#mysteriousfisherman

[thesorrowoflizards]

@pscentral​ event 15: favorite ship(s)

↳ gert's top three ships of 2023 (in no particular order)

malec, tedependent, mysteriousfisherman

[bi-demon-ium]

nicholas & milligan + describing each other to other people

[bi-demon-ium]

it wouldn't have happened without you!!!!

not to take credit for gert spreading mysteriousfisherman throughout the mbs fandom but every time i see a random post abt them i know didn't come from the original tiny circle of mutuals im like hehe... butterfly effects of my enablement and contributions to the cause...

[mysteriouseggsbenedict]

names Nicholas and Milligan call each other, starting normal and then getting more unhinged:

love

sweetheart/sweetie

cutie

silly

their names but starting with different letters, like “picholas” and “shmilligan” 

milligan once accidentally ate the orange that nicholas was keeping for himself in the kitchen and for the rest of the time nicholas calls him “orange thief” when he’s in silly moods or pretending to be mad

nicholas calls milligan “flower” sometimes because of milligan liking to be outside and garden

milligan calls nicholas “curlicue” especially while he’s stroking his hair or scratching his scalp

nicholas would think of some absurdly long and formal name that involves like every single honorific possible like “sir lord duke mr. milligan wetherall the third junior”

[bi-demon-ium]

[bi-demon-ium]

Nicholas calls his brother with a slightly odd request. Or: Nathaniel is a drama queen, Constance is a budding supervillain, Milligan is a calming presence, and where the FUCK did Number Two get that axe.

[bi-demon-ium]

I Started Shipping It Ironically But Now It's Unironic And I Can't Stop: a happy(?) accident

I Didn’t Think I Shipped It But The Fic Writers for This Ship Really Brought Their A Game: a memoir.

[bi-demon-ium]

actually extremely funny (if sad/horrifying on a deeper level) if while nicholas is brainwashed and just vibing at the compound him and curtain just have like. fuckin. vibe sessions. sleepovers. talking about boys like they're 12. gossiping. please you know these two were so gossipy baby nicholas felt bad about it but also lived for the drama while nathaniel was shameless about it. now it's just like them taking turns spilling tea about people the others never even heard of but the other is still hanging off their every word. nicholas does the appropriate gasps and everything while curtain mostly just does strategic eyebrow raising and little gestures (i saw you rolling your shoulders back like that nathaniel) and he made jackson and jillson bring them cocktails. mr benedict took a sip, immediately wrinkled his nose and visibly tried not to spit it out, and curtain rolled his eyes--somewhat affectionately, though--and got him a mocktail of the same type. god nicholas tries to convince him to let him paint his nails. curtain gives in and paints his (he has much steadier hands and nicholas is just like. oh. this is. this is the closest i've been with him since the orphanage...) but cites nicholas's shaky-ass hands and his need for a professional appearance as to why nicholas shouldn't paint his (which kind of feels like a rejection but he tries to ignore that). also please not to bring my nicholas/milligan agenda but extremely funny if they somehow get to the topic of romance and nicholas is just like 😳 and when curtain gets it out of him hes like REALLY????? HIM??????? WOW and nicholas is like nathaniel i love you but i will fight you. god also just telling him about milligan and curtain is just. hearing this like. his brother falling in love... (nicholas trying not to think about how he misses milligan and rhonda and the kids, and it's not hard because when he thinks too hard about the fact they're not here, or about how they wouldn't want to be, it slides from his head, slippery, the happiness creeping back in like sunlight through a window) but like they trade stories or tease each other about old crushes or supposed crushes and other old stories, old gossip, old inside jokes... just. fucking. gossip nights and stupid silly all-but-proper-sleepovers and it's not often, with how busy curtain is, but when it happens it only makes nicholas all the more attached, all the more Happy, all the less likely to want to resist, want to leave, want to lose him again

[bi-demon-ium]

[bi-demon-ium]

LISTEN not to be that guy but if milligan can carry curtain's unconscious ass this easy

MILLIGAN BRIDAL CARRYING NICHOLAS IS ALL IM SAYING

[opinionatedartopus]

This isn’t exactly the same but this reminded me of the drawing I did a while back...

Nicholas is still (understandably) distressed about finding out his brother is the Sender.

34 nicholas / milligan? Platonic or romantic, up to you :-)

34. good enough

The tent was... well, needless to say, Nicholas had severely misjudged its size. Putting it together had taken all of five minutes, and now it stood tall- or rather, very short- in front of them. Nicholas hummed and pressed a hand against his mouth in thought. It was much too late to go back down to the cabin and see about a different tent. They were stuck with this one.

"Are you sure..." Milligan said, "that we grabbed the right tent?"

'not even remotely,' he thought, then said, "Rhonda said to grab the yellow one, so, I must have." Now it was Milligan's turn to hum. The sun was going down now. The sky was smudged with hues of orange and yellow clashing together as the sun dipped below the horizon and the water became that transitional color between clear blue and murky black. There was no turning around now.

"Well," Milligan said, "It's good enough for now. I'm sure we won't be up here long enough to warrant something more... spacious." That was true enough. They were only there to scout, so comfort was the least of their concerns. But, it was going to be a tight fit.

And it was. They found, with some awkward shuffling, that they had to lay back to back. Nicholas couldn't find it in himself to actually mind. Maybe that was selfish, but even the press of Milligan's back against his had his heart aching. Part of him wanted to turn over and lay cradled against him. But he shook those thoughts away as quickly as they came. He wasn't going to risk disturbing Milligan, whose sleeping breath he could hear, faintly. He was fine where he was. It was good enough.

[bi-demon-ium]

[bi-demon-ium]

OUGH YOUR MIND

I am such a sucker for cuddly hurt/comfort, especially with these two, it’s unreal. My god.

I think my personal favorite resolution (but they all make me feel shrimp emotions) is Nicholas having a whole breakdown and Milligan hugging him because he doesn’t know what else to do, and Nicholas just immediately passes out.

So right about that fluffy epilogue!! They feel safe with each other and everyone gets cuddles and adfghjkkfds

(cont. from this ask)

SAME!!! SAME

godddd i love them so much. fuck

you're so right. like just. for some reason (honestly fucking. pick any, man goes through so much goddamn shit) nicholas is just. having a full-on breakdown, man is finally actually crying his eyes out like he's been on the verge of doing for two seasons and then some, just like. god. shaking like a leaf, doing that thing where you hug yourself tightly half to hide and half to feel like someone will hold you even though it's not going to happen, so he just makes himself. small, but he can't stop trembling, and it's not just the shaking but his whole body jerking with quiet sobs he's trying to muffle like... he is in pain. not literally (mostly) but like. this has been. a long time coming.

and milligan just. doesn't know what to do. for one, it's not that he's ever been under the impression that nicholas is invulnerable or somehow perfect--again, he's not very good at hiding his emotions, you can kinda tell when he's hanging on by a fuckin thread, which happens a concerning amount at this point, but like. he's never broken down like this, either. he's never been in such a bad state that milligan felt like he would like. accept comfort. man doesn't even like being touched, does he? but like. holy fuck. this is milligan's friends and he's crying like his heart's been ripped out, he's sobbing and shaking and if milligan doesn't do something to help him and comfort him right now he's going to just like. burst into flames.

so he goes with his instinct, because that entire mini-monologue in his head happened in like 0.0001 seconds. so he just. without thinking too hard about it. just. sinks to his knees--abrupt and hard enough that if he wasn't so focused he'd have winced--and just. wraps his arms around nicholas and pulls him into a tight hug. because the instinct upon seeing someone you love cry is just. to hold them. comfort them.

and like. for a second nicholas stiffens, frozen with shock, so surprised he hiccups out the next sob and then like. almost straight-up stops crying. and milligan has just like a single moment to think oh shit. did i just fuck up? when nicholas fucking melts. like wholly and completely melts into it, all but throws himself into it and hugs milligan back like his life depends on it, sobbing like much harder now even though he's trying so so so hard to be quiet about it, to stop fucking crying, but he can't help it because like. when's the last time he's been comforted like this? and he's just so exhausted and sad and hurting that he can't hold it in anymore, and milligan's arms around him just--he couldn't fight it if he wanted to. he's utterly helpless. no matter how much some tiny voice in his head is screaming at him to back away, stop being a burden, he just. for once, the tiny, wailing child inside him who just desperately wants to be held is louder. for once he can't bear to pull away. so he just totally sags into it and buries his face in milligan's shoulder and sobs.

and like. all this is, again, just like. under a minute. and then nicholas straight up falls asleep. just. goes totally limp. and it's kind of telling that milligan almost doesn't notice, because he's already so relaxed and like, less tense than milligan's ever seen him.

and milligan's like. oh. oh. so. so i DID fuck up. just not now. because this? this is not the behavior of a touch-averse man who just needed a little reassurance. he's showing no signs of getting uncomfortable, in fact, if anything, he's going utterly boneless, he's leaning into it like he's never been hugged before and never will be again. he's soaking it in like a flower that's never seen the sun. this is the behavior of a man who desperately, desperately needs affection--who wants affection--and is finally getting it. so milligan's like alright so this hug has to last approximately two years. and that's just a START. and his friend is just. passed out in his arms. and milligan's like also when he's asleep the timer stops because my god he's going to be awake for every second of this comically insanely long hug i'm about to deliver.

but like also nicholas.... nicholas just. he's so hurt and exhausted and waking up just like.... being held??? being held close and tight by someone he cares about, someone quietly murmuring reassurances even though they don't know he's awake yet, and it's warm and safe and also it's milligan and he's crying harder thank you

FLUFFY EPILOGUE!!!!!!!!! just. i imagine nicholas is kind of like. red-rimmed eyes, apologizing in a shaking but much steadier voice, kinda giving a nervous, light little laugh, like, i'm sorry, that was embarrassing, i--i think i'll go, uh. lie down. for a bit, trying to pretend he wasn't crying in a i-don't-want-to-be-a-burden-again way rather than a i-did-NOT-just-show-weakness way, but like. milligan, a little more confidently, just. putting hands on his shoulders, and watching him just. visibly shudder softly and relax--almost like, without his own permission, just a little helpless like he can't help but settle into the touch, because he's not used to hiding that reaction--and just like. squeeze gently. like, hey, it's okay, it's not embarrassing, and nicholas... doesn't really believe him, but like. milligan is clearly sincere--when isn't he?--and it. it does help

anyway milligan is just like. okay so now operation hug nicholas whenever possible is underway. he starts as a solo mission but eventually recruits the others. on one hand you could make this angsty with nicholas being like okay i realize they figured out im Weak but i don't want them to feel obligated this is terrible, or like. possibly just like. he feels selfish accepting this sudden uptick in hugs but god it feels good even when it's clearly over silly things, he likes it too much to fight it... but on the other hand also just . he's puzzled and baffled as to why they keep hugging him but is Not Complaining. fluffy :)

but FLUFFY EPILOGUE TIME FOR REAL like once it's all resolved and stuff i just. allowing himself to be more comfortable with affection and the others.... really picturing like them casually on the couch like. nicholas easily slumped against his side, maybe casually reading a book, milligan has an arm thrown around him, and they're just. vibing. and like it's not uncommon for any of them to sit close it's like. now that he knows that--and feels like--he's like. "allowed"? he's just like. All The Time. casually like. yes we're sitting extremely close and what about it

[bi-demon-ium]

[bi-demon-ium]

im sorry but i can just never get over the mental image of like. nicholas, scared or hurt or upset, like. the huge eyes clearly on the verge of tears look. and milligan just. big hands cupping both sides of his face. grounding him. nicholas's eyes fluttering closed and the tension draining, even if only a little bit, from his shoulders.

and like vice versa, milligan, tense and stoic and hurt, and nicholas gently cupping his face with his hand and softly saying something reassuring and kind and sweet, and milligan just. relaxing under the touch, but in his eyes there's a bit of horrifyingly sad like. shock and awe at being touched tenderly. but he, too, closes his eyes and relaxes.

like, they both lean into the touch. relax a bit. feel grounded, reassured, even when they're still hurt and upset or even actively crying. i just. im emo

[bi-demon-ium]

for @mvshortcut, based off this

"Hm," said Rhonda again.

She had hmmd in Milligan's general direction about six times now. Number Two had given up after three, and was now sipping her tea, looking rather perturbed.

Milligan calmly folded another shirt. He was doing laundry. He did not ask her what she was hmming about.

"Hmmmm," said Rhonda, drawing it out.

Milligan calmly folded another shirt.

"HM," shouted Number Two.

Milligan set the folded shirt down. "Would you like me to retrieve you some cough drops?" he asked gravely. "Or perhaps. some tea."

"...I have tea, thank you," Number Two said, voice a little hoarse.

"Ah," Milligan said. He calmly folded a pair of pants, placing them carefully and gently in the basket. "Water, then? For either of you?"

"We're fine," Rhonda said, innocently. "Why do you ask?"

Milligan slowly lifted his head to look at her. She smiled angelically.

He blinked, slow, like a lazy cat lounging in the sun. "No reason," he said, and went back to his laundry.

"This clearly isn't working," Rhonda said to Number Two, at normal volume, as if Milligan wasn't right there.

"Yes, I can see that," Number Two all but hissed.

"Do you need something?" Milligan asked, still calm. His lips were twitching a little, not that they had noticed. His question went unanswered.

"Should we just give up on the subtle approach?" Rhonda asked.

"Subtle?" Milligan asked the vest in his hands. "Huh."

"I think so," Number Two said. "Hey, Milligan?"

"Yes?" Milligan said, as if he hadn't been here the whole time.

"So," Number Two said. "You know how you're in love with Mr. Benedict?"

Milligan blinked at her. "Yes?" he said.

"Well, you a--what."

Milligan tilted his head as if he were confused. Number Two and Rhonda both stared at him.

At this exact moment, Mr. Benedict walked in, carrying a small plate of snacks. "Oh, I got s--whaaaaat is happening?"

Milligan turned to address him. "Number Two and Rhonda were just informing me that I'm in love with you," he said blandly.

Mr. Benedict's eyes went huge. "Uh," he said, sounding a little small. "What?"

"You know," Rhonda said. "I really thought we had timed this better."

"Good news!" Number Two said, turning to Mr. Benedict. "We were right! Bad news! We're really confused!"

"Hm," said Milligan, in a tone that immediately clocked to Number Two and Rhonda as downright dangerous. Not dangerous in the scary way, mind you--dangerous in the you have been fucking HAD way.

Then, almost conversationally--folding another goddamn shirt--he said, "Did you know that sound carries in the vents?"

"...hm?" Rhonda said.

"This is an old house," Milligan said. "You can hear all sorts of things. Thin walls. Echoing vents. Acoustics."

"...ah," said Mr. Benedict, getting it before the rest of them did. "If you'll all excuse me, I believe there is a small vial of non-lethal poison upstairs with my name on it."

"No tranquilizing yourself to get out of awkward conversations," Number Two said almost automatically, as if this happened often enough that she had memorized the reprimand.

"Got any good jokes?" Mr. Benedict asked Rhonda.

"I'm leaving," Rhonda announced. Having now effectively caused the chaos, she was happy to let it simmer. Far away from her.

"Yeah, that tracks," Mr. Benedict said.

They all stared for a moment longer. Rhonda abruptly turned on her heel and left.

"Shit," Number Two said. "I mean--heck--hecking. darn. Fuck. Okay, I'm going. Have fun."

And Milligan and Mr. Benedict were left alone.

"Hm," said Milligan.

"I," Mr. Benedict said, "Have been hmmd at. far too often this week."

"I can imagine," Milligan agreed.

Mr. Benedict stared down at the tray in his hands, which he was still, inexplicably, holding.

"...lemon bar?" he asked, holding it out.

Milligan gingerly took a lemon bar and took a delicate bite. "Hm," he said, looking down at the clean laundry below. "Crumbs."

"...ah," Mr. Benedict said.

Milligan took another bite. "Very sweet," he commented. "Thank you."

"Aaaaaanytime," Mr. Benedict said, rather awkwardly. "Er."

"You.... are. also. sweet," Milligan said, slightly stilted.

Mr. Benedict blinked. "Ah? Um. Thank you?"

"...anytime," Milligan said, looking like he wanted to strangle himself even as he said it.

"..............well," said Mr. Benedict. "That poison won't drink itself."

"Nicholas."

"I'm ki--wait, did you just call m--"

Mr. Benedict collapsed face first into the laundry, asleep.

"...hm," said Milligan, looking down at him. Then he quickly moved to help him into a more comfortable position.

"Wow," said Rhonda, two rooms away. "You really can hear sound through the vents."

"This is hopeless," Number Two said. "They're hopeless. I hate this."

"They'll figure it out eventually, eh?" Rhonda said, patting her shoulder sympathetically.

"You'd think so," said Number Two, who had been here longer. "You'd think fucking so."

[ao3.]