#except not because it's monday but shush

[bylightofdawn]

WIP Sunday Monday

I managed a little under 1K tonight so I'm going to take that W.

This scene is pretty spoiler free so I'm going to post it. Mij and Jango continue to have an interesting dynamic in that I feel like Mij is so frank and no-bullshit that he doesn't mince words with Jango and he appreciates it which in turn makes him prone to opening up to him more than other people he's closer to. Because....teenagers. Well that, and sometimes you just want an adult to talk to you like you're not a child.

Jaster and Plo continue to be the worst-kept secret in the True Mandalorians to boot.

Standard warnings apply, super rough draft, I haven't even looked at what I'm posting so it might be utter shit.

But I DID discover a new synthwave mix on Spotify to listen to while writing so that's exciting. I also did not realize that Tangerine Dream who wrote the ORIGINAL Legend soundtrack is considered synthwave or one of the precursors and that just explains so much about why I love this genre so much. I owned that shit on tape. Loved By the Sun is still one of my favorite songs ever. Also Tron: Legacy soundtrack falls into it too that's hands down my favorite movie soundtrack ever. The fact Daft Punk only wrote two movie soundtracks before they broke up is one of my greatest musical sad points. Actually, I was wrong I thought they did another movie beyond Tron: Legacy but I guess they only wrote that one. Even worse. :( I like Daft Punk but I'm not a HUGE Daft Punk or EDM fan in general. I appreciate it and enjoy a lot of it. My twenties were very much into bands like Infected Mushroom and a lot of random ass European house and trance bands but I kinda floated out of the scene after that. But Tron: Legacy soundtrack was on a whole other level. Synthwave definitely scratches that born and raised on 80's movies electronic soundtrack itch very nicely that I have.

I'm gonna put the laptop away and try and convince my brain to stfu so I can try and sleep now.

By the time Mij made it back to base, some semblance of order had been restored. Myles was passed out on the couch with his head laying in Jango’s lap. The boy’s eyes were red-rimmed and he still looked upset but he’d composed himself somewhat Mij was a little worried that his hand hadn't strayed from the blaster sitting next to him on the couch.

“Where’s Jaster?” Mij asked, making an effort to try and keep the bark from his question despite his own uncertain temper. He had no karking clue what was going on and it was starting to piss him off.

“Downstairs talking to the other delegates, I think he’s trying to put a hunting party together for Montross.”

“Fine, that’ll keep him busy. How are you, verd’ika? What about Myles? What the hell happened to him?”

Jango’s mouth condensed to a grim, bloodless slash and Mij knew he wasn’t going to get a straight answer out of him. So he busied himself with pulling out a scanner and started to monitor the unconscious Kiffar’s vitals.

They were all strong and steady thankfully. He found no overt sign of injury which only puzzled him further.

“I take if your father wanted you to stay here and make sure Myles was okay?”

“Yeah, it’s dumb. Montross isn’t going to come here.”

“He won’t but if he were to contact Death Watch and warn them we’re down three people they might decide to get ballsy and press their luck. I’m sure the thought has crossed your father’s mind.”

“I’m not a useless kid.” Jango spat that last word like it was something filthy or unclear.

“Jango, he’s not treating you like a child. He’s trusted you to guard your friend and superior officer’s back.”

“Don’t patronize me, Mij. I screwed up and Montross got away because of it.”

“That I can’t speak of since I kinda came in halfway through. Let’s say you’re right and you did screw up. What can you learn from that mistake and how you can you avoid repeating it?” Mij asked gently and stowed his scanning unit away.

“ If you want my opinion? I think you’re so desperate to prove yourself that you’re potentially taking risks you don’t need to. Maybe that’s just inexperience, maybe just dumb teenage impetuousness.”

“I was just so angry. He tried to have me killed. I knew he didn’t like me but I didn’t know he hated me that much.” There was a strange note of wounded vulnerability in the teenage boy’s voice and Mij was reminded once again just how young Jango was in a lot of ways.

Having grown up outside the Mandalorian culture, even he struggled at times with understanding letting a teenager like Jango being exposed to the dangers of an active campaign but there was also the politics and other dangers beyond avoiding getting your head blown off by an enemy blaster bolt.

It was one thing to have an enemy try and kill you, another to have a supposed ally apparently hire a Death Watch assassin to try and kill you supposedly because you were in the way of whatever stupid political machinations you had.

“I don’t know kid. I don’t know what the hell is going on anymore.”

Stars, he wasn’t a man who was prone to violence but in that moment, if Montross had been in the room he would have shot the son of a bantha-karker in the gut and let him bleed out in gruesome agony.

Mij could only imagine what was going through Jaster’s head right now but judging by the kill order he’d just put out, it wasn’t anything good.

“Come on, I think between the two of us, we can move him into his room. He’ll probably be more comfortable there. I can set up an IV drip easier there too.” He didn’t mention he didn’t particularly want them to stay here, exposed and with nothing to prevent a opportunistic Death Watch member from trying to snipe them from the still broken window.

Mij could have carried Myles all on his own but he wanted to give Jango something to focus on. The boy seemed to consider it for a moment before nodding. He grabbed the blaster that had been sitting next to him on the couch and shoved it into the waistband of his lounge pants and carefully lifted Myles’s head from his lap so he could climb to his feet.

“Do you think we should call Plo Koon?” Mij asked as he wrapped his arms underneath the younger Mandalorian’s shoulders while Jango picked up his feet.

A surprised look flashed across the boy’s face before he managed to lock down his expression into something more natural. “I don’t think Jaster would want that. I don’t think he told him we were hunting for Death Watch.”

“It’s not about what he wants, it’s about what he needs. I think having his Jedi around might help keep calmer heads prevailing right now.”

Jango grimaced at Mij calling Plo Jaster’s Jedi as they carried the unconscious Myles down the hallway towards the man’s room. He didn’t want to admit it but even the weight of carrying the other Mandalorian’s feet was making his stomach muscles twinge unpleasantly. He had the sneaking suspicion he had some new bruising courtesy of Montross’s rough treatment.

“So…you know then?”

“Wait? Was it supposed to be a secret? If so? That’s like the worst kept secret ever.”

The pained look on Jango’s face would have been laughable in any other circumstances.

[schemmentis]

Like I Can - Pt. 4

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3

Warnings: None

Word Count: 1.7k

“Break up with Gary.” You say. It falls from your lips instead of everything else you may have chosen to say first.

Melissa looks at you, still laid across her lap. An eyebrow raising at you. “Tell me why.” She softly answers.

You sit up, the distance between your faces closing until it is scant. Your hand reaches to softly caress her cheek with her fingers. “Because I want to kiss you for everything you just said but I’m not doing anything until I know you’re mine.”

Melissa sucks in a breath, her eyes steadfast on yours. “I am yours, Y/N.” She all but whispers in answer.

“Prove it.” You answer. Your hand moves from her cheek to gently grasp at her jaw to keep her from surging forward. You see your own want clearly mirrored in her eyes. You want nothing more than to let her close the distance and properly prove everything she said. Except one thing. 

“Break up with Gary.” You repeat. “Then, get back to me.”

You move to get up, to leave for your own apartment. It would be safer that way. Minimize temptation. Melissa’s arms wrap around you though.

“Stay.” She says softly, her chin pressing to your shoulder. “I’ll be good, swear.”

In spite of yourself, you laugh. Your hand reaches back to gently brush fingers to Mel’s cheek. “Somehow, I doubt that.”

“Still…stay. Please? It’s the weekend and I’d rather spend it with you. I promise I’ll take care of Gary Monday.”

“Please don’t say it that way. It just makes me feel like you’re gonna take your bat to him and they’re gonna find him in a river.”

“No. You still don’t have bail money.” Melissa shrugs after a beat. “And Gary ain’t pissed me off.”

Lightly, you reach behind you to hit her shoulder. “Fine, I’ll stay.” You mutter your agreement. As if she really had to twist your arm about it. She definitely didn’t.

In return you get a squeeze of the arms around you that trapped you to her lap. Plus, another hour or so of Melissa keeping you there as she finishes her show. When you begin to feel sleep tugging at you again, she ushers you from the couch to her room. A pair of pajamas all but placed in your hand before she’s fetching an unopened toothbrush for you to use. That is placed on the clothes still resting on your palms before she’s gently guiding you by the shoulders into the bathroom. 

“And now, I leave you to it so I keep my promise of being good.” She teases with a smirk, though she does bend the rules just a little by kissing your cheek before she goes.

By the time you’re crawling beneath Melissa’s covers you aren’t certain you’ll be awake once she finishes getting ready for bed herself. Your eyes are heavy and you're draped in soft clothes. Surrounded by the covers that smell like Melissa. 

You blink when you feel a shift next to you. A soft shush from Melissa slipping into bed next to you when she notices. Still, you’re shifting just enough to get your arms around her. You can’t help the content hum you let loose when she returns your embrace easily. You shift a bit more into her side, drifting back to sleep with your head on her shoulder.

You spend the rest of the weekend with Melissa. Making meals together. Even though most of the time there’s something involved that Melissa is teaching you. Some of what she does you already know, but you never say so. It’s more fun to learn it again from her. Plus, you could listen to her go on about cooking as much as you could anything else. Especially with her passion leading the way.

You offer to help her grade come Sunday night though Melissa only waves you off. You settle against her side, pretty much how the two of you have been all weekend. You’ve stolen a book from one of her shelves, paging through it and blindly holding your hand out every once in a while. You take the ones she’s finished grading, forming a pile in your own lap. At least, you reason, you’re helping her stay organized.

You intended to leave that evening, even if it was a little late. Melissa manages to convince you to stay again. Reasoning that you can part in the morning when you both leave for work. You’re helpless to argue, especially when she adds at least then she won’t be worried about how late it is that you’re traveling. So you stay, a third night curled up next to her in her bed. 

Reluctantly, you do separate the next morning. Melissa promises to call you that evening as she walks you to your car to leave her driveway first. You don’t mean to but your brain on autopilot guides your hands to her shoulders. Before either of you realize, you’ve leaned into her space and kissed her softly goodbye. There’s a pause when you pull away, as you realize what you’ve done. You’re not sorry, certainly, but you had intended to withhold from kissing her at all until Gary was out of the picture.

“You alright?” She asks softly, her hands on your cheeks. She must read the small bout of panic you’re having about skipping ahead suddenly despite the last few days.

“I’m fine.” You reassure, smiling to back it up. 

“Will you still be fine if I ask to do that again?” She questions, a smirk upon features.

You roll your eyes but tug her closer and kiss her one more time. “Damn you and being irresistable, Schemmenti.” You mutter against her lips before you pull away completely.

“Says you.” She throws back, winking when you look back to her once you’re in your car. “Drive safe, yeah? I’ll talk to you tonight, Hon.”

“Talk to you tonight.” You confirm just before she shuts your door for you. You wait until she’s about to get into her car and looks back at you. You blow her a kiss with a wink of your own before you pull out of her driveway.

It’s only once she’s made it to Abbott, and gotten most of her morning situated and ready, that Melissa thinks properly about Gary. She sends a text that they need to talk, as soon as he’s free to. She wants to get it over with. The sooner she does, the sooner she can focus on the two of you.

It isn’t until she’s walking into the teacher’s lounge at lunch that she realizes her mistake. She blinks once or twice at the extra, non teacher or staff, body in the room. On reflex alone she’s returning Gary’s hug.

“There ya are!” He’s greeting her with a large grin on his face. Melissa wonders how she liked him enough to start dating now. In your words, Gary is fine. Nice enough. As she stands across from him, though, she’s wondering why that was enough after the last weekend spent with you. “You said we needed to talk?”

Melissa ignores the looks from the others in the room, especially Barb raising an eyebrow at her. There isn’t an adult alive that doesn’t know what that phrase usually means in a relationship. Unless they were in denial. Like Gary kind of seems to be as he looks at her expectantly.

She sighs. She wants to get it over with, and she might have realized her feelings for Gary are next to nothing compared to the ones for you. Still, she isn’t trying to be cruel. Doing this in such a public way, in front of the other teachers, it seems cruel. After a moment she waves it off. “Oh, don’t worry about it. I figured it out.” She mutters.

“So, we’re still good for dinner Thursday?” Gary checks, still smiling.

Melissa does her best to return his smile but even she knows it’s muted. “Yeah, sounds good. Thursday.” She agrees as she slips into her usual seat next to Barbara.

After a few minutes, Gary says his goodbyes. He kisses Melissa’s head on the way out. Only because she hadn’t turned to him to kiss him properly like she usually would.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Melissa grumbles at Barbara staring at her.

“Something’s going on. What is it?” Barbara tries to press the redhead sitting next to her. In Melissa fashion, the pushing only makes her push it away even further.

“You’re ridiculous, Barb. Nothin’s goin’ on.”

“So you are going to dinner with Gary Thursday? Because it quite seemed like you didn’t want to.”

“Yes.” Melissa repeats with a light glare. “I’m going to dinner Thursday.” She states pointedly. If Barbara or the others still lingering in the break room notice how annoyed she sounds, they don’t say. Probably knowing not to say anything is for their own good.

You're late leaving your job that evening. Which means you miss Melissa’s call, unfortunately. You’re setting your things down once you walk in the door, preparing to call her back. You notice she left a voicemail so you quickly hit the button  to have it play. Your phone held to your ear with your shoulder as you made your way to your bedroom to change from the clothes you’d had to steal from Mel for today.

You stop short, pausing in the doorway to your bedroom. Your hand reaches to grasp your phone properly. You quickly stop the voicemail playing. You don’t want to listen to the rest of it. You quickly dial Mel’s number, pressing your phone back to your ear.

“Hey.” She answers after only a few rings.

“Hey my ass.” You return, your anger starting to simmer. “You’re going to dinner with Gary? You said you’d deal with all of that today.”

“I was going to! I told him we needed to talk but then he had to take that as a sign to have the conversation in the break room in front of everybody! I’m not tryna embarrass or humiliate him, Y/N. It woulda been pretty fucked if I had done it then.”

“It’s pretty fucked you didn’t, Mel!” You toss back. You know, on some level, you’re being unreasonable. She’s trying to do a good thing. A kind thing. Yet you can’t help but feel like it’s an excuse to have you both.

“Y/N, I’m sorry. I told you as soon as I could so you wouldn’t be surprised. It’ll be done with Thursday, I promise.”

“Then call me Friday.” You snap, hanging up before you can hear her say anything else.

[wordy-little-witch]

In honor of my newest fixation, have some TSAMS incorrect quotes -

Generic Edition

Lunar: Uh, I think I got your lunch. *Holds up a note that reads: ‘I am very proud of you. Love, Sun’*

Solar: Oh yeah. I didn’t think this was for me. *Holds up a note that reads: ‘Be good. For the love of God, Please be good.’*

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Judge: Does the defendant have any special requests?

Sun: Death penalty.

Solar, from the gallery: Sun, it’s just a parking ticket.

Sun, whispering into the mic: Please kill me.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Moon: I love sarcasm! It’s like punching people in the face, but with words!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Lunar: *Hugs Earth from behind*

Lunar: *Tucks Earth's hair behind their ear*

Lunar, whispering: Eat all the frosted animal crackers again and they'll never find your body.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Lunar: Change is inedible.

Solar: Don’t you mean inevitable?

Lunar, spitting out a bunch of pennies: No, I really didn’t.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Lunar: Which country has the most birds?

Lunar: Portu-geese!

Earth: That's a language.

Lunar: Portu-gull?

Earth: Good recovery.

Moon: I think you mean good re-dovery.

Sun: TURKEY. HOW DID YOU MISS TURKEY?

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Sun: *accidentally eats something too spicy so their eyes start to water*

Earth: Sun, look at me. It's okay. I would die for you. I love you so much. You're the best person I know.

Sun: I'm not crying?

Earth, hugging Sun's head: Shush baby, it's okay. little sister is here and I love you with my whole heart.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Sun: Caffeine no longer keeps me awake while I work, so instead I have Moon periodically send me texts saying ‘we need to talk.’

Sun: It gives me the right amount of adrenaline and fear I need to keep going.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Moon: Everyone has a toxic trait. Except Earth, they’re perfect.

Earth: Wrong! My toxic trait is how badly I want to domesticate a raccoon and several geese.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Lunar: Well, well, well, if it isn’t the consequences of my actions.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Solar: apartment "complex"? Really? I find it quite simple.

Sun, about to McLose it: ya know what else is simple? Me simply shoving my foot up your-

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Moon: *watching the squad's shenanigans with concern* Do you feel like this has gotten out of hand?

Solar: I don't know. Feels normal enough for a group that's on 911's blocked callers list.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Earth: people seem to be under the impression that I am the mom friend. I am not. If anything, I am the sister friend. The mom friend is Sun, but people aren't ready for that conversation yet.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Lunar: What is love?

Solar: An emotional minefield.

Moon: A neurochemical reaction.

Earth: Baby don't hurt me.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Moon: Look, Sun, it's the third time this week you had a mental breakdown and its Monday.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Sun: I’m genuinely surprised you haven’t gotten arrested, let alone gotten a felony yet.

Lunar: Nat 20 Charisma.

Sun: That is NOT how that works-

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Earth: Sun, can you help me? All of my clothes keep disappearing for some reason.

Sun, wearing a hoodie that's 5 times bigger than their size: Spooky.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Earth: So... what’s goin’ on?

Solar: You want the long version or the short version?

Earth, hesitantly: The short one, I guess?

Solar: Shit’s fucked.

Earth: Oh. Well, yeah, that’s definitely not an optimal situation.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Solar: Synonyms are weird because if you invite someone to your cottage in the forest, that just sounds nice and cozy. But if I invite you to my cabin in the woods you’re going to die.

Lunar: My favorite is explaining the difference between a butt dial and a booty call.

Earth: It’s called connotations.

Sun: Try this one on for size, “Forgive me, Father, I have sinned” vs “Sorry, Daddy, I’ve been naughty."

Moon: Great news! Language is now banned!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Sun: Everything’s fine, I'm fine.

Earth: Sun, I know your relationship with the english language is strictly casual, but you- I- *deep inhale* ALLOW ME TO TELL YOU WHAT’S NOT FINE.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Sun: Solar is the bravest person I know. He can go into the Spirit Halloween without crying.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Moon: You were stabbed. Do you remember anything?

Sun: Only the ambulance ride to the hospital.

Solar: That wasn't an ambulance, we drove you.

Sun: But I heard a siren.

Lunar: That was Earth.

Earth: Sorry, I got nervous.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Sun: I'm hot, I’m tall, I'm gay, and I'm on my theatre kid arc.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Moon: I'm so tired of this life. I want to be a roomba. I want knives taped to me. And I want to be set loose.

Sun: ... you know what, mood, honestly

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Lunar: How many vampires do you think have been hit by a car backing up in a parking lot because the driver couldn’t see their reflection?

Moon: I’ve never considered it but you’re really shining light on what’s probably a very serious issue.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Moon: How do you want your coffee?

Sun: Black, like my soul.

Moon:

Moon: Sun, your soul is a latte.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

SolarSun Edition

Solar: So the other day I sent Sun out to get us some gas.

Solar: And instead of getting gas, they got us novelty cookie cutters.

Solar: Now everything we eat is shaped like a dinosaur.

Solar: …

Solar: I love them so much.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Earth: Why don’t you go talk to them?

Solar, sarcastically: Oh. Yeah, sure.

Earth: What? So you go tell Sun that he's cute, what’s the worst that could happen?

Solar: They could hear me.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Solar: *yawns*

Sun: Yeah, being that pretty must be tiring.

Solar: Then you must be exhuasted.

Moon: this is too sweet, I'm gonna hurl-

[drama--universe]

Nightmare

Requested by anonymous: Hello again! Glad to see requests are open, I'll leave one here: Jin Guangyao x female reader who wakes up at night after a terrible nightmare. However, her scream did not go unnoticed by the man with the cute dimples😔😔😔 Something cute please, this week is worth nothing to me and it's only monday 😁❤️ See you later!

Pairing: Jin Guangyao x fem!reader Word Count: 0.7k words Warnings: nightmare, trauma

The area around you was too quiet to not make you anxious, too dark to even see much. Nonetheless, you recognized the area well enough and you wished you didn't. The pain you felt back then started to resurface, your mind spiraling back into the mental state that you wished you never had. People started to surround you, their faces not visible to you due the lack of lighting, and your heart started beating ten times fasted while your lungs started to hurt. Your breaths started to get quicker, intervals shorter as the people got closer to you. Hands were soon on your body, ripping at your skin and you could only scream and cry.

The scream that echoed through the palace frightened most people still awake, but it mostly frightened Guangyao. He recognized your voice immediately and the fear that sounded from the scream had him up in seconds. He wasn't usually one to worry for others, but he knew you too long to not care for you.

So he raced through the halls until he reached your room, not caring for looks as he simply entered. You were sat in the corner of your room, blanket pulled around your form tightly and your knees pulled up to your chest. You looked extremely vulnerable, something that made Guangyao's heart break into a thousand pieces. He was slow to approach you, making sure to not scare you as he came closer. Once in arm length, he kneeled down in front of you and held out his hand. You noticed his presence, looking up from your folded arms and Guangyao's heart broke for a second time. Tears were rolling down your face, your eyes red and swollen and it was now that Guangyao could also notice the crescent wounds in your arm that probably stemmed from pressing your nails into the skin.

His hand moved closer to you, but he froze when you flinched away from him. It hurt him to realize that you were afraid of him, but he knew that he shouldn't take it personal. You were afraid, but not of him perse. Your fear stemmed from trauma, Guangyao knew this well enough since you had told him everything. The story was something that appalled him, but he didn't do anything except for listen to you as you told him everything.

Instead of overreacting, he slowly pulled his hand back before scooting a bit closer and lowering his head slightly. You reacted again, seemingly relaxing a bit and Guangyao took the chance to hold his hand out again. This time you didn't flinch away from him, so he continued until he was able to cup your face in his hand. You leaned into the touch before crashing again, tears rolling down once again before launching yourself to him. Your arms wrapped around his torso and he was pushed to the ground because of the force of your hug. Nonetheless, he wrapped his arms around you and softly shushed you while you cried. Sitting up slightly again, Guangyao just listened as you cried and waited until you had calmed down again. It took awhile, but he never moved away from you. Rather, he only hugged you tighter so you knew that he was there for you.

When you were finished crying, Guangyao lifted you up before moving back to the bed and laying down with you. You didn't want to sleep again, you made that clear very quickly as you sat back up.

"I'm here, darling. You're safe with me now, so please sleep." He spoke and you looked at him before laying down on his chest, arms circling around his torso again. One of his arms wrapped around his shoulder while the other hand moved to your face, wiping the tearstains away before softly laying a kiss on your forehead.

He stayed awake until he heard soft snores from you, only then did he relax enough to fall asleep himself. He didn't care much of what others would think of him sleeping with a woman that he wasn't married to yet, right now his only care was you.

And with those thoughts, he too fell asleep.

[player1064]

ok first of all love your stuff second of all gary getting all flustered about freddie flintoff in 'it's just not what's done' is one of my favourite things in any fic and i would adore it if you wrote anything more involving gary getting flustered about the big handsome cricket man if you ever got the chance

I! LOVE! GARY GETTING FLUSTERED OVER BIG HANDOME CRICKET MAN FREDDIE FLINTOFF!!!! his poor gay nerves can't handle it........ can you IMAGINE if beautiful twink (~96-99) Gary had met him I think he would probably have died.

ANYWAY this lil drabble is set in the same fic universe as 'it's just not what's done' just bc I like writing openly gay but still hopeless with men Gary... and him and Carra still fighting the inevitable friendship that is coming for them...

---

The first planning session each Monday is more of a ‘sit in a conference room eating breakfast and chatting about the weekend’s games’ than it is a serious broadcasting meeting. It’s an almost nice start to a long day of meetings and rehearsals and shooting.

When they call time the producers all scuttle off to go spin their idle chit-chat into an hour’s worth of television, and the ‘talent’ (or whatever Carragher’s classed as) have a couple of hours to kill before the next meeting.

Gary, of course, usually spends it working. He’s no idea what Carragher does, only that he leaves their dressing room blissfully undisturbed for the full two hours, which is all he really needs to know.

Except, today Carragher pauses on his way out and says “thought I might try out one of them classes they have at the gym, fancy joining?”

Gary looks around the (now empty) room for who he could possibly be talking to, because there’s no way it’s him. He scoffs. “Do I look like I go to the gym, Carragher?”

“You look like you should,” Carragher replies, and so now Gary has no choice but to go just to prove him wrong.

He changes into baggy shorts and a t-shirt that’s tighter than he remembers it being when he bought it, and follows Carragher into the fitness studio part of the on campus gym.

And immediately walks back out when he sees which of his other esteemed colleagues have decided to spend their Monday mornings doing fucking yoga, of all things.

“Carra!” he hears a cockney accent greet as he starts to speed walk away, “and was that Gary I saw with you a second ago – oi, Nev! D’you forget something, I think we’re meant to be starting soon.”

Gary reluctantly turns back around and pastes on a smile, tugging self-consciously at the hem of his shirt. “Alright, Jamie?” he says with a nod, then turns to look at the man beside him and manages to get out a  single-syllable greeting of “Fred” without incident.

Carragher looks at him curiously, and he feels his stupid face heat up under the scrutiny.

“Just going to – just gonna head to my mat, then,” he says to a point on the wall behind Jamie and Freddie, and he hurries over to the furthest corner of the room possible.

Annoyingly, Carragher follows him.

“That was weird,” he says, voice hushed while the teacher walks up to the front and starts the introductions. “You’re weird, d’you know that?”

Gary tries to pay attention to what’s being said up front, but can’t help but frown and reply “dunno what you’re talkin’ about.”

Carragher leaves it, but a few minutes into the class the other Jamie and Freddie drag their mats closer and start up a continual stream of chatter that’s hard to ignore.

At one point, the teacher looks over to their corner and shushes them so harshly that Gary loses his concentration and stumbles a bit. He braces himself for a fall that doesn’t come, because there’s suddenly a warm hand on his elbow and – and, actually, maybe the fall would’ve been better.  Less embarrassing, surely, than having to look up at Freddie fucking Flintoff and mumble a thanks, and then turning away just a fraction too quickly and stumbling again, this time right into the poor man’s bare chest, because of fucking course he has taken his fucking shirt off for a fucking yoga class, why the fuck wouldn’t he?

He's just about ready to melt into the floor in a puddle of shame when the teacher points at them and says “you four, out!”, and he and Carragher are ushered out of the room by a giggling Jamie and Freddie.

“Didn’t yous say in your autobiography, Neville, that you got kicked out of yoga in playing days?” Carragher asks blithely.

Freddie is still stood close enough to Gary that he can feel his body heat, so with effort he manages to quite admirably reply with a hum and a shrug.

“Christ, if I’d known yoga w’you two idiots was all it took to get ‘im to shut up I’d’ve done it a year ago,” teases Carragher

Jamie reaches an arm out to ruffle Gary’s hair. “Aw, poor Nev’s got a little crush on me, don’t he? Can’t ever keep his head on around all this perfection.”

If he hadn’t played for Liverpool, Gary would be tempted to call Jamie Redknapp a good friend. Carragher and Freddie both scoff and start teasing Jamie and his vanity, and Gary’s able to regain enough composure to take a step away from Freddie and join in.

“Not if you were the last man on earth, Redknapp,” he says, then internally cringes at how his voice comes out just a little too loud.

Freddie laughs, elbows Jamie in the side. “Think you’re the one wit’ crush, Jamie,” he says, glancing over to Gary and Carragher with a wink. “Every time we see ‘im it’s ‘ooh, Gary, tell me I’m pretty’, ‘Gary, look, my biceps are bigger’n Fred’s’ – which is bullshit, just by the way – ‘Gary, stop starin’ at Fred and come pay attention to me’.”

Carragher looks between Freddie and Jamie, then turns to Gary with a squint. Gary prays to whatever god might be listening for him not to open that big ugly Scouse mouth of his.

No such luck.

“The two a’yous do realise who you’re squabblin’ over, right? Gary Neville, Christ, ‘ave some self-respect. He’s not even the best lookin’ footballer in his own family.”

[drivemysoul]

“taylor you are so so beautiful and so so autistic please categorise taylor swift lyrics that correspond with kazuto and asuna’s relationship through every arc of sword art online”

thank you 😭😭 also thank you to everyone else who sent one i love y’all so much 🩷 okay i’m limiting myself to 3 per arc or i’ll be here for 20 hours because i have hours long playlists for each and every arc i love these two so so much

aincrad: “once upon a time the planets and the fates and all the stars aligned, you and i ended up in the same room at the same time, and the touch of a hand lit the fuse of a chain reaction of countermoves to asses the equation of you, checkmate, i couldn’t lose” (i’m counting it as one lyric shush), “i hate accidents except when we went from friends to this” and “i’m perfectly fine, i live on my own, i made up my mind, i’m better off being alone, we met a few weeks ago, now you try on calling me baby like trying on clothes”

sugary days: “i want to drive away with you, i want your complications too, i want your dreary monday, wrap your arms around me baby boy”, “outside they’re pushing and shoving, you’re in the kitchen humming, all that you ever wanted from me was sweet nothing” and “take me to the lakes where all the poets went to die, i don’t belong and my beloved neither do you”

fairy dance: “i loved you in spite of deep fears that the world would divide us”, “romeo save me, they’re trying to tell me how to feel, this love is difficult but it’s real” and “don’t say yes, run away now, i’ll meet you when you’re out of the church at the back door, don’t wait or say a single vow, you need to hear me out and they said speak now”

phantom bullet: “i’d give my sunshine, give you my best, but the rain is always gonna come if you’re standing with me”, “when i was shipwrecked i thought of you, in the cracks of light i dreamed of you, it was real enough to get me through, i swear you were there” and “are you really gonna talk about timing in times like these, and let all your damage damage me, and carry your baggage up my street, and make me your future history?”

mother’s rosario: “you can’t talk to me when i’m like this, daring you to leave me just so i can try and scare you”, “no deal, the 1950’s shit they want from me, i just wanna stay in that lavender haze” and “i gave you all my best me’s, my endless empathy, and all i did was bleed as i tried to be the bravest soldier, fighting in only your arms, frontlines don’t you ignore me, i’m the best thing at this party, and i wouldn’t marry me either”

ordinal scale: “i like shiny things but i’d marry you with paper rings”, “only bought this dress so you could take it off” and “give you the silence that only comes when two people understand eachother, family that i chose now that i see your brother as my brother, is it enough?”

alicization: “i woke up just in time, now i wake up by your side, my one and only, my lifeline”, “can i go where you go? can we always be this close forever and ever?” and “wherever you stray, i’ll follow”

war of underworld: “lord save me, my drug is my baby, i’ll be using for the rest of my life”, “i would’ve read your love letters every single night and prayed to god you’d be coming home alright, and you would’ve been fine, we would’ve been timeless” and “in the end in wonderland we both went mad”

moon cradle: “have i known you twenty seconds or twenty years?”, “i don’t wanna look at anything else now that i saw you, i don’t wanna think of anything else now that i thought of you” and “time breaks down your mind and body, don’t you let it touch your soul”

unital ring: “i’m gonna love you when our hair is turning grey, we’ll have a cardboard box of photos of the life we’ve made and you’ll say “oh my, we really were timeless””, “up on the roof with a schoolgirl crush, drinking beer out of plastic cups, say you fancy me not fancy stuff, baby all at once this enough” and “i’ve loved you three summers now honey but i want them all”

[xyzzysqrl]

Someone sent me this ask game, so I guess I'll pass it on:

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who liked or reblogged something from you! (If you want to)

SO.

Nobody reblogs things from me, so I give you (tumblr) permission - If you wanna do this, do it, say I put you up to it. The world cannot stop you.

FIVE THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY (by Xyzzifer K.Q. Sqrlmoggington)

Video games

The video game industry is poop from a butt, but video games themselves are better, more accessible, and there's MORE of them than ever before in human history. Roughly eight hundred billion video games a minute are uploaded to stores, slapped on free web pages, or just materializing out of the aether onto people's hard drives and they're all amazing and they keep happening.

Nothing can stop this from happening. Even if there's an industry-wide AAA-gaming crash, indies will continue making games as they have for ages. It is unstoppable, it is wonderful.

Streaming

Hi I stream video games. So this is closely tied to the previous entry but it's my list so I'm doin' the thing anyway. I've been streaming since roughly two years ago and it feels good+cool to do so. I get to open a video window, play a video game, and just dump the entire contents of my brain on anyone watching. Sometimes they prompt me with stuff to ramble on about. It's the best. The one downside is that I do it every night except Monday so I have very little blogging energy anymore. S'fine I don't mind. Lately I've been playing Islets (a really gorgeous Metroidvania) and Star Ocean Second Story R (a remake of a favorite, incredibly breakable JRPG from my young days).

Anime

Have you heard of anime? It's straight from Japan, totally unexpected, not kids stuff. I love a lot of anime. Frieren is last season's darling, sure, but it's also extremely heartfelt and earnest in a way that a lot of more cynical shows would not dare to touch. A giant robot will always make my soul soar, so shows like Gaogaigar or last season's Bravern sparkle to me. I've been watching Back Arrow lately, it's about a dude everybody calls "Baka Yaro" (or "idiot asshole") and his quest to leave a sealed-off world for something better. It's vibrant and energetic and heartbreaking and fun. Love anime dearly.

Food

I'm eating a grilled cheese right now. It's good. Way too much cheese for any practical purpose. As it should be.

Just living day to day really

There's a lot in the world to be miserable about. But I get up every day and I go find out what's happening in the world and invariably I read that somewhere, something cool is happening and it kinda balances out the bullshit. I am 40 or 50 years old and I do not need to be concerned about everything horrid happening in the world, but I try to concern myself at least a little with the good things happening.

This is not a cheap cop-out because I'm half-awake and can't think of another entry shush.

[leviiattacks]

I loved Ceo Levi so can I request Ceo Levi comforting the reader because she’s in financial trouble? Idk the plot it’s up to you but that sort of idea. I hope it’s not too much of a bother!! Also happy birthday ❤️

author note :: very rushed and not that great at all but i hope it’s enjoyable anon !! also thank u for the birthday wish <333 if you’d like for me to idk expand on this request you can always request again my ask box is open !! <33333 word count :: 1.5k

levi’s worried about you

like super worried

ultra worried

mega, super, ultra worried?????

all the synonyms for large aren’t enough to explain how distracted he is whilst he stares at you from across the table.

the entire team meeting today you’ve sat down with a glazed expression, you’re clearly out of it and don’t want to be present

on a few occasions he notices you gnaw at your lips anxiously and your eyes shift everywhere showing you’re clearly uncomfortable

team meetings are normally two hours long on a monday to discuss production plans extensively but levi can’t even make it to the thirty minute mark before he’s dismissing everyone

“we’re ending early i don’t feel well.”

mr ackerman letting the team leave early again... it’s the second time he’s done it now but HEY, the employees have no complaints!!

levi knows something’s bothering you when you don’t move an inch from your seat

you probably haven’t even heard what he said about leaving because you’re so zoned out

now,,,,levi’s never really been big on physical contact and he’s not great at comforting or using words either but he still double checks the door is locked so he can speak to you privately

you start sobbing as soon as the sound of the door clicks

“y/n, what’s wrong?” he’s cautious in his approach but places a hand on top of yours gently to test the waters

but you only start crying even more ?!?,!,

which panics him because oh my god what did he do...???,?.

did he do something wrong???

you know what, he’s just going to copy what people do in the movies and hope it goes well

your sobs echo through the room and he thanks himself that the cement walls are definitely thick enough for you to not be heard by your colleagues

slowly but gradually you get a grip and it almost looks like you have to force yourself to a halt midway just to wipe the tears at your eyes

it’s at times like these that levi thanks you for having an expressive face because he would hate to not notice you felt this horrible

“i suggest you carry on if you haven’t got it all out yet. from personal experience it’s better when someone sits with you.”

levi’s warm words embrace you and you look at his arms then his heat pressed suit. he’s in a completely different world compared to you and a feeling of sickness soon overpowers the warm feeling in your chest

why are you sitting here and crying like a pathetic fool in front of your boss??

ok, maybe he’s a little more personal than a boss you aren’t sure what he really is but that doesn’t matter

“y/n, i have something to say.”

FUCK. this is it. you’ll be fired for being unprofessional and improper. this is IT. the end of your professional career.

you want to run out of this room at full speed and hurl yourself out of one of the windows never to be seen again...

but,, you won’t do that, that’s embarrassing

instead you steel yourself and look at him with as much courage as you can muster (which to be clear is not very much)

“if you ever need to take a day off for mental health reasons you’ve always been allowed to so please feel free to take the rest of the day off if you’d like.”

he’s... not firing you?

“but before that, would you like to let me know what’s happened? can i maybe help?”

you purse your lips feeling the premature humiliation

he can help, anyone with as much money as him can but you don’t want him to aid you. the guilt would eat you away

but you do want to confide in him and tell him what’s wrong

you want to tell someone about it at least

“i’ve been evicted from my apartment” your voice is barely above a whisper and levi just looks at you mouth agape

he pays you enough to live comfortably

how could you be getting evicted?

“i have to pay for my mother’s medical expenses so it’s stressful i send most of my earnings hom-”

levi shushes you with his input. “i’ll pay off the debt so you don’t be evicted and i’ll also give you a pay rise.”

at that you’re just pure shocked

is he even thinking right now???

because this isn’t the strong willed strategic business man you know

“no??? i can’t leech off of you??”

“you’re not leeching. i am investing in you.”

you’re a little lost now but choose to hear him out

“you work for me already and i greatly value your work. now you’re in a tough position. correct?”

you nod your head in response

“and for you to still work for me you’ll need a home. correct?”

again you nod

“so allow me to pay off the debts. it’s for both of our benefit.”

that however really isn’t levi’s reasoning at all. he couldn’t care less about that, he just doesn’t want to see you shoulder the pain and stress of it all alone

staring at him teary eyed you sniffle

“would you-” your voice cracks and you cough “really???”

you look so desperate and vulnerable and levi feels frustrated for not spotting the warning signs of your struggle any sooner

you had been coming to the office looking more restless, you had been drinking more coffee and despite the excessive caffeine consumption he still caught you dozing off at your desk at least four times

he places a hand on the centre of your back and pats you three times as if you’re members on the same ship

“yes i mean it, take it easy.”

his simple sentence is enough to cause all of your rational thinking to jump away and you drag him in by the neck into a tight hug

you’re ugly crying and you know you’ll look back on this in embarrassment but your mind works on impulse, you’re unable to stop it

usually levi doesn’t like anyone messing up his suits but he can make an exception for you. he’s sure your tears have left a moist patch but he’s not mad. hell, even if you get snot on his expensive dress shirt he’ll be okay with it

“is there any way i can pay you back mr ackerman?”

he winces at the formality of your tone

“call me levi.”

your brows raise at the request

“that’s what i want in return. for you to call me levi.”

????

that’s all???

“oh, well thank you levi. i’m grateful...”

his name rolls off your tongue awkwardly the first few times and even he regrets asking you to call him by his first name

but three days later you’re walking in breezily. a pen is tucked behind your ear and you’re double checking levi’s spending sheet with a calculator in your hands.

levi literally STOPS breathing because you look so refreshed today and the colour is back on your face. you look your best when you’re stress free.

and then you say it

“levi, do you think you could spend a bit less on tea bags because OH MY LORD???”

he notices there’s no longer an air of discomfort to his name and his chest swells happily

“y/n, give me ONE good reason to not spend my money that way??”

you notice how he easily he says your first name with an airy chuckle and you could almost... ALMOST... swear the two of you are flirting

to anyone observing with no sound he looks as nonchalant as normal but really the tone of his voice is implying the suggestive nature of conversation

“maybe you should spend your money on other things you like?” your suggestion is thrown back in your face when levi scoffs choking back a laugh

“i already am spending my money on other interests of mine.”

turning to face him and to hand him a file of paperwork you look him right in the eyes

“and what interests would those be?”

levi’s gaze meander down to your lips before shooting back up to your eyes and you swear you feel a tingle in the pit of your stomach

“i’ll let you figure that out on your own. you’re smart enough.”

you’re gaping at that reply because how are you meant to know???

but, the answer to your question is far more obvious than you think.

and it’s only after work whilst you’re eating dinner that you’re able to connect the dots

he was, talking about...you??

gasping you flush bright pink and bury your face into one of your sofa’s pillows

no way, there’s no way that happened

oh no, but there really is a way

and that way is levi ackerman ;-)

[raindownforme]

Theater Kid

Ted Nivison x reader [she/her used]

It wasn’t odd for me to be left alone in the big open space. Most nights I was there into the late hours when my teachers were too tired to remember I was there. But tonight they’d actually forgotten, so I busied myself by sweeping the giant black stage. The push broom had been left near the side lighting panel, so I chose a few flood lights to turn on to better see the flooring. The lightbulbs hummed to life above me and I went back to take center stage as a starting point. I turned to look towards the house but, as I stared out into the seats, I saw someone standing who hadn’t been there before.

“You turned the fucking floods on.” His voice echoed across the near empty space and I shushed him as quickly as possible. Fucking actors always having to be the loudest.

“Jesus Christ Theodore shut up. Haven’t you ever done this before?”

“No. I don’t stay after school cleaning like a weirdo.”

“Well you’re here. And I’m not a weirdo! It’s a shared space. If anything you should appreciate me.”

I watched as he awkwardly picked up his backpack and walked down the aisles towards me. He stood at the foot of the stage, staring up at me, which wasn’t that much of an angle for him. He was an abnormally tall person, especially for a highschool student. Of course it only added to the strange charismatic spell he held over almost everyone else in our shared department, and I hated it. I hated the way he never talked to me but talked to everyone else. I hated the way he would sit on the desks and the tables in the classroom and the makeup room and on the edge of the stage and when he caught me looking he would give me this wide, crooked smile. I hated how loud his stupid improv club was that he got to lead was because he was the only student good at it. I hated how I spent every day inside the workshop and the prop hallway and the sound booth and the set alley and the lighting booth and he never payed a bit of attention to it. It was everyone else but me. And even knowing how close I’d gotten to being the stage manager, I knew I’d always be one peg under him.

“Did you hear me?”

I blinked myself out of my angry thoughts, trying to catch up with the real world. “I’m sorry?”

“I said you don’t have to call me Theodore. Ted is fine.”

“Oh.” I rolled my shoulders back unsure of what was the appropriate next step. “Well my name is-“

“y/n I know.” He cut me off. I stared at him in confusion, simply having assumed he didn’t know who I was. “We have like five classes together. We’ve done every production together since freshman year. You’re the one in charge when I come to set days. I sit across from you in the makeup room during lunch. And I know you do all your homework at the director’s desk.”

I stared at my feet as I felt my face flush. It felt like I couldn’t make words. It didn’t make sense that this guy I thought was a prick for the last three years knew me? But I knew that I liked him knowing me. And that was the worst part; I’d been fine with thinking he didn’t know me and didn’t want to because it gave me a name to whatever this feeling was. And now I don’t know. I looked back towards him, trying to think of anything to say. “You don’t care about tech.”

“I- what?” I couldn’t tell if he was angry or confused, and I wasn’t sure which was worse. Staring at him again I noticed the strange tint to his face, which seemed to be turning pinker by the second. I could see my reflection in his glasses and I realized how awkward of an angle we were at.

I bent down on my knees to meet his eye level. “You don’t care about tech. You’re the guy who’s a lead character and comes to rehearsal just to fuck around when you’re not needed act all high and mighty when really you never do anything.”

He narrowed his eyes, as if thinking, and then slapped his bag down on the stage near my feet. “Give me a fucking broom.”

We spent the next while peacefully sweeping up the stage. At some point I switched to the nail detector (which was really a long stick with a magnet on the end) and began going around the edges and crevices to try and find anything. We crossed paths a couple times, shoulders brushing together or brooms clinking.

Eventually I had passed him just enough that he stopped me in my tracks. He grasped my forearm gently, but I stared at his hand. I didn’t seem to want him to let go. “Here.” He took an AirPod out of his ear and handed it to me.

“Ooooh fancy actor boy has AirPods.”

“Literally shut up and appreciate me.” I smiled as I walked towards the trash can. I didn’t know what was playing, but it seemed like some indie bullshit I probably would have admitted to liking if it wasn’t coming from Th- Ted.

I sighed as I leaned the broom against the wall. “I think we’re done here. I can put away the broom in the morning if you don’t know where it goes.”

“I got it.” I watched as he took the trash can under one arm and the broom to the designated little outcropping in the workshop.

“I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you in here.”

“Eh.” He shrugged and stood up straight to look down at me better. “Freshman year someone smacked me straight across the face with a roller. Worst acne I’ve ever had.”

“Oh. Ouch. Still on the handle?”

“Nope.”

“Wet or dry?”

“Wet. With paint. Fresh paint.”

“Ooh. What color?”

“Forest green.”

“Euch. Nasty.” I chuckled as I rubbed my hands up and down my arms. It wasn’t uncommon for this part of the school to be the coldest, especially surrounded by walls of exclusively concrete and a single garage door, and the seasons still changing as we neared the end of winter. I felt a shiver run through my spine, and Ted looked at me funny.

“Is it cold in here?”

“For some of us.”

“Here.” Ted shrugged off the heavy bomber jacket he had been wearing and draped it over my shoulders. It was warm on the inside, much warmer than I’d been expecting. It almost fit, but I guess his torso and arms were just slightly larger than mine. I looked back to him to say thank you but instead he was staring at me with this dumb look. He was smiling and his head was tilted slightly, and his face was pink again, but darker this time. I felt my face heat up as we stared at each other.

“We should leave.”

He seemed to snap back to reality. “Right. Yeah no right god it’s- what time?” He flicked his wrist out to move his sleeve in order to see his watch. Of course the pretentious bitch wore a stupid watch. “It’s like 6. I guess it’s eating time.”

I nodded and walked back out towards stage left, Turing off all the lights except for our single ghost light that had to sit center stage. It cast a hazy shadow over everything. I watched Ted walk towards center where the lightbulb stood. He started to reach for his bag but I heard the song change in the AirPod. He made eye contact with me as a slow waltzy song moved through my ear. He extended a hand to me and I tentatively reached for it. His hands felt good in mine. They were soft but worn, I and I could clearly feel the lines that ran through his palms and his fingers.

He took one of my hands in his and his other hand placed itself gently on my waist. “Have you ever waltzed before?” His voice was low and raspy, trying to be as quiet as possible.

I whispered back, “no.” He began to shuffle us around, pulling me left and right and pushing away and pulling me. I felt surrounded by the way he smelled and the way he held me gingerly, like a glass figurine. I stared down at my feet as to not step on him, but he took the hand that was holding mine to gently lift my chin up.

“It’ll be easier if you look up at me. I know you can hear the rhythm.” He began to hum the song as we continued to move. The song began a flourish ending as he threw me out in a twirl, then pulling me back in to his arms. I felt him dip me to the ground as the ending came. I let my self dangle, my head up side down, staring at the ground, then gently lifted my face back upwards. Ted was mere centimeters away from me. I could feel his breathing on my neck.

“Ted. I should-“

“Yeah. No no I know. Yeah.” He lifted me up slowly until I was sure I was flat on the floor. I grabbed my backpack, holding the straps.

“Do you want your jacket-?”

“Keep it. I can get it back tomorrow.”

“Today’s Friday.”

“Right. Monday then.”

I nodded and walked towards the door. I could hear his heavier footsteps behind me, gaining quick due to his longer legs. The door clicked shut behind us, and the cool February air rushed through my skin and hair. I watched Ted take a keychain out from the pocket of his back pack. He looked at me and frowned.

“Did you drive or do you have a ride?”

“Oh yeah. No they’ll uh. They’ll be here in a bit.” I dropped my bag and sat on the curb with it on my lap to try and stay warm. Ted’s jacket was lovely but not lovely enough.

I heard Ted drop his bag and watched as he took a seat next to me. He looked over at me. “What? I’m not gonna leave a pretty girl out alone at 7 at night in the winter. Besides my parents probably think I’m at the game anyways.”

Now that he mentioned it, I could hear the sound of cheering and drum line off in the distance.

Did he call me pretty?

We both waited on the curb for probably another 10 minutes before he started talking again. “There’s no one coming is there?”

“Ted-“

“I never see you leave because you always leave last. After anyone who could possible give you a ride has left. You’re one of those kids.”

“I’m sorry one of those kids?”

“No I didn’t-“ he exhaled and closed his eyes. “You don’t have anyone waiting for you. So you just walk.” We were both quiet for a moment, taking in the cold as it burned your skin. Ted stood up and extended a hand to me. “Get in the car.”

“Im sorry what?”

“Get in my fucking car. I’m not going to leave you to get kidnapped on the way home so you’re coming with me to get food.”

“See now this feels like kidnapping.”

“Oh my GOD get in the car.”

I reluctantly climbed into the passenger seat of his car, looking at the very minimal personalization that had been done: a couple stickers on the back window and a glasses case in the center cup holder. I watched as he reversed out of the parking spot, extending his arm against my seat to better turn around. I did my best not to stare, but I wasn’t sure what else to look at. He stopped before going into drive, asking if I didn’t mind McDonald’s even if there was a long line.

“Sure. It’s not like there’s someone waiting on me.”

He frowned at my response, but nonetheless kept on driving. “Well, there’s also a Dairy Queen, Sherri’s, maybe a Taco Bell-“

“Sherri’s.”

He glanced over at me with a confused look. “Really??”

“Come on, you know sitting in a dirty trashy restaurant at night is the total teenage coming of age moment.”

“Yeah but a Sherri’s? The food isn’t even good enough to justify.”

“You only say that because you haven’t tried those loaded hash browns.” I jokingly placed a hand on his shoulder, but I felt him tense at the contact. I retracted my hand and he sighed, moving to turn on his right blinker.

Ted swiveled his head to check for passing cars, but he grinned at me as we made less than a second of eye contact. I turned my head away towards the window next to me, trying to swallow whatever heat was rising towards my cheeks. I watched us pass cars and headlights as we approached the poorly lit parking lot. I jolted as ted’s plastic bumper lightly scraped the ground. He mumbled something under his breath as he pulled into a spot.

“I hate this stupid lot. Always scratch something coming in.” He unbuckled his seat belt and got out quicker than I expected. I went to unbuckle and get out but as I reached for the door handle, Ted opened it for me from the outside.

“Oh.” I stared at him for a second and he grinned at me.

“I know. Such a gentleman. Now get out of the car before I break your heart.” He winked at me, obviously joking, but I still felt my heart drop out of my chest.

“HA.” I pushed him away from me gently, but my fingers burnt at the touch.

I heard Ted shut the door behind me as I walked into the restaurant. There was really no one inside other than a group of kids tucked away in a booth in a far corner. I watched as the hostess approached me, saying I could sit in any table I wanted. I heard Ted walk in behind me and I turned to look at him, but he was staring at the group of kids in the corner.

He sighed and closed his eyes. “Oh shit-“

“HEY. TED!” One of the kids started yelling at him from the booth. The other boys laughed at him as the maybe two or three other girls giggled. I looked between Ted and the boy, who seemed incredibly belligerent or under some sort of influence. He waved his arms in a wide span over his head, as if telling Ted where he was. “NIVISON! COME SIT OVER HERE! COME ON FUCK THE LOSER! GET OVER HERE.”

Ted looked at me, making a prolonged eye contact, then back to the kid. “No thanks! I’ll see you later.”

He linked arms with me and rushed over to the other side of the restaurant, tucking us into a small booth by the window. He said almost nothing, staring just out at the bushes. A waiter came by, dropping off two thick plastic menus.

“Anything to drink?”

Ted mumbled, but I was sure the waiter wasn’t able to hear. “Water for him please. And how much is a vanilla milkshake?”

“$2.50 for a small.”

“A small vanilla milkshake then. Please.” I smiled gently at him, and the waiter seemed to straighten himself a bit, more self assured than he had been two minutes ago.

“Of course. Right away.”

The waiter walked away and Ted stayed quiet. I slid my hand across the table towards him. “Theodore-“

“I’m not friends with Jake. I mean I was when we were younger.” He was looking me now. Well not exactly me, but my extended hand at least. “He joined the football team and some other sorts and we just stopped hanging out because of time. And he does still wear the lettermen’s jacket but....” he dropped his voice and leaned in, I copied and leaned closer to him. “He got cut from the team because he would show up drunk so now he goes to games just to drink under the bleachers and pick up cheerleaders from the other schools. He tells anyone who asks that he got a brain injury and can’t legally practice but still goes for support.”

“Oh my god.” I blinked, my voice still at a whisper. “That’s terrible.”

Ted nodded eyes wide. He looked over my shoulder, tapped my hand, and then sat up. I sat up too, assuming it was the waiter, but stared at how close his hand was to mine.

“Okayyyyy one ice water and one vanilla milkshake.” I moved my line of vision towards the drink set in front of me. It had the standard glass cup and whipped cream topping, but on top were red and pink heart-shaped sprinkles. I stared at it, and Ted must of noticed it as he took my hand firmly in his, lacing our fingers together on top of the table. The waiter stared at it.

“Hey I think we’re ready to order if you don’t mind.” Ted’s voice was louder than I expected as it took command of our whole corner of the restaurant.

“Uh yeah. What can I get you two?”

“You said you wanted the loaded hash browns, right babe?” He turned to me smiling, but I had no idea what he was thinking.

“Y-Yeah. Those are the ones.”

He gave me a giant goofy smile, and turned back to the waiter. “We’ll have two orders of that please. And an extra straw for this milkshake if you don’t mind?”

“Uh yeah. Coming right up.”

The waiter walked away and Ted sighed, relaxing his grip on my hand but not quite releasing it. “Fucking creep.”

“What?”

He looked back at me, confused. “You didn’t notice he was flirting with you? He put heart shaped sprinkles on your milkshakes.”

“I guess he’s not that good at it then.”

We sat in silence as I drank the thick vanilla shake. Ted cleared his throat and looked towards me. Our hands were still together.

“Well what can we talk about together?”

“I don’t know, theater kid shit?”

“Alright.” He though for a second. “Fine. Movie musicals.”

“Oh. Oh my god I hate the greatest showman.”

“No you don’t!”

“Yes I do! PT Barnum had no excuse to be an asshole and the whole thing is just him being an asshole to his family who somehow accepts him again.”

“I think if you have a shitty life you could have the right to be an asshole, and he wasn’t that bad! He loved his wife, and the music is good!”

“Okay some, some of the songs are good, and the whole kiss with the red head was totally not his fault. But just cause you have a shit home life doesn’t mean you can be an ass. I would think it would make you want to be nicer so other people don’t experience the same treatment, you know?”

Ted pauses, seeming to consider, then nods and moves to take a drink from his water.

We spent the next while talking about random topics: stories, tv shows, movies, books, anything. At some point the waiter came back and set the food down without a word. Ted released his hand from mine to grab his fork, and I stared at the place his fingers had been. My hand felt cold and unfamiliar as I set it closer to my plate. I ate slowly, suddenly feeling uncomfortable, but Ted ate quicker than I thought he could.

“You were right these are delicious.”

“I told you, only good thing they have.”

I was probably close to finishing when the waiter came and slapped the receipt on the table. “We close in ten.”

As he walked away Ted chuckled. “It’s Sherri’s. They’re open 24 hours?”

I shook my head, smiling, as I dug around for some cash. I grimaced at the amount I had, realizing I would have barely two dollars left. I looked up, prepared to go broke, but Ted had already gotten up with cash in hand.

I reached out and grabbed on to his t-shirt as he walked towards the register. “Theodore, wait-“

“If I get to be your fake boyfriend I can pay for our fake date.” He smiled and continued walking. I rustled through all the small bills and coins I had. I was still holding them in my hands when he came back and sat down across from me.

“Y/N, i told you-“

“But, tip-“

“I got it. Finish your food.”

We sat in silence for a little longer, and as soon as I was done he stood up, shouldering the backpack I’d brought in with me. He stood next to me, holding out his arm towards me. I giggled as we linked arms and walked to the door. I made eye contact with the creepy waiter and watched as Ted flipped the guy off.

The air was cold as we exited the building. I probably would have shivered again if not for Ted’s jacket still around me. I used my free hand to pull it closed in front of me. We were silent getting into his car, but as he turned his key over to start the engine he looked to me and smiled.

“Thank you for an amazing fake first date.”

I laughed and felt a small heat rise to my cheeks. “You make an excellent fake boyfriend.”

He turned up the music as we pulled out of the parking lot. I could hear him scrape his bumper again, but he didn’t say anything about it this time. “So, how do I take you home?”

“Oh. You don’t have to! I can just take the bus-“

“y/n. It’s late and it’s dark and it’s cold. Please let me take you home.” We were stopped at a red light, and we paused, staring just at each other. Ted’s face was bright red, and I’m sure mine was too. But even when the light turned green, his face was still red, and I’m sure mine still was.

A car behind us held a sustained honk, and Ted jolted out of his stupor and peeled out across the intersection. Of course Ted wasn’t a bad driver. He was a highschool driver, so he drove to look cool half the time. Meaning right now he was driving with one hand at the top of the wheel and the other arm rested against on top of the center console. I made the judgement call to reach over and take his free hand in mine. I did so loosely, allowing him to let go if he wanted to, but if anything he laced his fingers with mine tighter. I looked down at our hands, smiling, then back towards Ted’s face. He was smiling widely, but when he saw me looking he made a stupid attempt of trying to play it off and act like he wasn’t smiling, but I started laughing so he eventually fell into laughter with me. We didn’t talk much on the way to my house other than me giving directions every now and then. He didn’t let go of my hand the whole time, except when he had to put the car in park.

I stared out his window towards the front of my dark building. I knew no one was home, and it was probably pretty cold inside since I usually forget to turn on the heater before leaving for school.

“I guess this is me.” He watched me throw my bag over my shoulder as I stepped out of the car. “Thank you Theodore. For everything.”

“Ted.”

“What?”

“You can call me Ted.”

I smiled at him. “Right. Thank you. Ted.”

I shut his car door and walked up my sidewalk, but I turned when I heard another car door shutting behind me.

“y/n, wait.” Ted was walking towards me, hands shoved in his pockets as the giant man toward over me. “I, uh, I really enjoyed being your fake boyfriend tonight.”

“I enjoyed it too-“

“And I enjoyed sweeping the stage with you. And holding your hand. And dancing with you. And driving you home. And arguing over food. And laughing. And sharing music. And pretty much everything. And I don’t want it to be because I’m your fake boyfriend you happened to be on a fake date with because we happened to be in the same place at the same time.” He sucked in a breath as he took my hand gently. He stared at our fingers and palms pressed together. “I want to do all that stuff because I’m your real boyfriend. I want to dance with you and take you on dates to shitty diners and act all jealous because it’s real.”

I could feel my face burning. “You were jealous?”

He laughed a little bit. “Oh my God, yes, I was jealous, he was flirting!!” I laughed, gripping his hand a little harder, then pulling it downwards. “Ouch! What the-“

I placed a kiss on his cheek, and I watched him short circuit as his whole face turned red. “Theodore, I would like to let you know, I am free tomorrow night for a date if that’s what your asking.”

“OH. Okay! Yeah is 7 okay?”

“7 is perfect.”

“Yes! Yes yes!” He pulled me in for a hug and kissed the top of my head. “Oh my god! Okay. Tomorrow, 7!”

I laughed, still trapped in his arms. “I expect dancing.”

“Oh absolutely.” He pushed me back a bit, smiling as he stared at me. “I have to go home. I have to get ready!”

“For a date in 24 hours?”

“Yes! I have plans to make!” He kissed me on the forehead again and ran back to the car. Hand on the handle, he looked back at me, smiling. “I can’t wait.”

[comfortwriting]

I Prefer You - F.W

Fred Weasley x Fem reader 

Masterlist , Request Rules , Writing Prompts

About: The reader is best friends with the Weasley twins, whilst studying with them, Cedric Diggory shows up and confesses his love for her. Little does the reader know, Fred is also in love with her. She finds herself having to deal with Fred and Cedric competing for her love and in the end she has to choose one.

Warnings: love triangle, major fluff! 

“I wish he’d stop staring at you” Fred huffed, staring at the popular Hufflepuff student who couldn’t take his eyes off you.

George looked over his shoulder, making eye contact with Cedric, turning back around and tapping the book you were reading. 

“He’s been at it since you bloody walked in.” George spoke up, trying his best to not notify the whole library. 

You smirked and stopped focusing on your DADA homework, looking up you caught Cedric’s glance, his pearly white teeth twinkling as he smiled, his grey eyes radiating love towards you. You smiled back and waved at him, looking back down at your work and chuckling.

Fred didn’t like the way you looked at Cedric, in fact he hated it, he hated that Cedric had to be staring at you and not his handful of fangirls that constantly flocked around him everywhere he went. 

“Oh do give over” Fred huffed again, looking at you “you can’t be seriously entertaining that air head.” 

You looked up from your work again and looked at Fred, his facial expression hardened and you could tell that he was in no mood to joke around, you opened your mouth to ask what his problem was but Cedric had already walked over to you, practicing his lines. 

“Y/N, may I have a word?” Cedric asked politely, his soft voice almost putting you in a trance. 

“Whatever you’ve got to say just spit it out, Ced.” Fred interrupted, fidgeting in his chair.

George smirked “Yeah, Ced. What's the big deal?”

Cedric pursed his lips trying not to laugh, he knew the twins were doing this on purpose but he wouldn't allow them to get in the way of what he wanted, even if they had more influence over you than he did.

Cedric looked at Fred and George and nodded “Alright then” he cleared his throat and looked back at you “Y/N, I was wondering if you would like to accompany me to Hogsmeade this weekend on a date.” 

The four of you went silent for a moment, Fred’s heart rate elevated and he felt like jumping out of his chair and battering Cedric for making a move on his girl - but then Fred realised that he had never told you how he felt, he always assumed the two of you would have a moment but it never happened and it certainly wouldn't now thanks to Cedric. 

George stared at his brother, preparing himself to hold him back if he tried to go for Cedric, and you - you were sat in your chair feeling flattered that someone had asked such a thing, that someone saw something in you for the first time. After all, you were hoping Fred would gain feelings for you like you did for him, but in your mind, Fred wasn’t interested in being anything more than best friends. 

You blushed and nodded “I would love to” you smiled back at Cedric, cracking Fred’s heart.

Cedric chuckled and licked his lips, nodding his head, looking incredibly proud with himself “I’ll see you Saturday” he replied, walking away. 

“And in class!” you reminded him, shaking your head and closing your book. 

Five days, you had five days until your big date with Cedric and funnily enough, Fred was more nervous than you were. 

“Are you actually going with him?” Fred asked, stabbing his slice of chicken breast with his fork. 

You could tell Fred was irritated, annoyed, but you couldn’t understand why. You thought after all the other people you had brought up he would finally approve of the student who went ahead and made a move on you. 

You looked at Fred and swallowed a mouthful of pumpkin juice, you placed your Goblet back down on the table. “I said yes didn’t I? Why are you so bothered about it, Fred?” 

George nudged Fred and whispered in his ear “just tell her, Freddie.”

You looked at Fred and started to slice your own chicken breast into strips “tell me what?” you shoved a strip into your mouth and started to chew.

Fred sighed and gave in, looking at George before focusing on you. “I fancy you alright, I’ve been after you since third year and as soon as that plonker shows up you’re all giggly.”

You inhaled a few dry strings of skin from the chicken breast, causing you to choke, you grabbed your goblet and downed some more juice, washing down the bits that got stuck in your throat. 

“why didn’t you tell me sooner?” you hissed at Fred “I fancy you too!” 

You didn’t mean to let that last part slip but it was already too late. 

Fred’s face turned into a massive grin, he put down his knife and fork “do you really?” 

You nodded your head and continued to eat your breakfast. 

“Brilliant, cancel your date with Cedric and we’ll go instead.” Fred looked over at the Hufflepuff table and laughed at Cedric gently buttering his toast.

You shook your head and grinned back at Fred, your plate almost empty. “No” you replied “if you want me you’ve got to prove it.” 

From Monday onwards Fred and Cedric went head to head with one another, constantly trying to one up each other and increasing how much love they were showering over you. Cedric didn’t give up all because Fred entered the picture and Fred didn’t give up as Saturday got closer.

Four Days

Walking over to you bed your jaw dropped, bouquet's of flowers littered your quilt covers and rested against your pillows, you were surrounded by sunflowers and  yellow roses, all of which were from Cedric - the yellow notes representing his house. 

As much as you loved the sentiment, flowers weren't really your thing - sure they were gorgeous and they brought you light when you looked at them but it didn’t make you double over in laughter like Fred did and everything he did for you. Instead of flowers and detailed love letters, Fred didn’t gift you anything except his biggest and most comfy jumper that his mother knitted, he also gave you his time and effort. 

You walked into the great hall wearing Fred’s jumper, his ego boosting and Cedric’s crumbling. 

“You look stunning in my clothes” Fred smirked, taking a bite out of his toast.

You blushed and sat next to him “I want more than just your jumper.”

Three Days

As much as Cedric wanted to, he didn’t have as much time as Fred - well he did - but he spent that time studying, going to extra classes and entertaining his fanbase. The only time you got with Cedric was in Herbology, he tried getting to know you better, asking you about your interests but he couldn’t make you laugh, he didn’t understand your humour. 

“I don’t understand” Cedric replied “is that supposed to be funny?”

You sighed and shook your head “it doesn’t matter, don’t sweat it Ced.”

Two Days

You and Fred bunked a few classes and went off to Hogsmeade, going crazy in Honey Dukes and even cuddling up together and sharing a Butterbeer to keep yourselves warm. The two of you stayed up all night, winding up Mr Filch and Mrs Norris, you even went into Snape’s personal stores and stole the ingredients to make a Poly Juice potion, transforming yourselves into Draco and Pansy to get them into more trouble. 

“On second thoughts, I don’t think you’re that pretty.” Fred grimaced at you.

You stared at him and walked over to him, pulling out one of his platinum blonde hairs “could say the same thing about you” you joked, both of you waiting for the potion to wear off.

One Day

“You looking forward to tomorrow then?” Fred smirked, seeing you groan in pain.

You shook your head “it’s going to be unbearable, he’s can’t make me laugh, he’s too soft, can’t take joke. I feel like he gets scared and takes things a bit too literally.”

Fred grinned and licked his lips “well I make you laugh all the time, wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve wet yourself because of me.” 

Rolling your eyes you looked over at the Hufflepuff table again, Cedric talking with his fanbase. 

“He’s got more than enough options, the majority of them girls are better suited for him than me.” 

You turned your focus back to your food and took a bite out of your sandwich.

“Aright then, if you’ve got it all figured out go and tell him.” Fred encouraged you, his ego shinning through, George just wanting the two of you to shut up and be together already. 

You knew Fred was testing you again and you didn’t want to back down, after Cedric’s offer, you and Fred were finally heading where you always wanted, you felt yourself itching for him, hungry for him, you wanted him - the more you wanted him, the less you wanted Cedric, the less the popular Hufflepuff lad stood out to you. 

“Okay then, watch me.” 

Standing up, you left your table and walked over to Cedric, his fangirls instantly looking appalled to be in your presence. You tapped him on the shoulder, Cedric turned around and smiled searching your face. 

“Y/N” his face fell when he noticed you were still wearing Fred’s jumper.

“Ced - Cedric, I’m sorry but I’ve changed my mind about tomorrow.”

The infatuated girls around him started to smile, suddenly enjoying you being around. Cedric looked upset but then again you couldn’t read into him like you could Fred, you realised that you barely knew Cedric at all - he was sending love letters and flowers to a girl he didn’t know at all.

“She’s taking her bloody time isn’t she?” George spoke up watching you.

“Shut up” Fred shushed him “wait for it”

You smiled slightly and looked at Cho for a moment who was sitting with her friends “you should ask Cho, I know she sees something in you.”

“She’s done it” Fred smirked “she’s actually done it.”

Saturday

“I still can’t believe you nearly ended up with that toss-pot.” Fred laughed, grabbing some black pepper imps. 

You grabbed some Chocolate Frogs “it’s a good job that I prefer you” holding his free hand the two of you shared a moment.

The overcrowded sweet shop suddenly felt empty, as if it were only you and Fred inside. Getting on your tiptoes and leaned in and Fred accepted, the two of you sharing the first kiss of many. 

Pulling away from the kiss, Fred grinned and licked his lips, bringing his hand up to your face and stroking your cheek with his thumb.

“I feel like such an idiot for not telling you sooner” Fred shook his head “I can’t believe you didn’t say anything either”

“I was sort of just waiting for it to happen, I suppose we’ve got Cedric to thank for that.”

Taglist: @reeophidian , @amourtentiaa

[vvideonasties]

I’m in love with your drabbles!!! If you’re still taking requests plz consider: jmart in 11? Have a lovely day!! 💕

aww yay i’m so glad you’re liking them, i hope your day is going well!!!

things you said when you were drunk

“They did this on purpose.”

Jon puts down his glass and raises an eyebrow. He’s on his third drink - the first he bought himself, the next courtesy of Martin. That’s the reason he decided to stay longer in the bar, in the beginning. Martin bought him something, so it was only polite to stay. But after that was drained, he had an out, an excuse to leave. Instead, he decided to bring in the next round. To return the gesture. Which makes the initial offer moot, of course, but wine makes him a bit fuzzy headed.

At that point he decided to stop pretending that he was staying because of silly courtesies. He’s here because, despite it all, Martin is very good company. They’ve rarely associated with each other outside of work, and have certainly never done so alone. This night wasn’t supposed to be an exception - Tim and Sasha were on their way, but as soon as he arrived at the bar Martin received a text telling him that they wouldn’t be coming. Their reasoning as to why must have been strange, considering the way Martin glared at his phone afterwards. 

Outside of that, he hasn’t thought of the two of them much. At all, in fact. He’s been too busy sucked into conversation with Martin all night. Or, rather, the other way around. Panicked upon realising he’d be alone with him without any buffers, Jon had started rambling about whatever he could first think of to fill in the awkward silence. He then discovered how good a listener Martin is. He asks insightful questions and nods in all the right places, making the appropriate oohs and ahhs when necessary for the topic. It’s been pleasant.

“Who’s they?” Jon asks, feigning ignorance. 

“Tim and Sasha.” Martin polishes off his (fourth) mojito forlornly. 

He’s quite drunk. He never thought Martin was a heavy drinker, but he’s been gulping down cocktails all night, becoming more relaxed with each one. God, those things are brutal. He can smell the rum from across the table.

Is he drinking like this because Jon makes him nervous? The way he seems to catch his eye often then look away quickly as if he’s committed some great sin would suggest that could be a possibility. That makes him sad, actually. He’s been quite harsh on Martin, he’ll admit that, but he doesn’t want to be a source of discomfort for him. 

“Why would they do this on purpose?” He prompts, trying to make his voice softer and kinder. The alcohol helps. 

Martin puts his head in his hands and sighs. “Because they know.”

“Know what? That’s awfully cryptic.”

“Oh, like you can talk,” Martin hits back, and the edge to his voice makes Jon laugh. He’s been like that for most of the night. Less afraid to call him out on things. 

Jon sets down his glass and nudges Martin with his free hand. He doesn’t miss the way Martin sits up a bit straighter with it, his face getting redder than the alcohol could ever manage before.   

“They know that I...likeyou.” He says the last few words in a rush. 

“Oh. Oh! That’s- I’m glad you do. It’s good to have camaraderie between co-workers. I can still be a friend, even though I’m your boss.”

He seems to have completely missed the mark on that one, as Martin’s face immediately crumples, and he flops on the table. 

“Noooo,” he groans into the wood. 

“Martin,” Jon says, bewildered, “are you quite alright?”

Martin pries his head off of the table and points a finger at him accusingly. “Jon. Jon. Jon. Jonathan Sims. You are so oblivious. I can’t believe I’m- fuck, I’m so drunk.” He hiccups. “I like you.”

He stops. Takes a sip (gulp) of his wine. “Like...like like?”

Christ, is he ten? Jon wipes his suddenly sweaty palms on his trousers and decides that eye contact would be the worst possible thing to happen to both of them right now. He...doesn’t know how to feel about this. There’s mostly just confusion bubbling up inside him. So, he asks.

“Why?”

"Ha! Do you want a list? Wait, no, that’s a joke- but I think I made a list at one point. It’ll be in my notebook somewhere. Should probably burn that, now. Oh, god. You know when you’re that kind of drunk where you consciously know you’re ruining a kindling friendship with your boss but you can’t stop bloody talking about the massive crush you have on him? Also, you’ve kind of had the shame burned out of you with the sheer power of alcohol?”

Jon doesn’t know. He nods regardless, baffled, then has another sip of wine. His mouth stays dry.

Martin slumps and looks at him, eyes wide and pleading. "Please don’t fire me.”

“Wh-why would I-” Jon sputters, “I wouldn’t! This is...this is...”

Thinking back on it, it really shouldn’t be all that surprising. He’s been a willing subject to Martin’s care and attention. He’s liked it. A lot. But he's tried not to think about it much. It would be improper, unprofessional, not very becoming of the new Head Archivist-

“This is not exactly unwelcome, I suppose.”

Red wine is a menace.

“What?!” Martin exclaims, voice far too loud, even for the rowdy bar.

“Shush. What I mean is, I wouldn’t be opposed. To you. That’s- christ, that’s an awful way of putting it. I mean that you’re nice to talk to, and I’ve enjoyed your company very much tonight.” And you’re very pretty, his brain supplies unhelpfully, but he waves it away, “So I would like to talk about it. Us. At some point.”

He’s being stared at suspiciously. Martin leans back into his seat. “Has someone spiked my drink? Is this real?”

“Oh, it’s real. And no one has. I’ve had my eyes on your drinks all night.”

“How noble of you,” he teases, and there’s this fondness in his eyes and smile that are obvious now Jon is searching for them. He tries his best to dampen the wide smile that is threatening to take over his own face and drains the contents of his glass. 

“Right. Well. Tonight probably isn’t the best time to discuss this. Let’s wait until we’re sober. On Monday, perhaps? Around lunch time?”

"...Are you scheduling a meeting for us to talk about our feelings?”

Jon rolls his eyes. "Just get your coat, Martin.”

The look he gets in return is nothing short of captivating, and it makes him quite excited to see what exactly he’s gotten himself into. 

send me a ship and a prompt and i’ll write a mini fic!

[kuroosmikasavolleyball]

Like A Disney Movie But Awkward

Abendrot

(n) the color of the sky when the sun is setting; a certain afterglow.

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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

| previous | masterlist |

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a/n: there have been so many delays(I’m so sorry), but this is the final part! I hope you enjoyed this series. It’s kinda wonky because it’s my first one but in the future, it’ll def get better. Let me know what pairing you want to see next!

Part 5 summary: (Y/N) can’t get the sunset or Cedric out of her head, so she asks him to go watch the sunset with her. Totally just like friends, right? After falling(literally) in love and a bit of advice from the twins, (Y/N) has everything she needs to confess. But will she? (I mean no shit it’s a happy ending)

pairing: cedric x fem!reader (in ravenclaw)

genre: fluff

warnings: none

word count: 1.1k

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The excitement that was brought along with the weekend and the quidditch games was gone when Monday struck through. Most teachers were understanding enough on Friday to lessen the workload, but Snape still assigned a 6-inch paragraph on Golpallot’s Third Law. The twins laughed at (Y/N) when they heard what homework Snape gave since they weren’t in Potions class anymore.

Cedric announced, well actually, scratch that. Cedric told the twins and (Y/N) that he was going to enter the Triwizard Tournament; Fred and George announced it to basically the entirety of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.

“Maybe I should’ve kept it a secret until I actually entered.”

Cedric whispered to (Y/N), who was currently by the pond with the three boys.

“I think I would’ve been offended if you didn’t tell me.”

“Duly noted. Now, what are we supposed to do for Charms again?”

Chuckles rose and (Y/N) leaned over to check Cedric’s textbook.

“Since it’s water we’re handling, we need to research and take notes on a way to breathe underwater.”

Fred’s head suddenly popped up from the draft advertisement for Weasley’s Wizardly Wheezes(3W), “That sounds cool, no? Breathing under water. I reckon we’ll have sprouted tails and gills if I try that spell. Do tell though; how do you cast the spell?”

Cedric laughed, “It sounds like you’re going to test that spell no matter what the consequences. I think there’s one about some sort of weed you have to eat, and maybe you can do transfiguration on yourself, or..”

The rest of the afternoon was spent on doing work and lazing around. (Y/N) had an idea about seeing the sunset again now that she fell in love with it. It was addicting.

(Y/N) tiptoed behind Cedric after spotting him outside near the courtyard. She quietly reached for his arms and suddenly shook him in hopes of scaring him. It worked, sort of..he turned around and jumped simultaneously, tripping over (Y/N) and landing on the floor, grasping her to prevent too much damage.

They both groaned as the pain shot through their backs, Cedric quickly scrambling off of (Y/N) to avoid her seeing his blush getting crushed by him.

“Ugh..remind me to never scare you again.”

They both laid on the grass, no energy to get up from the slightly too close situation they were in.

“Anyways..are you free tonight?”

Cedric cocked his head, turning to look at (Y/N) to see her already gazing at him.

“Um..except the fact that we have classes tomorrow and should probably sleep early, yeah I’m free. What do you have in mind?”

“I was wondering if you wanted to see the sunset… with me. I saw a glimpse yesterday during the game and I think I have a good spot to see the view. You up for it?”

“..Definitely. The sunsets near the quidditch pitch are one of a kind.”

“I know right?! Bring your broomstick.”

After finishing all her work and rushing out the Ravenclaw room when Kimball told her to use protection, she bumped into George and Fred.

“Woah, where are you going so quick?”

George dramatically pretended to faint. “Are you..sneaking out? Freddie, catch me. We’ve finally turned little Ms. Follow The Rules; I couldn’t be more proud.”

(Y/N) rolled her eyes playfully. “I might be..what’s it to you?”

“Ok defensive queen. We can’t find Diggory anywhere and we were about to ask you, but I think I know why he’s missing now. You guys finally confessed??”

Why is it so easy for her face to heat up?

“Oh, god no. We’re just going to see the sunset.”

“Then I guess you wouldn’t mind if we joined you both, right?” Fred snickered.

“No! ..I mean.. ugh fine, you guys win. I want to tell him...”

“Aw look, she’s in love. Don’t worry, pretty boy is hooked on you.”

“Shush..I have to go…thanks.”

She zoomed past, thankful to get away from the boys towering over her intimidatingly. After a quick stop to the quidditch locker room, she met Cedric and they snuck out of the exit near the gardens.

“Where are we going?”

“Just follow me.”

Out of instinct, (Y/N) grabbed Cedric’s hand and pulled him towards the field. She mounted her broom and told Cedric to do the same. They flew to a hilltop not too far from the quidditch stands and heard chuckles behind her when Cedric found out what she was planning.

“Here’s the lucky spot; I think it’s high enough to see the sunset clearly.”

The sky had already become a mixture of the most compassionate shades of orange and blue. Cedric produced a blanket that was magically folded in his pocket and they sat, conscious of the closeness.

“It’s so ethereal… and weirdly calming.”

Cedric wanted to say that (Y/N) is way more ethereal and calming, but he kept it to himself.

The sun touched the horizon and started sinking into a sea of warm tones. Cedric glanced towards (Y/N), seeing the beauty in front of them as a reflection in her eyes. He wanted to tell her, so badly. But the fear of messing up everything held him back until his thoughts vanished when she turned her head towards him too.

“I’m cold.” (Y/N) grumped with a slight smile.

Cedric’s arms had an irreplaceable feeling to them and (Y/N) wished time would stop. She did have feelings for him anyways…

“Hey I have to tell you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“(Y/N)..I’ve wanted to tell you..but I don’t really know how to.”

“Can I say it first?”

“Wait what??”

“Wait, were you not going to say..oh my god did I misunderstand..shoot I- “

Frantic speeches were then cut off by a soft touch of lips. A simple warmth spread through both their bodies immediately into a rapid fire of feelings.

Cedric pulled away.

“So you were thinking the same thing as me.”

They both laughed as their cheeks heated up and they looked at the sky again. The sun has now almost completely disappeared into the dark abyss of mountains.

(Y/N) broke the silence. “You know, I thought of you during the game..and a lot of other times. *chuckles* Because the sunset kept coming up in my mind, and I remembered when you told me a word for this..view.”

“Is that why you wanted to come up here? I just thought you wanted a bigger gesture to say something..I’m just glad I had the same words in mind.”

“I like you. A lot. Sorry, I just wanted to say it.”

“I like you too. Way more than I thought earlier because I was scared, but now..yeah.”

(Y/N) grinned and a mutual understanding passed through their eyes; before wasting another second, they kissed again. Slowly and gently, as the sky turned darker.

Cedric whispered against her lips. “You’re my abendrot.”

| previous | masterlist |

extra a/n: lol this was so much like a disney movie ending pls- I’m going to start writing angst,,,

[goddessofmischief]

Blue Monday, Chapter Five

Chapter Five

“Lady Loki?” you muttered to your partner. “Do you know about this?” “Believe me, no. I’ve had some... adventures, in the past, but no, I was not aware that a version of myself existed in a permanent female body. It’s not that shocking, either-” But he quieted, right away, because she had staggered out.

She.

You had to admit it - Loki made one hell of a woman. Her hair was dark, her neck long, her skin moon white and pallid. And she was tall.

Really, really tall.

“Amora?” she gasped, her voice strangled and disbelieving. “Amora...” “Oh, stars,” the Loki beside you muttered. “This should be entertaining.”

“I knew you couldn’t be gone,” the woman said. She threw her weapon down, rushing to you, and almost crushing you in a passionate embrace. “Oh, I knew it- Amora, it’s been so long-” “Will you tell her,” asked your Loki, “Or shall I? Who you really are, that you’re not her at all-” Shushing him, you untangle yourself from her arms.

“It’s true,” you said, quietly, and looking into her blue eyes, you almost wished that you could be Amora, if only for a moment, if only to make her happy. “I’m... not.” For the first time, Lady Loki seemed to notice the male Loki at your side.

“Something’s going on here,” she spoke, ominously, picking her weapon up again. “And I don’t like it.”

You gulped.

“It’s kind of hard to explain,” you said. “But... I can try.” ...

She didn’t understand.

It was difficult to fault her for this, of course - it seemed that the alternate universe you and Loki had slipped into was the worst one yet. She told you that Amora, Thor, Odin, and all the others were dead.

She was the only one left.

So she’d come down to Midgard to rule. Without the Avengers, this plan had worked out spectacularly well. And none of the mortals seemed to mind, either, except for the one town you and Loki had been to, who still clung to to the old ways, the old gods.

The town that had previously possessed the tesseract, before she and her soldiers had stolen it.

You were still trying to figure out how you were going to get your way out of this one. Meanwhile, your Loki seemed to almost revel in his counterpart’s disappointment.

“So... that’s it,” you said, awkwardly, glancing up at her.

“Extraordinary,” said Lady Loki, not truly making eye contact with you. “She looks as mine did. Down to the last...” she wound a lock of your hair around her finger. “Curl.”

Loki looked dangerously irritated by this, almost... possessive?

No. This was too much for you to comprehend right now. Having one Loki to contend with was quite enough for a human - you couldn’t even begin to think of the all-out war that could occur if both were to fight over you.

You couldn’t hate the idea, either.

“Yes, well,” he said, briskly, and you noticed that a knife had suddenly appeared in his right palm. “Anyway, we’re partners, and we’re here for a mission.” “Really?” you muttered, unable to help yourself from being sarcastic. “Now we’re partners?”

He ignored you.

“Very well,” said female Loki, settling into a throne. “I’ll do what I can to help you.”

“Good,” your Loki briskly stated. “Give us the tesseract.”

She regarded you.

“That is... impossible.”

“How so?” “Well, I need it. If I am to maintain control of Earth.”

“But you have to give it back to the town,” you said softly, your eyes sad and pleading. “If you don’t, it’ll... destroy everything.” “She’s right, I’m afraid,” male Loki said. “It’ll change the course of history.” “Perhaps I want it changed. Have you considered that? Perhaps I desire to possess the one tool that would allow me to finally have everything I want. If I have the tesseract...” she looked at you. “If I have the tesseract, I can live in a kingdom where no one ever dies.”

You swallowed.

“Please,” you said, sinking to the snow-covered ground and kneeling in front of Lady Loki. “Please, you can’t-”

Your Loki, who already like he was about to kill someone, seemed to think this act was a breaking point.

“Enough of this,” he interrupted, tugging you back on your feet. “Get up. You look ridiculous.” “She’s a queen!” you protested, eyes wide, wrenching your wrist from his grasp. “I thought that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

“That’s funny, I’ve been alive for a thousand years. No one ever did it for me.”

He looked to Lady Loki. “What is it that you want?” “What makes you think I’ll want something?” “Because you’re me. I assure you, I know when I want something.”

Female Loki scowled.

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll offer you a deal, if the cube is so very consequential. The tesseract... in trade for her.” At this, Loki had the good sense to look panicked.

“No. Absolutely not.” “Why not? It’s the only fair deal that makes sense. I won’t need the tesseract to travel to different multiverses if I have her. You can have the tesseract, and go about your mission. I don’t really need power, Loki. I just want Amora.”

“She does not even know what she is.”

You looked between the two Lokis.

“There has to be another way to settle this,” you said, your voice small. “Come on, we can figure something out-” “There’s nothing to figure out,” your Loki insisted. “Come on. We’ll just have to disappoint Mobius. Not shocking - eventually, I would have done it anyway.”

“Loki, we can’t just go-” “Well, I can’t just lose you!” he shouted. “...Not again!”

...Oh.

Oh, God. Loki was losing it.

This had quickly become personal.

“Loki,” you said, quietly, standing in front of him and grabbing his arms, “Calm down. It’s okay. It’s okay, I’m here. Let’s just walk away, and... we can come back. We’ll figure this out, I promise-”

He shook you off. “No,” he said, removing a set of daggers. “No, this ends now.”

”Loki-”

“Move, or you’ll be hurt.”

You groaned, standing off to the side while the two Lokis squared off and loading your T.V.A.-issued gun.

“Hand over the tesseract,” he said, gesturing at the cube on her shelf. “Last chance.” “Amora,” she countered. “Last chance.”

Your Loki hissed, and they ran at each other. Truthfully, you could barely tell one for the other. Both had similar fighting styles - no, the exact same fighting style.

Neither could win without an edge.

You didn’t want to hurt female Loki. You knew she had the capacity to be good, same as yours did. She just needed that chance.

But she wasn’t giving you that chance. And if she were allowed to possess the tesseract, the power would consume her - and destroy the timeline. Besides, you knew she wanted you. How many timelines would she wreck in her search? How many Amoras would she seek to find?

Decisively, you raised your gun - before an unexpected thought made you falter. Loki was a god - so was Lady Loki. A gunshot wound, even from a technologically-advanced gun, would barely harm either of them.

And a different thought struck you. A different... much more dangerous thought.

Loki was a god.

But you weren’t.

Slowly, you raised the gun to your chin, trying to stay calm.

“Y/N?” you heard Loki shout, mid-stab.

Stabbing? It had escalated to stabbing, now?

Well. You really shouldn’t have been all that surprised.

“Amora,” female Loki uttered, stepping toward you. “Amora, whatever you’re thinking, don’t-”

“I have to!” you said, trying to make your voice panicked and convincing. “Otherwise... you’ll kill each other. And it’ll be my fault.”

“Amora,” she whispered. She raised her hands to cup your face, “Don’t..”

The panicked expression hadn’t entirely faded from your Loki’s features, but you knew he had caught on, slightly. Unlike Lady Loki, he knew who you were, he comprehended it. You weren’t a weakness to him like you were to her.

She couldn’t know it. If she had to admit to herself that the Amora she had known and loved no longer existed, it would destroy her.

That is why she had to die.

“Give me the gun-”

“No!”

“Amora, we can fix this. I love you.”

Loki began to creep up behind her.

“Don’t say that,” you cried, tears streaming down your cheeks. The act was over. You reached up to clutch the hands that still embraced you. “Please, don’t say that-”

“I do, I love you, you can’t die-”

“But you can,” said Loki, plunging a magically-charged knife into her back.

She collapsed to the ground, and you fell down with her, cradling her in your arms.

“Loki,” you whispered, “I’m so sorry.”

Lady Loki shuddered, her chest contracting and her breathing labored. She reached up, one more time, and ran her hand through your hair.

“Amora,” she choked out, and then she was gone.

You let her fall from your arms. As you did, she slowly faded, disappearing into a golden mist.

“Come on,” said your Loki, gently, helping you up. “It’s time to go.”

“You got the tesseract?” you asked, drying your eyes with your sleeves.

“Yes.”

You nodded.

“Okay.”

...

Taglist:

gorgeourrific-nerd @suwupremeleader​ @sserpente @tripleyeeet

[diredove]

Curious Fool

My first time attempting to write anything longer than headcanons, please note I’m going off of this AU! I’m in love with Crowley so I see this as an x reader story, but it can easily be interpreted as something else!

Warnings: Very Mild cursing, Crowley being scary (as in, threatening and a hand squeezing a throat), Me grasping at straws to make Potentially Evil!Dire make sense! Gender Neutral Reader as well!

You wondered about Dire Crowley more than you would like to admit. He was an enigma that your brain for some reason was terribly invested in solving. It started small, maybe because you were holding back your suspicion out of guilt, the man had given you a roof over your head and food to eat in this strange new world, surely he deserved better than you concocting conspiracy theories about him? But gratitude should not inspire stupidity in someone, and it didn't inspire in you.

Why exactly was he being so gracious? For all the pretty words he spoke to you, he certainly didn't act guilty. Every sympathy he offered to your plight felt like it was meant to silence you, "Shush, no more of that." he seemed to whisper between the lines. Yes, it was all too bad you were stuck in a world not your own and that poor, poor Crowley was working himself to the bone to find a way back for you to no avail, but what would you have him do? He's already being so kind.

And that was another thing, wasn't it? He wasn't all that kind at all, or if he was it was only in a backhanded way. Wasn't he just the sweetest thing alive for giving you a place to stay? As if you weren't breaking your damn back every single night sleeping on the couch of the teacher's lounge and waking to the racket of your dearest headmaster starting up that monstrous coffee maker at the crack of dawn each morning! Well, what about the food you were provided every single meal time? Quite generous, he'd say. And you would beg to differ because you had a diet of convenience store sandwiches and children's snacks and sodas! Everything you ate was from Sam's shop and didn't cost that old crow a dime!

And maybe, just maybe, you would have been more understanding and grateful for it given your circumstances, if Dire Crowley wasn't absolutely loaded. He could easily afford to buy you actual meals, put you up some place that wasn't a glorified common room, pay you! But for all his guilt and graciousness, he didn't. It felt like he was trying to trick into being grateful to him when he hadn't actually done anything for you to be grateful for, in the grand scheme of things.

But that's not all. If that had been it then you could have convinced yourself you were being dramatic and gone on with your topsy turvy little life. But no, Dire Crowley simply would not let you rest (on a proper bed or otherwise).

Why did he act like that? You were not someone to turn your nose up at an odd personality, considering how well you were handling being in a potential alternate universe, one might say you have one yourself. But there was just something... off about him. He always seemed a bit too happy, he laughed just a tad too hard, his stares were too intense, he went silent after whatever spiel he'd been on so quick you'd think he had a switch inside him. Alone, those were just the quirks of being human (though you didn't even know enough to call him that either), but they stacked up quickly.

And you had really fought with yourself on this, worried you were being prejudice against him out of paranoia, but then you saw him get angry.

Everyone gets angry, everyone yells sometimes, it's a fact of life and you're an adult who can accept that. But seeing the headmaster shift from harmless eccentric man to inflicting backbreaking labor on teenagers who didn't get to explain themselves at all was rather... jarring to say the least. He yelled in his oddly charming accent and his mask hid whatever anger would have shown on his face, and maybe you were being overprotective of the young ones and forgetting that that type of punishment was far more manageable in a world of magic. But you couldn't shake the feeling that he was holding back, like he was seconds away from sounding like a different person beneath the quirky act. Like a parent putting on a goofy voice to scold their child to keep themselves from letting their frustration show.

But, and maybe you're just dense from here on, all that did was make you squint a little. There was just as much of a chance of him putting up a front as there was of you misunderstanding things and reaching too far. But the seed had been planted, and now you were curious.

So, instead of coming up with crazy ideas you had no backing for, you thought: "Let's just ask."

Not Dire, of course, as if he would tell you the truth or appreciate you prodding him. Thankfully though, there were people close to him that you could interrogate instead.

And then you started hitting walls, thick ones.

"What's Dire's deal?" Seemed like a pretty clear question, so why was every single answer you got so convoluted?

Sam had tried to act unbothered, but you saw how his hand froze as he stocked the shelves of the Mystery Shop. He looked at you with his bright smile and waved his free had dismissively.

"He's something alright, I'll give him that! He's an odd one, I guess you could say! What's with the interest, Starlight?" He answered, though a question for a question hardly satisfied you.

Crewel had outright ignored you, even after you had repeated your question several times he kept maneuvering around you and acting like he was busy. He absolutely wasn't, he had moved the same four beakers back and forth between lab tables three times. Once he realized you weren't going to take his hint and scram, he looked down his nose at you as if you had ruined his entire week.

"You know, puppies that never stop yapping are troublesome. But do you know what's even more troublesome, Little Scamp? Puppies that sniff around where they don't belong. You'd do well to train yourself out of that habit, and quickly." He'd told you coldly, which shocked you into a stupor because you had thought him overzealous but friendly just moments before.

You had hoped Trein, with his unflappability and no nonsense policy, wouldn't beat around the bush and would be the one to change your luck so far. Instead, he averted his eyes and cleared his throat uncomfortably. He seemed to be taking extra care to choose his words, as though they were fragile as glass slippers. Even Lucius looked still in his arms.

"He is a man, as am I, nothing more and nothing less. It is best to leave it at that, My Dear." He implored you gently, you couldn't help but feel this was as close to a plea as the stoic man would ever get. Lucius stared at you unblinkingly, as if trying to determine your answer through your eyes alone.

You hoped the cat couldn't actually tell, because your answer was no.

You still had one more shot. Vargas was loud and a bit much at times, but his love of his own voice would work in your favor. However, you had learned from your mistakes and decided getting straight to the point wasn't in your best interest. If everyone wanted to play with you, it was only right to join the game.

"Please, tell me more about your school days, Ashton! Were you really the star of the Magic Shift team?" You asked in an awed tone, eyes wide.

The coach was eating it up like it was his last meal, you had been stroking the man's ego for over two hours already and if he tells you about the goal that turned the playoffs around one more time you think you'll snap. But his defenses are down, and his lips are loose, so you'll grin and bare just a little longer.

"That's right! I was king of NRC, undisputed! There wasn't a soul on campus who didn't want to be mine!" The man boasted, "Well, except for Beth. She wasn't all there though, not that I cared! She wasn't all that, I'm not bitter about it!"

He's definitely bitter about it, but you don't have time to unpack that when your opening is right in front of you.

"Right right, I totally get it. Hey, speaking of the past, when did you meet Crowley?"

Okay, you lied. There wasn't an opening at all, you burst in with a sledgehammer. But your cutesy act was getting hard to keep up!

Vargas takes the sloppy bait though, " Oh, that guy? He just kinda popped up and offered me a job to be honest. The pays good, so I deal with the old coot being a weirdo."

You have to stop yourself from lighting up, "Weirdo?" You question dumbly, finger on your chin and all.

Vargas looks both ways and then gestures for you to come closer, you can't tell if he's being playful or not with that glint in his eyes.

"Look, don't tell anyone I told you this, okay Dolly? Crowley's got some crazy going on around here, I swear. I don't know details but I've got suspicions." The coach whispers, you nod eagerly for him to continue.

"There's this... room. I don't know what's in it, it's always locked and not even the staff master key opens it. He goes in there every Friday, and I don't see him come out, he just appears again Monday morning. There's this bright light that shines under the door whenever he goes in, and after a few seconds, it stops." Ashton explains, and it's more than you had hoped for.

Creepy locked room, disappearing act, unexplained happenings? This is exactly the dirt you've been looking for!

"He thinks he's being sneaky about it, but I caught on, see? I was following him to ask about a some paperwork and I saw it. I know somethings up, Crowley is up to no good and I don't care how crazy I sound." Ashton stresses, as he goes on he seems more serious, you can't take time to be happy about your findings because he looks so pale.

"Vargas, are you oka-"

"Listen Dolly, I know you're curious, but you don't want nothing to do with this and neither do I. Freaky shit is going down, and if you're smart like me you'll act like you don't know a thing."

You stare at him. H-Had he been on to you the whole time?

"I'm trying to help you, stay away from the west wing and don't-" He stops. His eyes are on something behind you.

"V-Vargas?" You call, shakily.

"I've said enough. Stay outta the west wing, Doll. For your own good."

You don't stay out of the west wing.

In fact, you deliberately seek it out. Ace gives you a funny look when you ask him, but he points you in the right direction anyway. You wish you were more embarrassed about being a member of staff asking students for directions, but you've got bigger fish to fry.

You know this isn't smart, no matter how harmless the headmaster may seem, no one likes being found out. But your life is in his golden-clawed hands and you'd feel even less smart following him blindly and hoping you're safe with him.

The west wing isn't what you expected (though to be fair you had been expecting a torture chamber), it's an entirely normal hall like all the others in school. It's so mundane your face falls. There's also no way to tell if anything is amiss from a glance alone, so you'll have to use less tact than you were hoping to. Making your way down the hall you turn each knob one by one to see which won't turn.

After about twenty or so doors, curse the long hallways in this college, you see one that's quite out of place. It's at the very end of the hall, how cliché, and while it is the same size and color as all the others, it's surrounded with a ridiculous number of portraits. There are big ones above the doorframe and little ones squeezed into the narrow spaces along the sides of it, and if that wasn't enough, the ones that wouldn't fit in either spot were enchanted to float nearby. And the portraits themselves are nothing like the silly but sweet ones that gossip as they watch over everyone who passes in the main building, these are painted with snarls and angered eyes. Both human and nonhuman beings are depicted, each one staring straight at whomever would stand in front of the door. Their eyes seem to be looking in every direction at once even though their pupils are painted straight ahead, it feels like they can see everything without shifting their gaze. You can't even tell if they're alive like the others, they're so... cold.

You take a deep breath, that must be it. You've come to this far, and you'd planned everything so carefully there was no reason to be afraid. The students were having Magift practice today, so that meant Vargas was busy, but it also meant that Crowley was doing his rounds and would stop to "give the players some good old fashioned encouragement ". He would go on forever, there was plenty of time for you to investigate and cover your tracks before he ever even wondered where you were.

You could admit the only person you were convincing was yourself, but it helped you forced your legs to move toward the end of the hall. Even as you walked closer, you knew you shouldn't, the air around you seemed like it was trying to force you back, oppressively pushing you with every step you took towards that door. You wouldn't be able to open it, Ashton had told you already, what exactly were you gaining, being stared down by the lifelike yet lifeless portraits as you neared the door? Nothing, and yet your hand grabbed the knob impulsively, you hadn't realized you'd been holding your breath until it left your lungs in a rush at the touch of icy cold iron in your clammy grip.

You shouldn't have touched it, you shouldn't have, now what? Your plan was to turn back after your curiosity was sated, but you couldn't. The force that was pushing back against you before was now pulling you forward, beckoning you. The portraits no longer looked like a warning, but an invitation. You've come so far, now come a little closer, something that wasn't a voice nor a thought breathed around you.

You twist the doorknob, like a fool.

It turns.

Your heart leaps with excitement and fear, and you feel a surge of adrenaline run through your body. You can go in, you can go farther!

You feel yourself smiling widely even though you're sure you're not happy, you go to push the door open just a little further.

You stop as four pinpricks upon your throat flare with pain, your eyes go wide like a deer and you freeze.

"Crewel was right, you're truly nothing but trouble."

The voice sounds familiar, and yet nothing like the person it belongs to. But you'd know those gold-tipped fingers anywhere.

"I really am getting on in years, to make such a mistake." Dire sighs, his voice does not lilt and his tone is low. He sounds like an actor who's given up on staying in character.

You catch a whimper in your throat when the hand upon it slides up the front of your neck to grip under your chin and rear you head back at a terrible angle. You meet the dead-eyed gaze of Crowley's mask as he looks straight down at you.

"But you've made an even bigger mistake, Youngling, by testing me."

You want to apologize, or plead for your safety, because the man looming over you is not the one you've grown reluctantly fond of. But because we have established that you are a fool, you say instead:

"Your vest is a mistake. There's sequins on it." You snark weakly, you sound pathetic, half because of the grade school insult and half because you're gasping for breath.

Dire stares down at you blankly. Then he grins, not his usual one full of jolly cheer, but a wide toothy one that is just a few degrees off from a sneer.

"Oh, you really think you're just the cutest little thing under the sun, don't you?" He asks, he chuckles halfway through but it's dry and dark.

Why are you so foolish, why do you speak?

Abruptly, the pressure points on your neck are released and you fall to your knees, gulping sweet sweet air.

"Well you're right! You're just adorable, thinking you could catch me out!" Dire shouts cheerfully, hands on his hips and accent back in full swing. His façade is back in place like it was never gone.

You stare in disbelief.

"You know, anyone else would have to be put under a curse of eternal silence for snooping around like you did." He continues, "But I am so very kind, I'm going to let you walk out of here without laying a finger on you."

You shakily get to your feet, leaning against the wall for support and as something to curl in on to cower from the overly happy man before you.

He stares at you smiling for many moments too long, you know he's trying to scare you and you're angry at yourself for being so. Abruptly, he nods.

"I'll be off then, I'm sure you get the message? Of course you do! Make your way back to your room then, off you get! Goodbye!"

The man walks away quickly, waving his hand in farewell.

He left you without a fight, with the door left unlocked and you still in position to reveal what was on the other side. You balk at the obvious show of his power over you.

He knew you were too terrified now, he knew you would obey him like a dog told to stay, the smug bastard.

You bite your lip in frustration and confused tears fill your eyes. You just want to know what's going on, you just want to go home! Nothing makes sense.

You look at the door that's slightly ajar.

Then at the exit of the west wing across the long hall.

You can no longer hear Crowley's footsteps.

And because you are a fool, and because you are defiant, and because you want some semblance of control, you make a mad dash through the door before you can change your mind.

[didsomeonesaydaddydraco]

What true love feels like - part 1 | Tom Felton imagine

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for...my very first TOM FELTON imagine. (Just kidding, I was probably the only one waiting lol).

Word count: 2129

Pairing: Tom Felton x reader

Note: This is going to be a mini series. I really hope you’ll like it. Section written in italic is a flashback.

When I was a little kid, I loved going to weddings. God knows how many times I was asked to be a flower girl or a bridesmaid. All the decoration, the music, the spirit of true love mesmerized me, and I usually find myself imagining my own wedding. I had it all planned out by the time I met Him. And when proposed to me after five years of dating, I knew my time had come. Everything looked exactly how I wanted it. The huge mansion was covered in white and blush pink decoration. The sweet scent of the innumerable amount of roses filled the whole place. Family members, friends and their dates were chatting and laughing together. The wedding registrar was already preparing by the arch made out of fairy lights. And the always rainy and chilly London woke up to one of the warmest spring mornings today. Even the weather was on my side.

- How are you feeling sweet girl? – my Mum asked me from the armchair, where she had been sitting on ever since the creator of my wedding dress came to the dressing room to help me put on my huge dress. I looked at myself in the mirror, admiring the perfectly made ball gown with the delicate waist line, hundreds of tulle layers, and sparkling sleeves. It was my dream dress.

- I’m not sure – I confessed to her – Am I supposed to be nervous?

- Nervous? – She looked at me confused – Honey, you might mistake your feeling with excitement. It’s normal for…

- I’m pretty bloody overwhelmed, Mum – I turned to her – Somehow, I feel like I’m going to make a huge mistake if I walk down that aisle.

For the last couple of months, I was too busy with planning the wedding that I totally forgot to take some time and concentrate on myself and on my feelings. I wanted everything to turn out as I imagined it when I was twenty. And everything was just like that. Except me. I woke up today with a knot in my stomach, no appetite and a very bad feeling. All I could think about was that I’m making a mistake.

- What do you mean? – Mum stood up from the chair and walked over to me so she could held my hand as a sign of support – Y/N?

I looked down at our hands, my eyes glued to the silver bracelet with the single white pearl charm hanging on it. I could still remember how his crystal blue eyes sparkled and how warm his gaze was when he gave it to me. We went to Rochefort-en-Terre for a little getaway. We wanted to be somewhere, where they didn’t know him, so we could be alone together. He saw this bracelet at a local family’s jewellery shop and he swore he just couldn’t not buy it. I had never took it off ever since then.

- I just wonder if he is really the one – I bit my bottom lip. I didn’t dare to look up to my Mum’s eyes. They paid everything for our wedding and never complained because of the expenses – I mean, we’re about to make a hopefully lifelong commitment. I just want to make sure I’m not making a mistake here. What if everything goes downhill after the wedding? What if we slowly fall out of love?

- Than you learn to love each other again – She put a finger under my chin, and forced me to look at her – Darling, you’re still young. Of course you have your doubts about a commitment like this. But here’s something to think about: the one that you truly love, will never make you wonder. There’s a difference in the way you love someone. There is the kind that you will fall in love with and this changes with circumstance and time. And then there is the love that you love with your entire being, it never fades, it’s timeless – she kissed my cheek – I’ll go and get your father. It’s almost time.

She left me there with my thoughts. He was such a great and loving person. Passionate about the things he loved. He was always there for everyone if they needed someone. He made me happy. He made me feel loved and respected. He gave me everything he could. And still, I was standing in the middle of the dressing room, questioning myself. I wanted nothing, but marrying my soulmate. I think the sign of a true soulmate isn’t someone you just want to do the super fun stuff with. A real soulmate is the person who makes any ordinary day fun. Some people make all these huge plans to do with their special someone, forget that. Find someone who you can take grocery shopping and still have a blast with. Find someone who makes you look forward to waking up on Monday. I think I had found it.

- Okay okay, listen – he laughed as he dragged me into the supermarket in the middle of the night. I had a very long day and my upcoming exams were stressing me out, but he wanted to help me relax and have a little bit of fun before I pull an all-night study session – Both of us will have exactly 5 minutes to find the best matches to the tasks. When I count to three, we both run to find the products.

- Babe – I whined and tugged on the sleeve of his sweater which I used as a PJ. We were both in our pyjamas, considering that he literally pulled me out of the bed while I was taking notes for my business law class – It’s almost midnight, and I really need to study.

- Shush – he silenced me with sass in his voice. It actually made me smile. He looked so adorable when he was acting like a kid – 5 minutes. 5 tasks.

- Alright, gimme the details – I rolled my eyes and put my hair up in a messy bun.

- First, go and find my favourite candy. Second, find something very random. Third, find something you think I should really try. Fourth, find something in my favourite colour – he led me to spot where we were about the start from.

- And what’s the fifth task? – I looked up at him.

- Find something which reminds you of our love – he kissed me quickly, but before I could kiss him back, he ran away like he was a cannon ball.

- Hey, cheater – I yelled after him, but my laugh gave me away. I loved that man.

I smiled at the memory. He always knew how to cheer me up, when I was down. But he also knew when he had to give me time and space too. I appreciated how he let me moan to him when I had a bad day, or how supportive he was about my dreams and goals. He never failed to be there for me and help me on my journey.

- Are you ready to go? – I jumped a little by the sound of my Dad. I was too deep in my memories and thoughts, I didn’t realize when he came in. He was standing by the door, my bouquet in his hand. He looked worried.

- What’s wrong? – I asked him. This morning he was fine and happy when we were having breakfast. In fact, he was excited about that he can annoy my brother and sister with the fact that their youngest sibling had gotten married first.

- Your mother told me about your unsureness – he smiled at me lightly. I sighed and sat down on the sofa carefully, not to wrinkle my dress. He sat down next to me and took my small hands in his huge ones – Y/N, if you’re constantly having to wonder where you stand with someone, maybe it’s time to stop standing and start walking.

- I don’t know what you’re talking about – I tried to fool him, but he was my father after all. He knew us better than we knew ourselves, so we could never get away with a silly little prank or if we tried to fake sick so we didn’t have to go to school.

- You think I haven’t noticed anything? – Dad laughed a little – June bug, you’ve been quite distant with him lately. He probably thinks that you were just busy with planning the wedding, but I see what I cannot see anymore. And that’s love. You’ve been looking at him like he was just a body, and not someone you want to spend the rest of your life with. And I want you to know, it’s okay – He squeezed my hand – Sometimes your heart needs more time to accept what your mind already knows.

I had to do the right thing. He might had been right about everything, but the whole situation was more complicated than that. That man really loved me. And he was probably already waiting at the altar, nervously looking around, looking at the entrance of the ball room so catch me there. I could see his smile in front of me. I could see him tearing up when my Dad places my hand in his. That man gave me his heart. I helped him pick up the pieces after his first love left him. He trusted me. I couldn’t break him. And Mum was probably right too. I can learn to love him again.

- I need to call him – I said rather to myself and not my Dad. He gave my hand a final squeezed and left me alone in the room. I was glad he didn’t ask me anything. I paced around the room, my dress flying around me while I was manically searching for my mobile. I was chewing on my lips and my heart was beating way too fast. How could I put myself in this situation? How could I do this to him? They were the longest five rings of the call before he finally picked up.

- Y/N? – His voice was surprised. He probably didn’t know why I was calling Him just right before I had to walk down the aisle to marry him – Are you okay?

No, I wasn’t. I forced myself to not to cry, because I didn’t want to ruin my makeup, but I could feel my eyes burning and my throat tightened. I was choking on my withheld sobs. I loved how his voice was smooth, a tiny bit raspy and manly, but playful at the same time. I could have listened to his voice all day long. Just listening how he told me everything about his day or what new projects he has been working on lately.

- I think we were meant to be, but we did it all wrong – I blurted out and collapsed back to the sofa. I let a single tear run down my cheek and drop on top of my pearl charm on my bracelet. I heard how his breathing fastened in the phone, like he was panicking. I was too. I didn’t know what was right or wrong. I desperately needed him by my side to feel his arms around my body, holding my close to himself. Feeling the warmth of his body calming down my shaking frame. I needed him to kiss into my hair and whisper in my ears that he has me and everything is going to fine – I just want to tell you, it takes everything in me not to call you, and I wish I could run to you, and I hope you know that every time I don’t…I almost do. And even though I’m unsure about most things in life, I am certain that I love you and will continue to love you forever.

- Y/N, what happened? – His voice was filled with worry. Knowing him he was already running his fingers through his hair, thinking about if he should come to see me right away or stay exactly where he was – Talk to me! What’s going on?

- I’m so sorry – I whispered into to phone. By this time, I couldn’t hold back my tears. And I didn’t even care anymore – I have to marry him…

- No, no you don’t have to – He was practically yelling. I only heard him yelling once, when he was completely lost in the ocean of feelings, and we were trying to figure out what was going on between us – Y/N, please…

- I love you, Tom – I said as a goodbye and ended the call. And with that, I ended something which I cherished for years. I ended a beautiful love story.

[winterrose527]

The Favor: Part 3, London, England

psychotically posting for the second time today to hopefully cheer up @amillcitygirl who is having a lousy Monday. This is the third and final part, I hope you all enjoy! This was such a fun prompt!

(Part 1) (Part 2)

London, England

It was raining once again, but she was used to it and in all honesty it suited her mood.

“It’s like this city doesn’t understand the importance of a good blow out,” Marg complained as she lowered the umbrella so that it was fully encasing them.

She smiled, “I told you it wouldn’t be worth it.”

“Well I’m sorry we can’t all throw our hair into a low bun and look like a perfect Parisan girl with poreless skin!” Marg argued.

She fought the urge to roll her eyes, knowing that Margaery was in a mood because she’d been in a mood.

It was impossible not to be. Not when they’d figured out on the way to Milan that she’d actually found him. Robb. Her Robb. The boy she’d thought of after every bad date. The one who’d become her stand-in for a prince from a fairy tale.

When Harry had cheated on her during her first year at Cambridge, she’d told herself somewhere out there is a boy named Robb who would never do this to me.

She understood logically that this was ridiculous. That she didn’t know him from Adam and he might be a full-blown sociopath. But the point of a fantasy was that you didn’t have to get bogged down in reality.

And in her fantasy, Robb was the one boy in the whole world who would never hurt her.

Except, he wasn’t a boy anymore. He was a man. That was the only explanation for how she hadn’t recognized him.

He had been beautiful when he was younger, now though he was… it made her body tingle just to think about him. He’d grown a beard, he was broader, there was… wisdom in those blue eyes of his.

And the fact of the matter was, that over the years, she’d forced herself to think about him less. It wasn’t to be, she was never going to see him again and she knew that and it wasn’t healthy for anybody measuring up real guys to a figment of her imagination.

But then they’d been on the train to Milan, trying to figure out what photos to post and what to caption them, and she’d gone to the kissing picture.

“You have such a type,” Marg laughed. “I can spot them from a mile away.”

“Well can you blame me? Look at him,” she noted. Then she did just that. “No wait, look at him. That’s… that’s him… that’s Robb!”

“No it’s not, don’t be ridiculous,” Marg told her.

“Pull up that post- I swear to God it’s him,” she said.

Marg opened her phone and scrolled through Instagram and found her post. They put the phones side by side.

“Oh… oh my god,” Marg said.

“It was him,” Ella realized, leaning back against her seat. “He was right there… and I… ran away.”

“El…,” Marg lamented.

“It’s fine,” she shook her head, “I’m fine. I’m just being stupid.”

Margaery looped her arm through hers and leaned her chin on her shoulder, “Want to know what I think?”

Ella felt her lip quivering and nodded before leaning her head on top of Marg’s.

“I think, that fate has a plan for the two of you,” Marg told her, “And I’ve read enough mythology to know that you don’t stand a chance against it.”

Ella let out a teary laugh, “I’m so glad you’re a Classics major.”

“That,” Marg pointed to the picture of Robb from the day before, “Is a hero, if ever there was one.”

She wasn’t so sure that she needed a hero. But a boyfriend that looked like him would be pretty nice.

Though she’d tried her best, she hadn’t been able to get out of her funk. Marg had come all this way only to be at her side as she sulked her way through Italy.

So when they’d woken up this morning and Marg had determined she didn’t care whether it was touristy or not, they were going on the London Eye today, she hadn’t had it in her to deny her.

They’d stopped at Bluebird for a coffee and breakfast, Marg smiling coquettishly at the Chelsea boys who lingered by their table. None of them interested her though.

She’d convinced Marg to take the tube, telling her there was more to London than black taxis, and that she had to get used to it as she’d be taking it every day. That or the bus. She hadn’t really figured it out yet.

Living in Chelsea wasn’t the most convenient neighborhood of London to live in to attend the London School of Economics, but her family had a townhouse there that no one was using so it had made sense. Plus she loved Chelsea, she always had. And the townhouse. The fact that she could walk across the bridge and be at Battersea Park. That she could walk a few blocks in and be in South Kensington, at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Her mother had always used London as their jumping off point for their overseas travels, so it had always felt a little like home.

When she’d gone to her undergrad at Cambridge, her and her friends would come down for long weekends and reading weeks, alternating nights at Raffles and indie shows in Camden.

And now she was living here, full time. That was enough to bring a smile to her face as they stepped onto the London Eye, hooking her arm through Marg’s.

They were the first to step on and Marg took advantage by determining the perfect spot for them to stand, and they settled in, grabbing their phones. She was sort of glad that Marg had suggested this, she’d never do it on her own and it really would be a great way to see the city.

Soon the capsule filled up and she felt them starting to move.

“No stop it I’m not doing that,” they heard a voice behind them say, “Because it’s different for girls!”

“Just-“

“No Theon! You want to do it so bad, you do it,” they heard.

“Excuse me, people are trying to enjoy the majesty here,” Marg suggested.

She covered her mouth to hide her laugh, squeezing Marg’s arm.

“Oh I’m sorry,” they heard and turned around, “You see my friend here he-“

“Ella?” a voice asked.

No not a voice. That voice.

That had been different too. More developed. Deeper. Sexier.

“Robb?” she wondered.

“Wait Ella Ella?” one of his friends asked, looking her over, “Okay, now I get it.”

“Oh my god it is you!” Marg laughed pointing at Robb.

He was even more handsome than she remembered, standing there with rain drops in his curls. He was tan, clearly having just been on his own holiday, an adorable strip of pink on the bridge of his nose.

His eyes were wandering over her, a smile growing on his face.

“Hey I –“

“No!” he held his hand up, “Just… shush for a second.” She glanced at his friends who were openly gaping at him. Marg was smirking. Robb reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone and handed it to her. “Please just put your full name and telephone number and I don’t know… maybe an emergency contact in there – and then I’ll kiss you in front of whatever landmark you want me to. I’ll kiss you at the DMV. I’ll kiss you at the Post Office. I don’t care, I’ll kiss you anywhere and everywhere just while I… please don’t run away again.”

“We’re literally on a giant ferris wheel where the fuck do you think she’s gonna go?” his friend asked.

“Shut up, Theon,” Robb and their other friend said.

She took his phone, trying not to smile, and typed Ella Baratheon and then her telephone number into his phone. She looked at it to make sure that it saved, and then opened up his contacts again to double check before handing it back to him.

His eyes hadn’t left her and he shook his head, “It is you… right?”

It had been a long time since she’d channeled her inner Audrey, but she couldn’t help but smile and ask, “Didn’t I tell you in Paris that we’d meet again?”

“Oh my god,” Marg murmured.

“I’m Theon by the way,” Theon stage whispered to Marg.

“Are you seriously hitting on me in the middle of our friend’s five year meet-cute?” Marg asked him.

That seemed to shame Theon who promptly shut up.

“I didn’t know it was you, in Rome,” she told Robb. “I didn’t know, I wouldn’t have run away I… it’s you.”

Robb smiled and he nodded, “It’s me.” Then looked around, “Some guy you kissed in Vienna isn’t going to jump out and kick my ass, is he?”

She laughed and shook her head, “No… that was a two time thing. Promise.”

“Told you,” Robb said to his friends, but his eyes stayed on her.

“Marg?” she asked.

“Yeah El?” Marg responded.

“Get your camera ready,” she told her.

And with that she leapt into Robb’s arms. As though he’d been about to reach out and grab her anyway, he caught her easily. His lips pressed against hers and though the other kisses had been good, this one was better because it was him and he didn’t want her to run away and he was holding her like he’d stop her if she tried.

One of his hands moved up her back and went into her hair before cupping her cheek, kissing her deeply, as though he’d been just as miserable as she was these last few days.

“We’ve got the picture,” Theon informed them after they’d been kissing for at least a minute.

“From multiple different angles,” their other friend sighed.

“Lean her back a bit more,” Marg suggested.

She started laughing against Robb’s lips as he started laughing against hers. They broke apart but he kept holding her and she leaned her cheek against his as they turned.

“Hi I’m Ella,” she greeted his friends.

“Jon, nice to meet you,” one of them said.

“I’m Theon,” the other one said, “And you owe me a trip to Ibiza because he ruined mine moping about you.”

“I’m sorry,” she laughed, “What if I um… convince Marg here to let you buy her a drink?”

“Ella!” Marg chided.

“Oh come on Marg,” she grinned, and just as Marg had five years earlier, she teased, “I dare you.”