#jack daniels time travel au

[the-blind-assassin-12]

Somewhere Between Sorrow & Bliss

1200 words for 1200 followers #6

A/N: Hi friends! Welcome to the 12-A-Palooza! This event is my way of saying thank you for sticking with me. Your support and kindness toward me and my writing is out of this world and I’m grateful for every last one of you! This is the second of two requests that I got for Jack, and they go together because the two songs demanded it. The first can be found here, and should be read before this one to get the full picture. I absolutely have plans to continue this AU, as well as to fill out the time between these two parts, but for now please enjoy a little more Time Traveling Jack Daniels. 💚

Warnings: mild angst, Jack’s big brown puppy eyes and pouty lips 

Requested by: @writeforfandoms Song: Too Much Is Never Enough Character Choice: Jack Daniels - Jen!! Thank you SO MUCH for sending this in. I have A LOT of feelings about this song, just like I have a lot of feelings about this Cowboy. I hope you enjoy the direction I took it in, and where it’s eventually headed! 

Jack stood at your bedroom window as he gazed out over 9th Street, still quiet at this hour on a Sunday morning. 

You were asleep in the bed behind him. If he had his druthers he would be, too, with his arms wrapped around your body and your cheek against his chest. Then it would be your warm breath fanning out over his skin, not the summer breeze coming through the sheer curtains. Then he could trace lazy figure eights over your bicep, your hip, the nape of your neck. Then he could have one more morning’s worth of moments with you to take back to the present with him. 

Because by this time tomorrow I’ll be gone. 

A dull ache punched through his heart at the thought of going back. 

He winced, remembering the look on your face and the hurt in your voice when he’d come back to the Junction this time - on July 31st, not the 19th. For you it had been twelve days since he’d spun into your world like a tornado, charming you with his smile only to disappear just as suddenly as he showed up, without a word, without a goodbye, without a way to contact him. Without a reason to think he was any different than the other casanovas who wandered in looking for a one night stand. 

“Well, look who it is.” Your eyes had flashed as you tossed a cardboard coaster onto the bar like a frisbee. “So you do remember how to get here, then, Cowboy?” 

“Darlin’, I-” 

“Oh, absolutely not.” You slammed an empty glass on the rail and shook your head. Reaching for the neck of a whiskey bottle with your left hand, you tipped it to pour while grabbing the soda gun with your right. “You do not -” You pressed the button on the gun to add a splash of water to his drink. “- get to Darlin’ me after -” 

Your brow furrowed then, as though you weren’t sure how to articulate the disappointment, frustration and heartbreak you felt waking on the 20th only to find an empty bed beside you. Because it didn’t make sense for you to feel this strongly over someone you’d spent one night with. 

One night. Twenty-seven times. Spread out over a year.  

A year of figuring out how to make you smile, laugh, moan his name. A year of learning how to bring you to bliss with his touch and his tongue. Of falling in love with you while you learned him from scratch each time. 

But something in the way your fingers shook as you set his drink down on the coaster made him wonder if some part of you remembered more than just your last July 19th together. If maybe on some level your consciousness carried the memories that going through the Rewind had written over. 

Jack tried again, using your name that time, his fingers grazing yours as they left his glass. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am for havin’ to leave that morning.” He frowned, swirling the contents of his drink. Whiskey’n water. She remembered. “I was on call for work and-” 

“And you couldn’t say goodbye?” You scoffed, crossing your arms over your chest. “You snuck out, Jack. Your work was that urgent that you-” 

“Yes.” 

It wasn’t a lie. He had been called back urgently - by Ginger, when the twelve hour window had shut and the Rewind yanked him out of your bed and back into the present. 

“Yes,” he said again, a deep crease cutting into his forehead. “It was. But you have no idea how much I wish it wasn’t.” He sighed, tapping his glass.  “Would you believe me if I told you I haven’t stopped thinkin’ about you since the last time I saw those pretty eyes’a yours?” 

For you it had been twelve days, and that had been longer than he would have liked. But for Jack it had been two months without you. 

You sucked in a breath, clearly struck by his claim. The tip of your tongue swept out to wet your lips as you recovered. “No.” 

“No?” He swallowed despite not yet taking a sip from his glass. “Well I’d do anything for a chance to change your mind, Darlin’.” 

“Don’t call me that, Jack.” Your voice was barely above a whisper but he heard you even over the din of the bar noise. “Not unless you’re here to stay.” 

His heart slammed at his rib cage as he contemplated how to answer. The trial for the Rewind had moved to the next stage, which involved sending the subject back for a longer period of time to see if prolonged skips along the continuum had any side effects. After a year of testing it for half a day, Ginger had reset the window to three days for this trip.

Finally bringing the glass to his lips, he took a drink, eyes on you the whole time. “Well, I’m in town all weekend. That be a good start?” 

A patron at the other end of the bar flagged you down and you shouted over to let him know you’d be right with him before turning back to Jack. He could see in your eyes that you wanted to say yes, and he latched onto that little bit of hope even after you responded. “Ask me again at the end of my shift.” 

He had. And now here he was in your bedroom two days later, awake and already feeling too far away from you even though he still had just under a day left in your life. Like waking up an hour shy of the alarm clock for fear of missing it, Jack found himself on edge about leaving you before it was time to. 

Part of it was due to the fact that he didn’t know how long it would be until he got to repeat these three days with you. Part of it was because the previous night, as you curled your body into his, both of you sweat slicked and spent, you’d confessed that you thought you’d gone crazy for how strongly you felt for him after just that one night - that you felt like you’d known him and that he’d known you for much longer than those few hours. 

But part of it was also because he was confused - and concerned - by the fact that in the present, when he’d tried to look you up just to see what your life was like along his current timeline, his search had drawn a blank. 

I need to find out why that is. Find out if- 

“Jack?” 

The sound of your voice, still hazy with sleep, pulled his focus away from the window, away from the ticking clock in the back of his mind and brought it back to you. He turned to see you lying on your side, the sheet pulled partially up your body, and in two long strides he was back at the bedside and climbing onto the mattress beside you. 

But right now I just need to be here. 

“G’mornin’, Darlin’.” He reached to pull you against his chest. “How’d you sleep?” 

.

.

Thank you for reading! If you’d like to be added to or removed from the tag list, please feel free to let me know. You can also fill out the form on my Masterlist! :)

tags:  @something-tofightfor​​ @paracosmenthusiast​​ @cannedsoupsucks​​ @dihra-vesa​​ @disgruntledspacedad​​ @littlemisspascal​​ @hellovanessax​​ @mishasminion360​​ @nyctophiliiiiaaa​​ @practicalghost​​ @tanzthompson​​ @harriedandharassed​ @woodlandmouth​ @swtaura @trickstersp8​ @princessxkenobi​​ @imtryingmybeskar​​ @wildmoonflower​​ @mswarriorbabe80​​ @theredwritingwitch​​ @silverstarsandsuns​​ @competentpotato​​ @pedro-pedrito-pascalito​​ @jedi-in-crocs​ @hannahkatharine​ @novemberrain221 @chiyo13​ @myloveistoolittle​​ @spishsstuff @writeforfandoms​

[burntheedges]

Roll-A-Trope Challenge Masterlist

Y'all the response to this challenge blew me away!! 🥺🥰 We are going to have so many amazing fics to read! 🧡 Check here for all of the character/trope pairings from when people joined.

I'll link each one as they're posted. Under the cut you'll soon find fics for Dave York, Dieter Bravo, Din Djarin, Dio Morrissey, Ezra (Prospect), Frankie Morales, Jack Daniels, Javi Gutierrez, Javier Peña, Joel Miller, Marcus Acacius, Marcus Moreno, Marcus Pike, Max Phillips, Nathan Landry, Oberyn Martell, Pero Tovar, and Tim Rockford! And so many amazing tropes!!

Last updated: 12/3 | Fic count: 54!

Dave York

Audience of One by @katareyoudrilling | 3k | Dave x f!reader Trope: famous person AU

Can You Remember Who You Were? by @punkshort | 9.1k | Dave x f!reader Trope: reincarnation

Danger Zone by @almostempty | 6k | Dave x Lana Kane (you) x Sterling Archer (crossover with Archer (TV)) Trope: snowed in

Down Bad by @schnarfer | 6.1k | Dave x f!reader | part 2 Trope: only one bed (and bonus, it's a coffee shop AU!)

It's Only Make Believe by @jennaispunk | 7k | Dieter x f!actress!reader Trope: fake dating

Sunshine & Rainbows by @jeewrites | 10.1k | Dave x f!reader Trope: amnesia

Dieter Bravo

Broken Hearts Mended by @bitchesuntitled | 6.1k | Dieter x f!reader Trope: time travel

Just like the Picture by @nerdieforpedro | 936 | Dieter x gn!reader Trope: landlord

Teleportation and Blue Whiskey (part 1) by @davnittbraes | 1.5k | Dieter x f!reader Trope: stuck in an elevator

this protector by @perotovar | 3.1k | Dieter x Din Trope: only one bed

Din Djarin

Familiar yet Foreign by @whxtedreams | 3.7k | Din x f!reader Trope: fake marriage

New Home (Part 1) by @weirdoneattheparty | 2.1k | Din x f!reader Trope: friends to lovers

something worse by @corazondebeskar-reads | 3.2k | Din x f!reader Trope: enemies to lovers

The Long Way Round by @din-cognito | 3.17k | Din x gn!reader Trope: road trip

Dio Morrissey

Crimes Against Each Other by @crowandmousewritingco | 2.9k | Dio x trans!reader Trope: enemies to lovers

Ezra (Prospect)

To Leave the Green by @cas-readsandwrites | 2k | Ezra & Cee, gen Trope: time loop

Frankie Morales

a kiss, my panacea by @skittlesfics | 917 | Frankie x gn!reader Trope: sickfic

Better Love by @docharleythegeekqueen | 3.4k | Frankie x reader Trope: snowed in

Dreamers (part 1) by @beefrobeefcal | 3.4k | Frankie x reader Trope: soulmates | now with Part 2!

Forever starts tonight by @sawymredfox | 3.6k | Frankie x f!reader Trope: pining

GOING DOWN by @aurorawritestoescape | 3.4k | Frankie x f!reader and Joel x f!reader Trope: exes

I Like You A Latte by @inept-the-magnificent | 752 | Frankie x f!reader Trope: coffee shop AU

I'm Yours by @ashleyfilm | 3.2k | Frankie x reader Trope: secret relationship

To Feel Your Body Against Mine by @flightlessangelwings | 4.5k | Frankie x f!reader Trope: secret relationship

Jack Daniels

If I should die before you do by @maggiemayhemnj | 1.7k | Jack x f!reader trope: soulmates

Life's a Dance by @wordywarriorwrites | 2k | Jack x reader Trope: didn't know they were dating

Lucid Dreams by @fhatbhabiee | 3.2k | Jack x reader Trope: friends to lovers

Javi Gutierrez

Things You Knew by @eff4freddie | 8k | Javi G x reader Trope: soulmates

To Make a Day for You by @yopossum | 3k? | Javi G x f!reader Trope: stuck in an elevator

Javier Peña

3 sides of a man by @milla-frenchy | 3.3k | Javi x f!reader Trope: secret relationship

between two floors by @glowingxeyes | 1k | Javi x f!reader Trope: stuck in an elevator | there’s a part 2 and 3!

GOING DOWN by @almostfoxglove | 3.3k | Javi P x f!reader Trope: stuck in an elevator

good guys, bad deeds by @miss-oranje-disco-dancer | 3.9k | Javi x f!reader Trope: only one bed

Joel Miller

Birds of a Feather by @whocaresstillthelouvre | 5.3k | Joel x f!reader Trope: snowed in

Besties by @butterphii | >1k | Joel x f!reader

drive by @kedsandtubesocks | 2k | Joel x f!reader Trope: road trip

For Better or Worse by @captainredspade | Joel x f!reader Trope: fake marriage

Fragile State by @galway-girlatwork | 2.5k | Joel x OFC!Tara Trope: amnesia

Galway Girl by @yxtkiwiyxt | 7k | Joel x f!reader | part 2!! Trope: soulmates

If You're Reading This by @crowandmousewritingco | 4.5k | Joel x nb!reader Trope: epistolary

It Had To Be You by @jobean12-blog | 4.8k | Joel x f!reader Trope: enemies to lovers

Wish by @hotgirlbedtimescenarios | 1.7k Trope: time travel

Marcus Acacius

Searching for the stars by @the-mandawhor1an | 2.7k | Marcus x f!reader Trope: time travel

Marcus Moreno

Through Every Lifetime by @joelalorian | 4.5k | Marcus x f!reader Trope: reincarnation

Marcus Pike

Pike's Place by @pedges-world | Marcus x reader Trope: snowed in | series!!

Max Phillips

A Little Broken by @clawdeewritesfanfic | 3.2k | Max x f!reader Trope: pining

Time After Time by @grogusmum | drabble | Max x f!reader Trope: reincarnation

Nathan Landry

consensus ad idem by @sunshinehaze1 | 4.9k | Nathan x f!reader Trope: snowed in

Oberyn Martell

sweet and sour by @iamasaddie | 5.5k | Oberyn x f!reader Trope: fake relationship

The Correspondence of the Contagious by @crowandmousewritingco | 1.4k | Oberyn x gn!reader x Ellaria Trope: epistolary

Pero Tovar

Memories made, memories lost by @avastrasposts | 7.9k | Pero x f!reader Trope: amnesia

Tim Rockford

|Bump in the Night| by @dc418writes | Tim x black!reader Trope: friends to lovers

Keep Quiet by @auteurdelabre | Tim x f!reader Trope: secret relationship

When Only Memories Remain by @artsy-girl-76 | 3.4k | Tim x f!reader Trope: "shop" AU

[onboardsorasora]

Maybe you have an au that works for this— but thinking about accidental baby acquisition maxiel. Like a “life as we know it” (the movie) AU where they have to adopt a kid, live together and suddenly make it work

Oh! Oh!!

BESTIE. This is...

I don't currently have a fic in the works like this but I honestly love this trope so much. There's a fic I read in my last fandom that did it sooooo lovely.

I will say, I don't remember this film but I read the summary and my brain lit up a little. I hope I'm not like scooping the finer plot points

I imagine they met because their mutual friends are together. Maybe they met originally at the wedding years ago and they're the childhood besties of their friends and get named God parents.

Fast forward maybe 3 years and something bad happens and their friends pass. And it's when they both realize that being named God parents meant that they're responsible for their godchild. Max knew but Daniel had no idea that it was so serious. He just thought it was an honour and now he's extra special uncle Daniel.

Let's say their friends had a son, Jack. And Max goes to the house to meet up with Jack's grandparents who ofc are grieving and don't want to give up their grandchild but Jack is supposed to be in Max's care.

He stays at the house, so Jack has some stability. Daniel comes the next day- he travelled all night. Jack runs to him when he gets inside and Daniel breaks down clutching this little boy to him.

Max offers coffee. Jack spent the night clutched into his chest and he's trying to not feel jealous that he's not clinging to Daniel.

They aren't friends. If anything maybe they didn't really get along during the wedding festivities. But it doesn't matter. They stay with Jack at the house while the grandparents plan the wakes and the funerals.

They both try to explain what it all means and argue about whether telling a 3yr old that death was like final was a good thing. They argue about a lot of things because Daniel believes in protecting Jack a little more about he harshness of the world and Max thinks that it's a bit pragmatic to not lie.

There wasn't really a will because Jacks parents were young and full of life. They couldn't have anticipated the car accident. So because of that any legal decisions made while alive count. Meaning Daniel and Max have full custody of Jack.

Daniel thinks they should allow his grandparents to take care of him. Max thinks they should honour their friend's wishes.

One pair of Jacks grandparents agree with him. Daniel figures they can agree to disagree. but they also can stay in the house with Jack for a little longer before they figure out next steps. Max is one of the executors of the estates and he has to go through all the paperwork and heavy shit.

Daniel watched Jack while Max is working. He spends a lot of time with the grandparents. Daniel moved away after uni and well, he works pretty remote so it's not a hardship to move back. At least until everything is sorted.

Max owns a business so paperwork and lawyers are things he knows. And when all is done he comes back to the house to spend time with Jack. And Daniel.

And it kinda continues like that, unconsciously. They don't like intend to become parental figures but they would do anything for Jack. And sure they still argue but they're happy to provide stability for their godson.

One of the grandparents suggests selling the house and it becomes a point of contention. Daniel disagrees. It's all Jack's known. They can't uproot him after everything.

Something something legalese that the only way to keep everything as it is now is for Daniel and Max to adopt Jack. And be his legal guardians. And the easiest way for that to happen is for them to get married.

Max agrees because fuck it. He'll do anything for Jack. Daniel agrees too because he loves the little shit. Jack is his best boy, his baby wayby. So they have a quick signing at the courthouse. No fandangles or fanfare. And they both completely move into the house.

And that's where things get dicey. Because it was fine before. When they were just friends with a mutual purpose but for some reason a title and a legal document has shifted something.

Max had always thought that Daniel was cute. But now he can't stop thinking about how lovely Daniel is while he's reading to Jack at bedtime or dancing around with him in the house to his dad's favorite albums.

And Daniel always tired to lightly flirt with Max where he could but now-- did Max's jaw get sharper? Are his eyes sparkling in the amber light of Jack's nightlights?

And there's tension and they're tripping over each other. And Jack notices something is different. And he gets worried. Cries that they're leaving him too.

And it's a tantrum of all tantrums and Jack is screaming and wailing and crying for his parents, his real parents. And it takes them hours to calm him. And he won't rest or sleep unless he's touching both of them. Clutching Max's shirt in one hand and Daniel's pinky (the one with the 3) in the other.

They're exhausted and crumbled in the main bedroom because it has the biggest bed. Neither of them sleep in there, it didn't feel right. But holding Jack there, cuddling him close, that felt right.

And maybe Max brushes some tears off of Jack's cheek and kisses him in the forehead and looks over at Daniel who is watching him quietly and Max pulls them both close. Daniel threads their fingers together and Max squeezes and kisses their palms

[wordywarriorwrites]

Life's a Dance

Title: LIfe's a Dance | AO3 | Rating: T Pairing: Jack "Whiskey" Daniels x You Summary: Jack finds a second chance at love. Will he take it? Warnings: Alcohol consumption. Swearing. Mentions of grief/death. A/N: This fic is for @burntheedges "Roll a Trope" challenge (sorry I'm a day late!) and is an AU (obvs). Tagging @jolapeno, who gave me an inspirational and dare I say it, MOTIVATIONAL, "ooo," when I shared a snippet on a WIP Wednesday post.

My trope. Songs referenced in the fic: 1, 2

Jack watches – wide-eyed, with his heart in his throat – as you complete the clover pattern, quicker than lightning, bolder than brass. Fearless, you and that horse of yours, maneuvering around the barrels at an almost impossible-to-follow speed.

Now, he’s gnawing on his nails, knee bouncing, waiting for the results as the digital scoreboard goes blank. A hush has fallen over the crowd of some 19,000 spectators; they’re right there with him, with you, as the camera pans in close to your face, capturing your anxious expression in the moments before the announcement.

Eyes flickering back and forth between you and the screen, waiting, watching as your name ticks to the top of the leaderboard. The announcer barely says it’s ‘a record-breaking run’ before the crowd goes wild. And Jack is swept up in it – on his feet, bursting with pride, whistling and clapping and sharing in your career-defining achievement.

Thunderbolt is just as triumphant, receiving pets and kisses from you as he excitedly prances around the sand during the victory lap. The rodeo may be over, but the night has just begun; there will be press, a fan meet-and-greet, and then, an afterparty. Jack knows you’ll be busy for several hours, but that’s okay.

He can wait.

“So,” Tequila drawls, shuffling out of the stands and towards the stairs leading up to the exit. “How long you two been datin’?”

Jack nearly trips over his own boots, hand shooting out to grab the rail for balance, “Datin’? No, we aren’t datin’. We’re just friends.”

A quirked brow is all the response he gets – for now. Jack knows the meddlesome man is just biding his time. In fact, it’s nearly midnight at the honkytonk when he brings it up again.

“You may be retired, but your name still gets flagged when you travel,” Tequila points out, all casual as he drops truth bombs while sipping his beer. “You’ve been following the circuit. And for a man who didn’t even know what the hell barrel racing was a year ago… Well, I find that real interesting.”

Jack sighs and signals the bartender for another drink, “Look, I invited you here to help me spread the message about my distillery – not to comment on my friendship with--”

“You know, I see her picture pop up when you two text,” he interjects. “And I can hear you talking to her on the phone late at night. I mean, have you really watched all 17 seasons of Heartland?”

Jack grunts. Rolls a mouthful of Johnnie Walker across his tongue before swallowing hard and muttering that Tequila is one nosy motherfucker, who has absolutely no business listening in on his private conversations through the damn hotel room wall. But arguing is pointless – especially since saying anything otherwise would just result in him pushing the issue even more.

The purpose of the trip to Cheyenne was two-fold. First, Jack wanted to see you. Second, the biggest rodeo event on the circuit drew a lot of sponsors (aka: potential investors) known for putting their money in a variety of different cookie jars, and he hoped they’d want to partner with him on a whiskey distillery. Tequila, still in the game, knew all the players and was exceptionally good at schmoozing. It seemed like a win-win, but now, he can’t help but regret asking his too-observant friend for help.

“And the first thing you did when she walked in?” he carries on, all ‘ah-ha, got you now’ in tone. “You put your stinky Stetson on her pretty, little head. And if that’s not stakin’ a claim…” 

It’s the verbal equivalent of a knockout punch, causing Jack to pause mid-sip, but before he can counter, you sidle up between him and his buddy, effectively disrupting the sparring match.

You’re an all-Western cowgirl; from the boot heel to the ten-gallon he’d plopped over your brow after hugging you tight in congratulations. Long-sleeved shirt tucked into jeans. Winners buckle the size of his fist just below your navel. Shiny eyes and a toothy grin. You’re in high spirits, clapping Tequila’s shoulder in greeting before propping an elbow up on the bar and jutting your chin toward the teeming dance floor.

“How ‘bout it, cowboy?” you quip.

Jack should’ve known Tequila, the jabber-jaw, wouldn’t allow him to get a word out in acceptance or refusal. Like a dog with a bone, he buts right on in – says Jack doesn’t dance (at least, not very well). And he grins while he says it - as if pointing something like that out when a woman is asking you to bootscoot for the first time is somehow helpful.

Head tilted slightly, you look at him from beneath the brim of his Stetson, “Can’t? Or won’t?”

Tequila strikes again, this time, with something pithy Jack doesn’t entirely catch, but his ears pick up every, single detail of the asshole offering to take you for a spin. And it’s fine. Jack is completely prepared to let it go, to be the well-mannered man his mamma raised, but Tequila does the one thing guaranteed to illicit a baser response.

“Won’t be needin’ this,” he states, plucking the hat from your head and discarding it down on the bar top. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s boogie.”

Jack’s not sure how much time passes. Ten, maybe fifteen seconds? Like stones skipping along a pond, those seconds come and go so quickly, but they ripple and expand. He recalls his dead wife and son, and how he would be the man he is without having had and lost them. Then, the job, and the purpose it had given him until he’d nearly lost himself in it. Then, meeting you. If someone had told him he'd find a second chance at love at a random truck stop in Kentucky, he'd have laughed in their face.

But that's exactly what happened.

That syrup-sticky counter. The scent of cheap coffee and overcooked bacon. Clanking silverware and Coal Miner's Daughter playing over the speakers. You'd been watching barrel racing on your phone and taking notes on an egg-yolk-and-strawberry-jam-stained paper napkin when he’d asked if the stool next to yours was free.

A simple question. A polite answer. A shared glance that lingered a bit longer than was strictly polite. Chit-chat that somehow morphed into you showing him how to download Instagram so he could follow you – which had seemed a bit untoward of him, doing such a thing, but you’d laughed in that bright, sunny way of yours and assured him was normal. Ten minutes spent showing him how to scroll, and then, you’d dropped cash on the counter and tipped your hat. Bid him farewell. Headed out the door.

But you hadn’t left his mind.

Calls and texts and video chats. Red-eye flights and sunrise breakfasts. Lunches at small-town fairs and dinners at dive bars. Exchanging birthday and Christmas gifts. A year had come and gone, and in that time, Jack had gotten to know you. Knew what channels you’d be on. That your horse loved organic carrots. That you sometimes slept in the barn when your nerves wouldn’t allow you to rest in a hotel bed or even your trailer. You told him things – painful, private things – and in return, he shared feelings and thoughts with you that he hadn’t expressed to anyone else in nearly two decades.

You’d opened his eyes to a different way of existing; proved to him that life could be balanced between wildness and safety, excitement and the every day, and sorrow and joy. You showed him moments were to be cherished, and losses weren’t supposed to keep him locked in a perpetual state of grief until he either got taken out by an enemy or found a grave to lay down and die in.

Of course, there was something there. A flame, unfanned. A torch carried, but unacknowledged. You’d be going into the off-season, soon; still working and training, teaching breakaway roping lessons and riding classes and such, but not traveling. And God knows he’s got the freedom and capital to do what he wants and go where he pleases…

But it’s Tequila’s hand on your shoulder that brings all that chaos, all those ‘what if’ thoughts in his head, to a resounding halt. The seemingly innocuous touch of another man shouldn’t bother him, but it does because he knows it’s a challenge, and his own hand reacts – goes right to his hip on pure instinct – and if he’d been carrying openly, his palm would’ve been atop of one of his revolvers.

Tequila clocks it, but doesn’t back off; in fact, it emboldens him and prompts him to move his hand to your waist. A friendly smile. A guiding touch. A few words to encourage you to head toward the dancefloor and a narrow-eyed glare for Jack to either take a stand or stand down.

Jack is no coward, but he’s also no fool. And he’s not willing to risk losing your friendship over a pissing contest, so, he backs off. Inclines his head. Plasters a smile on his face that’s faker than a buckle bunny’s spray tan.

“Whatever the lady wants,” he says.

Whether the flash of disappointment in your eyes is real or imagined doesn’t matter because Jack ignores it all the same. Just as he ignores Tequila’s muttering fucking idiot as he passes.

The opening chords of Life’s a Dance ring through the air, and he manages to make it to the chorus before deciding he’s taken enough of a beating for the night. He doesn’t say goodbye – just shoots off a lame excuse text to you about an early morning meeting that doesn’t exist, followed up by one to Tequila, telling him to find his own way back to the hotel.

By the time he gets to his pickup, he’s spitting mad. Mad at Tequila. At himself. At you, for making him feel things he hasn’t felt in such a long, long time. For making him feel both safe and afraid to take that leap again. For making him realize wanting you didn’t mean he was being disloyal…

Keys rattling, he jabs the unlock button with his thumb and jerks the door open. Habit has him reaching for his hat, which is no longer there. His Custom Stetson. The one he’s had for ages. The one he spent an obscene amount of money on to have made just right. The one that fits his big ol’ dome so perfectly that there’s no way in hell he could ever hope to replace it.

Jack slams the door so hard, it rocks the frame. Then, uncaring of the fact that it’s a rental, he kicks the front tire with his boot, and that scuffs the rim up pretty good. That old, familiar darkness rears up, and his chest goes tight with it, but expletives and fists are literally reined in by a rope suddenly winding around his shoulders.

Arms pinned to his sides, he whirls, and spots you. A stationary target may be easier to rope, but the distance is impressive. So is the strength you display when you cinch him tight and give a forceful tug to his tether. Passerby-turned-on-lookers think so, too because they clap at your display. Some even whistle as he’s forced to walk toward you or else be dragged.

“You done, cowboy?” you ask, toes nearly touching his as he stands before you. “Or am I gonna have to put my spurs on?”

The glint in your eye is one he’s come to know quite well, and when he doesn’t answer, the rope goes tighter. It doesn’t hurt, but it gets his full attention – takes his mind off his anger, makes him focus, and has him realizing that you’ve not only roped him in, but you’ve got his Stetson on, too.

“S’my hat,” Jack blurts.

You grin. Cup his cheek in a leather-worn palm. Jack meets you in the middle, and it’s like slipping into a hot bath after a long, hard day. A first-time, we-waited-too-long-to-do-this kiss that carries on just long enough for it to mean something.

A slow parting. Your thumb ghosting along his lower lip. Lips curving into a smile, you say, “Hat’s mine now, cowboy.”

And he laughs.

And kisses you again.

[thesoulspulse]

Haunted/Lost Soul & Final Epitaph Cast

I'm kinda cheating with this one since most of these aren't oc's, just genderbent au versions of some characters in the show. In these fanfics I was a lot more selective about who I genderbent and who I left alone for the sake of the narrative. Like Vlad for example, he's still the same for the most part except he becomes insanely overprotective of Danielle from the get-go so they're all very badger-cereal focused.

Haunted Soul: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14016455/1/Haunted-Soul

Final Epitaph (Haunted Soul Sequel): https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14129141/1/Final-Epitaph

Lost Soul (Alternate TUE Fanfiction): https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13761033/1/Lost-Soul?

Danielle/Dani Fenton (Haunted/Lost Soul & Final Epitaph): Not to be confused with Ellie, aka canon Danny's clone, this is Dani Fenton who is the genderbent version. Like the original Danny she loves astrology and space travel and hangs out with her best friends Sam and Trish. Unfortunately, her relationship with her parents isn't too good (Haunted Soul) and in the most extreme case scenario (Lost Soul) they even go so far as to kick her out of Fenton Works for being half-ghost so she ends up going to Vlad for help. I also wanted to expand on her ice powers more to help set her apart from the usual Danny we know. Things don't start off great between her and Vlad either but eventually they find some common ground, learning how to trust people again through each other, and becoming a great father/mentor and student/daughter duo.

Leo the Cat (Lost Soul): He's the kitty Vlad gifts Dani to make her feel more at home in the mansion. Too bad he was overshadowed by Nocturne to infiltrate their home, a rare ghost who can also suppress his ghost signature. Once that's all settled though Leo becomes a perfectly normal cat who absolutely adores his new owners!

Jason/Jace Fenton (Haunted/Lost Soul & Final Epitaph):: As the genderbent version of Jazz, Jason stays the same for the most part except he's even more overprotective of his younger sister because their parents are pretty toxic people in this AU. So when Vlad steps up to take care of her, Jason is on his side all the way. Especially after finding out how they bonded through their shared ghost portal trauma during the reunion their parents dragged them to. Jason even stayed another extra year in high school to make sure Dani would be alright without him running interference with Jack and Maddie at home.

Samson/Sam Manson (Haunted/Lost Soul & Final Epitaph): It was a challenge coming up with a formal name for my genderbent Sam but at least the first name got to stay the same! I really exaggerate his emo-goth attitude when it comes to Dani and protecting her, even going so far as to verbally lash out at Vlad for what a jerk he was to her when they first met. Not to mention how he left Sam in the woods alone to look for Dani, who had fallen under Freakshow's mind control (Haunted Soul).

Trish Foley (Haunted/Lost Soul & Final Epitaph): I still think my genderbent Tucker turned out amazing and I love Trish so much! She still gets jealous of Dani from time to time but thankfully Trish never lets it get too bad. Like Tucker, Trish loves techology, but this time around she's really into making synthetic music and recording videos of Dani singing. You can really tell why these two are best friends although sometimes it's not easy when ghost hunting gets especially dangerous for the non-powered members of the group. Yet they always find a way and Trish is surprisingly good at keeping Sam's temper in check by being the voice of reason instead of it going the other way around.

Vallen Grey (Haunted/Lost Soul & Final Epitaph): This time, ironically, Vlad made Vallen a ghost hunter to actually help rather than hinder Dani. He also warms up to her a lot faster after learning she pulled some strings with Vlad's help- aka Vlad pretended Dani brought the problem to his attention- so his dad could keep his job at Axion Labs. So he definitely has a soft spot for her thanks to that plus I wrote Vallen in such a way as to be a good-natured guy from the start who indirectly kept the popular kids off Dani's back as much as possible.

Freakshow (Haunted Soul): It was a challenge to make an au version of Freakshow attractive but I'd say I did a good job. Too bad he's WAY more evil than the original too and makes the fatal mistake of targeting Vlad's precious little badger which causes her to temporarily lose her memories. Enraged, Vlad impulsively sneaks into the Amity Park penitentiary to confront him and accidentally grants his greatest wish to become a ghost, which ends up only making him a greater threat to Dani. Eventually Dani overcomes his hypnotic spell and with Vlad's help, they defeat Freakshow and Vlad crushes his core to ensure that freak will never be able to threaten her again.

Banshee (Final Epitaph): This brief encounter leads to several interesting discoveries with Dani's powers, but unfortunately she had to lose her voice to a banshee who has stolen many beautiful voices over the years. The Banshee also raises Kelpies in the Ghost Zone, an endangered species of man-eating mystical horses who live underwater. Much like Freakshow however, Vlad teaches her a painful lesson not to mess with Dani by ripping out her vocal cords (yikes) with cruel surgical precision after the fact while Dani is unconscious from using her new ability to create attacks using powerful sound waves.

Nocturne & his Dreamweavers (Final Epitaph and Lost Soul): This is my take on a good Nocturne au where he indirectly guides people by weaving threads from the Tapestry of Fate into their dreams with the help of the three Fates and his Dreamweavers. In "Final Epitaph" he wants to learn what role Dani and Vlad have to play in a possible future where the Ghost King returns once more to dominate both their worlds. Similarly, in "Lost Soul" Nocturne misinterprets a vision and decides to take matters into his own hands to trap Dani inside of her own dream to prevent a terrible future from taking place where she becomes full ghost and destroys everything, turning the Earth itself into a frozen wasteland.

Astra (Lost Soul): I'm surprised more people haven't tried to do this in the phandom honestly, make a genderbent Dan equivilant I mean. Well that's who this is! I named her Astra as a nod to Dani's love for astrology. As for what she's like, well, basically she's an ice queen that revels in destruction and chaos who instead of being a fusion of Dani's ghost half and Vlad's, she absorbed Nocturne's power instead to plunge the entire Earth into an icy sleep of death.

The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse (Final Epitaph & Dirge, aka the old version of the story): I'll just ignore the old design for Death's horse and just show off the current one instead. Anyways, these are the four steeds that belong to the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Death (White), Famine (Green), Conquest (Nightmare), and War (Red).

Prince Dorian (Haunted Soul and Final Epitaph): Last but not least we have my genderbent Princess Dorathea, aka Prince Dorian. I originally wrote him in for a one off encounter but then enjoyed it so much I wanted to include him again. Guess I'm a sucker for chivalrous types! He's such a sweetheart and feels indebted to Dani for saving him from the Banshee, who had mesmerized him while he was trying to help find and retrieve her stolen voice from that wicked woman.

P.S. There are two more oc's I haven't drawn but I'll add them here as a two honorable mentions. Their names are Cedric, he's the cook, and Isla, she's Vlad's housekeeper.

[dearophelia]

best of sara's fic, according to her

Because I’m feeling some kind of way about my cancer lately and wanted to put together a Sara’s Greatest Fic Hits while I’m still around to do it (which is a morbid thing to type, but see the intro: been feeling some kind of way lately).

These range from my most popular fics, to the ones lost to weird posting hours, and everything in between. If I counted correctly, there are 14 fandoms on this list: from Mass Effect and Dragon Age, to Grey’s Anatomy and Stargate SG-1, to The West Wing and Calvin & Hobbes.

I’d appreciate reblogs on this (I am not ashamed to pull the stage iv cancer card here) so it can reach as many people as possible.

I have been writing fic for over 15 years; this is not a short list.

All are rated T or lower unless otherwise indicated. All stories are at or under the 3k mark unless otherwise indicated.

Stargate SG-1:

waves are universal (the heaven in hiding remix) (Sam/Jack; I’m very Normal about this fic; time travel and alternate realities, a host of OCs (and some familiar faces from Norafic if you look closely), oh and the Sam/Jack kid from the alternate reality! Only she’s an adult and working on a way to save the world! This has it all, folks: humor, romance, angst, action! I told you I’m Normal about it; 40k)

strange is the night where black stars rise (Sam; horror! A low creeping sense of doom! The King in Yellow! No, seriously, fuck that planet; 10k)

#sg1wedding (Sam/Jack; their wedding turned into An Event against their will; bets are going down about who would win in a fight: Bra’tac or the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs; also Jack loses his socks; twitterfic from 2012 and technology has definitely Marched On, just read it like an unhinged group chat fic)

phoenix (Sam/Daniel/Teal’c, Sam/Jack, Sam/Jack/Daniel/Teal’c; apocalypse (that I consulted a real live geologist on!); rebuilding in the wake of said apocalypse; team family feelings, kids, and some really shitty neighbors; 38k)

Dragon Age:

joy cometh in the morning (Ariadne; rated M; a host of OCs; mind the warnings; friendship; worldbuilding galore; friendships and mentors and first loves; did I mention friendship and worldbuilding?; 56k)

through the rude wind’s wild lament, and the bitter weather (Ari+Cullen; quiet magic, kind magic, good magic is still new to Cullen)

as the sun kissed the horizon (Ari/Josephine; a relationship in ten moments)

‘til we meet again (Ari+Cullen; platonic sleeping together!)

so hold my hand, consign me not to darkness (Ari; her faith is the core of who she is and, for the first time, Andraste isn’t there; post-Trespasser)

raise your fists up to the sky (Kylie/Krem; it’s Krem’s first day with the Chargers and there’s a naked elf in the middle of camp)

every demon wants his pound of flesh (Krem+Bull; Krem was in the Fade with the Inquisitor and the fear demon had some Things To Say To Him)

black dove (Anaya) & strange little girl (Anaya+Dagna) & dissolving clouds (Anaya+Cullen) (because neurodivergent Inquisitor, friendship, blossoming romance, and three very different takes on blood magic)

skeletons (Zahara+Bull; she is saarebas, he is Ben-Hassrath, and language is important)

children shouldn’t play with dead things (Juliette Amell; she’s always had an easier time with the dead than the living; cw for bugs)

a sorta fairytale (Josephine/Cassandra; flower shop & tattoo parlor AU; 8k)

Mass Effect Trilogy:

gonna set your flag on fire (Nora Vakarian, Liv/Garrus, James/Liara, Liv+Liara, Livfam; action! Humor! Angst! Worldbuilding! OCs!; I am Super Normal about this fic too; I promise everything’s okay in the end, promise, even though it isn’t written yet; Nora is an N3 and has an inactive control chip in her head. She and her team are ordered to investigate a Cerberus facility. It goes, shall we say, awry; 40k)

anthem (Liv/Garrus, Hannah/Zaeed, Liv+Liara; eight months is a long time without each other; angst with a happy ending (I promise); post-Destroy; 13k)

holy ground & dress (Liv/Garrus; ficlets from the night he gets sworn in as Councilor)

brightly shone the moon at night (Liv, Liv+Liara, Liv/Garrus, Livfam; five Christmases in Olivia Shepard’s life; 5k)

the pieces of gold, they light up your eyes & now we’re alone, now we’re alive (Liv/Garrus; the evolution of a relationship)

fighting is said to have reached palaven (Liv/Garrus; please, please let him be alive)

and some things you just can’t speak about (Quentus+Nico; the war)

‘cause i know that it’s delicate (Liv/Garrus; pre-wedding!)

nosce te ipsum (Nico; he likes boys and fanfiction and he didn’t think he’d get his little italicized oh moment)

i will write you love letters if you tell me to (Liv/Garrus; Hannah gives him one of Liv’s notebooks before he goes off to Omega; Garrus does the only thing he can think of with it)

i really need you (Liv/Garrus; James POV during the reunion scene in Priority: Palaven)

you look really tired (Liv/Garrus, Liv+Liara; post-Thessia, Olivia’s not doing well)

hey, so, ground rules (Liv+Zaeed; it’s a lot weird now that he’s dating her mom)

and all the scars you bear are from a previous war (Liv+Quentus; Mom!Liv)

you can hear it in the silence (Liv/Garrus; just a moment, post-war)

this all started because of a bad day (Liv/Garrus; from first meetings to matching rings)

combat, i’m ready for combat & turn on your favorite nightlight (Hannah; she’s a civilian and her daughter isn’t, and she’s bound and determined to know what Liv goes through when her boots hit the ground; Hannah, Zaeed, Liv, and Garrus hit up Armax)

four quarians who never made it back to the fleet (and one who did) (kinda what it says on the tin, honestly. Oh, Tali’s in this!)

everyone’s lost, the battle is won (Evangeline; somewhat predictably, my experiment in getting as many of my team killed as possible resulted in Feelings About It)

across the sky (Susan/Liara; how to make the Control ending feel good)

and yours is in red underlined (Vanessa; The Illusive Man has pissed her off for the last time)

i’m headed straight for the castle (Vanessa; renegade control ending; kneel before your queen)

Mass Effect Andromeda:

for saviours (Tori; ten scenes from a pre-Andromeda life; 10k)

ringing joyful and triumphant (Tori/Liam/Jaal; just some morning fluff)

the thing with the baby angara (Tori/Liam/Jaal; thinking about the future)

the undone and the divine (Tori/Liam/Jaal; the lone single solitary explicit fic on here, give it props for that alone; Liam gets absolutely railed by his partners. That’s it. That’s the fic.)

you’re like the thing that makes the universe explode (Sara Ryder/Suvi, Drack; kid, the only people who don’t know that you like Suvi are people who haven’t met you and Suvi)

this one’s for the torn down, the experts at the fall (Tori+Garrus; one night in the intersection of Victoria Ryder and Archangel; maybe they’re better friends than they both thought)

The West Wing:

a great revelation sigh (CJ; she’s Chief of Staff; ten steps to the apocalypse; the apocalypse source probably didn’t age well, heads up)

it’s in my blood and i won’t give up ‘cause it’s running through my veins (Amy+Andi; it’s Election Day in the future and Amy has nothing to do)

Grey’s Anatomy:

dropsonde (the singers in a lower choir remix) (Addison/Alex, Derek/Meredith, Addison+Derek, Addison+Mark, Mark+Derek; the one that kicked off all the remixes; absolutely off the rails from canon somewhere in S3; budding romances and kidfic and my theory about people being storms and lighthouses; 40k)

scarlet city (Mark/Addison, Burke/Cristina; film noir gangster and detective AU; Addison’s the gangster, Burke’s the detective; literally everyone I could fit into this fic shows up; also Denny is comic relief; 18k)

Misc:

access records (Star Trek Voyager; Naomi Wildman’s holodeck access for the past week; worldbuilding!)

in this twilight our choices seal our fate (the song in the house of night remix) (SVU; Olivia/Elliot; rated M; on the rise and fall of partnership; probably a little too much religious imagery but what the hell else am I gonna do with a minor in religious studies?; 4k)

the end of days job (Leverage; Parker+Eliot+Hardison; the apocalypse job, basically; this one ages well!)

let the only sound be the overflow (D&D; Calia/Kelpie/Edal, aka ot3: fathoms below; the ocean is big and they are not)

we are golden stars above silver seas (we hear echoes from another galaxy) (Calvin & Hobbes; Calvin+Susie; throughout all those years, she never gave up on him; this one went viral on tumblr [LINK] and I cleaned it up for the AO3 version)

lift her, pull her, from the orchids (Grace and Frankie; Grace/Frankie; the one where I invoke the spelling bee)

rocket queens (Babylon 5/Pacific Rim; Susan Ivanova/Talia Winters; look, they’re jaeger pilots, I really don’t know what else to tell you)

the great gig in the sky (Battlestar Galactica; Six; rebirth is painful, she forgets this sometimes)

[nerdieforpedro]

WIP Tag Game (The XL edition) 🤣

I was tagged by @missredherring and sure I did it earlier this week. Could I have come up with a new WIPs because my mind is never quiet? 🤐

Yes, yes, Yes I did. 😆 I’m also structuring it similar to how she had it because it spoke to me. 🤭

Current foci (because having just one is difficult as I bounce around):

1. Weddings 101 with Dieter and @angelofsmalldeath-codeine - We’re going to finish it one day or at least the next chapter. Also AO3 link.

2. Coasting through the Rainbow 🌈 - I’m half way done with chapter four of this finally. 😆 2 and 1/2 more to go! Also AO3 link.

3. Waters of Lethe - The Qimir one. Maybe 2-5 parts? We’ll see where it goes. So far only one part. AO3 link

4. Honey and Sugarplum - With Jack Daniels and an OFC. Very sweet, smutty kinda and fluffy. ☺️ AO3 link.

Excuse me Ma’am? We’re over here in the back!

1. Unnamed Fae Jack Daniel fic for Monster Smash Challenge. I did write out some Fae facts for this one and I plan to keep it…..an actual one shot?! It’s been 900 years since Nerdie’s done one of those.

2. Fifty-Six Wildflower Lane - this one with Frankie still needs an ending, then I can post it here like. Just need part number four. AO3 link.

3. Tasting Ambrosia - Ezra, ever the scoundrel nagging at the back of my brain has a small WIP. No idea where this one is going. Also trying to do drama and will he make it out sort of deal. 👀

We been waiting for our day to come for so long:

1. Travel to You - A sweet and maybe a little obsessive Javi G? He’s adorable, has golden curls and can shoot those clay bird things down accurately so, totally fine. Have discord and FFXIV references, very nerdy. 🤣 AO3 link.

2. Therapy for the Well-Adjusted - Marcus Pike and Imani are finally going on that date. Or do they? Maybe they go somewhere else? Also AO3 link.

3. A Safe Place for Us - Dieter and Aisha continue to sort their feelings and trying to make a baby. What could go wrong? Also AO3 link.

4. Green Shop of Memories - that Marcus Moreno AU where I made him a wizard/warlock that owns a cafe. 😘 It’s all sad, and cute. Plus it has fairies and a Magic Council. Also fake dating? AO3 link.

5. Kissed by the Sun - I had an idea that Oberyn Martell was a son or descendant of Apollo and he pissed off Venus (Aphrodite if ya nasty) and was barred from his soulmate being able to interact with him other than his voice. Because…..I read too many Marcus A fics that kept referencing Roman gods. 🫡 AO3 link

6. Din’s in the Neighborhood- Modern Din AU that has him meet on OFC DV survivor post divorce. Also Grogu is a human boy and we have Finn/Poe. There’s also Johnnie Mae and Luke that are just together? No one’s asking and I don’t think either of them would given an answer. 😆 So many cameos and randomness, so little time. Side notes: I gave Din tattoos, Obi-Wan is a children’s author and there’s a Jedi Law & Order show. Also AO3 link.

7. Fire and Fury - Pero and Calista’s story likely has two more parts. Complete with smut, more fighting, a bathtub (I promised @avastrasposts that one) and they’ll get their revenge! But what happens after? Also AO3 link.

8. Hands of God - This could be a long one shot or I might have to split it up. The Marcus Acacius fic that @soft-persephone and @megamindsecretlair “gently suggested” that I write. I did start it. 👀 There will be some infidelity, plots, murder and a coup. Also a dash of smut just for seasoning. And maybe a subby Marcus A? Can I do it? Only time and Marcus’ sash will tell.

9. Front Office Adjunct - One of two Dave York fics. ☺️ Dave blackmails on OFC into working for him. Things appear to be stacked in his favor, but are they? This one is a slow burn one, enemies to lovers maybe? Also espionage, murder, violence, smutty and bad behavior. Just bad. 👀🤫 AO3 link

She hasn’t touched us in so long:

Pleasure Principle - The first series I ever started anywhere. Has Dave York in a toxic working on making it better relationship with an OFC. I’ll finish this one someday. 😭😭 Also AO3 link.

Uncomplicated Mi Amor - The fic where I swore I was going to have something sweet for Javier Peña. Which it is, I just haven’t finished it. 👀 Also I will finish someday. Also AO3 link.

Roc & Doc - A Tim Rockford crime series with an OFC ME that is my love letter to the likely thousands of hours I’ve spent watching crime procedurals or listening to true crime podcasts. Also AO3 link.

Some have just AO3 links, I haven’t gotten around to putting them on Tumblr yet and some are in both places. A few just exist in notes. 🗒️ I should also never look through my WIP this in depth again. This thing is very long. 🤣🤣🤣

NPT because you may have already done it but I described things this time around. 🙌🏽

@schnarfer @maggiemayhemnj @lotusbxtch @mysterious-moonstruck-musings @604to647

@inept-the-magnificent @connectioneverywhere @for-a-longlongtime @lady-bess @tinytinymenace

@perotovar @julesonrecord @yourcoolauntie @clawdee @magpiepills

@trulybetty @rhoorl @grogusmum @syd-djarin @sin-djarin

@harriedandharassed @missladym1981 @jolapeno @pedrospurplerain @alltheglitterandtheroar

@movievillainess721 @notapradagurl7 @bishtrouille @fhatbhabiee @secretelephanttattoo

@gasolinerainbowpuddles @din-cognito @djarins-cyare

[jeanie-g]

I need more!!!!

'a gold star for me' plz

you ask and i shall deliver!! this is an au where jack is a middle school english teacher who wants to go into sports journalism and nico is the hot, new gym teacher that gets his goat!

also featuring trevor as the science teacher all the 8th grade girls have a crush on and jamie as his teacher's aide (who trevor is desperately trying to woo). also sebastian aho cuz i needed a villain lmao

it's hot, it's funny, it's relatable, and even a bit inspirational at times (i hope). it also might be my longest fic (with, like, actual chapters! wowza!)

here's a couple snippets:

The last essay of the semester, on a handful of Ray Bradbury’s short science fiction stories, was due at the start of last class. Jack had managed a good rate of on-time turn-ins, of varying quality but nonetheless complete, which bodes well for his end-of-semester performance review. Daniel turned his in on Monday, which wasn’t a surprise, and Jack was able to mark it over his evening tea, reading it and giving it its deserved A+ before the kettle even whistled. As for the rest, Jack dedicated a solid two hours to the task last night, breaking out his lucky red pen and using it frequently. Now, Friday morning, he has a stack of graded papers on his desk ready to be handed out before the weekend. Well, except Charlotte’s.

Charlotte was suspiciously absent on Wednesday, which isn’t out of the norm, really—her multiple absences was something he brought up to her mother during their parent-teacher conference last month, though the woman just sighed and said that she got frequent stomach aches (Jack wasn’t about to comment that her ailments had the habit of landing on test days). It’s not that Charlotte isn’t smart—Jack would hate to say she has potential if she only just applied herself—she just doesn’t want to be there. Jack has had more than his fair share of students like that. If it weren’t for their parents’ expectations—and their checkbooks funding their frankly overpriced tuition—kids like Charlotte would flunk out voluntarily. They always seem to get cold feet right before report cards come out, though.

Charlotte continues in her excuse train, and Jack waves a hand for her to stop. He’s heard it all before, and Charlotte is as transparent as a glass door, but Jack knows they’ll both be miserable if he gives her grief for it now. The whole point of getting these all done the night before was to have an easy, stress-free weekend with no homework of his own. All but forcing Charlotte to scribble some half-thought out mess on some looseleaf during her study hall would only stress them both out—Charlotte for obvious reasons, and Jack, because he’d be the one who’d have to actually read it.

and!

“What are you drinking?” Nico asks, and Jack had almost forgotten about the empty glass in front of him. Jack opens his mouth to answer but hesitates.

Part of Jack wants to lengthen this moment between him and Nico, really stretch it out as long as he can make it. Another part wants to nod his head towards the door, grab Nico’s hand, and pull him through it. With the way Nico is looking at him right now, he doesn’t think it’ll be too difficult. He’s certainly spent less time working up the nerve to make the big ask with other men, but something is telling him to let this moment grow—slow down the drive and coast a little.

“Gimlet,” he says, and Nico flags down Ana as she passes to order two for the both of them. Ana nods and grabs the well-loved bottle of Ketel One. He’ll let Nico take the lead and see where he ends up. He seems more than capable.

With Nico sitting down now, Jack can study his arms resting on the bartop, thick and covered in fine, dark hair. His gaze travels up the line of them, and he notices the bulk of his biceps stretched along the fabric of his shirt. “So, you’re new in town, checking out the local scene?”

Nico nods, catching Jack studying him with a cheeky smile. “Yes. I don’t really know anyone in the area yet. This seemed like a good place to start.”

“Well, yeah, Salt Crab’s the best. Isn’t that right, Ana?”

Ana turns around, towel in one hand drying some wine glasses. “Sweet talk’s not gonna make those drinks free, Hughes.”

Jack’s laugh bubbles out of him, and he catches Nico staring at him, like he’s hanging onto his every sound. Nico’s eyes flick to the floor and back up.

“You have a nice laugh,” he says, and Jack has to divert the conversation before he starts blushing like a schoolboy.

thanks for the ask, @solip1386 <333

[sixhours]

Pedro Scouts Badges - Week 4

Jack "Whiskey" Daniels

Behold: The Butt (tm) by verkomy

Slow Burn

Nothing more delicious than this Frankie x Reader fic, On Call by @luxurychristmaspudding

Crackfic

cosmic oddities by fromthewhales on AO3. This is almost too beautiful to be crackfic BUT it features the most unlikely pairing of Din/Joel (and not in an AU sense, like Din literally space travels to Earth and lands near Jackson) so I’m counting it. You should read this beautiful and totally unexpected love story.

Fan Art

@wordspinning's amazing drawings got some well-deserved attention from Tommy (Gabriel Luna) himself on Insta:

[the-blind-assassin-12]

Back In Town - Masterlist

Summary: Jack Daniels has always been the Statesmen Agency’s top asset. Between his skills in the field and his fearlessness when it comes to testing new technology, he always completes his missions. But when his newest mission sends him repeatedly into the past - repeatedly into your life - it’s his loyalty to Statesmen that will be put to the ultimate test.

Pairing: Jack Daniels x Female Reader

It’s Always the Same - 1.2k words

Somewhere Between Sorry & Bliss - 1.2k words

*this series is entirely open to requests and prompts!*

[starrybouquet]

Ten Random Lines

Rules: Pick any ten of your fics, scroll roughly to the midpoint, pick a line (or three) and share it. Then tag ten people.

I was tagged by @loudlooks - thank you so much for the tag and I'm sorry I only got around to it now! Threw you a follow :)

Wasn't sure if this was for completed fics or WIPs, so I did a mixture.

i won't let go 'til the end - Stargate SG-1, Sam/Jack, G

Carter pulled their clasped hands between them and closed her eyes again, thumb stroking along his hand absentmindedly.

2. untitled marriage of convenience tropefic - Top Gun, female!Maverick/Ice, T

“Oh, I insist. And Goosey will tell you anything I say goes.” She’d laughed again, and that was that.

3. untitled Five Times fic - Stargate SG-1, Sam/Jack, T

"Oh," Sam says, voice small. Suddenly, she doesn't want to hear him moon over Sara anymore. She turns back to her binoculars and misses the brown eyes pleading with her from a few feet away.

4. a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways - Top Gun, Mav & Rooster (gen), G

Kidnapping Mav and taking him to an enemy base is several bridges too far, but neither of them have ever needed the military to bring them to trouble. They’re plenty capable of getting into it all on their own.

5. Rearview Mirror - Stargate SG-1, Sam/Jack, T

But she's also clutching two tongue depressors and a rubber band in her chubby hands, so Jacob figures they weren't lying when they said Jack was her father.

6. untitled hugs fic - Mission: Impossible, Ilsa/Ethan, T

He stands to pace, only his gaze catches on Ilsa and he can’t seem to look away.

7. untitled Regency AU - Stargate SG-1, Sam/Jack, T

He'd blurted it without thinking, but suddenly Jack was desperate to convince Sam–Lady Samantha–to dance with him. "I–if we dance, nobody will be listening to us, and you can tell me all about those new lenses and….whatever other doohickeys you’ve found in this damn soot-stained town."

8. For God and Country - Stargate SG-1, gen, G

Daniel doesn’t swear much, but when he does, he makes it count.

9. untitled time travel fic - Top Gun, gen, T

There's something about the way Mav says it that sounds like destiny.

10. wedding fic - Mission: Impossible, Ilsa/Ethan, G

The last time he did this it was in a leather jacket and Julia in her scrubs, a trust, a promise--this, this is real, no matter what. And he kept that promise--still keeps it, through burn phones and emails--but it wasn't enough, not enough for Julia to have a shadow of a husband and not enough for him to trust Julia with his whole ruthless, cunning, desperate self.

And that's ten! No pressure tagging @ladywaffles @sententiousandbellicose @formerdetective @sluttyhenley @tommyjop @doodledrawreblogs @delicatelie89 @curator-on-ao3 @mattatouile @tinknevertalks <3 love you all!

[icemav86]

20 Questions

Homework from @fourtacosandaburrito

1. How many works do you have on ao3? 42 -- I've been on ao3 since 2012 but only writing fic for a little over a year

2. What's your total ao3 word count? 167,583

3. What fandoms do you write for? Top Gun, mostly. I also have some rpf.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? There's an icemav theme here

Can It Be About Us - an icemav cockblock 5+1; 11k

I wanna show you who I am - an icemav first time fic; 10k

you got the peaches, I got the cream - an icemav bakeshop AU; 5k

the well traveled road to you - an icemav later-in-life fake dating fic; 4.4k

three road trips - an icemav road trip/only-one-bed fic; 7k

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? I do. I love receiving comments (people taking time to tell me they like what I wrote?? amazing) and I like acknowledging the feedback

6. What is a fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? It's gotta be call your bluff - a canon divergent fic with vampire Ice and mortal Bradley

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? I don't even know how to choose. Most of my fics have happy endings. But maybe I wanna show you who I am because of the effort it took to get there.

8. Do you get hate on fics? Only once

9. Do you write smut? Preferably in every fic

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written? I haven't, but have a TG/SG-1 crossover WIP I may finish some day

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? I have no idea

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? I got a request, but denied it because the translation wouldn't have been hosted on ao3

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? Yes, but anon

14. What's your all-time favorite ship? I can't possibly choose between Icemav and Jack/Daniel (SG-1)

15. What's a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will? someone asked me to write a short original work for them and it sits open in a tab taunting me

16. What are your writing strengths? well, I suppose whether or not this is a strength is subjective but I think I tend to use a few words as are needed to tell the story I want to tell. Also, I take and learn from beta feedback

17. What are your writing weaknesses? excessive use of he/him when I should use names for clarity, excessive use of "it"when I should specify. Both coming along through the feedback mentioned in #16. Also, I'm impatient and slow. A bad combo for writing.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? That would not go well

19. First fandom you wrote for? oh, lord. I wrote some really bad popslash back in...gotta be 2003? It was for an nsync exchange and I didn't write again for almost 20 years.

20. Favorite fic you've written? I'm going to pick two: I wanna show you who I am for the story and process and overall good feelings about the fic (written on the beach in the florida keys). And wet because I wanted to write watersports but was nervous to publish this fic. So it's a fav because I did it.

Tag @cristinuke and @scm567 with 0 pressure to do this.

[mirabilefuturum]

I have this. it's not even an au, it's just a crack idea. anyway Archer waking up after all of the canon shit went down and realising that the time travel related things (and therefore most of the bad stuff) never happened and the only "Daniels" that told him about them and showed him the future was a bit too much of Jack Daniel's the night before

[thecluelessdoctor]

ok question not about your AUs. This time about your OCs!

So number one, how long have you had your collection of OCs you like to call 'monster mansion'

Two are they puppets? They look like they are meant to be puppets (and the fact you made Val a puppet kinda adds to that)

Three how did Val and Jack meetz let alone get married!

And four, what do you have planned for them?

YES FINALLY IVE BEEN WANTING TO TALK ABOUT THEM BECAUSE IVE CHANGED SOME STUFF GAHAHAHAHAHA

anyway!

I've had Val and Daniel since I was like- 5. They were the first two to the group. Later I made Jack and Emily, around the age of 7 (I know this because I wrote dates on my drawings lmao) it was originally just those 4 for a while, and when I was around 10 I started shipping Jack and Val. And then recently (like a few months ago 💀) I made Catness Kat, Agatha Which, and Joey Tri :D I've also been working on another to join this lovely bundle of monsters, but shhh lol

Two, No they are NOT puppets! It's just recently my art has been so influenced and grown so much due to welcome home, so they have that sort of look, my apologies! But no, they are not puppets (I also cartooned them due to them being made for kids enjoyment, but shh)

Val only has a puppet because I was bored lmao. It also helped sort out parts of his design that needed a change

Three, Well that's a funny story! They've been together roughly 96 years (monster times lmAo) so its somewhat fuzzy. It's a silly story little me made up. Basically, like the name of this states, it's a monster mansion! Monsters often times find refuge there. Jack is a farmer there. They basically met by Val attempting to go into a bat form (yes he can fuck you) and smacking into Jack while he was working lmAo. And everything continued from there!

Fun fact: Val wasn't always so fun and dandy lol. He used to be very >:( lol.

Four, honestly I'm not sure! Right now, I'm trying to figure out character dynamics and designs, so I'm not doing story rn lol. So everything you know about them is bound to change! Who knows, jack and Val could be not married in the future as time goes on (I hope not though lol. I love them too much.) So only time will tell!

Thanks for the ask anon!!! Here, have some Jack and Val for your travels

[burntheedges]

Roll-A-Trope Writing Challenge!

Let's do a writing challenge! I hit a milestone so I wanted to do something fun with all of you. 🥰

So, the challenge: send me a Pedro Pascal character of your choice and I’ll assign you a trope by rolling a d20. I’ve already assigned ~classic fic tropes~ to each number, 1 through 20, but I’m keeping them a secret. 👀 (Note: if you really need to see the options before you join, dm me.) Ok fine, here are a few examples: only one bed, snowed in, didn’t know they were dating, epistolary, road trip, and more! 😏

What to do: starting now, send me an ask with a Pedro character of your choice, all Pedro characters welcome! (no rpf, please)

What you’ll get: a trope 😎 (with an explanation, just in case)

What to do next: write! Write as little or as much as you’d like. 

When you should post: by September 30 but if it's after that I won't be mad (I will, in fact, be excited)

About the tropes: 

All numbers can be assigned more than once, so everyone can play! Yay!

All tropes can be gen or fluffy or angsty or smutty or whatever you’d like, it’s up to you what you do with the trope. 

None of the tropes are specifically smutty (so they’re open to your interpretation) but all of them can be smutty, if you want. 😏

Some of them are definitely more romantic, though, so if you’d like a non-romantic one just specify and I’ll reroll if needed.

You're welcome to do more than one, if you'd like!

The masterlist for this challenge is here! Remember to use the tag - #roll a trope challenge. I'm going to reblog and tag some folks who might be interested. Please reblog and share!

Let’s roll. 😎

For now I'm going to track the character-trope matches here, just so we can find them easily! And look at our assortment!! Y'all this is amazing. I don't think it will let me tag everyone so I'll get some of you in the comments!

Dave York

@almostempty - #11, snowed in

@jeewrites - #19, amnesia

@katareyoudrilling - #12, famous person AU

@punkshort - #5, reincarnation

@schnarfer - #3, only one bed

@sizzlingcloudmentality - #10, pining

Dieter Bravo

@beelzebeth87 - #1, epistolary

@bitchesuntitled - #20, time travel

@davnittbraes - #14, trapped in an elevator

@jennaispunk - #15, fake dating/married

@trulybetty - #4, enemies to lovers

@perotovar - #3, only one bed

@papurgaatika - #18, friends to lovers

Din Djarin

@corazondebeskar - #4, enemies to lovers

@din-cognito - #2, road trip

@djarins-cyare - #17, secret relationship

@jksprincess10 - #8, "shop" AU

@pentechnics - #13, time loop/groundhog day

@secretelephanttattoo - #1, epistolary

@weirdoneattheparty - #18, friends to lovers

@whxtedreams - #15, fake dating/married

Dio

@flyingthroughheaven - #4, enemies to lovers

Ezra

@bumblepony - #17, secret relationship

@cas-readsandwrites - #13, time loop/groundhog day

@multiversed-daydreamer - #2, road trip

Frankie Morales

@ashleyfilm - #17, secret relationship

@aurorawritestoescape - #9, exes

@beefrobeefcal - #16, soulmates

@docharleythegeekqueen - #11, snowed in

@skittlesfics - #7, sickfic

@inept-the-magnificent - #8, "shop" AU

@sawymredfox - #10, pining

Jack Daniels

@fhatbhabiee - #18, friends to lovers

@maggiemayhemnj - #16, soulmates

@penvisions - #13, time loop/groundhog day

@prolix-yuy - #14, trapped in an elevator

@syd-djarin - #15, fake dating/married

@wordywarriorwrites - #6, didn't know they were dating

Javier Gutierrez

@eff4freddie - #16, soulmates

@yopossum - #14, trapped in an elevator

Javier Peña

@almostfoxglove - #14, trapped in an elevator

@dunphycharm - #7, sickfic

@infernalrusalka - #1, epistolary

@luxurychristmaspudding - #4, enemies to lovers

@milla-frenchy - #17, secret relationship

@miss-oranje-disco-dancer - #3, only one bed

@puddles221b - #13, time loop/groundhog day

@your-voice-is-mellifluous - #18, friends to lovers

@wannab-urs - #2, road trip

Joel Miller

@abbonation - #18, friends to lovers

@ak-vintage - #13, time loop/groundhog day

anon - #8, "shop" AU

anon = #5, reincarnation

@beardedjoel - #3, only one bed

@captainredspade - #15, fake dating/married

@evolnoomym - #12, famous person AU

@galway-girlatwork - #19, amnesia

@hotgirlbedtimescenarios - #20, time travel

@idioticcatss - #6, didn't know they were dating

@jobean12-blog - #4, enemies to lovers

@kedsandtubesocks - #2, road trip

@ovaryacted - #9, exes

@rexamongthestars - #7, sickfic

@whocaresstillthelouvre - #11, snowed in

@your-voice-is-mellifluous - #1, epistolary

@yxtkiwiyxt - #16, soulmates

Marcus Acacius

@the-mandawhor1an - #20, time travel

Marcus Moreno

@joelalorian - #5, reincarnation

Marcus Pike

@dancingtotuyo - #17, secret relationship

@pedges-world - #11, snowed in

@yopossum - #2, road trip

Max Phillips

@clawdee - #10, pining

@grogusmum - #5, reincarnation

@sizzlingcloudmentality - #2, road trip

Nathan Landry

@sunshinehaze1 - #11, snowed in

Oberyn Martell

@iamasaddie - #15, fake dating/married

@ladamedusoif - #12, famous person AU

@noxturnalpascal - #13, time loop/groundhog day

@flyingthroughheaven - #1, epistolary

Pero Tovar

@avastrasposts - #19, amnesia

@tinytinymenace - #6, didn't know they were dating

Tim Rockford

@artsy-girl-76 - #8, "shop" AU

@auteurdelabre - #17, secret relationship

@dc41896 - #18, friends to lovers

@sp00kymulderr - #16, soulmates

???

@mountainsandmayhem - #11, snowed in

@ace-turned-confused - #20, time travel

@galaxyedging - #18, friends to lovers

Frankie or Javi G

@flightlessangelwings - #17, secret relationship

Javi P or Dave

@pedgito - #4, enemies to lovers