#ted lasso secret santa

[talldecafcappuccino]

the year of biscuit

Summary

Ted finds a kitten in the AFC Richmond parking lot.

Written for the ted/rebecca discord secret santa fic exchange! 🎅🏼🎁🎄

Excerpt

The kitten leapt off Ted’s shoulders and onto Rebecca’s desk, sending her pen cup flying. Then he marched across the glass desktop, meowing softly with each step toward Rebecca.

Her eyes went wide as the orange ball of fur turned and nuzzled its face against her arm. A loud purr filled her office, like a teeny tiny chainsaw revving up.

Ted’s face broke into a wide smile. “Oh, he likes you.”

Rebecca’s expression softened, a smile tugging at her lips.

“It’s quite sweet, isn’t it?”

“Looks like he found some biscuit crumbs from yesterday.”

“Well I suppose it must be hungry. Let me see what we can find for real food.” Rebecca picked up her phone. She paused mid-dial, looking up at Ted with an embarrassed smile. “Just until we can figure out who it belongs to, of course.”

“Of course.” Ted scooped up the kitten and it meowed in surprise as it was lifted into the air. “Come on Biscuit, let’s get out of the boss’ hair.”

Rebecca looked up at him, her eyes wide with horror.

“Oh Ted, you can’t name it. What happens when you find its family?”

Read on ao3

[chainofclovers]

Because there are many other things I should be doing, I'm naturally thinking about how I feel very strongly that I want to publish a sex-scene-only sequel to "Lavender II" but feel equally strongly that the story was supposed to end as it currently ends, with hope and NOT with actual orgasms!

(I was perfectly content to know all about the fun summer and Scotland and everything getting better without needing to write a damn word of it, but then last week I was home alone and very stoned and I started writing it and it's obviously bad but it has crossed the threshold from only existing as a thought to partially existing as a doc. Gah.)

What I really want is for the sequel to simultaneously exist and not exist, but maybe what I also really want is for a general fic event in which authors everywhere manage to write happy sexy sequels to their most melancholic stories and then I can participate in that.

Tagging @threedomiciles and @boglady for obvious reasons (but also, I know, neither of you strictly need more WIPs) and spiritually tagging any and all additional members of the sad-coaches-with-hope brigade. :)

[torch-the-throne]

Most unrealistic bit of Ted Lasso was actually the part where a couple dozen young men organise a secret santa and not a single one of them buys a sex toy as a gag gift

[saywhatjessie]

Drunk on Christmas

Day nineteen of the Advent calendar! Using this list. Day 19: Secret Santa Fandom: Ted Lasso - Pairing: RoyJamie 2.2k[Ao3]

“Oi!”

Everyone in the locker room immediately quieted, giving Roy their full attention. He bit back a smirk.

“We’re doing Secret Santa,” he told them, lightly shaking the shoebox in his hand. Phoebe had decorated it so some red glitter fell gently to the floor at the movement. “I know the idea of Christmas is so fucking prevelant in this country, people don’t think of it as a religious holiday anymore and that’s extremely fucking annoying to those of us who aren’t fucking Christian–”

Some whoops went up from some of the boys and Roy nodded at them in approval.

“-but giving and receiving gifts is still nice. So we’re fucking doing it anyway. Come pick a name from the box.”

Everyone cheered, scattered talk coming up from everyone about gift ideas.

Roy passed the box off to Isaac who manfully didn’t grimace at the amount of glitter that was about to get all over him, and turned to go back to the office.

He paused at the door to turn back to them. “Oi! And no booze!”

Most of them started whining at this but Roy shut them down with a glare.

“I don’t want to hear it!” He said. “You’re not just gonna go trading bottles of liquor, you’re going to think about your fucking teammates and deliver something heartfelt or all of you are doing laps until your feet blister so badly they get infected and drop off.”

“Well that’s vivid,” Jamie commented, idly.

Roy bared his teeth at him. Jamie winked back.

Roy growled and turned into the office, closing the door behind him.

“That was sweet,” Beard commented, not looking up from his book.

Roy growled at him, too, coming around to sit at his desk.

Nate peaked his head through the door from his office. “What’s sweet?”

“Roy making a no alcohol rule for Secret Santa so Jamie wouldn’t be singled out or receive a gift he can’t drink,” Beard answered, looking over the top of his book to smirk at Roy. Who wasn’t looking. He could just feel it. “Real thoughtful, coach.”

“I will set your book on fire,” Roy said.

Beard blew him a kiss.

“Is the no alcohol rule for staff as well?” Nate asked, worriedly. “I mean it’s a nice sentiment and all, I’m just not sure how well I actually know Karen from finance.”

“Spoilers,” Beard said, scandalized. 

“There is no Karen in finance, he was being hypothetical,” Roy said, rolling his eyes. “And that’s up to Rebecca so we can ask her. I think she’ll be fine with alcohol, though. Her problem is the spending limit.”

“I think we should just let her spend eight thousand pounds on Kenneth the bus driver,” Nate said, smiling. “I think it would be funny.”

“And Kenneth could use it,” Beard said. “His MLM is hemorrhaging money.”

Roy sighed.

Later that week found Jamie curled up on Roy’s couch frowning at his phone as he tried to figure out what to get Zorro for Secret Santa.

“You really shouldn’t tell me this shit,” Roy said to Jamie’s grumbling, looking up from his book on the other side of the couch. “I shouldn’t be involved.”

“You’re not involved,” Jamie said, wiggling his toes further under Roy’s thigh for warmth. “That’s why I can tell you. You’re on a whole different Secret Santa. So it’s fine.”

Roy grunted, acknowledging the logic in that. “I’ve got Will,” he said. “Figured I’d just get him some nice noise canceling headphones. He hears too much.”

“That’s by design,” Jamie grinned. “Kitman’s a little freak. Good lad.”

Roy grimaced. “I don’t like that.”

“Prude.”

Roy rolled his eyes. “Fine, so no headphones. I’ll think of something else.”

Jamie hummed, a crease between his  eyebrows from his frown. Roy fought down the impulse to rub it away with his thumb. “You’re lucky all your other shopping is done,” Jamie said. “Hanukkah was so early this year. I still have to buy for mummy and Simon and Keeley and Phoebe and–”

“Why are you getting Phoebe a present?” Roy asked. “You already bought her those pokemon cards for Hanukkah. Which she’s obsessed with, by the way.”

“Obviously,” Jamie said, but he still preened at the praise. “But she celebrates both, don’t she? So I gotta get her presents for both.”

“You don’t,” Roy told him. “Have to. You already give her so much.”

“Yeah, and I want to, so lay off, grandad,” Jamie looked at Roy over his phone, his chin jutting out stubbornly. “She’s the best kid in the world and she’s my friend and I love her so I’ll do what I like.”

Roy swallowed, his chest feeling tight. He grunted, nodding at whatever Feeling this was giving him, and turned back to his book. Jamie made a triumphant little “Hmph” and turned back to his phone.

Roy had been having this Feeling a lot lately. When Jamie laughed at a joke or made himself at home at Roy’s house or looked at Roy after he’d done something particularly clever on the pitch, sort of proud and seeking approval. He didn’t know where the Feeling was coming from or why it was happening. But it was there and Roy couldn’t figure out what it was or what to do with it.

But, to be fair, he really wasn’t trying that hard,

“What do you think about skin cream?” Jamie asked. “For Zorro, I mean. He’s got that big bald head, it’s gotta need moisturizing, yeah?”

Roy hummed. “I say don’t get anyone soap products unless you know what they’re skin is like.”

“Oh. Yeah.” Jamie frowned at Roy, kicking him a little with one of the feet still tucked under Roy’s legs. “I will break you, by the way. I will find a skin care routine that doesn’t harm your delicate skin with impure metals.”

“Leave my doctor prescribed body wash alone.”

“Why are you using body wash on your face?!”

“Fuck you. No, do not buy Zorro skin cream.”

Jamie grumbled, turning back to his phone.

“I don’t know what the fuck your problem is,” Roy said. “You’re great at giving gifts. It’s annoying.”

“You only say that because of the gifts I’ve gotten you.”

“Well, yeah, what other gifts would I have to go on?”

Jamie whined, pulling his feet out from under Roy and plopping them in his lap instead so he could sink further down on the couch. “It’s easy to get gifts for you. Been obsessed with you since I was a kid, haven’t I? I already know what shit you’d like or find funny.” Jamie sighed, letting his head think back against the armrest. “I haven’t always been the best teammate.”

Roy put his book down, resting a hand on Jamie’s ankle. “Yeah. You were shit.”

Jamie dropped his heel on Roy’s thigh in a gentle kick, not picking up his head.

Roy breathed a laugh. “You’re not now, though. So get the fuck over yourself – your gift will be fine.”

Jamie snorted. “I can do better than fine. It’ll be mint.”

“Fucking prove it.”

Jamie picked his head up, smirking at Roy and looked back at his phone. He left his feet where they were.

Roy smiled when he was sure Jamie wasn’t looking at him anymore. He watched Jamie’s hair, worn loose even after all the walnut mist had grown out, as it fell delicately over his eyes. Jamie made a stupid face when he was concentrating: his mouth all pouted out, his top lip coming up to touch his nose. He whined at Roy every time he pointed this out, saying he wasn’t doing it on purpose and Roy’s face was more stupid than his could ever be.

Fuck, there was that Feeling again.

“Do you know what part of Canada Zorro’s from?” Jamie asked and Roy had to rush to fix whatever his face was doing before Jamie looked up.

“Montreal,” Roy answered. “Why?”

“I’m trying to find locally sourced maple syrup,” Jamie told him. “It’s gonna cost a fuckload to ship but what’s all my money for if not to show my teammates I love em?”

And Jamie had said the word before when he was talking about Phoebe. And he told Keeley he loved her and he signs off every phone call with his mum with an “I love you”.

But something about Jamie saying it just then, his warmth on Roy and his face all soft and looking perfect against the backdrop of Roy’s house – of Roy’s life – made that fucking Feeling rocket like a pinball from his chest into his brain and go clink.

“Fuck!”

He shoved Jamie’s feet off him and stood up, moving quickly to the kitchen.

“Oi!” Jamie complained from the couch. “Be gentle with these feet - they were kissed by God, remember?”

Roy pressed his forehead against his fridge and tried to breathe. Fuck. Fucking fuck fuck fuck.

“You let me know when you’re done with whatever that magical realization was,” Jamie called. “I still want your opinion about the syrup thing. They also have syrup candy? But it seems like you make that yourself. That could be fun to do as a team.”

Jamie was still talking. Roy’s entire life just rearranged itself and Jamie was still talking.

“There’s also this Canadian brand called Roots or summat. It has sweats and stuff? But also hats. That’s something I can get him to protect his bald head. Man, you’re right, I am good at this.”

Roy slammed his hand against the fridge and stalked back to the living room.

Jamie looked back, taking in Roy’s stress position but looking completely unconcerned. “Oh, good, you’re back. I think I’m gonna do the syrup and the hat. That way he can eat one and keep one, yeah?”

“Are we in love?”

Jamie jerked, his phone nearly flying out of his hand. “What?”

“You and me. Have we been in love this whole time? I just found out.”

Jamie’s eyes were wide, both his hands curled around his phone, held to his chest like he was protecting it. A strand of his hair was somehow caught on his stupidly long eyelashes. He looked so beautiful.

Roy was going to punch himself in the dick.

“Fuck!” he cried again, collapsing back on the couch. He put his head in his hands and waited for his stupid heart to feel normal again.

That was looking less and less likely, though, as Jamie moved closer to him (slowly, ever so slowly) and put a hand on his back.

“Um–” Jamie started, and his breath hitched a little. “I mean, I am. In love. I mean.”

He let out a frustrated breath and Roy turned to look at him.

The crease between his eyebrows was back and Roy actually did reach out a hand to smooth it out this time.

Jamie leaned into his hand. “I hoped, you know?” Jamie said. “The way you let me hang around so much and how much time I get to spend with you and Phoebe and you’ve met my mum and she loves you and your sister seems to trust me which is mint and–” he took a deep breath. “I thought maybe you loved me. Since you haven’t gotten sick of me yet.”

Roy grunted. It wasn’t a nice enough sound so he tried words next. “What about you?”

Jamie snorted, moving closer to Roy until their sides were completely pressed together. “Man, I’ve been in love with you for years. First I was just a fanboy, you know? Wanked to your poster, studied your play, wanted to impress ya. But then I knew you and you were better than I imagined. Because you were a fucking prick.”

Roy snorted, shaking his head.

“No, really!” Jamie continued. “Before that you were like a god, you know? Untouchable. But then you were mean but gentle with your niece and a little clumsy and believed in ghosts and you were a person and there was nothing on earth that could stop me from loving you.”

Roy sighed, letting his head dip down and rest against Jamie's. He took a deep breath in, inhaling Jamie’s air.

“So we’re in love,” he clarified.

Jamie laughed, turning his head to kiss Roy’s temple. “Yes, Royo, we’re in love.”

No one else was surprised they were in love. Higgins already had the paperwork set aside when Roy asked for it. Rebecca took out a bottle of champagne sticky noted with ‘For when Roy finally gets out of his own way.’

Beard turned out to be Roy’s Secret Santa and gave him two tickets to Marbella in his and Jamie’s names.

“For the off season,” Beard shrugged. “If you want them.”

Roy growled. “This is definitely over the price limit.”

Beard smirked, flipping his sunglasses down and crossing his arms.

Roy looked past him and into the dressing room where Jamie was receiving his Secret Santa gift from Bumbercatch: a pair of huge pink mittens. HIs face was so bright and happy and Roy loved him so much.

He had to look away. It was so embarrassing having feelings in public.

He looked back at Beard who was holding out a shot of spiced whisky.

Roy took it with a grunt. “Thank you,” he threw back the shot. “And fuck you.”

“Fuck you too, bud,” Beard raised his class and threw his own shot back.

Maybe alcohol was needed for Secret Santa.

[orion-lake]

Happy 2024! I hope you all have been celeb rating or at least enjoying the holiday season.

I wanted to shoutout my favourite posts from 2023 - that just means I reblogged them during 2023 and I like them.... ALOT!

You may have seen the posts I do monthly, I am going to continue to do so and I released the December one yesterday, you can find it here.

I scrolled through all my posts (archive...shhh!) to find my absolute favourites from this year. I am sorry if I missed you....I reblog a lot of content and I have about 400+ in my current queue. I can't wait to see what next year has in store because I am sure I won't remember a lot of what I have queued up for us all.

If you would like to draw my attention to any posts your create. feel free to tag me #usernae.

I want to say thank you to my fellow content creators that make this site such a joy to be on, and be in awe of. You are all crazy talented and I am always surprised by the style, concepts, and skill so many of you display.

But mostly, thank you for all the time you put into making these creations - I want to acknowledge the effort and resources put into this kind of fan art and content creation.

To get the show on the way...

(P.S. some of these posts have reblogs/likes so low it is criminal - have a look through these posts and show them some love.)

Please find all of my favourite posts from 2023 below the cut.

wednesday addams in green by @yenvengerberg

@lgbtqcreators creator challenge | shapes by @matlillard

1 year celebration: shuffle challenge day 3: color manipulation | typography | potc by @lady-arryn

TED LASSO APPRECIATION WEEK ☆ day 5: fave episode ↳ SEASON 2 EP 8 MAN CITY by @simoneashley

@pscentral event 12: take two AMANDA SEYFRIED as KAREN SMITH by @matlillard

Halliwell Sisters by @witchhalliwell

Tyler Posey as SCOTT MCCALL in Teen Wolf: The Movie (2023) by @tracystewart

TED LASSO APPRECIATION WEEK ☆ day 4: underrated character(s) you love [inspo.] ↳ THE PUB REGULARS + CHARACTER TROPES by @simoneashley

@userphotoshop event 9 | characters of color » Kathani Sharma by @anthonybrxdgerton

PARIS by Taylor Swift ⭐by @sadbeautifutragic

KUWTK SECRET SANTA + ELIO’S 2.5K PARTY for @sith-maul​​ ♡ happy holidays, soupmate! by @edwards-teach

MORGANA PENDRAGON in Merlin | 3.05 “The Crystal Cave” by @mazykeen

Here endeth the lesson. I  just wonder if you’ll like it as much as she did. by @payidaresque

EVANESCENCE, BREATHE NO MORE by @hauntedwhispers

[lilacmermaid25]

Ted Lasso Prompt: Rebecca draws Ted's name in this year's Secret Santa, and she blows the gift budget absurdly out of the water.

[memepocalypse]

Ted Lasso Starters

Quotes from Ted Lasso for fun little starters! Picked at random across the seasons.

"I try to love my dad for who he is, and forgive him for who he isn't."

"Wanker."

"I can diagnose myself in a heartbeat."

"Fuck off."

“You deserve someone who will make you feel like you’ve been struck by lightning. Don’t you dare settle for fine.”

"Be curious, not judgemental."

"It hurt my... feeling."

“I think things come into our lives to help us get from one place to a better one.”

"Old people are so wise."

"I’m me. Why would I want to be anything else?”

"You dithering kestrel!"

“The truth will set you free… but first, it will piss you off.”

"Be a goldfish."

"There's something worse than being sad, and that's being alone and sad."

"It's the hope that kills you."

"What better thing to spend money on than love?"

"The E-mail Said 'Secret Santa.' I Didn't Wanna Ruin The Surprise, Did I?"

"Believe."

"As the man once said, the harder you work, the luckier you get.”

[snappysprinkledog]

Things you may not know about Ted Lasso characters/universe if you don't follow afc Richmond on twitter:

. Jamie has had sex in a houseboat

. Roy Kent is the only football player to get two red cards in one match

. In 2007 Richmond changed their kits to a green colour, which they then changed out of because the green was the same colour as the pitch and the players couldn't find each other

. Afc Richmond hold the record for the least completed passes in a half (the aforementioned green kit game) where the successful pass rate was 3%

. Roy talked about the meaning of life and then proceeded to insult a reporter till the reporter left in a post match interview

. Coach Beard is not Jamie's type because of the beard, because beards are 'too scratchy', no other reason

. In the year that Jamie was on the reality tv show and came back to Richmond, he had Jacuzzi sex atleast 6 times

. Higgins ears went through a growthspurt when he was in year 4 meaning they were adult size while the rest of his head was kid size

. Before he left to West Ham, Nate was given a #1 'wonder kid' Richmond jersey

. Isaac has given a post match interview where he says the word shit 9 times in 40 seconds, claiming the game plan was to 'play less shit'

. Nate tried to play secret santa with his family but it ended after his dad gave a gift which was just a written down secret stating 'I do not like this game'

. According to Beard, former players of Ted's are automatically life long friends of Teds

. Beard was team Amy in 'Lust conquers All' and views Jamie cheating on Amy in the jacuzzi as, quote, 'unforgivable'

[lailuhhh]

23, 20, 13 & 12 for the love your fandom ask <33

12. compliment someone else in your fandom

Bro I don’t know if they’re on tumblr or not but @gaelicspirit and @haven126 like????? Just out there writing some of the most amazing things I’ve ever read, making me smile and ripping my heart out at the same time. I go back and read their fics so often they make me go. 😫😭💗🥲

13. your favorite type of fandom event (gift exchange, ship week, secret santa, prompt meme, etc

Definitely have to be any prompt meme. It’s really fun to see other people’s ideas and how they differ from your own when you’re giving the same prompt

20. your very first fandom!

Oh no. Little thirteen year old me was obsessed with Prince of Tennis 😩😩

23. the fandom you're curious about because of a mutual

I’ve seen so much for Ted Lasso and a bit for White Collar, and Star Gate is popping up on my dash so my interest in those are being rumbled a bit

[talldecafcappuccino]

Ted has trouble keeping his relationship with Rebecca a secret (aka yet another gif prompt—click through for gifs giffing)

[olivine-ocean]

Tagged by @explosionguts for this game so…

Last Song: Moonlight On the River was the last track to play for the night on my current playlist

Currently watching: was part way through rewatching Ted Lasso this week before the wifi died, will be going back when I can

Three Ships: uhhh I have no clue but first ones to come to mind r Elihec (Eliwood x Hector, FE7), Metadede (Meta Knight x King Dedede, Kirby series), and uhhh Vergil x Therapy. Have not been like having a lot of shipping brain as of late I suppose?? Vergil needs a therapist tho.

First Ship: uhhh fuck if I remember… smth from a book I read as a kid and got into decently like Percy Jackson or H^rry P*tter. But to give an actual answer, shout out to Stucky (Steve x Bucky, MCU) for being like the first ship I was really into tho aside from whatever self ship shenanigans middle school me was up to.

Favorite Color: Blue and maybe more that like blue green blue, is it teal? Turquoise? Something??? Idk but somewhere in blue

Currently Consuming: Mallomars, they r good

Currently Working On: Pokemon SV DLC, some secret Santa stuff, maybe some fic snippets I’ll never actually publish as usual

Relationship Status: single and not looking for anything romantic, aro ace in me says nah but QPR perhaps

Last Movie: I actually couldn’t tell you, maybe FNAF movie in theaters. Legit don’t think I’ve sat and watched a movie in like a month or two.

Uh tagging people right?

Feel free to ignore if you don’t wanna but..

@the-magic-thief @smoothiekins @blue-haired-heathen @coupleoffruits @seemlikeapercy

Not sure who else to tag so if I missed you feel free to @ me in ur response

[violetc4ts]

I dressed up as Ted Lasso. Not my favorite character from the show (even though he's the titular character), but the store didn't have a costume for my favorite character and I wanted to be lazy instead of creating my own costume. I put the mustache on top of my N95. Hahaha.

Have you read the Isle of the Lost books? I tried to this year finally, and I got through the first two, but uh... yeah I don't know. I still haven't read the third or fourth.

- Secret Santa

that sounds great!!

i read the first one back in 2019 and then i read all the others just this year. i mostly just love the core four moments we get in those books. and the fourth book is pretty much just the core four having existential dread over graduating school and going their seperate ways which i think was a pretty fun storyline.

[haztobegood]

⭐️ Annual Writing Self-Evaluation 2022 ⭐️

Thank you to @larrysballetslippers @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed @daggerandrose @jaerie @louandhazaf @loveislarryislove @beelou @jacaranda-bloom for tagging me! I’ve done this for the past few years and I love seeing how much I’ve grown as a writer each year! (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)

1. Number of stories posted to AO3: 14

2. Word count posted for the year: 52,141

3. Fandoms I wrote for: One Direction, Music RPF (Lil Nas X, Orville Peck), Ted Lasso

4. Pairings: Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson, girl!Harry Styles/girl!Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles/Ted Lasso, Harry Styles/Lil Nas X, Louis Tomlinson/Orville Peck, Niall Horan & Harry Styles

5. Story with the most: Kudos: Not Another Lonely Christmas Bookmarks: Not Another Lonely Christmas Comments: More Than a Mic Drop

6. Work I’m most proud of (and why): We're Getting Better With Time, I feel like this fic showcases how much I've grown since I've started writing. I learned a lot about pacing and adding relevant details while writing this one, and I've received so many wonderful comments on it.

7. Work I’m least proud of (and why): Good Dogs Don’t Bark, it was fun in the moment to share something inspired by Harry barking on tour, but it isn't something I put a lot of time and effort into, so it isn't very memorable to me compared to other things I posted this year.

8. Share or describe a favorite review you received: There were so many lovely comments all around this year, but one of the funniest was a tweet of someone complaining about my Harry/Ted Lasso fic Premier Fantasies that started off with "MY EYES MY EYES MY EYES OH GOOD LORD MY TIME HERE ON EARTH IS DONE." I feel like I've finally made it to a new tier of fic writer by writing something so unhinged that someone broke into all caps.

9. A time when writing was really, really hard: I don't remember a particularly hard time this year, but November and December were difficult just from the number of deadlines I had. I was luckily able to finish everything by their posting dates, but it was very stressful. I posted the Louis Rare Pair, 1D Christmas Fest, art for Reverse Bang, and a secret santa fic all in December.

10. A scene or character you wrote that surprised you: The entire plot of That's What I Want. I wanted to write a rare pair that hadn't been done before. I picked Harry/Lil Nas X and thought it would be fun to do an Mpreg fic. I couldn’t decide which one in the pair should be pregnant. I laughed so hard when I finally figured out a plot with both of them pregnant.

More under the cut.

11. A favorite excerpt of your writing: From We're Getting Better With Time

He turns out the light, leaving his tired reflection behind as he return to the bedroom to finish unpacking. It’s strange, trying to put back pieces of his life into this room that they’ve never fit into. Everything reminds him how little this house feels like a home. The half-filled closet, the dresser without any knickknacks on top, the bare walls. Even the bedding he’d bought was a boring striped pattern.

He was never meant to stay at this rental house long term. But it’s been eight months since his wife asked for a separation, eight months since he signed the lease on the first available furnished rental unit he could afford. The rental has standard beige walls, beige carpet, beige everything. It is a beige purgatory where he’d planned to wait out the final judgement on his thirty-three years of marriage.

The ink on the divorce papers has been dry for six weeks now, and yet he hasn’t thought about buying a house of his own once.

12. How did you grow as a writer this year: My descriptions and details have improved a lot. While writing We're Getting Better With Time, I had sort of an ah-ha moment. I got frustrated because I kept thinking that the story would be told better if I could write a long slowburn fic, but I didn't have time for that because it was for a fest. Instead, I thought about all the elements I'd want if I were writing the long fic, like Harry's relationships with his ex-wife and children, or to show the difference between the home his ex-wife kept and the house Harry was renting temporarily. I got creative and found new ways to slip those details into the story without adding chapters of backstory or filler.

13. How do you hope to grow next year: My goal last year was to finish some of my longer wips. I definitely didn't do that this year, and the longest fic I posted was under 8k. Longer works are a bit intimidating for me, but I still want to finish the bigger ideas I have in my wip folder.

14. Who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer or beta or cheerleader or muse etc etc): The 1D Rare Pair group chat is always so encouraging for trying out new pairings! I branched out with some brand new pairs this year, with Harry/Ted Lasso in Premier Fantasies, Harry/Lil Nas X in That's What I Want, and Louis/Orville Peck in It's All Come and Go.

15. Anything from your real life show up in your writing this year: Oddly, I wrote three fics this year that mention pancakes/waffles, and they were never eaten at breakfast. This was completely unintentional, but makes a lot of sense, as pancakes at dinnertime is one of my favorite meals.

16. Any new wisdom you can share with other writers: Stop editing your first draft. It is a lot harder to edit properly when you don't have the full picture. Try getting your idea onto the page first, then perfect it later.

17. Any projects you’re looking forward to starting (or finishing) in the new year: I have a the start of a prequel for Hex Appeal that I'm hoping to post for @wankersday. I also want to work on my Girl Direction Covid Island fic and my Zouis spy fic.

18. Tag some writers whose answers you’d like to read. @zanniscaramouche @kingsofeverything @quelsentiment @ladyaj-13 @littleroverlouis @uhoh-but-yeah-alright @beelou @allwaswell16 @fallinglikethis @reminiscingintherain @lululawrence @disgruntledkittenface @justanothershadeofblue

[saywhatjessie]

Sleigh Bells Ring

Day 24 of the Advent calendar! Using this list. Day 24: Gift Giving Fandom: Ted Lasso - Pairing: TedTrent 1.1k[Ao3]

The Diamond Dogs decided to do their own gift exchange outside of the staff secret santa so that Trent could be included, even though he no longer worked at Nelson Road. This was completely unnecessary and made Trent well up with grateful tears when Beard told him about it.

The team and staff were doing their exchange during the half day of training on actual Christmas so Trent stopped by on Christmas Eve, coming into the coach’s office while the lads were training in the weight room, a small collection of gifts under his arm.

There were so few Diamond Dogs, they didn’t bother with the secret santa, just picking a budget and deciding to get something for everyone. It was a little more work but Trent felt like he knew the Diamond Dogs pretty well at this point. Knew what they liked. So buying for them wasn’t much trouble at all. And it was nice to be able to show his appreciation for this little community he’d been included in.

The pleased greeting that met him when he entered the office really did make him feel fuzzy inside. What had Ted done to him?

“Glad you’re here, buddy!” Beard told him. “Because we need to give you your gift before Ted logs onto Facetime.”

Trent paused, freezing in his act of arranging the gifts he’d brought on Beard’s desk. “That’s fairly ominous.”

“Yup!” Beard answered, brightly. “Roy?”

Trent did not like the look of Roy’s smile as he pulled out a very tall, very threatening looking present.

Trent looked at it, mistrustfully. It’s not that he didn’t trust his fellow Diamond Dogs, it’s just that he was pretty sure that they’d all at some point picked up on his crush(-ingly in love) feelings about the former gaffer and the fact that they were doing this without him meant there was probably about to be some teasing at the very least.

Trent sighed, stepping forward to accept the package. He could take some teasing. He knew they were not about to be mean but he also knew he was probably about to be embarrassed.

Trent glanced into the weight room to see if any of the team were paying attention. Colin was, of course, because he was Trent’s friend and also had some kind of supernatural ability to sense when teasing material was being presented to him. Jamie was also looking but he looked like he was trying to be subtle about it. Roy probably told him what was going on. Trent sighed again.

He ripped the paper off the box, having to lean it up against a desk to yank the flaps of the box open and inside was Ted Lasso.

Well, it was an illustration of Ted Lasso. Looking soft and rumbled and printed on a body pillow.

Trent dropped his head and everyone else clapped.

“Why would you do this to me?” He asked his shoes.

“Don’t pretend you don’t like it,” Roy said, crossing his arms and looking smug. “We all miss Ted.”

“I have one, too,” Beard told him, holding up his phone to show Trent a picture of, yes, that’s Beard proudly holding up his own dakimakura of his best friend like an American holding a fish.

Trent hummed. If Beard had one too, it couldn’t be that weird (he thought, lying to himself. As if Beard taking part in something would ever make it less weird.)

“We all got you other things too, to open in front of Ted,” Nate contributed. “But we all chipped in on this as well. Because it was funny.”

“I thought it was sweet,” Higgins contributed with his dadly smile. “Who wouldn’t want to have a snuggle with the old gaffer?”

“So have you all got one, too?” Trent asked, hopefully.

Roy snorted. “Fuck no. I have an actual boyfriend to cuddle with.”

Everyone looked over at Jamie who was being less subtle about watching now and waved at everyone, smiling cheerily.

“He’s an idiot,” Roy allowed. “But at least he’s not a pillow.”

“Roy, be nice,” Beard said.

“I am being nice! I got him a pillow! I had to commission that drawing, you know, do you know how embarrassing that was?”

Trent couldn’t help but smile at that. “Thank you, Roy. And thank you to the rest of you as well.”

They all started howling in acknowledgement, Trent woof-ing right along with them.

Beard clapped his hands together. “Okay! Let’s get pillow Ted put away and pull real Ted up on Facetime so we can get this DIamond Dogs gift exchange underway.”

Trent smiled around at the assembled men in the room. His friends. It was nice having a group of people who could rib him for a crush but he knew didn’t really judge him. Who supported him.

And, really, he could feel his own face and the stupid thing it was doing when Ted came up on screen. If they had to deal with him being that embarrassing, they were entitled to some ribbing.

He accepted presents last and everyone else took their gifts from him well, making him feel pleased and accomplished. The other presents Trent received from the Diamond Dogs were a thoughtful assembly of writing tools, vintage band t-shirts, and hair accessories.

Ted himself got Trent a new blazer, corduroy in a deep but vibrant plum color. Casual enough for every day but also very much a statement jacket.

“You deserve to stand out a little,” Ted smiled at him. “People should look at you.”

Trent’s neck felt very hot and he was very grateful they disconnected from the call with Ted not long after.

He wasted no time in dropping his head against the wall and groaning.

Beard silently pulled the Ted pillow from the box and held it out to him. Trent took it, burying nis face in Pillow Ted’s chest and saying no more.

Years later, when the state of education in America took a true nosedive and Henry decided to try his luck at secondary school in London, Ted was back! Coaching the women’s Richmond team and learning how to live for himself again now that is son was almost grown.

What this meant was that the Diamond Dogs received a picture to the group chat about a week into Ted being back taken from Trent’s bed. It was a selfie Trent with Ted asleep in the background, clutching fast to the Ted Lasso body pillow Trent had kept for those years.

The teasing that came down on him for the picture was worth it. At least now he had his own boyfriend to cuddle as well.

[hunne-writes]

🎄Holiday Episodes🎄

Ted Lasso (Apple TV): S2E4 - "Carol of the Bells"

Bob's Burgers (Hulu): S3 E9 - "God Rest Ye Merry Gentle-Mannequins S4 E8 - "Christmas in the Car" S5 E6 - "Father of the Bob" S6 E5 - "Nice-Capades" S7 E7 - "The Last Gingerbread House on the Left" S8 E6&7 - "The Bleakening" S9 E10 - "Better Off Sled" S10 E10 - "Have Yourself a Maily Linda Christmas" S11 E10 - "Yachty or Nice" S12 E 10 - "Gene's Christmas Break"

Grey's Anatomy (Hulu): S2 E12 - "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" S6 E10 - "Holidaze" S7 E10 - "Adrift and at Peace" S9 E7 - "I Was Made For Loving You" S9 E9 - "Run, Baby, Run" S11 E22 - "She's Leaving Home" S15 E12 - "Girlfriend in a Coma"

How I Met Your Mother (Hulu): S2 E11 - "How Lily Stole Christmas" S4 E11 - "Little Minnesota" S6 E12 - "False Positive" S7 E12 - "Symphony Of Illumination" S8 E10 - "The Over-Correction" S8 E11&12 - "The Final Page"

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Hulu): S6 E13 - "A Very Sunny Christmas"

Modern Family (Hulu): S1 E10 - "Undeck the Halls" S3 E10 - "Express Christmas" S5 E10 - "The Old Man And The Tree" S7 E9 - "White Christmas" S10 E10 - "Stuck in a Moment" S11 E9 - "The Last Christmas"

Rick and Morty (Hulu): S4 E6 - "Christmas Rick Tale"

Schitt's Creek (Hulu): S4 E13 - "Merry Christmas, Johnny Rose"

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (Hulu): S1 E15 - "Deck the Halls" S2 E12 - "Christmas Show" S4 E14 - "'Twas the Night Before Christening"

This is Us (Hulu): S1 E10 - "Last Christmas"

Friends (HBO Max): S2 E9 - "The One with Phoebe’s Dad" S3 E10 - "The One Where Rachel Quits" S4 E10 - "The One with the Girl from Poughkeepsie" S5 E10 - "The One with the Inappropriate Sister" S6 E10 - "The One with the Routine" S7 E10 - "The One with the Holiday Armadillo" S8 E11 - "The One with the Creepy Holiday Card" S9 E10 - "The One with Christmas in Tulsa"

Gossip Girl (HBO Max): S1 E11 - "Roman Holiday" S2 E12 - "It’s a Wonderful Lie"

Black Mirror (Netflix): S2 E4 - "White Christmas"

Community (Netflix): S2 E11 - "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas" S3 E10 - "Regional Holiday Music"

Gilmore Girls (Netflix): S1 E10 - "Forgiveness and Stuff" S2 E10 - "The Bracebridge Dinner" S3 E10 - "That’ll Do Pig" S4 E11 - "In the Clamor and Clangor" S5 E11 - "Women of Questionable Morals" S7 E11 - "Santa’s Secret Stuff" Special - "A Year in the Life, ‘Winter’"

New Girl (Netflix): S1 E9 - "The 23" S2 E11 - "Santa" S3 E11 - "Clavado En Un Ba" S4 E11 - "LAXmas" S6 E10 - "Christmas Eve Eve"

30 Rock (Peacock): S3 E6 - "Christmas Special"

Parks & Recreation (Peacock): S2 E12 - "Christmas Scandal"

That 70's Show (Peacock): S1 E12 - "The Best Christmas Ever" S3 E9 - "Hyde’s Christmas Rager" S4 E12 - "An Eric Forman Christmas" S6 E7 - "Christmas" S7 E11 - "Winter"

The Office (Peacock): S2 E10 - "Christmas Party"

Mad Men (Prime Video): S5 E10 - "Christmas Waltz"