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a-small-batch-of-dragons · 2 days ago

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Snow Day Part 3

Read on Ao3 Part 1 Part 2

Warnings: implied/referenced homophobia

Pairings: logince

Word Count: 8202

"Uh—sorry," Roman stammers when Logan opens the door, and it has everything to do with the fact that there was definitely supposed to be a party tonight and there's no one else here, and nothing to do with the face that Logan's only wearing a button-down with the top few buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up, "I must have my dates wrong."

"No, as always your timing is impeccable. Unfortunately, it seems everyone else has had other plans get in the way."

"O-oh. Um—" he shoves the tin at Logan— "here, I'll just go—"

"What for? I didn't say I minded." With that, Logan steps back, opening the door. "Come in, please."

Roman swallows, shuffling forward until he actually sees the inside of this apartment and he's far too stunned to do anything but gape like a weirdo. In his defense, when most people say 'apartment,' they think of probably something like a few rooms with a decent view and not much else. This not-apartment-because-what-the-hell looks closer to a mini mansion that's been squeezed into half of a building with a kitchen straight out of some high-budget cooking show, a gigantic dining table, and a living room that he swears he's seen in every drama ever, complete with floor to ceiling windows along one side. The door closes softly behind him and he quickly looks down, cheeks burning, trying to figure out the polite way to get out of his boots before he gets snow and sludge all over this floor.

"I thought I told you that you needn't bring anything," Logan says, taking the offered tin.

"Yeah, well, old habits. Always bring something when you go over to someone's house for the first time. It's, um, it's my mom's brownie recipe."

"Can't remember the last time I've had a brownie."

"Don't tell me you're one of those people who refuses to eat dessert on principle." Logan's expression twitches minutely and Roman groans. "It's the holidays, you're allowed to indulge. I'm sure as hell not gonna tell anyone."

"I'll hold you to that." He sets the tin down on the corner of the table. "Would you like a drink?"

"Do you have something that isn't obscenely priced alcohol?"

Logan chuckles as he reaches into a cabinet and produces two wine glasses. "Red or white?"

"Is there a non-plebeian way to say 'I have no idea?'"

"You could ask what I plan on feeding you, to figure out what would pair properly."

"Yeah, but if you had opinions on that you wouldn't give me the choice."

"Clever boy." Luckily, his back is still mostly turned so he doesn't see Roman turn bright red. "But…that brings me to the other issue. I had assumed no one was coming over tonight, so I called and canceled the caterer."

"I can go—okay, not the point, got it," he says hastily when Logan shoots him a glare, "uh…we could order something else? Or are you not a take-out person?"

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response."

"Okay, smart guy, even though I don't believe you in the slightest. What's the state of your fridge look like?"

"Now who's interrogating who?"

"I'm offering to cook, genius, but I need to know what I'm working with."

There's another weird expression on Logan's face. Weird because it looks like Logan isn't the sort of person who's genuinely caught off guard a lot, and weird because it's making Roman's stomach do these flips and he's gonna ascribe that to hunger and not anything else, thank you very much. Swallowing most of that, he walks over and opens the fridge, blinking when he sees it's nearly empty.

"Okay, you wanna revisit that whole thing about you not being a take-out person?"

"I had it cleared with the expectation of leftovers. From the caterers. Who were going to be here up until I canceled them an hour ago."

"Uh huh." There are a few things he could work with in there. He opens a few more cabinets, trying not to think of one, how weird this is still feeling, and two, how Logan's just letting him go through his kitchen. He manages to find a box of pasta, a few potatoes that look pretty okay, and there's a bag of frozen broccoli in the freezer. "Are you one of those people that has an entire spice cabinet somewhere?"

"Roman," Logan says suddenly, a hand on his arm, "you don't have to cook. We can order something."

"I don't mind."

"You are a guest. I can hardly invite you over and then force you to cook."

"You're not forcing me, I'm offering. Besides," he grins, "you're already eating at least one brownie tonight, can't have it getting out that you're eating take-out too, can it?"

Logan shakes his head, smile growing. "And here I thought you promised not to tell anyone."

"Oh, I did, but unless you've got an NDA ready for whatever delivery driver shows up, they might not."

"You make an excellent point."

"I do have those sometimes. I'm gonna guess that since you had this food in your house, you're willing to eat it, but I'm thinking pasta with potatoes and broccoli on the side, is that fine?"

"That sounds wonderful. How can I help?"

"Uh—" see, now, it's one thing if he's cooking for Logan, it's another if Logan's going to help because that jumps to a level of domestic that he really should've thought about before deciding this was a good idea, but it's too late to back out now— "you can pick the wine since I have no idea how to do that."

"As you wish."

Nope. Not a reference. Just a thing he said. Don't think about it, don't read into it, don't do that.

In an effort to avoid doing exactly that, he gets Logan to show him the spice cabinet and where he keeps things like pots, pans, baking trays, and other things he's gonna need. Logan even has some of the fancy kitchen utensils like mandolins that make his life simultaneously easier and harder. Now that he knows he can do it properly, he's gonna have to.

"Can you preheat your oven for me?"

"It's just an oven, Roman, it doesn't bite."

"Yeah, but mine is the kind where you turn the knob to what it's supposed to be, not some Star Trek looking thing that looks like it'll beep very angrily if I press the wrong button."

"What should I set it to?"

"375 to start with. We'll crank it up once the first part's done."

"And you're certain there's nothing I can do to help?"

"Uh—you wanna melt some butter for me?"

"How much?"

"Just a stick. That should be enough."

"Should I be worried that you're not referencing a recipe," Logan says as he puts a pot on the stove, "or is this another one of your many talents you've been hiding from me?"

"I've not been going out of my way to hide my talents from you, it's your own fault if you haven't noticed them."

"Yes, because our previous meetings have been so conducive to you showing off your skill in the kitchen."

"Lucky you, then."

"Yes, lucky me."

The rest of the cooking does go by remarkably smoothly, not in the least because Roman actually does know what he's doing, thank you very much. And judging by Logan's pleasantly surprised expression, he did a pretty good job.

"Still happy you canceled the caterer?"

"Immeasurably," he sighs, leaning back in his chair as the last of their wine disappears, "that was delicious, Roman, thank you."

"No problem. It's the least I could do."

As soon as the words leave his mouth, he winces. Well. There go his attempts to be subtle right now. Blood in the water, tracking through the grass, whichever analogy Logan wants to use right now. His reaction to his mistake probably isn't helping him either. Shit. It was fun while it lasted.

"Say more," Logan prompts a moment later.

"What if I don't want to?"

"Then you needn't, but you can, if you want to."

"I think I'd rather have dessert."

Logan gives him a look like this isn't over—he wasn't under any illusions that it was—but retrieves the brownie tin. He opens it with an unnecessary grimace but takes one before offering the tin to Roman. Roman just bites down because it's chocolate and only an idiot refuses chocolate at the holidays. He keeps his eye on Logan, just to see his reaction, and can't help grin when Logan quickly finishes the rest of his brownie.

"Making you rethink your whole anti-dessert regimen?"

"You're a terrible influence."

He pushes away the sting in favor of grabbing another brownie. Logan rolls his eyes. "Hey, if you don't like them, I'll just take them with me when I go."

"Let's not be hasty."

"Uh-huh," he says triumphantly as Logan puts the tin on top of the fridge, "whatever you need to tell yourself."

Logan tweaks his nose as he walks past, smirking at Roman's indignant squawk. "That wine's gone right through me, apparently. I'll be back, try not to make too much of a mess."

"No promises!"

Yeah, no, Logan's really overestimating his gall if he thinks Roman's about to touch anything in this apartment without his explicit permission. Instead, he puts his hands in his lap like he's a little kid, just looking at everything instead. Belatedly, he realizes he could be productive and put the dirty dishes somewhere or start washing the stuff he knows can't go in a dishwasher because of course Logan has a dishwasher somewhere here, it's probably just hidden behind a false cabinet door or something. But then he's thinking about what Logan might say if he came back to find Roman doing the dishes and then it makes him think of his mother saying guests never do the dishes, Roman, you remember that, and fuck, now he's sad again.

He finds himself staring out of the window. It's not snowing anymore, but there's still some frost at the corners of the glass. His fingers fiddle with the loose threads at the bottom of his sweater.

"Do you think it's gonna snow? It has to snow! It has to be white on Christmas, that's the rule!"

Oh, if only that were true. If only the child's version of Christmas was the real one, the one where everyone puts aside their differences to celebrate being together, where everyone's just content, where the tree tops glisten and children listen to hear—

"…sleigh bells in the snow."

Huh. When did he start singing? Well, little use in stopping now. It was his favorite song for a while for a reason.

The familiar melody rings out in the still room as Roman's eyes drift closed. Unbidden, the song turns melancholy, almost regretful, until it's more a lament than a ballad. His tongue grows thick, his voice heavy.

The last note wavers more than is probably acceptable, but it's not like anyone's around to—

"You didn't tell me you could sing either."

Logan. Roman doesn't quite jump as he turns around, but he knows the shock and embarrassment of forgetting that yeah, dumbass, this is Logan's condo, of course he's still here, is all over his face. He's leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"You've a lovely voice, Roman," he says instead, and he bites back the now who's dodging the questions? in favor of looking away instead, "thought I can't help but notice that sounded remarkably sad compared to other versions of that song."

"Yeah, well."

There's a pause, then Logan's walking forward to refill their wine glasses.

"You," he says as he hands one to Roman, "are far too sad for someone who just cooked a wonderful meal and had the foresight to bring over dessert with it. Come, now, up."

He follows Logan's prompting, letting him steer him to the criminally comfortable couch and sit. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be all doom and gloom—"

"No need for apologies."

"I can't imagine this is how you expected to spend your night."

"Well, no, but it's a damn sight better than suffering through the teasing from everyone about how much of a Grinch I am."

"Why is that? Sorry," he says hastily, realizing how much of a hypocrite that makes him, "you don't have to answer that."

Logan looks at him with that amused smirk before taking a sip of his wine. "It's not that I dislike the holidays, just the pageantry of it. I care little for the theatrics of holiday cheer most businesses use as a thinly-veiled excuse to guilt you into spending more money and the snobby people who insist their generousness is due to some Yuletide folly rather than a facade of charity to make themselves feel better."

"Wow, if you're calling them snobs then it must be bad."

Logan nudges him with his foot. It's supposed to be a kick, he knows, a stop having that sort of attitude with me, but Roman's chest doesn't think of it like that. "Besides, there's always that terrible habit some people have of letting the season convince them they feel things they don't."

Something icy cold settles in the pit of Roman's stomach. "Oh, yeah? Like what?"

Logan sighs again, looking away. "Oh, you know, those sentimental fools that think they'll find love at the holidays. The ones who swear they've met their soulmate only for the relationship to fall apart before the new year."

"…remember when I called you cynical?" he tries to joke to cover up how bad his hands are starting to hurt, "I think I might've undersold it."

"Call me cynical all you like, but I've seen more than my share of reasonable people turn into complete idiots pining away after someone once December begins. All it does it give them more bad memories to dwell upon next year, mourning some fantasy that never stood a chance."

He blinks, then eyes his glass.

"I didn't think I'd had that much to drink."

"Don't worry, I'll add it to the list of things I'm never gonna talk about after tonight."

"Much appreciated." He leans against the back of the couch, one arm slung over the back. "Now, I think I've done my fair share of bringing down the mood, so you needn't worry about that any further."

That is, surprisingly, not what Roman's worrying about right now. He is worrying about the fact that somehow, despite knowing better himself and knowing that it could never, ever happen, he's apparently gone and done the very thing Logan's just condemned. And he has no idea what he's going to do about that, because Patton is away with his partner and he doesn't really have any other friends he can talk to about something like this and his brother—

"Roman?" Logan's voice snaps him out of the spiral, blinking to see him watching him with a frown. "What's troubling you?"

It's not like this is the worst decision he's made tonight. "My…family's not really big on Christmas, not anymore."

"No? I would've thought you'd be the type to get together and made a big deal of it."

"We used to. Back when I was younger. The whole extended family would cram into my grandmother's house and we wouldn't leave until after New Year's." He can't help but smile. "I used to wonder where they were keeping everything, then I learned that only the kids really got to stay in the house and everyone else was in a nearby motel or someone else's house."

"How many people are we talking about?"

"Including the kids, the in-laws, and the friends that got dragged in…I'd say around four dozen? Easily?" He stifles a snort at the somewhat horrified look on Logan's face. "Yeah, it was a lot. But it never felt like it was too much, you know? It was always right, that everyone was there, that you got to see everybody just once, even if it was only for a five-minute conversation, but it was Christmas and so you had to…to just be there for everyone for a few days."

He takes another sip of wine.

"My favorite thing to do was dance with my grandpa. He'd wait until everyone else was distracted and sneak me into the basement where his record player was. Then I'd stand on his feet and we'd dance around the cold floor until someone came looking for us. He'd tell me all these stories about how he met my grandma, or how my mom met my dad, and I'd try and make him guess what song was going to play next and always be surprised when he knew." He shakes his head. "He had that record memorized."

He can feel the cold cement under his feet, hear the noise of the old record player and the growling rumble of his grandpa humming along to Bing Crosby. He can smell the old insulation and hear footsteps against the ceiling from the other kids running by.

He gives himself a shake.

"I—uh—sorry."

"Don't apologize," Logan says quietly, resting his hand on his shoulder, "you're doing wonderfully."

Nope. Nope, not helping. The opposite of helping, actually. Roman swallows. "The—um, the last time I was there, I asked him if I could have the record when he didn't want it anymore. He told me it wouldn't be much use without the record player and I said that's so I had to come back when I wanted to hear it again."

He swallows again.

"That was the plan, anyway."

This time, Logan doesn't ask. He doesn't have to. He just waits, hand still burning Roman's shoulder.

"When my brother came out, they disowned him."

Logan doesn't visibly react, but the air in the apartment grows a little stuffier.

"I fought with them like hell over it, but they wouldn't budge. Said he'd have to give it up if he ever wanted a chance back in the family. I tried to say that they'd always had something against him, even before they knew he was gay, that they just used that as an excuse. They said they'd have done it anyway, and I…didn't believe them, that they wouldn't have reacted the same way as if it was me telling them I was gay."

This happened years ago. It shouldn't still make him this upset. He looks down, swirls the glass of wine around.

"…they weren't bluffing. I was gone the same day. I didn't realize it was Christmas that year until I looked at a calendar and realized it had passed." He makes himself take a sip. "He's doing better now. He has his own family, they spend every Christmas together and we try and call, but it was…it was hard for a while. He didn't believe that I'd tried to stick up for him and when I said they kicked me out too, he—I don't think he believed me at first about that either. We've talked about it since and we're okay, but it's…still hard."

"I'm sorry, Roman," Logan says, his voice terribly heavy, "that's awful. No child should ever have to feel as though their family's love is conditional."

"I'm better off without them."

"Yes, you are. And if they can't see what a wonderful person you've become, then that's their fault."

See, now, Logan can't just go saying things like that, because then Roman will start crying. He takes another sip and forces a smile. "Sure I didn't bring down the mood too much?"

"What do you typically do for Christmas?"

"Huh?"

"You said your brother spends time with his chosen family, what about you?"

"I, uh, well, normally I spend it with Patton and his folks. They're not really big on the whole Christmas dinner thing but we always spend it volunteering at this place right outside the city."

"But he's with his partner this year," Logan deduces, and Roman just nods.

"Guess I didn't really have a leg to stand on when it comes to lack of holiday plans, huh?"

He's not sure what he expected Logan's reaction to be—maybe a huff of laughter and a change of subject—but it wasn't for him to reach into his pocket for his phone and press something that makes music come out of some hidden speaker. Damn rich people and their fancy sound systems. He's about to say as much when Logan puts down his wine glass and stands, offering him a hand.

His mouth hangs open until Logan chuckles. "Dance with me."

"I'm—uh—I really don't know how to—"

"Don't overthink it," he interrupts quietly, "just follow my lead."

Roman's body obeys before his brain has a chance to catch up to whatever the fuck this has turned into, taking Logan's hand and letting him walk them to the center of the floor. True to his word, there are no complicated fancy steps, just two bodies swaying together as the music plays. But all that does is give him time to think about the way Logan's hand presses against his back until they're chest to chest, his hand cradling Roman's as though it's something precious and this, this is why Roman can't think about this. Because if he keeps thinking about it, he's going to start thinking about how badly he wants to tip his chin up just a little and he's not going to watch Logan's expression harden as he kicks him out of his house.

"You're still thinking too much," Logan murmurs in his ear, kindly not pointing out the way Roman shivers, "just relax."

"I haven't danced with anyone in a long time, okay?"

"You're doing wonderfully." Roman can't hold back the disbelieving huff and Logan squeezes his hand—again, probably in reprimand but it just makes his chest flip— "you've already impressed me enough tonight, Roman. It'd be unfair if you were also a phenomenal dancer."

Roman sighs and tries. Honestly, he does, and he only realizes he's doing it by humming when Logan murmurs something about his having a lovely voice again. "Thanks."

"Is White Christmas your favorite?"

"It used to be. Now I don't know what it is. Do you have a favorite Christmas song?"

"Do I look like the type to have a favorite Christmas song?"

Well, you don't seem like to type to slow dance with a relative stranger in your house after no one else showed up to your party either, but here we are. "Guess not."

They keep dancing. The music goes from purely orchestral pieces to old-fashioned crooners to a few slower songs Roman doesn't quite recognize. All the while he tries not to think about how this would be a great way to spend his Christmas. No presents necessary, no tree, no nothing, just…here. With Logan, dancing to music. Maybe with snow falling outside.

Logan chuckles when he voices that thought—just the snow bit, not the everything else bit. "What fascination do you have with snow?"

"I like it."

"Stunning argument, counselor."

"We're not in court, shut up." Logan just laughs at him again and he rolls his eyes. "It's the one thing I can still be sentimental over, okay?"

Logan's laugh fades and now he's just looking at Roman with a soft expression. "Well, then. Far be it from me to stop you."

They come to a stop as the song finishes. They stare at each other. The next song starts but they don't move again. The air grows thicker, thicker, the wine wrapping its hazy tendrils up through his chest, his throat, making his eyes heavy and—

"I—I should go," Roman mumbles, pulling away. Logan lets him. "Thank you for—hosting."

Logan doesn't say anything. He's still watching Roman and Roman knows he didn't just imagine that. But Logan's earlier words ring in his ears and he hurries to get his shoes on, shrug on his coat, and vanish into the punishing cold of the late night streets.

***

Christmas Eve.

Roman tips his head back, snow melting as it touches his damp cheeks, his tears icy cold by the time they meet his trembling lips. He'd never quite realized that it was true: snow created a hush in the air as it fell. The park has never been so quiet. A single flickering streetlight illuminates his bench, a layer of power already accumulated on his shoulders and knees. He blows out a cloud of steam.

He'd stopped feeling his fingers and toes a while ago. Distantly, some part of him registers that he should be worried about that. But worrying involves moving, and the thought of leaving this one little place has him sick to his stomach.

I can't leave now, he bargains, there's a spot on this bench that needs to be kept free of the snow. It'll look really obvious that someone was sitting here because there will be so much less snow, so I might as well keep sitting here.

The bench might be cold. It's cold, after all, it's snowing—and even just having part of the bench warm would be better than nothing. And it's really quiet out here. If Roman wasn't here, then there wouldn't be any noise at all and that's disconcerting, especially on Christmas Eve. How can you be expected to be all alone on Christmas Eve? How could Roman leave this bench to be all on its own when it was Christmas Eve? That would just be cruel.

He sniffles. It falls flat in the hushed air.

He's such a fool. A heartsick, pathetic, sentimental fool. He should've known better. He should've known this time of year was dangerous for him, him and his clinginess and his brashness and his unwanted enthusiasm. He should've known better than to try and make friends, make any sort of connection because it wasn't going to be what he needed it to be. He should've listened to that therapist his parents made him go see, when she said you've got a lot of love in you, you just need to put it in the right place. He doesn't know where the right place is anymore, but he sure as hell has lived long enough to be able to recognize the wrong place.

But he's carved out a space for himself this Christmas Eve, see? There's a part of the bench with no snow on it, that's where he belongs.

Unbidden, a wave of resentment for his brother crashes against his chest, and soon after a tsunami of self-loathing all but drowns him. How can he be so cruel, tonight of all nights, to begrudge the fact that his brother has a place to call home? People to call family? He should be happy for his brother, grateful for the fact that only one of them has to freeze on a park bench tonight because it's less painful than being in an empty house that feels no more a home than that wretched place with people who despise them for having the audacity to exist. He should resent them, for taking his joy, but he doesn't. Instead he chooses to resent his brother who has the courage to find it for himself again.

Maybe the park bench doesn't want him here either. Maybe it's just being quietly polite.

He sniffles again. A tear drops from the bottom of his chin and lands in the snow with a wet splat.

Even the pain of fantasy would be a welcome distraction, even though he knows, he knows it's only making him more and more foolish. But the night is cold and the snow is too quiet and so his brain begins to spin.

Because he hasn't imagined all of it. He can't have imagined all of it. Not the way Logan looked at him when he said he didn't have many people to buy presents for, not when he listened to his tragic sob story, not when he asked him to dance and held him close like they were actually lovers, not a sad excuse for a holiday friendship, borne of necessity and convenience rather than anything sustainable.

"All it does it give them more bad memories to dwell upon next year, mourning some fantasy that never stood a chance."

Logan's words crash over him and he muffles a sob in the snowy evening. But he's already admitted to himself that he's a fool, there's no further harm in continuing to be foolish.

So he lets himself imagine it. Imagine a Christmas with Logan. Of baking cookies in that miracle of a kitchen, of decorating a tree with a combination of simple elegant ornaments and the ridiculous ones Roman buys because they're gaudy and hideous and utterly perfect. Of slow-dancing to Christmas songs in the living room as the snow falls outside, of cuddling under the blankets for warmth even though there's no chance the heat will go out. Of Logan's soft expression, the gentle touch of his fingertips under his chin, the press of his lips to Roman's—

A brutal gust of wind stings Roman's chapped lips. He bites them in retribution, and they cry out as his tongue rasps against raw skin. He squeezes his eyes shut, chin tucking against his chest in a futile attempt to make himself warmer but the cold stabs its fingers down the back of his collar and he whimpers. The snow on his lap splatter with fresh tears.

This is a new low for him: crying alone on Christmas Eve. He spares a fleeting thought for what pointed and terribly smug remark Logan might have to say about it, but Logan would never—

"You," comes a voice far too soft and gentle to possibly be speaking to Roman, "are far too lovely to be crying alone on a cold park bench as though you've got no one to care for you."

Roman's head snaps up.

The streetlight forms a corona around Logan's head, the deep black of his coat silhouetting him against the falling snow. He swallows, suddenly aware of how truly wretched he must look, but then Logan's words catch up with him.

"I'm what?"

Logan just looks at him with a frown so deep that it makes tears well in the corner of his eyes again. "You've been out here a long time."

"How do you know that? Wait, how did you find me?"

"Your phone's dead. Patton's been trying to reach you for hours." Roman fishes in his pocket and sure enough, Logan's right. "He called me trying to figure out where you were."

"Why you?"

The words come out far too accusing but before he can apologize, Logan's easing his way onto the snow-covered bench. "Because apparently, I'm the last friend who's seen you."

Oh. Roman's chest buckles in on itself. First, because Logan just said that they're friends, second that he willingly admitted it, which means he must look really pathetic right now, and three, that it means Logan had to drag himself from his luxury apartment to freeze his ass off on a park bench while Roman throws himself a pity party.

"Sorry."

"Now, what on earth could you possibly have to apologize for?"

"You didn't have to come out here. You shouldn't have had to come and find me. I should've paid better attention to the time."

"But you were still going to be out here?"

He bites his lips again. He should just roll over, shouldn't he? Let Logan pick him apart until he's satisfied enough to nudge the pieces together and let Roman be? But the thought of being flayed and eviscerated here has him stifling another sob and he shakes his head. "I can't do this tonight. I'm sorry, I promise I'll answer every question you have tomorrow—or not tomorrow, tomorrow's Christmas, I— some other time, okay? I swear, you can have me sign a contract or something, just…just not tonight, okay? Please?"

Logan's quiet for a moment. Then: "are you sure you don't have anything against lawyers?"

It's meant to be a joke, something to break the tension, but instead Roman curls in on himself further. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I'm just upset. I'm sorry."

"I'm not angry with you, Roman," Logan says, voice still terribly gentle.

Roman buries his face in his hands. He takes one deep, shuddering breath and pushes his shoulders back, forcing a smile on his face. "Sorry. Guess the holiday stresses are just getting to me, you know?"

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Don't pretend, not with me. I've told you: the one thing I despise most about the holidays is the dishonesty. You're the only person who's been genuine the entire time I've known you and you've never shied away from telling me the truth. Don't start lying now."

Roman crumbles. Of course he does, what the fuck else was he supposed to do? Logan gives a small hum of approval before lapsing back into silence, waiting for Roman to talk. He looks away, gaze tracing Logan's footprints, already covered by a light dusting of snow.

"You never told me how you found me."

A cloud of steam floats upwards as Logan exhales. "You're a lonely man on Christmas Eve who can't bear to be alone. You've come to one of the only places in the city that won't remind you what day it is, and the only one still open this late at night."

"Am I really so obvious?"

Now Logan offers him a rueful smile. "Let's just say we have more in common than you might think."

Roman stares at him. Logan just shakes his head, tipping his chin up to watch the snow. His profile glows ever so slightly.

"Is this what you meant," he asks quietly, "about the appeal of watching the snow?"

Roman looks up at the dark sky. "Yeah."

"You were right. It is very peaceful."

He just nods. They soak in the quiet for a moment. Then he huffs. "Never thought I'd see the day where you'd do something like go out into the snow for no reason."

"I didn't."

"Huh?"

"I told you," he says, and suddenly there's a gloved hand turning Roman's face to his, "you're far too lovely to leave out here all on your own. Practically criminal, if I'm being honest, and I can't spend Christmas Eve in lockup, what on earth would my colleagues say?"

Another joke, another thing Roman should probably laugh at, but he's lost in the tender touch of warm soft leather and the way Logan's looking at him. "What is this?"

"What's what?"

" This. What are you doing? What—" his breath catches— "what about sentimental fools who think they've fallen in love on Christmas?"

"Are you saying you've fallen in love with me, Roman?"

"I'm saying I don't know what the fuck you're doing," Roman spits, and tries to yank himself away from Logan's touch but he can't, he can't, "you—you come out here and you find me even though it's Christmas Eve and it's fucking freezing out here and you ask me to dance with you after I tell you how special it is to me and you host me at a party you didn't even want to throw and you let me drag you shopping and you listen to me when I tell you about how fucked up my family is and you—you— you—"

"I what, Roman?"

"You're making it really easy to fall in love with you," he says as his voice breaks, "and I don't—I don't know if I can stop it."

"Oh, Roman…no, no, hey, don't run away from me," Logan says as Roman's face twists, "shh, listen to me. Why did I say I thought people were sentimental fools for falling in love on Christmas?"

"I don't know."

"You do," he coaxes, "you do, dear one, just think."

Roman is actually incapable of thinking right now, because there's no fucking way Logan just called him a pet name. But then he realizes Logan's looking at him with gentle encouragement and he wracks his brain trying to remember the rest of that conversation. "Um…because it won't last?"

"Not entirely."

"I really don't know, Logan."

"Shh, it's alright…I call them fools because they let the season convince them of feelings that aren't actually there. They get swept up in the tide of holiday fever and can't differentiate it from genuine affection and care. And when all of it fizzles away by the new year, then…what's left?" His thumb brushes over Roman's tear-stained cheek. "Am I a fool, Roman?"

"Huh?"

"I'm reasonably sure I'm not, but you are far more an expert in the holiday spirit than I am, so I'll defer to your judgment." Logan moves closer, their legs pressing together on the frigid bench. "I don't believe I'm imagining the way you relaxed more and more the longer you stayed over that night, nor the way you lit up when you dragged me through those stores that morning. I know I was relieved to hear you'd be attending the office party with me, and I'm not too proud to admit I wasn't happy to remember that meant having to share you with everyone else there."

Roman's throat begins to run dry. Logan's voice lowers, the hand on his face growing heavier.

"I know it made me furious to hear about how abominable your supposed family has been to you over the years, and how it felt to hear that someone as wonderful as you had no one to share your Christmas with. I know how it was to see you standing by the window at that first party in a rumpled sweater and jeans and how hard it was to keep my hands to myself when I got to see you in a proper suit—and then you looked at me with your eyes all wide and scared in that big store and I wanted nothing more than to show you that it was all going to be alright…" He's even closer now, snow awkwardly shoved up between them. "I know how terrified I was when Patton called me and told me he couldn't get a hold of you and how you are the only person who could get me to do something so inane as going outside just to watch the snow."

He's so close. So close Roman has to hold his breath so he doesn't fog up Logan's glasses.

"But I don't know if this will last," he continues, fingers twitching ever so slightly, "I've got no idea what this will become if I let it continue. I have…I have my ideas—my hopes, rather, after what you've just said, but I don't know for sure."

Logan's eyes flick up to catch his. Roman decides right then that the deep, melted chocolate brown is his favorite color.

"So," he whispers, "am I a fool, Roman?"

Oh.

"If you are," he says hoarsely, "then so am I."

A smile breaks over Logan's face. "That's good, then. That means you probably won't push me off this bench if I kiss you."

Roman shakes his head, heart pounding in his throat. Logan leans up and his eyes flutter shut and then he's being kissed. Just a chaste brush of Logan's mouth on his but it's so much better than he could've ever dreamed it would be. It ends far too soon, so soon Roman can't even bear to open his eyes, but then Logan's hand is shifting to curl around the back of his head and he shivers at the sudden change in temperature.

"Come home, dear one," Logan murmurs, "let me warm you up."

"You swear you don't mind?"

He chuckles, lightly squeezing the nape of his neck. "I'll drag you in by the scruff like a pup if I have to."

A different sort of heat shoots through him and he stands up too quickly. Logan doesn't seem to mind, not even when Roman winces at the pain in his limbs—he really has been sitting out here too long. He gets teased a little for being like a newborn fawn but Logan's arm wraps securely around his waist as he guides him through the park to his car. Every time they stop at a red light or a stop sign, Roman's gut lurches like Logan's about to tell him this was all a big misunderstanding, that he's taking Roman back to his apartment after all, but he doesn't.

The wave of heat as Logan opens the door to his building almost sends Roman to the floor again, his hands beginning to itch with the pins and needles of warming up after being so cold. Logan holds him steady, walking slowly to the elevator and along the hall to his door. He quickly takes off his own coat and boots, turning to help Roman out of his as he fumbles with useless fingers, pausing when he sees the fresh tears on Roman's cheeks.

"Wait, wait," Roman mumbles as Logan tries to step closer, "I'll ruin your suit—why in the hell are you still wearing a suit?"

"Working late," Logan says, only for Roman to stubbornly refuse to let him hug him, "it's only a suit, Roman."

"And you'll hold it over my head that you let me ruin it."

"Bold of you to assume I won't hold it over you that you wouldn't let yourself ruin it," Logan says, both of them unable to hide the relief at implying there'll be a time in the future where both of those are possibilities, before his smile grows distinctly sharper. "Though I suppose if only to assuage your worries, I might as well take it off."

"That wasn't—I didn't mean—uh—"

"I'm only teasing you, dear one." He wraps an arm over Roman's shoulders again, guiding him over to the couch and sitting him in front of the fireplace. "Sit. I'll bring you something warm to drink. Do you want another sweater?"

"N-no, I'm—I'm okay."

"I'll be right back."

He taps a button and the fire roars to life, throwing flickering shadows across the walls. Roman unconsciously leans towards it, hunched over his folded arms. So mesmerized by the light, he startles when something big and warm and soft drapes over his shoulders, letting out a soft noise.

"Thought that might help," comes Logan's voice as the couch dips and he presses something else warm into Roman's hands, "is that better?"

"Is this a heated blanket?"

"No, I just threw one of my softest ones into the dryer for a few minutes. I take it that I was right?"

"Careful," he tries to joke, "I might never leave again."

"Believe me, dear one, that wouldn't be a hardship."

Roman quickly goes to take a sip of whatever Logan's given him, only to stare down in shock. "Is this hot chocolate?"

"Mm."

"Why do you have hot chocolate in your house?"

"Because you," he says, wrapping his arms around Roman again, drawing him into his chest for a proper cuddle, "are far too sweet and tempting to be here on my couch as though you think I wouldn't do something like buy you hot chocolate."

"See? You can be good at the whole gift-giving thing."

"Oh, no, this is my being entirely selfish."

"How so?"

"Well, if I have hot chocolate here, I have something to use to convince you to come back." His head dips, one hand tugging the blanket away from Roman's shoulder. "Which means I get to have you like this again, safe and warm in my arms…"

"What—" his mouth runs dry again as lips brush his skin— "what're you doing?"

"Someone very clever once told me that the holidays were the time to indulge. So, here I am," he rumbles as he kisses up to the crook of Roman's neck, " indulging."

"You're gonna make me drop the hot chocolate."

"Can't have that." He reaches out and takes the mug, settling it on the coffee table before cupping Roman's jaw and pulling him in for another kiss. "You might convince me that it isn't too sweet."

" Might? I'll show you might."

"Strong words," Logan murmurs, letting their lips catch, "can you back them up?"

This kiss is harder, deeper, yet somehow so much more tender, as Logan's hand slides into the hair at the nape of his neck, his other underneath blanket and sweater to make Roman gasp as it settles in the small of his back, as he pulls Roman so close he's almost in his lap, impossibly small and yet the weight of the world. When it breaks, Logan doesn't let him pull away, immediately pressing him against the back of the couch so he can kiss his way down his neck.

"Shh," he whispers when Roman lets out a noise, "it's alright, I'm right here. Right here, dear one, I'd never let you get hurt."

"S-stop, Logan, you have to stop." And Logan pulls away so quickly Roman's chest aches with it, looking at him like he's devastated. "It's—it's just too much. I'll just start crying all over you."

Logan softens, then, taking him back into his arms and brushing gentle lips over his forehead. "Cry all you need to. I won't mind."

"C-can we just—slow? Please?"

"Of course, dear one. Here…" He passes the hot chocolate back. "Drink that, lay with me here, and when you're finished, I'll give you something to change into so we can sleep."

"You're—you're letting me stay the night?"

"Well, I'm hardly going to let you slip away from me now. Yes, Roman, you'll stay—I'll bundle you up in warm blankets and hold you close until you fall asleep." He cards his fingers through Roman's hair. "Is that alright?"

"Yeah, yep, that's—that sounds perfect."

He's rewarded with another kiss to his forehead. "You're not going to finish that hot chocolate, are you?"

"Probably not."

Logan just chuckles and urges him up, an arm around his waist again as he pulls him down the hall toward the bedroom. Sure enough, he passes him a soft sleep shirt and pants before pushing him gently in the direction of a bathroom that's larger than Roman's living room.

"And no standing around worrying about not belonging here, just change and come back!"

"I wasn't!"

"Sure."

He puts his head down and quickly changes, trying not to think about how much clothes this soft must cost, before he's awkwardly shuffling back into the bedroom to see Logan's—

Oh. He's drawn the curtains.

Snow drifts gently from the dark sky overlooking the bright cityscape. There's just enough ambient light that he can see the shadow of the bed, Logan's silhouette on the other side, and the beginnings of frost at the edges of the windows. There's a quiet rustle as Logan draws back the covers, softly bidding come lie down, dear one, and the gentle hum of contentment when Roman slides into his arms.

"Tomorrow," he says lowly, "we'll wake up and spend far too long in this bed before I make you breakfast and give you your present."

"You got me a present? But I didn't—"

"You've given me this," he interrupts with a kiss, "that's more than enough of a present. And absolutely no protesting about me making you breakfast: you cooked last time."

"But—"

"What did I just say?"

"Fine," he sighs, as though it's a huge hardship for this really attractive bastard to cook him breakfast on Christmas after he thought he'd wake up alone in his too-cold apartment—Logan shushes him as soon as he feels him tense, nudging his chin up. "It's nothing."

"Are you sure?"

"Just—" he sniffles— "wondering how I got so lucky. It feels like I'm gonna wake up and all of this will be some dream."

"Not a dream, dear one. You're really here, in my arms, in my bed." He pulls the covers more snugly around them, wrapping their legs together. "And if you wake during the night, afraid, I'll be there to soothe you too."

"I don't think anyone would believe me if I told them you were this sappy."

"Don't you go letting anyone else in on it, then," he threatens with a playful tap of Roman's nose.

"Can we go out in the snow tomorrow too?"

Logan chuckles. "Of course, dear one. Whatever you want."

"It's a Christmas miracle."

"Go to sleep now, dear one. I can see your eyes growing heavy."

Snow drifts down past the window as the two of them fall asleep. Down below, the last of the cars leave the streets, colorful lights twinkling as the city succumbs to its slumber. Logan's arms stay firmly around Roman, his head in the crook of his shoulder as the mattress dips ever so lightly to cradle the two of them in its very center. The perfect place for both. The last taxi that drives by plays a sweet song on the radio, the melody wafting through the air as it fades away.

"No, there ain't nothing

that I would rather do,

than catching snowflakes on a snow day with you."

General Taglist: @frxgprince@potereregina@gattonero17@iamhereforthegayshit@thefingergunsgirl@awkwardandanxiousfander@creative-lampd-liberties@djpurple3@winterswrandomness@sanders-sides-uncorrect-quotes@iminyourfandom@bullet-tothefeels@full-of-roman-angst-trash @ask-elsalvador @ramdomthingsfrommymind@demoniccheese83@pattonsandershugs@el-does-photography@princeanxious@firefinch-ember@fandomssaremysoul@im-an-anxious-wreck@crazy-multifandomfangirl @punk-academian-witch@enby-ralsei@unicornssunflowersandstuff@wildhorsewolf @thetruthaboutthesun @stubbornness-and-spite @princedarkandstormv @your-local-fookin-deadmeme @angels-and-dreams@averykedavra @a-ghostlight-for-roman @treasurechestininterweb @cricketanne @queerly-fluid-fan @compactdiscdraws@cecil-but-gayer@i-am-overly-complicated@annytheseal@alias290@tranquil-space-ninja @arxticandy @mychemically-imbalanced-romance@whyiask@crows-ace @emilythezeldafan@frida0043 @ieatspinalcords @snowyfires@cyanide-violence@oonagh2@xxpanic-at-the-everywherexx@rabbitsartcorner @percy-07734@triflingassailantofmyemotions @virgil-sanders-the-gay-emo@cerulean-watermelon@puffed-up-bees@meltheromanstan@joyrose-fandomer@insanitori@mavenmush@justablah65@10paradox10@uhhh-hi-there-i-am-nervous@cutebisexualmess@bella-bugatti-frogetti-baguetti@ultrageekygirl@raven1508

#dragonbabbles #sanders sides #fic #roman sanders #roman angst #roman sanders angst #logan sanders

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piperslovebot · 1 year ago

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The Next Next Generation kids (born in the 90s)

(Just to keep track. Also inspired by @einsteinsugly. Srsly, I’m obsessed with your verse)

Julian Alexander Dupree-Sanchez (born late ‘96) - He has a sharp tongue like Millie but has a big heart like Caroline. I haven’t thought deeper into it since me and @disneymbti just started talking about their octopulets but later, I’ll create distinct personalities and remake a post.

Miguel Ryan Dupree-Sanchez - He’s very kind, sometimes to the point where he’s oblivious when people are being mean. That doesn’t mean he’ll let people walk all over him though. He’s also gay and proud of it.

Beatriz “Bee Bee” Jody Dupree-Sanchez - Bee is very smart and intuitive. She’s very good at reading people and knows how to cheer people up. She loves bubblegum pop and the pop punk aesthetic. Her dream is to be a musician.

Mariana “Mary” Caroline Dupree-Sanchez - Mary comes off as a ditz but is actually super intelligent. She’s gets straight A’s and loves to exercise.

Ethan Louis Dupree-Sanchez - Ethan is very clever and sharp-witted young man with quick remarks and a protective side. He's really good at playing chess and knows how to be a good talker. He loves indie rock music and the smell of wood and leather. His dream is to be a lawyer.

Ella Alice Dupree-Sanchez - Ella is a smart and focused young woman with a heart of gold and ambitious about her future. She's really good at planning big events and listening to people talking about anything really. She loves watching musicals and reading about personality types. Her dream is to be a party planner.

Ariana Sofia Wilde (Melissa and Dave’s daughter) (born early ‘97) - Ariana is a feminist and kind-hearted young woman with a strong-minded aura about her. She's really good at making music and knows how to fix things with her bare hands. She loves reading books and listening to rock music. Her dream is to be a music producer.

Mia Anne Forman (late ‘96) - Personality wise, she’s actually nothing like Eric nor Donna. She’s a lot like Kitty. Kind, sometimes over optimistic, well meaning, along with a sharp tongue.

Kat Hyde (early ‘96) - She’s very into the pop punk aesthetic and can come off as intimidating similar to her father but has the biggest heart. She’s pretty feisty and blunt similar to her mom and was in the cheerleading squad during high school.

Reggie Hyde (early ‘96) - He tries to be tough like his dad but is really bad at it. He also pretty in touch with his feelings to the point where kids at school tease him for being gay (he's not). He's super smart but also has a bunch of conspiracy theories.

Lula "Lulu" Julia Mitchell (early '96) - She loves fiercely and is brave like her mom. Lulu loves candy to the point where she wants to make her own and sell it. Also, she's a lesbian who's into hyper feminine women.

Kira Amaya Kwan (late '98) - Kira is a calm and easygoing young woman with patience on her fingertips and a old soul spirit. She's really good at helping animals and making people feel comfortable around her. She loves rose scents perfumes and the smell of lavender and ocean. Her dream is to be a author.

Cleo Joy-Martelli (mid '99) - Cleo is a bold and confident young woman with a dreamy outlook of the world and has a charm with her in her bones. She's really good at giving hugs to people she loves the most and singing songs with her band. She loves the smell of smoke and lavender and playing her music out loud to people. Her dream is to be a world famous Broadway singer.

Anne-Marie Lauren Kelso (early '99) - She's a huge bookworm and loves to read, to the point her friends and siblings tease her (basically a Rory Gilmore). Every day, she comes to the library after school (present day, she works there). Oh yeah, Jonah is her Logan :)

Margot "Margie" Anne Kelso (early '99) - She's very quick witted and uses a lot of dry humor, similar to Red. But does have a good heart. Her dream is to be an artist and is currently taking art course as of present.

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Kristina Kelso (early ‘99) - She loves acting and majored in drama.

Arnold James Barnes (early ‘95) (based off of Jesse Kelso, @tht70sblog’s oc) in a way, except way less redeemable)- The school delinquent who got held back more than one can count. He was Anne-Marie’s boyfriend. He’s known to cause trouble and hurt people with no remorse. He was mostly raised by Ryland Barnes. His mom, Sophie, isn’t really in his life that much. Margie and Lizzie were against Anne-Marie dating him, mostly because he was 18 and she was still 15 at that point. After being sent to juvenile detention for theft, he dumped Anne-Marie via letter.

Julia Johnson (early-ish ‘99) - She’s very smart and suspicious. Kinda like the moral compass in a way. Julia is a creative and passionate young woman with a fierce heart and a bold fashion sense in her outfits. She's really good at designing outfits and not listening to people's mean words about her. She loves watching Aubrey Hepburn movies and the smell of perfume and vanilla in the air. Her dream is to be a fashion designer.

#poorni speaks #gonna finish this now

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specs-and-capelets · 2 years ago

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ok, i'll be predictable XD loceit for the ship ask game

sjsjdjdjdkek crow i think u know very well just how much i love them and them being together

What made you ship it?

FUNNY STORY; it starts with me hating this 'stupid deceit character >:(((' for stealing logan's spotlight sndjsjddj and then i thought... hmmm, would it be fun if i ship these two smart, clever, witty men together?? lets give it a thought. the answer was yes and uhhh *gestures at myself and this blog*

What are your favorite things about them?

DO NOT DO NOT GET ME TO START DO NOT-

THE ABSOLUTEST FAVORITE THING I SUPPOSE is the sheer POTENTIAL these two have together!!!!! CROW IM PRETTY SURE U SAW THE ESSAY I MADE FOR THEM IN THE DISCORD SJDJD i just-- i dunno, i just really click with their dynamic u know??? they make me really happy. at its very core, i just like how they're two nerds being smart together.

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

i dont think s-logan tops, top logan truthers rise up

#AHDHSH I THINK THE WHOLE LOCEIT COMMUNITY KNOWS ABOUT MY LOVE FOR THEM #I AM CONSTANTLY VERY LOUD ABOUT IT #loceit

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swanmaids · 2 years ago

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1. Feanor was a bad dad. He had his own daddy issues + turned the oath into a deathbed thing. He carried more about HIS father and the Silmarils than his children or wife and N was entirely right to leave him.

2. Fingolfin wasn't a completely walkover - he did and fin to his name and had his own camp. Accepting Feanor's apology was the tactical choice and made him look like the bigger person.

He wouldn't have just let Feanor insult him and constantly take advantage. I think he did as a kid, but once he married Anaire, she convinced him their dynamic was unhealthy and that he owed it to his children to be better than his father or brother.

3. Feanor was not cartoonishly evil or stupidly abusive - he was just impulsive and selfish. He wasn't a villain to his own family.

4. The oath wasn't magic/a compulsion!!!!

Maglor discusses throwing it off and the Feanorians are capable of not riding into Angbard for hundreds of years. They are also capable of holding back from attacking Luthien after she got the jewel. Maglor suggests they give up on the oath on the grounds that if they weren't forgiven for breaking it, there was no way to prove they had fulfilled it!

It was a matter of honour and revenge! It was an oath in the sense that Finrod swore to help Barahir's descendents - there was no magical compulsion, but he CHOSE to go with Beren.

That's why they're no longer able to touch the jewels - they did what they did of their own free will and a misguided idea of honour.

Logan Roy Feanor at it again!!!!

Agreed. Fingolfin IS a great and heroic character, and he's also smart and ambitious and aware of how his actions look to others. I like your thoughts about Anaire too. I think she was also a very capable, clever and ambitious person.

Agreed. You don't have to be a disney villain to (unintentionally) hurt the people you care about (obligatory disclaimer that this isn't me excusing the sons and blah) and I think it's a better story if he isn't.

I was actually talking about this the other day! I don't wholesale reject the idea that it has some power, but 1) that's not a get out of jail free card, they had the choice NOT to swear it or at LEAST word it better and 2) I think the idea of it mostly being based on honour is DELICIOUS narratively as we watch the Feanorians do all these hideously dishonourable things to the point that children are killed in their names and they sack a refugee camp all in the name of their honour... which is GONE and they CANNOT regain! oh I'm eating it up with a spoon

#ask game

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noblest-roman-of-them-all · 2 years ago

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I had the dumbest fucking idea and it's making me laugh so I needed to share it:

Janus hitting his head and then just lying there like "I'm a snake. I don't have arms or legs"

Jfnfnfbrj

The physicality of Sides was a weird thing to be sure, Remus noted. For the most part injuries occurring in the Mind Palace were easy for everyone to dismiss with the exception of himself and Roman, or occasionally if Thomas was hurt, Logan would also bear that injury until Thomas was healed.

He and Roman had had plenty of minor injuries over the years from rough housing around and play fighting, but nothing too sever. Well. There was that one time, not too long ago that Remus had burned his hands pretty badly... But that was different.

There were plenty of times he and Roman had also been injured within the bounds of the Imagination itself. In fact several of the daggers in Remus's desk drawer had come from being stabbed. Thankfully Roman had created a magic potion for those things. Well. Mostly anyway. With fewer complications than for them to heal on their own anyway.

Remus shook his head. The point was Sides were complicated in their physicality and their relationship to injury. Janus even more so. He had four whole arms that he kept folded up in some other dimension or other under his caplet and literally would go into shed with Thomas's self growth, even down to losing an eyecap scale despite having an actual eyelid.

Whatever level of Weird the Sides functioned on, Janus topped it by at least three degrees. But only three because Remus had been informed he had, in fact, had some Weird occurances with being injured.

Which was why Remus was fairly certain, despite no evidence of it being possible before, that Janus had a concussion.

Remus had burst into Janus's room after a loud crashing noise disrupted his charcoal art session and had found Janus lying flat on his stomach on the floor, a brach from his basking tree lying nearby.

Which had all led the Duke to this particular moment of his life, staring at the wall trying to process what his friend, whom he has always considered to be very smart and clever, had just told him.

"I- Okay." Remus shook his head and glanced back down at Janus who had not moved a single inch. "Say that again?"

"I can't get up. I'm a snake, Remus, I haven't got any arms or legs."

The Duke nodded. "Mhm. Okay. That- I did hear you right. Okay. Um. Jan, last time I counted you have six arms and two legs."

"I'm not a spider!" Janus objected indignantly, raising his head to glare at Remus. "I'm snake."

Remus sat on his heels in front of Janus and gently cupped Janus's face in his hands. There was a deep purple bruise over Janus's left brow, giving his scale a sickly color. "Janus, what you are is an idiot. C'mon, Snakeboi, let's get you to bed."

Remus gently pushed Janus up onto his knees and peeled him off the floor before depositing Janus into bed and tucking him in.

Janus curled in the fetal position under the warmth of his heated blanket. He hissed when something cold touched his face.

"Don't hiss at me, you goon!" Remus scolded. "Hold still you have a bruise. This is gonna help you feel better."

Janus scowled but let Remus gently hold the soft ice pack to his throbbing temple.

"Relax, Jan," Remus advised. He rubbed up and down Janus's spine, trying to get Janus to do just that. "You'll remember about your limbs eventually and then you'll feel really stupid."

"I'm not a spider," Janua said again, more plaintively this time. "I'm not."

"No, you're not a spider," Remus assured. "You're just a little concussed. I'll take care of you, Jan, don't worry. And after you're all better, I'll help you build a stronger tree to hang out in. How's that sound?"

"Mangrove snakes are arboreal," Janus answered.

"I know, Jan-Jan. I'll make you a new tree, I promise. I'll even put a hammock up there for you, how's that sound?"

"I like that idea."

Remus snickered and kissed Janus's bruise face. "Get some rest, Jan"

#sanders sides #remus sanders #janus sanders #sanders sides ficlet #my writing #platonic demus

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loganwritesprobably · 2 years ago

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Teen Wolf x Harry Potter

Hello and welcome back to Logan is mentally ill and obsessed with Teen Wolf Today? Everyone is getting sorted into a Harry Potter house... probably. I’m indecisive so we will see! I’ll do this house by house, but first a reminder of the traits for each house Gryffindor - Courageous, brave, adventurous, daring, loyal and chivalrous. Ravenclaw - Intelligent, creative, clever, witty and knowledgeable Hufflepuff - Hard-working, dedicated, kind, patient, fair and loyal Slytherin - Ambitious, cunning, proud, resourceful, determined and values fraternity

Gryffindor

I feel like this is the easiest house to start with given the nature of the show and some of these feel fairly obvious.

Scott McCall Personally, I could also argue for Scott in Hufflepuff but the True Alpha himself would undoubtably be a Gryffindor, he’s giving me a lot of Neville energy with his sorting. He would think that he didn’t belong in Gryffindor but by the end of the show, he knows that’s exactly where he’s supposed to be. Scott is the embodiment of bravery, so unwaveringly loyal even to those who may not deserve it, and nothing if he isn’t daring. A Gryffindor to the letter.

Liam Dunbar Beta to the True Alpha, constantly throwing himself into danger in that very Gryffindor way. He follows his Alpha’s lead but isn’t afraid to stand up to him if he feels that it’s necessary (see bringing back Theo and defending that choice successfully). Liam is brave, he’s daring, he’s loyal to his pack and he’s adventurous (which we see in Liam before he accepts what he is ‘where are we going?’ ‘what’s at midnight?’)

Derek Hale A lot of people put Derek into Slytherin, and I resent this. They do so because he’s dark and twisty, but that is not what makes a Slytherin. Derek is so incredibly brave, regularly puts his life on the line, returning to Beacon Hills in order to help Scott because he is loyal to a kid who isn’t even his Alpha. He tries to sacrifice his life for a random woman and refuses to kill his sister and a feral Beta. Chivalrous, brave, daring. Derek is a Gryffindor.

Kira Yukimura Our first lady of the list, and an all-around gorgeous girl. Kira is so incredibly brave. At such a young age she just embraces what she is, fights an evil version of her friend, faces the potential of becoming evil with nothing but audacity and an understandable amount of anxiety. She proceeds to face against the skin walkers with great risk of losing her life as she knows it but when she’s needed, she dives right back into the action. If she isn’t a Gryffindor, I don’t know who is.

Ravenclaw

Lydia Martin Again, I feel like this is obvious here. Lydia is a lot of things and if she was attending Hogwarts, there is no doubt in my mind that she would thrive in any of the houses (though, season one Lydia would probably not do very well in Hufflepuff), each house perhaps addressing different elements of her personality. But Lydia Martin is nothing if not incredibly intelligent. She can read Latin. In canon. Our only canon bilingual character and she speaks a dead language. She’s intelligent, she’s knowledgeable, she’s clever and God is she witty.

Mason Hewitt Stiles, generation two edition. Mason takes on the role of Stiles to Liam’s Scott. He’s also very intelligent in his own right, emotionally as well as academically. He offers to help Corey with his lab work, partly because he’s incredibly gay (so valid) but also because he is comfortable with that work, clearly understanding it well. He’s intelligent, he’s clever, he’s also very quick to understand things which demonstrates another type of clever that he is.

Claudia Stilinski I know, I know, we never really see her in canon. However! Idk fuck Jeff Davis, I actually wrote Teen Wolf and I get to make shit up if I want to. Moving on. Stiles got his intelligence from somewhere, it does tend to be genetic in that way, and while his dad is an excellent officer and detective, he isn’t smart in the way that Stiles is. Enter his mother. In my mind, Claudia probably went to university. What did she study? Haven’t a jar of glue, but she’s academically intelligent. She probably also had that quick witty humour that Stiles is known for.

Hufflepuff

Isaac Lahey Isaac is an interesting character. I’ve seen him put in Hufflepuff before and a part of me thinks that’s because people aren’t sure where else to put him. If you don’t know where to put someone, you put them in Hufflepuff, but we don’t do that here. We overthink! Isaac is incredibly patient with Derek. Derek.. didn’t do a great job at being Alpha, we know that even if he was doing his best. But Isaac gave him his loyalty, being patient with him and dedicated to him until Derek stopped deserving it. Oh look at that, that’s three Hufflepuff traits in one sentence.

Vernon Boyd Boyd is, in my mind, a character we don’t know all that much about compared to other characters. I don’t know whether he was just a character I was personally less invested in, whether he appears less in fanon or just didn’t get as much screen time as others but I still have some pretty strong points. Boyd is so incredibly loyal. He accepts becoming a Werewolf in order to find family friends and he is loyal to each of them until the end. He refuses to leave Erica behind when they’re attacked by Allison, even defending her with his own body; he literally dies for Derek, refusing to let the Alphas get the upper hand and his last words are “it’s okay” because he is fair, knows that situation was out of Derek’s control. He was also in the Air Force ROTC program, as well as on several sports teams, suggesting just how hard-working he was.

Corey Bryant Corey is another character I feel didn’t get as much screen time as he deserved. A lot of his personality is comprised of ‘cowardice’ and being in love with Mason. But his relationship with Mason is representative of his dedication and loyalty. He tries to hide Mason from the dread doctors to save him from becoming a Chimera despite his fear of being killed again. He also sticks around, helping the pack, despite his fear because he wants to help his friends, showing more dedication. Corey is also a character that, if nothing else, is very kind.

Melissa McCall Do I really need to explain this one? Melissa is serving Cedric. She’s so awesome but that is directly a result of how hard-working she is, her fierce loyalty, her frankly impressive dedication and her kindness that she shows to even those who may not deserve it. She’s so patient with her son and his friends, never unfair in her punishments for her child and is so incredibly understanding of his life. Love Melissa.

Slytherin

Peter Hale

Peter is a character that is stereotypically categorised into Slytherin because he’s a villain and for once it isn’t wrong. Peter is exactly the traits identified for Slytherin in the same way that Derek embodies Gryffindor. His ambition for power outshines even Theo; he’s cunning, always plotting and making plans that the others don’t know about; he’s resourceful, taking advantage of whatever situation he finds himself in, or getting out; he’s determined to get what he wants by any means necessary and that involves murder; but he also clearly cares for fraternity. Once he knows Malia is his, he ventures to care for her in his own unique way, we see him caring for Cora while she’s in the hospital, despite his dislike for Stiles he is kind with him in the hunt and when Derek is dying outside the temple in season four, we see that he cares for his nephew. The people that he cares for are few and far between but that exactly is fraternity.

Jackson Whittemore

Jackson is another ‘villain’ that often finds himself correctly thrown into Slytherin, though perhaps with more care than Peter. We see in the first two seasons his struggles with his identity and desperately wanting to be enough for his parents, which shows his ambition and his determination. He wants to be the best and he will be, and he’s willing to work to get it to an extent but will also cheat his way to the top - resourceful (see him trying to find out where Scott is getting steroids, either to take them or take Scott out to eliminate the competition). And if there’s one word I’d pick to describe Jackson’s personality, proud would probably be high on the list.

Theo Raeken

Theo Raeken, another villain, I’m sensing a theme here. Have an original thought, Jeff. Theo reminds me a lot of Peter. He’s a Slytherin for a lot of the same reasons. He’s ambitious, he’s determined to get what he wants and thinks that he needs. We see his resourcefulness first hand. Can’t take a True Alpha’s power? No but his Beta can, and I can take it from his Beta. It’s something we don’t see a single other villain consider. We also see his pride in his refusal to seek help with being homeless and sleeping in his truck.

Malia Tate Our first protagonist in Slytherin, exciting, but like father like daughter. Malia was a character that I struggled to put anywhere. She has a lot of compelling traits, but none that particularly fit one house. She’s loyal, she’s witty, she’s resourceful and she’s brave. Ultimately here, I deferred to the lore of the Harry Potter universe which shows that children often are in the same house as their parents, and so here is Malia, in Slytherin. Cora Hale Looks like Derek is the odd Hale out, huh? Cora could be a Gryffindor, I will give her that, but don’t you think green is more her colour? She’s an incredibly independent, strong-willed and sometimes rude character. At a young age she was orphaned and alone and she simply pulled herself up by her bootstraps and made it work, if that isn’t resourceful then I don’t know what is. She doesn’t care much for the pack, but she does care about her brother, and dislikes her uncle for killing her sister. Sounds like fraternity to me. She is also proud, willing to follow Derek into a fight they both know he won’t win, as long as he’s willing to die for a good cause.

Stiles Stilinski

Now, I hear you. Where are you putting Stiles? I’m not. I refuse. Point blank. Here’s my argument for each house, you can place him where you wish. Gryffindor Stupid idiot charges into danger after his friends knowing how badly he could be hurt just because he needs to make sure his friends don’t also get hurt? Gryffindor. He’s loyal, he’s brave, he’s chivalrous, he’s adventurous (he went into the woods looking for a dead body). Stiles would be comfortable in Gryffindor, he’s a combination between Hermione and Ron.

Hufflepuff Hard-working? Hello, he stays up all night doing research to make sure people don’t die. Kind? Yes. So very much yes. He cares so deeply for his friends and is always kind with them (excluding a few tense moments with Scott that we can just ignore). Patient? He’s surrounded by idiots and barely loses his temper. Yes. Loyal? To a fault. He always goes back to his friends.

Ravenclaw He’s one of the smartest characters on the show, he’s academically intelligent, he’s clever (”you’ve always been the clever one”), he’s witty (sarcasm), he’s knowledgeable (literally figures out that Scott is a Werewolf), he’s creative (nicknames, quick humour). He’d thrive in Ravenclaw, surrounded by people just as chaotic and intelligent as him.

Slytherin

I think this is the weakest argument, but it doesn’t take away from my thoughts that Stiles in Slytherin would be interesting, seeing how it would change him based on who he was surrounded by. Stiles is very resourceful; he’s always finding ways to take out the next big bad and usually does so with just a baseball bat in hand. If Stiles isn’t determined, then I don’t know who is. While Stiles is less fraternal than other Slytherins I sorted, he’s also not as faultlessly loyal as Scott. He’s suspicious and cares first and foremost for those in the pack, but only those he considers worth it (while other pack members accepted Theo, Stiles didn’t, and while he’d take a bullet for any member of the pack normally, that wouldn’t be Theo in that timeframe. Fraternity).

Other

Some characters I don’t feel I can justify or just don’t know much about, but I can absolutely sort them based on vibes so here we go. Danny Mahealani - Ravenclaw Allison Argent - Slytherin Ethan Steiner - Hufflepuff Aiden Steiner - Gryffindor Chris Argent - Gryffindor Noah Stilinski - Hufflepuff Brett Talbot - Slytherin Hayden Romero - Gryffindor Lori Rohr - Ravenclaw Nolan Holloway - Hufflepuff Tracy Stewart - Slytherin Erica Reyes - Slytherin Jordan Parrish - Gryffindor Deucalion Blackwood - Ravenclaw Please feel so incredibly free to agree or disagree, house sorting is one of my favourite topics to discuss.

#teen wolf #harry potter #hogwarts #teen wolf at hogwarts #teen wolf/harry potter #sorting #hogwarts houses #hufflepuff #gryffindor #slytherin #ravenclaw #scott mccall #stiles stilinski #derek hale #hale family

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katierosefun · 2 years ago

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can I ask where you are in your Succession watch? what are your faves and current ships, if you have any? (sorry if you've been asked this already!)

okay okay okay so i have THOUGHTS, and i'm glad that you asked!

anyways, i'm on episode 2 of season 2! so still relatively early, but i can't wait to watch more! my current fave characters are shiv and willa, if only because i just . . . i really love shiv out of the three siblings? i pity kendall, and i'm slightly more intrigued in roman than i was at the start of season one--because like, idk, all the roy siblings are plainly not great people, but i can't help but want them to have . . . at least . . . somewhat okay lives? like, kendall's most sympathetic when you see him getting chewed out by logan + when you see him around rava and his kids (the season 1 finale when he's dancing with his kids . . . the song i wanna dance with somebody but the lyric being i wanna dance with somebody who loves me . . . and cutting to kendall . . . dancing with his children . . . yeah no i actually felt my heart twist at that scene). and roman's interesting to me in that he's like . . . a pretty textbook definition of an immature asshat, but when he has good moments, he seems to actually have good moments? (like, especially when they were all out at connor's house? because roman seemed to genuinely care if kendall was getting himself high or not, and i think there was partially guilt there on roman's behalf. but like. i think he does genuinely care about his older siblings, so i'm interested in seeing more of that depth.)

but rambling aside: shiv is probably the character i'm most drawn to, just because i always gravitate towards the oldest-and-only-daughter type characters. she's interesting to me in that she's separate from the company, and she's working politics, and i think that gives her some sense of I Am a Better Person Than the Rest of My Family--and maybe that's somewhat true, but from what i've seen, there's def. a seed of that roy family fucked-up-ness in her too, whether she likes it or not. but like, she's trying, i think. in her own way. she's manipulative, absolutely--but god, when she told nate in season 1 that "wouldn't it be nice to just...wake up in the morning and not feel like a shitty person?", my heart broke a little for her. my heart broke a lot for her when logan said "you're marrying a man beneath you because you're scared of being betrayed!" and my heart broke for her when she was rambling to tom about how she's not sure about her relationship with him but then ended it with "fuck, i love you" and oh boy oh god is she just a mix of all these little characteristics that i think are just genuinely, depressingly relatable in that she's smart + clever and seems to have it all but is pretty clearly Messed Up from her own perception of love + desire + etc etc etc. (so. it's delicious.)

i wish i could write. like. a whole essay on willa too, in that i didn't really know what to make of her character at first, and given that she doesn't have a whole ton of lines, i still . . . weirdly adore her? maybe because of her iconic line to tom, when she said "at least i'm only getting fucked by one of the roys, yeah?" like GO OFF WILLA!!!! I LOVE U!!! just because i think willa's . . . she seems so unassuming, but it's pretty clear that she can see right through everyone in the roy family. it's also really interesting to see her relationship with connor (who . . . like . . . yeah, at first i felt bad for him, but now i don't really like him because he's like. he's the type of person who thinks he's a good person, which makes some of his dickhead qualities that much worse. like, if you're a dickhead but know you're a dickhead like roman, that's slightly more endearing than being a dickhead and still thinking you're the Good Guy, which is what connor roy feels like to me). idk. willa honey pls date me instead <3333

oh, and i suppose for male characters, i lowkey love tom. like. he's insane. but i fucking love him. he's a pathetic bisexual man. he's my pathetic bisexual man. i want to rattle him around in a box. i want to punch his face but i also want to kiss his stupid forehead and tell him to actually talk to his wife. also, to figure out his feelings about cousin greg because tom sweetie . . . that's not how you talk to your crush <3 i love him. i thought he was the saner one in the roy family mess. i was so wrong. he's so stupid. i love him. i can't talk normally about him because every time he shows up on screen i just go "oh, MAN" really loudly because there's not a single boring moment with this stupid pathetic man

as for ships . . . tbh, i'm kind of a part of the "roy sibling x therapy" bandwagon, but if i want to be honest, i'm def. part of that crackhead energy of whatever's going on between tom and greg. because. like. are they insane? yeah. do i want them to make out and then kinda destroy each other? yeah. (no seriously because starting from episode one i was messaging one of my friends just screaming "WAIT SO THEY'RE REALLY LIKE THIS? STARTING AT EPISODE ONE?????" because what the fuck do u do with that energy.)

but on a more serious note, i think a part of me genuinely unironically likes the idea of tom and greg together because outside of their weird-ass energy, there's a sadder component to them in that like. it seems like tom's genuinely. lost around the roy family. like, i think shiv does love him--in whatever her definition of love might be--and greg genuinely loves shiv (distressed sad sounds), but also? but also, i think tom likes taking care of people, and more than that, i think tom needs someone who's genuinely sincere. shiv is absolutely . . . well .. . . . i love my girlboss gaslighting queen so much, but when i say sincere, i also mean someone who doesn't play in, like, 4d chess as a hobby, you know? i think tom might need someone like that in the long run, which breaks my heart because on the other hand, i also really pathetically adore

tom and shiv because okay okay okay they're also awful for each other, but i just. like. i'm weirdly so invested in their stupid awful marriage. a part of me wants them to be happy together. another part of me wants them to divorce because that might make them happier. a third part of me just wants them to keep up this funny weird marriage and now that it's an open marriage, tom can live his best "I Have Two Hands" life by being with shiv and greg--

but outside of that, tom and shiv just feel like a huge tragedy to me. i've been vaguely spoiled for season 3 (. . . . i have no idea what's up with the nero references, something something pushed his pregnant wife down the stairs?), so i'm already bracing myself, but oh god. i don't know, they just make me so sad, so sad because i think they both actually love each other but they also don't actually love each other but also they were happy at some point but also i don't think they're ever going to get that happiness back and AGGGGGH

i'm also weirdly digging kendall and stewy? like, i dunno. no one can break your heart quite as much as your best friend, and i think stewy genuinely cares about kendall. (and rava cares about kendall! i think i ship kendall with anyone who actually GENUINELY loves him, because i think kendall's different from his siblings in that . . . i think he has genuine people in his corner who actually give two shits about where his life goes? whereas it seems that roman doesn't have anyone except his siblings, which is a pretty volatile relationship, and shiv has tom, but we've already discussed how volatile that relationship is . . . idk, my heart always feels something for kendall whenever he's around stewy and/or rava. like! look at those people. they care about him! they're pissed off at him, but i think they're pissed off at him because they know he can do better or that he's capable of being better. pls kendall ditch your stupid family and either date stewy or work things out with rava and be a better dad idk dude just break the family cycle, you lame pathetic meow meow)

#answered #anyways. I AM ENJOYING MYSELF

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kanene-yaaay · 4 years ago

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Happy Birthday ~

Kanene’s note: DO YOU KNOW WHAT DAY IS TODAY? WEEEELLL, I sure hope so because I completely forgot ;-;. BUUUUUUT I REMEMBER VERY WELL THAT 4TH OF THIS SAME MONTH WAS @oliviaischillin1204 BIRTHDAY SOOOOO YAAAAAAY!!! Thank you so much for being such a lovely, wonderful, cool, amazing, sweet, crazy, fabulous person that I really look up to, Ollie! <33

Warnings, fun facts, random things and stuff:

* This characters don’t belongs to me! They all belong to Thomas Sanders and his series Sanders Sides!

* This is a SFW tickle fanfic, so, if you don’t appreciate this kind of content, please, look for another blog. There are a plenty of fabulous arts in this site!! ^w^)b

* This is Ler!Patton and Lee!Logan with Lee!Logan. Around 4.000 words.

* Sorry for any spelling, pontuation and grammar mistakes! Any and every advice is very very welcome! \(-w-)/

* Como é um presente, essa fanfic não será traduzida! Sleep a bit more today, drink water, give something nice to yourself and I hope you’re having a really nice day (Especially you, Olivia!!) <33

[~*~]

Logan opened his eyes, quickly turning off his alarm before it had the chance to wake Patton up. He held his breath as he turned to the other, observing his chest go up and down peacefully on his sleeping. The most serious one sighed in relief, feeling the butterflies flying in his tum- no, none of that silly nickname – stomach as he remembered which day was today.

Today was his birthday, an annual event which he usually wouldn’t give more attention to than to thank everyone’s well wishes, give himself a whole jar of crofter’s jam and take the day off from his non-essential tasks.

At least… things used to be like that before he met Patton.

A persistent wobbly smile found its way to his lips, thinking about the tradition the cat lover began after a few years of friendship.

He firmly shook his head out of the memories, putting his glasses on and looking at the clock to confirm his thoughts. Yes, it was six AM. Perfect. This year Logan decided he was going to be resilient and in any circumstance he would fall into Patton’s attics. It didn’t matter what it was. He was a serious, determined, smart and strong adult. He could endure some silly, untrue teases.

Logan sat on the mattress, careful to not bother his partner, firmly ignoring the buzzing feeling on his nerves taking over his entire body. He grabbed his phone and unlocked it, every and any distractions being very welcomed from the recordations beginning to swirl in his brain.

Then, in a flash, a shock hit him in the moment his eyes locked themselves in the picture being used as his new phone’s background. A picture that was not there the night before. A picture of him. Of his completely red face, his lips parted in a gigantic smile, eyes firmly closed, hair falling on his expression as his hands gripped there, doing their best to not stop the hand which wormed its way to his unbuttoned shirt.

Real Logan pressed his hand over his mouth, suppressing a surprised yelp that for very little didn’t echo on the room. Only then he noticed the bright notification on his screen.

The one wearing glasses needed a whole minute to tear his gaze apart from the background, feeling the butterflies to get more and more restless as he read the name of who sent him a message the day before, at exactly 11:56.

[Patt-on/Patt-off: Happy birthday, Lo-lo! Prepared for your b-day surprise?~ :3c]

Suddenly two arms involved his waist, leading him to jump and to the touch get a bit firmer, -yet so gentle, - pulling his back to rest on a warm chest, a head resting on his shoulder and tickly, whispered sentences being spoken absurdly next to his so ticklish ear.

“I gotcha. ~” A series of goosebumps ran across his spine and Logan attempted to squirm to his freedom from the nuzzling and muffled words seeming to buzz and spread in every inch of his neck, sensation being not even a bit helped by the quick pokes and pinches on his sides, “I gotcha, gotcha, gotcha ya, my tickly ticklish little squeaky toy!! Oh, no, what he is going to do? Hm? What is he going to do to escape from the Tickle Monster?”

“P-pa-Patton!” His hands flew to hold the wrists of the one called, who just rested his lips in the spot that connected his neck with his shoulders and chuckled before humming innocently. “Please, please! I ask for you to reconsider! We’re both intelligent, rational adults and I am sure that there is an answer which will satisfy both of us!” Small, fast raspberries were placed in that same spot and Logan, living up to his nickname, squeaked at each one, shrugging his neck. “N-no! No, no, no! Patton!! Don’t!!”

“Do you want me to reconsider?”

“Yes, yes!”

“You want me to reconsider giving you your so craved birthday little tickle, tickle tickles?”

“Falsehood!!! I do not- I can’t- I didn’t-” Logan sputtered, the blush on his cheeks gradually increasing. “I do not crave them!! Ti-tickles are silly and don’t like them!”

He sensed Patton’s smile more than he saw it. Instantly things felt like he didn’t make a so clever choice with his wording. “Oh, you don’t? ~”

Logan denied, the wobbly smile yet plastered on his face.

“Okie! I will not tickle you then, Logie Bear, okay?” The one wearing a star themed pajama yelped when the wrists on his hold twisted their way to gently intertwine their fingers, pulling their hands the way up to behind Patton’s neck, keeping them there until Logan locked his own fingers together. This left his torso, - owner of multiple of his ticklish spots, - open, a tingling already starting to wander across them. He wiggled. “Oh, no, no. Don’t worry, dear!” Patton combed his hair, leading the other to instantly melt into the touch. “We’re going to just talk. A chat between friends! No tickling!” He rested, then, his hands on the other’s ribs, his tune filled with joy.

“But the moment your hands go down you better be prepared because I’m going to tickle tickle tickle you silly-silly for hours and hours and hours until we’re both satisfied, okay my precious Squeaky Toy?!”

Logan’s smile only grew wider, for a second his hands trembled behind the other’s neck.

“Okay?” Patton questioned playfully, yet drops of seriousness painting his ask.

The one with blushing crawling down his neck bit lightly his lower lip, his mumble barely audible. “Light tickles during the talk?”

Patton felt his heart melt with all the cuteness, losing his façade as the tips of his fingers ran softly up and down Logan’s ribs, resulting in the aforementioned to let go of silent snorts and titters, which led the cat lover to squeal, hugging him. “Of course, precious Giggle Bug! You’re just so, so adorable and cute making such a sweet wish like this!”

“I despise you and your falsehoods. I am not cute.”

“Now, now, now, Logie bear! It’s very rude of you to try to lie for the Tickle Monster because he might will have to try to convince you to say the whoooole truth!” He sing-sang, wiggling his fingers teasingly in front of Logan. “A truth that maybe sounds like ‘I, the smart Logan Sanders, am an adorable, incredibly, horribly tickly ticklish Squeaky Toy and I just looove receiving tickle, tickle, tickles from the Tickle Monster!”

“FALSHEHOOD! I am no-nothing of this!”

“Okay!” Patton exclaimed happily, his index fingers traveling to scratch the skin behind his ears, circling and drawing shapes on the shell before slowly making his way to Logan’s red neck, quickly going back to the first spot when the other futilely attempted to protect his target.

“Soooo,” Patton made his voice the most low and possible tickly way, one more time, “are you telling me that you’re not cute? Not at all? That all that lovely blushy-blush spreading and running on your neck and these little ticklish- ops! I mean sensitive ears here are not even a bit cute?” The stars lover shook his head, attempting to hide his face on his elbow but giving up in the moment Patton took the opportunity to place a trail of butterfly kisses on his unprotected neck, receiving a squeal as prize.

“Aww, cutiepants, was that a squeal? So adorable!” Logan denied again, controlling his urge to low his arms when the other rested the tip of his nails on the spot inside his elbows, softly wriggling, teasing the nerves there. “But I do wonder why, I mean, we’re just having a good talk here, aren’t we?” He dragged his scribbles and traced down to his biceps, “just having some fun time with your cool friend Patton! No reason at all for you to be sweetly squealing or blushing or squirming like a wiggly wiggley worm! Unless…”

“This tickle tickle tickle your funny bone!” Patton gasped, delivering a poke right on the center of Logan’s armpits and making his arms to shot half of the way down before their owner could stop himself, giggling non stop. “Arms up, my helpless ticklish grumpy baby!! You’re already doing so well. I know you can endure it just a bit more!”

Logan scoffed, taking some giggly filled seconds of silence before re-adjusting his arms where they were. “Of course, I can. As I previously pointed, I am not such a childish thing as ti-ticklish.” Patton tried to stop himself from laughing, ending up snorting. “Stop laughing, you heathen. It’s the truth.” Logan gave a squeeze on the cat lover's stomach. A rare and small playful smile playing on his lips as the other yelped holding his hands away.

“Sure, sure.” Patton booped his nose before guiding his hands to the other’s armpit, waiting patiently for his friend to lock his fingers behind his neck again. An idea popped on his mind, resulting in his smile to get wider. “Hey, lo-lo! What if we sing a song?” He bounced as the other whined a protest, wiggling around.

“No, no, don’t worry! I am sure you already know the lyrics! Look, Wiggley Worm, I will start and then you follow me, okay?” Patton then positioned two fingers on the tickle spot, hearing Logan’s breath hitch as he began to circle his pits, the squirming increasing.

“Round and round the tickly pit

Goes the Logie Bear-”

“That is not how the nursery rhymes goes!”

“No? Oh, dang! I was almost certain that I was right! If only someone clever, cool and with an amazing voice who knew how to sing it correctly would help me…” Loud sigh, feigned sad head shake, “guess I will have to repeat it again and again and again and again until I recall the correct lyrics…”

The cat lover paused, for a piece of minute only hysteric titters and warm smiles filling the air.

“Round, round the helpless pit,

Goes the Blushy Bear-”

“No!” Logan yelped, slightly jumping in the same place as he felt the fingers walking, scratching their way to the center of the spot. “I can-” the rest of his words came muffled as he one more time attempted to hide his burning face on his shoulder. Guffaws escaping as Patton took, again, the opportunity to nuzzle and kiss his bare neck, “Wait, wait! I will sing.”

The attacker’s face brightened right away, stopping his tickling. “Are you serious?! Would you do that for your old Tickle Monster?”

“Y-ye-yes.” He cleaned his throat, uselessly trying to get rid of the chortles already accumulating on his chest, the figurative butterflies flying everywhere on his belly. “Yes, Ihihi can.”

“Okay, then! Whenever you’re ready!”

Logan tried to take a deep breath, however his concentration was immediately broken when the tingling sensation spread like lights across his torso. “Stohohop wiggling them! I cahahan’t sing whehen you doho that!”

“Okay, okay, blushy bear. Gotcha!”

He closed his eyes, taking another wobbly breath and failing spectacularly as the feeling of the fingers resting peacefully, so oblivious on his so exposed tickle spot felt almost unbearable. “No, nohoho! Stop!”

“Logie Bear,” Patton grinned bigger, sensing his heart to expand even further as the one with stars painted on his pajamas squealed on his hold, “This time I’m really doing nothing.” Logan growled, refusing to answer.

“Round, round the gard-EN,

Li-hihihike a teddy bear…”

Logan began to kick lightly, his sentence being more and more subdued by the high pitched laughter with drops of snorts.

“One step,” One squeak.

“Two steps,” Two squeaks.

“Aaaaand?” The attacker asked, his fingers hovering, barely grazing the skin.

“Ahahahand,” the laugh cut his phrase, his kicking increasing its speed, “ahahahand,” Logan shook his head, his arms about to give up and clue on his sides. Face burning, squirming becoming more frequent.

“Tickleoverhere!!”

Patton attacked. His arms went immediately down, his head hitting Patton’s shoulder with the force of his full laughter.

“Yes, yes! There is! There is that beautiful, wonderful, amazing laughter of yours! And and and these little snorts!!” His caring, evil friend beamed, his voice full of excitement. “It’s just the adorablest and cutest and lovely-est thing!!”

“NAHAHAHAHAHA!”

A few minutes full of scribbling, poking and scratching passed before the cat lover ceased the tickling, giving him a break effectively used to take sips of oxygen. Logan’s muscles relaxing as Patton again combed calmly his hair strands, snuggling him close.

“You’re okay?”

“Yes,” a breathless giggled response, but a response nevertheless. He suspended his arms again. “Yes, I am.”

“You’re so cute, Giggle Bug! Now, now,” Patton hugged Logan, his arms crossed on the other’s chest, leaving almost no room for squirming while his hands tapped his fingers on the soft skin of his pudgy sides, “I heard someone here has very, veeery ticklish sides that the Tickle Monster would just love to tickle, tickle, tickle! But, I don’t see to find where that ticklish baby is…” He began to dig on the spot, properly ignoring the loud snort and frantic wiggling from the star lover.

“I mean, it can’t be you, right, Logie Bear? Because you” Patton made sure to focus his tweaking on a rather… susceptible tendon which connected his sides with his back, holding his smile as the crackles exploded from the one attacked, who immediately started bouncing in the same place, “just told me you aren’t sensitive! Not even an itsy bitsy wiggly wiggley cutesy ticklish at all, right?”

“P-pahahha-PAHAHATTON!”

“What is it, baby Squeaky Toy?”

“Ple-please!!”

“Please what? I don’t think I understand what you mean, Lo-lo. There is a crazy, cutie patootie being tickled somewhere near and it’s hard to hear you with all that beautiful laughter!”

“It TICKLES!! IT TIHIHIHICKLES!”

Gasp. “It does??” But that statement only served for the other to knead further on his sides, skillfully squeezing and digging on every weak spot on it. In an explosion of energy Logan broke free from the grip, losing his balance and half falling from the bed, his hands instinctively stopping himself before he could hit the floor while his legs and waist continued laid on the mattress.

“Oh, my gosh! Logan, are you okay??” His only answer was the reminiscent laughter growing in breathless giggles. “Logan?”

When the other nodded Patton finally let his façade crumble and drop, wheezing laughter taking over his senses as his mind replayed the fall, “Oh my God! Your face, Lo! Your face was just-” and his next sentences came out silenced when he pressed his face on Logan’s arched back, snickering.

On Logan’s lower back.

The one who had just stopped his giggles did his best to hide a squeak. The sensation of Patton laughing directly on his skin together with his hitching warm breath sending electric, tickly goose bumps through all his torso. The urge to squirm and escape growing louder as his friend didn’t stayed still, lifting his head from there only to stare Logan again and immediately fall in another wave of laughter, once more shoving his face on that spot next to his side or on his spine or way too much close of his hip. The idea that this time Patton wasn’t even really trying to tickle him making the heat on his face and the urge to laugh somewhat worse.

“Ah!! Patton, stop!”

“Sorry, sorry!! I can’t, I can’t! You just screamed and fell and I-” Patton snorted and the poor ticklish Squeaky Toy tried to move his arms in an angle where he would be able to push his friend’s face away, only to realize he couldn’t do much more than mindlessly swing his upper limbs. Fuck.

It took about two long, slow minutes of quiet huffing before for the one wearing cat onesie to calm himself, wiping tears from the corner of his eyes and bringing his focus to his friend, looking at least a bit apologetically, even if the other wasn’t able to properly see it due his position.

“Sorrey, bear. I forgot how ticklish you are on your sides.” His eyes then noticed Logan’s face, furrowing his brow, “are sure you’re okay? Your face is a bit red there, kiddo.”

“Ihi assure yohou I aham. Please help mehe to get up.” Patton quickly nodded, an adoring gaze sprouting on his expression as he heard the other’s giggles, but decided to not point out, instead choosing to pat his back lightly in a reassuring touch and immediately pulling his hand when Logan jumped at his touch.

“Get away from my back!” The moment his words escaped in an impulsive act, Logan instantly clapped his hand over his mouth, trying to think in a way out of what he just brought to himself. A part of him – very small, pretty much overdued by the excited energy building again on his body, - wishing Patton didn’t get the meaning behind that phrase.

“Your back?” His tune sounded much like what Roman likes to call ‘Lost puppy’ and Logan signed in a mix of relief and disappointment.

Then Patton gasped, suddenly full of joy. “Oooooh!!! Your!!! Back!!”

“Nonono, no, no! Patton, be reasonAAH!” A shriek cut all his protests and rational thoughts when Patton lowered his head and gave a soundly, big raspberry right on the right side of his lower back, making all his way to the other side with more careful, well placed raspberries. “I can’t, I can’t! Plea-ase!”

“I’m not listening a ‘stop’!~” He rested a kiss on his spine. “And, awww, kiddo! Why did you never tell me you had such a tasty back before?” The cat lover ran his index finger on his spine, leading electric shivers to shoot all across his nerves. “Now you made the Tickle Monster really, reeeally hungry! Good thing that now he has a very yummy yummy snack-y back-y right here!!”

Logan tried, - believe me, - he really, really tried to form some sort of coherent sentence, however, the moment Patton’s lips collided with the back of his ribs, softly nibbling and making ‘oh nom nom’ noises as his free hands occupied themselves at unmercifully squeezing his hips, his thumbs clued on the little divot localized there, Logan’s belly laughter ran freely. It swirling around them both, the melody mixed with the sound of his hands bagging on the floor, legs kicking in a fruitless struggle.

Patton gave the other side the same treatment (‘They deserve that attention too, Lo-lo! The Tickle Monster needs to be fair and good so Giggles bugs like you will be all happy and cute and giggly forever and ever!’) before giving the astronomy lover a break, finally helping him back (ha-) to lay on the bed, on his stomach.

Logan closed his eyes, a smile resting on his expression as his snorts and chortles started to become more sporadic, the tingling still running on his tickle spot. His eyelashes opened only to find Patton’s face adorned with a smirk.

“Hello-lo-lo, my precious, adorable, sweetest Squeaky Toy! Enjoying your birthday tickles?”

“I hate you.”

“Boop!”

Logan whined, the tip of his ears blushing as he hid his face on his mattress. “You’re insufferable.”

“Nope, silly, I’m the Tickle Monster!” Patton snickered, ignoring Logan’s grumpy growl. “And I was thinking, what about if we played a game, Blushy bear?”

…

Silence.

...

“What game?”

“Weeeell…” Patton’s face disappeared not taking long for Logan to feel the part next to his side sink as his attacker adjusted himself there. A cold breeze touched his back as the hem of his shirt was pushed up until it touched his neck, Patton’s fingers quickly sliding and lightly scribbling the length of his back, leading him to squirm occasionally. “I was thinking about that very tiiiicklish tickle spot of yours and I realized… Do you know how much vertebras a human has, Lo-lo?”

“Yes, of course. Counting with the sacral and the coccyx we have about thirty-four vertebras, although, since they’re fused on the coccyx it can variate and result as thirty-three as well.”

“Ohhh,” Patton’s tune was solemn and, if it wasn’t for the feeling of his fingers still drumming on his skin, Logan could almost forget the imminent danger that question represented, “well, I have no idea of how much there are!”

“But I just told you-”

“So I think you will have to help me to discover it and lay veryyyy still so I can count them! You’re such a strong, lovely squeaky toy and I’m sure you can do this!” He placed an only one finger on the base of his waist, teasing the spot before going full on scratching, being so careful and, oh, so mindful to circle every single vertebra, prodding and poking each inch of sensitive skin there. His torso arched for a piece of time before hitting the mattress with force. “Oneeee, twoooo, threeeee…”

A jolt bolted from the spot and spread across his senses, resulting in Logan beginning to sputter halfhearted protests, his words interleaving with high pitched wheezy giggles, growing more and more louder as his friend got dangerously close to his shoulder blades. He squirmed and struggled and wiggled, hands firmly gripping the fabric under his fingers, his mind losing the count as Patton decided to re-start it over and over and over again, since-

“Now, now, Logie Bear. I know you just love to be such a lovely, absurdly ticklish squirmy little bear, but The Tickle Monster reaaaally needs you to stay still so I can tickle, ops! I mean, count all those tickly spots, oooops, I mean, vertebras of yours!”

Logan lost the track of time by the moment Patton ceased the attack, carefully massaging his shoulders to help him to relax and stop his giggles.

“Logan…” he asked when noticed that the other calmed himself, the blush getting weaker on his cheeks.

“Yes, Tickle Monster?”

Logan had to wait more three minutes so Patton would stop squealing, absolutely overwhelmed with joy.

“When I say you’re the most precious Squeaky Toy and that I could just hold you and softly graze my fingertips on your sides as I place raspberries and nuzzles and whispered teases about how much absolutely CUTE and ADORABLE you and you amazing laughter are and just hold your hands up so you can’t stop me when I tickly tickle your ticklish thighs but my grip will be loose enough so if you really want you could pry away but you won’t because you just love so much being tickle tickled silly and-”

“Patton! The question.”

“Oh, right! Er… uhh… How many vertebras there are…?”

“About thirty four or thirty three.”

There was a piece of silence before the words exploded in frantic sentences from his friend’s mouth.

“Oh my gosh, Logan! Logan, I just managed to count twenty! Logan, oh my gosh, where are your other ones? Are you in pain? We need to go to the hospital! I can’t believe you never told me you don’t have all of them kiddo! I’m going to-” The rest of his panic was muffled by Logan’s wheezing, uncontrollable laughter, which was doubled when the most professional one turned slightly around only to find Patton giving him that confused frown.

“Y-you,” he fought to take a breath, failing “You can’t actively count them just by touching-” and Logan didn’t know if it was the occasion, or the silliness engulfing them or even the so pure and clear confusion on the other’s tune, but he found it difficult to stop his laughing.

…

“So, your spine is okay?”

“Yehehes!”

“Oh, that is good, kiddo! Because now I’m going to give you something to laugh about, mister!!”

Then Patton bounced, attacking that horrible, forbidden spot between his shoulder blades, leading a loud shriek and even more wild laughter to escape from him due the new maddening – awesome, - sensation.

“Coothie coothie coo, Blushy bear!!”

“Listen to all that wonderful laughter! That's such a big, sweet smile!! Those cute little yelps, squeaks, and ah! Was that a snort?”

“Awwww, someone here is a tickly ticklish baby? Huh? Yes, you are! Yes, you are, my incredible adorable Squeaky Toy! Coothie coothie coo, bear!”

“You're so precious and so amazingly smart, wonderful, strong, cool and sweet! You deserve all the tickles tickles tickles from the Tickle Monster!!”

Tears of mirth began to accumulate on the corner of his eyes, and that was the cue for the other to begin to lessen the tickles, resuming his attack to sporadic butterfly kisses on Logan’s back.

“Stohohohop! I wihihill tell!”

“Aww, will you?”

“Yehehes, I will! Juhuhust cease!”

“Okay!” Patton gave a last nuzzle on his bare neck before his hand came down to comb his hair, giggling at Logan’s state. “Remember, it’s: ‘I, the smart Logan Sanders, am an adorable, incredibly, horribly tickly ticklish Squeaky Toy and I just looove receiving tickle, tickle, tickles from the Tickle Monster!’. Don’t forget to say every single word, Giggly Bear, or we will have to start it all over again!”

Logan whined, turning around so he wouldn’t be able to visualize Patton’s bright smirk. “Shuhuhut up. Urg. Ihihi- I, the incredible and smart Logan Sanders, am an a-ahahadorable, incredibly, horribly ti-ti-tichihihckly, ticklihihish S-squeaky… Toy… and…”

“Aaaand?”

“Dehehear Newton I despise your existence on this planet- and I just… loOove receiving tickletickleticklesfromtheTickleMonster. Thehehere! It’s said, leave mehehe alone!”

“It is, indeed!” Patton beamed, lowering himself to plant a soft kiss on the birthday boy’s temple, “Thank you for being such an adorable and great lee, Lo. Do you want some cool water? A snack? I can make it while you rest a little, okay? We could marathon Doctor Who again!”

“Yes. I think that would… suffice.” Logan smiled. A small, warm smile that made Patton feel like he could just melt for knowing it was being directed to him. “And… I also express my gratitude for your… birthday tickles, as you call it. It was quite…” he frowned, as if he was trying to recall something, “a-okay, I believe.”

“Aww! Thank you, kiddo!” And, if Patton lightly blushed with the compliment and both cuddled during the whole marathon, sometimes whispering soft, gentle compliments to each other? Well, shhhh, that is their secret to share, okay?

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sleepless-in-starbucks · 5 years ago

Text

All the Reasons I Love You

Ao3

Summary: Virgil wished he could say he didn't believe his mother. Wished he could say he knew her ugly words were also ugly lies and nothing more. But even lies could hold truths, and in this case, Virgil knew hers did- after all, really, who would want to love someone as broken as him? Content: Panic attacks/anxiety, mentally/emotionally abusive parent, mentions of death/dying as jokes (as in no one’s actually dead they just joke that they’re going to be), self-deprecation, self-esteem/self-worth issues, nb!Remy, genderfluid!Logan Pairings: Platonic to romantic Analogical, background romantic Losleep, platonic Sleepxiety, ambiguous future Analosleep

You’re better than this.

I know you’re not this weak. Why do you always act like you are?

No one’s going to want to pick you up if you keep falling apart.

Virgil slammed his locker shut, leaning his forehead against the cold metal. He and his mom had had another fight the night before, and he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Correction: He had had a panic attack and his mother had yelled at his prone and shaking form. She just called it a fight because then it made it look like they were both in the wrong.

Virgil couldn’t even remember what had caused it- something she had said, probably, but who knows. All he really remembers is not being able to breathe, falling off the couch as he struggled to get through his counting exercises, his mother watching him with open scorn as she belittled him.

“You’re never going to get a wife like this.” She had said as he choked on his own hurried breaths. “No one’s going to care about you if you’re so useless.”

It was always about marriage. As if that mattered to Virgil. His mom didn’t even know he was queer- something he had no plans to ever tell her. He had just focused on trying to breath, a task that had become a little easier once his mother had given up with her insults, stalking off to aggressively wash the dishes. As soon as he could stand without the world completely greying out, Virgil had run off to his room, locking himself in and staying there until he had to leave for school the next day.

“Greetings, Virgil.”

Virgil turned his head, still pressing the side of his face against the locker even as he looked at the speaker. Logan was as put together as always- their black and midnight blue hair was pulled into a neat braid, and they were wearing a simple NASA t-shirt that was tucked into their clean and un-ripped jeans. Pinned to the dark leather jacket they had on was both their genderfluid pride pin and their ‘they/them pronouns’ pin.

“Hey, Lo.” He returned, finally moving so that his shoulder was leaned against his locker and not his head. “Remy give you xir jacket?”

“I stole it.” Logan responded. When Virgil raised an eyebrow at them, Logan sighed. “Fine, yes, xe gave it to me and refused to let me give it back.”

Virgil chuckled. “I think Remy’d give you the world if you wanted it. Xe’s not going to make you steal xir jacket.”

Logan smiled, the corner of their mouth tipping up. “Fair enough.” They said happily. Their smile fell in the next moment, however, being replaced by what Virgil was sure was meant to be a neutral expression but instead came out as a very nervous one. “Virgil, I was wondering if you are free after school today?”

“Um, I am.” Virgil said, frowning in worry. “Why?”

“I need- want- need to discuss something with you.” Logan said before adding on quickly, “It’s nothing bad, I assure you.”

“Uh huh.” Virgil said, tone faintly disbelieving. He appreciated that Logan had tried to ease the anxiety they clearly knew would flare at the words ‘I need to discuss something with you’ with the addition, but given how hurriedly they had added it and the fact that their fingers were tapping repeated against their thigh (one of their nervous stims), it hadn’t helped much. “As long as I can get a ride home, I’m free.”

Logan nodded. “Of course. Meet you in the park?”

“Works for me.” Virgil responded. Logan nodded again, just as the bell rang.

“I have to go.” Logan said, as if Virgil didn’t also have to go. “I have chess at lunch, so I won’t see you then- after school, though, I will?”

“Yeah, you will.” Virgil confirmed.

“Great.” Logan said, their tapping stopping for a moment as they smiled. “Have a good day, Virgil.”

“You too.” Virgil told them as they turned and rushed down the hall, trying to beat the bell to chemistry. Virgil remained at his locker a moment longer, his classroom close enough he wasn’t worried about tardiness, instead allowing his mind to briefly wander and settle upon what he was worried about- his newly set after school meeting.

“I’m going to die.”

Remy took a long, noisy slurp of xir iced coffee. “No, you’re not.”

“Yes I am.”

“No you’re not.”

“Yes I-”

“Hun, as fun as this is, I do not need to deal with you getting yourself stuck in an anxiety spiral right now.” Remy interrupted him, now checking xir nails, painted in shades of black and pink, the colour choice having clearly been made to match with xir pink tank top and black jacket. Virgil thought it still worked, even if xe’s jacket was currently being worn by xir partner. “You haven’t even explained why you think today’s your last.”

Virgil slumped over the table, letting out a groan. “Logan wants to talk to me after school.”

“So…?”

“So, they were clearly nervous about it!” Virgil exclaimed, turning his face downwards and pressing it against the table top. “They’re going to kill me.”

Remy laughed. “No offense, darling, but I don’t think Logan’s much of a killer. Well, killer looks aside. Besides, what do you care? More time with your friend and crush can’t exactly be the worst thing the world-”

“Crush-!” Virgil jerked back up, eyes wide. “They’re not my crush!”

Remy titled xir sunglasses down so that xe could stare at Virgil in disappointment. “Sugar, you ain’t subtle.”

“Yes- but- you’re dating them!” Virgil resorted to, as if Logan being a taken enby made it impossible for Virgil to think they were cute and nice and clever and-

“I’m poly, they’re poly,” Remy shrugged as xe spoke, pausing to sip xir drink, “I’m not exactly the jealous type… if you’ve got a thing for them, babes, you might as well just admit it.”

Virgil didn’t respond immediately, but soon enough he was slumping down again, crossing his arms on the table and resting his head on top of them. “Yeah, alright, whatever.”

Remy smirked. “Now, was that so hard?”

“Doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to die at that meeting.”

Remy sighed. “You’re not going to die at that meeting.”

Virgil glared heatlessly at Remy. “You can’t promise that.”

“They’re my boo, I’ll make sure they don’t kill ya.” Remy said, pulling xir phone out of xir pocket and checking xir messages. “Hmph.”

“What is it?”

“Logan’s reminding me iced coffee doesn’t count as lunch.” Remy said, looking back at Virgil with a mildly exasperated smile. “That nerd won’t let me get away with half my old habits anymore. It’s almost annoying.”

“Self-care being gently forced upon you by your beloved.” Virgil said, tone dry with sarcasm as he finished, “Yeah, that sounds awful.”

“Oh, hush.” Remy said, waving xir hand dismissively as xe put xir phone away. “And come on. I’m not letting you get away with ‘I had a big breakfast’ if Logan won’t let me get away with iced coffee.”

Virgil huffed but he still got up. “Why must you force your partner’s policies upon me?”

“Because you’re my friend so I want you to practice self-care too, and I don’t want to suffer alone.” Remy said as xe headed for the cafeteria doors, Virgil following xem. “Plus, I figure they’re gonna be both our partner soon enough anyways-”

“What?!”

“Oh, uh,” Remy faltered for a moment, glancing back at Virgil, eyes masked by xir sunglasses but xir expression obviously conflicted. It smoothed out after a moment, however, and xe continued confidently, “well, your secret is officially out now, sweetheart. Shouldn’t take me too long to get y’all matched!”

“I- oh- Remy-” Virgil tripped over his words, biting his tongue as Remy stopped to look at him in confusion. “You don’t have to do that, Rem, really.”

“Trust me, sugar, it’ll be my pleasure.” Remy assured him, resuming xir walk towards the exit. “Won’t harm either of us if I try, anyways, yeah?”

Virgil didn’t reply to that, simply continuing to follow Remy in silence. Because it could harm one of them, specifically himself, when he was forced to confront Logan’s reaction- which could range anywhere from awkward pity to outright disgust.

After all, while his mother certainly had no right to say the things she said, the things she said were still true… and Logan was so capable, so smart and able to take care of themself… well.

Someone like them wouldn’t fall in love with a ball-and-chain.

Virgil was going to die.

He was standing at the entrance to the park, Logan seated at a picnic table not too far away from where he was hovering. They hadn’t seen him yet, busy scribbling something or another on their paper, but Virgil knew he didn’t have forever to panic.

So he was taking what time he did have to mega-panic.

He had briefly considered running away from the whole situation, but Remy was watching him from the street, waiting in the car and playing the role of both waiting chauffeur and watchdog.

“You’ll do fine, darling.” Remy had assured him, smirking. “Though, if Logan does kill you, I’m obligated by partner code to help them hide your body.”

That exchange had not put Virgil at ease.

Virgil wasn’t even close to finishing his several internal panic attacks when he realized Logan had looked up from their work and spotted him. They were waving him over, smiling. Virgil gulped and tried not to wobble as he made his approach.

“There you are.” Logan greeted, voice warmer than Virgil had expected from them. His ‘stolen’ jacket now bore both their ‘he/him’ and ‘they/them’ pronoun pins. “I was beginning to worry you weren’t coming.”

“Nah, I wouldn’t do that to you.” Virgil said, trying to hide the tremor in both his voice and hands as he sat down across from Logan. “Just had to stay a bit late in sixth- sorry.”

“It is perfectly alright. No need to apologize.” Logan assured him as he started pushing their papers into his bag. The quick look at them that Virgil got revealed them to not be the equations he had been expecting to see- instead, it was simply covered in back-and-forth lines and meaningless doodles; distractions, things to focus on instead of whatever had them so worked up.

So this meeting had Logan stressed too. Great. Super. Utterly fantastic.

Virgil bit down on the inside of his mouth, trying to keep what little bit of his cool he had left. “So. Something you needed to talk to me about?”

“Uh- yes.” Logan confirmed, though Virgil didn’t miss his hesitation. They looked away from Virgil, his hand once more on their thigh and tapping out a beat too fast for any song to follow.

“...Can I know what it is you need to talk to me about?” Virgil asked, really starting to hate this theme of him starting the conversation. He wasn’t good at it normally, and right now he felt he was only doing worse.

Logan nodded, but didn’t say anything right away. Virgil nodded too, an echo of Logan’s movement, deciding to give Logan their time to respond. A minute or two stretched before Logan took in a deep breath, the tapping on his thigh finally coming to a stop as they turned to Virgil. He smiled, a small nervous thing that immediately had Virgil even more on edge.

“Virgil,” They started, that one word alone spiking Virgil’s blood pressure, “you are my friend of five years. I have known you since seventh grade. I like to believe that, in the span of time between then and now, we have grown… close.”

“That’s how friendships work, specs.” Virgil said, trying to beat down the demon of paranoia that had arisen to explain to him that Logan was clearly about to disown him, or perhaps shoot him.

“I am aware, trust me, I just-” Logan cut himself off, laughing nervously and glancing away for a moment before once more returning their gaze to Virgil, “I’m no good at this.”

Virgil laughed a bit too, albeit more anxiously than nervously. “And what’s ‘this’?”

Logan let out a breath. “You are aware that I am dating Remy?”

“Hard not to be, what with you wearing xir jacket and everything.”

“And you are aware that I am polyamrous and that we are in an open relationship?”

Virgil swallowed. “Remy told me earlier today, yeah, though I don’t see why that could be important-”

“I like you!” Logan exclaimed, suddenly, almost panickedly. “Well, love you, more accurately put, but I hope I get my point across-” Logan itched at the back of their neck, looking sheepish. Virgil, for his part, had been frozen since Logan had said those first three words. “I meant to do this much more… eloquently, but I- well, I’m never good with this. You can ask Remy, I yelled it at xem in the middle of a Starbucks- Virgil? Are you okay?”

Virgil, to his mixed horror and humiliation, didn’t respond, finding himself still functionally frozen in place. His unresponsive exterior wasn’t a very accurate depiction of his inner turmoil, however- he could feel his heart pounding against his ribcage, his heartbeat drumming in his ear, his lungs constricting and his throat closing up.

Useless

Weak

No one’s going to want you

Virgil hated that he knew he was only proving the voices right- proving his mother right. But he couldn’t help it. All he could do was choke on nothing and wait for the insults he knew would soon be coming-

“Virgil!”

When had Logan gotten so close? Virgil could’ve sworn he was seated across from him, but now they were next to him, and his eyes were really wide, and they looked really worried and that couldn’t be good so why was Logan worried what had him worried-

“Virgil, I need you to breathe with me.” Logan’s voice was much calmer this time, and Virgil was much more inclined to listen to it. It was reassuring, grounding, familiar.

He jerked when his hand was touched, but when he realized it was Logan holding his hand, gently guiding it to rest on their chest as he breathed exaggeratedly, he relaxed, trying his hardest to follow Logan’s breaths.

Virgil wasn’t sure the last time he had come down from a panic attack so quickly. It helped, he thought vaguely, somewhere in the back of his mind, to have someone helping you instead of yelling at you.

“Virgil?” Logan repeated Virgil’s name once more, this time softly, concern colouring his tone. “Are you okay?”

“I- yeah.” Virgil said, still feeling breathless. He didn’t try to move from his position, hunched over and leaning towards Logan, the hand Logan had pressed against their chest remaining there. “Sorry.”

“No need to apologize.” Logan told him easily, lowering his hand from their chest but still holding it, helping to keep Virgil grounded. “If anyone should be apologizing, Virgil, it’s me. I never thought that my confession might- I didn’t think about how your anxiety might cause you to react, and I am so, so sorry for that.”

Virgil waved him off with his free hand. “Don’t worry about it.” Logan opened their mouth to respond, but Virgil simply waved dismissively once more. “You couldn’t have known, Lo. It’s not your fault.”

Logan didn’t make any response to that, but Virgil could tell they wanted to. The silence stretched for a moment before Logan began, “If you want to go home now-”

“Why?”

Logan shut up the moment Virgil spoke, eyes wide as they looked at him in confusion. “Why what?”

“Why- why me?” Virgil asked, disliking how weak he sounded but having no way to remedy it. “I mean, you already have Remy, and I-”

Logan still looked confused. “Why you?” They repeated, perplexed. “Why wouldn’t it be you?”

Virgil chuckled, but it was harsh yet shaky. “I’m an anxious mess who overthinks everything! I have a panic attack every other week! I had a panic attack when you tried to tell me you loved me! I don’t exactly have that many redeeming qualities- especially when you look to Remy, who’s got confidence, and style, and-”

Logan’s small smile returned as he squeezed Virgil’s hand, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Virgil, I’m not picking out partners based on objective merit. If I was, I wouldn’t be dating Remy.”

“Xe’s your partner-”

“Xe’s sweet and has no braincells.” Logan corrected, still smiling. “But I love xem, because I think xe’s cute, and xe makes me happy- simple as that.”

Logan was looking at Virgil now, his smile growing as they moved to hold one of Virgil’s hands in both of his own. “Yes, you have anxiety, and yes, you have panic attacks, but that doesn’t nullify all the reasons I love you.”

“Reasons you… reasons you love me?” Virgil repeated, voice quiet and vulnerable.

“You’re thoughtful regarding everything you do.” Logan said without preamble. “And you’re respectful towards all. When bored, you doodle band logos on the backs of your hands, and you run your fingers through your hair when you’re stressed. You sing rock songs under your breath when you think no one can hear and your voice is heavenly when you do so. And sometimes you smile without even realizing it, and I- I think you’re prettiest then, because you’re relaxed and you’re happy and you’re absolutely beautiful.”

Virgil didn’t know how to respond to that outside of gaping at Logan, feeling once more breathless but now in a good way. “Really?” He managed, just barely.

Logan squeezed Virgil’s hand again, scooting closer to him so that their knees could bump up against each other. “I would never lie to you, Virgil, not about this.”

Virgil nodded, more to himself than Logan. “Okay.” He said, quietly.

“Pardon?”

“Okay.” Virgil repeated, this time louder, before he allowed himself to slump fully forwards, head falling upon Logan’s shoulder, exhaustion from the panic attack and the sudden need to be much closer to Logan mingling together and pushing him forwards. Logan reacted immediately, releasing Virgil’s hand to wrap their arms around him instead, holding him close but not too tightly.

“So…” Logan started, uncertainly, though not as nervous as they had been when Virgil first arrived in the park. “If I asked you to be my boyfriend… what would you say?”

“Yes.” Virgil replied without a thought, the answer already long decided. “I’d- I’d love to be your boyfriend.”

Almost as soon as he had said that, Virgil could feel Logan pressing a kiss to his head, gentle and sweet. “Good. Because I’d love to be your partner.”

Virgil pressed himself closer to Logan, head still pressed into his shoulder. “Lo?”

“Yes, my love?”

A giddy little smile appeared on Virgil’s lips at the petname. “I love you.”

Logan chuckled at that, also sounding rather giddy themself, choosing to press another kiss to Virgil’s head. “I love you too.”

Virgil knew the moment wouldn’t last forever. Soon enough, he’d be once more asking if this was possible and deciding it was not, doubting Logan and their love and falling back into the familiarity of his mother’s words.

But Logan would be there when that happened, just like he was now, to hold Virgil and remind him of the truth- to love him. Because Virgil knew that this wasn’t perfect. But he also knew that it was real.

And that was enough.

#analogical #ts logan #ts virgil #ts remy #ts sleep #background losleep #ambiguous (future) analosleep #basically do you think remy and virgil would remain metamours or also end up together #it's y'all's call #platonic sleepxiety #the cryptid speaks #ts sides #sanders sides #fanfic #fanfiction #nb!remy #genderfluid!logan #logan stims because in my head they have ADHD #but it's barely there so idk see it as you will i guess

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nightmaresart · 4 years ago

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𝓓𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘'𝓵𝓵 𝓫𝓮 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓮

Don't blame me, love made me crazy

If it doesn't, you ain't doin' it right

Lord, save me, my drug is my baby

I'd be usin' for the rest of my life

Don't blame me, love made me crazy

If it doesn't, you ain't doin' it right

Oh, Lord, save me, my drug is my baby

I'd be usin' for the rest of my life

Don't blame me - Taylor Swift

𝕭𝖆𝖘𝖎𝖈 𝕴𝖓𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓

Full Name: Victoria Penelope Montgomery

Meaning of Name:

The name Victoria is of Latin origins and means "The one of victory"

The name Penelope is of Greek origins and means "Beautiful person" or "Gift of God "

Nickname: Vicky, Victory, Penny

Reason of Nickname:

Vicky: Vicky is a nickname ber parents and friends often use for her as its easier to catch her attention like this if they want her to pay attention for a second

Victory: Victory is a nickname that her parents use to cheer the young woman up when she was younger

Penny: Penny isn't a common nickname for Victoria as people tend to use Vic or Vicky more, however, it is used from time to time by her friends to tease her about her middle name

Gender identity: Cis-Female

Pronouns: She/Her

Sexuality: Hetrosexual

Age: 17, depends on what I write

Birthday: 13-08

Zodiac sign: Leo ♌

Place of birth: Warwick, England

Blood Status: Half Blood

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖊

Hogwarts house: Gryffindor

The wand: Dogwood, Boomslang Venom, 12 �� Inches

Dogwood: Dogwood is one of my own personal favourites, and I have found that matching a dogwood wand with its ideal owner is always entertaining. Dogwood wands are quirky and mischievous; they have playful natures and insist upon partners who can provide them with scope for excitement and fun. It would be quite wrong, however, to deduce from this that dogwood wands are not capable of serious magic when called upon to do so; they have been known to perform outstanding spells under difficult conditions, and when paired with a suitably clever and ingenious witch or wizard, can produce dazzling enchantments. An interesting foible of many dogwood wands is that they refuse to perform non-verbal spells and they are often rather noisy.

Boomslang Venom: Boomslang venom, whether crystallized or in a rarer liquid core, provides a small boost to jinxes and hexes thanks to its venomous qualities. However, when a wandmaker undertakes the dangerous task of working with the raw venom, it is generally with the aim of creating a powerful Transfiguration wand. Whether or not the advantages outweigh the risks is not generally agreed upon in wandmaking circles.

Patronus: Orca

Orca - It’s no mistake that orcas are nicknamed “killer whales.” They are one of the most effective hunters in the ocean. Orcas use teamwork and complex communication skills to hunt and the same cunning to protect their young. With the fierce, calculated protection of an orca on your side, you can rest assured that the Dementors will be no match for you.

Magical abilities: Lycantrophy

Lycanthropy is the state in which a Werewolf finds him or herself: that of turning into a fearsome and deadly near-wolf.

Boggart:

The most important people in her life looking at her in disgust as they're talking down on her and who she is

Riddikulus form:

Not available, she ran out of the classroom and never got to discover it

Amortentia

What do they smell?

Maple syrup, Freshly cut grass, Warm tea and a Fireplace

What do they smell like?

Sweets, A hint of blood, Lilies and the woods after a storm

Mirror of Erised

Herself and her Husband with some healthy kids, not having to worry about what others think of her and that she is safe with her new family and friends

𝕻𝖍𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖑 𝖆𝖕𝖕𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊

Eye Colour: Brown

Hair Colour: Dark Brown

Hair Style: Untamed coup of hair that perfectly represents whether its close to a full moon or not

Weight: 58 kg or 127 lbs

Height: 1,65 m or 5 ft 4

Type of Body/Build: Mesomorph, Hourglass figure

Skin Tone: Beige, warm undertone

Distinguishing Marks: The first thing people will notice are the scars on the left side of her face

Face claim: Phoebe Tonkin

𝕻𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑𝖎𝖙𝖞

Overall Personality

An overall calm and collected girl who seems to know more than she shows. She is smart and uses her knowledge for pranks and least harmful ways of creating mischief. She is snarky and can be quite sarcastic, she loves to mess around with her friends and is often the reason they get out of trouble or detention.

Briggs myer type: ESFP

Good traits:

Outgoing, adventurous, caring, talkative, understanding

Bad traits:

Crude, loud, distracted easily, a bit of a dreamer, pushover

𝕬𝖙𝖙𝖎𝖙𝖚𝖉𝖊

Towards people they hate

She is cold towards the people she hates, she doesn't interact with them and always gives them the cold shoulder

Towards people they tolerate

She is gentle with the people she tolerates, she isn't as talkative with them as she is with her friends but she doesn't mind talking to them at all

Towards people they consider friends

She is herself with the people she sees as friends, she doesn't hide her personality and if she deems them trustworthy enough she also doesn't hide her lycanthropy at all, even alerting them when the full moon is close so they know she'll react differently

𝕽𝖊𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘𝖍𝖎𝖕𝖘

Family:

Father: Matthew Montgomery, a muggle man

Mother: Rosemarie Smith/Montgomery, a full blood woman

Sibling: Timothy William Montgomery, younger brother

Friends:

Teddy Ellison, Galen Stagg @cursebreakerfarrier , Roel Leeuwenhoek @words-and-wands , Gabriel Sapieha, Josie Edwards @slytherindisaster , Tadgh Lynch, Kit O'Sheeran @unfortunate-arrow , Logan Rosseto @demon-twins-and-co

S/o:

Danny Gibson @catohphm

Rivals:

TBD

𝕭𝖆𝖈𝖐𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞

Born in Warwick England, Victoria's mother was casted out by her family for marrying a muggle man and having a child with him. This automatically meant that Victoria was an outcast to that side of the family as well as she wasn't a full blood born child. She never learned about her mother's side of the family as well as Rosemarie refused to talk about them.

Growing up Victoria had quite a happy and normal childhood, she was allowed to do her own things and her parents were there for her if she needed them in any sort of way.

Around the age of seven when the young girl was staying with her uncle she was unfortunately attacked by a werewolf. Distraught the young child screamed and cried herself a sore throat and it took ages for her uncle to comfort her.

After this accident Victoria wasn't the same anymore as she was constantly on edge and scared, she didn't know what to do and neither did her parents. It tookba couple of years to come around and accept it, around that time she also received her Hogwarts letter. Stress was the first thing she felt when she got the letter as she wouldn't have a safe place to transform during a full moon and she didn't believe that the other children would accept her if she told them.

In the beginning of her Hogwarts career she was very closed off, but as time passed she gained more confidence and eventually became one of the many troublemakers Gryffindor and Hogwarts would see in their years to come

After Hogwarts it is said that she disappeared of the radar, refusing to live in a busy city or town

𝕽𝖆𝖓𝖉𝖔𝖒 𝕱𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖘

Victoria is quite cautious about telling new friends about her lycanthropy, but once she does tell them its always after she has decided she trusts them enough

She is quite good at transfiguration and its her best subject with Potions being her absolute worst

She is always in a horrible mood a week before the next full moon and will make this fact known to her friends

She will sass you if you're being a complete idiot in her eyes

She loves teasing her friends about their crushes once she figures them out. Ofcourse she never takes it too far

She loves puns and often makes them, cracking up halfway through though as she amuses herself with them the most

She is really good at giving puppy eyes, she uses this to get things from her friends or to get out of trouble, it works most of the time

If you want your mc to be added to her friend or rival list, just tell me and I'll add them!

#harry potter #hphl #hphl mc #hphl oc #hphl moodboard #hphl profile #harry potter hogwarts legacy #hogwarts legacy mc #hogwarts legacy #victoria montgomery #she is here!#with an updated profile #jesus christ #gryffindor #gryffindor oc #gryffindor moodboard

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jaynovz · 4 years ago

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Black Sails night with Lauren @boatsfordays

2.6

“Ugh I dunno if I want to see Flint’s stupid face” (bahahahah it’s SO FUNNY how much she dislikes him)

Flint-Vane fight: “Oh yeah!!! Vane’s about to get him!! I’m so glad but this... this is prob not going to end in Flint’s death. sigh. because... why would it. the show seems really invested in him so I doubt he’ll die. someone is going to break it up.”

“Listen Jay he’s just a bad manager, bad leader, and that’s personally offensive to me. and the Freckle Situation, as discussed” (pfffft. listen I’m a slut for freckles personally soooo)

“Vane is pretty but I don’t actually care what happens to him”

“I’m rooting for Jack, Anne and Max”

“This is about to be really embarrassing for Flint cuz I think Vane would have this fight... like he had that whole naked fight, I think he’s got this”

Eleanor breaks it up “Yep yep, see! cuz Vane woulda won that”

“Awww lookit Jack. On a ship again” “Oh god I hope this goes well”

Featherstone: And if there's anything you need assistance with today, please don't hesitate to ask me

Lauren: IS HE PROPOSITIONING HIM (Lauren is2g ur so horny)

Logan: So either I'm going up there and fucking Charlotte, or I'm fucking you down here imagining I'm fucking Charlotte up there.

Lauren: nope my butthole is protected

-Lauren pauses the show- “okay hold up, I need to talk about buttholes for a second”

Billy returns, crew reactions

Lauren: “SHE’S ALIVE”

Vane, flint et al in a room: “they’re actually going to have a CONVERSATION? ohhhh it’s cuz there’s women here to supervise. cuz these men are too violent to have a conversation like civilized individuals b/c they’re gremlins”

“The mood of the whole crew has just changed b/c Billy has shown up and he’s alive. They’re not chomping at the bit to fight as much, they’re here with Billy. So my prediction is that they will now be more receptive to Flint’s new plan”

“God poor Anne, this is hard for her. I get it”

Anne kills Logan and Charlotte “ANNE OH SHIT OH NOOOOO. She’s not in a good placeeeeee”

Jack and other Captain negotiating “I like this. I hope Jack finds a friend. hope they can be allies... aw DANGIT”

Billy and Flint reunion: “GIVE EM A HUG” “lol Billy is afraid of him” “but he is taller than him. that’s funny” “I think Billy is realllll unsure about his decisions”

“I think Anne def regrets this seeing how she’s just sitting here and hasn’t left the room”

about Hornigold: “oh yeah I forgot about him lol”

Vane listening to Eleanor: “he thinking ‘to simp or not to simp?’ ”

Jack and other Captain “Oh shit he’s gotta fight him. That’s the only way I can see to do this. Otherwise they’ll vote him out. oh shit. YOU BETTER NOT DIE RIGHT NOW. I hope he somehow gets lucky and wins.”

-Lauren rooting enthusiastically for Jack during the fight-

“OH MY GOSH HE DID IT. oh this is clever. that is smart. I’m so proud of him. I CALLED IT.”

“Look at Silver cleaning up messes, he’s quite good at that”

“Is Anne gonna get off scott free??? I am so surprised. I’m glad Max didn’t snap at her. I was worried.”

“Vane is NOT going to be happy when he wakes up”

“I like that Billy has something in his back pocket”

#black sails #lauren black sails commentary #I didn't write them all down but Lauren keeps making correct predictions #wonder if she'll predict the finale eyes emoji #thoughts

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turning-the-frigging-frogs-gay · 4 years ago

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Underneath The Spotlight- A Sanders Sides Fic

Taglist: @sophiexteresa

Chapter 11- Logan Berry: Dancer, Organiser, Techie... Boyfriend?

(Read chapter 1 here!)

(Read here on ao3!)

Warnings for this chapter: mild curse word

A/N: did anyone order Logince??? Also, I love how this chapter came out, I hope you do too :D

Harrison and Bailey were the two techies stationed at stage left of the theatre where the show was taking place, however their distinct personalities had earned them the nicknames Heart and Brain. The two had become inseparable throughout their time managing the theatre lighting and made a great team, Brain making sure every performer could be seen and Heart adding the symbolism and meanings to the lighting designs. Heart loved his job and was awed at getting such a close view of every performance that came and went from their theatre. Earlier in the show, during the ballroom dance, Heart had been watching the routine with curiosity.

“Brain, hey Brain!” he whispered, nudging his partner.

Brain sighed. “Yes, Heart?” they asked, turning to him.

“Look, look! That little guy in light blue, with the freckles and glasses! The really short one!”

“I see, yes.”

“Look how he looks at his partner. Brain, he’s in loooooveee!!!”

“I do see the signs, yes,” Brain replied. “How he never takes his eyes off of him, and the smiling and blushing. However his partner, the one in yellow, is probably doing it even more.”

“OH MY GOSH, YOU’RE SO RIGHT!”

“Heart, keep your voice down!”

“Sorry... but I totally see what you mean! Those two are absolutely smitten, it’s so cute! Oooohhh, let’s see if we can spot any other couples!”

“Over there, those two,” Brain said immediately. “Both really tall, one in red, one in dark blue.”

“Oh my gosh yeeessss!! They’re both such good dancers as well! It’s almost like they’re trying to impress each other. They make such a perfect couple, Brain!”

The other gave a small smile.

“Oh and look, over there! Green and purple, green and purple!”

“Ah yes, although their dancing skills are more... lacking, shall one say?”

Heart nudged them lightly. “Don’t be mean! They don’t have to be perfect dancers, but you can see they’re supporting each other and both trying their best. I bet they really take care of each other.”

Brain moved closer to their partner. “Like I take care of you?”

“Braiiiinnnnn! Not nowwww!” Heart whined, blushing.

“I apologise. Let’s leave the romancing to them, shall we?” they said, gesturing to the three waltzing couples.

Back at the current stage in the show, well into the second half, Logan and Roman were waiting in the wings for the tap dance, containing Logan’s big solo. His tap solos were fast, furious and one missed beat could ruin the whole thing. However he always seemed to execute them perfectly, captivating every single audience member with his rhythmic and technical precision.

“Are you nervous?”

“Slightly, although thanks to your talk earlier I now have no doubt that I am capable of doing this.”

“That’s the spirit, Lo! You’re gonna do amazing! And don’t forget I’ll be supporting you all the way.”

“Thank you Roman...”

The lights came up and the music began, signalling the start of the routine. The main part of the dance went well, everyone putting in their all with the technique and performance, delivering a great routine. Towards the end, all the other dancers retired to the back of the stage, ready for Logan’s solo.

“You can do this Logan,” he swore he heard Remus say

“Show everyone how great you are!” Patton’s voice came in his head.

“You got this, you nerd,” Virgil seemed to tell him.

“You are a fantastic dancer, never doubt yourself,” Janus’ voice said.

“Logan... I love you,” were the final words Logan heard from Roman.

They were all right. He could do this. Step... prepare... five, six, seven, eight-

The rest of the dancers watched with pride as Logan began his tap solo, most of them barely following the moves he seemed to be doing at hyper-speed. Logan did move after move perfectly in time, never once missing a beat, tapping out an extremely fast and complex rhythm with his shoes. The audience watched, in awe... they weren’t the only ones. Roman stood, watching his boyfriend, mesmerised...

“God, I love that tap-dancing nerd...”

There was little time to marvel over Logan’s skills after the routine, as most of the dancers had another routine soon, Roman almost immediately. After his very intense solo, Logan took a walk around backstage in order to catch his breath back a bit. While wandering around stage left, he overheard a couple of the techies talking.

“Oh no, Brain, it looks like the centre-stage spotlight is broken!” the shorter of the two techies said.

The other, taller techie winced. “That is the spotlight we need for the next dance, the best dancer in the school is performing a solo. What will we do?”

“I dunno, Brain, maybe we could try-“

Logan pondered. The best dancer in the school... they must be talking about Roman. Logan recalled his boyfriend did indeed have a solo as part of the next routine, and the broken spotlight would bring him even more unneeded stress. Logan himself had some tech skills. He sighed- it was worth a shot. He approached the techies, the tap shoes he was still wearing tapping against the floor.

“Salutations,” he said. “I overheard that the two of you were having an issue?”

“Aren’t you one of the dancers?” the taller techie (Brain?) asked.

“Indeed I am, however I thought I may be able to assist you with the broken spotlight problem.”

“I dunno, I mean we’re really not supposed to let performers use the lighting unit, let alone kids...” said the smaller techie Logan believed to be called Heart.

“I am sixteen, there is no need to belittle me or act like I don’t know anything.”

“Oh, no, I wasn’t trying to belittle you or anything! I just don’t think there’s anything any of us can do about this.”

“I agree,” said Brain. “The dancer will just have to dance without his spotlight.”

That made Logan livid. He knew full well that Roman, his boyfriend, deserved only the best. He was a stunning dancer and deserved to perform under the most flattering conditions, so everyone could see just how amazing he was. And if no one else could provide that for him, Logan was more than willing to take it into his own hands.

“Look, okay? We have a few minutes until the spotlight is needed, and I don’t need to be onstage for a while now. I think you’ll find that it is very much possible, and that I will be fixing this spotlight.”

He stamped his tap shoe on the floor in determination, making Heart jump and cower behind his partner. Even Brain took a step back, in shock.

“He’s being scary! It’s like those really demanding people from the posh ballet school all over again! Brain, do something!”

Brain shrugged.

“I trust the guy. Go ahead and see what you can do, umm...”

“Logan. Logan Berry.”

“I think you can fix it, Logan,” Brain said.

“Me too, I believe in you!” Heart chirped.

The problem was relatively simple. Logan had it fixed within a few minutes, and the techies did not do well at hiding their shock.

“Wow... you actually fixed it,” Brain said, looking over the lighting unit then giving Logan an impressed glance.

“Oh my goodness you did it!” Heart half-squealed. “Logan you are so clever and kind and skilful and selfless and helpful and smart and you saved our butts and you-“

Just as Heart looked as if he were about to lurch forwards and hug Logan, Brain placed a calming hand on their partner’s shoulder.

“Heart. Calm. Remember to be professional.”

“Sorrryyyy,” Heart shrank back, a blush dusting his freckled face.

Logan smiled. “You are very welcome.... I should probably return to my dressing room now. I don’t doubt that some catastrophe may have occurred in my absence.”

Brain chuckled. “My sincere thanks, Logan, we couldn’t have done this without you.”

Logan smiled, one of his rare, genuine, not just plastered on for a performance smiles. “You are most welcome.”

Roman was already dashing out of the dressing room when Logan returned. He stumbled towards him and frantically placed his hands on his boyfriend’s shoulders.

“Logan! I heard about some trouble with lighting, is everything ok back there?”

“Yes, do not worry, everything is fine now,” Logan replied, however his words did not have their desired calming effect.

Roman immediately frowned. “What do you mean ‘now’?”

“Oh, there was a small trouble regarding a spotlight for the next dance, but I managed to fix it, nothing major really. I merely examined the lighting unit, I spotted the issue and it was quite simple so I recalibrated the...” Logan’s words tailed off as he took in the look on his boyfriend’s face. “...wh-what’s the matter?”

“Logan... you did all that so I could have my spotlight?”

“Well, of course... because I love you-“

Logan was immediately cut off by Roman throwing his arms around him, holding him tight as he seemed to fight back tears.

“Thank you. Logan... you didn’t have to do that... I... has anyone ever told you how incredible you are?”

No words were necessary, as they both held each other tight, forgetting for a moment the chaos ensuing around them, as everything melted away into-

“ROMAN! So that’s where you’ve been!” Emile Picani once again thrust his head through the backstage door, this time looking even more infuriated than the last. “You’re literally on right now, we’ve had to stall the music for you! Get your ass in here now!”

Logan and Roman exchanged a shocked glance. If Emile swears at you, you know you’re in for it. Roman began sprinting towards the stage without a word. Logan was left stunned, with more confidence than he could remember having in a long time. He stood there, grinning like an idiot for a good few seconds until Remus approached him, mockingly wiggling his eyebrows.

“Jeez, dude, stop simping for my bother,” he said, causing Logan to blush bright red and snap back into his usual serious manner.

“Remus, cut it out,” he snapped. “You should be getting ready, we all have the big group number soon, where’s everyone else?”

Remus gestured awkwardly inside the dressing room. “Comforting Patton,” he whispered. Logan suddenly remembered the bold red mark he had put on Patton’s column of the spreadsheet, the seemingly impossible feat his childhood friend had been anxious about for months. He sighed.

“Then I suggest we join them...”

Next chapter

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5-falsehoods-phonated · 4 years ago

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Overgrown Metal

Series Summary: Almost two decades ago, the fae rose up from beyond the veil with technology far surpassing the human race, quickly taking over after laying waste to nearly everything in their wake. Now eight paths cross to right the wrongs on both ends, working to uncover secrets that would have rather stayed hidden

Chapter 6: In Search of a Market

Tws: brief mention of panic, if there are others to tag please let me know!

WC: 2766

General taglist (ask to be added or removed): @im-an-anxious-wreck @logans-library @janus-is-an-adorable-snek-boi

Leaning his cane carefully against the outer wall of the building Hyden settled down on the ground slowly and began arranging the sticks he had been picking up into a pile. Logan followed not far behind, sighing in relief as he slid off the heavy pack and gently placed it beside him on even ground. The last thing he needed was for it to tip and have to rearrange everything if his samples shifted around.

Hyden looked up from his work to eye the pack in annoyance. “We’d go a lot faster if you hadn’t brought your entire barn with you.”

“We’d also go faster if-” Logan cut himself off from snapping something he’d regret, cranky and tired as he was throwing insults about something no one could change was not a line he would cross.

Hyden, stubborn ass that he was, decided to dig. “If what Logan?”

“Don’t.” He reached forward to place his hand on the pile, moisture collecting around it that was ficked into a container before he placed a finger near the pile again. There was a muted snapping sound as a single spark crackled in front of the shriveled wood, immediately catching and spreading to make a small fire for the night. It was hardly even dark yet but it was always good to stop early if there was a good resting spot to be had, especially with how unpredictable things could be the farther from the forest they ventured.

“I’m not stupid, Logan. But-” He held his hand up to cut the other off from whatever he was to planning to retort with. “I understand. Even if it is still an ungodly amount you took the bare minimum to continue your research. I’m only concerned about being caught out here, either by guards or beasts.”

They were both tired and on edge, running away from both the forest and avoiding whatever mech beasts they could until they found a better way to carry Logan’s portable, hashed together lab. It had been a few days since they had left and they had done nothing but walk, taking as little breaks as possible to cover as much ground as quickly as they could and they were both starting to feel the effects of it, Janus because of his leg and Logan because he simply wasn’t used to travel. He had stayed in the farmhouse for so long, becoming complacent in its relative safety that the thought hadn’t even crossed his mind to be ready to pick up and leave at any given moment. He only hoped he truly had grabbed everything he would need and wouldn’t be missing anything later when they needed it. Speaking of which-

“It isn’t what you're used to but this should hold you over until we can get somewhere that I can make more salve.” Passing a bottle of arthritic tylenol to the other he made a mental note to keep an eye out for the herbs he would need; he had been going to go on a trip soon to replenish his stock but they had left before he got a chance. Hopefully whatever he could scrounge up would be enough for now.

“Thank you.” They sat in silence, just staring into the dancing flames. Logan wanted to say something but really didn’t want to bring up another argument, content enough to wait for them to warm up before pulling anything out for dinner. They couldn’t cook anything for fear of the smell attracting anyone who might be close if they fire didn’t do it already, but preserved bread and some nuts were just as good...for now.

Hyden shifted into a more comfortable position, wincing slightly before settling his chin in his hand. “Either you start talking or I do and I’m willing to bet the last thing you want is news from the Court right now.”

Logan shuddered to think of the chaos it had most likely dissolved into by now, considering the state he had left it in. No, he definitely did not want to know what they had been doing all this time- for now at least. It was always best not to talk too openly about the affairs of the fae out in the open. “No, I was mostly wondering where we could go to stock up our supplies. We’ll need to soon depending on how far out we need to go before we’re safe.”

“Logan.” He looked up to see Hyden’s confused expression. “You do realize we’ll most likely never be able to stop right? Unless you want to go back and gain freedom somehow with brute force, but they aren’t going to stop looking just because you moved out of the forest. Your research isn’t exactly...encouraged.”

“It never was.” Logan mumbled, idly throwing a small stone into the fire to watch as the dirt it was covered in flared before soot began to coat it instead, pointedly ignoring the look he was getting.

“You don’t even know that you’ll find what you’re looking for.”

“I know enough to suspect and with the way things- Hyden those things were dead. They were hastily constructed, poorly made machines that could barely imitate the wobble of a toddler if left to their own devices. And then all of the sudden they were up and running and attacking like it was instinctual! We hadn’t even programmed that in yet.” Logan ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “It needs to make sense and my hypothesis is the only one I can think of-”

“You honestly think animals are running in little hamster wheels inside them to make them do things?’ Hyden smirked at the deadpan stare he received.

“That is not what I said and you know it.”

“Isn’t that why when they attack they still eat? To feed the animal inside?”

“Hyden-”

“I’ll stop.” He chuckled at the scientist's sour expression. “But honestly, animals being preserved inside for energy? I don’t think they’d be capable of such a thing in such a short time span.”

“At the level of desperation they were at before I left I wouldn’t put it past them. The beasts have the instinct to hunt and fight just like any other animal would- the only difference is they have specific targets in mind when they do it. I can’t fathom what else they could have done unless they were working on a secret program that I had no idea about- which is highly unlikely considering how high up in the project I was.” Sniffing indignantly Logan passed a few pieces of the crunchy bread to his companion, already missing his usual meals and wishing more than anything they were far enough out that they could catch and cook something.

“In answer to your earlier question,” Logan flushed with the realization he had forgotten what they had been originally talking about. “There’s a few settlements underground- some quite impressive- that we might be able to find to get more nonperishable items to have until we can get far enough away that trapping and cooking wouldn’t be an issue. We just need to find a river.”

“A river?”

Hyden nodded. “They’re used somehow to power the city. They’re humans, but they can be clever at times.”

“They’re just as smart as anyone else, we just beat them to the stupidity of ruining the planet.” Finishing his dinner Logan sighed. “The sooner we figure out how the beasts work, the sooner we can shut them off and lower the Court’s defenses. They weren’t relying on anything else when I was there.”

“That’s your plan? Shut down whatever gets in the way and just waltz your way back in?” Hyden snorted. “I’m sure they’ll all adore the scientist that abandoned his post coming back to give them a stern lecture on the importance of ethical science.”

“I’ll have you know I have a bit more tact now that I’ve spent some time away.”

“Oh honey, I love you so much but you blew holes straight through buildings and ran in a straight line through the forest to escape.”

Flushing, Logan looked away as the other laughed quietly. “It was a flight response and I didn’t think pulling the emergency evacuation switch had actually worked!”

“It was cute. Very subtle and very you. Though I do wish you would have waited for me, I would have loved to see you running through snap explosions like a dragon learning its magic for the first time.”

“It was a straight line!”

“Logan a building fell over sideways because you blew through an entire support wall.” Hyden’s eyes crinkled with a fond smile. “That pout definitely helps your case.”

Hurrying to unfold his arms he took a few seconds to move oxygen away from the fire, letting Hyden rearrange the sticks so they’d stay as lit embers to keep them warm until they fell asleep. He yelped as his blanket was thrown in his face, taken out of god knows where just to spite him. Shooting the other a withering look he didn’t end up seeing he curled onto his side and sighed. Another night spent outside and another day spent walking in a random direction. Hopefully they’d come across a town soon.

He really hated the dry bread.

-----

“Wait Roman, is that it?” Virgil pointed to a spot in the middle of the river they had been following. The subtle line of foam could easily be missed if you weren’t looking hard enough but he and Roman had spent almost their whole lives learning to look for these subtle hints a town was nearby.

“Finally! Okay keep going this way, you circle back the way we came and look.” So saying Roman hurried over to where the line was and began walking out to the surrounding field while Virgil turned to look out from where they had already passed.

There wasn’t a clear agreement on what kind of settlement was better: one that was above ground with tall, thick walls to try and hold back the forest and mechs, or ones made underground that people hoped the forest would grow right over- and seeing how the mechs had never been seen digging into the ground there was little fear of it being destroyed. Underground settlements however, obviously didn’t see the sun like the ones above did, so they used water instead. The little line of foam signaled that water from the river was being redirected to a system of water wheels for hydroelectric power for the city. To keep it from flooding or corroding, the system was often just beside the river on the other side, where there would be a subtle exit for water to escape if the system failed. On the other side was the actual entrance, another hidden passage that would lead underground to the levels of the city beneath it. All they had to do was locate and identify the passageways and they’d be able to get in, get to the market to trade and get back out hopefully without too much hassle. It was a system that after years of traveling together they had perfected, however rocky their beginning had been.

He heard a shout from Roman as he was poking around in some grass, sighing in relief when he saw them waving him over. Readjusting the heavy pack he walked up to where there was a bump in the grass, almost like the ground had a pimple. Toeing around the edges however he could feel a thin seam that when lifted revealed a ladder about a foot away from the top.

“The entrance on the first try!” Roman declared triumphantly.

“Yeah now I won’t have to hear you complain about wet boots and pants the entire time we’re here.” Virgil teased. If they were unlucky enough to find the exit first, where there was just a straight drop to the water systems, they’d have to cross the river to find the entrance instead. The past few times had been like this with Roman complaining about being wet and both of them shivering miserably through the market the entire time. These trips weren’t fun to begin with but it added another layer when their clothes stuck fast and the cool air of the caves did nothing to dry them faster. Ignoring Roman’s pout he dropped down and began to descend.

The air immediately cooled as he surrounded himself with earth Roman shimmying down above him and shutting the entrance, encasing them in darkness. Taking a steadying breath he made his way down carefully, counting softly as he went so Roman would know when to step down. He was always very grateful the holes were wide enough to fit both them and their bags since dropping them down first wasn’t an option. The tunnel began to lighten the further down they went and Virgil let out a breath as his feet finally touched solid earth, reaching a hand out to steady Roman as they made it the rest of the way down as well. Gripping Roman’s hand tight to his so they wouldn’t get separated he squared his shoulders and narrowed his eyes into the meanest glare he could muster, tugging up his hood and mask and stepping forward towards the light.

In most underground cities the main markets were on the first level. A seemingly endless amount of stalls and shacks set up advertising a variety of goods and services. Further to the sides had buildings for general maintenance where workers that handled the waterwheels and power lived...as well as other services that required walls to pay for. The second level was mostly housing with buildings set in place for doctors offices and more formal stores if you had something to pay the price with. There were also the occasional restaurant and place of worship and even a school if the city had resources and time for it. If and when these kinds of settlements had a third level- most didn’t for the sake of time and integrity- it would be where more housing and the darker market was set up. Typically normal people wouldn’t be carrying around mech parts to sell, as being a Hunter wasn’t exactly the safest job to have. To make sure civilian numbers didn’t dwindle since they were low enough as it was, selling mech beast parts was typically banned, though no one would question you if you just happened to have them and weren’t trying to sell them.

They had heard a while back about a settlement further out with a thriving black market that used the metal and gears from the mechs to make prosthetics and sometimes weapons. Since mass production of anything was a no-go with the way the world was, this person was absolutely flourishing in their business, even if it was kept on the down low so as to only attract the attention of people who would be buying and selling rather than investigating. This is where they were headed to sell the parts they had been able to gather, eager to finally get a good price for everything and get enough provisions to get back on the road. Weaving their way through a sea of people and following the shotty directions they had been given a few weeks back they finally stopped at a building tucked innocently in a far corner of the marketplace, a small sign out front advertising medical care. Virgil looked to Roman and nodded, moving behind them as they approached to keep an eye on the surrounding area. Being this deep in the city was dangerous; if they were recognized here they’d be hard pressed to get out in time before they were caught, the thought of which had Virgil’s heart hammering in his chest as Roman gave a few sharp raps to the door.

He shifted his pack as footsteps were heard banging up to the door that opened moments later to reveal a tall, rather lanky man with wild curly hair and a neatly kept mustache. The shop owner opened his mouth to speak but stopped before he let a word out, squinting his eyes and staring at Roman hard. Virgil felt his heart beginning to beat faster, muscles tense and ready to run as his eyes darted from the man to Roman back again, half tempted to punch him out and run regardless of what his intentions were. Blood rushed in his ears as the others’ eyes widened, Roman standing frozen in front of him as he finally spoke.

“Roman?”

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I have a lot to expand upo in regards to how magic works in this worked, which we'll definitely be exploring in later chapters. For now if you have any questions about, feel free to ask either here or head over to @5-falsehoods-phonated on tumblr. Anon is always on and I'd be delighted to answer any and all questions provided the answer wouldn't be a spoiler. Thanks for reading ^-^

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#false writes #overgrown metal #fantasy au #sandrs sides fic #sanders sides #roman sanders #virgil snaders #logan sanders #janus sanders #qpp lociet

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