#my first official tk fic

[sugdenlovesdingle]

This is way way WAY too late (but surely it's still the 19th *somewhere*???) because I kept changing my mind on what I wanted to write...

but here is my @911lonestarevents fic for @ramblingdisaster73 I hope you like it!

View from the taco truck (AO3)

TK and Carlos' relationship through the eyes of their favourite food truck vendor

---

The first time Jessica saw them was a few weeks after officially opening up her taco truck. Business wasn’t exactly booming yet so she spent most of her days people watching.

She’d seen the cop hanging around near her truck for a while and wondered what he was doing.

She had a half a mind to call him over and ask before she saw another guy, in a uniform she didn’t immediately recognise, walk up to him and his face light up.

They were close enough to hear their conversation and she couldn’t help but eavesdrop.

“Hey…” the cop said happily as the other guy walked up to him. Jessica noticed the Austin fire logo on his shirt. He’s a firefighter then. They awkwardly smiled at each other for a moment before the firefighter pulled the cop in for a hug.

“Did you find it alright?” the cop asked.

“Sure.” he replied. “I’m starting to find my way around this small town better every day.” He grinned.

The cop groaned.

“You’re never going to let me forget that are you?”

“You’re the one who called Austin a small town. I looked it up, Austin is the fourth most populous city in the state with a population of almost one million people.”

“Well in my defence, if you knew my mother, you’d understand. I think she knows at least 75% of those people. If not more.” The cop insisted as they walked over to the truck to order.

Jessica tried to compose herself to not let on she’d been listening in on their conversation.

“Would you consider Austin a small town?” The firefighter asked the her before she could even think of taking their order.

“Uh… no not exactly…”

“Thank you!” he exclaimed and turned to the other guy. “See? She agrees with me.” He turned back to the her. “He called Austin a small town.”

“I just meant the community. Cops. Firefighters. First responders. They all know each other.”

“Uh no, that’s not what you said.” The firefighter grinned, clearly enjoying the argument.

The cop laughed and rolled his eyes and gave the Jessica a “See what I have to put up with?” look.

She smiled and tried to figure out why he looked so familiar until she noticed the name on his uniform and the proverbial light bulb switched on.

“Well… I don’t want to take sides…” she started. “But I’m pretty sure we went to high school together. Carlos Reyes right? Two older sisters. Luisa and… Ana?”

“Uh… yeah… yeah that’s right.” Carlos stammered, clearly trying to remember her.

“I looked a little different in high school.” She told him. “My name was Juan back then. I was on the football team. Among other things.”

“Oh… oh right.” Carlos replied, trying to piece together the information.

“My sister Gabriella was best friends with Luisa.”

“Gabriella Suarez? She called you Juanito!”

“Yeah that’s right. I got by Jessica now though. And I own this truck. Have done for a few weeks now.”

“Right, right… I’ve uh… heard good things… about the food…”

“So what’s your speciality?” The other guy cut in. “He promised me tacos that are, and I quote, better than that crap from Taco Bell. So what should I get?”

Jessica took their order and told them to take a seat at one of the picnic tables near the truck while she made their food.

They sat down and from the corner of her eye she watched the firefighter put his hand on the table, smiling when Carlos grabbed it.

“So do you believe me now? About Austin?” Carlos asked while rubbing his thumb across his knuckles.

“What? No.” He protested. “What is it you cops say again? Once is an incident, twice is a coincidence, three times is a pattern.”

Carlos laughed.

“So I have to find two more random people I know to prove I’m right?”

The other guy shrugged.

“Depends on how badly you want to be right.”

Their conversation moved on from their bickering to other stuff and every time Jessica glanced over to them, she saw their joined hands on top of the table, and matching dopey smiles on their faces.

“Guys, your order’s up.”

“I’ll get it.” Carlos got up to grab their food.

“I put in a little extra.” Jessica told him. “Since we all know each other in this small town.” She joked and Carlos laughed and shook his head.

“At this rate he’s going to mention that in his wedding vows.” He said and walked back to their table.

---

The second time Jessica saw them and actually had a few minutes to talk to them, they were both in their regular clothes and an older man in a baseball cap was with them.

“I’m telling you dad, the food here is great.” The guy whose name she’d learned was TK told the older man as the three of them walked up to the truck. “Carlos and I come here all the time for lunch.”

“Well I’m always in the mood for tacos, but you two really don’t have to buy me lunch. I’m sure you have better things to do.”

“We just want to say thanks for helping out today and giving up your day off, captain Strand.” Carlos told him.

“It’s Owen. And of course I’m helping my son move in with his boyfriend. Did you really think I’d let you two do everything on your own?”

“No, but we’re still grateful.”

“So let us treat you to lunch. Sit down, we’ll order for you. I know what you like.” TK told the man Jessica had worked out was his father, and the man sat down at one of the tables.

They placed their order and waited by the truck as Jessica worked. Business was starting to pick up, her truck becoming popular with both cops and firefighters, and she had a feeling she knew who was responsible for that.

“So, moving in together?” she asked them, making conversation.

“Yep.” TK replied happily. “He’s officially stuck with me now.”

“I wouldn’t want to be stuck with anyone else.” Carlos told him and kissed him.

Jessica smiled.

“I’m happy for you guys, but have mercy on us single people, ok?”

Carlos chuckled but TK apparently considered it a challenge and leaned on the truck to focus all of his attention on her.

“Maybe we can help you find a date? What are you looking for? Guys? Girls? Both?”

“Guys. But I’m not really looking right now. Me and my ex broke up not too long ago and I’ve got my hands full with this truck.” She told him.

“But you haven’t met our friend Paul yet. He’s single. Or our friend Mateo. If you’re into the Marvel nerd type.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Let me show you a picture.”

“TK.” Carlos said gently and covered TK’s phone screen with his hand. “You don’t have to play matchmaker for the whole of Texas, you know.”

“Jessica is not the whole of Texas! And Paul and Mateo are great guys!” TK protested while Jessica focused on preparing their food. “And it worked for Nancy and Marjan.”

“You’re just going to take credit for that just because you know both of them?”

“No, I gave them a push in the right direction.” TK insisted.

“Just keep telling yourself that, babe.” Carlos teased and thanked Jessica when their food was done and they joined TK’s father at their table.

---

The next time Jessica saw them, was not long after that day, but this time they both looked exhausted and Carlos especially was dressed in an outfit he didn’t seem to be very comfortable in. He was tugging at the neck of his hoodie, and pushed the sleeves up and pulled them back down again, just to apparently give his hands something to do in the few minutes it took for them to order their food.

They took the food to go instead of sitting down at their usual table and didn’t stop to talk like they usually did.

Later, Jessica heard through the grapevine (aka her sister still being friends with Carlos’ sister) their house had burnt down and they’d barely made it out alive.

She wished she had either of their numbers so she could tell them she was sorry for what happened to them and that she’d be happy to help them with anything they might need.

It turned out that was just her taco special with homemade salsa when they showed up at her truck again a few weeks later.

“We’re looking for a place to live.” TK sighed. “Living with my dad is… a lot.” He settled on. “At least he knows to knock now before coming into our room.”

“We’re viewing a couple of places this afternoon.” Carlos told her. “Including this loft downtown that looks pretty great in the pictures.”

“But we’re looking to rent and that loft is for sale only. You heard the estate agent.” TK sighed.

“We can at least go take a look. They might change their mind.”

TK rolled his eyes and gave Jessica a look that said “See what I’m dealing with here?”

Jessica decided it was best to stay out of it and focus on preparing their food.

---

After that day it was a long time before Jessica saw either of them again.

TK had stopped by her truck a few times with a female paramedic she learnt was his coworker Nancy, and Carlos had come by on his own once or twice.

They both looked tired and miserable and while Jessica wasn’t one to pry, she was curious about what was going on.

She decided to bite the bullet and ask the next time Carlos came by.

“No TK today?” she asked, hoping she sounded at least a little casual.

“No.” he said, sounding a little harsher than he’d meant to. “We broke up.”

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

He shrugged.

“It is what it is.” He paid for his food and left.

The next time she saw him winter had well and truly hit Austin and he’d asked for a favour. Lunch for a group of people seeking shelter from the storm in a nearby furniture store.

It was a big order but business had been slow because of the bad weather so she said yes.

“I know it’s a lot but I can pay extra if needed.”

Jessica shook her head.

“I could use a little help preparing it all though.”

“Sure. Tell me what to do.” Carlos said as he opened the side door, shrugged off his jacket and pushed up his sleeves.

“If you’re ever fed up with being a cop, I could use an extra pair of hands at the truck. And you actually know what you’re doing in a kitchen, unlike some teenager I have to train.”

He’d given her a small smile and told her he’d keep it in mind.

---

Winter turned into spring and business started to pick up again.

Jessica focused on her work but every time she saw someone in either an Austin PD or Austin fire uniform, she wondered how Carlos and TK were doing. If they were back together or had gone their separate ways for good.

She’d considered asking her sister for an update again but with her first nephew being born, it slipped her mind whenever she was with her or they talked on the phone.

Some of TK’s coworkers had become regulars at her truck too but she told herself to stay professional and not ask anything. She didn’t know these people, they were her customers.

She made small talk with them, just like every other customer, and that was that.

Until one morning, a few days after a building not far from her truck had collapsed, and the street had been full of rubble and people covered in dust, reminding her of the images of 9/11 she’d seen on tv so often over the years, there they were again.

Together. Holding hands, sharing kisses, looking happy. Happier than she’d ever seen them.

It made her happy knowing they had found their way back to each other.

She watched them for a moment, wondering if they would come up to the truck or were simply passing through on their way somewhere.

“Why don’t we just get tacos?” she heard TK ask. “They don’t need all of your fancy snacks, they’re our friends, they won’t mind.”

“I know… but I want it to be special. I want to always remember it.”

“Do you think you’ll forget it if we don’t have four different kinds of cheese?” TK stepped in front of Carlos and slipped his hands into his open jacket, around his waist.

“No…” Carlos trailed off and kissed the grin off TK’s face. “Just humour me ok? Let me have this.”

TK laughed a little.

“You can have everything you want baby, for the rest of our lives.”

They shared another kiss and Jessica almost felt like she was intruding on a private moment and made herself look away.

It was still early but she could do some prep work for the lunch rush.

“Hey, are you open for business yet?” she heard a now familiar voice ask from behind her a little while later. She turned around and saw Carlos and TK standing there with their arms around each other.

She smiled at them.

“For you guys? Always.”

“Good. Because we’re celebrating, and I miss your salsa.” TK told her.

“Apparently my cooking isn’t good enough for him anymore.” Carlos joked.

“You’re the best chef in the world, baby, but nothing compares to Jessica’s salsa.”

“Well my salsa has missed you too.” Jessica told them. “We both haven’t seen you in ages. I was beginning to think you’d moved away.”

“We did almost go to New York a while ago.” TK mused. “But our future is here.”

“My future is wherever you are. Even if that’s in New York.” Carlos vowed and the two of them shared a kiss, completely wrapped up in each other.

Jessica briefly wondered if they realised they were still standing in front of her truck or if they’d forgotten about the world around them altogether.

“We actually got engaged this morning.” TK told her after coming back down to earth when they broke the kiss.

“That’s great! Congratulations!” she said and found she was genuinely happy for them.

“TK proposed to me at 3:18 this morning.” Carlos said, beaming.

“And he said yes.” TK added.

“We haven’t even told our families and friends yet.”

“Wait, I’m the first person you told?” Jessica asked them.

“Yeah, yeah you are.” TK confirmed. “Some of our friends are coming over this afternoon and we’re going to tell them… and we should probably call our parents later too…” he trailed off.

“But this one was craving tacos and well… I can’t say no to him.” Carlos added with a smile.

---

Over the next few months business started to pick up more, Jessica hired someone to help her out part time, and TK and Carlos stopped by regularly for lunch, or just a catch up and some of her now famous salsa.

She’d heard everything from their search for a perfect wedding venue, and their frustrations on their parents taking over, to the giddy happiness when everything had been taken care of.

It was late one night in May when Jessica heard a car coming closer as she was in the middle of cleaning up and closing up for the night.

A pair of headlights turned onto the street and blinded her as they came closer.

She held up her hand to shield her eyes until thankfully the driver parked the car and turned off the engine.

She heard the car doors open and close but it wasn’t until they were right in front of her that she recognised Carlos and TK.

She smiled at them and tried to blink away the lights dancing in front of her eyes.

“Hi guys.”

“Hey.” TK replied and leaned on the truck. “I know we’re super later and you probably just want to go home… but I’m starving and we were hoping you would still have some leftovers? Of anything.”

“Uhm sure, I can throw something together for you.” Jessica told him and took a good look at the two of them. They were dressed in suits, looking smart but also kind of tired.

“You’re the best.” TK said dramatically and closed his eyes briefly as Carlos chuckled and pressed a kiss to his temple. “I feel like the only thing I’ve eaten today is a piece of cake.”

“That’s because that is the only thing you’ve eaten today.” Carlos reminded him. “You didn’t even look at the buffet.”

“Yeah, well, I was kind of busy.” TK said and leaned in for a kiss. “Busy marrying the love of my life.”

Jessica nearly dropped the container she’d been holding.

“You guys got married?”

The two of them nodded and held up their hands to show her their wedding rings.

“Today?”

“Yeah. Officially about…” Carlos started, quickly checking the time on his phone. “10 hours ago now.” He showed her a picture of himself and TK holding hands, standing in front of one of their friends who was officiating their marriage.

“Wow. Congratulations.” Jessica said sincerely. “This is on the house.” She put the take out container on the counter. “Call it my wedding gift for my two most loyal customers.”

They thanked her and showed her a few more pictures.

“We’re flying out to Hawaii in the morning for our honeymoon. 8 days in paradise as a gift from our parents.” Carlos told her while TK devoured the food. “So we should probably get going to get some sleep before our flight.”

TK nodded and held out his taco to feed Carlos a bite.

“Good?”

“Very.”

“Told you late night tacos was a good idea.”

Carlos nodded and stole another bite.

“Hey, get your own!” TK protested but Carlos just grinned.

“You just promised to share your life with me. That includes tacos.” He joked.

“I don’t remember that part of our vows, Reyes.”

“It’s Reyes-Strand now.” Carlos said and Jessica watched TK melt a little at the reminder.

They talked for a few more minutes and promised to stop by with pictures once they were back from their honeymoon.

“Enjoy Hawaii.” Jessica called out to them as they walked back to their car. Carlos’ arm around TK’s waist, TK leaning into him and feeding him bites of his taco.

She smiled to herself, thinking this is what true love looked like, and hoped one day she would find a love like theirs.

[theghostofashton]

Hi, I am really enjoying your Olympic AU. The thing is I always like to be clear about timeline and small details while reading to enjoy the story to the fullest. I just want to know how old are Carlos and TK in this AU? Has Carlos won Olympic medal before or that was his first Olympic when he got injured? How much time actually he took to come back after injury? There is a reference of TK being a three times Olympic medalist. Did he won all three in one Olympic? Do they compete opposite to each other or they compete in different events?

If answer to any of these is a spoiler, feel free not to answer. I can understand. Thank you.

thank you so much, this is so kind!!

i totally get that, and i'm sorry if anything's been unclear!

they're both around 21-22, a bit younger than canon. my hc for birthdays/ages is tk was born in december 1993, and carlos was born in june 1994. this story takes place in early 2016, so tk would be 22 and carlos would be 21

the reason for that has to do with gymnastics as a sport. because it's very difficult on the body, athletes tend to retire young. men will sometimes go to their mid-late twenties, and sometimes even their 30s, but that's not everyone. (for additional context, the recent men's team that competed in paris had an average age of 22).

carlos did not go to the olympics prior to the one they're currently training for – basically, he competed at olympic trials in 2012 to make the london team (he would have been 18), but fell on vault and tore his acl, taking him out of contention for the team. he had surgery, and the recovery timeline is usually around a year for an injury like that. carlos took a little more time off than that (more detail about this will come in future chapters). the thing about time off in gymnastics is that it is likely that you'll have to start from the basics when you're back, because you lose skills fairly quickly, so he would've needed time to build back up to a level where he could be competitive for the 2016 olympics, before starting to officially train (this is where he is when the fic starts)

yes, tk won 3 olympic medals in london! gold on floor, silver on vault, and bronze in the team competition. (as an aside, this fic does exist in kind of its own universe, because realistically, this probably wouldn't have happened in rio. in women's gymnastics, the US is incredibly dominant and has been for years, but they are nowhere close to that in men's. japan and china are huge, russia's also pretty dominant, etc. the US men's team was very much not in the position to win team bronze, and nowhere close to one of their members winning a gold on floor. the US men won bronze in paris and that was absolutely huge because it wasn't really expected)

in regards to competing, they'll both be doing pretty much the same thing. the way gymnastics works at the olympics, there is first a team qualification round where teams complete in six apparatuses (vault, floor, pommel horse, still rings, parallel bar, and high/horizontal bar) to both make team final and event finals. the top 8 gymnasts in each individual apparatus go on to compete in the event final for that particular apparatus, and the top 8 countries make the team final. the top 24 all around scores (adding up all the scores on each of the six apparatuses) go on to compete in the all-around final.

in this fic, tk's strengths are vault and floor, and carlos's are high bar and parallel bars. if on the olympic team, tk would likely make vault and floor finals, but possibly no others, while carlos would likely make both bar finals. they both do compete on all the events, however, to possibly make one of those 24 spots for the all-around final, and also to be able to help the team as much as possible in the team competition. so technically, if they both made the all around final, they'd be competing against each other, but otherwise, they're competing together for their team, and against all the other gymnasts that make any event final they qualify into.

i hope that makes sense!! gymnastics is a pretty confusing sport and took me a while to wrap my head around so feel free to ask any follow ups and i'd be happy to go into more detail :)

[carlos-in-glasses]

(Pressed up against your window, tapping)

POET FIC-

POET FIC-

Poet fic online tomorrow???!!

Please have this picture of my cat and her banana in exchange-

Kerrrryyy!!!! Thank you so much for the cat picture! She looks very happy with her banana.

Posting indeed starts tomorrow unless unforeseen circumstances get in the way. Which hopefully they shall not!

I have just had my penulimate read through of ch1 and I'm excited! I really do love this fic. It's angsty and fluffy and smutty, it's canon compliant but is kind of a sports AU too, it's a cosy tale, it's an odyssey.

Here is another little snippet from chapter 1 (please enjoy how I have said 'law enforcement' for Carlos' job because we don't know if he'll be a ranger straight away in season 5 lol. Until we know that, he is Carlos Reyes: Law Enforcer:

TK pulls away before he coughs straight into Carlos’ mouth. “Oh, baby, I’m so disgusting. I’m going to make you so sick.”

Carlos’ brow furrows with concern, though sweetly he maintains the ink-spill pupils and flushed cheeks of arousal as he presses the pads of his fingers against TK’s neck, feeling his glands before touching his forehead again. As a paramedic, TK finds it hilarious when Carlos launches into nurse-mode with so much confidence. He isn’t poor at it or unknowledgeable by any means – he’s a highly able first-aider, a professional necessity for a career in law enforcement, but he’s always more officious about it than he needs to be, like a matron. “Bed, now,” he commands.

“Yes, sir,” TK grins, doing as he’s told but cupping Carlos’ heavy balls before he goes.

Pleasantly humored by the sense that Carlos might have forgiven him, it seems like a good idea to TK to lie in bed performatively, with [Redacted]. Carlos arrives at the door with two steaming mugs that say Husband No.1 and Husband No.2 respectively, and stops in his tracks.

And here is the banner I've made, sans title....:

[strandnreyes]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

@rmd-writes @welcometololaland @three-drink-amy thanks for providing me with procrastination material <3

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

58

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

957,577. with the unpublished words of meet you after dark, I'll be very close to 1,000,000. I'm almost certain I'll hit it by the end of the year (at least that's my goal)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

911 Lone Star

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

anchor up to me, love (this being my top fic by kudos is so shocking to me lol it's just a 3x05 coda that I think I wrote the day after the episode aired, I really didn't think it was that special)

pushing boundaries

haunted by the ghost of you

one single thread

yours for the weekend

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes, I try to respond to them all! That being said, I've very behind right now but I promise I'll get back to you!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

hold on - This is probably the only 'unhappy' ending I have, but it's more so just unresolved because it's a 3x01 coda written before any of the other episodes in that arc aired. and 3x01 is not a happy episode lol

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

they pretty much all do in general so I don't think I could pick one specifically that stands out

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Not really, but it has happened a few times

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Yes, but usually incorporated within a story, not as a standalone. I think the only PWP fic I wrote is when push comes to shove. and even that has some plot

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

No crossovers

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

As far as I'm aware, no

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I don't think so

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Not officially

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

Carlos and TK <3

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

idk if I can call this a WIP, but there's always been an idea in my mind about writing a fic inspired by the book Carlos was writing in as if you were a mythical thing. it's a 1970s camp counselor slasher murder mystery style fic that I wrote a little bit of for this prompt fill, but I don't know if a full au will ever come out of it. shame because the playlist and moodbord would slap

16. What are your writing strengths?

world building, banter, angst that feels like a punch in the gut, giving the happy ending room to breathe

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

smut I feel like. need to learn new ways to say the same exact thing

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I think it makes total sense and feels authentic for it to be there every once in a while for non-crucial story details if a character speaks another language

19. First fandom you wrote for?

911 Lone Star

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

I'm going to go with your first string. I think that has my most full-fledged character arcs and full circle storyline. It's my longest fic and I never really got sick of writing it, which is a pretty good indicator that I enjoyed it

no pressure tagging @reyesstrand @carlos-in-glasses @theghostofashton @orchidscript @freneticfloetry + anyone else!

[reyesstrand]

20 questions for fic writers

thank you for the tags @welcometololaland @strandnreyes & @alrightbuckaroo <33 this was a much needed distraction tonight!

1. how many works do you have on ao3?

86

2. what’s your total ao3 word count?

335,298

3. what fandoms do you write for?

predominantly 911 lone star. the only other thing i’ve dabbled in recently was the old guard

4. what are your top 5 fics by kudos? (i’m going to exclude prompt collections here!)

like a bright new dream (first i love you)

wanna be still with you (2x08 coda)

lit the spark (that set a fire) (firefighter!carlos au)

take me back to the light (1x08 coda)

to be reborn (3x04 coda)

5. do you respond to comments? why or why not?

i do!! even if it takes a few days (where i’m likely just staring at nice words in my inbox and using them as fuel to brighten my mood) i love having that connection, and seeing maybe what stood out to someone who read my silly little story

6. what is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

any of my codas that i wrote immediately after an episode aired—my 3x02 spec fic some and now none of you, or my 3x07 coda/3x08 spec fic not a victory march—simply because we didn’t know the outcome for these storylines yet, and i let myself get angsty.

7. what’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

i think 95% of my fics have happy endings but to shout one out in particular….hm. i’d say got real love maybe—truly just. fluff. and the boys coming home to each other and making that official. i also think the proposal bliss in (not afraid of) living on a fault line has got to be up there as well

8. do you get hate on fics?

nothing major

9. do you write smut? if so, what kind?

i’ve always stuck to very implied levels of smut in my fics….idk i always worry i won’t be able to make it sound good when there’s people out there who do it brilliantly. however i’m challenging myself with food fic which does have some smut (with feelings. oh the feelings)

10. do you write crossovers? what’s the craziest one you’ve written?

crossovers aren’t really my thing!!

11. have you ever had a fic stolen?

not that i know of

12. have you ever had a fic translated?

nope, would be honoured though!

13. have you ever co-written a fic before?

love helping with brainstorming bits, but have never actually co-written anything

14. what’s your all time favourite ship?

tarlos brainrot always and forever

15. what’s a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

i have tons of ideas that i never commit to, which sucks. off the top of my head…the andrea & tk fic that i just never got into a flow with

16. what are your writing strengths?

i think i’m strongest when it comes to setting a scene; when exploring what that character is feeling. i like to think i can kind of evoke a mood through imagery? i’m most comfortable when it comes to introspection and exposition and general narrative

17. what are your writing weaknesses?

i tell myself i’m getting better, but i’d say dialogue is the constant thing that throws me off. i also worry i over-write sometimes

18. thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

i like it, if it’s being done with good intentions and suits the character. i’d imagine for heavier dialogue it would make sense to ask for someone who speaks the language to read it over to make sure it’s accurate

19. first fandom you wrote for?

i think the get down, back in like 2017

20. favourite fic you’ve written?

i can’t choose, so i present to you two wildly different honeymoons. first, dream this night away—almost 8.5k words after a seven month gap between posting when my writer’s block was at an ultimate high. then of course, to which there is no reply—i’ve been growing happier and happier with my writing especially with these last few fics of mine, and this one is something i’m just super proud of, and the support on it definitely brought me to tears a bit ajdnskdn

no pressure tagging @carlos-in-glasses @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @paperstorm @tailoredshirt @theghostofashton @inflarescent @birdclowns @liminalmemories21 @rmd-writes @heartstringsduet @freneticfloetry @orchidscript @tellmegoodbye @safeashousespdf and leaving an open tag as well!! <333

[freneticfloetry]

tarlos top five

@rmd-writes asked for my top five tarlos scenes, and after some soul searching (because season four shook some shit up), my list is as follows:

4x16 | “Hi. You’re TK, I’m Carlos, and we’re soulmates.”

GAMECHANGER. Yes, it confirmed what most of us already knew: Carlos was gone from the first second. But the execution is so beautiful, from the impetus to the ease and certainty of Carlos’ declaration to TK’s confession in turn (“why do you think I ran?” is the most TK Strand way ever to do this, and oddly enough, the easiest to believe). My favorite thing, though, will forever be the exact way this was worded and performed — that “Hi,” which is unrivaled levels of perfection (seriously, it sits somewhere between addressing a lost child and a spooked puppy, which is just brilliant as a line read, and every time I hear it I want to toss flowers at Rafa’s feet), but more than that, the fact that he says “you’re TK” before introducing himself, because the most important thing to Carlos is that TK know who he is first. True love at its finest.

3x04 | “Hey, baby. Breathe. Breathe, breathe.”

This was, up until the season three finale, the most fanfic shit I have ever seen aired on national television. Seriously, this is straight out of somebody’s multi-chapter slow burn whump fic wet dream, and watching it live, I was living. His raspy voice. Those hands clenched into terrified little fists. That breathing. The script said “he takes a deep breath” and Rafa was like “BET.” But beyond that, we had that whole bedside missive with Carlos lamenting about consent — that he couldn’t hold TK’s hand, run his fingers through his hair, kiss his head. And the fact that coma TK heard all this, woke up and reached out his hand as permission, and then Carlos did all those things, in that order… Deceased. It still gives me fits. (I am also counting the Tarloft reveal as part of this favorite moment, because I can’t not. “Push” is just perfection.)

4x18 | “We both ended our vows with ‘heart.’”

The vows. The dancing. The Sondheim serenade. The cake cutting (which I’m counting as aired-in-canon, dammit, because it is beyond precious). The honeymoon hand holding. Just, the wedding. All of it.

3x13 l “I love you.” “I know.”

They went Han and Leia on me and it wasn’t even cheesy. Honestly, this whole episode was so important to their growth — their sense of security, their confidence and understanding in each other — to their story, that it couldn’t be left out. Carlos realizes that the best way to help TK is to let him get help where he needs it, even if it leaves him feeling a little helpless, and TK realizes that he still has someone in his corner who’s invested in him, his sobriety, and his happiness, even with his mom gone. The fact that that “I know” holds so much meaning (all while “Transatlanticism” plays on)… Gah. Just beautiful. And on top of all that, Carlos got to be funny!

3x18 | “Marry me.”

“For the first time in my life, the love that I feel is infinitely more powerful than the fear of losing it.” Yep, that’s where I lost it. Because I thought back to baby TK in 1x08, who was being a dick to a cancer dog because he couldn’t fall in love with one more thing that he could lose. The growth. The maturity. The love. 3:18 am, y’all. (The engagement reveal counts as an extension of this as well, because that entire adorable “yes way” exchange between Team Tarloft, with Carlos grinning and TK bouncing and everybody figuring it out from context clues but Mateo is officially the most fanfic thing I’ve ever seen aired on national television, and I love it beyond reason and measure.)

Honorable mention shoutouts to the police station and the airport tarmac, which were knocked down the list by season four things. I still love you!

Tagging @ambiguouspenny, @hoko-onchi-writes, and @mixtapestar, because I know they haven’t been yet.

[welcometololaland]

Round Up - Part 3

Thanks to everyone who participated this week. The theme was: rec a feel-good fanwork (a fanwork that gives you the warm fuzzies). If I've missed any, please let me know.

Disclaimer: This is a compilation of works i've been tagged in or which appear in the #fic rec friday tag relevant to the weekly theme. The recommendations below do not represent a personal curation of works. Please read at your own discretion. Heed tags and ratings on each individual work. Keep yourself safe, friends!

911 Lone Star (Part 3)

GIFS (part 2)

tarlos in the loft by @lutavero

tarlos leg touches by @lutavero

tk/tarlos set by @ronenrubinstein

TK 'feral cat turned domesticated' Strand gifset by @lutavero

TK and social media by @tailoredshirt

TK Being Grossed Out by Owen by @lutavero

tk doing background shit by @maxbegone

TK sleeping on Carlos' arm by @whattarush

TK Strand him, him, him gifset by @maxbegone

tk strand terms of endearment by @lutavero

the 126 + tarot cards by @rafael-silva

The 126 "Barbie" posters by @maygrant

the 126 celebrating each other by @guardian-angle22

the 126 in color by @ayan-sukkhapisit

the women of the 911ls by @rafael-silva

there will be another by @3416

Videos

francesca by @lonestardust

to build a home by @velvet-lnk

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Fan art

Comic by @petricorah

Fic

Ignition Point by Yuu_chi

Check Please!

Podfic

The Haus Official Ship Names (and fic) by @sweatersinthesummer and read by various.

The Mechanics of Poetry written by @omgericzimmermann and read by @cottagepodfics

Due South

Fic

With Six You Get Eggroll by @cesperanza

God of War: Ragnarok

Fan art

prodigal son - a sort of epilogue for God of War Ragnarok by @stil-lindigo

HP

Podfic

Away Childish Things written by @letteredlettered and read by @thirdeye1234

Heartstopper

Podfic

Depollute me (pretty baby) written by firstaidkit and read by rosezain

First fluttering (of its silken wings) written by @swiftlythebest and read by @sweatersinthesummer

Loki

Fan art

Cat variant Loki by @wolfpup026

Fics

this is our time now by fallingintodivinity

GIFs

showing characters are in love without actually saying it by @runnyeggsnham

My Hero Academia

Podfic

Could I but teach the hundredth part written by terra_incognita and read by Annapods

Loss and recovery written by capcapnk and read by sisi_rambles

Too much at stake but too late to change written by Chrome and read by sisi_rambles

[thisbuildinghasfeelings]

I got to 1x08 in my Lone Star rewatch last night, and it did not disappoint! Aside from the introduction of Buttercup, my favorite part of the episode is Carlos by TK's hospital bed. At this point in the season, there's been so little Tarlos content for several episodes, and even here they don't actually interact because TK is unconscious the entire time, but it's still so good. Most (or maybe all) of that is thanks to Rafa, of course. His face! His shiny eyes! His voice when he says, "I don't want to impose"!!! And then when he's sitting there, running his fingers through TK's hair and gently rubbing his arm just under the sleeve of his hospital gown...it's almost too much for me!! It hits even harder now that we know for sure that Carlos believed this man to be his soulmate.

Watching this now, I can't help but think about @paperstorm's installment of the missing moments series for this episode, Collateral damage. In the fic, Carlos tells an unconscious TK that he needs more time because "I haven’t convinced you to let me love you, yet." That line is permanently embedded in my brain. It's basically canon to me because watching the episode, you can see it written all over Carlos' face!

The hospital scene also provides us with the first really good Owen and Carlos moment of the series. I don't know if Owen previously had any idea that something might be going on between TK and Carlos...he would have potentially seen them on calls together and he would probably have picked up on the fact that TK had been seeing someone, but I'm thinking that he didn't have much of an idea or at least not anything too concrete to go on. (This is definitely supported by the fact that Owen had clearly never asked TK about Carlos until after TK wakes up from the coma) But the second he saw Carlos' face in that hospital room, he knew. Owen sees Carlos there and I think he realizes, "this is someone who loves my son." And he's so grateful for it. After everything TK has been through, both before coming to Austin and also in the very moment since he's currently in a coma, it means so much to Owen to see someone caring about him. Even though Owen doesn't know Carlos all that well yet, I think he can already tell that Carlos is a good person and someone who will be good for his son. I have so many feelings about Owen and Carlos, even more so now after the season 4 finale and the fact that they're official father/son-in-law!

[sugdenlovesdingle]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers! Spread the self-love 💞

Ok this is super hard because I feel like I always mention the same fics for this kind of thing so I'm going to try limit myself to the past year.

Date night (buck/tommy) Bobby and Athena spot Buck and Tommy out on a date together. A little outsider POV-ish that I wrote in an hour and my first time really writing bucktommy AND bathena. I just really want Buck's pseudo parents to "officially" give Tommy their stamp of approval. I know we've already had the scene of Bobby approving, but I want Athena too - though judging by Angela smiling in that zoom interview when Oliver was talking about Buck's relationship with Tommy, we might just get it.

Buck's bisexual speedrun (buck/tommy) taking it slow? we don't know her. Buck and Tommy both going from 0 to 60 in their relationship in .02 seconds. The bucktommy brainrot is real, people. This was based on a post (or ask i don't remember) I saw in the tag where someone said the way things were going with them, Buck would probably show up to work one day soon and be like "Oh yeah Tommy and I got married in Vegas, my name is Kinard now. How was your weekend?"

Love online (tarlos) Luisa takes matters into her own hands to fix Carlos' love life. I just really liked the idea of interfering sisters - and the last line that I basically wrote the rest of the fic around.

Undercover (tarlos) A season 4 what if...? Where Carlos' big secret is him going undercover instead of his marriage to Iris. Inspired by this gifset of Rafa in some other show (I think) playing a barman. (I wanted to link it but the link on my AO3 is dead - the OP might have deleted it or something) This is a little older but I got a comment on this a few days ago asking for more. I'd kind of abandoned it/forgotten about it but it made me dig up the file on my computer and found a half finished next chapter, so I'm going to try (not making any promises) to update it in the not too distant future.

View from the taco truck (tarlos) My season 5 countdown exchange fic - TK and Carlos' relationship through the eyes of their favourite food truck vendor. The idea has been knocking around my head for ages and I finally (eventually) decided to write it... but I'm honestly not sure about it. it "sounded" better in my head (as usual). But thank you to everyone that's read it and liked it and left kudos or a comment!!

Thanks for including me ❤ I'm a little late to the party so I think all of my fic writing mutuals have done this by now. If you haven't and want to - consider this your 'tag'!

[after-nine-at-the-oasis]

AAAAHHHHHHH THEY'RE HOME!!!

YESSSS MY LOVELIES

AWWW the girls going to Tommy immediately :')) they must be so glad she's okay <33

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH CARLOS BEE LINING IT FOR TK 🥺🥺🥰❤️❤️❤️😭😭❤️❤️

STOPPPPP I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

THAT HUGGGGGGG 😭😭😭😭🥺🥺🥺🥰🥰❤️

Sobbing screaming crying shaking throwing up thank you <333

"Babe" STOOOOPPPPPP (never stop) 😭😭🥰🥰🥰

I love them so much guys <333

Sorry just had to appreciate the little Tarlos moment 🥰🥰

AAAAHHHHHHH them y'all :'))

(I'm not sorry at all lol)

Awww hey guys :')))

It is really nice that he was there <333 it shows that he cares about them (Tommy and the girls) first, before other stuff (not like Melody but yk)

Oop lol o.o true though, kinda creepy, Mel xD (as in true what she said, not that she's creepy)

Yeahh maybe go help xD

TK and Carlos just standing there being in love like 👀😐😐😳👀 xD

I mean hey they first talked about it at your wedding :')) you're a great example guys <333

Aww yeah bye guys too lol <3

Aww as in cute, but I will miss them xD

Also I love TK's jacket lol

Anyway goodbye Tarlos <3333 see you next episode 🥰

I love them so much <33

LOL "Good luck" XDDD iconic

Carlosss you not sharing that it's also you was crazyyy

I need the missing scene fic where he told him guys xD or I'll have to write it lol

Aww hey guys :'))

Yesss thank you for apologizing Trevor <33 needed

I do think meeting his ex wife should happen at some point but it should not be an ultimatum <33 exactly

:'OO yeahh Tommy!!! Aww that's sweet and great :'D I'm glad she's willing to, I think it will genuinely help things <33

Yeah, today certainly puts some stuff into perspective :'))

How specifically though?

Ohhhh :'oooo knowing who's gonna be with her girls 🥺🥺🥺 STOPPPP THAT'S SO CUUTE 😭😭😭😭💔❤️🥺 <333

I love them so much guys <333 🥰🥰🥰

AWWW yeahhh yayyy they're so cute :')))

AAAAHHHHHH happy for them :')) I love them <33

OOP Judd and Owen talking in the office o.o

Awww I'm glad they're back :'))

Aww come on guys :( xdd don't be like that

Nahh I don't think he is ;)

I've got a feeling he ain't lol

They wouldn't just do that to you, writers or Owen lol

XD Mateo

Lol not the inside thoughts 💀 crazy Paul

Do you think Marjan's making them do the work since she can't really use her hands lol

Because that would be funny xD

Ooop okay

Ayy aww all my babeys gathering together :))

Ooh lol "I'd like your team to hear this" professional to immediate ":oo :)) It's tiiiime" they know xD

Also hi guys <3

Glad everybody's okay 🥰🥰

Oop!

YAYYYY!!!! :DDDD

JUDD'S BACK 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥰🥰🥰❤️❤️!!!! :DDD

YEAAHHHH JUDD'S BACK Y'ALL :D!! HE'S BACK GUYS :)))!!

OFFICIALLY 🥳🥳

YAYYYY

Awww :'))

No guys! I don't think so

Yeahhh no

OUAGHOOP

PROBIE :OOO!!!

I was thinking that would be it (from seeing some interview stuff pre season) :O :DD

Impressed they actually had the guts to do it!

WHOOO NICE JUDD :D

Either way you're back 🥰🥰

LOL he's being a little silly with it, as is his right xD

See because you can kinda push him around a bit and joke with him but ultimately he does have that experience, he's not like a leave behind on calls if you need to leave someone type of guy you know lol

They know <3 and hopefully no one forgets it

OOOOP tiiiime!!!

Imagine if it was some random guy xD like some random background character lol

Imagine how funny that would be XD

I don't think they'll actually do it but that would be amazing lol

Oop okay wrote it down!

LOL yeah waffling for real xD

"Two probies" crazyyy 💀 xD

Okayy okayyy

Oop Marjan speaking up :o

XD poor Owen, he just keeps going through it with this lol

Is it about her defying orders?

I mean she doesn't care toooo much but this was important soo idk ┐⁠(⁠ ⁠∵⁠ ⁠)⁠┌ 😬

Ohhh because she rushed over the hat :O :'O

And still didn't notice because she thought of it as done o.o :'o

Crazyyy

Good point, but it's understandable Marjan :((

Just like "Uhh. . well, it doesn't really, but I appreciate it. I was gonna say James" XDD

Anyway lol

Yeah, it's understandable, but understandable mistakes aren't for going for lieutenant - it's being above the expectations :( :'/ <33.

And that's Paul :'))

They both would've done really well, for real, but I'm glad it's Paul (presumably; and just like I would be if it was Marjan, but especially after what happened in the episode - the only other way would've been to have her feeling guilty and like she doesn't deserve it, I think) and I'm glad they're gonna be okay over it <33

Aaand. . ?

OWEN WAS GONNA SAY THE EXACT SAME THING

WHOOOOOOO 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥰🥰❤️❤️❤️!!

CONGRATULATIONS PAUL :'DDDD 🥳🥳🎊🎉!!!

On becoming the new Lieutenant of the 126 :'))) 🥳🥳🥰🥰🥰🥰!!!

LIEUTENANT PAUL STRICKLAND :DDD!!!! WELCOME ABOARD 🥰🥰🥰🥳🥳🎊🎉🎉🎉❤️❤️🎊!!!

I love him so much <3333 🥰

And all of them :') :D

Awww lol look at them <333

Awww, all them hugging him 🥰🥰

Hmm, what's he whispering in her ear?

Was she the original one on the paper o.o?

I was thinking he maybe wasn't being completely honest when he said he couldn't have put it better himself - besides just that he probably wouldn't have not-quite-berated Marjan lol

Hmmm, interesting :o 🤔!

LOL the sandwich is crazy xD

LOLL his look XDD

Mateo knows his place a little bit ("unless you have a problem with that")

But also he deserves it a little bit and Judd knows his too :'))

LOL "Crunchy or creamy" YEAHHH we love him being cool about it :'DD

So different from the Judd of season one <333 I absolutely love that for him, this character development and his journey throughout the 5 seasons :')) really great, iconic <333

LOL the others adding on to xD

Nahhh that's all crazy xD

Not the tea too 💀

XDD loll y'allllll

He's like "ahh nah I don't think so" with all that lol

Ahh I'm glad they can be silly with it, and that he's back home ❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰

Awww them y'all <33

The sillies 🥰🥰🥰❤️ :')

YESSS I love the music and just them hanging out and loving each other <333 and slo mo a bit I believe

I was just thinking about how I'd love the season to end the same way season 3 did, moments like this (and this is the beginning of season 3 - season 3 was really good and especially good at having bookends and feeling really satisfying and tied up :) <3) - absolutely love this <333

Aww Owen :'))

Come on, go down and join them and party with them <3 🥰

?

:'OOO Ohh it's the brother :'ooo

STOPPPPPP y'all I'm not okay 😭😭😭❤️❤️🥺🥺🥺🥰

Yes Owen, thank you for keeping your promise :')

Aww Robert I bet :(?

Yep <333 💔❤️🥺❤️

It always sneaks up on you in those moments :'/ :'( :')

It'll be okay Owen <3

Not his death, that's not okay, but you'll feel okay again, eventually <333

Gosh what a good episode, and such a great ending :')))

AUAGH loved it :')) :DD 🥰🥰🥰🥰❤️!!

[theghostofashton]

ooh, 4x18 coda 2 for the wip ask game? <3 -maddie/reyesstrand

hi maddie! thank you <3

so i wrote a 4x18 coda right after the finale about carlos's grief and his journey to the wedding. it ended with the scene in the loft where carlos proposes, and for a while now i've been wanting to write another one about the wedding and the aftermath. i'm imagining it would be a collection of moments leading up to/during/after the wedding/honeymoon and beyond as carlos grieves, possibly a 5+1 style fic? i'm not quite sure yet tbh i haven't really gotten far into mapping it out but yeah carlos's journey with all of that and tk being there for him.

i don't have a ton written for it but here's a snippet:

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. He’s thought about the rabbi’s words since he heard them for the first time. The way TK completed the statement and the way he looked at him afterward, like he was precious, has stuck with him. Being TK’s beloved. Belonging to him. It’s everything Carlos has wanted for so long, and now it’s finally official, and there’s something about it, especially after everything, that feels so comforting. The past few days have been a whirlwind. It feels like his entire life has been upended. He clearly doesn’t know himself as well as he thought he did, but he knows he’s TK’s beloved. He is holy to him, and that means something. Those words in Hebrew mean something, and they’re all Carlos has right now. He can’t help but cling to them.

[beautifulhigh]

♦️◻️ | for the headcanon asks ~

♦ - quirks/hobbies headcanon

TK is much more into working out than Carlos is. It's his way of making things up to his body: I'm sorry I put all that crap into you, I promise I will take care of you now. He goes running at least three times a week, although it took him a while to get used to doing it in the Texas heat. He and Carlos tried to go running together a few times but it always got competative with bets which ranged from fun ("I'll let you do that thing you like") to less fun ("you're not allowed to complain about the radio station in the car for a month").

Carlos is a reader and you can tell what's going on with him by what he's reading. The more stressed out he is the more involved his books are because he needs something to lose himself in and take his mind off things. For that reason TK loves it when Carlos is reading trashy and irreverant magazines.

■ - Bedroom/house/living quarters headcanon

Generally speaking, they fell into living together easily and it just seemed like it was meant to be when TK officially moved in. Carlos made space in the closet (which TK made multiple jokes about) and they spent a week sorting through what things they now had double of to blend their stuff.

And then, when they settled into the every day, something seemed to shift. The reality of being around the other person 24/7 (work excepting) wore off and all the little annoyances that they couldn't get away from anymore became big annoyances.

TK making his smoothies of a morning before his shift when Carlos was coming off an overnight. Carlos' need to have everything in its place at all times.

It never got into anything huge but they both started to worry about whether they could do this - neither of them had had a relationship be this kind of serious before. They both talked independently to their parents and both sets reassured their boy that they just needed time to settle in to this. The honeymoon phase was over and they were finding out the bits of real life but it would be OK.

Two days later TK comes home off the shift from hell and he just wants to curl up and eat junk food and watch trashy TV. He doesn't even realise that he's been able to put on his favourite hoodie and pull the snacks from the cupboard with ease until he's halfway through the first episode of some design show. He knew exactly where everything was because it was where it was supposed to be.

Carlos had to pull a double shift the next week and he pretty much sleeps through the whole of the next day out of exhaustion. He's woken up with a soft hand through his hair and smoothie on the bedside table because TK knows it will be easier for him to drink some nutrients rather than try to eat something in this state.

Ask me stuff about characters, 'ships, or my fics

[strandnreyes]

wip wednesday

thank you @alrightbuckaroo !!

not working on much right now as I finish my semester, but this is from the wedding fic I started earlier this year. It’ll likely need a bit of reworking for the details, but I plan on turning it into a coda for the finale

The ceremony seems to go by in a blur.

Carlos doesn’t remember what he says during his vows. He knows he gets some words out, the tears on TK’s cheeks are evidence of that. It’s not as if he isn’t in the exact same state from hearing TK describe his commitment to their love.

When they get home Carlos will give TK the paper he wrote his out on, almost certain he missed some of the things he wanted to say. All the words in the world wouldn’t be able to describe what he’s feeling as he looks into TK’s eyes anyway.

He doesn’t really catch what the officiant says, not much of the ceremony exists to him outside of TK, but his shaky hands slide TK’s ring onto his equally shaky finger when he’s supposed to and he says ‘I do’ with all the conviction in the world.

Time feels like it stops the first time Carlos kisses his husband.

The world quiets to just the two of them and as TK cups his face, his ring pressing into Carlos’ cheek, Carlos feels like every single second of his life has been building up to this moment right here. Every bit of pain, joy, heartache, and worry has been worth it to have TK Strand in his arms right now as his husband.

A part of him will always be with TK, Carlos’ ring on his finger that matches the one on his own. So that no matter where TK is or who he encounters, their marriage is evident to everyone. The thought runs a thrill through Carlos that makes him pull TK in that much closer. Carlos doesn’t think he’s going to be able to let go of him all night.

The kiss is a little salty from the tear that slips down his face and TK’s smiling too much to press his lips very firmly, but it’s perfect. And it’s over way too soon.

tagging @reyesstrand @lovesgalores @carlos-in-glasses @heartstringsduet @paperstorm if you want!

[reyesstrand]

hi! very curious about any director's commentary on 'take this wildness away'! it was one of the first fics I read in the fandom and still a favourite!!

omg thank you!!!

take this wildness away was my take on exploring some of the missing scenes in 2x06 (such as tk talking to carlos about becoming a paramedic and the 126 reacting to the news after it’s official) while also giving carlos a presence in the episode. it brings me back to watching seasons one and two live where we sometimes went weeks without seeing carlos andnsns and so it was fun digging into his brain for this.

i think one of my favourite little moments is carlos realizing just how in his element tk is performing paramedic duties. like he loves him so much and is so amazed by him always and even if it’s terrifying seeing him in danger (and he’s come to accept that loving him will mean being a little stressed about him forever) he’s always gonna be in awe over him!!!!

also. judd head kisses! must include one always <3

director’s cut ask game!

[taralaurel]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love❤

I was watching these all get posted and thought they were so fun and 'lo and behold this has been sitting in my inbox!

As everyone I've seen get tagged is a Tarlos writer, I will stick to a list of my top 5 Tarlos fics that I've written:

1. just coffee

Alternate first meeting involving coffee and a crime.

Why It's In My Top 5: Tarlos being "a pretty good team" stopping a criminal together, plentiful banter

2. grounded

TK comes home to find Carlos sleeping on the job. The babysitting job, that is. The Vega twins and Lou II were just trying to be helpful...

Why It's In My Top 5: weighted blanket TK Strand, Lou II shenanigans, funny banter, hurt/comfort

3. something new

TK and Carlos are barely halfway through their first official date when a familiar face shows up, revealing secrets from TK's past to the man he's only just started to get to know.

Why It's In My Top 5: obligatory Alex fic, supportive Carlos, early Tarlos feels, TK stands up for himself, S1 TK shares actual feelings, "And cops."

4. i wanna hold your hand

After a long shift, TK has an adrenaline crash. His hands shake and he can't help but be brought right back to every other time they trembled like that. The detoxes. The snowstorm. And the one time he waited for them to start after finding out about his uncle.

Why It's In My Top 5: caring Carlos,

5. Lost (And Found)

Carlos is just trying to get through his shift at the bar so he can get back to helping Michelle search the city for her sister.

TK is just waiting for his blind date, Alex, to finally show up.

Both busy looking for something else, somehow - they find each other.

Why It's In My Top 5: alternate first meeting, lots of hurt/comfort, smut, Tarlos falling in love with each other while actively trying *not* to

This is a WIP with 3 chapters posted and sitting at around 12k words posted and 20k words written. It is shaping up to be my longest, and possibly my favorite, Tarlos fic once complete.

BONUS:

If I was including non-Tarlos fics, #1-3 would remain, but be pushed down two slots to include:

I'll Stand By You

A story about coming out, and coming home.

Why It's In My Top 5: found family, all the hurt/comfort, self-acceptance, some of the *BEST* interactions with readers through comments and messages.

Identity Theft

What happens when a kid dresses up as their favorite hero, but gets mistaken as the real deal and kidnapped by a group of villains?

Why It's In My Top 5: some of my best action/fight/suspense scenes I've ever written, readers falling in love with a teeny one-scene OC enough that he gets his own chapter and helps save the day (Jerry the Uber driver for the win)

I believe @lemonlyman-dotcom made a master list of all the self-rec'd fics posted from these earlier this week so you should go check out those authors/stories!!

[pimento-playing-hopscotch]

Work In Progress Wednesday

There's still two and a half hours left in Wednesday, so this counts... I posted this earlier but now I've been tagged so I wanted to officially post it, post it... basically I'm the B99 meme, changed to- "you posted that already- and I will post it again!"

Thank you to @kiloskywalker for the tag, and anyone who reads this and puts up with my ramblings- you're the most, you really are

This is from my Owen and Gwyn have another kid, TK has a little sister fic- this is further down the road from where the story is currently but I've had this scene kicking around my head since I rewatched the episode (you can probably guess which one)

2017 -

Sophie stood frozen in the open doorway. From the telltale purse on the counter, she knew that her mom had beat her home. But that wasn’t as surprising as the fact that the voice she could hear was a male voice, and definitely not Enzo’s. “Do you think this has been going on since the accident?” Sophie heard her father say. “It’s crossed my mind,” she heard her mother answer. “I know one of the guys he met in grief therapy was arrested for dealing”. “How did you know that?” Owen asked. “That’s the part you want to focus on?” Gwyn replied. “No,” Owen answered. “But I talked to him when that happened. He told me that he was fine”. “Owen”. Sophie was always amazed at how many emotions her mother could pack into one word. “Owen, our son is struggling with battling addiction for the third time in his life. You don’t think that maybe, he lied to you?” There was a long pause after that. Sophie took another step into the apartment but she kept her hand on the door; she knew her parents wouldn’t keep having this conversation if they knew she could hear. Finally, Sophie heard her mother say, “Is this you saying that you think I’m wrong?” “No”. Owen answered. “Because I don’t. But if you’re right, that means I’ve been sending someone on calls and putting people’s lives in the hands of someone who’s high off his ass”. More silence followed this. Sophie heard her dad say, “Do you want me to be there? When you tell him?” “No,” Gwyn answered. “I think I should tell him myself”. Sophie let go of the door. It slammed with a loud crack. The view of the dining table was a little obscured, but she could tell that both of her parents had turned around at the noise. “Soph, hi,” Gwyn said, going to greet her daughter. “I didn’t realize what time it was”. “I didn’t know you’d be home yet”. Sophie replied. “Dad, what are you doing here?” “Your mother needed me to sign for something”. He answered. “Sign for what?” Sophie asked. “Is this about TK?” “How much did you hear?” her mother asked her. “Enough”. Sophie said. “To know this has something to do with TK”. “It’s a grown up matter, Sophie,” her mother told her. “Well, then, it’s a good thing I’m eighteen,” Sophie said, dropping her bag on the floor with a thud. “Gwyneth”. Owen interjected. “She’s going to find out”. “Fine”. Gwyn sighed. “I needed your dad, or rather, your brother’s fire captain to sign this to approve your brother not being at work for thirty days while he is in rehab”. “Rehab?” Sophie repeated. “Like, rehab… rehab?” Sophie wasn’t a little kid; she knew that her brother had problems with addiction (she was the one who found his near-lifeless body on the roof alone when she was twelve years old). But packing him up and sending him to rehab; that was a first. “Exactly like rehab, rehab,” her mother answered. “I’m taking your brother to an inpatient facility in California tomorrow”. Sophie had a lot of questions, but knew she had to choose carefully. The window of information her mom would share with her willingly would close very soon. “Why California?” she asked. “Because it’s supposed to be the best”. Gwyn said quietly. “And I want this to be the last time we need to do this”. “Okay”. Sophie said. “Can I…” she wasn’t sure what to say. “What can I do?” “Actually go to school?” her mom said, reaching out and tucking a stray piece of hair back into her daughter’s braid. “Don’t give your dad any trouble? Enzo’s still helping his mom, you’re going to stay with your dad while I’m gone”. “And I have known you slightly longer than Enzo has,” Owen muttered. “You can’t help yourself, can you?” Gwyn sighed. “Sorry”. Owen said. “When are you going to tell him?” “I’m going to see if I can find him tonight”. Gwyn said. She looked back at Sophie. “Do you need anything else to go to your dad’s tonight?” “No”. Sophie shook her head. “Dad, don’t you work today?” “I switched my days off”. Owen answered. For the first time, Sophie noticed how tired both her parents looked.

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No pressure tags: @dreamingofmickeywaffles, @lightningboltreader, @firstprince-history-huh, @ellena-asg, @reyestrandd, @statueinthestone and anyone else who wants to participate