#okay back to Not Talking About Politics i go

[rowdydevs]

Is it possible if we could have any more dilf!rafe and milf!reader? Im literally obsessed with the family dynamic atm!!

Hi bb 💕💕💕 of course!! Thank you for your ask. This story is meant to be read either alone or with the rest of the au. Thank you for your ask!!

+18 -> smut | on prom night, a very protective rafe wrestles with old grudges, growing pains, and the realization that letting go might be the hardest part.

𝓭𝓲𝓵𝓯!𝓻𝓪𝓯𝓮 𝓬𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓸𝓷 𝔁 𝓶𝓲𝓵𝓯!𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻

c/w: pet names, swearing, praise, dirty talk, fingering, cum tasting, older rafe, roughish, semi-public male oral <- in a car with tinted windows, he is driving, intentional texting errors, ⚠︎ smut cross-posted on my nhl account. ⚠︎

cameron kids= Max (18), Winnie (17), Rory + Poppy (4)

You’re standing out in the front yard with your camera, doing everything you can not to cry while your daughter twirls around in her prom dress—glowing, radiant, almost too beautiful to look at.

Her boyfriend’s got his arm around her waist, holding her like it’s second nature. They keep catching each other’s eyes and laughing over nothing, cheeks bumping, sneaking little kisses between whatever secret they’re whispering like the rest of the world doesn’t exist.

It’s sweet. It’s perfect. And honestly? It’s a little brutal. Because no matter how grown she looks, she’s still your baby.

Your husband’s next to you, taking pictures with his phone, but you can see it clear as day—he’s tense. His smile is forced, fingers stiff around the edges of his phone. He hasn’t said more than two words to JJ, who’s mere feet away. It’s awkward… painfully so. But what’s new between the two of them? Your husband never forgot how much he hated him. And now? Now that guy’s kid is dating his baby girl.

It’s hard to imagine this would be a bigger deal… And it would be, if the kid wasn’t a literal angel: polite, gentle, thoughtful, smart; a D1-bound quarterback. He’s good. But try telling Rafe that.

Your daughter squeals, adjusting her corsage, leaning into her boyfriend with the biggest grin on her face as the limos pull up. She gasps, eyes snapping to you. “Oh my God. Mom, I forgot my clutch!”

You look over at Rafe, lost in his own world as he looks between the young couple and his archenemy, going through his own existential crisis; jaw clenched, eyebrows drawn together like this is all somehow a personal attack on him. “Baby…”

“Mhmm…” He grunts as his eyes continue to survey the scene.

“… Baby?”

“Sweetheart,” he sighs, meeting your eyes before drawing a deep, pensive breath.

“Just take a second. Take a breath… Get the purse.”

He gives you a look, lips drawing to the side, wanting to protest like he’s afraid if he lets his guard down for a moment the thoughts that he’s been stewing on will manifest. “Yes, ma’am,” he mutters, then turns and stomps toward the house.

You watch him disappear through the front door, then turn back to your daughter. The yard is buzzing with excitement, teens gathering their things as they wander toward the rented cars.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

You look down at your phone, rolling your eyes as you see three back-to-back text messages coming in. “Where’s the purse, baby?” You mock his deep voice under your breath as you unlock your phone. Not surprised in the slightest that he’s stalling to prolong the inevitable.

𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹

The twins are bouncing with excitement, already changed into their pajamas, stuffed animals hugged tight.

Sarah’s in the kitchen grabbing snacks for movie night, laughing as your son climbs all over him like he’s part jungle gym, part superhero. Meanwhile, your daughter’s standing off to the side, arms crossed, Cameron-pout on full display—a full-blown daddy’s girl—not thrilled in the slightest about him leaving.

“C’mon now,” Rafe says, gently tugging her closer. “Be right back, princess. I’ll kiss you on the head when I get home, okay? I’ll be there in the mornin’ when you wake up.”

She narrows her little eyes at him, her buttoned-nose furrowed in frustration.

“I heard mommy’s makin’ blueberry pancakes for breakfast,” Rafe adds as he cocks an eyebrow, hoping for the best, his smile widening as her face lights up over something so simple.

“No way.”

“Way.”

“I am?” you ask through a laugh as you loop your arm through your purse, pulling it on your shoulder.

“She is,” Rafe confirms, shooting you a smile and wink. “Isn’t she the best?”

You laugh, rolling your eyes as he kisses your daughter’s forehead and sends her off.

The you both step outside into the quiet; the cobblestone driveway glowing under soft light. Rafe reaches for your hand as the front door clicks shut behind you. You barely get a step down the private lot before he loops his finger under your dress and tugs the hem upward with a cocky smirk.

“Rafe!” You gasp, swatting his hand as your skirt falls back down, looking back toward the house with a smile.

“They didn’t see, pretty,” he murmurs, totally unbothered. “Besides I needed a distraction. My brain was spiraling again.”

“You’re not gonna lift my dress every time you start panicking about your daughter growing up.”

“I mean…” He steps a little closer, stuffing his hand in his pocket, the other draping around your shoulders as he dips down to press a kiss on your head. “I could just pull it down next time, get a glimpse of these,” he hums, reaching over to give your boob a playful squeeze, “for balance.” He lets out a sleazy little laugh as you giggle.

Rafe spins you around and pulls you in for a kiss: deep and sweet. The kind that says ‘sure, I might be losing my shit, but you’re my favorite way to come back down’. He opens the passenger door for you, still grinning as you slide into the car.

𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹

The two of you sit side by side at a table on the water. The twinkling lights strung from the patio of the Island Club swaying in the breeze. Dinner was delicious, drinks were flowing, and Rafe… was present.

You could see it in the way he stared out at the water for a second too long. The way he blinked back to you like he’d just remembered where he was, and even so he wasn’t deep in thought. Almost like he wasn’t clenching his fists or checking his phone every two seconds or trying to crack a joke to distract himself from the ache in his heart.

But even still, he was there with you. Holding your hand, letting you finish your wine without interruption. He ordered your favorite appetizer before you could, stole bites from your plate like it was his job, kissing you tenderly after every lingered glance.

At one point, you were both leaned back in your chairs, full and content, watching the last sliver of sun bleed into the horizon when he said, “She told me they’re headin’ to Lexi’s after prom.”

“She did?”

He nods, sipping his drink. “She didn’t need to tell me that… She’s seventeen. Fuck, baby, I mean I woulda lied for the hell of it. I sure as shit wouldn’t have told Ward where I was goin’. And she just told me—didn’t even need to ask.”

“Yeah, baby?” You hum as you tip your head on his shoulder; Rafe’s fingers twinning in yours. “What else did she say?”

“Bonfire, snacks; some movie, I don’t know.”

“What about Jackson? Are juniors and seniors gonna be there?” You question this time, feeling your own unease rise about her possibly mingling with upperclassmen.

“Just juniors. She said ‘he didn’t care… He just wanted to be with her.’”

“Sounds familiar,” you smile as you squeeze Rafe’s hand.

He gives you a look—the one he always does when he’s caught remembering being seventeen with you. “Hmm… Sounds about as much, sweetheart.”

“They’re sweet,” you say quietly as you snuggle in a little closer. “We raised a good one, Rafe.”

“She’s everything,” he breathes. “My stubbornness and your heart—”

“We get to do this all over again in a couple years.”

He groans like it hurt, but he smiles anyway. “Twins too… Better start stocking up on wine now.”

You glance down at your phone, thumb tapping the screen as you check the time. It’s late enough. The twins are definitely asleep by now—if not completely passed out in a pile of stuffies and blankets, at the very least curled up on the couch mid-movie with drool on Auntie Sarah’s shoulder.

You look at Rafe, swirling the last sip of his whiskey, that lazy smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he sees the twinkle in your eye; the man no doubt thinking about taking off the lingerie you teased him with earlier.

“So?” You ask, soft and suggestive as your foot brushes against his under the table.

“That time, huh?” He smiles as he pulls out his phone as well, checking it.

His brows furrow slightly. The smirk slips a little. Not in a full-blown way, just enough to make your stomach flip.

“What?” You ask as you lean in. “Did Sarah send something?” Rafe doesn’t answer right away. “What’s going on, baby?” You press again; still no answer.

You reach across the table and snatch the phone from his hand before he can stop you. Your eyes flick to the screen to check what’s going on, eyes widening on the screen as you see the flashing pin on a tracking app. And your daughter’s car, not where she said she’d be.

You stare down at his phone, then up at him. “Why are you tracking her, Rafe?”

“I don’t just track her, sweetheart. I track Max too… It’s a scary place out there, okay? Ya’ll are all I have,” he stammers. He takes a deep breath, blowing it out his nostrils as he tries his best to collect himself. “I’m trackin’ her because of this—”

“—Because she’s at the beach?” You question, letting your annoyance bleed through each word.

“She didn’t tell us she was going to the beach,” he says, voice tight. “So yeah, baby—that’s why I’m doin’ it.”

“Well, what now?”

Rafe tilts back in his chair, pushing out a shaky, uneven breath. “Guess we’re takin’ a trip to the beach—”

“Rafe…”

“If anything we’ll check and leave—”

“—Baby.”

“We will check. And, we will leave.”

You roll your eyes, grabbing your purse. Rafe stands and tosses some cash on the table before looking down at you.

“Nothing more, baby. I swear. I’m not gonna enjoy my night if I don’t know that she’s safe. Just a piece of mind.”

“And what if you see something you don’t wanna see?”

He stops in his tracks looking at you like you just dropped a weight on his chest. “What do you mean by that?”

You arch a brow as you take his hand, rising to your feet. “I mean… you found a condom wrapper in her bathroom, Rafe. So again—I ask—what if you see something you don’t wanna see?”

Rafe runs a hand down his face, letting out a long, deep breath. “Guess we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

𖤐ᝰ.ᐟ𖦹₊⊹

The two of you pull into the quiet parking lot, headlights cutting through the soft fog that’s rolled in off the water. It’s dark but not deserted—distant voices, the occasional pop of laughter, the soft flicker of firelight down by the shore.

Rafe leans forward, squinting out the windshield. “They’re probably hidin’ somewhere,” he mutters, tone edged with something sharp. “Thinkin’ he’s bein’ slick.”

“Mhmm…” You flick your hand lazily in their direction, spotting them almost instantly, right in plain sight.

The two of them are sat side by side in front of a small fire, shoes kicked off, a blanket pulled over both their legs. Winnie’s head tilted on Jackson’s shoulder.

Rafe exhales through his nose, and it’s not quite relief, but it’s not disappointment, either. And at that moment you realize he didn’t want to be right—he just didn’t want to be wrong either. You take out your phone, open your messages, and type:

You: Hope you’re having a good night sweetie. Be safe.

Barely ten seconds pass before your daughter’s phone lights up on the sand. You see her glance down at the screen, smile, and start typing back. Then your phone buzzes.

Winnie: we’re having a great night!

Winnie: we left the party because it got kinda crazy. Jax was worried it might get busted.

Winnie: we’re down to the beach

Another second later, she sends a selfie—her cheek pressed against Jackson’s, both of them grinning, firelight flickering. No red cups. No chaos. Just two kids who genuinely like each other, making a smart choice together.

Rafe’s jaw ticks as he looks at the photo. He leans back in his seat, sighing as the guilt hits him square in the chest.

“Goddamnit.”

“Mhmm…”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I just—I don’t know. This shit is hard,” he huffs.

You smile and reach over, lacing your fingers in his. “Why don’t we get out of here, baby… Go for a little drive on our way home.”

Rafe nods and pulls out of the lot, his jaw set, one hand tight on the wheel as the silence stretches between you. The engine hums low, but he doesn’t say a word.

He’s still wound up—his whole body carrying the weight of everything he’s been trying to hold back. The guilt, the stress, the slow ache of watching his little girl grow up. On top of that, work’s been brutal lately, you know it’s been eating at him, even if he won’t say it out loud.

You watch him quietly, the way the dim streetlights flicker across his profile: strong jaw, furrowed brow, tie loosened, shirt sleeves rolled up over his thick forearms you’ll never get tired of looking at.

Even tense like this, he’s still the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen—and all you can think about is how badly you want to help him relax.

He glances over at you, still high-strung, blue eyes heavy with thoughts he hasn’t shared quite yet. He shifts in his seat, spreading his thighs a little wider, fabric stretching over them—and your gaze drops without hesitation.

Your breath hitches. All you can think about is straddling him right there in the front seat, grinding against him with your skirt bunched around your waist, the windows fogging, and music muffling your moans—

“What’re you thinking about, baby?” He asks, voice low.

You turn to him slowly, letting your voice drop into something warm and wicked. “You.”

His eyes flick to yours in surprise. “You’re thinkin’ about me?” He says, almost like he doesn’t believe it himself, half-expecting to be in that doghouse you were talking about earlier.

You smile, reach for his hand resting on the console, and guide it toward you. He exhales sharply, shoulders finally starting to drop, the tension melting into something else entirely. “You’re not mad at me, princess?”

You shake your head. “No, baby. I like when you’re protective. Can’t fault you for that. Maybe just calm down a little… Just a little.”

“Anything for you,” he murmurs, his voice thick with want.

“Wanna help you forget all those thoughts distracting you from me…”

“Distracting me from you? My girl? Impossible… But, please,” he says with a smirk, “make me forget.”

You lift his hand from your thigh, slowly, and press a kiss to the top of it—light and teasing, just like he would.

Then, with your eyes still on him, you part your lips and slip two thick fingers in your mouth, swirling your tongue around the tips. Rafe’s breath catches. He flicks another glance at you, then another, making the car sway gently.

You reach over, trailing your hand down his chest, feeling the heat and tension thrumming through his body. Your nails drag lightly down his shirt’s crisp, white fabric until you hit his thigh, scratching just enough to earn a quiet exhale from him.

Your fingers graze over his bulge—growing thick and heavy beneath his designer pants—and he shifts again, jaw clenched tighter, not from stress, solely to keep his eyes on the road and avoid them rolling back.

You lean in closer, the scent of his rich cologne washing over you. Your fingers work open his belt. The metal clicks softly before you slide the zipper down. Your heart pounds with the bass, excitement swelling in your chest as he barrels through the night.

He shifts in his seat, lifting his hips so he can shove his pants and boxers down. “You sure, baby?” He asks through a crooked smile as you grip his thick dick in your fist—hardening fast in your palm, long, pulsing with need.

Your mouth waters as you stroke him slow, teasing, your thumb brushing over the head. “I need it… Is that alright?” You ask coyly. Rafe’s cock twitches in your grip, his breath stuttering as you swipe your thumb across his tip, rubbing in a bead of precum.

“Fuck,” he moans as his head rolls slightly.

“You like that?” You ask.

“Yeah… Yeah, fuck. Keep goin’,” he mumbles, his eyes on the road, but barely.

Rafe reaches over; fingers slipping under your dress. He groans at how wet you are, teasing your entrance, pushing just the tip of his fingers inside. The pace you set with your hand mirrors his—slow and purposeful, a shared rhythm that leaves you both panting.

Click.

You unbuckle your seatbelt and slide across the center console. Before he can even register what’s happening, next you take him into your mouth; his cock hot and heavy on your warm tongue.

Rafe’s whole body jerks. He draws his fingers from between your thighs, slicked with your wetness, and sucks them into his mouth, the corners of his lips curling into a smile at the taste.

“Jesus Christ, baby…” His voice is thick and hoarse. “You’re perfect. Too fuckin’ good to me.” His hand comes down hard on your ass, the sting sharp, and your moan vibrates around him as he spanks you.

A second later, his fingers knot in your hair, guiding you, controlling your pace. “Atta girl,” he groans, hips lifting gently. “Fuckin’ take it—so desperate, huh? Couldn’t wait ‘til we got home?”

You hum in response, lips and tongue working him while your hand strokes what your mouth can’t reach. His moans start spilling out, competing with the music in the car.

“Gonna make me lose it,” he pants. “That’s what you want, huh? Gonna swallow it all? Don’t wanna get dirty, baby—” he mumbles, and you can hear the smirk in his voice as his leg bounces beneath your hands, breath rough and ragged, chest rising faster now.

“Shit, baby… I’m gonna cum—” You suck him harder, throating his cock until he’s cursing and twitching, praising your name as he slams his big fist against the steering wheel, spilling down your throat.

His body unwinds in the seat and his hold loosens on your hair. You pull off slowly, watching his cock throb still as he tucks himself in the waistband of his dress pants, hissing in sensitivity as he zips back up his pants, covering himself slightly with his jacket. He shakes his head, unable to wipe that wide smile off his perfect lips.

You sit up and smooth your hair in the visor mirror, licking your lips, catching the last of him as you giggle dizzily. He chuckles, low and lazy, as he rolls his head on the headrest, locking eyes with you. “God, I fuckin’ love you.”

And then just as you lean over to press one last kiss on his lips the car’s screen lights up with an incoming call.

Deputy Shoupe

Rafe fumbles and swears under his breath on his way to accept the call, already assuming the worst. “Shoupe? Everything okay?”

“Rafe. We got a little situation down at the yacht club. Someone called in a report—female screamin’. Thought it might be a domestic or worse. Turns out… Uh, well… We found your son and that Thornton girl entangled on your yacht.”

Rafe freezes; eyes beating a few times slow as he takes it all in. “Max?”

“Yes, sir. A bag of weed, a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle, and a pocket full of Magnums—”

“—Dude. You’ve gotta be kiddin’ me right now,” your son snips as he cuts the officer off. “You’re seriously cockblockin’ me? This is harassment. We’re on my boat. S’Private property. I can’t help it if we got a little loud, alright? That’s between me and her.”

“I’m fine… Obviously,” Topper’s daughter sasses as well, her Cali-girl, vocal fry that pours through the car speakers like nails on a chalkboard.

Rafe’s jaw is locked, one vein in his temple pulsing so hard you can practically hear it. Rafe stares straight ahead, dead silent.

“You gonna arrest us for lovin’ each other now? Is that where this country’s at? You people are fuckin’ sick—”

“Tell him to stop talkin’,” Rafe sneers.

“Want me to tase him a little?” Shoupe chuckles.

Rafe mutters something under his breath making Shoupe laugh. There’s a beat of silence as you stare at Rafe, your husband staring right back at you. His features soften—the man hit with yet another wave of guilt—he was so hyper focused on your daughter that everything else flew out the window.

“It’s okay, baby,” you whisper.

He shakes his head ‘no’ and rolls his eyes, tipping his head back against the headrest.

“What do you two want me to do about all this?” Shoupe asks through another amused laugh.

“Fuck… Bring ’em into the station. Take the weed if you have to,” Rafe adds. “Leave the bottle.” You raise your brows at him and he just shrugs. “Kid’s a pain in my ass but he’s got good taste,” he mumbles. “I’ll be there in two-three hours,” Rafe finishes. “Got some shit I need to handle first.”

“Copy that.”

Click.

“We’re not gonna go get him?” You ask through a laugh as you glance back at Rafe.

He smirks, letting his hand slide higher up your thigh. “He’ll survive, baby. Might even learn somethin’… Right now, I need to take care of my girl.”

@rafesthroatbaby | @matthewssweetheart | @slut-4-rafey | @blair-bears-blog | @iikximii | @akobx | @gri959 | @ch4rrykisses | @st8rkey | @laniirackssss | @barnesboo1967 | @justdamnpeachy | @dylsdaily| @rafesheaven | @my-name-is-baby | @wtfisastiles | @skye-44 @taliescapes | @anothershorthuman | @rafeslovergirly | @vanessa-rafesgirl | @maybankslover | @frankoceanluvr11 | @rcameronlova1 | @lhhlver | @yourmomdotcom42069 | @cameronsprincess | @kdoll-7 | @angelicameron | @imsiriuslyreal | @alphabetically-deranged | @sabrina-carpenter-stan-account | @hyperfixationgirl | @faephoria | @wtfdudesblog | @rafesdoll | @yasmin-oviedo | @lizzysmith110 | @ietss | @livie4lifestarkeyblyth | @lilithblackkk | @premiumshitt | @littlelamy | @prettybabyyyy | @star017 | @hannieskzzz | @biascriptum | @laylalovesbmth | @aris-void | @rafesbabygirlx

[raekensluver]

something like home

description: you and george share a quiet moment on a balcony during a loud party.

pairing: best friend!george clarke x fem!reader

contains: fluff, best friends to....?

song rec: i like me better by lauv- "i like me better when i'm with you."

w.c: 950+

you’d only been in the city for a few months, but the lights still felt too bright and the crowds too loud.

it wasn’t bad—not at all. you’d dreamt about living in london for years. but now that you were here, dancing around events and slipping into social circles that once felt impossible to reach, you sometimes missed the quiet hum of your hometown. the slow kind of comfort that didn’t demand anything from you.

like him.

tonight’s party was loud. sidemen-hosted, apparently, which meant the hotel had been rented out and filled with flashing lights, music that trembled through your ribs, and a rotating collection of influencers, footballers, and too-good-looking-for-their-own-good youtubers. it was fun, or at least it was supposed to be. you’d lost count of how many conversations you’d barely kept up with. how many selfies you’d politely leaned into.

so when you slipped out onto the balcony of the twelfth floor, the cool bite of spring air felt like a relief. like exhaling after holding your breath too long.

you leaned against the railing, eyes sweeping the glowing london streets below. horns blared distantly. a dog barked. someone laughed across the street. all the sounds were a bit muffled, a bit softer.

and then—footsteps behind you.

“thought i’d find you out here. you alright?”

you didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.

george’s voice had a weight to it, even when it was light. familiar in a way nothing else in this new life was. like the feeling of cold grass on bare feet. or your name in someone else’s handwriting.

you smiled and turned your head slightly. “i just needed a breather,” you said, turning your gaze back to the streets. “too many people. too many conversations that go nowhere.”

george chuckled, stepping beside you. “same old you.”

you nudged him with your shoulder. “same old me?”

“yeah,” he said, resting his elbows on the railing, matching your posture. “always needed an escape route. even at your own birthday parties, you’d disappear halfway through and come back with a book.”

you laughed softly, warmth blooming in your chest. “i didn’t know you remembered that.”

“i remember a lot,” george said gently, almost too quietly for the city to hear.

there was something about being around george that made your chest ache a little, like stretching a muscle you didn’t know you still had. you’d grown up together—neighbors, friends, secret-sharers. you could still remember sneaking into his garage to “help” him think of video ideas when you were both fifteen, your knees knocking as you sat on a too-small stool beside him, drinking warm sodas and talking about the future like it was a dream.

then life happened. you drifted. fell out of orbit.

until london.

until him.

you met again by chance—spotted each other at a coffee shop, both stunned into silence and then laughter. from there, it was like no time had passed. except it had. you’d grown. he had too.

now he looked at you like he knew all the old parts of you and was trying to memorize the new ones too.

“you sure you’re okay?” he asked.

you nodded. “just needed a second.”

george tilted his head, eyes studying you in that way of his—soft, but sharp. “too much?”

“i guess. you know i’ve never really been a party girl.”

“you’re doing a great job of pretending,” he teased, bumping his shoulder against yours gently.

“thanks. i practiced my fake laugh and everything.”

“oh yeah? give me a sample.”

you snorted. “you’ve definitely heard it already.”

he grinned. “i knew something was off. no one laughs at arthur’s jokes that hard.”

you laughed—real this time. “arthur’s gonna cry when he hears that.”

“i hope so.”

you both went quiet for a beat. the city stretched out below, golden and alive.

george glanced sideways at you. “you know, i’m really glad you moved here.”

you looked at him, a bit startled. “yeah?”

“yeah. i don’t know…” he rubbed the back of his neck. “it’s been good. having you around again.”

“same,” you said, voice quieter than before. “feels like i got a piece of myself back.”

he looked at you for a long second, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. then he smiled, gentle and wide. “we make a good team.”

“we always did.”

inside, through the glass doors, you could faintly make out chris and arthur standing near the bar, their heads tilted toward the balcony.

“i think we’ve got an audience,” george murmured.

you peered inside. arthur had the biggest grin on his face, nudging chris’s side. chris just shook his head, clearly trying to play it cool but failing spectacularly.

you laughed. “subtle.”

george leaned a little closer, voice warm. “ignore them.”

“ignore the fan club? impossible.”

he was quiet for a second, then said, “i missed this.”

you looked at him.

“missed you.”

that ache in your chest returned, fuller this time.

you reached for his hand without thinking, fingers brushing his. he let you take it, his grip soft but sure.

“i missed you too,” you whispered.

he didn’t say anything, but you saw the way his thumb brushed lightly across your knuckles, how he turned his head to look at you like you hung stars in the sky.

the city breathed beneath you both, a quiet heartbeat pulsing through its streets. after a minute, you let your head fall to his shoulder, the soft fabric of his coat pressing into your cheek. he didn’t flinch. instead, he leaned into it, just a little. just enough.

neither of you said anything else for a while. you just stood there together, shoulder to shoulder, two threads stitched back into the same page after years apart.

inside, the music picked up again.

outside, everything slowed.

[readerihardlyknowher]

In Every Universe | Pt. 6

Can't believe Amanda's going to be a mom for real now oml

Spencer Agnew x Reader Warnings: None WC: 1,824 Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, Pt. 4, Pt. 5, Pt. 6

“Hello, welcome to Smosh Mouth. I’m Shayne-” “-and I’m Amanda, and we have a very special guest here today: Y/n Y/l/n!” Both of the hosts look at you, and you wave to the camera, saying hello. “And today we are going to be talking about romance, is that something you know a lot about Y/n?”

“Oh wow, romance,” you chuckle, a little nervous. This is the first time you’ve been able to come onto Smosh Mouth. “Yeah actually, I do. I mean, I’ve had romances before, and I recently rewatched Pride and Prejudice.” Amanda gasps at this.

“The one with Colin Firth?” “No, the one with Matthew Macfayden. From Succession.”

“Right, okay, and was it any good?” Amanda’s perpetually enthusiastic voice makes you smile. Talking with her just feels natural, which is why it’s good she’s one of the hosts.

“Yeah, actually. I mean, it’s one of my favorite movies. I can’t lie, I love a good fairytale ending where everyone’s just happy and in love.”

“Same. I love seeing people happy and in love,” Amanda’s excited voice agrees with you, before looking at Shayne with an expectant look.

“Yeah, I mean I’ve watched my fair share of romance movies, and there’s some good ones out there.”

The rest of the podcast continues on in a much similar manner. Amanda and Shayne ask you questions about shows, games, and even basic questions about your romance life, like your first kiss and whatnot. You share more than you thought you would have, but nothing too intimate or personal. Gotta keep some semblance of privacy on the internet. Eventually, Amanda’s face breaks into a smirk, looking down at her paper before back up at you.

“So, you’ve had many on-camera romances with our favorite Spencer.” You chuckle at this, having known from when she first mentioned romance that it would lead to here.

“Yeah, I have. I mean, I’ve also had a few romances with other cast members in other games, but I think Spencer and I have had the most romances. I mean, besides you and Angela.” You throw it back to her, with a smile, which she laughs at.

“She’s my wife, man!”

“Your work wife,” Shayne throws out.

“Yes, my work wife.

“Anyways, Y/n, we wanted to know straight from you how it feels to be shipped to such a degree. All of us here have been shipped with other cast members many times in the past, but how do you feel about it?” You go silent for a moment to think about it, trying to give a sort of political answer to the question. Honest, but nothing to stir the pot.

“I guess I don’t really mind it. I mean, even if I did mind, it wouldn’t stop anything. Besides, what girl hasn’t been shipped with her boy best friend at some point? But really, it’s no different than how Amanda is with Spencer, so I really don’t get why I’m the one getting shipped. I know you��re married and I’m not, but still,” you finish with a smile, feeling a little hot under the heat of the lights.

“To be clear,” Shayne begins, “we do have it on record that Amanda does in fact have a crush on Spencer.” This comment makes your face heat up more, smiling nervously and shaking your head.

“Oh right, well nevermind that comparison then. What I meant was that we’re just really friendly with one another.”

“Yeah I mean,” Amanda scratches behind her neck. “There’s just something about Spencer that makes everyone love him. It’s so weird.”

Shayne chuckles at that. “Oh yeah, I mean even back in the Defy era everyone loved him.”

You can’t stop smiling throughout the conversation, and you know it must look a little silly to the audience. The truth is just that you love your best friend, everyone does. He’s a very lovable guy, nothing “weird” about it. But what is weird is how your heart flips when you hear what Amanda says next:

“Which is why we’re bringing on the one and only Spencer Agnew to join us here today!”

Immediately you turn your head and watch Spencer as he walks up on set from behind the cameras. You hadn’t even known he was there and silently you wonder if you’ve embarrassed yourself. You have half the mind to move your chair over as he brings one of his own to sit next to you, between you and Shayne.

“Hey, how’s it going guys?” Spencer says to the two hosts before looking over at you, his familiar, all too comfortable grin on his face. “Hello, my wife.”

You huff out a laugh and return the smile. “Hello, my husband.”

“Guys,” Amanda’s voice draws your attention. “Knock it off. There’s too much chemistry already and we haven’t even gotten to the question we’ve all been wanting to know.”

You both pause at that, turning to face her, expectantly waiting for her to continue.

“Where did the marriage joke come from?”

At that you both turn to each other, smiling and silently asking who wants to be the one to tell the story. It only takes a second before Spencer looks down, a little embarrassed.

“I’ll tell. So, back when we were working as editors with Defy, we were good friends. So, one day we’re about to start a shoot, I’m helping to set up, Y/n’s across the room working on something else and she calls my name. Now, I don’t know what was with me that day, but I said ‘Yeah, hun?’ in front of EVERYONE there.”

“And that’s what got us our first trip to HR.”

Amanda “aw”’s at the story. Shayne merely chuckles and shakes his head. Amanda’s brows crease as a question enters her mind.

“Wait, but why did you call Y/n that?”

Spencer can only shrug as a response before laughing. You catch him glancing over at you and can see a light dusting of red on his cheeks.

“I don’t even know, man. If I’m remembering correctly, it’s because that’s what I was calling the girl I was with at the time and was super tired coming into work, so I just slipped up.”

“And that’s called a freudian slip,” Amanda says, nodding. This causes Spencer to laugh and put his head in his hand, saying her name under his breath in exasperation. You step in to continue the story.

“So yeah, then after that, people on set thought we were together. Once they realized we weren’t they just turned it into a running joke that we’re the married couple on set. But I guess that title now has to be handed off to you and Courtney now,” you say, directing the energy back to Shayne who nods.

He ends up telling a story of his own about how the people at Smosh were told/found out about them dating, and how they wondered at first whether or not to ever tell the audience, but ended up settling on telling them once they got married. It’s a nice change of pace at this point in the podcast, getting to listen to a sweet story. Eventually, the conversation falls back into the topic of romance movies, in which they end up asking Spencer what his favorite is.

“Excluding Attack of the Clones? I’d have to say Princess Bride right now. Y/n and I rewatched it about a month ago and it still holds up.”

Amanda “ooh”’s at that choice, agreeing that it’s such a good movie. Shayne takes this time to turn towards the camera and speak.

“So, just for you guys at home, Spencer and Y/n like to watch movies and shows together in their free time.”

“Hey, we’ve invited you two to join us sometimes and you always blow us off!” You say playfully. It’s true though, when watching a movie you knew one or the both of them loved, you would ask if they wanted to join, but most of the time they end up being too busy.

“I come whenever I can. Mostly though, after a long day I like to hit the gym and relax with Courtney,” Shayne responds, a slightly offended tone with his first statement, before going back to the casual style he speaks with. Amanda nods and looks as though she’s about to speak before you feel Spencer’s warm hand through the sleeve of your shirt, resting just on your upper arm.

“Yeah, gives me more time to relax with my wife as well,” his smooth voice replies to Shayne. You turn and shoot him a confused smile before smacking his hand.

“Get your Mountain Dew fingers off of me,” you huff out as he pulls his hand away with a smile.

“See what I have to put up with? Women, amiright?” Amanda immediately boos Spencer’s comment, Shayne putting his head in his hands.

Pretty quickly, the topic turns back to movies and TV shows, Amanda talking about her love of Turkish dramas, and you talking about your favorite movies. Shayne turns to you once you’re done talking.

“So, Y/n, aren’t you and Spencer having your movie night tonight?” You nod and hum as a response to his question. “Do you know what movie you’re going to watch?”

The two of you turn and look at each other, silently wondering if you should share it, before you take in a breath and turn back to Shayne, a giggle in your voice as you speak.

“We’re actually watching The Notebook.”

“My choice,” Spencer adds. Amanda gasps and holds her hands to her chest, while Shayne hums and nods.

“Oh my gosh, such a good movie.”

“Well, I think that we’re nearing the end of our episode here,” Shayne’s voice calls to attention. You had hardly noticed how quickly time had passed since you first sat down, Amanda and Shayne’s energy, as well as Spencer’s presence being so welcoming. You almost wished this episode would never end, however, it does comfort you to know that you and Spencer will be seeing each other later tonight.

“Thank you for having us, I hope to get invited back soon. You guys were amazing as always,” you say, being nice for the end of the video. Amanda looks at you with an excited look on her face.

“Yes, and you have to tell us more about your movie nights,” Amanda teases you, which makes you a little flustered but you brush it off. You’re about to speak before Spencer talks first.

“No way, if you want to know about our movie nights, you’ve got to come when we invite you. What happens at movie night stays at movie night.”

Amanda opens her mouth to protest, and you realize this is just going to prolong the end of the video, so you turn to the camera, a playfully panicked look on your face.

“Quick, cut the video now! They’re not going to stop otherwise!”

Tag list: @lisiliely, aliceblxck, burrowedinnature77, 65percentleg

[pankowcrumbs]

Friends with Benefits X Eddie Munson

MasterList

Stranger Things and Cast Masterlist

The air in the school hallway was thick with the usual end-of-day chaos lockers slamming, students laughing, the occasional shriek of someone who just realised they left their homework in the library. I was halfway to my locker, dodging a football that flew across the corridor, when he appeared.

Caleb Turner. All charming smiles, blonde hair, and enough swagger to power a small town. He leaned casually against the locker next to mine, like he belonged there. Like he knew I’d stop.

"Hey, Y/N," he said, flashing that annoyingly perfect grin. "I was hoping I'd catch you."

I smiled politely. "Oh?"

"Yeah. Listen, I was wondering if you'd want to come to the party at Jamie's tomorrow? I mean, it'd be more fun if you're there." He winked. Actually winked.

I let out a small laugh, fiddling with the lock on my locker. "That's sweet of you, but..."

"You should go," came a voice from behind. Deep. Rough. Instantly recognisable.

Eddie.

He stood there with his arms crossed, leather jacket creaking with the tension rolling off him. His eyes flicked from Caleb to me, then back to Caleb, like he was trying to decide if punching him would be worth the detention.

"Hey, Munson," Caleb said, clearly unimpressed. "Didn't know you were her bodyguard."

"Didn't know you needed to be that close to talk to someone," Eddie shot back, jaw tightening.

I stepped in before things got stupid. "Okay, that's enough. Caleb, thanks for the invite. I'll think about it."

Caleb gave a lopsided shrug and walked off, thankfully not pressing the issue.

Eddie, however, stayed rooted.

"What the hell was that?" I asked, slamming my locker a bit harder than necessary.

He scoffed. "Just didn't like the way he was looking at you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Looking at me? Eddie, he's not a threat."

"You don't know that. He could be a total creep."

"You're jealous," I said simply.

He snapped his eyes to me. "Am not!"

I folded my arms. "You are jealous, and may I add, you're a terrible liar."

His nostrils flared. "Oh, I see. So I can't have an opinion about who you're flirting with now?"

"I wasn’t flirting! He asked me a question. And even if I was, that’s none of your business."

"None of my...? Y/N, we literally slept together last night."

My heart skipped. My mouth opened and closed. "That doesn’t give you a right to dictate who I talk to."

"You know what? Fine," he said, voice rising. "But don’t act like it doesn’t mean anything. Don’t pretend this is just a casual thing."

"Isn’t it? That’s what we agreed on."

He stepped closer, eyes burning. "We are not just friends and you fucking know it."

That stopped me. Cold.

Because he was right. We weren’t just friends. We weren’t just anything. We were in that confusing, messy middle ground where we kissed like lovers but spoke like strangers. We touched like we meant everything, but talked like it meant nothing.

And now, with his eyes locked on mine, breathing heavy, hands clenched like he didn’t know what to do with them, I realised I couldn’t lie anymore either.

"You think I don’t feel it too?" I said softly. "You think I’m not scared out of my mind that this could ruin everything?"

His face shifted, softer now. Sadder. "Then why are we pretending it doesn’t matter?"

"Because I thought... I thought you'd leave. If it got too real."

He reached for my hand, tentative. Like I might vanish. "I’d never leave you. Not if you asked me to stay."

I looked down at our fingers, entwined. It was the first honest thing we’d done in weeks.

"Then stay. But not just for the nights. For all of it."

He let out a breath that sounded like relief. "Yeah. Yeah, okay."

And just like that, we stopped lying to ourselves.

For the first time, we were something more than fear and bodies tangled in shadows.

We were real.

We didn’t speak for a moment, just stood there in the hallway while the world bustled around us. Eddie’s thumb brushed against the back of my hand, soft and slow, and it made my heart ache in a way I hadn’t prepared for.

I swallowed. “I don’t want to do the sneaking around thing anymore.”

“Good,” he said, his voice low and firm. “Because I want to hold your hand without checking who’s looking.”

A breathy laugh left me. “And maybe kiss me without waiting until your van doors are closed?”

His grin cracked wide across his face. “God, yes. That’d be nice.”

The bell rang, signalling the end of the day for everyone else. Students rushed past, and somewhere behind us, a teacher shouted for someone to stop running. But none of it touched us.

Eddie stepped closer, not letting go of my hand. “Come back to mine?”

I nodded, feeling warmth bloom in my chest. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

when we got back to his trailer it felt different. The same cracked countertop, the same crooked lampshade, the same creaky floorboards but the air between us had shifted. There was nothing unspoken left anymore. Just charged silence and a buzz under my skin every time his eyes landed on mine.

I kicked off my shoes near the door while Eddie grabbed us two cans of Coke. He handed me one, but before I could take a sip, he was already stepping into my space again, eyes searching mine.

“You know I meant all of it, right?” he asked quietly. “Everything I said back there.”

“I know,” I whispered.

He cupped my cheek, thumb skimming over my skin. “I’ve been in love with you for months.”

The words hit me like a crash of waves unexpected and all-consuming.

I blinked up at him, heart hammering. “You have?”

“Of course I have. You’re it for me, Y/N.”

I didn’t even try to hide the tears burning in my eyes. I just surged up, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing my mouth to his in the most desperate, messy kiss of our lives. His hands clutched at my waist like he was afraid I might disappear again.

The kiss turned slow, then deep, then heavier. Like all the things we hadn’t said had built up and were pouring out now, through every touch. I felt his fingers slide under the hem of my shirt, tracing fire across my skin, and my breath hitched against his lips.

We laughed when he bumped his shin on the coffee table and swore under his breath. His lips found my neck, hot and open-mouthed, and I arched into him without shame. Every movement was familiar, but now laced with something new something careful and reverent.

His hand slid up my thigh, and I was already pulling his shirt off. He leaned back to let me, hair a tousled mess and lips swollen from kissing. He looked at me like I was magic, like I was already something holy.

“I love you too, by the way,” I whispered, brushing my fingers over his cheek.

“I could do this forever,” he mumbled against my skin.

My fingers threaded into his hair, tugging gently when he nipped at the spot just below my ear. He groaned softly, then dropped to his knees in front of me, looking up like I was the only thing that mattered.

“Eddie”

“Shh,” he said with a crooked smile. “Let me take care of you, yeah?”

The way he said it soft, reverent made my stomach twist in the best way.

His hands gripped my thighs, warm and steady, like he was memorising every inch of me. And then his lips followed slow, open-mouthed kisses against skin that had never felt so exposed, so wanted. His nose bumped gently against the sensitive inside of my leg, and he murmured something I didn’t quite catch maybe a compliment, maybe a prayer.

He took his time. There was nothing rushed or careless about it. Every movement, every breath, was deliberate like he was savouring me.

I curled my fingers into the edge of the counter behind me, head tilting back as pleasure bloomed low and slow in my stomach. He was all warmth and velvet tongue and soft hums of approval, holding me up and holding me together all at once.

When I finally gasped his name, trembling, his smile was practically smug. He stood, catching me before my knees gave out, and kissed me breathless.

“My turn,” I whispered.

His mouth opened slightly, surprise giving way to the kind of grin that made my toes curl. “Y/N…”

I didn’t give him a chance to argue. I tugged him towards the couch, pushing him gently down. His hands fumbled with my hips, as if he still couldn’t believe this was real that I wanted him just as much, that I needed to give just as much as I took.

And I did. With all the same softness and fire he’d shown me.

It wasn’t just lust. It was years of unsaid things, quiet stares in the hallway, late-night laughter over takeout, whispered confessions after too many drinks.

It was love raw and real and right there, written all over him as he tangled his fingers in my hair and looked at me like I was the whole damn universe.

When we finally collapsed on the couch, tangled up in each other, skin warm and flushed, neither of us spoke for a long while.

He traced circles on my shoulder with his thumb, heart still racing beneath my palm where it rested against his chest.

“Y’know,” he said after a while, voice raspy and soft, “we were really bad at pretending.”

I smiled into his neck. “Yeah. But we’re pretty damn good at this.”

He kissed my hair. “Best I’ve ever had.”

“You mean that?” I asked, half-teasing, half-vulnerable.

He tipped my chin up so I had to look him in the eyes. “I’m in love with you. I’ve been in love with you since you punched Jason Carver for calling me a freak.”

I laughed, watery-eyed. “He deserved it.”

“Yeah, well. So do you.”

“So do I what?”

“Deserve someone who worships you,” he said, brushing my hair back. “Properly.”

I leaned in, kissing him like it was the only truth I’d ever known.

Because maybe it was.

The next morning, sunlight spilled through the cracked blinds. Dust danced in the light. The trailer was still and quiet, save for the faint chirp of birds outside and the slow, steady breathing next to me.

Eddie’s arm was slung low around my waist, his leg tangled with mine, skin warm against skin. His curls were a wild mess, his mouth slightly open in sleep, and he looked... peaceful. Almost boyish.

I didn’t move. I didn’t want to.

I just lay there, tracing lazy patterns across his chest, heart full in a way I didn’t know was possible.

Eventually, his eyes cracked open. “Mornin’, trouble.”

“Morning, rockstar.”

He stretched, groaned dramatically, then rolled on top of me, pinning me gently beneath him. “Y’know,” he said, smirking, “I think we’re officially the worst at casual now.”

I grinned, fingers brushing through his hair. “You’re right.”

He leaned down, nose brushing mine. “Good. I never wanted casual.”

I cupped his cheek. “Me neither.”

We stayed like that for a while. Quiet. Safe. Real.

Finally, he shifted, propped his chin on my chest, and said with a straight face, “Also... I love you. But I really love your blowjobs.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

He grinned, wicked and sleepy. “You heard me.”

I smacked his arm, laughing, cheeks burning. “You’re a freak Eddie.”

He wiggled his brows.

[baocean]

Hi! I love poyp so much!

Could you do a blurb of JJ finally winning over Y/Ns parents? They've come to terms with the fact that he's not going anywhere and they invite him for another dinner but they start making digs and Y/N snaps at them in anger and leaves, but JJ stays just to tell them something like "I know I'm not what you wanted for your daughter but if you think I will leave her you're crazy" or something like that?

Also, can't wait to see what you have in-store for Boys Like You

this is so cute! thx for sending <3

your parents invited you over after only a week home from your freshman year.

after an entire year of cold stares, passive-aggressive comments, and backhanded compliments, your parents inviting jj over again almost felt…hopeful. maybe they were finally starting to see what you saw. maybe they were finally giving him a chance.

but the second you sat down, it started.

your mom’s smile was too tight. your dad’s questions too pointed.

"so, jj," your dad said, cutting into his steak, "still working at the marina?"

jj smiled politely. "yep. full-time now, actually."

"and… is that the goal, then?"

you stiffened. jj didn’t flinch. "it’s one of them."

"mm. well, not everyone needs a college degree, i suppose," your mom chimed in with a sip of wine, not meeting your eyes.

you could feel your blood boiling. but jj just nodded, jaw tense, swallowing his pride like he always did.

and then your mom added, "i guess it’s good you’re so loyal. some people just cling to what they know, right?"

jj’s hand brushed yours under the table, grounding you, but your patience snapped.

“okay, you know what?” you said sharply, standing up. “if you brought us here just to talk down to him again, you could’ve saved the wine and spared me the drive.”

your mom blinked, startled. your dad set down his fork.

“he is kind,” you continued, voice shaking. “he is loyal. and he is so much more than the assumptions you’ve made about him since day one. i don’t know what more he has to prove to you, but i’m done watching you make him feel small.”

you grabbed your bag, looked at jj, and said quietly, “i’ll wait in the car.”

he nodded, eyes soft on you. “i’ll be right there.”

and once the door closed behind you, jj stayed in his seat.

“look,” he said, setting his glass down, voice low and steady, “i know i’m not who you pictured. i know i come with a past you wouldn’t have chosen for her.”

he leaned forward, elbows on the table, gaze hard and honest. “but i love your daughter. i would go through hell for her. and if you think for one second that i’m gonna leave her just because you’re uncomfortable with how i got here… then you don’t know me at all.”

he rises, slow and steady, and nods politely.

“thank you for dinner.”

he turns toward the door, already expecting to walk out into the night alone.

and behind him, after a pause, your dad clears his throat.

“next time… maybe you could bring that potato salad you made last time,” he mutters gruffly.

jj turns slightly, surprised. your mom’s still watching him, guarded, but softer now. like maybe, just maybe, she’s starting to see what you do.

he doesn’t smile wide or celebrate.

he just nods.

“sure,” he says. “i’ll bring it.”

and with that, he slips outside into the quiet, heart thudding with something dangerously close to hope.

the second dinner invatation came as a surprise to you both.

it wasn’t a fancy dinner this time.

just a sunday afternoon, backyard chairs, lemonade sweating in plastic cups, jj's potato salad he spent all day working on. your dad at the grill. your mom in her gardening gloves. the kind of casual gathering where expectations were lower, and walls started to come down without anyone noticing.

jj had offered to help your dad with the grill, completely unprompted, and to your surprise, your dad said yes.

you were sitting on the back steps, talking to your mom about the flowers blooming too early this year, when you caught sight of them, jj and your dad, shoulder to shoulder by the grill, laughing about something. real laughter. no tension. no tight smiles.

jj flipped a burger one-handed while holding a conversation about tools and fishing trips like he was born into it.

then later, while everyone was eating, your mom went inside for something and the screen door stuck on its track. without missing a beat, jj hopped up, fixed it with a screwdriver from his pocket (along with three lighters, a hair tie he always kept for you, and a cigarette he didnt tell anyone was there), and then sat back down like it was nothing.

your mom stared at the door for a second longer than she needed to.

and maybe the moment it really shifted was after dinner, when jj was doing the dishes. no one asked him to. he just stood there, sleeves pushed up, joking with you and your mom as he scrubbed a pan. like he belonged there. like this was always part of the plan.

your dad came in with a fresh beer, leaned in the doorway, and watched him for a second.

“he’s good with his hands,” he said quietly. not to you, to your mom. and she just nodded.

later, on the drive home, jj glanced over at you. “i think your dad smiled at me.”

you laughed. ��he did, i saw it.”

“and your mom gave me leftover pie in tupperware. that’s gotta be some kind of approval.”

you leaned over, kissed his shoulder, and smiled like the sun was inside you.

“told you, they’re coming around.”

jj just grinned, eyes on the road, heart way too full.

note from the author - ok guys! i know i havent introduced yn being comfortable with jj driving yet but im going to lol just pretend you see that blurb before this one. also, im hoping i can put out another chapter of boys like you/first chapter of tbt but im working all day so pray for me lol

masterlist

taglist -  @dr3amgrlll /  @jjmaybankmylovee / @smokahontas-113 /  @abigailovesz / @enchantedstarfish / @reeseswirl / @lmaowhatt / @moonywhisp3rs / @dylsdaily /  @idli-dosa / @bloodofadoll / @cokewithcameron / @mariamadison6-blog / @rrosiitas / @always-reading / @sunflouer04 / @bambigirl10 / @mirellef2001 / @wasiasproject / @kissesandmartinis / @gublerstylesobrien1238 / @isinpfortvdmen / @sabrina-carpenter-stan-account / @mjwashere / @sideboobrry11 / @ameliacione13 / @wrtzia / @sanriobuny / @dramagodesss / @luvrclub / @yesshewrites1 / @ayy1234567 / @doesnt-care / @rainingcecilias / @4jjsbank / @blythee1

[whyohwhydoris]

Perrin through the looking glass - why Mon's husbands might be more than he seems

Before I begin: SPOILERS!

For both Season 1 and more importantly SPOILERS FOR SEASON 2 OF ANDOR! Are we all adequately warned? Neat, let's proceed.

It seems to be the popular consensus that Perrin is a wastrel and a tool. That he's some looser that Mon got saddled with then she was 15 and now she's stuck with this vacuous man-child.

And, maybe? I can't dismiss it. Sometimes, a thing is what it looks like at first blush.

But I have a sneaking suspicion he isn't that simple.

Let me roll this back to when we first actually meet Perrin, in the fourth episode of Season 1 - Aldhani. Dinner Plans

Aldhani introduces Mon. Mon is visiting Luthen to inform him that she is under increased security scrutiny. Her cover is buying a birthday gift for Perrin. She then returns home, and is surprised by Perrin preparing a dinner table for guests.

During the conversation that follows, Mon acts blindsided by Perrin, but it is vital to note several things:

Perrin booked this dinner into Mon's calendar. It was added a month in advance, and after discussing it with Mon. Mon accuses Perrin of wearing her down, Perrin replies he didn't think anyone could do that.

Perrin is hosting the governor of Hanna, a former regimental pal of his. He is also hosting Sly Moore and other senior officials in the Imperial Administration. When Mon protests this on account of their political enmity, Perrin suggest the dinner may lead to them thinking twice in future about opposing her.

When Mon protests that Perrin didn't inform her of his guests, he says it's late to cancel, but ultimately will if she demands it. Mon replies "well played Perrin" as though he has won a duel with her, but doesn't make him cancel.

Mon demands not to be sat with her opponents. Perrin says this has already been taken care of - she is at the opposite end of the table. He jokingly says she is at the boring end of the table, while these guests will be with him at the fun end.

Mon, who is under direct personal stress about her rebel activities, goes off at him. He suggests she rests.

Perrin pivots to the rumor of a present. Mon says it is going back, and Perrin doesn't question this, but does ask whether everything must be boring and sad.

Okay, so that's a lot to unpack, but I feel like this interaction is where everybody gets their opinion of Perrin cemented. Because we're introduced to Mon first, and know her more from other Star Wars, we sympathize with her. But let's look at what we learned here:

Perrin talked to Mon in advance. He scheduled, managed, and arranged this entire dinner. Mon is busy - very busy - and so he has done all the work. Mon implies Perrin wore her down, but does that really sound like Mon? In the same conversation, she says "Don't make me pay attention or I will" - basically, don't get political or I will voice my stance and make a scene. That is not 'gets worn down' behaviour.

Perrin was in the military, and he was friends with the kind of people that are subsequently governors, and people like Sly Moore - Palpatine's chief of staff! Perrin is, on his own, well connected and could be engaged in a private career in the military or civil administration. But he isn't.

When challenged about his guests, Perrin's first reply is political. Perrin is saying that, by wining and dining these people, Mon may be able to butter them up and make them less hostile on policy. This is an astute observation given by how much of galactic politics isn't actually about policy, but instead about lining the various player's own pockets.

Perrin offers, if somewhat tongue in cheek, to cancel. Mon sees this as a barb, but he is actually making this offer. It's clear he'll be upset, but he says he will do it, but it is her decision.

Perrin has anticipated and accommodated Mon's protest regarding seating. He is keeping her as separated as possible from her opponents.

Mon isn't actually reacting rationally. She has a lot dropped on her, but she forgot the dinner. She is also the busy senator, while Perrin has arranged all this. While this is at one level dismissive of her, it is also the correct call to ensure she is fit to deal with the politically fraught dinner.

While his present comment feels petty, Mon has just stormed in, trashed his efforts, treated him as hostile from the first, and is now continuing to be petty. And Perrin's question - "Why must everything be boring and sad?" - implies that he lives a sad existence without levity, one somewhat imposed by Mon.

Mon is not a bad person. But, if we remove our pro-Mon bias, this was not a good interaction by her. We know why. But Perrin literally can't. She has closed that off from him.

The other part of this is that we're looking at this from the perspective of Mon The Rebel and not Mon The Politician. If we look at it from the political perspective, Perrin has used his birthday to leverage his personal connections to give Mon potential access to political rivals who she may be able to soften up using a personal connection to counter their notional "policy" differences. He has invited senior individuals and at least one Imperial governor. These are tools that The Politician could use. But Mon is reacting as The Rebel instead.

Other interactions need less direct and in-depth analysis, fortunately. But it feels important to dive in to that first scene and pick it apart a bit. Family Breakfast 1

The next meeting is the breakfast scene. In this scene, we see Leida and Mon argue. But first, Leida tries to fob Mon off, and pivots to ask Perrin to cover for her. Perrin tells her to talk to Mon. It culminates in Leida saying that Mon doesn't have to pretend to be a good mother.

Mon is hurt by this, but she is actually not a great parent. Between her political and rebel activities, we know that she is spread incredibly thin. Leida is Mon's daughter and feels unloved because of a lack of attention for her. Perrin cannot address that.

As the arguement progresses, Mon asks Perrin if he is enjoying the argument. He clearly isn't. Mon will then complain about Perrin's lack of support. The problem is, Mon is laying into Perrin here and blaming him. But Perrin cannot address the issue of Leida feeling unloved by her own mother. Perrin already forced Leida to confront Mon, but he cannot fix this for the two of them.

In fact, Perrin's reactions are a seeming gladness that Leida's feeling are finally getting an airing. He brought what is clearly a serious underlying upset for Leida to Mon's attention directly, and given Leida agency to address Mon without de-legitimizing Leida's feelings by taking Mon's side on a basis of parental authority. Mon is hurt by Leida's words. But Leida is being hurt by Mon's inability to be a mother.

That isn't a crime. Again, Mon isn't evil. But this is something she is failing at. If we look at this from Perrin's perspective: Leida is embracing conservative traditions he does not like, but he has to be her available parent because Mon isn't present. This is causing Leida emotional distress and anger, and Perrin encourages Leida to confront her mother about this. While we can argue parenting, this is not a bad way to Parent a 14/15 year old girl. He is providing Leida agency and autonomy to deal with a personal grievance. He can't discipline her, because she is already slipping away from him and Mon with her turn to ultra-conservatism. He can't take this to Mon because she doesn't engage in her home life - like, we literally just saw her forget her own Husband's birthday dinner!

A lot of people see it as Perrin and Leida ganging up on Mon, but this is again a very biased read if we remember that Perrin is the stay-at-home dad and Mon is always too busy for her family life. Car Ride 1

Perrin and Mon are in their car, returning from some occasion. Perrin mentions that Mon saw him talking to someone. He also mentions that person knew more about Mon's work than he did.

Mon says that must be embarrassing. Again, she is making this personally about Perrin. But this misses the reverse implication: Mon isn't sharing herself with Perrin. And now, when he asks why Mon thinks he wouldn't care about her foundations, she insults him by saying "It's charitable". Perrin engages with Mon's political profession. He is an ambassador for her policies. But he can't do that if he is getting blindsided.

I know this risks sounding like Mon bashing - it really isn't. The problem is that Perrin exists entirely within the context of Mon, and so we have to remove ourself from our enhanced knowledge of Mon and the bias that introduces when we assess Perrin. Mon clearly upsets him, as he asks Kloris - their driver - to take a faster route home. But, he also asks Mon for Kloris's name before addressing him. This calls back to Mon chiding him for not knowing Kloris's name earlier - it is a sign that he is being deferential to her - and doesn't argue with her or get confrontational - because he has read her as not being in a space to engage with that. Cocktails 1

Leida approaches Perrin asking to be excused. Perrin tells her to check with Mon. Again, Perrin is not cutting Mon out. We know he is acutely aware of the political. Leida dipping out on Mon is a bad look politically. Perrin knows that. And so he is letting Mon manage that, which instead bolsters her image by making her the engaged mother.

During Mon's conversation with Tay, Perrin is socializing and watching her. We are invited to read Perrin's regard as a suspicion of Mon and Tay sharing in infidelity. The second episode of season 2 might suggest otherwise - but we'll get there.

And, what we do see is Mon acting furtively in public. Watch her face. She isn't as subtle as she thinks. And Perrin clocks this. But, notably, so does one of the women he is talking with at the bar. She looks directly at Tay and Mon, only to be drawn back to Perrin by conversation. When Perrin finished with the women he intercedes with Mon - he knows Mon is up to something, and that people are noticing it. He also intervenes with the justification that there are guests requiring special handling. Again, a political justification. And he does so loudly enough for people to see that he, Tay, and Mon are all talking together. Cocktails 2

The scene starts with Perrin asking what Mon's objective is for the night. When Tay arrives - very jovially and with a very personal attitude - Perrin stresses that Mon is working. He says Tay is not on the menu - again implying he sees infidelity (Again, back to this later). But he also says she is pitching politics and not charity. Combined with a few later moment, I think Perrin has a strong suspicion about the fact that Mon isn't actually engaging in conventional charity.

Perrin is sarcastic about how Mon is "saving the empire from the Emperor." In response, Mon asks Tay if he remembers Perrin at 15. Perrin says "let's not" and Mon goes on, calling him "The academy firebrand".

The implication is that Perrin used to be every bit as political as Mon herself.

When Tay says that the PORD is having an effect, Perrin says the Rebels should have thought about that before blowing up Aldhani. This is, again, a political observation. The Aldhani attack is a direct threat to Mon's stated policies. And Perrin has already established he is helping Mon with that when he asks for the agenda.

The other interesting thing is that Leida comments about Tay always being around - and seems to be uncomfortable about how close Tay and Mon are. This needs revisiting in a moment.

Finally Perrin has sent a seemingly friendly Senator to find Mon, who is trying to capture votes. He is supporting her politics here. Later He is shown to be being a gracious host to her guests, to be encouraging people to talk to Mon about inconsequential questions - a way to get conversations started. He also seem to be unhappy when he describes his marriage to Mon as "traditional". Family Breakfast 2

Auntie Vel is here! We open on Perrin asking if Vel is going to find a husband. While we as viewers enjoy the joke that Vel is in fact a lesbian, it is worth noting that Perrin is acutely aware of the rising conservatism in the empire (via his own daughter, but also his pointed comments about the repercussions of Aldhani) and is image conscious. Vel is conspicuous in her lack of a marriage and embrace of her station in life. And Mon herself will say much the same when she says people have been asking about Vel, and that Vel needs to go play the spoiled rich girl. On the surface, Perrin's comment seems shallow and patriarchal, but we know he rejects Chandrillan marriage customs, and we've seen him viewing things with a political lens - so I think there is a possibility that he thinks Vel is putting her self at risk in the current political climate.

Perrin also informs Vel that Tay is present - he is keeping her in the loop, and letting her know a prominent Chandrillan is spending a lot of time with Mon. What happens if Vel is ambushed with that information on Chandrilla and doesn't have prior knowledge with which to respond? I think Perrin is managing image here, too.

Leida also describes Tay as "mum's old boyfriend". Mon asks if Perrin told her that, and Perrin stresses that he said "old". Leida is uncomfortable about Tay's presence. We don't know when Perrin told her, but it is fair for Leida to ask about a man who is very friendly with her mother, and who her mother has been talking to secretively during at least two major social functions - Watch Mon and Tay's body language in scenes without sound or subtitles; they could be flirting. So Perrin has answered Leida's question about her mother. That Mon feels uncomfortable seems odd. But our bias in this scene will lead us to assume that Mon's reaction is normal, when what is normal is her Daughter asking about her close friend, and her husband assuring said daughter. TradWife School

Perrin isn't in this scene. But Vel and Mon talk about Leida's turn. Vel asks if it's Perrin's influence. Mon says it isn't and that he is "strangely open-minded on this topic". It's also notable that Perrin was sad about him and Mon sharing a "traditional" - i.e. arranged - marriage. This is important for later. Car Ride 2

Mon throws Perrin under the bus. She accuses him of gambling (which we know he hasn't been) to cover her financial misadventures. This is the first time Mon says something that Perrin directly confronts or denies. It is also notable that Mon says Perrin promised not to gamble. This implies that Perrin has kept that promise, and that the accusation that he has betrayed his promise to her is something he cannot stand. In fact, the only time he ever raises his voice to Mon is when she accuses him of breaking his promise.

Notably, Perrin doesn't attack Mon. He doesn't accuse her of lying. He doesn't accuse her of making things up.

What does he say? "This is wrong, Mon. This is people trying to take you down by coming after me. You tell me who's saying this, and I'll tell you why."

His first reaction is to think of Mon's political situation and how he is a vulnerability to her objective. When Mon acts like he is lying, he starts the rational argument: "Where would I get the money?"

When Mon keeps acting like he has been gambling and loosing mountains of money, what does Perrin say? "Someone is lying to you." He is looking out for her. He knows he is innocent. He knows that Mon doesn't accuse him out of no-where. He "knows" someone is lying to Mon. Season 1 Coda

There are some other things that we know about Perrin:

He knows and has done business with Davo Sculdun (though it's implied to have been some time). This again shows that Perrin is prominently connected and could have a successful career of his own that he has chosen not to.

He is not shown to fight Mon when Mon is suddenly advocating for supporting Leida's TradWife ambitions. This is despite us knowing concretely that he doesn't approve of it. Instead he seems to follow Mon's lead when Mon decided to make a pact with Sculdun - someone that Perrin knows, which would include knowing Mon would never willingly make a deal with Sculden.

People focus on Mon's emotions in the Leida-Stekan scene. But look at Perrin. He looks like a thunderhead. He almost looks angry, in fact.

Season 1, in aggregate, has a lot of little threads which I think could point to Perrin being a loyal and politically intelligent husband whose biggest struggle is that Mon is freezing him out.

I also think, in light of his "academy firebrand" days as well as his comments about "saving the empire from the emperor" sparking that observation, he may have been sympathetic to the Separatists. While this seems unlikely on the surface, Mon directly says to Tay that "The Grand Vizier has infiltrated my Separatist Coalition meetings." - And she is notable for her support for separatist sympathizers. It is hard to believe that She and Perrin have fond memories of their youth if that youth wasn't somewhat aligned on issues like that.

I think there is a very real possibility that Perrin harbours Rebel sympathies, but feels unable to act on them - especially as he seems to criticize the Rebel attack on Aldhani because it had the effect of encouraging imperial overreach. And also because he seems to support Mon politically, and to try and build capital she can cash in for votes. Forced Weddings and a Funeral

I'm dealing with this as one, big event.

We open on Perrin schmoozing guests with Mon. When an issue with parking arrangements is mentioned, he correctly identifies the cause, and goes off to address it. We again are seeing Perrin act as Mon's soft-power counterpart.

We also see him talk to Davo Sculden about the Bride and Groom to be. He shows a far more caustic attitude about Leida than he is implied to have had the year prior. The implication the year prior is that Perrin dotes on Leida. But here, he is directly asking whether Stekan will be able to manage Leida's impulses. It is worth remembering that Perrin was part of an arranged marriage at the age of 15 - a year younger than Stekan. He is saying Stekan will either learn of be led. And it suggests that Perrin might have had his life kicked out from underneath him by Mon's ascent to the senate. But it also suggests that Perrin has deep wounds from it all. Again, this is deeper than him just being a spoiled upper-eschelon lay-about.

The next morning, Mon and Perrin are managing their ballroom for a dinner and a dance to come. In fact, Perrin is very closely watching Luthen and Kleya. When talking about the Chandi Merle, he says it's a bit gross - "probably worth more than the house" - as though it is a crudely extravagant display of wealth. This is also at odd with the idea that he's a party boy.

He and Mon share a cup of tea. A single cup. They seem more at ease. He says the previous night was a success. This is again a case of him being actively involved in managing major events for the family - all of which are inherently political events.

And then he says to Mon "You should tell your boyfriend to back off the nog." - notably, he isn't actually accusing Mon of infidelity. He isn't being angry at her. He was, in fact, very cordial a moment before. What he is doing is telling Mon what people are saying about her. He's being a little mean about it, but he's telling her that people think she is cheating with Tay. He is telling her that Tay is acting erratically - in fact that Tay is not just getting drunk but that he should know the customs well enough to not to be getting drunk from experience. That Tay's home life has fallen apart, and he seems to be spiraling. And interestingly, has one serious dig at Tay. Tied in to the moments in Season 1, this makes me think he has never suspected Mon to be cheating, but has haboured suspicions about Tay's reliability and his motivations, which Season 2 appear to justify. Perrin might actually be a good judge of character.

Perrin, with a much more serious and personal tone, say of Tay: "He was always weak". We will immediately see this proven true, as Tay folds under his life pressures and extorts Mon, leading to his assassination by Luthen (well, by Cinta on Luthen's orders).

Again, it is Perrin informing Mon of something that could sideswipe her. It's him managing her image and directly spelling out the implications of the circulating rumor. It's him identifying a serious potential problem and flagging it for her.

Next is the wedding hike, and we get a suggestion of how Sculdun and Perrin may know each other. Perrin says that the estate used to be closed as a private hunting reserve. That there used to be signs to keep the poachers out. Sculdun says he remembers the signs. Perrin says they didn't keep Sculdun out, and that his willingness to ignore such signs has suited his business well. It sounds like a criticism. Like Perrin dislikes Sculdun - again notable in light of his willingness (as far as we see) to let Mon push this wedding.

Next is Perrin's speech. He says that anxieties and sad tidings are an inevitability of life, but that we must look to find and cultivate the joy in life in the face of that - joys big or small. Interestingly, this parallels with Cinta's comments that she and Vel share "what's left" after the fight. It parallels the positive parts of the life we see Brasso, Bix, and Wilmon enjoying on the run, and particularly that Brasso and Wilmon are finding happiness in Mina Rau. He speaks of "hope" and of "trying". His speech, perhaps in the context of a child wedding, is giving voice to to themes that are important to the Rebellion, and which this series in particular embraces. It suggests that Perrin sees what is happening in the galaxy, and may feel helpless to do anything, including because his wife is one of the few voices trying to do good, and is always defeated.

His speech also addresses directly Leida and Stekan - Sculdun's is about how he acquired the Chandi Merle and had an adventure and is now giving this gift to the couple; it's an interesting contrast.

Finally, when Mon is having her absolute implosion and trying to dance through it as she spirals, Perrin correctly clocks what is happening and stops dancing when he notices her. He is clearly worried about her. Bringing It All Home

So, what am I saying? I think, when we look at Perrin, it is very easy to fall into a surface level assumption. And I think it is very possible that is who he is.

But I also think that his seemingly constant political awareness, support for Mon's political efforts even in the face of his own apparent sense of hopelessness, his desire for finding happiness and joy amidst the growing darkness, his apparent history of political activity, the fact he is well enough connected to have pursued a very illustrious personal career that he has forgone, his apparently keen observation, and his distaste for people like Sculdun and Tay who he seems to identify as self-serving could point to something much deeper which has been buried as a result of his marriage to Mon, and which she is not seeing because of her own flaws when it comes to her private life.

Perrin has been taken away from his homeworld, and lives a life in which he has very little autonomy. Despite that, he seems to be loyal to Mon, though not a total push over. He seems to have a degree of personal honour and ethics as the only things we see him speak about with meaningful emotion are Mon's accusation he broke his promise to her, Sculden's acquisition of the Chandi Merle, and Tay's apparent lack of personal moral fibre.

Maybe I'm being wishful. But especially now we see Tay - who was very likable in Season 1 - extorting Mon, it would feel thematically appropriate, and be the kind of twist I could see Gilroy & Co. pursuing, for Perrin to reveal himself as supporting the Rebellion or being unfavourable of the Empire.

[mensahbots]

So, I’m awkward with actual humans. It’s not paranoia about my hacked governor module, and it’s not them; it’s me.

Glare intensifying. “Okay, so what did you hire yourself to do?” That was an interesting way to put it. I kind of liked it. And it felt so weird to be talking to a human like this, a human who knew what I was. I didn’t have to force myself to stare at Pin-Lee’s face, worry that my expressions were normal. Abene had known I was a SecUnit, but she hadn’t known I was me.

Farai said, “Thiago, no. She asks for space, you need to give that to her.” She smiled at me politely. I never know how to react to that. She leaned in to Mensah to kiss her, and said, “We’ll see you at the house.”

Indah was looking at me again. I hadn’t said anything because what was I supposed to say at this point? Oh, I guess I could have said “hello.” Well, it was too late now.

We didn’t have time for me to show it 35,000 hours of media and I didn’t have access to my longterm storage anyway. And that had worked on me, but I knew I was weird even for a SecUnit.

According to the report 2.0 had downloaded to me, 3 had actually seemed to like the other two SecUnits on the explorer, as if they had been friends, at least to the extent that they had been allowed to communicate with each other. I’d never thought that was possible. Maybe I’d always been a weird SecUnit; maybe 3 would have better luck communicating with other SecUnits.

a collection of moments :3

my favorite thing about this string of moments is that then in "home" we get mensah's pov, and she's lying to her friends and constantly thinking "secunit can see right fucking through me" (and it can-- it reads her so well lol)

She didn’t want a corporation’s excuse for a trauma support specialist poking around in her emotions. She almost adds, I didn’t need it, which would be a dead giveaway. And then it occurs to her, a giveaway of what? What is she worried about giving away, here among these people she trusts with her life. SecUnit is looking at the far corner, as it usually does. But they installed cameras for it in these rooms so it probably is watching her expression. It says, “Why not? Is it free here?”

That was taking the conversation to a place Ayda didn’t want to go. “I might have time later,” she tells them easily, and pours herself another cup of tea. When she glances up, SecUnit is actually looking directly at her. Their gazes lock for what seems a long moment but knowing SecUnit, is probably only a second at most. As its gaze shifts back to the corner, Ayda feels her cheeks flush, as if she’s been caught in a lie. Well, it was a lie.

She thinks she’s deflected it, but then it comes right back around to its target. “Maybe you should go to the Station Medical like Dr. Bharadwaj.” I can’t, I’d have to tell them what was wrong, is her first thought. And yes, she’s aware that’s the problem. She can’t bring herself to lie, so she only says, “I’ll try.” There’s a quiet, skeptical snort above her head, and she knows SecUnit isn’t fooled.

and her perception of it interpersonally is quite different from its own:

The killing machine in question has just sent her yet another message packet. They’re piling up in her feed and if she would stop encouraging SecUnit by opening them, it would probably stop. They’re all formal requisition forms for Preservation Station Security, requests for increasingly improbable armaments. She responds to the latest with I don’t even know what that is. It’s a good thing she understands SecUnit’s sense of humor.

Still not meeting anyone’s gaze, SecUnit’s expression flashes through a brief, eloquent ironic twist. Ayda hides a smile. Of course you have to pay for it.

“Station Security is forty-seven seconds out.” SecUnit’s voice is even and conversational. And confident. This is a confrontation it knows how to handle. It’s slipped in front of her, reassuring lean bulk between her and the intruder. 

just one of many reasons that "home" is my favorite short story in the murderbot diaries canon ^^

plus we see many indications of murderbot's rapport with mensah in the books, even early in all systems red. from its pov, despite murderbot being awkward with humans, it connects easily with mensah:

I panic all the time, you just can’t see it, I told her. I added the text signifier for “joke.” She didn’t answer, but she looked down, smiling to herself.

mensah also makes effort to understand and accommodate murderbot early on in asr, which is not framed as a big deal or a burden for her:

“Maybe, under normal circumstances.” She was looking a little off to one side, not trying to make eye contact, which I appreciated.

and of course, she's also the first human to tell murderbot she thinks of it as a person— and in a way that it's able to hear/accept, which seems very meaningful for it

“But this situation is different. It would be better if they could think of you as a person who is trying to help. Because that’s how I think of you.” My insides melted. That’s the only way I could describe it. After a minute, when I had my expression under control, I cleared the face plate and had it and the helmet fold back into my armor.

i think this is part of why she's its favorite human. yes, murderbot is weird and awkward, but mensah vibes with it regardless and makes effort to understand and respect it in all their early interactions. that feels special for it. from "home," we know that feeling is reciprocal. i think it goes a bit further, because there we also learn mensah has similar issues with emotional vulnerability and self esteem in the wake of her trauma, which adds another layer of uniqueness to the dynamic. mensah doesn't see murderbot as inept or lacking, and murderbot likewise has a high opinion of mensah despite her negative self-perception.

i always love when a character who sees themselves as a freak has a person (or more) who understands, respects, and connects with them so thoroughly. this feels extra meaningful for a character like murderbot who sees itself as incapable of things like friendship and being understood due to social conditioning and trauma. that's part of why its friendships and comfort level with the preservation humans are so nice to see. likewise, it's no wonder they're so important to it.

imo, the murderbot diaries series has an interpersonally hopeful quality to it, since murderbot has this type of connection with a variety of characters in different permutations throughout the story. it has optimistic messaging that even if you're a social outsider, there will be well-intentioned people hoping to understand and connect with you no matter where you go.

i think there's a lot more to be said about this topic with respect to murderbot's trust issues, its perception of its personhood, and its history of being forced to enact violence, but.. i've said enough for now ^^'

[fruitsywriting]

Hi! Was just wondering if you could do mark x rex x gn!reader hcs where reader basically are/has the personality of blue diamond (from steven universe) story/scenario can be completely up to you! :3

Note: This took me so long because I have never watched Steven Universe so I was researching it... then i got hit with being sick because of my medication.. it was a lot. Sorry for any errors I got in this, I tried my best with what I could comprehend lol.

Ship: Rex x Gn!Reader x Mark

Fandom: Invincible

Warnings: None

This is a small drabble I was able to do after rewriting this a few times.

˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　　 . ✦　　　 　˚　　　　 . ★⋆.

　　　.   　　˚��✭　 　　*　　 　　✦　　　.　　.　　　✦　˚ 　　　　 ˚　.˚　　　　　✭　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　 ✦. ✭　.　　. 　 ˚　.　

˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　　 . ✦　　　 　˚　　　　 . ★⋆.

🌨️₊˚.🎧 ˚.🩵*🎐✩｡

As the battle against a villain they had never seen before drags out, Rex is wondering where the hell Invincible is. Or, where the hell the rest of the heroes are. It’s hard when it’s only Rex on the scene, trying to keep this villain from injuring more civilians. All he can do is throw small explosions to move the villain back while trying to use the big ones to at least stun him or injure him. It feels like hours before Atom Eve and Invincible show up and have a hand in safely capturing this new villain. 

Invincible, Mark Grayson, turns to Rex with a sheepish smile and hovers down to land in front of Rex.

“Sorry about that, Eve and I-”

“Were what??” Rex snaps without even thinking about it.

Mark is taken aback before getting defensive himself, “Don’t tell me you’re jealous. You and Eve aren’t even dating anymore!”

Rex can’t let the real reason slip through, he can’t let Mark know that lately he catches himself staring at Mark a little too longer than usual. How he has been slacking as a hero, because he’s distracted thinking about Mark, and secretly hoping that Invincible will come while simultaneously giving him shit saying he had it- in a joking manner of course. He can’t let him know he doesn’t want Mark dating Eve because he wants Mark. He bites his tongue and walks away, muttering about how all of this is bullshit. Mark just sighs and rants to Eve about it, he thought him and Rex were cool but as the last two weeks have been going on- it appears differently.

Rex is helping check on the civilians among the one building that was destroyed. Good news is the building was small, and caused minimal damage- and it was a work building meaning no one lost a home. Someone immediately catches his attention. They appear sad, maybe they’re hurt or worried. Something, something he should definitely check on to make sure they’re okay.

“Hey, are you hurt? Do you need medical attention?” He asks politely, while scanning over their body for obvious injuries.

“Ah no, I’m fine.” Their voice is tranquil to listen to, calming but also in a state of grieving. He wants to ask more questions, but none are coming to mind as they lift their head ever so slightly so their eyes are available to look at. 

🌨️₊˚.🎧 ˚.🩵*🎐✩｡

That was when you met Rex. He was checking in on you every so often, to the point it would be considered weird. But he quickly clarifies that your demeanor seems blue, and he just wants to make sure you’re at least mentally okay. The thought warmed your heart and you were able to make small talk with him. You could tell that it was more than just your sorrowful yet tranquil demeanor that intrigued him however. You definitely knew when he slipped a piece of paper with several digits on it, along with his name. It was just confirmation.

🌨️₊˚.🎧 ˚.🩵*🎐✩｡

It took you a few days before you texted him, because of several reasons. One, you were looking for a new job. Two, you were distracted and somewhat laying in bed all day. Three, he made you a little nervous. Perhaps it was a crush forming, or perhaps the man was just intimidating. However- you finally got the courage and sent the message.

You: Hi, it’s me from the other day.

Rex: Took you long enough

Rex: Jkjk

Rex: How are you doing?

After making small talk with him, he tries to call you. You jump at the notification flashing on your screen and you take several deep breaths before answering.

“Hello?”

“Hi, do you wanna go to dinner with me?”

🌨️₊˚.🎧 ˚.🩵*🎐✩｡

At first, dinner with Rex was peaceful and good. He knew the perfect amount of talking to do, knew when you wanted to be quiet for a minute to enjoy the meal without someone talking with food in their mouth. He seemed like a genuine guy, so far- a second date was looking promising for the both of you.

That was, until halfway through the main course meal a man harshly sat down next to him. He crossed his arms like he was mad at Rex (and you couldn’t help but look at how his arms flexed in his short sleeved T-shirt.). Rex looks shocked for a moment before he grimaces. 

(In Mark’s defense, he didn’t know this was a date he was crashing)

“Are you going to tell me what’s your problem? I thought we were going good but you got mad at me? Is it jealousy, Rex?” Mark says in a demanding but angered tone. Rex matches the energy, because ain’t no way Mark just crashed on his date talking about being jealous. 

“This can wait-”

“No, because you’ve been ignoring my texts and calls. Why are you so mad? I’m not-”

“Mark, I’m in the middle of something.” He gestures to the table, food, and to you. You sit there awkwardly, and have a completely different impression of what is going on. 

“Rex, are you in an open relationship or something? Is this your boyfriend?” 

The two whip their heads around to you, stunned by the blunt question. They both talk over each other, trying to clear things up, trying to smooth things out, and trying to explain themselves. You have to calmly interrupt them, by holding up a hand.

“I don’t mind, but I would’ve preferred a heads up. Unless you were planning to tell me later during dinner, then I wouldn’t have minded.”

Rex cuts off that thought, “Mark isn’t my boyfriend.”

Mark is sitting there, connecting dots before he gasps, “Wait, were you jealous of Eve?? Do you like me?”

“WHAT”

🌨️₊˚.🎧 ˚.🩵*🎐✩｡

This is when you enter the stage of trying to navigate Polyamory with them. It took a long talk about it, with you explaining the concept to them before they decided to try it. Mark is interested in you, but not in the same way Rex is. Rex sees you as someone who is a calming force in his life, someone who balances out everything and is very empathetic. Mark sees you as someone who can understand him a little better than most on an emotional level. Even if you don’t go through what he did, the way you take on his emotions makes him feel like you deeply understand. Who knew that you would be the bridge that helped Mark and Rex make up and see their feelings for each other- and for you?

[firstkanaphans]

wandee goodday anon reporting back, i enjoyed it so very much. loved the characters, loved the dynamics, wanted to punch dr ter in the nose a few times. i loved that there wasn't a episode 11 of doom?? and how generally light and colourful the show is, both in mood and visually especially as i watched never let me go (phuwin's kissing is my enemy but that's off topic) just before lmao, the contrast was something else.

i also was delighted to have a side couple that a) was established from the start and b) only had drama totally unrelated to their relationship and stayed wholesome and loving each other the whole time, cher bestest boyfriend/brother in law/son in law/gym manager 💕💕.

the whole one night stand to fwb to fake dating thing in 2.5 episodes was hilarious and so was the fake dating to swimming in denial for about the whole rest of the show taking about one or two episodes, thank god yak got clarity soon enough because i would've tried to punch him too but he ended up having the patience of an angel. i was highly entertained that being seen in a same sex relationship as a public figure was a problem for him that lasted a whole 5 minutes too.

dee is the loveliest bean and i love a character who stands their ground when the person who rejected them just magically realises their feelings when a new love interest appears, like how many times was ter basically told to get lost ffs.

oh right i also love a forgiving parents for things that are actually forgivable moment because i've had enough of the shittiest parents of the decade in drama-land crying over their faults for a minute and the kids are like yknow what it's okay i don't mind about the trauma you gave me anymore ✌️🤪

had fun spotting a few places from other shows (golf's gay café, vivi's place in love sea -love what they did to it btw, dee's place might be one of my favourite fiction apartments-, boston's pace) and had even more fun laughing at emi's hair extensions, who did that to my girl?? and that ~american~ champion whatshisname's thick ass french accent.

all in all, 10/10 show, greatinn are wonderful together, might rewatch in the future, can't wait for the memoir of rati heartbreak (i was already looking forward to it bc of actual plot reasons but now that i've seen the guys in it can act good and kiss pretty, it's all bonus points).

I'm so glad you liked it! Sorry it took so long for me to respond to this. I was actually in the process of re-watching Wandee Goodday myself and wanted to finish it before I answered this ask. It's such a good show and stands up very well even on a rewatch.

Since you watched after the fact, you avoided most of the fandom drama, but when I tell you people hated this show and yet continued watching week after week just to shit on it. It was one of my more bizarre fandom experiences for sure. Like I get why there was drama surrounding Only Friends. I don't get why there were such a visceral reaction to a cute little romcom.

The highlights for me were the incorporation of casual sex into the narrative in a way I felt was realistic and, of course, OyeiCher who still have my whole heart. Emi's extensions were an absolute travesty.

One thing I did notice on my rewatch which I missed the first time through is that Yak often switches his polite particle to "ka" when talking to Dee, which is very soft and flirtatious. The reason it stood out to me is that I've noticed Great does this with Inn too and I wonder if it was his choice to change the dialogue rather than something that was in the script?

Memoir of Rati only has 2 or 3 Qs left, so I'm hoping we will get it by June. I have a lot of faith in this screenwriter and am very excited to see GreatInn again because I miss them terribly 😭

[lizzy-jailer]

lce cold

Summary: you go out to a bar to drink away your sorrows after a terrible day and let your anger out on a stranger.

Tags: Joel Miller no outbreak AU, anger, alcohol usage, irresponsible acting. No usage of y/n

A/n: This is one of my first works ever and my first work on Tumbrl, constructive criticism is welcome. And well l gotta say the classic "english isn't my first language" too because l'm sure you'll be able to tell.

●●●

Today had seriously been terrible. The workday was tiring and all of the painful feelings inside you were piling up, had been for a while... all you wanted to do was get drunk. So drunk that you wouldn't remember a thing about your day or about how your life was totally fucked.

After the day, you walked straight out of your office, in your dress and heels, leaving your jacket, stepping outside and feeling the winters cold pinch you but you didn't care, you didn't think of the future, you didn't think at all, just needed to drink.

You sat down and bought yourself a whole bottle of whiskey. The taste was pleasant, even though the burn was stronger than the enjoyment, still it was helping you forget.

After a while of sitting and drinking you saw a young man approach you. This was the absolute last thing you needed right now.

"Hi beautiful, what are you doing here drinking all alone like this?" The man asked with what seemed to be genuine intrest.

"Get away from me! Do l look like l want to talk to you?" You snapped at his question. You knew that your reaction wasn't exactly polite but it worked. It scared away the men that you didn't need. All of them actually.

"Woah, alrigh alright girl, l won't bother you... sorry" the man raised his arms in surrender and backed off in what seemed to be some kind of mix of fear and confusion.

You were glad to be left alone again. The bottle got emptier and your anger only grew. The anger for your life, for the man that walked up to you, hell maybe anger for men in general? You weren't even sure at this point.

Soon you saw another man approaching you. He was older than the previous one and he had this kind of calm look on his face that made you think he hadn't seen your encounter with the other guy.

"Hi darlin' you alright over here?" He asked in a deep voice, the southern accent clearly poking through.

"Shut up and leave me alone! Im tired of being talked to! Don't you see that?!" You basically yelled at his face, hoping he would back off and leave you alone. Even though you weren't even sure if that was what you wanted at this point... you were just used to it. Used to being left alone.

"Whats wrong honey?" He asked, weirdly unbothered by your agressive reaction. "I saw the way you acted with this other guy, poor kid was only trying to talk to you. What made you so damn cold, woman?"

"Why the hell do you care? I don't know you! I'm asking for some goddamn peace! Can l not drink alone?" You keep yelling, feeling the way you're pouring your anger out on some stranger in the bar.

"Alright sweetheart, l understand that you're in a bad mood, okay? Its alright, l don't mind." He said, keeping his calm tone that was irritating you even further. "Just let me sit with you for a moment, you don't need to explain whats wrong, we don't have to talk. All l'm saying is that l can tell when someone needs company, and you darlin' are really the textbook example."

You didn't reply to that, weren't sure what to say. This was confusing you. Why wasn't he backing off like the other guy? Why was he so goddamn calm?

Before you could say a word, the man sat across from you at the table. "I'm Joel by the way. Don't you think you're going a little overboard with the alcohol? I don't mean to sound like your father but it is a fact that it ain't safe to drink yourself into a coma when you're alone in a bar as a young woman."

You just sat there staring blankly at the wall behind Joel. You didn't want to talk. You didn't want to hear a word that he said. But it was kind of good not to be alone... You took another swig of whiskey straight from the bottle and felt as it burned your insides.

"Darlin' are you listening?" The man asked, looking at the grimace on your face after dinking. "You don't need to tell me about your personal life. We could talk about something else..."

Finally the rage and the alcohol caught up to you and you yelled to this face "l don't want to talk to you! I hate you! You should stay away from me!"

"I wanna make sure you don't hurt yourself, alright? I don't understand where all this anger is coming from but..." his voice trailed off "but l've been like you are honey, trust me, l know it ain't easy."

"What do you think you know about me or my life? I'm no good to anyone, you hear?! You need me to hit you in the face to understand that?!" You hit the bottle of whiskey on the table in anger. Making people in the room stare at you.

"Sweetheart, l'm not scared of your threats. Hell if hitting me helps you get out the anger there in your chest then get on with it, l can take it if it helps you any." He says, tone remaining calm. "And no, l don't know your life or what you have been through. But this anger, this... drinking your feelings away, l've been there. And l know that it doesn't help."

The way he talks just powers up the rage in your body. You stand up, feeling slightly dizzy from the alcohol, walk up to him and slap him in the face.

Joel feels the burning sensation on his cheek and puts his hand over it. Now he decides to as you the first serious question

"Honey what happened to make you like this?" The calm tone remains.

"None of your buisness asshole!" You yell. Gripping your bottle and walking away. Out of the bar, into the cold, dark winter night without even a jacket to protect your bare arms from the freezing cold. Just alcohol warming you up from the inside and heels that threatened to make you slip on the icy road.

You didn't know why you were acting as you were. You didn't know why you could only yell at someone in anger even though that wasn't what you meant at all...

Joel is left sitting in the bar, in surprise of her actions. Shes gonna die out there like that.

[theshiniestgemstone]

Okay, what if Y/n is a waitress at the restaurant the gemstones go to for brunch after church and her and Gideon are flirting a bit and Eli makes it known he likes her.

Like she's very polite or he catches a glimpse of her cross necklace and he thinks she'd be good for Gideon.

Gideon had been seeing her for weeks. Not seeing her, but seeing her in the way she was filling water glasses and talking to Eli about last minute seating arrangements. Brunch at Jason's was usually chosen for the family, served by waiters carrying large trays and setting them on small serving racks while they handed them out.

He often pushed his family to be the first ones there, hoping he'd be able to greet her with a soft, "hey." She always smiled in a way that her nose scrunched when she looked at him, uttering out a soft how are you to which he almost always replied with better now.

He told himself it wasn't anything but a simple exchange with the waitstaff. Not that he thought lowly of her, but more that they came from different places, and he'd told himself there was probably a rule somewhere that she couldn't take her number if he offered.

Still, he thought about it. About writing his number on a napkin. About lingering just a beat longer when she handed him his coffee, maybe enough for her to feel it too. But then she’d be off again, balancing a tray on one hand, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, smiling at the next person she was tasked with serving with that same careful warmth.

Eli caught him after brunch one day.

"You should ask her out." Simple. No fuss. Much like how Eli liked to run things. Most of the time.

Gideon flushed red. "Granddad, I don't think that's such a good idea..."

The elder man chuckled, clapping his grandson on the back. "A little confidence goes a long way, Gideon." He chuckled. "You look at her like you've hung the moon, and she's been looking at you like she's waiting for you to figure it out."

Gideon opened his mouth, but nothing came out, just a helpless little half-smile and a shake of his head. "You'll get it, Gideon."

The following Sunday, just like clockwork, he arrived to family brunch.

He wore the navy sweater she once complimented in passing, something about the color bringing out his eyes, he thought, or maybe that was just his own wishful memory. Either way, he stood up a little straighter when he walked in.

She was already there, of course, bent over the table with a small notepad in one hand and a carafe of orange juice in the other. Her hair was down today. It wasn’t often, and it made something in his chest hitch unexpectedly.

She looked up as he approached, and that smile, the one with the scrunched nose and the easy brightness, found him like it always did.

“Hey,” he said, quieter than intended.

“Hey,” she echoed, eyes searching his face like maybe she’d been waiting to see it. “How are you?”

He hesitated. Just a beat. Then, like muscle memory, “Better now.”

This time, she laughed. Not politely. Not distractedly. Really laughed.

Then, to his surprise, she leaned in a little. “You know,” she said, voice low, conspiratorial, “I’ve been wondering for weeks if you were ever going to have a bad Sunday."

Gideon chuckled, glancing over his shoulder. His family was still outside in the parking lot. "How can I have a a bad Sunday when you're in front of me?"

She smiled, her tongue sitting between her teeth for a split second. "He says more than three words! And he flirts."

His ears flushed instantly, the tips turning a shade of pink that matched the linen napkins on the tables. He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked down, then back up at her, his smile lopsided and just a little bit sheepish.

“I flirt,” he repeated. “Was it- was that flirting? Because I was aiming for smooth, but I think I landed somewhere between dad-joke and Hallmark card.”

She laughed, full and warm, and he thought it might just be his favorite sound. “Oh, it was definitely flirting,” she said, sliding the notepad back into her apron. “Awkward flirting, but I’ll take it.”

He leaned a little closer, eyes meeting hers now with more boldness than usual. “Well, I’m out of practice,” he said, voice softer. "But, I think you're helping me get my mojo back."

Gideon looked down at the simple gold cross sitting on her chest. She caught the flicker of his gaze before he could say anything, and her hand rose instinctively to touch the pendant, fingers curling around the cross like it was second nature. His lips parted, half a compliment still perched on the edge of them, but then came the clap, firm and fatherly, stealing the moment.

"I'll see you later," she said, finished the final glass and disappearing down the stairs.

Gideon blinked, her absence hitting like the sudden quiet after a song ends too soon.

“Yeah,” he said, more to himself than anyone else. “See you later.”

His father was already halfway into a story about someone’s new boat, unaware of the small universe that he'd just shattered.

Gideon took a seat, nodding along to the story but he wasn't listening. He reached for his water glass, smiling softly to himself.

"Thinkin' of that girl?" Eli asked, leaning against the back of Gideon's chair.

Gideon nodded. "Yeah."

Eli chuckled, leaning in closer. "She's a good one, that girl. Polite. Even to Jesse."

Gideon glanced at his grandfather, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I noticed.”

“You don’t miss much,” Eli said with a knowing grin. “But that’s exactly why you’re worth her time. You’re not just paying attention; you see things other people don’t.”

Gideon shifted in his chair, suddenly feeling both lighter and more grounded at the same time. “I don’t know, Granddad... I-"

Eli cut him off with a soft shake of his head, his voice steady. “Don’t overthink it. You’re not supposed to be chasing perfection. You’re supposed to show up. Be real. She’s already seen that in you. Trust me.”

Gideon let out a breath, leaning back in his chair a little. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to do that without sounding like a fool.”

“You’re already a little bit of a fool,” Eli teased, eyes twinkling. “But that’s okay. It’s part of the charm. Just don’t hide it. She’ll appreciate that more than anything else. And trust me, when you get it right, she’s gonna look at you the way you’ve been looking at her all this time.”

Gideon smiled, shaking his head in disbelief, but something inside him shifted, like a quiet confidence settling in. “I hope so.”

“You’ll get there,” Eli said, clapping him on the back again. “Just make sure you’re looking in the right direction when it happens.”

After brunch, Gideon wandered the first-floor area of Jason's. He spotted her sitting in a booth with two other waitresses, giggling over a tray of silverware.

Gideon paused at the entrance of the dining area, his eyes naturally finding her. She was laughing, a soft, melodic sound that made something in him stir. Her eyes sparkled as she exchanged some inside joke with the other waitresses, their shared laughter light and easy. For a second, he just watched, caught in the way she seemed to fill the space around her, so effortlessly present.

He was already halfway across the room before he even realized he was moving, his feet carrying him on instinct. He knew he should probably just turn and make his way back to his family, but something kept pulling him forward.

She looked up then, as if she’d sensed his presence, and her smile broke out effortlessly. That warm, scrunching smile he had come to look forward to.

“Hey, you.” She greeted him, her voice warm, and that flutter he had been holding back made its appearance.

“Hey,” he said, stopping a couple of steps away, suddenly unsure of what to say next.

One of her colleagues gave her a teasing glance before uttering something about dishes and dragging the other waitress away, leaving them alone. She tilted her head, her eyes crinkling just slightly at the corners. “Did you need something?”

Gideon cleared his throat. “I was actually just... thinking about what you said the other day.”

She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “And what was that?”

His hand found his wallet without thinking, pulling out a small, folded piece of paper. “About the flirting part,” he said, sliding it across the table to her. “I figure, maybe I should make it a bit more obvious.”

She glanced down at the paper, then back up at him, her lips curling into that smile that made his chest feel lighter. “You really are out of practice, huh?”

Gideon chuckled nervously, running a hand through his hair. “Guess I’ve got a lot to learn.”

“Don’t worry,” she said, her voice warm with something that almost felt like encouragement. “You’re on the right track.”

He exhaled, letting the tension ease just a little. “Good to know. So... when’s the next time I can try again?”

She looked at him, her gaze holding his for a beat longer than normal, and then, with a sly grin, she said, “You can try again... tomorrow night.”

And just like that, the universe seemed a little less fractured.

[snobgoblin]

why are people so fucking rude. screams

[screamingcrows]

To anyone coming here from the mains discord server, hi, Dottore would be proud of your curiosity for coming here ヽ(✿ﾟ▽ﾟ)ノ nice to meet you!

[sskk-manifesto]

--

[essektheylyss]

what people expect when you sign up for an LIS degree: haha quirky book nerds, so fun, I remember toddler storytime at the library are you gonna read to children

what they actually get when you sign up for an LIS degree: smashing Alexa isn't enough anymore I need to learn how to run my own internet and also build a house on a totally closed circuit system.

[shinesurge]

Do you think requesting my library to buy the Kidd Commander books will help you

I'd really appreciate that, and it's usually good advice to do this for any indie author you want to help! Accessibility is super important to me, libraries snd webcomics are brothers in arms imo. But I will say, while I DESPERATELY want to work with more libraries they won't usually carry my books either. I've struck out with every local library I've ever lived near and tried to connect with, it's been mortifying every time ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

There is exactly one library with kc on its shelves tho, shoutout to the Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library in Kentucky! It remains the only place to ever reach out and intentionally invite me to an event lmao