#truly an all-timer romcom!!

[putterphubase]

Being friends and being boyfriends are completely different. I'm only interested in being your boyfriend, not a friend.

FUKOU-KUN WA KISS SURU SHIKANAI | MR. UNLUCKY HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO KISS (2022)

[mermaidsirennikita]

what would you say are the biggest trends when it comes to romance novels getting published nowadays and how do you feel about them?

Oh gosh, that's hard to say. In part because I am both deeply NOT on trend in what I seek out, and on trend in that I read a lot of ARCs from trad publishers? Who aren't the only trendsetters by any means, but are the ones with the most $$$.

(This got long so some of it goes under the cut.)

—Romantasy. Obviously. I hate the term romantasy, I think it's literally just made by marketers

(digression: I don't care if a random TikToker came up with the name, the nebulous thing that it IS... pure marketing, there is no definition, and I truly think that genre has to have DEFINITION to be a genre or even a subgenre, it can't just be what one random person thinks it is; you can genre-bend, play with it, but the people you are directing your product to needs to know SOMETHING about what they're buying; I'd compare it to selling a necklace and calling it jewelry without telling the buyer what the stones or metals ARE)

but undoubtedly this is a huge trend. There seems to be a biiiit of paranormal romance making a return with this—see: Kresley Cole's IAD rerelease books being marketed as "romantasy" when there's very little romantasy about that series.... But overall you see the connection to shows like Game of Thrones, etc, within them. Tons of dragons.

—Romcoms continue on. Lots of low stakes romcoms. I do not like these. A lot of the time they blur into women's fiction. The women's fiction blur I think has something to do with Colleen Hoover (though most of her books aren't intentionally funny) but also just publishing trying to capitalize on romance without committing to romance. Emily Henry is a good example of this. Sally Rooney is a more ~literary example. Jasmine Guillory. Etc etc.

They're impossible to really figure out, imo. Are they gonna be hot? Are they gonna be funny? Are they gonna be emotional? Yulin Kuang's How to End a Love Story is a great example of a book that is, to me, near-perfect. It's ABSOLUTELY a romance novel. But is it a romcom? Not really. It has funny moments and a beautiful HEA, but it's a VERY angsty book. Yet I saw it marketed as such.

—Kickstarter campaign books on the indie side, plus other ways to sort of circumvent the tradpub issue while also not... losing as much money. Several big time authors (in and out of romance) have seen huge success with Kickstarter; obviously, it's harder for small-timers, but still possible! I also know of authors who've written chapter by chapter on Patreon and given their patrons special goodies before publishing the book.

—Genre diversity for authors. A lot of authors in the past wrote under one genre or subgenre, then had to use a pen name for anything else. Amanda Quick was Jayne Anne Krentz's historical romance pen name, for example. Now... I don't think people are as strict. Sierra Simone has written erotic historicals, contemporary, dark romance, monogamous, poly, m/m, m/f, f/f, m/m/f, f/f/m, romcoms, etc. Sarah MacLean is dropping a contemporary (not romance) novel soonish. I see this as a good thing all-around. Pen names are cool, but I don't think they should be a MUST.

—Less angst, more fluff. THANKS I HATE IT LOL. I'm gonna say something controversial (apparently) but this is my honest opinion: It is not a story if there is no conflict. What you wrote was a scene. Perhaps a very good scene! A very long scene, maybe! But there is not a STORY unless there is CONFLICT.

Now, I don't know if I've read a book with ZERO conflict. But I've read many lately wherein the conflict was so thin... I felt the story had little substance. Not every conflict has to be ANGST ANGST TRAUMARAMA. A book I recently didn't LOOOOOVE but whatever, I'll accept it as an example, is Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. The heroine and the hero are not in danger of losing their lives. Their conflicts are internal. She loves him but doesn't feel like he'll ever genuinely love her, he's a dipshit who essentially doesn't want to accept that she's the one because he a) has a hard time trusting women in general b) has a specific idea of what his life is going to be that was disrupted when his career ended unexpectedly, and he's still working through some shit on that.

Nobody is at gunpoint, nobody is cheating, nobody is doing one last job. They're just... struggling with their feelings and their senses of self. (If the hero hadn't crossed ONE LAST LINE, I think I would've rated that book higher, but it's a testament to SEP understanding conflict that I can dislike the book and still say "solid conflict".)

I just see a lot of authors shying away from serious conflict, and I wonder how much of it is because readers keep complaining about it. And yeah, bad conflict... sucks. But conflict does not inherently suck. I don't want to read 800 pages of PWP or pointless slow burn. I need PLOT. I need ACTION. And I think we can have low-conflict books and high-conflict books in the same market! But it feels like publishers (and perhaps some authors) don't feel confident in that.

Which is why your girl has realized that a lot of the books she loves are like... 10+ years old.

—Historical specific... the unproblematic 1800s white people. I want to make it clear: You can absolutely write politically progressive people of bygone eras well. The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe has a heroine who's outspoken about women's rights and reproductive freedom. Joanna places this against political occurrences of the time to make it flow easily, AND I think is actually pretty real about the heroine having to give some things up to be with the hero (a duke) even though he supports her and doesn't expect her to be a conventional duchess. Some sacrifices are inevitable. Adriana Herrera's An Island Princess Starts a Scandal has a great portrayal of semi-openly queer women in 19th century Paris... and that's something that totally existed and again, flows well.

It's not that I'm a stickler for accuracy at all. See: my love of Alexis Hall's Something Fabulous series. But I think that you either have to lean the fuck in to not being super accurate like they do, OOOOR you have to make it flow. When we suddenly have a duke being like "AND BTW I'M A FEMINIST" I don't fucking buy it lol. I need to see growth, and I need to understand why he has these views. I think there's a lot of low-effort shit being done to make historicals appear more progressive. And while I do think HR has a lot to reckon with, if that's the only way it can continue to exist... It feels as if that subgenre has to exist within a structure that we don't necessarily expect from other subgenres. Not a lot of billionaire romances (and that's still popular, despite what some may tell you) have the hero going "LET ME STOP AND EXPLAIN HOW I'M AN ETHICAL BILLIONAIRE".

I think that romance needs to be aware of its environment and progressive; I also think that romance requires some suspension of disbelief, and I think we're seeing a lot of white guilt driving some newer historical romances.

Because to go back to Adriana Herrera... That's a woman of color writing very politically aware historicals, while at the same time FULLY diving into the escapism and wish fulfillment and all the things people should be able to get out of a romance novel.

(And btw: All the things marginalized groups should be able to get out of romance novels! A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell is an amazing romance novel with a trans hero, and I've gotta say, the book confronts transphobia, sure, but there is such fucking delicacy and it BY ZERO MEANS drives the fucking book, and I find that really important. That the hero is existing. That Adriana's heroes and heroines exist. And so on.)

[spacesquidlings]

Wishes On Stars

July's night sky was always filled with shooting stars, but living in the city meant that it was very rare that either Rowan or Gavin would be able to look up and watch the meteor shower fill the sky with silver starlight. But Gavin's birthday was approaching, giving them the perfect excuse to pack up their family and head out on vacation, to find somewhere quiet where they could enjoy their time together, and to look up at the stars in the night's sky, almost as beautiful and brilliant as Gavin himself.

Pairing: Gavin x OC (Rowan)

Warnings: Slight suggestive language

Notes: Shoutout as always to @jihyuncompass​ , who’s been supporting me and who’s been so kind and wonderful while I’ve been working on this fic, even when I thought it would never be done. I don’t know where I would be without you <3

Also shoutout to @otherlandshark​ , who proofread for me and who’s been so kind to me and about my writing!!!!!!!

And finally, thank you to Rosie ( @my-life-is-a-bad-romcom​ ), who I know doesn't play MLQC but has still been really supportive of all my writings, and been really encouraging even tho I've been struggling so much lately

Starring: Aurora Bai, Gavin Bai, Rowan Bai (Original main character), Stella (doggie!!!!!!)

**********************************************************

Gavin being away on a mission was not something Rowan usually celebrated. Her husband being away on a three-week mission was not something she usually looked forward to, especially not when their daughter was barely older than one.

But Gavin being away meant that Rowan could collect all his presents and wrap them without worrying that he would find them. It meant she could spend Aurora’s nap times searching up cake recipes and tasty meals she thought Gavin might like.

Although she had to admit, it was still very strange not having Gavin in the house, and her heart ached from his absence. Since Aurora had been born he’d taken much more time off, and had declined numerous missions that would have taken him away from for over a month at times.

Rowan had gotten so used to having Gavin around the house, helping her with food and cleaning, telling her to rest as he scooped Aurora out of her arms, that she’d forgotten what it felt like to be without him.

Which wasn’t to say that she was completely alone. Her friends came and visited her often, and the house could never truly be lonely with their dog Stella close by, and Aurora trying to stumble around on her chubby baby legs, doing her best to get into as much trouble as possible.

But still, the house felt lonelier without Gavin, emptier somehow. Rowan missed her husband’s laugh, his gentle smile whenever she caught his gaze, the way he sang to Aurora when he was trying to put her down for a nap. She missed the way he cooed to their daughter when he woke her up, the way he made ridiculous faces at Aurora to get her to laugh. She missed him beside her when they watched a movie together, his arms around her at night as she fell asleep, his sleepy morning voice when he kissed her awake.

Rowan just missed him, more than she could put into words. She’d been counting down the days until he would be back since the second he’d left.

She sighed, staring down at the mess before her. Just two more days. Just two more days until he would be back, and then they would go away for a few days.

They’d rented a little cottage for Gavin’s birthday. There was a meteor shower that often occurred during the end of July, but there was too much light from the city crowding the sky, veiling the glittering stars. So they’d agreed to go away, somewhere a little more rural, where they could look up and spy the stars.

Rowan tapped the countertop before her, losing herself in the daydream of cuddling with her husband again, beneath a sky awash in sparks of light. The air would be warm, but the breeze would be cool against her warm cheeks. She would hear Gavin’s heartbeat from where her head rested against his chest. His fingers would be in her hair, playing with the strands the way he always did when he began to doze off. She would lift her head and kiss his jaw, and he would smile softly, his face limned in starlight, and then he would kiss her brow. His arms would grow tighter around her, holding her close, and she would feel happy and content, like she was exactly where she was always meant to be.

A timer screaming from her phone yanked her from her thoughts. She wiped her hands on the apron she’d hastily tied around herself, not wanting to get flour all over her, before grabbing her phone to shut the timer off.

Sighing, Rowan untied the apron, draping it over a chair before plucking the baby monitor she kept with her from the table.

Aurora lay curled in her crib, still fast asleep. She stretched out a little hand and seemed to move her head, but then drew still.

Rowan’s heart ached as she watched the video of her baby for a few moments. Sometimes she still couldn’t believe she was real, that she was Rowan’s and Gavin’s.

She set the monitor back down, heading towards Aurora’s room. She opened the door slowly, tiptoeing in and turning the gentle noise machine off before slowly drawing open the curtains just a crack, just enough to let warm afternoon light turn the room golden.

“Hey, little princess,” Rowan cooed, rubbing Aurora’s back gently. “Time to get up, my love.”

Beside the crib, Stella lifted her head, peering at Rowan quietly.

Ever since the moment they’d brought Aurora home, Stella had been keeping watch over her. If they couldn’t find their dog it was more than likely that she was laying at the foot of the crib, keeping an eye on their sleeping baby.

Rowan crouched down to scratch behind Stella’s ears. “Did you have a nice nap, too?”

Stella’s tail wagged, and she rolled onto her back, hoping for belly rubs.

“I have to wake Aurora up,” Rowan giggled, giving Stella a few pats. “Don’t you want to see your baby?”

Stella continued watching Rowan as she turned back to the baby, who was whining quietly now.

Rowan cooed softly, rubbing Aurora’s back again. “Wake up, my love. You slept for so long!”

Aurora’s tiny fists rubbed against her face, her eyes cracking open to peer blearily up at Rowan. She blinked, stretching her arms up above her head. And then she was smiling, a wide, toothy grin as she reached grabbing hands up to Rowan. She giggled, wiggling in the little sleep-sack she was swathed in.

“Hello,” Rowan sang, scooping Aurora up into her arms. “Hello, little princess. Did you have good sleeps?”

Aurora giggled, babbling as she wiggled in Rowan’s arms.

Rowan couldn’t help laughing, pressing kisses to the top of Aurora’s head. “I missed you!”

Aurora babbled something in response, squealing loud enough to make Rowan wince for a moment.

“Okay okay,” she said, carrying Aurora to the changing table. “Let’s check to make sure you’re all clean and then get some lunch, okay? And then will you help me with daddy’s birthday cake?”

Aurora gurgled, chewing on her hand as she continued smiling, waving at Stella with her other hand when she saw the dog.

Luckily, it was quick work to get Aurora changed, and then she was carrying her to the kitchen. Rowan tried setting her into her highchair so she could make lunch quickly, but the moment she let Aurora go she was already whining, fat tears appearing at the corners of her eyes.

Rowan sighed, scooping Aurora back up into her arms. “You are lucky you’re so cute.”

Aurora giggled, squishing her face against Rowan’s shoulder.

“You’re just like your daddy,” she muttered, shoving the fridge door open with her foot and grabbing the yogurt and fruit she wanted to use for Aurora’s lunch. “So clingy. You need hugs all the time.”

Aurora peaked up at her, staring with wide, golden eyes that were so like Gavin’s that Rowan’s heart ached.

She took the opportunity to smother her daughter’s chubby cheeks in kisses until she was squealing with laughter. “But I love it! I love you both!”

She cuddled her baby as tight as she could with one hand as she tried preparing her lunch, spooning yogurt into a little pink bowl and cutting up banana and strawberry pieces. She balanced her as well as she could while she tried cracking an egg, wanting to make some eggs for herself.

Aurora waved a hand out, trying to reach for the wooden spoon Rowan was using to push the eggs around on the pan.

“What? You want to help?”

Aurora said something unintelligible, making grabby hands towards the spoon.

“Okay but you have to hold it tight, okay?” Rowan said, leaning forward so Aurora could hold the spoon.

She grasped it with both her hands, babbling in delight as she shoved the spoon around the pan.

Rowan laughed, trying to hold part of the spoon to stop the food from getting knocked onto the stove. “A little gentler, love. We want to eat these eggs, don’t we?”

When the food was finally done, Rowan again attempted to set Aurora in her highchair. She started whining before Rowan had even let her go, her hands fisting in the material of Rowan’s shirt and pulling on it.

“Hey hey, I’m not going anywhere,” she cooed, hurrying to where the food was all piled on the counter and bringing it over to Aurora. “See? I’m right here.”

Aurora’s bottom lip quivered, and she sniffled loudly. “Mama!”

“I know,” Rowan said, setting a plastic spoon into the yogurt. “I’m here, okay? Mommy’s right here.”

Aurora pouted for a few minutes longer before Rowan was able to get any food into her. Then she was smiling again, trying to grab the spoon out of Rowan’s hand.

“You got that?” Rowan asked, watching Aurora smack it into the bowl of fruit, squishing a piece of banana.

Aurora babbled something in response, reaching for the squished banana and shoving it into her mouth.

Rowan couldn’t help smiling as she watched her for a few minutes, making sure she was okay before trying to eat as fast as she could, before it got cold or Aurora needed help or both.

Stella sat beneath Aurora’s highchair, quietly watching her baby, her eyes on the little pieces of egg that were teetering a bit too close to the edge of the highchair. Aurora peeked over the edge, waving her hands at Stella before her eyes slid back to Rowan.

Rowan smirked, turning away to focus on her own food. But she watched from the corner of her eye as Aurora grabbed a piece of egg in her fist and dropped it towards Stella, squealing when Stella caught it before it hit the floor.

Rowan snorted, spearing her food with her fork. They were both so adorable and so completely ridiculous, as if she couldn’t see Aurora tossing Stella pieces of her food.

Rowan finished her lunch, then helped Aurora with hers before lifting her from the highchair and cleaning her up.

“Okay!” Rowan announced, twirling around with Aurora in her arms, making her daughter giggle. “Now that we’ve eaten and gotten you changed, again,” she said, kissing one of her cheeks. “Let’s make daddy’s cake, okay? He’s coming home tomorrow and we need it to be a surprise!”

Aurora waved her hands, babbling a string of “dada” while Rowan searched for the baby carrier she sometimes used when taking Aurora for walks. She needed both her hands if she was going to make it right, and whenever she was cooking Aurora always insisted on being right beside her, and she didn’t want to trip over her own daughter.

“Comfy?” Rowan asked, walking back to the kitchen. “We’re gonna make daddy’s cake now. Will you help?”

Aurora squealed, and Rowan took it as agreement to help.

Although she wasn’t sure if she would quite call it helping.

She’d only just begun measuring out all the dry ingredients when she’d had to wake Aurora from her nap, and the flour and sugar and spices still sat open before her. She tried measuring out the sugar into a small measuring cup, but Aurora kept making a grab for it, whining when Rowan held it out of reach.

“No, this is for the cake,” Rowan said, kissing the top of Aurora’s head. “You can have some of the batter when it’s done, though.”

Aurora whined for a while longer, but didn’t kick up a fuss as Rowan finished measuring everything out, pouring them into a bowl.

“We’re doing great so far, little princess,” she said, reaching for the recipe she’d printed from the internet.

Rowan had made cakes before, but they’d always been boxed cakes that somehow always tasted the same. But this was Gavin’s birthday, and she wanted to make something special for him.

He deserved that. To receive special things, to know that he himself was special. That he was loved and cherished and important.

She told him every day, made sure he did always know, but birthdays were supposed to be special. And she wanted to make it extra special for him.

Although the real trouble began when Rowan started measuring out the wet ingredients. Because that was when Aurora decided to start kicking her legs, knocking the measuring cup Rowan had in her hand and spilling milk everywhere.

“Aurora,” Rowan chastised, trying to keep her voice calm and low. “Please don’t do that, okay?”

Aurora whined, and Rowan took her little hands, pressing kisses to them before tickling her.

“We’re making cake! Cake, Aurora! Do you want some when it’s done?”

Aurora shook her hands, and Rowan went back to work, trying to keep her measuring cups and ingredients out of her daughter’s reach.

Although that didn’t stop her from knocking over a few more things, and crying when Rowan turned the blender on.

She bounced Aurora around the room, trying to calm her down, wiping away the fat tears that rolled down her cheeks.

“It’s okay,” Rowan cooed, squeezing Aurora’s hands. “You’re okay! And look, see? We’ve made the batter.”

Aurora was wary of the batter when Rowan offered the spoon to her, but happily licked it clean after she’d tasted it. Rowan was even able to get all the batter into the cake pans and slide them into the oven before Aurora was done.

“Okay! Time for the icing!”

She was sure that this would be easier. After all, it was just icing. But she’d wanted to try decorating the cake with pretty shapes, which meant she needed to not only ice the cake, but decorate it, and she wasn’t particularly skilled at either.

She started by mixing together the ingredients for the base icing, but it started going awry when she put too much food colouring in, making the icing a much deeper blue than she’d intended.

Chewing on the inside of her lip to keep herself from cursing, Rowan tried adding more milk to dilute the colour, but then the icing turned more watery. It took a few more tries of adding more dried ingredients and another few minutes in the electric mixer before it was the consistency that she wanted. But the colour was still far too dark.

And then Aurora was crying, and Rowan had to stop everything to change her and make sure she was all clean and comfy. Which meant that she didn’t hear the timer go off to take the cake out of the oven.

Rowan returned to a kitchen that smelled a little too strongly of chocolate cake, the timer screaming at her as she raced as best she could to the oven and yanked the cake tins out.

She flipped them over, letting the cakes fall into the wire racks she’d just purchased specifically for this baking attempt, her heart hammering in her chest.

Aurora gurgled, reaching to the side and pulling at Rowan’s shirt.

“Do you think it’ll be alright?” Rowan asked, kissing Aurora’s head again. “It should be, right? It couldn’t have been that long that it was left in there.”

She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hands, not wanting to cry over a cake that might not even be ruined. But she was already starting to feel tired, and she still had to make dinner and she had to put together a few more meals she wanted them to take up to the little cottage, so they had to do as little cooking and cleaning while on their vacation.

She sniffled, dropping the cake pans into the dishwasher before returning to the icing situation. She still had to mix up the second icing and get it into the little icing bag she’d purchased from the craft store.

Handing Aurora a spoonful of the blue icing, Rowan retrieved another mixing bowl from the cupboard. She began mixing the ingredients again, being extra careful with the colour this time to make sure it wasn’t too dark.

She’d bought yellow food colouring, and she’d found edible glitter that she wanted to add, too. She wanted to decorate the cake with stars, wanted to make it as bright as Gavin made her life.

She was smiling again when she finished up the icing, carefully pouring it into the bag before tying it off.

By then the cake had cooled, and Rowan did her best to arrange the cake, smearing icing between each layer. The next part was tricky, and not just because Aurora decided she wanted to help with the icing.

Rowan had never iced a cake before, and it was difficult to make it even along the sides. And then it was difficult to make it look nice. The lines from the spoon she was using could be seen all over the cake, and there were weird little swirls and bumps from her attempts to smooth it out, and the icing looked splotchy and awkward, the blue colour darker in some places while in others it looked completely washed out.

She pouted, resting her cheek against the top of Aurora’s head. “What do you think?”

Aurora was busy babbling, and she paused to let out a little sneeze before gurgling.

“Bless you,” Rowan murmured, kissing her baby’s head. “I love you. I love you so much.”

Aurora tipped her head back, trying to reach up to grab Rowan’s face, “mama?”

She laughed, holding Aurora’s hand. “Yes!”

“Mama!”

“Yes, that’s me!”

Aurora wiggled, reaching up her other hand to pat Rowan’s other cheek. “Mama!”

“I love you,” she sang, kissing Aurora’s forehead. “Mommy loves you so much!”

Aurora squealed, wiggling harder, and Rowan bounced while she tried working with the yellow frosting.

She squeezed the bag carefully, doing her best to make tiny, golden stars, scattering them over the edges of the cake. Or at least she tried too. Some of the stars came out lopsided, some too big, some too small. Sometimes the icing bled funny, or came out in weird clumps, and even when she tried to smooth it out it looked odd.

She tried putting stars along the sides too, but that was even harder than the top, and the stars were all different sizes.

But she was pleased with how the “happy birthday” at the top of the cake turned out. She did her best to write it so it came out as clean as possible, and it almost looked like it was professional.

Almost.

Setting down the empty icing bag, Rowan took a step back, surveying her work.

She’d managed to cover up most of the awkward bumps and patches with the icing stars, but then some of the stars didn’t exactly look quite right. And still she couldn’t quite wipe away the worry that gnawed at her, that the cake was burnt and wouldn’t taste half as good as the recipe had promised it would.

She bit her lip, trying to ignore the disappointment welling in her. She’d wanted to make something that Gavin would love, that would make Gavin know how loved and special he was. She hadn’t expected it to look professional by any means, but…

She’d hoped that it would at least look better.

Running a hand over her face, Rowan turned to wash her hands. She would wallow over how disappointing the cake was later. Maybe she would see if she could order one. But right now she had to make dinner and feed Aurora.

Dinner wasn’t a massive, fancy affair, most of Rowan’s energy used up trying to make the cake. She steamed some carrots, mashed some potatoes, and cooked some chicken for the two of them. Aurora was just as fussy as she was earlier when Rowan tried to put her down, so she continued to carry her around, bouncing and spinning and talking in silly voices as she cooked, eliciting lots of delighted giggles from her daughter.

After dinner she put Aurora in her stroller and took Stella to the dog park, knowing she was probably near stir-crazy by now. The evening air was cool, the sky still filled with golden sunlight that washed over the world. She threw balls for Stella at the park, helping Aurora to hold and throw the ball so she could be included too.

And once Aurora started growing fussy she slipped her back into the stroller to head home, calling for Stella. Rowan pointed out the stars blooming in the darkening sky, telling Aurora about them, about how much Gavin liked them, asking her if she was excited to see the meteor shower.

Once they were home it was bathtime, with Rowan fighting against Stella to stop her from jumping into the tub with Aurora. She managed to wash Aurora without too much water getting splashed all across the floor, and then she was bundling her baby up like a little burrito, carrying her back to her room and dressing her in soft, comfy pajamas.

Rowan held Aurora close, rocking her as she wandered around the room, pressing kisses to her soft, downy hair as Aurora fought against her own fatigue. Her hands turned to fists, rubbing against her face as she yawned, nestling against Rowan’s chest.

“Thank you for helping me with daddy’s cake,” Rowan murmured, brushing a whisper of a kiss against Aurora’s cheek when her eyes finally fell closed.

She settled Aurora into her crib, tiptoeing from the room. But she left the door slightly ajar, knowing Stella would soon be sneaking in to curl up at the foot of the crib again, ready to keep watch over Aurora for the night.

And then it was more cleaning and cooking. Rowan stifled a yawn, refusing to look at the cake that she still couldn’t decide if she hated or not, focusing instead on loading the dishes into the dishwasher before making some of the other meals she wanted to bring with them.

It wasn’t anything fancy, mostly different pasta salads and fancy sandwiches. She cooked some more chicken, figuring it would be good for easy lunches if they didn’t want anything else.

Then she started packing other foods they would take with them. Jam and peanut butter, bagels, cookies, little apple sauces and puddings. Things that everyone, but especially Aurora would eat. She wouldn’t worry about things like fruits or dairy until the day they left, not wanting anything to spoil.

After she was satisfied with the food, she turned to the laundry, having washed everything she figured they would need for herself, Aurora, and Gavin.

She knew she didn’t have to do any of this, but she also knew that when Gavin returned he would likely be exhausted, and she wanted him to rest for as long as possible. When they’d met he hardly rested, sometimes refusing to even go to sleep after missions. But she wanted him to rest now, wanted him to be happy and healthy. She wanted to help him however she could, wanted to be there to support him.

She just didn’t want him to feel alone, not ever again.

She’d only gotten through about half of what she’d hoped to fold and put away before exhaustion truly hit her. Her body grew heavy and slow, her mind churning to a stop, the show she’d been playing on her laptop while she’d folded and packed turning into a garbled buzz. Her eyes were heavy, and she could feel a headache beginning to bloom in her temple.

She set the clothes she’d been folding to the side, closing her eyes. She missed Gavin. She wished she could lay down in his arms, press her face against his chest, let herself fall fast asleep. She would shower when she woke up, still tangled in his arms. He would run his fingers through her hair while he helped her wash it, and she would massage his shoulders while she helped him wash his back.

When they were done he would find her something soft to wear, and tuck her back into bed. He would hold her until Aurora woke up, and then he would make sure Rowan stayed put. Then he would bring Aurora to bed with them and they could snuggle her while she chattered at them. Gavin would talk to her, telling her how interesting the conversation was, and she would squeal with happiness. 

Rowan would get to cuddle her two favourite people at once, and she would be warm and happy and so content.

Her eyes burned and she cracked them open, staring at her laptop screen, trying to will herself not to cry as she watched the time change from 11:59 to midnight. One more day until he was back. One more day. She could handle one more day without him.

Couldn’t she?

Sighing, she wiped her eyes and stood. She needed to shower and go to bed. Aurora never woke up any later than seven and Rowan needed to get some sleep.

She sniffled as she walked to the bathroom, Stella on her heels. She scratched behind Stella’s ears as she paused by the door.

“Are you keeping an eye on me?” She asked, smiling as Stella’s tail wagged.

Rowan crouched, hugging Stella as tears slipped down her face. “Thank you.”

Stella just kept wagging her tail, letting Rowan hug her for a few minutes. And when she peeled away to stand, Stella leapt forward, licking Rowan all over her face until she was laughing.

“Hey!” She cried, trying and failing to push her dog away. “Stella! Stella, sit!”

Stella did not sit, but after another moment she did step back, tail wagging as Rowan laughed, wiping her face.

“Alright,” Rowan said, standing. “I’m going to shower, alright?”

Stella made a small yip in affirmation before sitting at the door, tail still wagging as it swished across the floor.

Smiling just the tiniest bit, Rowan closed the bathroom door behind her. She peeled her clothes off, letting them fall into a heap in the corner as she stepped into the shower, turning the heat up nearly as far as it would go.

She drew the shower curtain closed, resting her head against the wall as the hot water beat against her. She was so tired, and she missed Gavin so much. How had she been able to do this before? How had she been able to go weeks without seeing him, without holding him in her arms.

The shower was too loud and she was too lost in her thoughts to hear the front door open. The water pounded against her head and shoulders, muffling the familiar footsteps making their way through the house, pausing in the kitchen before heading towards the bedroom. She didn’t even notice the laughter as Stella accosted him by the bathroom door, yapping in delight before he could reach for the door.

It wasn’t until the knock at the door came that Rowan was drawn from her thoughts. Gavin’s voice filled the room, and her heart ached, wondering if her tired mind was playing tricks on her.

“Rowan? Pumpkin it’s me, can I come in?”

She threw back the shower curtains, nearly losing her footing as she sprinted across the bathroom to the door. She yanked the door open and nearly burst into tears, Gavin standing on the other side of the door. He blinked, momentarily taken aback, but then he was smiling, drawing her against him.

“Gavin?” She asked, her voice cracking as she fell against him. “You’re home?”

He kissed her brow, humming in affirmation. “I missed you too much, so I came home a day early.”

“Is that okay? I don’t want you to get in trouble because of-”

“It’s more than okay,” he murmured, cutting her off before she could finish. “I haven’t seen my daughter or my beautiful wife in nearly a month. I think coming home a day earlier is fine.”

He kissed the top of her head, rubbing her back. “Not that I would really care, though. Nothing would stop me from coming home to you.”

Rowan squeezed her eyes shut, her hands balling in the material of his shirt as she tried desperately not to cry. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” he said, his voice as soft as a feather.

“I missed you so much,” she repeated, her voice cracking again. She thought she was falling apart. “Gavin, I missed you so much.”

“Well I’m home now,” he breathed, his hand running over her hair. “And I’m not going anywhere for a while, okay?”

She nodded, sniffling. “Okay.”

He kissed the top of her head again, holding her tighter. “Now, I’ve had a long few days and I’m feeling a bit gross. Do you mind if I join you in the shower?”

Rowan shook her head vigorously. “I want to stay close to you.”

“Good,” he murmured. “I want to stay close to you, too.”

It was another moment before Rowan remembered that she would actually have to let go of her husband for him to take his clothes off.

She crossed her arms over her chest, turning away as he began peeling his clothes off.

“You know you don’t have to look away,” he said, the clink of his belt chasing after his words.

“I know,” she said, her cheeks growing hot. “I dunno, I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I’m sure you’re really tired.”

He chuckled, coming up behind her and pressing a kiss to the shell of her ear. “You could never.”

He took her hand, drawing her back to the shower, helping her in before following behind. He drew the curtain closed, cocooning them in their own little world, and Rowan couldn’t help clutching him again, unable to believe he was really here.

“I’m so happy you’re home,” she muttered, her voice muffled against his shoulder. “I didn’t want to go to sleep without you again.”

He hummed softly, rubbing her back while she held him. “Three weeks is too long. I won’t take another mission that long again.”

“Promise?”

His voice was a song as it danced in the small space. “I promise.”

She clutched him for a while longer, not caring how the hot water pounded against her side, how her hair stuck to the side of her face awkwardly, how the other half of her body had broken out in goosebumps as the cold air kissed her bare skin.

She just wanted to hold Gavin, wanted to hold her husband close and breathe him in and feel his heartbeat against her cheek and feel his skin against hers.

She desperately needed to be close to him.

Gavin hummed, his hand falling to her waist, trailing lower.

“What do you think you’re doing?” She mumbled, not bothering to move.

He chuckled. “I haven’t seen you in almost a month. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” she said, opening her eyes to glare up at him as his hand moved to the back of her thigh.

“I’ve just missed you so much.”

She pinched his side, earning a yelp as his hand returned to the small of her back.

“Hey,” he said, pulling away to pout at her.

“You’re kind of stinky,” she said, trying to disentangle herself from his arms. “We should probably clean you up.”

He pouted more, tugging at her arm. “Maybe I don’t want to wash yet.”

She peeked at him from over her shoulder as she reached for the shampoo. “Oh? And what do you want to do?”

His eyes grew dark, his cheeks and ears flushing.

She jabbed a finger against his chest. “No. You’re probably exhausted, and we’re leaving in a few days. You need your rest.”

She sighed, letting her hand fall. “And Aurora is going to be so excited to see you, she’ll probably want you to carry her around all day.”

He chuckled, pulling her back against his chest. “I could just nap with her.”

“You say that,” Rowan said slowly. “But she’s starting to kick in her sleep.”

“More than before she was born?”

Rowan frowned, remembering the painful afternoons before Aurora had been born, when she would start kicking almost incessantly, without end. Rowan had been sure her insides had been bruised from the assault of tiny feet.

“I’d say the same,” she admitted, shaking her head. “She kicked me in the face yesterday when I dozed off with her.”

Gavin cooed gently, stroking her face. “Are you okay?”

“I’m okay,” she said. “Although at the time I was scared and confused from being woken up so suddenly.”

He chuckled, kissing her cheek. “I can imagine you would have been.”

“I love her,” Rowan murmured, sinking back into Gavin’s embrace. “Even when she’s kicking me, I love her.”

“She reminds me of you,” Gavin said, his words nearly lost beneath the rush of the water.

Rowan scoffed. “She reminds me of you.”

“She talks a lot more than me.”

“She’s nearly as clingy as you.”

“You say that as if you’re not just as clingy.”

Rowan rolled her eyes. “You make a fair point.”

“And she’s beautiful,” Gavin continued, grinning as he hushed her before she could make another comment. “And she’s smart and she’s sweet, and you know when I bumped into the table she gave me a kiss to make me feel better. And her smile is the most beautiful thing in the world.”

Gavin kissed Rowan’s brow. “Just like yours, and just like you.”

Rowan snorted, but her face was growing hot, her heart overflowing with warmth and love.

He was so sweet, he was so kind and sweet and wonderful and he always made her so happy.

She hugged him again, scattering kisses all over his chest and his shoulder and his jaw, earning laughter that bordered on raucous.

“I love you,” she said between breaths. “I love you with all of my heart. I’m so glad you’re home.”

She stopped when Gavin’s laughter turned breathless, running her fingers through his damp hair as he regained control of himself.

“I’m glad I’m home too,” he wheezed, his head falling on her shoulder. “I’ve missed your kisses, too.”

She laughed, playing with his hair. “There’s more where those came from.”

He hummed. “I have no doubt.”

Gavin sighed then, straightening and staring at her seriously. “Although I think I’m realizing I may actually be a bit tired right now.”

Rowan plucked the shampoo from its spot on the little shelf in the shower. “How do some nice cuddles in your comfiest pajamas and a warm tea sound?”

“With you?” He asked, ducking his head as she lathered the shampoo in her hand before applying it to his hair. “That sounds like heaven.”

They chatted idly as they helped each other wash, until their fingers grew wrinkled and the water became lukewarm. Rowan shivered as she felt the water growing colder, slipping and falling against Gavin’s chest as she tried to escape the frigid deluge.

He laughed, switching the water off before it could turn icy, scooping her into his arms and throwing open the shower curtain.

“You know you don’t have to carry me,” she said, even as she nestled her head in the crook of his neck as he carried her from the bathroom. “I’m perfectly capable of walking.”

“I haven’t seen my beautiful wife in three weeks and you want me to put her down?” He asked, looking astonished. “She’s been taking care of our baby all by herself for almost a month. Shouldn’t she be the one getting taken care of now?”

Rowan rolled her eyes. “Well you’re the one who’s just got back from a long mission, and you’re about to have a birthday. Maybe you should be the one getting taken care of.”

Gavin shook his head. “No, definitely you.”

She would have snorted, but she paused when she saw an elegant black box wrapped with a fat, pink satin ribbon on the bed.

“Gavin,” she said slowly, pointing to it. “What’s that?”

He shrugged, setting Rowan on the bed beside the box. “Just a little something I bought that reminded me of you.”

Things that reminded Gavin of her could range from a particularly shiny rock he’d found on the ground to a quarter million dollar necklace that apparently he’d been perfectly comfortable buying without much thought.

Rowan narrowed her eyes, running a hand over the ribbon.

“Open it,” Gavin said, the corners of his lips curling up into a smile as he opened a drawer in their dresser. “Tell me what you think.”

She untied the ribbon as Gavin searched for their favourite pajamas, carefully lifting the lid of the box. The tissue paper underneath was a pale, baby pink, and it rustled softly as she unfolded it, revealing a beautiful pink dress.

She lifted it from its packaging, taking in all the details of the dress.

The three-quarter sleeves, the soft ribbons that laced up the front, the delicate embroidery all over the bodice, the way the overlapping skirt made it look like flower petals, the gauzy underskirt that gave it a slight poof.

The material was soft to the touch, and she knew it would feel wonderful against her skin.

“Gavin,” she chided, lowering the dress, the skirt pooling over her lap. “Gavin, this is too much.”

He arched a brow, her pajamas in his hand as he walked towards her. “You don’t like it?”

She shook her head, her eyes burning. “No, I love it.”

His shoulders relaxed, and he smiled, his eyes soft. “You love it?”

Her heart fluttered, like it was made of diaphanous butterfly wings from just that one smile. “I do, I think it’s beautiful.”

He pressed a kiss to her brow. “I’m sure it’ll be even more beautiful once you’re wearing it.”

She shook her head. “But this must have been so expensive, Gavin. You shouldn’t have spent that money on me.”

He shrugged. “I wanted to. I wanted to buy you something.”

She played with the corner of the dress’ ribbon. “But it’s your birthday soon. I should be the one buying you presents.”

He sat on the bed next to her, squeezing her hand. “Think of it as a gift for me. My wife is beautiful and I love seeing her in pretty things.” He kissed her neck, humming. “And I think that dress will look very pretty on her.”

Rowan giggled putting the dress back in its box as Gavin began trailing kisses up her jaw. “Okay, okay! I’ll wear it when we go out.”

He pressed a kiss to the corner of her lips, smiling. “I can’t wait.”

“Thank you, babey,” she murmured, turning to face him fully, her heart aching as she saw the full force of his starlit smile. “It’s beautiful, thank you.”

He brushed his lips against hers once, twice. “But not nearly as beautiful as you.”

Rowan laughed, letting him pull her into a tight embrace before she grabbed her pajamas to get dressed.

“Why don’t you get comfy in bed,” she said, straightening her shirt as she turned towards him. “And I’ll go boil the kettle and get you a little snack.”

Gavin bobbed his head, already moving the box from the bed and throwing back the quilt. “But you’ll be back soon?”

“I’ll be back before you know it, and then you’ll be stuck with me clinging to you.”

His answering smile was so soft, so warm, that she didn’t want to go at all. She wanted to wrap herself in his arms and stay curled up with him forever.

His eyes shone, as if sensing her thoughts. “I would love nothing more.”

***

When Aurora found out the next day that her daddy had come home two days early she had been more excited than Rowan had seen her in a while.

Gavin ended up toting their baby around all day, Aurora practically glued to him as she chattered wordlessly throughout the day. She cried when he tried to put her down, and he did end up falling asleep with her curled against his chest.

And Gavin woke up to Aurora kicking him too, a moment Rowan made sure she caught on video to share with him later, after the bruise Aurora had given his ribs healed.

She was still cradled in his arms when her eyes grew so heavy that she could not keep them open any longer. And yet she still whined when he tried to nestle her into her crib, forcing her eyes open even as they fell closed again.

“It’s okay to go to sleep,” Gavin cooed, bouncing gently as he paced through her room. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“She doesn’t want to wake up and see that you’re gone,” Rowan said, watching him from the doorway with a small smile dancing across her lips. “She’s missed you so much.”

Rowan’s heart ached as Gavin cooed again, brushing back Aurora’s soft, downy hair. He leaned down, kissing her chubby cheeks as she whined, her little hands grasping at Gavin’s shirt.

“I can definitely relate,” she murmured, crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned against the doorjamb, her heart feeling soft and warm.

Gavin looked up at her, his eyes shining like twin stars in the shadows of the nursery. “I’ll make sure to make it up to you both.”

Rowan smiled wider. “No morning run for the next few days. I want to cuddle you until Aurora makes us get up.”

“And maybe even after?” He asked, his brows arching up just slightly.

Rowan shrugged, imagining their usual routine when Gavin had a day off, and he was willing to sleep in past 7am. He would take Aurora out of her crib when she woke up, changing her diaper and sometimes feeding her something small before bringing her back to their room and tucking her into bed between them.

Aurora would curl up in the middle of the bed, gurgling and cooing while the two of them dozed. Sometimes she would fall back to sleep, and sometimes she would crawl all over them, but they were always moments that Rowan cherished, even if a very tiny foot smacked her in the face or Aurora yanked on her hair.

“I would like that,” she said, drawn from her memories as Gavin pecked a quick kiss to her cheek. “I would like that a lot.”

He kissed her a second time, sighingh. “You don’t have to wait for me, you know. I’ll be in bed as soon as I can.”

“I want to be here,” she said, reaching up to straighten Gavin’s messy bangs. “I kind of love watching you take care of Aurora.”

There was more to it than that, but she couldn’t quite put it into words. Seeing Gavin gently holding their daughter, murmuring soft words to her as she grew drowsy in his arms, the look of panic that swept over him every time she started to whine when he set her down, way his face became so soft as he gazed down at Aurora’s little face, as he took one of her tiny hands and kissed it.

It made her feel so warm, like there was sunlight in her veins, like the love in her heart was more boundless than the sky and all the stars that glowed within it.

And it made her feel soft, like she was being wrapped in her favourite blanket, like her love was gauzy and light, curling around her like a spring breeze.

Seeing his smile, watching him take care of their daughter so tenderly, holding her tight all day, holding her now still so she knew she was safe and loved by her daddy, made her feel so soft, so full of love.

Gavin was such a wonderful father, such a wonderful husband.

She loved him so very much.

After another few minutes of Gavin humming gentle lullabies, Aurora’s fists fell from his shirt, curling against her body as her chest rose and fell in an even rhythm.

Rowan could tell Gavin was holding his breath as he settled Aurora into her crib, moving his hands slowly from beneath her so he didn’t disturb her.

She had to cover her mouth to stop herself from giggling as he crept backwards; her tall, muscled husband tiptoeing away from Aurora’s crib, wincing at every creak beneath his feet.

He sighed as he finally made it out of the room, pulling the door closed behind him.

Rowan wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her face against his back, breathing him in, letting his warmth seep into her heart for a moment. “I hope you know that was the cutest thing I have ever seen.”

He chuckled, his hand covering hers. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.”

She snorted, peeling away so he could turn around, so she could see his wonderful, precious face.

“So, I know Aurora monopolized all your cuddle time today,” Rowan said slowly, reaching out to take Gavin’s hands. “But I was wondering… If you’re not completely hugged-out, if you would want to cuddle with me?”

Gavin lifted her hands, brushing kisses across her knuckles. “I always want that, pumpkin.”

“Always?” She asked, her voice cracking as she bounced on her toes, delight warming her all the way to her toes knowing she was just moments from snuggling with her favourite person.

“Always,” he repeated, his arms circling her waist and lifting her into the air. “I always want to cuddle with you, and hold you tight.”

She pressed her face against his neck, grinning like a fool as he carried her back to their room, so they could snuggle until they grew drowsy, and fall asleep tangled in each other’s arms.

***

The next two days went by in a blur of packing bags and Gavin helping Rowan prepare and freeze food before they left, and Rowan kicking Gavin out into the backyard with Stella and Aurora while she wrapped the last of his presents.

He’d spotted the cake she’d made and tried tucking away, and even though she’d argued that he deserved much better, he’d still insisted on bringing it along to the cottage.

“I like your cakes best,” he’d said, taking the covered cake container from her hands and adding it to the top of the pile of food she’d laid out on the kitchen table. “And I want this one for my birthday.”

She would have argued more, but it was his birthday, so she supposed he could have his way.

They drove out to the cottage in the late afternoon of the 27th, playing children’s songs and listening to Aurora babble for almost the entire four hour drive.

Rowan’s arms were aching from how often she’d reached back to hold Aurora’s hands when she’d started whining, crying soft ‘mama’s when she had a bad dream during a nap, or didn’t like a song, or saw a colour of car she didn’t like.

They pulled over a few times, once to take Stella out and change Aurora’s diaper, another to check out a beautiful view from a mountainside, and another because Aurora had been crying louder than the music and they’d needed a break from the sounds bouncing through the small space of the car.

But despite all that, once they reached the cottage, Aurora fell asleep almost immediately, completely tired out from their little adventure.

It had made unpacking the car and all their things incredibly easy. All they’d done was tuck Aurora into the travel crib they’d brought along, and then head out to retrieve the rest of their things.

That night they’d both slept soundly too, lulled to sleep by the sound of the night wind rustling through the trees that surrounded the cottage, and the distant crash of ocean waves.

“Is there a beach nearby?” Rowan had asked, her mind hazy as she’d struggled to remain conscious, the warmth of the blankets and Gavin’s arms around her making her drowsier than she’d felt in weeks.

He’d hummed, giving her a sleepy kiss. “I think there’s a little trail that will take us down to a private beach.”

She’d wanted to say they should go down there sometime, let Aurora wander through the sand and splash her feet in the surf. But before Rowan could say a word she had fallen into unconsciousness, safely wrapped in Gavin’s arms.

***

They awoke early the next day, Aurora’s cries cutting through the quiet morning air.

Gavin was up before Rowan even understood why she was hearing crying, still half-asleep and tangled in her dreams.

Gavin returned moments later, cradling a sleepy Aurora, her cheeks still red from crying.

“Just a dirty diaper,” Gavin clarified, settling Aurora in Rowan’s arms. “But she’s all clean now, right?”

Aurora gurgled in response, a small smile on her lips as she snuggled against Rowan’s chest.

Rowan pressed a kiss to Aurora’s head as she fell back to sleep, murmuring quietly as she curled into an even tighter ball.

“Look at this,” Rowan breathed, gesturing at Aurora with her chin. “Look at how she sleeps.”

Gavin grinned, climbing back into bed and pulling the blankets back up. “She sleeps just like you.”

Rowan frowned. “I do not turn into a ball while I sleep.”

He scoffed, rolling onto his side. “I have photo evidence to prove it. From all the nights I would come home late and see you curled into a ball hugging whatever new stuffed animal I’d bought you.”

She pouted, considering the ramifications of trying to smack him. “Are you making fun of me?”

“Not at all,” he said, his answering smile soft and warm. “I thought you were adorable, and you always looked so comfortable. It made me want to curl up in your arms.”

He kissed her cheek, his arm wrapping around her waist. “Although I always want to be in your arms.”

She pressed a kiss to his brow, the corners of her lips pulling into a smile. “I’ll happily hold you for as long as you want.”

Gavin closed his eyes, nestling closer to her. “Forever?”

She kissed him again, feeling content to be curled up beside him, their baby in her arms. “Forever.”

They dozed off for a while longer, nestled together beneath the blankets as the sun slowly began to rise, gilding the world in gold. They didn’t stir until Aurora began squirming in Rowan’s arms, babbling loudly as she crawled from Rowan to Gavin, then back again. She giggled when they made funny faces at her, burying her face in the blankets to hide before peeking up to see if their expressions had changed.

Gavin grabbed Aurora, hefting her into the air as he stood, his drowsiness ebbing away with every airplane noise he made as he swooped Aurora through the air.

“What do you say we get some breakfast, little princess?” He asked, his question almost drowned out by Aurora’s laughter. “We can have pancakes, or waffles, and mommy brought lots of fruit!”

Aurora squealed, waving her arms through the air as Gavin stood, lifting her higher. If she heard his question at all she didn’t give any indication, too busy pretending she was the world’s smallest airplane.

Rowan got up after them, taking the giggling, rosy-cheeked Aurora from Gavin’s arms when she started making grabby hands at Rowan, covering her little face in kisses while she laughed.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea, babey,” Rowan said, grinning at Aurora as she babbled at them. “It’s your birthday tomorrow, so you can pick out what we have.”

Gavin smiled, kissing the top of Rowan’s head. “I want whatever will make you both happy.”

She rolled her eyes, feigning annoyance at the non-answer he’d given her. “Alright, well how about waffles and pancakes?”

“That sounds like a wonderful idea to me.”

It was a wonderful idea, although it quickly grew messy as they traded Aurora between them while mixing the batters and cooking. Somehow they all ended up with flour on them, even little Aurora, although neither Rowan or Gavin could figure out how. And yet flour was caked to her cheeks and fell from her downy hair like the first, gentle snow of the season.

“So what do you want to do today?” Rowan asked, wiping Aurora’s cheek while she tried cramming a piece of syrupy pancake into her mouth. “We could just hang out here, maybe check out the little private beach you said isn’t too far away.”

Gavin hummed, setting another waffle down on Rowan’s plate. “I think there’s a town not too far away with a pier. We could check that out first.” his eyes grew soft as Aurora, not so subtly, dropped a piece of pancake for Stella. “Maybe there will be something Aurora loves.”

“That’s a wonderful idea,” she said, reaching over to squeeze Gavin’s hand.

After breakfast they had a sizable clean-up, and even after they were done with the dishes and cleaning the splattered syrup from the table and the floor they still somehow found flour and bits of dried batter in little corners and underneath the counter and even in Stella’s fur.

“We can clean that up later,” Gavin said, shrugging. “I want to spend the day having fun with my family.”

She let him usher her back to the cottage’s master bedroom, sunshine pouring in from the windowed doors that led out onto a little balcony. The whole room was painted in shades of gold and yellow and white, and she squinted, turning back around to face Gavin as he was setting Aurora on the bed.

The light twined through his hair, turning it to a burnished red and gold. It danced in his eyes, turning the usual warm golden-brown to starfire. His features were painted in light and sunshine, and for a moment she felt breathless.

He was handsome, so stunning sometimes that it hurt, but she saw his face so often, saw so many different expressions cross his beautiful face, saw him with drool down his face and his cheek smushed against the pillow so often, that sometimes she forgot just how breathtakingly beautiful he was.

Gavin arched a brow as he caught her staring, smirking as she realized that she had been staring.

“What is it, sweetheart?” He asked, not taking his eyes off of her even as he dressed Aurora, tying up the little bows at the side of her fluffy blue dress.

Rowan coughed, her face burning. “I was just…”

She trailed off, not knowing what to say or even how to say it. His smirk only grew wider as she struggled to find her voice, and her face only grew hotter and hotter, until she was sure she was about to burst into flame.

She’d been married to Gavin for years. She’d seen him naked on countless occasions. She’d seen him naked yesterday. How was it possible for him to make her feel so flustered?

“You just look really handsome,” she finally managed to say, her voice coming out in little more than a squeak.

Gavin coughed, his ears turning pink, the colour slowly washing over his cheeks and reaching below the collar of his shirt.

Her heart ached, and she wanted to reach out and cover his face in kisses.

Which is exactly what she did, earning a delighted gasp of laughter from Gavin. Aurora’s squeals joined the cacophony as she heard Gavin snorting with laughter.

“What was that for?” Gavin asked, gasping for breath as Aurora babbled, stumbling over the bed and peeking over the side to wave at Stella.

Rowan shrugged. “I just wanted to give you some kisses.”

The scarlet flush that stained his face grew deeper, seeping down his neck and below his shirt.

“I love you,” she said, cupping his cheek with one hand. ��You look incredibly handsome today.”

He covered her hand with his, leaning into her palm. “And you look beautiful, too.”

“I haven’t even changed out of my pajamas yet.”

He shrugged. “And yet you always look beautiful.”

She would have said more if Aurora hadn’t shrieked, tumbling back on the pillows as Stella leapt onto the bed, licking their baby’s face.

Gavin pressed a kiss to Rowan’s cheek before she could move. “You’re beautiful, always. No arguments, pumpkin.”

She pouted as he shooed Stella from the bed, scooping Aurora into his arms again. She did want to argue more; she thought she looked like a mess, with flour stuck to her clothes and her hair unbrushed and her pajamas wrinkled.

But Gavin just cradled Aurora, flicking his eyes towards the box Rowan had left the fancy dress in, terrified of wrinkling it. “We’ll go and play for a little bit. Why don’t you get changed, okay sweetheart?”

He left before she could say a word, his wordless request clear.

Fifteen minutes later Rowan emerged from the room, smoothing her hands over the skirt of the dress. The dress poofed out from her waist thanks to the underskirt, and the material was soft as a breath against her skin. She hardly even noticed how fitted the bodice was, how the ribbon at the front pulled the material taut.

She fiddled with her hair, trying to readjust the band of flowers she’d set on her head.

She’d had a gold and pink band with a gauzy ribbon that held it in place, and she’d known it would be perfect to wear with the flower dress Gavin had gifted her. But she’d put the band on far too hastily, and loose strands of hair had stuck out at odd angles, and the ribbon had managed to get stuck in a lock of her hair.

“Gavin,” she called, wandering through the unfamiliar halls of the cottage. “Babey, could you help me please?”

“Just out here!” Gavin called, his voice like a tether drawing her towards the porch behind the cottage.

She found Gavin sitting on the porch, playing with Aurora, smiling at her as she held up a plush horse and set it in his lap. The sunlight danced in their matching eyes, and Rowan felt like she was peering up at glittering stars as both her husband and daughter turned to look at her.

“I was wondering if you could help me?” She asked, gesturing to the hairband. “It’s stuck.”

Gavin’s expression was soft, his cheeks rosy as he stood, holding his hands out. “Of course. Turn around?”

She did, pulling her hair to the side to expose her neck and the offending ribbon.

“You know my hair was so pretty until this mess happened.”

Gavin tsked softly, undoing the knot with deft fingers. “It still looks pretty.”

“Oh please.”

“I wouldn’t lie to you,” he said, taking her shoulders and turning her around gently. “I would never lie to you, Rowan, not ever.”

She nodded, taken aback by the sincerity in his voice.

“You look beautiful,” he murmured, leaning close to catch her lips with his. “You look like you’re made of magic.”

Her cheeks grew warm, and she found herself entirely at a loss for words.

Gavin scooped Aurora back up, kissing her rosy cheeks before taking Rowan’s hand, grinning. “Well? Do you want to head out?”

It took her a moment to remember their plans, his gentle words incandescent as they danced through her mind, everything else fading away.

“Rowan?”

She blinked, his hand and his voice dragging her back from her thoughts, from the enchantment his simple words had cast over her.

“Yes, let’s head out,” she said at last, squeezing his hand in response.

The drive was barely more than a few minutes, the small town Gavin had mentioned quickly coming into view.

It was houses, mostly, but the more they drove the more shops appeared. Streets lined with colourful storefronts bloomed around them, people wandering along the sidewalk dressed in colourful shirts and dresses, some carrying umbrellas to avoid the sun, others wearing floppy hats and sunglasses nearly the size of their faces.

Rowan caught sight of people wearing little more than bathing suits appearing from behind a shop, and drew Gavin’s attention towards it. “Hey! Babey, you said you thought there was a pier, didn’t you? Maybe the water is just over there.”

Gavin hummed, steering them towards a wide parking lot, half-filled with cars and screaming children and people weighed down with shopping bags.

“Let’s see what’s here,” he said, taking the keys from the ignition. “I think there might be some cute things you’ll like.”

“But will there be things you like?” She asked, squeezing his hand.

“I like spending my time with you,” he said, lifting her hand and pressing a kiss to her palm, just below her wedding ring. “That’s all I want to do today.”

Rowan sighed, her heart warm as Gavin let go of her hand. “You’re such a dork.”

“I know.”

They extricated Aurora’s stroller from the trunk, buckling her in before heading out towards the little shops.

The passed by different clothing stores at first, the first few seeming more like tourist traps than anything, with keychains and magnets displayed in the centre of the store. But then they found themselves before a chocolate and ice cream shop, and how could any of them say no to that?

Aurora wiggled in her stroller seat, gurgling with delight when she realized what the shop was. She held her arms out, pointing at all the colourful candies and toys and sweets that lined the walls of the shop.

Gavin plucked a box wrapped in delicate pink paper, a sparkly red ribbon tied over the corners. Aurora pointed to it, grinning wide when Gavin lifted the box.

“Do you think this is pretty?” He asked, waving the box in front of her.

She reached forward, the straps of the stroller growing taut as she tried to grab the box from his hands.

“What is it?” Rowan asked, peeking over Gavin’s shoulder, a stuffed, pink wolf in her hands.

He shrugged, holding the box towards her. “I’m not sure, but Aurora seems to like it.”

Aurora whined in answer, wiggling her fingers as Rowan took the box.

Rowan looked at the display Gavin had found it on, small stuffed animals perched around the small stacks of similarly wrapped boxes.

“I think it’s a box of chocolates with a stuffed animal in the box.”

Gavin arched a brow. “I think you both have the same taste.”

Rowan pursed her lips. “What do you mean?”

He pointed to the wolf in her hands. “You both love stuffed animals, and chocolate.”

She pouted, clutching the wolf to her chest. “Maybe I just thought he was cute.”

“He?” Gavin took the chocolate box and handed it to Aurora, clearly intent on buying it. “It’s a he?”

Rowan turned around, pouting more even as she heard Gavin chuckling behind her. “I just think it’s a he.”

He hummed, tugging on her arm until she turned back around. “And you want to get it, don’t you?”

“Maybe.”

His brow rose further and her shoulders slumped as she gave in to his teasing. “Yeah, I do want him.”

Gavin held out his hand, gently prying the wolf from her hands. “Consider him yours.”

“Hey! But it’s your birthday tomorrow, you should be the one getting gifts.”

“Getting to spend time with you and Aurora is the only gift I need,” he said simply, kissing Rowan’s cheek. “Now why don’t you help me pick out an ice cream for Aurora?”

They settled on a small bowl of strawberry and vanilla ice cream for Aurora, and then went to find a little bench to sit on while they had their snack. Aurora’s face lit up as they took turns spooning her small scoops of the dessert, giggling when either of them made airplane noises or flew the spoon in the air before she took a bite. She tried taking the spoon from Gavin’s hand, nearly flicking a small glob of ice cream onto his shirt, and he smiled at her, so warmly that Rowan was amazed the ice cream didn’t melt completely right there.

“You want me to get you a napkin?” She asked, digging through the diaper bag, trying to remember which pocket she’d tucked spare napkins and cloths into, in case Aurora ever had a spill while they were out.

Gavin nodded. “I would, but it’s okay, take your time, pumpkin. It’s just a little ice cream.”

Aurora squealed in agreement, successfully taking the spoon from Gavin’s hand while he was distracted. She dug it into the ice cream and jammed a massive scoop into her mouth, her entire expression changing as the cold overtook her tiny mouth.

“Oh no,” Rowan cried, trying very hard not to laugh as Aurora’s nose wrinkled, her little hands flapping as she struggled, waiting for her mouth to warm up.

“Little princess, that was too big of a bite,” Gavin cooed, prying the spoon from her hand.

Rowan kissed Aurora’s head, humming as she tried to soothe her. “You just need some kisses, don’t you?”

Aurora whined, her eyes squeezed shut as she squirmed in her stroller.

Gavin pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Mommy says kisses will help, so we should trust her.”

A few minutes later and Aurora’s whines finally subsided, although the tears in the corners of her eyes did streak down her face, and she held her arms out to Rowan, whimpering until she was extricated from the stroller and cradled in Rowan’s lap.

“You know you’re awfully spoiled,” she chided, even as Aurora curled up in her arms, seeming to sigh in contentment.

Gavin chuckled, taking one of Aurora’s hands and swinging it side-to-side. “She knows she’s loved.”

“She is,” Rowan sang, peppering kisses over her daughter’s face. “She’s loved and she knows how precious she is to us.”

“We’d better eat our ice cream too,” Gavin said, dropping Aurora’s hand to lean back, peering at the little cups of ice cream they’d gotten for each other.

“At this point we could probably just drink it,” she said, trying to peek over him to where the ice creams were. “Have they melted completely?”

Gavin shook his head, holding up the two little bowls, the scoops of ice cream still mostly in-tact. “No, but they’re starting to.”

Rowan kissed Aurora’s head again. “That’s okay, Aurora’s more important than ice cream anyways.”

He chuckled, scooting closer, Rowan’s bowl of cotton candy flavoured ice cream in his hand. “You’re important too.”

“Well so are you,” she said, looking up at him. “You’re so important to me, Gavin.”

“And you’re important to me.”

Her face warmed, and she couldn’t help smiling, couldn’t help the way she felt like she was melting as she stared into the warmth of his gaze.

“You’re so sweet,” she said, resting her cheek against his shoulder. “What did I do to deserve you?”

“You were yourself,” he murmured, brushing her bangs back. “You were you, and that’s all you needed to be.”

“You’re such a dork.”

“I know.”

“I love you.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I love you more.”

She would have argued, would have told him that she absolutely loved him more, but he tapped the top of her head gently. “Do you want your ice cream?”

She nodded, straightening as she tried to figure out how to balance Aurora in her lap and take the small bowl from Gavin.

But he was already ahead of her, the spoon hovering a few inches from her face.

“What are you doing?” She asked, quirking a brow wryly.

“I’m helping,” he answered, moving the spoon a bit closer. “Your arms are full, so I’m helping.”

“I do know how to eat ice cream without giving myself a brain freeze,” she said, her tone amused as he continued peering at her with wide, hopeful eyes.

“But you don’t have to,” he said. “I can help, and then you don’t need to put Aurora down.”

She peered down at where Aurora was snuggled against her chest, babbling to herself as she played with Rowan’s necklace.

“I know you love cuddling her,” he said, and Rowan’s heart melted a little more.

Because of course he was right, she loved cuddling Aurora. She hated putting her down, even if it was just for the barest of moments. And she knew that even if she set Aurora down in the stroller in front of them, that her arms would feel cold and empty, even as their daughter giggled and chattered less than a foot away.

“Okay,” she said, conceding. “Okay, if you really want to.”

He grinned wider, and Rowan took a bite of the ice cream, doing her best not to laugh at how happy he looked. “You don’t need to look so excited, babey.”

He shrugged. “I just think you look adorable.”

Heat flooded across her face, crawling along her skin like flames, threatening to combust.

“I don’t think I look that-”

He hushed her with another scoop of ice cream, and she pouted at him around the spoon in her mouth. “It’s my birthday tomorrow, so you have to agree with me.”

She stuck her bottom lip out more, earning a laugh as he set the bowl down on the bench beside him for a moment. “Don’t pout, pumpkin.”

“Why not?”

He smiled, mischief flickering across his face. “If you do, I might have to do something about it.”

She took a stuttering breath as he quickly leaned forward, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke again. “Something that will have to wait until we get back to the cottage.”

Her stomach somersaulted, butterflies taking flight in her chest at the way his voice dipped low, at how his hand rested on her thigh, at how warm his breath was as it twined with hers.

She parted her lips, wanting to feel him, wanting to feel herself enveloped by his warmth.

He chuckled, but he obliged, tilting his head to the side as he closed the last of the space between them. She couldn’t help sighing as his hand cradled the back of her head, pulling her closer as his tongue grazed her bottom lip, her teeth, her tongue.

It was far too short and far too chaste for her liking, although it did leave her with her heart warmed, like a small, cozy fire had been lit within her chest, warming her all the way down to the tips of her fingers and her toes.

She whined a bit when he pulled away, but Gavin only chuckled, smoothing her hair back.

“We can continue later,” he breathed. “I promise.”

They sat there for a while, Aurora switching hands when Rowan finished her ice cream so Gavin could eat his. It was halfway melted, but he smiled every time Rowan held up the dripping spoon, even if some of it dripped onto his chin before he could catch it.

When they were done and their cups were stacked together and Aurora was wiggling from all the sugar in the ice cream, they returned to their wandering, peeking into the shops that lined the road. Aurora was full of energy, and she squirmed in her seat, waving her hands as she pointed at different dogs, stumbling over Stella’s name every time a new dog came into view.

Stella would trot up beside the stroller, doing her best to nuzzle Aurora before moving back to remain at Rowan’s side, her tail wagging and tongue lolling as strangers offered her smiles and small head scritches.

There was a toy store that they had to go into, with an entire wall of pink plush animals that made Aurora squeal as she tried to escape from the stroller, stumbling up to the lowest shelf and reaching for a stuffed bunny nearly as big as she was.

Gavin’s expression was full of bemusement as he held out a stuffed pumpkin with a little winky face to Rowan.

“What’s this?” She asked, even though she was pretty sure she already knew the answer as she took it from his hands.

“It’s you,” he said, his eyes sparkling.

She pouted, turning to walk away abruptly, staring hard at a shelf of pretty fashion dolls that her fingers itched to hold.

“Don’t be mad, pumpkin,” he said, but she could still hear the teasing lilt in his voice.

“I’m not mad,” she said, still not looking at him.

He hummed, as if he didn’t believe her, and she felt his hand brush against the one still clutching the stuffed pumpkin. “I can put this back if you want.”

She turned around then, clutching it close to her chest. “But it’s so cute!”

His answering smirk was all the evidence she needed that he’d known she would say that.

“If you want it, then it’s yours,” he said, kissing her cheek. “Besides, our daughter has already picked out five toys she wants.”

They ended up managing to talk Aurora down from the seven toys she’d picked, adding two more to the count while Gavin had teased Rowan, to just two. One was the massive stuffed bunny she’d seen seconds after walking into the store, the other a princess playset with soft animal figures.

She was grinning ear-to-ear, clutching her stuffed bunny as they wheeled her around. She held it up to Gavin as they paused before a dress store, waving it like she wanted him to hold it.

Gavin ended up walking next to the stroller, trading hands with Rowan so she could push Aurora and Gavin could walk Stella, his other hand occupied with holding the stuffed bunny’s hand while Aurora held its other hand.

Rowan couldn’t stop smiling, snapping a few pictures as Gavin nodded his head while Aurora babbled at him, gurgling and kicking her legs out as she talked at him.

They weaved through different stores, filled with hats and essential oils and handmade soaps and beautiful dresses with flowy skirts that trailed through the air like petals in the breeze.

The little basket beneath Aurora’s stroller quickly became loaded down with bags from the different shops they wandered through. A little case of essential oils for the diffuser at home, handpicked lavender that Rowan wanted to dry, flowery teas that made them smile when they smelled them, toys Aurora had desperately wanted. A few new dresses for Rowan, ones that had made Gavin beam with a smile full of light and sunshine when she’d tried them on. New shirts for Gavin, made with a material so soft that Rowan wanted to cuddle with them. A pair of earrings for Gavin with little jewels that glinted like sunlight over the ocean. Matching necklaces for the both of them because Gavin had smiled so warmly when the shopkeeper had said they were to symbolize everlasting love.

They passed by a small flower shop, and had ended up buying a bouquet of flowers that Aurora clutched to her chest, patting gently every now and again. She seemed completely content to talk to the roses and foxgloves while they wheeled her into a little café with a bookstore attached, not even noticing the display of sweets as she sniffed a white lily.

“We probably shouldn’t get her anything too sweet,” Rowan admitted, leaning her cheek against Gavin’s shoulder. “Or she’ll be bouncing off the walls all night.”

He shrugged. “I mean we are on vacation, and we want her to see the meteor shower, don’t we?”

She hummed, perusing the drink menu. “That’s true. But we don’t want her to go to bed too late. She’ll still wake up at the crack of dawn.”

He kissed her cheek. “Then I’ll just bring her into bed with us and we can cuddle her while we sleep.”

Rowan smiled, reaching out to squeeze his hands. “You always have all the answers, babey.”

He kissed her again. “That’s not true, but I do like knowing how to make you and Aurora happy.”

They ended up ordering a hot chocolate for Aurora and a little piece of a crumbly chocolate cake that got all over the stroller as she tried stuffing the pieces into her mouth with her hands.

Gavin found them a corner table next to a bookshelf that advertised fantasy novels, setting down the drinks and small snacks they’d purchased as Rowan wiggled Aurora’s stroller as close as she could to the table.

Rowan welcomed the short rest, practically sighing in relief as she sat down, taking the weight off her aching feet.

“Are you okay?” Gavin asked, squeezing her hand. “Are you tired?”

She nodded, taking a sip of her drink, smiling as Aurora happily smashed some of the cake against the tray on her stroller. “A little tired.”

“Do you want to head back to the cottage?” He asked, his voice tinged with worry.

But Rowan shook her head, even as her feet throbbed. “The sun is still up, and there’s still more we haven’t explored. We still haven’t found that pier you mentioned.”

He smiled, squeezing her hand again. “You’re sure? This is the most walking you’ve done since before Aurora was born.”

It was the unfortunate truth. Although she’d tried being more active once her entire body had stopped hurting and she could go to the bathroom without crying, she still hadn’t been nearly as active as she had before Aurora’s birth.

She’d been on her feet a lot, certainly, running around the house trying to get food for Aurora and take care of Stella, taking Aurora and Stella for regular walks so they got outside and got fresh air. But she’d also been so doted on by Gavin that she had hardly done anything for months. He’d stayed home for months, helping to clean the house and cook as best as he could, to take Aurora from Rowan when she’d needed a nap or time to herself.

Their little adventure today was the first time she’d been on her feet for such a long period of time, and her body was starting to feel it. Her feet ached and her ankles felt a little swollen, and she was sweating from the summer heat.

But she didn’t want to go, not yet. Not when Gavin’s smile was like her favourite song, when she was having so much fun spending the day with their family.

He must have read it in her eyes, because his expression softened, and he lifted her hand to press a kiss to her palm.

“Alright,” he said. “But before we go out again we should look around this bookstore.”

She smiled. “Is there anything you’re looking for?”

He shrugged. “Not really. But looking around with you is fun.”

And it was fun. After her feet had stopped aching and Aurora had decimated her cake, they got up, strolling idly through the little bookstore. They found books filled with glossy pictures of the stars, of different houseplants and instructions on how to care for them, and Rowan very gently pulled them from Gavin’s hands, intent on buying them for her husband.

He loved space, was practically a star himself from all the light and warmth that radiated from him. And although he loved his plants, he had the exact opposite of a green thumb.

Maybe a book with instructions on how to take care of his cacti would help.

Gavin grinned as they passed through her favourite sections, plucking books from the shelves and holding them out to her like an offering. His grin turned smug whenever she cracked open the book before tucking it under her arm, also intent on buying the books he’d picked for her.

It made her heart warm, made her so warm. It made her feel so loved and precious that she could hardly put it into words. They way he knew exactly the types of books she liked best. They way he could pick out books for her that she would like. The way he seemed so happy when she added them to her little pile.

She just loved him. Loved how much he cared about even the smallest aspects of her, the littlest things that made her happy.

Once Aurora went to bed he was going to get so many kisses, she would make sure of that.

She plucked a few science fiction books from the shelves, offering them to Gavin, and he took them, kissing the top of her head.

This made her warm too, knowing the things he loved, the types of stories that he loved.

The stroller was nearly too heavy to push by the time they made it back onto the sidewalk, the sky filled with fire as the sun began its descent towards the horizon.

They wandered for a bit longer, the air turning blessedly cool as evening inched closer, and it was when they stopped into a little store to purchase a small bottle of a local liquor that they noticed the ramp onto the little boardwalk that led to a pier.

There were colourful lights flickering at the end of the pier, and Rowan had to squint her eyes to make out what it was.

“Do you wanna go see what that is?” She asked, pointing to the lights in the distance.

Gavin nodded, gently pushing her away from the stroller and handing her Stella’s leash. “I do.”

They walked along the boardwalk, the cool ocean breeze a balm against Rowan’s heated cheeks. She’d known she was hot, but she hadn’t realized just how much her temperature had spiked while they’d walked. She imagined her cheeks to be as red as an overripe tomato in the middle of the summer.

Waves lapped against the boardwalk, tiny droplets of water raining over their feet. Gavin pointed out a pair of otters bobbing in the waves further out, and Aurora squealed when she saw them, waving as if they would notice her.

They were halfway down the pier when Rowan realized that the lights were a part of a small ferris wheel.

She nudged Gavin, her heart aching as she remembered all the little moments they had shared together in ferris wheels before this. The warmth she felt being squished so close to him in the little seats, getting to see the world, feeling like she could touch the sky, like she was already amongst the stars with him beside her.

He smiled, as if reading her thoughts. “We should take Aurora on it.”

She peered down at Stella and their stroller. “What about our things?”

He shrugged. “We can tie Stella to a post and leave her with the stroller. I doubt anyone will take anything with her guarding it.”

He kissed her cheek, as if sensing the unease that still lingered in her heart. “Besides, I’ll be able to see if someone does and catch them immediately.”

She relaxed against him, nodding as his words eased her. It was true, she could trust and rely on him.

The crowds were already thinning, and they didn’t have to wait for very long to board the ferris wheel, Aurora staring at the little enclosed carriage in awe as an operator closed the door.

They both stifled laughter as they watched her gasp as the ferris wheel started to move, lifting them into the air.

She clutched Gavin on instinct, as if she thought there was no way they could be moving towards the sky unless her daddy was the one flying.

He laughed, kissing the top of her head as the world grew smaller beneath them. “What do you think, little princess? Does it feel like we’re flying?”

She babbled, stumbling over the word “flying” in between calling out “dada” over and over as they lifted higher into the air.

She looked up right as they reached the top of the wheel, gasping softly, and Rowan couldn’t help kissing Aurora’s cheek as she stared in awe at the world.

“I think we might have blown her mind,” Rowan teased, smoothing back Aurora’s messy hair.

Gavin chuckled. “You know she’s more amazed by this than she was when I actually flew with her.”

There were so few people that they were allowed to ride the ferris wheel a few more times, pointing to the sky as the sun’s fire slowly ebbed, flecks of light beginning to glitter beneath the darkening blue.

Rowan cuddled up against Gavin, feeling warm and happy, completely at peace sitting in this little carriage beside him, with Aurora crawling over the both of them, still gaping at the world.

“What are you thinking of?” Gavin asked, running a hand through her hair.

“I’m thinking that I love you, that I love our family.”

“That’s funny,” he said, curling the ends of her hair around his fingers. “I was just thinking the same thing.”

Dusk had fallen across the world when they emerged from the carriage, Aurora still staring up at the sky as if they would somehow levitate up towards the sky even outside of the ferris wheel.

They did not, although it didn’t stop her from craning her neck upwards as they carried her back to where they had parked their stroller and Stella.

“See?” Gavin said, gesturing to the stroller smugly. “I told you nothing would happen.”

“Yes yes, you’re very smart Captain Gavin,” Rowan said, rolling her eyes.

He knelt as Rowan buckled Aurora back into the stroller, scratching Stella’s head. “You kept our things nice and safe, didn’t you?”

Stella made a small yip sound, as if in agreement, and Gavin straightened, still beaming. “I knew she would keep our stuff safe.”

“Well she always keeps us safe when you’re away,” Rowan said, running a hand over Stella’s head.

Aurora’s shrieks drew their attention from Stella, both of them whirling around, panic seizing Rowan’s heart.

Was she okay? Had she seen something scary? Had someone tried to grab her?

But Aurora was still looking up, gaping as silver flashed across the sky.

Gavin hummed, taking Rowan’s hand as more light streaked across the sky, Aurora squealing again and jumping in her seat.

“It looks like the meteor shower has started,” he said. “I guess we should hurry back to the cottage so we can see them better.”

***

Rowan stretched her hands skyward, making her way from the backdoor of the cottage and down the little dirt path towards the private beach entrance. The time on her phone read 11:55, mere minutes until the 29th, until Gavin’s birthday officially began.

They’d hurried back to the cottage, dumping their things in the entrance before grabbing blankets and a few pre-prepared snacks, and heading out in search of the little private beach they were supposed to have with the cottage.

They’d found it pretty quickly, their feet sinking into soft sand as the cool evening breeze washed over the ocean waves lapping at the shore.

They’d laid out blankets, letting Stella roam across the beach, sniffing at the driftwood and the sand and at the treeline. Aurora had nestled herself between Rowan and Gavin, seeming perfectly content to lie with them for a while.

And then she had shrieked so loud that Rowan had thought her ears would bleed. Because stars had started streaking across the sky, bathing it in their silvery light.

They had kept Aurora out, watching the stars and chatting and picking at their snacks and playing with her in the shallow waves until her eyes had grown so heavy she hadn’t been able to keep them open.

Rowan had taken her back to the cottage, tucking her in as she’d sung a lullaby, making sure the stuffed bunny she’d clutched so tightly all day was nestled beside her.

She’d swiped the little bottle of liqueur they’d bought early and two small glasses, tucking them into a little bag as she’d made her way back to the beach.

The night had fully bloomed by the time Rowan returned to the spot where Gavin lay. His eyes had been fixed on the sky until she sat down beside him, his gaze sliding to her as she took the liqueur and the cups from the bag.

“Did she go to sleep alright?” He asked, sitting up and taking the bottle from Rowan’s hand.

She nodded, smiling as she remembered how Aurora had cooed, clutching at Rowan’s shirt as she’d tried to wrap her in her sleep sack. “I’m pretty sure she was asleep before I laid her down.”

Gavin smiled, his eyes soft. “I love her so much.”

“She loves you,” Rowan said, reaching out to cup his cheek. “She loves you with all of her heart.”

Gavin covered Rowan’s hand, his eyes meeting hers, glowing brighter than the stars now. “I love her. I’m so happy she’s a part of our lives.”

He closed his eyes, leaning forward until their brows touched. “I’m so glad you’re both a part of my life.”

Rowan giggled, batting at his arm gently. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, babey.”

He chuckled, pulling away to open the bottle and pour the sunshine yellow liqueur into the waiting glasses. “You know every year I think that it’s the best birthday yet, and every year you manage to make it even better than the last.”

Heat crawled across her face and she shook her head, plucking one of the little glasses and holding it to her lips. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“I would,” he said, his tone earnest and firm, the emotion in that simple phrase reaching all the way to her toes. “I would say that. Just being beside you for another year makes it better than the last.”

She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to respond other than to take his hand, to press a kiss to his lips. It wasn’t enough, would never be enough to show him how much she loved him, how precious he was to her, but she hoped it helped him to understand. That she loved him more than there were stars in the night’s sky. That she would wish for his love and for his happiness on every shooting star she saw. That all she ever wanted was to wake up beside him and see his smile, hear his voice, feel his heartbeat beneath her cheek as she cuddled against his chest.

He hummed, his fingers weaving through her hair, pulling her closer.

“I love you,” he murmured against her lips. “I love you, I love our daughter, I love the family and the life I have with you.” He broke away, his nose bumping against hers, his breath like a caress against her lips. “I love every birthday now, every moment of it.”

Her eyes burned, and she squeezed them shut, her heart aching as memories flooded her mind, of all the stories Gavin had ever told her over the years. All the time he had spent wondering if it had been worth it being born.

“I’m so happy I was born,” he said, his voice cracking, and she felt herself breaking apart at the sound. At the splintering of his voice, at the emotion leaking through, washing over her. “Because I got to meet you.”

She set the glass down so she could reach out to him, so she could ball her hands in his shirt and pull him closer, so she could feel his heartbeat beneath her hands.

“Because I got to love you,” he continued, kissing the corner of her lips. “Because I get to love you, every day.”

She sniffed, trying to pull him closer, even though she knew there was no closer he could go.

“Because I get to share this beautiful family with you,” he said, his voice wobbling as he spoke. “Because I get to share everything with you.”

Rowan made the decision then to climb into his lap, to straddle his waist as she wrapped her arms around his neck so she could hold him as close as she could.

She needed to. She needed to hold him, to keep him close. She needed to keep her Gavin close.

“I love you,” she breathed, not trusting herself to speak at full volume, knowing she was moments away from bursting into tears. “I love you more than anything in this world.”

His arms went around her waist, holding her as if she was the only thing keeping him from falling apart.

“Meeting you, loving you, sharing my life with you,” she said, pulling away to brush back his bangs, his eyes glassy from unshed tears, her own cheeks already stained with her own. “Is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

She cupped his cheeks, showering kisses over his face until she felt his smile blooming, until laughter rumbled in his chest.

“And I am so happy you were born,” she said, pecking his lips quickly and pulling away. “Because it meant that I got to meet you, that I get to love you and tell you how much I love you every day.”

His eyes closed, his head falling against the crook of her neck.

She rested her cheek against the top of his head, running her fingers through his hair, rubbing circles against his back. She looked up at the sky, watching the stars shoot across the world, brilliant and bright and beautiful, but no match for the man she held in her arms.

She didn’t need to check her phone to know that it was past midnight, not as she watched the meteor shower bathe the world in it’s otherworldly glow.

“Hey,” she breathed, patting his shoulder until he looked up at her, his golden eyes making her breathless. “It’s your birthday.”

His brows rose, a small smile curling at the corners of his lips.

“Happy birthday, my love,” she said, pressing her lips to his again, smiling as she felt him tilt his head, as his tongue brushed against hers.

She pulled away before he could deepen it further though, resisting the urge to kiss him again as he pouted at her.

“It’s your birthday,” she repeated, pointing to the sky. “And there’s a million shooting stars, all here for you. Make a wish.”

“I don’t have to,” he said, a hand sliding up her back, twisting into her hair and slowly drawing her close again.

And beneath the silver stained sky, as the ocean waves sang their gentle song and the wind whistled through the trees and raked briny air through their messy hair, Gavin kissed her again. And his words, spoken so softly that only she could hear, streaked through her world like the shooting stars, filling her heart with stardust, making her glow.

“I don’t need to make a wish,” he repeated. “I have everything I could ever want right here.”

[aloera]

The ask prompt is too long to fit into an ask TT_TT but here's the doc for it docs(.)google(.)com/document/d/1yDI7iFRhOJ8ENv_IwZAo3rDSUqj80EiJROS10RzRbj4/edit

the lengths u are going for this,,, much appreciated you're very sweet!!!

prompts + answers under the cut!!

INTRODUCTION

Name: aloera

AO3 account: aloera

Fandoms you write for: bnha

How many stories have you written so far: 19

FANFICTION PROFILE

What's your favorite fandom to write for? hmm,,, used to do pjo and eah (ever after high) and eah was fun as fuck i will say!!! i think bnha is my fav mostly bc i made the most friends in this fandom :D

What's your favorite character/person to write for? bkg and kirishima!! cannot choose do not make me <3

Fic you'd want to improve? probably what we deserve? i rushed the beginning and the confession is a bit stilted imo

Hardest fic you've written? between lion and men -_- bc there is so much canon compliant stuff i've gotta write out before i get to the divergence and its HARD

Easiest fic you've written? come home to me!!! it happened so easily,,, no second guessing no writers block just vibes <33 was lovely i miss it

What would you say is the most "famous" fic you've ever written? also probably come home to me? its got the most interaction

first line of the first fic you've ever written and published. [not including my 2014 ffnet fics] "The bell rings, class starts, and Katsuki and Midoriya are inexplicably absent." from come home to me

Have you ever done a collab with another writer? yes!!!!! on two separate occasions and its so fucking fun i highly recommend trying it out its the best

Do you beta? if asked but honestly im a shit beta lmao

Do you like joining fic fests/exchanges? depends on what i have going on irl but in general yeah!!

FANFICTION PREFERENCES

Fluff or angst? definitely fluff

"OCs" or "Reader" inserts? reader inserts!! have been going ham on them recently

Blurbs or drabbles? blurbs!!

One thing you love about fanfiction i just. i really love slice of life romance?? and most media doesn't give you that bc its dedicated to plot and action and that's valid!! but fanfiction fills in the gap which is really nice

One thing you don't like about fanfiction most of the stuff i don't like is less about actual fanfiction and more about how people behave about it

What is/are your favorite fandom author/authors? IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE!!! TURN IT UP!!!

bnha: hiuythn, rae_tnub, Moniix, Ata_Lanta, wrunic, chezka, PurplePersnickety, surveycorpsejean, mahadevi, arxaris, deviance, Oceanbreeze7, MikeWritesThings, bonnia, wonhaebunny, dinosuns

voltron: hiuythn, Oceanbreeze7, DeerstalkerDeathFrisbee, arahir, dinosuns,

and honorable mention to loveclouds im not even in the haikyuu fandom i just love their fics So Much

these are just the ones off the top of my head i have so many favourites idc if i'm only supposed 2 have one!! die mad about it!!!

What is your favorite trope? secret relationship + relationship reveal til the day i die babie <3 <3

Least favorite trope? hm,,, probably just like. angst lmao i cannot stand 90% of it

A fanfiction cliché that you can't help but love? coffeeshop aus,,,, so good

Do you have a type when it comes to pairings? the otp where its like. piece of shit + himbo = love. ex. krbk, catradora, jade/beck

Favorite setting/au? hm,,, truly i cannot pick one KGKSJNHKj but i really like college aus!! and modern aus!! and roommate aus!!

Explain the meaning of your favorite line of dialogue you've written as if someone hasn't read it in context. “He doesn’t know,” Katsuki says, softly. “My timer stopped and nothing happened. He’s not mine.”

the line is from what we deserve!! it's a soulmate au where your timer counts down to the moment that you meet your soulmate!! bakugou's timer ends at USJ when he and kirishima attack kurogiri at the same time (impulsive kings <33) but kirishima's timer doesn't end until kamino because that's when he accepts himself as bakugous soulmate!! unfortunately, when bakugous timer has reached 0, he turned to see that kirishima's was still ticking and therefore believes that kirishima isn't his soulmate.

this line just,, idk. it's really sad. bakugou is such an action-driven character? if something doesn't go his way he Makes it go his way. he's got this insanely volatile quirk and he's got impeccable control of it!! but his love for kirishima isn't something that he can change and he's not going to ruin kirishima's chance of finding his own soulmate because he loves him and wants him to be happy. i really wanted to focus on how resigned he is? and how unusual that is for a character like him.

Favorite trope/genre to write? again, secret relationship with relationship reveals <33 fluff in general is my wheelhouse!!!

A trope/genre you haven't written but think would be a fun challenge? idk if this counts?? have been working on some dead dove concepts!! its super different from what i normally write so its a cool challenge

The one trope/concept you'll never touch and why probably cheating/infidelity?? it just looks,,, super difficult to write well and i don't have enough of an interest in it to try it out

Which do you prefer to write: longer or shorter fics? shorter!! low attention span gang <3

Ideal length to read? 5-10k?

Ideal length to write? 4-8k!!

How long was the longest fic you've ever written? control fraek is around 28k i think?

Have you ever written an AU? yeah!! i've done restaurant au's, soulmate au's, pro hero aus, and fantasy aus (general, not the bnha fantasy ending)

What's your favorite AU trope? hm,, probably when two people in authority are in a secret relationship? ceo's/uni professors/etc etc

Have you ever written smut? yeah!! was. difficult tho

What's your comfort genre? (the one you fall on most in writing/reading) fluff,,, hurt/comfort,,, fix-it fics with happy endings <3

If you were to start writing in other fandoms, which would they be? maybe jjk?? the characters are really cool!!!! fr i might go back to my ever after high roots i love the characters and setting so Much its so fun!!! idec if no ones into it anymore!!!!!

Is there a trope you think you could be easily recognized by in your writing? i've had people say they saw the mention of buff hagakure and recognized it was me so. probably that skdjhnksjd

WRITING STYLE

How would you describe your style? i tend to use shorter sentences and pretty simple words i think? and i gravitate towards lighthearted concepts that allow for ensemble casts and humour!!

Describe your style in three words romcom but fanfic

Favorite words to use when writing? the word reverent!! fuckin love including it!!

Dialogue tags or no dialogue tags? (she said, he said, they said, etc) dialogue tags!!!

Favorite dialogue tag (other than said, if you use them) again idk if this counts but "they said softly" is unmatched

Long sentences vs short vs a mix short <33

What colors would you use to describe your writing? hm,,, depends on the fic i would say?? control fraek is dark green to me?? kinda like a forest at night yk?? scary but there's still life there. sugar cookies is yellow like early morning sunlight, when it rains is yellowy-orange like a caution sign. not gonna list all of them cause theres a lot its just. do u get it? the colours change based on the vibe of the fic.

What song or music genre would you use to describe your writing? think. i am constantly trying to emulate that moment at the end of wasteland baby when hozier goes "im in love/im in love with you."

What kind of metaphors do you rely on? religious metaphors my beloved <33 they're just so pretty!!! i also love comparing stuff to water for some reason?? like that ocean vuong quote thats like "what are you now?/water." it goes hard!!!

What's something you'd say is experimental in your writing at this time? definitely action!! i have,,, no idea how to write it so anything i do is really just me playing around and seeing what works and what doesn't

Do you prefer to write by hand or to type? i've tried both!! personally i prefer typing because it goes way faster but i will say that writing by hand lets me get words down when i'm going through writer's block

What is your preferred place to write (notebook, laptop, cellphone, etc.)? laptop!!

What app/apps do you use to write (word, notepad, etc.)? google docs skjdnkjh its fine on desktop but mobile is,,,,, disgusting

Do you keep a notebook or file/notes page in your phone/device for notes on your writing? ngl i just have everything organized in my drive?? one folder per fandom and then sub folders for ideas+hcs, unfinished wips, and finished fics. multichaps get sub sub folders so i can organize outlines and drafts

Do you listen to music to help you write? yeah!! playlists organized by fic vibe :D

Where do you usually go to write (bedroom, living room, etc.)? mostly in my bedroom??? but moving around to different stops helps too i think!!

How long does it usually take for you to write? again this depends on what i have going on irl, how attached i am to the idea, my mindset at the time, etc!! i am,, the least consistent person skjnhdkjh.

What's your favorite font to use when writing? times new roman my beloved

Other writing habits? sometimes i'll write in the dark?? bad for my eyes but for some reason it gets the words flowing

CONCEPTUALIZATION

How do you conceptualize your ideas? (See specific moments like they're a movie, writing specific lines in your head, don't know until you put the words on paper, etc.) i tend to get inspiration from movies, books, poems, or other fics!!! sometimes one line just makes me go oh,, i want to write something like that,,, and then it helps me create an idea that makes me feel the same way?? i did this with control fraek!!!! i wanted a scenario where bakugou was cold and calculating and i was like hm. to do that he’d have to be focusing on something important. and from there i was able to flesh out the rest of the idea.

Which comes first: the pairing or the plot? with krbk its always always the pairing,, i'll be sitting there like wow <33 i love them <33 what if one of them had amnesia <33 (which, yes, wip!!) otherwise it's usually the plot!! and i slot in characters that i feel make sense

Have you ever used a prompt? yeah!! used a prompt for wlw week 2020 and it was fun as hell

Do you write around the story around a specific scene you want to get to or do you start from a plot idea definitely the first!!!! i almost always write like,,, a super messy scene thats 90% dialogue, keep it in my head, and then write the entire fic around that one moment

Do you find that you include a projection of some part of yourself in the way you write a character? a lot of the time when i write love confessions or love in general i'll have one of the characters think or say that the other person makes their head quiet? and it's because that's what i feel whenever i'm in love?? a quiet mind. i project on characters yeah but i think most of the projection actually goes to the way that i write love

Do you research some of the things you write deeply, partially and kind of wing the rest, or play entirely by ear (in this case, go with whatever base knowledge of the subject you have)? most of the time if i do research it'll be about the setting (ex. the izakaya in to have and to hold) or if i'm having the characters interact with an object that they like. need to know how to use (me, in control fraek: google. hey google. does someone die if they get shot in the foot??? no???? awesome thank u <3)

Have you ever had an idea for a story and forgot about it? lmaoo yeah all the time i'll find like 500-2k words of concepts in my gdocs like i do. not remember this at all

Is there a trope you think you could be easily recognized by in your writing? probably krbk secret relationship lmao

Are there concepts you've tried that turned out better than expected? yeah!! i fully thought the action in control fraek would be awful but it turned out not bad??? which im happy with

Are there concepts you've tried that turned out worse than you expected? again, what we deserve, i personally think it would have worked out better if i'd paced it slower and drawn out the pining but i. do not feel like going back to fix it so its staying the way that it is. pining is so fucking hard to do AHHHH i get so tired with it!!! im like just date already!!!!

PROCESS

How do you come up with titles? in rare occasions (literally. all my multichaps for some reason) the title comes after writing like .5 words of the first chapter im like YES this is it!!!!! sometimes i write the whole thing and pick out one line that fits (what i did with come home to me) a lot of the time i just. steal from songs or poems that i like

What's your favorite emotion to cause on your readers? i like making people happy!!!! love when people comment saying they're cheered up

What's your favorite emotion to write? lovelovelovelovelovelove

Have you ever cried or felt any emotion while reading something you've written? never cried?? but sometimes i'll rereading my hurt/comfort fics 4. yk. comfort

Do you write in order or whatever comes to you? in order!! unless i have a scene that i Need to write and i'll quickly jot it down so that i don't forget

Usual way you procrastinate while writing? ...doing asks like this, making playlists, discord, watching netflix. what don't i do smh

Do you outline or free write? i am. so shit at outlines. i mostly free write and write lil notes for stuff that i wanna add later

Do you set word goals or scene goals (scenes you want to include)? yes!! like i said i'll write loose notes for scenes that i want to add later!! it gives me something to write towards :D

What do you consider when writing your scenes? what goes into making the atmosphere and mood you want? to set a scene i do two things? the first is like,, the five senses bc that always sets the scene really well and makes it feel Real. i'll visualize stuff in my head like its a movie and write out what i would want to tell the set designer?? if the lights are low, if the space is busy, if it's supposed to exude comfort or not.

for putting forward the character's mood one thing i've found that makes a difference is sentence length!! long sentences are good for making a character seem flustered and nervous or not really in control of their emotions? good for love confessions. short sentences are good for when the character is focused on something or short on time. good for fights!!

What's something you never considered to include in your writing that you can't leave out now? def buff hagakure,,,, once i thought of it i was like. if i don't include this at least once in every single fic how could i look at myself in the mirror!!!!!! how could i face anyone!!!!

How do you start a story? establishing a fact about the character or describing the setting! option a is one single thread of gold, option b is between lion and men

How do you end a story? either by tying it back to the beginning or doing like a funny kind of closing??? option a is sugar cookies, option b is a godless society

How do you get out of writer's block? change something!! move something!! i go from typing to handwriting, moving from my bedroom to my living room, switching wips to work on something else!! i do sprints as well?? give myself like fifteen minutes to write something and sometimes 200 words opens up the way for another 2k. sometimes i'll just delete like 500 words and start fresh

Do you edit? or do you toss your writing out there? i edit!!! i'll go over it myself then send it to one or two betas (bee my beloved <33)

How do you edit? do you use spellcheck, grammar checkers, etc? bee is my grammar checker bc he is So Good with grammar. i use grammarly as well for spellcheck stuff mostly?? sometimes my edit process is just like "am i tired of looking at this!! yes <3" and then i post it

PROGRESS

Do you usually like what you write? yeah!!! i post stuff that makes me happy and that i'm fine with rereading!!! i write stuff for self-indulgence reasons first and foremost and i think my writing reflects that sjhnksj

Have you ever written something you didn't like but posted anyways? nope!! even what we deserve i LIKED even if i see a lot of room 4 improvement!! if i don't like smth it's not getting posted

Do you find yourself rereading your writing often? yeah!! the reason i wrote so much krbk secret relationship is because i loved it but i'd read all that there was so i just,, wrote more,, ngl its kinda nice being in a place where i actually like my writing bc i can write stuff that i want to see and really enjoy it!!

Can you tell us anything about your current WIP? sure!! i'm currently working on when it rains which is a fic where bakugou gets hit by a crying quirk!! i'm gonna be using it to explore So Much of all might's character and his relationships with bakugou and aizawa (and i think some people from his past!!)

Can you give us a sneak peek on your current WIP? “You did something. What the hell did you do?” Kirishima sounds pissed off. It would amuse Katsuki if he wasn’t fighting just to stay standing.

“Nothing he didn’t ask for,” Shinsou replies.

“K’ri… shima,” Katsuki croaks out. “‘S fine. Not him.”

His chest collapses back into the familiar dry heaving after that but Kirishima shuts up. He doesn’t apologize to Shinsou.

Kirishima’s a good friend, stubborn and loyal. He stands by Katsuki’s side like an attack dog, blocking him from the view of anyone ogling at his tears.

The last line you've written Ochako knows more than she'd realized. She knows enough to keep her guard up.

It’s not enough.

Open a wip. what’s the first line?

Katsuki wakes up feeling like absolute fucking shit.

INSIGHT

What's your favorite thing about writing? touched on this before but it's mainly just being able to write the things that i want to see and actually enjoy them!!! actually reread them!!!! i thought "wouldn't it be cool if bkg and kirishima owned a restaurant together" and then i wrote it and i like it enough to reread it!!!! being able to create content for myself makes me. so happy

How do you keep yourself inspired? this is gonna sound narcissistic maybe but honestly i'm just really excited about my ideas and where i'm gonna take them and the idea of "i'm gonna get to That scene" keeps me going through the entire thing. also my friends!!!! i'll talk to them about fics and their reactions keep me hyped up enough to finish!!!!

What is your favorite thing to write? just,, slice of life romance,,, stuff thats silly and makes people laugh!!

What do you think your strengths are in writing? i'm good with dialogue!! i do lil voice acting sessions with myself to make sure everything sounds natural and like it's coming from that character skhjnskj

i'm comfortable with my portrayal of love as well??? i spend a lot of time thinking about what it is exactly that i'm trying to get across and i think it turns out well!!

What are things you wish you could practice more? on one hand i wanna get better at writing angst on the other hand i dislike writing angst. do you see my issue

One way you've improved your writing since you began? characterization!! i think i've gotten better at writing characters that are all Different and bring different things to the table!!! i used to project a lot more and it would compromise the characterization because the character was like 70% me and 30% them? not to say that projection is bad but if you do it too much it just,, doesn't read like the character and from a reader's standpoint the narrative can become less compelling

One aspect of writing you're still working on? writing action!!! i. literally hate writing it but i write for a fandom about superheroes so. Unfortunately i gotta learn.

A piece of writing advice you've learned while writing saw this on another tumblr post but they said sometimes if you're struggling with a scene, the problem is five lines back. i've found that to be true!!!! sometimes u gotta delete a chunk and start a little ways back!! i did this with too busy being yours because i was stuck for Weeks and i deleted like 25% of what i had but it helped me actually finish it :D

A bit of writing advice you can't stand when people shit on show don't tell for being overrated lmao bc when u read their writing you can Tell

Something you wish you knew when you first started writing? ,,,,honestly i kind of wish i could know some of the stuff that i used to when i first started writing?? technically i'm better now but creatively i was must better when i wasn't stressing about whether anyone would like what i was writing. so i guess i wish i knew that i should keep that confidence? i kinda wish that i wasn't as insecure about other people's writing styles because i never used to be!!

Something you've learned in life that you apply in writing there's no point in feeling inferior?? writing one genre isn't better than the other. being in one fandom isn't better than being in another. the kind of language you use or the length of your paragraphs- none of that stuff like. matters. what matters is that you're having fun and happy with what you're creating!!!! enjoy other peoples writing but don't let it make you feel worse about yours :D

[recentanimenews]

Manga the Week of 12/`16/20

SEAN: As we get closer to the holidays, we get more and more books being published.

ASH: This turn of events pleases me.

MELINDA: And me.

SEAN: Cross Infinite World has a new title, I Reincarnated As Evil Alice, So the Only Thing I’m Courting Is Death!. Our heroine dies and is reincarnated in an otome game, and she *is* the heroine this time… but the game is notorious for having almost all bad ends. Expect a lot of Alice in Wonderland vibes here as well.

No debuts for J-Novel Club, but a heaping helping of ongoing digital light novels. We get An Archdemon’s Dilemma 11, Arifureta 11, I Refuse to Be Your Enemy! 4, The Intrigue of Marielle Clarac (Book 5 in that series), Slayers 4, and The Sorcerer’s Receptionist 2. Phew!

Kodansha has some print. We get Drifting Dragons 7, Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest 6, Gleipnir 8, the 2nd Magic Knight Rayearth manga box set, which will finish the series, and also has a bonus artbook. That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime 15 and UQ Holder 21 are also out.

ASH: I’ve really been enjoying Drifting Dragons. I’ve also somehow never actually read Magic Knight Rayearth yet.

SEAN: Digitally the debut is I Guess I Became the Mother of the Great Demon King’s 10 Children in Another World (Isekai de Saikyou Maou no Kodomo-tachi Juunin no Mama ni Nacchaimashita), which sounds like your standard isekai but is also by Ema Toyama, author of Missions of Love and other shoujo classics. This is not shoujo: it runs in Shonen Sirius. A girl whose mother has died plays the game the mother never finished… and finds herself in another world.

ASH: Ema Toyama, you say? That piques my interest a bit more than just the title alone.

MELINDA: I don’t read much digitally, but this intrigues me as well, almost entirely because of the author.

SEAN: There is also Dolly Kill Kill 9, Dr. Ramune -Mysterious Disease Specialist- 2, GE: Good Ending 12, Heroine for Hire 4 (the final volume), Kakushigoto 10, Orient 9, Shaman King: The Super Star 2, Shojo FIGHT! 14, and The Writer and His Housekeeper 3.

MICHELLE: I really, really need to get caught up on Shojo FIGHT!.

SEAN: One Peace has a 3rd manga volume for The Reprise of the Spear Hero.

Debuting from Seven Seas is Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! Everyday Misadventures! (Watashi, Nichijou wa Heikinchi de tte Itta yo ne!), the 4-koma spinoff of Mile’s antics that everyone wanted. It runs in Comic Earth Star.

Also out from Seven Seas: Goodbye My Rose Garden 3 (the final volume) and Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear’s 4th novel (digital-first).

MICHELLE: I wouldn’t say Goodbye, My Rose Garden was an amazing series, but it was certainly good enough to read the third and final volume.

ASH: I still need to read the second volume (and now soon the third), but I found the first volume to be enjoyable.

SEAN: Sol Press, after what seems like 80,000 years, has the second Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World light novel.

Tokyopop has the 2nd and final volume of No Vampire, No Happy Ending.

Vertical gives us the 4th Katanagatari omnibus digitally (I will keep repeating this till it’s correct), Kino’s Journey 7, and With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day is Fun 2.

MICHELLE: I really liked the first volume of With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day is Fun and am eagerly anticipating the second.

MELINDA: Always here for Kino’s Journey, too.

SEAN: They also have Zoku-Owarimonogatari, the final, absolutely the last, no take backs, Monogatari Series novel. Unless they license the others that came after this.

Viz’s debut is Remina, another helping of Junji Ito just in time for winter. This is sci-fi, but still just as terrifying. It ran in Big Comic Spirits.

MICHELLE: I am down for this sci-fi/horror blend!

ASH: Yup! I’m here for this one, too.

MELINDA: Yes!

SEAN: Also from Viz: Blue Flag 5, Golden Kamuy 19, Levius/est 7, Maison Ikkoku Collector’s Edition 2, and No Guns Life 8.

ANNA: Glad that Maison Ikkoku is being rereleased and looking forward to Blue Flag.

MICHELLE: What Anna said.

ASH: I should actually read Maison Ikkoku now that it is readily available again.

MELINDA: I should be buying them, since I never managed to acquire a full collection of the original release!

SEAN: Yen On has a truly terrifying number of light novels coming out. The first debut is The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten (Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsu no Ma ni ka Dame Ningen ni Sareteita Ken). We’ve seen a mini-rebirth of the non-fantasy romcom in recent licenses, and this falls into that category. A guy lends his neighbor his umbrella one day, she offers to help around his house in return, and a relationship blossoms.

The second debut is a spinoff, Goblin Slayer Side Story 2: Dai Katana. This apparently goes into the past of Sword Maiden.

There is also (deep breath): Accel World 23, The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life 5, Baccano! 15, The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy 2, The Devil Is a Part-Timer 18, The Genius Prince’s Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt (Hey, How About Treason?) 5, Suppose a Kid From the Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town 4, and Torture Princess 6.

ASH: That is a fair number of light novels!

SEAN: On the Yen Press side, there’s even more. Debut #1: 86, the manga adaptation of the grim military fantasy light novel series. It runs in Young Gangan.

Carole and Tuesday runs in Young Ace, and I believe is the rare case where the anime comes first and the manga follows. Girls who want to be musicians… on Mars!

ANNA: I watched half of the anime….

ASH: I do like musicians… and Mars…

MELINDA: I… kind of want it. Though I’m not sure how to interpret the fact that Anna only watched half of the anime.

SEAN: Not quite a debut, but we do see Overlord: The Complete Anime Artbook.

Strawberry Fields Once Again (Strawberry Fields wo Mou Ichido) is a yuri romance that seems to have a twist to it. It ran in Mediaworks’ @ vitamin.

And Wolf & Parchment is the manga adaptation of the sequel to Spice & Wolf.

Also from Yen: ACCA 13-Territory Inspection Department P.S. 2, The Devil Is a Part-Timer! 16, Goblin Slayer 9, King of Eden 2, KonoSuba 11, Lust Geass 2, No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular! 17, Plunderer 6, Rascal Does Not Dream of Petit Devil Kouhai (another omnibus), Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, Chapter 3: Truth of Zero 11 (the final volume of this arc), Reborn As a Polar Bear 4, The Saga of Tanya the Evil 12, A Witch’s Printing Office 4, and Yowamushi Pedal’s 16th omnibus.

MICHELLE: I am fixin’ to have a YowaPeda catch-up spree and am very happy about that.

ASH: Same! And I always look forward to reading Natsume Ono’s manga, so I plan on picking up the ACCA continuation as well.

SEAN: Any presents from this list you’re giving out?

By: Sean Gaffney

[cruzrogue]

Perfect Party

#Fictober19 @fictober-event

————————————————————————

for fanfiction:

Prompt number: 15   “That’s what I’m talking about!”

Fandom (AU if applicable): #arrow fanfiction #olicity

Rating:PG13

Warnings/Tags: AngstyFluff

Summary: Continuation from prompt 14 College kids: Oliver and Megan (Felicity) become a couple and this is when he finds out her real first name as he tells his kids the story. 

Notes:(This became a monster… there was supposed be no angsty conversation but it happened anyway. I wrote to make another fluff piece but… Ah! Anyways here it is…)

~~~~~~****~~~~~~~~sp@ce~~~~~~****~~~~~~~~

Perfect Party on A03

  Cracking open another book to read. Oliver just gazes at where his tutor is sitting reading her own book. She’s plopped down using a sofa as a backrest as her slender legs are over an interior designer’s weird conversational piece. Her heavy long kneed boots are off to the side. She’s reading her least favorite subject of U.S. history as he is taking side notes as he’s reading his textbook of macro-economics. They are both bored out of their minds but they’re under a timer. These minutes belong to these textbooks and they have been both honoring this kind of system of studying.

Oliver won’t argue that since he first took in seriously studying with the help of the Goth girl he met in South Boston by a sidewalk in the late evening hour his grades have steadily improved. To this day she still adheres that she saved him from that lame party. He’ll never know if it was truly lame but he deeply doesn’t care. It’s the party that brought them together thus to him he has no qualms of ever knowing.

The little ding in the background goes off and he lets out a content sigh. He can’t help but watch Megan stretch out like a cat and he inwardly groans because they’re not at that stage of their relationship. She looks so damn sexy all the time and he’s learned that cold showers don’t always work because she’s now always on his mind.

“I’m hungry!”

He’s learned that she has a very vast appetite. As long as tree nuts are not on the menu she can have it all. “What are you hungry for?”

She shrugs but says anyways, “You pick, I chose last time.”

“Greasy or no?”

“Does it matter? You have full control of the pick. Even that rabbit food you’ve successfully added to my diet.”

“Okay, okay! So, I feel like a cheeseburger and some fries.”

He can see the moment that her excitement for meat comes to the forefront as she does this cute gesture of raising her hand in a fist bump.  

“That’s what I’m talking about!”

He just chuckles and it has her cozying up to him as her lips finds his. Mmm… this part of their relationship is gotta be the best. Every kiss they share is full of sizzling potential and they’ve never crossed any lines. For now, they are taking everything slow. She has this thing about slow burn and her explaining it to him was a doozy. Her words cycle around his mind as she’s making herself comfortable on his lap as the phrase refers to stories featuring characters who gradually and naturally fall in love or lust before beginning a romantic or sexual relationship. He won’t suggest to her again that their already in some sort of romantic relationship because it led to her thinking things through the first time and it landed him cursing himself as he lost out on more intimate moments. Yep, he shot his foot off with that mistake he learned not to do it again.

He holds her closer to him enjoying that her chest bumps against his and he knows she can feel how excited he is but she just doesn’t mention it ever. This is girl is becoming a staple in his world and the thought of him now graduating next year while she’ll still be working for her double major has made its presence in his psyche. She just too incredible and they’ve been together for over two semesters now.

The fact that he doesn’t even notice other females has been brought to his attention several times by his male buddies. Using his studies as an excuse he’s keeping more to himself and interacting on a down low with any college partying frat boys. Being honest with himself has been hard. It’s one of the things that has made his growth possible. It would put a lot of stress on his relationship with Megan if she were the sole reason for the changes. Because she doesn’t want to be his savior but he knows her well enough that she believes more in equality. Sharing burdens and stuff. Things he has learned about her through conversations over long noir films, studying moments, and these wonderful make out sessions.

Her perfect weight on his lap not only does things to him but feeling her beside him all the emotions he has deep inside have a way of coming out slowly and after all these long weeks together he wants to tell her that he’s in love with her. He thought about being cheesy a few times but she’d be so disappointed if he went that route. Not on the declaration of love but using time tested romcom samples that are overboard. He finds she has big tastes on technology but doesn’t fancy jewelry given by really anyone.

He landed up giving her signed poster of music groups she loves or that one actress she adores from her favorite show they watch. Buying her a convention ticket to see these people she can recite story lines was like he got down on one knee and proposed. It was amazing how excited she was.

One thing they’re both of aware of is their different social-economics and he is careful to not overwhelm her with family’s status. It would spook her away. It took a bit from him when she found he comes from a wealthy family not to lose her back then. Just lucky they share a close connection.

“Megan, you are such a nerd.”

“I am not apologizing for liking meat.”

He chuckles. “I meant the fist bump. That is such a geeky thing to do.”

She shrugs her shoulder she’s done a lot of other nerdy things she won’t apologize even if he’s just teasing. She shrugs her shoulders she’s done a lot of other nerdy things she won’t apologize even if he’s just teasing. “But you like the thought of me liking meat?” For the first time in their relationship she grinds against him and his eyes become so wide as he is flabbergasted at her forwardness.

“I… I”

“Is Mr. sexy pants mute?”

He nods still wondering what his temptress is doing. Her fingers softly messaging his scalp through the light cropped hair she seems to like. Gosh he’s even sporting scruff that has her kissing his neck since she told him to cut off the beard deep in December after he grew out his facial hair for no shave November. Keeping it trim to this day many months later. Anything that he notices or she out right tells him how much she likes or hates something has him keep to a beauty regimen. Not that he hasn’t had some little says in her own little routines. Like a certain fragrance he admiringly associates with her.

“We are on a break; I’m going to eat a juicy burger and what isn’t there to love?”

“Megan? That isn’t the reason I’m surprised.”

“Hmm… I need to confess something to you and I need you not to get upset.”

Just as quickly as he is aroused, he becomes paranoid that something is going to break this perfection that they have going on.

“As much as I love how you say Megan…”

“Baby I love your name.”

“It’s actually my middle name.” The frozen look on his face has her worried that he may think she’s lied about many other important things. “There is nothing else I’ve kept from you, I just liked using Megan and the way you’d say Meg or Maggie or any other variations just was so perfect but…”

He isn’t totally convinced. He doesn’t understand how she kept something as monumental from him. Everywhere they went he introduced her as Megan his girlfriend. She has yet to meet his parents but the name Megan has fallen from hips a million times conversing with family and friends.

“I mean in reality Megan is still my name.”

He pushes her off slightly and she moves so he can get up. “No!” He just walks to a window in his apartment. They always hang out here because she lives in a dorm. “To think some of your friends having to go along with this farce when they call you by your real name.”

“Oliver? That isn’t the case. I introduce myself to a lot of people as Megan.”

“Really? And how many of these people think about you? Truly care about you? Even dream of you? Simply as what your middle name is?”

She makes a joke of it, “My mother calls me by my whole name either when she’s really happy or annoyed with me.”

“That is supposed to make me feel better?” He is now really agitated. “You don’t get to make this into a joke. Here I am opening myself to you and I don’t even know your name.” He looks away from her. Not allowing her sorrow to change how angry he is becoming.

She knows she in deep trouble he is right and she played the whole name thing lightly not seeing it through his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“I would have continued calling you Megan if you have this horrendous name you didn’t want to share at first. Though whatever it is I would love it. Just because it’s a part of you.”

“Wow! I guess I’m a stupid fool I never put much stock into it but I should have and I am really sorry.”

He finally slowly turns to look at his girlfriend and it strikes him he doesn’t even know her name. She can see the realization in his face as he just stares at her blankly.

“It’s Felicity, Felicity Megan Smoak.”

If she thought the frozen look on his face before was concerning whatever is going through her mind is really a shocker.  

~~~~~~****~~~~~~~~sp@ce~~~~~~****~~~~~~~~

When Oliver pauses it has his kids on edge. He’s telling the story in a cleaner version of how he learned his wife’s first name. It seems telling his kids this as they wait for their mother to come home may have not been the wisest idea.

“Dad what happened?”

“Yes daddy, did you break up?”

The youngest being so innocent and not truly understanding relationships asks if they ever made up.

Oliver checks his phone and a text by Felicity telling him she’s running late. She finishing up from another conference meeting so he continues on with the story. She’ll be home soon.

~~~~~~****~~~~~~~~sp@ce~~~~~~****~~~~~~~~

“Felicity… Fe-li-ci-ty.” He just says her name one more time, “Felicity! I don’t get it. It’s actually a very beautiful name.”

“It’s a cheesy name. It means happiness, I’m a Goth girl.”

Oliver sighs he really doesn’t get it. She has been making him happy all these months. The name is perfect. Now that he knows the truth. As much as she’s been Megan from now on, he’ll always think of her has Felicity. What is the most important matter to him is how long he will get to know Felicity? It seems that maybe he had more emotional attachment to her than she has had of him. Maybe her tutoring him and having him mastering his academia is a thrill for her. She’s one of a kind who is he to really know what goes through that mind of hers? Only that he’d be devastated because along the way he gave her his heart even if he hasn’t said so its implied.

“I know your mad, I guess I really screwed up and I’m sorry.”

“It makes me wonder if I’m just an experiment. A fixer upper that you…”

Felicity looks horrified as she cuts him off, “Oh no. No! You’ve been nothing but the perfect dream. I’m always worried I’d wake up and you’d be over me. Falling in love with you was so easy.” She catches what she just said and her hand goes to her mouth. He is about to break up with her and she’s telling him she loves him. She can be such a fool.

“I couldn’t be over you even if I wanted to.” He doesn’t mention the whole falling in love that could just be faux pas said in haste.

Felicity aches now knowing that he doesn’t even think her declaration of falling for him is seen real to him. That stings. “I should go.”

“That is probably for the best.” Yet neither move. The air is thick with unsaid words as their emotions are crumbling with angst.

Felicity is a smart girl she knows if she walks out there won’t be a them any longer. The them that has been crafted over time. She sucks in a breath; she created this mess and she needs to fix it. “I can’t apologize enough for how my careless way of thinking of things in simplest of facts.” She won’t go without at least telling him how much she loves him. “It being a name.” She sighs as she glances at him and watching that he is listening gives her some hope. “I didn’t take to account the emotional side of all this.” Taking a small pause, “You mean the world to me. Oliver, I love you so much…” She tearing up. “That love is from all of me. Felicity Megan Smoak the daughter of Donna and also a father named Noah who I haven’t seen since I was seven.”

Talking about her parents is like pulling teeth. He knows it hard for her so this acknowledgement means something. She really is trying to amend the situation. It really is just a name. It’s not like he doesn’t know how clinical she can be in her thinking process.

“Noah is a fool of a man letting go of such a bright amazing girl.” He moves up to her just like when they met.

“Maybe I just wasn’t…”

“Shh.” He’s looking down to her, “His failure isn’t your own.” He wipes a few stray tears she has let go. “You mean the world to me too.”

“I do?”

“I love you.” He cups her face and finally kisses the one who has his heart.

Still having his hands on her face, she inquires, “Does that mean you forgive me?”

With a sigh his eyes searching hers, “Of course I’d forgive you. We’ll always see some things differently and there will always be fights that are bound to happen.”

“I don’t like fighting.”

He leans in to kiss her as he tells her the same thing.

She’s a little forward in rubbing her hands just under his shirt. “I heard making up is supposed to be…”

He stops her. They haven’t crossed that line yet and he’ll be damn if their first time is happening this way. “I love you Meg…” He closes his eyes this is going to take some getting used to. “Felicity Smoak but I’m still processing this whole name thing and when we take the next step it won’t be after an argument.”

She nods in agreement.

“So, what about some burgers?”

Felicity stops him from leaving her space as she now holds him to her as she raises on her tiptoes to kiss him.

~~~~~~****~~~~~~~~sp@ce~~~~~~****~~~~~~~~

As the door in the back where it leads to the mudroom opens and Oliver takes a pause as his kids are listening to a very clean version of when he found out Megan was indeed Felicity’s middle name. He looks to the newest addition sitting in the high chair just happily gnawing on a teeth ring. Oblivious to his siblings’ excitement until he hears his mother’s voice and all of a sudden his son a babbling genius. A pang of jealousy hit Oliver as his little munchkin doesn’t show him that kind of welcome.

“Mom’s home.”

Felicity welcomes her two youngest with open arms and gives them kisses than she hugs her eldest as she slowly walks into her husband’s embrace. It doesn’t take long for their youngest to disapprove and want his mother’s sole attention.

“Sorry, hi there handsome.” She’s kissing the baby as the other kids settle back down. She looks at the expecting faces and makes sure to look at her husband as she asks, “Did I miss something?”

“I was just telling them about when I learned Felicity was your first name.” She gives him a weary look. “Don’t worry it was the PG version.”

“Did mommy come off as a clown?” She regrets saying those words as her kids start to asking about clowns. She just meant if she came off sounding awful but now she’s denying any clowns were a part of the story their father told them. Oliver is just off to the side observing his wife having to explain herself ah yes those memories fill his mind as he has his lips puckered up. She sure can dig a hole for herself. As he recalls the true lustful events of that study session.

~~~~~~****~~~~~~~~sp@ce~~~~~~****~~~~~~~~

“So, what about some burgers?”

“Oliver? I am hungry!” She doesn’t wait for him to truly understand as she already hopping onto him, wrapping her legs around his waist as her lips find that particular spot that has him growl and that’s the purr of his she needs. He catches on quick as he has to keep them from falling as his girl is doing things to him. He unfailingly finds the perfect spot a few steps away to allow her to continue doing this most erogenous thing to his body as she certainly rubs herself on him.

He’s losing the ability to think because just a moment ago he was against this scenario and now his body pretty much told his mind to shut up.  He sinking down deeper onto the sofa she used as a backrest earlier.

There is lips and teeth and the occasion tongue and oh those moans that have both of them panting as they seem to be so lost in each other. Succulent skin that deserves the devotion as hands seem to roam and sweet nips upon each other’s skin only raises the stakes to needing more. Sweet words spilled as some gasps of warm sweet air spurs stimuli onto their hair follicles making for the most enticing shivers.

Felicity has been ready for this for a while, the thought of Oliver’s palms caressing her without barriers of any kind. Even pondering wet dreams of the friction she mostly thirsts for that only he can quench.

At first she teased him. Their relationship wasn’t formed the bonds they have now wasn’t there and it was easy to promise things like promiscuity. Fortunately for them It didn’t work like that because they found that it wasn’t just an attraction that kept them coming to each other’s orbit. They truly sought one another just to discourse what was actually happening in their lives. Until they couldn’t fathom not having the intertwined lives they were leading. Good and bad shared, memories of past conversations, voices becoming lullabies at night and waking thoughts of the other person in mundane tasks. They were falling in love.

It took a stomach rumble which neither could tell if it was theirs but they pulled away laughing. They were good. Though they pulled away from the other knowing that it really wasn’t the right time to go further. There is no hurry.

~~~~~~****~~~~~~~~sp@ce~~~~~~****~~~~~~~~

“Come to find out your mommy was very hungry.” Oliver chuckles as his wife actually accidentally demonstrates his point. She is hungry.

The kids try to follow their parents story but there are so many vague points they have no idea what actually happened. They just know that their dad found out what their mom’s name was and that was the end. There was kissing. More kissing. As they watch their dad pull their mom into another hug they know another kiss will happen.

[temaporal]

Is the Rom Com Dead? Breaking Down 79 Romantic Comedies | Vanity Fair

There is one statistic in this breakdown that I disagree with: If J.Lo has the greatest number of leading roles, with four titles, then Meg Ryan at least ties with her. When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, Kate & Leopold--that makes four. They even featured clips from each of those films in the video.

And then there’s Julia Roberts with Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and Notting Hill--another four. Am I missing something here? Maybe MBFW didn’t make the cut because the leads knew each other before the start of the film (ergo, no meet-cute). But that film is popularly considered to be a romcom. And even if it were disqualified, couldn’t America’s Sweethearts take its place?

Other than that, it’s a pretty cool survey. Seeing the genre’s tropes quantified makes clear just how normative it is, down to the ties and dresses on its respective male and female actors. When romantic comedies are good, it’s because they rise above their formula with magnetic leads, smart dialogue, unique art direction, or interesting world-building. When they’re bad, they simply go through the motions, coming across as lazy, stale, or even cynical. A love story can only be told in earnest, after all, and a manufactured one feels phony in a way that an equally manufactured action movie doesn’t.

In an article on Vox, the culture team has a comprehensive discussion about the nature of romcoms (they’re about joy and wish fulfillment); why we perceive them the way we do (sexism and snobbery); why they’ve declined in recent years (lack of prestige and cultural legitimacy); their 2018 reemergence (via Crazy Rich Asians, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and Set It Up); and how they might sustain a comeback. When asked how they would advise studio executives to handle a romcom resurgence, one contributor, Genevieve Koski, says:

The recent indie/Blumhouse horror revival is the model to follow here: Think small but distinctive, cheap but memorable. Invest in lesser-known talents with a passion for the genre who are eager to bring something new to it while respecting its roots...The rom-com could and should be a strong part of a studio’s portfolio, but overinvesting [financially] in a genre that tends toward the small and the intimate by design is a recipe for a resurgence that’s DOA.

Bonus: This article in Glamour isn’t as well-written or -edited as I would like (it reads like a middle school essay), but it was the only one I could find that concisely traces the history of romantic comedies from the days of silent film to the present, touching on key subgenres, social contexts, and formative works in the genre. I would do independent research on the topic if I had the time.

Other titles I want to throw out there: Selfie is another romcom for the TV era. It was hampered and ultimately doomed by viewers’ disdain for its title, as well as some truly dumb writing; but I enjoyed Karen Gillan in a comedic role, and in the end, I was sad not to see her relationship with John Cho’s character play out. As for movies, TiMER (2009) and Wristcutters (2006) were two very original love stores.

[sapphicscholar]

Letter 56

March 12, 2012, 9:13am

Hey Alex,

It was great talking to you yesterday! I’m sorry about the less-than-stellar pesto experience…that was my bad. Never tell a joke that makes someone turn around when they’re using a blender, right? Good to know for the future. Hope the basil doesn’t stain your sweater. It was a nice sweater.

Bahah okay, Danvers, keep telling yourself that…whatever you need to do to feel less guilty about making your poor future dog suffer like that. Please tell me that you don’t have aspirations to be one of those old ladies… Or, okay, all of it is fine if you can manage to keep the tissues and the candies separate. I don’t get it! They’re always both in wrappers that rustle like crazy in the movie theater, so how the lint permeates the sealed wrapper, I’ll really never know.

Thanks! I don’t know exactly how that works. I do remember hearing that ASL (American Sign Language) is really different from BSL (British Sign Language), but that some countries that don’t share the same spoken language will share the same signed language (or at least large parts of it). I don’t know all the specifics, but it’s interesting to think how the barriers we construct between cultures and countries can be broken down and rebuilt in really different ways depending on the mode of communication.

I know some aliens adapt really well to languages, and there are one or two planets so renowned for their language acquisition skills that their citizens end up being translators pretty much everywhere they go. Pretty nice to have guaranteed employment, huh? But anyway, I like to hope that the biobank got consent…I don’t have much hope or trust in people (and even less in corporations), but I need to believe that someone out there is trying. Maybe at the IRB?

Ah yes, all those attack pigs. Though wild pigs are really gigantic. They definitely don’t stay so little and cute like in movies. And that’s cool (better than the people who try to breed them to stay "cute" and end up making them sick and all), but it definitely makes the “attack” part a lot more realistic (and threatening). Your mind works in fascinating ways, Danvers. Though let’s not inspire anyone with ideas about weaponized farm animals. We’ve all read Animal Farm already. We know how ruthless those fuckers can be!

It’s pretty excellent as far as experiences go. And simply amazing views. I’ve got some photos I’ll have to send to you with the next box of the kids' letters. Sorry I didn't add one last time. It seems like we get out so much in these notes, that there wasn't much new to add? And if there was, I wanted you to know it right away? But the kids continue to love their pen-pals!

Hah oh, sorry, maybe it wasn’t obvious, and I just thought it was…now it’s more awkward, and that’s on me. It’s like explaining a joke, but worse. Just…I don’t know, it’s the last two sentences: “If we do this, could you like walk me through this very slowly? And I’ll try my best to follow?” Obviously it’s about cooking; I can read context clues, thank you very much. But it’s more, ya know, you’re new to the whole dating women thing (and the other things that might come with it), and that’s fine! But it could mean you also need some help there… Whatever. Ignore me. Please. Know that you didn’t insult the cuisine, except perhaps with that overdone pasta I watched you make yesterday…don’t think I didn’t catch you getting caught up in our conversation and letting the timer beep for minutes on end while your pasta got soggy!

Eh…you’re not missing much with The L Word, but it’s still sort of a touchstone? It’s better to watch with someone so that you can chat through some of the worst parts of it and tune in for the hot ladies that you still like that season. Nah, it’s pretty common knowledge, and it’s sort of written on the wall from the start of the season when it happened in one case (and then written on the wall even more explicitly from the first moments of the season for the other death that totally doesn’t really count anyway). Interesting choice on the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice. Wouldn’t have guessed it. I actually like Austen, who is much more biting social satire than romcom, Danvers, though I’ve not seen the BBC production. Going off the book version, I can see you being a bit like Mr. Darcy…

Yeah, I had roommates throughout college because of the cost of living, then I lived with Emily, but after our breakup I was alone for a couple of months. I’ve taken that living/surviving/being alone thing to a whole new extreme over here! But it’s definitely helpful, and it was really nice for a while. It’s good that you’ve realized certain things about yourself because it means you can stop those behaviors when you see them starting again instead of letting them fester and grow. I have a tendency to assume the worst can and will happen, and often that means I try to preempt it. Because if I ruin something myself, it can’t be ruined for me, you know? Similarly, not a great coping mechanism, but it kept out the terror of bad surprises for a while.

Wow, way to make a girl blush, Alex. I was merely hoping that maybe it could be a “you and I” you read into those “we” subjects. Nice to know you think about us having some of those types of mornings too. I really hope you don’t catch anything in the library! That would be less than ideal… Do take care of yourself. Lots of liquids and warm sweaters and sleep (as much as you can manage) and all that. Do you at least have a spring break or something when you’ll be able to catch up on sleep?

Hmm interesting addendum on the power of flight. Any reason? I also think it’d be cool to be able to fly… But invisibility, now that you mention it, sounds really great. I think if you’d asked me when I was younger, it would have been invisibility I wanted for sure.

Alex…that’s barely a superpower; that’s just hurting yourself. It’s so ironic that the medical profession, which studies things like the harmful effects of sleep deprivation, forces its own into such awful habits as part of the regular job. I hope you manage to be okay and get some sleep!

Ah yeah…I can see how that particular habit wouldn’t be ideal, but I imagine it makes you pretty effective at solving problems, at least. And I can respect efficiency. I think my worst habit is probably a bit of self-sabotage every now and then. I’ve gotten better, but it’s something I have to actively combat, rather than an instinct that’s totally gone away.

Ugh, that nightly rundown while waiting for sleep to come is truly the worst thing to happen to mankind. Not really. But it sucks a lot. That’s not so bad, Danvers! It’s good that you were engaged in learning and really cared about your education, even if maybe you were just a little bit of a know-it-all…little bit. But I’d still take students like you on Monday mornings. Instead I’m greeted with total silence when I ask questions. And as a teacher? That definitely sucks the most. (Also, I’m sure you’re still doing well in grad school, even if it doesn’t fee like it. You’re brilliant, and it’s pretty hard to miss that fact.)

Alex, that’s amazing! Congratulations on getting the paper accepted first of all! And yay for funding and the ability to come to Italy! I would most definitely love to take you out on a date if you’ll have me. And it's great timing too. I have off that whole week for our spring/post-Easter break, so I’ve got plenty of time on my hands. I had actually been thinking about using it as a chance to go hike Cinque Terre before it got too hot and touristy. But I can take a quick detour to Rome. Anyway, lots to plan! I will start googling! Let me know things you like! Or it can be a surprise. Either way. Totally good. Hmm…got thoughts going. But I’ve really got to run to work, and I’m already a little late (it’s okay, I don’t have a morning class today—teacher meeting thing).

Talk to you soon! We can both think of more questions for each other or leave it for a bit and focus on brainstorming date ideas instead. Because also, it’s coming up so soon! Less than a month now! Things to do, things to do…

XO Maggie

[eternalsterekrecs]

can you recommend some soulmates au fics ?

Well, you should definitely start with our SOULMATES tag! After tag, check all these new recs we have for you (there are so many of them)!

SOULMATES

An Unpredictable Amount of Turtles by skoosiepants

Stiles says, “I have a five year plan. A five year plan to popularity that will tank the minute I meet this guy.”

“I feel like you’re exaggerating,” Scott says, but Scott has a katana-wielding badass waiting for him at the other end of the rainbow, and Stiles has terrariums.

Or—

A soulmate au with turtles and angst.

Honey, Can’t you See (The Bloodstains on my Teeth) by Loup_Aigre, TroubleIWant

“Mr Stilinski.” Deaton’s usually impassive face betrays a hint of surprise today, maybe even disappointment. “You haven’t changed your mind.”

Stiles tips his chin up, smiling against his irritation. “Nope,” he confirms, so cheerily it bites. They had arranged this weeks ago, yet Deaton was apparently betting Stiles wouldn’t go through with it in the end. Fuck that. He doesn’t know what it’s like out there, not really. He can afford to hold himself aloof and uninvolved, knowing his druid power is enough to keep him safe in this little office. Stiles can’t. Scott’s pack has got to protect this whole town, and Stiles’ spark isn’t enough to protect all of them while they do it.

The thing is, magic isn’t like the fairy tales. It’s blood and risk and sacrifice. Nothing comes without a price, and anyone who tries to say different is baiting a hook to gut you on. Stiles knows that, has known it since he was a kid and his mother started training him for the inevitable day when he’d need to fight for his life.

That day had come four years ago when she died, and it hasn’t stopped yet.

Of Soulmates, Pseudonyms and Misunderstandings by halcyon1993

Ever since he asked his mother one evening why she had his dad’s name tattooed on the inside of her left wrist, Derek has dreamed of finding his soulmate. There’s only one problem—the name that appears on his wrist on his eighteenth birthday is something he can’t even read.

Weave Soft Spells Over My Sight by AgnesBlue

Derek had blossomed steadily over the past year, growing into his ears and turning even more handsome, if that were possible. But instead of going out and melting the panties off the girls, suddenly he was coming to Stiles all bashed in, demanding that he patch him up like Stiles was some freelance nurse. It was a familiar pattern by now.

AU in which Stiles has been living with the Hales for a few years as their assistant and friend. He needs to deal with Derek, who keeps coming to Stiles with bruises and cuts to be treated, while trying to figure out what the elderly alpha of the Hale pack is up to.

Sometimes It Just Works by MellytheHun

“Fic where, in a fit of post-break-up, drunken depression, stiles throws together a truly pathetic love spell (really, Lydia would be so unimpressed she’d probably disband their weekly magic lessons) in an attempt to find the perfect partner.

But, like everything else in Stiles’ life (and as proof to how much joy the universe gets pulling one over on him) everything goes horribly wrong and instead of the feathery light, rose petal path he’d been expecting to appear and lead him to his true love, a half naked man with harlequin biceps and a beard that could rival most lumber jacks appears in his minimalist studio apartment looking grumpy and endearingly confused.

Cue Stiles’ imminent freak out that includes shoving the man in his hall closet because “Oh my god, I manifested a burly mountain man out of thin air!!”

When really, the spell had just transported Derek from whatever secluded cabin he’d been holed up in for the last few years right into Stiles’ life.”

all else perished by keskasi

There are only so many times a person can fall before the world becomes a vertical blur. Life, Stiles has found, is much the same way. There are only so many times a person can be born, live, and die before the epochs start to smear into one long, eternal day. Or night, as the case may be.

soulmates tbh series by bleep0bleep

Stiles is probably the world’s greatest cynic about soulmates. He couldn’t care less, except that he’s just found his.

Your Mark on my Skin by afullrevolution

Everyone had a mark scrawled somewhere across their body. A name, usually a signature to represent their soul mate, their one and only true love. Stiles has known who his mark belonged to since the third grade. He doesn’t understand how Derek can be so oblivious.

i feel you in every heartbeat by warlocks

Suddenly his entire body felt tingly and sensitive and he could swear gravity had failed on him just then; he couldn’t feel the chair he was sitting on, or where he’d planted his feet on the floor, or the clothes he was wearing, or the pen he was holding, and then his vision started blurring and morphing into a picture of some place that was not his classroom.

“Oh, shi—”

“—it,” he finished with a different voice.

Or, the AU in which, on their 22nd birthday, a person will switch bodies with their soulmate and is left to figure out whom they’re temporarily inhabiting, and how to get back to each other. But because Stiles is Stiles, he forgets that it’s his birthday, and the bodyswap takes him by surprise.

Soul-Mark by PaigeRhiann

His wolf purrs happily because it has taken eighteen years and getting his family killed to finally discover the name of his promised. The person he’s destined to be with. Or, as Werewolves call it – Mate.

“Genim S.” He repeats

“That’s a really fucking weird name” Laura snorts, turning back to the movie.

“Yeah, it is” he nods.

And I Never Thought I’d Ever Say Forever by suchfun

“That was stupid.” He bats the kid’s hands away and rearranges the items in the bag. He’s mixed canned goods and dairy, does this kid even know how to efficiently pack a bag? “The TiMER is a gift.” He says it automatically, because that’s what his mom says. That’s how he was brought up. That’s what he’s supposed to think.

He used to believe it, back when he was sixteen and idealistic, before he actually got his TiMER, back when he was so sure that his soulmate would be Paige. Back when he believed in the romcoms, in his mom’s books, in the elaborate advertisements for TiMERs—the ones with all the interviews with loving real life couples, with testimonials to their effectiveness and their ability to make you happy and fulfilled, with guarantees of an improved quality of life and even life expectancy. Back when he thought meeting his soulmate was an inevitability, not a slim possibility.

Colors by PencilTrash

Soulmates AU: When soulmates visit the same place on the same day, they can see color in the places where the other has been. It allowed you a world full of color for one single day. A day.The universe was cruel like that.It gave soulmates a single day to find each other and seal the bond between them permanently or the color would vanish forever… and so would the bond.

(im)Perfect System by theroguesgambit

Stiles has always felt pretty lucky about his soul mark. After all, how many conversations tend to start with “This is private property”?

(Apparently more than you’d think.)

Countdown by actingup

0000d 00h 00m 37s

He always imagined meeting his soul mate would take forever; that time would slow down and he would see them walking towards him, he would know without a doubt who it was. It might have been someone he’s seen before but never talked to, or it might be a complete stranger that he never would have guessed. He didn’t imagine it in front of about a hundred people, maybe two-hundred, at a Dolphin show.

Soulmate - Delayed Reaction by Verya

When a person turns eighteen their soulmates first words to them appear on the inside of their dominant wrist. Of course it had to be the week when Stiles broke his hand!

Mental Synchronization by kits_lightning

“All at once everything is different, now that I see you

Now that I see you.”

Stiles ended with jazz hands and Scott laughed and took the seat across from him.

“Keep laughing, buddy. I haven’t forgotten Isaac’s two month obsession with Taylor Swift before you two met.”

“We agreed never to bring that up again.”

~*~*~*~*~*~OR the Soulmate AU where you sing when you’re soulmate does.

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) by yodasyoyo

Stiles is six years old when he first hears Derek’s voice in his head.

Or what happens if you have a soulmate bond, in a universe where soulmate bonds don’t exist?

Second Chances by rootbeer

“A lot of times the ‘markings’ were common, simple things you said to strangers all the time. ‘Excuse me’; 'thank you’; 'hello’. Some got extremely romantic things like 'it’s you isn’t it? I’ve been waiting for you’ or 'Wow you’re really pretty’. And they were always the first words their soulmate would ever say to them.

Of course, having 'You are the fucking worst kind of person in the world’ tattooed down your side, didn’t bode well. How fucked up was Stiles Stilinski that even his fucking Soulmate hated him? High School had been a special kind of hell when all the kids learned what his tattoo said—despite his best efforts to keep it a secret.”

and i thought it only a dream by bleep0bleep

Derek only started getting the dreams a few years ago, and he knows what it means, his soulmate is younger than him. Laura teases him incessantly about it, but Derek doesn’t pay her any mind. The dreams are fuzzy at best, he only has a fleeting glimpse of plaid shirts and laughter and a pink mouth.

As Laura and he start on their roadtrip back to California from New York, the dreams start to get clearer. Every state they cross, Derek can see the outline of his soulmate get more defined, knows that he has brown eyes, a gorgeous smile and fluffy hair that looks soft to touch.

[katsukiskatsudon]

VICTUURI FICRECS

last updated: 2017-01-30

I’ve read a SHITTON so here we go,,, hope u like it

Will probably be updated semi-regularly as I continue to delve into the ao3 tag.

MULTI-CHAPTER

Maelstrom

by feelslikefire,  43682, time-loop!au

“Victor Nikiforov is poised to win gold in his fifth consecutive Grand Prix Final. He has the world at his feet, is unparalleled in the sport--right up until a snowstorm blows into Sochi, and he finds himself repeating the same day over and over and over. He stumbles over Yuuri Katsuki, and everything changes.”

I absolutely adore this one. There is a quiet and mature tone to it (even though it’s started off by a weird witch lecturing Victor). And the decriptions are so good it felt as though I was there with them. I read the first paragraph and I knew that this was going to be good.

Until My Feet Bleed and My Heart Aches 

by Reiya : wip, 126945 , rivals!au

“Hatred and love are two sides of the same coin and even though everything changes, some things are still meant to be.”

Already a fandom classic, this is a monster of a fic that really handles it’s characters with love. Nothing feels unmotivated and the descriptions are so good it’s crazy. The rivalry is handled beautifully and it exceeded my expectations by a large margin. Emotions done right and very engaging(!). Worth a long and rewarding read.

Constellations (Things You Left Unsaid)

by DasWarSchonKaputt : wip, 22346, role-reversal!au, college!au

“What is Katsuki Yuuri’s greatest asset when competing? If you ask the media, they’ll tell you it’s his flair for artistry, something that shines through in his earnest, winning performances. If you ask Yuuri, he’ll tell you that it’s his coach, Celestino, and the answer will sound as fake as it is.

The truth, though, is something that Yuuri has always known. He wouldn’t be half the skater he is without his prescription for anti-anxiety medication.”

Victor as a 18-year old soon-to-be senior debutant and a master of seduction is right up my lane. Add the long hair and the unwillingness to conform to gender norms and you have perfection. Loving the articles in this fic and use of chats and social media. Cozy college au.

Are you a library book? Because I can’t stop checking you out.

by AriWrote : wip, 8183, bookstore!au

“Yuuri works at his family’s bookstore. Viktor is his favorite author. Somehow he doesn’t realize the cute stranger making eyes at in him in the self-help book section is his idol. Yuri just really wants a break.”

Just as cute and light-hearted as it seems. Phichit is an absolute darling in this and I’ve fallen so hard for Yuuri as a bookworm. Reading this was like the fic equivalent to sipping a pina colada at the beach. Like taking a vacation. Truly lovely.

SkateSquad™ groupchat

by stxmph : wip, 47122 , au

“pikachit added katsukidon, vitya, RussianTiger, Leo♫, and (gay)uanghong to the chat.

pikachit renamed the conversation “ SkateSquad™ ” (groupchat log of the skate squad)”

This fic is (almost) entirely in the style of a groupchat. It’s messy, the author is overly self indulgent and it’s often kind of inconsistent but at times so brilliantly funny it makes the flaws pale in comparison. I’ve been up laughing late at night just because I couldn’t stop reading.

I’ll Give You My Heart

by Aliis : wip, 14009, soulmate!au

“In a world where people’s hearts are displayed on their chests, broadcasting to everyone if you’re looking for your other half or you’ve found them, Victor Nikiforov was a bit of a rock star– he’s twenty seven years old and his heart is still perfectly whole.” 

In a fragmented and poetic way this story is heartaching. Heartbreaking even. It follows the canon storyline somewhat (Victor is Yuuris coach etc) within this very interesting take on soulmates. One of the first fics I subscribed to on aou, which says something, doesn’t it? Over all wonderful and it’s definitely one of my favourites.

when the ice melts in the snow (that's when you'll love me)

by lilithiumwords : wip,  47179, demon!au

“Katsuki Yuuri is the worst incubus in the Underworld. Viktor Nikiforov is his human target.”

Yuuri is a demi-sexual sex demon and have never really felt desire until he gets assigned the human (or is he...) Viktor. (But don’t expect too much explicit sex. We’re seven chapters in and they still haven’t had sex yet). It works. Really well, actually. So well I stayed up way to late because I felt I needed more. My headcanon is that Yuuri is somewhere on the ace scale and I really enjoy when I find someone with the same idea? 

(offer me) that Deathless Death

by melonbug :  wip, 15580, curse!au

“It was the curse he and his family were fated to: Death would come for him the moment he turned eighteen, and he could only hope the flimsy wards passed down through the generations would protect him. But Death always won eventually, Death would snatch him up as he had all of his ancestors.

But somehow he wasn't what Yuuri had expected. He was a constant presence in his life, barely there. A vigilant spectator to his burgeoning skating career, a gray haired man with a soft expression who found him again and again, waiting for him to let his guard down, but becoming something more, over time.

"Don't be careless," his sister told him, but they were all careless, in the end.”

In which Yuuri learns to live with Death over his shoulder. I love the premise and its wonderfully executed. It feels ancient it feels real and the descriptions is sometimes so wellwritten its absolutely crazy. 

Strawberry Bubblegum

by rightofpostponement : wip,  20455, soulmate!au, (semi)canon compliant

“Smile, skate, win. Wash, rinse, repeat. It grew so mundane, after a while. Years and years of being at the top inevitably soured the view, no matter how beautiful. Victor was tired; tired of trying to surprise people, tired of living without love, and tired of making history without anyone to share it with. It takes one night, one dance, and 16 flutes of champagne for Victor's life to be flipped on its head.” 

Cuties! Lovelies! This is basically a collection of sweet, amazing, wonderful romcom cliches. They have a playful pillowfight (that grows intense u kno what i mean), Hiroko embarrases Yuuri with baby pictures. Heck, they even go go disney world! Toothrotting.

Looking for Courage

by icterine : 17035, soulmate!au, college!au

“Victor’s soul rejoices with their meeting. A fleeting attempt to steady a drunken stranger sets his heart afire. It’s all he’s ever dared to wish for. (Yuuri meets his soulmate and forgets.)”

Just as the author says, “there can never be too many soulmate aus…”. Especially if they’re all as well written as this one. The characterization in this is absolutely wonderful. The clueless Yuuri, the hopeless romantic Victor. The pacing is great and I love love love Chris (and Phichit) in this one! 

a great desire to love

by lily_winterwood,  21724, body swap!au

“For some strange, inexplicable, fantastic reason, Yuuri Katsuki and Viktor Nikiforov are trading places. 

Kimi no Na wa AU.” 

I went into this fic having no idea what kimi no na wa even was and boy am I glad I did. I finished this in record time. Intriguing, exciting, action-packed.

The Courtesan

by haganenoheichou : wip,  25,448, courtesan!au, dystopia!au

“Viktor is the most popular Courtesan in Hasetsu House. He is beautiful, he is graceful, he is everything Yuuri has always wanted to be. Except Yuuri is an Untouchable virgin at the age of twenty-three and a universe-class klutz. What happens when Viktor takes an interest?”

This authors worldbuilding is really freaking cool! Some influences from things like ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ mixed with a dystopian future such as ‘the Hunger Games’ (the civilians clothing and luxiurious customs) with a sci-fi setting. If you, like me, are a sucker for stuff like this (starcrossed lovers with talk of galaxies) it’s pretty awesome.

ONE SHOTS

i have my body (and you have yours)

by astoryaboutwar : 8147, soulmate!au

“Yuuri overflows with the weight of things that have been said, trembles with what remains.Their shared zeroes flicker in time, the early morning light muting the red glow to faint numbers. In the amber dawn, an idol is only just a man.

(Or: the Soulmate Timers AU where things happen out of order, secrets are kept, revelations are had, and they arrive where they need to be in the end.)”

I remember being absolutely smitten when I first read this and I still see why I described it as “words strung together to create a fucking symphony”. It’s poetic, heartbreaking, beautiful. 

the lounge

by fan_nerd :13453, therapy!au

“Dr. Yuuri Katsuki is a psychiatric therapist in Detroit who specializes in alcoholism. The last person he expects to see in his chair is retired figure skater Victor Nikiforov, whom he used to idolize.

Victor is a very different man than the one who’d been subject to the constant flashes of cameras in the prime of his life. He is broken, and so terribly human.

But then, so is Yuuri.”

Strange concept maybe but executed skillfully. Cute story about two lost, middleaged, men who find eachother, Cameo by my favourite mom Yuuko as a sweet tea-drinking 40-year old.

cover story

by fan_nerd :   8210, roommates!au

“Yuuri stares down at the person standing in the doorway. The stranger hisses, “Who do you think you are, anyways?”

Quickly, before he can really think about it, Yuuri responds, “I’m Victor’s boyfriend.”

It’s a lie, but the words feel good in his mouth, and for some reason, he doesn’t want to take them back.”

Yuuri is a workaholic that needs a place to stay. Victor is the playboy looking for a roommate. The relationship is painfully gradual in this but when they do get together, oh, is it sweet. 

leave the banner there

by sixpences :  2904, canon compliant

“"Victor has a crush- a full-blown, goofy-daydreaming, struggling-to-sleep-at-night crush.“

Victor pines, entertains his rinkmates, and wonders what the heck to do with himself.”

Short and sweet read. Pining Victor and fun russian rinkmates. I think I really needed Victors pov post-banquet and this helped me fill the gaps.

[recentanimenews]

Manga the Week of 12/`16/20

SEAN: As we get closer to the holidays, we get more and more books being published.

ASH: This turn of events pleases me.

MELINDA: And me.

SEAN: Cross Infinite World has a new title, I Reincarnated As Evil Alice, So the Only Thing I’m Courting Is Death!. Our heroine dies and is reincarnated in an otome game, and she *is* the heroine this time… but the game is notorious for having almost all bad ends. Expect a lot of Alice in Wonderland vibes here as well.

No debuts for J-Novel Club, but a heaping helping of ongoing digital light novels. We get An Archdemon’s Dilemma 11, Arifureta 11, I Refuse to Be Your Enemy! 4, The Intrigue of Marielle Clarac (Book 5 in that series), Slayers 4, and The Sorcerer’s Receptionist 2. Phew!

Kodansha has some print. We get Drifting Dragons 7, Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest 6, Gleipnir 8, the 2nd Magic Knight Rayearth manga box set, which will finish the series, and also has a bonus artbook. That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime 15 and UQ Holder 21 are also out.

ASH: I’ve really been enjoying Drifting Dragons. I’ve also somehow never actually read Magic Knight Rayearth yet.

SEAN: Digitally the debut is I Guess I Became the Mother of the Great Demon King’s 10 Children in Another World (Isekai de Saikyou Maou no Kodomo-tachi Juunin no Mama ni Nacchaimashita), which sounds like your standard isekai but is also by Ema Toyama, author of Missions of Love and other shoujo classics. This is not shoujo: it runs in Shonen Sirius. A girl whose mother has died plays the game the mother never finished… and finds herself in another world.

ASH: Ema Toyama, you say? That piques my interest a bit more than just the title alone.

MELINDA: I don’t read much digitally, but this intrigues me as well, almost entirely because of the author.

SEAN: There is also Dolly Kill Kill 9, Dr. Ramune -Mysterious Disease Specialist- 2, GE: Good Ending 12, Heroine for Hire 4 (the final volume), Kakushigoto 10, Orient 9, Shaman King: The Super Star 2, Shojo FIGHT! 14, and The Writer and His Housekeeper 3.

MICHELLE: I really, really need to get caught up on Shojo FIGHT!.

SEAN: One Peace has a 3rd manga volume for The Reprise of the Spear Hero.

Debuting from Seven Seas is Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! Everyday Misadventures! (Watashi, Nichijou wa Heikinchi de tte Itta yo ne!), the 4-koma spinoff of Mile’s antics that everyone wanted. It runs in Comic Earth Star.

Also out from Seven Seas: Goodbye My Rose Garden 3 (the final volume) and Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear’s 4th novel (digital-first).

MICHELLE: I wouldn’t say Goodbye, My Rose Garden was an amazing series, but it was certainly good enough to read the third and final volume.

ASH: I still need to read the second volume (and now soon the third), but I found the first volume to be enjoyable.

SEAN: Sol Press, after what seems like 80,000 years, has the second Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World light novel.

Tokyopop has the 2nd and final volume of No Vampire, No Happy Ending.

Vertical gives us the 4th Katanagatari omnibus digitally (I will keep repeating this till it’s correct), Kino’s Journey 7, and With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day is Fun 2.

MICHELLE: I really liked the first volume of With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day is Fun and am eagerly anticipating the second.

MELINDA: Always here for Kino’s Journey, too.

SEAN: They also have Zoku-Owarimonogatari, the final, absolutely the last, no take backs, Monogatari Series novel. Unless they license the others that came after this.

Viz’s debut is Remina, another helping of Junji Ito just in time for winter. This is sci-fi, but still just as terrifying. It ran in Big Comic Spirits.

MICHELLE: I am down for this sci-fi/horror blend!

ASH: Yup! I’m here for this one, too.

MELINDA: Yes!

SEAN: Also from Viz: Blue Flag 5, Golden Kamuy 19, Levius/est 7, Maison Ikkoku Collector’s Edition 2, and No Guns Life 8.

ANNA: Glad that Maison Ikkoku is being rereleased and looking forward to Blue Flag.

MICHELLE: What Anna said.

ASH: I should actually read Maison Ikkoku now that it is readily available again.

MELINDA: I should be buying them, since I never managed to acquire a full collection of the original release!

SEAN: Yen On has a truly terrifying number of light novels coming out. The first debut is The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten (Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsu no Ma ni ka Dame Ningen ni Sareteita Ken). We’ve seen a mini-rebirth of the non-fantasy romcom in recent licenses, and this falls into that category. A guy lends his neighbor his umbrella one day, she offers to help around his house in return, and a relationship blossoms.

The second debut is a spinoff, Goblin Slayer Side Story 2: Dai Katana. This apparently goes into the past of Sword Maiden.

There is also (deep breath): Accel World 23, The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life 5, Baccano! 15, The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy 2, The Devil Is a Part-Timer 18, The Genius Prince’s Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt (Hey, How About Treason?) 5, Suppose a Kid From the Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town 4, and Torture Princess 6.

ASH: That is a fair number of light novels!

SEAN: On the Yen Press side, there’s even more. Debut #1: 86, the manga adaptation of the grim military fantasy light novel series. It runs in Young Gangan.

Carole and Tuesday runs in Young Ace, and I believe is the rare case where the anime comes first and the manga follows. Girls who want to be musicians… on Mars!

ANNA: I watched half of the anime….

ASH: I do like musicians… and Mars…

MELINDA: I… kind of want it. Though I’m not sure how to interpret the fact that Anna only watched half of the anime.

SEAN: Not quite a debut, but we do see Overlord: The Complete Anime Artbook.

Strawberry Fields Once Again (Strawberry Fields wo Mou Ichido) is a yuri romance that seems to have a twist to it. It ran in Mediaworks’ @ vitamin.

And Wolf & Parchment is the manga adaptation of the sequel to Spice & Wolf.

Also from Yen: ACCA 13-Territory Inspection Department P.S. 2, The Devil Is a Part-Timer! 16, Goblin Slayer 9, King of Eden 2, KonoSuba 11, Lust Geass 2, No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular! 17, Plunderer 6, Rascal Does Not Dream of Petit Devil Kouhai (another omnibus), Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, Chapter 3: Truth of Zero 11 (the final volume of this arc), Reborn As a Polar Bear 4, The Saga of Tanya the Evil 12, A Witch’s Printing Office 4, and Yowamushi Pedal’s 16th omnibus.

MICHELLE: I am fixin’ to have a YowaPeda catch-up spree and am very happy about that.

ASH: Same! And I always look forward to reading Natsume Ono’s manga, so I plan on picking up the ACCA continuation as well.

SEAN: Any presents from this list you’re giving out?

By: Sean Gaffney