#if i saw him at a gay bar it would be ON SIGHT

[pugtor-who]

This is so, so true - and having recently been rewatching The Sarah Jane Adventures, you can really *tell* that that was her life between 1976 and 2006 (obviously with the exceptions of chasing adventures here and there).

One of the most profound things I picked up on from Series 1 of SJA was Sarah Jane's overwhelming loneliness, and by extension bitterness. It's there in the writing, but it's far more present in Elizabeth Sladen's acting choices.

The only excitement she's had in 30 years is her push back into the world of aliens, and it's completely filled her life as a way of giving her purpose.

I do feel that this also all connects into the fact she's completely written off the concept of love, and more importantly motherhood, that she doesn't even consider that it might be something she wants. She's clearly so uncomfortable with Luke at first, and with the way that caring for him makes her feel.

Obviously it's not something I can speak at length on as a cis-man, and I'm obviously not trying to suggest that "the only true purpose for a woman is to be a mother", but I think there's something to be said about the human connection that she's lacked/forcefully shut out and that experience of family (biological or found). I think it's actually a very cool character role for an older woman, and an interesting way of exploring her life.

tbh i think sarah jane smith is conceptually at her Most interesting when she's not travelling with the doctor, and we encounter the life of someone who really should be travelling the universe and was never made to be stuck in 1980s england, but has nowhere else to go and thus runs into trouble and never really adjusts to living in the real world again because for a time she was cut off from the mundanity of life and now facing the ordinary problems of an ordinary life is excruciatingly boring and painful in a way which almost nobody except a handful of soldiers and scientists can really wrap their head around (that she knows of). the life of a rootless companion dispossessed and cut off from the one thing that made life feel worth living can only end in two ways: death or a deepseated loneliness that isn't actually fixed by human connection. anyway where was i

[acaciusbride]

Jealousy, Jealousy [ Joel Miller x Reader / Tommy Miller x Reader ]

Summary: you walk in on Joel & Tess, despite your building chemistry with him. Hurt, you turn to his brother for comfort. Joel finds out, and he isn’t happy.

CWs: derogatory language / unsafe sex / age gap implied / oral sex (m!receiving) / cum play / cum eating / choking / alcohol usage / use of pet names / very little plot it’s just a spicy mess

Tag List: @joelsgirl @loquaciousferret @dreamingofdaddydin @funnygirlthatgab

Notes: like always, this is for the girls, the gays and the theys. I wanted to finish my other WIP but this took over. Have fun.

Buy Me A Coffee?

Part Two / Alt Version

The whiskey burns your throat on the way down. You’re on maybe your third or fourth, but it’s still not enough to burn away the sight and sound you came across earlier.

You don’t have any claim on Joel, not really. Nothing has ever happened between you, even though there’s been a few close calls, but you were almost certain that he felt the same way about you as you do about him.

Until you walked in on him and Tess. Now you can’t get the image out of your head, the sight of her beneath him, the sounds…

You slam your empty glass down on the bar. It’s a shitty dive of a place in the QZ, one you all know well enough.

“Whoa there.”

You turn your head to find yourself face to face with Joel’s brother, Tommy, concern etched into his face. He’s not bad looking, not really, but you’ve never really been interested in him. Until now. Now, he’s looking pretty fucking good. Or maybe you’re just noticing him. Who cares.

“Come on, let’s get you home before curfew.” He holds out his hand to you. You don’t need it, not really, you aren’t drunk enough, but you take it anyway, let him lead you out of the bar and onto the streets.

“Why’d you come looking?” You ask as you let him walk you home.

“You didn’t show up to drop off this afternoon. Figured something was wrong, figured I’d find you here.”

“Didn’t think anyone would notice. Joel and Tess seemed too busy to care.” You can’t help the bitterness that creeps into your voice as you mention it.

“Ah.” Tommy shrugs, “try not to worry about it. My brother’s an idiot.”

Normally you’d argue. Jump to his defence. Tonight you just don’t feel like it, too hurt by what you saw to argue. Reaching your apartment block, you turn to him.

“You gonna come in for a drink? Least I can do after you walked me home.”

You know what you’re implying, don’t mind if he takes the hint that you’re offering more than a drink. You almost don’t expect him to follow you, but he does, up the stairs and into your apartment, shutting the door behind you both while you fish out two glasses and a bottle.

“Make yourself at home.”

You pour the liquor while he drops himself down onto your couch, spread out and lazy. Really, he’s quite attractive. You’ve never really noticed before, and maybe it’s the fact that you’re so angry and hurt that’s making you see him in this light, but still.

You hand him one of the glasses, down your own before you sit yourself down on the floor by his feet. You’re being forward as hell and you know it, but you’re tipsy and hurt and you just want to forget for a short while.

He looks down at you, surveys you with dark eyes so similar to Joel’s. The thought makes your heart hurt, so you push it away.

“What are you doing, hon?” His hand comes down to catch your cheek, tilting your head up to look at him.

Tommy doesn’t know what’s going on between you and his brother. Knows that Joel’s an idiot if he doesn’t realise that you’re interested. If he was a better man, he’d push you away, but, well…

It’s been a while since he’s gotten anything, and if his older brother is too stupid to realise you’re right there, dumb enough to fuck around with your feelings and Tess? Well, he doesn’t mind being the collateral.

“Trying to decide whether or not to suck your cock.” You admit, not bothering to be coy as you look up at him.

“Oh, yeah? What’s holding you back?”

“You haven’t said that I can.” You shrug, fingers creeping up his thighs.

“There’s a pretty girl on her knees for me askin’ to suck my dick, you think I’m gonna say no?” Amusement colours his tone.

“Well… I wanted to be polite and ask.” You smirk as your fingers find the zip of his pants, tug it out the way, your small hand reaching in and wrapping around his cock, stroking lazily.

He just leans back into the couch, watches you as you rub your thumb over the head of his cock, brushing across beads of precum, collecting them on your fingers to lick them up.

“Christ…” his eyes darken as he watches you, your eyes on his as you lean in and press feather light kisses to the tip of his cock. He’s nice and big, thick, slightly curved, and you love the slightly salty taste of him.

You don’t like to brag, but you know you’re good at this, enjoy it even, pressing little kisses along the length of him, tiny kitten licks to the slit in the tip, teasing until he fists a hand into your hair and yanks your head down onto his cock, almost making you choke.

You recover quickly, sucking his cock like he’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever tasted, moving your head up and down, guided by the heavy hand in your hair.

“Fuck…” he rocks his hips up into your mouth, getting deeper into your throat, “such a sweet little mouth…”

You hum around him, urged on by the praise, eager to keep pleasing him, so desperate to be wanted…

You know full well this is messy and sloppy, your drool coating his cock, eyes watering slightly as you look up at him. You can’t see it, of course, but you’re a vision to behold, on your knees for him, mascara running down your face as your cheeks hollow out for him, his cock disappearing into your throat like you were made to take him.

God, he’s impressed, both by how well you worship his cock, and by how quickly you’ve worked him up.

“Gonna make me cum, pretty thing…” his hand releases your head, strokes your cheek lazily.

You pull away from him for a moment, wrap your hand around his cock and stroke slowly.

“Cum on my face.” You tell him, hazy with lust and drink. “On my tongue.”

He groans, moves to guide your mouth back to him, but you move faster, wrap your lips around him and let him rut up into your throat, moaning around him. Fuck, he tastes so good, exactly what you needed.

You can feel him becoming more erratic, groaning softly before he pulls out of your mouth, wraps his hand around his cock and strokes it roughly as your lips part, tongue flicking out to catch the hot ropes that spurt from his cock as he groans.

Fuck, you’re a sight to behold, on your knees, makeup a mess, lips parted with his cum on your tongue and your face. You lean in and lick him clean, swallow every drop you can get.

His fingers reach out, swipe through the mess he’s left on your lips, press them into your mouth.

“Suck ‘em, that’s a good girl.”

You do exactly as he says, swirl your tongue around his fingers until you’re satisfied they’re clean.

“You want me to -?”

You shake your head. You’re exhausted, your throat hurts, and while the offer is nice, you don’t think you can stay awake for it.

“Nah, ‘s okay. I just wanted to give you something.” You offer him a small smile as you get to your feet, watch him tuck himself back into his pants.

To his credit, he’s not a jerk. He makes sure you’re safely in your bed with a glass of water beside you before he heads off into the night, leaving you almost wishing you’d taken up his offer.

——

A week later, you’re sitting in the same bar with one of your friends, pointedly ignoring Joel a few seats away.

Once again, you’ve had a few too many to drink, and it’s loosening your tongue.

“So, what’s the deal with you and that guy anyway? The mystery man you were telling me about the other day?” Your friend knows exactly the right questions to ask, and while normally you’re not the bragging type, seeing Joel again has sent that spike of bitter resentment and jealousy through you.

Sure, it’s not like he’d ever promised you anything, but he’d damn well seemingly made it clear he was interested. Only for you to walk in on him fucking Tess like he loved her.

You hate him for it. Hate him for hurting you. More than that, though, you hate yourself for not being brave enough to confront your feelings.

But right now, you’re feeling spiteful, and you know damn well he can hear every word you say.

“Oh, it wasn’t really anything, just a one night thing.” You shrug.

“What did you say his name was again? Jimmy?”

“Tommy.” You run your finger around the rim of your glass.

“As in Miller?”

“Mmhmm.” You can feel Joel’s gaze burning into you as you speak. “He walked me home, one thing led to another…”

“Fuck, he’s so hot though…” your friend sighs, “I bet he has a great dick.”

“I mean… I liked it.”

You giggle, a very uncharacteristic sound, but still. You don’t regret what happened, not at all. You like giving head, and it wasn’t like he had an unpleasant dick. If anything, you kind of wish you’d let him fuck you. Maybe another time, seeing as Joel is clearly no longer interested.

“Are you gonna give me any details, or?”

You’re about to open your mouth when a hand clamps down on your shoulder.

“Outside. Now.”

You don’t need to look to know Joel’s pissed; you do anyway, are met with his stormy glare.

“Nice to see you too, Joel.”

“I mean it. Outside, now, or I’ll drag your ass out.” One look at him tells you he’s not kidding.

Sighing, you excuse yourself from your friend. Follow Joel out of the bar into the street, or rather, let him tow you out. Let him drag you by the wrist back to your apartment. Nobody wants to be caught in the streets at this hour.

“What the fuck, Joel?” You demand as soon as he’s slammed the door behind you.

“Don’t you what the fuck me.” He growls, crossing his arms over his chest as he backs you into the small room.

“I absolutely will, what’s your goddamn problem?” You hiss at him, furious. Furious and still hurt, because the last time you saw him he was fucking another woman, and no matter what you do you can’t get rid of that image.

“You! You’re my goddamn problem, running your mouth in that bar where anyone could hear you.”

You roll your eyes at him, your own temper flaring.

“How is what I was talking about any of your business?” You demand, glaring at him. “How is what I do any of your business?”

Admittedly you’re not very intimidating in comparison, but still.

“You were making a damn fool of yourself. Do you ever know when to keep your fucking mouth shut?”

“I don’t know. Why don’t you ask your brother? He seemed to know how to shut me up.” The words come out before you can stop them.

Joel exhales slowly, pinches the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger.

“Is there a reason you’re being such a goddamn bitch? Fucking my brother included.” He’s so damn frustrated right now, not understanding what’s gotten into you.

Usually you’re so sweet to him, the pair of you dancing around the mutual attraction you share. He’s not going to push it if you don’t, but maybe he’s misread things?

You stare at him.

“Are you fucking serious right now? You don’t know why I’m mad at you?”

He just stares at you.

“I heard you and Tess, you asshole. So yeah. I know that for all your sweet words and the way we’ve been dancing around the subject? That’s just how you are, right? Anything to get laid, I guess.” You spit the words.

Something in his gaze snaps as he crosses to you, backs you against the wall, slams one hand into the cracked plaster beside your shoulder, the other settling on your throat.

You’re too angry to be scared, even though you know he’s dangerous, know you’ve pushed him too far, like poking a goddamn angry bear.

“First, don’t fucking assume that you know any goddamn thing about what happened that day.” He’s leaning right down to you, you can smell the whiskey on him, but still you aren’t afraid.

“Second, don’t presume that I’m that sort of bastard. You really think I’d do that to you?”

You glare at him.

“You already have.” You hate that your voice shakes as you say it.

Joel sighs as he looks at you.

“I’ve known her almost as long as you’ve been alive. Almost but not quite. There’s a difference between me fucking her when it means nothing, and what you’ve done.”

You glare at him again, because you don’t see any difference.

“It may not mean anything to you, but it definitely does to her.”

“And that’s her fucking problem, I’ve made it goddamn clear to her that I don’t see her that way, that that would be the last time. Then you go and fuck my brother?”

Somehow, suddenly, it becomes important to clarify. As if somehow it will make him less angry.

“Technically, I didn’t fuck him.”

“You-“ Joel stops mid sentence and looks at you. “You didn’t?”

“No. I mean, I sucked his dick, but… I was angry, I was so fucking angry and I just wanted to feel something. I just wanted to feel wanted.”

Joel stares at you like he’s never seen you before. Like he’s trying to understand you.

“And I don’t make you feel wanted?”

“Not when I walk in on you fucking someone who hates me, no. Not particularly.” You look away from him, before you do something stupid, like cry, which is a very real possibility whenever you think about what you saw, what you heard.

“Guess I need to change that.”

His hand drops from the wall, the other one releasing your throat as he leans in and devours your unsuspecting lips in a kiss. It’s desperate and angry and hungry, but you cling to him, your fury and your need pouring into it as he lifts you up, carries you across the room and into your room.

You pull him down on top of you, not letting go when he sets you down on the mattress, kisses still full of fury and rage but of something else, too, something you’ve been holding back for far too long.

“Still can’t believe you let my goddamn brother touch you.” Joel growls it into the soft skin of your throat, grinding his cock against you, your clothes still in the way.

You shove your skirt up, hands finding his belt. He catches your wrists in one hand.

“Were you this fucking eager for him, too?”

There’s that dark glint in his eyes again, possessive and jealous, even though he started this, even though he knows that really, he has no right to be angry. It doesn’t stop him.

“Does it matter, Joel? You really think I’d have done it if you’d just fucking…”

“Just what, sweetheart?” He releases your wrists, only because he needs his hand to tear your panties down, cup your bare cunt in his rough hand.

“Just fucking admitted you wanted me first!” You snap at him, grinding yourself against his hand in spite of your temper.

“Yeah, well. We all make mistakes, don’t we?” He plunges two fingers knuckle deep into your cunt, effectively stopping you from answering with anything but a strangled moan.

Your hands tear at his belt, yank his jeans down, your hand wrapping around the length of him. Fuck, he’s big, bigger than his brother, thick and hard and dripping pre cum, all for you, all because of you, because in spite of how angry he is, he still wants you.

Just as you want him, your cunt aching and dripping onto his fingers as he fucks you with them, hard and fast and punishing.

“I should make you suck my cock, refuse to touch you; but if I do that, what’s to say you won’t go and whore yourself out to someone else?”

His words are dark, gaze feral as he looks down, watches his fingers disappear inside you.

“Better I just take you, ruin you for anyone else. You won’t want anyone else when I’m done with you, it’ll be nothing in comparison.” He leans in and bites your throat, right above your collarbone.

“Is that right?” Your hand strokes him roughly; you can feel how needy you are for him, feel yourself tightening around his fingers but it’s not enough, you need more.

“Don’t fucking push me, sweetheart.” He growls it, drags his fingers out of you, presses them to your mouth.

Automatically you part your lips, suck on his thick, rough fingers until they’re coated in your saliva rather than your slick, your eyes on him the entire time.

He groans, a sound that’s still closer to a growl than a moan.

“Fuck sake…” he’s still furious with you, that fury coming back tenfold at the lewd way you suck his fingers, as if they were his cock.

“This how you sucked him off?”

“I don’t know,” you challenge, “are you gonna fuck me like you fucked her?”

He glares at you, and for a moment you’re afraid he’ll pull away, that you’ve pushed him too far.

He does the opposite, moves so fast you can’t keep up, lines himself up and slams into you, every inch of his cock pressing deep. You scream out for him, half in pleasure, half in surprise.

Fuck, he’s so big it hurts, you feel so full you’re not certain you can take him, but he doesn’t care, doesn’t give you any time to adjust, one hand bracing himself on the mattress, the other gripping your waist to pull you onto his cock, over and over until your back arches off the bed.

“No,” he growls in answer to your question, “I’m gonna fuck you like you deserve.”

He’s relentless, pounding into you like you’re the only thing keeping him tethered to this world, rough and hard, growling against your skin the entire time, covering every bit of exposed skin with bite marks and bruises.

“Joel…” it comes out half squeal, half moan as he hitches your leg higher around his waist, gets deeper inside you.

“That’s it, sweetheart, can feel how needy you are for me. Don’t think you’ll ever want anyone else, huh?”

You shake your head, mute except for mewls and sighs of pleasure, your nails digging into his arms, trying to hold on, but unable to think straight, barely able to see or focus.

“That’s what I thought, baby, gonna get you so fuckin’ addicted to my cock you’ll forget all about anyone else. This sweet pussy is all mine.”

Fuck, he wishes he’d done this sooner, wishes he’d avoided this entire fucking debacle, because he’s afraid it’ll always hang between you now, unless he fucks you so hard you forget.

“Already was, Joel, always been yours…” you moan it out for him, fingers finding the sweat damp curls of his hair and tugging, hard.

He moans, a deep, guttural sound that you immediately commit to memory, the sound alone making your cunt throb around him.

“Oh, you like that, baby? You like hearing what you do to me?” He shakes his head, grinds into you slowly before resuming his relentless pace.

“Fuck, Joel, I’m gonna…”

Oh, he knows. He can feel you fluttering around him, tight little hole becoming even tighter as he fucks you, leans down and presses a searing kiss to your mouth before he pulls out of you.

You whine at the loss, but before you can say anything else he has you flipped onto your front, face buried in the mattress, ass in the air as he slams back into you, both hands on your waist as he fucks you so hard you see stars.

There’s no holding back, not anymore, your hands clawing at the mattress as your eyes roll back slightly from the pleasure, feeling yourself tighten painfully around him before your climax hits, hard and fast, washing over your entire body, leaving you shaking beneath him, screaming his name loud enough that the entire goddamn building can hear.

“That’s fucking right baby, you scream for me. You tell everyone that you’re mine.” He yanks your hair back, holds you upright as he ruts into you, thrusts becoming more and more sloppy and erratic with each movement.

“Every fuckin’ inch of you is mine, you hear me?”

“Yours, Joel, all yours…” you moan it for him, still on the high of your climax, entire body over stimulated.

“That’s goddamn right.” He slams in deep once more, one final time, grinds against you as he cums, fills your tight little pussy with hot ropes of his spend, groaning the entire time.

He stays there for a moment, catches his breath before he pulls out of you, flops down beside you.

There’s a moment’s pause, where you aren’t sure whether you’ll still see rage in his eyes if you look at him. Aren’t sure whether he’ll see it in you, either.

He saves you having to look, answers the unasked question by pulling you into his arms, holding you tight against his chest.

“I’m so-“

“Don’t.” You reach up to touch your hand to his lips. “Don’t be. I should be the one apologising.”

“I think we both owed each other an apology, to be honest.” Joel says finally, “though, uh… maybe that was a good start?”

You laugh, lean into him.

“Skip the apology and go straight for the makeup sex, huh?”

Joel smirks, presses a kiss to your forehead.

“Oh, darling. That wasn’t the makeup sex. That was the I’m fucking furious sex. You’ll like the makeup sex a whole lot more.”

Smirking yourself, you roll on top of him, lean down so you can press a kiss to his mouth.

“I like the sound of that. How do I sign up for it?”

“You promise we won’t touch anyone else. Ever.”

You press a long, heated kiss to his parted lips.

“Easy enough for me.”

“Good.” Another smirk before he rolls you, pinning your smaller frame beneath him. “I fucked you like I hated you. Now you’re gonna find out how I fuck when I love you.”

You just whimper, wrap your fingers into his curls and drag him into another kiss. It’s going to be a long night.

[archangeldyke-all]

I feel this is somewhat fitting for today,

So reader comforting sev after silco died (I feel she is the most sad out of everyone because she always saw him as some sort of father figure ngl and he sorta neglected her or never validated her)

-🫖

:( my poor baby. he's like her fucked up bestie/boss/dad

men and minors dni

they send lock or deckard to tell you if sevika's gonna be late getting home.

thieram if she's drunk and moping at the bar.

but ran only ever comes when something bad's happened.

and jinx has never accompanied any of silco's goons on one of these errands.

you assume the worst. your heart drops to your ass at the sight of ran and jinx on your doorstep, both looking haggard and scared.

jinx reaches out and grabs your arm before you can start weeping, shaking you a bit. "relax, would ya? it's not her, she's fine she's just..."

you gulp, looking to ran. they sigh. "silco's dead. she's... just sitting in his office... drinking."

jinx breaks into tears on the walk to the last drop, disappearing in an alleyway for the night. ran is solemn as they lead you to the bar.

"w-what happened?"

"dunno. jinx won't say. think she mighta killed him." ran shrugs. "think she did something bad in piltover too. shit's stirring and silco's dead and sevika's supposed to take over if this happens but--"

"take a breath." you say, patting your friend's back. "'s okay. she's gonna be fine."

this isn't true. but you know your wife wouldn't want you telling her troops any different. sevika's going to wake up sobbing for years to come, just another thing on the long list of losses that haunt her. you'll be there, though, like you are now-- to hold her and let her cry in your chest-- to remind her that she's got you. and you've got her.

she's slumped asleep on the couch when you enter silco's office. ran leaves you alone, closing the door behind themselves as the leave.

"sev." you whisper, gently nudging your wife. she snaps awake, taking a moment to drunkenly register her surroundings and your face, before she bursts into silent tears, leaning forward to bury herself against you. "fuck, honey." you coo, wrapping her up into a hug. "i'm so fuckin' sorry."

"i can't believe he fucking died. he's fucking invincible!" she cries. your heart shatters, and you kiss her scalp.

"sevika, baby. you know he isn't."

"but-- it's my fucking job to make him invincible and--"

"sev." you pull her face away from your chest, wiping up her tears and forcing her to look you in the eye. "it's your job to take over if shit goes south. that's your job. silco was not a god-- he was a man. and there is nothing you coulda done to save him, baby."

"i..." she trails off. you frown, already knowing what she was going to say, your heart breaking.

"you're gonna miss him."

she nods. "i fuckin' hate him, too." she says.

you chuckle, nodding. "i know, baby. that's the power of love."

sevika huffs and leans against you again. "how long do i have before shit gets real bad out there?"

"long enough to come home and get a proper sleep in." you say, dragging her toward the door.

sevika doesn't resist, letting you take her home. letting you care for her.

you kiss her before you leave the office, sweet and chaste but for long enough that you melt together. "thank you." you sigh.

"for what?"

"letting me take care of you before your big debut... sevika... the lioness of the lanes." you tease. sevika snorts at the nickname and rolls her eyes, and your heart flutters in your chest at the sound.

hi if u know who came up with the lioness of the lanes nickname pls lemme know so i can credit them!

taglist!

@fyeahnix @lavendersgirl @half-of-a-gay @thesevi0lentdelights @sexysapphicshopowner

@shimtarofstupidity @chuucanchuucan @badbye666 @femme-historian @lia-winther

@sevikaspillowprincess @emiliabby @sevikasbeloved @hellorai

@glass-apothecary @macaroni676 @artinvain @k3n-dyll @sevsdollette

@ellieslob @xayn-xd @keikuahh @maneskinwh0re @raphaellearp

@iamastar @sevikitty @mascdom @nhaaauyen

@mirconreadzztuff22 @veoomvroom @lushh-s3vik4s @katyawooga @lesbodietcoke

[irreplaceable-ecstasyy]

friends in the dark

REQUEST: Hiya!! I saw you were looking for brienne prompts?if you're still open I'd love to see something where breinne for some reason has to go to a bar or brothel and the reader works there and is flirting with her and gives brienne gay panic!

Wordcount: 3719 words

[Instead of steamy, this whole thing turned into fluff. I couldn't help it. ;-; Brienne deserves so much love. I was writing it in a way that showed that her trust might've been affected after Jaime left her so yeahh. Reader is just delicate with her :) ]

"Tonight is going to be a night of fun and free of responsibility!"

Having convinced the Small Council, Lord Bronn shepherded the little group into what appeared to be a regular building not too far from the castle. Had they not known King's Landing so well, they still would have guessed where the Master of Coin was leading them all for his nature was incredibly predictable. Lord Tyrion had no objections nor did Lord Davos who only wanted to escape the confinement of the castle. Podrick, somehow, got the chance to tag along as well. Grand maester Samwell had gone home without entertaining the thought and Ser Brienne wished she could have done the same.

Against her own will, she had been brought to a place of the night's entertainment and the sight of the scene before her was enough to make her skin crawl. Women and men alike strode past her with barely a shred of clothing on them. Even those lounging seemed perfectly comfortable in the absence of garments. It made her feel entirely overdressed in her uniform. Never had she imagined visiting a brothel, and now that she was here, she felt entirely exposed despite being the one in a fair amount of layers.

Lord Davos and Podrick had disappeared to fetch themselves a drink, much to her dismay. Left with Tyrion and Bronn, she could feel their cheeky little grins burning into the back of her skull. She refused to look at them to feed their amusement, but Bronn was already having a good laugh at her usual scowl.

"Enjoy, won't you?" he jested as he slung an arm over Brienne's shoulders. "I'm sure there'll be someone for you here. If you want one that looks like Jaime, I can get him. But if you fancy experimenting a little, you're at the right place."

Tyrion grimaced at the remark about his late brother and swatted at Bronn's side. "Be nice, Bronn. She won't go easy on you."

"While I appreciate your hospitality, I will be fine," Brienne muttered as she flicked the arm off her shoulders.

"Suit yourself. At least get yourself a drink. Wind down a bit," Bronn offered as he tossed her a coin. "First one's on me." With that, Bronn trotted off.

Tyrion rolled his eyes but offered Brienne a comforting smile. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. We just thought it would be nice for you to come out once in a while."

"I'll go get a drink. That's it."

"Be my guest. Don't feel like you have to stay either, okay? We know you can take care of yourself." Tyrion patted Brienne's arm then, with a hum, followed after Bronn through an archway to another room.

Left alone to her own devices, it was the perfect opportunity to leave. She had no desire or obligation to stay, unless Bronn caught her in the act, but she did not answer to him. The buzz of the brothel was livelier than she had seen in a while but it brought her some peace seeing that the people were happy. To some extent. It was nice basking in other people's thrills but she wanted no part in it. She turned on her heel and made her way to the door in a hurried stride, head bowed low to watch her steps than the scene around her.

"Leaving so soon?"

You saw her first when the Small Council came tottering in. They were not exactly the most subtle of people for everyone knew their faces but the one that stood out to you was the woman among them. The Lord Commander herself. It was astounding to you how a woman had managed to claim a seat among the council. A change in the system. A revelation.

She stopped in her stride to acknowledge you. You saw how her shoulders tensed up but after a quick look at you, she dropped them, releasing a slow breath. You were the only other person dressed in modest clothes. Something to look at rather than something to touch; a display. But Brienne did not know any better.

Shaking her head, Brienne stepped away from you. "I'm sorry but I'm not interested."

"But of course. Though, I'm sure a conversation wouldn't hurt."

"Wouldn't I be distracting you from your work?"

"The others are a bore," you scoffed. "I would much rather be in your company." You spoke with an air of fascination, the kind of glow you would not see in a worker who only desired to serve.

Brienne was uncertain but she was no fool. Years of experience taught her how to listen to the tells in people's voices when they were lying. She knew mockery like no other, in the face of it or concealed behind sweet nothings. It was too early to assume your intentions and there was nothing too strange just yet.

"Won't you consider... Podrick?" Brienne recommended. "Unless you've already had a go with him."

You threw your head back in laughter. "I've heard all about him. He's quite popular with the ladies, but no."

The laughter surprised her. Most well-groomed ladies would laugh into the back of her hand or let out a timed giggle. The way you had let the sound express itself in your physicality said more than enough about your character. You had nothing to hide.

She turned away from the door to face you properly once more. "Well, alright. I won't guarantee that I'm any fun to speak to."

"And yet I'm still here. You're not trying to chase me away, are you?" you teased.

"Oh, I don't mean to be rude."

"I was just joking! Come." You extended a hand to her. "Let us get some wine. Or do you prefer ale?"

"Ale will do just fine." She took your hand almost awkwardly but you were far too busy basking in your own delight.

"Because you are my guest, it's on the house~"

You sat her down on a plush couch, away from the other occupied ones where you could get your own privacy. Just before you joined her on the couch, you got someone to fetch the ale. While you draped yourself over the cushions, Brienne sat upright, hands planted firmly on her knees. What a sight she was. No other patron had ever swooned you the way she did and it was if you had forgotten how to breathe.

It took you a moment to recollect yourself from your rude staring, but Brienne had seen just how taken you were. It did nothing to ease her discomfort being in such a place but the somewhat civil exchange between the both of you was not at all unpleasant. She scooted a little closer to you.

"Forgive me for my silence. I did warn you that I'm not very interesting to speak with," she murmured under her breath. "I'm not sure what to do either."

"Speak whatever you wish. We can talk as regular folk do," you told her with a smile.

"But is there not a way for me to speak to you? As in- Well..." she fumbled with her words.

"I promise you, there is no catch. I speak to you as... An acquaintance. Consider me a friend." You rested a hand on her arm; something less intimate than resting it on her hand. "Don't think about my job. I'm not here for the sake of pleasure. I want to talk to you."

She could find no trick in your words. Even her suspicions were beginning to fade away of the possible fool you wanted to make out of her. You radiated comfort and it was all she wanted for the night while the rest of her companions were off in search of their own satisfaction. This was enough. When the ale came, she grabbed the mug and took a swig of it, a sigh following the large mouthful she had had. Swallow every other little insecurity that was nagging her at the back of her head, shut away the rest of the world and focus on who was in front of her, allow herself this bit of company without feeling guilty.

She had to admit, you were quite a beautiful person. She was as taken by you as you were of her but she did the better job of hiding it. The giveaway was the shine in her eyes when they found yours and they never seemed to break away from their gaze. She saw the ways your eyes smiled with the stretch of your lips, a pure glimmer in your own two irises. As you two sipped your ales, you would fill the silence with your giggling while Brienne stared.

If your beauty had not been the one to capture the Lord Commander, it might have been your tenderness. Anyone with a good heart could sway the knight, and receiving such treatment from someone who was beyond her league (or so she believed) was otherworldly.

Clearing her throat, she took another sip of ale and managed a small smile. "We could start by introducing ourselves..."

"I know who you are, Lord Commander," you purred as you inched closer to her.

"But I don't know who you are. It isn't very fair," she protested.

"You're right. It's only proper. But why should I give you my name if we will only meet tonight?" you asked, brows raised.

"I always remember a face and a name to it. I wish to remember the person who kept me company tonight while the rest of my companions left me on my own," she told you after a sip.

"What an honor! But it's no fun giving you the answers directly~"

"I'm not one for games."

"Will you wait then?"

"What for?"

"To see if I deserve to be remembered. We've only just started. We can deal with names later."

Without much of a thought, Brienne shrugged. "Sure. I will say this, my opinion will not change. I will get your name."

"I'm sure you will~"

"And what is that supposed to mean?" she challenged.

You leaned in close to her, smirking lips hovering mere inches away from hers. "Was that a challenge, my dear~?"

A sound alike a squeak rose from her throat but she remained where she was. Persistent. "Two can play this game." She inched away a little, unable to take the heat of the tension but the heat was coming from the red in her cheeks.

"I'm not one to back away from a challenge," you warned her with a grin.

"Good"- She was backed up into the side of the couch, your frame still looming over hers. How had you come so close? "I like a good challenger."

"Don't blame me when you're stuck with me for hours."

"I don't tire easily."

Oh, how it made you shiver.

But in the end, you two soon forgot the concept of time. Hours slipped from your fingertips, breezing away as you whisked Brienne away into deep conversation. During the late hours, more patrons came in but you two were too occupied to bother with the world around you. Whenever you could not hear one another, either of you would move a little closer and at this point, your knees were already touching. You thought you were imagining things but you could see Brienne's cheeks flushing red every time you listened to her speak. The most obvious reason would be the ale but she had stopped bringing the mug to her lips just a few hours ago. Being the weakest drink, there was no chance that the knight was already tipsy. The other reason was delusional. The adoration in her eyes. It was similar to what you have seen before from your patrons under the influence of alcohol and lust.

Those hungry wide eyed men. This adoration was gentler and Brienne was watching you as if you were a gem. When she knew you were listening and acknowledging her every word, she would look down at her lap before meeting your eyes again to continue her story. An easy tell, but you found it adorable. From the night alone, you learnt a number about Brienne, mostly of her soldier days while she learnt about your interests outside of your work. The burning question had been the path that led you to this place but you promised that it was a story for another time which she took willingly.

You shared a good laugh, shared tales you had never told your peers and best of all, you earned the trust of the Lord Commander. It was far too surreal.

However, all good things came to an end but in this case, there were other times to continue. Tyrion and the others stumbled in Brienne's direction to pick her up as the night aged, bugging her to hurry up but she barely budged. With courage, you took her hands from her knees and gave them a squeeze.

"Visit me soon, will you?"

"Not here," Brienne whispered. "Perhaps some place else."

"I'll be waiting~"

As she got up, her hands did not leave yours until they slipped out of your grasp but she did not leave just yet. She stopped the group for a brief second to ask you one important question.

"So, whose company did I have the pleasure of having?"

Smiling, you bowed playfully. "[Y/N], at your service."

For the first time, Brienne gave you a full smile. "It was an honor to have your company, [Y/N]."

"And yours too, Lord Commander."

You saw her off at the door with her companions and waved them goodbye. What a strangely wonderful day it was. Meeting the Lord Commander and the rest of the Small Council. There was truly nothing that could top this day. Once they were out of sight, you retreated to your quarters, more ecstatic than ever before.

Brienne kept her composure until she arrived back at the castle. She was grateful for the candlelit hallways as they did not reveal secrets as much as the Sun did. In plain sight, she did not have to hide the reddening in her cheeks or bother if anyone saw her clutching her chest, over her rapidly beating heart. She looked more disturbed that stricken in the dark. She had always been known to dwell in moments she should leave behind but it was the moment that clung on to her that she could not shake off.

Thank the Gods that Tyrion and the others had disappeared somewhere at the courtyard. She could not bear to tolerate their humiliation as the events of the night played through her head.

The touch of your hand on hers when she had reached out to grab the jug to refill your drinks, the genuine kindness you had given to her and not a single lie in your sweet words. The suggestiveness in the phrases you would slip her by; she caught each one of them. In all disregard to masculinity and femininity, on a rare occasion such as this, she felt like a person.

She knew she would never get another chance at feeling so alive again, but now she knew a name to the face she would seek for in the city. Perhaps next time she would dare to do more and take the step forward. Maybe she would be the one to make the first move. Gods, what was she to do? So helplessly attached already to anyone who cared to give her a chance.

She needed it all again, even if you were just a friend in the dark. She had to have you.

TEENIE BONUS:

Weeks went by but the Lord Commander was not a distant memory. Some part of you hoped to see her one day but you knew that the chances were slim. After getting to know her from that one night, it was obvious that she was not the sort of woman one would find lingering in a place like this. You often saw the King's Hand as well as a few others in the Small Council. They would approach you occasionally to tease you about having the honor of the Lord Commander's company but other than that, there came no regards from the lady.

That was until you received news of a letter waiting for you in your shared quarters. The other girls were herded at your bed, sat around the envelope where it rested on your pillow. Letters from secret and not-so-subtle admirers were not uncommon but there had never been excitement in the room like this. Most letters would be thrown away but you soon came to understand why the girls were eager to see who it was from.

A wax seal.

Only a noble would use anything so grand to seal a slip of paper. It was bold too for a noble to be in contact with such a lowly person, and to make it clear it had been from them. At least it kept the letter out of the bin or away from prying eyes.

Upon studying the seal, there was a sigil you did not recognize. A smaller house of moons and suns. A smart move. With a sigil or not, the girls' patience ran thin and they beckoned you to open the letter. You felt like one of those pretty young girls in frilly dresses at a fancy sleepover, huddled up with your friends in a nice plush bed to open a letter from your secret admirer. This may be the only time you ever felt so childish and giddy. Without a moment to spare, you popped the seal open carefully to avoid damaging the paper and unfolded the letter.

The girls began to cry out, a flurry of questions hurtling at you as you struggled to read what was written. Reading alone was a tricky task and the commotion was no help at all. It was a short letter, thankfully, and a clear observation that you had made was that this was no ordinary letter. It was an invitation.

"What does it say?!" you heard.

"Who's it from??"

"Do you know them?!"

You shook your head as you read it out to them. "It's uh- It's an invitation to the Summer's Ball. And it's addressed to me." You pointed to what had been an empty space where your name was written. "There is an address to a dressmaker and a set time to go there."

"That's tomorrow!" a girl in the far back squealed.

"You must go!" another of the girls cried out. "This is an opportunity you can't miss!"

"But I haven't got much money to pay for a nice dress," you muttered as you tossed the invite into your drawer.

"Maybe the person who sent you this will meet you at the dressmaker? Your partner-to-be for the ball," another girl swooned.

"I could always stop by and see what happens."

"Yes! Then, you'll come to us and tell us all about it."

"Now, don't get jealous when I've gone to the ball with many stories to tell." You flopped onto your back and waved the girls off, sending them scurrying back to their beds now that the whole ordeal was over.

"Well, it depends on who this secret person is~" you heard someone hum.

"I'm sure it'll be someone absolutely fucking gorgeous," you mused.

"In your dreams you will!" The girls all scoffed and laughed as they settled into their beds.

They continued to shriek and giggle through the night like children while you found yourself sleeping with surprising ease. It was a dreamless sleep, one of the most peaceful rests you have had in a long while. It was possible that it had something to do with the secret sender of this invitation for only one person came to mind. Or rather, a few. The Hand of the King, who you were already acquainted with, would be considerate enough to invite you as a friend to see a certain someone again, and Ser Bronn, on the other hand, would invite you to jab at the Lord Commander. The Lord Commander herself sending the invitation was more of wishful thinking.

You had not heard a word from her but you remembered her words. Not here. Perhaps some place else. Was this it? Away from this hellhole and in the castle? It was far too much like a fairytale to believe in, but you wanted to see where this would take it.

You were ready to be faced with a brutal trick as soon as you left to find the dressmaker's shop. After all, no one in their right mind would bring a whore to a ball. You still dressed up for appearances were a selling trade to lure people into the brothel, but you could not help but feel uncomfortable in the clothes you worse so often.

What made your skin crawl even more under the summer sun was the sight of the dressmaker's shop. You were ready for humiliation, for the girls to be there to laugh at you for falling for something so stupid. For being so naïve.

As you trudged towards the shop, a person by the window caught your eye. You stopped in your stride to stare just for a moment to see if you were simply daydreaming, but for once, your eyes were not deceiving you. Speaking to the dressmaker was the Lord Commander herself. Free of her armor, she donned a lovely blue with a sigil sewn to her top. A sigil of moons and suns. The same one on the letter. You felt your heart skip a beat when she noticed you from where you stood, a smile gracing her lips. Before you could walk any further, she was already out the door, coming to meet you.

"I didn't think we'd meet again," you said with a laugh.

She bowed her head in greeting, her smile growing in the slightest. "I said we would meet some place else. And here we are." In the daylight, Brienne was drinking in the sight of you, your true self outside the silks and false glamor. "It's um... It's good to see you again."

[steddieas-shegoes]

Hi friend! 👋 I’d like to submit a request, if I may. It’s not an original prompt, I don’t know where I first saw it, but I haven’t seen an actual fic with this premise yet.

Will comes out to Nancy who goes “I know nothing about this BUT I know someone who does” and brings him to Eddie, who brings both of them (bc let’s be honest Nancy isn’t letting Will out of her sight alone with Eddie) to a gay bar in Indy. Lo and behold who do they see but Steve and Robin. And it’s obvious to those who know what to look for (Eddie) that they’re both looking to get lucky. Steddie endgame (obvs lol) but maybe some Byler as well if you want/can swing it..?

I love everything I’ve read from you so far and I’m sure I’ll love everything you come up with! ❤️ thank you!!!

My star ✨✨✨ This is a future fic, but not future enough for Will to be 21 (I'm gonna put him at 19, almost 20 here so still like a tiny baby but also an adult). The first part of this is definitely Will focused, but there is more focus on Steddie at the bar itself. - Mickala ❤️

-------------------------------------------

“Nancy? Um, can I talk to you?”

Will had been working himself up to this for weeks, months really. He came out to Jonathan and his mom officially last weekend, though they both already knew.

He wasn’t exactly good at hiding it, and around them, he didn’t really try.

But Nancy Wheeler was smart, and she was quick to come to conclusions, and probably already had figured it out.

Plus, she was decent at giving advice, and could possibly give him some insight into how Mike felt if he felt anything at all.

That was why he was here, coming out to her, being brave.

“Of course,” Nancy replied, smiling comfortingly.

She knew. He knew she knew. But he had to say it out loud, he had to get it out there to other people.

“I just have to tell you something that’s like, a big deal, and hopefully it doesn’t bother you, but also I don’t want it to be a big deal. It doesn’t have to be, actually. I just-”

“Will,” Nancy placed her hand on his shoulder, looked up at him with a knowing smirk. “Just say it.”

“I’m gay.”

There. He said it. It’s done.

Nancy nodded once, like she was confirming that she heard him, but she already knew, which was what he expected.

“Anything else?”

“Um. I’m in love with Mike?”

“Yeah, that’s pretty obvious. Anything else?”

“What do you mean it’s pretty obvious? I thought I hid it okay!”

Nancy laughed. She actually laughed.

“The only person who doesn’t notice that you’re in love with Mike, is Mike, and that’s had a few close calls. And before you ask, I have no idea how he feels. I know he’s in denial about his sexuality, so once he clears that up, who knows. But for now, let’s focus on you. What do you need from me?”

Nancy had a “let’s get down to business” attitude that Will respected, that everyone respected, but she sometimes forgot that not everything was business.

“Well, I guess just…support?”

Nancy raised her brows.

“That’s it? You already had that.”

“I guess maybe…advice?”

“I mean, I really don’t have any for Mike. He’s an enigma even to me,” she started.

“No. I mean, it would be helpful to have it, yes, but just. In general?” Will interrupted, a blush covering his cheeks.

“Oh! About…” she trailed off as she realized what he was asking.

“Okay, well I don’t know anything about that or really anything, but I know who does!” Nancy clapped her hands together.

—-------------

“Eddie?” Will asked as they stood on his porch, waiting for him to answer the door.

“Uh-huh.”

“Eddie’s gay?”

“Well, he’s bisexual, but he would be the one who knows the most,” she answered.

“Prettier Wheeler! What a surprise!” Eddie exclaimed when he opened the door. “And my favorite Byers! Were we supposed to be doing something tonight? Fuck, did I forget something? Wayne is convinced the bats ate the part of my brain that holds memory, even though they didn’t even bite my head.”

Eddie was a rambler, sort of like Robin, but he usually at least made some sense.

“No, no you didn’t forget anything. Will just needs some guidance on something,” Nancy said as she pushed her way into the trailer. “Is Wayne home?”

“Uh. Nope. Come on in, I guess,” he said, nodding at Will.

Once they were all settled on the couch and chair, Nancy gestured for Will to tell Eddie.

Will wasn’t prepared for it, but he knew he could trust him, especially if what Nancy said was true.

“I’m gay.”

It was getting easier to say out loud, just like it had been easier to say to himself when he first realized it and started letting himself think it every day.

“Amazing! Was that a secret?” Eddie asked, somewhat confused.

“Apparently not as much of one as I thought. But yeah, just my mom, Jonathan, Nancy, and you know. Officially, anyway.”

“So you have a boyfriend? Is that why you’re coming out?”

“No. I haven’t-”

“Oh, so Mike hasn’t gotten it together yet?” Eddie asked, playing with his rings distractedly.

“Nope. But it’s gonna take a big moment for that to happen. Will just needs some guidance on other stuff,” Nancy said.

“Oh! Like sex?”

Will was as red as he could possibly be.

“No! Not sex. Just, like, being gay I guess.”

Eddie looked between Will and Nancy a few times.

“Right. So let’s go,” he said as he stood up, making his way to his bedroom at the end of the hall.

Will and Nancy looked at each other, then back to where Eddie disappeared.

Before they could say anything, Eddie was back in the room, his new denim battle vest pulled on, and his boots laced up.

“Let’s go. Got places to be, queers to see!” Eddie yelled as he started moving out the front door.

“What the hell,” Nancy shrugged, getting up and following him out the door.

“What is happening,” Will said to himself as he followed them both.

—--------------

What was happening was that Eddie was taking him to a queer bar on the outskirts of downtown Indianapolis.

He’d heard of the place during his very little research of the local scene. He’d heard it was shut down twice in the 70s because of police raids, but now it was mostly just a quiet, safe place for queer people to be themselves.

The bar was laid back, only two bartenders even on the busiest nights, usually just pouring draft beers and the occasional martini. A jukebox in the corner never stopped playing, even when they only had a handful of customers.

A sign at the door said “THIRSTY THURSDAY: QUENCH YOUR THIRST AT THE BAR AND ON THE DANCE FLOOR!”

Will felt a little out of his element as he took in the amount of people crowding the bar, the tables, the small dancing area that really couldn’t even be considered a dancefloor.

Eddie seemed right at home, and he explained it was because he came pretty regularly, usually just to try to convince the owner to let his band play sometime, but he’d managed a few bathroom hookups along the way.

Will couldn’t hide his blush at that thought, knowing that he was in a place where that would not only be possible, but that it would be encouraged, maybe even expected had his mind fantasizing.

He welcomed it; Anything to get rid of the thoughts of Mike, who would probably never get his head out of his ass even if Will came out to him.

“Alright, one drink rule for the kiddo!” Eddie said as he walked to the bar with a hop to his step.

He was always exuberant, but he just seemed light here.

Will kept looking around, taking it all in.

Nancy suddenly grabbed his arm, and when he looked over, her eyes were huge.

He followed her line of sight, only getting distracted for a moment by a very attractive man who looked to be about his age.

His eyes settled on Steve and Robin.

In a queer bar.

In Indy.

“Is that-”

“It is.”

“But-”

“Uh-huh.”

Eddie came up behind them, drinks in hand.

“Alright, drink up! Take the edge off and then you can have some wonderful experiences- what are you two looking at?” Eddie looked over and his eyes widened. “Not possible.”

“It’s them.”

“But, they aren’t. Are they?”

Eddie squinted, looking at the way they were standing, what they were wearing, the way Steve was open to the room, not turned towards Robin.

“Oh my God,” he said.

“What?” Nancy’s head whipped towards him.

“How did I miss it? I spend so much time- but, no. He- and she- no.”

“Eddie, you aren’t making any sense! What?” Nancy whisper-yelled, as if anyone could hear them over the sound of everyone else talking and the music playing.

“They’re both queer! They’re here lookin’ for someone!”

“That’s impossible. Steve is the straightest person I know. I think even Mike knows he’s more likely to-” Nancy was cut off by Will hitting her arm. “What?”

“Robin just looked over here.”

“Shit.”

“Shit.”

They all looked at each other, panic in their eyes, as they realized it was only a matter of moments before they were completely caught here.

But, really, what was there to worry about? They were here, without knowing anyone they knew would be here, clearly looking for someone.

Will turned back to them, watching as Steve and Robin both looked at them with wide eyes.

“Might as well go talk to them,” he said before walking towards them, not waiting for Nancy or Eddie to agree.

“O…kay,” Eddie sighed before following.

Nancy followed silently, and Eddie didn’t really have time to figure out what her face was doing because Steve and Robin ended up meeting them halfway.

“Hi guys!” Robin waved, awkward as always, maybe more so because of where they were. “Kinda weird seeing you here, right? Like in Indy? Or in a bar? Since Will is underage! And also this is a pretty specific establishment, so-”

“What Robin means is,” Steve starts, lines in his forehead making him look more serious than he needs to be. “Why are you in a queer bar in Indianapolis?”

Robin smacked Steve’s arm, but he didn’t even flinch, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Like he was ready to protect Robin.

And himself.

“Well, this happens to be one of my favorite bars, and Will needed to be in this type of environment for the first time, ya know?” Eddie said in a way that would definitely give away more if Robin and Steve were actually here because they were queer.

“So you’re…” Steve relaxed slightly.

“I am. Are you?”

“Um. Yeah. Yep. I am.”

“Me too,” Robin added.

“Yeah, so am I,” Will said.

All of them looked to Nancy, who suddenly seemed to catch up to the conversation.

“Oh! Um, not me! I don’t think. I’m just here for support!” She had never looked or sounded as nervous as she was in this moment.

“So how’s the crowd today?” Eddie asked.

To be honest, Eddie hadn’t bothered trying to find a hookup here for months.

The reason?

The man standing in front of him: Steve Harrington.

He’d tried, really he had.

But every time he thought he would get beyond basic flirting with someone, he thought about the way Steve sometimes touched his arm or his shoulder for longer than he needed to when he passed by him, and the way Steve would rest his head on his shoulder during movie nights, or the way he sometimes looked at him like he wanted to devour him.

Like he was right now.

Eddie would be nervous about it, but he doesn’t think Steve actually means anything by it.

He just has a very intense stare sometimes.

“Eddie!”

“Sorry! What?” He turned to see Robin and Will giving him knowing looks. “What?”

“I’m gonna take Nancy and Will over to a table that just opened up. You coming?” Robin asked.

“Sure, in a minute. Gonna run to the bathroom first,” he said, ignoring the way Steve was still watching him.

He walked away before anyone else could say anything.

He just needed a minute or two to collect himself.

The realization that Robin and Steve were here for the same reasons he was was probably going to need more than a minute or two, but he could deal with it later.

The bathroom of this place wasn’t the best, probably hadn’t been properly cleaned since the place opened, but it also wasn’t the worst place to have a minor breakdown.

He didn’t cry, but it was damn close.

It was overwhelming to know that there were others in their little group like him, but it was also just a lot to take in that those other people included Steve.

He heard the bathroom door open behind him, but he didn’t look up, just assumed it was someone else from the bar.

He stood at the sink, looking down, gathering himself to go back out and pretend this was entirely normal when a hand gripped his waist.

His head shot up and he looked in the mirror to see Steve’s reflection looking back at him, a hesitant smile on his face.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

They stared at each other in the mirror, silent except for their breathing and the muffled sound of the music from outside the bathroom.

“I didn’t know you were…”

“Me either,” Eddie said quickly.

“You didn’t know you were queer?”

“No! No. Wait. I did know that. I knew it a long time ago. I mean I didn’t know you were,” Eddie clarified, unable to properly focus on anything except the way Steve’s hand felt on his side.

His thumb was rubbing circles against his shirt, the fabric bunching up little by little.

“It’s a new-ish discovery.”

“How new?”

Steve looked down at where his hand was resting on Eddie, then back up, his face red.

“March.”

“Oh?”

Eddie caught up quickly, realized what was happening, and definitely didn’t want it to stop even though he wasn’t sure how far he wanted it to go in the bar bathroom.

“Yeah. This annoying guy who was trying to steal Dustin from me decided to get involved in all our fucked up shit and Robin informed me that the way I was acting and talking about him wasn’t very heterosexual. Her words, not mine.” Steve smirked. “So, I kinda just admitted to myself I was into him and now I’m here.”

“Oh. Is the guy at this bar right now?”

“Yeah. He is.”

Eddie turned around and pushed Steve against the bathroom door as gently as he could.

“You’ve been driving me mad for years, Stevie. You know that?”

“Years?” Steve gulped, but kept smiling.

“Years. And now you’ve given me all that I need to do something about it.”

“Have I?”

Eddie answered him with a kiss.

It wasn’t spectacular, wasn’t even that good as far as kisses go.

Steve seemed caught off guard, like he hadn’t actually expected Eddie to take what was right in front of him, take control.

But then he caught up.

His hands gripped Eddie’s hips tight, the rest of his body relaxing against the wall as Eddie crowded against him further, their fronts touching from head to feet.

Their second kiss came right after a pause for breath, and that one was spectacular.

It was longer, wetter, hotter.

Eddie didn’t want it to end.

But someone banged on the door and they couldn’t be those people.

As they moved away to let the person in, Steve leaned his head against Eddie’s shoulder, like he did on movie night.

“So you’re into me too?” He asked.

Eddie could hear the smirk in his tone, didn’t even need to look down or at their reflection in the mirror to know he was being a little shit.

“No, I just kiss all the boys who come up behind me in bathrooms.”

Steve leaned his head back and nipped at Eddie’s neck, sending a shiver down his spine.

“Behave, big boy. Gotta go pretend we weren’t five seconds from fucking around in a public bathroom,” Eddie said as he guided Steve out of the bathroom.

When they got back into the main room, Steve tensed, started to pull away.

Eddie let him, tried not to let it bother him.

But then he was back, head back on his shoulder, arm around his waist.

“Sorry. Just. Not used to this being something I can do,” he said so only Eddie could hear.

“‘S okay. We’re safe here, though.”

No one commented on it when they got back to the table, though they both could tell everyone wanted to.

Will seemed ready to explode with excitement when someone came and asked him to dance and everyone at the table encouraged him to go.

He wasn’t much of a dancer, but he’d learn.

Nancy and Robin eventually went back to the bar to grab more drinks, and Eddie couldn’t help but watch the way Nancy was looking at one of the women who was standing alone by the jukebox.

“Hey, is it possible that Nancy’s…”

“Oh, yeah. Robin and I have had at least four conversations about how much the Wheelers desperately need to admit to themselves that sexuality is fluid.”

Eddie pulled away to look down at Steve, baffled at how educated he was on everything and kind of hating himself for being surprised.

“You’re somethin’ else, sweetheart.”

Steve kissed his cheek in response.

—-------------------

Nancy came out to them a month later, at the same bar, while staring at the same woman who was standing by the jukebox the month before.

She didn’t really use a label, but didn’t feel like she had to.

Mike took a bit longer, but eventually, Will lost his patience and kissed him.

He came out about ten seconds later.

[twig-tea]

Only Friend Finale Reaction

I want to write this down now because I suspect my feelings on this will change over time. In this moment, immediately post-finale, I am satisfied. I feel happy. I am glad this show got made, and that I watched it.

Only Friends was billed as the messy gays show. I went in expecting something close to Friend Zone but with more gays, and that's what we got. Not a Warped Effect with explicit morals and lessons about sex, consent, sexualities, kinks, etc., not a GayOK Bangkok which is grounded in realism.

And because this was Jojo and Ninew and Den and Best, it's still more realistically queer than any GMMTV BL to date, and there were some absolutely stellar moments that stand alone as moving, and powerful, and beautiful, and genre-changing. And so near the beginning of the show airing, I raised my expectations; maybe this show was going to do more.

But was clear by the penultimate episode that it wasn't. I wrestled a lot on here with my need for this show to be the one that finally broke up the mixed pair expectations, and let sluts be sluts, and finally showed a threesome, and maybe even gave us consensual non-monogamy. It didn't go that far in any of those realms, but it took a step closer on many of them, and considering where BL has been to date that's still pretty huge for GMMTV, and I don't want to lose sight of that or judge it for what I wanted it to be instead of what it ultimately was.

The other thing I wrestled with a lot in this show was what other people were seeing in it, and my frustration that people were taking away moral lessons that the show wasn't giving. I think I was successful in that I watched this finale with satisfaction for what I was getting, even though I know a lot of people won't see what I saw (and btw I'm not even claiming that what I saw was what the creators intended! I am not claiming superiority here, just bias lol). So I watched this finale deciding to take what I wanted from it, rather than what I thought it was actually trying to say, and for that reason I enjoyed the hell out of it.

So. Here are my takeaways from the Only Friends finale:

We got a three-way kiss, even if it didn't lead to a threesome, after teasing us all series that was still satisfying and we got it as part of a branded pair in a GMMTV show. It was fun, and messy, and I loved it. I appreciate that it was also...maybe necessary is too far lol but it was actually in service to the plot--we all knew Sand still had feelings for Boeing, or else he would not have still been so mad at Top that he was willing to use Nick and Ray to get his revenge. Not every emotional loose end needs to be resolved with kissing, but it was kind of fun that they tried (and I also really appreciated that it didn't work lol).

I loved that Mew and Ray talking as friends got them to compare notes on and eventually team up to take down Boeing. Their friendship really is the backbone of this series, and I'm glad it survived everything. Mew is so relieved to have someone else taking care of Ray because he never wanted that role and wasn't good at it, but he does care about his friend's happiness and is more than happy to step in when there's drama. I appreciate that he made really clear to Sand that his feelings for Ray are platonic, in the bar, that's the first time I've really seen him be truly supportive of Ray, and it was nice to see.

The Mew and Top scenes were fascinating. I think this is where I'm going to differ from the bulk of the audience and I've made peace with that. I do not find stories like theirs romantic--where both partners need to be in control and play games to stay in control the whole time--so for me, the fact that these power struggles were still present in all of their scenes satisfied my desire to see them stay together, happy but on edge. So. That scene with Mew and Top in which Mew agrees to live with Top but then asks him to apologize to Sand right afterwards; I read that as pretty manipulative on Mew's part, and Top's uncomfortable face at the end means that he felt it too. Maybe I wasn't supposed to read it that way, but that's why it worked for me. The ring, too, "now or never", it's not a promise of forever, it's a promise of the present [such a strong ephemerality statement]. The conversation in the bath in which they outline their needs and identify that they have contrasting needs, and say "I'll work on it / we'll deal with it when it comes" is exactly what I was expecting of this relationship. They're not perfect for each other, and they're going to continue to push one another. Right now they're agreeing to try, without a guarantee that it will work. Talking about their needs is good, but we don't actually see them trying, so it didn't hit as romantic as it would otherwise for me either. And Mew daring Sand to kiss Top in order to get them to be chill was such a Mew power move I loved it. He asked Top to apologize to Sand, and then forced them to be in close proximity before getting confirmation that Top was ready. Top apologizing to Sand in that last second before they kissed was him clinging for power while Sand was hovering over him, and it was a perfect Top volley. Constant power struggle, that's how I read these two. Mew teasing Top with whether or not he's slept with anyone else was so interesting considering their history around that--I was probably supposed to see it as growth in their relationship that they can joke about it? Or maybe they were trying to undo some of the sexual morality nonsense that made its way into this show by pointing out that actually it doesn't matter if Mew had been with anyone before? But what I saw was Mew still struggling to have a power foothold over Top now that he's moved in. I will admit the fire scene, at first, I was so confused by. Were we supposed to be moved by Top getting past his trauma? What was that scene even about? I think, in the context of Mew's struggle with his place in Top's life, and his power in this relationship, it was about Mew understanding the invisible support he provides for Top, and why he's important to Top. Mew watched Top be competent and collected in the face of a triggering event, and was impressed at how Top had it all together, but Top credits Mew's presence for that. I think it helped Mew start to actually see a future with Top, because he understands his place in it a bit better. Even if he feels like he's not doing enough, Top sees his presence as strength, so maybe he doesn't need to worry quite so much about keeping score. But that's honestly me reaching, I struggled with that scene and think it was the weakest in the finale [and @lurkingshan I read your post and could believe that your read is true, that it was there to prove Top did have trauma].

Can I tell you how much I love how this show ended, with Mix's character smiling at Mew, and Top's nervous look? Because I think we've wrestled with Mew's confidence in this relationship for the whole show, but it's clear Top still feels unsettled/uncertain in this relationship and I love that we ended with him feeling threatened. This for me was the perfect ending for this couple, and what I've wanted as their ending all along--they're happy right now, they know there are potential bumps on the road in their future, and they're not certain they'll make it through, but they're willing to try--but the threats are real, and present, and not going to be easy because this relationship is not solid.

I also really appreciated what was happening with Boston and Nick, even though I wish it would have been more explicit or done better; what we got was still better than I expected from a GMMTV show. I loved Boston dissuading Nick from following him, and finding the romantic asks to be too many/too much, and having a different definition of "boyfriend" (but not different enough to not like to Nick's face about where you were, Boston, I see you). I love that Nick didn't get mad at Boston for "cheating", understood what Boston was offering for what it was; I also really loved Sand's advice to Nick that just because what's on offer is laid out honestly and fairly, that that means he has to accept it if it's not what he wants. I didn't love Boston trying to backtrack when Nick decided not to take him up on it; but I did love Nick's response, telling Boston to own who he is rather than trying to be someone he's not.

I think this is where my attempts the last couple of weeks to let go of what people will take from this show has helped, because yeah, you can see this as the narrative punishing Boston for being a slut, but this has never been a morality play, and so I'm taking from it how I see it. And I see it as Boston getting a clean slate with a bit more perspective going to New York. What I would say to Boston if he were my friend: This friend group was a mess and they always judged Boston for his sex life more than was deserved; they also violated his privacy by passing around his sex audio and never apologized for it. Boston also didn't take their feelings into consideration when he decided who to have sex with, and he messed with their relationships which was not being a good friend either. Does he actually want them back, or is he just feeling lonely? My hope for him is that he takes what he's learned about other people's feelings--that not everyone sees the world he does, and he has to understand that people will be hurt by different things whether or not they would hurt him, if he wants to retain relationships of any kind including friendships, and decide whether or not they're worth making concessions for before hurting them so that he doesn't lose people he doesn't want to--and finds folks who fit better with his worldview and morals, and then is better able to keep them in his life. But also these people are hypocrites, and he should not take their opinion as a statement of fact about his worth. He didn't do anything worse to them than they did to him or each other.

I know a lot of people are going to see this storyline as a punish the slut story. I was wrestling with this two episodes ago, maybe that's why I'm willing to be chill about this now. I was hoping we'd get Boston as a reason to discuss consensual non-monogamy in a GMMTV show, but I am actually ok with Nick saying listen, I need to be honest about what I want and it's not that, and Boston you shouldn't be trying to give me what I want because that's not going to make you happy either. Boston being alone isn't a sad ending; to me it's the ending he was expecting and aiming for this whole time. The only difference is he's surprised by how he feels about it now that he's in it, and he's panicking a bit. Boston was not just a slut, he was a slut who didn't care about who he hurt; it's that latter piece that he's wrestling with in this finale, and I love that Nick told him he didn't have to stop being a slut to stop being an asshole. Honestly, he'll get to New York and be fine, I really think so. And I took the Nick/Boston goodbye conversation as Nick saying "I love you as you are, a slut, and it's ok to be that. Go be a happy slut!" Do I wish he'd said that more explicitly so that people would understand that? Yes. But I've given up on that.

Cheum not going with the group to the fireworks was so interesting in the context of our conversations about Cheum over the past couple of days. I took this to be the show acknowledging explicitly that she's not actually a part of the core friend group; she schemes to keep the group together (unsuccessfully), and we don't ever get a sense of why she cares so much about that--maybe it's guilt for helping push out Boston for something he didn't do, maybe she needs the security of the group she's got, we never get that insight and I'm still a bit sad about that. But she's not there for the big fireworks finale, so we're at least clear that the show never intended her to be a Main Character. And I was so happy we got her saying her plan worked in the pool. Maybe that still won't be enough to convince the audience that she's an unreliable narrator, but it was satisfying for me! Also loved her unwrapping the photo from Boston and the group's uncomfortable reaction to it. Maybe Chuem's going to keep pushing that they reconcile; maybe she's just delusional about how well her plan worked. Either way, the tension was fun. I didn't get the full resolution of her character that I wanted, but the show nodding explicitly to the fact that she keeps herself apart from the main group so I shouldn't expect it was helpful to me getting over that. And we got a kiss! And another tiny insight into their relationship; again not enough to go on, but i did think it really interesting that the two things we know about April and Cheum are: April appreciates Cheum's positive energy, and April has asked Cheum to be more honest and not just positive for the sake of being positive (about her films). So I'm reading this as that these two are just as messy and as likely to continue to have problems as the rest of the group.

Ending in Sand and Ray because I think this is the least ambiguous; I appreciated that Sand started doing what Sand always does and saying "yeah I"ll sacrifice all of my sources of income for you no problem" (WHAT) and Ray waiting until they're alone again to say "actually that's ridiculous don't do that". I appreciated that Sand's new year plans were all about Ray because he hasn't had anything push him into actually being more selfish, and the resolution with Boeing was done for him so he didn't have to set boundaries after all (called that one), so he's had zero character growth, actually. I appreciate that Ray pushes him to try to be a little selfish, that's the best sign that Ray is finally actually caring about Sand's needs, and that their relationship might work, that I've seen the whole series. I'm taking it with a massive grain of salt, because the plan is for Ray to constantly expose himself to alcohol and partying. I think this is set up to be just as tenuous as the Mew/Top relationship, but it reads a bit more lovey-dovey because they're in a less problematic place at the moment (where they have just resolved one of their insecurities so they're more confident in one another--but it's not clear how long that will last, especially with the threat of Sand's self-sacrifice and Ray's fierce boundary-violating in the face of any threat looming in the background unresolved). Sand expressing his uncertainty around his role in the Hostel was also perfect, because he is an outsider in this project and doesn't have a role, and it's a perfect point for tension in the future between them.

Even the way Yo warns the group of friends in the very last scene that they're going to have to be better to one another and less dramatic in the future if they want this hostel to last felt ominous to me rather than preachy; have this group learned enough to make this business work? That definitely remains to be seen.

Nobody should be watching Only Friends with the idea that it's going to give them any kind of lesson about what to do; at best it's a list of what not to do's lol. None of these characters are perfect, they're all incredibly flawed, and young. So their choices, including whether or not to stay together, whether or not to stay friends, whether or not to stay in business, should not be read as a moral judgment by the showrunners. I definitely agree that this could have been more effective as a message if folks weren't happy at the end. But I've given up on it needing to be effective for everyone; they stayed in character to me, and it was effective for me.

I recognized so much of my friends and my youth in this series, and I am so grateful to have gotten to see that portrayed in a show that felt like a rollercoaster while I was watching it; I literally screamed aloud, I cheered, I laughed, I applauded. This show had characters casually snort coke, hook up, flirt with their exes, kiss their friends, make mistakes, forgive one another heinous shit, be mean, kiss outside their branded pairs, and in some cases let one another go.

There are a LOT of ways this show could have been better. It was close, so close in some cases, to being amazing, and it's fallen short in a lot of ways. It could have been a subversive and compelling narrative about slut shaming and the toxicity of fandom branded pairs. Instead, it was just a show about flawed people being flawed. But I had fun, and I'm not taking away from this show that any of these characters were in the right, or that sluts are bad, or need to change--whether it was the intended message, I've given up on that because I legitimately can't tell and if it is the message, I don't want to know. I don't think it overromanticized these flawed characters, but I can see how folks could see it that way. I'm choosing to remember that these characters have all been flawed and shown to be flawed throughout the show, and notice the ways in which they are still flawed, and the hints that things will stay messy. Maybe this is a bit like those experiments in which they found the way people in incarceration watch Die Hard very differently from how other people do or how it was intended LOL maybe I'm working too hard to justify what was just bad writing and gross moral judgments and toxic relationships being portrayed as romantic. But it didn't land that way for me, so I'm going to celebrate that and enjoy the feelings this show gave me.

[wrightingdungeon]

Hi Smoke I just saw you take requests, does that mean you would be willing to contribute to my Halex agenda?

I don't actually know if I can send a link but I have a favorite fanart as exhibit A: https://www.tumblr.com/sunshinecovey/753258969064210432?source=share

Exhibit B: The fic situation on AO3 is abyssmal. They are always background, always breaking up for one of them to have their gay awakening, and there is soo little actually featuring the two of them in a healthy relationship. Which is all fine on its own but the contrarian in me wants good Halex to exist just because it's so weirdly rare

Exhibit C: Consider. Barbie/Ken (from the show) They're both on the same wavelength of dumb so they get each other when no one else does, and Haley is slightly smarter and translates shit for him. And Haley is high maintenance but Alex will HAPPILY be her maintenance man because he worships her.

Like I feel like he would be the kind of boyfriend to sit and take pictures for her Instagram and he WANTS to because he loves her and its her hobby, and it doesn't hurt that she's gorgeous. And he loves sitting for her fashion shows after she buys new clothes.

I rest my case! (This is such a long ask oh my god sorry lmao)

(Two writers floating down the Halex River) "Don't tell me we are about to go over a waterfall?", "Yep", "Does it have a healthy relationship and mutual understanding at the bottom?", "Most likely.", "Fuck yeah."

Warning it's one am, forgive the sleepy brain, i go honk shoe now

Exhibit A:

Haley sighed dreamily as she watched Alex pull his barbell up into another curl. She had given up on her job and lost track of what rep he was on a while ago, her attention completely absorbed by the way his muscles moved.

Her eyes and mind were transfixed on Alex's pecs and traps, watching as they tensed when he raised the bar to his chest and stretched as he lowered it, resting it on his hips as he took a breath.

She bit her lip gently, watching the sweat roll down his skin, his chest rising and falling deeply but rhythmically. The sight was almost hypnotic, each movement drawing her deeper.

“Earth to Haley.” Haley blinked and looked up from his chest, Alex’s voice pulling her out of her gawking. “What's my count?” Alex asked, somewhat out of breath as he rested the barbell again, his smile tired yet teasing, knowing she wasn't paying attention.

“Yes,” Haley said, laughing softly as Alex rolled his eyes and continued his reps.

“What ya focusing on there, Sunflower?” Alex groaned as he asked, smirking as he held the bar close to his chest.

“Your boobs,” Haley admitted happily, bouncing on his bed slightly, her smirk mirroring his, her eyes once more drawn to his pectorals as they bulged over the bar.

Alex chuckled, shaking his head. “You're something else, you know that?”

Haley just grinned wider, her eyes never leaving his muscles. "It's hard when you're… just… so… distracting~.”

Exhibit B:

Alex groaned, burying his face into his hands. “It's not working, Haley…” He shook his head and looked up at Haley, who just smiled sweetly at him.

“Lex, baby. It's working, you just think it's not,” she said gently, cupping his face and rubbing his cheek and ear with her thumb.

“It's not!” Alex whined, leaning into her touch. His eyes fell onto the paper in front of him. “I wrote waist, like you said, but you said it's wrong.”

“No, I said you were close.” Haley scoffed and playfully dropped his head. “You spelled waist correctly, but we are talking about waste,” she explained, trying her hardest not to coo at Alex as he looked at her, mouth open, confused.

“You just… used the same word…” He said slowly, now rubbing his face in frustration.

Haley giggled softly, shaking her head as she leaned her head on his shoulder. “No, I didn’t, Alex.” She kissed his shoulder softly.

“Is this like there, their, and they're?” Alex asked, staring into space like he had been told he was being shipped to war.

Haley chuckled at his dramatic expression and nodded. “Yep, exactly like that. They sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. You’ll get it, I know it.”

Alex sighed, still looking doubtful. “I don’t know, Sunflower…”

“Hey, don’t be so hard on yourself, Alex,” Haley said softly, squeezing his thigh. “You’re making progress, and that’s what matters.”

Alex smiled weakly, the frustration slowly melting away. “Thanks, baby. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Haley smiled back, her eyes twinkling. “You’d manage. But, come on, let’s go over it one more time, okay.”

“Fiiiine…” Alex groaned yet smiled as he picked up his pen again.

Exhibit C:

Alex leaned back against the couch, his hands resting in his lap, as he watched Emily talking with her hands as she talked about parrots, having just got one herself. He was trying his best to follow along, but Emily's excitement and technical jargon quickly left him confused.

“Did you know that parrots can have vocabularies of over 1,000 words?” Emily exclaimed, her eyes bright with passion. “They use complex social cues to communicate in ways remarkably similar to humans.”

Alex nodded, even though he was already lost. “Uh, wow, that’s… cool.”

From the corner of his eye, he saw Haley stifling a smile. She leaned in closer to him as she translated. “They are super smart and can learn a lot of words. They understand things kinda like we do.”

Emily didn’t miss a beat and continued with her descriptions of parrots. “They mimic sounds with amazing accuracy and even understand the context of certain words. For example, they can ask for specific foods and recognize their owners by voice.”

Alex, struggling to keep up, looked at Haley again. “So, wait, they talk to each other like… us?”

Haley giggled as she responded. “Kinda, It’s like we have a feathered little genius living with us.”

Alex chuckled, looking back to Emilly. “So, if I taught your parrot ‘Go long!’ would it get that I want to play gridball?”

Emily chuckled, shaking her head. “Not really. They would probably just mimic you.”

Alex laughed, his confusion turning into amusement. “That’s still pretty amazing.”

Haley’s eyes twinkled as she subtly translated more of Emily’s complex info dump. Alex felt more engaged, his questions becoming more curious and genuine.

Emily left them for a moment to go fetch some of the enrichment toys she had bought. In the moment of quiet Alex turned to Haley, his gratitude evident.

“Thanks for making her easier to understand,” he whispered, leaning closer.

“Anytime, Lex.” Haley smiled leaning in with him, kissing him softly.

[forsakenmissives]

[dj khaled voice] anotha one (fic i might never finish)

Jamie was fucking tired of it. Roy was a fucking sight on the pitch, and Jamie knew he knew how to guide the team to greatness and had countless lessons in fame, but fuck if he wasn’t dull when it came to literally everything else.

“No,” he said, “I’m not dating your sister. I don’t even fucking want your sister!” He paused, then added, “She’s mad lovely, though. Nothing against her.”

“Last you said, she was fit,” Roy growled, because that’s the only way he's able to communicate.

Jamie rolled his eyes. “Yeah, ‘cause it’s true and ‘cause it’s fun winding you up. You really never realised?”

Roy glared, though it wasn’t that much different from his expression before.

Jamie sunk deeper into his chair, defeated, and sighed. “Look, mate, your sister is fit, but have you ever considered it’s ‘cause she’s a Kent? And — and you always think I’m trying to fucking... fuck the women close to you, if not her then it’s Keeley, and look, I like them, I love Keeley, but not like that, and have you ever considered that—.” Jamie swallowed, fingers curling into his palms, nails biting into the skin. This was it; the big reveal. He could just keep his mouth shut and nothing would have to change.

But Roy just kept looking at him, and Jamie said it anyway: “Have you ever considered that all I’ve ever fucking wanted is you?”

Finally, Roy glanced away, and Jamie took a breath, then Roy closed his eyes, and Jamie saw him count to three — fucking... anger? He was angry at Jamie for this? And Jamie prepared for a fight, a fist flying at his face, even though he thought they’d left that behind in the alleyway behind the club, mostly because they were fucking shit at fistfighting, and really Jamie had just wanted Roy’s hands on him and didn’t know what else to do and it’s like a fucking primal instinct, reacting to Roy’s fire with flames of his own, but instead of punching him, Roy just shook his head and asked, “You think I’m fit?”

Jamie couldn’t help it — he laughed, and it was slightly hysteric, slightly too bright and too sharp and too much, but it was just unbelievable. That’s what it was. “Fucking hell, Roy! Yes! I’ve just had your poster up on me wall for the past fucking thirteen years for shits and giggles, yeah.”

Roy scoffed but dipped his head. “Alright. Alright.” He took a swig from his bottle, and Jamie determinedly looked away but in a way that wasn’t obvious. Still, when his eyes went back to Roy, he found Roy to already be watching him. Jamie licked his lips. Roy’s gaze lowered and followed the movement.

It wasn’t an answer, but Jamie felt confident. He leaned forward, and Roy didn’t stop him. Still, the first touch of their lips was soft and tentative and the most chaste first kiss Jamie’s ever had. He loved it, and he didn’t think about if it would happen again. He’d make sure it happens again.

When he pulled away, Roy’s eyes were still shut, and his brow was furrowed. Jamie just barely held back from tracing his tongue across his lips, curious if he’d be able to taste Roy, if there was anything in a kiss like that.

He felt like he was twelve again, sneaking around with one of the boys from the academy. But this was even more nerve-wracking because, well, it’s Roy fucking Kent, innit? National hero, Jamie’s first gay wank fantasy, probably Jamie’s greatest love after football and his mum. He’d been confident, but now he was readying for things to go tits up.

Roy opened his eyes. “You fucking mean it, then?”

Jamie blinked. “Uh, yeah. Yeah. ‘Course I mean it. I love you.” And he hadn’t meant to say that, and he for sure fucked it, but at the same time he felt lighter, like the full truth had finally been revealed.

And Roy didn’t look mad or disgusted or like he was going to up and leave Jamie there by himself at the bar, even though it was his own fucking house, and Jamie felt himself take a breath.

“Roy?” His voice was small. “You don’t have to say anything back, or, well, I’d like it if you did, but it doesn’t have to be that. Just. Just—”

“Jamie?”

“Yeah, coach?”

The glare he got in return for that was perfect, and he felt tingles all over. He smiled, hesitant. Roy rolled his eyes, grabbed the front of Jamie’s shirt, and pulled him into another kiss.

[sweetkiller690]

Fuck it, Juice Bar Regular Hcs

Herb (Bloom) Cookie

Herb is 25 years old (Oldest, minus Vampire)

He is autistic and has symptoms such as a lack of fear, unusual eating, trouble understanding others' emotions, hyperfixation, and sleeping habits.

He is Wasisn (a mix between Asian and White)

Originally from a forest near the Hollyberry kingdom

5'6 (Shortest one in the group)

Bisexual, uses neoprouns (plant/plantself), and is Poly

Major weed smoker

His mother is Matcha Cookie (he doesn't know)

She left him a forest full of carnivore plants and expected them to eat him.

Instead, they raised him as his own and you can guess how that fucked him up lol

He was adopted (found and kidnapped) by Sea Fairy and Moonlight at the age of 6.

Took quite a bit for him to get over his eating habits, but currently, he is fine.

He is the owner of a flower shop with his only current employee being Tumeric Cookie (oc)

The only reason why he has one employee is because of Cookiesnap.

Stronger than he comes off as. He can easily carry Mint and Sparkling at the same time

He usually has dirt on him because of all the time he spends in his garden.

Has a scar on the right side of his face, he doesn't really remember how it got there.

Relationships

Mint choco: "I like him, he's very sweet but a little dumb. His music helps my plants grow. I love listening to his music,,

Vampire: ''He stinks of red wine but at least he is decent. Wayyyy too clingy but has good intentions. I saw him on the floor passed out once.,,

Sparkling: "He's a pussy, he faints at the smallest drop of jam. He works himself half to death. At least he makes good drinks. ,,

Sparkling (Champagne) Cookie

Sparks is 24 years old

He is Hispanic

Originally from the Hollyberry Kingdom

The only one whose father didn't leave for milk

6'0

Gay, Cis and Polyamory

Workaclohic

His mother is Strawberry Fizz Cookie

His father's name is Yellow Wine Cookie

A major disappointment to his parents

He was going to be a professorial healer but dropped out

He faints at the sight of jam.

He owns a bar (duh) and he is the only one working it.

He has a pet yellow parakeet named Cocktail

His hair fizzes a lot. He got used to it and tuned it out.

Has a mole on his the right part of his face

Relationships

Mint choco: ''He's a sweetheart, a kind cookie who never puts himself first.,,

Vampire: 'He needs to go home to his sister. He is OK?? Just done having to drag him home every night...,,

Herb: ''He is an asshole. Not everyone is fine with jam on their floor! At least he makes good blunts.,,

Mint choco cookie

He is 23 years old (The youngest)

He is Blasiain (Black and Asian)

He was originally from the Dark Cacao Kingdom.

Mint is a resulted of an entanglement with Chocolate Bon Bon and Dark Cacao.

Meaning in a technical sense Mint choco is royalty

Bon Bom left the kingdom shortly after he was born.

He doesn't know that Dark Cacao is his father.

Chocolate Bon Bon would promote toxic masculinity.

Took a while to break away from that way of thinking. And when he finally did he started to let his hair grow.

5'8

Pan, Polygender, and Polyamory

Workaholic (Not as bad as Sparkling tho)

Wayyyyy too nice to others

Keen on giving people chances, especially when they do not deserve them

Loves tall vodka

Semi-famous violinist who works off of gigs.

Has a bit of freckles because why not

Relationships

Vampire: ''He may be drunk all the time but he is still a good guy.,,

Herb: ''Oddish but I still love him no less. His garden is beautiful, with such wonderful plants!,,

Sparkling: ''He worries me, I doubt that he gets enough sleep. Go to bed!,,

Vampire (Wine) Cookie

Vamp is over 2,000 years old but is mentally and physically 25

He is white

They used to live near the Hollyberry kingdom

Vampire's father is Mulled Juice Cookie.

His mother was a cookie and has long passed away.

Mulled Juice abandoned him and Alchemist

His abandoned started his drinking habits

6'7

Bisexual, Demiboy (they/him), and Polyamory.

Way to lazy

He is just an acholic

Since he isn't a full Vampire he doesn't need jam to survive but without it, he is sluggish and low on energy.

Uses wine as a replacement for jam

Doesn't have a job but still lives in a lavish mansion

Literally uses red wine to survive

They have been trying to grow facial hair (hasn't been working)

He can see in the dark and hear extremely well but not as good a regular Vampire

Relationships

Mint choco: ''I enjoy listening to his music when I'm getting over a hangover. ,,

Herb: ''He is a good pillow... ,,

Sparkling: ''His great... I love all the wine,,

The sillies

[cornishkat]

All I want for Christmas is You

Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x F!Reader

Warnings:  None just pure Christmas fluff in a one shot.

Summary:  On the run up to Christmas you and Hangman finally get together with the help of some mistletoe and some Christmas songs.

Hangman dipped out of the football game and catching his breath he looked around for you, he had seen you slip off earlier to grab some water but now he couldn’t spot you anywhere on the beach.  The tables outside of the Hard Deck were also empty but he could see that the door to the bar was open.  Making his way up across the beach he paused as he neared the open door as he heard music coming from the bar, someone was singing and playing the piano and it made him stop in his tracks.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be light Next year all our troubles, will be out of sight

Gently pulling the door open a little further he saw all of the twinkling fairy lights that Penny had decorated the bar with for Christmas.  The bar looked so charming in the glow of the lights, but he was more interested by who was singing and playing so beautifully.    Silently slipping thorough the door he leant  up against the bar and looked across to the piano where you sat lost in the music and oblivious to the fact you now had an audience.  

Have yourself a merry little Christmas Make the Yuletide gay Next year all our troubles, will be miles away

He didn’t even know you could sing let alone play the piano, he thought he had worked really hard to try and find out as much as he could about you.  He had known the first time that you had walked into the hanger that he was in trouble, no one had ever made him feel the way that you did.  He had his success with the ladies but not nearly as much as everyone on the team assumed.  Truth be told he had never wanted the no strings attached flings that a lot of the guys did, he wanted love and he wanted you. But he wasn’t one hundred percent sure you felt the same.

Once again, as in olden days Happy golden days of yore Faithful friends who are dear to us Will be near to us once more

Closing his eyes he let your voice wash over him, the sound raising goosebumps on his arms and making his heart ache.  He had moments where he thought you might feel the same way about him, but he couldn’t be sure, not sure enough to put his heart out there to potentially get shattered to pieces.

Someday soon we all will be together If the fates allow Until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow So have yourself a merry little Christmas now

As you finished the song and your fingers fell still on the white keys of the piano, he took a deep breath and walked towards you.

“That was beautiful”

Jumping you turned to face him, a blush creeping up over your cheeks as you realised, he had been listening.

“Hangman how long have you been there?”

“Not long I missed you on the beach and then I heard the music.  I had to come and see who was sounding so amazing”

“I’m not amazing, I just dabble a bit, I thought I had the place to myself”

“Well, we will just have to beg to differ, would you play something else for me?”

“Hangman if you are just going to tease me, you can just leave”

“Woah, ’m not, I just want to hear you sing again”

Looking into to his eyes you tried to see if he was mocking you, but when you saw he was genuine you smiled to yourself and swung around to face the piano again, placing your hands back on the keys as Hangman sat down beside you.  You could feel his warmth as his thigh pressed against yours and you had to fight to stop your hands from trembling slightly as you tried to think what to play.  Then an idea struck you, you and Hangman had become close as friends and you were sure you both wanted more, but you just kept dancing around each other, neither of you making the next move.  Maybe this was your chance and if he didn't see what you were trying to tell him, you could just pass it off as only a song.  So taking a deep breath you began to sing,

I don't want a lot for Christmas There is just one thing I need I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree I just want you for my own More than you could ever know Make my wish come true All I want for Christmas is you

It took Hangman a moment to recognise the song as you slowed it down and sang it so sweetly, was he reading too much into this.  Was your choice just random, but as you looked up at him from under your eyelashes his heart skipped and he knew what you were telling him.

As you finished the song you knew it was now or never, you were pretty sure he liked you, you had been waiting for him to do something other than flirt.  But something was holding him back and you were starting to realise that if something was going to happen between you it was going to have to your move.

“I thought you were a man who liked tradition Hangman?”

“Always, am I missing something?”

Smiling at him you glanced up above your head and his eyes followed you to a small bunch of mistletoe above the piano.  You saw his eyes light up and he ran his tongue over his lips as he turned to you.

“Can’t mess with tradition, especially not at Christmas”

Gently lifting his hand to cup you face he placed his lips on yours, softly giving you the chance to pull away if you wanted.  But you didn’t, wrapping your hand behind his neck you pulled him closer and deepened the kiss.  It was like you had been kissing each other forever, like you belonged.  Eventually breaking away to draw breath you smiled up at him,

“By the way sweetheart could I just say that all I want for Christmas is you too”

[nebulaedaniel]

slutty nun and modest devil

word count: 1.4k

warnings: dnp are at a club (unrealistic), alcohol, jokes about sinning, they kiss a bit :)

a/n: i just need you all to know i started writing this during my break at work, the baking video broke me

not proofread! lowercase intended

---

the club was dark, cobwebs and neon lights clouding phil’s vision. his plain devil costume felt out of place, especially after seeing the bartender with sfx makeup, making it look like their face was melting off. it’s a gay club after all, he should’ve realized people would go all out. even the most basic costume ideas, a ghost or a zombie, had been amplified with fishnet tights or bondage gear. phil even saw a sexy peter griffin while in line to the bathroom. he’s be lying to himself if he said it wasn’t passingly attractive.

two women dressed as marceline and princess bubblegum pushed their way next to him at the bar, giggling while ordering their tequila shots. they pushed up against phil, uncomfortably close considering that they decided to shove their tongues down each other’s throats while waiting.

phil struggled away, awkwardly nudging their bodies so they’d be leaning against the bar instead of him. he scanned the club, the dance floor was packed with moving bodies, if he took off his glasses it would look like a solid form moving. his eyes drifted away from the dancing bodies, seeing an empty space at a wall. he could lean against that until the alcohol set in, he decided.

navigating through the sweaty bodies, phil questioned as to why he decided that going to the club alone on halloween would be a good idea. in the end it didn’t matter, he was there and it felt more embarrassing to leave than to stay there alone. the wall felt cool against his back, he let out a tired breath and took another sip from his overpriced cocktail.

“vampire venom?” a voice piped up next to phil, making him jump. looking to his left, a man in a slutty nun outfit was looking at him. phil found himself starting to blush, the man had curly brown hair under the veil, fishnet tights and about the same height as himself, a rare sight.

“sorry?” phil asked, snapped out of his daze.

the man gestured at the drink in phil’s hand. “vampire venom? you should try to witches brew, it’s got chocolate liqueur instead of that fake fucking ‘lime’.” he actually did air quotes, rolling his eyes with a smile.

“oh i-“ phil found himself at a loss, a stranger making comments about his cocktail preferences left him stunned, “i thought the lime would be more refreshing”

phil winced at his own words, defending his choice was worse than saying nothing. to his surprise, the man gave a soft laugh, his brown eyes meeting phil’s. the man glanced around, also noticing the multi-bodied organism that had formed in the club.

“tell you what, let me buy you one and you’ll see that it’s the better choice” his eyes returned to phil, flicking down to shamelessly check him out.

“um, yeah, sure!” phil gave a smile, fully blushing at the fact that this hot nun wanted to but him a drink.

“i’m dan, by the way” the man said, grabbing phil’s hand and pulling him towards the bar.

one cocktail ordered later, phil found himself sat on a couch next to the man. next to dan. dan. dan in the slutty nun outfit. dan, whose legs were fully exposed, the skirt of the dress riding up as they sat.

“give it a try then, the anticipation is killing me!” dan grinned, urging phil to take a sip.

playfully rolling his eyes, phil took a sip.

“oh my god! that’s so good” phil found himself saying, eagerly going in for another sip before tilting the glass towards dan, “have some!”

a smirk crept it’s way across dan’s lips. he leaned forward, eyes steadily locked on phil’s as his tongue found the straw, lewdly licking and wrapping his lips around the straw.

burning heat shot through phil, face going as red as his costume. who was this man? there was an aura of confidence and flirtation around him, the first seemingly fueled by alcohol. regardless, it had phil wanting to inch closer, throw out some lie about the volume in the building and ‘not being able to hear him’.

phil opened his mouth to make a half true lie, but dan was quicker.

“it’s good… i just think it would taste better on your lips.” dan’s eyes stared into phil’s, the bold line sitting between them, the air becoming thick with the apparent attraction.

“i- yes” phil said, stumbling over his words in an awkward fashion. dan is bold, phil can’t remember the last time someone asked for a kiss instead of just leaning in.

a small smile formed on dan’s lips as he scooted closer, placing his hand on phil’s jaw, eyes flicking down to his lips. he was close, so close that phil could smell his cologne, musky and warm. his nose brushed phil’s cheek, their lips meeting.

“i was right,” dan breathed, “it's better this way.” phil had no time to reply before their lips collided again.

-

getting kicked out of a club on halloween wasn't on phil's list of goals, but there was something.. satisfying about a bouncer telling them to leave after dan has been straddling his lap and kissing him until his head was spinning. apparently groping someone whose ass is on display to the bar isn't appropriate, not that it's their fault that dan wore a tight dress that bunched around his hips when he straddled phil.

once outside in the cold air, phil found himself face to face with dan again. he really expected him to have run off. but he was there. flushed pink cheeks, swollen lips and with a thick coat on, dan was still there.

"oh, wait-" dan stopped phil from zipping up his coat, stepping closer and reaching out. "your cape isn't tied on properly. guess i tugged at it a bit, huh?"

they both laughed lightly while dan gently retied phil's bow.

"there we go" dan smiled, meeting phil's eyes again.

the music from the club was still audible from outside, the deep base thumping and making phil's bones rattle. he looked down, scuffing his shoes against the pavement. what now?

"so... that was fun" phil said, painfully aware that dan was looking at him. "sorry, i don't usually do this"

"which part, makeout with a stranger or ask them out afterwards?" dan sounded amused. phil couldn't help but smile, surprised at how relaxed he felt with dan. it shouldn't make sense, people makeout and hook up with strangers all the time without feeling fate wrapping around them. but there's something about dan that makes him crave his closeness.

"both," phil looks up again, smiling sheepishly, "it's not like i expected to kiss a nun at a gay club"

dan threw his head back in a laugh, it was near a cackle in sound.

"can't say i blame you, us nuns aren't usually in gay clubs" dan does a dramatic flick with his veil, bringing a laugh out of phil.

"a nun kissing the devil, isn't that like, the epitome of sin?"

"well i guess the only thing that would be worse, other than it happening at a gay club, is if the nun asked the devil to meet up again"

dan almost looked shy. the cold air must've sobered him up, phil thought.

"well, the devil can't deny sinners, it's kinda his whole thing" phil plucked his phone from his pocket, "put your number in? and i'll text you"

dan took the phone and phil looked around. there were some people smoking by the entrance, clearly looking at the pair. they must be an odd sight, a slutty nun and a modest devil.

"there," dan handed back the phone, phil noted the name he put in for himself. 'Dan (slutty nun)'. "i was gonna do emojis but 'slutty nun' didn't really reflect well in emoji"

phil grinned, quickly sending a text to dan and looking back up. the warm brown eyes sent a thrill down his spine.

"now you've got my number too," phil tucked his phone away again and finally zipped up his coat. "text me?"

"oh absolutely" dan grinned, "i'll text you"

dan turned around, glancing back at phil while walking away, smiling. phil turned around as well, a stupid smile on his face.

phil got 200 meters away from where they said goodbye, when a text notification comes through.

from dan.

"unless i can come over now?"

[just-a-random-raccoon]

Day 27 & 28: Dancing and Hotel California.

I really love gay people. Did I tell you how much I love them?

Also, don't hope this to be too happy haha. I always have angst for these two. But it's just, slightly.

Also used this reference

I found it on Pinterest, but still couldn't find the author

Fanfic under the cut!

Jack woke up in the hotel room, he didn't remember exactly what happened last night but he for sure knew he has a headache. He let out a groan really wanting to just lay down, the worse it's that the purple man who he had traveled to Vegas with has gotten all the bed for himself.

So he has to satisfy with the floor.

He tried to remember last night again, he saw the bottles, of course they had drunk, it wasn't Vegas without getting drunk, the cigarettes he had reserved were now in the table too far away from him. One already used, and of course, his bow tie has been unmade with his suit made a mess.

Wonder who is the cause of this.

Suddenly he focused more on the radio, it was playing Hotel California. One of his favorite songs. It has been playing on loop since last night.

Then, suddenly drifting off by the lyrics he remembers what happened.

...

"On a dark desert highway

Cool wind in my hair

Warm smell of colitas

Rising up through the air"

He remembers walking through a highway, searching for a bar to pass by. He needed to get wasted, do something, the smell of colitas was becoming him crazy. He didn't liked it, the good thing it was calm and the cool wind was helping him with calming him down.

"Up ahead in the distance

I saw a shimmering light

I had to stop for the night"

My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim

He finally saw a bar and he had to stop for the night, he was feeling lightheaded so it was that or nothing. The hotel was too far away to go back now and he didn't find his purple companion. He didn't know where he could have gone but probably he would see him in the morning.

"There she stood in the doorway

I heard the mission bell

And I was thinkin' to myself

"This could be heaven or this could be hell" "

He didn't expect when he entered a bar to recognize a certain purple fellow sitting on the chair getting some drinks. 'This could be heaven or hell' he thought. There was a bell ringing probably Dave calling the bartender. The lights were hitting in all the place and 'Hotel California' was playing.

"Then she lit up a candle

And she showed me the way"

He didn't knew how much he drunk, he just knew that right now Dave invited him to dance, Jack accepted hoping it was just as homies. The purple man showed him the way to the dance floor smiling. They put in position to dance, Jack grabbing Dave's waist gently and holding his hand and Dave holding Jack's hand and grabbing gently his neck.

"There were voices down the corridor

I thought I heard them say

"Welcome to the Hotel California

Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)

Such a lovely face"

He saw the purple man's face, it was for him very pretty, maybe he drink more than he should or maybe he was high, but the feelings for him started to grown. The two were dancing the better they could when you're drunk, but it was indeed a nice dance in a lovely place.

"Plenty of room at the Hotel California

Any time of year (any time of year)

You can find it here" "

He enjoyed the moment with the music, he was holding Old Sport legally, he couldn't waste the chance. Jack was the one leading the dance with sometimes Dave taking the lead. But he really wanted Sportsy to kiss him already. There was plenty of room for that after all.

"Her mind is Tiffany-twisted

She got the Mercedes-Benz, uh

She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys

That she calls friends"

Jack couldn't never figure Dave's mind, what was thinking the purple man? Why was he so nervous around him? Maybe he is missing something. Or maybe he could just lean in and... No he couldn't...

"How they dance in the courtyard

Sweet summer sweat

Some dance to remember

Some dance to forget"

Jack remembered how to dance because he saw Peter and Caroline do it plenty of times in the living room, so he didn't have a problem. This moment was sweet, now he knows why Peter liked to dance with her. Meanwhile Dave just wanted to forget the aching pain on his heart that was asking him to just get Old Sport to the hotel room and start kissing him entirely.

"So I called up the Captain

"Please bring me my wine"

He said, "We haven't had that spirit here

Since 1969" "

Everything was fuzzy since here, but he does remember Dave trying to lean in, he was so nervous and he wanted to kiss. But he couldn't. It was wrong, everything was wrong. He went running asking for wine to the bartender. The only answer he got is "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969"

"And still, those voices are calling

From far away

Wake you up in the middle of the night

Just to hear them say"

He could still heard the music playing, and he could heard those voices scream at him to go back to the dance floor and kiss him, to feel him, to be with him. But he couldn't, he was a coward, he couldn't even accept his fate.

"Welcome to the Hotel California

Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)

Such a lovely face

They're livin' it up at the Hotel California

What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)

Bring your alibis" "

He remembered Dave's beautiful face twitching with disappointed, he could remember the nice surprise he got for him, but he just went running away like he always does. Ignoring his problems. He did it with Dee, he did it with the souls, and now with this.

"Mirrors on the ceiling

The pink champagne on ice

And she said, "We are all just prisoners here

Of our own device" "

"And in the master's chambers

He was surprised Dave sit beside him and ordered a pink champagne, none of them say a word, just the music playing with some whispers from the people, he was about to tell him how he felt, but he decided to remain quiet.

They gathered for the feast

They stab it with their steely knives

"Last thing I remember

But they just can't kill the beast"

The two wanted to talk, but they couldn't. Jack has been through too much with him, broke his promise, killed his old boss' "son", killed five kids. But, all he couldn't get done and never will is talking about feelings. He was shitty expressing all to his siblings and he is now shitty expressing it to the one besides him.

I was running for the door

I had to find the passage back

" "Relax, " said the night man

To the place I was before"

He couldn't take it anymore and went running to the hotel room, he needed to get out of Vegas, he needed to get out of this place. His head was dizzy and he was about to pass out, Jack was about to open the hotel room.

"We are programmed to receive

You can check out any time you like

But you can never leave!" "

Until a certain purple hand got him, "What's wrong Sportsy?" He whispered. "Just relax and tell me". The orange man turned to see him face to face, maybe it was him about to pass out, maybe he was out of his right mind. But he kissed him, he kissed him and doesn't remember nothing else later.

...

Maybe he should stop getting wasted in bars from now on.

[thoughts-with-hailey]

My Life in Prythian - Chapter Six

Fae Wine

Summary: After consuming copious amounts of fae wine with Nesta, we go on a silly little goofy adventure to Rita's

Content Warning: alcohol consumption, sexually explicit, written from my POV while drunk so chaotic af.

Everything was spinning. 

I laughed as I tripped over my own foot, falling hard onto my ass as Nesta doubled over laughing. In the background my Just Dance game continued playing and spouting those mean little red x’s that indicated I was missing dance moves. 

It was truly amazing that the house had been able to recreate my nintendo switch after I had pulled up the information on one on the ipad. One bottle of fae wine in and I was demanding Nesta play Just Dance with me. That had been…two bottles ago. 

Grinning up at the ceiling I felt her hand on my arm as she tried to tug me to my feet, giggling the entire time. “Cmon Hailey! I can’t claim best dancer if you fall over. You have to keep dancing so I can beat you fairly.”

I would stand up but you know, my legs were jello. Mmmm, jello. I would love some jello. Or jello shots! Maybe I could get the house to make us jello shots. Did they even have gelatin in Prythian? It was made from sea creatures wasn’t it? Or like bone marrow or something. They had that so why wouldn’t they have jello? Ooooo maybe I could get some strawberry pretzel salad. That kind with the crushed up pretzels on the bottom and the strawberry jello layer on the top. A midwest dessert salad if there ever was one. Not a vegetable in sight but plenty of cool whip. Yeah, I could really go for a -

My thoughts of dessert deserted my head as I got pulled to my feet by Nesta’s strong grip. 

“We should go to Rita’s!” she yelled despite the fact my ears were two inches from her lips. 

“Oh my gods Nesta. We should go to Rita’s!” I agreed instantly. Rita’s sounded like the best idea on the planet. I always imagined Rita’s was like Roscoe’s. Roscoe’s, the gay bar in Boystown in Chicago that my friends and I frequented and I had fallen off the platform on the dancefloor on multiple occasions only to remember when I saw the bruises the next day. Roscoe’s, where I ordered a pitcher of a Blue Hawiaan and when they asked me how many cups I said I just wanted a straw. Roscoe’s = Rita’s. Same. 

“The stairs are a no right now though,” she frowned, looking down at me. Why was she looking down? Were we not the same height? Oh. I was slumped in her arms a little. Hehe, my legs didn’t work. 

I aint got no legs lieutenant Dan. 

“You have legs. Focus.”

Oh, did I say that out loud?

“Yes. Hailey, focus. Act sober for a few minutes so I can convince them to take us to Rita’s.”

Act sober. I could do that. I was so good at that. Add that to my special skills on my resume. ‘Can act sober’. Yeah, that would get me a good job. 

“Hailey.”

Right. SOber. Think sober thoughts. 

Straightening myself I pulled out of Nesta’s arms and paused our Just Dance game as Nesta started calling for Cassian. 

He must have been lurking or I was unaware of time because he was there a second later, his eyes scanning the little sitting room we had turned into our mischief room, taking in the empty wine bottles and the sweater I had tossed aside when I had gotten warm from dancing. Thankfully I had a sports bra on under it, courtesy of the house of course. And of course that had my ample boobs on display, however. Nesta hadn’t asked about what was going on with my chest but Cassian’s gaze zeroed in on it before he quickly averted his eyes. 

Hehe. 

“So, will you?” Nesta’s voice echoed in my ear. 

Shit. I missed something. Sober thoughts, Hails baby. 

“How drunk is she?” Cassian’s deep voice asked with amusement. 

“If by she you mean Hailey, Hailey is barely drunk,” I replied in my best sober voice, narrowing my gaze at him. “I want to go to Rita’s.”

“Dressed like that?” he questioned. 

“She can borrow something of mine,” said a smooth, sultry voice from the doorway. 

I turned towards this doorway, the doorway where the voice came from, to find the stunning creature named Mor there. Her eyes were bright with amusement as she looked over me, though they dimmed when she glanced towards Nesta. 

Hm. I didn’t like that vibe. Nesta was goat. No one could be mean to my Nesta. 

I did want to borrow clothes though. 

“Mor! Sweetcheeks!” I grinned. “Do you have anything not red? I don’t think it will go with my hair?”

A soft, tinkling laugh escaped her and I sighed. Of course her laugh was pretty. Everything about her was pretty. “Yes, girl, I have things other than red. C’mon. I’ll find something for you to wear and we can go to Rita’s.”

“You better ask Azriel first,” Cassian warned. “He’s her keeper.”

“He took the night off,” Mor informed us all, her eyes sparkling with mischief. I loved mischief. It was one of my favorite pastimes, so whatever made her eyes sparkle with it had me interested. “He said he needed to get away from her for a few hours so sent me here to watch over her.”

“Why do I get the feeling he went to Rita’s?” I heard Cassian murmur behind me as Mor dragged me out of the room. 

Walking is so hard. Why does it have to be hard? I tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other only to feel like a baby giraffe trying to learn the tango. Giraffes can’t even learn the tango because they are Giraffes and not humans so obviously it was hard. 

Some time later, unsure how much time as I had for sure walked through a time portal, I was clutching onto Mor as she winnowed. Winnowing drunk was terrible. 

Or it would be if I were drunk. But I wasn’t. I was sober. Mhm. 

Mor, bless her, held me in her arms as we winnowed, her slender yet strong limbs wrapped tight around me. Grinning I pressed my nose to her neck and inhaled her deep, flower tinted scent. She truly smelled delightful. If I could bottle up her scent and take it home with me I would. Or maybe just keep her close so I could sniff her when I wanted. Yeah, I should do that. Maybe I could get Rhysie poo to replace Azzie with Mor as my regular gaurd that way I could smell her all the time. Aw, but then I wouldn’t see Azzie. Not that I wanted to! Not that I wanted his knife. 

“Mother help me,” Mor murmured in my ear as she gently set me down on my feet outside a very noisy establishment. Frowning at me she tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and then reached into the front of the dress she had loaned me to grip my boob. 

I looked down, intrigued at this turn of events, to see her tugging them up to create more cleavage in the plunging neckline of the velvet blue dress and coincidentally showcasing all the shallow little cuts along my chest. 

Oh. 

So we weren’t having a little play time before going inside. 

Fine. 

That was fine. 

I wasn’t disappointed at all.

“Hailey,” her sweet voice pulled me back in. “Focus, love. We’re going into Rita’s.”

Rita’s!!!!! Hell yeah brother. Focusing on Mor’s pretty face I grinned at her. “You’ve become my favorite right now, and that’s not just because you have your hands all over my boobs. I’ve always wanted to go to Rita’s! This is going to be so fun, Mor.”

“It sure is,” she laughed, putting her arm around my shoulder to guide me towards the doors, Cassian and Nesta close behind. 

Inside was dark, and crowded, and there was a dance floor, and alcohol, and more hot fae. 

We found a table near the back and Cassian went to get us drinks while I ogled the hot fae. Yeah, this was prime realestate. I loved this. Fae of all types were out and about, looking hot and scrumptious. I could eat any of them up. Mhm. 

“Mor!” I grinned, leaning my head on her shoulder so I could sniff her again. “I love you for bringing me here.”

She gave my hip a squeeze and shoved a drink into my hands. “Come on little human, drink up so we can dance.”

“I love dancing,” I remembered, taking a large gulp of the drink. 

It was not fae wine. Or was it. I don’t know. My taste buds might not work anymore. All I know is that it tasted like starlight and happiness and made my body feel all fuzzy and warm. It was good and I never wanted to leave. 

Another time portal thing happened because the next thing I knew I was out on the floor with my new friends. Cassian and Nesta were basically grinding on each other in my peripheral while Mor had me pressed against her perfect body as we moved to the music. So many smells filled my nose as the lights flashed and the music thumped, my head spinning with how perfect this all was. It was so much like being home at the club with my friends, but better. Better because I had zero worries on how I would get home or if I would be late to work the next day because I simply did not have those worries in this magic world. And the house would probably find me a magic cure for a hangover. No consequences. 

“Are you having fun, love?” Mor asked, her lips pressed to my ear as she spoke over the music. 

“Yes!” I grinned, burring my face in her beautiful hair. It felt so nice on my skin. I needed to know what her haircare routine was. “You smell so good. You’re so pretty.”

She pulled me back enough so she could look in my face and I couldn’t help but smile up at her. It wasn’t fair she was that pretty. Truly. I wanted to be pretty like her. Maybe they could make me fae and I would become prettier. 

“You’re stunning, little human,” she laughed, her fingers stroking my cheeks. 

My face cheeks, to be precise. To make that clear. They were my face cheeks and not the other ones. Though, those were dangerously close to escaping the tiny dress she had shoved me in. As a bubblegum booty baddie, my lower cheeks were in danger of peaking out of the hem of the tiny dress just like my boobs were threatening to pop out of the dangerous neckline at any moment. 

It was awesome. 

Mor leaned closer, distracting me from thoughts of my booty, and for just a second I thought she might kiss me. I wanted her to kiss me. Who wouldn’t? Hot blond fae female with her good smelling skin and pretty voice. Ugh. She didn’t though. Rude. Lowkey super rude. 

Instead she said, “There’s a hot male who’s been eyeing you for three songs, Hails. You want to dance with him?”

Well, if she wasn’t going to kiss me maybe he would. I needed someone to or I might die. 

She gave me a little shove away from her and a pair of giant tree trunk arms wrapped around me. They matched his tree trunk thighs. I tried to focus my sights on this male and took in the dark skin, the flowing hair, and the casually draped white toga. 

Oh no fucking way. 

HELION. 

This was fantastic. 

Just what I needed.

“Hi!” I shouted over the music. 

“Hello, little human,” he laughed, pulling me against his warm chest. “You have the attention of half this place tonight with how stunning you look in that little dress. Would you do me the honor of a dance?”

I don’t think I could’ve smiled any bigger. My smile was bigger than his thighs. Mhm, big. 

In the crowded dance floor Helion, Thigh Lord of the Day Court, pulled me flush against his rock hard body and buried his giant hand in my unbound hair as we moved to the beat of the music. It was everything. Everything. 

Clittia, who had been perked up since Mor first grabbed me earlier, was in full feral mode as Helion and I basically grinded on each other. She was practically weeping between my legs begging for friction and my drunk mind wanted to give in to the need while sober Hailey was trying to behave in this crowd of people. My heart was beating wildly in my chest to the rhythm of the music and I truly felt like I was a floating little cloud of happiness as we danced together. His giant hand was wrapped tight around my hip, the other in my hair holding my forehead to his as we moved, and when his giant, muscular thigh slid between my legs at just the perfect height for me to grind on. 

Fuck. 

Fuck. 

We truly were doing this?

He must have noticed my hesitation, as slight as it was, for the hand on my hip practically dragged me over his thigh. 

And alrighty, my thong wasn’t exactly the greatest barrier between me and the delicious warmth of his skin. 

So sure, I turned shameless. 

Burying my hands in his long hair so I had something to hold onto, I dragged myself long the thigh of the Thigh Lord of the Day Court on the dance floor of Rita’s. 

And fuck if it wasn’t incredible. 

I groaned as I rubbed against him like a cat in heat, seeking out the friction I so desperately needed and wanted. There was no question in my mind if I would do this while sober; sober me would pounce on this male without a second thought so drunk me was waving mutiple ‘go!’ flags as well. 

Heat spread through my as I ground myself on his thigh, a groan escaping me as I pressed my lips to his. The kiss itself was messy and desperate, both of us vying for dominance as we bit and sucked, our tongues tangling in a perfect cadence with the movement of my hips. I could feel every point of contact where we touched from his fingers tugging at my hair, my breasts pressed to his chest, his hand clenching on my hip, and his thigh between mine. Every single inch of it was glorious. 

It had been so, so long since I had had this that it took only seconds for my body to reach the peaks of pleasure. Unashamed I rode him wildly, unabandoned, under the pulsing lights and music, fully aware and uncaring we were surrounded by people. Pleasure shot through me with every roll of my hips, blocking out anything else that could prevent me from enjoying him. With each movement my body tightened further, nearing the precipice of it all and the closer I got the more hungry I became. Helion seemed to know exactly what I needed for when I let out a little whimper he released my hair and grabbed my other hip, using his wonderful fae strength to lift me fully off my feet and seat me on his thigh, rocking me effortlessly as he brought me closer and closer. 

I let out a groan of protest when his mouth released mine, desperate for more of him, only for those magical lips to brush me ear as he whispered, “Fuck, baby, you’re drenching me. Come on my thigh like a good girl and we can-”

It was an actual honest to gods crime that I did not get to hear what we could do. And that I was prevented from coming on his thigh, too. 

Why was I prevented, you may ask?

A hand that was not his tangled in the back of my hair while another snaked around my torso to pull me off of him. Helion, who was obviously not expecting me to be ripped out of his grip and hadn’t been holding me too tight for fear of hurting me with his fae strength, didn’t have time to grab on before I was yanked out of his grasp. 

A screech of surprise and anger erupted from me as I was unceremoniously interrupted from what I was sure was going to be an amazing orgasm, though the hair pulling did a little something for me. Fighting was useless, however, as I was in a crowd of fae who were all stronger and bigger. Not that that stopped me. 

I lashed out at whoever had grabbed me, screaming a loud ‘fuck you’ as I tried to hit or kick them, until a pair of familiar hazel eyes met mine. 

True murder flashed in Azriel’s expression as his nostrils flared, no doubt smelling my arousal, his eyes slowly tracking down my barely covered body and back up again. Then his voice, so low and full of danger, cut through the sound of Rita’s like a hot knife through warm butter. 

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing here, little liar?”

[gu3ntzel]

this is me taking an interest in your ocs 👁️👁️

OCS!!!! 🥹♥️ the most specialist ocs in my heart, all from the random bullshit im writing

tim: is just a baby!!!! lil baby boy who just wants to be good at baseball!!! “im the baseball boy, im the one who WINS” is an only child who’s mom abandoned him w his dad when he was young (young enough to have memories of her but not totally remember wha she was like) and his dad hattteesss him! thought he wasn’t skilled enough to learn anything else so just taught him baseball cos tim was good at him! this little guy has self esteem issues up the WAZOO! little man was rejected by the love of his life (demps) then made a deal w a demon and demps was like “hey, i made a mistake of calling things off out of fear, can we try again?” and he’s like oh!!!! everything i could ever want!!! and then is painfully reminded he doesn’t :’) he just wants demps and baseball but nooo he’s gotta have a little demon messing everything up for him. It all works out in the end (almost), tim sacrifices his arm to be with demps and they live the rest of their lives together :’)

demps: mr catcher man!!! east coast boy who had a (nearly) perfect childhood!! decided to play baseball instead of going into the family business and ended up with the traveling team. literally like fell in love with tim at first sight despite the fact that tim was quiet and standoffish!!! literally had a panic attack after like a year or so of them dating that their manager would kick them both out if he found out so he broke it off to protect tim, it ended up hurting them both so he eventually asks for tim back!! and he expects to be rejected but Tim says yes!! then his hearts broken when Tim says they need to take a break but he wants to respect it. has 0 clue his lil man’s made a deal with a demon. eventually he gets jumped outside of a bar and beaten, is taken to the hospital and may never play again, but as long as he has tim he’s ok w it:’) and he does!!! tim comes back and they find jobs together and yeah they may have to move later but he’s so happy!!! he’s got his man!!

casey: oh this man is a BASTARD!!!! hockey man who’s a nepo baby. his dad played and won a cup and expected his sons to do the same. too bad his dad’s a psycho and murdered his brother, sister and mom! casey got away purely bc he was at hockey practice and when he returned to the house he saw his sister’s body through the gap in the door and called the police. now he’s traumatized and has to live up to these expectations for his mom and siblings. he makes it but hes traded by like, three different teams and he’s not very good. eventually he makes it onto the same team w his childhood bf julian and wants to make it last, but he keeps fuckinf up!!! man just wants to make a team his home:( he just wants to belong!!! also yes bi and has a thing for julian but don’t you tell him that!!! it upsets him

julian: gay goaltender!!! he grew up with casey and they’ve been close friends for a long time. he’s really the only one who knows what happened to casey and can actually ask about it, everyone else gets denied. julian’s supposed to be a franchise goaltender but he doesn’t want that!!! he doesn’t want to live with the expectations that brings him. he didn’t ask for everyone to take interest in him but he hopes to live up to their expectations. he also understands that there’s people who’d kill to have that sort of stability as long as his play remains consistent enough. he feels like he’s being pulled both ways with his loyalty to the team and loyalty to his friend.

nate: captain nate!!!! no nonsense SOB who may or may not have murdered a man. he’ll do anything for this team and anything to win. despite welcoming casey into the team he low key hates him and thinks he should be traded, but plays nice because they eventually become d-partners. he wants to murder casey high key but his A’s miry and ukko are like “dude what are you doing….” probably should be in jail

also here’s the playlist for each of their novels if anyone wants to listen:’) tim + demps casey + julian + nate

[tactical-sausage]

If I had a partner (like a cowboy) I’d be unstoppable. Truly a force to be reckoned with. I’d be like, “hey I’m in need of some money” and my partner would say “hey let’s rob a bank” and I’d be like “omg your so right” while twisting my hair and kicking my legs while laying down on top of my horse. Watching their face like I’m trying to divine a meaning from abstract art. Unable to find anything solid but loving the game in it. Knowing that staring won’t bring me closer but it might just make him see me the way I see him (cuz we’d be gay cowboys). And we’d ride off into the sunset together letting the wind take us anywhere as long as we’re together. Living life on the rough side of the law. We’d walk in to taverns together, me stepping on a squeaky floorboard that lets every patron of the bar know that we aren’t from around these parts. We wouldn’t go in search of trouble, but it would find us, but we loved it that way. Seeing sights only travellers can, knowing that the world is far bigger than those dusty old towns make it out to be. Eventually one of horses takes a nasty fall, and we have no choice but to put it down. I bite back tears for our lost beast, hoping that it has vast fields to frolic in wherever it is. You reassure me, tell me that this is how things are, that life can vanish in an instant, and we have to treasure what we have now. You holding me was my best memory for a while. Sitting with me as I sob, not for the horse, but for everything. Everything I’d forgotten, pushed back, and beaten down. Everything… but you just held me tight, and just when I needed it, a kiss. To set me straight. We couldn’t stop there, so we continue riding on my horse. Feeling your arms around my waist centred me, and I’d never felt so safe on such a dangerous beast. Because they scare me, truly, horses are terrifying creatures. I tell you the story from my past, how my uncle was stomped to death while tending to my young pony. I shudder at the thought. You say you saw something similar. And a whole avenue of you had opened then. You never talkies about your past, only ever thinking of the future. Only thinking of others. But now you sat behind me, telling me of the times in your birth town. Of all the horrible acts portrayed before your young eyes. And I can’t help thinking of how you overcame that, you saw the worst of humanity, but became the best of it. You overcame your nature because your soul knew it wasn’t right. Because you heard the pained screams and said never again. Not anymore. I reach for my handkerchief. Wipe my eyes, my nose, and stifle my coughs as best I can. But you notice, your arms are around me, you feel every splutter, but you don’t see the red stains on my handkerchief. I can’t let you know. I have to keep pretending I’m fine. I can’t let you go, “these last months were the best months of my life” these months were the last. I’ve run out of time. I’ve run out of pills. Doctors are no use. My limbs don’t move anymore. I try tell you to leave me, live your life, forget about little old me. You say you can’t, as I am your life, and for me to end would be your end. And I say life can vanish in an instant you have to cherish what you have left. And I have none left. Then I fade away, and hear distant whinny of our lost horse. Riding with my into the last sunset.

But unfortunately I’m a straight guy with no horse or lover so I guess I’ll have to make do.

[postmodernmulticoloredcloak]

A vaguely jazzy-sounding remix of a pop Christmas song was playing softly, and lights were glinting off an abundance of cheap silver and lilac garlands. Plucky plastic white pines adorned with sparkly rainbow-shaped ornaments dotted the entire place. It was a relatively classy establishment eleven months of the year, and Steve thought that the exception was quite adorable. There was something comforting in tacky, especially in a gay bar.

He immediately spotted Bucky sitting at the counter. He chuckled at himself, at the way his chest still did that glowy, squeezy feeling it did when he saw Bucky after some time, or even after no time at all. Sam had teased him on the way back from the trip, guessing exactly what had Steve excited like a puppy at the prospect of going home. It had been just a few days, really, and he knew Bucky was comfortably home in New York, enjoying leisure time. But he still couldn’t wait to be with him again.

Bucky looked so soft in his loose hair bun and cozy knit sweater, sipping something creamy-colored from a margarita glass, and Steve lingered for a few moments to observe him, feeling a warmth in his chest that wasn’t from stepping indoors from the winter open air, and eventually reached the counter.

“What’s a guy as handsome as you doing all alone in here?” he asked as he sat on the stool next to Bucky.

A brief flash of surprise appeared on Bucky’s features, and then a smile bloomed across his face, lightening up his eyes, and it was the most beautiful sight in the world.

“Oh, my husband is on a work trip,” he replied with a delighted grin.

“And leaves you here on your own? So close to Christmas? You should dump him.”

Bucky laughed. “Maybe I should, but he’s kind of a big important guy, and it’s kinda sexy.”

Steve chuckled. “Is that so?”

“M-mh,” Bucky nodded, wrapping his arms around him. “Also, I don’t actually care about Christmas, but don’t tell him this, ‘cos he’s a romantic and loves all this stuff.”

“Mmm,” Steve just replied. It wasn’t completely true that Bucky didn’t care about Christmas, because he might be Jewish, but he was like a cat, and shiny ornaments and twinkly lights had him enchanted. Those and the food. In a different world, a lifetime ago, he’d help Steve’s mom with putting up the decorations, claiming it was to take the burden off Steve, who at that point of the season would inevitably be waging a war against his lungs, but the truth was that he was ecstatic about it.

“So how was the trip?”

Steve smiled. “It was alright. Sam did most of the talking, which is good, he’s more diplomatic than I am.”

“Diplomatic is not a word I’d use for either you or Sam, but a rabid raccoon would be more diplomatic than you, so I can believe it.”

Steve chuckled as he sank a hand in the hair just above Bucky’s neck. “You’re beautiful.”

Bucky beamed softly and leaned forward to press his lips against Steve’s. Bucky was still a bit cautious with showing affection in public, but in gay bars he let all his guards down, just like they’d always done. Steve, on the other hand, had the constant urge to just be as obnoxious as possible with their affection, which was probably further proof that there was something irrevocably broken with his sense. But there was something inside of him that screamed to shove their love in the world’s face, to force people to see them. He felt a little glee at paparazzi pictures, even if he wasn’t supposed to, but inside of him a little voice said, look at us, look at us, see us, see, see .

“You still have things to do before the holidays, or—?”

“Nope. I’m free to give my full, undivided attention to this really hot guy I know.”

Bucky grinned. “Lucky him.”

Steve pressed a gentle kiss against his mouth.

“What are you drinking?”

“I asked the bartender to make me something yummy and creamy and christmassy.”

“You asked for eggnog in a margarita glass?”

“So? It’s Christmas. No point in living in a majority Christian country if I cannot take advantage of it.”

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