#soon to be dad 2023 gift

[azulpitlane]

boss' daughter I ln4

pairing: lando norris x brown!daughter reader summary: lando is down bad for zak brown's daughter but shes a little hard to get notes: I know this isn't pt 3 of my other mini series BUT i thought of this idea and had to do it immediately hehe, I really like this one masterlist

y/nbrown

liked by landonorris, zbrownceo and 21,492 others

y/nbrown nyc living

view all comments

user i wanna see her at races shes so cute😭🫶

y/nbrown vegas! ill be there🤭 liked by landonorris

user help why's lando in his boss' daughter's likes

landonorris 🤩

user norizzzzz user is this him shooting his shot AHAHHA user NO LANDO SHES MINE

user IT GIRL

user landooo👀

y/bff/n pretty girl

y/nbrown love u babes

posted september 2023

y/nbrown

liked by danielricciardo, landonorris and 19,384 others

y/nbrown college student by day, dj by night😝

view all comments

y/bff/n ur so unserious babe

y/nbrown i ate, the people loved me

landonorris as a retired dj maybe you can give me some inspiration to start again

user LANDO??? user he's crushing so hard OMFFFF user zak brown reading this: 🤨🤨

zbrownceo dont have too much fun!

y/nbrown 🫣 user such a dad reply lol

user y/n brown slaying once again

user so excited to see you back in the paddock soon🫶 liked by y/nbrown

danielricciardo you're perfect for him

y/nbrown who???

posted october 2023

y/nbrown

liked by landonorris, danielricciardo and 30,341 others

y/nbrown vegas babyyy

tagged zbrownceo, danielricciardo, y/bff/n

view all comments

user gorgeous girl

danielricciardo finally reunited with my favorite brown

y/nbrown was too busy girlbossing sorry danielricciardo what a shame, there's someone who's been waiting to meet you... y/nbrown hm, i didn't meet anyone new🤷‍♀️ danielricciardo next race then user is daniel hinting that lando didn't meet his crush sjsjkskks user wait he hasn't EVEN MET HER?!?! user im guessing not, shes been pictured with other drivers but never lando

user here for landos comments

landonorris maybe you should come to a race where I'm not crashing😅

user norizz strikes again user its the fact that she never even replies and he's still trying HAHA user hes fr out here risking his seat for her just not to respond back

mclaren 🧡

user shes finally back in the paddock!!!

user im surprised she doesn't go to more gp's, her dad's literally the ceo of mclaren😭 user i think she's mentioned shes very busy with uni so her schedule usually never aligns with the races

posted november 2023

y/nbrown abu dhabi, UAE

liked by landonorris, zbrownceo and 25,482 others

y/nbrown escaping cold new york weather

view all comments

user OMG shes gonna be at the gp again this weekend!!

user landos got one more chance to shoot his shot before the season ends😭

landonorris hope to see you at the paddock!

danielricciardo thanks for letting me borrow that $10 mil bro I owe you🤝 maxverstappen1 thanks for saving my cats out of that burning building, you're a true hero🤝 alex_albon thanks for paying off my whole family's debt mate🤝 carlossainz55 thanks for gifting me that mclaren, i love it mate🤝

user ALL THE DRIVERS IN HER COMMENTS IMDEAD

user his rizz was so bad they had to step in omg. user and she still hasn't acknowledged lando AHAH user a true girlboss, I love her

user i need to know what zak brown thinks off all of this😭

user next season of dts gonna be craZy

user everybodys focused on the comments and not at the fact that these lyrics sound a little sus...

posted november 2023

landonorris posted a story

dannyyyy🤠 y/n wyaaa im in the mclaren garage rn

y/n aren't you suppose to be in umm idk YOUR OWN GARAGE?

dannyyyy🤠 yeah but I need to do something real quick so come

y/n does this have anything to do with lando?

dannyyyy🤠 maybe...

y/n im sorry but he's exactly why im not in the garage rn

dannyyyy🤠 WHAT WHY pls dont tell me I hyped him up just for you not be interested...

y/n im not NOT interested but he's my dad's driver danny this can get messy so fast and what if he doesn't approve

dannyyyy🤠 oh you americans and your dramatics hes already talked to your dad dummy

y/n wait really?

dannyyyy🤠 you really think he would PUBLICLY hit on his boss' daughter without asking first?

y/n idk never really thought about it

dannyyyy🤠 JUST COME DOWN HERE YOU MUPPET

landonorris

liked by y/nbrown, danielricciardo and 830,391 others

landonorris didn't win the race, but i won her heart

tagged y/nbrown

view all comments

user FINALLY

y/nbrown cheeseball liked by landonorris

user HE ACTUALLY GOT HER

danielricciardo youre welcome

y/nbrown you pushed me in front of him then ran away...not the best wingman danielricciardo its not like landos rizz was gonna get you together🤷‍♂️ y/nbrown true landonorris hey! I wasn't that bad... y/nbrown whatever helps you sleep at night hun!

user y/n blink twice if you need help

y/nbrown blink blink landonorris 😔

user obsessed with y/n bullying lando in the comments

user I know I love them already

zbrownceo better take good care of her lando

landonorris sir yes sir🫡

user we can no longer make norizz jokes. sigh.

notes: what did y'all think of this one? I loved making it🤸‍♀️

[ogfangirl]

DANIEL RICCIARDO BROKE THE INTERNET

authors note: this is my first piece of writing for Daniel Ricciardo and for F1. I’ve been obsessed with Danny lately and it randomly came to me late last night so bare with me 🥹 with Danny coming back this weekend it brought a lot of emotions happy ! I just want him racing so bad. This is fluffy and cute, and exactly how I imagine he’d be as a dad 🫶🏼

Pairing: Dad!Daniel Ricciardo x Wife!reader

Instagram AU & behind the scenes of the post

Summary: Daniel has been quite busy in 2023, but not behind the wheel of an F1 car.

Enjoy!

Liked by f1, landonorris, redbullracing and 1,991,562 others

danielricciardo I’ve been kept pretty busy these last three months 💙 @.yourinstagram

view all 671,345 comments

yourinstagram we love you papa 🧸💙

- liked by danielricciardo

user7 whAT?!?!? WHAT IS HAPPENING

redbullracing a future Red Bull world champ 🏆

- liked by danielricciardo and yourinstagram

dannyshoney OMG THIS IS AMAZING!

landonorris can’t wait to meet the little man

- liked by danielricciardo and yourinstagram

maxverstappen1 my nephew !

- liked by danielricciardo and yourinstagram

Daniel Ricciardo broke the internet.

Let’s recap:

Almost a year ago, you found out you were expecting your first child with your husband, Daniel. You were thrilled, and you knew you had to come up with a way to surprise him. You got a onesie with his logo on it, a card with the words "and soon there will be 3" as a reference to your growing family AND his racing number 3, as well as the three pregnancy tests you took, and you placed them into a little gift box. On a boat day out in Monaco, you handed him the gift box, but not before you took your phone out and pressed record. He was confused as to why you were recording him, but he opened the box anyway. His face was priceless. He was ecstatic. It was a dream come true.

Since this was your first pregnancy, you wanted to keep it a secret for as long as possible. You felt as though it was more special that way. His life was already so public, and yours was too as a result of being his wife. The two of you agreed to keep your pregnancy between your closest friends and family. But it didn’t take long before Daniel came home looking all guilty, and when you asked him what happened, he told you that everyone at the paddock knew he was going to be a dad. When you asked him how they knew, he sheepishly reminded you of his excitement and that you know how much he likes to talk. You forgave him, of course, because the paddock was like his second home. That was his family, too.

 You didn’t get mad or upset. You knew your husband. Daniel is known to ramble, and he just couldn’t contain himself, but who could blame him? It was an exciting chapter in his life. one that came at a rough time, when he didn’t know what his future in Formula One would look like. Obviously, McLaren wasn't working out, and he didn’t know where else he would end up. But what mattered to him most was that his baby was coming.

 It didn’t take long to find out the gender. He paid for the early test. He was too anxious to wait. The gender reveal was an intimate get-together with only a few family members and friends. As soon as the black balloon exploded and the blue confetti hit the floor, Daniel picked you up and spun you around in joy. "We’re having a boy!" He exclaimed with a huge smile on his face. His very own baby boy He already had a little boy in his life, his nephew, whom he watched grow up, and he couldn’t imagine loving someone more than he loves him. But he was excited to experience this new space of love, one he could only share with a son. He also fell even deeper in love with you after seeing you grow a life inside your body.

 Keeping your pregnancy a secret in the beginning was a breeze. At first, there were no signs of a bump; you could get away with wearing any outfit. The second trimester came around, and you had to pull out all the flowy dresses and tops. Daniel watched you in awe as you performed daily tasks, but with a growing belly. He noticed your glow becoming brighter and brighter every day. He loved parading down the paddock with you while everyone congratulated you on the baby.

Throughout the season, you traveled to as many races as possible while you could still hide the bump, but it soon became too difficult. Especially since Daniel was the star of Drive to survive, and there was always a camera in his face. He had asked the producers to try and keep you out of the footage, but it was hard considering he wouldn’t leave your side unless he was in the car. The more your belly grew, the fewer races you attended. Ultimately, with your energy levels plummeting and your bump being extremely noticeable, you decided that it was finally time to stay home. Daniel missed having you at races, and you definitely felt weird having to watch them from home after being used to the hustle and bustle for years.

 Daniel became less and less excited for race weekends as the season went on. One because, frankly, his car sucked, and two because you weren’t there with him. His favorite activity soon became taking the long haul flights back home, because he knew you’d be there waiting for him. Every time he’d arrive home, it was like his world was complete again. You’d be there waiting for him with a smile and your big ol’ growing belly. He didn’t know how to describe how intense his love and admiration for you had gotten. But he sure knew how to show it. Daniel showered you in hugs, kisses, massages, flowers, chocolate, gifts, love, but most importantly, reassurance. The pregnancy itself was fairly easy, but the part you were scared of the most was how his busy lifestyle would impact how much time he’d spend with you and the baby. So he did exactly what he knew you wanted but didn’t have the heart to ask for.

With the 2022 F1 season coming to an end, Daniel decided that it was the perfect opportunity to take time away from the sport so that he could spend time with his wife and his son, who could arrive at any time. He agreed to become a third driver for Red Bull, counting on the fact that they wouldn’t need him for a few weeks. He never gave the media much of an explanation as to why he decided to take a third driver position; all he said was that he needed time to himself. Some fans understood, and some didn’t, but it didn’t matter. He knew he had made the right decision.

 His little boy, Luca Gabriel Ricciardo, was born on January 5, 2023. The day both your lives changed, but for the better.

 You love watching him be a dad. He did it so effortlessly. He was eager to do night feeds and didn’t even mind staying up with the baby at night. He loved doing skin-to-skin, and was a pro at diaper changes. He wanted to be all hands on deck. The two of you would take long walks on the farm with Luca, and occasionally you would have picnics in the garden. That was what he cherished the most. When it was just you three. The family he built with the woman he loves

 The months flew by, and next thing he knew, the Australian Grand Prix was coming up. He couldn’t hide anymore. His life was perfect, but he knew he had to go back to work. That’s his home race, and there isn’t an Australian Grand Prix without F1’s favorite Aussie.

 Race week was the first time since Luca was born that Daniel spent time away from home. It felt weird for both you and him. In the 8 days that he was gone, there were approximately 52 FaceTime calls, 37 phone calls, and 12 pictures of Luca sent to him. He missed his son, and even though he was away, he still wanted to be a full participant in his soon-to-be 3-month-old's daily activities, which didn’t include much but eating, sleeping, and pooping, but you appreciated it.

 Word travels fast in F1, and everyone was excited for Daniel’s return. As predicted, Daniel was asked a million times what he did to keep busy during the past three months. He would chuckle to himself and keep giving vague answers like, "I was working on myself."

 But enough was enough.

 With the Australian Grand Prix behind us, on Monday afternoon he arrived at home and immediately made his way towards you and his baby boy. After planting a kiss on your lips and one on his baby’s head, he looked down at you with a smile. You looked at him, almost afraid of what his mind had come up with. "How do you feel about finally presenting Luca to the world?" He asked. It caught you off guard, but you’d be lying if you said you haven’t thought about it.

 "I think I’m ready if you are," you smiled back.

 And that was all he needed to hear. He was finally going to show the world his biggest accomplishment: his family.

 Daniel had taken a photo of you with Luca while you guys took a trip to the beach when he was about two months old. He loved the photo, and immediately knew that it was the photo he was going to use to announce his boy. Daniel had the post saved in his drafts for about two weeks. He was waiting for the perfect time, but after getting back to work, he knew that there was no better time. Everyone still had lots of questions, and he knew that the answers he gave didn’t actually give them any insight into what his days off looked like. But he could paint a perfect picture with one post. So on Monday, April 3, 2023, he introduced the world to his boy.

 It didn’t take long before his comment section became flooded with support, surprised comments and overall excitement. Both of your phones began blowing up, and you two couldn’t contain your smile. You opened Twitter and saw people were already talking about it all over your timeline. Your family and friends left cute comments on his post, and you took the time to reply and like all of their comments. It meant a lot for the both of you that you had such a strong support system behind your family. Your boy was so loved, and he didn’t even know it yet.

Following Daniel’s Instagram post, you decided to share an announcement of your own.

@.yourinstagram posted on their story

[allwaswell16]

F a v o r i t e F i c s O f 2 0 2 3

As an avid One Direction fan fic reader, 2023 has been a truly amazing year for fics! I read so many incredible fics this year, so please check out all my recs for the year here! Below you will find fics that made me cry or cry with laughter. Others brought me comfort during hard times or filled my heart with joy or had me screaming into my pillow in surprise. I share this list with you all not to say that these fics are better than others from this year, but to say thank you to these writers who have left a mark on me with their fics.

To all our fandom's writers, thank you for the gift of your stories! Sending much love to you in the new year!

⚜️ Louis / Harry ⚜️

And What If I Were You by jacaranda_bloom / @jacaranda-bloom

(E, 109k, famous/not famous) For Louis, will losing his sight give him the clarity to realise what is right in front of him? For Harry, will losing the love of his life give him the strength to finally open his heart? And can they find their way back, before they lose each other forever?

De amore ex tempore by @persephoneflouwers

(M, 101k, historical) the Middle Ages AU where Harry is a philosopher, whose thoughts happen five centuries too soon and Louis is a painter, whose art happens five centuries too late. & Or: the Time Travel AU where alternate versions of themselves live simultaneously in different realities and their paths collide every time, until somehow, they converge into one.

Gemma's Dad (Could Use A Guy Like Me) by @lululawrence

(NR, 82k, age difference) Louis wasn't planning on getting home and learning that Gemma's dad had gotten the house in the divorce and was dealing with things by focusing on work, the house, and his newly planted garden. It becomes obvious early on that Harry is a bit lost and Gemma is worried about him. To help both of them, Louis is more than happy to help Harry find himself again.

Teach me how to love by @perfectdagger

(E, 70k, one night stand) The one in which Harry is bad at sex and Louis spreads it all over town and to make up for it, decides to help him with no agenda of getting anything from it, but in the end, he ends up getting more than he bargained for.

your memory over me by @shimmeringevil

(E, 64k, exes) The worst heartbreak of Louis’ life walks right back into it when his parents invite their family friends on an all-expenses-paid trip for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Facing a past that he tried to bury long ago, Louis learns that some people have a way of sticking with you even when they’re gone

saw some things on the other side by we_are_the_same / @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed

(M, 61k, murder mystery) Unfortunately, Louis’ plan doesn’t take into account the fact that instead of writing murder mysteries, he will find himself in one.

and i would search the night sky to find you by devilinmybrain / @thedevilinmybrain

(E, 56k, omegaverse) Harry Styles is a high class, well-bred Omega attending Bosworth Academy - a prestigious boarding school looking over the small town on Kinsey. He has his whole life already planned for him, learning his place as the potential mate for an important Alpha, practicing his home making skills, and be obedient above all else.

Suddenly Last Summer by @disgruntledkittenface

(E, 44k, mystery) Suddenly he has someone who listens to him and cares about what he thinks. Someone who really sees him. But their happily ever after is forever marred by an incident at a party during Labor Day weekend, and Louis is left with a choice to make.

Train Tracks and Porcelain by @jaerie

(E, 41k, historical circus au) Shadows were forming into people and things and, there in the middle of it, Louis watched the humongous head of an elephant emerge from a box car right in front of his eyes. Or a Water For Elephants inspired AU

You're Not My Type (still I fall) by Imogenlee / @imogenleewriter

(M, 38k, omegaverse) This is just a bit of rain; it'll blow over. Then Harry will just... well, alright, he isn't entirely sure what to do when the rain stops because he'll still be stuck and lost. 

My Other Half Was You by @lululawrence

(NR, 35k, small town au) Four years, seven months, and sixteen days after the day that changed everything, Louis turns a corner and literally runs into the man who just might change it all again.

I Really Like Your Styles: The Baking Advent-ure by @homosociallyyours

(T, 35k, coffee shop) Louis isn't much for frills, and the coffee shop he co-owns with his best friend Liam is evidence of that. Yes, it's got a decent sized, well-kept industrial kitchen, but Louis insists that people come to coffee shops for coffee, not mediocre pastry and plastic wrapped cookies. 

You Ain’t Gotta Feel Fear Just Mingle by LadyLondonderry / @londonfoginacup

(T, 32, coworkers) Harry has been at his dream job for less than three months, and he knows two things for sure; first, his project manager doesn't know what he's doing, and second, someone in the office is apparently pure evil, and no one will tell Harry who it is.

Cowboy Like Me by Rearviewdreamer / @all-these-larrythings

(M, 29k, thief au) Going legit and starting over in a small town was supposed to solve all of Harry’s problems. That was until a string of robberies in wealthy towns brings him face-to-face with his rogue ex-partner and their dicey, unresolved past.

'cause I want you (for the worse and for the better) by nonsensedarling / @absoloutenonsense

(NR, 26k, omegaverse) When Louis gets invited along to Anne's wedding, Harry is prepared to let people think whatever they want about their relationship. That's what Louis said -- let people think whatever they want. 

what's left of my halo's black by LiveLaughLoveLarry / @loveislarryislove

(E, 22k, fwb) A year after a devastating breakup, Louis is still trying to put himself back together - but getting over a breakup is hard when you work as a wedding planner. Thankfully, his coworker Harry is the most supportive friend Louis could ask for.

'tis the damn season by YesIsAWorld / @louandhazaf

(E, 17k, girl direction) Harry returns to her small hometown over the holiday season and starts to think about the road not taken.

Captain Cupid by @2tiedships2

(NR, 15k, omegaverse) the one where Niall enlists his friends to help start a speed dating side hustle. Things don't go as planned... or maybe they do?

It Will Always Be You by @phdmama

(E, 15k, older Larry) If you had told Louis Tomlinson a year ago that he would be celebrating his birthday by kissing the man who is the love of his life on a Church Street park bench in Burlington VT as the snow drifted softly down, he would have told you that you were extremely imaginative. 

Eyes on the Horizon by yeah_alright / @uhoh-but-yeah-alright

(E, 12k, age difference) Freshly dumped, recently fired, and about to turn 40, Harry's friends insist on taking him skydiving to cheer him up.

You Light Up the Path by QuickedWeen / @becomeawendybird

(T, 12k, mermaid au) Louis Tomlinson left his home in Doncaster as a young man with the intent of making enough money to send it back home to his family and support them however he could. Harry, or so he likes to be called, is the myth and legend himself known as the Staithes Mermaid. 

Sex Drunk Suckerpunch by thinlines / @thinlinez

(E, 7k, sugar baby) Sugar Baby Louis did what any sugar baby should avoid doing but (clichely) end up doing anyways, that is, failing for his sugar mama.

Court Wine by @enchantedlandcoffee , red_panda28 / @red-pandaaa

(T, 7k, omegaverse) after a misunderstanding during a scrabble game, Alpha Louis starts courting Omega Harry without the latter being aware of it.

you give me feelings that i adore by @alwaysxlarrie

(T, 7k, a/b/o) 5 times Louis scents Harry's things and the 1 time Harry returns the gesture.

Truth or Drink by @kingsofeverything

(M, 6k, exes to lovers) Harry and Louis broke up years ago, and they're seeing each other again for the first time to play Truth or Drink. On camera.

Perfect, For Now by @parmahamlarrie

(T, 4k, omegaverse) Moving to a new city is always hard, being away from home, finding your new community - none of it is easy. Dealing with all of this while being touch deprived is even more difficult.

Unplant by @hellolovers13

(M, 4k, neighbors) Louis should've looked where he was going, then he wouldn't have to desperately try to save a little flower now.

nights like these by localopa / @voulezloux

(G, 3k, angst with a happy ending) you smile at me and say “it’s time to go.” but i don’t feel like going home.

sorry for... by stretchmybones / @lookwhatyoumademelou

(M, 1k, roommates) How else was Harry supposed to apologize properly? He was indeed a stress baker. 

Mistletoe Kiss by @neondiamond

(G, 1k, roommates) A little bit of mistletoe is just the thing Louis needed to let his roommate Harry know he’s got quite the crush on him.

Still by downcamethelightning / @downcamethelightnings

(G, 666 words, Halloween) FBI Agent Louis calls Harry to investigate a case believed to have taken place in Harry's own home. Harry is quite familiar with the victim's face.

⚜️ Rare Pairs ⚜️

The Light Out In The Madness (Hold Tight) by @lalalaartje

(E, 46k, Niall/Louis) When Louis ends up with Niall as a roommate after a messy break up with Harry, he considers it truly life saving. They become fast friends and while Louis is sceptical about Niall's idea to start fake dating to take revenge on Harry, it can't be that bad, can it?

neither wanting more, neither asking why (series) by @justanothershadeofblue

(E, 40k, OT5) If Louis is the origin, Zayn the expansion, Liam the complication, Niall the solution, then Harry - Harry's the completion.

Bloom by LadyAJ_13 / @ladyaj-13

(T, 28k, Louis/Liam) In early 1970s Oxford, Detective Sergeant Louis Tomlinson has to deal with the dual pressures of a case that hits too close to home, and the arrival of new colleague Liam Payne.

Jump! by @reminiscingintherain

(M, 15k, Louis/Tommy Longhurst) “I absolutely know what this means, lad,” he replied, his voice gentle and supportive. “The way you’re reacting to being out there? That’s exactly why I chose you for the support slot.” He gave a reassuring squeeze. “You deserve this, okay?” 

Cold Spring by @nouies

(E, 8k, Louis/Pedro Pascal) Louis is a coffee shop owner and Pedro is his newest customer.

Chaos by @haztobegood

(M, 100 words, Louis/OMC [bodyguard]) Against the barricade, it’s complete chaos.

[cieloclercs]

expecting — fernando alonso

genre. social media au requested. yes pairings. fernando alonso x fem!reader warnings. language, fluff, age gap

liked by lewishamilton, charles_leclerc and 1,547,065 others

tagged: fernandoalo_oficial

y/n_y/l/n baby alonso coming soon… 💗

view all comments…

lance_stroll congratulations y/n! i can’t wait to meet the little one 🤍

y/n_y/l/n he or she can’t wait to meet uncle lance either! <33

lance_stroll i’d also like to say i was actually the first person to know about nando jr… @/fernandoalo_oficial suck on that

fernandoalo_oficial Cabrón, I will push you off the track

y/n_y/l/n @/fernandoalo_oficial babe, be nice to your teammate

y/n_y/l/n @/lance_stroll ONLY because i needed someone to help me with the surprise…don’t flatter yourself, lancelot 🫶

username YES Y/N HUMBLE THESE BITCHES

chloestroll congratulations lovely! ❤️

y/n_y/l/n thank you, chlo! <3

astonmartinf1 We’ve got the contract drafted up for baby Nando 😉

y/n_y/l/n future world champ? 😏

username nando jr 2043 incoming…

fernandoalo_oficial Os quiero tanto a los dos, mis milagros / I love you both so much, my miracles 🤍

y/n_y/l/n nosotros también te queremos bebé / we love you too baby 🥹

carlossainz55 felicidades y/n ❤️

y/n_y/l/n muchas gracias carlitos 🫶

username I JUST OPENED THE APP???

username y/n and fernando having a baby was NOT on my 2023 bingo card

liked by astonmartinf1, estebanocon and 3,275,937 others

tagged: y/n_y/l/n

fernandoalo_oficial La mejor sorpresita ❤️ Mamá y papá te quieren mucho, mi ángel. No podemos esperar a conocerte x

The best little surprise ❤️ Mummy and Daddy love you so much, my angel. We can’t wait to meet you x

view all comments…

lewishamilton Congratulations, mate!

*fernandoalo_oficial liked this comment

lancestroll aren’t you a little old to be a dad?

fernandoalo_oficial @/y/n_y/l/n Sort him out please

lancestroll NO IM SORRY I WAS JOKING

lancestroll seriously, congratulations old man

y/n_y/l/n te amo infinitamente / love you endlessly 🤍

fernandoalo_oficial Muchas gracias por hacerme este bonito regalo / Thank you so much for giving me this beautiful gift 🤍

carlossainz55 estoy deseando conocer a nando! / can’t wait to meet baby nando ❤️

*fernandoalo_oficial and y/n_y/l/n liked this comment

username i am SOBBING

username omg we’re gonna get dad fernando content 🥹

requests are open! send something in if you’d like <3

[pacthesis]

our vietnamese tea ceremony

some may or may not know i just got engaged to a weird guy i met in college that (to put it lightly) i wasn’t too fond of but after like 2 years of snubbing him he somehow won my heart i guess

i scribbled a comic about it cause whenever people ask how i met him they sometimes get invested haha

some people also may have seen him on america’s got talent or cbs news or jimmy fallon or on tiktok doing his pizza man shenanigans lol

people often ask if he pulled me with his dough skills and i have to clarify i didn’t even know about the dough spinning hobby until after we started dating and he didn’t do the tv/media appearances until like 6 years into our relationship 🤣

my parents were both boat refugees from vietnam (they fled during the war when they were teenagers and met as adults) and i’m american- but we’re not really that “traditional” i guess

i think many viet people don’t get married or commit without having a tea ceremony haha

a hetero buddy asked who were my bridesmaids and when i told him i don’t have any he asked why and i just said “i like my friends” 🤣 (my childhood friends were there as guests though!)

i also didn’t want/ask pizza man’s family to bring the customary gifts cause i didn’t wanna cramp my style

basically the purpose of this event was for people to witness us getting engaged and be an opportunity for our families to meet one another!

5/23/2015 is when we started dating

for our first anniversary i got our initials and anniversary date stamped onto a penny and pizza man still carries it around 🥺

so 8 years later we got engaged on 8/5/2023

8 for august (8 years later)

5th of august (5 for the month we began dating)

year of 2023 (23 for the day we began dating)

i think people often go to a fortune teller or someone who knows what they’re doing to schedule important dates using the stars and other factors but my grandpa doesn’t believe in that and the rest of us aren’t really superstitious

we wore áo dài- it’s a vietnamese ensemble consisting of a tunic with a long front and back panel that is worn over pants

áo means “shirt/clothes” and dài means "long"

a lot of the time the bride wears red and the groom wears blue i guess but i wanted my outfit to look bridal when i imagine an american bride or a vietnamese bride!

i also wanted to wear a gold khăn đóng headpiece and to incorporate pearls to resemble what my mom wore when she got engaged to my dad

sunflowers are also my fav

(after we started dating i thought pizza man was tall and sunny like a sunflower haha 😭)

my makeshift shoebox altar- or as i like to call it: my “spirit pager” 😤

the double happiness symbol is two copies of the chinese character 喜 (xǐ) which means joy/happiness and red symbolizes luck for the couple

my mom asked if we should put up pictures of our deceased and i was like i don’t wanna make pizza man’s parents go out of their way to bring photos 😭

i think we were supposed to ask our ancestors for permission to get engaged or married or whatever but since my mom raised me to believe my life is mine to live i just announced it to em

as far as i know it’s not really a buddhist thing- ancestor worship is more of a vietnamese thing apparently

my mom said vietnam is a country with a lot of war and death in its history- so imo it makes sense how they incorporate the dead into their culture and traditions

after introducing each of our family members and friends- we lit a couple of incense to (casually) announce the news to our deceased grandparents and relatives

apparently burning incense is an invitation to ancestral spirits and to deliver wishes to predecessors

smoke from the burning incense guides people to safety or safe passing when they die- it also guides em back home on days like these

the spirit(s) depart when all of the incense has burned

next month is my grandma’s "deathiversary” (giỗ) so we’ll be paging her again soon

we used a tea set that was used to celebrate my 1st birthday to pour and serve (my pick) of vanilla caramel black tea to my grandpa and our parents

pizza man’s mom doesn’t like tea so i was happy i picked something she did enjoy!

but when my mom brought her family to america from vietnam- she asked them if they could bring a tea set specifically for me

my mom said it’s meant to be used to celebrate any of my special occasions

then me and pizza man said some nice words to each other and exchanged rings

my ring was pizza man’s grandma’s- his grandpa initially proposed with a smaller diamond but after he saved up enough he got her this bigger one

i don’t listen to any comments that suggest or imply this carbon rock is not humongous 🤣

pizza man paid to get it resized and to repair its prongs (it was well worn by grandma mercedes 🥺)

also found out my ring size is 3.25 (US) haha 😭

he also decided to get his grandpa’s ring resized and to wear it too!

my mom put this necklace on me- she says it reads “happiness” (i can’t confirm lol) but she received it from her mother-in-law when she got engaged to my dad

my mom was too scared to wear it after their tea ceremony cause it’s 24 karat gold and she didn't wanna wreck it

she said 24 karat gold hasn't been combined with other metals so it’s soft

i guess couples at viet tea ceremonies often get 24 karat jewelry- the idea is they can quickly sell it/melt it down for hard times

my mom also passed down her favorite jade bracelet and my grandma’s favorite diamond earrings to me 🥺

and on my 1st birthday my mom got a special ring made to celebrate my birth- she put it on a chain so the person i marry can wear it close to their heart

my mom also got a special ring necklace made to celebrate my sibling’s birth and gave it to their fiancée during their tea ceremony

it’s just the two of us so no more shiny token trophies up for grabs! 😤

i laughed when pizza man had to squat down so low so my mom could put the necklace on him 

after the ceremony i asked him if he wanted me to help him take it off (my sibling's fiancée keeps theirs in a safe cause she’s too scared to wear it daily) but pizza man was like "no i like it 😄" and wore it to sleep and showered with it and hasn’t taken it off since 😭🤣

at the end of the ceremony we lit the candles on the altar to represent the union of our families!

then we ate lots of food haha

my parents both cooked! egg rolls, fried rice, lo mein, bột chiên (fried taro rice cake)

my mom was excited because she knew many of our guests weren’t very familiar with vietnamese food and wanted to share that with them 🥺

and my dad was just so excited for me and pizza man and had so much fun getting the supplies and decorations 😭

my aunt and uncle and sister-in-law brought vịt quay (peking duck), heo quay (roast pork), gỏi tôm (shrimp salad), bánh hỏi (rice vermicelli), xôi gấc (sweet red sticky rice topped with coconut, peanuts and salt)

and pizza man’s mom and family brought lots of desserts

we have always been so amazed with how good their sweets taste and look! 🥺

we also got an ice cream cake

i wasn’t thinking and asked em to write “nicholas and amy lễ đính hôn” and they called me and were like wtf is this and i was like oh no it’s ok haha don’t worry about it! 😭🤣

we had some photos displayed but my sibling took lots of nice pictures of the whole thing!

i was happy i actually got the chance to spend time with and talk to everyone who came!

it went so well and we had so much fun that we’re thinking of doing something similar for our wedding- probably a backyard wedding haha

i was telling pizza man apparently some tea ceremonies have the first half take place at the bride’s home and then the later half is at the groom’s home 🤔

anyway reminder that leftover egg rolls can be reheated in the toaster

[vanfleeter]

☀︎ - Fluff ✘ - Smut ☂︎ - Angst

Tag List

18+ readers only below the cut!

Plant Dad (☀︎)

Cuddle Bug (☀︎)

Labor Pains (☀︎) (w/ Dad Jake)

Mirror, Mirror (✘)

Red (✘)

Show Me → 1 (✘) 2 (✘)

Come Back (✘☂︎)

Out of Body (☂︎)

Rules (☀︎✘)

Sweet Relief (✘)

Distant (☂︎)

Apple Pie (✘)

Brotherly Antics (w/Josh) (☀︎)

Reflection (✘)

Shackled (✘)

In Your Dreams (✘)

Fifth & Cuff (✘)

Don't Take The Girl (☂︎☀︎)

Letting Her Go (✘☂︎) -> Hello Darlin' (☂︎☀︎)

Love Languages (☀︎✘)

His Turn (☂︎✘☀︎)

Needy (☀︎)

From The Book (✘☀︎☂︎)

Epoch (☀︎)

Revenge (✘)

Ticking Time Bomb (☂︎)

Blurbs ↓

Patience Is A Virtue (☀︎)

Sick Days (☀︎)

Come and Eat (✘)

Six Weeks (☀︎)

Let It Be Me (☂︎)

The Gift of Flowers (☀︎)

Performance Sheets (✘) NEW!

Series ↓

Doesn't Stay In Vegas (☂︎✘☀︎) COMPLETE (9/9)

Dirty Little Secret (☂︎✘☀︎) COMPLETE (10/10)

Matched (☂︎✘☀︎) COMPLETE (10/10)

Matched: Must I Go Bound (☂︎✘☀︎) (0/14) (Coming Soon)

For Death or For Glory (☂︎✘☀︎) WIP (PAUSED) (2/?)

Black Smoke (☂︎✘☀︎) WIP (9/?) Updated 11.11.2024

Bound For Earth (☂︎✘☀︎) (8/?) Updated 11.3.2024

My Love (☂︎✘☀︎) P1 (8/8) COMPLETE • P2 (3/?) (PAUSED) Updated 11.29.2024

Alora (☂︎☀︎✘) (3/6) Updated 2.13.2025

Whiskey & Cherries (☀︎☂︎✘) (1/?)

→ Papai Master List (Dad!Jake) (☂︎☀︎) Updated 10.1.2024

→ Valentine's Masterlist 2024 (☀︎✘)

→ Jaketober Masterlist 2023 (☀︎✘)

→ Jaketober Masterlist 2024 (✘☂︎☀︎)

-> Frosted Tales 2024 (☀︎✘) - Updated 12.15.2024

Stuck (coming soon)

Dirty Dishes (☀︎)

Brotherly Antics (w/Jake) (☀︎)

Meditation Mishaps (Uncle Joshy) (☀︎)

Blurbs ↓

Uncle Joshy (☀︎)

Wet Dog (w/ Dad!Jake) (☀︎)

Smarty Pants (Uncle Joshy) (☀︎)

Best Kept Traditions (☀︎)

Series ↓

Bloodshed (☀︎✘☂︎) IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REWRITTEN (in collaboration with @losfacedevil)

[esilher]

Collaborative December klaine challenge 2023 between @esilher and @mynonah

"ACHOO!"

"Whoa..." Blaine stares in amazement at the beautiful stranger behind him. Okay, not really a stranger... They have been going to the same coffee shop every morning for at least 5 weeks now. Well, 38 days… not that he's counting.

He's as gorgeous as ever. "Bless you!"

"Ugh, thanks."

And his voice is mesmerizing...

"Oh my God."

"What...?"

"I'm so sorry."

"For what?"

"I... I just ruined your scarf."

"Oh! Yeah, that, um... it's okay." I can't believe he’s talking to me.

"No, it's not. How could this be okay? It's disgusting. I'm so sorry, but it came so suddenly," - Kurt tries to explain, "out of nowhere and it was the closest thing to a handkerchief."

"Don't worry about it, really." Would it be too soon to tell him that he can do whatever he wants with me? Yeah, probably.

"Give it to me. I'll wash it."

"You... you want to take my scarf?"

"Not forever, silly... But yes, of course. Here, take mine. I don't want you to catch a cold. It can be dangerous... You might sneeze into someone's scarf. Who does such a thing, huh? We wouldn't want that, would we. There you go."

"Oh." Did he really just tie his scarf on me? It smells like… cinnamon. Wow. He's not only beautiful and hot, he's funny and caring... He would take such good care of our imaginary children!

"Are you sure?" - Blaine asks.

"I'm sure, that's the minimum, really."

"Then, um... maybe... we could change numbers? Just so... you know, because of the scarf. It was a gift, and..."

"Oh, of course!"

"Great." And that's how I met your dad, kids.

"But let me make it up to you."

"I'm really not ma... what do you... how?"

"I'll buy you a coffee, okay? Please? I'd feel better."

Note for later: thank grandma for the scarf one more time! Note for now: breath!

"A grande non-fat mocha and a medium drip for this guy with the lovely scarf, and maybe I can get him to split one of those cookies."

"This is your scarf."

"I know that."

"Wait! You know my coffee order?"

"Of course I do. It took you weeks to finally ask for my number, I had plenty of time to memorize it. I'm Kurt, by the way."

"My name is Blaine."

[the---hermit]

27|11|2023

Today was a no studying day mostly for self care and adulting reasons. I had yet another dentist appointment, and hopefully everything should be fine for a while. After that I ran a bunch of errands with my dad, who also gifted me a new very warm jacket for these colder months. It looks very warm and cozy and I believe I will be using it pretty soon because the temperatures are dropping everyday. We got home at lunch time, prepared nourishing food and then my energies were out for the day. I was exhausted. I also had some other adulting tasks I took care of in the late afternoon, and I am glad I crossed them off today because they gave me anxiety, and now my mind is free from tht burden. My afternoon was uplifted by a dear friend of mine who out of the blue offered to do a tarot reading for me and it was really good. Although we have known each other for just a couple of months I feel like we have a strong and positive connection and I feel very lucky to have her in my life.

Cozy hobbit autumn activities and productivity:

Errands and adulting tasks

Read first thing in the morning

Daily Irish practice on duolingo

Continued my tma relistening

Had a calm and restful afternoon

Did a rune reading for a friend

Today's self care:

Dentist appointment

Good food (which also counts as a cozy hobbit autumn thing btw)

Took my meds

📖: The Odyssey by Homer

[digitalhello]

hello everyoneee ♥ i'm here with the person behind doors of 8a apartment, song yuri; the definition of a gifted child who's gone through the good old fashioned burnout. i have her short dossier here and her pinterest board for vibes here if you want to check it out. under read more you can find out more about her bio in form of bulletpoints!

27th of october, making her double scorpio + capricorn for my astrology loving friends, born and raised in seoul!

both of her parents are accountants and both of them are the definition of tiger parents. as far as her memory goes and as busy as her parents were with their jobs, they've also always emphasized studying, reading and learning and she was already attending cram school when she was four — to which her mother said was already too late. she didn't have barbies or bratz dolls growing up, and instead, newest book about physics or chemistry would be placed on her table as a present.

and soon enough everyone learned that she's actually quite talented when it came to numbers. the go-to for teachers if no one else understands the equations, been in math clubs throughout her school years, even won a national competition once (though it didn't matter to her mom because yuri was still always second on the students' grades list in high school lol!!), with many diplomas collecting dust in cardboard boxes back in her childhood bedroom.

her life was genuinely boring compared to her peers': while many were experiencing first loves, karaoke bars and exploring their youths, yuri was literally just... studying lol! it was a bit overwhelming but the knowledge of how many hours your parents put into your education and the guilt of "i cant let them down" every time her spirits waned kind of """"helped""" her push through. thankfully she was never made to pick up an instrument because her breakdown would've come a lot sooner... additionally while she wasn't the #1 pick of students in terms of popularity (her being taller than some of her male classmates didn't really help), she was generally liked; she'd help tutor other students and help them out! she never had that stuck up aura around her due to her grades

never really complains about anything because every time she tries to she's hit with the "i don't have time right now sweetie" so she just. bottles everything up... which is still a coping mechanism to this day whoops

it all pays off though and miss girl gets a ticket to a dept of astrophysics at snu :) her parents couldn't be prouder and obviously it's thanks to their care and dedication that yuri is given this special once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and really they made so many sacrifices in the past years... they put in their blood, sweat and tears into her... someone pat them on the back quickly!!!

(never mind the fact yuri doesn't actually remember when was the last time she ate a homemade meal of her mother's... or father's)

to stop yapping about her past tl;dr: the continuous flow of expectations and pressure makes yuri crumble in her second year of studies. she tries to push through, but with the amount of classes she's skipping on purpose... she eventually... drops out >_< and is promptly... cut off. because how dare she repay her parents like this after everything!!! hasn't spoken to her mom in years though her dad does reach out to check if she's alive from time to time

she couch surfs for about six months while working part time jobs until a close friend tells her about gyeogang's apts and helps her out with rent when she moves in in late 2022.

has been working as a florist at a local flowershop since 2023 and the job is, in spite of its actual nature that can be hectic and sometimes clocking in over 12 hrs a day, quite calming to her!!! after everything she enjoys having her hands occupied like that and seeing what her hands actually make when it comes to bouquets.

personality wise yuri is quite timid, sometimes too much for her own good. she tries to avoid conflicts and arguments, empathetic to others' opinions and feelings, on the introverted side. will help out however she can. quite warm when you befriend her, the type of friend for life & the type of friend you can reach out to after years of no contact without that feelings of awkwardness lingering in air. holds petty grudges however and will also completely ignore you if you asked her re: her uni situation...

some other tidbits: — has a six month old orange tabby named minnie. she thought it's a girl for longest time so the name just stuck.... and yes she's a victim to orange cat shenanigans — her apt is filled with cat safe plants!!! ask her abt recommendations or cuttings and she's your gal — has a deep fear of tinder — cycles wherever she can!!! she has a little green bike with one of those baskets on the front — got all of her piercings on a whim — has a faceless youtube vlog she hasn't posted on in like nine months — says how she needs to cook more but always forgets to buy eggs so she lives off of delivery — the type to leave anonymous noise complains notes on community board instead of directly confronting lol...

i prefer brainstorming for plotting, or taking up other people's wanted plots as my brain is pea sized when it comes to offering ideas on the spot so i will be sliding into dms instead!!!

[bitbybitwrites]

WIP ASK ME GAME

I was tagged by @wordsofhoneydew and @itsmaybitheway. Thank you so much for thinking of me! Sorry for the delay - it took me longer than usual to think of descriptions of all the WIP I've got in the works 😂

So here are some Klaine and RWRB fics I'm working on that anyone can feel free to ask me about if you'd like:)

A long WIP list can be found under the break!

***P.S. I'll keep updating this as I keep cranking out WIP/ finishing fics. 😉

**LIST UPDATED - 1/31/25

Partially published WIP:

(Klaine) If I Can Make Your Heart My Home - (Klaine Reverse Bang 2023) Life in New York City and working in the restaurant industry wasn’t exactly what Kurt Hummel had expected it would be. He’s lonely, stressed out and miserable. He’s almost ready to throw in the towel and return home to Ohio when a chance meeting with a musician in Central Park changes everything. (Warning: an angsty rollercoaster of a ride. Soooo many cameos from Glee characters! 😉)

(RWRB) Puppy Love - (RWRB NYE gift exchange 2023) The cold snowy day that Henry Fox discovers an abandoned beagle puppy in an alley brings handsome, flirty veterinarian, Alex Claremont-Diaz into his life. Alex is a single dad, recently moved to NY with his young son who Henry hasn't met yet - or so Alex thought. (Fluffy kid!fic)

(Klaine) Sanctuary - (Klaine Word Scramble 2023) Crown Prince Blaine has stumbled into a secluded glade, trying to escape the horrors of the bloody war his father had brought upon their kingdom. Mourning his beloved older brother and faced with the burden of taking his place in the kingdom, Blaine yearns for a place to hid from the world to deal with the issues weighing on his heavy heart. He encounters a mysterious elf, the guardian of the magical spring that Blaine has mistakenly defiled, whose growing connection to his life the young prince can't ignore. (Inspired by an idea/ artwork by @datshitrandom and @justgleekout)

(Klaine) missed connecitons - (Klaine Secret Santa 2024)

It is 1893. Vogue Magazine is in its second year of publication.

One of its most popular writers, Kurt Hummel, is both worshipped and feared by his readers - his ability to cut down or to uplift those yearning for social acceptance and acknowledgment rivals the influence that even those of the illustrious Four Hundred had.

When Kurt is assigned a new illustrator for his column, he is not pleased. In fact, he despises Blaine Anderson on sight. How could he not, after how their previous first encounter had ended . . .

Not published yet WIP :

(these are in various states of readiness: some outlined, some partially written, some still in the brainstorming/research phase)

(RWRB) I approach, and I withdraw (tentative title) - Historical fic - Alejandro Diaz was still a boy when he followed his father into the thick of the fight for Mexico's independence. A series of unfortunate events, however, led him and his family to flee his home and to adopt new identities for their own safety. Years later, after he finds himself well ensconced in his new life as an attaché to the office of the new American ambassador to England, Alexander Claremont soon finds his past catching up to him. (Inspired by these historical paintings by @stormtrooperjeff17004 as well as artwork from @artofobsession seen here and here.)

(RWRB) Shaken, Not Stirred (Spy!AU) - CIA Officer Alex Claremont Diaz is not new to working on joint operations with other foreign agencies. He does it often and he does it well, which is why his superior, Zahra Bankston, never hesitates to assign them to him. What he wasn't expecting that morning was to be put on a new assignment with his least favorite MI6 operative, Henry Fox - and that they had to use being a newly married couple as their cover to get the job done. (Inspired by this drawing by @noodles-and-tea )

(Klaine) Cuffed (a D/s and soulmate story and prequel to my first ever fic, Trick or Treat) - - Musician Blaine Anderson has always been lonely sub, yearning for a place to belong and someone to belong to. Kurt Hummel is the an overworked and high in demand designer - a Dom with no time to sit and relax and focus on what his needs are. When an old friend hires Kurt to revamp his new club, Kurt's life becomes intertwined with Blaine's in a way neither of them could ignore.

(Klaine) Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie (Day 2 /Bikini - Klaine Advent 2023/ PWP) - A casual little fashion critique while the boys are on a well needed vacation, leads to a little outdoor fun. (Set in my Trick or Treat AU)

(RWRB) how ardently i admire and love you (online auction!AU) - Alex is desperate to find the perfect birthday gift for Henry, and eventually finds himself in an online bidding war for the one unique item that he knows his boyfriend would just adore.

(Klaine) I Know You Wanna Take Me Home (tentative title) (Klaine Valentines Challenge 2024/Pretty Woman!AU) Well established business man, Kurt Hummel never thought he could find anyone of substance among the escorts at Dalton House. But after being convinced to visit the upscale club by his friend, Kurt's mind is quickly changed once he sets his eyes on a beautiful boy in a gilded cage who was up for auction that night.

(Klaine) Untitled Klaine fic (Klaine Advent 2022) - Set in my Klaine superhero AU - Under The Cover of Darkness) Blaine decides to go home with Kurt for the holidays and doesn't make the best first impression with Kurt's parents.

(Klaine) Untitled Klaine fic (Feudal Japan!AU) - based off of novel The Tokaido Road - On a personal mission to avenge the murder of his father, Kurt travels the Tokaido , braving its dangers and interesting characters on the way. As the son of a nobleman, Kurt travels in disguise, unaware that the person who sanctioned his father's murderer has also sent Blaine, a talented and deadly ronin, to find and kill Kurt as well.

(RWRB)- the phantom touch of your hand (tentative title) - (Fantasy/cursed tattoo fic!AU) Two young swordsmen are determined to vanquish a sorcerer who has laid a tragic curse on them both. The problem is, the curse keeps them from being together at the same time, doomed to travel alone, one by day, the other by night - the only reminder of the other being the cursed tattoo burned into their skin.

(Klaine) - Untitled Klaine fic (While You were Sleeping!AU) - Kurt Hummel always wanted to live in NYC - his dreams were to be on Broadway. Being on the Broadway stage that is. Not working on the corner of Broadway and 44th in one of those coffee/food carts parked out on the street. Things for him change the day that Cooper Anderson, Kurt's gorgeous repeat customer whom he secretly fantasizes about, nearly gets hit by a bus. After following him to the hospital, Kurt gets mistaken for being his crush's fiancee which should have been his dream come true - until he meets Cooper's sweet down to earth brother, Blaine.

(Sebklaine) Let you put your hands on me (College threesome AU) - heavily influenced by "one of those movies" - wink, wink . . - Kurt's frustrated ( in more ways than one) and his good friends and new roomates, Blaine and Sebastian, find a way to help him out.

(Klaine/RWRB) - Untitled fic (Scheherazade/ 1001 Arabian Nights !AU) - A lone traveler gets captured by a band of sex slavers in the desert. After being subjected to the horrors of slavery, the young man gets rescued by a desert prince in disguise, chosen to be his sole consort. Every evening, the consort tells his prince a story for him amusement. - planning a series of probably shorts all in the same style. Maybe it'll be a collection to do with other writers? Not sure yet. Might alternate with either Henry/Alex being the Prince and Consort and Blaine/Kurt being the characters in the bedtime tales or vice versa. Or maybe create 2 OC to be the Prince/Consort and have the other four boys be the characters in the shorter stories. I'm assuming it would be alot of mature/explicit shorts - but wouldn't mind a mix of other ratings in between as well.

(RWRB) burn baby burn (magical/fantasy AU) - Based off of this Tumblr prompt - When royalty calls, Alex knows, as a swordsman for hire, that the payout is going to be lucrative. So all he has to do is face a dragon and save a princesss from it and he should be rolling in gold for the next few months. Right? Alex finds out quickly that there is no princess to save. . .but there is a dragon. A dragon named Henry.

(Klaine) Baby Won't You Light My Fire (magical/ fantasy AU) - Based off of this Tumblr prompt- Blaine had assumed his latest quest would be an easy, run-of-the-mill job. Seemed like it was going to be an easy protection detail for the son of a blacksmith. What Blaine soon realizes is that this job was NOT what it said on the tin.

(Klaine) Blood, Sweat and Tears (a mythical/magical/supernatural beings AU ) ( Klainetober 2024) - Blaine Anderson finds out after stumbling into upperclassman Kurt Hummel during a NYADA Halloween party that there is a whole other magical world of beings existing along side everyone else.

(Klaine) It Came Upon A Midnight Clear ( a Nutcracker/ Historical AU) - Inspired by a gorgeous Klaine Secret Santa 2024 gift I recieved from @kurtwarbler. You can see the artwork here. - It is Christmas. Kurt Hummel is still mourning the death of his father when he receives an unexpected gift: a nutcracker passed down from his mother that will lead him on the most amazing adventure.

Tagging ( only if they want to play): @myheartalivewrites, @clottedcreamfudge, @hkvoyage, @kirakiwiwrites, @gleefulpoppet,

@gleefuldarrencrissfan, @onthewaytosomewhere, @sarkyblueeyes, @madas-ahatters-world @rougedraconteur,

@yadivagirl @lilinas, @forabeatofadrum, @kiwiana-writes, @spaceorphan18,

@special-bc-ur-part-of-it, @fallevs @daisyishedwig @annepi-blog @wowbright

@backslashdelta @kurtsascot @coffeegleek @14carrotghoul @rockitmans

@teilo @iboatedhere, @orchidscript @welcometololaland

. . oh hell and anyone else who sees this and wants to share their WIP - go for it!

[sophie-hatter-jenkins]

Gift

Written for @hinnymicrofic December 2023 - Prompt 22

Ginny’s eyes were wide as saucers as the Potter family took their seats. “This is amazing!”

Harry didn’t bother trying to hide his grin. “We saw the hall when we came to look around, Gin.”

“I know. But look at what they’ve done with it! It’s like Christmas exploded in here!”

Even accounting for Ginny’s obsession with Christmas decorations, Harry had to admit she had a point. The teachers at St Grogery’s in Little Whinging hadn’t put in half as much effort when it came to decorating the school for the festive season. The tree in the back corner stretched almost to the ceiling, and was covered with decorations made by the children. The ceiling was swagged with criss-crossing paper chains that Harry was sure his wife would fully appreciate, and the walls were covered with bright pictures showing Christmas traditions from around the world, created by each class. Harry made a mental note to hunt down and admire James’s picture amongst the reception class creations before he left.

Ginny, however, was staring at the front of the hall. “How have they made the stars appear on that curtain? Without magic, I mean,” she asked.

Harry let his gaze fall on the temporary stage constructed in front of them. It was edged around the front with black velvet, and there was a matching backcloth hanging from the wall behind, punctuated with little pinpricks of light to look like a starry night sky.

“Electricity, Gin. It’s just lots of tiny little lightbulbs, poking through the fabric,” he explained.

“Really? Take a picture! Dad will love it!”

Harry rolled his eyes, but did as she asked, raising the camera to take a picture of the empty stage, taking care not to disturb his infant daughter, asleep in the baby carrier strapped to his chest.

Albus, seated on Ginny’s lap, seemed just as taken with the school hall as Ginny, wriggling around and pointing as different things caught his eye. Then, the reception class filed onto the stage, and he was mesmerised. Harry searched the line of small children for his elder son, pointing him out to Albus and Ginny as soon as he spotted him.

James stood to the side of the stage, wearing his Wise Man costume (expertly constructed by Nanna Molly), cardboard crown sitting crooked on his wild hair, dark eyes wide and searching the crowd. As soon as he saw his parents and brother, his face split into a huge grin. 

The nativity was predictably adorable - though with twenty-seven four and five year olds in homemade costumes, none of them standing in the right place, half of them forgetting their lines, and most of them stopping to wave at their parents, how could it be anything else?

James aced his line, shouting it at full volume (“I BRING THE GIFT OF GOLD TO HONOUR THE NEWBORN KING!”), Ginny cried, Harry took about a billion photos, Albus demanded snacks roughly every thirty seconds, and Lily slept through the whole thing.

That evening, when the kids were finally all in bed asleep, Ginny handed Harry a glass of red wine and flopped down on the sofa beside him. She was uncharacteristically quiet. With the experience of several years of marriage, Harry waited silently for her to marshall her thoughts.

“I’ve been worrying about putting James into Muggle school for months, you know,” she said eventually. “Questioning whether it really was the right thing to do.” 

Harry’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “I didn’t realise. You should have said something.” 

“No,” she sighed. “There wasn’t any point. Realistically, we didn’t have much choice, given neither of us wanted to stop working. I just… didn’t have any frame of reference for what it would be like. I don’t know anyone else who’s done it. Mum was so shocked, Bill and Percy’s kids are learning at home. I just felt so guilty.” She took a sip of wine, then turned to look at him, brown eyes dancing with flames reflected from the fireplace. “But after today, I don’t. Not any more. It was so wonderful. I… I wish I’d had the chance to do that.” 

“The play?” he asked.

“Yes - but all the rest of it too. Being with the other kids. Learning together. Playing with their friends. They just all looked so happy.”

“I dunno, Gin. I’ve always thought your childhood sounded pretty perfect.”

“In a lot of ways, it probably was. We didn’t have a lot, but I know how lucky we were. It’s just that it… it could be lonely. Me, Ron and the twins were this little unit, but I was the youngest and the only girl, and I got left out a lot. Then, when the boys got older and started leaving for Hogwarts, it was just me and Mum.” 

Harry took a sip of his wine. “I would have loved having what you had.”

Ginny turned to face him, looking earnest. “That had nothing to do with how you were educated though, it was because your Aunt and Uncle are evil child abusers! It’s going to be so different for our kids, to what either of us had.” She turned to face him, and something about her expression reminded him of a fierce mama bear protecting her cubs. “They’re going to get the best of both worlds. Love and magic at home. Play and friends and learning at school. And the fact that we get to choose this for them makes everything we went through for this to be our future seem more worth it than ever.” 

Harry nodded. “Sounds pretty idyllic, now you come to mention it.”

“Yeah, it really does, doesn’t it?” She snuggled back against him, cradling her wine glass, as he put his arm around her. “I’m sorry it took me a while to realise it.”

He dropped a kiss onto the top of her head. “They’re lucky kids.”

They were quiet for a moment, until Ginny looked at him with a grin. “I think so. But tell that to James next time he’s complaining about the school dinners!”

[trulybetty]

2023 Tumblr Top 10 Posts

This was really interesting to go through as I really try to avoid anything related to stats - but also fun to revisit some posts/fics I’d forgotten about!

This year was such a transformative year in many different ways, that I’m still trying to process with 2024 quickly approaching. I’m looking forward to seeing what the New Year brings. But I hope it brings me more of the same I’ve experienced here - community building and some wonderful people that I get to call friends 💕

So if you’re interested, check out the following! If you do your own Top 10, please tag me in it! 🙌 you can do your own here!

1. 879 notes - Jun 26 2023 - Pre-Outbreak/Non-Outbreak Joel (photo set)

2. 413 notes - Sep 10 2023 - Sequins (Joel)

Still so thankful for @wildemaven posting that gif - because if she hadn’t Sequins!Joel would never have been created! It’s the gift that keeps on giving. This was also my first foray into anything non-TLOU themed for Joel and I’m still shocked it was received so well. 

3. 306 notes - Sep 26 2023 - Happy Birthday (Joel)

Written for Joel’s birthday - this was just straight up smut and birthday sex. But hey, it’s canon Joel likes it gentle, steady, nice and slow… so who was I to not give him nice and slow 🫠

4. 237 notes - Aug 16 2023 - Stood Up (Frankie)

To this day I don’t remember where this idea came from. I was really intimidated to write for Frankie, like I almost didn’t post this! But I’m so glad I did, it’s spurred several other one-shots involving Frankie x Mav and a current (neglected) WIP that I’m excited to get back to in the new year.

5. 227 notes - Aug 31 2023 - Marcus Pike coded Pedro, which inspired this (and number 7).

6. 225 notes - Jul 6 2023 - New (to me) Whiskey promo shoot (photo set)

7. 205 notes - Sep 2 2023 - Sick Day (Marcus)

When I first came back to fanfiction I was so confused by the reader insert format. The last time I wrote fanfic, it was canon characters or OC’s - which is what both Gold Rush and Chiffon (my first) are written in. So in order to try out the format I started with Marcus and what is now the Sweet Jane series. I have plans for those two, I have how they met mapped out in my head, that I hope to explore soon!

8. 175 notes - Aug 4 2023 - Strings (Joel)

This was another nerve wracking foray - reader insert Joel and because it was a challenge to write Joel with someone other than my OC. It started as a one-shot, that then was three parts, then four and finally finished at five. It’s also the only series I’ve managed to complete 😆. I’m so proud of this one, it has a special place in my heart - this is the ending Joel deserves, living on a little farmhouse being taken care of and a reluctant chicken dad.

9. 167 notes - Aug 14 2023 - A Sunday Night Ramble (text post)

This was a late night epiphany - where I realised that I was trying to force writing and make my two OG series’ fit into more palatable moulds for others consumption rather than writing the story I wanted. It’s also a good reminder that it’s okay to take a break from something that isn’t currently serving you. If you come back to it two day later, two weeks later or never - it’s okay. You’re not beholden to anyone. This is all supposed to be fun first and foremost, if you’re not having fun then it may be time to step back and re-evaluate.

10. 166 notes - Aug 24 2023 - Drip (Joel)

I still get sad when I think about this piece. Like real sad. I don’t know if I could write something like this again now - or ever. I was well and truly in my feels with this one. I made the decision to watch a walkthrough of all the cut scenes of TLOU2 and it broke me. I knew what was coming, but knowing and watching were two different things. I do like that I left this one open to interpretation - meaning I can revisit one day if I want, so who knows.

NPT’s: @wildemaven, @gnpwdrnwhiskey, @rhoorl, @morallyinept, @frenchiereading, @maggiemayhemnj, @magpiepills, @goodwithcheese, @secretelephanttattoo, @sin-djarin, @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin, @undercoverpena, @nerdieforpedro, @linzels-blog, @for-a-longlongtime, @avastrasposts​, @musings-of-a-rose, @mysterious-moonstruck-musings​ & anyone else who wants to play - consider this me tagging you in! Please tag me if you do it! I’d love to see! 🙌

[et-cant-phone-home-no-signal]

The Last of Us HBO - Episode 1 thoughts

Warning: Pure yapping ahead, just my thoughts and things I've noticed whilst watching, it's not serious and I don't invite arguments (fellow yappers however are more than welcome)

(these make sense in the way that i wrote this as i watched so it's all chronological, this is my bday gift to all of you lol. spoilers under the cut)

Love the opening, gives a lot of the context you'd get from the opening credits of the game in a way that's easy to follow and understand for a new audience (using my mum as an example, she knows nothing about this show other than me telling her it's a zombie show - her only experience with that is the walking dead vaguely so her expectations were mid, but even she told me it's easy to understand and actually makes more sense irl compared to TWD)

The whole pandemic stuff really just hits different after COVID doesn't it

The whole climate change thing mentioned is so real, and I know this is written for modern times by modern writers, but for them to set that idea up in a 60s show is very eye-opening

The silence + stillness of the host and audience, the camera angles chosen, it's so good and unsettling in a very inconspicuous way, bravo

I wonder why they chose to change it from 2013 to 2003. Don't get me wrong I'm okay with it, and it's fun to relate to seeing a bunch of familiar things from my own childhood (lack of smartphones, older decor, easy clothing style etc), but it's a decade difference and I wonder why? Is it to make it more relatable for us that the majority of the show is set in 2023? Are we meant to connect to that more, as we've just had our own pandemic and this is a more intense fallout that we could have had if the nature of COVID had been slightly different? Maybe I'm overthinking it

The details in Sarah's room 👌 the posters, the box TV (such nostalgia), the pictures of her and friends, of her and Joel, ribbons and trophies from winning soccer tournaments, the hung up doodle paper, fairy lights, soft pink walls, it's so comfy and lived in, girly but completely her own space :') reminds me a bit of my childhood bedroom tbh, messy but comfortably so

I love that she knows her dad won't wake up so she knocks and calls because yeah, that's what you do when your dad is a deep sleeper

The contrast with Joel's room immediately after, the details there too - the old boombox cd player, fan up and running, messy dresser with slightly open drawers, the most Texas art on the walls (come on, music, deer and a tacos and beer poster?), blue walls, a hamper filled to the brim, a fucking treadmill?? Joel, your plant on the bedside table is long deceased I'm begging you to chuck it and release it from its misery 💀

(Something my mum noted, was that Sarah is wearing her natural curly hair, which mum said "it's rare to see that, in 2003 at least", to which I replied "maybe not in America?" because fr we are European and there's many cultural differences between the USA and other countries. Mum noticed it and she grew up in the Netherlands as a 60s kid. Me personally, I didn't think too much on it because it didn't click that might be odd to see someone wear natural hair, but I also admit I grew up in small villages and towns in more rural areas of Scotland and the Netherlands, so I didn't see much diversity in people growing up until like high school, but I consumed an insane amount of media such as Doctor Who and that's always been a very diverse show. Anyway, just a little thing that was noticed, I love Sarah's hair)

The domesticity :') Joel forgetting the pancake mix (good thing too), going straight for coffee, Sarah insisting on orange juice, his utter disgust at drinking it

"Gonna have to wear diapers soon." "Who says I don't already?" 💀

IS THAT DIDO PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND??? ULTIMATE WIN (I fucking love Dido, the song playing is White Flag)

"Shell." "Calcium." *pushes egg through teeth* "Lovely." stop it oh my god

Family banter, I'm eating this shit up so bad y'all, uncle Tommy <3

The Jakarta detail 👌👌

Pedro with a Texan accent is mwah

I like the detail of Sarah's name being on her bag, I had the same as a kid but my mum would sew it into the top of my bag instead, sometimes on the outside sometimes on the inside. I feel like that's not a safe thing to do anymore but it was so normal when I was a kid

Wish I could write an essay on Joel's drawer but instead I'll just say I love that Sarah is comfortable enough at home to just, go into her dad's room and grab stuff from his dresser, and know Joel won't be mad about it :) healthy home relationship

I wonder if the knife has any crazy significance? I don't remember seeing that knife ever again, unless it's just foreshadowing to Ellie's knife

I swear, them constantly avoiding baked goods is so genius (no pancakes, no cake, no biscuits, they don't eat the cookies later, it's small and clever)

Joel throwing Sarah under the bus like that to the neighbours had both me and mum cackling

Joel "no smoking in the truck" Miller

The desert storm detail is an interesting addition to Tommy's character, and at this stage, it's open whether this is about Joel or Tommy since we don't know who's truck it is (just because Tommy is driving doesn't mean it's his, after all, Joel has a garage)

The details in the school are fun, but idk if that's a normal American school thing to have pictures of the presidents and founding father up or not, I honestly will assume it is since there's also a big ass USA flag in the corner

THE PAPERMATE INKJOY PEN!!! I USED TO HAVE THOSE!!! Damn the small details are so fucking popping

This part is wonderful - where the fuck did they source that many different and fun clocks from and where can I get them?

"20." "That's it?" "Okay, 30." "20's good."

The build up is fantastic, it works for fans and for newcomers alike - all these things like the police all day and other things previously mentioned, the lady ushering her out as quickly as possible, all the people that were outside eating and enjoying the food stands are suddenly gone and the street is silent

The whole Jesus spiel, good lord, feels very Texas in the 2000s (and still tbh, let's be real)

Sarah's face when Mrs Adler says "raisin" is SUCH a fat mood my god this kid is funny

Nanna no 💀 (that fucking grandma is FREAKY as FUCK, outstanding detail)

Mercy knows. Animals always know.

Thank god Joel forgot the cake

Pedros funny little facial expression absolutely kill me, adds such dimension to Joel as a father

Super satisfying to hear the game dialogue ngl, especially that funny little bit with the watch

It's so interesting to see Joel has always struggled with his emotions and verbalising them - the small "thank you", not looking at her, rather looking down at the watch itself, fiddling with it - he's trying but he's never been good with feelings

Joel SNATCHING that dvd like, damn son, it's not going anywhere 😭😂 it's cute to see him so excited about it though, Sarah knows what he likes, even if she's not interested in it at all

The instant sofa snuggle :')

"Don't fall asleep." "Of course I won't, it's too riveting." *Cuts to Sarah fast asleep*

The phone 💀 I remember us having a phone like that, whole ass protection sleeve and all

This extra detail of Joel having to bail Tommy out just adds so much more depth to the dynamic and I'm here for it, also explains why the fuck Joel wasn't in the house at 2am (that always bothered me a bit about the game)

Joel loves his daughter so much,,,, the gentle way he puts her in bed, shoes and all, covering her up with her blanket, little kiss on the head,,,,, I'm already in pain for what's to come

Mercy my sweet baby <3 what a good dog, so scared :(

The show really captured that out of sync feeling when something like this happens - nothing crazy yet, just utter confusion and mild panic creeping in because this isn't normal but nothing seems to be happening yet

Mercy said "peace ✌️ I'm out"

This girl is braver than me, I wouldn't have walked through the door - but that being said I haven't had close neighbours like this in years so maybe it's just that they're very close and she feels comfortable doing so

Oh that's fucked UP dude, Sarah downright walking into cannibal town that's so disturbing (fantastic acting and special effects all around)

The cordyceps special effects are so fucking visceral and disgusting, that out of the mouth?? Grim!! Love how they did this

Love the amount of game dialogue and referencing we get in this particular part - "You take 71-" "71, I know.", the whole car conversation, "That's Jimmy's place" (I know in the game Jimmy is the neighbour and it's Louis'farm that's on fire but the reference stands), most of the camera work being fixed on Sarah or from Sarah's perspective in the back, "They got a kid Joel." "So do we, keep driving. Somebody else'll come along.", just a fucking well done scene tbh

This whole part in the car from Sarah's POV absolutely invokes the same anxiety I felt when playing this bit of the game, totally made me feel like I'm in the truck with them and it's scary (scary good)

I was so thrown off by the fact that they avoided the car crash that I wasn't expecting the alternative that they chose instead 💀 like shit??? A whole ass plane??? Love that they did the eerie music to black thing though that was great

Nico honestly just stole my whole heart as Sarah she got all the fucking expressions down, the panic, the way she talks, the pained sounds, love it 10/10 casting imo

The instant reaction time on Joel and getting Sarah out of the way of that car was NUTS like, I rewatched that part multiple times just to see how quickly he switched them around goddamn

Pedro and Nico are a fantastic father daughter duo 👌

Joel pushing Sarah's head under his chin more so she doesn't look 🥺

The infected actors are fucking amazing, terrifying dedication to the role

Oh no I'm about to cry so hard guys

Sarah 😭😭😭 her whimpers make me so fucking upset this scene is so fucking sad

On a genuine note, Nico did an outstanding job of channeling the desperation from the game, and so did Pedro and Gabriel - Tommy's choked up "Joel" and look of utter defeat and grief is absolutely heartbreaking

Joel holding his dead daughter in his arms, rocking her like a baby, crying out for her to please please be okay...... Yeah

The set for the front of the Boston QZ 🙌

It's so telling that the first thing we see FEDRA do is lie to a child and kill her when they promised she was gonna be okay. They promised they were gonna feed her and get her toys, and that the medicine would help her. They told her that she was safe. And they killed her.

Having Joel be the one to throw her into the fire, holding her the same way he held Sarah, was such poignant choice - how a man can change over 20 years

The Boston details - the set itself, the extras, the shoelaces for ration cards, the covering up of the firefly logo, the sheer amount of FEDRA guards everywhere

Ah yes, the return of public hangings, my favourite 🫠

Interesting to see Joel "smuggler and dealer" Miller, something we didn't get much of in the game tbh

Tess <3

Robert is so slimy eugh

I love that we get to see more of Tess outside of her and Joel, it builds more of a picture of who she is besides just Joel's smuggle partner - also love the amazing bruise makeup they did for her, looks super real and painful

The fireflies actively causing mayhem in the QZ is also a great added detail! We see it a bit in game but I enjoy the constant references to it as well

Bella as Ellie is god tier damn they're so good - snarky as FUCK

Joel just, skipping the fucking line without giving a shit, no one stopping him

"When I'm sleeping, Gabriela listens, or my son. The smart one, not the other one, god bless him." 💀😂😭

I love that Joel has a secret stash in his apartment

Ah yes, drugs and alcohol, the remedy to all

The watch 😭

Liking the music and camera usage in this scene, makes me feel like I'm high myself

Tess just coming in, scooting Joel over in bed and being the big spoon 🙌 the tender way in which she slides her arm over his waist and he grabs her hand in his 😭

The jarring cut to it being day and him lying down alone, pheww

The way Joel is instantly awake and ready to fucking go when he sees Tess' face 🫠

Enjoy how we get Tess saying how absolutely terrified Robert is of Joel, that he needs to take a breath and go slow, but reassures him she still wants to fuck him up - Tess is handling Joel like an spooked animal, gently and with care

Marlene's casting is fantastic 👌 - JUST CLOCKED THAT THE REASON WHY I FELT THAT IMMEDIATELY IS BECAUSE MERLE VOICED MARLENE IN GAME, NO WONDER I INSTANTLY FELT SHE WAS RIGHT!! I recognised her voice without clocking it

I enjoy the changes made to Marlene from the game, she feels more real here, more brutal, this is a rebellion leader who is aware shit isn't going well, it's refreshing - we're seeing more of the inner workings of the firefly situation in Boston

I think it's cute that they still have shitty bars and stuff, humans desire connection and community so much they'll make the best out of whatever they got

"You tell me to 'look for the light' and I'll break your jaw." SLAY LOL

This insight into Ellie's treatment and her relationship with Marlene is really interesting - it's more context which I always enjoy

"You my fucking mom or something?" "Do I look like your mom?" "Nooo, you do not." 😂

First Riley mention, time to feel sad!

With more thought, the "he's here" is probably about Robert! Didn't think much on that before

Detail notice - love how hair and makeup department did Tess and Joel's graying hairs, it looks really good and natural. I read some comments ages ago that Joel's hair is too silver in some spots, but I raise to you my mum in defence, who went grey quite early (she started in her late 30s) and has beautiful silver highlights naturally between the darker hairs. If my mum ever finds out I've posted that online, she'll probably kill me, but then she shouldn't have genetically given me her terrible eyesight 😌 consider it retaliation

The wall body is so grotesque and beautiful, it reminds me a bit of Annihilation (if you haven't seen that movie, I recommend! Fantastic music and visual effects)

*Joel rambles about the building structure* "This has been 'Construction Corner' with Joel Miller." got me creasing lmao they're so snarky and funny

Man I wonder wtf happened, like, did Robert try to scam them so bad they had a shootout?? Crazy

"So this is who Robert screwed us over with? The Che Guevara of Boston?" tells me everything I need to know about Marlene

The shootout stance oooooohhsggsg

Kim and her missing ear 💀

I like the way they get the Ellie job in the show, it works really well

"Really? That fast?" crying lmao

There's clearly more history between Tommy, Marlene and Joel and I know it's because Tommy was a firefly but man what I wouldn't give for a series on the 20 years between this and 2003!!! I'd play a whole game of that!!! I wanna know what happened, in detail!!

Something that bothers me: they're soaked, their shoes are squelching, yet the floor is bone dry after they walk in 😭

I love how smart and inquisitive Ellie is, all the small things she notices and picks up on

Love the same dialogue but different way of delivering it from the game, refreshing as fuck

Ellie's a sassy little shit ain't she (I love her)

I find it constantly funny that cars and shit are still used after 20 years because y'all, gasoline has a shelf life of like 3-6 months and diesel about a year if they're stored correctly with stabilisers, so, why are vehicles used so much?? Where are they getting their gasoline from?? Yes I am aware you can make bio-gas out of plants but it's a complicated process and do you really think FEDRA is out here with greenhouses for gasoline? No me neither

Tess is actually so fucking lovely in regards to Ellie, like, mom mode detected - also love how it's Tess that takes the lead

I can feel my own back protesting at seeing them squat walk, yikes

Ellie gripping Tess' hand for support 😭💕

Joel's flashback due to the light - him beating that guy to fucking death because he's already lost one daughter to a soldier before, and he may not even like Ellie yet but he'll be damned if he lets another little girl die at the barrel of a gun like that

Ellie's face, like she wants to be scared of Joel but shit, that guy just killed a FEDRA soldier to protect her and you can see the admiration in her eyes, but the fear is there too

The radio at the end - we know Bill and Frank aren't alright but at this stage we don't know what exactly that means

The final shot of the iconic towers at the end, an infected screaming on the roof - fucking poetry

If you made it to the end, thanks for reading!! It's literally just my running thought process whilst watching!! Do you agree with some of my notes, was there anything you noticed that i didn't? Comments and reblogs welcome <3

Episode 2 thoughts:

Episode 3 thoughts:

[neptunemooon]

RUBY'S BODY MODIFICATIONS

Tattoos

Tattoo No. 1 — Four Card Suits

Placement: as shown in the photo — right forearm

Her first ever tattoo!!! She got this on the 21st, and it was a birthday gift from her brothers! The idea of getting siblings tattoos had been something they had always wanted, and as soon she turned 21, she and her brothers went to Las Vegas, where they spent time in the casinos. The idea of the tattoo came when they were playing.

Also, her parents were there when they went to get tattoos, and her dad took a video of all his kids getting tattooed for memories.

Tattoo No. 2 — Rock and Roll Hand and Heart

Placement: as shown in the photo — left wrist

Her second tattoo, she got a year after her 21st when she took her dad with her to see perform The Rolling Stones in London.

After getting their tattoos done, she and her father went back to a pub called Half Moon where she got inspiration for her 4th mini album.

Tattoo No. 3 — Traveling Airplane Heart

Placement: as shown in the photo — left wrist [below the tattoo that she shares with her father]

Her third tattoo that she shares with her Mother and got 5 months after getting her second one.

This tattoo represents to her that even though they both travel a lot, they're always there for each other no matter what, and they're only just one plane ride away.

Tattoo No. 3 — Paw Print Inside Heart

Placement: as shown in the photo — right ankle

She got this tattoo after a week of rescuing Hatchi from a dog shelter. She had gone to volunteer at a dog shelter in New Orleans, and as soon as she made eye contact with Hatchi, she felt this connection. They bonded immediately with each other, and she felt like she had found someone in her life that she didn't know was missing.

Piercings

Belly Button: She got her belly button piercing in 2023 after losing a bet against one of her dancers. She kept it hidden from her fans for six months until she went live on Instagram and was wearing a crop top. She stood up to grab something, and her top raised, and fans saw the piercing. When she sat down, she started reading the comments and realized what happened. She apologized to fans and was scared of their reaction. Thankfully, her fans were calm about it, and the rest of her Instagram live went as scheduled.

[im-a-king-baby]

I am re-reading ELYN now, so I will ask for some insights soon with a fresh memory 😊

But for now, maybe I can send you a flower ?

🌺

Hi!! I hope you enjoyed reading it again!

Here is an epistolary section that never made it into the fic (I had a few spares, just in case 😄):

PopIdolLive shares TEN Fun Facts about Simme to celebrate the And The Next World Tour announcement!!!

Simme is Swedish and Venezuelan. His dad was Swedish but moved to Venezuela where he met Simme’s Mom and they had two kids before moving back to Sweden when Simme was ~3. Simme has credited his Mom’s insistence that they spoke Spanish at home as how he managed to keep the language!

His first ever single Como Este had a mix of Spanish and English lyrics and that blend has continued across three albums, but fans are still waiting for Simme to record a song in Swedish. Simme has blamed this on a lack of Swedish songwriters in L.A. (sad, but true!)

During Simme’s first tour (the Chaos tour!) his crew had an in-joke called ‘Stop! Hammer time!’ where they had to stop at any hardware store they passed on the road and buy a hammer. When the tour split into two buses it became a competition to find the most interesting novelty hammer and they started signing them and giving them to fans at stage door when the buses ran out of hammer space! (eventually this stopped when the label lawyers found out and got scared about liability)

Also on the Chaos Tour, since they didn't have a set tour schedule the merch t-shirts were left blank on the back and the crew would write on wherever they played each day making each one a collectors item (The rarest is the single one for 'Jimmy's House' which has never been sold, but signed shirts from 'LaGuardia Airport Lounge' and 'A Starbucks in Leeds' have hit five figures at auction!)

Simme wore a silver bracelet throughout the Honesty tour which he hasn’t confirmed was a gift from the Voice 2024 runner-up Alfonso Perez but it did appear shortly after they were seated together at multiple events and a photo leaked of them having an intimate kiss in a limo driving away from the AMAs.

Speaking of romantic entanglements, Simme attended a prestigious Swedish boarding school where he dated the Crown Prince of Sweden for nearly three years! They looked adorable together, but broke up after graduation so that the Prince could go into the army and Simme could move to L.A to pursue music.

It has been Noted by the fans that Simme gets less dressed on each album (a jacket on Simme, an unbuttoned shirt on HH, shirtless on ATN.) There is a running fan theory that album 4 which the fans have dubbed ‘the CENSORED album’ will feature Simme fully naked (with the title covering up enough to keep it decent!) staring at the camera.

And if the idea of fans naming albums feels unlikely, we have precedent! In an interview during the Honesty, Honestly press tour the interviewer commented that Simme was released in December 2023, and HH was dropping just over a year later in January 2025, Simme grinned and said: ‘And the next March 26!’. The fans latched onto this, referring to album 3 as And The Next so consistently that it ended up being the name chosen for the album! (which actually came out in June 2026, so only a few months late!)

On the bridge of Relentless Simme names twenty five cities, all of which were visited during the Chaos Tour. When this song is performed live, Simme always includes the name of the city he's performing in on the list (except for Portland, when he got mixed up and said Atlanta instead! Oops!)

Simme returned to his home country of Sweden towards the end of the Chaos Tour, but was unable to play there when he was touring Honesty, Honestly due to scheduling conflicts with Stockholm venues (boo!). The current ATN tour schedule doesn't have Sweden dates listed but there's plenty of time for more countries to be announced so watch this space!!!

[miracleonice87]

onward.

a kyle dubas fic

- - -

a/n: first and foremost, best of luck to kyle and his irl, non-fictional family! the leafs made the wrongggg decision imo, BUT.. come to pittsburgh, kd!!! anyways, turns out I write for kyle dubas now, apparently. this idea popped into my head after the news broke, and I went from “ope I started a kyle fic” to “ope I finished a kyle fic” reallll quick! fully fictional feminine reader insert format, based on the real events of the last week. obviously didn’t want to use the names or ages (adjusted after the preview I posted) of kyle’s actual kids with a reader insert, so those are also fictional! 

word count: ~2,500

warnings: sad kyle dubas, brendan shanahan slander (deserved), angst with a hint of fluff and a hopeful (though I wouldn’t say happy) ending, mention of pregnancy / children, alcohol, references to anxiety and coping mechanisms

- - -

Friday, May 19, 2023 - Dubas House - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Your heart sunk to your stomach as you heard the garage door open and then close, sending your household into a familiar frenzy. Your husband texted you 99.9% of the time when he was heading home from the rink, mostly to notify you that he’d soon be there for “backup,” as he sometimes even jokingly put into writing. Today you’d received no such text. 

Your six-year-old golden retriever Duke, named for the Marlies mascot, of course, and gifted to you by Kyle upon your engagement, let out a couple of excited barks before running to the inside door to the garage to greet his lifelong companion, whimpering all the while; his trusty sidekick, nine-month-old husky pup Blue, rescued from the Toronto Humane Society and named for your son’s favorite cartoon character as well as the team color that adorned nearly every inch of your home, followed his lead, their tails wagging as they awaited the arrival of their favorite parent; and, the most excited of all, four-year-old Hunter zoomed around the corner exclaiming “daddy’s home!” while eighteen-month-old Harper toddled behind him as fast as her chubby little legs would allow, squealing and clapping while babbling “dada, dada, dada!” again and again.

You wished you could share in their excitement as you normally would, but your own anticipation had a much different tone today. As you heard the car door close, you scooped Harper up in your arms and brushed back her soft, dark hair, just like her dad’s, and began to bounce her in place in the middle of the kitchen, waiting for Kyle to appear in the doorway. 

Seconds later, he did. From his energy alone, you sensed that the meeting with Brendan at the Ford Performance Centre in Etobicoke had not gone the way you’d both hoped. Your intuition was confirmed when, in the midst of nuzzling the dogs’ heads and bending down to press a kiss to Hunter’s, Kyle’s eyes met yours and he gave a quick, subtle shake of his head. Tears sprung to your eyes and you pressed your free hand flat to your chest, rubbing back and forth in an attempt to keep yourself calm. 

Meanwhile, Hunter was regaling Kyle with the details of his mini sticks practice earlier, with you in goal while Harper had been down for her nap. 

“And I made thirty-four shots on net, Daddy! Thirty-four! That’s Auston’s number!” Hunter exclaimed. 

Your mouth went dry at the reference, your gaze falling to your feet as you tried to just keep breathing. 

Kyle did his best to appear unfazed in front of his adoring son. “Sure is! That is awesome, Bubba,” he lauded, smiling as he offered his fist for Hunter to bump. Your favorite thing about your husband – whatever was going on in his work world paled in importance when compared to what happened at home with you and his children (and his dog children). He wasted no time in closing the gap between himself and you, and you delivered the eager, antsy toddler in your arms to her dad’s waiting hands. 

“Hi, baby girl,” he cooed at her before pressing a kiss to her forehead, just as he did each day upon arriving home. 

With your arms now free, you rested your hands on your hips and turned to look out the kitchen window at the idyllic, suburban Toronto view you’d enjoyed for the last five years.

Until now. 

Now, it would all change. 

Behind you, Kyle pressed three last quick kisses to Harper’s temple before putting her down on the tile floor next to her big brother. 

“Hunt man, can you take your sister to play mini sticks in the living room, please? Mama and I will be in in just a couple minutes,” Kyle said, his tone impressively even. 

Hunter immediately obliged, running back down the hall before stopping on a dime and dropping to the hardwood floor with arms outstretched, as if sliding into home plate, calling out to and encouraging his wobbly sister to follow him, as she always did even without being told. 

Meanwhile, you braced yourself, literally and figuratively, against the kitchen counter, still gazing out the window at nothing in particular. 

Just admiring the view while you still had it. 

As your kids’ happy-go-lucky voices faded into background noise, you heard Kyle approach you slowly from behind, felt his hands settle on your hips. He pressed a kiss to the crown of your head and breathed in your familiar scent, grounding both you and himself, before he did anything else. 

“Okay, sweetheart, listen,” he began calmly, coming cheek-to-cheek with you as he sighed deeply, looking out the window himself. “Before I explain everything, I need you to take some deep breaths, alright? Because if you’re stressed out, that means baby’s stressed out, and that is the last thing we need right now.” 

You nodded once, then followed his instructions, letting your head rest back against his shoulder, his hands moving forward to tenderly cradle your ever-rounding, seven-months-pregnant belly. 

In, two, three, four. 

You had discussed this. You had prepared for this.

Hold, two, three, four.

You had always known this was a possibility. 

Out, two, three, four.

Kyle had other options. Plenty of them. 

Hold, two, three, four.

He was also lucky enough that he could take some time off if he really wanted to.

In, two, three, four. 

But you knew he didn’t really want to. 

Hold, two, three, four.

Hell, you didn’t really want him to, either.

Out, two, three, four.

He was built to manage a professional sports team. Not to be a stay-at-home dad. 

Hold, two, three, four.

No matter how helpful having an extra pair of hands at home might be.

In, two, three, four.

Especially with baby number three on the way.

Hold, two, three, four.

Oh, god… it was really going to end like this… 

Out, two, three, four.

…with your third child on the way.

Hold, two, three, four.

Holy shit. You had never imagined it would end like this.

While you certainly didn’t feel as relaxed as you typically did after your breathing exercises, your husband seemed satisfied enough that you had obliged him, praising you with a soft, “good girl.” You turned in his embrace, your hands resting on his chest. 

“Honey… what the hell happened?” you asked quietly. 

It was Kyle’s turn to tip his head back and sigh. Once upright again, he turned away, pulled out a barstool from the nearby kitchen island and patted the cushion. 

“Come ‘ere, sit,” he said, firm but gentle. Once again, you obeyed, and he headed toward the fridge as he loosened his tie and tossed it onto the counter. 

Though you’d never speak it aloud, between the breathing exercises and the instructions to take a seat, you realized that Kyle was fully trying to “general manage” you in this situation, whether he recognized it or not. You felt lightheaded at the irony of that. 

In one swift motion, you watched him pull his phone from his jacket pocket, glance at the screen, power it off, and place it next to his tie, all while muttering unintelligible words of frustration, before swinging open the refrigerator door.

Another heavy sigh left his lips before he began to explain. “They didn’t like the counteroffer, which honestly is not super surprising to me,” Kyle said, grabbing a beer for himself and the water pitcher for you, unscrewing and refilling your Stanley cup (huh… also painfully ironic) on the island before placing it in front of you. He leaned forward against the island, opposite you, and took a long pull of his bottled Labatt before continuing. “What was surprising to me, though, is that when Brendan and I met, he informed me they now want to go in a completely different direction.” 

You couldn’t help but scoff, looking out the back door at the picturesque sunset, rubbing your forehead. Your worst fear, confirmed. It was Kyle’s close friend and mentor himself who had not only delivered the news but, seemingly, played a major role in the final decision. You closed your eyes, shaking your head repeatedly. 

How had things gone so horribly wrong so quickly?

“Oh, babe,” was all you could muster when you finally opened your eyes and faced him again, and your voice shook around even just those two syllables as tears blurred your vision. Kyle held out his hand, palm upturned, and you placed yours on top, allowing him to envelop it. 

“I know,” he said quietly. Because he did. He did know. He knew everything you’d normally say in this moment if it weren’t for the utter shock of this unlikely situation, compounded by the innumerable hormones coursing through your body this late in your pregnancy. He knew you’d rage about what an injustice this was after the decade Kyle had – no, all of you had – dedicated to this organization; about how disappointed and disgusted you were with Brendan, an emotion that felt so foreign to you to harbor about someone you had once held so dear, that simply the thought of it made you nauseous; about how you couldn’t even begin to imagine leaving Toronto but that you’d follow Kyle anywhere because he was your life, your everything. He knew it all, even though you couldn’t say any of it. In place of words, you finally allowed the tears to fall in the safety of this private, hidden moment with Kyle alone. 

“I know,” he repeated in a whisper as you began to cry harder, not letting go of your hand as he rushed around the corner of the island and came to stand directly in front of you. “I know, sweetheart. I know.”

Kyle gathered you in his arms, cradling you against his chest, his cheek resting atop your head as you clung to the cotton of his crisp white dress shirt. You allowed the compounding, swirling tsunami of emotions to finally crash over and have their way with you, with Kyle repeating a gentle “shh, shh, shh” every few moments, not in an attempt to quiet you, but simply to comfort you, to remind you he was there with you.

Even after your sobs had slowed, neither of you moved nor spoke for what felt like an eternity. The only sounds remaining emanated from Hunter and Harper squawking and giggling together down the hall, which was a desperately needed reminder of the only two things – or three, to count the one yet to make their arrival – that mattered more to you than the man in whose arms you were currently enfolded. 

“What are you gonna do, babe?” you finally whispered. 

Kyle pressed a firm kiss to the top of your head. “I’ll tell you exactly what I’m gonna do,” he said, conviction and resolve returning to his voice as he massaged his hands up and down your aching back. “I’m gonna coach my beautiful son’s t-ball team full-time this summer, and probably take it just as seriously as I took my last job,” he began. “And I’m gonna go watch my beautiful little girl’s spring dance recital this Sunday, and we’re all gonna go out for ice cream afterward. And I’m gonna plant that vegetable garden you’ve been asking for for about a hundred years,” he promised, looking down to ensure he could watch your reaction to that. You closed your eyes contentedly and breathed a laugh, still tucked safely against his chest. “And I’m gonna be here every day to read books to our kids, and walk the dogs with them, and swim with them, and ride bikes with them.” You hummed appreciatively at the sweet, serene thought. “And, most importantly… I’m gonna spoil the hell out of my very beautiful, very pregnant wife, and make her tea every morning, and run her a bubble bath every night, and take her on a relaxing vacation, and make sure she has everything she needs before our beautiful new baby gets here in a couple months. And then… we’ll roll from here. Together. Just like we always have.” 

You sniffled, picking your head up to meet Kyle’s eyes. 

“How does that sound?” he asked, tucking some of your hair behind your ear before resting his thumb against your jaw. 

You nodded. “Sounds surprisingly good,” you replied with another sniffle. “But first… I think we should go cuddle up on the couch with each other and watch our beautiful kids play together in our living room.” 

Kyle offered a small smile, bending down to kiss you softly. He grabbed his beer in one hand, your hand in the other, and helped you off the stool. Before heading down the hallway, he halted. 

“I have no idea how I’m gonna tell Hunt,” he said, the determination in his voice from mere moments ago having given way to defeat. You realized that this pendulum would continue to swing for the foreseeable future. “He’s gonna be so crushed,” he added, heartbroken. You could tell that that specific thought hadn’t crossed his mind until now. 

You leaned in, pressing your chest to his, at least as much as your basketball-sized belly would allow, and snaked your hand beneath his jacket to smooth it along his back. 

“He will be,” you conceded, unable to provide any sugar-coated comfort for that fact. “But you don’t have to tell him yet, not if you’re not ready to. We can keep the TV off, we won’t play the car radio, he already can’t get to any sports news on the iPad. You just take the time you need, think about what you wanna say, and if it helps, we can tell him together,” you said reassuringly. 

Kyle looked down at you with equal awe and gratitude etched all over his face. 

“God, I love you. What would I ever do without you?” he asked rhetorically, smoothing the pad of his thumb over your cheekbone. 

“I don’t know what I’d do without you either,” you echoed. “All I know is I’m glad you’re on my team, Kyle Dubas.” 

That earned a sincere smile from Kyle, and he tipped your face up to kiss you again. Then… 

“Daddy? Can you come in here? I wanna show you my between-the-legs shot!” 

You couldn’t help but chuckle against Kyle’s lips. He broke away from your kiss, smiling, and grasped your hand once more. 

“Yeah, we’re comin’, Bubba.” 

- - -

Four Days Later… Tuesday, May 23, 2023

- - -

@/fakeleafsfanaccount: Kyle Dubas changing his Twitter bio has made me so sad but so proud at the same time :'))) :'(((

❤️ liked by @/kyledubas and @/youraccount on Twitter