#fanworks challenges

[magiciansfanworksextravaganza]

Warm Up Masterlist and Wrap-Up

We're so thrilled you've all joined us on this journey! From December 1 through our extension day December 8, 2024, twelve creators provided us with forty-three individual entries to Warm Up! This included thirteen artworks and thirty short written works of fic (and/or poetry, in two cases). They're all listed below for you to enjoy anytime.

The challenge focused on micro Magicians fanworks of all types, welcoming both new works and additions to existing WIPs. The “warm up” theme could include vibes that are warm, cozy, related to winter, being hot (in any sense of that word), warming up or preparing for a big event, just starting out in something like magic, and other creative takes. Read more about Warm Up.

To all creators: Thank you so much for sharing your talents with us! We're so delighted and honored! It's been such a joy seeing your work emerge and creating alongside you! (Please let us know if any corrections are needed to your information below.)

To all fans: We appreciate you so much! Your encouragement keeps us going! Please stop by and like/kudos and/or comment wherever you feel so moved!

And thank you so very much to our team of mods for making this event a reality with your knowledge, skills, hard work, kindness, and generosity of spirit! Our team includes: @eliotqueliot, @magicians4time, @museinabsentia, @state-of-being, and @unlifeira.

Our challenge took place on Tumblr and AO3. Some of the works (especially art) may appear only on Tumblr. Additionally, some creators may prefer you encounter their work first on a specific platform. So, due to Tumblr restrictions on the number of links in a post: If the work is on more than one platform, the title links to the creator's preference, with the alternate platform listed afterwards. Creators are tagged to their Tumblr profile. We'll name their AO3 handle as well, but if their work also has an AO3 link, please use that to find their profile.

Please also visit the AO3 Warm Up Subcollection, which includes twenty-three distinct titles (many of these individual works include multiple pieces created especially for Warm Up, with a note at the start of each work/relevant chapter letting you know what's included). This collection also preserves the guidelines of the challenge.

And now, without further ado...our very esteemed credits for our very first challenge!

Warm Up 2024 (in order of appearance)

Bad Girls (Fic, also on AO3) by @eliotqueliot (AO3: EliotQueliot)

In Family Found, Chapter 1 (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @violetsarepurple-fuckyou (AO3: violetsarefuckingpurple)

Perfect Warm Home, Chapter 1 (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @lovequeliot (AO3: LoveQueliot)

Time for a Break (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @lasouris-r (AO3: LaSourisRousse)

In Family Found, Chapter 2 (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @violetsarepurple-fuckyou (AO3: violetsarefuckingpurple)

Eliot tucks in Quentin and Teddy (Art, also on AO3) by @eliotqueliot (AO3: EliotQueliot)

Mosaic Haiku, Chapter 15 (Poetry, also on AO3) by @eliotqueliot (AO3: EliotQueliot)

A lighthouse at the edge of Lethe (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @lasouris-r (AO3: LaSourisRousse)

In Family Found, Chapter 3 (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @violetsarepurple-fuckyou (AO3: violetsarefuckingpurple)

Break the World (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @unlifeira (AO3: EiraLloyd)

Queliot coronation ceremony (Art, also on AO3) by @eliotqueliot (AO3: EliotQueliot)

Something Borrowed (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @violetsarepurple-fuckyou (AO3: violetsarefuckingpurple)

Empty Nest, Warm Bed (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @museinabsentia (AO3: muse_in_absentia)

Warm Up Collage (Collage/Art) by @un-salted (AO3: unsalted)

Let's move to California (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @lasouris-r (AO3: LaSourisRousse)

Kitty-Cat (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @unlifeira (AO3: EiraLloyd)

Queliot foxes (Art, also on AO3) by @eliotqueliot (AO3: EliotQueliot)

La Promesse (Art) by @vooruitmariek (AO3: fearlesstogether)

Start (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @unlifeira (AO3: EiraLloyd)

A spark of life (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @lasouris-r (AO3: LaSourisRousse)

"Hey. I, umm…" (Warming Up at the Mosaic) (Art, also on AO3) by @eliotqueliot (AO3: EliotQueliot)

Questing Queliot (Art) by @vooruitmariek (AO3: fearlesstogether)

"Oh, my god. Magic!" (Art, also on AO3) by @eliotqueliot (AO3: EliotQueliot)

Hand Over Heart (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @violetsarepurple-fuckyou (AO3: violetsarefuckingpurple)

Queliot Mosaic (Art) by @vooruitmariek (AO3: fearlesstogether)

Ice (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @unlifeira (AO3: EiraLloyd)

Five Times Zelda Played with Fire (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @state-of-being (AO3: OneSeriousLady)

Follow the light (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @lasouris-r (AO3: LaSourisRousse)

Treasure Hunt (are we getting warmer?) (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @lasouris-r (AO3: LaSourisRousse)

Drawings + Warmups (Art) by @violetsarepurple-fuckyou (AO3: violetsarefuckingpurple)

Eliot and Quentin face the First Portal (Art, also on AO3) by @eliotqueliot (AO3: EliotQueliot)

First meetings (Art) by @vooruitmariek (AO3: fearlesstogether)

Hand Over Heart, Chapter 2 (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @violetsarepurple-fuckyou (AO3: violetsarefuckingpurple)

Hand Over Heart, Chapter 3 (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @violetsarepurple-fuckyou (AO3: violetsarefuckingpurple)

Hand Over Heart (Epilogue) (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @violetsarepurple-fuckyou (AO3: violetsarefuckingpurple)

Going South, Chapter 9, Warm Up: Interlude 2 (Fic, also on AO3) by @eliotqueliot (AO3: EliotQueliot)

The Fires We See (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @magicians4time (AO3: Librarity)

Old Eliot and Quentin Laughing Together at the Mosaic (Art, also on AO3) by @eliotqueliot (AO3: EliotQueliot)

Perfect Warm Home, Chapter 2 (Fic) by @lovequeliot (AO3: LoveQueliot)

Eliot Visits a Haunted Mormon Sex Dungeon (Fic) by PhantomNightjar (AO3)

Plum Wine (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @violetsarepurple-fuckyou (AO3: violetsarefuckingpurple)

This Slope is Treacherous (Fic) by @mysticmuse27 (AO3: MysticMuse27)

Going South, Chapter 11: Warm Up Interlude 3 (Fic, also on Tumblr) by @eliotqueliot (AO3: EliotQueliot)

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE, AND SO MANY THANKS!!!

[dick-rarepairs]

Did you know we have a Prompt Meme? If you have any ideas about a Dick rare pair that you don't plan on creating yourself (anytime soon), this is the place to share them! Maybe they will inspire someone else 💙

Check out the prompts here and see if some might interest you.

A few fics have already been written.

[fluff-cember]

Fluffcember 2024

Heyho.

@alpaca-clouds here!

I was asked whether I would create Fluffcember as an official challenge this year, and I thought to myself: You know what? Why not?

Hence this blog - and a really early posting of the list.

Rules

This is a 1-month-challenge for fluffy fanworks.

All sorts of fanworks (art, writing, graphics) welcome.

We will however not accept any AI-Art or AI-Writing!

SFW and NSFW is both welcome - but please make sure to tag it accordingly.

Tag CWs if you share under this tag!

No minimum or maximum word count for writing!

We will reblog entries during the month of December!

If you have questions: The asks are open!

Full list of prompts under the cut.

Day 01: Roasted Marshmallows

Day 02: Winter Flu

Day 03: Snow Man

Day 04: Christmas Sweater

Day 05: Northern Lights

Day 06: Gingerbread House

Day 07: Condensed Breath

Day 08: Sparkling Snow

Day 09: Sugar Rush

Day 10: Carols

Day 11: Slippery

Day 12: Skiing

Day 13: Fire and Ice

Day 14: Winter Soup

Day 15: Naughty List

Day 16: Chocolate

Day 17: Snowed in

Day 18: Mistletoe

Day 19: Fondue

Day 20: Fairy Tales

Day 21: Cabin in the Snow

Day 22: Winter Storm

Day 23: Confessions

Day 24: Christmas Tree

Day 25: The Perfect Gift

Day 26: Forgiveness

Day 27: Family Gathering

Day 28: Cold Turkey

Day 29: Mint

Day 30: Warming Up

Day 31: Fireworks

Alternatives:

Hot Bath

Fallen Through The Ice

Holiday Decoration

Homecooked Meals

Coming Home

[masoena]

WinterNatural is Back!!! 2024 Edition

Hello SPN Family!

@quickreaver and I are bringing WinterNatural back for 2024 with gorgeous art by @aomasade as the event banner and promo pic. Same event as last year; anyone can submit as many prompts as they like either anonymous or not. Anyone can claim to write or art for as many prompts as they wish.

Prompt meme hosted on AO3 Prompt Form || Profile

SPN or SPN RPF

Submit a prompt or 20

Take a prompt to art or write for or 20

All fills should be finished by December 31, 2024 but the collection and event will remain open beyond that.

Easy-going and stress-free prompt meme event.

Reposting prompts that didn't get filled from last year is fine but please do not repost prompts that were filled.

[bromcommie]

You can't light up all sides at once. Add a second light and you get a second darkness, it's only fair.

aka more practice sketches ft overlap and richard siken bc I'm fucking predictable

[esilher]

Art: @esilher  Fic: @mynonah Thank you so much @bossymarmalade for the quick beta reading! <3 You can read it on AO3

Andersons’ Bakery Kurt stopped in front of the shop and looked up at the sign above the door. On the black glass, in gold letters, was the name of one of New York's most popular bakeries: Andersons' Bakery. It was a long shot, he knew, and for a moment he wondered if he should go home instead. 

"If you never try, you'll never know." His father's words rang in his ears. He took a deep breath to brace himself and reached for the door handle.

As he stepped through the door, the smell of freshly baked pastries immediately hit his nose. Behind the counter, one of the Anderson brothers was restocking the shelves with freshly baked baguettes. There was a small line, as always, but no one seemed to mind the wait. It was worth it.

"Welcome to Andersons' Bakery. What can I get for you?" The man asked and Kurt realized that it was finally his turn.

"Oh, I... Hi, um. I'm here to apply for the job. I saw that you…”

"You're looking for Blaine," he interrupted Kurt with a smile. "I'll let him know. You can wait over there," he gestured to the other end of the long counter, and by the time Kurt looked back to thank him, he was already gone.

Kurt walked over to where the man had directed him and stopped in front of the pastries. As he studied the assortment, he nervously adjusted his bag. Pies, donuts, biscuits, muffins, croissants - the selection was impressive, but that shouldn't intimidate Kurt. There was nothing here that he hadn't baked a hundred times before. Still, he was nervous.

"Hi, I'm Blaine," a new voice interrupted his thoughts. "You're the one here for the job, right?"

"Yes," Kurt answered, smiling at the man on the other side of the counter. "Kurt Hummel," he added quickly, extending his hand to Blaine.

"Blaine Anderson." The man smiled back as they shook hands. Blaine's mouth opened again, but suddenly he wasn't sure what to say. Beautiful eyes, Blaine thought. But maybe that's not the right place to start. "May I have your resume, please?"

"Oh, sure," Kurt replied, then pulled out the zipper on his shoulder bag and began to rummage through it. "Sorry," he mumbled nervously. "I'll have it in a minute." 

He pulled out some papers one by one, but those weren’t what he was looking for. Some notes from college, some sheet music, a new cheesecake recipe he'd written down two weeks ago, some drawings of how he planned to redecorate his apartment, a few pages torn out of a fashion magazine... more college notes.

"I know I put it in here... It's just…” Kurt glanced up at Blaine, smiling nervously. “Just a minute.”

"Take your time,” the man tried to reassure him.

"No, I mean... it's here somewhere. Where the fuck did all these college notes come from?” He snapped suddenly. “Can you believe I've already graduated? And I'm carrying all this around with me. Fuck. Oh God, I just said fuck," he said, covering his mouth with his free hand. 

"Actually you said it three times," Blaine added, clearly amused by the scene.

Kurt's eyes widened. "I'm so sorry. I don't usually swear, I just... I mean, I do, everybody does, right? But not here. I mean, not like that. Anyway... Sorry, I... I know I put it in here," Kurt said again as he began to frantically flip through a folder.

"Hey, don't worry! Maybe you can just email it to me and then next time…"

"No, no, no…” Kurt shook his head. “It's here somewhere, I swear."

"Okay, then... Maybe in the meantime you could tell me about your work experience...? What bakery did you work at before?"

"Well, it's... it's a little... So I don't really have any experience, at least not the kind you're thinking of. But I love to bake. I've just never worked in a bakery before."

"You've never worked in a bakery before." Blaine repeated in shock and Kurt dumped the entire contents of his bag onto the counter for the third time.

"No," Kurt continued, oblivious to Blaine's dismay. "But I've been baking since I was 6. I started with my mother's recipes. I did it with my mother, of course. I actually have a lot. I mean, recipes, not mothers.” 

Blaine bit his lip to keep from laughing out loud. “Thank you for clearing that up.”

“My family and friends say I bake pretty well. Of course, they love me, so what else would they say..." Kurt suddenly froze. He looked up at Blaine. “God, that sounded awful, didn't it? Shit," he muttered and went back to his bag. Blaine couldn't help but chuckle.

"I FOUND IT!" Kurt exclaimed, clutching a folder as his bag landed on the floor with a thud. He pulled the sheet he was looking for out of the folder and handed it to Blaine with a triumphant grin. Blaine took the paper, his eyes never leaving the man in front of him.

"You're hired," he said.

Kurt's jaw dropped in shock. "What? I mean... really? But you haven't even read my resume."

Blaine looked down at the paper in his hand, his eyes scanning it quickly. "No criminal record, you’re from Ohio too, your family loves your cookies..."

"So do my friends."

"So do your friends." Blaine repeated, looking up at Kurt. "That's more than the last two applicants can say for themselves. You're hired."

Kurt let out a squeal and with a sudden impulse, he leaned over the counter to hug Blaine. Blaine froze for a second by the unexpected reaction, but his arms instinctively tightened around Kurt.

-

"We have a new baker," Blaine called to Cooper as Kurt left the bakery.

"So I heard. You two weren’t exactly discreet." The older brother walked over to Blaine and took the resume out of his hand. His eyebrows furrowed. "You hired an ACTOR?"

"What?" Blaine grabbed the resume back from Cooper and for once actually started to read it.

"You didn't even read it??"

"I'm reading it now."

"Are you crazy? This is a bakery, Blaine."

"Yeah. I noticed that," Blaine mumbled and put the resume down. "Did you see his eyes, Coop?" he asked.

Cooper blinked at him. “I beg your pardon?”

“He has beautiful eyes,” Blaine added, as if that was an acceptable explanation.

"Cool. That's a big help when you're working with dough," his brother replied sarcastically, shaking his head in disbelief.

Blaine sighed. "I'll train him."

"You better, little brother." Cooper said pointedly before heading back to the customers.

His brother turned back to Blaine who was looking at the resume again.

"You don't look like you regret it," he said, smiling fondly at him.

"I don't. He starts tomorrow." Blaine winked at his brother and disappeared into the back of the shop.

[klaineadvent]

Hello Klainers!

Sorry for the late start, but yes there is a

December Klaine Fanworks Challenge!!!

(Brought to you by the @klaineadvent blog.)

Once again, this will be a 21 day challenge! Hopefully giving everyone time to complete the event before other obligations kick in, or time to catch up if you like.

The Dates. December 1 - December 21 

The Words. Every day around 6am, US Eastern Standard Time, a fresh new word will pop out of the queue. This year the words are not alphabetical, and were chosen by a random word generator. We’ve got a pair of wonderful artists this year working up the slides, so say a big thanks to @mynonah and @justasmallbloginabigklainefandom!  They both did AMAZING work on a very last minute schedule! 

Keep in mind that a lot of words have many definitions, and the one listed is only a suggestion. Feel free to incorporate any definition you like. Also - we often get asked if it has to be the exact version of the word listed - and while I’m not the word police and you can do what works for you, isn’t part of the fun making it work? 

How to participate. Anyone can contribute, no need to sign up! There will be a single word prompt post each day for 21 days (December 1-21). You can write a drabble (or a sentence or a novel, if you like), create an art piece, make fresh gifs based on the prompt - whatever inspires you! This year the tag will be: “december klaine challenge 2024” and please tag with the word of the day so volunteers can ID the posts they need to reblog (please please please make sure all of your contributions are tagged so we can find them!). 

Contribute however works best for you. You can do something every day, every 4th day, once a week, altogether at the end, whatever works for you and your schedule. Use all the prompts or pick and choose what speaks to you. Set your own challenges. The only requirements for the Challenge are that it be Klaine centered, and that it references or uses one the word (or theme) prompt in some way.

Volunteers will be reblogging fics to the @todaydreambelieversfic blog, so you can always go scroll the blog to find the latest entries.  Of course everyone (especially the authors!) would be delighted if people reblogged to their own blog - the more people who reblog something the wider the potential viewing audience. We want to encourage everyone to reblog as many fics as they like all throughout the month!!

Partnership. This year again we’ll be partnering with @todaydreambelieversfic.  Authors and other creators for the December Klaine Fanworks Challenge who would like an additional place to promote their works are welcome to join as members. Just send a private message to @todaydreambelieversfic with your email address and they’ll add you to the blog membership.

Archive of Our Own. We have created a collection on AO3 for those people who don’t post to tumblr, and where those folks who do post to tumblr can share their advent works if you like! You can find this collection here!

Want to Volunteer? We can always use people to help with the daily reblogs!  If you can spare one or two days please signup here!! If you are not already a member of the @todaydreambelieversfic blog, just message them with your email and you’ll be added!

“But what if I don’t write or make art and don’t have time to volunteer?”  You are the most important person in the Challenge!! Read the fics, look at the art, let the authors and artists know how much you appreciate their work by reblogging and commenting and liking and all those things creators like. Nothing helps a writer or artist losing steam get motivated more than a nice comment from someone. 

I think that covers everything, so if you have any questions or there’s something that’s not clear, please ask! 

Happy Writing!!

[midostree-art]

Sunburn

[slipping-through-my-fingertips]

Day One: Scan

Ao3

Blaine supposes Black Friday isn’t the worst day of the year to be working as a cashier at Rob’s Food Mart. The big day of eating has ended, everyone’s fridge is overflowing with leftovers, and Black Friday is most definitely not a good shopping holiday.

So opening the store at 7am and logging into his usual lane 3 on this particular Friday feels relaxing. Even if it means he doesn’t get the holiday break everyone else in his life is enjoying but he did get triple time for working the morning of Thanksgiving.

He spends most of the shift sweeping and wiping down things. It’s quiet. The occasional customer comes through his lane. He’ll scan their items and they’ll bag because this is New York and everyone’s got their own totes to use.

It’s his easiest shift of the week until 20 minutes before Blaine’s set to leave. He’s half tempted to put on his scarf and hat now just to be ready to race into the snowy streets of the city—then he bursts in, lays out the strangest list of items Blaine’s seen in a while.

A thick gray knit scarf covers up most of his face—not his icy blue eyes or his flush red cheeks from the cold—but Blaine can still see how handsome he is, handsome enough that Blaine can barely greet him.

Just like any other customer Blaine scans and the man bags. He manages to ask him how his thanksgiving was yesterday—“just me and my roommate this year.” Prompting Blaine to ask if they’re new to the city or not.

They are. Recently moved from Ohio for school, just like Blaine.

“What are you studying?” Blaine asks.

“Fashion Design and Marketing.”

By the way his coat, scarf, and mittens all coordinate, Blaine’s not exactly surprised by this. He’d love to know what’s underneath all of those layers. The thought makes him blush and he hopes the man won’t notice.

God, he really needs to get out more if all it takes is one cute customer to turn him on.

As he hands over the receipt and change, Blaine wishes he could ask for the man’s name. But that’s creepy and weird and he’s at work. So he watches the man leave, looks down at his phone, and realizes he only has 5 minutes left of his shift.

[rebornofstars]

hello!! just wondering whether anyone would be interested in a September-based art & writing event focussed on celebrating the female characters in the LU fandom?

i've been thinking about trying to organise something like this for a few months now, but i'm finally speaking up, because this morning i had an idea...

we could call it:

✨Sepfember✨

anyway, if you'd be interested in a september event, let me know!

[magiciansfanworksextravaganza]

Welcome Home!

Magicians Fanworks Event, Jan. 27-Mar. 9, 2025

Welcome Home!

We’re welcoming fanworks of all types, both new works and continuations of existing WIPs, for a challenge event celebrating The Magicians (Lev Grossman/SyFy). This low-key challenge focuses on a relaxed series of weekly entries, with the hope that all will have more time to participate and enjoy the new works. We’ll reblog here on Tumblr and open the AO3 collection from Jan. 27-Mar. 9.

The overall theme for the entire event is Welcome Home! Interpret as you please—home could be a person, place, or more; “welcome home” could be meant sincerely or sarcastically. It also includes “welcome back to this WIP” even if your WIP doesn’t meet any other theme (note: WIP continuations automatically qualify; new works must at least fit the overall event theme).

We’ve created weekly prompts, in addition to the overall event theme. We also have a final “Free Space” week.

If you would like to create something for the general “Welcome Home!” theme, these are welcome anytime while the event is open, from Jan. 27-Mar. 9!

If you would like to use the weekly themes: We hope the weekly theme setup helps inspire new works and revive temporarily stalled WIPs. Each week, we encourage works for that theme anytime during the week (Monday-Sunday). If you miss your week, you’ve got a second chance during Week 6, our Free Space/Catch-Up week!

Want to continue an existing WIP but it doesn’t match any of our themes? Send it during Week 6!

All types of fanworks are welcome! Fic, art, edits, vids, cosplay, crafts, moodboards, pinboards, songs, fanmixes, podfic—you make it, we’ll enjoy it! You’re welcome to add as many different works as you want while the event is open, Jan. 27-Mar. 9!

WEEK 1: Jan. 27-Feb. 2, HOME as a theme—Whatever the creator and/or characters think about "home," good or bad; could be about a new home, or returning to an old one.

WEEK 2: Feb. 3-9, "It's been a long time"—It could be a long time since characters saw each other, or a long time engaged on a task like the mosaic (or a long time since the author posted to this WIP—maybe one of your oldest). Special note: The 7th anniversary of The Magicians 3x05, “A Life in the Day,” falls this week, on Feb. 7. So feel free to send Mosaic Fic during this week.

WEEK 3: Feb. 10-16, Seasonal/holiday—Whether or not it’s the current season/holiday right now (any are welcome). Special note: By sheer happy coincidence, Valentine’s Day is this week.

WEEK 4: Feb. 17-23, Magical creature—A being from the show or books, or from mythology/folklore, or one you make up.

WEEK 5: Feb. 24-Mar. 2, Returning after absence (or returning to being themselves).

WEEK 6: Mar. 3-9, Free space/catch-up week! If you were working on a theme for any prior week but needed more time, now’s your chance! Or, if you are continuing an existing WIP that doesn’t match any of our themes, please share it now.

Remember—any works for the general “Welcome Home” theme may be sent any time the event is open, from Jan. 27-Mar. 9.

The last day for challenge entries on Tumblr and/or AO3 will be March 9.

Please stay tuned for more details!

[lady-divine-writes]

"Taking the Plunge" (Rated M)

On their first day in Vail, on the last-minute vacation of a lifetime, Blaine has come up with a surprise for his husband that's equal parts horrifying and confusing. (1461 words)

Read on AO3.

"Tell me why..."

"Ain't nothin' but a heartache..."

"Stop that," Kurt snaps.

"Oh, uh..." Blaine bites his lips together, stifling a giggle. But more importantly, stifling the next verse of the song. "Sorry."

Kurt breathes in, cold air shooting straight to his lungs and freezing them solid. 'This is it,' he thinks, shivering so hard his body vibrates, scooting him a foot to the left against his will. 'This is how I die. I become a human popsicle. Maybe they can preserve me, revive me in the future. God...' He glances up at the dreary sky, his view obscured by his bangs, holding their height remarkably well against the blistering breeze. 'I hope my hair keeps up.'

When they had arrived in Vail and checked in, Kurt immediately threw on his swimsuit at Blaine's request. Personally, he'd been excited to get the debauchery started! It had been too long since they'd taken a proper vacation. Yes, they live alone together and can have sex freely on every piece of furniture they own. But there was something about taking their carnal escapades to a different locale that got Kurt's blood pumping.

What can he say? He loves to travel.

After Kurt suited up, Blaine tossed him his parka and boots, then ushered his husband past the cozy lodge, with its heated mineral spring pools and five-star restaurant, to this foreboding body of black, ice-filled water. They'd stopped at the banks, joining a swimsuit-clad group already gathered and intent on jumping in. Kurt thought Blaine had dragged him there for a laugh - watch the tourists freeze their asses off before they themselves retreated to the soothing waters inside.

It horrified Kurt to no end that Blaine looked eager to take the plunge, too.

When they had planned this vacation together on their sofa in Manhattan, Blaine made no mention of participating in the Arctic Dip. But that must have been his plan all along.

Surprise!

Kurt didn't think he could find a place colder than Ohio in December.

Staring into the water in front of him, ice bobbing at the surface, he knows he's about to be proven wrong.

Everything from his nuts to his nose shrivels at the thought.

"Explain to me again," Kurt starts over, choosing his words carefully so as not to stumble upon the lyrics of another catchy boy-band earworm, "why we're about to do this."

Blaine claps his hands together, rubbing them hard to warm them, and beams ear to ear. "Because it's exhilarating!"

"Your definition of exhilarating and my definition of exhilarating are vastly different then." Kurt pulls his parka tighter around him, attempting to trap whatever heat he has left underneath. It pains him to do it, though. He is certain he has pulled most of the seams loose by now.

A group of older, less dressed gentlemen stroll by as if it's a sunny spring day and not 80 degrees below, laughing at their own jokes and nodding at Kurt and Blaine as they pass. Blaine politely adverts his eyes.

"At least we're wearing bathing suits," he kids.

"Speedos. Which you had me pack under false pretenses."

"No! No false pretenses!" Blaine pleads, hoping his plans haven't lost him access to his husband in a Speedo for the rest of their trip. "They're for the jacuzzi in our suite. I swear."

"Which we haven't even seen yet! You dragged us straight here!"

"We want to take the plunge with everyone else! Before the ice melts!"

"Do we, though?" Kurt whines.

"Yes! This is the highlight of this resort! That's why I chose it! I've been looking forward to this!"

Kurt scowls. "O-kay. If you want to do this, fine. But why can't I wait on the sidelines with a sherry and a smile?"

"Because it's a bucket list item. And we do bucket list stuff together."

"But it's on your bucket list. Not mine. Nowhere on my bucket list does it say freeze my balls off!"

"I was hoping you'd do this with me as a favor? Be supportive of my eccentricities?"

Kurt tilts his head at Blaine, carefully examining his suddenly sullen spouse. "Why do you sound embarrassed about that?"

"Because it's..." Blaine chews his lower lip, trying to avoid the inevitable reveal. But he can't. He can't put this confession off any longer. "It's a... mid-life... bucket list item."

Kurt turns fully towards his husband, eyebrow arcing sharply. "You have your bucket list divided into age groups?"

"More like milestones."

"And you can't just dye your hair blond and buy a Ferrari like everyone else?"

"You mean like my dad? And my brother? Who got it into their heads that married life was holding them back, so they messed up the best things that ever happened to them?"

"I... guess," Kurt says, softening even though every outward inch of him has become rock solid.

"Yeah, well at least they waited a few decades, right? As opposed to me, who started in high school." Blaine chuckles bitterly. "Coop always said I was an overachiever."

Kurt sighs, releasing his death grip on his cramping elbows, and takes his husband's hands. "Honey, where is this coming from?"

"I don't know," Blaine murmurs. It's a knee-jerk answer but it's also a lie. He does know. They both do. Or, at least, Kurt can guess. It was either the invitation they received to Cooper's second wedding to his second wife, taking place in June (only a month after his second divorce from wife number one finalizes... the wife Blaine loves and adores like a sister) or the heads-up from Blaine's mom that his dad, who came back a year ago to joy and revelry all around, is eloping with his secretary.

His 20-year-old secretary.

Blaine's mom broke the news to Blaine over the phone at three in the morning, hysterically crying and sloppy drunk.

But it could also be the out-of-the-blue Facebook friend request Blaine got from Eli, their favorite lighthouse. Blaine had blocked the man on everything he could think of, so to see his name and picture pop up (real picture this time) had thrown Blaine for a loop.

He almost deleted his account.

Either way, that was a ton of emotional baggage for Blaine to deal with all at once. It's ninety percent of the reason why they packed their bags last minute and ran off to Vail. Blaine couldn't face spending the holidays with his family this year.

He wouldn't even know whose house to go to.

Kurt was fine with it. His family had headed off on another Country Music Christmas Cruise. Sure he missed his dad, his stepmother, and his stepbrother.

But Kurt had never declined an invitation so fast.

He had nothing against country music. He did have an issue with being trapped in the middle of the ocean with twenty-five Bluegrass bands and nothing to eat but BBQ for two weeks. Kurt and his father were going to have to have a serious conversation about his cholesterol when the man came back to terra firma.

Blaine shivers for the first time since they've been out here, and Kurt wonders if he's finally feeling the bite in the wind, or if it's from something else.

Something frozen deep inside, so cold that ice water is actually warm enough to melt it.

Kurt looks down at the still water, abyssal black and straight out of a horror flick, then back at his husband, eyes downcast to the snow, lips turning a subtle shade of blue. Kurt knows Blaine is rethinking this decision, and normally Kurt would encourage that. But this time doing what Blaine wants, what he needs, is more important than Kurt's comfort.

And possibly his health.

"Okay, okay. I'll do this with you," Kurt says, abandoning the escape plan he had been brewing in his brain - the one where he takes a step back as his husband leaps forward and books it for the lodge - and embraces the numbing cold. "Because you're my husband, and I love you."

Blaine peeks up at his husband and smiles, a small ray of sunshine in this oppressive chill. "Thank you, Kurt." He considers adding, 'You won't regret this,' after, but he has to be real.

Kurt regrets it already.

"But whatever happens," Kurt says, unzipping his jacket quickly like ripping off a bandaid, "you are responsible for warming me up, whatever that entails, and for however long it takes. Deal?"

Blaine's shy, apologetic smile transforms.

It becomes wolfish.

Through chattering teeth and hard-pinched lips, Kurt's flirtatious tone managed to squeeze its way back into his voice.

Perhaps Blaine hasn't lost access to his husband in a Speedo after all.

Now he has to work to keep it that way.

"Deal."

[bemyvalentinechallenge]

LINKS:

challenge rules prompt list tagging system ao3 collection 2024 submissions

TRANSCRIPT:

Dear Lovers, Welcome to the Be My Valentine challenge, 2025! This is a two-week creation challenge with prompts, as well as alternates, to celebrate Valentine's Day and all the love that comes with it! From Feb. 1 - 14, you can create as many (or as few) prompt-based submissions as you like. Tag us with #bemyvalentine2025 or the @, and we'll reblog your work to the blog. Each day has a song, trope, and quote prompt; you can fill them all, or take your pick. If you have any questions, leave us an ask! Happy Creating! - The Mods.

P.S., reblog to support the event + spread word ahead of the challenge in february!

[janewayseven]

Alright folks, time to shower all the wonderful creators in the J7 Fandom with some love!

How does it work? 

The Comment Challenge runs from the 11th of May to the 31st of May

To participate, work your way through the challenges above (no, old comments do not count)

A full row / column / diagonal counts as bingo

To make it more fun, you can tag some people each time you get a bingo to encourage more people to join the challenge (optional)

If you’d like, share the works you’ve commented on to help others find new fanworks! (optional)

If you don’t know where to start, we’ve got you: Here’s a link to the J7 Logs, a collection of recommendations & bookmarks from the J7 Fanwork Hub. Feel free to get started there! If you have recs you miss - please submit them here on the blog or add them to the collection directly!

If you need some help to come up with comments, there’s some excellent advice here, here and here! 

Let the comment-showers begin!

[esilher]

Art: @esilher   Fic: @mynonah  Thank you so much @bossymarmalade for the quick beta reading! <3  You can read it on AO3

Winter Magic (Part 1)

“I think we have a problem with one of our customers, Boss.” Santana said to Blaine with a wry smile, leaning against the counter next to him. All the people waiting in line had finally been served and there was no one at the counter. Blaine continued to wipe the coffee machine without looking up at Santana.

“What do you mean?” He asked, although he wasn’t particularly bothered. Santana always had a problem with someone. She was an excellent worker, of course, otherwise Blaine wouldn’t have hired her to work in his coffee shop. Even though her attitude and manners could use some improvement...

“It’s Kurt.” Santana informed him.

“Kurt?” Blaine turned to Santana with a puzzled look on his face.

“Oh, come on!” She groaned. “You know exactly who it is. I’ve been watching you drool over him for months.”

“That’s not true, Santana.”

“You practically push me aside every time you see him waiting in line.”

Blaine gave Santana a disapproving look. “Do I have to remind you who pays your salary?”

“Your only condition was that I couldn’t be rude to the customers. Do you know how hard that is? But you’re not paying me to be blind.”

“Maybe I should.” Blaine retorted sharply.

Santana rolled her eyes. “Whatever. The point is,” she leaned closer, “there’s something wrong with him. You don’t think his orders are... strange?”

Yeah, well, Blaine thought... Some would call it strange. Blaine noticed it too, of course he did. He’d seen Kurt in his coffee shop before. Sometimes alone, sometimes with a very loud brunette. Yes, he remembered him clearly. Because regular customers were important for the business and because he was a good observer. Not because the guy looked gorgeous and always smiled so warmly at Blaine...

But for a while, Kurt had been coming in every day shortly after opening and always asking for the same thing. Their Winter Magic aka Rudolph’s Favorite specialty coffee, one of Blaine’s best-selling seasonal creations. He also asked for an espresso in a large paper cup and a glass of hot water. About 20 minutes later, he would order another espresso, this time decaf, and a glass of hot water. He would repeat his last order one more time before he left. Blaine assumed that Kurt added the water to the espresso, hence the large cup he always asked for. He couldn’t see it because Kurt always took a seat at the back of the shop. And even though the thought made him cringe (why not ask for a standard long black instead?), it wasn’t really any of his business.

“A bit strange what he usually orders, Santana, you’re right but…”

“Not usually, every day,” she corrected.

“But it’s none of our business,” Blaine shrugged.

Santana gave him a devilish smile. “Don’t be so sure about that, Boss!”

This time Blaine turned all the way to Santana, folded his arms and looked at her questioningly. He knew he wouldn’t get out of this pointless conversation until he heard what she had to say.

“I think he’s trying to steal your recipe,” she said excitedly.

“Excuse me?!” Blaine was shocked. He wasn’t expecting this craziness.

“As soon as he thinks we don’t see him anymore, he pulls a bunch of little jars out of his bag and a thermos with some whitish liquid in it. My guess is that those are spices in the jars and some kind of milk or herbal drink in the thermos," she said, grinning at Blaine.

“Could you please have a little less fun with your theory?” Blaine asked firmly.

“I’m trying, Boss, but it’s really hard. And it’s not a theory, I’ve seen it!” She replied excitedly before she continued. “Then, while sipping his Winter Magic, he starts stirring a brew. He repeats this twice more with the decaf espressos and then leaves. I suppose he does it without success for now, because he has always come back so far. So, Boss... He’s either mad and thinks he’s a wizard OR... he’s trying to steal your recipe.” At the end of the sentence, Santana had the biggest devilish grin on her face, obviously extremely proud of herself and having a really good time.

Blaine, on the other hand, was overcome with rage.

“Thank you, Santana,” he squeezed the words between his teeth and turned back to the coffee machine.

“That’s it?” Santana asked, putting her hands on her hips, disappointed. “No raise or anything?”

Blaine gave her a sharp look. “You can take the day off tomorrow,” he said, and the smile returned to Santana’s face. Blaine went back to the coffee machine and started to make a fresh espresso.

-

“Hi!” Blaine stopped by Kurt’s table a few minutes later.

“Hi, wow,” Kurt looked up at Blaine in surprise. “I was just about to ask for a…”

“Yeah, I know,” Blaine interrupted, putting the serving tray he was holding on the table. “Can I sit down?” 

Although Kurt opened his mouth to reply, Blaine had already taken a seat across from him before he could say anything. 

“Um... so I was just going to ask for some coffee…” Kurt started again, a little confused, but smiling.

“You know, that’s funny. I was about to ask you the same thing,” Blaine replied with a strained smile. He took the two glasses of hot water and the two cups of espresso from the tray and placed them in front of Kurt. “This one is the decaf,” Blaine pointed to the cup on the left, then leaned back and crossed his arms, looking expectantly at Kurt.

Kurt blinked at the two cups of coffee in front of him.

“I’m sorry, I… I don’t think I understand." He looked up at Blaine and tilted his head to the side.

“I want you to make me a coffee. Like you do for yourself every morning. In MY coffee shop.”

Kurt’s mouth dropped open. “Oh my God.” He covered his face with his hands. “I’m so sorry. You must think I’m a total jerk.”

“I want you to make me a coffee.” Blaine repeated emphatically, and Kurt just noticed the man’s anger.

After a moment’s thought, Kurt started taking his equipment out of his bag; a thermos of warmed soy milk and the spices packed in small jars, even a shaker, and he started. When he was done, he pushed a cup of fake Winter Magic towards Blaine, who followed Kurt’s hands with a somber expression.

The barista stared at the cup for a while, motionless. Just as Kurt began to find the tension unbearable and thought about breaking the silence, Blaine finally reached for his drink. He took a sip of coffee and a humorless laugh escaped his lips as he placed it back on the table.

“So, where do you work?” He asked impatiently.

“What?” Kurt blinked at him.

“Where. Do. You. Work.”

Kurt raised an eyebrow, not understanding where this was coming from. Neither the question nor the attitude that seemed so out of character for this man. He decided to answer it anyway.

“At Vogue.”

Blaine blinked, confused. “Is that a new place?”

“Is that what?” Kurt frowned. “Vogue.com.” He knew he shouldn’t complain that the cute barista tried to talk to him, but this felt more like an interrogation. 

Then it suddenly hit him.

“Wait… You think I’m a spy?” Kurt’s eyes widened.

Blaine raised an eyebrow, and Kurt noticed the tension in Blaine’s body at the question.

“Aren’t you?” He asked harshly.

[klaineadvent]

art by @justasmallbloginabigklainefandom