#ninemelodies

[hobgoblinns]

i listened to infamy of the zaross the other day and when i got to the last line the little david/10 mental image i had looked exactly like this

LMAO exactly!!!

[aq2003]

(@variousqueerthings he's so melodramatic and sad. it's soooooo </33)

[transcript:

"i said. i was fine. fine about you leaving. aand.. i'm not. so many of you have come and gone, i never get used to it, think i would've done by now but-but-but. No... just when i think it's all going well, we'll be together forever, you're wandering off to go save another universe or get married—how do you lot fall in love so quickly?"

"well, funny you should say that—"

"i just don't get it. but ehhh, short lives, i suppose. still, so long as you're happy, and you're with the right man, and—he is the right man? Eeehhh—yEs he is yes he is 'course he is, of COUrSe he is, and i mean, i mean, well, no man is gonna be good enough for my donna but YES yes [inhales] off you go! every time, one of you leaves. i'm not ready! i never am, you lot. uuUUhgh. [deep breath]. every one of you, a heartbreaker—"

"that's why you've got two of them, stupid. listen—"

"yeah, i suppose, but it doesn't... make it any easier, you all leave... even the robot dog left me. twice!"

"alright, doctor, i am trying to—"

"and another thing! the universe just never gives me a break! a chance to lick my wounds, a spa day, maybe? but aw, no, Giant Cloud Of Alien Death. well, fine. i'll sort that out. [inhales] one more thing. so many more things. never NEVER never ends."

/end transcript]

[ninemelodies]

if anyone wants to judge my music taste or whatever i have a stats.fm and my friend made me make an airbuds account

[gghoulish]

david tennant as peter vincent in fright night (2011) - for @ninemelodies.

[puddingcatbeans]

for the prompt thing, tododeku #13

13. “Well that’s the single most impressive thing I’ve ever seen someone do.”

You can do this, Shouto tells himself. He’s practiced in the safety of his room many times. He’s even asked Momo, and on one desperate occasion, Iida, for advice. He trusts neither of them would spill his secret. So now, he’s finally worked up the courage to actually do it.

He’s going to ask Midoriya out today. Right now. As soon as his feet will cooperate with him to walk across the common room.

Midoriya is sitting with Uraraka and Asui. Some of the others are scattered around the couches and the kitchen. Shouto keeps his focus on the boy sitting in the chair by the table, arms gesturing wildly as he does as he describes something just out of earshot. He always looks so full of life. Shouto can stand there watching Midoriya forever. But he won’t, because it’s creepy and he has a plan.

Taking one last deep breath, Shouto straightens his back, and walks forwards. His hands are shaking slightly, his heartbeat loud in his ears. But his footsteps are steady. No one spares him a glance. 

Uraraka looks up at him and shoots him a knowing smile. Shouto doesn’t know what that means, but he supposes Uraraka has a sixth sense for these kinds of things. She was the first to mention that boy from the support class has a crush on Tokoyami before the confession happened. Maybe it’s just girls in general having better intuition for these kinds of things. Shouto wouldn’t know. All he knows is that his internal temperature starts screwing up whenever he thinks too much about Midoriya, and that he’s prone to tripping over nothing when Midoriya turns that thousand-watt smile on him. The boy can literally punch through walls, but his smile and general sunniness? Way too much power, in Shouto’s opinion.

“Midoriya,” he says, stopping in front of the other boy. Midoriya looks up at him and smiles. Shouto takes a moment to blink stars out of his eyes.

“Todoroki-kun! Want to join us? We’re studying for the test on Friday.”

“Oh.” 

And just like that, all his meticulous planning flies out the figurative window of his mind. It’s completely blank. Midoriya is still looking up at him with an expectant smile. Shouto panics.

“Uh,” he says. “Midoriya. I have something to ask you.”

“Yes?”

He flounders. He looks at Uraraka, who gives him an encouraging nod. Asui gives him a quick thumbs up. He feels ice and heat coursing through his veins simultaneously. It is incredibly uncomfortable. Love is irrational, he supposes, and screws up your physiological processes relentlessly. 

He opens his mouth and manages to get out, “Willyougoonadatewithme,” just as the smoke alarm goes off. Behind him, there’s a scuffle, then a yelp, and then the sound of a body falling to the floor.

“Ow,” Kaminari says. “Todoroki, dude, why did you freeze the floor?”

Midoriya blinks up at him. Uraraka and Asui are wide-eyed beside him. Shouto is mortified. The smoke alarm is screaming.

This is a total nightmare.

“Yes,” Midoriya says suddenly. Shouto stares. Uraraka and Asui stares. The weight of the eyes of the entire common room is upon them. “I’d love to go on a date with you, Todoroki-kun.”

A surge of heat shoots through Shouto, and then retreats. “That’s---great,” he says. “Okay. I’ll---I should---go.”

“Okay,” Midoriya echoes. “I’ll text you.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

As Shouto hurries back towards the stairwell, unfreezing the carpet and trying to calm down the tiny flames that have erupted on his shoulder, he hears his classmates chattering behind him. 

“Well,” Mina says, “that’s the single most impressive thing I’ve ever seen someone do.”

“And he managed to get the boy,” Kirishima says, wiping a tear from his face. “Such a display of manliness.”

“Shut up,” Bakugou’s voice thunders. “If that embarrassing scene is the reason you knuckleheads fail this test, I’m going to beat all of you up.”

. ko-fi . twitter .

[captainkirkk]

I’m rereading your ‘see it all in bloom’ series and can I just say I really love it? Like a lot a lot? I love how you wrote about Bakugo coming to terms with his past (I actually started rereading it because my friend and I were having a discussion abt bakugo) and just your characterization of Class 1-A in general is amazing. I especially love Midoriya interacting with fans anonymously. Thank you for writing this series.

Thank you so much! It’s been so much fun playing around with the characters and letting them grow beyond the series. I’m glad other people enjoy what I’ve done with them x

[terranatior]

ninemelodies replied to your post: Max really just dragging me for my taste in...

You missed the part where I exposed ur handsome jack fuckery

IT’S HEAVILY IMPLIED LEAVE ME BE

[cherryjuicegf]

do you have any geraskier fic recs?? I have some time on my hands since it's Christmas and I'm kinda curious to know what fics are you fave and stuff xx

dear anon i have to thank you from the depths of my heart for this cause i've been dying to make a rec list and always put it off so it's finally time. now this got just a bit long, i have about 20 fics that have a special place in my heart under the cut with a sort commentary. sorry if you've read any of them but i will be extremely happy if you find something you like!!! 💜

under 1k

gallery by Naughty-Yorick (@a-kind-of-merry-war), G, 387 words -> modern au, reincarnation, this ficlet although short broke my heart and put it back together, i literally gasped in the end

sip the sunlight from your eyes by troubadore (@geraltofriviasleftbuttcheek), G, 905 words -> the beauty of this fic leaves me stunned, geralt's eyes are gorgeous and the fic describes it perfectly, jaskier knows what he signed up for

1k - 10k

right person in front of them the whole time by lesdemonium(winnerstick) (@lesdemonium), T, 2k -> this fic is a modern au and i just have no words to describe how much i love it. the inherent romance of knowing the other deeply and sharing the same love and also the same one braincell just got to me.

also recommending everything by the same author, M, 8k -> this fic is 40% the reason my relationship standards reach heavens, it's just so tender and the affection between geralt and jaskier just warms my heart

beautiful, he stirs up still things by alittlebitmaybe, T, 2.5k -> this fic?? slow dancing and gentleness and pining, so much pining, it just makes me scream in my pillow every time

another dawn by the same author, T, 8k -> a fic with vivid memories, reading it at 2am and having to wake up early in the morning, the first time loop i read and it had me screaming every. single. time. if you're patient it's worth a thousand rereads

like real people do by julek (@julek), T, 1.5k -> this fic is unbelievably tender, it just has me in tears with all its yearning and not-so-unrequited love, 1000% rec

i wouldn't know what i have lost (i'll be howling for you) by kaffas (hoopoe), T, 3.2k -> epistolary fic, it just makes me scream because of geralt's devotion and the mortifying ordeal of being known etc and the understanding between them just has me in tears

soap suds and capable hands by ivelostmyspectacles, T, 4.3k -> this fic makes me warm and sleepy, it's so sweet and soft, read it before you sleep for sweet dreams

summer sun and solstice shadows by ninemelodies (@ninemelodies), T, 6.2k -> THIS. ONE. FAVE. i first read it in summer and it's my comfort fic, they love each other so much and there's flower symbolism, the perfect amount of angst, pining and love, so much love my heart melts

love on his tongue by kickassfu (@kickassfu), G, 1.8k -> the pining and flirting in this one makes me weak, they dance in a ball as pray for a monster and it makes me grin so hard

a heartbeat in hand by asweetepilogue (@asweetprologue) G, 2.6k words -> this fic is so poetic, so smooth and soft and the ending just kills me, it's perfect

all that was good, all that was fair (all that was me is gone) by xdandelionxbloomx (@xdandelionxbloomx), M, 7.5k -> please mind the warnings in this one, you really need a strong stomach to read it. however, i remember this one and it just makes me gasp, it breaks my heart in a million pieces and the ending is so cathartic. also whenever i listen to the songs in it i think about the scences and. i cry.

kintsukuroi by arsamandi (@love-and-cubs-and-white-wolves), T, 4.2k -> this one was posted today and it had me in awe, it's book!geralt with show!jaskier personalities and has some time of contempt spoilers so i'm sorry if you want to avoid them, however i had to recommend because it's one of the best fics i've read, every single line is exceptionally good and so well-written, it made me cry and laugh and i can read it a thousand times more

over 10k

all the liars in the world by kageygirl (@kageygirl), E, 14k -> i have such vivid memories of this fic, i was returning from a trip and it was 1am, top bunk in the cabin with my parents and sister sleeping, trying not to be heard while i was gasping and crying, it's incredibly sweet and soothing, it fills me with happiness

the power to cancel his captivity by the same author E, 23k -> i'm so soft for this fic, it takes geralt and jaskier's relationship from the start and describes how they settle together during the years, it made it so much easier for me to cherish their relationship and it has a special place in my heart

what you wish for by didoandis, E, 11.1k -> i rarely read body swap fics but this is not really that, it's so interesting and angsty and also funny in many parts, the emotion in this just captivates you and the end left me gaping

multichapters

companionship by ArliaDevi, T, 14k, complete -> this one? excellent. incredible. absolute gold. ciri's pov and geralt and jaskier's awkwardness and attempts at hiding are hilarious, i love it with my whole being

lessons in mortality by Girl_In_Red_Crossing (@girl-in-red-crossing), E, 21k, complete -> ahhh this fic is just so so good, it's angsty at the start and the classical jaskier heals after he's tortured but it's wonderfully written and makes my heart ache just to fill it with more and more love with each chapter

demand an encore by Emamel (@theaceace), M, 51k, unfinished -> maybe you have already read this but i have to express my love for it, i don't read witcher!jaskier fics but this one is just amazing, keeping me on the edge of my seat at all times, each phrase a literal dagger in my heart and i'm dying to see how it ends

[kerasines]

Non-Human Jaskier Rec List (#3)

Once more unto the breach, dear friends! Here’s another neat little collection of Geralt/Jaskier fics with some added, uh, monster bits and pieces. (#1, #2)

you are in my blood by suzukiblu / @suzukiblu (15k, E, Bruxa)

Well, Jaskier’s a bit smitten. A delicious-smelling witcher who can talk his way out of being murdered is very impressive. And he always has wanted a pet.

give yourself over by ninemelodies / @ninemelodies (2k, E, Fae)

Geralt promises his eyes to Jaskier. Jaskier isn’t sure that his witcher knows what that truly means - it’s not a physical thing, Jaskier doesn’t want Geralt to dig out his eyes and hand them over, no, that would ruin their beauty - Jaskier just wants Geralt’s eyes on him when it matters.

Kind Monster by xdandelionxbloomx / @xdandelionxbloomx (2k, G, Demon)

“Don’t scream. Please.” It had begged, and Ciri had been too frozen to make the decision to do so or not.

Hide Behind the Mound of Dead Bards by Bones (27k, E, Immortal)

Jaskier is really bad at two things: shutting up and staying dead. Luckily, he can do both at the same time...for a while.

fallen for a lie by valkyrisms / @valkyrisms (6k, T, Fae)

It was a long time before Geralt suspected anything. Geralt had been trained to notice such things at Kaer Morhen, and had gone years, decades even, without missing something as large as this. 

and i plan to be forgotten when i'm gone (yes i'll be leaving in the fall) by stockholm_syndrom / @thedaywasnew (18k, M, Sprite)

Jaskier is cursed to turn into a monster. He doesn't think this is important information to mention.

knife's edge by thebrandywine / @tvnnelsnake (10k, G, Assassin)

People often forget that bards are the greatest actors to walk the Continent.

glitter and gold by khallucifer / @s1r3nsong (70k, M, Siren)

Geralt manages to get his life saved by a peculiarly friendly Siren, and as payment agrees to allow the creature to accompany him, unsure as to why Jaskier would want to leave his lake behind, nor why he would choose Geralt to tag along with.

BONUS FIC: And now... we're sexy! by Naughty_Yorick / @a-kind-of-merry-war (3k, T, Same but opposite... Human Geralt instead of non-human Jaskier!)

A glamour is just a fancy word for an illusion. This, he thinks, as he stares in the mirror and runs his hands through his long, dark hair – is real.

[bamf-jaskier]

Could you do fuc reccomendations for modern AU?

Okay so, I said this briefly in an earlier post but I’m much more into like reincarnation vs Modern AUs but I’ve still seen some good ones in my day and here they are:

you follow?

It’s a series of tweets, memes, texts, ect all about a world where Jaskier and Geralt are a celebrity couple and I love the work put it and it makes me laugh. @shortcrust

silence in this room, the death of me

sooo this fic actually made me cry, Geralt continues to live and Jaskier continues to reincarnate. It’s actually so beautiful and has a great ending. @ninemelodies

Guardian of the Souless

look, if you’ve even so much as googled modern au Geraskier you’ve run across this fic. It’s classic, Yen’s a crimelord and Jaskier adorable. It’s over 100k and has plenty of fluff, angst, action, and adventure for everyone @starrose17

Where There’s a Witcher

This is legit canon plot but in a modern AU and geraskier content!! It’s slowburn but you get enough snippets to keep you buy, also Roach is a car now, I don’t make the rules. @ghostinthelibrary

you ain’t ever gonna burn my heart out

Geralt and Jaskier can live a thousand lifetimes and always find their way back to each other, also Vesemir is there and I love than the old grump. 

Rumour Has It

This right here is just 3000 words of laughter. Basically, u got the Yen/Jaskier/Geralt relationship but in a modern context and people being all confused as to who Ciri’s parents are.

I Promise (Not)

I see the words reincarnation and I’m done for. In this one, both Yen and Geralt are around and trying to get Jaskier to remember, it’s good stuff @zuzallove

The Flower and the Ox

This time, an immortal Jaskier is waiting for Geralt into the modern age, it’s like a reverse of the normal trope. @impsane

something so magic about you

still a little baby fic, but basically an immortal Jaskier has finally found Geralt’s reincarnation and is falling in love with him all over again. @winterladyy

A Wolf Among Lilacs

I love a good Geralt/Yen and this one is really very strongly video game based but still lots of good content with our two idiots refusing to talk to each other until there is literally no other options left @yennas

hopefully, I chose some more eclectic modern AUs that you might not think of reading at first glance in the tags. Also, I chose a ton of reincarnation ones sorry!! I’m not super into modern AUs so I just picked out the ones that I enjoyed reading a lot, my tastes can be weird

[geraltofriviasleftbuttcheek]

written for @ninemelodies

—

it’s a quiet night—they’ve been traveling for two days with no hunt to interrupt their journey, and geralt finally gave in to jaskier’s pleads to stop and make camp.

the fire crackles pleasantly, warming their little set up. roach grazes nearby, lazy and content to be relieved of her duties, glad for the reprieve.

jaskier strums his lute with aimless, dancing fingers, gaze trained off into the distance, lost in thought. he hums, soft and light, not committing to any particular tune, changing when the whim strikes him. not composing, simply filling the silence with gentle background noise.

he’s gotten better about openly enjoying the peace of nature.

geralt watches him, as he does now. the firelight washes his skin in warm tones, and he smells of oranges and honey, a god of summer in the moonlight. the small, delicate buttercups he’d picked on the road are still behind his ear where he’d put them with a grin at geralt.

how do i look? he’d asked, jovial, and geralt had only hummed in response, unable to find the words to describe the slow, warm feeling spreading in his chest at the sight, the way his slow heart beat heavy against his ribs and his stomach swooped with a sensation like falling.

the feeling isn’t new, but he so rarely feels it that he didn’t recognize it at first. now—now geralt thinks he has the words. and what are words meant for if not to be shared? jaskier would say something like that, probably.

so geralt shares them.

“jaskier.”

“mm?”

jaskier looks over the fire at him, blue eyes dark and lidded. he always looks so enticing; geralt is sure he isn’t aware of exactly the effect he has on others, and it makes his blood run hot and and his heart beat heavy and his stomach swoop.

“i love you.”

deft fingers still against the strings of the lute. jaskier’s eyes are wide now, lit with the reflection of the fire. “what?”

“i love you,” geralt repeats, and it’s so easy to say, how has he never said it before?

a hollow sort of laugh punches its way out of jaskier, and he carefully sets his lute in his lap. “i didn’t know witchers were capable of it,” he says, with a forced humor.

he’s trying to play it off, but geralt doesn’t want to let him. not this time. “i am. i love you.”

he’s said it three times now, and geralt listens to the fast pace of jaskier’s heartbeat, smells the way his scent threads through with something like—not quite fear, never fear, but uncertainty. apprehension.

geralt doesn’t like that. he doesn’t want jaskier to think he’s expecting anything in return. that’s not what this is at all.

“oh,” jaskier says, faintly.

“you should know,” geralt says, carefully, truthfully, “how important you are to me.”

because he is. jaskier is important, the most important to geralt. he is the first person to look at geralt and choose him simply because he wanted to, and geralt wants to treasure him.

because he loves him.

jaskier is silent, still, a statue of the finest marble lit by firelight. he takes steady breaths, measured, thoughts that geralt can’t read flying behind those blue eyes, and he years to know what jaskier thinks—a strange feeling, as jaskier is always so open with his thoughts.

this is new for him, geralt realizes. when jaskier is unfamiliar with something, he goes quiet; he observes, he learns, and he thinks. people take him for an idiot because he’s always talking, but it’s as much a front as it is a defense: people will say many things when they think no one is listening.

so geralt remains quiet, lets jaskier have his thoughts. lets him look at his own feelings and find his own words to speak into the calm night air.

“well,” jaskier finally says, hoarse, trembling, mouth curling up in a poor facsimile of his usual grin, terror behind his eyes that geralt wants to soothe and wipe away, “thank you, i guess.”

and geralt realizes again—

this is jaskier at a loss for words. for someone so knowledgeable in love, even his own knowledge is lacking in some regards. perhaps—

perhaps jaskier, too, has only rarely felt this warmth that suffuses in the blood and fills the chest, the heavy beats of the heart on the ribs, the way the blood pounds in the ears and the swoop of the stomach like you’re falling.

it can be quite scary, he thinks, if you don’t have the words to name it.

jaskier settles back on his side of the fire, bringing his lute back up and picking the strings again, not quite subdued, but not quite as thoughtlessly as before.

geralt finds himself smiling. he sits back himself, settling in his spot, tilting his head back and looking up to the stars, thinking of oranges and honey and summer. it’s kind of nice to have the words for something even a bard does not.

he’ll enjoy it while it lasts.

[extremegraphicviolins]

witcher fic recs!

here are some fics that i’ve read recently and adored. make sure to give the authors some love!

in no particular order:

Denude and Define, by @scrapbullet

better a sparrow than no birdsong at all, by @rvsvlka

Fate Slew Him, but He Did Not Drop, by JustGettingBy

Per aspera, ad astra series, by JustGettingBy

Promises series, by REVVII

Slip A Dick To Your Witcher, by @naryrising

home is nowhere, therefore you, by @et-in-arkadia

Companionship, by ArliaDevi

Opulence, by @yourqueenforayear

the world will follow after, by @eviefrie

Light my Fire, by ravenbringslight

Thin fingers, wrapped around your heart, by @trevardes

tiny happy things (like the pieces of my heart), by splendidlyimperfect

daybreak, by ninemelodies

front row praises, by The_Watchers_Crown

ten things I hate about you, by @truthanddivinity

here, where the world is quiet, by @drawlight

it ain’t over ‘til he sings, by tol_sirion

[vvitchering]

Tokens of Affection || 151 words || soft geraskier fluff  For my friend @ninemelodies for their birthday :’) I’m sorry it ended up being so short! I hope the softness makes up for the length~ “Eventually, Jaskier would realize there was more for him in the world than tagging along with an irritable witcher. He’d bid Geralt farewell and that would be the last he’d see of him. That was the way of things.”

”Traveling with a poet was an interesting experience. Not that Geralt had much experience in the matter, apart from the current poet that was following in his footsteps like a lost lamb. He glared and growled, subjected Jaskier to the worst of his witcherly charms, and yet the man stubbornly remained by his side. Happily, even. Like traveling with Geralt was the greatest gift he could have possibly been given. 

Well.

There was no accounting for taste these days.

Eventually, Jaskier would realize there was more for him in the world than tagging along with an irritable witcher. He’d bid Geralt farewell and that would be the last he’d see of him. That was the way of things. No permanence, no bonds, no attachments. It was better that way. Geralt kept waiting for the day when Jaskier would pack his things, shake Geralt’s hand, wish him well, and disappear from his life. How many songs could one lonely witcher provide inspiration for? And yet, Jaskier stayed. 

Oddly enough, Geralt began to realize he didn’t mind the bard’s presence nearly as much as he thought. While Jaskier was loud, rash, overly emotional at times, his company was a balm on Geralt’s lonely soul. Now when he spoke there was someone to answer. When his injuries were out of his reach, there was someone to smooth salve on his battered skin. When the silence became oppressive rather than peaceful, someone was there to fill the air with pleasing sounds. He would miss this, he realized, when Jaskier finally left. 

Jaskier continued to show no signs he was itching to move on. He bore Geralt’s foul moods with sunny smiles and knowing eyes, but was not afraid to stand up for himself if he felt Geralt was out of line. Not many humans were brave or foolish enough to stand toe to toe with an angry witcher and Geralt found himself respecting Jaskier’s tenacity. 

And then he began finding them. A colorful rock worn smooth by a river in his pack. A small jar of sweet preserved fruits tucked away in his spare clothing. Flowers spread amongst his bedding. Small things, objectively unimportant, but unimaginably sentimental to Geralt. He had never received something simply because the giver wanted to share the joy it inspired. Jaskier saw beauty in everything. Even, apparently, in a beaten-down witcher. 

“Will you answer me honestly if I ask you a personal question?” Jaskier asked one night as they lay in their bedrolls under the stars. 

“You’ll ask it anyway, regardless.” Geralt responded.

Jaskier laughed gently and waited patiently, as he always did. 

Geralt sighed.

“Ask your question, bardling.”

“Are you happy?”

He was taken aback by how little time it took him to arrive at an answer. An honest one, as requested, no longer able to deny Jaskier anything. He thought of Jaskier’s smile, the tokens he continued to find on a near daily basis, the precious gift that was the bard’s presence in his life. How even after all that time, after so many others had left, Jaskier had stayed.

“Yes. I am.”

[seventfics]

Tag 9 people you would like to know better/catch up with:

Tagged by @witchertrashbag ♥ 

Last Song: 4ÆM // Grimes 

Last Movie: According to my tv apps, it’s either 6 Underground or Knives Out, both which came out a whiiiile ago. I haven’t sat down to watch a movie in months...

Currently Watching: Nothing? I also haven’t watched anything recently other than new episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. I am currently living my Witcher fixation life, expect me to binge 6 shows during New Years and at no other time.

Currently Reading: The Maze Runner by James Dashner! I stopped halfway last week because the power went out but I have the second book too, both borrowed from a friend since...uhh...June...(but I only picked it up last week, yes I’m still awful)

Currently Craving: Fish tacos. It’s raining, so also chips. Gimme sum pizza flavored Pringles and BBQ lays, man.

Tagging: @vvitchering @daryshkart @ninemelodies @castillon02 @stonecoldsilly @ashayathyla2 @fuckingbards @nbgeralt @ladivvinatravestia but only if you want to! no pressure ♥ ♥ 

[gghoulish]

jareth for @ninemelodies. happy birthday gayass

[puddingcatbeans]

From the prompt thing Neil/Andrew #15

15. “How have you made it this long without someone throwing you out an airlock or something?”

They’re in the car, headed west, flying down the freeway with the windows down because it’s summer and the weather is nice and Andrew’s car is in the shop so they took Neil’s piece of shit car for this trip instead and Neil’s piece of shit car doesn’t come with working air conditioning. Andrew has his shades on but Neil is practically leaning out the window like a salivating dog. The wind is in his hair and his legs are scrunched up on the passenger seat. He looks stupid. He looks like he’s nineteen and finding his way home again.

“---And Kevin wants to try and organize a friendly,” Neil is saying, “and he thinks that management will say yes because he’s Kevin fucking Day, and okay, sure, he might be right, but who wants to go on a roadie during off season?”

“You’re turning down an opportunity for more exy?”

Neil frowns. “I didn’t say no. I just didn’t think you’d want to fly two states over to see Kevin on the court.”

“Who said I’d be going?”

“Well, you’re not going to let me go alone, are you?”

“I’m not playing exy during my time off.”

“But you want to spend time with me during your time off,” Neil says infuriatingly. His eyes are blue and innocent but Andrew sees that smirk twitching on his lips. 

“How,” Andrew says, eyes on the road, “have you made it this long without someone throwing you out an airlock or something?”

Neil laughs. His laughter used to be something hard won and rare to come by, and their former teammates---Andrew is still coming to terms with the word friends---still treasures each and every one. But Neil has mostly thrown out the habit of checking over his shoulder every time he finds himself relaxing in the presence of people he trusts. In response, Andrew has stopped denying the truth of the fact that he lives for that sound.

“I’m cursed with extremely good luck,” Neil says. 

“Lucky bastard,” Andrew drawls.

Neil has shifted in his seat. His arm is still stretched along the open window, but his face is turned towards Andrew. He goes quiet, a content sort of quiet that goes down to Andrew’s toes and settles like a blanket over his chest. He’s staring. Andrew tells him so.

“You caught me,” Neil says. He doesn’t look away.

Annoying. This man curled up in the passenger seat of this rusty fuckbucket of a vehicle---wind-tossed curls, sunkissed skin, a smile that has no business being as soft as it is dancing on those chapped lips that Andrew has mapped over and over---he’s the most frustrating being Andrew has ever had the misfortune of laying eyes on. And yet. And yet. Andrew finds himself entertaining the mild hope of this drive down the open freeway never ending.

Wordlessly, he lifts his right hand from the steering wheel and stretches it over the center console. Yes or no?

Neil takes it. His smile grows. 

Always yes.