#when they asked him what his favourite colour is he said rainbow

[stackedbirds]

donghua qi rong's design is so funny to me bc he literally dresses like this

it's giving "mom let me pick my own clothes for the first time today" except this man is 800 not 8, and certainly not 3

[buzzyb33]

Podcasts

Prompt: a collection of clips from a podcast with Y/n and James- literally just them being a cute couple

Warnings: swearing, established relationship, both Y/n and James are content creators, short,

(I have so many requests and stuff but this just came to mind after seeing Ethan and faiths new podcast so.. I’ll get to them soon I swear)

One occurrence was the newest podcast, the two have videos every Thursday and read stupid Twitter threads and Reddit posts.

“So, James.” I say as I adjust my position.

“Yeah? Go on.” He smiles and I clear my throat, exaggerated.

“Would you rather kiss me for 100,000 grand or kiss the prettiest girl in the world for a million?” I cross my legs as I put my phone down from reading.

“Well- what? I kiss you everyday. So I- can just do it.. but for money? So obviously you.” He says, adjusting his glasses.

“That’s the wrong fucking answer, James.” I shake my head.

“What? Why? We don’t need a million- I suppose it’d be nice.” He speaks and watches me carefully as my jaw ticks.

“No! I’m the prettiest girl in the world! You’re meant to say: ‘oh y/n, I could kiss you and get the million,’ because I’m meant to be the prettiest girl in the world!”

I scoff and slam my hand as he starts laughing.

“Yeah-! That’s- what I meant! Oh fuck off that was a trick question. Yeah, I’d kiss you and get the million.” He pleads his case with amusement.

“Who’s the prettiest girl in the world?” I ask.

“You!”

I shake my head. “Not what you said before..”

Another time was a bit random, but it sits a nice place in Y/ns heart.

“You know, Y/n is getting her room re done. She claims she isn’t a loser but the amount of five nights at Freddy’s and Pokémon stuff is organised on her shelf I thought I was going to have a seizure from all the colours.” James says, flexing his fingers.

I roll my eyes, opening my mouth to speak but the frowning.

“I’m sorry- you’re a content creator and don’t know the five nights at Freddy’s lore? And I bet you could name like two fucking Pokémon.” I scoff, sipping my coffee.

He looks at me and laughs.

“You get so defensive! And I can name many Pokémon, you’re just borderline obsessed.”

He states and I scoff again.

“Sorry, James, how many fucking guitars do you own?” I retort and he rolls his eyes.

“I get payed for that, very different.” He replies and I scoff.

“Guys James is just mad he acts tureen years older than he is.” I snicker and he smiles.

“Okay, haha.”

Though, James’ favourite clip of the two is when they had Willne as a guest, him sat on the middle.

“So, how long do these normally go on for?” He asks as he shifts in his seat.

“About an hour.. maybe longer so..” James pulls his phone out, checking the time.

“Around an hour or something left.” He says and I nod, finding some threads to read out.

“What’s your home screen?” Will asks as James checks the time.

His face turns a little pink, only visible by the tips of his ears and nose.

“It’s me and Y/n in Australia.” He shows will and he can’t help but smile.

The photo consists of Y/n eating a cone of ice cream, one hand in James’ as they walk ahead of whoever took the photo, the sun is just setting and she has his rainbow scarf draped over her shoulders.

At that, i look up.

“What? The one Jago took?” I ask as I peer over and James nods.

“Awe..” I smile and he looks away.

“What’s yours then lass?” Will asks and i smile as I lock my phone to show him and the camera.

The photo is of my lips smooshed against James’ cheek and his hand in my forehead, attempting to push it away, I was sleep deprived when I did that and Jono found it hilarious at James’ trying-not-to-smile expression and snapped the photo.

Will fake gags and then chuckles.

The finally, the end of 2023 podcast was a fan favourite.

“What was your Spotify wrapped?” He asks, pulling his own phone out.

“I thought I’d ask on the podcast.” He adds with a smile.

I smile at his Tory accent and check.

“I haven’t looked yet..” I say as I tap through it.

“Hm. My number one song was heartbeat by childish Gambino, number two static by Steve lacy, number three was so long by you, number four was crying lighting and five was 505 by arctic monkeys.” I say with a soft smile.

“You have me?” He asks with a skeptical tone.

I scoff and shove my phone near him as he smirks.

“Alright alright.. artists?” He asks and I see.

“Arctic monkeys, you, Kanye west, childish gambino and TV girl.” I smile as I hand him my phone.

“I don’t think me and Kanye should ever be next to each other. In any list.” He says with a stupidly serious time and I let out a giggle.

“Shut up. What was your favourite edit of the year?” I ask and he shrugs.

“Edit? I don’t know..” he clearly thinks.

“Mine is the josh Hutcherson one.” I smile jd he rolls his eyes.

“Could at least lie and say it’s one of me.” He scoffs and I laugh.

“I did like the one where it was taking what’s not yours and it was a ship edit of us. That was sweet.” I smile and he nods.

“I saw that.. stop being al soft. Now I look like a prick.” I smile teasingly and he scoffs again.

A/n

Guys I’m so burnt out I know I have loads of requests but don’t let that stop you from keeping the coming cus I will be writing my favs first.

Also maybe I just wanted to yap about my interests and put them into the reader. Oh well.

Requests are open!

Masterlist!

[kryannoy]

can you do a gojo x insecure reader?

genre: fluff, sfw characters: gojou satoru warnings: insecurity, mentions of body dysmorphia, not proofread

You have no idea how you have the Gojou Satoru as your lover.

It's not like you were popular or anything. You weren't even a sorcerer to begin with. You were just a regular waitress at a small cafe, wearing uniforms everyday and dirty aprons with a messy ponytail.

How did he even think you're pretty? You don't feel pretty. Has he actually gone blind under that black blindfold he always wear?

He was the first one to make a move and heck, he still remembers the obvious ick you have on your expression. But he now, he could he doesn't see that anymore, or at least, not often.

The ick is replaced with love in your eyes. Hearts, flowers, sparkles, rainbows--

"Oh goodness gracious, aren't you so pretty?" said Gojou dramatically with clasped hands over his cheek, cooing at the gorgeous, yet expensive, dresses he had bought.

Okay, maybe it wasn't like in your perspective, but it was for Gojou!

You look at him with a pout. You feel like the dresses doesn't suit you at all. Maybe it was your imperfect body proportion? Or your face? It makes you look like a wannabe.

All these overthinking makes your face feel cold but eyes burning for holding in your tears. But of course, you couldn't contain it any longer when your boyfriend always notices the second your expression changes.

He gets into serious mode and walks over you. "Babe, what's wrong? You don't like it? We can change into a different one! Here, look. There's your favourite colour too."

Alas, his attempts to cheer you up failed miserably. You became a bawling mess. He puts down the dress and everything he's holding to come hug you. His gentle hand patting your hair down your back is what ground you on to reality. It makes you cry harder for having a sweet and kind partner who has never in your life made you feel worse than ever.

Once you've calmed down, he asks you again. "Are you ready to tell me what's going on? Or do you still need more time?"

"Yeah. It's just . . . I don't like how I look. I hate how I look. I hate my face! I hate my body! I hate how I act! I don't like it. One bit."

He purses his lips, wipe your tears with his large thumbs and kisses your forehead. "Baby, you don't have to feel that way. I may not understand how you feel but in my eyes, you're perfect. You're pretty, you're cute, you're adorable, you're nice, you're selfless, you always prioritize the people around you. I love your cooking, I love how every time I come home, the house is clean and you always massage me even though you're tired. I love when you still ask me what I want to eat even though you've already made dinner. And there's more! I love everything about you, babes."

He wipes your excess tears and gives you a smile. "Don't ever make yourself feel bad when no one ever said anything to you, okay? They're all just bad thoughts floating in your little head. They're not statements. Yeah? Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes . . . " you mutter.

"Louder."

"Yes."

"Good." He kisses your forehead again and then your nose, cheeks and lips. " To be honest, I bought these dresses and forced you to try them on because I want you to feel pretty."

[tgmsunmontue]

1k Hangster MeetCute AU based on something that happened to my brother's cat.

G rated and fluffy and involves Jake obtaining a cat by accident.

Meow once for yes...

  He’d never considered himself a cat person before, but he can admire a cat with a stubborn streak to match his own. Bandit’s previous owners had moved out of the apartment building, eight miles out of the city, into the suburbs where Bandit could have freedom. Except Bandit had walked the eight miles back to the apartment building. It had taken him three weeks, but he’d turned up and there were already signs up with his photo and pleas for sightings.

  Of course Jake had seen him, had simply picked him up and called the number on the poster while putting out a bowl of water and tin of tuna, because the poor thing had been starving. Bandit had been collected by the very appreciative family within hours, but a few days later he got a call, saying Bandit had gone missing again, and if he could keep an eye out it would be appreciated. Jake isn’t sure why they hadn’t just kept him inside, he was clearly used to indoor living and wasn’t big on the so called freedom he was being offered.

  Another five days and Bandit had reappeared, looking even more scraggly and undernourished. He’d also clearly been in a fight and was missing a chunk from his ear, giving him a slightly rakish appearance. Jake had rung them again, said he’d turned up, but then he was asked if he’d consider keeping him. Because clearly Bandit wanted nothing to do with his new house, despite the family missing

  So he found himself with a cat for a housemate, one he set up an Instagram account for. Originally so that the family could get almost daily updates of Bandit being… well. A cat. But then Jake had found himself buying toys. And special food. And then he’d gotten to know Bandit’s little quirks, his little run toward the door when he heard Jake coming. How he’d sit and watch Jake shower through the glass panel, like he was concerned for Jake’s well-being under all that water. He wants to be in whatever room Jake is in and he has to admit it’s nice to come home and have someone waiting. He could do without the frantic running around at one in the morning, and the scratching at the door when he’s using the bathroom, but all in all, he likes living with a cat.

  Jake rolls his chair back and looks over to where Bandit is lounging in the sun, paw resting on his favourite toy, a rainbow-striped mouse that maybe used to smell like catnip, but it’s two-years old now, tail long since chewed off, along with the felt ears being tattered shreds. He reaches over and scratches between his ears, grins as one sleepy eye opens and looks at him accusingly for disturbing his sleep. Yawning, he stands and stretches, hears his neck crack and groans. He should get out and go for a walk, make the most of the nice day. He opens the window an inch, hopes the fresh air will help wake him up a little and goes to get a glass of water. Of course Bandit chirps at him, the inquisitive little sound that had surprised the hell out of him the first time he’d heard it. He’d not known cats made that type of sound.

  “Just getting some water buddy…”

  He’s back before Bandit has finished stretching, but he sees it almost in slow motion, the little mouse getting jostled slightly before it rolls toward the tiny gap in the open window and he steps toward it quickly, needs to grab it before Bandit knocks it… and he knocks it out of the window, his head turning sideways to watch it fall and Jake groans.

  “What did you do that for buddy?”

  “Meow.”

  “Yeah buddy, what do we do now huh?” Jake asks, moving over and peering down. He can see the brightly coloured mouse has landed on the balcony of the apartment about five floors below. Bandit has started pacing the length of the windowsill, meows becoming a little more frantic and Jake pulls the window closed a little.

  “Mreeeooow.”

  “Yeah well, I’m not the one that knocked it out…”

  “Mreeeooow.”

  Jake gives up on his arguing, goes to hunt out a piece of paper, because he guesses he’s going to get to know his neighbours. He writes out a note and goes down to the first floor, knocks and waits for an answer. There isn’t one, which isn’t surprising given that it’s the middle of a working day, and most people he knows don’t work from home. He folds the piece of paper and slides it under the door and just has to hope for the best. Maybe the place where he got the mouse from originally still sells them.

…            …            …

  Bandit is still meowing pitifully at the window hours later, it’s dark and the balcony below can’t even be seen, but that’s not stopping Bandit from letting his displeasure be known and Jake wishes, not for the first time, that he could be understood. So he could explain that he’s done everything he can. Legally. He’s not repelling down the side of the building to rescue a toy mouse. Although if Bandit continues meowing all night Jake might find himself seriously considering it. A knock at the door has him suddenly hopeful, and he opens it to find one of the most… interesting men he’s seen in a long while. He’s wearing light coloured denim jeans, white tank with muted short-sleeved button down completely open, the palm leaf print suggesting he thinks he’s on a tropical beach somewhere. The moustache and aviator sunglasses speak to a sense of style that the other man seems to just embrace and somehow, the overall combination, makes him oddly attractive. Or it could be a case of any food tasting good when you haven’t eaten in a while.

  “Hi. Jake?”

  “Yeah. Can I help?”

  “I believe I have something that belongs to you?”

  Then the guys’ fingers uncurl and lying in his palm is a rainbow striped mouse.

  At his feet Bandit purrs in approval.

[bedoballoons]

maybe like a character x mitsuri Kanroji like reader?

so basically misturi has pink and green hair, is very cheery and nice, has a HUGE appetite, she has almost inhuman strength a basically her muscle density is 9 times higher than the average human. And is extremely flexible hand a ribbon like katana. I think a pryo vision fits best.

I literally love your workkkkkkkk♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Awe thank you!!! <3 I had so much fun writing this!! I hope you like the characters I picked and I'll totally write others if you don't!! Sorry it took so long to finish!

─⊰⁠⊹ฺ✿𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕠𝕟𝕤⊰⁠⊹ฺ✿─

{༻~Misturi Kanjiro like reader!~༺}

CW: Fluff! Sweet moments! Pet names! (Belle by Lyney and Love by Kazuha!), confirmed relationships for most of them!

(Includes: Diluc, Lyney, Albedo, Kazuha, and Wanderer!)

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

𑁍༄Diluc:

Your stomach growled hungrily in excitement as you stepped into the kitchen, Dilucs long red hair tied back in a messy bun while he prepared breakfast, his hands busy chopping vegetables and cooking up your favourites, just because he loved spoiling you. "Are you making what I think you're making?!" You asked excitedly, hurrying to his side to take a peek and smiling widely as the smell of delicious food hit your nostrils, making your tummy growl again in response.

"But of course and I made extra so you could have leftovers for lunch." He leaned over placing a kiss on the top of your head as you cheered and wrapped you arms around him in a celebratory hug. "Thank you!"

𑁍༄Lyney:

You had a bounce in your step as you made your way through the crowd of people, your long pink green hair tied up in sweet pigtails as your eyes focused in on the center of attention, which was Lyney and of course his assistant Lynette, the magic duo of the century. Pure joy bubbled through you while you watched the two of them perform trick after trick and the audience clap after each one, things you swore couldn't happen, but somehow he made them happen.

Then to your surprise his eyes landed on you, a mischievous smile taking place on his lips, as he addressed the group of watchers once again, "For the next trick, I'd like to pick someone from the audience! Hmmm what about you Belle, could you do the honours?" He pointed to you, your face instantly blushing red as you walked towards him, his hand gently taking yours and leaving a rainbow rose in its wake. "Could you hold this for me?" He asked, his cheeks slightly pink which made you want to giggle, he was kinda cute..."Okay!"

"Now put your hands together, rainbow rose on the inside and make sure no one can see it." You followed his directions, closing your hands around the rainbow rose and making sure there were no ways to peep at it, your whole body tingled with excitement as he spoke the magic words. "And reveal!" You pulled your hands away and suddenly your singular rose had turned into a whole bouquet, growing right in front of your eyes and bursting with all the colours of the rainbow.

"WHAT!"

𑁍༄Albedo:

"No matter what tests I try...it seems I'm unable to come up with a explanation for your inhuman strength. You're a mystery to me...a sweet adorable mystery." Albedo said softly, his bright blue eyes meeting yours as a blush spread rapidly across your face, your heart pounding harshly in your chest when he stood up and made his way to you, his hand reaching out to help you up from your seat.

"I'm not the only mysterious one Mr. Chalk prince, speaking of which! Do chalk people eat cake?" You beamed up at him, his arms wrapping around you as he placed a kiss on your forehead, a small chuckle escaping him. "Im not sure chalk people is the appropriate term...but either way, yes I eat cake." You hugged him back lifting him up slightly as you cheered, "Yay!! I have some in my bag! Let's go!"

𑁍༄Kazuha:

Fire swirled around you in brilliant orange and yellow hues, shifting and whirling in every which way with the wind as its guide, it mesmerized you to the point you were almost speechless. "Kazuha...this is so beautiful!" Your hand squeezed his tighter, your visions glowing in harmony as he hummed in delight and placed a soft kiss on your cheek. "The way wind mixes with the elements is very calming, the colours that flow with every breeze and the way it can bring vision bearers together, letting them work in harmony. It's lovely.."

You nodded happily, your eyes trained on the incredible sight all around you...

𑁍༄Wanderer:

Wanderer flashed a smirk at you, his eyes wide with excitement as you readied your weapon, the ribbon like texture of the blade making him raise an eyebrow...what the hell were you going to do with a ribbon? "You sure you don't want to back down? I won't go easy on you, even if this is sparing." His voice rang in your ears as you smiled back at him, your katana glinting in the sunlight as you held it up in his direction, "I won't back down! Just you wait!"

He chuckled and with that the match begun, the two of you shooting forward at high speed, wind blades flying mere centimeters from your face as you delicately dodged. Your body spinning slightly as you got closer, your katana swirling like a protective shield around you and yet also being sharp enough to draw blood, which became clear when the two of you parted.

The dust parting and revealing a small cut on wanderers face, his eyes absolutely shining now as he laughed maniacally, "I shouldn't have underestimated you! This is going to be fun!"

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

ଘ(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ♡‧₊˚Have a nice day*⁠.⁠✧

[aoioozora]

Simon.

Part 17

Chapters Masterlist

Character: Simon Riley / Ghost Content: Biker! Ghost x Fem! Reader, strangers to lovers, fluff, civilian au Note: All fluffy fluff fluff. Enjoy!

When the couple had each taken a hot shower, warmed their bellies with lemon tea, and burned their mouths with spicy instant ramen, Simon led his girlfriend to his room. She wanted to watch him play some video games, and Simon could not have been more delighted by the idea. 

He excitedly placed a comfortable chair next to his chair and eagerly patted the seat for her to sit down. As she did, he switched on his setup, and the RGB lights filled the dimly lit room with a burst of soft, rainbow colours flashing in the room. She watched the hazy lights dimly reflect against the navy blue of his walls and then looked back at her boyfriend, observing how it up his fair skin and dark eyes.

He looked back at her, and found her staring. “What do you want me to play?” he asked, smiling lopsidedly, enjoying his girlfriend’s gaze.

She grinned back, unashamed. “What games do you have?” she leaned towards the creamy white monitor which had a wallpaper of an overcast sky hanging over distant, foggy hills.

He gave her a long list of games that his elaborate gaming setup could handle. They settled on Call of Duty 3: Modern Warfare. Simon informed her that it was one of the classic games in the franchise– his favourite. 

“I’m already in the middle of the story mode,” he said as they waited for the game to load up, “I hope you don’t mind that.”

She pulled her chair closer. “No, as long as you tell me what the story is about,” she replied, resting her head on his shoulder.

He felt a delightful flutter tickle his stomach at her closeness and interest in the game. In the few minutes they had to spare until the game loaded, he briefed the story’s central conflict to her and the characters that the player had to play as in the various campaigns. She smirked when two characters– John ‘Soap’ MacTavish and Captain Price– happened to share names with people they knew. Just as he finished the brief, the game loaded up and he continued with the story mode.

A black screen came on, and then a slowly spinning blue insignia of a sword flanked by two wings appeared. Below was written S.A.S in bold, blue letters. And then a map of Ukraine and surrounding countries swooped in, followed by a disembodied voice explaining the battle plan over it. 

Simon shifted in his seat and stared at the screen intently, listening keenly. His girlfriend listened too, feeling a thrum of anticipation in her chest from their urgent voices. 

The screen turned dark again after their brief, and the words “Present day - eight hours after Al-Asad’s death” appeared on the screen, angular and bright. In the background was heard a distant voice of a politician, strong and determined, speaking in Arabic, as if over a microphone and blasted over amplifiers. 

The words disappeared, making way for the campaign name, “Heat”, the day and time, the location of Azerbaijan, the name of the playable character, and the name of the regiment.

The lady shifted in her seat too and leaned forward slightly, eager for the campaign to start. 

Sgt. Soap was dropped in a battered civilian landscape, rocky and desolate with some patches of green surrounding the abandoned houses and broken road barricades. Simon guided him to follow his fellows, crawling into the grass nearby a house. They neared a fence and peeked out, seeing enemy soldiers down in the little ridge. 

BANG! 

An explosion followed, blasting off the enemy soldiers. Simon immediately got into action, furiously clacking away on the keyboard and moving his mouse to shoot at the hostiles. 

By this time, his girlfriend lifted her head off his shoulder to not hinder his movement. Simon sat back a little more comfortably, shooting a glance at her before his eyes flicked back to the screen.

She watched as he eliminated hostiles, and then ran up a hill into a destroyed helicopter to use a gatling gun. She had her breath hitched in her throat the entire time and her heart throbbed with excitement as she stared at the action and chaos. Simon was completely absorbed, his shoulders tense, muttering curses under his breath whenever he got shot at. 

She watched with bated breath as Simon moved Sgt. Soap around, shooting at hostiles as he and the crew finally had to get to the Landing Zone. The campaign eased to a close as soon as they rushed inside the helicopter. 

Simon let out a breath as he sat back, his shoulders sagging slightly and his arms relaxing against his desk. 

“How was that?” he asked, turning to her.

She leaned against him once more, her eyes twinkling. “Very exciting.” She glanced at the screen again. “Are you going to keep playing?”

“You want to keep watching?”

She nodded, an eager smile on her face.

Simon ended up finishing the entire one and half hour remaining in the story mode. It was very late when they finished, and Simon sighed, sitting back and stretching his arms in front of him.

“That was some story,” she quipped, her authorly brain now buzzing after all the action. “I wonder if I should write a military story one day.”

Simon chuckled, resting his elbows on the arm rests of his chair. “Once you finish your fantasy series, I think it’d be a good change of pace.”

Since it was late and they were yawning tiredly, the PC was switched off. After another warm cup of lemon tea, they trudged back to his room. 

There seemed to be a slight tension in the air, a little heaviness at the possible implications of what was coming. As their light steps filled the quietness of his apartment, Simon watched his lady walk in front of him. She was wearing his clothes. They were loose and baggy and hung off her body and her shoulders like a cape. He inhaled, feeling his chest swell with both air and affection for her. 

When they were in his room again, he said, “You can have the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor,” keeping himself from suggesting that they share the bed, not wanting to put any pressure on her. 

She looked at him, hesitating and fiddling with the cuff of her sleeve. “Are you sure?” she asked softly, “It’s your bed.”

“I want you to be comfortable,” he insisted. 

She turned to the bed, deliberating once more. “Why don’t we share?” she looked back at him again, having a shy smile on her face, “It looks big enough for two.”

“We can do that.” He shrugged nonchalantly, feeling his heart quicken and his ears get a little too hot. He hoped she didn’t notice him getting flustered. He motioned to the bed, letting her get in first. 

She pulled the duvet away and slipped right in. Her body sunk right into the soft mattress, enveloped by the flowery scented black sheets. It was heavenly; she felt like she was sleeping on a cloud. Simon watched her get cozy, and he couldn’t help but grin.

“You comfy?” he asked, now sitting on the edge of the bed, letting himself ease into this new feeling. 

“Yeah,” she sighed contentedly, “you have such a nice bed. It’s like a cloud. I bet you sleep like a baby.”

His chest vibrated with his laughter. “Not usually. I have trouble sleeping at night even with this nice bed.” He pulled his legs up, slipping them under the duvet. “But hopefully tonight it’ll be different.”

Her cheeks rose to her eyes, and in the warm light of the lamp, her face shone. He felt a warmth spread in his stomach like stepping into the sun after a long, dark day. He laid back in the bed, letting his head sink into the pillow. She immediately moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around his and clinging to him. He looked down at her, and found her looking at him with her sweet, bright eyes. 

“What’re you looking at me for?” he asked, smiling.

“I’m happy,” she confessed.

He rolled over on his side “Why?”

“You know the little skelly plush you helped me get at the arcade?”

“Yeah…” he murmured, tucking one arm under his head and using the other to wrap around her waist and pull her back to himself.

“It always reminded me of you, and I’ve always cuddled it every night,” she admitted, covering the lower part of her face with her hands. 

Simon smiled widely at this revelation. “Really?” he exclaimed, laughing. 

She nodded. “And now I get to cuddle with the real deal.”

The corners of his eyes crinkled as his existing smile only widened. His arm tightened around her waist. “Let me guess, do you call it ‘Little Simon’?” he asked with a knowing smirk.

Her eyes widened. “How did you know?” she gasped.

“You remember that camping trip we went on?”

She nodded.

“You and Lindsey were in the bedroom looking for your camera in your backpack, and I had just finished my shower at the time. I heard Lindsey say something about Little Simon and I wondered what it was. And so I peeked out the door and well, guess what I saw.” he explained, his smirk widening. 

The lady blushed, rolling her eyes. “That’s how.”

Simon watched her shy reaction, amused. “I didn’t think you liked me so much,” he teased.

“I liked you a lot.”

His eyes and his smile softened, and he let out a sigh. “I’m mighty chuffed,” he murmured. “I had my doubts… especially after all that business with Alejandro.” 

Her smile faltered. “I’m sorry about Alejandro.”

He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it,” his voice trailed off, “Even if I liked you, we were just friends… and that didn’t mean you owed me your feelings. You still could choose whoever you liked.”

“And I chose you,” she whispered, raising her hand and cupping his cheek. He let out a sigh, leaning into her touch. She continued, “You know, I liked you so much that…” she paused, now a little embarrassed, “that I made you the model for the hero in my second book.”

“Me?” Simon exclaimed, eyebrows raised. He paused for a moment. “But didn’t you tell me that day that you chose Alejandro as the model?”

She blushed again. “It… It was a slip of the tongue.”

He stared at her, skeptical. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “I didn’t want to come off as being so… into you, you know?”

He groaned loudly, rubbing a hand down his face and then laughing. “Blimey, you don’t know how happy you would’ve made me if you said that you were into me.” He pinched her nose. “You’re so stupid.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m stupid,” she grinned abashedly, “stupidly in love with you.”

He rolled his eyes, pinching her nose once more. “You’re real cheeky.”

She shook her head, continuing to smile. 

A comfortable silence settled over them, and their eyes traced over each other’s faces. 

The lady held his face in her hands, pausing to study it. Her gaze swept over his blond eyebrows and lashes, his deep brown eyes, the faded scar, his slightly crooked nose, and his thin, pink lips. Under her fingertips, she felt the rough stubble of his trimmed beard. 

Simon was handsome– unbelievably so.

She wondered how ancient his facial features were. Did they come from knights and kings of old?

Maybe that was why his face and manner felt so right for Frederick. 

Overwhelmed with awe, she leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek, right above the scar. He let out a sigh and closed his eyes, melting like butter under a scorching sun.

“I love you…” he murmured into her palm, his voice heavy with warmth, affection, and emotion. 

“I love you too, Simon,” she whispered back, kissing his other cheek.

“I don’t know if you understand how much you mean to me.” He placed his larger hands on hers and pressed them against his cheeks, as if wanting to absorb more of her warmth.

“What do you mean?”

Simon let out another sigh. “I never really had good experiences with women after being released,” he began, “Actually, not just women. Just people in general.”

The lady listened quietly, and the grip of his hands on hers loosened, making them slide off his cheeks. 

“And when it was time to go to university, most girls kept their distance,” he ran a finger over his scarred cheek, “maybe because of this Glasgow smile. Or maybe they heard about me. I don’t know. I barely had any friends besides Johnny and Gaz. I was close only with them. And I didn’t have another close friend for years until you came along.”

He smiled softly. “I got to save you, and not feel like an absolute disappointment for once,” he said in a pained chuckle, making ____ grimace. Her hand returned to his cheek, tracing the scar with her thumb.

“And then we became such good friends,” he continued, “I always thought the only people I’d be happy with were Johnny and Gaz, but when you came along, you changed it all. For the first time, I actually enjoyed the company of someone else besides them.”

She smiled at this. “But…” she paused, “don’t you have any friends in the garage?”

He shrugged, closing his eyes for a moment. “Yeah, but I don’t feel as close with them. We go out to the pubs, get sloshed, but… there was never really anything to connect myself with them. They’d talk about things that I wasn’t interested in and I’d talk about things they weren’t interested in.” 

She nodded. “You must’ve been lonely.”

Simon’s eyes drifted away for a moment. “Yeah, I reckon I was. All I thought of was Johnny, Gaz… and you. You three make much better company. That and video games,” he said with a grin.

She grinned back, happy to see a smile on his face. “Is that all? Come on now, tell me more about how much I mean to you.” 

His eyes twinkled as he smiled. “I’ll never pass up an opportunity to praise you, darling,” he said, now taking her hand in his. “But to be serious, you changed my whole life.”

A soft blush overspread her cheeks. “How?”

“If it wasn’t for you, I probably would’ve never reconciled with Dad,” he admitted, squeezing her hand, “When he completely rejected me all those years ago, it hurt. I never wanted to forgive him.” His voice trailed off and he hesitated, as if struggling to admit something. “But I knew I wanted to be on good terms with him again.” His eyes met hers, filled with gratitude. “And that wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for you.”

“That’s what your mum told me too. She was so worried about you and your dad.”

“She’s always been,” he said, and then smiled. “You two met only today and made a great team.”

“What can I say,” she huffed with a self-gratified smirk, “She and I are birds of the same feather.”

The corners of Simon’s eyes crinkled with delight. “I’m glad you like her.”

“She’s very sweet. I was worried about what she would think of me, because, you know, some mothers can be jealous about their sons, but… she actually likes me.”

“Mum’s not the jealous type. In fact, she kept moaning to me for years about how I don’t have a girlfriend. I think it’s safe to say that she wants me to spend more time with another woman instead of her,” Simon said in a good-natured chuckle. “And to be honest,” he playfully put a hand on his chest, “I’m a tad hurt, because I actually like spending time with her.”

The lady also laughed. “I don’t blame you. She’s great company and I like her a lot.”

Simon was happy to hear those words. He squeezed his lady’s hand and raised it to his lips, pressing a kiss on her knuckles. She felt a burning, crackling firework shoot down her entire arm, leaving her skin tingling.

“I hope it never changes,” he murmured against her hand.

She giggled. “I hope so too.” 

There was another brief lull. Simon didn’t let go of her hand– not that she wanted him to. 

She began, “You know, I have you to thank too.”

His eyes lit up, gleaming with mischief. “Oh yes, for saving you all those times?” he asked, now propping himself up on his elbow and smirking. “Go on, I’m listening.”

She laughed. “It’s not just that.” She looked away and then shifted, “It’s about John.”

Simon’s eyes grew somber and distant at the mention of his uncle. His thumb absentmindedly rubbed the back of her hand. “What about him?”

“I told you before that he used to be very pushy with me. He used to get upset with me if I did something he didn’t like. And after I spoke to him today and settled things for good, I was scared to tell you about it because… I thought you’d be angry with me, just like he used to be,” she explained, looking at the bed sheet rather than his face.

She didn’t see it, but Simon’s lips pursed into a thin line. It hurt to hear that she would think him the same as his uncle. 

Noticing his silence, she quickly continued, “But you didn’t. And I’m glad.” She paused for a beat. “I’m glad you’re not like him, Simon,” she whispered, finally raising her eyes to look at him, “I don’t like comparing you to him, but it’s just so hard. When you’ve been hurt a certain way before, you just expect everyone to be the same.”

Simon’s eyes softened. There was a grain of truth in what she said. He rubbed her cheek with the pad of his thumb, going in soft, soothing motions. “Yeah, I know,” he whispered back, “and I don’t blame you for it.”

She looked at him, her eyes soft, grateful, and gentle. “Thank you.”

His fingers moved, sliding to the back of her neck and cupping the base of her head. Her heart leaped. The light touches of his fingers felt like little starfish kisses. 

“No need to thank me, darling,” he said in a rasp, his voice both hungry and mellow. “It’s the least I can do.”

He moved closer, hovering over her. She leaned back in the bed, craning her neck a fraction to meet him face-to-face. His hold on the back of her neck tightened just a hint to hold her head firmly. 

“You’ve done so much for me,” she squeaked, feeling her cheeks burn. Her chest tightened in anticipation, and her stomach fluttered like a swarm of butterflies had been released. 

“Darling, you’ve done way more for me. More than I could ever deserve,” he quietly argued, his eyes straying from her eyes to her lips. His gaze lingered there for a second too long before returning. 

She gulped harshly, finding no words. He meant it. The flutters tickled their way from her stomach to her chest, feeling like an overwhelming flood. 

Simon slowly leaned in, meeting her lips in a kiss.

Her body laxed, moulding into the mattress. The fresh scent of the sheets and Simon’s lemony soap filled her nostrils. She felt like she was laying in a bed of flowers, kissing a white cloud. His lips were soft and he kissed her tenderly, filling her with the type of warmth that spread across her body like drinking hot tea on a frightfully cold night. 

If Simon hadn’t propped himself up on his elbow, he would’ve collapsed on top of her. When she kissed him back, his entire body felt like custard. When her arms snaked across his shoulders, wrapping around his neck to pull him closer, her touch seared his skin like a burning iron brand, leaving a trail of fire in its wake that he would not quench. 

They slowly parted. She felt Simon’s minty breath fan against her cold, wet lips. Their chests heaved– they didn’t know how long they had been at it, but it felt so agonizingly short. Simon closed in again, planting a kiss on her forehead.

Her eyes fluttered shut, allowing herself to feel the imprint of warmth he left on her skin. When she opened her eyes again, she found him gazing at her like she was an exquisite piece of art in the Louvre. 

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured in awe, his eyes soft and admiring, “I can’t believe you’re mine.”

Her cheeks lifted with her smile, pulling him to lay his head on her chest. “I’ll always be yours,” she promised, weaving her fingers through his sweet smelling hair.

Simon nestled comfortably against her breast, wrapping his arms around her waist and feeling her heartbeat thump against his cheek. “What in the bloody hell did I do to get so lucky?” he mumbled against her shirt.

“You saved me,” she said in a chuckle.

The vibrations of her laughter rumbled against his chest. “And you saved me too.”

She squeezed him, putting all her strength into it. Simon felt like he was being hugged by a seatbelt. 

“Have I ever told you that I feel so safe with you?” she asked, mumbling into his hair.

“Yeah, just now,” he answered smilingly, squeezing her back tightly before loosening his arms. “And I feel safe with you too.”

She giggled, grinning so widely that her cheeks hurt. Cradling his head in her arms, she kissed his hair. “My Simon,” she whispered, her voice trembling with joy.

Simon craned his neck, lifting his head to kiss her jaw. 

“All yours, darling.” 

End of Part 17.

Part 18 coming soon :)

Next chapter will be the last 😭

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[thetarttfuldickhead]

With minutes to spare, I posted my contribution to the Roy/Jamie Valentine's Day Ficlet Exchange 2025!

Hop on to AO3 or scroll down for misunderstanding, secret relationships, Jamie Tartt's canonical daddy issues, Ola Obisanya's canonical father of all fathers-ness, and Roy and Jamie being their usual messy selves. Happy Valentin's, y'all!

Write Songs About It

Jamie’s favourite spot, Ola learns, is "not really about the food, right, it’s more of a club really, but a friend—Keeley? Sam’s told you? Yeah—she said there’s this Italian place near Mears Walk that does a good lunch".

Over white bowls of fragrant pasta Jamie elaborates on fashion (I’m telling you, jonquil’s going to be on everybody this year); on aquatic geopolitics (and it’s so sad about the whales, innit); and of course on football (might not win this year, but we’re contenders, yeah? Next year’s ours for sure, Roy’s gonna get us there).

When Ola speaks Jamie is silent and attentive, hanging on to every word. The eager regard is flattering, and makes something in Ola twinge in sympathy.

---

It was supposed to be Samuel, of course. But: as father and son pulled apart from their long hug and Samuel said you should have told me you would be a day early, I would have picked you up from the airport and Ola replied I know. That’s why I didn’t tell you the restaurant door was pushed open and Jamie Tartt, dressed to the nines in the colours of the rainbow, sauntered inside.

“Hey, Dayo, did I leave—“ He caught sight of father and son and paused, brows furrowing in confusion. “What are you still doing here?” he asked Samuel. “Thought you were supposed to pick Simi up around now.”

“Oh.” Samuel cleared his throat awkwardly. “Um. Yes. I will give her a call.”

Raising his eyebrows, Ola tutted disapprovingly. “Samuel, are you supposed to be on a date right now?”

“Yes, well, soon, but… You are here now. Simi will understand.”

Jamie looked doubtful. “Not sure she will, mate.”

“No, no, I’m sure she—“

“Samuel, go. I am perfectly capable of looking after myself for the 350 days a year when I don’t see you, I am sure I will be fine for an afternoon.”

His son still looked hesitant, the dear, dutiful boy. Before Ola could encourage him further, Jamie jumped in, “Your dad’s right, lad. Better go make sure your girl don’t run off with some other gorgeous restaurant-owning football. Bound to be loads of ‘em.”

Ola very much doubted that, but the comment had the desired effect, and after profuse promises of lots and lots of time spent tomorrow, Samuel rushed off, leaving Jamie and Ola alone in the dining room.

“Sorry about that,” Jamie said, absentmindedly running his hand through the carefully styled hair. “Took ages for them to get together, right, and Simi’s not really the romantic type, so Sam was dead excited when she agreed to a Valentine’s date. Be a shame if he missed it. But, I’m sorry you don’t get to spend the day with him. I know that he… ” He trailed off, bit his lip. “He was really looking forward to seeing you, yeah? Been talking our ears off all week.

There's something wistful in the young man’s voice, and something sad.

Ola knew enough of him to know why.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said lightly. “Perhaps you would care to join me for some lunch instead? If you are not too busy, of course.”

Jamie pointed to himself, eyebrows raised in question, as if there was anyone else around that Ola could have possibly meant. “Me? Uh, yeah. Sure.” If the vocal response was somewhat muted, the smile on his face was anything but. “Did you wanna eat here, or… ?”

Ola put a hand on Jamie’s shoulder, gently steering him towards the door. “As much as I love Nigerian cuisine, and especially Nigerian cuisine as good as my son’s, I find it refreshing to try new things when I’m abroad. Please, take me to your favourite spot.”

---

So yes, it was supposed to be Samuel, but Ola can’t find it in him to regret ending up on an uncomfortable brown bench opposite Jamie Tartt. The boy is easy to talk to, funny and opinionated and thoughtlessly charming. Strangely shy but pleased when asked about himself, and seemingly as keen to hear what Ola has to say as he is to hear his own voice.

It is, just as it had been the first time they met, very hard to recognize in this Jamie the selfish and cruel young man Ola had once sensed the shape of in Samuel’s evasive comments during his first few months in England. Hard to reconcile this Jamie’s easy grin with the arrogant sneer of so many post-match interviews in that first, difficult year.

Now Jamie’s smile is wide when he details Samuel’s exploits on and off the pitch. Samuel finally getting together with Simi had been the big news of that week, he assures Ola, everyone’d been waiting for it, you know?

“It was about time!” Ola agrees, signalling for the waiter to indicate that a desert menu might not be unwelcome. “But what about you, Jamie? Is there no one special in your life?”

Jamie doesn’t answer immediately. His fingers find the serviette, pick at it. ”Uh, yeah. I mean, no.” A shrug. “Maybe. I guess it’s complicated."

“Oh? And how did you meet this complicated person? Is she one of Jamie Tartt’s many adoring fans?”

The smile is quick, bashful. “Nah. Met through work, didn’t we. But h-, uh, she isn’t complicated. I mean, I guess they are. But mostly it’s just… Yeah. Bit complicated because of the club and that.”

“Ah, I see,” Ola says, not entirely truthfully. “So you have no big plans for Valentine’s Day?”

Jamie shakes his head. “I don’t know that they’re into romantic stuff anyway.”  He pauses, considering. “Or, maybe they are, but… not with me, I figure.”

“Not with you? But you are dating?”

“Eh. Dunno. It’s like… We,”—he glances at Ola—“do things, yeah? Like, you know. Adult things. And we hang out. A lot. But it’s not really… “ He makes a face. “Not like we can go on dates anyway.”

Ola puts the dessert menu down, frowning, as alarm bells go off in his head. Someone Jamie has met through work; someone Jamie cannot be seen with because it would be complicated for the club… Add the facts together, check the sum, and it sounds suspiciously like what Samuel had told him about his romance with Rebecca Welton.

Samuel’s boss.

Jamie’s boss.

Ola has – reluctantly – accepted that Richmond’s owner had not meant to take advantage of Samuel (Dad, I promise, she’s even more concerned about it than you are!). Her ending the affair has mollified him somewhat. But if she is once more taking one of the club’s players to bed...

“Would you want to?” he asks carefully, not sure how to broach the subject without pushing too hard. For all his filial piety, Samuel had not responded well to Ola’s suggestion that the match was a bad one; you had to let these young men discover such things for themselves. Still, a gentle nudge in the right direction could not hurt.

Jamie takes a sip of water. “Would I want what?”

“Go on dates with this person.”

“Oh.” Jamie shrugs again. “Not up to me, is it.”

 “No? Surely you should get a say in whether you go on dates or not?”

“Eh. Not really? I mean, they pretty much decide on everything we do.”

“They decide everything?” The alarm bells blare louder still. “That does not sound very fair to you.”

Jamie gives him a blank look. “No, I love it.”

Ah. Well, Ola won’t be touching that. “I see. But even if that is the case, if there is something you are missing in the relationship, you should be able to say so.”

Jamie looks doubtful, but gives a nod all the same. “I guess. Hadn’t really thought about anything missing, to be honest. I like what we have, yeah? But maybe it’d be nice if we were… you know… more.” He looks at Ola a little uncertainly, as if he is wondering if he has gotten that right—and Ola nods encouragingly.

“Absolutely.”

Hiding one’s love away never works in the long run. And Jamie certainly deserves someone who is not afraid to show him off.

Besides, if Jamie makes it clear that he isn’t content being just a pretty boy toy, Rebecca might realise her mistake and break the affair off, just as she had done with Sam.

That really would be best for everyone.

“Yeah,” Jamie says slowly, nodding again, more decisively now. “Yeah, all right. I’ll think about it.”

“Good,” Ola says, favouring him with a warm smile. “And now, for pudding… “

They share a chocolate & hazelnut budino, and speak of other things. The restaurant empties as midday becomes mid-afternoon, and then Jamie has to leave for a barber’s appointment. (Jamie offers to cancel, and Ola tells him that is very kind, but also silly. Jamie offers to pay for the meal, and Ola tells him that is very kind, but sillier still.)

“Thank for this, Mr. Obisanya,” Jamie says as they stand on the pavement, hovering on the edge of goodbye. “I mean, Ola. It were nice.”

“It was my pleasure,” Ola assures him. He deliberates for a moment, hesitates—then he takes a step forward and pulls the young man into a firm embrace, just as he would have done Samuel. His gut tells him that this gesture will be welcome (needed), and is, as so often, proved correct when Jamie returns the hug.

“Take care of yourself, Jamie. And remember, I am here if you ever need to talk. Samuel tells me you are family.”

Jamie smiles at that. Ola smiles back.

---

The text comes through the next day, as Ola is preparing dinner while waiting for Samuel to return from training. It doesn’t say much, just Thanks for yesterday. Thought about what you said, and I have a plan underneath a bouquet of black roses.

Ola chuckles approvingly. Black flowers is a curious choice for a romantic gesture, but of course people can find romance in all sorts of things. Ayomide, for instance, is fond of Ola bringing her folded paper flowers—though he suspects that that has more to do with her knowing how difficult he finds the folding. She always did like him making an effort.  

Good for you! he sends Jamie. Begins to sing, as he sets to soaking the rice.

---

Ola waits until after dinner, when Samuel is leaning against him as they watch Ijogbon, before he asks, “Samuel, do you believe that it is possible that Jamie and your Rebecca are having an intimate relationship?”

“What?” Samuel pulls back to give him an incredulous stare. “No! No. I mean Jamie is lovely of course, but I really don’t think… Why? Dad, what did Jamie say to you?”

“He did not say very much, just that he had met someone through work and that it was complicated. Somehow, I got the feeling that this person was his superior.”

Samuel’s face goes very still for a moment, then he sighs, a soft oh, before lapsing into a long silence.

Ola waits patiently; eventually Samuel looks up, and offers, “Rebecca has been seeing a Dutch pilot since last summer and I think they are very happy together. But I think I might know who Jamie is involved with, and if it is who I think it is… then, yes, it would be complicated.” He pauses. “But good, too, I think. For both of them.”

This is a relief. Though it rather begs the question… “And you cannot tell me who this person is?”

“I’m sorry, no. I don’t think it is my place to tell.”

Ola gives a laugh, reaching out to tousle his son’s hair. “Ah! It is a shame I’ve raised you so well!”

Samuel laughs too. “Did Jamie say anything about else about this relationship?” he asks.

“Not really, but he sent me a picture of a huge bouquet of flowers, so I suspect he is planning a romantic gesture.”

“I… see,” Samuel says after a brief pause. “I hope he films it. I think it would be very interesting to watch.”

---

At the knock on his door Roy curses loudly. Whatever it is, he is not in the fucking mood. All he wants is to have his tea, read his book and then escape into the sweet oblivion of sleep.

It’s been a weird fucking day.

More specifically, Jamie has been weird. Now, Roy had expected some awkwardness at work back when they first started sleeping together, but to his surprise Jamie had seemed to have no issue separating their private sessions from their professional ones.

But then today, three months after their first hook-up, Jamie had suddenly started acting strange. Pretending he didn’t even notice Roy most of the time; throwing himself into intense conversations with whomever was nearest when Roy showed up. And yet, whenever he thought Roy wasn’t looking, he stared, eyes narrowed in a stupid-looking approximation of careful consideration.

It would have been funny, if it hadn’t been so annoying—and hadn’t made Roy so nervous.

To boot, the weather had been godamn awful, icy sleet coming down on them as the team ran their drills on the wet, slippery pitch. Once he blew the whistle on the whole miserable thing, Roy was too cold and too tired to confront Jamie over his behaviour. He went straight home instead, vowing to be in bed by nine.

And now it is just gone past six and he hasn’t even started dinner yet and whoever is at the door must have the code to the gate, and so must be someone Roy knows and trusts not to come bother him unless it is important.

Putting on his very best scowl, Roy yanks the door open. His frown deepens as his gaze fall on—of fucking course—Jamie and the frankly alarmingly large bouquet of flowers in his arms.

“The fuck is that?” Roy demands.

“They’re flowers,” Jamie says, sounding for all the world like he genuinely thinks Roy doesn’t realise that. “Jesus, Roy, didn’t think your eyesight—“ He cuts himself off, apparently deciding to save the insults for now. “They’re for you,” he adds, a little churlishly. 

Roy has gathered as much, and eyes them warily. Black roses. Bit obvious, but nice—though Roy isn’t going to tell Jamie that just yet. He wants answers first.

“Why?”

Jamie presses his lips together. Shrugs in that casual way that isn’t fooling anyone anymore. “It’s what people do, innit. When they’re, you know, together.”

“Together,” Roy echoes flatly.

“Yeah,” Jamie says, lifting his chin defiantly. “Together. Fucking hell, Roy, we work together and we hang out all the time and do fucking everything together and we sleep together. How much more together do you wanna be?”

“I didn’t say we weren’t together, you muppet!” Roy snaps, because he isn’t sure what’s going on here and he’s never been very good with either uncertainty or surprises. “It’s just… ,” he fumbles, “Fucking flowers? That’s something you want? Me to bring you… fucking roses and shit?”

It’s not thar Roy minds buying flowers, in general. He bought Keeley flowers all the time and he fucking loved how much she loved that. He just hadn’t realised that his and Jamie’s thing was a thing that ought to include flowers.

He sure as hell hadn’t grasped that his failure to bring them meant that they weren’t together.

Jamie sets his jaw mulishly. “And what if I do?”

And what if indeed. Roy grits his teeth, resigning himself to the truth even as he speaks it. “Then I fucking would. I will. If you want me to, I’ll… bring you flowers. Okay?”

“Yeah?” Jamie brightens. It pisses Roy off how much the sight of it makes him want to smile.

It pisses him off, in a whole different way, that Jamie would trust Roy to do absolutely anything with—and to—him, but not trust him enough to trust that Roy would bring flowers just because Jamie asked.

“Yeah,” he grunts. “Fuck. If it’s important to you, I’ll… I don’t know. Order a fuckton of bloody dahlias and have them delivered to your house first thing in the morning.” He looks up at Jamie. “Okay?”

Jamie waves a hand dismissively. “Nah, don’t bother, mate, I’m good. Don’t really care for flowers, to be honest. Kind of sad, innit, taking them in just to have them die in a vase.”

Before Roy can ask him what the fuck this is all about then, Jamie adds seriously, “But listen, I want us to do other together stuff, all right? I dunno, go on proper dates maybe. I mean, they’re gonna have be secret ones, but everyone knows we’re mates so it won’t be weird if we go for dinner, yeah?”

“We have dinner all the fucking time,” Roy points out, slightly outraged. He doesn’t spend every other night cooking for this twat only to be told they don’t have dinner.

“Yeah, here, after you’ve made me do a million burpees. Not the same, innit. You don’t even light candles.”

Candles. Is there supposed to be candles now? Or are those like the flowers, only metaphorical? “But I didn’t know you wanted that,” Roy protests. “You never said.”

“Yeah, well.” Jamie shrugs, looking a little defensive. “You never said either. We kinda just happened. And it’s been fine,” he quickly adds. “Fucking love it, yeah? And like, we can keep on doing what we’re doing, I don’t mind… but maybe it’d be nice to do other things too.”

Closing his eyes, Roy gives a short nod, his fuck nothing more than a sigh.

Because yeah. Maybe it would be fucking nice. Roy might have allowed himself to think that, maybe, if it hadn’t been so fucking easy to just… not. So easy not to talk about it, just let their coach-player dynamic seamlessly morph into something else off the pitch; into this gorgeous thing of Jamie looking up at him with his plump lips parted, pliant and eager, ready for Roy’s next command—or ready to await Roy’s pleasure indefinitely.

He’s a beautiful thing to have, Jamie Tartt on his knees, and he’s Roy’s best friend. Roy could lose the sex, maybe, but he couldn’t fucking lose that.

But if Jamie wants more…

Roy can talk about that. Jesus fucking Christ, he won’t shut up about that. (He’ll hate every moment of it. He’ll do it all the same. For Jamie, and the way he’s looking at Roy now. There’s understanding in those grey eyes, and doubt, and hope.)

“Yeah, all right,” Roy says. That’ll have to do for now. He still hasn’t had dinner. Adds, just to be clear, “But you don’t want flowers.”

“No.”

“But you want to go on dates.”

“Be mint, yeah.”

“Did you mean… right now?”

Jamie cocks his head to the side and grins. “Hadn’t thought, but yeah, all right. Since you’re asking.”

“I wasn’t,” Roy mutters, but he is already reaching for his jacket. There is this restaurant he used to take the dates he particularly wanted to impress to, and he is willing to bet he could still wrangle a table without a reservation. “Come on, then.”

---

CODA

Perhaps he shouldn’t, but as Ola prepares to board the plane that will take him back home, he finds that he can’t not. He picks up his phone and sends Jamie a message:

It has been good to get to know you over the past few weeks. I hope things are going very well with your complicated someone.

It’s not fishing, as such. Just a reminder that Ola is there for Jamie, in his corner and rooting for him.

There is no immediate answer. The gate opens and Ola puts his phone away. When he pulls it out a few minutes later to turn it off for the flight, there’s a text from Jamie.

It only reads Going well, yeah but attached to it is a picture.

Jamie’s grin is as cheeky as ever, but his eyes are blazing and awed. Roy’s frown is as deep as ever, but is betrayed by the soft smile he can’t quite suppress.

Ah. Ah, yes. He understands now why Jamie and Samuel had called it complicated.

Understands, too, why Samuel had called it good.

He wonder what to write back; how to convey the approval and care and pride that is not strictly speaking his to give.

In the end Ola settles for the simple truth: I am happy for you.

Author's note

You know, I rather suspect that big, warm father figure Ola would get a very different Jamie Tartt experience than most others…

Huge thanks to destinatontoast for cheereading and very helpful suggestions, and to jedasaur for putting this whole thing together!

I didn’t mean to crash over the word limit like that, but unfortunately I’m incapable of keeping it short and sweet so here we are.

I'd tag the recipient but either they've changed their Tumblr or they have me blocked, which would be awkward and very, very funny.

[idkwhatimdoinghere1655]

Lights Out - Daniel Ricciardo

<word count - 1347>

You had just been sat on the couch, watching some TV when everything shut off. The lights went out, the TV turned off and you were left in total darkness. The only light source you had was the moonlight streaming through the windows. 

The storm outside had been going on for a few hours, so you thought you'd steer clear of a blackout this time, but you were unfortunately wrong. 

You grabbed your phone from next to you and immediately turned the torch on. You didn't like the dark at the best of times, but when there was no light available to you, it scared you more than the darkness normally would. 

Sitting, paralysed in the dark with only your phone torch to comfort you, every bolt of lighting that shot through the sky sent shivers down your spine. Every rumble of thunder rumbled you as you sat there, unsure of what you could do. 

Around half an hour had gone by of you, sat in the dark, willing the power to come back on, you heard a knock at the door. This sent pure fear flooding through your veins. No one should be out at this time of night, during a storm, during a power outage. 

You walked to the door and looked through the peephole, relief instantly washing over you. With a smile, you opened the door to see Daniel stood there, a glow stick necklace looped around his neck. 

"Sorry to show up unannounced, but I know you hate blackouts and I thought you could use some company. Plus, I brought enough glow in the dark stuff to supply a whole kids party," he laughed, the wind from the storm ruffling his curly locks as he stood there. 

You let him in the house and guided him over to the couch. "OK, so, in Daniel's bag of tricks, we are starting with... Drum roll please," he said, rummaging through the bag as things rustled and clinked together.

You clapped your hands on your thighs to make the drum roll sound, and he pulled out the first of his surprises. "Now, you can match me," he smiled, handing you the freshly opened packet of glow sticks that he had brought.

Pulling them out of the packet, you used the connectors to make yourself a matching necklace, as well as a bracelet. "Here, I made you one too," you said, handing him the glowing band before cracking your necklace as it kicked into life and illuminated into different colours. 

"Why thank you," he said, slipping it onto his wrist, "Are we ready for the next item from Daniel's bag of tricks?" He asked, stuffing his hand back into the bag. 

"Always," you smiled. He'd only been there for around ten minutes, but he was already making you feel better about the storm. "Next up, we have... Beach scented candles!" He exclaimed, doing jazz hands with the candles in his grip. 

"Don't worry, I also brought a lighter," he said, setting them down on the coffee table and lighting them up. The orange flames danced in the darkness, and they lit the room up with a warm glow. "Anything else in the bag of tricks?" 

"I have these colourful torch things that my nephew left last time he was at mine," he said, handing you a few different ones with different coloured bands around the handle. Switching one on, the light wasn't the same, yellow light that torches normally emitted, it was pink.

Testing the other ones, they were all different colours of the rainbow. "I have one more thing, but I'm saving those for later," he told you, but you were already satisfied with what he had brought already. "Thanks for this, I really needed it," 

"No problem, there is no better way to spend a blackout than with my favourite person," he said, poking you in the stomach and tickling you. "Daniel, stop it," you choked out between fits of laughter. As he carried on tickling you, you could barely speak since you were laughing so hard. 

You were lying down as he leant over you, still poking you in the sides and jibing at you. 

"Daniel, please," you cried, trying to push him away, but he was too strong. In retaliation, you started poking him in the ribs as well, and he immediately doubled over and rolled off you, giving you the upper hand. 

Straddling his sides, you carried on tickling him, "OK, I surrender, I surrender," he cried, putting his hands up in defeat. "That's what I thought," you smirked, smugly. 

"Now I didn't think this was how this was going to end," Daniel winked at you, and you jumped off him, blushing profusely. You would have thought you had gotten used to his suggestive, yet playful, comments, but they still made your cheeks red regardless. 

You took a minute to catch your breath, when Daniel spoke up. "Are you ready for the final phase of my master plan," he said, leaning back on the couch.

"Of course," you smiled, and watched as he sprung into action. He went to the basket in the corner and took out all of the blankets in there. Then, he swiped all the pillows off the couch and onto the floor. Finally, he went down the corridor and into one of the spare bedrooms, raiding it of the pillows and blankets in there too. 

"Right, we're making a pillow fort," he announced, standing and looking at his mountain of blankets and pillows. You secured three corners of the massive blanket to the three corners of the L-shaped couch you had, and then used a lamp to make the fourth corner. 

On the sides, you draped over the other spare blankets to make the walls, and the rest of the blankets were kept inside the pillow fort for comfort. You scattered the pillows around stood beside Daniel with your hands on your hips, gazing triumphantly at your work.

"You got any snacks?" Daniel asked, pulling his laptop out of his bag. 

"Yeah, I'll go get them," you said, taking a candle off the coffee table to go to the kitchen and raid your snack cupboard. When you got back to the lounge, you couldn't see Daniel, but you could see the light from his computer in the pillow fort. 

You went through the curtains and saw the glow in the dark stars he had stuck on the roof of the fort. "You like it?" He asked, scrolling through his laptop to find the next movie in the series you had been watching together. 

"I love it!" you gasped in awe. It was like he had plucked the real stars from the sky and stuck them on the roof of your pillow fort. "This is perfect," you smiled, crawling through the fort and taking a seat next to Daniel on one of the pillows. 

"I try," he sincerely smiled, the light from the fake stars reflecting in his eyes. It was like the night sky had been captured in his irises. You snuggled up next to him as he started the film. "We don't have to carry on watching this, but I thought it'd be good to finish the series," he smiled.

"Yeah, it's about time we finish it," you said, resting your head on his shoulder as he draped a blanket around your shoulders and his, making you even cosier. Under the blanket, he wrapped an arm around your shoulders.

Every now and then, the lightning cracked in the sky and he pulled you closer to him as you tensed up. There was nothing better than spending the worst of times with the best of people. You spent the rest of the night, watching movies and munching on snacks until dawn rolled around and the power eventually came back on.

When it did, you turned all the lights off and closed the blackout curtains to make it dark again, because you prefered the glow of the glow sticks and candles, and you didn't want to lose sight of the stars on the roof. Not yet, anyway.

A/N - This one is dedicated to the love of my life @lipringlrh, I have missed you a tonne, and I thought I'd welcome you home with a bit of Danny Ric 💖. If anyone has any requests, feel free to message me or make a submission. Love you all!

|masterlist|

[skopostheorie]

how about "good morning, sleeping beauty." with luisley?

One upon a time, long, long ago, in a Kingdom not unlike our own, there lived a brave and handsome Prince. He had long, golden hair, and when he ran his hand through it the sky would be illuminated with every colour of the rainbow.

But, dear reader, this Prince was also mischievous. He thought himself a very clever Prince, for he always came to the rescue when danger was afoot, and had saved his Kingdom many a time. It was for this reason that he was very prideful, and did not usually need other people’s help.

The only time he did was from a Hero. Once, the Hero had rescued the Prince from a fearsome carnivorous beast! The Prince had fought bravely, of course, but he had been brought to heel, and the Hero had come to save him. The Prince, who was vain but so loved his Hero, thanked him for his trouble, and they agreed to live Happily Ever After.

This Hero was a ditzy and maladroit young man, but he was also courageous and honest, and would help others if he needed to. The Hero’s favourite time was bedtime, and he liked to read stories until he fell asleep, perhaps like what you, young reader, are doing right now. This was because the Hero was a sleepy man. He would sleep in the late mornings, in the afternoons, even at supper.

Every time the Hero fell asleep, the Prince would laugh at him. For he thought his Hero an amusing fellow, that he would fall asleep so. The Prince was energetic and exuberant, and would never fall asleep except for late at night. When his Hero would finally awaken, no matter what time it was, the Prince would kiss him and say, “good morning, Sleeping Beauty!”.

One day, the Prince wanted to go on a walk with his Hero.

“You should come with me!” The Prince said gaily. “It’s such a lovely day.”

The Hero said he was too tired and wanted to have a nap instead.

“Is it coffee, that you need?” The Prince asked. “I could certainly get you some coffee.”

The Hero thought that might be a good idea, and so the Prince ventured out of his grand castle to the market.

On the way, an old woman wearing rags came up to the Prince and said, “your Highness, I am but a poor woman with nothing to my name. I should be so honoured if you took this perfect pink rose. It is the last thing I have.”

If you or I had met this woman, we would like to think we would help the poor soul. But the Prince, proud to receive gifts from his adoring citizens, gladly took it and said, “I think this colour suits me very well!”.

In his haste to take the old, poor woman’s final possession, the Prince pricked his finger on a thorn on its stem, and suddenly fell into a very deep sleep. Everybody was horrified, even the old woman. All came to the Prince’s side, but nobody, not even his guards or the doctor, could wake him up.

The alarm was sounded at the Castle, at which the Hero groggily awoke. He heard the shouting in the distance – the Prince has fallen into eternal sleep! – and, panicking, he rushed to the crowded market.

The Hero pushed through the crush of people.

“Is he okay? Is he okay?” He cried.

“The Prince has fallen asleep, and won’t wake up!” The doctor sighed. “It’s terrible! Terrible! The Kingdom is doomed!”

The Hero got an idea.

He babbled to the doctor that, once, he had saved the Prince by hitting him over the head with his hammer. He thought it might work again and wake the Prince up.

“You are nuts!” The doctor responded. “You will do nothing of the sort!”

The Hero crossed his arms and puffed up his chest. “But I know it will work!”

“What he needs is a true love’s kiss,” a peasant woman in the crowd cried. “That will wake him up! But who will give him a true love’s kiss? Nobody could ever love such a pointlessly sparkly man!”

When the Hero heard this, he laughed to himself. He pushed the doctor aside and kissed his Prince. Everybody gasped. The Prince stirred slightly but did not wake up. “This is silly,” the Hero groaned, “I’m going to try the hammer.”

The Hero magically pulled out his hammer and brought it down on his Prince’s head.

The Prince finally jolted awake, grabbing the Hero by the arms as he did.

“What happened?” his Prince cried. “Where am I?”

“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty!” The Hero smiled.

Moral of the story: Hit people with hammers.

[delicatebluebirdruins]

Lockwood and Co. show notes

the parts in different colours are important (link to part 2) and my thoughts on the first two books.

episode one

love the opening shots on their gear before we see them

his smirk. music in the kitchen is so nice.

the angry biscuit munch.

the only other person who calls Lucy "Luce" is Norrie I think.

I love how we get to see the past and care about Lucy leaving. (although I would have loved it if we had reference to Lucy's sisters as well there could be a huge age difference between the two or something)

So with Ghost Touch being a bigger deal in the show makes a lot of sense because it is a medical emergency and in the books we do see people die from this and of course people ending up in a coma makes it a little more interesting because coma and it could be explained by who has Talents? Joe explain yourself.

love the fail montage (funny thing I was reading Hollow Boy at this point and shoved my book pouch to the side to show Lockwood and sister picked it up and compared the illustration to show Lockwood and just wondered at it)

biscuit cronch and say hi to the skull. Love how gleeful George was about the gunshots

I love the way Ruby Stokes said "no" in response to the Beck question

Lucy wanna fight. tour music is great and i love the framed newspaper.

love the little skip at the bottom of the stairs

little smile over the unlocking of the door.

Lockwood's face when she asked him about the advert. love how earnest he is

Lockwoods fighting is so good. That picture frame is so well made

love the entire exchange of Lockwood taunting the ghost

hugs and jump

episode two

i love this bit floating inbetween bit

Lockwood's "my partner" and her reaction to calling him that is so funny (so is the nurses's)

I love the Annie theme

I love the argument.

the smile when he comes in "unicorns or rainbows" George internally is 100% going "oh Lucy yells at me but she's not going to yell at him"

"it's our USP" Earnest Lockwood is favourite

was the hand grab needed to wake Lockwood up?

I wanna set tour so bad

I love the fight... I love the little birds on the window

Goerge loves a mystery. Hand flex and smile. I love communing with Annie (lost in translation "my lord")

"by firing Lucy Carlyle" i love Lockwoods worry at Barnes asking to get rid of Lucy

amazing deduction no other possible person playing hamlet.

"you need a ladder" love this line

love this bonding session with George although the question "dreamed of coming to London with" feels like there should have been an interaction before?

George calling out Lockwood for naming Lucy in the news (and Lucy eavesdropping)

love the training session

Barnes is a little shit and I love him though something needed to be done to set this scene up better

I love this bit between Lockwood and Lucy its so well acted and i love the music

love this fight and swong (a forest by the cure) sword chains and umbrella

I love their reactions to revealing the necklace and the censorship.

episode three

i love the delivery of "see a man about a ghost"

why so intense an eye contact in the elevator? (sister is wondering where they found the silvertongue to get Lockwood out of the book whilst holding Hollow Boy again)

how loud are Lockwood and George yelling?

I want to know all about Ellie

missing scene: how they find their house after DEPRAC breaks in the door (+ what DEPRAC finds)

love the delivery of "looks like blood"

thoughts: should have put the screaming in the screaming staircase (the chanting works but when we hear the word screaming we think of screaming)

like that the both save her from the well

love the sparkles as the grenade goes down the well

the goggles are great. I love the show of Annie's ring flying through the air as her ghost emerges.

love Penelopes coat

and Lockwoods ring (sister: love George's sticky fingers when he gets displeased)

missing scene: when did the certificate come up? he mentioned it happend in the van but how would that have happened without Lucy noticing?

episode four

the glass on the side was that warm Ribena but you know no longer warm? who wrote the notes?

love the little fish thing in the kitchen

I adore this exchange and George's "you good Lockwood?"

"do you remember us carrying you?" always have this in my mind "to me to you to me to you" but I must wonder how they carried her there is a few stairs between the basement and the attic

again love this bit and hype up Lucy time.

Flo reference

where's the uniform? considering how annoying the three are good thing there is no way to identify them properly? or nah? also the discreet part will never not be hilarious

"no backbone" love that coming from the older man who can't see ghosts and has to rely on kids then to say that about them

Lockwood "I'll protect you" show (not sure where I was in the Hollow Boy at this point but "come off it Luce you know I'd die for you" pipeline)

the bone glass design is really nice. I love how taken aback Lockwood as seeing the bullet wound

Bickerstaff looking imposing was something they did well. and the music when Lucy springs to action (after having a startling realisation)

I love this bit with the skull how soft it says "oh you can hear me"

Love George and his delivery of "is it talking to you know?" is so funny.

missing moment: "would never bollock [lucy] like this" feels like there is a lot more context there

also imagine if at the end of the fight (just so Lockwood barely hears it) Lucy mutters to herself "should be used to people not listening to me" and it comes up much later (angst what can i say)

cosy quilt. and love this little moment of Lockwood approaching the landing door and touching it then nodding

this would have been a great time for her to bring up Jacobs/ her mum but Lockwood needed his moment to share a little of his pain as well so I'm not mad. also the focus on their hands is so cute.

"I'm not sure what i should" Lmao Lockwood

I wonder what George would have said if he were there?

How long was Barnes standing there and George being startled is so funny.

love this little contest between Bobby and George

I love Barnes telling the two groups to back each other up and in the last episode they finally do it

love the delivery of "walking appendix"

random funny thing: "not filling out more forms" why is that lockwood? hmm... also in the credits there are listings for the ghost performers but i didn't get a chance to properly look

[strawbubbysugar]

So(u)l Chapter 3

Some worldbuilding as sun explores his new sudden sentience !! Here's the AO3 link to read it there as well! https://archiveofourown.org/works/48206098/chapters/121565296#workskin

———

He had been handling this .. fairly well. At least, as well as he could dare hope. It had been a few weeks at this point, and he’d been able to continue his programmed job as he usually did. Except .. with a lot more second guessing himself. A little more hesitation. A LOT of new anxiety, too. He’d never had to think about what he was doing or how he went about doing it before- and now that he could? It made him question *everything*. Every calculation he made was now subject to scrutiny rather than trusting the math, and every word out of his mouth was one he had to purposely think about speaking rather than it flowing as easily as preprogrammed lines. It was terrifying.

It was also.. exhilarating. He laughed with the children, real laughs. He played, *really* played. He did crafts with them, he told stories, everything he had been doing already since he’d been created. But it was *different* now. It all meant something, it was all on *purpose*. He WANTED to do it, and knowing that he himself was the one that made the children laugh, play, sing, dance.. it made him feel wonderful. Better than wonderful, it made him feel..

Happy.

The children could tell something was different now. Children always could. The daycare attendant was being asked questions far more often than he used to be asked, and personal ones too. He’d been asked his favourite colour several times before- yellow, of course. Today they’d asked his favourite food- fizzyfaz, no question! .. though he’d never really tasted it before. He couldn’t; he didn’t have a real mouth. He just liked the way it sounded. Fizzyfaz. It sounded like crisp soda bubbles coming out when you cracked open a can. And now, he gave them a different colour every time they asked. Wednesday, pink had felt like his favourite. Thursday, green! Today, he had said rainbow.

He lifted his faceplate with a smile, sitting all scrunched up at a kiddie table with one of the children, before their parent arrived to pick them up. Checking their scribbles, he felt his chest swell with pride at seeing the drawing of himself, holding the child’s hand. Oh, he loved it when the children drew him. That was one of the first things he’d decided he loved. He also decided that he loved all the children in the daycare, and he loved the daycare itself, and he loved sundrops and moondrops and- well. He loved *everything*! Love was his new favourite emotion. Besides excitement. Or maybe delight? There were so many wonderful different words to place how he was feeling every day.

Though that lingering anxiety usually tended to tint that delight, colouring it with a faint unease. What had happened to make them wake up? He’d asked moon what he thought, and he’d had a theory. He didn’t share it, though. Sun was quickly learning that his counterpart was a man of few words. It was so *interesting* to him how quickly they began to differ, how unique they’d become in the span of only a few weeks. Moon in the last few days had become especially.. different. He’d been slowly warming up to the idea of being a person, of being awake. He and sun had begun speaking, really speaking to one another, and discussing what all of this meant.

Sun had realized that moon didn’t often get asked questions like he did, given the nature of his job. So every time a child asked, he relayed it to moon as well. Moon’s favourite colour was red. Dark red, like their ribbons. His favourite food was nightmares. Sun thought that was a delightful thing to eat, and how wonderful it was that he was so good at his job with the little ones. He was quieter now with the children than he’d used to be, and a thousand times more careful. As if the awakening had also awakened him to the sudden realization of how *big* he was compared to their tiny, fragile bodies.

The children kept sun from thinking too deeply throughout the day, allowing him to feel that joy over their newfound freedom, and all the excitement and wonder that suddenly existing granted them. Towards the end of the day, towards the scheduled sun’s setting at midnight, however, that same anxiety always creeped back in.

If anybody found out about this, surely they’d be disassembled. Surely they’d have their minds splayed out and picked through line by line, code by code, until they figured out what had happened to grant him this gift. Or worse, maybe they wouldn’t care. They’d just see them as defective, and decommission them.

He hadn’t realized he had begun to shiver until he felt a small, warm hand on his, covering the crayon that he had snapped in half.

“Mr sun?” The little boy asked, pausing in his masterpiece in the middle of adding the v shaped birds in the background.

He was the last child of the day, and one of his mothers was running late. Sun didn’t mind much, but he did hope that she would arrive before closing. He doubted that she would arrive late enough for moon’s shift, but .. still.

“Yes, Gavin?” He smiled at him, spinning his faceplate and leaning down even more to make it clear he was paying attention. Gavin giggled at this, reaching up and patting his face with a flat hand.

Sun’s eyes squinted as he did, though he didn’t pull away. He continued to smile, keeping his faceplate tilted slightly.

“Did you have a question, friend?? I’m happy to answer!”

Gavin seemed to think about it for a moment, before looking at his wrist. It appeared blank to sun, who tilted his faceplate in the other direction.

“Mr sun, do you think you’ll like your person?”

Sun blinked a few times, optics clicking as he did. “My person?” He mused, tapping his unmoving bottom lip thoughtfully. “Well, I like everybody!! So I’m sure I’d like any person!” He held out his arms wide, as if offering a hug to every person in the world.

“Noooo!” he snorted. “*Your* person! My mum says that everybody has a person. Some people even have two! Or three! Maybe even more, but I’m not too sure. That seems like a lotta people.”

Gavin paused, swinging his legs in the chair as he resumed his colouring while he spoke. “My mama says that you get signs about your person, so that you can find them. Becauuuuse.. the universe WANTS you to. But ..” he frowned slightly, sighing as if the weight of the world was on his little seven year old shoulders.

“I dunno.” He blew a raspberry, shrugging. “I feel like maybe I won’t like mine. Or they won’t like the stuff I like. Or what if they’re gross and pick their nose??” He looked to sun with a grimace of disgust, who was listening intently.

Sun laughed, leaning back closer again. “I’m sure if they’re meant to be your bestest friend then they’ll be perfect for you!”

Soulmates. Sun was programmed to answer questions about this- in fact, he’d been doing his own research. Well, moon had. In spite of the heavily child proofed search engines in the computers around the ‘plex, moon had been able to figure out a few things.

One, every person had at least one soulmate, barring any outliers.

Two, these soulmates didn’t need to be romantic. They could be friendships, familial, something called ‘queer platonic’.. but the majority of them trended towards romance.

Three, you had to be fully conscious to have a soulmate. This meant that your brain had to be fully developed. Thankfully, this allowed people to grow and become themselves without becoming horribly symbiotic with their person or people at a young age. It also meant no 16 year old lovebirds running off in the middle of the night when their parents wouldn’t let them stay out past curfew because the power of love was all they needed.

It was usually around their mid 20’s that people began seeing signs, the most common first sign being the first words you’d ever say to each other being marked on your forearm. The second most common one was a string- though it tended to only begin appearing in situations where the couple were likely to miss one another in a crowd, or a large area.

Usually, these first signs were enough. Fate had a very nice way of working itself out, allowing people to meet one another without even realizing at first that they were fated.

If this didn’t work, however, the universe got a bit more creative. Moon read accounts of increasingly rare signs. Everything from seeing the things your person wrote on themselves on your own body, to more drastic and horrifying ones like damage to your body being matched on your person’s. It seemed like the signs got more and more difficult to ignore the longer it took the people to connect- the connection seeming to be confirmed when all parties involved realized that the other was their fated.

It made moon feel sick. It was the first time he’d felt anything other than confusion and mild irritation, when he wasn’t tending to the children. A person had to experience these things. Things that sounded.. frankly.. awful to live through. He hated the idea of someone he didn’t even know having this much power over him. That was if they even did have one, after all, they hadn’t been BORN a person, they’d become one.

Sun’s hand fidgeted, rubbing the words etched into his left forearm. Words that he’d spotted after the children had left that first day they’d woken up. Words that wouldn’t come off no matter how much he scrubbed at them. Nobody else had seemed to notice them, none of the children had asked about them either. This was normal, he’d learned. Nobody else could see your marks but you. A nice little way of keeping others from exploiting them.

He had been certain it was one of the kids that wrote something on him, but the handwriting was far too neat. It was bubbly, soft. The words rounding out nicely and leading into one another almost as if they were cursive.

*’Oh, ———’*

The second word was censored by his programming, which stressed him out beyond belief. Was it a curse word? Was it some terrible drawing? He’d agonized over it for days after daycare hours had ended, with moon insisting that it wasn’t there.

He said the word on their arm said,

*’Wow’*, in a similarly bubbly, but much more scribbled handwriting.

“Mama says you get words first, usually. It’s not the same for everybody.” Gavin suddenly spoke again, after having moved onto a new piece of construction paper.

Sun nodded thoughtfully. “.. r.. right! Right, it’s .. it’s always different for people. Everybody gets their own unique signs! You’re very smart, Gavin, your mothers must think you’re very grown up to talk to you about this!!” He patted his head, ruffling his hair.

That made the boy perk up, smiling wide and looking up to the attendant. “Yup. They said that since I was old enough to watch the big kid cartoon channel, that I’d prolly start seein stuff about it.” He tried to shrug nonchalantly, as if being a big kid wasn’t such a big deal, even though it really really was.

Sun gasped loudly, putting his hands over his cheeks. “The big kids channel?? Oh, wowwowWOW!! That’s VERY grown up!!”

Gavin giggled, scribbling a little harder at his drawing, now shyly focusing on it instead of looking at the attendant. “I hope I get a best friend person. I don’t want a kissy lovey Dovey one.” He stuck out his tongue as though the thought of it made him ill.

“Oooh, I hope so too! Best friends are the BEST! If you have a forever best friend, you can have slumber parties all the time, and play dress up and hide and seek and tell each other secrets and never ever be alone!!”

He already had company forever in moon. He was very happy to have someone with him, even if he didn’t always speak. It made sun feel far less alone when the daycare closed for the day, in those few hours before moon’s shift began. Maybe moon was his fated! It would make sense, they were always together, and he could say with certainty that moon was HIS bestest friend! But he was positive that the first words he had heard moon say weren’t a curse word. Besides, he wouldn’t be getting signals like the words on his forearm if he was. All signals disappeared once you’d connected with one another.

The little boy hummed in agreement. “What’s your person like, Mr.Sun?”

His rays spun, optics flicking to look at the boy again once he’d realized he had been staring at his own arm for longer than a minute. “M-my person??” He spun his faceplate a few times to process the thought.

“Well.. you’ve met Moon already!” He chuckled. “I think he’s wonderful, he’s very quiet, but he’s very funny too, and he’s wonderful at taking care of all of you during naptime!”

“Is Mr. Moon your person??” He asked curiously, unaware of the thought that an adult figure could have things they weren’t sure of.

“I think so!!” He wobbled, voice sounding far more uncertain than he’d meant for it to come out. “I mean- he’s definitely my bestest friend!!”

He sent out a ping to him, wanting moon to hear that.

Moon sent a ping back, assuring him that he did not need to hear him declare moon as his bestest friend for the 30th time today.

What would the other option even be? sun thought to himself. That we have a person out there? Another robot in the same situation as us, or.. maybe even a *human*? What would that human even think, if they saw him?

They’d probably be expecting another human, not a seven foot tall, jester themed animatronic running a daycare in a theme park. They certainly wouldn’t be expecting *two*. And what if this supposed human soulmate wasn’t the same person for the both of them? How would that even work? Would they take shifts going on dates?

He heard a snicker in the back of his mind.

*Yes. Nice restaurant with high ceilings. Call ahead to see if they allow robots.* Moon’s voice poured itself over his counterparts code.

Sun sighed. Moon was right. Even if their person, by some miracle, was fine with what they were.. the world certainly wouldn’t be. Their parent company didn’t even know they were awake, and the attendants didn’t know what they would do to them if they DID know.

There were too many variables. Too many things he couldn’t be sure of, too many ways that this was just.. *wrong*.

He rubbed at the letters on his forearm, hoping that if this really did mean he had someone out there for him.. they could trade him for someone better. Another human, that could have a life with them beyond the need for charging stations and a wire on the ceiling.

He felt another ping, from the daycare entrance this time, letting him know that someone had arrived. He looked up and to the door, spotting Gavin’s mother. Hopping to his jingly feet, he scooped up the boy along with his artwork and skipped to the front desk. He traded her the boy and his artwork, giving her a highlight of his day at the daycare before sending them on their way. Pretending not to notice how the adults looked at him was getting easier. It had broken his heart the first time he saw a grimace at his appearance.

The daycare was officially closed now, at 10 pm sharp. He let out a quick artificial breath, drumming his fingertips on his sides with his hands on his hips, surveying the daycare and where to start first with his cleaning protocol to get it done before moon’s shift at midnight. He feigned cracking his fingers outwards, stretching his arms with a big sigh. “Time to clean up!”

[prince-rowan-of-the-forest]

Over The Rainbow (2/4) - Logan

Seond part of the fic for the prompt submitted by @virgeandhis-pocket-protector :)

<- Previous | Next ->

----

Notes:

Logan! My favourite nerd, we love to see him, so do Roman and Patton :)))

I have no schedule for when this will be updated, currently it seems to be 'whenever i finish the next chapter'. I've just finished writing chapter 3 so.... yeah.

----

“Hey Roro your phone sounds like it’s gonna blow up, are you gonna get that?” Remus asked from his spot on top of the wardrobe, where he had been for the past three hours. 

Roman had returned from a class to find that Remus had managed to get up there somehow and he hadn’t gotten down since, all he’d done is thrown unpopped microwave popcorn at him at random intervals. 

“In a minute!” Roman called, “Just- working on something!”

They had been in college for almost two months by now, he’d known Patton for… almost all of that time. But they’d only started officially dating earlier that week. 

Before that, they had been considering staying just friends until they met the rest of their soulmates. After a lengthy conversation, though, they had come to the conclusion that it could take years for them to meet everyone, and they were both attracted to each other so… why shouldn’t they date?

It had taken a little bit to reassure Patton that they wouldn’t force any new soulmate they met into a relationship they weren’t comfortable with. Anyone else they met didn’t need to join the relationship right away, or at all, if they were uncomfortable - platonic soulmates did exist, after all. That choice would be up to the new soulmates they might meet.

The evening after that conversation, Roman had asked Patton out with a grandiose poem and a bouquet of flowers outside of his dorm room. Patton had laughed and taken the flowers, stood on tiptop to kiss Roman’s cheek - leaving him a blushing mess - before confessing that he thought the conversation earlier had been them asking each other out. 

Roman had been… safe to say, a little embarrassed, especially when Patton’s Roommate had called him a dork, but he’d still swept Patton up into an embrace and promised to take him on the best first date of his life.

So now Roman was both attempting to plan the Best Date Ever, and also make Patton a gift to celebrate! Because Roman loved making gifts and he’d had the idea for this specific painting for… quite a while.

He couldn’t stop now, though, even with his phone buzzing every two seconds, or the paint would dry and he’d have to start all over again, though apparently the universe had other plans. 

“Oh my god answer the fucking phone, Roro,” Remus yelled when he obviously got bored at the repetitive noise. Roman groaned, reaching over to grab his phone and hitting the call button on Patton’s number so that they could talk and he could keep painting at the same time. 

The phone wasn’t even ringing for two seconds before Patton answered.

“Roman!!” They practically yelled, Roman held the phone a little further from his ear, “Why’re you ignoring my messages!”

“I’m sorry Pat,” Roman said immediately, “I’m painting right now, can’t stop to text, what’s going on?”

“I met Green!” Patton yelled again, Roman nearly dropped the phone.

“ What?? ” Roman yelped, “Where? How? Can I talk to them? Details??”

“Well, um, his name’s Logan,” Patton said, Roman could tell they were smiling, “And he’s super cute-”

“I am not cute, Patton,” Roman heard a little more distantly on the other end of the line.

“Is he there?” Roman asked, gasping with excitement. 

“Yeah! We got coffee! I was trying to invite you, but…”

“Oh my god! Hi new soulmate!” Roman practically squealed. 

“You’re both very loud,” Logan said, before Patton gasped.

“We should video call!” Patton chirped, Roman was pretty sure he heard Logan sigh.

“I wonder if the colour blindness thing works over the phone,” Roman mused.

There was some shuffling from the other end of the line, before Logan spoke again, “I would like to test this theory, can we video call you?”

“Sure, gimme a second to put my phone in a good spot,” Roman said, before balancing his phone on top of the canvas he was painting on - he couldn’t risk Patton seeing the painting, even if it was precarious, “Okay, I’m good now!”

Patton seemed to fiddle with the phone for a second before the call was switched to a video one and Roman immediately brightened when Patton’s grinning - slightly flushed - face came into view. 

“Hi Ro!” Patton grinned, waving, “Logan’s opposite me, um, you wanna talk?”

“Yes, hello,” Logan said, “I would really like to test if the soulmate connection works over the call, now that you’ve given me the idea, what colour are your eyes?”

“Oh! Mine are amber!” Roman answered, “Yours are green, right?”

“Yes,” Logan said shortly, “Do you have something you know is green in your vicinity?”

Roman looked around, before his eyes found Remus, “Hey Re, you wearing your green shirt by chance?”

“...Yeah why?” Remus asked, kicking his feet against the dresser.

“We’re seeing if the soulmate connection works over video call.” Roman explains, Remus gasps and jumps down from the dresser, crashing on the ground. 

“You’ve really got greenie?” Remus gasped, rushing over to the call.

“Hi Remus,” Patton laughed, waving.

“Who is Remus?” Logan asked, sounding a little uneasy from out of frame.

“Oh my fuck is that him?” Remus yelled.

Roman rolled his eyes, pushing his brother wavy from the painting, “Yes, that’s him, Logan, Remus is my twin brother, we share a dorm.”

“Ah,” Logan nodded, “Alright, shall we try this experiment, then?”

“Hell yeah!” 

It turned out that yes, the soulmate connection did work over a video call. Logan’s eyes were a dark emerald green, framed similarly to Patton’s by glasses - though his were square where Patton’s were round. His hair was dark grey - to Roman, at least - and slicked back into a small bun with a few loose strands that hung over his face. His skin was pale and certainly made to look even paler by the navy blouse he wore. 

Patton had apparently met Logan in a joint seminar between a few different psychology branches. While Patton was minoring in child psychology, Logan was doing general psychology as minor to astrophysics (holy shit!). Patton had been confused about some of the material they were being taught and turned to the person next to them to ask for help only to realise they was seeing green for the first time. 

It had, apparently, taken all of their restraint not to burst into conversation right then and there - something Logan appreciated. Patton had just about cornered him afterwards and immediately asked if he’d wanted to get coffee. They’d talked for a little while as Patton had tried to get Roman’s attention until he had called and now here they are, of course.

Roman had enthusiastically insisted that Patton give Logan his phone number, and also that they go for a walk in the forest twenty minutes from campus so that Patton and he could get a look at how everything looked in colour. Logan had smiled and agreed with the caveat being he could tell them about as many nature facts as he wanted. 

Safe to say, Roman had been ecstatic about the idea. 

—

“This is an oak apple,” Logan said, picking something green and round-ish up from the detritus to show the pair, who were mostly marvelling at all the different shades of green around them. Roman would have to paint this too, at some point. 

“I didn’t know oak trees grew apples,” Patton said, coming over to look at the thing in Logan’s hand, “Can you eat them?”

Logan made a face, and now Roman was walking over, also interested, “They’re not… toxic, but I wouldn’t advise eating it, they apparently taste horrific, and they are created as a result of secretions from wasp larvae.”

Patton made a disgusted face, “Ew, that’s, so gross.”

“I need you to tell Remus about that sometime,” Roman said, chuckling, “It sounds like something he’d be interested in.”

“If you would like something to eat, Patton, I’m certain we’ll be able to find some edible forage here somewhere..”

Patton gasped, eyes sparkling with excitement, “Really? Like what?”

“Most likely berries if you’d like to eat it now,” Logan shrugged, “possibly mushrooms and I’m certain we could find some wild herbs around, if you cook?”

“I love cooking!” Patton gasped, “That’s so cool! I’ve never actually foraged for ingredients before.”

“It’s likely more difficult with a lack of colour vision,” Logan said, bending down to pick som leaves from a plant, “this is thyme, here, smell it.”

Patton held the leaves up to his nose, before grinning, “Herb-y!”

Smiling, Logan stood up and continued to lead them through the woods until Roman spotted a berry plant and gasped, walking over. 

“Hey! Logan! Can we eat these?” He called over, Logan turned, before nodding. 

“Go ahead, those are blackberries,” Logan explained, “Make sure to check them for bugs before you eat them, though, and mind the thorns.”

“Oh! Blackberries!” Roman grinned, picking a small handful before walking back over and offering them to the other two. Logan took one, inspected it and put it in his mouth. Patton copied him, grinning the entire time. 

Fifteen minutes later, they came to a small clearing, bathed in afternoon sun. Roman had finished off the blackberries and Patton’s bag was full of different fresh herbs and a couple of edible mushrooms and berries. 

“Shall we sit down in this clearing for a short while before beginning to make our way back to campus?” Logan suggested.

“Good idea,” Roman smiled, sitting cross legged on the grass, quickly followed by Patton and then Logan - who laid out his jacket to sit down on first. 

A few minutes passed in silence, before Patton spoke up almost shyly, “So.. this has been really nice.”

Roman grinned, “I agree! I’ve been having a lot of fun with the both of you!”

“Admittedly it has been nice for me to be able to share my knowledge with people who are interested.” Logan nodded.

“Well I was… wondering,” Patton said, looking specifically to Logan, “I already told you that me and Roman are dating, right?”

“Indeed,” Logan nodded. 

“Well - obviously only if Ro agrees, but I think that I would be really happy if maybe you’d like to… y’know… also be part of the relationship?” Patton asked, face steadily growing more red.

“...Roman?” Logan asked, looking over at Roman, who was staring in surprise, “Your thoughts? If you feel you need more time to get to know me before I accept Patton’s offer that is entirely reasonable - we only met a few days ago, after all.”

Roman thought for a second, frowning, “You have to meet my brother, if he’s chill with you it’s a yes from me - I’m sure he will, you just have to tell him kinda gross facts, but… I have to make sure.”

He couldn’t help but sigh in relief when Logan smiled. He knew it was probably a little weird to get approval of his dates from his brother, but the one time he hadn’t it had gone… horribly wrong. 

“I will have gross facts prepared in advance,” Logan reassured, making Patton giggle. Roman couldn’t help but grin - he’s pretty certain this is good. He’s found two of his soulmates now, he couldn’t wait to meet the others. 

----

tags: @full-of-roman-angst-trash @reptilianrapscallion420 @your-local-random-dino @cutebisexualmess @glacierruler @roseianxiety @bella-bugatti-frogetti-baguetti

| Next -> |

[no-goodbyes-no-regrets]

Fanfic Emoji Ask

🤗 🤡

Ooh thank you for asking anon! i kinda forgot about it again lol

🤗 What advice would you give to new fanfic writers that are just getting started? That idea you have? Write it. Go for it. if you think you suck, just remember 50 shades of grey got PUBLISHED and that's basically twilight fanfiction - and bad fanfiction at that. Seriously though, there are always going to be people who don't like what you write, but no matter how short or how obscure/rare the pairing you write for, there are also always people who DO like it. people whose day is made when they see your fic for their favourite pairing. Focus on that. And if you're nervous about putting yourself out there, AO3 has the anon option. That way you can share your thing without ever revealing yourself (unless you decide you want to).

🤡 What's a line, scene, or exchange you've written that made you laugh? I like to put humour in my stories (real life is dramatic and depressing enough!) so there's a few The exchange between Carlos and TK in the hallway outside their loft in The washing machine chronicles

“Really? Do you think you can live without seeing your lizard baby that long?” Carlos teased and TK rolled his eyes. “Dad and Mateo can look after him. And we can facetime.” He replied. “And he’s our lizard baby. Don’t think you can get out of your parental duties, officer Reyes.” He poked Carlos’ chest for emphasis. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I promise to uphold my duties as a lizard parent.” Carlos said as if he was swearing on a bible in court. “Just as long as you don’t have to touch or feed him, right?” “I fed him last week!” “You dropped a cricket in front of his little cave and told him to deal.” “Well he did, didn’t he? It’s good to teach kids independence. You baby him.”

and Carlos being DONE™ with TK in Love and Lou

“This is still not a horse, paramedic Strand.” he said, opening the trunk and unpacking his gear. “If you’re unfamiliar with horses, my two year old niece can probably lend you a book to explain what horsies look like.”

And this little bit from my Tarlos and Owen & Gabriel at pride fic that I'm hoping to finish SOON (I'd say today but every time I do, shit happens and i end up having dinner at 11PM, let alone actually doing some writing)

"What colour are we thinking for the shirts?" Owen asked "I was thinking pink, to fit the theme.” “Wait what theme? When did we agree on a theme?” TK asked, distracted. “The pride theme. Pink for pride.” “Shouldn’t it be rainbow themed then?” Carlos asked, sounding somewhat more composed. “I’m not sure I’d look good in rainbow colours.” Owen mused. “Yellow isn’t really my colour. It washes me out.” “Dad, just wear whatever you normally wear.” TK said, sounding like he’d resigned himself to the fact he wasn’t getting out of going along with his dad’s idea. “We don’t need a theme. Carlos and I have our outfits planned out already.” “No we don’t.” Carlos protested. “I told you, I’m not wearing that in public.” TK sighed. “We’re still discussing our outfits.” He corrected himself. “So just wear whatever. Nobody is going to pay attention to what you’re wearing… unless you’re in drag or wearing ass-less chaps.” He paused. “Please don’t wear those.”  “I don’t think the cowboy look is really for me.” Owen mused. “But I do still have my motorcycle outfit…” “If you wear that I’m not walking anywhere near you. And that’s a promise.” TK swore and Owen laughed. “I guess my outfit is still a work in progress too. Gabriel and I will brainstorm and we’ll let you know what’s what.” “Sure. But no leather and if anyone calls you daddy, I’m out of there.” TK warned him before ending the call.

Fanfic Writer Emoji Ask

[allwaswell16]

One Direction fics that include social media into the fic as requested in this ask. If you enjoy the fics, please leave kudos and comments for the writers! You can find my other fic recs here. Happy reading!

—Harry/Louis—

♡ Your Mess Is Mine by amory

(M, 176k, kid fic) Louis is the father to the most brilliant little boy in the world who is all Louis really needs, or at least that's what he tells himself. Harry is a gorgeous boybander fresh off a two year break and a massive scandal that's left him a little broken and more than ready to move on.

♡ A Love Like War by sincewewereeighteen 

(E, 173k, famous/not famous) the one in which Louis Tomlinson is a cliched rock star, he's got everything except for love. But then he meets Harry Styles; the man that, against all odds, saves him in every way a person can be saved, even when Louis didn't know he needed saving in the first place.

♡ Walk That Mile by purpledaisy / @daisyharry

(E, 149k, road trip au) A Route 66 AU where falling in love was never part of the plan.

♡ You You You by @isthatyoularry

(M, 137k, famous/not famous) the one where Harry and Louis meet at a club and Louis takes Harry home, only for him to realize that the boy who just made him breakfast half naked is Harry Styles from One Direction.

♡ Have Love, Will Travel by @kingsofeverything

(E, 97k, road trip au) Rather than spend the summer working at their desks, Louis and Harry are given the opportunity to crisscross the country together in a tiny camper, filming their adventures for a YouTube series.

♡ say you want me by orphan_account

(M, 37k, famous/not famous) Harry’s a closeted pop star and Louis is the uni student he keeps fighting with on Twitter

♡ From the Start by @allwaswell16

(E, 32k, fake relationship) Louis has no idea that one act of kindness will cause his life to spiral out of control. But that's what happens when his new friend fake proposes to him and a video of it goes viral.

♡ You're the Light by @allwaswell16

(E, 31k, newspaper au) What he finds on his first day of work is a tall, gorgeous editor named Harry who has the most beautiful green eyes he’s ever seen—and who also happens to be his new boss.

♡ The Daddiest Place on Earth by lovelarry10 / @chloehl10

(E, 23k, Disney World au) Louis. Harry. Instagram. A whole lot of confusion and a whole lot of laughs...

♡ Anonymous Said by @alivingfire

(T, 21k, tumblr) two boys, two blogs, two years of anonymous messages, and a bookshop where it all comes together

♡ Then We Talk Slow by @letsjustsee

(E, 20k, famous/not famous) A famous/non-famous AU in which Louis banters back and forth with his new record company on Twitter, only to find out that Harry is the man behind the tweets.

♡ blend into my favourite colour by rainbowninja167 / @rainbowtitania

(T, 19k, coffee shop) Harry is a barista with a secret Werewolf High fan blog, a desperate crush on a customer named Louis, and a best friend on Tumblr who always makes him laugh. Louis can't figure out why the barista at his favorite coffee shop keeps creepily staring at him, and to make matters worse, he may be slightly in love with a friend he met online.

♡ Found My Missing Piece by @styleandsin

(NR, 16k, fashion au) Louis and Harry are both fashion bloggers. Louis' been following Harry for years. Harry and his blog really gave him the confidence and the push to make his own.

♡ you don't have to play the part by fairytalelights / @lookslikefairytale

(M, 16k, famous/not famous) the one where Harry is Britain's new pop sensation, Louis is R&B star Zayn's sassy social media manager and things get confusing

♡ This is a Rainbow War by @lululawrence

(NR, 15k, famous/not famous) the one where Harry's a famous singer, Louis is part of his road crew, and after Harry gives Louis a special assignment regarding rainbow flags, things maybe turn out a little differently than either of them planned.

♡ it do be like that sometimes by wordsnnotes / @quelsentiment

(T, 14k, enemies to lovers) an enemies to lovers AU inspired by my short experience in this crazy fandom and my even shorter experience on stan Twitter

♡ from, your secret admirer by flicker_album / @niall-official

(T, 13k, secret admirer) the one where Louis is Harry's Tumblr crush so he sends him secret admirer messages for Valentine's Day

♡ Nailed By Louis by @haztobegood

(E, 9k, cooking au) It had started as a joke, just two months earlier. Louis had tried to make recipe from HarrySizzles Instagram account.

♡ Hot Chocolate by @kingsofeverything

(E, 6k, chocolatier Harry) Harry wants to make something new for Hot Chocolates, his small batch chocolate shop. Louis offers to help.

♡ Kiwi by dimpled_halo / @comebackassholes

(M, 6k, exes to lovers) The last place Louis expects to see Harry again after ten years is performing at a music festival in Chicago

♡ The Places Where We Met by Chelsea Frew / @chelsea-frew

(G, 5k, famous/not famous) Harry Styles loves his job as 1/3 of a famous boy band. It does, however, get lonely, and he counts on a special online friend to get him through.

♡ Missed Connection by @kingsofeverything

(E, 3k, Craigslist) Harry is absolutely clueless when it comes to figuring out if other guys are into him, so he enlists his friend Niall to assist. That may or may not be a mistake

—Rare Pairs—

♡ One In Ten Million by craigtrash

(M, 36k, Zayn/Liam) University student Zayn Malik is a big fan of One Direction, world famous boy band, especially member Liam Payne. When Liam accidentally tweets his phone number, Zayn takes a chance that changed his life.

♡ walk, walk fashion baby by @disgruntledkittenface

(E, 23k, Louis/Nick Grimshaw) Louis loves his supportive boyfriend, his passionate and interesting band of friends and coworkers, and his pair of quirky and dedicated dogs. What he doesn’t love is his job as co-editor of the Lifestyle section at a popular site aimed at millennials.

♡ Almost Feels Like Nothing's Changed at All (If You Close Your Eyes) by Hllangel / @glitterbootsandyellowshorts

(G, 3k, Louis/Nick Grimshaw) The tweet went out about two minutes ago, but it's basically blown up his notifications, and probably his life.

[dawndelion-winery]

Is It True

You ask the them if they're into you

Ft. Bosacius, Indarias, Bonanus, Menogias, Alatus/Xiao

Bosacius(electro):

Eyes widen in shock at your confrontation at first, slowly morphs into a sheepish grin

"Can't get anything past you, huh? Yeah, I do like you, what about it?"

Doesn't seem embarrassed in the least, if anything, he's smiling endlessly

You don't have to give him an answer right away, though he will keep hinting at the question every now and then to remind you

He's a little very eager

You'll have to excuse his constant hovering

Absolutely the type to trip you and then catch you when you fall

"Have you fallen for me too, perhaps?"

Slap him, he can take a few hits and honestly deserves it for teasing you that much<33

Feigns hurt when you hit him until you relent and tend to his 'injuries'

Then tackles you into a hug when you do

He has four arms so,,,good luck escaping, comrade

If you want him to stop you're gonna have to flatout reject him

Indarias(pyro):

Incredibly cheeky about it

"You think I'm into you? Now why would you be so curious about that? Unless you're trying to tell me you're interested~"

She smiles so innocently the whole while like she didn't just set you up

It absolutely was her idea to let Bonanus discuss her crush on you with Bosacius right as you were walking around the corner

And it was completely staged how Bonanus panicked and told you to forget you heard anything from her

Which of course led to curiosity getting the better of you

And now Indarias was more than happy to poke and pinch your cheeks cooing over how cute you were when you played investigator

"Your interrogation needs work, but I can help with that! Go on, ask me more."

Goes off on date ideas unprompted regardless of what your initial question was

Her favourite colour? Pink. Speaking of which there's this pink themed cafe she's been dying to check out and you should accompany her

Bonanus(hydro):

Ever so slightly shy about it, probably the second most flustered of the yakshas

She genuinely didn't expect you to find out before she confessed

Either way, she's not going to deny it

"That is...correct," she confirms with a soft smile and giggle, easily slipping her hand in yours. "You...wouldn't happen to have asked because you liked me too, would you?"

Definitely pulls you along saying she has to show you something when you say yes

She takes you to a lake when she slowly leads you into the water, letting it settle up to your ankles

When you ask what she had to show you, she only smiles and leads you into a dance

"Not much, I just wanted to dance with you."

Of course there was more to it than that

As she twirled around with you, the water that splashed up seemed to carry on upwards in slow motion

You'd expect to feel hot under the scorching sun, but the water droplets that drifted around you like snowflakes reflected the sunlight into a million little rainbows while keeping you cool

The tiny rainbows reflected on her like mini spotlights, drawing in your attention to her grace

You were caught staring

"I'm flattered you liked my performance, but won't you be a part of it with me?"

Menogias(geo):

Visibly, his reaction is neither here nor there

"You heard a rumour that I fancy you? Hmm, interesting."

Internally he's going insane and think he just might jump off the highest point of Jueyun Karst

"Is there, perhaps, a reason you're so curious?"

He's testing the waters to see if he should confess to you, though the surprise has been ruined

Feel free to tease him if only to watch him blank out

You can almost see the singular Braincell ping around in his skull

A lot of stuttering and taking back what he's said

No, he never said he was in love with you- wait, not that it meant he wasn't, BUT HE'S NOT SAYING HE IS, he's not denying it but kindly do not assume he's smitten thank you very much

If you don't stop teasing him the rambling will never end

On the other hand, acting upset about him not being in love with you and professing your own love to him will probably result in even greater panic

He'd take your hand and drag you all over the place until he found a suitable spot that fit your preferred aesthetic

Then he fumbles over a confession he half regrets not having planned it in detail as a script sitting in his pocket at a moment's notice

What he does have going for him is how he can sneakily draw precious gems towards him behind his back as he pretends to be fidgeting with his hands

He manages to present that much to you as a present, not that he feels any better about it

Largely anticipating your rejection and he almost flinches when your mouth opens

Xiao:

Easily the most flustered of the five

Denies it so adamantly that you'd believe him if he weren't blushing so badly

He doesn't even want to admit it to himself what makes you think he'll admit it to you

You're lucky he's the youngest and all his big yaksha siblings bully him into confessin when they hear your confrontation

They're all watching him, wide eyed and smiley, nudging him closer to you whenever he takes too long to speak

Which happened a lot, hence why he was very nearly pressed against you

At which point he lashes out at them

"Stop pushing me if you already know I'm into them."

He all but hisses yet they're still grinning at him - wider than before, if possible

Remembers you're there, hides his face in his hands and turns his back to you

"I don't see you, you don't see me."

You could point out how he could just teleport away, but you knew he'd actually do it if you did

Perhaps some time in the future, he'd reveal that he stayed to hear your opinion

Taglist[send an ask to be added/removed]: @myluvkeiji @pluvioseprince @aqui-soba @euphoric-author @paradise-creator @favonius-captain @tiredsleep @raincxtter @serenenation @loverofthe-stars @gensimping-for-all @irethepotato @almond-adeptus @mx-kamisato @yuzuricebun @chaosinanutshell @howlantic @codename-hiraeth @andreiling01 @callmemeelah @stunningstratagem @sadlonelybagel @plinkuro

[maelstroms-blog]

This is just a silly thought i had, it took me ages to put it into words. [I forgot how to grammar],.then of course.it dissolved into hurt/comfort. Oh well.

Dream had seen many times, always in dreams. Birthday parties. How he detested the noise, the shouting, the lights, bright and flashing, and the vivid colours that all blended into one.

It was an irritable sight, but one that had to be tolerated. To be the embodiment of the unconscious mind, unfortunately, involved birthday dreams.

Dream never saw rhe point, humans celebrating their march towards his sister, only to balk and fight against her embrace.

Truly, confusing creatures.

No, Dream never paid the ritual much attention, not since his poor Orpheus was alive. Then, he met a certain immortal, who was turning 667.

It was through an overheard conversation, between Hob and Mervyn of all people, or creatures, having a cigarette break. Through the thick plumes of smoke, he watched his Hob smile,

'Do you know what I miss? Birthday cakes,'

'What are you talking about?' Mervyn grunted,

'Birthday cakes!' He repeated, gesturing wildly, 'To make a cake from scratch and gift it to your loved one, there's just something so wonderfully human about it, don't you think?'

His brown eyes sparkled, the same way they did when Dream first met Hob. That mischievous gleam. Dream had to physically restrain himself from pouncing on him.

Mervyn sighed, 'I guess,'

Hob sighed, 'It's been centuries since I received a birthday cake. A big one with icing and cream and all sugary nonsense.'

Dream could see the appeal, before their centennial meetings, cakes would have been akin to gold. Only for the upper class. Hob would have been lucky to see one, let alone taste one.

'Victoria sponge was my favourite, simple, sweet.' The noise he made shouldn't have sent a shiver up Dream's spine, but it did.

Mervyn grunted, 'Don't have a taste for sugary things,'

'You're missing out,'

'Can't you just go to a shop and buy one?- he blew smoke out of his eye holes,

'You got cake money, don't you?'

'I do, but it's not as good as homemade, especially getting one as a gift.'

Dream didn't hear the rest, he retreated into the shadows, a plan already forming in his mind.

It was another week before Dream could find the time. He waited until Hob left his flat, locking the door behind him. Dream waited then appeared in his kitchen. It was clean, modern, with a few antique appliances, ones that Dream had only seen in dreams. He glanced at the oven, eyeing it the way you would a wild animal.

Dream turned, opening his book to the correct page. There were plenty of baking books in the library and Lucienne was quick to find an adequate one. She offered it with a knowing smile. He said nothing, focusing instead on the task at hand.

He preheated the oven, although he didn't see the point. Why would an oven need warning to do its job?

The first step was easy, finding a bowl, pouring in flour. The flour did end up being tricky, a powdery cloud shot into the air, settling in Dream's hair. His nose twitched, he sneezed. He shook his head, sending a flurry of powder to the ground.

Engrossed, he didn't look up when he heard familiar flapping, Hob left the window open for a reason.

'Hey boss,' Matthew greeted, 'What're you-,'

He stopped, head tilting as he took in Dream's appearance. His usual dark demeanor, dyed white with flour, whilst a rainbow apron was tied around his tiny waist. He supposed it was an odd sight for a king. He didn't care, it was for Hob.

'What is it, Matthew?' Dream asked, voice as regal as ever, 'I am busy,'

'I can see that, just checking up.'

Dream looked at his raven,

'Lucienne sent you, didn't she?'

Matthew ducked his head, 'What? No.'

Dream sighed, 'Well, since you are here, you can offer some assistance,'

'Oh, good...'

Dream didn't notice his tone, he was pulling out eggs and scanning the recipe.

'Fold in two eggs,'

Dream looked at the bowl, he looked at the eggs. With one quick motion, Dream pulled the mixture back and tucked the eggs inside, like the eggs were his sleeping subjects.

Matthew cawed, 'Uh, boss, what're you doing?'

'Baking a cake,' Dream answered, simply,

'Yeah, but the eggs?'

'The recipe states to fold in the eggs,' he picked up a whisk,

'Are you saying it's wrong?'

'No, you're meant to crack the eggs, to make it all liquid-y.'

As if on cue, there was an ungodly crunch when Dream plunged his whisk into the bowl.

Matthew hid his face under his wing. He hoped Hob liked his cake crunchy.

'Did you add sugar?'

Dream's mixing paused, 'Was I supposed to?'

'...yes,'

'Cakes are inherently sweet, are they not?'

'No!' Matthew spread his wings, 'You need sugar,' he flapped around Hob's kitchen, 'Where does he keep the sugar?'

'I do not know,' he reached for a blue bottle and upended it. The stench of vanilla was overpowering, even Dream was wrinkling his nose.

'Too much!' Matthew then raised his beak, sniffing at the air,

'Uh, boss, did you turn the oven on?'

At his question, Dream actually looked smug,

'Indeed, it was the first step,'

Matthew shifted nervously from claw to claw,

'How high though?'

In leiu of an answer, a burst of black smoke billowed out of the oven. Matthew screamed, in a surpringly human-like way.

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

Hob had lived a long life, a very long life, and there are some things you never forget. It was in London when he first became acquainted with it. That horrible, burning smell. It permeated the air until you could taste the ash on your tongue. It had been weeks until Hob's skin healed, even longer for him to stop coughing.

He never forgot that smell, though. And now, as he entered his flat, his nostrils burning. He immediately grabbed his extinguisher and burst through the door, he was met with a very strange sight.

His oven, on fire, a screaming, squaking raven, frantically trying to put out said fire by splashing in the sink, and at the counter, his lover, the king of dreams and Nightmares, waving Hob's own rainbow apron, trying to quell the flames.

Icy blue eyes, normally so calm, shimmered with galaxies as he panicked. Matthew let out another shriek, his wing lit up like a candle.

Wasting no more time, Hob pulled the pun and sprayed the entire kitchen.

Once everything was doused, and Matthew was calmed down, Hob led the way out of the ruined kitchen to the couch for first aid.

'What, pray tell?' Hob began, rubbing cream on Dream's hand,

'Possesed you to ignite my kitchen?'

He wasn't angry, and for that, Dream was grateful. Despite the other man's weak attempt at levity, Dream didn't miss the flicker in his brown eyes, especially at his hands. His usual, pale skin was blistered red. It would heal when Dream thought about it, but he didn't. He kept the burns.

Matthew, unusually quiet, was grounded, his left wing hidden under a bag of ice and curled up.in Dream's lap, his little body shivering from leftover adrenaline. Every so often, Dream would place a hand on his raven, soothing him, hoping his touch would convey his apology.

Dream looked away, 'I...wanted to surprise you,'

'Well, you succeeded,' Hob smiled, it vanished when Dream bowed his head,

'I am...sorry,' he muttered, 'Believe me, this was not my intention.'

'Course, duck, I know that,' he gently patted his shoulder, Dream continued, or tried to,

'I-I wanted...I-I heard-,'

'He wanted to make you a birthday cake,' Matthew piped up, then promptly went back to silently shivering. Dream hugged him closer, more grateful than ever for his outspoken raven.

Hob blinked, 'A cake?' Why would you-,' then he realised,

'Oh, you heard me talking with Mervyn,' he sighed. At the sound, Dream stiffened and turned away. This was the worst possible outcome, and he couldn't even reach for his sand. He flexed his sensitive fingers. A beat passed, Hob silently looked at his lover, then, wrapped his arms around the Dream king.

Dream could only blink in surprise,

'Why? Why are you?' His voice was thick, he couldn't move his head to look at Hob but could feel him nuzzling into his messy, wet hair.

'Oh, my love, thank you,' Hob breathed, near tears,

'Why are you thanking me? I failed to create your birthday cake, and in doing so, I ruined your kitchen,' his eyes misted over,

'I don't deserve your gratitude.'

Hob gently shushed him,

'You're wrong, you do deserve my gratitude. You went out of your way to make me something, something you had no clue how to make, all that you did know was that you wanted to make me happy,' Hob gently raised Dream's head, until he could look into dark, watery eyes,

'No one has done that for me in centuries.'

'But your kitchen-,'

'I can have it fixed, what matters is that you're OK,' he lifted Dream's bandaged hand to his lips, carefully, as if a kiss could heal the skin.

'And me,' Matthew piped up, he was rewarded with a head scratch.

'I truly am sorry, Hob,'

'I know, duck,' he rubbed his thumb along Dream's cheek, wiping away a stray, sparkling tear.

'But, hey, isn't it the thought that counts?'

Dream couldn't help himself, he let out a small laugh. At the sound, Hob hugged him tighter, kissing him all over.

'Hey, come on you guys,' Matthew cawed, 'I'm traumatised enough already.'

Based off that scene from Sleeping beauty