#love a midwestern farm boy

[fatwithoutkatsudon]

The first Justice League meeting but Superman brings a casserole and thinks everyone is rude when they leave immediately after stating they’re going instead of lingering for an hour or two and staying their intent to leave 3-5 times.

[ijustthinkhesneat]

Okay but…. Bruce and Clark’s civilian personas lowkey loving their superhero counterparts before they learn each others identities? Like Superman and Batman, barely functional coworkers, that are lowkey in love but can’t say it, Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne? Clark eat the rich Kent and Bruce how many sides does a triangle have Wayne? No. But like Clark just is like I love Batman he’s so smart and mysterious and his voice is so sexy and etc. And Bruce is like I want Superman to be the father of my many, many children.

Brucie is being interviewed on a yacht in a tiny speedo acting like the giggly bimbo he is on the inside. Clark Kent, a sweet midwestern boy who thinks billionaires should die, is not living his best life in this interview. Like Bruce is shamelessly flirting talking about how big and strong Clark looks, obligatory corn shucking innuendo and finally Clark is on his final question and is just like “So what do you think of Superman?”

He notices a change in Bruce, hears his heart pick up just a tiny amount, notices his eyes dilate ever so slightly. Even smells the tiniest hormonal shift. And Bruce is just “I think he is the best thing that’s ever happened to this planet.” And says he wishes Batman had his empathy and sense of humanity.

Bruce starts reading the daily planet religiously cause of the pretty farm boy with the familiar jawline he just can’t place and reads an article by Clark gushing about Batman, how he fights against corruption and makes Gotham a safer place. How he is an unbeatable genius and Superman could learn from his strategic methodology.

Fast forword a few months it’s a boring JLA meeting and Clark just can’t help it. He is seated across from Batman who looks busy brooding and just has to know. He can’t wait another minute longer to know and if it’s just a tiny peek it won’t hurt anyone. And his brain just stops working. He sees the absolute image of beauty that is Brucie the bimbo boi Wayne. Is just can’t even imagine. And then he he’s like does he know? He said all those nice things about me in that interview? Meanwhile Bruce is watching Superman be shocked and is like what is this dumb beautiful puppy man up to now and a few strands of Clark’s hair fall in his face and it just clicks. Bruce needs to use all his willpower to not have his jaw hit the floor. The pretty farm boy who writes the most insightful articles in about the corporate world is Superman and he is 5ft away.

[enviedear]

Ohmygosh. I haven't been able to stop thinking about farmer Jason since you first posted about him! It's the midwestern in me. I think the first question would be what does he farm? Do you think he would be a cattle or, like, a corn and soybean kind of farmer? More like a farmhand for those people. Alternatively, he could have his own little farm just for himself. He would have a decent acreage with an old fixer upper. He'd have chickens for eggs and grow his own vegetables. He'd work to being self sufficient. But he is a city boy so he doesn't really know what he is doing. Ooooh i just realized the weather would be so different from Gotham. One day it is 80+ the next it is hailing and oh what is that? A tornado warning the next day? But it is raining without any clouds in the sky?? The summers are like swamp heat and how is it -30 outside and people are still wearing shorts and oh gosh is that a hail tornado? I have more thoughts but I like hearing yours more >///<

yay!!! i'm so glad you're loving farmer!jason <3

what does he farm? Do you think he would be a cattle or, like, a corn and soybean kind of farmer? More like a farmhand for those people.

i think he'd stick mostly to easier farm animals, and for himself mostly! i think he'd sell some products if he ever has too much (he never wants to have too much, because he knows someone else may need it) think goat cheese, cow milk, and eggs! i think his main source of income would come from his crops! probably wheat, and then hay when it's season for it! (he hates doing hay, it's expensive and labor intensive but the profit can be fucking amazing) also corn!! he would have a cornfield and he would deck it out for hayrides and a maze for the harvest season (all the town kids love mr. todd's farm...and the candy apples he gives out for free) so basically i think he'd do mixed farming lol!!

Ooooh i just realized the weather would be so different from Gotham. One day it is 80+ the next it is hailing and oh what is that? A tornado warning the next day? But it is raining without any clouds in the sky?? The summers are like swamp heat and how is it -30 outside and people are still wearing shorts and oh gosh is that a hail tornado?

as a girl with multiple tornado shelters on her land...if jason experiences one tornado he's building one. also i just know his first summer there he'd be DYING!! it's hot in a way that's literally almost inescapable. it's humid and unrelenting. he think's he'll get a break in the winter...no. southern winter is just ice on the roads...and i don't think the city is salting any roads by his house. (cause they're all backroads/dirt roads)

[bat-stuff]

Oddly specific Headcanons I have for Jon Kent

Jon is aged up to between 15-17, roughly in this area

Being a retired farm boy Jon has this midwestern/southern accent that only really appears when he's upset

For example, when he's really emotional about something he'll start slurring his words into "yall" or some other southern slang

Personally I headcanon he would call Lois "mama" instead of "mom" no matter what age he is

I have a hunch that he doesn't like to sweat. He doesn't mind getting dirty with farm work or any other type of down-in-the-mud thing, but the moment he starts to sweat a little too much he'll speed up whatever he's doing and will just be a little disgusted with the sticky feeling

This also goes along with him being a very clean boy

He gets annoyed fairly easily (Damian's kind of rubbed off on him) by rude/mean people

He doesn't tolerate bullies even a little bit

He has a tendency to throw/slam things when he's angry (sometimes people, we've all seen the panels where he throws Damian into walls)

That being said, he has great control of his super-strength, but he relieves tension by physical force

Lois offers him up to neighborhood girls to walk them home from school or some event

It's like "Here, have my son. Let him walk you home, dear. "

That being said, Jon is very much a Mama’s boy and if he thinks Lois wouldn't like someone he's probably not going to be associated with them

Wears jeans religiously and definitely hates sweatpants

Loves sweatshirts and big coats and shirts but loathes sweatpants

He feels naked and it just makes him uncomfy

He hates tight t-shirts and tanktops, he'd rather die than wear them

Somehow still tolerates his suit tho, he says it's "who I have to be for the people"

Because of Colin, has a bad habit of cussing at minor inconveniences

"Jesus christ goddammit, why is the toaster cord melted? Kon, this is the second time this week, man. Pull yourself the fuck together"

But when there's an actual situation that is deserving of colorful language he uses the most creative replacements

"Klarion took Damian hostage? That KFC finger licker is going to get blended!" Or something like this

If Damian uses a word he doesn't understand he'll just stare at him like a deer in headlights

Jon and Dami have this like twin telepathy ability to always know what the other wants and it pisses Colin and Billy off so much

They just look at each other and are like "yeah I know what you mean, I think that's going to be the best approach to the situation"

He gives me DECA vibes honestly. Or he'd be in speech and do Entertainment or Persuasive.

Definitely is in journalism for his parents' sake, even if it makes him die a little inside everytime someone asks him if he wants to be a journalist

Probably wants to go into biology or heath sciences

[allwaswell16]

One Direction fics that have an emotionally repressed character in them as requested in this ask. If you enjoy the fics, please leave kudos and comments for the writers! You can find my other fic recs here. Happy reading!

—Louis/Harry—

✦ This Multiplicity of Powers by @helloamhere

(E, 149k, superheroes) Maybe there’s a universe where he doesn’t have to keep all his secrets on the inside. But this isn’t that universe. //an X-Men AU.

✦ Love Is A Rebellious Bird by @gloriaandrews, @100percentsassy

(E, 134k, enemies to lovers au) Louis is the concertmaster of the London Symphony Orchestra, Harry is the New! and Exciting! interim conductor/ex-cello prodigy who “has made Mozart cool again” according to Esquire Magazine

✦ Hold You Now by solvetheminourdreams / @cursethedaylight

(M, 131k, ex-fwb) When he accompanies his best friend to a family wedding across the Atlantic, he'll be forced to reopen old wounds and face his past—one that no one wants to hash out, but may just have to.

✦  I’ll Fly Away by @juliusschmidt​

(E, 122k, friends to lovers) Harry and Louis grew up together in Lake County, Harry with his mom and stepdad in a tiny cottage on Edward’s Lake and Louis in his family’s farmhouse a few minutes down the road.

✦ The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by @kingsofeverything

(E, 109k, infidelity) Louis’ life is steady and calm, moored by his marriage, and tied to his hometown, but after a chance encounter with another man, it’ll never be the same.

✦ ghost of you by beckywritesthings / @beckydoesthings

(E, 109k, Star Wars) a Star Wars AU where Harry is Obi-Wan, Louis is Satine, and somehow there’s a love story between the cracks where there shouldn’t be.

✦ Promise in the Sky by Throwthemflowers

(E, 99k, religion) AU in which Harry Styles, a naïve, repressed, socially awkward Midwestern highschooler tries to navigate his fundamentalist evangelical parents and radically progressive older sister. 

✦ These High Walls by LarryAlways28

(E, 68k, a/b/o) He was the ideal son - until he presented as an Omega. Now, barely a year after his old man dropped dead and running the family company, if he makes a mistake with the Tomlinson and Sons merger and acquisition, it's game over.

✦ i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) by  thedeathchamber / @louehvolution

(E, 55k, secrets) Harry thinks he has good reasons for avoiding relationships. Meeting Louis puts those reasons to the test.

✦ That's What I'm Here For by @taggiecb

(E, 46k, farm au) Louis needs help running his business but has no idea where to even start looking. Luckily for him his children know just the man for the job.

✦ we should open up (before it's all too much) by @disgruntledkittenface

(M, 43k, vampire) Struggling with grieving and depression since his dad died, Harry has never felt so alone. It’s too much to cope with on his own, but he feels like a burden when he tries to open up with people.

✦ I Like You, Say It Back by ishiplouis / @pocketsunshineharry

(E, 43k, a/b/o) the one where it takes a lot of time for Harry and Louis to figure it out. But they do, they always do, don't they?

✦ Follow Your Arrow by LadyAJ_13 / @ladyaj-13

(T, 36k, a/b/o) They said Louis playing alpha wouldn’t affect anything. It was the best thing for the band, so he doesn’t really regret it except deep in the dead of night, when he bites down on his knuckles to swap the echoing ache of depri for a sting of pain.

✦ Compass to my Soul by LadyLondonderry / @londonfoginacup

(T, 31k, a/b/o) Louis Tomlinson, omega, is 1/5 of world famous boy band One Direction. He spends his time hoping his bandmates don’t notice him.

✦ When the Sun Won't Let You Sleep by @allwaswell16

(E, 30k, Antarctica) Four years ago, Louis Tomlinson left the UK to live on an Antarctic research station for reasons best left in the past.

✦ You Might Want To Marry My Husband by Rearviewdreamer / @all-these-larrythings

(NR, 24k, grief) When Harry’s husband dies, he asks one thing of him; to find love and happiness again without him. It’s a request that Harry is happy to disregard, until he meets the one person who is impossible to ignore.

✦  the sanctity of patience by @scrunchyharry

(T, 22k, royal au) When young Lord Harry was chosen by King Louis of Bavaria to become his husband and prince consort, Harry thought all of his dreams had come through.

✦ I hope our love burns brightly by fanshae

(T, 8k, magic) Louis Tomlinson can’t really remember ever not noticing Harry Styles. 

—Rare Pairs—

✦ I Had Rather (series) by sunsetmog / @magicalrocketships

(E, 261k, Louis/Nick Grimshaw) Nick and Louis don't like each other, not even a little bit, not even at all.

✦ You're the Feeling I'm Missing by sheesusnat 

(T, 2k, Niall/Shawn Mendes) Something is off, though. Something is missing. Someone is missing.

[lwh-writing]

I was just contemplating Fullmetal Alchemist (as one does), thinking about the absolute peak hilarity that is Ed, Al, and Havoc, the certified Country Boys(TM), teaming up to bully Mustang, the certified City Boy(TM), when I was struck with an epiphany.

Riza Hawkeye is the OG Country Girl.

Like....

Lived in the middle of nowhere with her father in a 1900ish setting. In THAT time period and THAT location, she and Hawkeye Sr. would've had to have at least a homestead type of deal. Something small that they could work on and live off of on their own, unless they hired farmhands (which I doubt).

So a two-person homestead. I would love to claim they cultivated dairy to go with Arakawa's background, but to make that livable, it would be too many cows for 2 people to realistically handle on their own. So either they did a smaller animal, like, say, sheep and goats, or they harvested corn, wheat, or tobacco. Midwesterner here, so let's say corn and wheat.

Anyway, Riza and her father living it rough on a homestead.

Money's a bit tight at times, but Hawkeye Sr. can take care of most of the repairs with his alchemy, so they always get by.

They've got chickens, two cows, and a lovely mare who pulls the cart whenever they need to go to town.

Three-year-old Riza being super excited about feeding the chickens for the very first time, giggling and squealing with joy as she throws feed everywhere.

Five-year-old Riza walking five miles into town to attend classes at the little one-room schoolhouse. There are a little more than thirty total students, only eight of which are anywhere near her age.

Seven-year-old Riza holding back tears when Hawkeye Sr. teaches her how to pluck and prep a fresh chicken. She can do it all on her own with a dry eye by the time she's eight.

Eleven-year-old Riza finding a goat one day on the farm, and after checking with the neighbors to see if they're missing one, decides she might as well keep it.

This is a mistake. The goat and Riza are mortal enemies. The thing will refuse to stop nipping at Riza whenever she goes out to milk it. But it keeps giving milk and sneaking away only to come back with baby goats, so she's left to suffer in silence.

Twelve-year-old Riza waking up at dawn in the summer to go detassel corn. Comes back around noon with scrapes all up and down her arms and eats enough to feed an army.

Thirteen-year-old Riza learning how to shoot and being known as the best shot for miles around before the year is up.

Fourteen-year-old Riza coming home from school only to find a sharp-looking, sweet-talking, soft-handed City Boy who her father claims is going to be his alchemist apprentice from now on.

Riza despairing about Roy-Fucking-Mustang and his complete and utter incompetence at everything that isn't alchemy. The boy can't cook, can't hunt, and wouldn't know the first thing about farm animal care if Bessie the Demon Goat bit him in the eye.

Eventually, Riza puts Mustang on cleaning and laundry duty, because that, at least, he can do. (Thank God for his three-dozen sisters and their insistence that Roy pulls his weight with chores.)

Riza's schoolhouse friends sighing over "that handsome Roy" and Riza blanches because she could never see herself falling for someone who thought milking the cows hurt them somehow. (It doesn't. Refusing to milk an animal is extremely harmful to the critter involved, and it's very likely that they could get an infection and seriously injure themselves and/or die. Don't let the radicalized vegans fool you)

Riza, to her chagrin, does develop a crush on Roy-Fucking-Mustang, who wouldn't know farm animal care if Bessie the Demon Goat bit him in the eye.

Roy, for his part, has long been crushing on Riza Hawkeye, the swol farmer's daughter who could pick him up with one hand a shoot a goose out of the sky with the other.

Neither admits it though because Roy has long since embarrassed himself past the point of no return, and Riza has complained too much to the folks in town that if she were to romance Roy now.... Well. Ain't either of the kids going to make the first move, so no move is made.

Fast forward a decade or so and Team Mustang is investigating something in the country.

Ed, Al, and Havoc are giving Mustang shit about approaching a horse wrongly and how there ain't no fancy cars out here.

Roy tries to refute it and shut them down, but Riza snorts and idly says something about him still not knowing jack about farming despite living on hers for two years.

Riza exposes Roy. Ed, Al, and Havoc rejoice. Roy despairs about his secrets being out, and Maes demands any and all pictures once he finds out.

And that's how Roy Mustang spent the rest of his days being bullied by four blond-haired Country Folk(TM).

[monoman1c]

hihi. infodump about my farmer. cause im bored as shit and don’t have much else to do.

the profile thing cause uh yeah why not

but like some more random tidbits and stuff that didn’t fit in the uh. the uh thing

no real format cause fuck it we ball 🔥🔥🔥

- 6’3, squarely

- in the Navy he worked as a steelworker, having some experience in welding

- originally signed to Joja after his discharge to “make more money”. got so disillusioned and bored with the office job he couldn’t take it anymore

- doesn’t like to eat eggs. except for mayo for some reason

- very quickly became friends with Kent

- regularly goes fishing with willy, like at least twice a week. feels a connection to him (uncle-nephew?), and the similar name situation makes things funnier

- at the very beginning, william struggled with the farming aspect, so fishing was his go-to

- exclusively attracted to guys

- met elliott once and immediately knew he was the right one for him

- DOG LOVER. absolutely a dog lover until the day he dies. as shown by his two dogs Sawyer and Ironwood

- preference for the nickname Will, but doesn’t mind Bill (he absolutely despises Liam on the other hand. don’t call him that.)

- besides the ones listed, he also is good friends with Shane, Alex, and Robin

- hates the city, says he couldn’t be a city boy if he tried. instantly gets overstimulated the moment he crosses the boundary line into Zuzu.

- has a soft accent, im just not sure whether or not I want it to be southern or midwestern

uh yeah if you wanna ask anything about him please don’t hesitate, I’d love to answer them (to expand upon what I have here)

[thelonesomequeen]

I would love to live where you live if you consider Chris Evans basic?!!! With those eyes and that body? Seriously, give us the goods, lol. Where is this utopia where the are guys hotter than America's Ass just strolling around?//

It's called Boston. I didn't believe it when my friend who lives in Boston would say that, until I visited her. You can throw a stick and hit ten guys who look like Chris Evans.

If you want your Evans clone to have more of a Steve Rogers heft, head to any Midwestern division 1 college campus. It'll take all of ten minutes to find a few corn fed farm boy versions.

For the anon 😂🦎

[catxtopia]

hi I just wanted to say I loved your im3 au!!! your writing is something special fr- care to share any ironstrange thoughts??

Oh my thank you so much, you’re too kind!! 

Gosh I have endless thoughts on those boys, especially in regards to the IM3 AU! I had a lovely commenter bring to my attention the idea of the boys getting married on the farm in full midwestern fashion, and it’s been stuck with me ever since… Bats would be the ring bearer obviously. 

I really love family drama and bonding, so I’d definitely want Tony getting to chat with Stephen’s dad more. Papa Strange would definitely pick up on the sad city boys daddy issues lol. Tony would help fix stuff around the farm and Eugene would gradually give him the nod of approval.

I also really wanted to bring in Victor cause there is always room for a moody sibling spat. I can only imagine how he’d feel towards Stephen, the one who stayed and is overtly the family favorite. I think he’d hold a lot of resentment and anger and be an absolute ass to Stephen- which would be delightfully shut down by Tony of course. 

As for a sequel I honestly never thought that far lol. I can’t decide if I want Stephen to end up going to Nepal and learning sorcery or not. I laid all the stepping stones for it to happen but sometimes I just like an old fashion non-hero AU, ya know? Tony can go play superhero, see insane out of this world shit, and Stephen would be his tether to reality. “Oh robots are destroying the city? Cool cool, Betsy got her head stuck in the fence again.” 

Idk just some things I think about! Thanks so much again!!

[goldendiie]

Hi so this headcanon comes from a little experience growing up in a small farm town in Ohio

Sarge is at least a decent cook, almost every family event includes a potluck from graduations to funerals, most families will have a "secret" family recipe for a dish, lots of fresh vegetables and meat are available , and barbecues really big here.

He will look on in horror as rich city boy Fillmore tries to microwave a perfectly cut steak

I LOVE THIS I LOVE THIS I LOVE THIS!!!!! Sarge is the GRILLMASTER and he loves a big ol potluck. He can make the best damn burger you've ever had in your life. He'll make pasta/potato/egg salad like you've never seen. All those midwestern delicacies. Fillmore can't cook for shit though, especially early on. He certainly tries, but he manages to burn boiling water. Obv he's a self-sufficient adult and he learns EVENTUALLY. But there was a lot of baby steps right at the beginning.

[aestheticvoyage2023]

Day 147a: Saturday May 27, 2023 - “Milwaukee Zoo”

“Can you say Milwaukee?”  I didn’t even half expect the perfect 3 syllabled response I got back, as the plane banked and lined up to land in what would be William’s 20th State, all before his second birthday.  Ok, let’s try this one - “Wisconsin” - no problem, not even a pause.  Well, put it on your list, son.

We organized our gear and packed the mini-van to get the beautiful day underway- and reset on midwestern time.   It should not be lost in a fun story and reflection that getting up so early and getting launched takes an incredible amount of energy.  Just like space shuttle.  The most energy is burned just getting up off the ground.  But I tell myself I gotta keep doing it so that it can keep getting easier.  Just like everything else.   I unhook, restart, rehydrate, and point the mini-van to the zoo.  Its like its all a brand new day.

After we visited the St Louis Zoo earlier this month with Ben, I had this great idea that maybe this can be our thing we do together over the next couple of years - collect as many different zoos in different places as we can. The Milwaukee County Zoo was wonderful as William’s 5th Major League Zoo.  Especially since it featured a full size steam safari train for us to ride.  It’s hard to say which of us enjoyed that more.   He seemed like a big kid in the little seat across from me and that little boy amazement is the juice all of the squeeze was worth.  I just soaked it in, as he leaned over the edge, looking down the tracks, wind in his long hair.  These are the days.

Now we’re pretty experienced zoo visitors, and I am sure there is a comfortable rhythm in my narration and pace and story telling.  And there definitely was a lot more than expected here for me to narrate.  We saw a Silverback Ape right away and even I was surprised!  Far better than any other zoo on our circuit to date, the primates house was extraordinary.  We saw so many different types of monkeys, up close, including an orangutan.  We saw some big cats, closer than ever and William kissed the tiger’s butt through the glass so I suppose he thought that was cool - something we don’t (yet) have in our hometown zoo.  We even met a couple moo cows for the first time in the petting farm.  But the main attraction of all the animals, for us, was going on a hippo hunt and finding a very friendly one that took a liking to our little lion in the window.  I really love seeing him interact with an animal like the hippo that he won’t see in our regular visits at home and the hippos are always my favorite.

After vision casting about visiting Zoos in other cities, I celebrated the idea of wondering where might go to next! And that enthusiasm for the next one grew after how impressed I was with this gem.  If I had to rank it, it’d be #2 of the 5 we’ve done together.

Song: Lou Reed ft. Tribe Called Quest - Walk On The Wild Side

Quote: “People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits. And their habits, decide their futures.” ~ F Matthias Alexander

[minwooks-moved]

💖 and 💚 and selfindulgent💜 hehe

:3 hi i i i <3

💖 , a valentine’s memory / story, or fun fact about how you celebrate ! :: my oldest plushie that i have now is like .. one of (if not THE) first plushies i got from my dad like … yeaaaaaaars ago (like … single digit-age time ago) :3 nd it used to like…. go everywhere with me i think — anywhere i could bring it, i mean (so like .. sleepovers at my aunt’s, church trips, etc.)

💚 , something i love in nature :: assuming this means actual nature (i’m a dumbass sawry), i really love trees ! there’s just something so neat & nice abt how strong they are nd how . at peace they always feel ? idk i SWEAR that makes sense in my head … idk — i think it goes back to like ? my childhood home was v much in the countryside (full-on self-made-outer-cabincore-was-almost-a-food-farm-midwestern-side) so i was . surrounded by trees nd just . loved climbing them nd feeling so . !! comforted ? again this is something that makes sense in my head fnfnfdnn

💜 , someone from a group i love who reminds me of you :: my babie my babie…… first boy that came to mind for me was hyunggu/kino <3 losercoolguy w/so much cool nd so much love nd such a like . relaxedness? of comfort to be around nd i adore u both so so much in a way that’s like . it’s like u both have been around for years ? if that makes sense ? (nd ALSO ….. tattoos….. the subtlety of having the neatest tattoos u know……)

send me a heart for…… !

[slickshoesareyoucrazy]

Chinese Food

I’ve written a whole bunch about my first date with J. If you check out When We Met posts here, you can read about it in depth if you’d like. But this post is about our second date, and about who J is, and about his amazing consistency and how much I’m still totally in love with him and that particular part of him after 19 years.

First, a little background on J. I’ve mentioned before that J is a lot like Jimmy Chitwood from the movie Hoosiers. That’s because J really did grow up in rural Indiana. And a consequence of this, other than wholesome farm boy good looks and steadfast Midwestern integrity, is that he’s not a very adventurous eater. J grew up considering pizza from a chain delivery joint as Italian food. He hadn’t tried much international or fusion style cuisine when we’d met. In fact, he hadn’t tried any at ALL until he was an adult working on his own, spending a lot of time away from home with a bunch of people who didn’t grow up in rural Indiana. And he’s not exactly a master chef either. (Some day I’m gonna replant the post Peanut Butter here about J making me dinner in our newlywed days. Seriously.) So he wasn’t experimenting at restaurants or in the kitchen. Our first date was at a TGI Fridays. Not to insult Fridays (it’s still my favorite cheesecake), but they are a fairly tame and safe first date place. Everybody will like something there. It’s not a horizon broadening kind of a place to eat.

I’ve also written before about how J pays attention to me. He always has. He paid attention to the information I wrote on my dating site profile. Not just ‘woman seeking man’ and not even just 'college educated feminist seeking committed relationship,’ but details like 'loves to cook and addicted to watching shows starring celebrity chefs’ and 'used to work at a high end catering service.’ He surmised that *I* was an adventurous eater. So as our first date was winding down (and I had *already* fallen really hard for him), J said, “I’d like to take you out again. Soon. Saturday?” Um…YES! “Do you like Chinese food? *I* like Chinese food! I tried it for the first time a few weeks ago with some friends at work. Where’s your favorite place to get Chinese food? Let’s go there.” That’s where we went on our second date. J hadn’t tried any Chinese food until he was 31 years old, only a few weeks before I found him online. J ordered General Tso’s chicken on our second date, and told me the story of how he’d ordered that on his first try of Chinese food, based on friends’ recommendations, and that he really liked it, but they didn’t tell him not to actually EAT those hot pepper pods that come in that dish. He learned that the hard way. We laughed. He liked his meal at the place I suggested too. We go back there fairly often on date nights (or we did pre-pandemic; and we’ve gotten a few take-outs from there since then too). We’ve celebrated some birthdays and anniversaries there. J has since tried lots of other dishes. And he’s eaten Japanese and Greek and Mexican food for the first time since we met (and now he likes them). He’s even traveled TO China for work once (he survived, but he did eat more than his fair share of granola bars on that trip).

Anyway, when J came home from his bike trip a bit early in 2019, we had a couple of free days together while The Boy was at school, and on one of those days, we took a motorcycle ride together, and we went out to lunch at 'our’ Chinese place. The same place that we ate on our second date. (Yeah…it’s still there.) The same place we’ve celebrated some milestones together.

I like that J and I have 'our’ places. I know a lot of people would think that a foodie like me would constantly want to try somewhere new, and I do enjoy trying new places and new dishes, but…there’s some real comfort and security knowing that we’ve been together long enough and have enough in common…we like enough of the same things…to have 'our’ places. There are a few restaurants that we frequent and think of as 'our places’ because of J’s consistency. These places are familiar, but they aren’t boring. And they aren’t only nostalgic for me. When we go there, I remember our past visits there, but we also make new memories every time. The last trip to actually eat inside 'our’ Chinese place alone, we talked about how The Boy has begun playing the violin and he’s doing really well adjusting in middle school. And while we were having that discussion, I could remember J telling me that story about eating the whole hot pepper pod on our second date. That’s something special, isn’t it? I think it is. The weekend after Thanksgiving, we went with our son to eat inside; our son’s first time eating inside with us. Even after nearly three years of having the dining room closed, the staff remembered us. ‘Nice to see you again.’ That’s something special too.

This is maybe a bit of a rambling post, but I felt like sharing my long history of love with J, a man who cares what I like…who’s grown with me and gotten more adventurous since we’ve been together…but who also can make me feel safer and more comfortable than anybody else, no matter where we are, and who never gets tiresome or dull, no matter how many times we go to the same familiar place.

This was my fortune inside the fortune cookie the last time we went to 'our’ Chinese place alone:

I normally don’t buy into this type of thing. But this one? Because of J? I mean…*accurate.*

[ladylooch]

why do I want a midwestern American farm boy now who likes horses. this is YOUR fault!!!! I’ve never even been to America

still love you though 😘❤️ and David

If it helps dull the ache for you.... I live in the Midwest... and they are not like this here 😂

That is how you know it's a work of pure fiction 😂

Also, I am very proud of us for latching so hard onto this AU that we cannot fathom life without it anymore. We all deserve a Davey in our life!

[andrewlovely]

Dream #759

A dry cough winces up sand and lost meaning. Two car driveway, open garage. I came for the funeral but dad’s not there. I hope beyond hope that I’ll see him as I walk through the house of memory.

Maybe he’ll come in from out back and show me the new project he’s been working on. I hear the wind chime but it’s not coming. The back door is closed.

The backyard is landscaped renaissance with sloping knolls and marble gargoyles. Or maybe they’re royal lion guard dogs. I can’t quite make them out. The blocks are well placed but his work is unfinished.

The air conditioner hums the still patio. (it whirs efficiently because he changes the air filters often)

“Don’t leave the door open Andrew, you’re letting all the heat in!” Texas heat beams through the skylight. Sun flash on the carpet.

In my dreams I see him as a young man. He has the innocence of a midwestern farm boy and the body of an American Gladiator. I can’t help but laugh at his 90’s blue and green polo shirt. With the blue jeans and the barefoot boat shoes. But he’s my father after all.

He greets me like a long lost friend he never expected to see again. And I embrace him as my father. Weeping and whimpering as human meets wolf.

He tells me he’s so happy to see me and invites me out back to show me one of his new projects.

He doesn’t know I’m his son. We are two young men reveling in our youth and admiring each other’s craft. We are confident and vital and punch each other on the shoulder and wrestle and laugh.

I see in him all of my mistakes and all the weakness which makes my old heart dumb and beautiful. I want to tell him that it’s ok, and that I understand now, and that I forgive him.

But he doesn’t know I’m his son. And it would be too weird, because we’re both young men now, and young men don’t speak to each other in that way.

The hall is empty. The air conditioner hums in the still patio. A red hummingbird flies to the feeder. “Andrew, come see!” I love you Dad.

[bookwyrminspiration]

Grady is a country boy™, please donate him a pickup truck, bud light, and mountain dew. He is in desperate need of it.

all of can think of is sil's cowboy au or whatever it is. I unfortunately haven't read it but i'm like 80% sure that it is A Thing, but I have no idea where Grady fits into that

right now I'm just imagining him owning the same rusty red truck bella swan had in the first few twilight books, because I don't know what constitutes a pick up truck. considering nearly all of my extended family are pure white I don't know a lot about stereotypical country boys

also imagining him with one of those drive-able lawn mowers, like the ones that work like cars. I've driven one before on my grandparents' farm and it's pretty fun, so I've decided he has one too

I have a mental association between mountain dew and krispy kreme donuts, so I'd propose that we also get him a box of glazed donuts to go with that pop.

grady listen to country music about loving your wife and I won't accept criticism on that one.

I have no idea what else to say about country boy Grady but I love him. he feels like a himbo who loves his wife but he's not actually dumb he just really loves his wife and gets distracted thinking about her and makes mistakes.