#into lovers??? nah that's like catnip for me

[qtepasacalabaza]

You can't give me two characters who are essentially the opposite of each other and expect me not to go crazy over them😭😭

[rein-ette]

I'd be interested to hear some of your headcanons on engport. PS: I love your blog, you really have made it very cute and elegant.

Thank you!!! I'm glad you like it :3 I wasn't sure what hcs you were looking for, so I just did a random collection of ones I haven't seen around. If you wanted more of a narrative of their relationship or something, lemme know.

1. I mentioned this hc here, but I really like the idea of Portugal bringing Arthur gifts from all over the world, not in the way someone does to deliberately woo a lover (although as they got older there was a certain undertone of that that they laughed about), but more like the way a cat brings back dead birds and stuff; it’s just cuz they love you and wanna feed you and take care of you and share their precious things with you. Port started doing this when they first met, and originally it was just bringing him a pretty stone or a little wildflower. The one thing Arthur truly yearned for, however, were books. I think Arthur is someone who truly loves learning and intellectual pursuits, but because of his upbringing and work he was never able to go university until the late 1600s.The best ones during the Middle Ages, in any case, were located around the Mediterranean, especially in Italy, as well in the Abbasid Caliphate. So when port started sailing further, he would try to bring Arthur copies of texts such as the Continens Liber, the Canon of Medicine, the Trotula (all medical texts) as well as texts on foreign flora and books like The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by Islamic scholar Ismail al-Jazari, which featured machine automation! In the 13th century!!! These manuscripts were probably harder to find than most jewels or trinkets and Port had to translate the ones in Arabic for Arthur — and secretly, because the inquisition was like, kinda a thing during this time — but it was worth his delight and absolute adoration. These are all, by the way, real books that existed or eventually made their way to and had a great influence on Europe!

2. I don't know why, but I love the idea of Port having a masters degree in English Literature from Oxford. I think his personality is just suitable: thinks unnecesarily deeply about things, sees symbolism in everything, loves playing devil's advocate. He must have gotten it recently as well, since eng lit wasn't a thing in unis until the mid 1800s and Port and Arthur's relationship didn't normalize until after 1974. Anyways yeah, I think Port did it in part because he genuinely likes english literature, and in part because it was a semi-valid way of getting off work and he could spend a year with Arthur. Plus a hot Portuguese man with an Oxford eng lit degree is like, catnip for Arthur.

3. Also a fruk hc, but: England owns a little house on a hill, overlooking the ocean in Calais, France. He’s had it since he owned the entire port of Calais back in the day and it’s kinda of safe house, a place where he can escape and read books and fiddle with his potions and magic and flowers and just be happy. Only a few people know it exist/have been there, and only Francis has ever been inside, when he spent 2 years recovering there during the latter half of WWII (this is stolen directly from newamsterdam's For the Dust to Still Series, which I am forever obsessed with). Despite it being a “special place” for Arthur and Francis, the front gardens are filled with lavender, which Arthur only started planting and tending to in the 20th century. When they lived there together, during the war, Arthur would sometimes just sit silently amidst the flowers. Francis never commented on it.

4. For a more modern hc, when they go on holiday Arthur and Port like to go surfing (mostly Port), freediving, and sometimes scuba diving — and pls don’t hit me with the “Arthur can’t swim”, mans a Type A personality and control freak, and you’re telling me he’s gonna spend his life on the open sea without knowing how to swim? Nah. And no one can tell me that Port doesn’t want see the fishies on the coral reef any chance he gets either. That’s his habitat. When they don’t have time to go abroad they have aquarium dates like the sappy little losers they are. Port has a membership at the Oceanário de Lisboa, because of course he does. They've also gone wreck diving at least twice -- it unsettles them both a little, because they can easily imagine themselves going down with the ship, as well as the men who must have died too -- but that also seems like the kind of emotional masochism those two idiots would be into.

5. Not a relationship hc, but neither of them are afraid of animals. Arthur dislikes big ass spiders, but isn't petrified. Port has no fear at all. At times this has caused a genuine issues.

[takingcourage]

Cold Feet

Pairing: Jaime x MC

Word Count: 2,100

Summary: To cope with a challenging day at work, Arden retreats to the one place she can be alone. The quiet doesn’t last for long, of course... 

Note: I haven’t written anything for Choices in ages, but Wishful Thinking came out of nowhere and finally sucked me back in. While I’m still not sure how I feel about the book overall, I’m a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope and Jaime is just too sweet for words. 

I hope you enjoy!

Arden’s toes were killing her. If she’d had more confidence going into today’s interview, she might have been able to resist Alec’s insistent charge that she needed something more television-worthy than her trusty ballet flats. It’s not like anyone could see my feet through that coffee table anyway. She rolled her eyes at the thought, slamming the car door shut in belated protest.

Even if people had been able to see her shoes, she couldn’t imagine that they would have held anyone’s attention against what was likely to go down as one of the most uncomfortable television segments in Northbridge history. She didn’t harbor any animosity toward Ellen, but she knew that the other woman’s stress probably read as rivalry on camera. No matter how Arden had forced a smile, the awkwardness on set had been palpable.

It had been all she could do to make it through the interview with Charlie Carmichael, much less the rest of the afternoon. When she’d finally left the studio, she’d been on autopilot. It wasn’t until she’d parked in front of her father’s house that she realized she hadn’t even taken the time to change back into her normal shoes.

Deciding that she’d rather take her chances barefoot than turn her ankle in those ridiculous heels, her walk to the lake was a cautious one. By time her feet reached the dock, they were well covered in grass clippings and dust, but her toes were no longer throbbing from poor circulation. Arden came to the end, dangling her legs over the water as she dropped the offensive shoes beside her. They fell noisily, thick soles smacking against the smooth wood.

“And I’ve probably scared all of the fish away,” she grumbled under her breath. A glance into the water beneath her seemed to support the theory.

As good as it had felt to take her feet out of the shoes, plunging them into the coolness of the lake was so much better. Contented, she propped an arm behind her and lifted her face to soak in the warmth of the sun. The water lapped around her ankles in a steadily uneven tattoo. Aided by the relative quiet of the lake, her mind wandered.

This new power was going to take a lot of getting used to. As fun as it was to pop into various heads in Waffle Hut, that initial charm was wearing off quickly. She wasn’t sure just how much longer she’d be able to bite her tongue through Alec’s insults or her father’s silent criticisms. And then there was Jaime.

Goodness knew very few of his thoughts had ever been secrets to her -- even before the accident. She’d learned to read his expressions long before she could read his mind. But she could no longer deny knowing how he felt. That small detail had the potential to make their relationship tenuous.

It was going to make deflecting nearly impossible.

She’d been dancing around the issue for years, alternating between flirty banter and changing the subject as soon as anything serious came up. It wasn’t that she thought things wouldn’t work out between the two of them -- if she was honest, it was actually the exact opposite. They’d been best friends for so long that she knew they would make an eminently suitable couple. She just wasn’t sure she was ready for it.

Her father had always warned her that her stubborn streak was going to get her hurt one day. Was this another case of her just being too set in her ways? Would there really be any harm in taking things further?

In spite of the breeze, warmth stole over her at the thought of actually moving out of the clearly-defined lines of friendship they’d established over the years. Aside from her late mother, Jaime understood her better than anyone she’d ever known. That depth of familiarity certainly had its appeal.

But her feelings toward him had been extending beyond the familiar, especially lately. For one, Arden wasn’t sure how much longer she’d be able to deny the physical attraction. They hadn’t actually kissed since they were kids, but they’d come close on a handful of occasions. At the time, she’d chalked those moments up to innocent flirtation, but that night on the yacht had made her want to kiss him for real. As had his suggestion that she use her powers to help other people. And his pride in seeing her work at the library fundraiser. Now that she thought about it, a lot of their recent interactions had produced a similar effect.

Maybe she should act on the impulse later that night. They were sure to get at least a few moments alone. She could lean in close and test the waters. Then, if he was receptive, they could have their first real kiss. 

Arden banished the notion almost as quickly as it came. If she made a move now, some part of him might always wonder if her powers had anything to do with it. If she ever did decide to take the plunge, it wasn’t going to be because supernatural forces were at play.

Besides, dating anyone at the moment just didn’t seem fair. Her stomach churned at the thought of what this one-sided transparency could do to a relationship. As many times as she might have wished for the ability to read the minds of the guys she’d dated in college, reason told her that it wouldn’t be a recipe for healthy communication. Until she found some way of controlling this power, it was best not to pursue anything. Or anyone. She needed to sort things out for herself first -- especially when there was any risk of hurting Jaime in the process.

Giant worms! It’s been so long since I’ve had juicy worms…

Arden started at the voice, her eyes instinctively going to the water. At the sight of the large turtle moving toward her, she sprang to her feet, a shriek breaking through the still evening air. The quickness of her motion frightened the creature, who soon swam back to the depths and out of sight.

Pulse thundering, Arden eased back onto the dock, this time sitting cross legged and keeping out of the water entirely. “If these critter conversations keep up,  I’ll have gone full vegan before the week is out. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but…” her soliloquizing came to an end as her eyes fell to a dragonfly resting at the end of a nearby plank. 

She straightened her back and trained her mind on the insect, willing herself to pick up on some train of thought. Closing her eyes, she tuned out the rhythmic course of the water and the sounds of the wind through the leaves.

In return, she heard only the frenzied rustle of wings. With a sigh of relief, she slumped back down. At least I don’t have to worry the next time there’s a cockroach in my apartment. Although it might be nice for defending myself against mosquitoes…

...And there she is.

Arden craned her neck toward the shore to see Jaime emerging from the line of trees. He looked tired, but the smile on his face was unmistakeable. She waved in greeting, struck by just how glad she was to see him. You’re always glad to see him, moron. He’s your best friend. Arden’s cheeks warmed in spite of herself. 

“I thought I’d find you out here,” he called out upon reaching the dock. “Is everything okay?”

His footfalls sent gentle vibrations through the wood and Arden shivered involuntarily. “I’m fine. Just came out to get some quiet.”

Jaime’s brow morphed from concern to uncertainty. “I can leave if you --”

She shook her head decidedly. “Nah, you’re good. Besides, I prefer your thoughts to the snapping turtle that had it out for my toes a few minutes ago.”

He squatted next to her, meeting her eyes easily. Arden’s gaze flicked toward the water, but it made no difference. There was no point even trying to get the sight of those deep brown eyes out of her mind. She liked them best just as they were now, slightly narrowed, but sparkling with laughter  -- brow creased with amusement as it was whenever there was some inside joke that only the two of them could understand.

Damn! She chided herself for allowing her thoughts to run away with her again. When she risked a glance back at Jaime, his lips tugged to the side, entertained by her apparent inner turmoil. Nevertheless, he let the moment pass, sparing her the embarrassment of confession.

“So turtles too, huh? Please tell me you’re not planning to adopt any of them. The ones out here are ferocious.”

“I remember from that fishing expedition back when we were twelve,” she mused, smiling warmly. “Besides, I think Jinx would actually start plotting murder if I brought home any more strays.”

“She has a point, you know. Two animals in less than a week starts to sound like a trend.” Jinx probably thinks I’m a stray too. 

“She’ll come around to you eventually. I’ll just let you handle the catnip next time you’re over.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that,” he commented wryly as he rubbed at a stiff spot on his neck. 

The motion caused her to catch a trace of his spicy deodorant. Stifling her groan with a deep breath, she tried to return to the subject at hand. “What? My cat’s alarming drug habit?” Why did he have to smell so good?

The pointed glance he shot her was much deserved. “You being able to hear what I’m thinking.”

“Trust me -- you’re not the only one. But if it helps, I still can’t hear everything. It’s just little fragments.”

“Probably just the little fragments that people don’t want you to hear too.” I definitely shouldn’t think about how kissable she looks right now.

“Probably so.” Arden picked a bit of lint from her skirt to distract from the blush that she knew was rising over her cheeks. She opened her mouth to say more, but all of the witty rejoinders at the tip of her tongue felt flat and stupid. 

Someday he was going to find out exactly how much she knew and their days of pretending would be over. The prospect was a little frightening, but there was something else there too -- some sense of calm that came with the acknowledgement.

Jaime cleared his throat and her fingers halted their exploration at her skirt’s hem. “Anyway, we should probably head back for dinner before your dad starts to worry about us. He saw your car and asked me to find where you’d wandered off to.”

“Of course he did.”

“And I think he said something about making his specialty.”

She rose to her feet with a groan -- this time audible. “You know what that means…”

“It means we should probably hurry back before the sandwiches get cold and he ruins your precious tomato soup.”

“He tries to make it with water! No one deserves that.”

“We’d better get going then.” Jaime laughed, shifting his weight as he waited for her to put on her shoes.

Arden eyed him incredulously. “There is no way I’m putting these things back on. I don’t know what wardrobe was thinking even having them in the building!” She looked with disdain toward the objects dangling from her hooked fingers.

“Very impractical,” Jaime agreed, lagging behind for a moment to allow her to set the pace.

“I’m wearing my flats tomorrow. I don’t care what Alec says.”

“He’s not going to fire you over shoes. C’mon, I’ll give you a piggyback to the house.”

Arden stopped short, the heels swinging wildly at the abrupt cessation of motion. “No thanks, I’m good to walk.” Even if she’d been inclined to presume upon him for the half-mile trudge back to the house, she would have been put off by the idea of touching him -- especially touching so much of him. In her current frame of mind, such contact would probably lead to her abandoning her earlier resolution not to complicate things. 

Gosh, she’s stubborn.

“You wouldn’t have me any other way,” she bantered as they continued walking.

His step faltered. The foible was barely noticeable, but she caught it out of the corner of her eye. “Of course not,” he agreed with a smile. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Blessedly, her powers didn’t pick up on any thoughts that may have followed his admission. But even so, they both knew his words weren’t entirely true.

[coppermarigolds]

fanfic tropes

Thank you for tagging me, @coykoii !

rules: rant about your favourite and least favourite tropes in fanfiction

Favorites: Oh boy, where to start? I adore friends to lovers. Something about having a solid foundation of trust and respect that slowly grows into romance is catnip to me. I’m a huuuuuge sucker for Huddling For Warmth and its cousin There Was Only One Bed. Seriously, give me “we’re dancing around our feelings for each other but we’re trapped in a snowstorm and we’ll probably die if we don’t share body heat” and I’ll click faster than I’ve ever clicked in my life. I also love mutual pining as long as it doesn’t stretch on too long and eventually ends with the pining idiots getting together. 

I love soulmate/soulmark AUs, because that innate tension between fate and free will is *chef’s kiss* for me, especially since I tend to ship pairings featuring independent, strong-willed women who are very much complete without a romantic partner. On that note, I don’t know if it really counts as a trope or just a shipping preference, but I absolutely lose my mind over het pairings where the woman is a loner/reserved/stoic/prickly/etc and the man is Soft™ and emotionally demonstrative and basically absolutely amazed by everything she does. Virtually every pairing I’ve ever hardcore shipped falls into this category in one way or another!

Least Favorite: Love triangles, or anything that involves women catfighting over a man. I tend to be wary of enemies to lovers, unless it’s handled with care. I won’t necessarily dismiss it out of hand--I have one or two pet pairings that fall under that category--but sometimes I feel like fandom will take any two characters who hate each other and insist that They Really Just Want to Bone, and I’m like nah, sometimes people actually just don’t get along. 

I’ll tag @skybound2, @servantofclio, @spiderman-homecomeme, and @thievinghippo --only if you want to, of course!