#penn's random thoughts

[magicalblerdpenn]

If you're asexual and enjoy yuri (girl's love) manga, please check out the manga series Doughnuts Under A Crescent Moon by Shio Usui. As a bi grey aroace person, I enjoyed it for the following reasons:

office love story starring two adult women, Hinako and Asashi

Hinako is a young woman plagued by self-doubt as she tries to use makeup and fashion to fit into the heteronormative expectations of her peers, as well as her mother hopes for her.

Asashi is a level-headed young woman who puts caring for her younger sister Subaru over her own wants and needs.

Hinako is the anxious lesbian character I never knew I needed

honest discussion of love and attraction through the metaphor of doughnuts, despite lacking the language of asexuality

The main leads start out as friends but grow closer through food, nail polish, getting to know each other, and improving their own lives

Great secondary cast including Asahi's witty and caring younger sister Subaru, Asashi's lesbian childhood friend Fuuka, and Hinako's mom (she starts off homophobic but comes around)

[magicalblerdpenn]

#the manga sex ed 120% #it has a lot of vital info that u.s. sex ed classes don't touch on

new question if you could force all of ur followers to watch/play through/read one piece of media what would it be

[lanawinterscigarettes]

Idk where this idea came from it was just funny to me

[snowvies]

Mr. Badgley

Penn Badgley x Fem!Reader

summary: you can't stop thinking about your married piano teacher, Mr. Badgley. and one day he slides under the instrument to show you how much he's been thinking about you too.

wc: 1k

cw: age gap (reader 19, Penn late thirties), cheating, piano teacher x student, pussy eating, fingering, female masturbation

Sundays are your favorite days, especially ones like this when the clouds hang low with a murky swirl in the sky. You're nineteen, and college is kicking your ass but you promised yourself you wouldn't think about the papers due when you're here, at Mr. Badgley's house.

You found his ad on craigslist, piano lessons..fifty bucks an hour you would've scrolled past it until you saw him, and his family. You felt safer in a random man's house when his wife and newborn baby were in the same room with you. So you started going there, ever since your freshman year.

Your raggedy car rolllsss to stop and you get out to see the lonely house, picked apart to be perfect, not a single thing out of place... except yourself.

His wife answers the door a few minutes after knocking, the cold biting your bare legs as you run in for warmth, completely missing her scowl at your lack of kicking the mat with your dirty boots.

Mr. Badgley offers you a warm smile, hair combed perfectly, sweater ironed and pants straight like every weekend. His eyes always look a little empty when you come. His wife jingles her keys around her finger as she readjusts the baby on her hip

"I'm going out, be done when I'm home" the same line. Every week. You smile her way but she doesn't pay mind to it, leaving you and her husband to play. you turn to Mr. Badgley but he's already walking to the connecting living room of the tiny house, sitting on the worn bench as he slides the fallboard up.

You sit next to him as he wears an excited smile, when he's like this, playing with you, it doesn't seem orchestrated by his wife. Every move he makes is analyzed by her, except this. The only reason he's allowed to do this is because they needed the extra money.

"Let's start where we left off last week, yes?" he asked and you nodded, you inhaled the mixture of musk and old books that surrounded the pianist as he began the background cords. his eyes are on you, they shine as his spine relaxes into the music and you begin your part. fingers dancing over keys as you try to remember the pattern

Your eyes squeezed shut once you messed the keys up. He smiles softly and lets a laugh out of his nose at your reaction

"Like this," his larger palm rests on top of yours as he guides your fingers, you nod and try again.

Soon enough an hour passes and you both rise from the bench and you dig into your purse for the fifty bucks you crumpled into it this morning, but, warm hands slide on top of your shoulder and the older man shakes his head.

"No need" he grins and tries to send you off but you insist, grabbing the money but he pushes you out the door.

"I will not have you pay for something that I enjoy just as much, Y/n, have a lovely week" The door softly shuts and you're left stunned.

.

You roll around your dorm bed, restless as the man's words keep ringing in your head. Why didn't he let you pay?

Maybe you're being dramatic. But it isn't like the Badgleys are set either.

You shut your eyes in a huff, suffocating yourself in the pillow under you as you replay the keys in an attempt to lull you asleep

But it isn't just the keys you're thinking about...

It's how his hand guided yours, it's how he looked at you when it was your part to play, it's his scent, it's his being. It's driving you mad.

You arch your back slowly, fingers sliding down your body until you get to your aching core. slick-filled fingers rubbing yourself at the thought of your teacher's hands touching you, grabbing you, loving you.

You moan into the pillow, legs shaking as you cream around your fingers, the thought of him drives you wild.

So just how will you act the next time you see him?

.

Before you know it, it's Sunday and you're back at the Badgleys, with his wife announcing her departure and the formal greetings of you and your teacher, you're back at that bench, side by side.

He starts the cords, and you follow trying to calm your shaking legs as you think about what fueled you that night. You couldn't even look him in the eyes this session.

His hand softly squeezes your bare thigh and you look back at the man.

"You're completely off" he informs you and you don't think your face could get redder.

"I-I'm so sorry...let's try again" you panic but his thumb rubs loving circles on your flesh.

"You usually think the world ends when you mess up, but you kept playing this time, you're mind is somewhere else Ms. Y/n."

"Sorry Mr. Badgley" you murmur

"Talk to me, get it off your chest so we can get back to playing" he smiles and you nod slowly

"...Why didn't you let me pay last time?" you ask, he stops for a moment as the hand on your thigh now rests on his face as he thinks for a moment.

"I just feel like, something so pleasurable shouldn't be bought," he says above a whisper and you feel your entire face glow, and he must have noticed with how he laughs.

"Not those pleasures, Ms. Y/n" he smiles and you don't think you've ever been so embarrassed. But when his laughter stops, his eyes swirl softly into something darker, in that moment you feel exposed to every thought as he eyes you.

He stands, hands finding your shoulders

"Keep playing"

You take a shaky breath as your thighs begin to shake once more, fingers finding the keys as you start the song

"Good," he whispers, his scents overwhelming you now as you feel almost dizzy while playing, you barely notice how he slips under the piano.

"Mr. Badgley, what are you doing?" you gasp as his dark brown eyes gaze up at you

"Keep.playing" he says sternly, and with a swallow, you keep going

He kisses your knees and you feel yourself sticking to your panties as he spreads them apart.

He has a wife. He has a kid. What are you doing?

"You're doing great" he huffs, kissing your thighs, you squeeze your eyes shut for a moment as his fingers dance up to your panties.

He pulls them down slowly, your wetness sticking to the fabric before they are lost in his pockets

Your bare pussy is in front of your teacher's face as he rubs up and down your thighs taking a shaky breath in

You slam the keys as his tongue licks up your pussy, he moans into you before forcing you to scoot closer into his face, his hands wrapping around your ass as he slurps and moans at your cunt.

"Mr.- fuck" you cry, hands climbing to try and stop your moans as your hips buck up to hump his face

"You taste so so good" he groans, making out with your pussy as he sucks at your clit just to tongue fuck your hole

Hot tears flow down your face as he stares up at you, watching you come undone for him.

You shake around him, orgasm approaching closer with every lick, he sucks on your slit before adding a long finger to your hole. You throw your head back as he fingers you, flicking his tongue relentlessly as his finger curls inside you.

You feel him whine and moan against your pussy, and when you look down you see him gripping and grabbing at his hard-on as he eats you out. You cry as that sends you over and you cum around his finger

You're panting as he curls his fingers a few more times before shoving it into his mouth and licking you clean, you're shaking and wide-eyed as hair sticks to your face and he crawls out from under the piano

Right, weren't you two supposed to be playing right now? Isn't his wife about to be home and he's sucking his fingers because they still taste like you?

He helps you off the bench and you stare into the stained cushion but he turns your chin to him before kissing you deeply, tasting yourself on his tongue before breaking it off with a simple

"My wife is on her way...see you in our next session Ms. Y/n"

And you can't wait for next Sunday.

an: lmk how obvious it is idk anything about pianos. This is based on a dream I had last night 😵‍💫🖤 I hope you liked it <333

[lizzyk137]

The Technical Analyst and the Boy Genius: Spencer x Reader

Summary: You finally get your dream job working as a technical analyst for the BAU, but one team member isn't happy you're there. Warnings: Angst, talk of death, guns, shootings, stomach wounds

Want to read more, visit my Masterlist!

Five years. It took you five years to make it where you are today. Five years of no sleep, constant anxiety and a need to get where you want to be.

You worked your butt off in school to get your many degrees, but your hidden passion was computer work. Getting into the many cracks that was hidden and searching for answers or for what was in the unknown. It was what made you so useful to the FBI.

Throughout your five years of working for the FBI, you had been with multiple units as a technical analyst, helping your coworkers save the day on different missions. It brought you more joy than you would have thought it did when you stepped into the FBI building all those years ago.

Within that time, you've joined your teams on and off the field helping, and you struggled with what you liked better, field work or office work. Either way, you were helping. So, when you got the offer to transfer to the FBI's BAU, though you were sad to leave your team, you jumped at the chance to work with the group that was your end goal. And that was because of one person.

Penelope.

You both had only met a handful of times, your schedules always opposite of each other and your work bringing you to different locations didn't help either. But she was your mentor and her word was gospel. It had started your first year at the FBI, you had hacked into her computers just for fun and since then you were best friends. And now you were finally getting to work right were you wanted to be.

"Oh my god, oh my god, it's you! It's really you!" Penn gasped out once she saw you make your way through the double doors of the BAU's bull pen. She squished you into a hug, disregarding the fact you had a huge box in your hand.

You laughed in her embrace and your free hand circled her back. "I know it feels like a dream!"

You stood there chatting for a second before a smooth masculine voice came from behind Penn. "I heard we were getting a new partner in crime, I didn't think she'd be this beautiful." He stopped besides Penelope before saying to her, "Not as beautiful as you, baby girl."

You smiled at the exchange between the two. You had done your research on the team, Penn suppling you with random lists she made of each member to help you get to know them better. "You must be Derek Morgan, it's a pleasure to meet you." You said, stretching out your one good hand to shake.

"You know me?" Derek chuckled, as he shook your hand.

"I've done my research." You winked at him before laughing.

"See, she'll fit right in." Penn said before grabbing your hand and introducing you to everyone.

--

Two weeks had flown by since you started working besides Penn. It was awkward at first getting to know the team and how each one worked, but you didn't mind. It was the awkward bits that made it fun. You had managed to nail down how everyone worked and what they expected, except for Spencer. He was upset at you randomly, bickering at the things you said or just wanting the news from Penelope. Rossi told you it was because he didn't like change, and not to take it personally. But as the days went by, it was starting to, not matter how hard you were telling yourself to power through.

It wasn't until a case that required you specifically was when he started acting differently.

It was a strange case, the UnSub would implant a virus into large computer server farms, where he would kill his victims by using flashing lights and noises through their computers to send them into a deathly seizure. The only way to rid this virus was to remove the discs that were implanted in person while also blocking it remotely from getting to people. It was a two-person job, and Hotch decided it was best to fly you out with them since you were cleared for field work.

Spencer wasn't thrilled and he made it known, Hotch sending him looks to shut him up when he started. You didn't mind when he wasn't besides you, you could ignore it like you used to when you had similar thoughts from people on your old teams, but when Hotch paired you two together with Derek that's when it started to annoy you and it just got worse as the day went on.

"Do you ever shut up?" You asked him that night at the police station. Everyone was trying to figure where the UnSub would strike next, but all Spencer could do was dismiss everything you'd say.

The room grew silent when you finally snapped. Derek and Emily biting their lips to stop from smiling because you finally stuck up for yourself.

"I don't care if you're a genius. You don't know computers like I do. If I were the UnSub, I would strike here. It's a huge server farm with plenty of rooms full of servers to sneak this virus in. He's gone with all smaller farms before and has been building his way up. He's cocky, and he isn't going to stop until he hits the biggest farms." Spencer stood quiet, watching you as you took a deep breath in before you tilted your head at him. "Oh, and did I forget to mention, I have several degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice along with degrees in almost every field on computer work?"

The room broke out into chuckles, Spencer remaining silent. Rossi gave you a pat on the back with a small wink. "I think you finally broke him. Good job."

The next day, you were once again paired up with Spencer, this time alone. He was quiet as you drove and didn't say a word until you were at the farm when he grabbed you and whispered to be quiet.

You looked at him shocked, he wasn't one for physical touch, especially to new people and you knew it wouldn't happen with you with how much he disliked you. He pointed at the hallway that upon inspection had droplets of blood going down it. Spencer drew his weapon and stepped in front of you as you both headed down the hall to find a security guard leaning against the wall bleeding from several gunshot wounds.

Spencer called for an ambulance and back up before saying, "I'm Doctor Reid with the FBI, what happened?""

The man struggled to sit up so he could talk. You helped him up, pressing your sweater against his wounds. "A man came in, shot me and headed to our main server room. I tried to lock down the doors before he could get in, but he shot the control booth and shot me again."

You looked up at the control panel in the small room next to you. Spencer replaced your hands on the man's stomach and nodded for you to take a look. The panel was beyond fixing, the only way into the server room was to unlock it by hacking into the lock on the door. You looked back Spencer who was holding the man up as he reassured him help was on the way.

"The only way to open the room is accessing the panel box on the door. We're going to have get to the main room." Spencer nodded and helped looked at the security guard next to him.

"Tell me how to do it, you stay here with him."

"It's not something you can just figure out, it's something I need to do."

"No, Y/L/N. It's too dangerous, you're just an office worker."

You sent him an annoyed look. "I'm more qualified than you think I am."

"You may think you're qualified, but they didn't give you a gun. So, tell me what to do."

You looked at him and sighed. There was no way he could unlock the access panel in time to stop the UnSub and arguing back and forth was stalling you both. You could either give him the information and hope he figures it out or break away from Spencer and do it yourself.

In no way did you want credit or glory in taking down an UnSub, you just wanted to stop him. You didn't want him to take more lives than he already had, and this server farm was huge, and he could easily kill hundreds if he wanted too. Wasting time was ideal in this situation. You could have your badge taken away or be removed from the team, but you knew you had to try. So, you did the opposite of what the boy genius was telling you to do, and that was to sprint out of the control room, Spencer screaming for you to come back as you headed to the main server room.

You looked at the control panel on the side wall, pulling the frame off of it before plugging in your phone to it and taking over the controls. Your brain felt like it was on fire with how hard you were trying to find the specific number pattern to help your phone out. Once you figured it out you could easily hack into main control system and open the door. But you still had the UnSub to think about. He already shot up the security guard which he hasn't done before. So, you had to figure he was by the door, gun ready for you to come in. You were a few seconds away to opening up the door when an angry Spencer came running your way, his face red with anger.

You didn't have time to think, you just did. You launched yourself at Spencer, knocking him over as the door opened and bullets flew towards you.

Spencer was stunned with your body draped over his, your sweet perfume mixing with his woodsy scent. He watched you quickly get up, somehow dodging the few bullets that was shot at you before knocking the gun out of the UnSub's hand with a roundhouse kick before swiftly taking him the ground, his face smooshed into the ground. You looked like an angel and his brain couldn't comprehend what just happened.

The sound of footsteps heading his way and JJ leaning down to check on him brought Spencer back to reality. You single handedly stopped an UnSub with a roundhouse kick while saving his life a few seconds earlier.

Hotch quickly took over from you and handcuffed the UnSub. "Go, I got this."

You nodded and looked at the hundreds of servers in front of you, analyzing which ones could contain the virus. The team watched you as you figured which ones had it and how many there were. The rest of the day was spent disarming the virus, Spencer following you around as you went holding onto whatever you gave him.

--

"Hey, Y/N." Spencer's voice came from behind you as you made your way to the plane's stairs.

You turned aorund to find him staring at you, nervousness written all over his face. "Yeah?"

He cleared his throat. "Um, I just wanted to thank you for back at the server farm. You knew what needed to be done, and you were able to stop the virus before it could take another life. So good job back there."

A smile crept onto your face at how nervous he was to thank you. "No problem. I have anti-terrorist training from one of the old units I worked with. We profile and anticipate their next moves so it was pretty similar."

"You were a field agent?" He asked, as he made his way up the stairs behind you.

"Yeah, I worked on and off the field in my old units. It helps me from going stir crazy." You laughed and took a seat on the couch, Spencer joining you.

"Wow, and the karate?"

"Oh, I was a gymnast and did karate growing up."

The rest of the plane ride you spent talking with Spencer about your old units and your interests.

Emily looked over at Rossi and Derek before nodding over to the two of you. "Looks like they're going to be inseparable soon."

"Looks like you and Penelope have some competition." Rossi chuckled.

"Baby girl and I are going to have to step it up."

JJ tuned around in her seat to join the conversation. "Looks like Spence is already pretty comfortable."

The team looked over to see your head on Spencer's shoulder and his on rest on the top of yours, sleep finally catching up to you two.

Hotch sighed at the two of you. "Don't tell me I'm going to have to watch them too."

[randomquadballpun]

Sherlock Holmes Everyday Life Moments

My random Sunday morning thought today: What are your everyday moments that randomly remind you of Sherlock Holmes (any adaptations)?

Think: The (I think pretty much universal) BBC Sherlock moment where you try to plug in your phone and miss the charger port several times and think 'Dammit, Sherlock Holmes!'

I have two more that just recently occurred to me:

For Sherlock & co, it happened when I was grocery shopping this week and bought Penne for the first time in forever. It's not like I am opposed to Penne, but usually, if there is a choice I will probably go for a different pasta shape. But this time I saw the package, had a little chuckle to myself because I suddenly had to think of these random Podcast-characters and bought the Penne (I don't think they are going to beat Farfalle for me though).

Another random association that happens quite regular for me is when I wash my hair (especially if it is a bit on the longer side) and it comes out a bit more floppy and fluffy than usual. It always kind of reminds me of Granada Holmes when he does not have his hair all slicked back.

I am sure there are more of these for the many different adaptations out there and I am kind of curious: So what are your random Sherlock Holmes moments?

[mercsmemes]

Tales from the Group Chat

“What are the Deep Roads if not the highways of Thedas?”

“Listen we’ve been over this: you can’t make a guy with a God complex top.”

“I’m sorry about your toilet.”

“The child must learn she isn’t worthy of unicorns.”

“Sorry, he wasn’t a random vampire. He was also a mime.”

“Why ask women when you could just be a man with an opinion?”

“I saw a space cowboy and it’s my duty, nay, PRIVILEGE to ride.”

“You bring geese into an argument to win it.”

“Murder attempts are how Orlesian nobles say hello.”

“I can excuse wanting to end the world as we know it but I draw the line at Cullen fucking.”

“Perhaps the real Talking Darkspawn was the Warden all along.”

“One day soon the dawn will come? Haha I think you will find the dawn comes every day.”

“I can’t believe Mythal was the first gamer girl.”

“He doesn’t deserve to be ingested.”

“It’s ok, I’m from the Qun-ion.”

“Whenever I see it I’m like bored but also offended by how bored I am.”

“Meredith Orsino Malcom [rando’s last name] you were named after all the people I blame for my trauma.”

“Peak Templar is Otto investigating a Veil issue and not the mages enslaving people like 20 feet away.”

“Every pair of shoes I own are clown shoes.”

“Gaslight gatokeep girlboss.”

“Accidentally killed my husband because I thought I had healing hands equipped but I actually didn’t so instead I punched him to death.”

“I tell her that I do not control the cricket and she does not believe me.”

“Would you rather have Goofy as your Psychopomp who takes you to the afterlife OR the obstetrician who delivers your baby?”

“Me, quietly: dickscourse.”

“Animals do not have money.”

“Your own fault for having feet, really.”

“Bring ravioli, babe.”

“Science lesbian is so vicious.”

“Spoilered because one has a dismembered penis for some reason.”

“Do not stand by my keyblade and weep. I am norted, I do not sleep.”

“When I die make sure I have cameltoe.”

“Women are completely hairless beings that don’t poop.”

“Are you calling me a Fereldan?”

“I can’t believe sex and Irn Bru were invented in the same land. Possibly in the same lake.”

“Simple and queer is the way we’re all feeling tonight.”

“Cullen had clearly started a raw meat diet and needed cover.”

“With the power of bisexuality we can make liking men feel gay.”

“You ask [name] to dom for you and he says yes but he starts crying and it kind of ruins the vibe.”

“I am haunted by the utter fruitlessness of making cornflakes.”

“Trophy spouses don’t have to be older or younger, just super hot.”

“All elves are just Solas running around really fast.”

“Accept the truth into your heart: Tevinter doesn’t season their spaghetti and they only have smooth penne pasta.”

“Antivans Mad at Food blog confirmed.”

“Meredith the PEZ dispenser.”

“What if the real handspider was the friends we made along the way.”

“So, no dongus?”

“WHEREwolf!”

“Sometimes the real Agents of Fen’Harel are the people modern society has crushed along the way.”

[fictionalmenmakemecry]

Fuckin' with the Ecosystem- Chapter 2

Characters: Carmy Berzatto x Reader

Summary: You spend your Sunday afternoon with Carmy, by your side, trying to make sense of the piles of disorganized paperwork. You finally have a chance to ask what happened to his brother, only to regret it after finding out the answer. You start to realize you might be there for more than just financial guidance.

Warnings: Angst, Suicide mentions, Alcohol.

A/n: I'm really excited writing this series. It's been awhile since writing something like this. I hope you guys enjoy it and please let me know what you think! Any feedback would be amazing. If there's any other ideas you have in mind about our Carmy, my requests are open!

Here's chapter one, if haven't read yet.

Enjoy :)

It was a Sunday evening, and after officially a week of being at 'The Original Beef of Chicagoland,' you were no were nowhere closer to telling Carmy the legal or financial status of his restaurant.

It took you half the week to just organize the random letters and scraps of paper laying in boxes. With that, there was still portions missing.

Carmy came through the swinging doors with two plates. He placed your plate on the desk and scooted a chair closer to you. He felt bad about dropping this bomb on you. But even worse now, because you came in every day this week to get on top of this mess.

When he found out that you were coming in today, there was no doubt that he was coming in too, even though the restaurant was closed. He didn't say anything though, knowing you would try and convince him not to come in.

You looked up and gave him a grateful smile picking up the plate of pasta and swapping your pen for a fork.

"Don't go too hard on me. It's whatever I could lay my hand on." He said with his mouth half full.

You rolled my eyes, like you were going to be judging him on his culinary skills right now. Especially, after everything you saw in the previous job.

You stabbed the penne pasta with your fork and shoved it in your mouth, not really caring about the taste. You started to notice how hungry you really were. The taste was the last thing on your mind. Saying that, it was delicious.

You both sat in silence, scoffing down the food as fast as possible. Carmy took the cleared plates from you and worked his way back to the kitchen.

As he rinsed the last bit of suds off the plates, he paused a moment and went over to the mini fridge in the corner of the kitchen. He took out two chilled bottles, thinking that you need something to help you relax after searching through piles of paper all day.

After a few moments, he popped back through the doors with two beers in his hand.

"Thanks." You smiled, taking the cold beer from him.

"I wish we had somethin' stronger than this, but 'aven't found my brother's hidden stash yet." Carmy put the lip of the bottle on the edge of the desk and slammed his hand down on it.

The cap popped off and fell onto the ground and he took a swig of his beer.

"He has one?" You asked, trying the same move as he just did with his bottle.

You slammed your hand onto it but at the wrong angle. Your hand ended up punching the desk and you felt the pain traveling up your arm.

"Fuck" You muttered wincing.

You look over to see Carmy holding back a smile and reached over to take the bottle off of you.

"Very smooth" He broke into a snicker before doing the same maneuver on your bottle with ease.

"Fuck you" You smirked back, snatching the bottle off of him and bringing it to your mouth.

You looked over to see him leaning back on the chair with his legs straight out in front of him. Your feet leaning against his awkwardly in the smallest office in Chicago.

"How's Nick?" He asked, playing with the beer label.

"Uh.. I wouldn't know" You were caught off guard by the question. Since coming into town, you and him haven't really had the chance to talk about anything other than work.

"We broke up a year ago." You eventually said taking a glance up at him.

Thank fuck, he thought to himself

"Shit, sorry, I didn't know" He hummed taking another drink.

"Nah, it's fine. The relationship was past its expiry. It was becoming toxic as hell." You glanced up at him with a soft smile.

"You were right though" You continued after a moment of silence.

Carmy looked up with slight confusion, wondering what you were talking about.

"He was lying to me, about... well pretty much everything." You explained, feeling the sinking feeling in your heart.

You remembered finding out about all the lies. That the person you had spent so much time with had lied about everything good in his life. You didn't know him at all.

A memory sparked in Carmy's mind, he was back in New York. He was at a bar with you. After begging him week after week to go out for a drink with you, he gave in. Too many beers later, he blurted out his real thoughts on Nick. Looking back, he couldn't help but cringe on the way he acted. He couldn't even remember the exact words he said. But he remembers your reaction and the hurt in her eyes.

"W-What did I even say?" Carmy asked, squinting his eyes trying to think back harder.

You thought back to the memory. The loud music, sticky bar table and Carmy's messy hair across from you. You remember smelling beer on his breath and his words were slightly slurred. The haze in his eyes was getting thicker.

"Um.. you said that Nick was full of shit." You recalled and then smiled to yourself when you remembered more.

"And I quote 'He's playing you like a fuckin' fiddle'" Feeling a smirk climb onto your face.

Carmy rubbed his mouth down with his hand trying to hide his smile. But a smile broke through anyway.

"Jesus, I really have a way with words." He scoffed to himself, taking another gulp from the bottle.

You quietly laughed, bringing the beer up to your mouth.

Carmy brought his hand to his hair to scratch his head. He felt ashamed for his raw words. But he was grateful that you didn't hold it against him.

To say he struggled socially would be an understatement. He felt too awkward sometimes, to the point where he would be uncomfortable. Over the years of moving the way he did, he rarely had more than one or two friends at most. Those friends were mostly work colleagues.

"Can I ask you somethin'?" You asked bringing him out of thought.

He nodded, putting his empty beer bottle on the desk.

"How did your brother..." You trailed off, not knowing how to phrase your question.

"He killed himself, shot himself in the head," Carmy's said bluntly, crossing his arms avoiding eye contact with you. His stare never leaving the floor.

You stared at him and didn't say a word. For some reason, you just thought he died in a car accident. Your mind went blank for a moment only to realise what Carmy might be going through.

"Fuck Carmy, I'm so sor-"

"Don't." He interrupted, shaking his head.

"It's fine. Really." He shrugged getting up abruptly to the point it startled you a little.

He grabbed his empty beer bottle and gestured at you to see if you wanted another one.

You nodded absent-minded, still digesting the bomb he dropped on you.

He went to the kitchen and shook his head in annoyance while walking to the fridge. He felt like a shithead saying something like that so plainly. He didn't want to scare you away. It didn't help that he walked away straight after saying it.

Well fuckin' done, smooth as always, he thought to himself on his way to the fridge.

He came back with two new bottles and cracked them open with ease again. He placed yours on the desk in front of you.

You both sat there, not saying a word. He was never the type that was good with words. Usually talking got him into more trouble. His family were blunt and to the point. No feelings were ever spared in the household. He didn't want to be that way. Since moving away, he always made an effort to get better at communicating.

You looked over to see his leg shaking non stop. It was dumb for you to bring up his brother. You could have asked anyone else, and they would have told you.

You gulped down the last of your first one and pushed it onto the desk. Carmy held the neck of the bottle, resting it between his legs. He shifted in his seat, making you glance over at him.

"I didn't mean to unload this on you. For some reason, I thought you knew. It's fuckin' stupid for me to think that." He leaned forward resting his arms on his thighs.

"I-I'm sorry," He continued, resting his hand on your arm, looking up through his lids.

You looked down at his hand on your arm, the warmth of his hand on your wrist.

"You're the last person that's should apologise." You gave a weak smile resting your hand on top of his.

You both sat there, not saying anything. The peace you felt between both of you was something you missed since going your separate ways. You notice that his leg shake slowed down to a halt.

"If you need someone, you know I'm here, right?" You angled your head making sure to keep eye contact.

"Yea- yeah I know" He nodded pulling away and leaning back into his chair.

Since moving back to Chicago, he hasn't had a moment to himself to think. He didn't know if he even wanted one. He felt that if he stopped for one brief moment, that everything would catch up. His thoughts, feelings and grief. Him being next to you, gave him comfort. Having someone who knew him before his life turned into a shitshow. His old life where it was stressful but not chaotic. Not the way it is now.

He took out his pack of cigarettes, taking one out before turning the pack to you.

You quit smoking a year ago but didn't have the heart to deny his offer, especially after the heart wrenching conversation. You took one and got up from your seat grabbing the coat from the chair. You followed him out behind the building. His cigarette held between his lips as his zipped up his wool jacket shielding him from the sharp breeze. It was becoming dark, the fall evenings really settling in Chicago.

Carmy searched his pockets and pulled out a pink transparent lighter, flicking it with his thumb a couple of times before a small flame emitted from it. A glow was cast on his face, with the end of his smoke burning bright orange.

You gazed at him with the weight of guilt in your stomach. You started to think that maybe you weren't just there for management guidance. Maybe you were there for support. It was hard to tell, Carmy was never the type to speak his thoughts. That's what made this so difficult. How do you ask someone about something so sensitive?

You gave a quick smile as he leaned the lighter to you. You inhaled watching the cigarette catch a light before feeling the smoke travel down to your lungs. You exhaled letting out a sigh of relief, forgetting the bliss that smoking gave you. He looked up with his lip curled at the end blowing smoke out his nose.

"It's been awhile" You looked over smiling softly.

He gave a slight nodded, scratching his upper lip with his thumb while holding the cig.

Your denim jacket wasn't doing you any favors in this unforgiving cold, you brought your arms closer to your body. You didn't think Chicago was going to be this cold into Fall and took note that you needed to buy a heavier one.

"How long can you stay?" He asked walking over and sitting down to the weathered wooden bench.

You take a seat beside him thinking about your response.

"Uhhh, great question." You licked your lips after another pull.

How do you break it to him that you lost your job 3 months ago.

You clicked your pen over and over, sitting in the office on a late weeknight. As you looked at the roster for the upcoming weeks you double checked the bookings to make sure enough staff was around for the busy season to come. With people taking their PTO, it was a challenge every year that always left you with a nightmare to figure out. The knock on the door broke your focus and you looked up to see Vince popping his head in.

"Hey Vince" You smiled leaning back on the office chair.

"Hey" He closed the door behind him gently and you noticed something off immediately.

"How's things going?" He asked with soft tone stuffing his hands into his back pockets.

"Just the usual, it's the time of the nightmare PTO" You chuckled lightly.

"What's up?" You glanced at the clock on the wall noticing this was an off time for him to check in, 10pm on a Tuesday night.

He took a deep breath but keeping his gaze on the ground. You felt your stomach turn from the sudden change in atmosphere.

"I-I don't know how to say this." He stuttered.

Now you were real concerned, you sat up watching him. He was only a shadow of his usual self. The bearded man who would put a smile on your face when just being around his presence. He would check in on everyone to make sure there was no issues. He helped you become who you are today with everything he thought you when it came to managing a bustling restaurant.

"Marie, she's been diagnosed with ....cancer." His voice broke, you could tell he was holding back.

"What?" You said to yourself in disbelief. You saw her last week when she came in to check in. She looked fine, totally normal.

"But-" You stopped not wanting to say anything to upset him.

"Did you get a second opinion?" You asked after a moment, hearing about misdiagnoses can be a thing.

He nodded looking down at the ground. You could tell he was barely keeping it together. They've been together for decades and you knew this hit him to his core.

"It's stage 4" He whispered keeping his eyes on the floor.

You stared at him, not understanding the words coming out of his mouth. You've known them for years. You've grown as a manager here. You've been through the ups and downs, through the surreal covid time.

"I'm so sorry Vince-" You said sympathetically, getting up from the chair to try and comfort him.

He went on to tell you that they would have to shutdown the restaurant for the foreseeable future if not for good. They didn't have enough time nor money to keep the restaurant going and treat his wife for however long she had left. You started recommending things that might help them but it seemed that the decision was already made.

You watch him leave the office sorrowfully and in that instant felt completely lost. The roster that you were making, didn't matter. The new menus that were freshly printed on your desk didn't matter. You could hear Vince muffled voice from the kitchen. Most likely telling the rest of the staff the devastating news.

Two weeks later, you closed up the restaurant for the last time. After spending years there, you had no backup plan. It was completely unexpected.

The honking of a car down the street snapped you out of your trance.

"The thing is.." you paused flicking the ash off your cigarette.

"Vince shut up shop a couple of months ago" You blew smoke out of your mouth.

"What?" Carmy furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

You nodded dropping the butt on the ground smooshing it with you boot.

"Marie got cancer, terminal" You stated remembering the last phone conversation you had with Vince.

He sounded weak on other end of the phone. You called to check in knowing they needed all the support right now. He told you that she was in a hospice, making her comfortable and waiting for the inevitable.

"Last time I spoke to him, he said she only had a month left at most" You scrunched up your lips, your feelings whelming up inside.

Carmy sat there. He didn't say anything. You didn't want to tell him after everything he's been through but when it came to Marie passing you didn't want to shock him.

"Shit" He whispered, his head dropped.

You brought your hand over and rubbed his back. You didn't want to deliver the bad news but keeping something like that from him wasn't right either.

You could feel tears pricking up in your eyes and wiped them away quickly. You had no right to cry right now. You wanted to be there for Carmy.

Both of you sat there in silence. You wondered what he was thinking and wanted to not make him feel worse than he probably already did.

"I remember when you first started." You smiled to yourself while the memory ran through your mind.

"You came in so focused on what Vince was telling you. You wouldn't talk to anyone. You get in, do your work, stay late and then go home." You chuckled lightly to yourself.

You remember watching him as he watch Vince guided him. He would hang onto every word Vince said, like his life depended on it. People would crack jokes here and there especially when it was a slow night but Carmy wouldn't even crack a smile. He wasn't there to fuck around.

"I remember that one dick that screamed at me in front of a 12 top after his food was delayed and Vince came out and gave him an earful, 'emeber that?" You reminisced

Carmy sat back up and nodded, half smiling.

"I just remember being in the walk in and you burst in crying." He commented glancing over at you.

"I didn't even notice you were there at first. I was just in shock from getting screamed at in front of everyone"

You remembered looking over and seeing him with a container of sauce, frozen in place and staring at you completely startled. He came over asking what happened and through the sobbing you explained. Carmy gave you some words of reassurance knowing the bastard that screamed at you was just a cruel prick. It was the first time you talked to each other and it was nice to know he wasn't a complete robot.

He remembered seeing you in such distress with your eyes red and swollen. After hearing about what happened, he wanted to go in front and tell the motherfucker to get out of the restaurant. But he knew Vince was handling it. He never spoke much to you, but knew that you were nothing but nice to him and that you didn't deserve to be treated that way. Nobody deserved that.

After that day, Carmy and you would share some words through the shift and then those words turn to conversations which eventually lead to both of you hanging out at work.

"Wanna go back in?" Carmy nodded towards the door.

You both return to normal temperatures where you dethaw from being outside way longer than you should have been.

You made your way back to the office still wearing your jackets feeling the stiffness in your hands from the cold. You leaned over to checked your phone for it to light up, 7:30pm.

"Today flew by" You stretched out feeling the effects of sitting at a desk majority of the day. The cold didn't help either.

"Oh, so you never answered my question" Carmy rubbed his hands together to get some friction heat going.

"Uh... " You thought for a moment and clicked into what he was on about.

After coming to the realization that you were going to be jobless, you sat with the idea of maybe staying that way for awhile. You haven't taken any time off for summer in years. You thought if you didn't do it now that you never have another chance.

Your phone screen light up beside you on the couch, with a number you didn't recognize. You paused the movie and picked it up and hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Hello?"

"Hey, uhh.. it's Carmy" A smile immediately popped up on your face hearing the familiar voice on the other end.

It was a pleasant surprise and totally unexpected for you to hear from him. He explained the situation he was in and that he would really appreciate if you could stay for awhile to help him in any way. You thought to yourself about how it would be nice to visit an old friend. He explained he wouldn't be able to pay you right now but if he would figure something out. Money wasn't the issue. You had a nice little nest egg to fall back on for the unanticipated free summer you were going to have.

He asked if Vince would mind, giving you sometime off to help, even if it was for a couple of days. You avoided the topic and said that you could work something out. You were thankful that he didn't challenge you and accepted the answer.

"Oh staying yeah... well my flight is booked for the end of next week".

You saw a flash of disappoint in his face before he looked down at his hands. You didn't want to look too much into his reaction, but seeing him that way ping something in your chest for a split second.

"But.. if paperwork isn't sorted by then, I can always reschedule my flight" You offered with a smile.

"Yea, yeah of course. I don't wanna take you away from anythin' that you have going back home..." He trails off, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Carmy, I'm literally unemployed right now." You said bluntly glaring at him before breaking into a snicker.

"Anyway let's just wait til' the middle of the week and then I'll decide if I need more time." You explained, breaking into a yawn.

"Heard." Carmy nodded.

"Anyway, it's getting pretty late so I think it's time to close up" He stuffed his hands in this pockets, turning towards the swinging doors.

You started putting away the paperwork you were looking at, leaving the desk in a somewhat tidy state for the morning. Carmy did a round on the kitchen to double check everything was off before making his way back to the office.

It felt like nothing had changed between you two. After years of both you doing your own thing, when it came down to you both chilling, everything was the same. He watched you tidy up and could imagine this being the norm, you working here permanently. He instantly knew that you would slide right into this place. How easy it was for you to read people and get on with them. He also didn't want to have any expectation on you though.

It would be crazy to think just after 2 weeks you would even consider moving to Chicago for a job that wouldn't be paying you for God knows how long. He felt at ease when you were around him. Saying goodbye to that when you leave was going to be hard on him. But he didn't have time to lay on his feelings. There was a million things that still needed to get done in the restaurant. The restaurant that felt like it was going to crumble to the ground any second. He would be the one to witness it. He would be the one with the burden on his shoulders. Not Mikey.

Carmy pulled the door to check it was locked and stuffed the keys in his pocket. You both looked at each other giving a small smile.

"I'll see you tomorrow... Chef" You added taking a step back.

"See ya, Boss" Carmy developed an amused look turning down towards to street.

You rolled your eyes playfully and started walking further down the side walk crossing your arms, trying to keep your jacket as close to you as possible.

Carmy walked home feeling better than usual. Normally, he was always thinking about the next day and want needed to be done. What could make the restaurant more money. But, he caught himself not doing that, instead he was thinking about the evening he just spent with you.

His mind drifted back to the memories of him and you back in New York. Memories that he hasn't thought about it a long time. As much as he hated asking for help, he was glad he reached out to you. He was grateful that you were able to come out.

When he arrived home, he took off his jacket, kicked off his shoes and fell back onto the couch. He flicked through the channels not really paying attention to what he was watching. He felt his eyelids get heavy and within minutes he was asleep. It must have been the first time since moving back from New York that he fell asleep with such ease.

Chapter 3

Masterlist of other fics

[artdcnaldson]

keep having thoughts about………….. soft patrick. like idk emotional sappy drunk patrick. but thinking of like. you’ve been best friends with the boys forever. well. since you joined the academy idk. sneaking out of the girl dorms one night to go meet patrick on one of the courts. art doesn’t wanna come…….idk scared he’s gonna get in trouble or something……….. is eepy…. whatever. so anyways just you and pat. sitting on the courts sharing a cig and whatever random bottle of vodka he could find. like blue raspberry flavor or something dumb that he stole from a party idk.

but thinking about just sitting there talking to him… having heart to hearts. he gets sloshed. and idk tells you about how he’s kinda in love with art. which makes u die laughing bc. DUH!!! you’ve known that since the minute you met them. it’s obvious. to you at least since you spend so much time w them. poor sweetie patrick is so 🤕🤕🤕 thinking you’re laughing at him until you tell him that. you #know.

alternately…… this but he talks about how he’s in love with art. AND you…… sigh

sweet baby drink pat …..

- 🩰 (i remembered this time. yippee)

OHHHHHHHH

But yeah <3 you and Patrick make a habit of sneaking out onto the outdoor courts near the boys’ dorms <3 You bring your marshmallow vodka and a few bottles of Gatorade for mixers, he brings his blue raspberry vodka and his cigarettes. You just sit on the court in the humid Florida air and watch lightning in the distance as you share swigs and drinks. It’s a few weeks until graduation, until you and Patrick and Art all go your separate ways.

Patrick’s the most upset about bit, not that any of you are particularly excited to part ways. Art’s going to Stanford, you’re going to Penn State, and Patrick is going on tour. The next time you’d see each other was completely unknown— even holidays were going to be impossible.

You’re on the right side of tipsy, but Patrick hasn’t slowed down since you started drinking.

And things move to Art after a while, as they always do. Patrick’s sitting all close, his breath hot and smelling like vodka as he goes on and on about how good Art’s going to do at Stanford, that he’s probably going to meet cool guys on the tennis team, that he’s going to get a girlfriend and totally ignore Patrick and forget he even exists.

And Art doesn’t even want to play doubles with Patrick in the ATP— doesn’t want to be a team anymore. Probably hates Patrick, actually. Yeah, he hates patrick, and he doesn’t even care that Patrick loves him so much. That Patrick’s loved him and prioritized him since they were twelve and it all meant nothing at all.

That he hates Art for going to Stanford and leaving him behind and his life is going to be So good while Patrick’s turns to shit. And you he says you don’t even get to argue, because you know it’s true.

Patrick keeps drinking until you practically have to carry him back to his dorm, give Art a look and tell him to please keep an eye on him, not to let him puke in his sleep. To make sure he gets water. You know Art’s going to do it, you know he loves Patrick too.

[ninyard]

this is so random but i was just wondering… does anyone else want the trojans to play against upenn in tsc2??? it’s been a while since i’ve read the og trilogy, but i don’t think the foxes went up against them? in fact, i don’t think we’ve seen them at all? i’m very curious to see what they’re like/see if their temperament & play style are like the ravens and whatnot🤔 what are ur thought, nin?

I could be wrong here but. Isn’t penn state the third of the big 3? But they got knocked out bc USC bet them so they didn’t have to play the foxes or something like that??

But I actually personally can’t wait to see the other teams from the other districts that we never got to see in the OG trilogy. I’m so bad for getting specific details wrong but like surely there’s a whole bunch of teams we’ve never met before? Right?

Which team plays the dirtiest? Who are the captains of the other teams that Jeremy is gonna shake hands with? Which strikers is Jean gonna struggle to mark?

[magicalblerdpenn]

Halp. I watched Julie and The Phantoms last week and now I can't get over this show. Fuck Netflix for canceling this show. Look at how talented these kids are singing the acoustic version of "Bright"

[thankyouforthememoriesworld]

I did send that timeline to several folks but I knew you would come through in terms of posting with lots of back up! Everything on that list has either a photo, video, article, social media post, etc. minus a few things I questioned as speculative like 2016. I was able to find some proof.

In a way all I had to do is lay out the years of the major known stuff and their tiktoks/overtime/slam videos and fill in blanks. For those curious about how I figured out some of these tournaments, each high school player has a recruiting page on ESPN so at least with some major tournaments and recruiting notes, I could match it, which is why I was actually pretty shocked to see they were in the same tournament in 2016 but didn't really know each other until 2017.

https://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/225154

https://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/230098

Also high schools like their programs always had schedules out that you can find the archives for. St. John's and Hopkins have their full schedules and results posted from back then so just lining up tiktoks and the significance of the date and it started to fall in place.

What's not in that timeline is the fact Azzi was in a Penn Relay and also national flag football?!?! Like if we want to talk about an incredible athlete. She won flag football in January 2017 and actually scoring the touchdowns and everything. This is before 2017 Team USA tryouts. And then won her race for 4x400 for Penn Relay on April 26, 2018 but it wasn't enough to qualify for championships. That's still insane though. Because she did that and then played that Capitol Classic game a few days later.

You can even watch the relay if you want to sign up apparently (I didn't bother haha). Here's the link to the result and the video link is embedded in there.

https://pennrelaysonline.com/History/results.aspx?cy=2018&en=138

Also not in the timeline are Paige's high school injuries. "In January 2018, as a sophomore, Bueckers was sidelined with an ankle injury that had been hurting her for the first two months of the season. Toward the end of her [senior] season, she suffered from a stress reaction in her right leg due to overuse. Bueckers sometimes wore a walking boot as a preventative measure, was limited in practice and missed the first game of the state tournament." Wiki has the articles for citations. I actually wonder if the right leg issue in high school then caused overcompensation on the left leg which then led to the knee issues. (That's a whole other level of introspection I could probably provide).

Anyway like I said in an early version of this - did all this to provide actual facts since so many like to speculate and make things up based on some random rumors.

I am absolutely not making a future version of this - that's someone else's job :P

So I'm not your favorite and I thought there was something special between us 😞. I have so many more photos or videos I could have used but I had to choose to respect Tumblr's restrictions.

Thanks for telling us how you found your information, I'm gonna bookmark the pages 🤗.

It is so impressive how she is a champion in basketball, football and track. I don't know how she managed between all that and high school.

[tio-trile]

Okay, I just got my mind blown away by this GO s2 theory/analysis:

https://www.tumblr.com/ariaste/724311712381222912/the-magic-trick-you-didnt-see-being-an-analysis?source=share

It's by @ariaste who is also a famous author, and if she's right, even a little bit, it explains SO MUCH about the inconsistency and 'bad writing' and backsliding of s2. This is me after reading it, absolutely mindblown

I think you might be interested in it? Maybe?

So, I read it (across like 3 days time) because I love and care about you all, and I would never make an opinion about something if I hadn't known about it in great detail, and the entire time I was reading it, I thought:

MAN it would be SO embarrassing if this is NOT the case. And the author of the essay had just insulted Neil Gaiman and his writing for a grand total of 36 pages. They are even meaner to the season than I am 😂 and posting this on main (when they are apparently a published author?), what a power move. Through the middle I keep questioning myself that maybe THIS ESSAY is an elaborate scheme, and OP just purely HATED the season but didn't want to insult Neil Gaiman to his face, so they came up with the world's most convoluted way to insult Neil Gaiman's writing without him noticing. 🤣🤣🤣

IF OP is 100% correct about everything (I personally think very unlikely) then...kudos to them. I tip my hat to them. Still not to season 2 tho because like OP themselves kinda explained in their essay, showing me a bunch of random things isn't the full magic trick, so you can't expect me to clap after it. (The only thing I'm upset about reading in the essay is actually that -- I'm a little annoyed that OP compared one of my favorite Penn and Teller routines to this dumpster fire that is season 2 🤣 THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. The Penn and Teller routine is incredible and entertaining and well-structured here it is)

If OP is wrong and Neil Gaiman actually wrote this season genuinely (which I think he did)......OP would have called Neil Gaiman a "Hack" and a "Clumsy Apprentice Writer" (both of these are OP's words, not mine) for 36 pages in 16k words, and I can't wait to see their metaphorical face when season 3 comes out. Actually, in a way, adaed5, you did change my mind; I now want season 3 to be greenlit and made just for that to play out.

[lanawinterscigarettes]

is there any sort of demand for someone to write for max starling, penn badgley's character from ariana grande's the boy is mine music video? because like 👀

[sandcobangevent]

The Text (OK Titles Aren’t Our Strength)

by @iwantthatbelstaffanditsoccupant and @abstractfrog

“Case?”

Sherlock was still texting and hadn’t touched the tea he had asked for moments before. The shade was exactly right—John had made sure of it— and there were two-and-one-half teaspoonfuls of sugar, just the way he liked it. Sherlock had taken a sip only to replace it upon the side table and text some more. No signs of anything off with it, but he had kept right on texting and let it go cold. He wouldn’t want it now.

He also hadn’t touched the filtered water kept perpetually cold in the fridge. This evening’s penne…still consumed, but not enjoyed; there was a difference, and John knew it by now. Sherlock was in the initial stages of a right strop. Still eating, so nothing too pressing, but the potential was there for things to go downhill rather quickly, and John hadn’t a clue why.

And all this texting.

Pushing his fingers against the screen far harder than necessary, leaving a quiet little thud, accompanied by the occasional look of annoyance the likes of which he hadn’t seen since that woman…what was her name?…the other podcaster…wasn’t Baker… Barker! Since that Barker woman had neglected to call the police. Someone was causing Sherlock a great deal of frustration.

Or was John causing the frustration? By hovering. He’d been hovering, he knew it. Because Sherlock had been doing nothing but sitting on the sofa, texting.

“Sherlock? Mate?” The words sounded awkward as ever, perhaps even more hollow and artificial this time. Increasingly so lately, though he wasn’t quite sure why.

“Mmm?”

“Case?”

Sherlock turned back to his phone again, not responding, then abruptly rolled toward John and said, “No.” And that was it. No more information than that.

And now John’s head was spinning. Something was very wrong. John had felt it too. Since that whole thing with Silver Blaze something was in the air, unspoken. Getting shot at was bad enough, but the thing that had really caught him off guard was the thoughts he struggled to keep out of his head, and indeed other parts of his body, when Sherlock had asked him to get on his knees. He had carefully shoved it aside. Examining what that was all about could wait, though he suspected he would soon need to deal with why even the most innocent gestures were being taken out of context by his affection-starved brain. Right now, something was up. Up with Sherlock. And this person on the other end of the phone. And he needed to know what it was. Not idle curiosity. Full-out need.

“Fine. Don’t tell me who you have been texting for the past ten minutes…”

“Eight-and-a-half.”

“Fine. Don’t tell me who you have been texting for the past eight-and-a-half minutes. Tea’s gone cold. I’ll make more.” He headed toward the sofa to clear the mug, and maybe, just maybe, to catch a glimpse of that mobile screen as he did so. Not intentionally, of course. Just…accidentally. Accidentally, as he gathered up the mug to make another cup.

“Don’t want another.”

John grabbed a book at random from the shelf, plopped down in his armchair, and started reading. It was one of the Discworld ones. His mum had told him it didn’t really matter which he started with, just to start already, and it almost diverted his attention until he felt that invisible pull of a pair of eyes on you—a sort of soldier’s instinct he was glad he had still retained. PTSD had its benefits. He looked up over the top of the book just fast enough to see the slightest remnant of motion on Sherlock's part. He had been watching him.

“Yes. The tea has indeed gone cold, and perhaps I would like some after all. I’ll make it. Would you like one as well?” Sherlock was already on his feet.

”Yeah, sure.”

He headed to the kitchen.

Leaving the mobile on the table.

He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t help himself. He picked up the phone and read the text. He placed his finger where the bottom corner of the phone had been so it could be returned to its original location and scrolled with his thumb.

I can stop by yours.

This was blue. The other person. His eyes moved automatically to the top of the screen searching for a name, but it was just the number. John tried to memorize it, though he knew it was no use. He just wasn’t good at things like that. He chunked it into three parts and decided to try anyway. Maybe he could manage to write it down quickly.

No, it’s always better if I come to you.

That was Sherlock. Going to him. Or her. Or whoever. …Again? Sherlock had said ‘always’.

Oh. So he doesn’t know? Hiding me again, are you?

I’m not hiding anything. I’m simply choosing not to bring it up.

A kettle whistled and that was that. John put the phone down, then lifted it again and wiped it on his shirt. Leave no prints. He ran to the chair and picked up the book. He even skipped a few pages, just in case Sherlock could somehow tell John hadn’t been reading while he was gone. He wouldn’t put it past him to somehow know what page number he’d been on at a glance.

Sherlock returned carrying two mugs and picked up his phone rather unceremoniously and began texting again. He did not look at the number of pages John had turned in his book. He did not look at John at all. Then he got up—still holding his phone, put on his coat, and left.

Without a word.

Without even a sip of his tea.

John ran to their small rolltop desk which Carol had found at an antique shop in Camden Town, ripped a sheet of paper off the notepad, leaned it against the wall and wrote down what he thought was the number, to the best of his recollection. He didn’t want to leave an impression on the paper beneath. He paced for a while before he shoved it in his pants pocket. What good would it do to call? It wasn’t like it was a business. What did he expect? ‘Hello, friendly neighbourhood drug dealer speaking, how can I help you today?’ It wasn’t that though. At least he didn’t think so. Sherlock didn’t seem bored, he seemed restless. Like he was working through something and hadn’t come upon an answer yet. That wasn’t when he reached for the Oxy. It was usually when he reached for John. For his opinions, that is…not…not reached for him in any…physical sense.

He pictured the words in his mind. Read them over and over. What stood out were two words: ‘always’ and ‘again’. It was a friendly conversation. The type between people perfectly at ease with each other. And the only person he knew of who Sherlock had that degree of ease with was Victor Trevor. Could he have come back? Could he be joking with Sherlock about hiding his return from John? About having hid their friendship earlier by never mentioning him, even once in passing? If that was all it was. A friendship. No, of course that was what it was. Victor was his friend. Just like John was his friend. To assume it was more than that was stupid. Being friends, being roommates, with someone who happened to be gay didn’t mean anything. Or with someone who was…not-exactly-quite gay. Like... Well, it didn’t mean anything. Didn’t mean anything at all.

Fuck.

So, he finally read it?

Yes, he did. After an eternity. When can I go back? This feels awkward.

The deceit?

Yes.

Good. He needs time to think it over. Alone. Just like he needed time to decide to read the texts.

You didn’t watch him while he did it, did you? From the kitchen?

No, I couldn’t risk letting him see me. I did listen to you. This time.

The phone was smudged when I left and clean when I came back.

He’s a good man, Sherlock. It took him a long time to invade your privacy.

Shut up.

I’m completely sincere. He’s a good man.

He cares about you.

And…?

And don’t mess it up. There. I said it.

Happy?

You had to say it sometime. Might as well get it over with.

I’ll try not to.

Now, go back and tell him about me. Explain how I provide you with excellent advice on cases and…other issues of concern.

You’re absolutely certain about this?

He won’t think any less of you for needing occasional advice. Your reputation won’t suffer.

Remember, he has been wondering if he will lose you, so show him he won’t.

Bring him round tomorrow. Don’t hide things from him again, including your feelings, Sherlock. Including your feelings.

Keep him informed of everything and it will all work out. I guarantee it.

So. Would you really have come to mine?

And leave home? Of course not.

Thank you, Mycroft.

You’re welcome.

[sleepdeprivedsimp234]

~Lovely Nights With Lover Boys~

Genre: very mild hurt/comfort(?), fluff

Ship: PA/MA/VA

Warnings: None, though it gets a little bit ✨spicy✨ at some point

Also random hc: PA and MA love to play fight with each other and Ginny puts up with their dumbasses cuz he loves them <3

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Massachusetts playfully threw a pillow from the couch at Pennsylvania, who growled when it hit him right in the face. This was something they did often, and it was purely affection.

"Aight Masshole get yer ass over ere’!" PA launched himself at the shorter state, though Mass quickly jumped out of the way of his fiance with a smirk. Penn blushed at the wild look in the Bay State’s eyes, the one that he loved oh so, so much. The look that he saw whenever Mass was sparring with him and other states. The look he saw when Mass was causing chaos and giving Gov a migraine. The look he saw way back then before the Revolution, when they had first met and Mass thought that PA would be a threat to the others. Damn how he has fallen for this man…..

Pennsylvania was so lost in his thoughts of Massachusetts that he couldn’t brace himself when the latter tackled him to the couch, successfully pinning him down and playfully hitting him with a nearby pillow. They both laughed and struggled as this playful fighting they had grown to love continued. As a last resort, PA decided to fight dirty and kissed Massachusetts deep on the mouth, pinning him down whilst doing so.

Mass wraps his arms and legs around PA’s torso, groaning softly as he feels PA’s hands massage into his upper back. He quickly flips their positions again, this time pinning Penn to the couch and gently biting and kissing at his neck, which earned a sharp intake of breath and a low whimper from the taller state. PA’s hands rested on the Bay State’s waist whilst gently gripping his shirt.

This continues for a few minutes before they are both interrupted by the sound of Virginia clearing his throat.

"Well as much as I love the sight of my two handsome fiancés kissing, dinner is ready and I need you both to come help set the table." said Virginia with a teased lilt to his voice.

Penn and Mass both blushed brightly and groaned fondly at their fiancé. They both begrudgingly got up, untangling limbs and wiping spit from their mouths (hehehehehHEEEE-). They both wandered into the kitchen, each kissing Virginia on the cheek as they walked past.

After they had all settled down for dinner, they all talked about their days as they ate. Virginia had made chicken noodle soup to the delight of all three, as it was a favorite amongst the three of them. All of their ears perked up when Massachusetts received a phone call from the school he worked at part-time.

"Who’s that?" Penn asked, clearly being unhappy with their dinner being interrupted. He didn’t say anything though since he knew how special the job was to his fiancé.

"The school. Some kids were turnin’ in late work, nothin’ much." Mass was very quickly scrolling through and responding to messages when Ginny reached over and gently placed a hand on top of Mass’s, using the other to take the phone from Mass’s hand and put it on the counter. Mass gave a light glare to Ginny, who only rolled his eyes lovingly.

"Ya can respond to that stuff later hun. You’ve been workin’ all day, and it’s time for you to take a break." Virginia calmly said, though there was an undertone that told both Mass and Penn that there would be no room for argument.

"Fine…." Mass really wanted to answer those messages and look over the students’ work, but deep down, he (begrudgingly) knew that Ginny was right. He still couldn’t help but feel bad though.

Penn kissed Mass on the cheek softly, making Mass blush brightly. "He’s right, chickadee. Ya need a break."

Mass grumbled a bit under his breath, but a soft glare from both fiancés shut him up. They all finished their food and headed up to their room to go to sleep (or to just relax).

They all lay down, Mass laying in between his fiancés and cuddling into them. He snaked his arms around Pennsylvania to untie his hair, letting it flow freely. Penn sighs softly as he feels Mass gently rub at his scalp, melting into the nice feeling. Mass chuckles softly when he feels Virginia cuddle closer to him from behind.

"You both are so clingy…" he teased, though it was purely out of affection. He reaches back to grab Ginny’s hand and holds it close to him after placing a gentle kiss on his knuckles. Mass chuckles once again when he hears (and feels!) Virginia’s embarrassed but lovestruck huff against his neck.

"Yeah, but you love us/it." said the two taller states in unison.

"yeah…..yeah I do…."

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@crazedstoryteller and @godedraws since I know y’all live, laugh, love this damn ship and breathe it like it’s oxygen <3 /lhj