#this is meant to be like. teen finrod

[welcomingdisaster]

Hi! For the character - Finarfin maybe? Finrod's poor old Atar has been through so much, he deserves a smooch

yess!! kisses for arafinwë :,)

[forerussake]

Shipper tag game

I was tagged by @dual-domination :DDD thanks!

What ship were you completely obsessed with when you were a teenager, but now you don't care about anymore?

Okay so this whole tag game is gonna be interesting, bc i'm not actually that much of a shipper. I don't really care about shipping for the shipping itself, if that makes sense. I care about the characters and their dynamic, and ships can be interesting for what the characters may or may not bring to each other. Anyway, that was all meant to preface that I don't remember if I really strongly shipped anything when I was a teenager... At the very least I don't think there's one I don't care about anymore. Most of the things I shipped as a teen would have been tolkien ships, and I still carry a great fondness for those even if I'm not an active creator in that fandom atm.

2. Which ship would you consider your first one?

As said above, likely something Tolkien-related?? Maybe Glorestor? I remember reading fics about them but I don't remember actively shipping them. Perhaps Finarfin/Eärwen, that is the earliest ship I remember caring about in a way that I might consider shippy??

3. Your first fanfic was about which couple?

Neither the first fanfic I ever attempted to write (sth about Legolas that I wrote with pen on paper when I was like 10) nor the first serious unfinished attempt (about Thranduil taking up the crown in the aftermath of his father's death) nor the first one I ever published (The Last Son, a character study about Finarfin) are about couples at all... My first one that is about a couple though is Broken, about Turgon and Elenwë, but that is not 'shippy' at all.

4. Do you remember the first couple you saw fanart of?

In Tolkien fandom circles, that will probably have been sth like Gigolas or maybe Glorestor, but I don't remember. The first I have active memory of is Angbang :D

5. Have you ever gotten into ship discourse?

No. I try to stay far away from that...

6. Did you use to have any NOTP or have one currently?

Maybe? There's definitely ships I don't care about, even ones that the rest of the fandom is all about, but there's very few ships I actively avoid. The only thing I actively filter out of my AO3 searches atm is anything that ships Ye Zun and Shen Wei together. That's just not for me... But that is what we have the exclude tags button for, so others can enjoy what they enjoy and you can too :) I also avoid the Pingxie tag like the plague, bc I've seen one too many people in the fandom have bad opinions, but I wouldn't call them a NOTP. It's more a 'missing a third party (namely Pangzi)' kinda deal for me xD

7. Who were the couple in the last fanfic you read?

My mind immediately went to Weilan, but then I remembered that actually it's Zhubai <3 Both are a very likely answer to this question at any given moment.

8. Currently, do you have any OTPs?

See above! Weilan for sure, and definitely also Zhubai (and the extended polycule in the whole of and i will make a silence for you, for which I am eternally grateful to mumble and Sam) <333

9. Is there any couple that, to this day, you are extremely mad about not getting together?

No. As I said before, I'm not really a shipper. I don't consume media in that way. The story is the story, I don't see a reason to get mad about it. If you're unhappy with canon, you throw it in the trash and start writing AU fanfiction. It's not that deep.

10. Is there any ship you used to dislike but now you think they are kind of interesting?

Nah.

11. Do you have any ship that, in the past, would've been considered normal but now you would be cancelled over?

Idk, I suppose some people these days would cancel me over my RPF ships? I've also read a lot of Tolkien fanfic back in the day with ships that the modern purity-police would probably like to put me on a stake over (Celegorm/Curufin(/Finrod), maybe Silverfisting (when we still had the collective guts to call it that) and such.) Look, I was there for all the Yuri On Ice ship wars (that I didn't participate in, mind you), don't @ me with your anti bullshit. Fiction is fiction. Reality is reality. Go touch some grass.

12. What is your favorite crack ship?

I don't think I have one. Crack is not my fanfic genre.

13. What is the couple you read the most fanfics about?

Weilan probably ranks high by now, as does Zhubai. I've read a lot of Silverfisting and Curufin/Finrod in my day. I've read everything that was in the Finarfin/Eärwen tag up until a couple years ago, but that is a rarepair (even though it's canon... that's what you get when your OTP are only mentioned by name 3 times in the whole entire book). Xiyao and Nielan and 3zun are probably high on the list as well. I don't know who wins it, bc I only started keeping track of my reading habits with bookmarks in the past couple years so I have almost no data about the amount of fic I read before my Guardian days.

14. What do most of your ships usually have in common?

Uuhm, often there's something potentially fucked up about the dynamic. Some friction. A certain level of codependency or otherwise unhealthy attachment is interesting to me (how do they work through that? can they?). Most important though is just the deep affection they have for each other. I'm really big on like, choice and consent and free will. When characters could've chosen to part, and it might have even been easier for them to try and let go, but they decide the pain is worth it and they want to work on themselves and the relationship to make it work? When they love each other so much it dwarfs all else, but they still make the active choice to be vulnerable and share that love? That's my jam :)

15. What you absolutely hate in a ship?

Why do we have to end on a negative :(((( hhhm, okay i guess the lack of the above. I hate the soulmate trope with a passion, because so often it erases the element of choice from a relationship. "These characters were meant to be together" okay that's cute but do they want to be? I dislike it when a ship is written in such a way (either by the canon author or by fans) that it takes away the agency from the characters. I'm all for characters living for each other, but there must be meaning behind it. It can't just be fate. It has to be choice. For that matter, when a fandom collectively decides one ship is the way to go and all else is wrong and sucks, that is when I jump ship, because that ship is sinking.

Thanks again for tagging me, this was fun!

Tagging: @pangzi @lucientelrunya @programmedradly @the-marron @lunarriviera @scaredysap @mjsakurea @elenothar @lynne-monstr @aredhel-of-doylkien @thedaughterofshadows if you want to <3

[wizardheart83]

Rings of Power Analysis part #6

Elrond and Galadriel as they relate to the Khazad-Dûm and Númenor storylines

Both are elves, though Elrond is on the young side. Both have come out of a war where they lost their most important people and had to move forward. Both are still affected by their losses. Both have one grief they have talk about (finrod and earendil ) and one that’s too close for words for much of the season ( celeborn and Elros).

Both come to the kingdoms in their plot lines needing something and are met with resistance and I’m not repeating the opening monologue but that. All of that.

The differences in the kingdoms work well with the differences between our elves.

Númenor in its decline gets a Galadriel who’s been forcibly retired. Both have fallen short of their best selves by shutting out people who might have helped. Both tend to rewrite the story of the war in ways that suit them. Elros was at most in his late teens as an elf during the war, he and the men fought but to say they won by their own power and therefore bought the island by their service is a stretch. Galadriel’s opening description of the war leaves a lot of people and motivations out. Both Galadriel and Numenor are being manipulated by people this season as well. Its queen regent is tired and troubled and you have not seen what she has seen.

Khazad-Dûm is, like Elrond in a moment of success that hints at possible stagnation. Elrond is the king’s herald but not a lord to have a seat in the councils of the wise, and Khazad Dûm is great but not what Durin 4 believes it can be. Young and optimistic Durin 4 has seen his share, but his world is still a bright and mighty thing, and he just wants to be allowed to make it that much brighter.

If the two had been switched, what would we have lost? If Elrond had begged leave to sail west but heard the distant call of Numenor and the warnings of Galadriel in his ear and jumped ship, if an optimist with ties to the royal family arrives in numenor, while Galadriel, who we know to be on good terms with the dwarves later goes to khazad dum, presumably having been read in on the mithril issue, what then?

A different story, I think. Elrond would be fascinated by Numenor and maybe emotionally invested in preventing its fall and exploring the life his brother built and what it’s all meant. Without the drive to leave and get back when Galadriel did, the southlanders are probably dead, but maybe Numenor is saved?

If Galadriel talks to Durin 3 and finds in him a much different response to catastrophic loss, does she accept death or does she jump start regime change, putting Durin 4 on the throne and hastening the waking of the balrog?

It could have been different, but I’m not sure that it could have been better.

Though while we’re writing not-fic and switching elves around, imagine if Galadriel had been sent south to get her out of the way while Arondir had been talked onto the boat by Médhor or someone. Arondir in Numenor doing the Galadriel role while trying to get back to bronwyn because Sauron’s landscaping project is a threat to her… and Galadriel going toe to toe with Adar more?!.

Ahem. Ok, back on task.

Galadriel is chaotic ambition at the start and kind of still at the end with the making of the rings.

Elrond starts in lawful ambition and moves into trying not to die by the end, or a neutral place where he knows who he is and he can stand firm in that, whatever comes.

I need a chart for the ambition/ lawfulness thing so there may be a follow up to this series. There’s so much in this show y’all, so much and we’ve had less than one fifth of it.

Of the parallels I’ve discussed Celebrimbor and Pharazôn was the most personally surprising for me, though maybe they shouldn’t have been. Did any of them strike you? Are there other parallels in the show among the plot lines I haven’t talked about? I largely didn’t discuss kemen or elendil’s children here, do you think we’lI get some significant dwarves to balance them out? Look forward discussing with you.

Thus ends the essay (for now)

[legolasgoldy]

A♥️ || 4♥️ || 7♣️ || J♣️ || 2♦️ || 7♠️ ][You can answer for x-men verse or his canon verse, or both.^^][

♥️ ♣️ Send a playing card to my ask box! ♦️ ♠️

// Thank you!! :D @blind-mutant

A♥️ - Who was the first person your muse ever fell in love with?

Maglor. It wasnt really expected, they were so young, about 14 and spent a lot of time together for school, and just because they were good friends. They both were having that realization of “.. i think I like boys too.” at the time, and kinda kept it to themselves aside from maybe one friend. I cant speak for Maglor, but Finrod told his best friend at the time he was having feelings. Mags became his first intense crush. During several months of them working together on a project for music class they kind of played around with subtly flirting or touching shoulders when sitting close, really sweet kinds of things. Just testing the waters to see if the feelings were returned and just because it was such a new feeling.

One day they happen to be sitting really close and looked at each other, then just.. both of them really awkwardly leaned in reallyyyy slow and kissed. They actually kissed, again really awkwardly but really adorable, about three times in a row before Finrod’s mother walked in to say dinner was almost ready. It was a really embarrassing and funny first kiss. His parents are obviously super supportive tho. They dated for about.. a year and 8 months maybe? Around that bc about 5 months into being 15 is when he started getting his mutation little by little and by the time it got to the beginning of 8 months it had gone full fledged and drama happened.

Finrod loved him and thats why he broke up with him, he was a young teen who felt that was the best option. Then he was at the institute for around 7 months when he met Rhys I think, and was 2 like..months into being 16. He moved on with time, it just wasnt meant to be, and being friends with Rhys really and truly made him happy. It felt right and like everything was perfect even if things had happened, they had each other and thats all he realized he wanted. He loves Rhys more than he ever thought he could love anyone. Its a more mature love, rather than a first love. Thats not to say he doesnt love Maglor still, but that type of love changes with time you know? The nature of it.. Rhys is the person he wants to be with, and stay with forever now.

4♥️ - What are your muse’s thoughts on starting/raising a family?

Finrod would LOVE to adopt and raise a family if Rhys wanted to. Children have always been something he imagined having one day. He wants to share that experience with someone he loves, and raise a child together. However, its only something he wants if Rhys wants it.  He never ever EVER wants Rhys to feel like its something they have to have, or like he has to say yes to make Finrod happy. Finrod’s entire world is wonderful with Rhys in it as it is. He doesnt need children to be happy, and if all they ever had was a bunny and a snail he’d be the happiest man in the world still. Which ever they decide one day hes happy with.

7♣️ - Has your muse ever felt “trapped”, either figuratively or literally?

When he first started getting his mutation and realized what was happening he did at first. Mostly because he didnt have a choice in what was happening to him. He was trapped into turning into something, he at the time didnt want. Not to mention something he thought was going to ruin everyones lives including his own. Of course once he learned better and realized it was who he was  meant to be, he would /never/ give up his mutation even if he had the chance. He loves who he is, he wouldnt know what to do without it.

J♣️ - Who does your muse trust the most?

Hmm well he trusts a lot of people and cant just choose one. It depends on the situation presented as to who he would trust with what. In general though, the top people he immediately trusts in ANY situation always is his parents and Rhys. For instance though, his siblings he would trust with his life in serious situations (aside from Galadriel if shes only a toddler just bc shes too little to understand) but not trust his brothers to keep a secret that isnt life or death. Theyre tattletelling 12 year olds haha, theyre gonna tell things sometimes. Finrod does love them dearly tho, just as an older brother he knows better than to trust them with certain things. XD His parents tho are two people he knows, no matter what always have his, his sibling’s, and Rhys’ back too. Theyre good trusting parents, and he knows they would only /ever/ break their promises to them if it was extremely important. The same with Rhys, Finrod knows he can always trust him no matter what the situation and if for some reason Rhys’ breaks a promise or something happens, he knows there HAS to be something extremely important or wrong going on.

2♦️ - How important is money to your muse?

Ehh I feel like this question isnt as simple as it sounds like the last one haha.  It vastly depends on the situation as to how he feels about money. For instance, when he first meets Rhys he doesnt care at all that Rhys doesnt have any money or anything for that matter.  He doesnt place someones worth in relation to their financial status. Which is obvious to anyone who knows him. Even tho Rhys may still feel insecure about that time in his life, which is understandable, its really important to Finrod that he knows, he never ever saw anything wrong with him in any way much less the lack of money and homelessness.

When they meet/become friends/ are at the institute he does start putting more importance into money than before. Previously it was just certain things like, money for a new instrument he had wanted to raise himself rather than his parents spending all that money on him bc they have four kids. Not to mention they had already bought him a guitar among other things.  So he took that summer job at the greenhouse to make that money for something he wanted, and took that job several times so he could help out, and have extra spending money. 

When he meets Rhys, I think that value shifts a bit bc he starts saving for someone else. Sure he still does things for himself, he wouldnt want Rhys to think he wasnt, but when you care about someone you take care of them. Suddenly money went from something he could earn to spend on things he wanted to having a value of making someone he cares for comfortable and at home. Obviously he didnt overkill spend money on him left and right, he knows better, but it was the little things like buying Rhys a jacket he didnt have before, giving him essential things he hadnt had like a toothbrush, socks, more clothes, a hairbrush. He wouldnt pile all these things on him at once so as not to overwhelm him, but hes gonna get those things for him. Some before Rhys even comes to live with him at the institute and some in the weeks after he moves in. After that, its little things like a special snack he knows will make him smile at lunch, a textured scrunchie or cuff bracelet or something he thought Rhys might wanna fiddle with on his wrist when nervous or bored and of course use the scrunchie for his hair. Just little sweet gestures that shows he cares. Rhys’ happiness and to see him smile is priceless.

Once they move into their apartment together I think its a little similar but theyre on their own then. The value on money goes higher bc they have to pay rent and buy groceries. Sure, his parents do help them out the first month or so and help them get a decent car but theyre starting a life together. It turns into supporting them, saying bills, saving up, buying groceries, more sweet gestures. All of that he happily does, hes absolutely thrilled that they have a life of their own that hes just enjoying it even if bills arent fun. Its their life together thats fun and always enjoyable bc he has Rhys.

Furthermore, his importance on money isnt just him supporting Rhys, its also Rhys supporting himself. Rhys having freedom to live, being his own person. Having a life and independence thats very much deserved after what hes been through. Rhys getting a job of his own is so so important to Finrod bc he knows what it means to Rhys. So theres just no limit to how important Rhys’ money is bc of its significance. Thats a really long answer haha but its such a good question I hope it makes sense.

7♠️ - What’s a hard truth that your muse has to learn/has learned?

Hmm. Going back to when he had all those angsty moments when he was first getting his mutation. The hard truth of it was accepting who he was and that it was okay. Just because all of this was happening to him doesnt mean he has to give up everything he ever wanted or people he cared for.  He can still live his life and be happy just the way he is.

[legolasgoldy]

ღ

  Send me a ღ and I’ll fill this out about a ship                      

// YAYYY!! Thank you so much!!! @blind-mutant Some of these are for them as adults and some are just universal for adults and teens :D//

Who’s the first to wake up in the morning:

Finrod! Ive written this out in more detail on another post but he gets up first maybe around 6 am,  gets somewhat ready for the day, makes tea, and prepares breakfast( on work days its a quick breakfast but always good), then he’ll lay back down with Rhys around 7 am and gently wake him up with kisses and soft whispers so that Rhys can get ready too. He’ll make sure Rhys has enough time to comfortably get ready before work. On days they have off from work, he’ll sleep in to maybe 7:30-8.15am and make tea then lay back down with Rhys for a little while then probably wakes Rhys up at 9 am or 9:30 for breakfast.

Their routine at the institute is basically the same although they get breakfast from the school’s kitchen, and sometimes go to eat with everyone else or Finrod bring it up to their room. Its a bit more common for him to bring it up to their room since Rhys isnt a morning person, crowds arent his favorite thing either. They may go eat with everyone else sometimes after Rhys has gotten comfortable with everyone. Depends on how sleepy Rhys is.

Who’s the one to make breakfast:

Finrod again. Rhys is blind so Finrod always cooks though Rhys does help as much as he can with things like stirring/mixing, pouring coffee since its easy to feel place the edge of the coffee pot on the cup and pour with time he can judge how long it takes to fill the cup though mistakes happen sometimes, he can crack eggs, things like that. Though all this depends on what time it is in the morning. Rhys is not a morning person and wont be cooking if its 6-7 am, he’ll most likely be grumping about getting out of bed, huddled in blankets, and will need to be soothed with kisses

Who’s the one to serve the other breakfast in bed:

Finrod! He loves bringing Rhys breakfast in the mornings especially since Rhys doesnt like getting up, so breakfast in bed may happen a lot.

Although deviating from the question a bit, Im sure Rhys does bring Finrod things sometimes, not cooked, but everything is labeled in braille so they probably mutually bring each other treats every now and then when theyre doing things like watching/listening to tv.

Who would suggest a quickie in the morning before work:

Rhys!! Most always, though it really depends on the situation. If Rhys wakes up with a thirst after having dreams about it, Finrod can usually tell unless hes asleep too but he almost always is woken up by Rhys squirming, moving, or making noises. In which case Finrod wakes up a bit turned on too. It could also be swapped and Finrod be the one having dreams or just a boner in his sleep and Rhys wake up.Really any number of scenarios can happen.

Who suggests they both ditch work to lay around all day:

Rhys. Hes not a morning person ( i said it like five times already but its true XD) at all and would very much like staying in bed all day. The same goes for when they were in school.

Who chooses the movies:

Well, Finrod informs Rhys about movies and lets him decide? He doesnt want Rhys to listen to something that he doesnt find interesting. But Finrod does have to actually choose movies to list in order for Rhys to pick one… so.. they both do?

Who initiates kissing during the movie, thus distracting the other from the movie all together:

Rhys? Although it could be both? Rhys sometimes doesnt really pay the movie any attention unless Finrod is actively explaining scenes to him like he usually does. I imagine kissing/making out during movies happens a lot. Rhys could smooch Finrod’s cheek/lips/jaw and it be returned then so on and so on, and vice versa. Also.. If they finish eating snacks and Rhys has food on his fingers ( idk maybe cheeto dust) and they get close to Finrod’s face, he may kiss the pad of one of Rhys’ fingers. Not really meaning it in a naughty way but he’ll definitely do it as a sweet affectionate gesture that can be interpreted in any way Rhys pleases.

Who orders lunch:

Does this mean in a restaurant? They order for themselves, although Finrod reads the menu to Rhys so he knows the options.

If this means ordering take-out then I think Finrod, even if they do have a braille house phone the phonebook isnt in braille unless Rhys memorized the number and wanted to order, or was home alone for what ever reason and wanted to order something? But generally if Rhys is home alone their food is always labeled in the fridge and in cabinets for him to easily fix himself. Plus, im not sure how Rhys would feel about a stranger bringing food to his door, and he wouldnt know how much money to give them. So i think its safe to say, Finrod is the one who orders take-out ordinarily.

Who steals food from the other’s plate without asking:

Finrod would never ( you dont steal food off a blind persons plate even if they can tell, unless eating popcorn or something thats meant to be shared)  so i’ll say Rhys. Although it depends on if he knows what hes grabbing. If theyre eating dinner they have the same thing so theres no point. I think this would happen mostly when eating sweets or snacks, theyre easier to grab and Rhys lovesss sweets. Finrod doesnt mind either, he spoils Rhys

Who curls up next to the other and falls asleep due to a full tummy:

Both? They both do this a lot its hard to tell which does it more. Maybe Rhys, but Finrod would cuddle him right back and may or may not fall asleep with him. It depends, sometimes he likes watching him sleep for a while.

Who distracts the other from trying to work at home:

Well as adults, Rhys doesnt work at home because he answers phones at work, and Finrod is a gardener/landscaper so he doesnt work at home either. ( altho in the future he does take a music teaching job but thats so far into the future im not counting it)

But as teens they both distract each other from their homework all the time and often end up forgetting everything and making out.

Who asks to go get ice cream like a five year old:

Rhys XD boys got a sweet tooth

Who takes pictures of their partner eating ice cream:

Finrod

Who makes a sexual joke about the dripping ice cream on their partner’s face:

RHYS. Altho he couldnt see it, but if he knows its there or Finrod mentions ice cream dripping down his lips or chin, then yes. Rhys would be likely to say something.

Who cooks dinner:

Finrod, but Rhys helps like i mentioned above in the breakfast question, just Rhys almost always helps with dinner because its obviously not 7 am. It does depend on whats being cooked tho, something that requires a lot of chopping and cutting, like making homemade soup for example, there might not be able to help with aside from putting the chopped ingredients in the pot but Rhys will probs sit in there with him and can help make dessert if they make any. They usually only make dessert once a week or maybe once every week and a half depending how long it’ll last so they can have something to nibble on when they want it. They do have occassional unplanned treats tho like going out for ice cream, milkshakes, or some other kind of sweet. Either way, when ever Rhys can help, Finrod is more than happy to let him, he knows how Rhys likes it and its really enjoyable too. Like quality time.

Who cleans up the kitchen afterwards:

Finrod I think? But that is somewhat a group effort too to some extent. Rhys will help put dishes in the sink and maybe things like drying off the dishes and the counter after Finrod washes them? Only because washing the dishes is dangerous for Rhys, not that hes not capable of it, he could but washing knives would be extremely dangerous and he would have to feel everything to see if it was clean.. but again, knives would be dangerous because of that. So if Rhys did want to actually wash dishes one day it would have to be non sharp things and no glass, but Finrod washing and Rhys drying is a pretty good routine already so that will probably be what they stick with?

Who stays up until 2 reading:

They cant on work nights but they both do on the weekends. Readings is one of their favorite couple activities, it special. Finrod reads to Rhys while they cuddle and they enjoy it immensely.

Who stares at their partner while their sleeping:

Finrod

Who kisses their partner while they sleep:

They’ve probably both done it at one point. Finrod wakes Rhys up with kisses a lot and Finrod takes a lot of puppy like naps on Rhys’ shoulder so Rhys has probably kissed him a few times.Then there are just random mornings when one of them wakes up in the morning or after a nap and kisses the other. Maybe more Finrod since he wakes up Rhys with them every morning, but i feel like thats unfair bc they both do it. So its both

[legolasgoldy]

😰

// OMG this took so long im sorry T_T, @blind-mutant but i finally came up with an idea, and its not what we talked about but this is much better

Send 😰 for a glimpse into my muses nightmares ( i think that was it i forgot the exact meme XD)

Retreating into the warm bed after such a stressful day was all he could hope for, snuggling against Rhys’ back comfortably.. as always like they were two puzzle pieces meant to fit. The end of the day was better now that he was with Rhys, his entire body relaxed next to his best friend and a smile tugged at his lips. His date earlier in the day didnt go at all as planned, mostly leaving him confused beyond comprehension as to why he not only didnt mind that the date ended badly.. and that he was wished he was with someone else the whole time. Right now he was going to push all of those thoughts out of mind.

Before long, they were both asleep, breathing softly into the silence of their dark room lit only by the dim glow coming from the blind mutant. For a long time, he had no dreams, only nothingness as he slept happily with an arm around Rhys, and when dreams finally faded into his mind he couldnt remember when they had started.

~

“ Fin..” Rhys playfully whined, having been waiting what seemed like an age for the cupcakes to cool.  The whole kitchen smelled of warm spices and buttercream, mouth watering to say the least.

“ It is almost done I promise.” the wolf mutant laughed while clicking the beaters out of the electric mixer now that the icing was done. “ They are still too hot, you might burn yourself.” As usual though, Finrod went to the silverware drawer to grab a spoon to give Rhys a sample of the icing, he could never make him wait without giving him just a little taste.

However..the moment he scooped up some icing, he turned just in enough time to see a cupcake being suspended by a shadow just over Rhys hands. “ Rhys!” The blonde exclaimed in surprise, half smiling and half genuinely concerned, but he could never tell his best friend no for too long before caving. “ Would you at least let me put frosting on it?” he teased and reached forward for the cupcake, only for the shadow to lift the treat higher and away. Both teens burst into giggles as Finrod reached for it again, the cake moving out of reach each time. Finally in one last attempt he grabbed it, but.. the victory was countered with something he did not expect.

Rhys leaned forward and pressed his lips beside Finrod’s lips, missing his initial target, not that it mattered. The effect was the same, Finrod froze long enough for the white haired teen to pluck the cupcake from his hands.

Finrod’s smile had disappeared, matching his wide eyes in an expression of shock. His stomach twisted in knots and a familiar fluttering in his chest hit him all at once, simply watching Rhys pull the paper off the bottom of the cupcake.. The kiss hadnt actually touched his lips but it was close enough and the warmth of Rhys’ lips still lingered. ‘ I shouldnt say anything’ He thought, ‘ Rhys was just playing’ and thats exactly what he did, look away and decide he should probably go back to finishing the cupcakes.

“ Yeh want to kiss me Fin?” Rhys whispered all of a sudden, taking Finrod’s breath away and he glanced up to see the other teen with a blush against their pale skin.

“N-No…” he stammered taken aback by the question and confused.

“ Its okay if yeh do.”

The blonde’s eyes grew wider, and if he had wolf ears to match they would have been flat. Was this really happening? Did Rhys mean it?.. They were best friends.. they shouldnt…but Rhys stood there as if just waiting for a kiss. Maybe… just a little one? If they dont like it then they could forget about it? How could he be so thrilled and afraid at the same time! Maybe….

Before he knew it, he began leaning in, holding in a breath in suspense. His eyes fluttered closed, and all at once the warmth of their lips gently pressed together. Rhys’ arms slid around him, his heart beating faster and faster, beginning to part his lips for another kiss.

~

Finrod woke up with a small start, blinking in confusion trying to understand what was going on. Slowly he pieced it together looking aimlessly through the dark room then settling on the glowing figure in his arms. 

It had been a dream…. A wounded feeling sank into the pit of his stomach at the realization… He should have known, Rhys would never have done such a thing, they were best friends, they might as well be family. The dream wasn’t real… he kept telling himself, just a ridiculous dream. And yet, the wound felt ever deeper the more he thought it, and teary eyes glistened in the pale blue light.

It wasn’t real, and never would be.