#maybe vaguely flirty in his own specific way. teasing in a ��‘i’m still trying to figure this out’’ type way

[capcollector]

i feel like deacon would be good at sleight of hand tricks. like making a bottlecap disappear then reappear. card tricks. those types of things. i just have such a clear mental image of him showing a trick to bunny, in a playful teasing sorta way. one of his many early “you can’t trust everyone” moments, this time w visuals.

[theleftovertaco]

The Boys in Lingerie

OK FIRST EVEN VAGUELY SMUTTISH POST 

Basic warnings in order please don’t interact if you don’t want to see this. Use basic judgement. You know if you’re too young to read something

Once again, I try to keep it house, gender, and year neutral so anyone can fill in the blanks where they wish, guys, gals, and nonbinary pals alike

We have standard lineup- Fred, George, Draco, Neville, Harry, Ron, Oliver, Cedric, and now Charlie and Blaise have been added!

ON TO THE FEMBOYS IN LINGERIE

Fred

You and Fred had messed around before with kinks and lingerie

He always liked how it looked on you, how the lace hugged you perfectly

Freddie is a very forthright person, if he wants to try something he will tell you in advance, and so he talks to you about him wearing some

You agree immediately and the two of you find a magazine to order some because there is no shop that sells that in Hogsmeade, unfortunately

He finds a pair of pink panties and chooses those because of course he does and when the box arrives (he has to avoid George’s questions about what's in the box) 

He puts them on and then sends you a notes asking you to come to his room while no one else is there

And when you find him

“Baby boy, you look amazing.” He smirks and spins in a circle before leaping on the bed, you following close after

George

George wandered into a strange shop in muggle London when you and him were exploring during Christmas break

He found a sex shop where they sold a lot of lingerie and before he got yelled at by the shop owner to “get out, you tosser!”

He couldn’t get the lingerie out of his head 

He didn’t think about you wearing it, well maybe a little. No he actually thought more about the cloth on his own body

So about a couple weeks after seeing those and getting back to school he plucked up the courage to ask you (he was a Gryffindor, dammit, he shouldn’t be scared)

“How would you feel if I... wanted to wear panties?” “Sure, love, sounds good if that’s what you want.” “Wait, that’s it?” “Yea.” “Ok good, cause I kinda already ordered them.” 

He darts into the restroom to put them on and then comes out to show you and holy fuck

He’s in this pale blue pair of flower lace bikini panties and walks out looking just a little timid and you fucking jump him 

Draco 

Draco saw a pair of Pansy’s underwear during a game of strip poker and while most of the other guys were ogling her, he was thinking about how the silk would feel on him

He buys a pair, but then they just sit at the bottom of his trunk for about a month and a half

Then he wears them once or twice around the common room under his trousers before he even thinks of telling you

He writes you a note during History of Magic (its not like Binns will notice anyways): “Can you come to my dorm after classes today? I want to show you something.”

So you go thinking its gonna be some gift his mum sent again but you enter the dorm and see him in a pair of silk black panties 

“Honey, you look fantastic!”

You may or may not have torn them off of him 

He may or may not have had to buy another 10 pairs

Neville

Neville sees a girl in a thong in one of his dormmates old magazines and he just gets a little spooked

Because his immediate thought isn’t about you in them

It’s about him in them

So he panics

Slowly but surely, as your relationship progresses he gets a little more bold, in general, since you make his confidence skyrocket when you’re around him

So he wears them around during the day and when he pulls you into a empty classroom you’re a little scared about what he’s gonna do because of the timid look on his face

But he pulls down his trousers to show the pastel yellow thong he’s wearing and he slips on his old cat ears

You let out an audible groan

“Kitten, you look beautiful.”

He blushes and looks down in embarrassment just a little

“Nuh-Uh, don’t you dare look embarrassed kitten, come here.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Harry

You and Harry had a very honest relationship

He is a rather frank person and is not afraid to tell you want he wants in a relationship, but of course, you know that right out of the gate

Plus after the heels debacle, he knew never to try and hide what he wanted to wear from you

So when he discovers your collection of lingerie, he straight up asks you if he can try them on

“You sure?” “Yes please.” “Yeah ok go ahead, sunshine.”

He grins and snatches his favorite pair, a red set of satin underwear that barely cover anything

“You ready love?” “Of course sunshine, come on out!”

He steps out and you are speechless to say the least

He looks amazing and you pretty much drag him over to sit on your lap while you kiss him

So now he wears panties all the damn time because why not

If he likes it and he’s confident wearing them, you’re all for it

Ron

Ron is still a bit wary about wearing lingerie

He’s been wearing more stereotypically feminine clothes, but wearing panties is a whole other game to him

But you suggested it, and he was willing to try

It takes him a bit to warm up to the idea of lingerie

Ron has you walk him through it, what would be comfortable, what wouldn’t be, and he settles on a pair of black satin ones “They’ll be comfortable, promise!” “If you’re sure...”

You do a trial run where he just kind of lounges around the common room wearing them underneath his normal clothes

By the end of the day he’s hooked on it and you are too

He likes the softness of them

Ron has always felt like he had to be strong, and measure up to his brothers masculinity, but when he’s in the lingerie, he feels like he doesn’t have to conform to that

Anyways yes he likes the panties

Oliver

Oliver saw a pair on you once under your sweatpants when you were cuddling

“Oh, what are these?” “My panties???” “They’re pretty... do they make them for guys?”

Bro was straightforward

So you buy him a pair “I trust your judgement love, buy whatever you want!”

So he ends up with a pair of red silk ones that feel amazing 

He wears them whenever possible

About a week after he starts wearing them, Angelina somehow finds out and the Gryffindor quidditch team dares him to ride on the broom in only his panties

So he tries it... before immediately slipping off and falling on his ass

“Stupid fabric.”

He manages to stay on the second time, and well, now you have a few candid shots of your boyfriend riding a broom in lingerie

Not that you’re complaining

Cedric

I need to stop calling Cedric Pretty boy, but does that mean i will? no

Pretty boy loves you in lingerie

The fabrics are always so pretty

And he has never been shy about this, so he just asks you if he can try on a pair of yours

“Yeah, of course pretty boy go ahead.” he kisses you on the cheek and runs off to find a pair

He puts on a pale yellow satin pair of briefs 

And walks back into your dorm

“Fuck, pretty boy!” “You like it?” “Baby, I adore it!”

Cedric begins wearing them around campus

He likes how his thighs look in them, and soon he starts wearing them under his skirts

If he bends over, you can see it pretty easily, he knows exactly what he’s doing

He tries to rile you up

Fucking tease

Charlie

Charlie is a very muscular person 

It isn’t that he doesn’t like traditionally feminine stuff, he just never thought he had the build for it

It takes a while for him to change his mind, since contrary to popular belief, he is actually pretty insecure

“Don’t you think I’d look strange in them, stocky kid in girls underwear?” “Well, it’s  not just for girls, and no you would not! I happen to think that you would look beautiful!”

He likes that word. Beautiful

People have always described him as handsome, cute, but never beautiful

So he agrees

Maybe it’s something about wizarding Romania that’s more accepting but when the lady at the shop you go to sees that the panties are more fit for Charlie, she winks at the two of you and says to “have fun with those”

So he puts them on and holy shit 

He understands it now

He feels beautiful

Blaise

Blaise likes being pretty lets be real

He doesn’t really give a flying fuck what people think of him

So he jumps on panties real quick

Finds the prettiest pair of emerald panties he can find and he loves them almost immediately

He likes putting on a short skirt and makeup on to top off his whole vibe because why not

Another thing about Blaise is that he is a fucking flirt 

With everyone, not just you

And while you trust that he would never cheat on you or betray you, if he gets a little too flirty with anyone else, all you have to do is creep your hand up to the satin undergarment and give it a little tug to remind him who he belongs to

You, bitch, it’s you

Ok that’s it for now idk what I’m doing next so if you want me to write something please send me an ask. Also I rarely write suggestive/smut fics if you know ways that I can make this better please for the love of god let me know.

This feels like a good time to say that this is the final set of characters. I have 10 right now, and if I keep accepting more people I’ll just end up doing 20 characters every time. I love doing these but I don’t have the time or energy to do every single character, it just would not be good for my mental health. That being said, if you want a specific headcanon of a specific character, please SEND ME AN ASK so I know that you want that directly. I would be more than happy to write it for you.

[brieflygorgeouss]

52, 82, and 100 please!

52. “I need help.” (82 and 100 are coming in a separate fic because i couldn’t help myself, hope you don’t mind!)

Lucas really likes his job at the coffee shop, you see, as out of character as it is for him. There are three reasons for that.

Reason number one: it pays his bills. He doesn’t earn particularly much, but it’s enough to cover his rent and basic living expenses, and if he tries really hard, he can even afford to go out every once in a while to keep the illusion of his social life in place.

Reason number two: he gets to work with some really cool people, which is unexpected but not unwelcomed. Manon is the one who got him this job, so he basically owes her his life, and she bakes the best fucking muffins Lucas has tried in his entire existence. Yann is like his long-lost brother at this point, and Lucas feels as if they’ve known each other for years instead of four months since he stared there. Imane can be harsh sometimes, or stubborn, but Lucas appreciates that, actually, how she doesn’t let others fuck with her. He also appreciates how, when Lucas’s ex-boyfriend kept pestering him, she was ready to break the dude’s arms if Lucas only said a word. That was nice.

Reason number three: Beautiful Boy.

See, Lucas doesn’t know much about Beautiful Boy. He knows his name is Eliott, and guesses he is an art student because he sometimes comes into the coffee shop with art supplies peeking out of his bag or with his fingertips stained with ink. He wears weird patterned shirts or the immortal brown-orange jacket when the weather gets colder. He has a nice voice that makes Lucas think of sunlight, warm and golden.

And he’s the most goddamn gorgeous person Lucas has ever seen. So there’s that.

Lucas gets to see Eliott every Tuesday and Friday morning. Eliott is always nice and smiley, even at 7 AM, and very kindly ignores it whenever Lucas is very obviously trying not to yawn as he takes his order. Eliott always drinks the same thing, and it’s tea, of all the options he could choose, but Lucas finds it endearing, even if Yann keeps making fun of him for it, like right now.

”Lover boy not here yet?” Yann asks as he comes out of the staff room, only to find Lucas slumped at the cash register, trying not to fall asleep. It’s 7:30. Lucas likes this job, yes; the fact that he has to wake up at 6 for the morning shifts is not why he likes it.

”He’s not a ”lover boy”,” Lucas mutters. They’ve had this conversation before. ”Stop calling him that.”

Yann shrugs, raising his eyebrows. ”Yeah, he’s not but he could be,” he says and winks, and Lucas thinks, it’s too early for this. ”You know I’m right.”

”You’re not right,” Lucas tells him. It doesn’t sound convincing.

”I’m right,” Yann says. He sounds like he’s having the time of his life. ”You realise I still have that picture of you blushing while taking his order, right? It’s hard proof.”

Lucas is, suddenly, very grateful that the morning rush hasn’t started yet and they’re still alone at the coffee shop. ”I asked you to delete that,” he says, feeling the traitorous blush creeping its way onto his face.

”And I’ve decided to ignore that request,” Yann says, the cheeky bastard, but then he has to notice something about Lucas’s expression because his grin softens. ”Lucas, he keeps coming back here twice a week, and he doesn’t even drink coffee. It’s a coffee shop. Have you never thought about that?”

He has. ”Maybe he really likes tea.”

”Yeah, maybe,” Yann says, and then the bell at the door tinkles, so he turns to greet the first customer, ”Or maybe it’s not the tea he likes.”

Lucas only ducks his head and doesn’t say anything in reply.

He tries not to think about it, as his shift progresses. He busies himself with making the orders and not messing anything up as Yann handles the cash register, and then when that’s done, he busies himself with cleaning and then busies himself with whatever else he can after that. He also tries, and fails, not to flit his gaze to the clock every five minutes. It’s Friday today. It’s really stupid, how his heartbeat stutters every time someone comes through the door.

Lucas knows it probably doesn’t mean anything — how nice Eliott is, or how he seems to light up whenever he spots Lucas, like Lucas has anywhere else to be. Eliott is nice to everyone, from what he’s noticed. And Lucas is not blind, okay, it’s not particularly difficult to realise that Eliott might flirt with him a little bit from time to time, but maybe he’s just…naturally flirty, or something. Or maybe he’s doing it unconsciously. Lucas can’t really see any other explanation, really, because people as beautiful as Eliott don’t really get interested in people like Lucas.

(Imane almost maimed him with a spoon, once, when he’d said that out loud, but that’s how it is. There’s nothing self-deprecating about it, really; it’s just the truth.)

He’s so deep into his thoughts that he doesn’t catch Yann saying his name at first, but then he snaps his head up and —

Eliott is here at the counter. Lucas remembers, like he does every time he sees him, why he’d kept calling him Beautiful Boy in his head for almost three weeks before he finally caught his real name.

”I need to make a call, dude, I just remembered,” Yann says, untying his apron and turning to Lucas, and he doesn’t ever try to hide the sly grin that pulls at the corners of his mouth. ”Can you take care of the cash register for a second?”

”Um,” Lucas says, thinking, fuck you but also thinking, thank you so much. ”Yeah, I— Yeah, okay.”

”Great,” Yann says, beaming like a child that got away with something, and then slides past him, and Lucas is left on his own.

Eliott fidgets a little by the cash register. Lucas swallows down how idiotically flustered he feels and comes up to him.

”Hi, Eliott,” he says, hoping it comes off sounding normally. ”Your usual?”

Eliott’s usual is rosehip and cranberry tea, which Lucas has teased him about, on some occasions. Eliott smiles at him, but there’s something off about it today, and Lucas wonders briefly if it’s because Eliott is afraid that he’ll make fun of him again, maybe.

”Yeah, sounds good,” Eliott tells him and then quickly turns his eyes away, looks down before flitting his gaze up again. Lucas blinks. ”Sounds great.”

”Okay,” he smiles. “Right up.”

He rings it in, and Eliott pays, and Lucas feels— a little strange. Without any specific reason to, really, except this is usually the part when Eliott’s vague flirting starts. Eliott likes to lean over the counter a little and ask about how Lucas’s shift has been going, or — if Lucas is feeling brave and manages to ask Eliott about his day first — talks about something he’s seen on the street and found funny, or a book he’s been reading or a song he’s been listening to. That’s how it usually goes, and it’s enough for Lucas to spend the rest of the day smiling quietly to himself when nobody else can see him.

Except that now, when he goes to make Eliott’s tea — since Yann still hasn’t, shockingly, finished his call — Eliott is completely silent. He stands at the cash register and kind of just keeps biting at his lower lip — which, god — and shuffles a little awkwardly on his feet, and even when he sends Lucas a smile, it seems strained around the edges. Lucas finishes making the tea with a confused frown forming on his face, and it only deepens when he hands Eliott the cup and Eliott takes it, says, ”Thank you,” and then just keeps standing there.

Lucas tries to discreetly size him up, starting to feel worry sprout up next to his initial confusion. ”You’re welcome,” he says and it comes out sounding more like a question than a statement. He catches Eliott’s gaze, bright and beautiful. ”Is everything all right?”

”Yes, it’s— yes,” Eliott says, but the words are quick and laced with something Lucas can’t pinpoint. Eliott licks his lips again. Lucas tries very hard not to follow the movement too closely. ”I’m— listen, I— I need help.”

Lucas’s frown deepens. ”Okay,” he says, trying to swallow the worry down, ”well, how can I help you?”

It comes out sounding stupid but he can’t do much about it, really. Not when Eliott’s acting weird like that. They might not know each other very well, but he’s been talking to Eliott at least twice a week for the past two months and he doesn’t think he’s seen him acting like this before. Eliott usually seems like an extremely laid-back guy, with his gorgeous face and tall frame and shoulders hunched just a little bit. He laughs like he doesn’t have anything to worry about, ever. Lucas is not sure how to approach this change in his behaviour.

”This is going to sound really stupid,” Eliott says and then fidgets with the rings on his fingers, making a pause like he’s waiting for Lucas to stop him from talking. Lucas doesn’t, only waits until Eliott looks up at him again, then watches as Eliott takes a breath. ”Listen, I’m not sure if you know, but I’m an art student.” Lucas nods. He figured that out right, then. ”And I actually have an art project to make, and it’s about—it’s, well—” Eliott cuts himself off. Lucas raises his eyebrows, hoping it comes off as encouraging. ”It’s— We’ve been talking about what attraction and beauty mean in the context of contemporary art, and my teacher asked us to draw a portrait based on that theme, and I know it probably sounds extremely idiotic but I— was wondering if maybe you’d agree if I drew you. Possibly. If that’s okay.”

It takes Lucas a moment to register what Eliott has said.

Then, he swears his heart fucking stops for a moment, probably because all the blood in his system rushes to his face as he blushes.

”You—” Lucas is the one stuttering now. ”You want to draw me?”

Eliott runs a hand through his hair in a gesture that Lucas finally pinpoints as nervousness. Eliott’s freaking nervous. Oh, Jesus. ”I mean…if that’s okay?”

Lucas barely hears it. ”For your project about beauty?”

He watches, incredulously, as Eliott ducks his head and the tips of his ears get bright red. ”Yes,” Eliott tells him, small, and then he takes a breath and kind of squares his shoulders like he’s getting ready for something and says, in that same small, warm, sunlight voice, ”I— I just think you’re really beautiful.”

And Lucas thinks, oh.

For a moment, he just stands and looks at Eliott. At Beautiful Boy, with his big eyes and messy hair and his forever-there jacket, at how he shuffles on his feet nervously and how he’s fidgeting with the hem of his t-shirt now. Something in his Lucas’s chest tips over and floods him with warmth, a tingly feeling, spreading slowly.

He says, ”Okay.”

Eliott’s head snaps up at that. ”Okay?”

”Yeah,” Lucas says, smiling at how Eliott’s voice sounds, then smiling wider as Eliott’s face lights up with a wide grin. ”Sounds good.”

”Great,” Eliott says. Lucas nods in agreement. It’s really great. Really great. Eliott thinks he’s beautiful. They keep smiling at each other like lunatics, grinning like kids, at 8 AM on a Friday. Lucas loves this job.

After a moment, Eliott shrugs a little, and it’s sheepish and endearing all at once and Lucas thinks, god. Jesus. ”Can I get your number?” Eliott asks, sounding shy, but also like he’s happy and Lucas is nodding before he even knows it.

He writes his number down on Eliott’s cup of tea, and then Eliott takes it and, smiling at Lucas with the brightest grin he’s seen from him yet, says, ”Thank you.”

And then he turns around and goes, and Lucas keeps grinning until Yann finally materialises by his side and starts laughing at how red Lucas’s face apparently is.

(He gets a text later.

what would you say, it says, if we started our portrait drawing session with a nice dinner first?)

[otome-reviews]

Scandal in the Spotlight: Kyohei Rikudoh Review [SPOILERS]

Ah, Kyohei. One thing you should probably know about me before I get started is that I have been stanning k-pop boyband EXO hardcore for years and there is album art on both my phone and my computer, haha. So to say I was thrilled to learn Voltage Love 365 app has a boy band otome would be a MASSIVE understatement! But how was the route, you ask? Read on to find out!

The world of Scandal in the Spotlight is uh... pretty cut-throat, to say the least. Aspiring MC starts out getting blacklisted from the industry after rejecting Harvey Weinstein her creepy, powerful boss. :( Then her coworker/secret member of popular boy band Arashi Revance, freaking STEALS poetry she wrote for a screenplay and adapts it into Revance’s latest hit (!!!). And then Kyohei, band producer/member and subject of this review, strong-arms/threatens MC into ghostwriting erotic lyrics for their 10th anniversary, in exchange for getting her un-blacklisted afterwards...!!

...Yikes. Poor MC (I hope she got paid for the plagiarism and she’s getting paid for the ghostwriting?! Super important 💰). Anyway, at first glance Kyohei definitely comes across as your typical scary/aggressive and demanding alpha male ("I make the rules here. Anyone who gets in our way will be dropped, no exceptions”). He might not be the official leader of the group, but he sure acts like he is. Kyo is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure Revance’s continued success, including using his professional clout to stifle an up-and-coming rival group (which I found very confusingly attractive, lmao). And with MC, he’s just as bossy, but also SUPER FREAKING FLIRTATIOUS like you have no idea (“If you don't have enough experience...perhaps we can fix that”). And of course the guy has to claim it’s all in the name of inspiring MC to write sexier lyrics and he couldn’t possibly be attracted to MC, lmao.

But much like his giant adorable mop of a dog (named Little Yamada!! ^_^), when it comes to MC, Kyohei is all bark and no bite. From the start, he’s nice to MC his own bizarre, super extra way. When MC’s feeling down about her skills, he doesn’t hesitate to buy out massive amounts of ad space from Shibuya Crossing just to prove a point, lol. And after the turning point in the story, Kyo becomes downright protective of MC, keeping his manager and the other members off MC’s back while she struggles with writer’s block! Aww.

TBH, domineering types tend to be really hit or miss for me. But in Kyohei’s case, it’s a hit (mostly! more on that below). For starters, once Kyohei starts caring about MC he’s never mean ever again (even if he still loves teasing her) and I am so super weak to otome guys who pull off that transition well. I liked his tragic backstory/motivation, cheesy as it was. And finally, Kyohei plays into your typical diva-ish pop star romance fantasy really nicely. It’s all about expectations: a bad boy-type pop star is WAY more interesting than a super nice pop star imho, and this is one of the rare cases where I think a completely nice character wouldn’t be nearly as compelling as someone like Kyohei, who does turn out to be vaguely nice ish, but also has a bit of an edge to him.

Speaking of pop fantasies, I generally enjoyed the plot progression, which was one giant, unbelievably cheesy wish fulfillment fantasy. Poor, sweet MC’s struggles to come up with sexy lyrics tie in really nicely with her growing relationship with Kyohei, and I always do love it when the external plot and romance get intertwined. But one thing that I didn’t like as much is the plot’s main villain, who at once wants to produce for Revance, poach MC, and get in MC’s pants...?! It’s too much!! I personally think the story’s conflict would’ve been much cleaner if his creepy romance subplot were completely removed.

Also, this isn’t really a critique as it is a commentary, but: parts of this story were kind of sad/infuriating to read from a post-#metoo perspective. MC’s screenwriting career was completely screwed through no fault of her own, after all! And much as Kyo did grow on me, he did initially force MC into the whole ghostwriting gig. So, this might sound kind of weird, but I think an AU of Scandal in the Spotlight featuring Kyohei as a villain type would’ve been EVEN COOLER while satisfying my never-ending thirst for revenge against evil guys? Imagine: MC turns down Revance flat, and goes straight to rival group Grenade, romancing one of those boys instead. Her and Boy work together to start a viral internet campaign to take down both Harvey Weinstein and Revance. It becomes an epic tale of MC+Boy vs the world, and in the end Revance and Grenade resolve their differences IkeSen style (though Grenade wins), while former boss gets sent to jail. Now wouldn’t that be satisfying to read. :) (...okay maybe this is why I was rejected from creative writing class in school lmao)

And while we’re talking about #metoo, there is one specific scene with Kyohei that I didn’t like! Early on, he smacks MC’s butt (flirtatiously??). I secretly kind of enjoyed all the other sexy, aggressively flirty things he pulls, but that one’s just straight up harassment! :( Fortunately, later in the route, Kyohei makes it clear that a) he’ll quit the flirting if MC tells him to stop, and b) he asks for consent before actually getting it on with MC. So there’s that... Anyways, this incident is one of the reasons why, mid-way through Episode 2, I was certain I was going to hate Kyohei with a fiery passion and that this review was going to be an extended rant about celebrities. But it really speaks to Kyohei’s character evolution that I ended up forgiving him for his transgressions, mostly.

Overall, if you’re willing to accept a party size helping of cheese in your romance stories (or, if you have ever had a crush on any of 1D/NSYNC/The Beatles/etc), I think you’ll like Kyohei. His route is definitely not perfect, and it certainly isn’t high literature, but it provides some super satisfying wish fulfillment and is generally a fun, sexy read!

Choice quote:

“Kyohei...I think I’m starting to get the wrong idea...” “You don’t have the wrong idea.” 💕

Personality: 8/10. I really wouldn’t call Kyohei a nice guy in general, and I have beef with how he acted in the beginning, but Kyohei post-turning point in plot is pretty awesome. The guy manages to be nice to MC and super mega sexy at the same time. Also I love how extra he is. It’s perfect for a pop star.

Appearance: 8/10. This guy’s hair is simultaneously the most and least necessary thing ever, lol. 

MC: 6/10. I like how self-aware and determined MC is. However, she was too passive for my personal tastes, especially when it came to the asshole men in her life. (Also girl really needs to learn how to digitize/password protect her lyrics...)

Plot/Payoff: 6/10. I generally enjoyed how gloriously cheesy the plot was, especially with regards to MC’s lyric writing and her relationship with Kyohei, but I do think the main villain ended up trying to do way too much. Also, I really wanted to see the creepy screenwriter get his comeuppance in the story, and I would LOVE confirmation that MC’s getting paid for her troubles! 💰💰

Personal enjoyment: 7/10. I started out really disliking this route because MC gets screwed over way too hard in the beginning, but Kyohei himself really makes this story more enjoyable than it has any right to be! ^_^

I was sent this story to review honestly as part of @officialvoltageotome‘s review campaign! All thoughts are 100% mine. :)

Masterlist

[samcaarter]

So this fic threatened to turn into a long fic, and I do not need another WIP at the moment. But I couldn't stop thinking about this trope, so I'd really like to know if it's something you, guys, would be interested in reading. Basically, the idea is that everything's almost the same except Sam and Jack are "secretely dating, but our friends don't know it, and they want us to get together." ~1900 words, for now anyway

"So you think we should just keep it quiet?"

"Yes," Sam says, chewing on her pencil. "At least for the time being. It's bound to raise questions, and I don't want to deal with them right now."

Jack looks at her seriously. "You can't mean..."

"That I got this job by sleeping with you?"

"You’ve been working on the damn thing longer than I've known about it," he says, his voice rising.

Sam puts the pencil down and smiles at him indulgently. "You know it doesn't really matter. Plus General Hammond is my godfather."

He gets up from his chair and walks towards her. "And you made that thing work. On your own. You've been part of this program for, what, 3 years now?"

Sam nods. "Yeah, but it still won't change anything. Not right away."

"So what? You're going to 'gain their trust' first? That's not fair."

She tugs on his hand and he leans down for a kiss. "Welcome to my life," she murmurs before his lips touch hers.

***

It's late when Daniel catches her in the control room. Not a lot of people are around, so he takes a seat next to her and watches her run a gate diagnostic.

"So, I hear you're the one who made the Stargate work," he says.

Sam glances at him. "So did you."

Daniel shrugs. "All I did was figure out the last symbol. You, on the other hand”–he draws a circle in the air with his finger–"made the gate spin."

She smiles, it is nice to be appreciated. "It was a team effort, really."

"Ah, you're too modest, Carter," a voice behind her says. A voice she knows all too well.

"I don't believe I am, Colonel," she says not turning to look at him.

"No, he's right."

"Give credit where credit is due?" Sam asks.

"Exactly."

"Well, then I believe I should congratulate you, Colonel, on convincing an enemy soldier to switch sides and save all your lovely backsides." She grins at Jack.

Daniel gapes at her, but Jack tries not to smile, she can see that clearly.

"Why thank you. I knew my charming personality was going to come in handy one day," he says and it feels suspiciously close to flirting.

Sam turns back to look at the computer screen and then rises to her feet, she’ll come back in two hours. "Well, maybe you can charm everyone who serves the Goa'uld to the light side?" she says as she walks past him, not stopping to wait for his reply.

He doesn't say anything, but she can feel him and Daniel stare at her retreating back. Maybe they shouldn’t be quite so flirty on the base though.

***

When Sam slams the locker door closed and then proceeds to kiss his face off, Jack doesn't think much. Literally. Because his brain is a little foggy, and there's nothing inherently strange in Sam kissing him.

But there is an annoying little voice in his head that keeps insisting that they're keeping their relationship quiet, and that Sam would never risk someone walking in on them in the locker room. Making out. Like it's the last thing they'll ever do.

So he puts his hands on her shoulders and pushes her away. Except Sam doesn't move an inch. She only makes a sound of protest and kisses him harder.

For a moment he stops thinking altogether. Whatever she wants, she can have. And if she wants him in the locker room, who is he to question her, really?

The common sense and the last shred of his self restraint win. And he tears his mouth away from hers. "What the hell, Sam?"

She doesn't seem put out by his tone at all. "I want you. You want me?"

He does, oh he really does, but that's when he notices the gleam in her eyes. Not the usual arousal induced gleam, he knows that one too well, but something wild. Her hair is tousled, too, and there is no way she’d ever wear that tank top on the base.

The recent episode with Johnson may hold the answer to that question.

Sam doesn't wait for him to say anything and kisses him again. Jack feels his will melt away like an ice cream in summer heat, but there is something not right with her. And he doesn't want her like that. No matter what his body says.

She slams him onto a bench and he groans. "What's gotten into you?"

But it's like she doesn't even hear him. "I want you."

She leans down to kiss him again when he rolls them onto the floor. His hand automatically cradles the back of her head to protect it. There's no doubt he'll tease her about this later, but first he needs to make sure there's nothing seriously wrong with her. Or fix it, if there is.

***

All in all it really doesn't surprise him that there are bad things they can bring back through the gate. Though it doesn't make him panic. He thinks it should, but it's a complicated topic to think about, so he just stands in the control room and stares at the game.

"Jack! There you are," Daniel says as he walks up to him. "I got on the internet to do a little research on Australopithecus and, whoa, what happened to you?"

Jack touches his neck, feeling the scratches. "Oh, I got into a little wrestling match with Carter." Daniel looks confused. "I guess she's got whatever Johnson got. I had to drag her off to the infirmary."

"Did she try to start a fight with you?"

He really feels like he should confirm it and be done with it, but his brain and mouth don't seem to be connected anymore. "No, she tried to seduce me."

Daniel just stares, processing the information. "Oh. You poor man."

Jack gives him a look, does he think it's funny? "No, it wasn't like that. She was... like a wild animal."

"Is she alright? I should go see her."

That makes Jack narrow his eyes at the other man. "Why?"

Daniel frowns. "Why? Because I care about her." He starts to turn, but Jack grabs his jacket, startling him.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I care about her. She is my friend," Daniel says carefully, realizing that something isn't right.

Except it's a little too late. Jack flashes back to his and Sam's conversation about their relationship. And how no one, including Daniel, knows that she's his. The fact that Daniel has a wife he loves completely escapes Jack's attention. All that's left is this need to claim Sam. His grip on Daniel's jacket tightens. "She's not yours to care about."

"Okay, I don't. I don't care about her at all," Daniel says clearly trying not to antagonize Jack further, but it only spurs him on.

Sam's clearly sick, and he claims to be her friend, but doesn't even care about her wellbeing? Hot white rage fills Jack's entire being and he punches Daniel in the face, knocking him down onto his ass.

He only vaguely hears shouting before he’s dragged away.

***

They don't talk to each other after Janet figures out the cure. Sam tells herself it's because there wasn't any time, but she still has no idea what happened to Jack. She only knows he got infected, too, and that he volunteered to be Janet’s guinea pig. It's something she really wants to talk to him about, but later, right now they have to save Daniel and the other Touched.

And Sam's going with SG-1 and SG-3.

They find Daniel in the company of the Touched, and what seems to be in the company of Tuplo's daughter.

"Daniel, you're married, for god's sake," Jack mumbles under his nose, and then gestures to everyone to tranq them.

"I'll give him an injection," Sam says getting up to her feet and moving towards Daniel and the woman.

They don't look happy at all, snarling and crouching as if preparing to attack her. Sam freezes, she can't get close enough without them tackling her, and waits for someone to shoot them. Jack doesn't disappoint. She turns to see him standing several feet behind her, his gun still pointed at the now still form of Daniel lying on the ground.

"Thanks," Sam says.

"Sure." He doesn't look at her, but instead gestures to Teal'c. "Let's take him to the Light side of the planet. He'll be our proof."

***

"We'll teach you how to take care of the rest," Jack says, helping Tuplo and Melosha up to their feet, before turning to walk back to the city.

She falls into step beside him, trying not to think how they could've infected their entire planet

"Uh, I hear you got into a fight with your roommate." Jack's words startle her out of her thoughts and she looks up at him.

"Oh, yeah, it's nothing, really. There won't even be a scar. Apparently I started it," she says rolling her eyes.

He looks her over and smirks. "Guess we're lucky you're usually so nice and polite."

She wants to at least poke him in the ribs, but they're not alone, so she settles for glaring at him.

"Who's so nice and polite?" Daniel asks from behind, having caught up with them.

"No one," Sam says.

"Well, definitely not Jack." He moves to Sam's left side and then glances at Jack.

Now she's curious. "What makes you say that?"

"Uh, he," Daniel says smiling. "He actually punched me in the face."

Sam feels her mouth open and turns to Jack. He looks like he wants to be anywhere else, but, she notices, doesn't move any quicker.

"Yeah, he did. And you know why?"

"Why?"

Daniel's grin is absolutely huge now. "He was, uh, defending your honor, I think."

Sam frowns, but Daniel doesn't seem to notice.

"Yeah. He said you tried to seduce him, and then got all alpha male, I guess."

"Daniel," Jack says, his voice tight.

Sam feels her face turn red. She remembers it quite clearly. But now she'd like to know just how many other people know about it, too.

"You weren't yourself, I know. An apology would still be nice."

"Will you shut up then?"

"I will."

"Fine. I'm sorry I got infected," Jack says and then does quicken his pace.

Sam and Daniel stop and watch him move away from them.

"I guess you should've been more specific," Sam says, biting her lip.

"Next time I will," Daniel says cheerfully.

Sam raises her eyebrows, thankful that she's not on the same team with these two giant children, and starts walking after Jack.

"Hey, why’d you pick him?" Daniel asks catching up with her.

"I'm not talking about it. Ever." But he doesn't seem convinced. "I'm not above telling the Colonel that you keep bugging me, you know."

Daniel gasps. "You wouldn't."

Sam grins. He really doesn't need to know that she can very well punch him herself just yet.

[mchalowitz]

fic; quantico bars

summary: recently (like literally six hours) divorced fox mulder goes to a bar regularly patronized by quantico students and meets a girl that may or may not be dana scully (it totally is but he doesn’t know that) 

i only seem to write things based on what i see my on my dash, i guess. this pic got me going and i wrote this in like two hours. it gets a little nsfw but for like 2 seconds. tagging @today-in-fic

You need to go the fuck home, Fox attempts to convince himself. He’s sitting behind the wheel of his car in the parking lot of a bar he has no business being at. It’s overrun with Quantico students, blowing off steam after a long week of training. He briefly wonders how many Friday nights he spent at this very bar, getting shitfaced and perusing for girls, until he met the girl. 

The one that owned his heart, maybe, and left a thin tan line on his ring finger that had yet to fade back into the rest of his skin. 

He knows his marriage was trying to fill a void, he doesn’t need his psychology degree to come to that conclusion. It was his attempt to patch up a fear of abandonment and loneliness. It’s mind blowing how fucking cliche it is. 

He loved Diana, he did, but not in a way that could sustain a marriage for more than a few years. It was never meant to be more than that. Pulled in two different directions, they couldn’t make it work. He wanted to, she didn’t, and this is where Fox Mulder ends up. In the place he was specifically trying to avoid by marrying someone he liked, and had interests in common with, but maybe didn’t love in that cosmic soulmate way. 

He doesn’t know why he agreed to spend his afternoon helping her take the rest of her belongings to a storage unit after they signed the papers to dissolve their marriage. Now she’s on a plane and these events brought him to this bar, contemplating looking like one of those guys that continues to go to high school parties after graduating. It’s too embarrassing to really let it sink in. 

There’s a great, age appropriate, non-reputation ruining bar three blocks from your apartment, he reminds himself. Or go home. You have a profile you can work on.

He gets out of his car anyway, in need of alcohol and attention. 

Fox is barely in the door before an arm is slung over his shoulders. “Yooo, it’s Spooky!” 

“You’re a legend, man!” 

Drunk at 9PM on a Friday night, he remembers being one of those guys, and liking it. There’s probably some rule about getting hammered during training, but these guys don’t seem to be aware. Neither was he. They offer to buy him a beer and he gladly accepts.

Glass in hand, Fox leans against the bar. His drink is half empty in minutes. He’s not exactly leering but he wouldn’t say he isn’t checking out the merchandise, so to speak. A little harmless window shopping.

The girls in his direct vicinity have exactly the same qualities as Diana, this specific cocktail of confidence and physical strength. He finds it comforting, off putting, heartbreaking, a slight turn on. It’s all rolled into one confusing emotion that’s repeatedly punching him in the gut, every time one of them saunters by him. 

He feels an elbow in his ribs, trying to push past him. A woman, really more of a girl from her short stature, tries to get the attention of the bartender. She sighs. 

“What are you drinking?” he asks. 

“Red wine,” she tells him. 

There’s a bottle not far from where he’s standing, easily in arm’s reach. He grabs it, refills her glass. “Don’t do that!” she chides him. 

“I think they can afford the loss of one glass,” he replies. He gives her a little extra. “One and a half.” 

“I couldn’t tell you how many rules you’re breaking right now. You’re going to get us both kicked out.” 

“Enlighten me.” 

“We can start with pilfering and I’ve sure there’s a health code violation somewhere in there. I could be underage.” 

“I like that word, pilfering,” he grins. Fox still shrugs, a smirk remaining on his lips. “They should pay more attention.” 

There’s an expression on her face that conveys she is already one hundred percent done with him. She’s gorgeous, but what’s more intriguing about her is that look. Not even Diana gave off this aura that begs him to keep sparing with her, like it’s a game that she’s equally willing to play. He goads her a little. “Does your boyfriend go to the Academy?” 

“Are you implying that you don’t think there’s a possibility that I go to the Academy?” 

“Prove me wrong.” 

She has him in a hammer lock before he can blink. Her form is impeccable. He imagines she could have him on the floor with her knee in his back just as quickly. He imagines she could have him other places with other body parts holding him down. 

“Proof enough?” 

“Impressive,” he admits, although he can’t help but frame it more as sarcasm than praise. 

Their banter turns into a real conversation, compelling enough to take their drinks away from the bar. They find a private corner to talk. 

“What are you doing at this particular bar?” she inquires. “Seems like a downgrade for you.” He’s not sure if she knows him by reputation or if this is just an assumption based on appearance alone. 

He replies, “Good question.” 

She repeats her previous question, with a so in front of it and more emphasis on are. He scratches the back of his neck, speaks honestly but vaguely. “Today was honestly really shitty, I’m just trying to forget that for a couple hours. This place used to do a pretty good job of doing that.” 

“Am I helping with that as well?” 

He nods and there’s a small, genuine smile on his lips. She gives him one back. He likes her, she’s giving him one of those butterflies-in-the-stomach feelings. 

She’s not exactly an open book but she does reveal she doesn’t plan to do field work, at least not right away, and that there’s already a teaching position waiting for her at the Academy as soon as she’s finished with her training. He has a small flash of disappointment that he won’t see her in the bullpen or on the elevator. 

He tries to ignore that disappointment. She’s just a girl in a bar and she’s young and this isn’t the start of anything.

He’s not drunk but he thinks a few more beers could get him there. Her cheeks are tinged pink and there’s a flirty glint in her eyes. She puts her hand on his knee. Their lips are mere inches apart when she stops. She speaks and her breath is so close he can feel it against his skin.  

“Wait,” she says, seemingly more to herself than to him. “I’ve been trying to stop doing things like this.” 

“We don’t have to do anything,” he assures her. He still presses his lips to hers briefly, tentatively, and it’s his first kiss with someone besides his wife...ex-wife in years, and it feels good. Really good. “But I can’t say I don’t want to.” 

“Take me somewhere.” Apparently she’s going to keep on doing things like this. He’s not complaining. 

They end up in his car, seats shoved back as far as they can go. She’s twirling a strand of his hair between her fingers, one of his arms is wrapped around her shoulders. There’s something slightly innocent about the whole thing but it doesn’t last long. 

It’s getting hot and he’s tonguing her neck because it’s his favorite PG-13 place to put his mouth. His fingers are inching the line between where her sweater ends and the waistband of her pants begins. It’s thrilling, nerve wracking, but he slips his hand down the front of her pants despite it. 

He finds cotton panties damp, a swollen clit begging for attention. He’s teasing her through the fabric when she breaks away. 

“I don’t date FBI,” she tells him. “I’ve done it before and it only ends badly.” 

“We just met an hour ago,” he reminds her. “The ink’s not even dry on my divorce papers yet.” 

“You’re married?” 

“I think divorce papers would imply that I’m not.” 

His finger is still lazily stroking her clit. Her thighs are holding his hand in place, her lip is caught between her teeth. There’s indecision on her face. “I have a boyfriend,” she admits. 

He hasn’t had casual, meaningless sex in years, and that revelation makes guilt bubble up. He can’t easily bring to mind what sex without love feels like. He’s never really likes sex without a connection anyhow. 

There is a connection here, it’s why he feels fine with this going either way. He doesn’t want her to believe he’s a total asshole that would fuck her when she has a boyfriend and reservations. 

She puts some space between them, he frees his hand from the warmth of her trousers. “I have to go,” she says. She straightens herself, opens the car door. He doesn’t make any moves to stop her. 

She exits the car, starts to walk back toward the bar. He rolls down the window. “One thing,” Fox calls to her. “What’s your name?”

“Not important,” she replies, glancing back at him briefly. “We’re never going to see each other again anyway.” 

[strangestorys]

Properly Acquainted

AKA Will and Hannibal flirt and shamelessly dry-hump in a Halloween store. I’m... almost sorry for this?

This is the first of my giveaway fics, for @captainwingdings, who placed second and requested a fic based on a dream they had:

Young Will encounters Med student Hannibal at a halloween store. I had a dream last night where Will (age 20 in this) was visiting family (or his cousins, just pretend he has them) during Halloween time, and he goes with his little cousins (like age 17 or so, so not that little) to a massive Halloween store. Cue slightly older (Med student?) Hannibal. Because what better time to kill some pigs than when everyone is setting out gory decorations? So basically Hannibal takes a liking to Will and kinda follows him around the shop because Will knows all these bloody facts and keeps telling his cousins. Hannibal is automatically smitten, of course, and goes out of his way to talk to Will and press his body up against his in the tiny aisles.

I took some liberties with plot, but hopefully the spirit of the dream is still there!

Also on Ao3 here.

“I want that big axe! I bet you could cut someone’s hand off with an axe like that!”

Will found himself at the local party outlet, babysitting his niece Abigail for the afternoon. Halloween was coming up, and Uncle Will, a criminal justice student at the local community college, was the ideal choice to help pick out the most gruesome costume.

“Well, um. The axe would be a particularly bad choice for any kind of close-range combat.”

“Close… what?”

“Look, you want to be a scary killer, right?”

“Well yeah. Duh.”

“So, you need an effective weapon. The axe isn’t going to do you much good in a fight. You’re really only going to want it for hacking at things from about arm’s length.”

They were currently in an aisle full of plastic fake weapons, the kind you could carry around spattered with fake blood and spook out all the little kids in the neighborhood – every ten-year-old’s dream.

“Yeah but it’s so BIG! I want that one.”

“How about you try the Bowie knife, that’ll be the most effective.”

“But a knife isn’t as scary as an axe.” 

“But it’s… look, if it were up to me, I’d rather fight someone who had an axe than a Bowie knife. You can see an axe coming and get out of the way pretty quickly. A knife sneaks up on you. And look at the curve on the end – that’s gonna rip out all your guts.”

“Yeah, but the axe is like… so big. I want the axe.” Her well-honed pout gave her the air of a mistreated Bassett Hound, a face that she knew from years of experience was Uncle Will’s kryptonite.

“… fine. We’ll get the axe. But you have to let me mix your fake blood for you, the stuff they sell at these stores doesn’t even congeal right.”

“Uncle Will, you’re so weird.”

“Do you want this costume to be accurate or not?”

“I want to be scary.”

“Accurate is scarier than anything you could come up with, I promise you.”

“Pardon me for overhearing, but I’d have to recommend the butcher knife over the Bowie, if we’re talking close combat. Specifically the Japanese yanagi ba, traditionally used for sashimi.”

“Excuse me?” Will noticed for the first time the man standing to their left in the aisle, perusing a set of generic teen-murder-movie hockey masks. The tall, gorgeous, very well dressed, mysteriously-accented man to their left. Will realized he was gawking and snapped his mouth shut, hoping the man hadn’t noticed.

Too late. The man was looking back at him with interest, the hint of a smile playing on his face.

“Well, with a knife suited for thinly slicing, it stands to reason that you could inflict major blood loss with little effort, if you properly targeted an artery. Which gives an opportunity to cover yourself in more of that fake blood, if that’s the effect you’re going for.”

“I like that idea, Uncle Will. Let’s do more blood!”

Who the fuck was this guy, with his way-too-tailored pants and his precisely combed hair? He couldn’t be much older than Will, maybe mid-twenties… which was entirely too young for anyone to be wearing that kind of sweater vest.

“More b… yeah, ok, we can go with that. The blood’s the best part anyway.”

“I’d have to agree,” the other man said with a short laugh, which made his eyes crinkle up in a way that was almost endearing. Endearing? What was this, a high school crush? Will shook his head to clear it. He was not getting butterflies just talking to some weirdo who knew too much about knives. That was ridiculous.

“You, uh, doing some last minute shopping?” Will gestured awkwardly at the hockey mask in the other man’s hand.

“I have to admit the holiday snuck up on me this year.” He sounded good-natured, casual. Flirty, even. Will felt the blood rising into his cheeks, unable to stop himself from blushing.

“Costume party?” He feigned casualness. He hadn’t been flirted with since… well, there was that drunk girl at the frat party last year, but that didn’t really count. Not in the way tall-elegant-and-vaguely-foreign over here did.

“Something like that.” Now he really was smiling, his eyes boring into Will in a way that said he either wanted to murder him or bend him over the nearest display of fake vampire teeth.

“Uncle Will, let’s go, I wanna show Brian my fake knife.” Abigail interrupted Will’s train of thought, and he looked back at her, nodding slowly as the clouds cleared from his brain.

“You want… right, ok. I really should be getting you home, I told your parents I’d have you back for dinner.”

“It wouldn’t do to miss dinner.” The stranger was still standing there, bemused look on his face.

“No, her parents would really kill me if I had her back late. And not with one of these fake knives, either.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Will, and you… ?” He looked over at Abigail, taking her hand politely.

“Abigail.” She giggled, obviously as charmed as Will.

“Abigail. Until next time, and bon chance with the costume!”

“You too, uh, what was your name again?”

This time the man reached out to shake Will’s hand. “I never said. It’s Hannibal.”

Will shook Hannibal’s hand in a daze, noting his strong, calloused fingers that were at odds with his polished appearance.

Will nodded and let go slowly before breaking eye contact. Abigail was already halfway to the checkout line, and Will rolled his eyes emphatically, hearing Hannibal’s small snort of laughter behind him as he jogged to catch up.

A couple of days before Halloween, the line was about a dozen people long, all of them loaded down with costume supplies. They’d be waiting here a while. Which meant… oh no…

“You liked that guy, Uncle Will.” 

…it meant Abigail would find an opening to tease Will about his love life.

“I… I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“He was nice. And handsome.”

“Lots of people are nice and handsome.”

Abigail gave him a look like a cat who’s just been served generic-brand dry kibble when they knows you have salmon in the fridge. It was a look he was frequently on the receiving end of, one that meant she was entirely done with his bullshit.

“Lots of people aren’t nice and handsome and flirting with you.”

“Hey now. I get flirted with plenty!” She gave him the look again. He prickled.

“I’m just messing with you, Uncle Will. Besides, I’d be careful of anyone wearing a sweater vest like that in public.”

Will laughed.

Abigail busied herself with inspecting the candy display next to their spot in line, only to turn to him after a few minutes and gasp, “We forgot to get the mask!”

“What? I thought you were just going as a serial killer. You don’t need a mask for that.”

“I’m not going as a serial killer, I’m going as a mutant serial killer. Haven’t you ever seen The Hills Have Eyes?”

“Who the fuck is letting you watch The Hills Have Eyes?”

“My dad’s Netflix password.”

“Fair enough. How about this, I’ll hold our spot in line, and you go get the mask.”

“Yeah, but you know way more about this stuff. You go pick out the mask and I’ll hold the spot in line.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to –”

“– Just. Go. Pick. Out. The. Mask.” With that, she gave him a big smile and turned around to face the back of the person in front of her in the queue.

“Okay, okay. You better still be here when I get back.”

Will jogged back down the aisles and turned at the one reading “MASKS, MAKEUP, TEETH.” He nearly tripped over his own shoes when he saw Hannibal standing there, holding two bottles of fake blood in his hands and comparing the labels.

“Oh, hi!”

Oh, hi!? That’s what you came up with? This is exactly why you never get dates.

“Hello, Will. What a nice surprise. Change your mind about the blood after all?”

“Turns out we need a mask too, just a knife isn’t spooky enough apparently.”

“Ah, yes. Anonymity is key in these situations.”

“Hah. Well, I’ll let you get back to your… your bottles of blood.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I don’t have to… what?”

“You don’t have to leave me to my accountrements. That is, if you don’t want to.”

“I… I mean… that is…”

At that, Hannibal put down the bottles and stepped closer to Will. Will had the faint realization that they were completely alone on this end of the store, and then Hannibal was suddenly pressing him into a display of stage makeup and kissing him, hard.

Will stood there like a limp fish for a few seconds, caught completely off guard, before he grabbed Hannibal by the face and returned the kiss savagely. The feel of his body pressed against Will’s was overwhelmingly good, hard and soft in all the right places, dense and solid. He smelled clean and musky, like lemon hand soap and cedarwood. And what he was doing with his tongue was certainly illegal in some rural counties.

Will broke the kiss reluctantly, panting. “Christ.”

“Indeed.” Hannibal was panting just as hard, and Will realized a second later their breathing wasn’t the only thing that was hard. Hannibal shifted his thigh in between Will’s legs, and Will inadvertently bucked, causing him to rub against Hannibal’s groin.

“We should…” 

“Yes, we really should.” Hannibal punctuated this with another hard kiss, and Will had the thought that he’d known this man for less than ten minutes, and he already knew how every single one of his teeth tasted. Interesting.

Will pulled back with a reluctant wince. “I hate to do this, but I have to go. This is… unexpected and honestly great, but I have to go.”

“Your niece. Of course.”

“Yeah.” Hannibal’s thigh was still pressed against him in the empty aisle. Will never wanted to leave. They’d live here together, in the Halloween store, humping in abandoned aisles for the rest of their days.

“May I request your phone number? I’d enjoy becoming properly acquainted over dinner, maybe this weekend?”

“I’d say we’re fairly properly acquainted now,” Will said, bucking up against Hannibal’s groin again, delighting in the small groan the motion produced. “But yes, I’d like that.”

Hannibal nodded, looking extraordinarily pleased with himself. They parted reluctantly and exchanged numbers, stealing small glances at the other and laughing with a nervous energy as they did. Once he was calm again and his breath had slowed, Will turned to go, only to hear Hannibal call after him, “Will, the mask.”

“Shit! Thank you!” He looked at the rows of latex on the wall and grabbed the nearest one without really seeing any of them, jogging now to get back to Abigail.

When he got there, she took it with barely a glance, looking over his disheveled state.

“Have fun?”

“I… what?”

“Nothing. This is a good one, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Let’s pay and go home, huh?”

“Sure thing. Oh, and Uncle Will?”

“Hmm?”

“You may want to redo your top button before we get back home.”

Ao3 Link