’s intoxicating, the way it feels as he slowly pulls out of you. You’re dripping between your thighs and it’s so fucking hot in a way you didn’t expect.

A soft whine passes through your lips once he’s fully out and slides out of the bed and you’re about to protest when you hear the bathroom sink turn on.

Ed is nothing if not a gentleman, and it’s apparent in the way he cleans you up. Careful swipes between your thighs and he parts you slowly to make sure he’s gotten every trace of himself before tossing the washcloth to the floor and sliding back into bed.

You waste no time turning on your side to face him, eyes tracing along his chest, shoulders and neck before moving up to his face and smiling when you find him doing the same.

“Hi,” you whisper, hand sliding up to cup his cheek and he turns his head just enough to press his lips to your palm.

“Hi.”

Ed’s grin is contagious and soon your cheeks hurt from smiling, head turning to move against his chest.

You both giggle as you lie there, settling into a comfortable companionship.

It’s hard to tell where this will go, too many variables existing in both of your lives to be clear on exactly where it can go but you’re happy to be along for the ride so long as Ed keeps smiling at you the way he is now, soft and open, like there’s nothing else in the world he’d rather be looking at.

[aliverse]

🎲🎵 + 24!

I'm going to assume you did not understand the true parameters of this challenge, but I'm going to do it anyways. If you DID understand, why have you forsaken me????

Message In A Bottle, Taylor Swift - Emma & Ted

Bubblegum Bitch, MARINA - Hadley Foster & Aphrodite Mikaelson

Fancy Like, Walker Hayes - Taylor & Shawn

The Night Is Still Young, Nicki Minaj - Astrid Olsen

3am, Halsey - Emma Boyle

What's Up?, 4 Non Blondes - Betty Strand

All These Things That I've Done, The Killers - Gabriel Argent

Bellyache, Billie Eilish - Margo Phineas

Not Gonna Break Me, Jamie N Commons - Hope Woods

Dead, Madison Beer - Audrey (& Puck)

Stay, The Kid LAROI ft Justin Bieber - Emma & Barney

Joke's On You, Charlotte Lawrence - Ivy Goode

Final Girl, CHVRCHES - Destiny Baldwin

That's So Us, Allie X - Astrid & William

Untouchable, Taylor Swift - Emery & The Doctor

In The Night, The Weeknd - Isaac Gallagher

Best Friend, Saweetie ft Doja Cat - Blythe & Cheryl

She's American, The 1975 - Andrea "Andy"

Middle Of The Night, The Vamps ft Martin Jensen - Dakota & Tony

break up with your girlfriend, Ariana Grande - Isabella & Brooke

Just You & I, Tom Walker - Emery & Clara

Better, Talia Mar - Kathryn & Chuck

18, 5 Seconds of Summer - Isaac Gallagher

NFWB, Hozier - Eden & Dean