#sweetapple

[gumnut-logic]

Diary of a Fanboy Engineer

Alexander Sweetapple series on Ao3

What's this? Is this Nuttyfic? Not a nuttyfic reblog? The first in ages?

Why yes, yes, it is.

Consequently, the writing muscles are a bit rusty so don't expect much.

However this was prompted by conspiring Thunderfam on this post.

It is a bit of a 'let's see if this idea works or not', but since most of my fic comes under that category, I'm hoping it works at least a little :D

So we have the beginnings of some possible Sweetapple Diaries :D

Many thanks to the wonderful @onereyofstarlight for proof reading and pointing out the bits that really didn't work :D ::hugs you tight:: And many thanks to the Sweetapple cheering squad - without you, there would be no Sweetapple ::hugs you all to bits::

Warnings for m/m fic and a bucket of fluff.

I hope you enjoy these little scribbles :D

-o-o-o-

14 Jul

We are going to Paris.

Mr Tracy told Virgil in no uncertain terms that he needed time off. I can’t agree more. Hell, all the brothers need time off, but Virgil has been flagging lately. He denies it, of course. Workaholic to the core. I can see where he is coming from, but really, he needs to take better care of himself - they all do.

Paris was an interesting choice. I’ve never been to Europe, but I guess that comes with the billionaire territory.

I am excited, there are so many opportunities in Paris. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing some real Da Vinci. Climbing the Eiffel Tower is also on my list.

But for our next holiday, I think we’ll choose a spot more close to home. I know some quiet seaside towns where we could rent a bach and just lay back and relax.

Maybe France has a few hidden corners we could climb into.

Anyway, it’s something to look forward to. Really, anytime, anywhere, would be fantastic.

-o-o-o-

15 Jul

Today wasn’t a good one. We had multiple failures in the latest prototype.

Erica isn’t happy. She says it isn’t my fault, but honestly, I should have seen at least one of them coming. The effect of vacuum on micro air pockets in a flexible solid is so obvious it was ridiculous. How did I miss it?

Dearest had to cancel out again. Mount Etna tried to take out some tourists.

Virgil isn’t happy. Apparently, he has been warning the Italian authorities about the destabilisation of the volcano’s eastern face, but because their equipment can’t detect what International Rescue’s equipment can, they don’t want to sacrifice the tourism euros to close the tours.

Fortunately, it was only a partial collapse and IR was able to save those caught in the landslide. I have to say though, Commander Tracy was furious in the holoclip shown on the news. I wouldn’t want to be person responsible right now. Scott can get scary.

I did get to see some cool shots of Virgil in action though. That, I could never get tired of. He and Gordon manoeuvred Two and rappelled down to pull people out of the dirt and ash.

They are such heroes.

I do miss him, of course, but those poor people needed him more than I did.

Maybe we can holochat later…oh god, it’s 3am already!

-o-o-o-

16 Jul

Erica woke me up this morning. Really, I love her, she is so good to me, but bloody hell, can’t she knock?

Okay, it was nearly eleven and I had my phone on silent and I didn’t answer the door and…

At least I had my pyjama pants on, I guess.

What if Virgil had been here?

She said that was the reason she barged in, Virgil wasn’t here - no great green ‘bird and Tracy Two wasn’t logged at the airfield, and I was late for work. I might have been dead or something.

She cares and I appreciate that.

She could have held off the laughter, though.

Besides, I wasn’t late for work. Work is on flexi-time and considering I was up until 1am last night analysing yesterday’s screw ups, my sleep-in was natural and totally allowed.

Virgil left me a message with a ‘maybe tonight’. I’m hoping, but if there is one thing I’ve learnt it is that whatever happens, happens. No hoping too hard.

So here I am writing this entry a little earlier to kill some of that hoping time.

We solved two out of the three problems we had yesterday. The third is being a pain in the ass. Erica says I should speak to John as this lies in his speciality. I said, not until we’ve exhausted all our resources because John is a busy man.

We’re all busy, she said, and he offered to help. Gordon helped with the water issues. I could even ask Alan.

Really? It’s not at the point where I have to go to the top to help solve the problem. We’ll give it a few more days. It’s urgent, but not life threatening like the Tracy brothers need to attend to. They’ve got enough on their plate.

But John has such a lovely voice, she said.

I swear she does this just to rile me up.

That or she does have a thing for John. You would think she would have a thing for Mr Tracy, he was the one who saved her from the earthquake. Hell, she and Fireman Fred still have a mutual flirting thing going on.

—!

Virgil is here!

-o-o-o-

17 Jul

The sun rose early this morning. Somewhere in our haste we forgot to close the blinds and the first rays of dawn woke me.

I’m not a morning person, I’m the first to admit that. But this morning…

You’re lying on your belly and the covers have slipped down to your waist. The sun is painting your skin in shades of gold and your hair is glowing.

You are beautiful.

…

PS: I haven’t read anything, I promise. I just needed to write the image down and this book was the closest at hand. Can I paint you some time?

…

He read the above to me when I woke.

Let’s just say I was late to work again.

-o-o-o-

17 Jul (cont.)

Virgil stayed at Māhia today. He helped with the issue we were having with the prototype, though we did end up calling John.

John was happy to help - man, he thinks fast. Don’t get me wrong, I love my math and my physics, but John seems to be able to bend both to his will. It took him a total of five minutes. Five minutes! To design a solution to our problem - in between rescue calls.

It was one of those daunting moments where I could see exactly why they work so well together.

Of course, I am working with V.T. Green. Just let me name drop that right here. And the Voice Who Answers…is my life real? How the hell did I end up here?

Frickin’ bloody amazing.

-o-o-o-

[sailing-on-a-puddle]

Glitter

💚🍎💚🍎💚🍎💚🍎💚🍎💚🍎

@idontknowreallywhy was kind enough last week to encourage me to write something. Then @gumnut-logic posted some fluffwhump prompts and, well, this happened.

Massive thanks to Nutty for letting me borrow Alex and for the readthrough. If you've no idea who Alex is you can find his entire story here and it's brilliant.

The whole series is a m/m romance so if that's not your thing it's best not to read. Otherwise I hope you enjoy reading my first go at writing a fic in a very, very long time.

__________________________________________

Alex waited for the coffee machine in his mum’s kitchen, happily daydreaming.

He’d been looking after his niece and nephew whilst his mum and sister went on a spa day.  He’d agreed to it months ago, but he’d been gutted when it fell on one of Virgil’s rare days off rota.

Virgil solved the problem by coming along with him. He had drawn endless pictures of whatever James and Vicky wanted, whilst they painted and covered the pictures in various craft materials and stickers. The pile of art had been sent home when their dad had come to pick them up, and now Virgil was tidying up the mess whilst Alex made the coffee.

The coffee machine stopped, signaling the not quite Thunderbird Two but still very good coffee was ready.

“Aaaaaaaalex?” Virgil’s voice came through from the next room, sounding rather higher than usual.

“Viiiiiiiiiiirgil?”

“Erm, I need some help.”

Alex walked back through to the room he’d left Virgil in to be met with the sight of green glitter. Getting the large plastic tub of green glitter back on the high shelf clearly hadn’t gone to plan, and now it was all over the floor, the coffee table and the sofa, but most of all it was all over Virgil. He looked hilarious. His clothes and boots were absolutely covered, and his hair was now more sparkly green than black. Virgil was trying his best to brush it off, but the more he brushed the more glitter seemed to appear.

Alex’s urge to laugh won.

That earned him a full frown from the eyebrows. Unfortunately, said eyebrows were currently green and glittery too, so the effect probably wasn’t quite what Virgil intended.

“I’m sorry.” Alex made his way over to Virgil, getting the glitter on his own shoes in the process and desperately trying to hold in the smirk. “Just it’s usually me who ends up in dropping things.”

Alex brushed some glitter off Virgil’s shoulders, and the laughing erupted again.

Virgil stopped brushing himself, got out his phone and had a look at himself in the selfie camera. A sigh, then a smile and a gaze up at Alex. “Ok you do have a point. But I can’t leave the house looking like this.”

“It’s fine. It’s green. It’ll go with your uniform. Imagine being rescued by somebody who actually sparkled!”

Alex found himself being picked up and slung over Virgil’s shoulders as if he weighed nothing at all, carried over to a chair on the other side of the room and placed feet first on it. Virgil then stood back and grinned, still holding Alex’s hands. “Like that?”

“Mmm hmm.”

Virgil moved his hands to Alex’s waist and lifted him down, again seemingly without any effort. Alex straightened up and ran a hand through Virgil’s hair, trying to do something useful since he could see the glitter in Virgil’s hair better. Nothing moved. At all.

Alex tried again. It was stuck solidly to Virgil’s hair gel. “I think you need a shower.”

Another sigh, then a defeated sounding “Good idea”.

______________________________

Alex was enjoying a new cup of coffee on the sofa when Virgil appeared from his shower, smiling at Alex with an embarrassed smile. His clothes and boots were still a little shiny but nothing like what they were before, and his black hair had formed into the soft curls that were usually blow dried and gelled 5 seconds after getting out the shower.

As Virgil sat down on the sofa beside him, Alex pulled him in for a kiss and his brain dissolved for a while. When they stopped, the light caught Virgil’s face and Alex reached up a thumb and stroked one of Virgil’s eyebrows. “There was still some glitter.”

Virgil’s wonderful arms were wrapped round him, and to Alex’s surprise he just shrugged, smiled and said “I’ve got used to you doing that now.” Those arms pulled him closer again. “And it’s amazing.”

 Alex was reminded that his whole life felt like every dream he’d ever had had come true. “You are amazing.”

“Even with fluffy hair and sparkly eyebrows?”

“Especially with fluffy hair and sparkly eyebrows.”

[heavy-nfld]

Dave Sweetapple of the bands Witch, Eerie, and Sweet Apple, has passed away at the age of 58.

[idontknowreallywhy]

Shameless reblog because it’s the first TB thing I ever finished enough to put on AO3 so today is A Day of Note for me.

And I had so much fun :)

(Ficlet is based on absolutely gorgeous AU(ish) story by @gumnut-logic and a scene in that universe by @womble1 both of whom were so encouraging 🥰 - thank you)

Features Virgil and an OC, although we don’t meet them here - they are just on his mind. As is music, because it’s always about music for Virgil…

[rainingmusic]

Witch - Changing

[relicuums]

This Amazing Light Kielbasa Apple Onion Skillet has a great mix of flavors that you will love. A mix of light kielbasa, sweet apples, and caramelized onions makes this dish savory and sweet. The Dijon mustard and honey sauce is the perfect finishing touch for this quick and easy dinner that tastes great!

Ingredients: 1 lb light kielbasa, sliced. 2 apples, cored and sliced. 1 large onion, thinly sliced. 2 tablespoons olive oil. 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard. 1 tablespoon honey. 1 teaspoon dried thyme. Salt and black pepper to taste. Fresh parsley for garnish.

Instructions: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced kielbasa and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add sliced apples and onions to the skillet. Cook until the apples and onions are softened, about 8-10 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Pour the mustard-honey mixture over the kielbasa, apples, and onions. Stir to coat everything evenly. Continue cooking for an additional 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken. Adjust seasoning if needed and remove from heat. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve this Amazing Light Kielbasa Apple Onion Skillet over rice or with crusty bread. Enjoy the delightful combination of savory kielbasa, sweet apples, and caramelized onions!

Brock Roth

[crimescened]

These mini apple walnut galettes are a delightful combination of flaky puff pastry, sweet apples, and crunchy walnuts. Perfect for a cozy dessert or a special treat!

Ingredients: 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed. 2 medium-sized apples, thinly sliced. 1/4 cup chopped walnuts. 2 tablespoons brown sugar. 1 tablespoon lemon juice. 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon. 1 egg, beaten for egg wash.

Instructions: Before you start cooking, heat the oven to 375F 190C. Cut the puff pastry into 4 squares that are all the same size. Mix the apple slices with brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice in a bowl. Leave a border around the edges of the puff pastry squares and fill them with equal amounts of the apple mixture. Add walnuts that have been chopped to the apple mixture. To make a rough edge, fold the edges of the puff pastry over the apples. Brush egg wash around the edges of the pastry. Place the galettes on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Put it in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the apples are soft and the pastry is golden brown. Take it out of the oven and let it cool down a bit before you serve it.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Carl H

[arobbins]

This vegan apple cinnamon cake is delicious, moist, and great for any event. When you mix sweet apples, warm cinnamon, and maple icing, you get a deliciously comforting dessert.

Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour. 1 cup brown sugar. 2 tsp baking powder. 1 tsp ground cinnamon. 1/2 tsp salt. 1 cup unsweetened almond milk. 1/2 cup applesauce. 1/4 cup maple syrup. 1 tsp vanilla extract. 2 apples, peeled and diced.

Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350F 175C. Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Add the almond milk, applesauce, maple syrup, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until well combined. Fold in the diced apples until evenly distributed throughout the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and spread it out evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before icing.

Macie Downs

[junara-sims]

This vegan apple pie is a comforting and tasty dessert that can be served at any time. Sweet apples, warm spices, and a flaky crust come together to make a delicious treat.

Ingredients: 6 apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced. 1/2 cup granulated sugar. 1/4 cup brown sugar. 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg. 1/4 teaspoon salt. 1 tablespoon lemon juice. 1 vegan pie crust store-bought or homemade.

Instructions: Preheat the oven to 425F 220C. In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice. Toss until the apples are evenly coated. Line a pie dish with the vegan pie crust. Fill the pie crust with the apple mixture, spreading it out evenly. Cover the pie with another layer of pie crust or create a lattice pattern with strips of pie crust. Crimp the edges to seal the pie. Make several slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape. Bake the pie in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Allow the pie to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

Ellis

[gumnut-logic]

Lego Volcano (Part 7 and The End)

Alexander Sweetapple series | Lego Volcano - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

At this point, it should be remembered that this fic, whcih is now complete at over 11,000 words, originated in a post that devolved into bathing in Lego and how much whumping that would involve :D

This is why fault belongs to @idontknowreallywhy, @sofasurf @womble1 and @sailing-on-a-puddle and other wonderful Thunderfam peeps. it would not exist without them.

@onereyofstarlight has also kindly kept me on the straight and narrow and all improvements belong to her :D

So thank you to all of the above and to all who have encouraged this little fic, that didn't stay little, along the way ::hugs you all::

this bit is very much M/M because Virgil is feeling so much better :D If that isn't your jam, this isn't your bread. There is also buckets of fluff :D

I hope you enjoy :D

-o-o-o-

“Do you think he likes me?”

Virgil frowned down at the man lying in his arms. They had thrown some pillows and a blanket onto a fold up daybed and were whiling away a few hours as the sun was setting across the sea.

The Island was quiet. Grandma and Dad were still on Aotearoa, Gordon and Alan were torturing Scott in the infirmary, and, as always, John was watching over them from far above.

His star would become visible once the sky was dark enough.

“Who?”

“Mr Tracy.”

He had the urge to ask which Mr Tracy, but where Alex was concerned, there was only one Mr Tracy. “Scott likes you fine. Always did.”

Alex fidgeted in his arms. “I feel like a klutz around him.” He looked up at Virgil - something that only happened when they were lying down and Virgil was quite happy about that. “I just know how important he is to you and, well, I don’t want him to feel I’m intruding.”

“You’re not intruding.”

Alex looked away. “I’ve seen you on rescues. All of you are special, but there has always been something extra between you and the Commander. There are rumours.”

Virgil frowned. “About what?”

“That you’re telepathic, that you can read each other’s minds and move as one.”

“You’ve been talking to Gordon.” The Fish had been ribbing them about that for years.

“No…well, yes, but not about that. It’s in the fandom. It’s common knowledge.”

“You’re in the fandom?”

Now Alex was definitely looking away. “Well, yeah, been a fan forever, and there are like-minded people out there.” He looked back up at Virgil and grinned. “You are very nice to watch.”

The arm Virgil had draped around his boyfriend, quite conveniently reached his ribs, which were apparently very ticklish.

The two of them tussled and giggled a moment, Alex finding a few ticklish spots in return. But it was broken up when Virgil’s laugh turned to a cough. Alex caught him and pulled him close.

Virgil cleared his throat and smiled. “So you’re a card carrying fan?”

“You knew that.”

“I did.” He kissed Alex’s messy blond hair. “But then, I’m a fan of you, so we’re even.”

Alex snorted, but sobered. “Seriously, it’s important that I’m not…messing things up with your brother…with any of your brothers.”

Virgil sighed. “Alex, you’re fine. Scott approves, and even if he didn’t, you’re my boyfriend, not his.”

“I know. It’s just I don’t want to mess with the magic.”

Oh, god. “You’re not messing up anything. All my brothers are happy for us. It’s fine.” He pulled Alex in close, kissing his hair again. “Especially for me.”

But even as he said it, he knew his man and this was probably one of those bones his brain would chew on if it wasn’t taken away. “So you like math?”

“I’ve always liked maths, I’m an engineer.”

“Well, yes, of course, but that wasn’t engineering math.”

Alex shrugged. “It’s just fun stuff. I play with patterns sometimes.”

Virgil stared down at him a moment. “Scott enjoys math.”

A snort. “I noticed. He can run rings around me. He makes some beautiful stuff.”

“He does?”

“Yeah? Didn’t you see that last result - it was like a field of origami flowers.”

Virgil blinked. “Flowers?”

That earned him a frown. “You couldn’t see it?”

“I could see elegant math. Scott writes a good solution.”

“He does, but it is how he does it.”

“Should I be worried?”

“About what?”

Virgil’s lips curled into a smile. “If my brother has caught your eye.”

“Oh, ho, ho, yeah, right. Mr Tracy is straighter than an Australian railway line.” It was Alex’s turn to smile. “Besides, he’s not you.” Alex reached up and caught Virgil’s lips with his own.

Conversation stopped for a while as Alex made it very clear which was his favourite Tracy brother.

The sun finally reached the horizon and lit up the ocean, coating everything in that beautiful gold only Sol could provide. A gentle breeze wafted off the caldera and wrapped around them, clapping palm leaves and pōhutukawa branches alike.

“Thank you for looking after me. It has been a relief having you here.”

“Next time let me know. I don’t want you suffering in silence. People pair up for a reason.” He cleared his throat.

Virgil brushed a strand of hair behind Alex’s ear. “Okay, I’ll make sure to send the Fish earlier next time.”

“So Gordon is your gopher?”

“Uh-huh.” Alex’s skin was a little flushed in the light of the sunset and very distracting.

“Does he know this?”

“Uh-huh.”

“You are feeling better, aren’t you.”

“Uh-huh.”

Alex smiled and his dark eyes glittered in the golden air. “C’mere.”

His lips were soft.

Virgil lost more time.

So very, very distracted.

It was getting dark by the time they bothered to check their surroundings again. The breeze was cooler, and Alex shivered as it drifted over them.

Virgil’s stomach was rumbling - a good thing since eating hadn’t been his favourite activity recently.

Since there was no sign of Gordon or Alan, or anyone else for that matter - probably giving him and Alex space - it looked like Virgil was cook tonight. So as they finally climbed off the bed and began packing up, he mentally recalled what was in the fridge, the freezer, and what could be quickest to prepare.

“Where should I put these?” Alex had the pillows in his hands.

“Chuck them on the sunken lounge. If you feel like a movie we can use them later.”

“Sure.” But Alex hesitated, frowning a moment before, turning to walk inside.

“Alex? You okay?” Virgil had his hands full of blanket and folded day bed, but something wasn’t right.

“Um…I don’t…” Alex was stumbling sideways, pillows falling to the floor.

Everything slowed and Virgil was moving, but not fast enough.

Alex struggled to keep his feet, but one bare foot caught in that damned Lego sculpture and then it was all slow motion deja vu.

Lego scattered everywhere, tinkling on the hardwood floor as Virgil slid in to catch Alex. The Lego volcano exploded in all directions as his body collided with it, arms full of lanky, falling engineer.

Time and speed caught up.

“Alex!”

Shocked dark eyes looked up at Virgil. “I don’t feel very good.” His eyelids fluttered closed. “Dizzy.”

“Alex!”

“Uh…” He screwed up his face. “Dizzy.”

Virgil’s heart climbed into his ears thudding away all sound as he lowered Alex gently to the floor, brushing away stray bricks and cushioning his head with one of the dropped pillows.

Scrabbling to his feet, Virgil dashed across the comms room and grabbed the first aid kit, yanking out the medscanner and flashing yellow light across Alex’s prone body.

The machine beeped, and delivered its prognosis.

Oh, hell.

His shoulders dropped.

Alex groaned and tried to roll over.

“Hey, stay put. You’re sick.”

“Wha-?”

“Thunderbird Five?”

John popped into being in the middle of the room. “Tracy Island, what can I- ? Alex? Virgil, report.”

“Please let Māhia know that Alex won’t be returning for at least another week. He has the flu.” Virgil brushed hair out of Alex’s eyes.

“FAB.”

“What? I have- I can’t, I had all my shots.”

“You know it doesn’t work like that.”

“But-“

“Your turn to rest, love.”

“But I have to…goddamnit!”

Virgil couldn’t help but smile through his concern. “You can play math with Scotty in the infirmary.”

Was that a challenged cant to a grumpy eyebrow?

“But I have to-“

“Rest.”

“Viiirgil.” He coughed.

Virgil continued to stroke his hair as both Gordon and Alan came running with a hoverstretcher in tow.

“Not the Lego again?” Alan looked both worried and exasperated at the same time.

As Virgil’s bare foot came down on a very sharp and hard brick while crouching to lift a wriggling Alex onto the hoverstretcher, he only had one solution to that problem. “Yeah, please pack it away this time. I think we’ve had enough Lego this month.” Ouch, he stumbled over another one. “Possibly for decades.”

Alex was muttering something about Erica laughing her ass off and excuses to lengthen his stay on Tracy Island.

Gordon was grinning and agreeing.

Heart still beating just that little too fast, Virgil limped after the hoverstretcher.

New bruises keeping him company.

Damn Lego.

-o-o-o-

FIN

[sailing-on-a-puddle]

A Double Decker Sweetapple slice

@womble1 wrote a lovely Sweetapple slice earlier this week and it inspired my writing muse (it's been asleep for a while) so here's a part 2 😊 think of it like a slice with two layers, or a double decker slice.

Alex isn't mine, he was created by @gumnut-logic and I'm just a little obsessed and love this pair. Nutty I hope you like Virgil getting his hug.

As ever this is m/m fic so if not your thing scroll on by. This one is a little bit angsty and very, very soppy.

-------------------------------

Virgil ran through his post flight checks without really thinking.

The rescue had been an easy one, especially for him. Thunderbird Two had essentially provided a taxi service for Thunderbird Four, but all Gordon had needed to do was rescue a couple of people from a boat.

Occasionally he wondered if the world had become too reliant on having International Rescue and didn't bother to provide a rescue service or safety precautions.

Wow, he was feeling grumpy. Perhaps that wasn't surprising. He'd got out of bed in the middle of the night to rescue people. 

And he'd been on a rescue the night before which meant he'd missed his date with Alex.

He missed Alex. 

He thought about going to get Alex right there and then, but then he remembered it was still very early morning and chances are Alex wasn’t up yet.

Sleep, then see Alex. He’d be better company.

With that thought, he trudged up to the comms room to find Gordon showing Scott, who was the only other person up at this stupid hour, the holographic film of Virgil missing the grip bar on launch. 

Crap, he’d forgotten about that. He scowled at Gordon, then Scott for good measure, muttered some expletives to himself and stomped off to bed. 

Sleep, then go and get Alex. Today could only improve.

– – – –

Some time later Virgil began to wake up. This felt like a better time to be awake. He rolled over in bed and sighed.

Then he felt a hand playing with his hair.

“Hey Sleeping Beauty.”

Virgil half opened his eyes to find Alex lying on his bed facing him. 

“I started to think you might never wake up. Honestly it might have been 100 years.” Alex kissed Virgil's cheek. “You are very beautiful.” 

Virgil's brain tried to wake up, smile, open his eyes properly and show how happy he was Alex was there, but that didn’t happen quick enough. “How did you get here?”

Alex laughed, did a slight clear of his throat, and then replied in a deeper voice than normal and with an alarmingly accurate American accent. “Good morning Alex. It’s lovely to see you. How has your week been?”

Virgil giggled, pulled Alex closer and kissed him. After pausing for breath, he said “Well I don't have to ask you after that perfect impression do I?”

Alex smiled, and after another kiss, “I've had a good week thank you. And Gordon brought me. He said you were really grumpy and needed cheering up, which I'm hoping I can do. I didn't realise how long you'd be asleep though else I might have taken him up on the offer of breakfast first. You hungry?”

“Mmmhmm” Virgil replied, but then flopped backwards into his pillow.

Alex laughed. “I'll get the breakfast, you wake up a bit more” Alex offered. He gave Virgil another kiss on the forehead then climbed off the bed and headed for the door.

– – – –

Virgil decided that he needed a shower which had the added benefit of waking him up. In waking up he also realised how much he needed to say sorry and thank you to Gordon, for being so grumpy and for getting Alex.

He'd wrapped a towel round himself, but then he felt those hands again.

He knew he'd used too much cream last time, but he was hoping to spend the day with Alex without anybody needing rescuing and he really wanted Alex to have the perfect day, especially after cancelling on him the day before. He applied a small amount of the cream and rubbed it in as much as he could.

He found Alex sitting on his couch eating a slice of toast. He smiled and went over to the breakfast tray, feeling Alex's eyes watching him the whole time.

Always nice to know Alex still fancied him after all these months.

He went to pour himself a glass of orange juice, but he couldn't grip the lid to open it.

Stupid hand cream.

He tried again. Nope.

Then he felt a pair of long arms wrap round him from behind, open the orange juice, pour a glass and put it down. Then Alex's head rested on his shoulder. “Are you OK?”

“I was hoping you didn't see that.”

“If you want me to not see things you probably shouldn’t walk around in just a towel so I'm staring. You OK?”

“Promise you won't laugh?”

“Promise.”

“I can't open it because my hands are covered in hand cream and I've got no grip.”

“ Oh.” Alex still had his arms wrapped around Virgil but met Virgil’s hands with his own. “Were they sore? Can I kiss them better?”

“No nothing like that. I just …” Virgil trailed off, but then he realised he didn’t want to explain the actual reason. He’d wanted it to just happen and his hands become soft without Alex realising anything had changed.

He turned to face Alex and looked up at him. He hoped Alex would just somehow forget the conversation if he changed the focus.

“Nothing. It's fine.” Virgil stood up on his tiptoes and kissed Alex, then carried on getting his breakfast.

They had a wonderful day. Virgil hadn't any particular idea what they'd done, but he knew he felt so happy. The exact opposite of last night.

It was so soppy but he didn’t care.

Evening and they were busy doing some work on Thunderbird Two. Brains had said he would do it but Virgil still liked to do the work on Two whenever he could. It also gave him an excuse to serve Alex coffee from The Coffee Machine.

Whilst they were both sitting on the floor working on a very shiny but incredibly intricate looking engine part, Alex inevitably forgot he was holding a cup of coffee. Thankfully Alex only ever used a mug with a lid because of his clumsiness, and Virgil instinctively caught it and handed it back to him, along with the slight smear it acquired from the engine grease on Virgil's hands.

“Thank you” Alex said with a sheepish smile. Then “that's better.”

Virgil looked at him blankly. “You prefer your coffee mug with added greasy stains?”

“No, though I don't mind. What's better is you catching coffee cup whilst your hands are covered in mechanical grease without worrying about what people think of them.”

Virgil looked at the floor. Clearly Alex hadn't forgotten about this morning. “Not people. Just you.”

Alex didn’t respond, and when Virgil looked up Alex was looking at him with an arched eyebrow.

Virgil sighed. “Doesn’t it bother you that my hands feel like sandpaper sometimes?”

“Well they don't, but it wouldn't bother me if they did.” Alex put his coffee cup down on purpose this time, swung his legs over the top of Virgil's and pulled him closer.

“Your hands are amazing. Look at all the many talents you have. Artist, rescue operative, pilot, engineer, pianist and antidote to my clumsiness to name but a few. They're all made possible by your hands. If you want them to be softer that's fine but please don't change on my part. I love you just as you are.”

Virgil felt every worry and bad feeling of the last 24 hours melt away. “You really wouldn't change anything about me?”

“Oh I didn't say that,” Alex replied. “You snore like a jet engine.”

“Hey! You said I was Sleeping Beauty earlier!”

“You were.” Alex grinned. “You just needed a mute button.”

Virgil grinned back, then both burst into a fit of giggles. Virgil decided the only way to end this was with a very passionate and purposeful kiss, and Alex seemed only too happy to reciprocate.

[kawaii-mbti]

This vegan deep dish apple torte is a delightful dessert that combines the sweetness of apples with a flaky crust. Perfect for any occasion, it's easy to make and even easier to enjoy!

Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour. 1/2 cup vegan butter, chilled and cubed. 1/4 cup cold water. 6 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced. 1/2 cup brown sugar. 1 tablespoon lemon juice. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg. 1/4 teaspoon salt. 1/4 cup maple syrup.

Instructions: Preheat oven to 375F 190C. In a mixing bowl, combine flour and cubed vegan butter. Use a pastry cutter or fork to cut the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add cold water, mixing until dough comes together. Press dough into the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-inch deep-dish pie pan. In a large bowl, toss sliced apples with brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Arrange the apple mixture evenly over the crust in the pie pan. Drizzle maple syrup over the apples. Cover the torte loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the apples are tender. Allow the torte to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

Camila P

[mistwalker-official]

R.I.P. to the legend Dave Sweetapple of Witch (and numerous other bands). I never knew him personally but I always wondered if we were related somewhere down the line. The Sweetapple’s are a small family and I would’ve loved the opportunity to talk with him and do the whole “yes b’y, I knows him, who’s yer fadder, etc.” schtick, but alas, it was not to be.

Blasting some Witch and pouring one out for you today. 🍻🤘

[deardearestbrands]

#LiveEra #LiveDraw #HelloKitty s#Sanrio#SanrioFighterDigit

[redwolf]

MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects designed House at 9,000 Feet in the Intermountain Region/  of the United States -- via ArchDaily

[idontknowreallywhy]

Alex spots an article about it and Virgil flies them out there - it’s an abandoned wreck now but they buy it on the spur of the moment and fix it up in their spare time. They employ a manager but use the upstairs as their holiday getaway

1928-61 The Coffee Pot restaurant between Austin and Scottsberg, Indiana. From Historic Southern Indiana.