#stealing als idea hehe :3

[asexualbookbird]

CURRENTLY READING: FEBRUARY 2025

In the Ravenous Dark by AM Strickland

I remember following the hype and release of this one on twitter! And then the library never got it and it was never a priority and then I found it online for four dollars and now I am reading it :D Big fan of demons and blood and magic and pansexuality so I have hopes for this one.

[bvckbiter]

I know people like to talk about Al's funky gender stuff so what are your hcs on that?

First of all i love love love any idea that has al be into some sort of genderfuckery. like, no one would name their kid alabaster but an edgy #NotLikeOtherDemis anti-authority teen figuring out their identity would name themselves that 😅

that being said i personally hc al as a trans man. there’s something so pleasing to me about sorcery being a (typically) female-associated craft but al deciding he’s going to do it his way, for his own ends. (addtl context that might help here, i hc that hecate children’s rite of passage is constructing their own magic system if they want to properly channel their own specialties/brands of magic; like maybe potions are a fixed system due to preexisting properties in ingredients blah blah blah but incantations aren’t. lamia’s specialty was curses, al’s is combat spells, and lou ellen’s is transformation hehe)

some more hcs for trans al below the cut:

His dad was a bit (a lot) of an occultist, but in the typical white man “ooh look im so great and intelligent for tampering with forces beyond my control” fashion… so naturally he had some pretty narrow-minded views about women’s roles and behaviors. Al was v much a child who wasnt expected to speak unless spoken to. (Al will never understand what the hell Hecate saw in his dad).

He started growing out his hair on the Princess Andromeda and got comments for it “i thought you wanted to pass better” and he’s initially bummed because he wants!! A manbun!! Theyre very manly!! And eventually he does get to grow it into the manly manbun of his dreams, only it’s 2 years later and everyone he wouldve wanted to see it is dead <3

Uses 13-in-1 mountain spring scented wash type of shit

big big fan of sweaters, but hates the cable-knit type of shit bc its itchy and shows his figure. give him some baggy clothes pls he does not wish to be perceived. also his combat boots are crazy heavy he likes the stompy stomps and how durable they are

he said nothing to claymore about it but claymore is very perceptive and figures it out quickly enough after hecate sends them off together. and claymore just never brings it up until al lets smth about needing certain hygienic products slip, but even then doesnt bat an eyelash and carries on with the conversation as he normally would, and al literally feels relief flood his body

((Pre-op al, if thats not obvious enough. Double sports tanks/bras are the way to go.)

He literally does not care if he doesnt have a certain appendage dangling down there he will manspread the fuck out of anywhere he sits. (A lot of it is due to the fact that he just has terrible posture when sitting down so he just sliiiides in his seat until his legs are all over the place)

ethan was trans too and al was crazy jealous of ethan’s arms… howd he get them so SWOLE

luke was his first supporter ok he would steal shit from the camp store and fight anyone who tried to pick on al… al was diehard loyal for a reason

i have more but these are all i can rlly recall for now HAHAHAHAHA

[antiquepearlss]

Yesss omg historical au’s have my heart in a death grip <3

Eugene and Lance, obviously, would be bootleggers. I can see the Baron being similar to Al Capone and Eugene and Lance escaped his gang and now bootleg and steal on their own.

Quirin is a struggling farmer (farmers struggled a LOT after the Great War. The Great Depression started early for them) which could help contribute to his and Varian’s tense relationship. Varian is still an alchemist who wishes to go to school and study it, but alas he’s stuck at home due to a lack of funds and needing to help around the farm. The 1920’s were a time when science was beginning to be taken more seriously over religion (think Scopes Monkey Trial) so Varian would thrive in this era. He’s always trying to prove their merits of alchemy.

Speaking of The Great War, depending on how realistic you wanna make this, you could totally say Cap fought in wwi and Cass worked in factories to support the war effort.

Rapunzel after escaping the tower, totally embraces the flapper lifestyle. She’s peak flapper okay. Short hair, short dresses, dating, equal rights, I think the only thing she would be against is smoking because she thinks it smells bad. She is very independent, rebellious, seeks justice, and carefree. And she totally would love jazz.

(You could also make Cass a flapper because feminism, but keep in mind flappers were the epitome of rebellion and Cass is lawful good so I think she could go either way.)

Also Lance would embrace the Harlem Renaissance jazz scene. I don’t know how much you want to combine real history with this but New Orleans Lance is so fitting. This man is best friends with Cab Calloway.

Also Cass totally has a crush on Marlene Dietrich and Anna May Wong. Perhaps Monty owns a diner, and Xavier owns a factory. Varian loves cars and radio. (Hehe his favorite station has some weird host named Alastor)

Thanks for tagging me lol I live for this stuff. Can’t wait to see what you make and feel free to hmu for more ideas or help!

(Also- New Dream is so Great Gatsby coded. Gatsby- Eugene, Daisy- Rapunzel, Nick- Varian or Lance, Jordan- Cass Tom- Andrew /hj)

guys help me out I think I’m about to write a 20’s au for tts, what role does everyone have in society? Like, bootlegger, flapper, diner waitress, stuff like that

@antiquepearlss because it seems like something you might have opinions on

[quinttyz]

Jinx/Tempest Withers backstory

A grandmaster fallen from grace turned into the Savior Watcher of the Dyrwood

(aka me rambling here so I don’t annoy anyone else JAHSJABA also notes bc my memory is wHACK)

- used to be the grandmaster of a crime org she inherited from her grandma (Robin Hood type but they enact revenge on cruel nobles on behalf of slaves, indentured servants etc.) the job was hard/easy at the same time bc she’s part of the House of Withers,,a prominent noble line in the Aedyr Empire so she easily got the dirt and info on scummy fellow aristocrats

some things she said:

“HA! You want to know how we determine some noble is an asshole? That’s easy. If they have a servant whose specific role is to just pour a goblet of wine for them…well, it’s as clear as day.”

“The higher members of the Aedyr Empire think that the Little Waves is just a conduit to act out a peasant’s petty revenge fantasies and if that’s how they see it then I have no arguments there. Somebody needs to make them suffer, even just a slight inconvenience that would ruin their day is a victory. And that somebody? I’d pay to be that somebody.”

“That lord was so sure of himself. Such sickening confidence he bears! A laughable display of hubris. Little did he know that a set of loose lips from an angry chimney boy is all that it took to begin his downfall. Somebody got humiliated, somebody got a fit of laughter, and us? Well. We got paid.”

- The Little Waves mainly get their income by stealing and selling secrets that could ruin lives if outed in public. You can also commission them to start bad rumors and humiliating gossip about a particular noble you don’t like >:3c

- her right hand man is her most trusted ally and her first love. But she didn’t know he already has eyes for somebody else. When the authorities got hold of him they made him choose: the life of his beloved or preserving the existence of little waves. He regretfully became the spearhead that started the tragic ending of the organization.

- he knew Tempest’s feelings for him and manipulated her into spending a night with him. Dude drugged the wine she was drinking and stole a bullet with an engraving of an emblem that signified the House of Withers involvement with Little Waves. Tempest woke up to her agents alerting her to get out of their base- guards are storming the area and most members are captured already or worse- dead.

- long story short, she fled the Aedyr Empire as the remainder of her comrades were put to the stake and burned. The only things she bought with her are her signature pistol and ammunition. She also brought with her the last 2 bullets that had the engraving of House Withers- and she’s not keen on putting it to use soon.

- she became a drifter from town to town, escaping the wrath of the aristocrats. One night she came across a small hovel of a village overrun by bandits. She wasn’t intending on helping the survivors at all but got roped into it by a young man named Alec. He begged her to help his father stuck in the tavern they owned which was now the base of the bandits.

(I wanna draw the comic idea I have for how she saved the village!!!!! Saving this thought hehe)

- long story short, the village was liberated thanks to the efforts of Tempest and other villagers! Alec developed a crush on her but the memory of her beloved right hand man trading her life for his true love is still sitting very heavy in her mind. She tells Alec he’s better off forgetting that she even passed through this village but he insists that she at least stays for 3 days as a thank you from all of them. And in those 3 days,,,man he helped her forget the tragedies chasing her even if only for a short while.

- Tempest teaches Alec how to aim with a pistol! He teaches her how to run a tavern and make sure the ale stays good. They learned a few things about each other and for a while Tempest is comforted by his presence. On her last night on the village it was storming as all HELLS!!

“I don’t think you should leave here tonight. That storm will not do you any favors at all if you’re planning to just walk.”

She chuckles, “You do know there’s a reason why I’m named Tempest right? I’ll be fine. I’ve already overstayed my welcome here-“

Alec cuts her off, bowing his head, “I am aware. But I just wish it would rain harder. If only for you to stay just one more night with us…with me.”

- She stares at him, speechless. She knew Alec harbors some feelings for her but he never really said it out loud. After a moment of silence, Alec can hear her laughing softly. He looks at her and couldn’t help but smile. She was laughing at him but he didn’t care at all. All it did was make him adore her more.

- She gives him one of her bullets with the Withers engraving.

“Here…take this. I’m trying to escape something. I’ve been running away all this time and yet I can’t seem to throw this one thing away. I do want to have the past stop hounding me but I at least want to give this to a caretaker. This bullet signifies so many things to me both good and bad and I want it gone from my life but at the same time, I can’t…I can’t just let it go. It would be a disservice to the people who died just to give me enough time to escape. And I want you to have it. Just so there’s at least one other person other than me that will remember them by when I ultimately die. It’s the least I can do.”

- she tells Alec the story of the Little Waves and bids him farewell with an innocent kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you for taking care of me Alec. I will not forget this. And if the situation comes where you’re all out of ammunition and that bullet is the only thing left in your arsenal…do not hesitate to use it and shoot your enemy dead.”

- and without a word, she quietly leaves the village. A day or two passes and she rests in a tavern in a town that was close to Alec’s home. The patrons got jumpscared when a scared town crier busted through the doors and delivered news that made Tempest drop her drink-

“I bring terrible news! The nearest village to us got stormed by mercenaries from the Aedyr empire! They were asking about a fugitive running away from justice and it seems this fugitive befriended the locals there. They were keen on keeping their identity a secret. And so the mercenaries killed people to intimidate others to open up. And so they did!”

Tempest jumps from her seat and runs towards the town crier, grabbing his shoulders, “The people who were massacred. Was a man named Alec one of them?!”

He answers, “I don’t know…but there were stories of a young man with a pistol fighting off some of the men. He was crazy. He only had one bullet with him but still decided to go off in a blaze…”

Her eyes widened and she froze. A patron stood up and stared at her, “You…I’m guessing you’re the fugitive right?”

She turns to face him, murder in her eyes, “Yes. Yes I am. Got any problem with that?”

- long story short the tavern went into a frenzy trying to capture Tempest in exchange for the bounty but she eluded them, albeit killing some of the people in order to escape. She runs into the forest, eyes blazing with angry tears and stops at a clearing.

Jinx. You are such a jinx to everybody you know and love. You always mess things up. People die because of you. You are a curse. A hex. A jinx. And that’s all you are and will ever be. All the efforts you made are for naught. They are just dusts in the void. Pathetic. A jinx.

Tempest wanted to kill herself right then and there with her last bullet but stops herself. Alec is dead. Who’s going to remember the Little Waves now? The lives of her people that sacrificed so much?

She gets her dagger out. The moonlight is reflecting on its blade. She begins to chop her hair off, long brown locks falling to the ground. All that remained of her hair was an uneven mess. But for the first time in a life, she smiles. A sneering grin. A wide smile full of malice. The beginning of her guarded personality crumbling down, exposing her true trigger-happy self.

“If I am a curse then so be it. I am Jinx.”

Tempest Withers died in that clearing that night. And Jinx was born, walking off. She pockets the last bullet with the Withers emblem though. She’s saving that for a special occassion.

And so POE1 begins >: DD

[willowistic22]

Soon You’ll Get Better (Redfinch)

It was four months ago when his world burned into flaming embers. But after some time, he’s starting to heal from all the pain. And so, his mind starts screaming the same question in a million different ways which all hurt him like knife cuts from different angles : How could he? 

Words : 3682

Part : - 

Warnings : Death, grief, hospitals 

A/N : Abt damn time I post a fanfic huh?? hehe i set a 2 fanfic a month goal for myself to keep the momentum going, so that would kinda explain it. Anyways here a fanfic. Inspired by a post I made a while ago the post is long gone idk where tf it is anymore now and there are elements of Taylor Swift’s ‘Soon You’ll Get Better’ but it’s not a songfic bcs in the fic the song is used as a song Albert wrote. Just read the fic and you’ll get it! Enjoy!!!

@fifty-for-the-racer since you were really passionate abt this idea, this one’s for you <3 

Walking through the hallway of his college dorm, backpack on his shoulder while clutching a few books he brought to class close to his chest. It’s full of other college students minding their own business. But they’re loud and fast, while Albert is slow and quiet. His mind is the one going at a fast pace. 

The weight and hollow feeling he has grown used to since four months ago doesn’t feel the same way as before. It doesn’t hurt as much. And somehow it felt wrong that he is moving on. He couldn’t move on. How could he?

His brain gets louder and louder with all these new thoughts that he’s been developing lately. As if the loud noises of fast paced college students isn’t enough to make him suffer. Albert lets out a deep sigh as the sight of his own dorm slowly comes to view. He can get some peace of mind for the time being since his roommate still has a class at this hour.

Albert slowly opens the wooden door but stops in the middle of his tracks upon his new discovery.

“I didn’t— I wasn’t— Race let me in before he left for class!” A boy, that obviously doesn’t belong here, sits on Albert’s bed with a few of his messy clothes on his lap. The boy stands up to approach him while frantically moving the clothes away from him, “I didn’t mean to snoop around your stuff, I swear! Your clothes were just- they were a mess and I thought I could fold it—“

“Woah, calm down there, Finch” Albert cut him off, closing the door behind him before he takes a few steps closer to the worried looking blond boy, “You know I trust you with my stuff”

He lets out a deep breath upon hearing those words, “I know, but… I never asked for permission”

Finch’s eyes meet Albert’s, blue and hazel orbs locked in a soft gaze. He sighs out, “I’m sorry”

Albert simply chuckles through his small smile, dropping his bag onto his desk along with the black snapback he’s been wearing all day which reveals his bright red hair in a messy floof, “No need to be sorry. Besides, I really need to start cleaning up”

Finch chuckles at that, dropping his guarded shoulders down. Wordlessly, Albert starts picking up his clothes. Separating them to two big piles on the bed, one dirty pile and another clean one for him to fold and put back to his closet. Finch hesitated on approaching to help. But after the redhead flashes him a warm smile over his shoulder, Finch gladly skips next to him to help.

For the most part, they don’t talk. Finch isn’t sure if he should, not that he’d know what to talk about anyways. But he doesn’t mind it. They could still hear other college students through the walls as it isn’t that thick. And the birds chirping outside makes its way through the single window next to Al’s bed, along with the rays of light coming from the afternoon sun.

“I’d hear an earful from mom if she ever finds out that my dorm is messy” Albert finally broke the silence upon feeling the little tension from the other boy next to him.

Finch steals a small glance to his side, a little surprise with the topic he chose to speak up about. But he doesn’t complain. If this is how Albert mourns, then he’s willing to help.

“Yeah?” Finch asked softly, stacking a clean pair of pants he just folded to a clean pile of other pants.

“Yeah” Albert replied, eyes still glued to his task of separating his clothes. He can feel a little smile makes its way on his face, “She’d tell me to put them back in my closet as soon as it's clean so I won’t forget”

By now, all the out of placed clothes are picked up since Finch had already started beforehand. The wooden floor and the rest of the furniture in his dorm are free from Albert’s clothes. He reaches for the drawer under his bed to grab the laundry bag.

“But… I always end up either forgetting or procrastinating” Albert smiled to himself with a chuckle as he rose up to put the dirty clothes in the laundry bag.

Finch laughs along with him, glad to see him smile while he talks about his mother. It’s been some time since he last saw it. He’s glad there’s progress being made.

It didn’t take long to put the dirty clothes in the laundry bag. He carelessly tosses the bag to a forgotten corner of his dorm, turning to face the neatly folded clothes on his bed so he can organize it in his closet. His focus however, caught on to a strange sound that came from the corner where he threw the laundry bag. A loud thud between a hard solid object with a mixture of unorganized notes originating from strings.

The two boys flip their heads towards said corner, on the remaining space between the wall and the edge of Albert’s bed. There, lay a dusty guitar leaning against the corner created by the wall. The light brown of the wood reflects the minimal rays of sunshine that reached that forgotten corner, making it more majestic than it actually is.

“You didn’t tell me you brought your guitar here!” Finch exclaimed upon taking note of the guitar’s presence. An exciting energy buzzing through his veins all of a sudden. Everyone could instantly tell from the way his blue eyes lit up and his lips splitting into a smile.

“Didn’t thought it’d matter” Albert replied with a little chuckle. He watches as Finch gets his hands on the instrument, all while putting his clothes back in his closet.

The moment Finch gets his hands on the guitar, he puts it on his lap and sits down on the now spacious mattress. The spring bounces up and down with the weight of the blond boy and his new discovery. He starts to lightly pluck the strings, creating a lovely tune while waiting for Albert to finish up cleaning.

As the last item is placed back to its rightful place in Al’s closet, he closes the doors and turns to Finch. He’s still busy getting entertained by the guitar to notice the warm smile creeping its way to Al’s face.

Though, he doesn’t linger in the gaze. Seeing that he’s been wearing the same outfit for the whole day, he decides to slip into some warm sweatpants and a clean t-shirt.

“When did you brought it here?” Finch asked, eyes gleaming at the sight of a freshly dressed Albert walking towards him on the bed. His finger still mindlessly strumming the guitar, the same soft melody still echoes around the dorm.

“After like, what, two and a half months maybe? Dad decided to do some cleaning” Albert explained, ruffling his bright red locks with a hand, “I found this guitar after forgetting about it for a while and decided to keep it. It kept me busy for the most part”

The pair moves to lay down on the bed together. It’s technically too small to fit two people but neither boys mind cuddling towards each other.

Albert takes charge of the guitar while Finch gets comfortable lying next to him. Arms slightly wrapping his shoulders with his head tucked warmly in the crook of Al’s neck. Finch’s small blond curls slightly brush against the coarse skin of the other boy, almost as softly as Albert’s own fingers strumming his guitar.

“Turns out mom had always kept it” Albert suddenly spoke up, soft yet still deep. Finch looks up as best as he can to meet his eyes, though the boy doesn’t seem to be making any efforts on trying to do the same. His eyes turned blue, looking down at the strings he’s strumming, “At first I thought she threw it away since I wouldn’t be needing it for college. But I found it in her closet one time when I had to pick something up for her”

Albert plucks one last string of his guitar before stopping the tune, he let’s the last note resonate around the room. A long drawn out sigh leaves his nose, the aura of this dorm drooping along with his sadness.

Finch looks up to study his face. Hazel eyes clouded with a secret rainstorm behind it. Lips still smiling, but it was cracked by the thunderous thoughts that are now occupying his head.

“Hey, you okay?” Finch dared to whisper. It might be a bad idea, but it’s the only thing he could do right now.

Albert doesn’t answer. He seems to still be lost in whatever is running around in his head.

To which, Finch continues, “It’s okay to be sad, Al. I know you miss her”

“Yeah. I miss her a lot” Albert finally replied. He shifts his head down towards where Finch is already looking up at him, “But I don’t know. Lately it… it doesn’t hurt as much as it first did”

The other boy could only tilt his head to the side with a question mark drawing the lines of his face. Albert just smiles down at the face and chuckles at the cuteness before continuing, “I still miss her but… It’s getting easier to move on. And I know it’s supposed to be a good thing but… I feel kinda guilty ‘bout it”

Finch softens his face at the explanation, offering a comforting smile. He cuddles closer to Albert, which was received with open arms. Al slightly pushes away his guitar to let Finch cozy up next to him a little further. Once they find a comfortable position, they take in the smell of each other and then let it out with one huge sigh.

“It does make you feel guilty if you start feeling like moving on from someone’s death” Finch acknowledged Albert's previous words, gentle and slow, “But nothing in this world would ever make you forget about your mother. I can promise you that”

The redhead snorts out a little laughter, “You sound like my therapist”

Finch, not knowing how to respond to that, laughs along with him. Which only makes Albert tighten his hug around the boy.

“You’ll get through this. I know you will” Finch said, after pondering about his next words for a minute. It was only replied by a squeeze to one of Finch’s hands but he knew it was a way to appreciate his words without verbally saying it.

“Y’know…” Albert suddenly began after a few moments of silence, gently pushing Finch away from the hug so he could sit up on the bed properly. He sits slightly on the end of the bed, opposing Finch so they’re now face to face without needing to turn their heads. He props his guitar on his lap again and looks down to the other boy, “... I uhh… I wrote a song while she was in the hospital. Hoping she’d get better”

Sensing a little private performance coming up, Finch excitedly sits up along with him. Legs tucked in close to his chest, letting his hands rest on his knees. A hopeful smile rests on his face, shining as bright as day.

It makes Albert giggle a little while his fingers start to softly strum the guitar again. It’s a different tune from before, but this one doesn’t sound like something he made up in the moment. It has a pattern to it, soft and comforting.

“I wrote it in the summer after our high school graduation. It’s called… ‘Soon You’ll get better’” Albert explained, looking down to the vibrating strings, “Mom really liked it when she first heard it. She always asked me to sing it any time I visit her in the hospital” 

“And… you’re gonna sing it to me now?” Finch asked hopefully, getting impatient from the absence of his boyfriend’s vocals.

Albert chuckles at it, but nods along to answer his question. To which, Finch settles in his seat and waits for Albert to start singing.

“The buttons of my coat were, tangled in my hair

In doctor's-office-lighting, I didn't tell you I was scared”

He keeps his eyes glued down to the strings. Finch isn’t sure if he’s doing this on purpose, but he won’t question it. It’s a song that stuck pretty close to Albert’s heart it seems, and for a good reason too.

“That was the first time we were there

Holy orange bottles, each night I pray to you

Desperate people find faith, so now I pray to Jesus too”

His voice is nasally but still strong and sweet as honey. Finch was captivated by the deep baritenor vocals, slipping out of reality with every gentle note echoing around the dorm. Unknowingly, a smile spread across his face as the song progressed.

“And I say to you

Ooh-ah, soon you'll get better

Ooh-ah, soon you'll get better

Ooh-ah, you'll get better soon”

Briefly, Albert drags his eyes up to Finch. A sad kind of happiness paints his face and Finch could only reply with the same look on his face.

“'Cause you have to”

Every word he wrote in the song made him sound so vulnerable, something not many people get to witness. Every sad lyric he wrote sounds like a rain parade sent from hell. The same feeling he felt when his father called him to get to the hospital as quickly as possible to say one goodbye to his mother.

Finch remembers that day too. The couple were with some of their other friends on a night out. When the phone rang, Albert had a bad feeling because the last time he went to the hospital his mother looked worse than before. Nonetheless, he still picked it up and it sucked the joy right out of him. Albert had to ask Finch to come with him. No one wanted to know what he would’ve done if the poor boy walked there on his own.

Mr. DaSilva, his two older brothers along with their wives and Albert’s only niece from his oldest brother had said their misty goodbyes. It left their eyes so watery, they couldn’t recognize Albert running in the room. A woman laid helplessly on the hospital bed, skin too pale for her own good and the same red locks she and her three sons share fully shaved off her head. Their other relatives aren’t here which Albert had assumed was because they’re still on their way. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was saying goodbye to his beloved mother.

She still had the energy to smile at Albert and Finch when they first stepped in the room. Albert had knelt down next to her, taking his mother’s hand and soaking up any warmth left in the palms which was next to zero. They had exchanged words in whispers, and by the time Albert got up to hug her the water starts staining her clothes.

“And I hate to make this all about me

But who am I supposed to talk to?

What am I supposed to do

If there's no you?”

The song was meant to be a get-well-soon prayer for his mother. Albert had his doubts that this time she’d make it out alive since it’s the third time her cancer came back. And for a while, he believed that she would. She had always been a fighter and she did fight like hell at the start of it, saying that she wanted to see Albert graduate college.

Of course, the universe had its own plans. She was too weak to fight any harder and thought that it was enough. As much as Albert hated it, he still had to let her go when the heart monitor stopped beating. The long ringing noise was so deafening, it pierced like dagger right through his eardrums.

As the doctors and nurses took over to do their jobs, the family mourned her death. The pain from every teardrop felt like a stab to the heart. It kept on feeling like that for some time after her funeral as they mourn in their own different ways.

“This won't go back to normal, if it ever was

It's been years of hoping, and I keep saying it because

'Cause I have to”

Albert was lucky he had all his friends to be there by his side as support. Giving him the necessary space any time he needs it, a shoulder to cry on when he needs it, giving him their therapists’ contact number when he asked, or welcoming him back to the group when he feels like going out with them. Overall, they’re the most amazing friends Albert could’ve asked for.

At first it was hard to keep up with how fast the world is spinning. But Albert soon relearned the pace and slowly healed from the pain. And that’s his new problem. The term ‘healing’ in this kind of situation felt so wrong, to use and to do. Albert feels guilty for trying to feel normal after his mother’s death, because it’s obvious nothing is normal. 

Take the rest of his family for example : they used to have family dinners every month in the DaSilva household. Albert, his brothers, sister in-laws, his only niece, and both parents. Four months after the funeral they haven’t had their monthly family dinners. Maybe it was for the best. His father didn’t even seem okay when he was cleaning out his wife's stuff.

“Ooh-ah, soon you'll get better

Ooh-ah, soon you'll get better

Ooh-ah, you'll get better soon

'Cause you have to”

Strumming the last few notes of the song, Albert could feel the water forming in his eyes again. He ignores it till he strums the last chord. Bringing his gaze back up to meet Finch’s, he can tell the other boy noticing the little drops of water threatening to trickle down his cheeks.

They stayed silent for a few seconds, Albert waiting for the little wave of sadness to properly sit while he puts down his guitar on the floor and Finch waiting for a cue to do something.

“She always liked it when I sing it to her” Albert exclaimed, trying to play it cool while he wipes his tears away, “I don’t think you’ve heard it before”

“No, I haven't,” Finch replied. He shifts closer to Albert to help him wipe his tears away with the sleeves of the hoodie he’s currently wearing. After it dried, Finch’s hands cupped his cheeks gently and he whispers, “But it was very lovely. I love it”

To that, Albert smiles. It made Finch smile along as well. But he knows better not to mistake that smile for happiness.

“Thanks for stopping by, Finch” Albert finally said, “I really needed it”

Finch smiles, letting out a little sigh, “Glad I could help”

He leans his head closer to Albert. Sensing a kiss coming up, Albert does the same and their lips meet halfway. Softly brushing against each other while their eyes closed to focus on the warm feeling. Albert gently holds one of Finch’s hands on his cheek with his own as the kiss deepened, still gentle and loving.

A jingling noise followed by loud chattering and laughter coming from the other side of the door got them to pull apart quickly. In storms, the door opens and a tall messy looking figure enters the room still packed with energy and excitement.

“Oh! Uhh… I didn’t know there was a date scheduled here!” Race exclaimed, freezing like a deer caught by headlights in the middle of the room when he noticed his roommate already had his own company.

The two boys looked past him and saw a bunch of their other friends standing in the doorway, waiting for a cue to enter the dorm. They wave at each other politely, all while Finch slowly backs away from his boyfriend. It made the group chuckle, and the couple a bit embarrassed. 

“Yeah, uhh…” Race awkwardly said, scratching the back of his head, “...We were about to have a game of poker here—but it’s cool! We can go somewhere else—“

“Nah, it’s okay, Racer!” Albert exclaimed, swinging his legs down the bed. He approaches the door where his friends are still waiting around, greeting them with a big smile, “You guys comin’ in or what?”

To which they all laughed, happily piling in the dorm. They simply put their stuff on an empty space in the floor before they make their way to where Race was already sitting on the floor.

“You playin’, Al?” One friend called out, Romeo.

“Yeah, deal me in” Albert replied, closing the door after waiting for all of his friends to pile in. He trails behind the last friend, Crutchie, towards the little circle his friends had made.

“Last time I was here the floor was covered with your clothes, Al” Crutchie observed the dorm while he slowly lowered himself to the floor in between Finch and Romeo, “Did you finally pick them up?”

Albert sits himself down next to Finch, exchanging a laugh with the other boy before answering, “Yeah, Finch came by to help”

“Took you long enough!” Race joked, still busy prepping the game for the others. Everyone laughed at it, all while Al reached his hands out to playfully smack his knee.

“Alright, alright, that’s enough” Jack stopped the two, growing impatient with the inevitable poker game, “Let’s get this game going!”

So now he’s playing a game with his friends like normal. Of course, the conversation he just had with Finch still lingered in his mind. Of how much he misses his mother and how guilty he feels for trying to move on. But the promises Finch made gave him a little glimmer of light. It’s not something he can technically promise, but it’s definitely something to hope for. With a glance shot towards his boyfriend next to him, which was replied with a soft gaze from Finch himself, he knows that everything will turn out alright eventually.