#throwback fic

[theresthesnitch]

Saw you posted the three strikes snippet, and went back to read it today. Very enjoyable few hours

I did! I'm so glad you enjoyed it again!

I genuinely assume that everyone who follows me knows about Three Strikes til you're out, which was my first really successful fic. We're also just shy of it's 2 year birthday! But apparently there's lots of people who didn't know aobut it?

So, I'm going to take this as an opportunity to share it again. 🤣

Three Strikes 'til you're out

Lily Evans knows nothing about baseball. Or baseball players. She knows even less about James Potter. However, when some bad press risks James's endorsement deals, Lily finds herself thrown into a fake relationship with him. Can they convince the world they are together and save James from the tabloids? Can Lily keep her heart as she learns about James? Or will they both strike out?

~ fake dating ~ celebrity AU ~ mutual pining ~ idiots in love ~ modern, muggle AU ~

Read it here in AO3

[shotmrmiller]

ghost would go to an animal shelter because price told him to get a plant or a pet or something, him having no hobbies outside of work isn't healthy and he takes home both the wrinkly, bald cat with the pink toe beans and nasty demeanor and the pretty volunteer that showed her to him.

now he's got two things to spoil rotten.

[otrtbs]

me when i confront etsy sellers for selling my fanfic sometimes...

[giggly-squiggily]

Hoodie (My Hero Academia)

Heyo! Bringing back some NOSTALGIA! :D So this was actually a fic I submitted to @otomiyaa's old blog waaaaay back when I was still a baby fic writer. The submission has been lost, but I figured why not blow off the dust, give it a fresh coat of formatting and editing and bring it here! :D I don't know if you're still a DabiHawks shipper Ginny, but I hope this brings some good nostalgia to you :3 Keep being amazing, friend!

Cloud 9 (Taglist Peeps):

@myreygn @thatbigbisexual29 @duckymcdoorknob @wolfyeatstacos @baby-tickles2022 @cupcake-spice13 @nutzgunray-lvt @sarahmaystock5578 @rachi-roo @mochi-giggles @chibisstuff @imjusthere07 @sevenincubistolemyheart @sp1racle

CW: Swearing- It's Dabi after all

Summary: Dabi likes to steal Hawk's clothes-even if they feel "weird" with all the feathers stuck within. Hawks decides to explore what that really means.

With Dabi, Hawks could never predict what was coming. And he loved it.

The villain had a way to him that drew at Hawks. It was endearing and baffling and all and all an addiction Hawks didn’t want to kick.

Sometimes the Villain would break into his home while Hawks was on patrol. When the Pro-hero checked his security alert, he would be given the sight of Dabi lounging about in his apartment, drowning in the birdman’s hoodie and eating his hot Cheetos.

Other times Dabi would tell Hawks to meet him in the most obscure locations, ones that required lots of twists and turns and always leaving the Pro hero exhausted by the time he got there. The information he received wasn’t always worth it, but the scarred yet gentle kisses Dabi gave him were.

Today was no different. Dabi had made himself at home in Hawks' apartment when the Prohero got there, once again wearing his hoodie as he stretched out along his couch. No snacks this time. Dabi’s jacket was folded behind his head in a makeshift pillow, and his boots were kicked off, placed neatly by the front door.

Hawks bit down a laugh as he closed the door, taking his time removing his jacket and boots before walking over. A sight like this must be savored. “Seems like you’re quite attached to that hoodie, huh?”

Dabi cracked open an unfairly blue eye, looking up at Hawks through tuffs of black hair. “Hmmm...” He drawled, stretching his arms lazily over his head and leaving them there, hoodie riding up and revealing a line of silver skin. “It’s warm. ‘S not like you wear it, anyway.”

“That’s because you're always stealing it.” Hawks replied with a smirk, making his way over to the cozy villain and climbing on top of him. A few adjustments later he was  bracing his arms on either side of Dabi’s head. “Not that I’m complaining, though. You look good in my clothes.”

Dabi rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide the twitch of his lips at Hawks' words. “Whatever. It’s too big, and it's always full of feathers.” Dabi reached a hand out, running his fingers through the soft red wings that encased him. The gesture earned Hawks’ hum of approval. “I have to pluck them off before I can wear it.”

“Do they bother you?” Hawks asked, eyes curious as he reached up, capturing Dabi’s hand, rubbing his thumb along the scarred knuckles. They were old, no longer raw and painful. He wanted to kiss them again and again, even if Dabi couldn’t feel it.

“Not really. They just feel weird.” Dabi mused, smoothing out the miscue feathers with gentle fingers. “Pretty bird...” he murmured, making Hawks blush.

 The Prohero watched him curiously, hung up on Dabi’s earlier comment. “Feels weird, huh?” He let his free hand fall to Dabi’s hip, sneakily pushing the oversized cloth up with his hand.

“Yeah. They’re too- niieh!” Dabi flinched with a yelp when he felt something soft brush his skin. He glared down at the lone wing close to his exposed waist, then at the smirking hero above him. “Just what do you think your do-ah!” He flinched again when the wing brushed his side, aiming for untouched skin. Realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and he glared fiercely, trying to ignore the growing blush filling his face. “Don’t you fucking dare!”

Hawks grinned, eyes alight like a child just discovering Christmas for the first time. “Weird, huh?” He asked again, quickly reaching up and trapping Dabi’s hand within his own.. “You’re ticklish?”

The villain didn’t respond, opting to glare instead. Hawks flexed his wings.

“Hawks, I swear to god, if you tickle me-“ Dabi didn’t get to finish his threat, clamping his mouth shut and squirming about as Hawk’s feathery appendage traced his skin, the tickly touch leaving trails of goosebumps along the pale skin.

“Hm? What was that?” Hawks teased, his smile growing as Dabi squirmed and quivered beneath him, cheeks flushed a soft pink and jaw set in an attempt to keep the embarrassing noises at bay. “Aww! What a cutie! Trying so hard to hide it-come on, let me see that smile!” Hawks teased, finally slipping a hand under Dabi’s hoodie and gently clawed at the sensitive skin.

“GAH! Ahehehehhahahahaha! F-Fuahhahahaha! Stahahap! Dahahahamn y-yohoohhhohou!” The dam broke. Dabi threw his head back and cackled, eyes squeezing shut with mirth as Hawks tickled him mercilessly. He thrashed and squirmed, kicking his feet against the couch cushions as he tried to wriggle free. “Freahhahahaking wiihihings!”

 The Pro hero grinned, delighted by the reaction from the usually somber villain. “There it is! I knew you had some semblance of joy in you! Tickle tickle tickle, Dabi!”

“S-SHuhuhuhuhut uhuhuhp! Ahehehehahhaha! GAH! Nohohohohoho bihihiihihrdie  stAhahahap!” Dabi arched with a squeak when Hawks’ fingers brushed over the lower parts of his stomach, fingers and feathers very gently teasing the terribly sensitive skin like a dance. It left the brunette howling with laughter- the tops of his cheeks burning like the flames he could create. If he still had working tear ducks, he was sure he’d be misty eyed right now.

And Hawks- oh that freaking Hawks. He was laughing with him,seemingly overjoyed by the sight of him so vulnerable! Though- he had to admit; the sound of him laughing was rather nice…

Finally, when Dabi couldn’t take it anymore- when he was just barely getting out a wheeze that embarrassingly sounded like a dog toy- did Hawks stop. The tickles came to an end; his hand opting to rest his hand against Dabi’s warm chest. As the villain gasped for air, he rubbed soothing circles into it, helping him compose himself.

“Ahehehehe..hehehehe…fuhuhuhuck..” Falling back into the couch cushions, Dabi closed his eyes-willing himself to calm. He felt both humiliated and exhausted and…free. Relaxed. At ease. The feeling of Hawks’ hand against his scarred chest- that comforting pressure as he listened to his racing heartbeat- it was nice.

Bastard.

“F-Fuhuck you...Birdie.” Dabi growled, reaching up and punching Hawks in the shoulder. Only the punch was more of a tap, and Hawks laughed as he caught his hand, bringing the scarred limb up and kissing his knuckles.

 “Hey, you enjoyed it! You could have broken free at any time.”

That comforting feeling grew as he realized…he was right. The entire time Hawks had him, he wasn’t holding on that tight- and if Dabi really wanted to escape, he could. The fact he had that option from the get go did funny things to his chest.

Then the humility came crashing back- leaving the scarred villain redder than Hawks wings, which was what he promptly shoved his face against to hide in mortification. “S-Shut up! I- don’t laugh!” His muffled stammering was enough to send Hawks into a laughing fit, flopping against the embarrassed villain and pulling him entirely into his chest.

 “Come now. Don’t be embarrassed. Everyone's ticklish. Even you.”

Dabi groaned against him, only peering out to glare at his feathery boyfriend. “I hate you.” 

Hawks smiled, leaning down and kissing him gently. “I love you too.”

Thanks for reading!

[adventures-in-mangaland]

I'm going with 10 All Time Classics from the Captain America (MCU) fandom. I mean, they're all classics to me, at least. In no particular order:

1. This, You Protect by owlet

First installment in the Infinite Coffee and Protection Detail series, which are all amazing. It's a “Bucky escaping Hydra and rebuilding his sense of self” fic, which he does while spying on Steve. With eventual Avengers Family and a lovely cast of OCs bonding with Bucky in the meantime. It has a very distinctive perspective and writing style; Bucky's in constant internal (and sometimes accidentally external) dialogue with himself, making it hilarious and tragic all at the same time. I love it. I've recently been getting into The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells and this Bucky has a similar sassy-but-vulnerable vibe? Read this if you like that, anyway.

2. The One Who Knows by Dira Sudis (dsudis)

This is a Political Animals AU, in that no-powers Steve is inserted into the Political Animals world and Bucky is TJ. Discusses being outed and depression but is ultimately hopeful. The author is one of my all time faves and has written lots of great stories for this and many other fandoms.

3. Blue Scales by chaya

Steve is a merman AU. He's still Captain America, though. It's crack with heart, I love it.

Best line: "May your scales and your love story be our weird secret forever.”

4. Our Lingering Frost by eyres

AU where Bucky is rescued from Hydra in the 50s (?) and so is around for Steve to be found.

5. Assets Out of Containment by follow_the_sun

It's a classic to *me*, OK? Bucky goes undercover at Jurassic World just as that movie's plot kicks off. They're Hydra dinosaurs! It's just great. Also has a podfic and crossovers with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

6. Not Easily Conquered (series) by dropdeaddream and WhatAreFears

Some of the greatest fanfiction I've ever read, the whole series is epic. Anyway, it's a "Steve doesn't go into the ice" AU with added queer angst when (never sent) love letters from Bucky resurface. I particularly like the second installment in the series The Thirteen Letters, which are just Bucky's letters and are insanely well-written.

7. to memory now I can't recall by Etharei

Time travel AU! Featuring post-CATWS Bucky accidentally switching places with CATFA era Bucky.

8. If Wishing Made It So by Leveragehunters (Monkeygreen)

Genie!Bucky AU! This author is great at writing AUs with fantasy/genre elements, it was hard to choose. They've also written an excellent werewolf!Steve AU and a horse!Steve AU that I really love.

9. Into That Good Night by Nonymos

An Interstellar AU! Very angsty and tragic but with an eventual happy ending.

10. Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square by Speranza

Speranza must be one of the best writers in the fandom, so it was hard to pick just one of their fics. Other strong contenders were All the Angels and the Saints and The Fifties, so check those out too! But this one has a special place in my heart. Steve, Tony and Natasha accidentally time travel to WW2 London, leading to an accidental run-in with CATFA-era Bucky. The author does tragic and romantic time travel tropes so well, but with a happy ending.

I now realise that most of these are AUs, so here’s a bonus rec for a non-AU in-universe story that’s severely underrated and deserves more love:

+1

Heart, Have No Pity on this House of Bone by Sena

This story follows Bucky in-action in the Pacific Theatre. It’s very well written and, from what I can tell, well researched. Steve only appears in Bucky’s imagination and the story focuses on the horrors of war rather than romance, but it’s gripping! And it explores unrequited love, being closeted and period-typical homophobia, which I also enjoyed. I’m still holding out hope for a sequel.

[jerzwriter]

Reblogging for @choicesficwriterscreations Throwback Thursday. This is probably my all-time favorite stand-alone Ethan fic (this one is a Casey AU, pre-Kaycee.)

Just Until Midnight

Book: Open Heart

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Casey MacTavish)

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Language

Summary: Casey needs someone uncomplicated to pretend he’s her boyfriend at her med school roommate’s wedding. When no one is available, Ethan volunteers and it becomes very complicated. But she learns some important things along the way.

Category: Fluff – One Shot

A/N: Hello this is a request for Day 2 of Flufftober: Fake Date – Ethan and Casey

A/N 2: This is fluff, but it does have a little angst in it (not too bad).

CHARACTERS BELONG TO PIXELBERRY STUDIOS

If you wish to be added or removed from tags, please let me know. Comments and reblogs always appreciated.

Flufftober Masterlist

She was seated at the table, scowling at her phone when he entered the office. He knew her well enough she was best left alone when she had that look on her face. So he gingerly stepped around her, careful not to make so much as a sound, as he made his way to his desk. Lost in her own little world, she never even realized he was there.

Not too long ago, being invisible to her would have upset him. While he would never admit it, he didn’t exactly hate the times when she had gazed at him like he was some immortal hero. It was a look that he would have found pathetic on most, a look he found pathetic on many, but on Casey, he couldn’t get enough. Of course, it took less than a week for him to knock himself right off the pedestal she placed him on; but after that, miraculously, things seemed to get even better between them. The bond they began to create after they mourned the loss of Dolores together grew deeper over time. Ethan Ramsey made it a point to rely on very little in this world, but he came to rely on her. He couldn’t recall the last time he enjoyed someone’s company as much as he did hers, her smile warmed his heart, her laugh enchanted him, he began to consider her… a friend. Then more. And more.

He only got to spend two nights at her side, and they were the most magical, the most tender nights he had ever known. When he left the warmth of her bed the second time, knowing it would be the last, the pain was so great he put a continent between. Upon his return he implored her to stay away, to honor the “reset” he had implemented without her consent. He couldn’t have handled things worse, and the shame he felt only widened the chasm between them.

So now he was her boss. He rarely used her name and on the rare occasion when their eyes met, he saw sadness, until it became anger, and now, nothing at all. He stole a look at her as he settled into his desk to tackle the bevy of e-mails that awaited him, but the quiet did not last long.

“Damn it!” she yelled, tossing her phone so forcefully, he thought for sure it was done for. It wasn’t, he took note of the case, he’d buy an Otterbox later that day. She was startled to find him there.

“Oh. I didn’t hear you come in.”

“I walked right past you.”

“I didn’t notice.”

“Is everything OK?”

“Yep, everything is peachy.”

Whistling and a slamming door announced Baz’s arrival.

“Casey, I got your message. Sorry, no can do, that’s the weekend our cousin is getting married. Is Bryce sure he can’t go?”

Casey’s eyes widened, trying to silently get Baz to stop talking, but he didn’t get the clue.

“I mean, Bryce, Elijah, me, even Zaid, all busy the same day? What are the chances?”

Casey’s eyes were now saucers and she desperately tried to change the subject. But Baz was undeterred.

“You know, you should ask that intern, what’s his name? Tyler something? He seems to have the hots for you, Case! But then again, you wanted no complications, so.”

She dropped her head into her hands. “Baz. Could you stop talking… please.”

He looked up to find Ethan staring curiously between him and Casey.

“Oh, hi Ethan.” He looked at Casey and shrugged. “So what, he’s not going to care.”

Shaking her head, Casey rose from her seat and began heading out of the office.

“I’m going to go get some water.”

“We have water in here,” Ethan offered.

“Nope, I want different water,” she yelled as she made her escape from the room.

“What was that all about?” Ethan asked.

“She’s in search of a fake date. One of her med-school friends is getting married and her ex is going to be there, with his new, actually a model girlfriend, and she doesn’t want to show up stag.”

“What? That’s preposterous! What does she have to be ashamed of? She saved Naveen’s life. She has received accolades within the medical community, near and far. She’s the youngest person ever to be on our team, and she’s threatened by… a model?”

“She’s not threatened, Ethan. She just doesn’t want to be the only one sitting at the table when everyone else is dancing, especially when her jackass ex is dancing with Ellie Saville.”

“Ellie Saville? The Ellie Saville?”

“Yep. That Ellie Saville. Wow, if you know who she is, she must be popular. And you wonder why Casey is wigging? I think she may end up not going at all. Ah well. Hey, you should offer to take her.”

“Baz, I’m Casey’s boss.”

“I’m not suggesting you marry her, it’s a fake date. Do her the favor.”

“Baz, if she wanted to, she would ask and she hasn’t. Which is a good thing because I would have to decline. Now, I think the matter is closed.”

“If you say so.”

____________________

Later in the day, Ethan was making his way through the hall when he heard Casey speaking with Dr. Trinh and Dr. Varma. He purposely moved into an empty room nearby, just to listen in. He shook his head in disbelief.

What the hell has become of me?

“You know Casey, I’d go, but I have to stay here and cover for you. Or I could not cover for you, then you could honestly say you can’t go.”

“I can’t not go, Jackie. Leah was too good of a friend. I would have never made it out of med school without her.”

“Oooh, I know!” Sienna interjected, “What about that cute doctor you were telling us about?”

“What cute doctor?”

“You know, the one who gave Aurora the job, what was it…”

“Dr. Carrick!” Jackie said, snapping her fingers. “That would be perfect! Aurora said he was totally into you.”

Ethan’s heart almost stopped beating.

“Well, he did say to call him, and I plan on; but I didn’t want to bring anyone who could end up being an actual thing,” Casey shrugged, “but I guess it’s as good of a time as any to see if it can be.”

She took her phone out of her pocket and began to enter a message when Ethan came barreling in their direction.

“Dr. MacTavish! I have been looking all over for you.”

She looked down at the phone, already in her hand.

“I am at the nurse's station. The one outside our office. And I don’t see any messages?”

“That’s not important, come with me. I need to consult with you on a case, it’s urgent.”

“Oh, of course. I’ll see you two later.”

Ethan closed the door behind him as they entered the office.

“What is it, Dr. Ramsey? It seems important.”

“It is,” he answered flustered. Flustered because Casey, his Casey, his Rookie, had Tobias Carrick’s number in her phone. He didn’t even know that she knew the man. He could not let her ask him. “…who could end up being an actual thing….” her words played over and over in his ears. Oh, he was not going to be an actual thing. Ethan began to sweat.

“Ethan,” she asked concerned, “Can I get you something? Some water perhaps? Are you the emergency? What’s wrong?”

He was cornered.

“Yeah, get me water.”

He moved to the couch and motioned for her to join him.

“So, I hear you have this wedding coming up, and you need…”

Her face went red.

“Who told you? Tell me. Tell me right now because I need to find them, and then I need to kill them.”

“If you kill someone, we will have no choice but to remove you from the residency program.”

“Not if a body is never found.”

“Before you commit a felony and I’m arrested as an accessory, can we get back to you needing a date for your friend’s wedding? How I found out is irrelevant.”

“Ethan, the whole thing is really none of your business. Imagine how preposterous you would think it was if the shoe were on the other foot, I dare say that…”

“Why didn’t you ask me?” He asked softly.

He sounded equal parts hurt and offended and Casey was not having it. She crossed her arms over her chest and shot him a look that would have reminded him how stupid his question was, even if he hadn’t already realized it himself.

“We’re not doing this again, Ethan. We’re not. You barely even look at me anymore. Never mind a relationship, any semblance of friendship we had is all but gone. You have made it painfully clear to me that we are “reset”. Yet I was supposed to ask you on a date?”

“Well, but… it… but it wouldn’t be an actual date. Did you ask Baz on an actual date? Or Raf, or…”

“That’s different, Ethan, and you know it. They’re friends. They never slept with me and they never ran off to the Amazon to forget me. They never came back to tell me…”

“All right, I know. I know!” He inhaled deeply and turned toward her. “I know our history. I know how much I’ve messed things up and… I know I miss the way we once were. When we talked to each other, relied on each other when we were…”

“Friends?”

“Yes, friends before …”

“Before it got all messed up?”

“Casey, I’d like to get back to that and, maybe this can give us a chance.”

“So, you think that you, my boss, my former lover, the man that I have a ton of unresolved feelings for, and I know you have them for me too… you would be my best choice for an uncomplicated fake date? That somehow the two of us pretending to be out together would restore our friendship? I’m starting to question if your mind is as brilliant as I once believed.”

“Look, I know it sounds absurd but what we have been doing hasn’t been helping the situation, has it? Maybe that’s the wrong approach, instead of avoidance… maybe we should work on what we were before it all went crazy. It’s one day and you know I won’t let things go too far. What do you say?”

____________________

“You said no, right?” Jackie asked incredulously. “Right? I’m waiting on the ‘right’, Casey!”

Casey looked up at the ceiling and let out a groan.

Jackie threw her hands in the air. “Casey, what the fuck are you thinking?”

“Your brain has honestly lost control of this situation,” Elijah added.

“Thank you, guys, thank you! The love and support I’m getting here is just overwhelming!”

Sienna attempted to soften the blow, “I thought you were going to ask Dr. Carrick? Why don’t you call him? If he says yes, just tell Ethan that a friend was able to go after all.”

“Thanks, Si, but I think that would just complicate things at this point.”

“Complicate? Do you know what’s complicated? Why do you think he asked you? He heard our conversation. He knew you were going to ask someone for real, for real, and he had to stop it.” Jackie shook her head, “Oh, Case, he played you like a fiddle. He can’t have you, but he doesn’t want anyone else to either.”

“Jackie, you know what, you’re… you’re… oh, God, you’re absolutely right. And I am a complete idiot!”

“Thanks, Jackie,” Sienna glared.

“Hey, reality is a friend. She needs to know what she stepped into.”

“What are you going to do, Case?”

“At this point? I’m going to go. I can’t back out now without making things even more weird. I’ll go, I’ll dance with Ethan, and let Jonathan see me. He can believe he was all wrong about me, that I’m not all work and no heart, that I have it all. Then I’ll slink into the passenger seat of Ethan’s car and head back to Boston knowing that Jonathan actually was right about me all along.”

Sienna placed her hand on Casey’s shoulder, “Oh, Casey, that’s not true, that’s not true at all. Look, I think it would be better if…”

Casey lifted Sienna’s hand and gave it a squeeze, “It’s OK, Sienna,” she smiled sadly, “that’s just how it’s going to go. But it will be fine.”

____________________

It was the early morning hours of Leah’s wedding day, and, despite Casey’s predictions of doom, she found herself in good spirits. A morning jog, one of her favorite banana muffins, and a long hot shower left her almost looking forward to the day.

She struggled with what to wear, finally selecting a romantic, shell pink lace dress she purchased simply because she loved it. She knew the perfect occasion would arrive and it seemed to have presented itself. She slid into the delicate lace sheath that skimmed perfectly over her curvaceous frame. Sienna fastened the small, pearl buttons that extended from the nape of her neck down to the small of her back. The delicate scalloped hem fell perfectly below her thigh and the antique pearl necklace her grandmother gave her sat just above her delicate, perfumed cleavage. She put her hair up, then put it down, then put it up again. Sienna watched as she touched up her already perfect make-up, then changed her shoes for the umpteenth time, finally settling on the strappy nude sandals she bought just last night.

Sienna knew, Casey knew, but neither admitted it to the other: Casey was getting her hopes up. Unbeknownst to Casey, her best friend had traded days off with another resident just to be there at the end of the night. Just in case. Casey’s mind was racing. She had accepted that she and Ethan would never be, she had let go of that fantasy. Or did she? There was no denying that feeling that was creeping up inside her again no matter how hard she tried to tamper it down.

But why else would he have asked you? Why else would he have cared if I brought someone else? Why else would he want to spend the day with me? What if….

She shook her head, unwilling to let her thoughts stray anymore than they already had.

The doorbell rang, and she froze in place.

“Would you like me to get it?” Sienna asked.

“No, I’m all set. Plus, I don’t want to expose him to Jackie.”

“That’s probably for the best,” Sienna smiled.

“Sienna, thank you for helping me.”

“Oh, that’s what friends are for!”

“Well, I’ve got the best.” Casey let out a loud sigh, “Here goes nothing.”

When she swung the door open, Ethan was standing there, looking every bit like the man she had fallen in love with. She hadn’t seen him in a tuxedo since that night in Miami, and she found him ever bit as irresistible now as she did then.

This was a bad idea.

“Hi, Ethan. You look… you look incredible.”

He couldn’t answer at first, lost in the way the soft tendrils were dripping from her upswept hair, falling onto along the soft skin on her neck. The gentle pout of her pale pink lips and the way her crystal blue eyes gazed up at him from under her long lashes left him speechless. He had every intention of replying, but the truth was, she took his breath away.

This was a bad idea.

“Hi… Casey… you look…”

“Decent.”

“That was not the word I was reaching for at all, truth is, I couldn’t find one good enough.”

Her cheeks flushed and he felt an unusual feeling in his chest when he saw the corners of her lips turn up ever so slightly. Was that… hope? He found it exhilarating and terrifying, all at once.

“Are you ready?” He asked with a smile.

“Yes, I… oh, I forgot my phone. Can you just give me one second? I’ll be right back.”

“Of course.”

She moved quickly down the hall and opened the apartment door just in time to catch her roommates scurrying away from the window. Realizing they were caught, they simply grinned.

“Smooth, guys. Real smooth.”

“Casey,” Sienna said softly, “Good luck. I think… I think you’re going to need it.”

“Et tu, brute?”

Ethan was pacing when Casey returned, he smiled at once and almost extended his arm for her to take. Then he reminded himself… this was just a fake date. Casey did her best to pretend that she did not notice, and she tried even harder to pretend that she did not care.

Well, she is wearing heels, and it wouldn’t be right…a gentleman would off her his… wouldn’t he….

By the time Ethan finished his thought process Casey looked up to him from the bottom of the steps.

“Ethan, are you joining me?” she grinned.

“Yes,” he blushed, “of course.”

They walked down the street toward his car, side by side, with Casey clutching her purse in front of her as if it were a protective shield. She saw his car in the distance and her mind started to race.

Please don’t hold the door open for me. Please don’t hold the door open for me. Please don’t hold the door open for me.

… and he walked to the passenger’s side to open the door for her.

“Thank you,” she demurred as she sunk into the seat.

Her breath hitched as she watched him walk around the front of the car, and a feeling she thought she had long buried began to envelop her as he sat next to her.

“According to GPS, it’ll take us a little over an hour to get there. I guess you should make yourself comfortable.”

Fat chance.

After a few minutes of silence, followed by some inane small talk, Casey broached the topic.

“Well, I guess we should discuss parameters.”

“Parameters? “

“Yes, parameters. You know, what we should and should not do today.”

“I know what parameters are, Casey. But I’m not going to do anything inappropriate, you don’t have to worry.”

“Yeah, God forbid,” she mumbled under her breath.

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s just, you see…. if you’re supposedly my boyfriend and you do absolutely nothing inappropriate it will be pretty obvious that I’m making this all up, essentially making me look even more pathetic than if I would have just shown up alone….” taking in the exasperated expression on Ethan’s face, she found her own falling, “… which is probably exactly what I should have done.”

Ethan turned to her, her head now facing out the window, her posture, so proud and confident just moments before, now slouched and defeated.

This was a bad idea.

The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Casey. He had put distance between them, but now that she was close to him, he remembered, that was all he seemed to do. He didn’t get the details, he didn’t bother. One thought of her attending this wedding with someone else, with Tobias of all people, and all reason left his mind. He had to try to repair this, this couldn’t be just another repeat where his best intentions just lead to more heartbreak for both of them. Not today.

“I’m sorry, Casey. I guess we never discussed it. I knew you needed a date for tonight, but…was there more?”

“My ex, Jonathan, will be there. Jonathan left me because I was too into my studies, my career and he said I didn’t have a heart. Translated, I didn’t let my world revolve around him. He’s going to be there with his new girlfriend, a literal model, and I know this is pathetic because I know my worth… I know what I have achieved, I know I’m going to be a phenomenal doctor, and goddammit, I look like a goddamn snack in this dress to boot.”

Ethan couldn’t help but smile.

“Yes,” he chortled, “all of those things are true. So why are you letting this loser get to you.”

Casey stared out the window as the scenery rushed by, her eyes desperately searching for something, anything, that she could use to dab the tears that she expected to flow in three, two, … Ethan handed her a tissue that he retrieved from the center console.

“Thank you.” She dabbed the corner of her eye and looked at Ethan.

“Why do I let him get to me? Because deep down I wonder…. what if he’s right?”

“Casey! Stop that. You know damn well he’s not…”

“I know nothing of the sort, Ethan. All I know is I’m nearly thirty years old and outside of two years in college, I haven’t been able to hold a relationship together for the life of me. And don’t give me the ‘oh, you’ve been focused on your career’ speech. I know I have, and that’s fine. But…,” she turned her head and stared straight at him, “that has never been all that I wanted, yet… now here I am finding a warm body to take me to a wedding and asking him to pretend they care.”

“Casey…”

“I’m sorry, Ethan. This was very nice of you, but clearly, this wasn’t a good idea. Could we maybe, could we just turn around and head back to Boston. I’ll tell Leah something came up.”

“Is that what you want?”

“I think it’s for the best.”

Ethan silently nodded as he moved his car into the right lane. But as he approached the exit, he kept driving.

“Ethan, you passed the exit, you were supposed to get off there to go back to…”

“We’re not going back; you’re going to Leah’s wedding. We’ll have a few drinks, we’ll share a few dances, I’ll hang on every word you say… and after Jonathan has had a good eyeful, then, and only then, will we return to Boston.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I know I don’t,” he smiled, “but I want to.”

“It’s kind of you to offer, Ethan, but do you think it’s a good idea… I mean, we’re not just random friends, it’s you and me, and… this is dangerous.”

He reached across the console and took her hand in his, giving it a tight squeeze.

“It’s only dangerous if we let it be, Casey.”

She looked down at their intertwined hands.

It already is.

They pulled up to a stately old mansion and a valet came to open Casey’s door, followed by a sharply dressed concierge who directed them to the garden where the cocktail reception and ceremony would take place. Casey found a table in the farthest corner, almost out of anyone’s line of sight. Ethan returned to her with two glasses of wine, placing one into her hands. Being so close to him, Casey felt her body doing things it hadn’t in some time, and she didn’t know if she wanted it to continue or stop.

“Were you ashamed to be seen with me,” he smiled, noting the location.

“No, quite the opposite, I’m worried that you won’t want to be seen with me.”

His eyes shot to hers as if he would ever feel that way, yet, he understood exactly why she said it. In another world, he would have her on his arm and show her off to everyone at every step. But in this world, the only one they had, even when they were more than two lost souls searching for the answer to the riddle fate put in their way, they were relegated to the shadows So, of course, this is where she would lead them. He was ashamed, and he was about to take her hand and lead her to a table just at the entrance when she spoke.

“Leah was my roommate in med school. I would not have made it through without her, and vice versa. She is a wonderful woman and a brilliant doctor. She is currently finishing her residency at Lahey in Burlington.”

“Excellent program.”

“It is. Her name is Dr. Leah Bradford.”

“How ironic! Dr. Benjamin Bradford is out of Lahey, and he is….” Ethan looked at Casey with wide eyes.

“He is her father,” Casey finished. She watched as he valiantly attempted to keep terror from spreading over his face, but his eyes gave it away.

“What’s more, she’s marrying an old family friend, they’ve known each other since grade school. He is an attorney, Nathan Rivera. His mother is Dr. Amelia Rivera.

“From Tufts?”

“Yes. I figured you, Benny and Amelia may be acquainted. I’m sorry Ethan, you might not believe me, but I really never gave this any thought until right now and… I’m more than happy to leave. I don’t want to put you in an awkward situation.”

“You know what, we should leave.”

Although she offered it as a solution, it wasn’t the answer she wanted to hear. Her eyes fluttered as she lowered her head.

“We should find a better table than this. How on earth is Jonathan going to see us if we’re all the way back here.”

“You... you want to stay?”

“I agreed to be your date for this wedding, did I not? I’d be kind of an ass if I didn’t. Shall we?”

He extended his hand and she smiled as she accepted it. He pulled back her chair at a small table for two located just past the entrance, it would be impossible for anyone to miss them there.

“Are you sure?” she whispered.

“If I’m your fake boyfriend, Casey, you may want to refrain from asking me such foolish questions for the rest of the day. Now, is this where we should begin engaging in conversation as I hang on every word you say?”

“Yes, I think that would be good, but you forgot you also need to lovingly gaze at me.”

Ethan swallowed. “I think I can manage that.”

For the next half hour, the two of them chatted away, laughing and smiling, so into each other that even though friends, colleagues, and even Johnathan passed by, no one dared to interrupt them and, the funny thing was, neither Casey nor Ethan noticed anyone walk by.

Bells chimed indicating the ceremony was about to start. Ethan stood and took her by the hand and they found a seat right on the aisle. He stood behind her as they waited for the bride to arrive, and he noticed someone staring from across the way. Wrapping his hand around her waist, he leaned in close to whisper in her ear.

“Don’t look now, but is that he of whom we shall not speak two rows ahead?”

Casey swiveled her head, making it appear as if she were turning to look up at Ethan to sneak a peek.

“Mmmm hmmmm. It is.” she muttered.

“God,” he whispered, “he wasn’t worthy of you to begin with.”

Then, without even realizing he was going to do it, he leaned in and kissed Casey’s neck. Her eyes almost betrayed her, but as if she was an actress, she blissfully gave into the role they were playing for the night. Her body leaned back into him as he gently nibbled on her neck, her ear. No one would have thought they weren’t together, and each of them ached inside, wishing that they were.

They were both afraid of what this could awaken, but for tonight, they had given each other permission to be what they had imagined so many times before, and even if it was make-believe, it was so much more than they ever thought they would get to share. They were going to relish in it, secretly praying that the night would never end.

They held hands, and danced, he put his arm around her and caressed her back as she talked to the couple seated beside them. She introduced him to Leah and her new husband as her “boyfriend Ethan” and he did not flinch. When Leah’s father approached them and teased Ethan about not being worthy of such a beautiful and brilliant woman, clearly aware of who Casey was, Ethan said, “I know,” and smiled.

Casey was laughing hysterically as they walked off the dance floor when she literally crashed into Jonathan and Ellie. She had all but forgotten he was there. She had come to the wedding tonight in hopes of proving something to him, and as the night progressed, she realized she had nothing to prove.

“Hello, Jonathan. It’s lovely to see you,” she beamed as Ethan wrapped his arms around her waist, trying not to scowl at him too viciously since Casey was handling things so well.

“Yeah, uh, Casey. It’s good to see you too.”

“Oh, please allow me to introduce you to Ethan…”

“Dr. Ramsey, yes, I’m well aware of who you are. It’s very nice to meet you, sir, I’ve always admired your work. I know Casey has as well.”

“Well, he is brilliant,” Casey gushed. She then awkwardly looked to Jonathan to introduce the woman on his arm.

“Oh, where are my manners? This is my girlfriend, Ellie.”

“It’s lovely to meet you,” Casey smiled.

As quickly as the encounter began, it ended “Well, we really should go. The night isn’t really young any longer and there is so much more to enjoy.”

Casey felt her heart sink as she walked away. As proud as she was of herself for how she handled that, she became acutely aware that Ethan was not her boyfriend. That tonight was an act. She was Cinderella and, as much as she wanted this dream to last forever, the clock would soon strike twelve and it would all be over. Her heart ached at the thought, but she wasn’t going to waste the little time they had left being sad. She promised herself that she would not let the memory of this night turn into anything that would cause her pain, it was a precious gift that was afforded to her, and she resigned herself to treasure it for the rest of her days.

“So, what is it that you’d still like to do, Casey?”

“Why don’t we take a walk over by the gazebo. It’s lit up so pretty.”

“It’s a bit of a walk, but I don’t mind if you don’t.”

“I don’t,” she smiled.

“Then, after you.”

They made their way over without saying a word, his arm draped over her shoulder, hers wrapped tightly behind his waist. They listened as the music and laughter of the party became no more than a soft noise in the distance, replaced by sounds of crickets and the gentle wind as it rustled through the late summer leaves.

The gazebo was adorned with thousands of twinkling white lights, giving off an ethereal glow to all in its vicinity. They were alone and far removed from the happy chaos of the large wedding behind them. Casey sat down on the steps and Ethan sat beside her. Without asking, he took off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders when he saw her shivering. She smiled, the gesture was so kind, but he didn’t realize that her shivering had less to do with the chilly breeze and more to do with her proximity to him. She leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around her.

“Thank you for tonight, Ethan. I really thought it would end up horribly, but it was so much better than I could have ever dreamed.”

“Well, I’m always happy to make a dream or two come true for you, Rookie. I hope you know that.”

Her eyes clenched shut and she bit her lip at the sound of her old nickname. Hearing Casey all night was enough after being called Dr. MacTavish, and no more, for so long. She promised she wasn’t going to let herself get sad, but as the moments ticked away, that promise became harder and harder to keep. Ethan noticed her silence and tilted her face toward him, that’s when he could see the tears she was fighting desperately to hide glistening behind her beautiful blue eyes.

“I have learned so much tonight. I came here feeling I had something to prove to someone who shouldn’t even be a thought in my mind. But then again, it wasn’t him I had to prove it to, it was me all along. I let it all get in my head and I already had myself going down this dark, narrow path that would only allow for fulfillment in one area of my life, and, foolishly, I allowed myself to believe that’s how it would be. But, tonight, I realized that is not my future, it never could be and, when it’s right for me, it will happen. I have no doubt in my mind.” She turned away, “I feel so much better, my faith in myself is restored.”

She wrapped her arms around herself and looked up at Ethan. “You are always teaching me, one way or another, good or bad. I came to Edenbrook because I wanted to learn from the best, but I had no idea how broad those lessons would be. Thank you for tonight, Ethan. I will never, ever forget it.”

His eyes were now glistening as much as hers and he had to wait a moment before he could speak.

“You always credit me with teaching you, Rookie,” his hand brushed a few errant hairs behind her ear, “But you never seem to realize just how much you have taught me. The truth is, you’ve taught me things I am not sure I would have ever learned if our paths hadn’t crossed and, though it’s not always been easy, I’m just so very glad that they did.”

Casey looked at her watch and grimaced. Wiping a tear from her cheek she said “Well, pretty soon the coach is about to turn back into a pumpkin. Then I turn back into a resident and you return to being my attending, but for the next fifteen minutes, I’m not letting go of this dream.”

Ethan leaned over and kissed the top of her head.

“What is it you’d like to do with those last fifteen minutes, hon.”

“I’d like to dance, but the music is too far away.”

“No, it’s not,” he smiled, taking out his phone. “I have a song in mind.”

Someday, when I'm awfully low

When the world is cold

I will feel a glow just thinking of you

And the way you look tonight

“Sinatra,” she smiled.

“You listen to Sinatra?” He said shocked.

“I’m not a heathen, Ethan. Besides, my Dad used to dance to this with me and my Mom when I was little.”

“Well, I will never profess to be half the man that your dad is, but would you do me the honor of dancing to this with me.”

“Yes. I’d love to.”

She all but jumped into his arms and they swayed together to the music. They both knew every word by heart and they held each other a little closer as the last verse began.”

Lovely, don't you ever change

Keep that breathless charm

Won't you please arrange it?

'Cause I love you

Just the way you look tonight

Just the way you look tonight

The music stopped but their embrace continued without a word spoken, they clung to each other as if they never wanted to let go, because they didn’t. Each was trying to push off a moment that they knew was inevitable, but they were happy to live in the lie, that was really such a truth, surrounding them.

“Oh, sir, ma’am,” the concierge said startled, “I certainly didn’t mean to interrupt, but the reception has ended, and the lights will be turned off…”

“It’s no worry, we were just leaving anyway,” Ethan said sadly.

After saying their goodbyes to the newlyweds, they began to walk up front to the valet. Ethan noticed Casey taking smaller steps, but then she stopped and pulled him alongside the building, almost in desperation.

“Casey, what is it? Are you..”

“Shh. Shhh… Ethan, please promise me one thing? Promise me that when we get into the car now, promise me not to talk about any of this. OK?”

He watched as her eyes filled and her words became more breathless, he wanted nothing more than to soothe her, to restore the peace he had seen in her all night.

“Ethan I don’t want to ruin this memory, it’s too perfect, so, once we’re in the car, and everyday hereafter, let’s not discuss it, let’s not lament or regret it, let's just be happy that it happened and that nothing can ever take it away from us. OK?”

His tears now matched hers, one for one, in their race to the ground beneath them.

“Casey, I’m so… I … in another life, in another….”

“Shhhhhh! No! This is exactly what I mean! We knew it was just a night, one we never expected to have, but got lucky enough to share. One perfect night, of you and me, let’s not ruin it ok.”

He went to speak,

“Please!” She pleaded.

“OK.”

Casey smiled and reached up and kissed him, but it was no ordinary kiss. It was born of years of unmet longing breaking free, and it was also predicated on the need to satisfy and sustain for a lifetime to come. When he would roll over at night to find the empty space she should be filling, he’d remember this kiss. When she knew that the one embrace that could soothe her soul, or share her joy, was not within her reach, this is the moment that would nourish her for an eternity. When their lips reluctantly parted they knew that the clock had chimed twelve times and no fairy godmother would save them. So they smiled. Words were not needed. They knew all that had to be said, and it was now time to part.

Ethan held her hand the entire, wordless ride back to Boston. When they arrived at her door, she wanted to jump out of the car and rush in to avoid the difficult goodbye, but she didn’t. Instead, she allowed him to open her door, to help her out, to walk her to the hall and embrace her one, long time.

“I’ll never forget tonight,” she whispered.

“Neither will I,” he choked.

They moved toward each other, but each pulled back quickly.

“Good night, Casey.”

“Good night, Ethan.”

She closed the door behind her and bolted toward her room. She didn’t want twenty questions from her friends, she didn’t want looks of judgment or sympathy, she just wanted to wrap herself in the memories of tonight. Memories that would need to keep her heart warm until the day she could move past Dr. Ethan Ramsey, a day she was not sure she would ever live to see. While her eyes began to tear she stopped herself. This is not how this night was going to end. She may not be able to have Ethan, but that did not mean that she could not love him, and she did, and she always would, and nothing could ever take that, or this night, away from her. And in her sadness, that brought the comfort she desperately needed.

Ethan sat back in the seat of his car and let out a deep sigh. Thirty-six years to find everything he never knew he wanted, he needed and there she was. The key that unlocked his heart, the shiny stone that could complete the beautiful mosaic that could be his life. Letting her go of her never became easier, and why would it? It was the most unnatural thing he had ever done. But like Casey, now crouched down on her bedroom floor just two levels above him, he resolved not to tarnish the memory of this perfect day. He steeled himself, took the car out of park, and drove away.

He drove around in circles for nearly an hour, though his apartment was just ten minutes away. He didn’t have the heart to go home alone after the night they shared. He considered going to the hospital and spending the night there. He honestly didn’t know what to do. Then, for the first time all night, he noticed the message light blinking on his phone.

His fairy godfather. He didn’t need Naveen’s permission, nor approval. In fact, deep down, he knew that he had that all along. So, while it helped, that was not what propelled him to turn his car around and rush to Casey’s apartment, cursing every light he hit along the way. At one of those lights, he passed a corner fruit stand with flowers for sale outside. He called over a teenage boy.

“Hey, I have a hundred-dollar bill, can you run in and get me a bunch of those flowers, the pink and white ones, you can keep the change.”

“Hell, yeah,” he replied.

The light changed as the boy came running from the store, horns honked behind him.

“You’re just going to have to wait, pal!” Ethan yelled, grabbing the flowers from the teen's hands.

“You may not know it,” he told him, “but you just played a part in one of the greatest love stories of all time.”

“Cool. But I also made $80 for running in to get flowers, so all in all, a fantastic night.”

Ethan smiled as he drove away.

He rushed up the stairs to Casey’s front door and rang her bell maniacally. Elijah was the first at the window to see who the crazy person was ringing the bell. When he saw Ethan with the flowers in hand, a desperate smile on his face, he didn’t know what to make of it at first; but then, somehow, he just knew.

“Hey, Casey,” he yelled.

She was now in her pajamas making herself a cup of coffee in the kitchen.

“Casey, I think you should answer that.”

“What, why? I’m not even dressed.”

“Please just listen, for once, you need to get this.”

“OK,” she shrugged making her way there.

“What’s going on?” Sienna asked.

“Just get your ass over to the window with me, you’re going to want to watch this.”

Casey opened the door and was taken aback to see Ethan, a look of utter desperation on his face, standing there, a bouquet of pink and white roses, just like her dress tonight, in hand.

“Ethan,” she said perplexed, “what are you doing here, is everything ok?”

“Everything is wonderful,” the words rushed out of his mouth as if he wasn’t waiting, afraid something would try to stop them. “Or at least I hope it is. Casey, tonight showed me, tonight made it painfully clear that what we share, it’s not a joke, it’s not an infatuation, what we have is the real thing. It’s love. We’ve always known it, haven’t we, but we… especially me… I’ve fought it and put so much in its way, but, Casey, after tonight, I can’t do that anymore. I don’t care what we have to do to make it work, I don’t care. The truth of the matter is, nothing matters more than you, nothing matters more than us and I’m willing to take any risk to make a future, and the present, with you a reality. That’s if you want the same thing, Casey, and I’m standing here hoping, hoping so much, that you feel the exact same way. What do you say, Casey? Do you want it too?”

She was silent and his discomfort grew with every second that she didn’t answer, but he waited.

“Ethan, I… I don’t know what to say… I… “

“Say what's in your heart, Casey. Please, just say what’s in your heart.”

“What’s in my heart? What’s in my heart is… is… that I love you, Ethan, I love you so much and I think I always have. I want nothing more than to be with you, to be yours, but only if you’re sure… I need you to be sure because I can’t lose you again.”

“Casey, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I love you, and I don’t want to spend another day without you at my side.”

“Then, then… YES! Yes, Ethan, let’s do this.”

He dropped the flowers, grabbing her in his arms and spinning her around. He placed her back on the ground and kissed her head what felt like a thousand times before they shared a long, passionate kiss.

He retrieved the flowers he had dropped and handed them to her. She blushed and held them to her nose to take in the lovely aroma as accepted them. Then, without warning, he scooped her up into his arms and began carrying her down the steps.

“What? What are you doing?”

“I’m taking you home. I love you, Casey MacTavish, I love you so much.”

“I love you, too!”

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek as he carried her off to the bright, happy future that awaited them.

See, I can do happy too. :) Permatags: @adiehardfan @barbean @binny1985 @bluebelle08 @bluerosesbloom @brokenmemoriesblog @charisworld @chemist-ana @custaroonie @everybodyscreamsposts @icecoffee90 @jamespotterthefirst @jennieausten @kachrisberry @kalinahonore @lady-calypso @liaromancewriter @mia143 @mjlbwork @mm2305 @phoenixrising308 @pixelberrygirl @potionsprefect @schnitzelbutterfingers @secretaryunpaid @shewillreadyou @shygirl4295 @socalwriterbee @thegreentwin @toadfrog26 @txfledglingscribe @wanderingamongthewildflowers

OH Tags: @aishwarya26 @alina-yol-ramsey @chaoticchopshopheart @choicesaddict5 @coffeeheartaddict2 @dorisz @kat-tia801 @lucy-268 @panda9584 @parisa-kh @queencarb @swiminthegarden @youlookappropriate @katrinegrey @rosebudde @sillydg

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics Ethan Only Tags in comments.

[daffi-990]

Throwback Thursday

Tagged by @dangerpronebuddie & @tizniz

Sharing the first fanfic I wrote. The one that started it all.

Remember To Remember Me | 31K

Something is wrong.

“Buck”, Eddie says his name slowly, like he’s a deer that could easily be startled, “do you remember Monday night, after I got home from working a shift without you?”

“We had a few beers and you told me about that crazy call.”

“Yes. And do you remember what happened afterwards?”

“Uh — no? Should I?”

The ice in his veins spreads and soon his whole body feels frozen, like a bucket of icy water has just been dumped all over him.

“Oh shit, did I drink too much on an empty stomach again? That always leaves me way drunker than I should be and I can’t remember shit the next day.”

Buck doesn’t remember.

He doesn’t remember .

Eddie’s entire world crashes down around him. He feels like his body has stopped working. He doesn’t know if he’s breathing but he’s pretty sure his heart has stopped.

Buck’s memories of them can’t be gone.

OR

Buck and Eddie finally get together only for lightning to strike a few days later, leaving Buck with no memories of them ever becoming a couple.

No pressure tagging:

@hippolotamus @spotsandsocks @diazsdimples @diazheartsbuckley @spagheddiediaz @queerdiazs @exhuastedpigeon @eddiebabygirldiaz @elvensorceress @lover-of-mine @lonelychicago @bekkachaos @missmagooglie @monsterrae1 @honestlydarkprincess @beyourownanchor6 @fiona-fififi @glorious-spoon @giddyupbuck @kitteneddiediaz @smilingbuckley @thewolvesof1998 @wildlife4life @wikiangela @watchyourbuck @theotherbuckley and as always, anyone else who sees this and wants to share something -> consider this your official tag 🏷️

[skyloftian-nutcase]

If you're okay with it, maybe HW Link and Fierce having a quiet moment? They're an underrated pair.

Link was supposed to be alone for this mission.

It had been a straightforward one, at least. He was investigating enemy movements and gathering intel. It was pointless to drag the other two younger heroes along, and he’d wanted them to rest. Instead, someone had tagged along, and when Link argued the boy couldn’t keep up because he was younger and needed sleep, the little forest sprite had taken it as a challenge.

He really should have known better than to escalate the matter, honestly. There was a reason he usually let Proxi do the talking. He supposed he’d have to learn to be better with his words.

In either case, here he sat amidst rocks near a cliffside, in the chilly dark, with a war god.

Well. A supposed war god. The Fierce Deity had proven he was far more of a Mother Hen than anything else.

But tonight the pair was quiet. They were both on the hunt, watching for enemy movements. It wasn’t until the moon was starting to make its descent towards the horizon that the deity finally spoke.

”You should get some rest.” The deity’s voice, even when spoken so quietly, held such power that it seemed to electrify the air. Nevertheless, his eyes, though blanket and otherworldly, were tranquil, lulling Link in as he looked at him.

The hero shook his head. “We still haven’t caught sight of them. They should be coming through here. I’m not going to sleep on the job.”

“I commend your resolve, little soldier,” Fierce noted. “But I can stay awake longer than you.”

“Don’t you need your sleep too?” Link questioned before narrowing his eyes. “And your host definitely does.”

“Shifts, then,” Fierce conceded. “I will not allow you to stay up all night.”

Link bristled a little, but he also knew that arguing was pointless. He’d learned that with the mythical being by now. Sighing heavily, he rolled his eyes, defeated. “Fine.”

As Link slowly curled in on himself to try and stay warm on the dirt and gravel, he noticed Fierce still watching him. He tried to ignore him a moment before finally asking, “What’s wrong?”

“You look different than when I last saw you,” Fierce noted, a strange intonation in his words. It wasn’t just an observation, there was some kind of emotion behind it.

Link blinked, confused.

“War changes everyone,” Fierce muttered, looking out at the road below. “I forgot how much it hurts youth. Get some rest, little soldier. I’ll keep you safe.”

The lamentation hit Link like a splash of water, and he felt both guilty and touched. He wondered, for a moment, how much the war had changed him. “Does it do the same to you?”

Fierce was motionless for a moment before smiling a little. “My purpose is to protect.”

“As is mine,” Link affirmed determinedly.

The deity chuckled now, ruffling LInk’s hair, catching the hero off guard. “So it is, Hero.” There was a fondness in his face now, between the small smile and the way his painted eyebrows relaxed, the creases of his forehead disappearing. “Get some sleep, Link.”

Link’s chest was warm as he shuffled closer to the deity, settling in to rest under his protective care, hair still frazzled from being ruffled. He didn’t bother fixing it, smiling instead.

[bemusedlybespectacled]

I volunteer with an organization of very high needs disabled people and I have to say, they delight in using AI to put stories together. It even inspires them to make their own edits and additions, though many struggle with typing or verbal skills. I don't want to tell anyone how to feel but it seems like weird ideological purity policing to exclude them from a social event where they might connect to people and find community.

So my first question is: why AI specifically? Why not literally any other method of writing? If they're capable of doing edits/additions, then why can't they first write the story out using speech-to-text, or an AAC device, or dictate it to someone else, and then edit/add to it later?

Coming up with ideas/a plot is creative and requires skill, but it's a different kind of creativity and skill than actually writing it down/connecting those dots. Like, James Patterson doesn't write most of his books; he writes out long outlines for a ghostwriter to work off of, then makes notes or changes to the draft before sending it back to the ghostwriter. It would be unfair to say that he doesn't have any skills at all, but it would also be unfair to say that he wrote all of his books himself when they were actually mostly written by someone else. A lot of the time, movies will have separate credits for the person who came up with the idea and the person who actually wrote the screenplay, because they are separate things requiring different skills.

NaNoWriMo, as a concept, is about practicing the latter skill. You're presumed to have already learned how to come up with ideas – otherwise, what would you work on for a month? The actual work of crafting enough sentences that your story becomes a full text and not an outline is really fucking hard, and that's why so many writers get stalled at the ideas stage and never actually write anything. If you don't have those skills to start, that's okay, because most people don't! The whole point is to practice them over the month! And even if you never hit 50k (I haven't!), you can at least say that you practiced that skill. Even if you only wrote ten words a day because that's literally the most you can do, writing ten words every day for thirty days is still a huge accomplishment!

To use the marathon metaphor from the originating post: both driving a car and running a marathon are skills, but they are not the same skill. If you can't run a marathon – if you are just trying to get to the point where you can walk briskly for five miles without tasting blood when you breathe – reaching that goal is still an accomplishment, even if you're not full on running a marathon. If you are just starting to learn how to drive without having a panic attack, being able to do that is also an accomplishment, even if it's not the same thing as winning the Indy500. Modest goals are still goals and achieving them is a thing to be celebrated.

But I don't think it's ideological purity to say that there's a difference between achieving a very modest goal because the "full thing" is just not feasible for whatever reason, and achieving a totally different goal entirely. "I finally drove to the store and back all by myself!" is genuinely great, but not something you'd necessarily work on in your running group.

[aidoneira]

Toki has been with Dethklok for over two years now and the band is finally making it big as they prepare for their first world tour that will either make or break them as a band. However, Toki is still missing something - his passport. When it finally arrives, the band learns they’ve made a huge mistake about their youngest bandmate for far too long and, against their usual policies, they decide they have to repent for their wrongdoings by granting their youngest member a wish.

[lewishamiltonstuff]

Always been the goat!

[diazsdimples]

Several Sentence Sunday

So Wednesday's poll overwhelming voted for Single Dads AU as my next wip to focus on, and I've managed to write a few thousand words on that since then! I also did a couple of thousand for Frostpunk AU too, so we're gonna be tag teaming those two I guess 💀 I love both these fics so much and can't bear to leave them alone so I'll be working on/ sharing bits of both over the next few weeks 💙

Here's a snippet from Single Dads, right before we introduce an important character! It's not great atm but it's gonna be reworked when I can string together a sentence askdjhsa

“Lily!” Buck exclaims, sprinting across the driveway and up the steps before he knows what he’s doing. “What happened?” “She fell through the door,” Carrie supplies helpfully. Buck kneels next to his youngest and gingerly helps Lily up off the floor, pulling her into his lap where he proceeds to check her over. She’s holding her arm loosely and tears stream down her face as she hiccups miserably, which Buck figures is likely more due to shock than anything else. “The door was unlocked, Daddy!” Lily whimpers as she tucks herself further into his chest. “Fell on my arm.” Buck takes her arm gently in his hands, feeling up and down the length for any deformities or crepitus. She winces slightly as he prods at the delicate bones of her wrist, but there’s no swelling and she seems to be able to move it fine. Not broken, then. “Dad, why’s the door unlocked?” Carrie asks, voicing the very question he’d been thinking. There’s no way he forgot to lock it this morning, it’s a part of his many-step routine to get him and the girls out the door on time for work. Unlocking the door always comes after closing it, and before the full-body pat down to make sure he hasn’t forgotten his phone, wallet, or car keys. It’s routine. “I don’t know, honey,” Buck replies as he stands up, lifting Lily onto his hip as he does so. Lily lets out a shuddering sigh as her tears slow, and rests her head on his shoulder, her thumb making its way into her mouth. “Stay behind me, okay?” Buck takes an apprehensive step inside. The house is seemingly empty, every little knick knack and toy still exactly where it was left this morning. Lily’s sparkly shoes are still kicked in the middle of the hall, the door to the girls’ bedroom is still only slightly ajar, and none of the drawers in the cabinet in the front hall have been opened. Buck leans and places Lily on the ground, beckoning Carrie close to him so he can circle an arm around her too. “Go into your room, shut the door, and sit on Lily’s bed please. I’m going to have a look around and I’ll come get you in a minute, okay?”

Been tagged through the week by many people, thank you for bearing with me as I navigate my new schedule.

Tagging @theotherbuckley @hippolotamus @watchyourbuck @disasterbuckdiaz @puppyboybuckley @bucksbackwardcap @fortheloveofbuddie @spotsandsocks @aroeddiediaz @daffi-990 @jesuisici33 @tizniz @steadfastsaturnsrings @wikiangela @buckbuckgoose @exhuastedpigeon @cal-daisies-and-briars @wildlife4life @slightlyobsessedwitheverything @evanbegins @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @rainbow-nerdss @elvensorceress @epicbuddieficrecs @smilingbuckley @actuallyitsellie @spagheddiediaz

[blackjackkent]

OK, time for a very small nice thing for Rakha to counteract all the Horrors.

"*sniff*"

Narrator: The dog seems wary, sniffing you intently.

Offer your hand to the dog to sniff, being careful not to spook it.

Narrator: The dog sniffs your hand and seems more at ease.

"*Bark!*"

-----

Wyll watches Rakha with the dog, a slight smile touching his lips. And Jaheira watches Wyll, and frowns sympathetically.

"I can only imagine it is a trying time to love her," she says gently, in a voice low enough to reach only his ears.

Wyll stiffens. His eyes don't move from Rakha, but Jaheira can see the way he turns his body. It's an unconscious motion, protective, ready to step between Jaheira and Rakha if the need should arise. "Are you suggesting I ought not to?" he says carefully.

Jaheira smiles a little to herself. She could have expected this response. He's a good man, the Ravengard boy - the sort of stout support Rakha will need in the times to come. Caden had Aerie, and it made all the difference in some of his lowest moments.

And Wyll is not so far out of the way from Aerie, really. Both of them torn from their homes by terrible circumstance, mutilated by the cruelty of uncaring masters, and yet full of warmth in spite of it all. Both of them tossed into the way of a Bhaalspawn in whom they found light and love and hope in spite of the darkness. It's a comforting parallel.

And yet... Jaheira has to admit Wyll's path is strewn with far more rocks than Aerie's was. Caden carried Bhaal's taint, but he never slipped so far into the dark as Rakha has. There is an animal ferocity in Rakha that Caden never had, a beast that strains far more strongly at its leash.

"Hardly," she says. "Indeed, I am very glad you do. I only mean that it is not easy to love one so marked by fate."

Wyll hesitates. She can see his loyalty warring with his honesty.

She smiles faintly. "You need not confide in me unless you wish," she says. "Certainly this is only an old woman's meddling."

"No, it's--" He frowns, looks away for a moment - checks to see that Lae'zel and Minthara are not listening, that Rakha is still distracted by the pup. "I hate it," he admits, so low that even Jaheira can barely hear him. "I hate what it does to her. I look at her now... that little smile she gets on her face, that moment of gentleness. All the questions, the moments when she wants to learn, to do the right thing, to understand everything. The music. The magic - the beauty she sees in it, the things she tells me about..." He swallows. "That's the woman I love, and I'd do anything for her. But there's something else there that's not her at all, and it frightens me so terribly."

He trails off, looking down at his boots. "It isn't fair."

"No," she agrees quietly. "No, it most certainly is not. And it is a cruel truth, in my experience, that such unfair business lands all too often on the shoulders of those who deserve it least."

He fidgets uneasily with the hilt of the rapier on his hip. "If what she says is true... she did terrible things, back before she lost her memory. Am I simply a fool, to think that isn't her? That I can love her in spite of that, that she's someone different now?"

"Only you can answer that for yourself." Jaheira studies his expression thoughtfully for a moment. "But if you want my opinion - no. It does not make you foolish, but brave." A pause. "I have cared for many, in the past, who knew their share of darkness. And I am no fool. The foolishness would be in believing she has no choice to change."

He relaxes visibly and his eyes brighten at the reassurance. "Yes," he says. A slight pause. "Your friend... Gorion's Ward..."

"Caden," she says. Her lips twitch. "The legends speak of him always with such grandiose titles..."

He laughs softly. "Caden, then. Did he... frighten you, ever?"

She is quiet a long moment before answering. "At times. There were moments when I knew he struggled with things I could not see. And it frightened me to know that in the end it was his journey, and I could do nothing but stand at his side and see him through."

Wyll nods. "I would take the burden from her, if I could," he says.

"I know you would." She claps him gently on the shoulder. "And it is for that reason that I am glad you cannot. Do not tear yourself apart trying to lay an easy path that does not exist. She will need you, whole-minded and strong, for what is to come."

He draws a slow breath, and she can hear a slight tremble in the exhale. Ye gods, boy, you are so terribly young to face such trials, she thinks bitterly. I never knew love that did not have its touch of pain, but you have earned something bearing a less sharp edge.

But I am familiar with the sense, by now, of standing on history's cusp. Had she not had your guidance, I think Rakha would have a great deal more blood on her hands. And I think, perhaps, one day the strength of your heart will be seen to have saved the world.

"Thank you," he says softly.

She nods. "I am here when you need me," she answers. "And you will - of that I am certain. We have, all of us, a very long road ahead."

[rosinfinitum]

Throwback: Vancouver Canucks V. Toronto Maple Leafs 2024 Hockey Day in Canada

Captain Quinn Hughes letting his emotions run hot when the Canucks led the opposing team 3-0 in the first period only to be tied by mid second period.

He leads by calm even-keeled leadership. A person of quiet confidence and not easily fazed. Don’t you love it when he sends a message to his team with his frustration and wakes them up because he knows they are great and above making mistakes like that?

The Canucks ended up winning 6:4.

[motleyfam]

Amazon just recommended me a 10ft x 10ft weighted duvet called “the coma inducer” and my hurt/comfort fic loving ass has never felt more called out

[astudyinfreewill]

thing is i know ronan lynch is extremely male presenting. like mstief has made this abundantly clear. he is a guy’s guy through and through, muscle bro, gym tank top, piss in the woods, manly beard type of guy who likes guy things like fast cars and power tools. i get this. i understand it. so you have to understand that when i say he would deeply relate to the lyric i’ve got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt i do mean in a purely spiritual way. like that’s very much not him but also in a real way it IS him. do you see my vision