#rowvember 2021

[masschase]

Rowvember Day 7: Attractive

I could have done a few things with this prompt, but honestly? I wanted to talk about a section of Out of Time that's one of my absolute favourite scenes ever. It's the beginning/end sections of Chapter 14: Smashed(non-smut chapter but only the beginning and end will make sense out of context), which refers to both the slang for drunk and illusions being shattered.

I remember writing it around this time this year. It was definitely November, because it's set on Christmas Eve, and I remember that being the following month and then when it was actually Christmas I was reading it back and smiling to myself.

I never intended Matt and Casey to be super close before the events of my fic, not in the first draft. But the more I started writing these little excerpts of their life in the two years after SRIV, the closer they became as friends. I began to see the fanfic concept as way more than 'meddling with the past changing things' and way more about a deep requited love that Casey doesn't admit to herself is there and Matt doesn't know is requited.

I also didn't intend for them to have had anything definitively non-platonic happen between them except for the one off "romance" during SRIV. But this scene was pivotal for establishing that Casey switches from being almost completely clueless about her feelings to actively in denial.

To summarise the setting, the Saints have been watching Christmas movies and drinking. The final few have just gone to bed aside from Matt and Casey who are side-by-side in one of the egg chairs, and Kinzie who's passed out in one.

They have their usual banter and decide since they didn't manage to sneak away for Nyte Blayde night as planned (Christmas Eve 2021 was a Friday) they'll watch it on the projector instead of the couch. Casey decides to go back to the couch to get her Christmas pyjamas and a bag of chips she's been saving there.

She changes at the couch, but is surprised by what she finds in the wall above it, pulling the item out. At first when she returns, Matt is focused on a combination of getting Nyte Blayde to work and slightly making fun of the ridiculous outfit.

“Wait, stop trying to distract me and answer my question.” she reminded him, waving the offending item. He seemed to look properly this time. “Oh that...” he looked at her curiously. “I think it’s mistletoe. Do you um... need that one explained?” he asked, sounding amused. “Do I need the custom explained? No; Shaundi told me. Do I wanna know what it’s doing above our couch? Fuckin’ yes.” she clarified. His nonchalance to this whole thing was starting to bother her. He frowned. “Oh so it’s OUR couch now but when it needs all the crisp and popcorn crumbs cleaned out, suddenly it’s MY couch.” he said with a smirk, still evading the question. “Matt, why did you put this where we were gonna sit tonight?” she rephrased, done with his distractions. “What? I didn’t!” he protested. “...What?” He laughed. “You think I put it there?” “Well yeah... I guess I... assumed...” He shook his head at her. “Don’t you think if that were the case I’d have insisted on us watching there?” he asked, almost suggestively. He had a point. “Huh.” she replied thoughtfully, returning to sit beside him. “You know, there are free chairs now...” he said gently. “Although...” his hand brushed against the side of her thigh lightly. “You’re very soft...” She ignored him, looking down at the mistletoe in her hands. “Who d’ya think put this above our couch?” “I presume... one of the others messing about.”. He shrugged. “Does it matter?” “Uh... I guess not.” she replied, turning it over in thoughtfully, wondering for the first time how the rest of the gang might perceive their Friday nights together. “You’re sure it wasn’t you?” she asked again. There was a pause. “Why, did you want it to be me?” she heard him tease. “Shut up.” she smirked, looking over at him. His face was softened by the glow of the Christmas lights and the fireplace. His blue eyes sparkled through the haze of eggnog and mulled wine and brandy. Fuck. Her smirk fell right off her face. “Are you alright?” he asked gently, his expression turning from playful to mildly concerned. It was the booze right? It had to be the booze, and the lights, and the festive cheer or some shit. She knew objectively that her Matty was hot, or she wouldn’t have fucked him that one time. But he had no right looking all... beautiful like that. “Matty... I uh...” she heard her words slip out, disembodied. If there was an end to that sentence, she certainly didn’t know what it was. She picked up the mistletoe and held it above her head, smirking at him like it was some sort of challenge. God, what was she doing? His eyebrows raised in alarm. Then he smiled, drew closer and placed a kiss on her cheek, but he hovered there for a very long moment. Curious. Unsatisfied. “EWW!” she suddenly heard Kinzie shout, making them both jump. Her arm dropped back to her side as she peered forward for her, but it seemed she was still in her own chair. “You two let me watch Nyte Blayde? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

So yeah, this is the night Casey kind of realises she's very attracted to Matt, which turns into the wanting to fuck him again at New Years, though that actually becomes a very bittersweet kiss instead. From there they have other near misses, until the fanfic begins and kind of drags her feelings out in a few different ways.

That mistletoe and the resultant spacesuit left on the couch caused all sorts of problems on Christmas Day, believe me!

As for who planted the mistletoe... well that might just come up on a different day 🤭

[drtanner]

⚜ IT'S ROWVEMBER NEXT WEEK! ⚜

Bet you thought I forgot about this! Yeah, no. We're back again, baby!

It's been a really rough year so I want to specifically say, even though it's all right there in the whole three rules we have, that it's okay if you can't make something every day, that it's okay if you didn't magically turn into an amazing artist or writer during lockdown, and that we all need to make an especially big effort to be kind to each other.

I'm going to make an effort to participate myself this year - like many others, I was weighed down with other things last year and missed out altogether - so I hope you'll all join me again!

See you next week! ( b ._.)b

[classicsinga]

Rowvember 2021 - 3. Cap

Following her workout routine, Kate has an unpleasant encounter with a man driving a Capshaw.

[drtanner]

🎉⚜ ROWVEMBER FINISHED!!! ⚜🎉

Well done to everyone who participated, even if your participation was only in your heart. 💜

Also, if reading stuff on Tumblr is inconvenient, you can read all of my written prompts on AO3 here instead if you want! I'm proud to say that I didn't miss a single one and that I think I wrote more this month than I have in like, most of the rest of the year.

Nearly 52k words, holy shit. See you next year, folks! ( b ._.)b

[classicsinga]

Rowvember 2021 - 14. Revoke

Viola and the Boss get into an argument regarding the latter's driving.

Sort of a sequel to my previous fic, Tendency.

[classicsinga]

Rowvember 2021 - 11. Garbage

Viola reveals one of the Syndicate's secrets to the Boss.

[classicsinga]

Rowvember 2021 - 5. Grip

There's still some things that need to be evened out as the Saints tighten their grip on Steelport.

[classicsinga]

Rowvember 2021 - 30. Orchestra

A brief summary of the Brotherhood's attack on the Saints through musical analogies.

[classicsinga]

Rowvember 2021 - 29. Spontaneous

Disgruntled with Viola's schedule, Velvet joins her on one of her regular work days.

[classicsinga]

Rowvember 2021 - 28. Winter

Velvet remembers Vice King lieutenant, Tanya Winters.

[classicsinga]

Rowvember 2021 - 27. Senior

Frustrated with recent events, Shaundi gives the Boss a call to let off some steam.

[classicsinga]

Rowvember 2021 - 26. Strength

Shaundi is curious about the Boss' inhuman strength.

[classicsinga]

Rowvember 2021 - 25. Fame

A summary of how fame and wealth affected the Boss and her lieutenants.

[classicsinga]

Rowvember 2021 - 24. Proof

Kate finds herself in a mysterious little shop as she is looking for clues about the Leader of the Third Street Saints.

[classicsinga]

Rowvember 2021 - 23. Mud

Johnny and the Boss arrive at Aisha's place after dealing with someone, however, the homeowner is less than thrilled.

[classicsinga]

Rowvember 2021 - 22. Floor

Viola comes home from a long day of work.