#rowell new mexico

[queer-media-tourney]

Here are all 64 round 1 polls:

Rent vs Orphan Black

Heartstopper vs Orange is the New Black

Carol (2015) vs Bugsnax

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern vs Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Fienburg

Red, White and Royal Blue vs This is how you lose the time war by Amar el-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Our Flag means Death vs Always human by Ari North

The last of us two vs On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

Heartbreak High vs Shameless

Undertale vs The Handmaiden

Young Royals vs Revolutionary Girl Utena

Sens8 vs Carry on by Rainbow Rowell

Bee and puppycat vs The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Yuri on Ice vs Ranma ½

Q-force vs Feel Good

Torchwood vs The interview with a Vampire (2022)

Homestuck vs Good Omens

Some like it hot vs Killing Eve

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off vs Bound (1996)

It's a sin vs Magnus Chase by Rick Riordan

Doctor Who vs Portrait of a young lady on fire

Steven Universe vs Saltburn

Xena Warrior Princess vs Cyberpunk 2077

Welcome to Nightvale vs Schitt's creek

Night in the woods vs A league Of their own

Lisa Frankenstein vs The boys in the band (1970)

Black Sails vs Owl House

Hannibal vs The Traitor Baru Cormorant

Bottoms vs The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir

The picture of Dorian Grey vs Adventure time

The Sandman (comic) vs Supernatural

Maurice (1987) vs Hazbin Hotel

Nimona vs Love Simon

Epithet Erased vs What we do in the shadows

Buffy the Vampire Slayer vs The Other Two

One Day at a time (2017) vs Falsettos

She-ra and the princesses of power vs Dykes to Watch Out for

Celluloid Closet vs Harley Quinn

But I'm a cheerleader vs Vida

Angels In America vs Glee

Hooky by Míriam Bonastre Tur vs They both die in the end by Adam Silvera

Will and Grace vs Paris is Burning

Sanders Sides vs The Magnus Archives

The L word vs Goncharov

Queer as Folk vs Paper Girls

Boys don't cry vs Dracula

All of us strangers vs Yellow jackets

The Song of Achilles vs D.E.B.S

Brokeback Mountain vs Dead end: paranormal park

Carmilla vs Pride (2014)

The Bifrost Incident vs Pink Flamingos

Call me by your name vs Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Grishaverse vs Roswell New Mexico

Riverdale vs We Know the Devil

Stardew Valley vs Pose

Disco Elysium vs Different For girls

Banana fish vs my own private Idaho

Celeste vs Tales of the City, by Armistead Maupin

Everything Everywhere all at once vs Outer Wilds

To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar vs Victor/Victoria

Moonlight vs Stranger things

The birdcage vs Midnight Cowboy

The Watermelon Woman vs The Ritz

The haunting of Bly Manor vs Epic of Gilgamesh

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel vs How to survive a plague

[cwseriesshowdown]

Round 2B: Rowell, New Mexico vs Riverdale

Roswell, New Mexico: After a decade away from home, Liz Ortecho returns to her native Roswell to care for her ailing father. When she arrives, she reconnects with her high school crush Max Evans, who is now a police officer. Their chemistry is electric, but Liz soon learns something shocking: Max and his siblings are aliens who have kept their abilities secret their entire lives. As they grow closer, Liz struggles to keep the truth from her best friend Maria, and her high school ex, Dr. Kyle Valenti, but concealing the siblings' true identities is more important than ever, as a long-standing government conspiracy and the politics of fear and hatred threaten their lives.

Riverdale: Archie Andrews starts the school year with the world weighing on his shoulders. He's decided he wants to pursue a future in the music business, but his recently ended clandestine relationship with the music teacher has left him without a mentor, and his friendship with Jughead Jones is in a bad place. Things look like they might be turning around when Veronica Lodge, a new girl, arrives. Despite the instant chemistry, Veronica is hesitant to risk a friendship with Betty -- who has a crush on Archie -- to pursue anything. Amidst all the small-town banality lurks a mystery: the recent tragic death of Jason Blossom, the twin brother of beautiful and popular troublemaker, Cheryl.

[authorstalker]

My July, August, & September Reads

Quietly Hostile, Samantha Irby - These essays reminded me of Irby's first book, Meaty, which happens to be one of my favorite collections—hallelujah! Quietly Hostile is so so funny and occasionally disgusting; it's perfect.

Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson - Some beautiful sentences, but overall it is too much of a bummer. It messed me up for a few days.

Scattered Showers, Rainbow Rowell - Words can't express how thrilled I am that Rainbow Rowell has a multi-book deal for brand new adult novels. I enjoy her YA as much as everyone else, but Attachments and Landline—her two adult novels—are so cozy/funny/wonderful. Also, I'm old! I want to read about fellow olds. This collection is a mix of YA and adult stories; she revisits characters from past books and introduces us to new characters as well. The standouts for me were the Covid lockdown love story, the Attachments story, and the mermaid fairy tale at the end.

Less Is Lost, Andrew Sean Greer - I'm not generally a fan of road trip novels, but I'm a huge fan of this author and his character, Arthur Less, so I gave it a chance and thank goodness for that! I laughed out loud over and over again. Fingers crossed for a third Less novel.

This Story Will Change: After the Happily Ever After, Elizabeth Crane - I took this with me on a milestone birthday/anniversary trip to Mexico, and it was the ideal vacation read—I was riveted by the drama. Whew!

The Last Picture Show, Larry McMurtry - My first Larry McMurtry book and now I have to read all of them, because this one is a masterpiece. It's devastating but it also has some laughs, and by the end I fully believed the characters were real. If you read this based on my recommendation and don't like it......I simply don't care and you don't need to tell me!

Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo - This was on the shelves at my Airbnb in Guanajuato, and I couldn't resist the opportunity to re-read it on what must be one of the world's most beautiful balconies. Kate DiCamillo, thank you, you goddess.

[bealittleimprobable]

“The” church? The?

So they’ve had the whole discussion about ruling various people out of Maria’s vision because they would have been buried in a church. OK, good logic.

So I’m talking to @Tasyfa about the church burning and I went OK, but which church? And she’s looking at me. And I’m going “Well if it’s the Catholic one, then the Evanses are still out but it could be an Ortecho or a Valenti but if...” and she’s just looking at me going “The church? We’ve only seen one?”

What do you mean *the* church? And she keeps talking and I pull up episode s02e01 and yep, Noah’s funeral was held in a Catholic church. (As I have been yelling while @Tasyfa is laughing at me, “Mary is right there!”)

I am so confused now.

[echo-bleu]

Cosmic...friends? Noooo.

[prouvaireafterdark]

For the H/C meme: Gotta Stay Quiet To Avoid Discovery and Malex

Wasn’t sure if I wanted to write fun almost-interrupted smut or a suspenseful ‘shit we’re in enemy territory, we gotta stay quiet’ kinda fic and ended up with something that is simultaneously both and neither of those things lmao hope you like this ridiculous fic about Michael discovering he’s got a new kink. 

Also, apologies in advance for grievously misappropriating a line from canon, but I couldn’t help myself

Also on AO3

***

They’re walking down the hall of a top secret Project Shepherd compound that the government has no official knowledge of when Alex suddenly grabs Michael by the jacket and hauls him around a corner and into a supply closet.

“What are y—“ Michael’s startled whisper is cut off by Alex’s hand as he crowds him flat against the wall beside the door, his eyes flashing between the glowing figures on the tablet in his hand and the window looking out into the hall. Michael struggles to turn his head to get a look, but Alex only holds him tighter.

“Shh,” Alex whispers, lips brushing his ear and Michael knows they’re in danger right now, that they could be discovered at any moment and all kinds of bad things would happen then, but standing there, pressed firmly between Alex’s warm body and the cold cinderblock wall at his back, Alex’s hand cutting off any noise he could even hope to make, Michael starts to get hard.

It takes Alex a second to notice, but when he shifts his stance slightly, his leg inadvertently coming up between Michael’s thighs, there’s no mistaking the bulge at the front of Michael’s worn denim jeans. Michael flushes with shame as Alex’s eyes flash to his, wide and surprised.

Alex has been in peak “BAMF Alex Mode,” as Kyle calls it, since they got there, all business as he led the two of them on this recon mission to find out more about the compound, but Michael can see that veneer of professionalism crack just a little, his eyes hungry and predatory. Michael only gets harder under his gaze, leaking in his jeans like a teenager when he lets out the slightest whimper and Alex glares at him and presses tighter against his mouth.

Michael can hardly breathe and he’s never been so inappropriately horny in his whole fucking life. If they weren’t in enemy territory right now, he’s sure he’d already be on his knees.

Footsteps echo in the hall and Alex tears his eyes away from Michael’s to watch the screen of the tablet he’s holding with bated breath. His body is tense against him for a moment until the footsteps fade. Alex relaxes and releases Michael’s mouth, taking a step away from him.

“We need to move,” Alex says in his best Captain Manes voice. It does nothing to help Michael’s predicament like Alex probably hopes it will. “Now.”

Michael nods, not trusting his own voice and follows Alex out the door, adjusting himself in his jeans as discreetly as he can.

Twenty minutes later, when they’ve got all the hard drives Alex needs and have made it to his Jeep without tripping a single alarm, Michael finds himself shoved up against the unforgiving metal of the passenger-side door with Alex’s tongue down his throat.

“We’re getting out of here,” Alex pants when he pulls away, his lips shining in the moonlight and so so tempting, “and when we’re safe, you’re going to tell me what the fuck happened in there.”

“Think you know what happened in there,” Michael says, fingers digging into the meat of Alex’s ass to tug him closer, high off the adrenaline of their escape and having Alex in his arms.

“In the car. Now,” Alex orders with one final kiss before he leaves Michael’s arms and heads around to the driver’s side. Michael does as he’s told.

They’re fifteen miles away, the road behind them empty as far as the eye can see, before Alex has Michael call their friends on the burner phone he picked up earlier in the week.

“Hey, Alex!” Kyle calls when he picks up and there’s some rustling on the other end before Jenna Cameron’s voice filters through the speaker phone.

“Status report?”

Alex’s lips quirk up in amusement. “Package acquired, exfil in progress.”

“Good to hear it, Captain. Any hiccups we should be concerned about?”

Alex gives Michael a long, considering look that makes him flush and squirm in his seat a little. He doesn’t think Alex is angry with him, but he certainly could be. If he’d been just a little louder or less careful earlier he could have fucked up the entire mission and gotten them caught. It had taken a fair amount of convincing for Alex to let him come with him tonight and he’s suddenly worried he’s blown his chance to prove to Alex that he can be an asset, not a liability.

All in all, he really doesn’t know what he’s in for when this conversation is over.

“Captain?” Cameron asks again.

“No,” Alex says at last, and Michael releases a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “We’ll meet you at the bunker tomorrow morning for debrief.”

That makes Michael’s ears perk up, and Cameron’s too, by the sound of it.

“Tomorrow morning? I thought you were coming straight here.”

“Change of plans. Got something to take care of first.” Alex’s voice is nonchalant, but the look Alex is giving him tells Michael that he’s the ‘something’ that needs taking care of.

“I see,” Cameron says, and Michael doesn’t know her that well, but he thinks he hears a smile in her voice. “Well, take your time then, Captain. And tell Guerin I say ‘Hi.’”

“See ya, Cam,” Alex says and Michael hangs up the phone.

“So,” Alex starts, chancing another look at Michael before turning back to the road, “you wanna talk about it?”

“Not sure what there is to talk about,” Michael shrugs, chewing on his bottom lip a little.

“No? You got hard while we were infiltrating a Project Shepherd base,” Alex says calmly. “There were men with very large guns in the hallway and you were whimpering into my hand and rubbing yourself on my thigh. You don’t think we need to talk about that?”

“It won’t happen again, okay?” Michael rub the back of his neck. “I just got caught up in the moment, I’m sorry.”

Alex laughs suddenly and Michael’s eyes whip in his direction.

“Sweetheart, I’m not mad,” he says, reaching across the center console to rest his hand on Michael’s thigh. The calculated, professional Alex from earlier is gone and in his place is his Alex, fond as he smiles at Michael.

“You’re not?” Michael asks hesitantly.

“No, I’m not,” Alex reassures him.

“Even though I could’ve gotten us killed?”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” Alex says. “It would’ve been inconvenient, sure, but I would’ve gotten us out of there. Do you really think I’d have let you come if I thought I couldn’t handle it if things went south?”

“I guess not,” Michael says. He’s not sure he’s flattered by the statement, but as long as Alex isn’t angry with him he can deal with his estimation of Michael’s field capabilities another day.

“So,” Alex continues, “you wanna tell me what was going through your mind? Was it the location, the possibility of getting caught…?”

“It wasn’t really about the guards,” Michael counters. “Definitely not about the location.”

“What was it about then?” Alex asks him, curious.

“You were practically trying to put me through the wall with your hand over my mouth,” Michael explains. “It was, um… a lot.”

The warmth of Alex’s hand feels good, and when he squeezes ever so gently, the tips of his fingers digging into the soft flesh of his inner thigh Michael can’t stop the gasp that escapes him. “That does it for you, huh? Me holding you down?”

“You do it for me,” Michael says honestly. Alex resumes petting his thigh and Michael leans further back in his seat, relaxing under his touch. “But…yeah,” he adds at last. “You caging me in like that, keeping me quiet so no one could hear… I don’t know, it just… did things to me.”

“Have you ever fantasized about it before?” he asks, stroking a little higher up. “About me holding you still and keeping you quiet while I fuck you?” Fuck Alex for trying to have this conversation at a time when Michael can’t crawl into his lap.

“Alex,” Michael moans, his thighs spreading as Alex’s insistent fingers work their way ever higher.

“You have, haven’t you?” Alex grins, sliding his hand between Michael’s legs where he’s hard and aching.

“Yeah,” Michael gasps as Alex palms him. The keeping quiet thing hasn’t crossed Michael’s mind much before today, but Alex holding him down and making him take it? For a guy with such a problem with authority figures, Michael sure does spend a lot of time thinking about Alex manhandling him.

“Tell me about it.”

“Alex,” Michael pleads. He reaches for Alex’s wrist, not sure whether he wants to pull his hand off him or grind himself harder into it. “Don’t make me say it. We’re too far from home right now and the cab of your Jeep isn’t big enough for the things I want you to do to me, so please. Ask me later.”

Alex smirks at him, but mercifully releases his grip on Michael’s cock. “Later then,” he says and turns his hand into Michael’s so he can twine their fingers together.

“Later,” Michael promises, smiling when Alex lifts their joined hands to press a kiss to Michael’s knuckles. Michael has a feeling Alex is going to wreck him later tonight, but, well, if anyone’s going to destroy him, it might as well be Alex.

[some-mad-lunge]

When Alex Manes Loves You

This is a Isobel x Alex friendship fic with a whole bunch of Malex for good measure. For @bisexualalienblast who always deserves a smile and who dragged me into this fandom.

************************************

He takes care of you.

Alex leaned over the building plans spread out on the table. They were almost certain this was another facility, one that might just have some of the answers they were desperate for.

Well most of them were, Michael still wasn’t sure what Alex’s motivation was. At least not anymore. How many sins of your father were you supposed to atone for before you were square?

Max was sitting in a chair, he still had trouble standing for too long. Coming back from death was a bitch. Still he seemed to be taking in everything Alex was saying. At least someone was.

Michael couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away from Isobel and he wasn’t paying attention to anything else.

She’d walked in 10 minutes earlier, flounced in really, and tossed her bag in the corner like she’d done it a million times. Michael had only been to Alex’s bunker once before. He could swear there were ghosts in the walls, it made him feel watched. Isobel, however, seemed comfortable as could be.

It irked him.

She was in yoga clothes, an old habit she’d picked back up since she found out her husband was a serial killer. He didn’t think she believed in all that zen bullshit but he wasn’t about to say anything about her new exercise kick. With Isobel you picked your battles.

She’d barely been there two minutes when Alex reached into his own duffel bag and tossed something in Isobel’s direction without even looking at her. She caught it with ease, wrinkled her nose. It looked like homemade trail mix, how very military.

“I can't deal with your hanger today. Yes, there’s M&M’s in there somewhere. Anyway, as I was saying��” Alex kept talking but Michael doesn’t hear it.

It’s a simple thing, so tiny and insignificant but all Michael can do is stare at the bag in Isobel’s hands. She flicked her fingers around inside, digging until she finds what she’s looking for. She held the chocolate between her thumb and forefinger, smirked at Alex before she popped it in her mouth.

The smile Alex gives her in response can only be described as fond, lips Michael once knew intimately pursed in amusement.

He doesn’t want to name the feeling that rolled around in his stomach, refused to acknowledge it. When Isobel held the bag out and Alex took a handful without looking up from the table Michael felt his whole body clench.

He humours you.

He was getting used to being in Alex’s space, not just his bunker, their unofficial place to discuss all things alien conspiracy, but near him. Close enough to feel the heat of his dark skin, breathe the same air. It doesn’t hurt anymore, at least not as much.

Maybe they would be friends after all.

That is until he walks in, sees Kyle laughing, Alex with a bemused expression on his face and Isobel hanging something on the wall.

When Michael read what it said he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in disbelief.

“There. Now it’s more homey.” Isobel stood with her hands on her hips, glanced over at Michael with a small smile on her lips. It’s the first genuine one he’s seen in months.

Later when Alex and Michael are sitting at the screens, he leaned over, kept his voice low.

“Are you really going to leave that up?”

He shrugged, but Michael doesn’t miss the way the skin on Alex’s arm beside his prickled in goosebumps. It gave him a rush of warmth, a feeling of satisfaction he missed too much to admit.

“It makes her happy.”

And that seemed good enough for Alex.

When Michael walked out later he reads the words. He knows it’s a joke, but he can’t seem to laugh.

Bunker Sweet Bunker

He makes you smile.

Max was keeping a very close eye on his sister and Michael was along for the ride. Today was her wedding anniversary. No one mentions it, no one dared to, but they knew it would be a hard day for her. She wouldn’t admit it, because weakness was not a word in Isobel’s vocabulary. So instead Max was brooding, pouring Isobel wine in the middle of the day like this was some joyful alien family gathering and not them trying to make sure she doesn’t crack.

Michael knew that Isobel probably would have preferred to have Alex here. They were so chummy now it made his skin crawl. Another thing he hated to admit, he was jealous of her. It was something he was used to in a way. At least before all her walls came down, and he learned life for her wasn’t as easy as he liked to imagine.

Alex had been the one to ask Max, and therefore by association Michael, to look after Isobel today. The soldier and Kyle (who he would never admit to being envious of, even if you put a syringe of the cure in his arm) were gone on some secret fact finding mission. Michael didn’t know the details. Which was fine.

Let Isobel and Alex have their wine nights. Let Kyle be Alex’s right hand man. It didn’t bother Michael in the slightest.

You’re a miserable liar.

But Max was still hovering, and Isobel just kept sighing and rolling her eyes like she was the one doing them a favour.

The doorbell rang and Michael watched her jump to her feet, no doubt happy for a brief reprieve from their lame attempts at comfort. There had been a time when it was always just the three of them, even when they hated it. God, even when they resented it, at least they had each other. But as more people were let in, as more people were trusted, it blurred what they were to each other.

Michael hated the feeling.

Isobel came back into her living room practically skipping, a package in her hands. Max was instantly on edge, like it would contain a bomb or something. She liked to shop, Michael could only imagine what she’d purchased herself this time.

It wasn’t until he saw her chuckle as she read a card that he realized it was a gift. She placed it on the coffee table and hummed to herself as she used her thumbnail to break through the taped up box. He swiped the card and felt his stomach clench as he read the words inside, the handwriting a little too familiar.

If you’re going to be a widow, best do it right.

Sentiments, et cetera, don’t drink all the wine without me.

A.

Alex hadn’t even signed his full name, just the first letter. Because she would know who it was. Of course she would. It made Michael seethe.

He heard Isobel’s gasp of delight and watched as she unwrapped a black hat, satiny and classic, a small black veil in the front. To anyone else it would be in poor taste, but as she put it on her head and drew the wisp of a veil over her eyes she was positively beaming.

She looked like a vamp in a noir movie, the widow in fake mourning. It suited her, Michael could admit that. The radiant smile on her face filled him up, made him forget his earlier anger. Alex had given Isobel something, made the day easier. He couldn’t be anything but thankful, even it it was begrudgingly.

She ran to look in the mirror, preened at herself and then started rambling about something or other. Max gave Michael a confused look, he just shrugged in response.

He tried to not remember the times when Alex gave Michael exactly what he had needed, exactly when he had needed it.

He leans on you.

As soon as he read the text from Maria he’d gotten into his truck without thinking. When he’d seen her name he’d frozen for a second. They’d ended things a few weeks prior. No drama, no tears. They just weren’t it for each other. He loved her. He always would. Just not the way he was supposed to.

Then her words had him in motion, he had to get to Alex. He couldn’t be alone, not right now, even though Michael was sure he’d demand it and then tear himself up in the process.

It was still light out when he pulled his truck up Alex’s drive. He was stunned for a moment to see not just Kyle’s car but Isobel’s as well. He debated turning around, pretend he’d never come until he saw the front door open and Isobel stepped out onto the porch.

No going back now, so he climbed out, boots kicking up dust. Isobel offered him a small smile.

“Is he…” Michael didn’t know what to ask. Of course he wasn’t okay. Jesse Manes was dead and even if he was the devil incarnate he was still Alex’s dad.

“No, but he will be. Kyle and him are on the back deck grilling steaks.” She was still blocking his path, and Michael knew how to read a room. “We’re going to get him wasted and put him to bed.”

He nodded at her, he’d never felt like he didn’t belong before, not with Isobel. Never with Alex. It felt like being a ship adrift on the water, nowhere to go.

“I just thought he could use a friend.”

“He can, that’s why we’re here.” She wrapped her arms around herself, the way she always did when she’s about to hurt him. Especially when she doesn’t mean to. “I don’t think it’s a good idea…”

He doesn’t let her finish the sentence, it’s already too much. “Yeah, I get it.”

Instead he turned away, felt ridiculous for coming there in the first place.

“Michael.” It’s soft but he hears it. So he stopped, took a deep breath and looked over his shoulder. “You’re more than that to him. So much more and he shouldn’t have to deal with that too. Not right now.”

He gave her a quick nod, because she has appointed herself Alex’s protector and he wants to thank her. Even if it meant keeping him away, Michael knows Alex is kept safe and loved. Even if it can’t be by him.

And whose decision was that?

The thought pounded in his head on repeat for the next three days.

He never stops.

It’s in the bunker, because of course it is. Just the two of them, Isobel’s stupid sign on the wall and a lab coat that no doubt belongs to Kyle thrown over a chair. They had been looking at something on the computer again, Michael leaned in too close as he tried to memorize everything he could.

He never gets to touch, not anymore, so his eyes are always hungry. It’s not sexual, at least not always, tonight he’s fascinated by the way Alex’s hair is in disarray. Frustrated hands running through it with every other click of the keyboard. Michael wants to replace them with his own, soothe the dark cloud Alex is giving off. Put fingers to tense shoulders and dig in.

He fights it, because that’s all he does around Alex anymore. Torture himself by looking and beat down the part of him that wants to do something about it.

Finally they gave up, Michael tried to make some stupid joke that failed miserably at being funny. Alex just lifts a corner of his mouth, like he appreciated Michael for even trying.

They both reach to grab Michael’s jacket at the same time, hands brushing for a moment, eyes locking in surprise.

With them, that’s all it takes. Match to gasoline and everything burns around them. Alex biting into his mouth, pushing him against the table, stealing his breath and his heart. He whimpered, because it’s them and he never thought he’d get this again. Wouldn’t let himself ask for it.

But the sound snapped Alex back to reality, made him lean away and fingers slipped from their grip in Michael’s hair. The sudden cold that slipped over him made his bones hurt.

“Michael, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…”

“I love you.”

Alex stilled, hands squeezing hard where they rested on Michael’s arms. Alex doesn’t say anything but he doesn’t have to. His face is awe struck, his eyes bright. They both know, they’ve always known, they’ve just never said it.

Why had they never just said it?

But this time maybe it isn’t enough, maybe it’s too late and they didn’t figure it out in time. Maybe he’d let Alex push him far enough away that Michael hadn’t found his way back in time. Maybe they’d…

Then Alex is on him again, just as intense, just as needy but gentle, almost reverent. He’s unbuttoning Michael’s shirt, brushing their noses together..

“I love you.” Michael can taste it on his tongue.

“I love you.” It hums through his blood.

“I love you.” It’s whispered into his mouth.

“We’re going to talk, okay. After.” Michael can only nod in agreement as his shirt is pushed off his shoulders, as teeth drag at his lip and he’s welcomed home.

[malex-overlord-believe]

Saw some Malex video AND I NOW HAVE FEELINGS. AGAIN. UGH. I'M JUST. SO MAD AND TIRED AND INFURIATED BECAUSE LIKE THE CHEMISTRY AND POTENTIAL. IS RIGHT THERE. THEY DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO DO ANYTHING. THEY JUST NEEDED THESE 2 TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM AND LIKE 3FT FROM EACH OTHER. AND IT WOULD STILL BE AMAZING BECAUSE THAT'S HOW INSANE THEIR CHEMISTRY IS. BUT NO. IT'S JUST WASTED AND NEARLY RUINED. YES THEY'RE ON A FRESH START NOW BUT WHY PILE ON EVEN MORE TRAUMA AND PAIN WHEN THINGS COULD'VE BEEN FIGURED OUT BETTER. WHY PROMOTE THIS 'COSMIC' COUPLE WHEN YOU DO NOTHING WITH THEM. WHEN YOU COULD'VE GIVEN YOUR VIEWERS SOMETHING GOOD AND NEW AND MAYBE SOMETHING HEALTHY? FINALLY BE THAT SHOW THAT GIVES ACTUAL QUEER REP. YOU NEARLY HAD ME WITH HEARING BISEXUAL MORE THAN ONCE CAUSE YES THAT WAS GOOD AND I NEEDED THAT BUT NOT WHEN YOU SAY IT WITHOUT SHOWING. NOT WHEN YOU JUST USE THE WORD FOR WOKE POINTS WITHOUT GIVING ACTUAL GOOD BI REP. THAT WAS NOT BI REP. MARIA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AMAZING AND GOOD BUT YOUR RUINED HER FOR ME. I HOPED SHE WOULD BE THE FRIEND AND ROCK FOR EVERYONE TO ANCHOR THEM WHEN THE ALIEN STUFF GOT TO CRAZY. SHE WOULD BE THE BRIDGE. YOU COULD'VE LET MARIA AND MICHAEL BE ACTUAL FRIENDS AND STAY FRIENDS INSTEAD OF WHAT YOU DID. DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON ISOBEL AND MARIA. THAT WAS ANOTHER PAIR WITH PERFECT CHEMISTRY YOU BURNED. LEARN HOW TO WRITE. STOP PLAYING FAVORITES. LISTEN TO YOUR VIEWS TO SOME DEGREE.

I was just so hopeful and excited and fell in love with RNM because of Malex, the main character being a Hispanic woman wanting to heal people, some hopeful queer content, a somewhat murder mystery, and Alien sci-fi stuff. Yes it's a CW show. Yes there's gonna be dumb drama and all that stuff most CW shows have but season 1 was so promising. Season 2 was completely detached and felt like a fever dream where time means nothing. Actions mean nothing. Just nearly 90% of what was going on made no sense. Yes I love Greg. Yes I'm happy and heartbroken about Nora and Trip and who Walt could've been to Michael. Yes I'm glad Jesse is dead. Yes Malex is finally getting the fresh start they need... But it's just not enough to make me understand or even want what season 2 was. It just felt like a waste of my time and love. Just so much waste of potential. That's what season 2 was for me. I couldn't even watch all of it, when before I found any way I could to not miss an episode during season 1. The first season is supposed to be a base to build and improve so the next season is better but if anything they just built a flashy house of cards that barley held it together until the end. Again this is just how I feel and what season 2 felt like for me. I still want to love RNM and enjoy the things I still do love about it but sometimes you need to voice and get things out so you can let bad stuff go. It didn't have to be perfect but jesus the bar is already so low.

[michaeltrevino]

ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO | "Songs About Texas" (1x09)

[spidey-man]

[captainsassmanes]

Hi there :) if you're still taking prompts, could you please maybe do a post finale malex prompt where one of Alex's ex boyfriends from the military come to Roswell or get injured overseas and Alex freaks out. Thank you 😊 

Better late than never, right?  For @alexmanesairstream

Alex was a professional.  He knew exactly what he needed to do, how he needed to look, in order to appear as though he was in complete control of his emotions, his actions.  But this past month had been a test he wasn’t sure he would pass.

So much had been in flux and the logical side of his brain reminded him that people sought the things that brought them comfort in times of difficulty.  Watching Michael curl himself into Maria during the day and drink himself into oblivion at night, having to take shifts with Valenti to make sure Liz ate and slept at the lab, texting Isobel hourly to make sure she hadn’t blown something up and gotten hurt and swinging by the Crashdown daily to check in on Rosa and Arturo had become a regular routine.  

He was starting to think ‘make sure Alex didn’t fall down and break his leg from exhaustion’ should be on the list as well.

Today had been particularly challenging.  The group had gathered at the lab, Rosa staying in as seemed her comfort level for now.  Liz thought she had discovered a major breakthrough that she wanted to test out on Michael but, when he arrived at 10am,still wasted and slurring his bitter-laced words, chaos had erupted.  Isobel was furious from having her practice session disrupted, Valenti had used a lame excuse to get out of work and was worried he’d be written up soon, Maria was both trying to defend and chastise Michael and Alex was slowly trying to work his way to the door, his presence obviously not needed.  Maybe not even noticed.

In the noise of the room, Alex’s cell phone rang loud and clear.  Everyone paused their arguments, instead turning to Alex.  He fumbled with the phone, uncomfortable with everyone’s eyes on him but when he saw the number for his old military base he decided he had to answer.

“Hello.”

“Captain Manes?”

“Speaking.”

“This is Lieutenant James.  Do you have a second, sir?”

“Yes.  What is this in regards to?”

“Unfortunately I have some bad news.”  Alex felt his stomach roll.  He hadn’t heard from the military in weeks after his discharge.  “You’re still listed as an emergency contact for Airman Banks.  He was killed during exercises overseas last week.”

Alex turned his back to the room quickly.  He refused to share this with anyone else.  “Captain?”

He cleared his throat and offered a wobbled, “yes.  Was his family notified?”

“Yes, sir.  Services will be in Virginia next week.  Would you like me to forward you the information?”

“Yes,” he needed to clear his throat once again.  “Yes, please.  Thank you for letting me know.”

“You’re welcome, sir.  I’m sorry for your loss.”

Alex hung up the phone quickly and shoved it back into his coat pocket.  He stood frozen in place, the words ricocheting in his head while his blood pulsed in his ears.  He felt the room tip, a threw a hand out to catch himself on the closest wall.

“Whoa, you’re okay.  What was that?”  Alex heard the words but as though they had moved through molasses to get to his ears.  He turned his head to find a very concerned Valenti in his face.

Alex didn’t want to explain, didn’t want to ask anything of his body but he felt the tears coming as he began to shake.  Kyle must have felt him trembling, too, as he brought him in closer with the hand around his waist.

He didn’t need to turn around to know everyone was looking at him; Liz with a hand covering her mouth, Maria looking distressed, not knowing whether or not she was allowed to comfort her oldest friend and Michael, moving inch by inch, trying to get closer to Alex.

“Get me out of here.”  Alex didn’t recognize his own voice.  It was small and shook with every syllable.  Wet, too, with the tears that had begun to escape without his permission.

The lab, of course, was down a long, winding hallway in the basement of the hospital, which meant that Alex needed to ask his body to do something it literally wasn’t capable of.

Banks had been the only other man Alex had been with.  They were stationed together during basic and then for his first tour.  He had been kind and thoughtful, Alex vividly remembering the wonder he felt at Adam being in the military at all.  He loved animals and 90′s grunge.  They had bonded over music and Alex had fallen.  

Their few months together of paranoid hook ups and late night comfort while the others slept had gotten Alex through that first tour.  But Adam was content as an Airman and Alex had been offered a promotion almost immediately, ending their romance before it could become anything more.

Adam would always be special and, although they hadn’t spoken in nearly eight years, Alex thought about him often.  He had hoped Adam had served his time and gotten out, gone back to school, met a good man, had a house full of mutts to love.

That was over now.

A sob escaped and Alex couldn’t make his legs work anymore.  He collapsed against the wall, surprising Valenti who could do nothing more than try to lower Alex to the ground safely.  He swallowed as much air as he could but it wasn’t enough.  

“He’s dead.  He died.”  Alex turned in panic to Kyle who looked terrified.  Alex was their glue.  If he fell apart, what would the rest of them do?  “I can’t breath.”  Alex clawed at Kyle’s arms, trying to hold on.  Kyle wrapped Alex up and pulled him against his chest, rocking slightly on instinct.  “What do I do?  He died.  I can’t-I can’t.”

Kyle repeated, “it’s okay,” over and over in what he hoped was a calm, reassuring tone, but he never had to do this before.  Especially for the man who was always their shoulder to cry on.

“They all leave, Kyle.  Everyone leaves.”  The room began to dim and fuzz around the edges.  He felt strong hands on his face but couldn’t focus his eyes.

“Alex, you have to breath.  Can you copy me?  C’mon, in and out.  In,”  big breath.  “And out.”  

He tried, he really did.  But he couldn’t stop thinking of Adam, dying where he should have been safe; everything he should have said, thanking him for the comfort he brought Alex, the worth he helped Alex to feel.  Past Valenti’s face, Alex made out the shape of a cowboy hat and broad shoulders.  His imagination let him believe Michael was moving closer to him.  Maybe Michael wouldn’t leave him.  Maybe he had done enough after all for Michael to know how important he was to Alex.  Maybe he hadn’t made the same mistake with Guerin that he had with Adam.

But that cowboy was being held tightly by a slender shape burying her face in the place where Alex used to bury his.  

He focused back on Valenti, his only constant, but it was all too much.  

He hoped the darkness would let him rest for awhile.  

[andrewminyqrd]

my biggest wish for roswell new mexico season 3 is for michael to go to fucking therapy

[roswellnmfashionblog]

Who: Heather Hemmes as Maria DeLuca What: IRO Zyrma Leather Mini Skirt - $144.99. And HERE. HERE for $144.95 Where: 4x03 “Subterranean Homesick Alien”

Worn with: Malami cardigan

[cunninghamh2014]

[daughterofelros]

“The Archer”|| Malex Vid

by @bisexualaliennerds​ / @daughterofelros Fandom: Roswell, New Mexico (2019) Characters: Alex Manes/ Michael Guerin Pairing: Malex Music:  The Archer- Taylor Swift Summary: Alex Manes has been the archer, and he’s been the prey.

Created for Alex Manes Appreciation 2020  Day 7: Free Day

[echo-bleu]

Chapters: 8/? Fandom: Roswell New Mexico (TV 2019) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Michael Guerin/Alex Manes, Background Maria/Rosa, Background Liz Ortecho/Max Evans, Background Isobel Evans/Noah Bracken Characters: Alex Manes, Michael Guerin, Rosa Ortecho, Liz Ortecho, Maria DeLuca, Isobel Evans, Kyle Valenti, Max Evans, Noah Bracken, Forrest Long, Kate Long, Buffy the Dog Additional Tags: Fluff and Hurt/Comfort, Malex-centric, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Noah is good, rosa didn't die, Michael left Roswell, Alex stayed, Therapy, music therapy, Jesse Manes is His Own Warning, Canon Disabled Character, With added disabilities, Autistic Michael Guerin, Autistic Character, American Sign Language, Use of AAC, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Anxiety Series: Part 1 of our hands clasped so tight Summary:

A man is sitting behind the piano, and he catches Michael's eyes immediately. He hasn't seen him in ten years, but it's one of the rare faces he'll never forget. “Alex,” Michael breathes in shock. Alex turns to him, and his eyes widen almost comically. He licks his lips several times, as if struggling with something, and opens his mouth. “Michael.” The sound barely qualifies as a whisper, and Michael reads it on his lips more than he hears it. Alex coughs and tries again. “Michael.” It's barely louder, and he winces like it hurts him. * A world where Michael left Roswell, and Alex didn't.