#ough the childhood friends to lovers is getting me

[solitaireships]

Someone on twitter was talking about how Jayce probably would try to look for rocks that might be magical like the one he was given as a kid, and how other kids probably thought he was weird. Thinking about Corinna being one of the only people who never thought he was weird, who believed him wholeheartedly and would spend hours looking with him for any rocks that might have had even a hint of magic to them. Thinking about him even as an adult still having a box of rocks that Corinna gave him

[mulderscully]

Hi, what are your favourite romance novels?

red, white and royal blue by casey mcquiston. obvious answer for me but i do find myself looking for what casey managed to achieve in rwrb in so many other novels. just the depth of alex and henry's love is actually rarely done so well. there are so many layers to their relationship that make you feel like it's so earned. masterclass, honesty.

a lady for a duke by alexis hall is like [swoons] THEEEEEE childhood best friends to lovers book to me now. i read it for the trans representation and just fell so in love with viola and gracewood, the depth of their love is just so absolutely breathtaking. i think this is the book that most affected me in recent memory. i want to hand this book out like a fucking bible. i feel tender just thinking about it. ough. just read it. trust me.

people we meet on vacation is emily's henry's most divisive book for some reason. people seem to either love it or hate it, but i absolutely adore it. i think enemies to lovers has gotten so popular that people sort of look down on best friends to lovers but the amount of yeaaarning in this book was phenomenal and i really recommend it to people since book lovers is way more popular. that said, i do enjoy all her books.

for a fun and silly time i really enjoyed my roomate is a vampire by jenna levine. it made me laugh a lot, and the relationship was so ridiculous but still believable to me which is not easy to do.

for fans of rwrb i do recommend the charm offensive by alison cochrun. it's got amazing amazing amazing mental illness representation as well as asexual rep on top of it being m/m (it does have sex scenes tho jsyk!)

it's a christmas book but in the event of love by courney kae has theeee best wlw sex i've read in a book. i know this isn't the main thing but sometimes wlw books aren't very... explicit? but this one eats and i was so pleasantly surprised to find that in such an otherwise "wholesome" book, ya know?

one deeply underrated book that stayed with me is unbreak me by michele hazen. it deals with a woman who was sexually assaulted and her finding love and learning to enjoy sex again so it is heavier than most other romance books, but it's so tender and warm and well written that i wish it had more readers. it's so hard to find that i unfortunately had to order it on amazon bc i couldn't get it at the bookstore i work at and nowhere else online, but if it sounds like smth you're interested in and can find a copy i rly loved it.

i also enjoy books by helen hoang, elena armas (controversial i know) and lyssa kay adams.

right now i'm reading late bloomer by mazey eddings and i'm soooo loving it. if she sticks the landing it might be a fav. we shall see.

[besttropeveershowdown]

The Best Trope Ever Showdown: Round 1, Side A

Friends to Lovers

Propaganda:

Because anything you write with this isn’t gonna make the characters OOC :) believable storytelling, and maybe mutual pining? The TROUBLES. It’s more realistic to me I love

the tension, the will-they-won't-they, the (seemingly) unreqruited love, the pining, the slow-burn, the 'i can't lose them as a friend so i'll just get over it' (and they never get over it), the touches that suddenly become meaningful... and then finally THE moment when they can't contain it no more. it's so chef's kiss.

idk there's smth abt growing up together, being there for each other through better and for worse (but sometimes not! and that can be interesting to), seeing and helping each other evolve and finding each other at the end of it all. Ough. It's abt the growth of the relationship, sometimes not exactly sure how you feel abt each other but you know you love them and they'll love you back however they choose to. It's the inherent Demi vibes of the whole thing. It's just so good, I am a huge fan

oh god ok so. i might just be aro here but friendships are like the Most Important Thing Ever to me in media. they genuinely enjoy each other's company and they love each other and they dont always have to be dating!!! in a friends-to-lovers scenario they are though so this might not be the best example. to elaborate, im in a fandom that has two characters that have been friends for a very very long time. also they're in love with each other. and i read AUs sometimes where they didn't meet all those years ago but they still fall in love with each other anyways. and to me it just feels so radically different to me because they don't have that same history, yknow? they don't know each other as well. friends to lovers builds on love that's already there, and the love they had already isn't any less meaningful. the lovers part is just a bonus. this is rlly long sorry

Everyone Is Bi

No propaganda was submitted.

[happi-tree]

🥺🥺 cheerkicks ........ 🤲

Calsmonaut hihihiiiiiiiiiiii my beloved 💜💜💜 Cheerkicks ALSO my beloved,,,

Ship It / Don't Ship It

What made you ship it?

Um. Uno reverse. You. Sskdfkhdvhfvkhvfs but yeah you and Travvy mostly I think!!! And there was this one specific fanart of them awhile back (I'll link (ha) it here if I can find it) that made me go. Oh. Ough. Okay yeah I can SUPER get behind these two.

What are your favorite things about the ship?

As you may have noticed. I enjoy friends-to-lovers. I also really enjoy childhood friends-to-lovers. And I feel like Cheerkicks is a phenomenal way to get that fix. I also really enjoy the (perceived) one-sidedness of it all when you look at it from Normal's perspective,,, it's abundantly clear to me that Normal wants so badly for Lincoln to like him in canon and it seems to him that Lincoln really does not like him that much, while in actuality Lincoln really does like and care for Normal! There's also just,,, a certain Something about pairing the two healer-jocks of the party together,,, I think they understand each other more deeply than they realize, and that's a really fun dynamic to explore imo!

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

Once again. I am asking more people to consider queerplatonic relationships (not you though, Cal, I'm fairly sure you and I are 🤝 on this one). Sshdfbjskdbfjbs it might just be the ace arospec in me but I just think they're really really fun to think about!

[chaoxfix]

whats your favorite trope to READ?

OUGH... thats a good one. damn...

i think i read a lot of the same things i like to write -- a lot of what i write is meant to fill a need i had to read about something but didn't see any fics about. and most of what i want more of is, in this order:

deep nameless bonds that don't fit neatly into a specific box. like sonic and tails, are they friends or siblings or guardian and ward or mentor and student ... or for sonally, are they divorced or are they rivals or are they soulmates or are they in love at all. or for catradora are they childhood friends or lovers or enemies or rivals. (all of the above <3333 otp of all time. i cant even write anything about them because their story is already perfect.) or for timkon, are they best friends or are they in love or are they rivals or are they codependent. anyways you get what i mean. i want to have to grapple with the very idea of how characters feel about the other. i want them to not know either. (other all time ships i will out myself by saying: makoharu, zelink, dickkory, and many of my own lesbian otp creations)

worldbuilding/theories. i LOVE seeing explanations, even little ones, in fics. i just like seeing extrapolation from canon elements and saying 'hey wouldnt it be neat if X was because of Y' or 'i think that there should be a history of why X is like this' and just trying to make sense of something. part of why the sonic series is like catnip to me is because theres SO MUCH LORE but so little explanation. almost none of it was probably meant to be anything but thats why its soooo satisfying to try and piece together a story despite that. i was like this with zelda back in the day too. the timeline was my bread and butter and i wanted sooo badly for it to make sense so i loved seeing people try to make it work. also... as an occasional treat, 'wouldn't it be fucked up if-?' type stuff. but only if there's some canon grounding or worldbuilding to set it up. (i.e., in my fics, 'wouldnt it be fucked up if the reason eggman only took 6 months after capturing sonic to take over the world, was because sonic powered his weapons? he certainly has the energy for it')

existential horror but in a character development way. i go NUTS for time loops or reality shifting. i have such strong feelings about reboots and rewrites that acknowledge theyre rewriting something; theres just something about the existential horror of having the world shift and only you remember it and it's your responsibility to let it live on through you, or your responsibility to fix time itself. the archie genesis wave fucks me up every time, same with dc rebooting and having superboy be one of the lone survivors of the spacetime rewrite. ......but in more smallscale ways, time loops, characters who haunt the narrative, 'you came back wrong', that kind of thing. i dont believe in ghosts but i believe in hauntings, if that makes sense. i believe anything can be haunted if there's something that shouldn't have been lost, and someone who refuses to let it go -- and that can have a powerful impact on scifi stories where reality itself functions a bit like magic.

i think i got a bit off the rails... this was fun! thank you for asking!!

EDIT: hi i realize upon re-reading your ask. ... that you said tropes and not, uh. just what do i like to read. in that case.....,,,,,,, fake dating, emotional hurt/comfort, and younger sibling complexes. ^^;;;;; jakdjkfsdjk i cant delete the previous answer though its too much to let go of

[totrailblaze]

@dupliciti asked: 🚢 i am perceiving the about me post and see stelle sooooo / boat noises.

do i ship our characters together?: yes (oh, the mortifying ordeal of them being known as my otp.....) | no | not yet but maybe soon

would i like to ship with you?: yes | maybe, i'm willing to try | no

type of relationship i could see: childhood or high school sweethearts | exes | engaged | married | long-term relationship | crushes | unrequited love | fling | long distance | online relationship | just dating | new relationship | toxic lovers | friends with benefits

tropes i'd enjoy writing for them: friends to lovers | enemies annoyances to lovers!!!!!!!!!!!! | exes to lovers | fake relationship / dating | forbidden love | grumpy and sunshine | star-crossed lovers | surprise pregnancy | second chance | soulmates | amnesia / mistaken identity | forced proximity | secret relationship | slow burn relationship

would i rather plot first or jump right in and see where it goes?: develop their relationship first | jump right in | something in between ( what specifically? )

what now?: let's plot something | send me shippy memes | i'll send you shippy memes | write me a random starter | i'll write you a random starter

anything else i want you to know about me / my character / my shipping habits: ough........ so. no need to deny it. im very biased towards sampo/stelle and i'd absolutely love to see if our versions of the characters have THAT kinda chemistry. i prefer me some old school 'i like the idea of x ship. let's see where it goes before we 100% establish we're gonna ship this', as in i wanna see if, through some threads, our muses work well together p much. also, you sending this is gonna make me Think(tm) about how stelle might see love and everything related to it because sure, it's nice and all, but which sane person would like to get too close (literally as well) when they discover she has a ticking bomb in her chest, you know. much to think about fr.........

[quillheel]

🚢 Dani and Rouxls still bumpin around in my head tbh--

send 🚢 or ( 'SHIP' ) if you ever considered shipping our characters romantically and want me to fill out the following form for our muses. / always accepting!

do i ship our characters together? — yes (i could def see it but they could also work as just platonic friends too! very much 'it could work either way' for me <3) | no | not yet but maybe soon

would i like to ship with you? — yes! | maybe, i'm willing to try | no

type of relationship (potentials) i could see — childhood or high school sweethearts | exes | engaged | married | long-term relationship | crushes | unrequited love (aka: rouxls is a naenae ass bitch episode 219218 and doesn't say shit/automatically assumes things and then covers the things he convinced himself of with The Facade) | fling | long distance | online relationship | just dating | new relationship | toxic lovers | friends with benefits (<- w this one, probably starting with friends w benefits in a kind of work setting in how rouxls rationalizes it and then he realizes oh. oh fuck. im doomed. (read: caught feelings))

tropes i'd enjoy writing for them — friends to lovers | enemies to lovers (mostly given the lightner/darkner thing they got goin on!) | exes to lovers | fake relationship / dating | forbidden love (looks at the lightners/darkners thing they got going on--) | grumpy and sunshine | star-crossed lovers | surprise pregnancy | second chance | soulmates | amnesia / mistaken identity | forced proximity | secret relationship | slow burn relationship

would i rather plot first or jump right in and see where it goes? — develop their relationship first | jump right in | something in between (im flexible but i tend to work better when we discuss stuff between a NEW new ship yk! we already kinda got a grasp on their base dynamic though which helps a ton, so i'd be okay with either!)

what now? — let's plot something | send me shippy memes | i'll send you shippy memes | write me a random starter (feel free!) | i'll write you a random starter (im bad at starters i gotta just acknowledge it at this point :( )

anything else i want you to know about me / my character / my shipping habits — uhhhh Idk what else to put down except like. i could see their dynamic going in a LOT of different ways depending on Dandie n circumstance and whatnot!!! I've seen some shipping stuff of hers on the dash before but never really seen the intricacies but I think they'd be really interesting regardless, esp with all the Things Rouxls has n would have to kind of get over/work through :] he's also somewhat low muse rn but i have DR on switch its chillin even if its not consistent BKHB (tho i also cant promise i'll be consistent either just bc of irl stuff and generally focusing On that vs discord n tumblr n whatnot, but im vv game for this!!!!! if i ever dont respond its bc of the Ough, not u (tho i think we're in Really similar situations rn in a kind of. morbidly ironic way))

[small-teacup]

ty for tagging me!!! :D

damn i really gotta think for this one

Age gap: No :( makes me pretty uncomfy

Codependency: +8 IT'S!! SO GOOD!! in moderation and if written correctly ofc. just,,, the idea of two characters needing each other is so adorable to mee!! it's like i can imagine them clinging to each other and then they get sad if they're pulled apart?? that's CUTE!! But like.. not in the way where they're both incredibly weak without the other. They gotta stand on their own, people! But they'd much rather be with their lover

Obsession/Possessiveness, jealousy: +7 I feel like the only time I'd like this kinda behavior in a fic is when it's a crazy/eccentric x other person type deal? Maybe??? But always in moderation and if written well, because ik yandere stuff exists and that stuff makes me,,,, gyuh.

Opposites: +8 Really really good!! but only if it isn't the only thing that the relationship is centered around, the lovers have to have something in common still. Like.. sure, dark character x light character is cool and all, but wouldn't it be so much more interesting if light like.. has the same music taste as dark? Or dark likes the same characters as light???

Enemies to lovers, enemies with benefits: +10 FANTASTIC. I love it when it goes from "GRAHHHH GO DIE" to "GRAHHHHH KISS ME PLEASE". I especially love one's where it's villain x hero, and then the villain learns to love and be loved,,,, ouGH!! But even if they're just simple rivals, I think it's just real silly to see. Especially if there's still banter between them

Friends with benefits: +4 Eeehhh...? I haven't really read many fics like this. I don't mind particularly but I would prefer if it ends with the pair catching feelings and dating. Otherwise, I think I'd just scroll past-

Sex to feelings: +1 I read like.. 2 fics like this before. I'm very VERY iffy about this particular trope because for me, it needs to be really well written for me to like it. A lot of sex to feelings fics, I think, are just plain "haha we fucked lmao,,,,,,,,, go out with me" with no other development. Also i feel like in general, this is the opposite way to go,,? Like. You get the feelings and then you get the head, dude

Fake dating/relationship: +2 Also iffy about this one because I think that a lot of the fics like this are like.. one of the characters just taking advantage/pitying the other one. Like some of the plots are that "this was a dare, I don't actually like you!!" and stuff like that. Like. Why would you do that :( I only really like em if they catch feelings anyway and date

Friends to lovers: +8 GIMME THAT SHIT!!! They were being silly goofy when they were saying "i love you" to each other, but then they realized over time that it WASN'T JUST A JOKE, MAN!! also it's just so so cute. Especially if they're childhood friends or something, perhaps?

Found family: +5 I don't really look for these, but I don't mind them. Most times, I'll scroll past but if it's got a real interesting plot, I may read it. Most times, I see that some of the characters are kids (when they're originally adults in canon) and I'm just not interested in that

Hurt/comfort: +10 PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE I LOVE!!! I LOVE SO MUCH!!!! This takes up most of what I read and I yearn for more eternally. Extra points if I start crying when reading because GOD DAMN that angst was so so so so painful but in such a good way. I literally can't describe how much i love this trope. oooUUUUGHHHHH

Love triangle: +4 Hmmmmm,,, I'm not really interested in this either. I don't mind it, per se, but like... still. I think I'd end up wanting the triangle to be a poly relationship instead of one being shared between two. Totally an okay arrangement but I don't quite care for it

Poly, open relationships: +8 WHY HAVE ONE LOVER WHEN YOU COULD HAVE TWO??? WHY HAVE TWO WHEN YOU COULD HAVE THREE???? I don't specifically search for these kinds of fics but I have seen MANY well-written ones with poly relationships. In my opinion, open relationships are a little bit different than poly, and so I prefer poly over open. Just... I want those lil goofy goobers to cuddle and kiss and it's like 3x the love because they all LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH!!!! In fact, I've been focusing on a particular poly relationship, purely because they're just so cute and they fit so well and oh my god they're so in love

Mistaken/hidden identity: +6 Depends on how it's written? I rpefer hidden over mistaken identities. I like villain/hero type hidden identities because like.. what if they meet at a Starbucks and they're friends bc the villain is a regular, but then they also gotta beat each other up in the night. ,,,I dunno if it's obvious but i also really like villain x hero tropes- In other situations, I just think the big reveal is really cool

Monsterfucking: +10 GRAHHHHH THOSE MONSTERS NEED LOVE TOO!!! I just love seeing a human character with their monster lover, especially if the monster is bigger than the human. Like, for example, nagas. Just,,, lil human and their snakey lover's tail wrapped around them in a cuddle because they need warmth. Hypothetically, a sea-creature and their human lover who loves the sea. IT'S JUST SO ADORABLE AND GHGHHGHGHGH I LOVE!!!

Pregnancy: ,,,No :(

Second chance: +1 Haven't really read fics like this? Personally I think if it ended badly, then,,, don't go back. If it was a mistake, then sure, ya'll can try again. But otherwise, moving on would be best and I think it might just be a wee bit toxic?

Slowburn: +9 A LOT OF THEM ARE SO SO SO GOOD!!! ,,,it's just i have a small attention span and I physically can not focus for that long unless the fic is literally dragging me by the heartstrings to the next 40 chapters. I love when fics are put in the slowcooker. Makes em real good

Soulmates: +5 Kinda iffy about this one? I've read some fics about soulmates and it just doesn't interest me much. I'd rather the lovers find each other and get to know each other before they know they'll be in love, instead of just "oh, you're my soulmate. Alright we're dating!" without prior meeting. I've seen a couple hurt/comfort soulmate fics that were good, but otherwise, I usually scroll past. It's a bit hard to find original soulmate markings/signs now though, huh?

tags! (if you wanna :D): @regretfulmoth

Trope rating game

tagged by @just-my-latest-hyperfixation (my wife must be trying to kinkshame me or something that's okay I'm into it)

rules: How much do these tropes affect your decision to click on a fic? -10 -> very dissuaded  0 - don’t care either way  +10 -> very enticed  nope -> if it’s a hard no and you’d never click on a fic with that tag or or you even have the tag blocked or you’d insta click out of the fic if it wasn’t tagged.  Bonus points for explaining the rating and whether it’s conditional.

Age gap: +3

It definitely isn't a make or break for me, but sometimes when I'm on the cusp of not clicking something and I see it, especially with certain authors, the temptation is too good to ignore.

Codependency: +5

It's about the toxic love for me. They just NEED each other SO MUCH.

Obsession/Possessiveness, jealousy: + 7

There are the occasional times when the obsessive/possession is too much, but it is RARE at this point. The more "you're mine, I'm yours" there is the better to meeeee.

Opposites (grumpy/sunshine etc): +4

I like it as a background feature most of the time (said as if my most popular written work didn't start as grumpy/sunshine based).

Enemies to lovers, Enemies with benefits: +10

I kiss every author who writes it on the MOUTH.

Friends with benefits: +5

I love it when it ends in requited feelings, but I have read it where it turns ugly and stays ugly and I do not ever wanna read that! Please! I'm a big baby.

Sex to feelings: +6

See above pretty much. But also in cases where they were just a hookup and then just fall in love quickly? That's my kryptonite.

Fake dating/relationship: +4

I am alllll for fake dating/relationships, but it absolutely has to lead to the real deal. I can't be edged like that for it to just end. I especially love when it's slow burn for this, so if the slow burn tag isn't there, I may not click it.

Friends to lovers: +2

Something is broken in my brain that this doesn't get me hooked the way any other blank to lovers does.

Found Family: +8

I don't click on stuff BECAUSE of it alone, but it definitely does help with fics I'm on the fence about.

Hurt/Comfort: +10

Yes. I want them to hurt and then be so so comforted. Every time. All the time.

Love Triangle: -8

In any ship, I absolutely hate it. Just be brave and make them polyam instead.

Poly, open relationships: 0

I personally love Steddissy as far as polyam goes, but open relationships are super difficult for me to read. I know that works for a lot of people, but if it's a tag, I'm probably not reading that fic.

Mistaken/hidden identity: 0

For one shots, sure. Anything chaptered, I think it gets into unbelievable territory without very specific other tags with it and I have never seen one that hits the spot.

Monsterfucking: +10

Yeah well. No words necessary.

Pregnancy: 0

I'm never reading a story BECAUSE of the pregnancy tag, but it fits in some cases (the good omegaverse shit if ya know what I mean). I lived it, hated it, don't wanna read too much about it.

Second Chance: +3

I don't know that I have ever read a Steddie second chance fic, but I don't know if this particular trope would make me dive in.

Slowburn: +10

I loooooove a good slow burn. I will read just about anything if it's got a slow burn tag.

Soulmates: +7

Steddie is really the first ship where I was like all in for this trope, so if it's got this tag, I am so so in.

No pressure tags: @wormdebut @wynnyfryd @messessentialist @steves-strapcollection @starryeyedjanai @thefreakandthehair @scarcrossdlvrs @patchworkgargoyle @vecnuthy @corrodedbisexual @stobinesque @legitcookie @matchingbatbites @judasofsuburbia @sidekick-hero @spooky-stevie @inairbinad @simplebtromance @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog

[missmarrypotter]

Tommy ain’t always right, You know!?

Finn Shelby x OC (Olive)❤️

I'm just so in love with this boy, Finn is an angel!!

WARNING: making out!? but more fluff i think

English it not my first language so please excuse my mistakes.🤗

She grabbed her Jacked and rushed out of the office. The look she shot Thomas Shelby before stepping outside was full of disappointment and blankness. She didn’t wait for any respond.  “You need to be a man … bullshit he does ..” she mumbled to herself, running through the hidden, dark and smoke filled alleys of Birmingham. It was much colder than she thought, the fresh air of the night burning in her lungs from running.

“Finn!!!”, She almost shouted at her Childhood Friend who was about to disappear behind yet another corner.

“Finn fuckin Shelby!! Wait.”

He stopped right there, turning around. He Looked tired. But when he recognized her he put on a smile, waiting for her to reach him.

“Olive, what’s with ya!?”, he was quiet amused seeing her breathless like that. “Why did ya run!?”

“Cause those legs ya got there are like twice as long as mine ..” she explained gasping, pulling him into a hug.

He hugged her back, stroking her dark brown hair carefully.

“Did anythin happen? Ya alright?!” He asked, tensed and sounding slightly worried. He relaxed when she shook her head, sighting in relief. She interrupted the hug and took a step back.

“ I was in the room as well when ...ya know.. that talk with Tommy and stuff   ” she told him, looking right into his blueish green eyes, waiting for his reaction.

He looked down at his feet, his jaw clenched. He looked kind of ashamed and guilty at the same time.

Silence. Just for Seconds but it felt like hours. Finn fumbled around with his hands while Olive nibbled on her chin long hair.

“I liked what ya said back there” She cleared the silence, scratching the back of her head.

He looked at her with lots of confusion in his eyes.

“ Wha .. are ya shitting me!?” He asked, not really believing what he just heard.

He thought Olive would react completely different. He thought she would scold him for losing his virginity to some whore Lizzie, Aunt Polly and Linda rented for him. She grew up in a brothel herself since she was 6 years old. Madam Adley found her that age and adopted her into her family. Schooled her. Fed her. Sarah Adley had no children on her own so her Ladies were her family. Her daughters. She treated them all very well. Her business was for the high society only. For rich Men and Women to forget and enjoy themselves. Olive herself had worked there for a year when she turned 16.

To secure her loved ones safety Madam collaborated with the Peaky Blinders. They kept violent lovers away and made sure everybody paid and in return the girls gave some informations about their clients or their Bodys to the Blinders.

Through that Finn and Olive met at the very young age of 7. They soon bonded and the Shelbys became the girls second family. She proved herself trustworthy very quick and her big green eyes, her open, loving nature as a child and later her charming smile and her feminine curves were often very helpful to interact with new allies or enemies. She had a very sharp mouth if she had to and never lost her words. But she could also be as quiet and nondescript as a mouse so no one would notice her like today in the office. They even allowed her to stay through family meetings since no private conversation she witnessed had ever met a third ones ear. They loved her and she loved them. Apparently some more and in a different way than others. Tommy decided to employ her as a gift for her 17th birthday. She was good with customers and numbers and that way they were able to look after her. Win Win Situation for everyone. Finn secretly was very happy about that. So his Olive didn't had to do these humiliating things anymore. He never thought he would ever in his life have sex against payment himself because the thought of someone buying his girls body made him sick so many times. Buying a person like some object just sounded so wrong to him even if it seemed to be normal for his brothers. He always imagined his first time a completely different way. With someone he loved. Someone who wanted him. To be honest he always thought it would be with her. But he was too shy to make a move. He always thought he wasn’t good enough for her. Not manly enough. Not experienced enough.

If only he knew she wished the same thing.

But since she had to help her Mother out back then to safe her Business, she felt dirty. She was happy to help, she always was. On the other hand she didn't feel good enough for the boy she took a liking in anymore. So she never made a move as well. But now she had to say something. She had to tell him how much of a man he was to her. Has always been.

Out of the sudden she smiled. She just happily smiled at him, giving him chills.

“I don't want it like that ever again, tom.

Not when they don't even want to do it , expect for the money.” She repeated his words from earlier, taking his hands.

“It made me so fucking happy when you said that.” She whispered squeezing his hands, taking a step forward.

A perplexed Finn gently placed his chin on the top of her head.

“ But Tommy was right when he said that everyone gets tired. That everything these days is for money. That i need to be a man” he muttered into her hair, placing a little kiss there without even realizing it.

“But you are a man, Finn”

She loved the shelby boys a lot. But She honestly never would have wanted to trade with any of their woman. She wanted someone she could rely on. Someone she didn't have to fear about not coming home because he picked unnecessary fights that started people and himself getting killed . Someone who didn't yell all the time. Someone who wouldn't keep secrets from her. Someone who would never look at another woman the way he looked at her. Someone who would never cheat. Someone like Finn.

She got up on her tiptoes, nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck, hugging him as tight as she could. He placed his hands on her back, pressing her body against his.

“Tommy was right that there is an empty space to be filled now that John is dead. And yes everybody gets tired someday.But that does not mean you have to become like them. There is nothing wrong with not fighting everything, anytime, at any cost. There is nothing wrong with wanting love instead of a quick fuck. Because so do i .. ”

Her last words were almost too quiet to hear them, but he did. She gently kissed his cheek  before she let him out of her squeeze, taking his hands once again. He Was speechless. Did he hear it right!? Did she mean that she wanted him or just true love in general!?

His breathing was too slow to see any movement on his chest but his heart did the exact opposite. It was about to explode.

“And even though it might sound crazy …. Tommy ain’t always right, You know!?. Not everything is for money. True love ain’t . He should know that better than anyone.. god that sounds like such a cliche” she laughed, letting go of his hands. But as soon as she did so his right hand was right back around her wrist, pulling her closer while he placed his other one on her cheek, caressing it gently with his thumb.

“Good. Cause i don't have any fuckin money .. but i luv ya so much”, he whispered into her ear. His voice was raspy and slightly shaking from nervousness and the freezing aerial. Both of their hearts stopped right there, both holding their breaths.

He laid his forehead against hers, brushing her nose with his, their lips almost touching.

As he managed to respire again his hot breath brushed over her ice cold lips. Now there were Goosebumps all over her body. She wanted to say something. She wanted to say those words back but her vocal cords wouldn’t allow it. Instead her hands just grabbed his soft cheeks, closing the small gap between their lips. Out of the sudden her whole body seemed to warm up. By the touch of his soft lips. By his hand clawing into the hair of the back of her head in response while his other hand found its way to her hip, holding into her tight. Their Lips seemed to perfectly match up. Their movements slow but impassioned. Finn Tasted like whisky and cigarettes while Olive tasted more like plums and black tea. It was a perfect combination. Soon things heated up. Finn had her pinned against the wall of some house, his hands on her bum to hold her up. Her thighs were wrapped around his waist, the right hand gently tugging his hair while her left one softly scratched his neck. The desire they both kept a secret for a quiet long time finally turned into something real.

Finns tongue slid over her bottom lip, before allowing them a break to take a breath. Both were heavily panting when they heard a suggestive whistle.

It was Isaiah. Standing there with his hands in his pockets, grinning from one ear to the other.

“Well if the two of ya are done swallowing each other we could head to the Garrisons like we planned, aye!?” he teasingly said.

“Ough i totally forgot…” finn said, setting Olive down. Both of them fixed their hair and cloth as much as possible before walking over to their friend. Isaiah laid his arms around his mates still grinning widely.

“Finally guys, finally!” He laughed.

Finn and Olive shot each other a approving look.

“Well we know ya going to tell everyone about this Issy, so please make sure to tell Pol, Linda and Liz as well so they don't feel the need to rent my boyfriend a whore ever again, yep!?”

“I totally will sweetheart, everything for my love birds” he assured.

At the Garrisons everyone congratulated them like they've just announced their wedding or something. They were really sweet and supportive. Tommy, Arthur and Polly each gave them a speech about the birds and the bees and how they would support them if Finn would get her pregnant anytime soon but that they'd prefer if there was no need to. It was really weird but fun at the same time. When the Garrisons cleared up Tommy offered to drive the two young ones home. They gratefully refused. A walk home, just the two of them would be perfect now. They said goodbye to everyone, leaving hand in hand. Finn walked her home to Madam Adley's house, never letting go of her hand. As they arrived he walked her to the door. He leaned against the frame of the big wooden door, letting go of her hand. She turned to face him. She had the happiest expression he had ever seen on her.

“I love you too , Finn.”

He softly smiled, pecking her nose.

“I know. But you saying it …. Feels damn awesome, Luv” he chuckled. She jokingly rolled her eyes at him, fumbling around with his jacked.

“I'd love to have company while sleeping tonight, Finn” she mumbled, slightly smirking.

He slightly blushed, brushing some hair behind her right ear.

“ Sure can do, Babygirl” he just smirked and kissed his girl lovingly. Then he picking her up, carrying her inside.

Things went a little different than actually planned. Madam and some of the girls were still awake and insisted that instead of doing god knows what they should join them for some drinks. They did. So everything that happened tonight was one of Olives sisters vomiting, Sarah Adley offering Finn to come by anytime as long as he treated her daughter well and 6 bottles of wine being destroyed. After that both of them just fell into bed, immediately falling asleep in each others arms. In the morning both of them just stayed in there, trying to sleep their massive hangover away. Honestly it was kind of a good start in their relationship. Things would happen sooner or later so why rush in. The important thing was that their relationship was  clarified and official now and everyone supported them. The future would settle the rest.