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joelalorian · 3 months

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Fall Into Me - Chapter Four: Until I had met you there was no sun in my sky

dbf!Joel x f!reader

Summary: Joel is hanging on by a thread as a single father to a tenacious 10-year-old Sarah. Feeling like he's drowning, like the world is about to spit him out, he needs some help before he breaks in half. At your dad's insistence, you show up in his life and change everything.

Story is inspired by the song Fall Into Me by Forest Blakk. Chapter titles will be lyrics from the song.

Word Count: 3.5k

Chapter Warnings: Mature, under 18 take a hike. No outbreak AU. Lots of feelings, confusion, and self doubt. Two idiots falling and pining for each other, but there's a little bit of progress. Tommy is the hero in this chapter. Age gap of about 9 years (Reader 24/25, Joel 33/34). No use of y/n. Reader has a nickname used only by her dad. Emily is modeled after my sister and JB is based on my dad, who used to try setting me up with his younger work buddies when I was in my 20s :)

Dividers by the wonderful @saradika-graphics

Thank you for reading this little tale! I did not expect all the love - my heart is fit to burst over all the wonderful comments and reblogs!

Chapter Three | Main Masterlist

Sleep evaded Joel Saturday night, his mind unable to shut down and rest. He spent half the night searching for words to fit what he was experiencing. The right one didn’t occur to him until nearly five o’clock in the morning.

Turmoil.

That was the perfect word to describe the utter confusion and uncertainty boiling inside him.

His date went about as well as could be expected when one wasn’t particularly interested in the other person. There was conversation, but it mostly revolved around Annica and her interests. She asked a few polite questions about Joel but didn’t seem too interested in his responses. To be fair, they were short and rather ineloquent, but he barely had the chance to talk about Sarah before the woman changed the subject. She was also very much not his type.

She wasn’t you.

That’s the part which caused the most turmoil.

Joel didn’t realize how quickly he was falling for you until he was on a date with someone else. It somehow felt like a betrayal toward you, even though you and Joel weren’t together. Even though you didn’t even know that he liked you, more than liked you.

This entire thing was eating him up inside, all your interactions since Friday, but especially the way you bolted from him last night. He didn’t understand what happened until he checked out his face in the mirror, your parting comment finally making sense.

Annica had kissed him goodnight when he dropped her off. He knew she wanted more, at least a real kiss, but he offered nothing other than a loose hug and brief thanks for joining him. So, she pressed her painted lips to his cheek for several moments too long, subtly trying to turn his face toward hers, before he finally stepped back and walked away. He didn’t even wait for her to get into her house safely.

To his dismay, she left a clear and distinct reminder of her on his cheek that he was not aware of until you mentioned it. His face burned with the feeling of being marked like territory, and the worst part was you saw it. Who the fuck knew what you thought of him now.

Joel needed advice, someone to talk this all through with. If the situation didn’t involve you, he would have gone to you for advice. You were so easy to talk to and he opened up more easily with you than he had with anyone else in his entire life. But that was out of the question for… obvious reasons.

Your dad was equally as easy to talk to, a quality you must have inherited from him. But he couldn’t turn to JB about this for the same obvious reasons.

That left his brother. Tommy would give Joel a good ribbing about all this. Joel wasn’t ashamed to admit that his brother had more practical experience with dating and complicated relationships, especially recently, than he did. It was time to capitalize on all of Tommy’s shenanigans.

Dangerously under-caffeinated and bleary-eyed, Joel made bacon, eggs, and pancakes for the usual Sunday morning family breakfast. Tommy joined them a little after nine o’clock and helped himself to the spread. He knew better than to ask Joel about his date in front of Sarah, so the younger brother made quiet conversation with Sarah as Joel sipped at his coffee. She told him all about her adventure to the movies with you and how much she loved hanging out with you, how smart you were, and how pretty.

A stupid grin spread over Joel’s face as his daughter spoke about you. He could feel Tommy’s narrowed gaze burning into the side of his head, which he ignored until Sarah finished her food and ran off to play a video game in the living room.

“You gonna make me ask?” Tommy grinned at Joel as he cleared the table. Joel merely quirked a brow and focused on washing the dishes. “Fine, ya ol’ grumpy ass. How was the date?”

“Was alright. She talked, a lot,” Joel emphasized, “and mostly about herself. We don’t have much in common other than we like to eat. The movie she picked to see was God awful. I’d rather have seen the other movie with Sarah.”

“Really?” Tommy placed the last of the dirty flatware next to the sink, watching as Joel scrubbed each item before rinsing it off. “Annica texted me that she had a wonderful time and hoped there’d be a second date. Asked if I could put in a good word for her. Guess that’s not happenin’.”

“There’d be no point. She’s not who I’m interested in.” The words were out of his mouth before he realized what he was saying, and he cringed when Tommy latched right on them.

“Ohhhh, and who might you be interested in, dear brother?” The shit-eating grin on the younger brother’s face let Joel know that Tommy already had an idea on who piqued his interest. “Couldn’t be JB’s hot little daughter, could it? You going cradle robbin’ now?”

Punching his brother in the arm, hard, Joel growled. “I ain’t robbin’ any cradles, asshole. She’s only about nine years younger than me.”

“Oh, is that all?” Tommy teased, rubbing his arm to soothe the sting.

“Don’t get me started on how you almost got busted for statutory rape last year, dickhead.”

“Hey now, I’m just teasing. Don’t get your panties all in a bunch.” Tommy surrendered, adding a grumbled, “And you know damn well that wasn’t on purpose. That girl looked 25! She sure had me fooled.”

Joel nodded, heading out to the back patio with another cup of coffee. Tommy followed, stopping briefly to grab a can of soda from the fridge. The pair sat quietly listening to the sound of songbirds singing the songs of their people before Joel finally spoke.

“I feel like an idiot asking this, but how do you tell if a woman is into you?”

Tommy nearly spilled soda all down the front of himself, the question caught him so off-guard. “Whadda ya mean?” he spluttered, trying not to choke on the carbonated liquid.

Rolling his big brown eyes with a huff, Joel glared at his brother. “I mean just what I said. I’m so outta practice with this. I keep second guessin’ everything. I just don’t know…”

Taking pity on his older brother, Tommy refrained from razzing him further. He was intrigued by this version of his brother who lacked self-confidence, so different from the over-confident man Joel used to be, at least when it came to women.

“Just so I understand, do you want to know how to tell if any woman is into you or a specific woman?”

Brows pulling together, Joel stared at Tommy blankly for a moment. “Does it make a difference?”

Tommy’s lips spread into a wide grin, deep brown eyes sparkling mischievously. “It sure as hell does, brother. There are few key ways to tell with most women, but if it’s a specific woman you’re curious about, I may have some intel.”

The struggle to hide his overwhelming curiosity on the ‘intel’ his brother had was a losing game, and Joel relented, his cheeks growing hot as he uttered the words. “Fine. It’s JB’s daughter.”

The room stilled as the brothers stared at each other, the grin on Tommy’s face growing impossibly wider until nearly all his pearly whites were on display. “I knew it! You dirty dog.”

“Tommy,” Joel growled, drawing out the two syllables until his brother sat back in his chair with a satisfied smirk.

“Fine, no razzin’.” Tommy grumbled. He waited a few beats until Joel grew even more uncomfortable. “She’s into you, too.”

Joel perked up at that. “That’s your intel? How do you know?”

Looking around the backyard, Tommy thought of all the times he’d been around and caught you ogling his brother when you thought no one was watching, but none rivaled that time in the kitchen when you stared as Joel pulled his tee shirt off to put in on right side out. Tallying it all up in his mind, Tommy was certain that you had a thing for his brother. And now, it seemed he had a thing for you, too.

The question Tommy had now was, would either of you do anything about it?

With recent history as proof, he had his doubts.

Perhaps it was time to give you each a little nudge.

“It’s in the way she looks at you, all wide-eyed with wonder, like she’s imagining what it’d be like to be with you. I flirted with her for nearly an hour one day and she never looked at me like that once.” Tommy smirked at the glassy look that overcame his brother’s eyes. “Well, that and the drool dripping down her chin every time she sees you.”

“Yeah… wait, what?” It took a moment for Joel to catch on. “Fuckin’ asshole, I swear. She doesn’t drool when she looks at me.”

Laughter rumbled from deep within Tommy’s chest. “She might as well do with as into you as she is. I’m telling you, pay attention to how she is around you and you’ll see.”

The brothers fell silent again with Joel’s thoughts drowning in you. If what Tommy said was true, then you must be hurting over the fact that he went on a date with someone else, more so since you also saw him on that date. Already feeling like such a dick, worry over you weighed more heavily on him this morning. He had to fix this, but how?

Part of Joel wanted to rush over to JB’s and check on you, but the other part was terrified of how that would work out, especially if your dad was home and wanted to know why his best friend was frantic to see his daughter.

Shit. JB. Joel still needed to figure out how to navigate that part of this entire situation. The two of you could like each other all day long, but how would JB react?

Joel envisioned several scenarios that ended with him getting his nose bashed in by your old man. He wasn’t looking forward to that.

“What about JB?” Joel finally broke the silence, looking once again to his younger brother for guidance. “If I’m gonna do this, I want to do it right.”

Placing his empty bottle on the patio table between them, Tommy nodded. “Ok. Let’s think about this. Do you always check with a chick’s dad before askin’ her out?”

“’Course not, but this is different.”

“I get that but hear me out. What if you try before you buy?” Tommy asked.

Joel immediately stiffened. “I’m not gonna just fuck her before asking her on a date. Jesus, Tommy.” Not that he didn’t want to fuck you… he most certainly did, but Joel wanted to do this right. He wanted more than just sex. He wanted something meaningful, and he suspected you would as well.

“That’s not what I meant, asshole. Ya can quit clutchin’ your pearls like you ain’t banged a chick before the first date before.”

“Tommy,” Joel growled again. Little brothers were the worst no matter what age they were.

“Jeez, alright, fine. You’re really into her, I get it. I’m not sayin’ sleep with her first. I’m suggestin’ you ask her out and see where this is goin’ before you go to JB with your tail between your legs, is all.” Tommy explained, already getting fed up with how easily Joel got his feathers ruffled.

Considering the advice, and ignoring his brother’s snippy tone, Joel bobbed his head in a nod. “That’s not a bad idea, actually.”

“I’m full of good ideas, sometimes. I got another one, actually. Get your grumpy ass to the store and buy some new shirts. Everything you own is at least ten years old and worn down. You need to dress better if you’re gonna date a younger woman.”

Another point to Tommy. He sure was racking them up.

“Fine. I fuckin’ hate to admit it, but you’re right,” Joel grumbled, looking down at the tee shirt he was wearing. It used to be black and faded to a cloudy gray from years of wearing and washing. “You mind watchin’ Sarah for a while so I can run to the mall?”

“Not at all, brother. I was hoping to watch the game on your flat screen anyway.” Tommy led the way back inside the house.

Emily: Sounds like you need some retail therapy, asap.

The pair of you spent the past hour texting about Joel’s date the night before. Emily’s emoji reactions were priceless as you recounted seeing them together at the movie theater and she was pissed on your behalf when you told her about the lipstick mark on his cheek. The conversation came full circle before Emily suggested the retail therapy.

You: Omg do I ever. Mall?

Emily: I can’t ☹ Ed wants my help with the garden. Again. I swear, I hate this fucking garden.

You: Booo. How dare you pick your husband over me

Emily: I gotta go with the one who has the bigger dick. Ur girl has needs u know that 😉

You: Yeah yeah. Chat later?

Emily: You bet. Have fun. Buy lots!

An hour later, you walked through Barton Creek Square, window shopping with a chocolate smoothie clutched in your hand. Not sure exactly what you were in the mood for, you started with clothing. This mall was a bit upscale for your budget, but you always enjoyed perusing the department store discount racks. Tossing your empty cup into the garbage can, you entered the large store.

Somehow, you found yourself searching through flannel shirts in the men’s department. Stopping for a moment once you realized what you were doing, you sighed. There was no escaping thoughts of Joel Miller, even subconsciously, it seemed. Huffing in frustration, you turned to walk back to the women’s section where you’d find things you actually needed when you heard your name.

Joel stood on the other side of the rack, eyes wide with surprise at the sight of you. His cheek was clean, no lipstick mark in sight, you noted. Just the normal, totally endearing patchy scruff. “Hey darlin’, what are you doing here?”

“Shopping,” you stated the obvious with a shrug, delighted at the pink tinge creeping up his cheeks.

“Me, too. Obviously.” Joel nodded, rolling his eyes – at you or himself, you weren’t sure. “I could use your help, actually.”

You weren’t expecting that. He looked at you with such open hope in his eyes, you couldn’t deny him. “Ok, shoot.” Your heart nearly exploded at the smile that spread across his face, putting his dimple on full display.

“I can’t decide which of these to go with,” Joel replied, holding up several flannels. After a moment, he put those across the top of the discount rack and held up a pile of tee shirts. “Or these.”

Eyes taking in the details of each selection – he had good taste; you could picture each option on him – you hummed. “Have you tried any of them on?” Joel shook his head, the mop of curls swaying deliciously with the movement. “Ok. Go try them on. That’s usually how I decide.”

Turning toward the fitting room with a nod, Joel paused and turned back around. “Come with me? I need your honest opinion on each one.”

Brow furrowed, you followed behind him wordlessly, eyes straying to his backside of their own accord. He wore the same dark, fitted jeans as last night and you swore beneath your breath at yet another reminder of his date. No amount of staring at his nice ass could pull that jealous feeling from your gut. He went on a date with someone and for all you knew, it could have been the best damn date of his entire damn life.

Leaning back against the wall opposite the fitting room Joel chose, you crossed your arms in front of your chest and wondered what the hell you were doing. You came to the mall for a distraction, to treat yourself and get your mind off the man on the other side of the fitting room door. Now you were… what? His wardrobe consultant?

Helping Joel pick out new clothes seemed like the job of a girlfriend, not his daughter’s babysitter. Let’s face it, you thought, that’s all you were to him. Mood growing sourer by the second, you startled as the door ripped open in front of you.

“What do you think?”

The universe was a fickle bitch. It wasn’t fair that Joel stood there looking like the man of your dreams and you didn’t get to call him yours.

The first shirt Joel tried on fit like a glove, like the factory made it with his frame as the model in mind. The material had just the right amount of stretch across the breadth of his chest and shoulders, while hanging on for dear life around his biceps.

After ogling him for far too long, your eyes finally met Joel’s. “Looks good,” you said, the cadence of your voice not giving away the riotous flutter of desire flaring to life deep in your lower belly. “Let’s see the next one.”

Chocolate eyes sparkled with delight at your response as Joel slipped back into the fitting room. What you wouldn’t give to follow him in there. Already picturing it in your mind, you would slip to your knees in front of him, fingers undoing his belt and the button of his jeans before slowly sliding the zipper down. You’d wind one hand inside his pants to trace the curve of his cock through his boxer briefs before slipping the length of him out of the little secret pocket. Joel would be trying on his shirts as your lips—

“How about this one?”

“Jesus fucking nutcracker!” you exclaimed, Joel’s voice jolting you right out of that wonderful little daydream. So deep into the fantasy, you hadn’t heard the fitting room door open.

Concerned, Joel reached out a hand, his calloused fingertips and palm running over the bare skin of your forearm as you steadied yourself. “Do, uh… do you have Tourette’s or something?”

Bemused, you blinked up at him, head thumping back against the wall. “What? No, no. I was just lost in thought, and you startled me.”

“Not that there’s anything wrong with having Tourette’s, you know.” Joel tripped over himself to make sure you didn’t think he was making fun of the disorder.

You waved him off. “Of course not.” Clearing your throat, eyes closing to recenter yourself, you counted to ten. The heat of Joel’s gaze like a burn on your skin, you opened your eyes and assessed his shirt. It was nice, a deep burgundy color, but the fit differed from the last one. You hated it. “I like the way the other one fit you better.”

The pattern continued until Joel tried on every shirt in his pile. You managed to keep your mind from straying again by making conversation.

“How did your date go last night?” You dreaded the answer but needed to know.

“It was… I’ve had better dates. She talked a lot,” he said through the fitting room door. “I couldn’t wait for it to be over, honestly. I just wanted to be home.”

“So, no second date then?” you confirmed, butterflies beginning to take flight in your belly.

“Hell no.”

A wave of relief washed over you at the conviction in Joel’s voice, but you tried not to let it show on your face or in your voice as he stepped through the door. “That’s too bad. You deserve to find someone great, Joel.”

He looked at you for a long time, his eyes penetrating like he was trying to tell you something without using words. You just had no idea what. You were about to bid him farewell as he paid for the shirts you chose – the bluish gray tee shirt that fit him so well and a flannel with similar hues, and two more just like them – when he stopped you.

“Uh, would you have lunch with me?” he asked shyly, eyes brimming with such eager hopefulness you nearly melted.

Part of you wanted to turn him down over hurt feelings he wasn’t even aware of, but you couldn’t. Not after what he just told you about his date. The other part of you screamed not to read too much into it, that he wasn’t asking you on a date. It would just be lunch with your boss. But the final part of you, the hopeless romantic who wore her heart on her sleeve and just helped the man pick out clothes like a girlfriend would, screamed that this could be your chance to get closer, that it could be a date if you made it one.

Fearing you stayed silent too long arguing with yourself, you rushed out a quick, “Sure.” Joel’s face lit up like you’d never seen before. He didn’t look anywhere near this happy when he left for his dinner date the night before.

tbc

Taglist: @mellymbee @untamedheart81 @anoverwhelmingdin @runningmom94 @leilanixx @pedropascalfan221 @lovelyjess69 @sarahhxx03 @sofiparallel @tammythr @lulawantmula @islacharlotte @allyourfavesinoneblog @lover-of-books-and-tea @pedropascalsbbg @ashleyfilm @brittmb115 @lilmizmoz @loveisacowboyyy @shotgun-shelby @deninoe

#joel miller #joel miller x reader #joel x female reader #the last of us #tlou #dbf!joel #Fall Into Me #pedro pascal #eventual smut #mutual pining #idiots falling for each other

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typical-simplelove · 3 years

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Hi could i request a blurb 🌸 “Number 10. I think about kissing you all the time” with Matthew Tkachuk please 🥺

800 Celebration!

10. I think about kissing you all the time.

"Truth or dare?" Sean asks. Matthew just rolls his eyes as he ponders the question. He knows that this can go one of two way and both involve you.

Matthew just stares ahead and tries to figure out which outcome wouldn't result in loss of dignity and your friendship.

"We can't read your mind, Chucky," Noah jokes. "Well, maybe Yn can."

You feel the warmth spread to your face at Noah's joke and look down at the drink in your hand. You should get up and grab a refill. You know that regardless of what Matthew chooses, it will somehow be about you. You should leave so your feelings don't get exposed, but the warmth burning through your skin where it was pressed against Matthew's body made you want to stay. That feeling is enough to make you drunk and ignore every single good idea you have.

"What was the question?" Matthew asks, trying to buy some time and hope the game dies out.

"Truth or dare," you say in a soft tone.

With that, Matthew melts and looks up at Noah. Without even an ounce of hesitation or logic or use of brain cells, Matthew says, "Dare."

Everyone's eyes widen at Matthew's words. They all know how this is going to go. Matthew knows how this is going to go, yet it doesn't scare him.

"Okay, then," Sean answers with a smirk. "I dare you to kiss the person on your right."

Your body stiffens as you realize you're the person on the right. Annica, sitting next to you, takes your cup out of your hand and places it on the table. Matthew turns his head towards you. He leans down and whispers, "I can just take a shot and move on if you're uncomfortable.

You shake your head. "I think about kissing you all the time, so just kiss me, Matthew."

Normally, he doesn't like when his full name is used, but when you do it, it's different. It's angelic and gets Matthew doing absolutely anything you want.

Without hesitation, Matthew places his hands on your face and pulls you close to him. He places his lips gently on yours before passionately deepening the kiss. You both know this changes everything.

When Matthew does pull away, you whimper. It's too soon.

"Do you want to get out of here?" Matthew asks.

"Always," you answer before Matthew pulls you off the couch and towards his car amid the hoots and hollars of your friends.

#800 celebration #matthew tkachuk #matthew tkachuk imagine #claudia writes #nhl fic #op: 2021

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troubatrain · 3 years

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taxi - j. markstrom

a/n: i swore on my life i started writing this and then hours went by and it was done. by the way, aside from this song i still have yet to chose any players for the rest of this series and the google form is open for suggestions (it’s linked below) but anyways, i need to start by saying this got super personal for me and this showcases some of my own experiences with my own mental illness, and not everyone experiences those things the same way and i just want to remind everyone of that before they read! also, i definitely suggest listening to the song while reading it because it just feels right.

i need to tag @danglesnipecelly because k wrote a matty fic and in turn i’m legally required to write a marky fic

part of my lovely little lonely series

tw: mentions of depression, mentions of post-partum depression

“...and in the backseat, when you asked me, is the sadness everlasting? i pulled you closer, looked at you and said love, I think it is...” - Taxi - The Maine

Jacob wasn’t sure when things had gotten so bad.

You were doing better, and Jacob even thought you were doing better than before. You’d been going to therapy again regularly, less of Jacob forcing you to go for his sake and more of going by your own will. You were back on your meds, but even you admitted they felt like they might have been working this time around now that you found the right fit. The adjustment to your new surroundings in Calgary seemed to be going smoothly, spending time with Annica and Elias like you weren’t constantly battling with your own demons.

But god you were.

Jacob honestly thought you were braver than anyone he’s ever known. You met a few years back, when you used to throw on a smile just to walk out the door and Jacob was just starting to make a splash in Vancouver. He was the only person who seemed to notice you in the large crowd you were who was mingling with a few of his teammates. He knew you were something special in that moment, and he’d tell you everyday until you started to believe it. What he didn’t know at the time was, you’d just gotten diagnosed with depression and you were tackling it on your own. Not a soul knew about the days you couldn’t wait to sleep because it was the only time you were able to turn your brain off. They didn’t know about the mess in your apartment that was so embarrassing but you still just couldn’t clean it. And they definitely didn’t know about the long drives where you just thought about never coming back.

Jacob didn’t know these things for a while, but when the signs became clear, he tried his hardest to understand. He came over and cleaned your apartment when you were at work, shrugging it off when you asked him what prompted him to do it. Jacob made sure you were taken care of on days he knew you weren’t able to do it yourself.

Then the east coast road trip happened.

Your relationship was new, and you hadn’t told him what was going on even though it was becoming incredibly clear that he knew. Jacob has always been patient, and you always joke it’s because he’s a goalie, but the truth was that his heart was bigger than him. You called him, teary eyed while you sat on a park bench in the middle of Vancouver and told him you couldn’t do this anymore. At first he thought you were talking about him, maybe he’d overstepped a line he shouldn’t have, but it was clear you meant life. It was just too much, and Jacob knew it was time to push talking about it.

So you did, you laid there in the bitter cold on that bench until the sun came up and talked to him about your mental illness. You talked about your therapist who you’d been seeing but you were honest about the appointments you skipped. You talked to him about the full pill bottles in your bathroom because you didn’t want to take them but you didn’t want anyone to notice you weren’t picking up prescriptions. He was calm, listening to your words and not reprimanding you on the stall in your recovery.

Everyone moves at their own pace Y/N, you can move like a turtle if you want to and I won’t tell you to hurry up and get better.

Jacob never pushed, but that didn’t mean he didn’t educate himself. He read and read and read, everything he could on how he was supposed to help

you. He took classes, he listened to talks and he’d even attended meetings with other people who were in his same position. He wanted to understand, and he did his best to. Jacob did this because he loves you, and he wanted to make sure that was never going to be something you could question.

So that brings him here, standing in your shared bathroom while he counted how many pills were left in that orange bottle and he just knew the math wasn’t going to add up. Jacob runs a large hand over his face, rubbing his temples while he spun out about how this could be his fault. Maybe he should have stayed in Vancouver. Was the change too much for you?

“Babe?” You call out, leaning against the bathroom door and looking at him sadly. Your voice was soft, it always was, like Jacob being in distress was more important than the hell he’d seen you go through.

“Have you been skipping days?” Jacob asks, never with an accusatory tone. He learned that lesson, watching you shrink at his words when he asked if you’d been in bed all day. You start to utter an apology, Jacob raising his hand at you to stop because you didn’t owe him one, “Why didn’t you call?”

Tears were welling up in your eyes, your lip quivering while you tried to find the right words. Jacob didn’t look mad, he wasn’t - he was feeling guilty. He promised you, if you called it didn’t matter if he was in the middle of a game, he’d be there as soon as he could, “You need to be with your new team-”

“Fuck my new team,” Jacob scoffs, shaking his head and opening his arms to you, “You think I’d want to spend any more time with Elias than you?”

“No, I just,” You sigh, pushing a piece of your hair back that seemed to just fall back into place, “I didn’t want to be a bother, you need to be with these guys all the time and how can you do that if you’re worried about me?”

“I can do that because I want to do it,” Jacob reminds you, pushing that same piece of hair back where it belonged, and it stuck, “I don’t feel like I have to worry about you, I want to.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier not to?” You ask, wrapping your arms around Jacob’s waist and pressing your head into his chest. His heartbeat was steady, he was steady.

Jacob was the most stable thing you had in your life. You couldn’t figure what you’d done to experience unconditional love like that, a person to care for you so much that they would do anything to make you happy. He calmed you on the days you needed most and he never pushed you harder than he thought you needed. Turtle speed. He always called it that, but he’d rather see you move slowly to get better than throw on another fake smile.

“My life wouldn’t be easier if you weren’t in it,” Jacob hums, pressing a kiss to the top of your head, “Do you want me to set out your meds for the week? In that little container I got you?”

You nod, making a promise to yourself to take the step in getting better. Jacob reminded you constantly, you can’t do this for him, you needed to do it for yourself - he was just helping. He was always going to help.

***

You seemed better.

Jacob swore you were actually doing okay, the little check ins he was doing was working and when he got back from his next road trip - nothing seemed wrong. You were standing across Johnny’s house, laughing along with Annica and a few other girls and Jacob knew that laugh was a real one. This was good, seeing you out laughing and smiling.

“So, when is it going to be time for you?” Annica asks, her hand running over your ring finger, “Marky has to be thinking about having a few running around soon.”

You wish it hadn’t set you off. It was a simple question anyone would ask a couple who’s been together this long.

Children was a conversation you weren’t ready for. The thought terrified you, not because you didn’t want to have them, it was the post-partum talk. You knew the risks, all of the things that could happen after and you didn’t want to stomach that. What if you weren’t enough for your kids? They didn’t ask for a mother who couldn’t get out of bed sometimes let alone take care of them, and you’d be insane to think that was a healthy way to raise a child.

Jacob’s eyes remained on you while you rushed out of the house, fiddling with your hands and shaking your head. That was your tell, and Jacob excused himself immediately, chasing you out of the house. His hands grab your cheeks, steadying you for a moment and wiping the tears from your eyes.

“She asked me when we were going to the marriage and kids thing and,” You ramble out, closing your eyes and shutting your mouth. Jacob knew where you were going with this, it was fear he had too. It was the reason there was a ring in one of his coat pockets at home that’s never been opened because he was waiting for the right time. He’d wait forever if he had to. You were the one there was never a doubt about it.

“We don’t have to talk about it right now,” Jacob sighs, knowing this conversation was far too heavy to be had in public, “But, you’ll never be alone, I’m never going to leave, I’m never going to pressure you into anything. When you’re ready I will be too, but I don’t care how long it takes.”

“What if it’s too late for kids?” You whisper, the fear that Jacob could tell you he’d wait forever but you’d seen him with kids, he was made to be a father.

“We can adopt, foster, whatever you want,” Jacob assures you, the idea of having children never had to be biological to him, “Chucky asked me if we were looking to adopt the other day…”

You let out a laugh, looking and pressing your lips to Jacob’s. You couldn’t thank him enough, not like he’d ever let you, but he was so good. You leaned your head on his shoulder, watching Calgary pass you by while Jacob hums to the radio next to you in the cab to get home.

“You think I’ll always be like this?” You ask, a question that could have been for either of you.

“There’s always going to be bad days, but you’re never going to be alone on them. I promise.”

“Turtle speed?”

“Turtle speed.”

#jacob markstrom #jacob markstrom imagine #nhl imagine #nhl imagines

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laurenairay · 3 years

Note

2) “You’ve been avoiding me, why?” with Jacob Markstrom please!🖤

Here you go @danglesnipecelly – thank you for letting me borrow your man! 😘

This is the last of my prompt list blurbs so I hope you’ve all enjoyed them!

“You’ve been avoiding me, why?”

Drinking always had repercussions. You knew that, not even because you were no longer young and naïve. Sure, your tolerance had gotten better over the years, but the amount of time you went out partying had decreased in turn, so it all balanced out. And by that, it means that casual drinks were absolutely fine, but one big night out would knock you off your feet.

And now, one of your newest friendships was suffering because of your dumb actions.

Three weeks ago was Elias’s birthday. Annica had invited you as you were one of their neighbours and you’d grown quite close with her over the past couple of years since she and Elias had moved to Calgary. Through them, you’d met Jacob this year…and you knew the moment that you saw him that you were in trouble. No-one should be that tall, that handsome, and that sweet – it just wasn’t fair. Luckily you’d managed to keep your heart eyes to yourself (although you had a feeling that Annica had her suspicions) as well as keeping your cool around him…until the party three weeks ago.

You’d managed to make excuses to avoid group gatherings, only meeting with Annica when it was just the two of you, but she had begged you to come to the casual party Elias was throwing at their place tonight, and you hadn’t found it in your heart to tell her no, even though you were dreading facing the man you’d made a fool of yourself in front of.

It had only taken 30 minutes before you found yourself cornered by Jacob in the kitchen.

“Finally, I thought I’d never get you alone,”

You cursed under your breath before looking up at the Swedish giant with a nervous smile, making Jacob frown slightly, before his face smoothed out.

“You’ve been avoiding me, why?” Jacob asked softly.

Was there any point in lying?

Probably not.

It’s not like he didn’t know…

“Because I made an absolute tit out of myself last time I saw you?” you offered, smiling wearily.

Jacob laughed, making you wince, but he just shook his head.

“That’s why you’ve turned into a ghost? I thought I’d done something wrong!” Jacob mused.

Oh god no, that was the furthest thing from the truth.

“You were wonderful. It was me who was a dumb drunk mess,” you grumbled, face flaring with heat.

“You were not the drunkest person there – so far from it. And you weren’t a mess…you were cute,” he insisted.

Cute? No, he didn’t mean it like that. You sent him an unimpressed look but he just grinned back at you. Where to even start?

Even just thinking about the events of the night three weeks ago made you cringe so hard. The evening had started well, don’t get you wrong. You’d worn a cute flowery dress and put your hair up in a pretty braid, with a little light make-up to finish off the look. Annica had greeted you with a big hug and a large glass of white wine…and that’s where the night went downhill.

In short, you’d gotten absolutely smashed on white wine with Annica.

Wine drunk was a different level – while you knew that you definitely weren’t the only very drunk person that night, everything you’d done…ugh. Not okay.

“What do you remember from the night?” Jacob asked, smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Everything, unfortunately,” you grumbled.

“It can’t all have been bad,” he teased.

Hah. That’s what he thought.

You admit, it started slowly. A bottle of wine shared between you and Annica got you started on karaoke (who brought the machine with them, you had no idea), with a whole queue of people continuing after you.

Then came the second bottle of wine – when you’d finished that, a lot of other people were drunk too. Elias himself was so drunk that he fell off the sofa laughing at something that Noah had said. And instead of helping him up, you and Annica had sat behind him and braided his hair, each of you having a spare hairband around your wrist to secure the two messy braids (and you were certain Jacob himself had taken a few photos of the braiding session).

You knew you’d eaten after then. And drank some water too. But that didn’t stop you from getting drunk-teary as Milan’s wife showed you the cutest new photos of her kids (they were just so cute!). Drunk-teary, like seriously. Thankfully you hadn’t full-on cried but that was bad enough. Annica had saved you from that…by dragging you into the kitchen and pouring you another glass of wine.

This devolved into the two of you going back and forth, telling each other you’re so pretty, no you’re so pretty, until Elias and Jacob stopped just watching in amusement and interrupted the love fest, with Elias taking Annica outside into the backyard for some fresh air, Jacob just getting you some more water.

As you recounted it all to Jacob, the smile on his face only grew.

“None of that was bad! I told you so – you were happy drunk and no-one thought bad of you, I promise,”

“I wish I could believe you,” you sighed.

“Anyone that remembered anything, which was very few people because vodka was flowing heavily, only thought it was cute and funny, I swear,” Jacob grinned.

The way that he kept insisting, the way that he kept repeating that you hadn’t made a fool of yourself, gave you a spark of hope. Maybe?

Then his face went serious, making your stomach fill with butterflies.

“And do you remember what you said to me?” Jacob asked softly.

You swallowed heavily. There it was. How could you not? It was why you’d been avoiding him.

“Yeah, I do,”

When he’d gotten you the water in the kitchen, you’d told him he was the most handsome man you’d ever met. With the biggest drunkest smile on your face. You wish you had Annica’s memory-loss bliss, but unfortunately the memory was seared into your brain. You could only thank your fairy godmother that instead of doing anything even more stupid, you’d just skipped off to find your friend afterwards.

But being here with him now, knowing in your gut that he remembered everything too, that gave you the heaviest feeling in the pit of your stomach.

“You said I was handsome. The most handsome guy you’d ever met,” he said.

Almost word for word. Wow. Fantastic. Just what you needed. Even just hearing the words said out loud again sent another hot rush of embarrassment flooding through your body, and it was all you could do not to shudder.

“Yeah I’m well aware. Can you just forget it, please?” you sighed.

But Jacob shook his head, confusing you. What? “Why would I want to forget?” he asked, frowning.

“Please, J, it’s embarrassing as hell and I’d like to still be able to show my face around here,” you pleaded.

Why was he being like this?

But then he stepped closer to you, impossibly closer, one hand rising to cup your face. You inhaled sharply as his thumb stroked over your cheekbone, unable to look away from his beautiful blue eyes.

“Why would I want to forget the most beautiful woman I know, telling me that I’m the most handsome guy?” he said seriously, towering over you in a way that took your breath away.

He…you…what?

“You can’t just say that,” you murmured, feeling helpless, but in no way that you wanted to be rescued.

“I mean it. I’m not just saying it either. I wish I told you sooner,” he said firmly.

“Jacob…” you whispered.

You trailed off, unsure of what to say. Did he mean it? Did he really mean it? Jacob saw the uncertainty mixing with hope on your face, and licked his bottom lip nervously. The thumb that had been stroking over your cheek brushed over your bottom lip, making you gasp.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked quietly.

Even though the two of you were in public, in the open kitchen, it felt like you were in your own little world. You were completely consumed by him.

“Yes,” was all you could whisper in reply.

Jacob wasted no time in leaning his head down to press his lips to yours. You couldn’t help but whimper as he kissed you firmly, no hesitation, no nerves, just kissed you over and over and over until your head was spinning.

And then he broke away, making you gasp for breath, heart racing even more at the intensity in his eyes, the wet shine on his lips.

“I’ve wanted to kiss you for so long,” he murmured.

You just clutched at his shirt, your knees feeling weak, words escaping you. He’s wanted to kiss you? Was this really happening? Jacob could see how overwhelmed you were, his eyes desperately searching yours for any sign of discomfort, but he found only surprise. So he took a deep breath to settle his nerves.

“Let me take you out on a date. Let me show you how beautiful I think you are,” Jacob asked softly, smiling hopefully.

The smile that spread across your lips felt ridiculous, but you couldn’t stop it. “I would love that,” you replied, smiling shyly.

Jacob just grinned before ducking his head to kiss you again, his hands travelling down your body to clutch at your waist as your hands slid up around his neck. This all felt like such a dream, a wonderful impossible dream. But there was no way you could’ve imagined the way his body felt pressing up against yours, or the way his tongue sent shivers down your spine. This was better than any fantasy, and you couldn’t wait to see how it played out.

#my writing #prompt list blurb #jacob markstrom #jacob markstrom blurb #i too would definitely tell marky he was handsome while drunk #thanks for letting me borrow your man K!#jacob markstrom fic #jacob markstrom x reader #jacob markstrom imagine #prompt lists #hockey writing #hockey blurb #hockey fic #nhl writing #nhl blurb #nhl fic

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cactusandfir · 3 years

Note

✨✨✨

thank you sasha! I chose if the fates allow because 1) jacob/annica/elias are very cute and I think more people should write for them 2) I had the realization last night that three of my four works on ao3 are some sort of poly configuration and I didn’t necessarily plan that but I can’t say it’s ooc for me as a person and 3) I feel like the two of us are the handshake meme about religious themes haha

I was having a time about Christmas and wanted to write something soft and good so this is mostly self-indulgent projection, but I like to think it’s not too off the mark for them, or at least the character details I made up after watching like, two interviews each.

The snow falls softly that evening, obscuring the stained-glass windows of the church, turning them into indistinct splashes of vibrant color. Jacob hasn’t been to a Christmas Eve service since he lived in Gavle full-time, and if pressed he wouldn’t say he missed it. But here in this unfamiliar city, with an old friend who speaks his mother tongue, the windows are a welcome beacon of his new home.

Yeah okay this is mostly projecting BUT there is an interview detail that I can no longer find where Jacob says he prefers to speak Swedish at home.

Staying with Lindy and Annica has been just the respite he needed. It’s not like he was unhappy in Vancouver, but choices like these are inevitable when chasing the cup. And to end up in Calgary, where both the team and the boys really wanted him? Who was he to question that? It felt like the right time for a fresh start. There is also an interview from 2019 I think? I really need to be better about bookmarking my sources, but he admits to being open to a trade if he feels he can’t win a cup in Vancouver because he’s getting older and he wants to win :(

The service is nice if kind of boring in English. The real joy is watching Annica’s eyes light up at the massive floral display, her hair shining in the low lamplight, the way Elias wraps his arm around her shoulder during the processional. Jacob meets his eye over her shoulder and can see his own contentment reflected back at him.

A comfortable hush descends between them as they walk to the car, not that they’re particularly outspoken on a normal night. It only breaks when Annica asks about their plans in the morning, “So which one of you is going to make me breakfast tomorrow?” Based on the collective ninety seconds we’ve seen the three of them interacting, I read Annica as being, not dominant, that’s not the right word, but like, the organizer in the relationship. Like, she knows what she wants and how to get it, and the boys are 100% okay with letting her take the lead.

Lindy laughs, “Marky can do it, he’s the freeloader.”

“If I’m just a freeloader, see if I help you with dinner now!”

They all know he’s going to be the one to make breakfast, he’s always the first one up anyway. Lindy just takes every chance he can get to chirp Jacob about living with them, and Annica starts it a lot of the time, but it’s all in jest. Since they opened their home to him during his transition to Calgary it’s gone better than they could have hoped.

The ride back is quiet too. Jacob drives, it’s the least he can do, and Annica bops her head gently to the jazzy Christmas music they’ve been playing non-stop for the last few weeks. There’s cookies and tea waiting for them back at the house, and even though tomorrow will be a full day of talking to their various families and friends across the world, they’ll make time for the ritual. They make time for each other…but also apparently in Sweden Christmas is celebrated on the Eve as it is in my own easter European background, so I thought about them reserving the most important day of the holiday just for themselves, then bringing their families in for the more Americanized day.

It’s after midnight when they get home and shed their layers to sit by the fire with their late-night snack.

Annica breaks the silence once again, “I don’t know who made these delicious cookies, but whoever they were I would like to have them around to bake for me all the time.”

“I think that can be arranged.” Jacob replies.

“Yes, you deserve baking every day if you want it.” Elias confirms.

“I’m a lucky woman, to have two men who will cook with me. We did good this year.”

Elias pulls Annica into his lap and kisses her softly on the neck. She is a lucky woman, but that makes Jacob a lucky man as well, to be allowed to share in these intimate parts of their relationship. It wasn’t all seamless at first, with Jacob not sure what was open to him and what wasn’t, it’s not like they talked about it in so many words, but after weeks of dancing around each other they opened their hold and brought him in to move with them. More organic! poly! triads! I know many people draw a boundary for reading or writing about gf’s or family members and that’s totally understandable, I grappled with it for a bit writing this, which is one of the reasons its g-rated, but hockey rpf is so good for all sorts of non-traditional relationship structures! Everyone is moving around and living with different people and I think it’s fun.

“Yes, we did,” Jacob says as he comes to join them on the couch, “Thank you for keeping me around, even if it’s just for my help in the kitchen.”

“You know we love having you here, and you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.” Annica says, turning so she can rest her legs over Jacob’s lap, sitting across both of them.

Jacob had been making noise about finding his own place, but if he’s being honest with himself, he would stay as long as they’d have him.

He smiles and places his own kiss atop where he thinks he saw Elias’ earlier. It’s close enough to make the point. That he’s in this as much as they are, this was definitely meant to be more about devotion than possessiveness. When he brushes Annica’s hair aside it makes her sigh.

“Let’s go to bed, we have a lot to do tomorrow.” Annica keeping them organized again.

Before they can get up Elias hugs them both to him until Annica lets out a little squeak, “Yes ma’am!” But it’s balanced out by Elias and Jacob appreciating it, it’s not work that goes unnoticed, and if I ever write for them again, or really and m/m/f situation I want to explore a bit more of the balance of work in the relationship but that was too much to tackle for 800 words of fluff!

They all wander off to their own nightly routines before reuniting in Annica and Elias’ bedroom, where you can find them most nights. Since he still uses the bathroom connected to his room on the other side of the house, Jacob turns the lights off on his way. He pauses in the living room and looks at the lit tree before he turns those lights off too. He still can’t quite believe how peaceful it is here. Maybe it’s just the season, but he thinks it’s more than that this year. All goalies deserve a peaceful house and this is also a slight reference to how chaotic the last season had been.

He turns down the bed while he listens to the low hum of Elias and Annica talking in the bathroom still; they’ll join him when they’re ready.

He’s most of the way asleep when Annica slides into bed beside him and scoots back into the curve of his body, pulling his arm over her waist so they’re spooning. Elias lies down on her other side facing them both and pulls the blanket up so they’re cocooned together, cozy and warm. Jacob burrows his face into her neck, but addresses the room at large, “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Jacob.”

And scene! Just a cozy little story about home and belonging.

#thank you!!#sasha #bigbrotherlouis #ask away #my fic

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tiesandtea · 4 years

Photo

Brett Anderson in the Swedish magazine Groove, #6, 2002.

An interview with Brett and Simon conducted by Annica Henriksson. Photo by Johannes Giotas. The complete magazine issue is available as .pdf here.

No more cocaine parties

Brett Anderson has become a man. Groove met a thoughtful pop star who no longer wants to be hip.

He drinks tea at Vimmerby Stadshotell. Three cigarettes lie sad and unused next to the mug. No smoking, "which is a pain in the ass", Brett says.

He has blonde highlights in his hair. Gray sweater. I do not recognize him when he sits down next to Simon Gilbert. Of course he can’t look like he did before, but still. The long fringe, the too small and tight leather clothes. The hip movements and the tambourine he used to spank himself with. Androgyny personified. Animal lover. The cockiness is polished away. Brett even says he regrets the things he said to the press at the beginning of his career, when he was 25 years old and and celebrity thirst adorned every cover. Then Suede was the biggest thing that happened to the pop world. That was ten years ago.

In September, Suede's fifth studio album will be released and again this time, there have been changes in the line-up. Neil Codling out, Alex Lee in. The former keyboardist's health could not handle the rock star life and he chose to quit after collapsing during the last tour. His substitute Alex Lee used to be in the band Strangelove in the past.

The new album, titled A New Morning, was almost finished two years ago, but the band members were unhappy with the result. They worked with Tony Hoffer who, among other things, produced Beck’s Midnight Vultures, but discovered that their songs did not fit into overly electronic outfits. Instead, they threw away the crap and started over – with The Smiths old squire Stephen Street. The passion and the energy were there. The recording took only eight weeks.

– Positivity was written in the rehearsal room, it’s the first song written by the whole band. We went empty-handed into the studio and two hours later, it was written. It doesn’t happen often.

It sounds like She’s in Fashion. – Yes, it has similar chords, but it's the only song that reminds me of Head Music.

Pedagogically, he begins to draw two circles that go into each other. One is A New Morning, he explains, the other one is Head Music. He points to the point where the two meet and explains that’s the only point where there are similarities between the two records and these are exactly the songs we just talked about.

– I don’t think that the previous album sounds so good, I’m not happy with my effort. Now I sing better. Head Music is the weakest record we have made. We care about our music, we don’t do this for the money. The music has to be right, this is far too important. We threw away a whole record for God's sake!

Brett sings differently. A bit like Alex Lowe. Rougher. More like a man. And instead of the poetic reports from the streets – about drugs, dirty sex, prostitution and evil sudden death – Brett has become a happy bastard and writes songs like Positivity. But fortunately, he has not fully succeeded in "killing his darlings". Lost in TV and Beautiful Loser smell Suede at miles away. But words like animal, nuclear, astral, pills and gasoline are gone. The references to England as well. Not to mention the exciting exchange of she and he.

– The first record is very confrontational, but just because I don’t want to run forward and scream in someone's face, it doesn’t have to mean that I have become a boring old man. You develop as a person, as a musician, as a songwriter. If we feel that we no longer have anything to say, or that it just feels like a job, then it's just as good to quit. But we do not feel that way. Of course, we can see the changes over the years, it’s called maturity. But we are no less important for that. I have become a better songwriter. The songs have a better structure and I perform them better.

Suede's sound has been constantly modified and the albums all sound different. When I ask them to choose a record they are most proud of, they both of course want to say the latest. But out of the other four, Brett says that Coming Up is his favourite. It also happens to be their most successful record, but far from being as fantastic as the first two records. But after the disappointing Head Music, Suede prove themselves worthy on A New Morning. However, far from dangerous and exciting.

– We don’t follow trends, we don’t ride on someone else's wave, says Brett. We don’t want to be one of the hippest bands, we have already been there, but it was not our "fault".

– We had a very strong image ten years ago, but now, we don’t do the same things as then. We don’t roll around on the floor super high on cocaine anymore, Simon laughs.

#brett anderson #simon gilbert #a new morning #suede #mine*#this is the most hilarious thing ever #Suede in other languages

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krsnlove · 5 years

Text

Butterflies

A/N: Prompt from @alj4890

Pairing: Amanda[OC] x Elliott [OC], Liam x Riley, Drake x Olivia, Maxwell

Rating: PG

Tagging: @alj4890 @thecordoniandiaries @vickypoochoices @cora-nova @darley1101

Amanda studied her reflection in the mirror before frantically shaking her head. She slipped off the millionth dress she’s tried on tonight in a fit of frustration. The pile of clothes on her bed, chaise lounge, and floor seemed to grow as the big hand on the clock nearby ticked away. Nothing in her closet seemed right.

Not for tonight anyway.

A groan escaped her mouth as she searched her closet for a dress to wear. It was too late to stop by the boutique and she mentally chastised herself for allowing time to get away from her. Of all the days to be running late, it had to be today.

A rapid knock on her bedroom door startled the Duchess of St. Orella. Peeved at the disturbance of her search, Amanda grudgingly opened the door.

“Yes?,” her words came out with a touch of annoyance she immediately regretted once she saw the figure standing there. Her long-time butler stood at the door with a garment bag. He quickly gave her a short bow and handed her a sealed envelope before inviting himself into the room.

“For you, my Lady,” he announced as he delicately laid the closed garment bag on her bed. Amanda stared at the familiar hand-writing on the envelope and looked at her butler.

“Is there anything else I may assist you with?,” he asked. Amanda narrowed her eyes at him. She could see his attempts at hiding a smile but knew better than to pester him with questions. She sighed and let out a small chuckle before dismissing him and turned her attention to the envelope in her hand.

“What are you up to,” she murmured to herself. Opening the envelope Amanda ran her hand over the stationery on the sheet of paper folded in half. She read the words out loud to no one in particular:

“Saw this in a shop and thought of you. I bet myself you’d look stunning in this. Try to prove me wrong tonight?

-Elliott”

Amanda grinned to herself, rereading the note a few times before pressing the sheet of paper to her chest. Elliott was always doing something to make her swoon, as much as she despised that word and action. It was almost ridiculous how romantic the man is. Even from their first encounter, it seemed to be straight out of those cheesy romantic movies.

Her hands glide over the garment bag before pulling on the zipper. The sight of the beautiful royal blue gown carefully tucked inside stunned her for a moment. She holds the dress in front of her and takes in the features. The high slit bottom and low-cut top in a v-shape made the dress both complicated and elegant. It was perfect for tonight. The fact Elliott remembered her house colors made her involuntarily sigh.

Excitedly, she carefully slipped into the dress and made the final adjustments to her hair and make-up.

1 HOUR LATER

Amanda sucked in her breath and slowly exhaled as she descended the spiral staircase of her home. Tonight’s charity ball for Cordonia’s orphanages had taken weeks to plan but the outcome was always worth it when she would see the smiling faces of the children the money would be helping. It was a cause Amanda held close to her heart and always made her anxious.

But tonight’s gathering gave her another reason to worry over. She had invited Elliott to attend and he accepted. It would be his first at a Cordonian court event and him escorting her tonight would confirm the gossip that surrounded their relationship in the press.

It had been a few months when Elliott McKingley boldly asked her on a date and Olivia agreeing on Amanda’s behalf. Since then the days were filled with text messages and phone calls or video chats. Dates were random as Elliott’s main offices are located in New York City, a fact Amanda didn’t like to be reminded of, but being CEO of a Fortune 500 company made it both easier and more difficult for him to visit Cordonia.

She moves closer to the bottom of the staircase where Elliott’s handsome face is waiting for her. The black and white tuxedo he has on seemed to be made just for him as it tailored to his masculine body perfectly. His black curly hair is brushed to the side and the dangerous dimpled grin on his face completed his look. Amanda tried to hide her giddy smile sensing his eyes on her, watching every single move she made. Until finally, she reaches the bottom of the staircase.

“It’s exhausting being right, you know that?,” Elliott asked with an arrogant grin. Amanda let out a hopeless sigh followed by a small chuckle. “You look better than I envisioned in that dress,” he leaned in and softly grazed her cheek with his lips and suddenly her knees felt like jello.

“You clean up nice,” she looked down at his tuxedo. Elliott gave a small bow and then began to do a series of poses in his suit. Heads turned in their direction as Amanda’s laughter filled the hall before she clamped her own hand over her mouth.

��Come on. We have to get in there. We have the first dance,” she nodded her head towards the ball room. Elliott stood up straight and held out his arm for her before leading her into the room with the waiting guests.

“That’s my doing right there,” Olivia said with a smirk as she nodded towards the waltzing couple in the middle of the floor. Drake looked over at Elliott and Amanda before shrugging his shoulders.

“And that’s my doing over there,” he nodded towards Liam and Riley. “Which is better cause Liam outranks some average CEO from America.”

“Amanda outranks some waitress from America,” she shot back.

“Touché. But now that she’s a Queen,” he gave her pitiful smile, “mine outrank yours.” He tipped his glass to her in salute before taking a sip.

“Is everything a competition with you two?,” Maxwell asked with a touch of annoyance in his voice. Olivia opened her mouth to return a scathing reply but soon feels Drake’s hand on her thigh tighten its hold. Glancing at him sideways, he shakes his head no, and she closes her mouth but not before letting out a grunt of frustration.

“Oh look. Liam and Riley are joining Amanda. Let’s go,” Drake’s forced enthusiasm isn’t lost on either Olivia or Maxwell as Drake begins to pull her towards the middle of the dance floor.

“You know he’s still having a hard time with this,” Drake tells Olivia in a whispered voice as they move away from Maxwell.

“It isn’t my fault. He had the chance,” she whispered back. “It’s been months. He needs to move on!”

“I know that ‘Liv,” Drake’s voice is barely above a whisper now, “but let the man come to terms with this on his own without your gloating.”

Olivia begins to notice the stares from nearby couples at their harshly whispered conversation and purposely glares back in return. Since she and Drake have become a bit friendlier with each other these past few months, the gossip surrounding their relationship ran rampant.

“Duchess,” Drake’s voice softened causing Olivia to look back at him. “Do we agree? No more conversations about Amanda and the average looking American?”

The side of her lips turned upwards into a small grin. Drake could never acknowledge how handsome Elliot is much to her amusement. She leaned closer into him until her lips are inches from his ear.

“Okay Walker,” she whispered seductively, “but if you ever silence me again like you did earlier,” she paused for effect allowing the closeness fill her senses and tightened her hold on him, “I’ll destroy you.”

Drake grinned at the threat and looked into her eyes, “Is that a promise?”

A few feet away Elliott and Amanda watch the interaction between the infamous duo.

“What do you think they’re talking about?,” he asked.

“Knowing those two,” Amanda answered with a raised eyebrow, “Olivia probably threatened Drake and he’s loving it.”

“You have weird friends,” Elliot mused. Amanda elbowed his side emitting a small cough from his lips. “Pointy Elbows 3 Ribs 0,” he commented once he was able to find his voice.

Before Amanda has the chance to apologize she sees Adelaide charging towards them. Her eyes solely focused on Elliott.

“Lady Amanda!,” Adelaide greeted her and allowed herself to tear her eyes away from Elliott. “This is a lovely event. I’m sure we’ll be able to donate a large sum of money to the orphanages tonight,” she said before turning to Elliott. “And who do we have here?”

“This is a very good friend of mine,” Amanda began to make introductions and it wasn’t long before Adelaide coaxed Elliott into asking her for a dance.

“Will you be okay?,” Elliott asked in a low voice. Amanda let out a small chuckle at his genuinely concerned look.

“I’ve been to a million of these events. I’ll be fine sitting out for one dance,” she told him. “It might be even more,” she teased once she noticed Adelaide impatiently waiting nearby.

“I’ll be right back,” he called over his shoulder while being pulled in the opposite direction.

Amanda kept her laugh to herself as she watched Adelaide dance with Elliott. A few times he had to move her roaming hands back up to his shoulders until she finally pulled him into a close hug. She shook her head no when Elliott looked over to her and mouthed the words ‘help’ when Adelaide tugged him close.

“You look wonderful tonight Amanda,” she turned around to the sound of the familiar voice. Maxwell stood with a champagne glass in an all black tuxedo looking handsome as ever.

“Thanks Maxwell,” she greeted him with a smile, “You don't look bad yourself.”

“I try,” he said attempting a smile.

“Are you enjoying yourself tonight?,” she asked.

“I am. Annica won’t stop talking about how beautiful everything looks. You’ve really outdone yourself this year.”

“I’m glad she approves. Leave it to you to date Cordonia’s number one interior designer and to bring her tonight no less,” she teased. Maxwell let out a laugh and shrugged his shoulders.

“But I can’t take credit for all of this. Elliott has been such a huge help too. I think most of tonight’s success is because of him.”

Maxwell nodded his head and said nothing. It was proving difficult nowadays to not hear about Elliott.

“He’s lucky to have you,” Maxwell said in a low voice. Amanda acknowledged his statement with a small nod letting her gaze settle on Elliott.

“He is, isn’t he?,” she agreed with a teasing smile.

Maxwell follows her gaze to the American who has stolen her away from him. The one who was able to capture Amanda’s heart. The one who succeeded where he failed.

“Maxwell...,” her voice cut through his thoughts. He notices the troubled look on her face and gives her a reassuring smile.

“I’m okay,” he automatically replies.

“Are you?”

“I’m always okay Amanda,” he said before taking a sip from his champagne glass. “You look happy and that is what always mattered to me.”

“Maxwell,” her voice broke for a moment and she hesitated before continuing, “Please know...I never meant to hurt you.”

He flashed her a small smile and closed the distance between them until she was within his reach. Allowing himself to take in her facial features, the same ones he took for granted before and now haunted him in his dreams, he leaned in and whispered into her ear.

“You could never hurt me ‘Manda,” he said right before placing a kiss on her cheek. “You’ll always be my girl.”

#maxwell beaumont #maxwell x oc #the royal romance #oc galore #elliott x amanda

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miadearden · 5 years

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Here we made it folks it’s time for Annica’s YJO thoughts! (I was gonna do all eps at once but apparently I have a lot of thoughts so separate eps it is!)

Ep01

Wow the new intro is kinda haunting dang

MGANN AND KALDUR IM SO PROUD

Akdjhfs the once in a blue moon Bruce and Ollie agree on something and they pull this kinda shit

(Ollie you’re gonna be sleeping with his trick arrows for a while)

Oh wow so the protégés are branching off as well iiiiiiinteresting

16 minutes 🙃

Interesting detail - the timestamp on the news overlay changes midway through the speech. Just thought that was fun little thing.

Bab Lian 😍😍

Grandon: “Yeah this season will be a little darker” Me: “oh ye they’ll probably press on the violence a little more that makes sense” The Show: *straight up bloody corpses”

(Although if you look back to the very first interview/promo they did for the show, it definitely seems like they wanted this level of maturity from the beginning but had to tone down because of CN restrictions so it is kinda funny to me seeing the shocked “this is a kids show” reactions to this seasons jump in maturity)

WOLF SLEEPS WEIRD

Between Dick’s recruitment of Artemis and then Conner, I enjoy the implication that he’s just been pulling this shit for the past two years.

AN ENGAGEMENT??? THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON???? THATS BAD NEWS

hey we all remember that Godfrey was working with Savage and Darkseid right? Good we all remember that

Wait Brion and his bro are seventeen? SEVENTEEN?? WITH THAT AMOUNT OF FACIAL HAIR??? (also A Tall Boi)

Holy fuck the way Jeff pronounced Anissa’s name sounded almost exactly how I always get people incorrectly pronouncing MY name and I just had a crazy flare of rage hearing it I need to lie down

OH they made Lynn John’s sister that’s interesting

“Don’t give me that look” Oh Jefferson you’re wonderful

#yj spoilers #yjo #yjs3

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popentertainment-moviereviews · 7 years

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THE SQUARE (2017)

Starring Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, Terry Notary, Linda Anborg, Christopher Laesso, Annica Liljeblad, Emelie Beckius, Jan Lindwall, Marina Schiptjenko, Elijandro Edouard, Daniel Hallberg, Martin Sööder, Sofie Hamilton, Peter Diaz, Sarah Giercksky and Kolya Hardy.

Screenplay by Ruben Östlund.

Directed by Ruben Östlund.

Distributed by Magnolia Pictures. 148 minutes. Not Rated.

Screened at the 2017 Philadelphia Film Festival.

Director Ruben Östlund impressed a few years ago with his deceptively deep breakthrough film Force Majeure, a dark comedy/drama about a couple whose marital cracks are magnified after the husband fails to try to save his family during an avalanche at a Swiss chalet, and what happens when it turns out to be something of a false alarm and they all survive. It was an incisive exploration of family relations, sexual roles, heroism and societal expectations.

His follow-up, The Square, takes a similarly vicious sharp blade to the world of modern art, starting off as a truly visionary satirical work, but honestly running out of steam well before the two-and-a-half-hour run time has passed.

The basic premise of The Square is very simple. The Royal Museum of Stockholm is converted to the “X-Royal” Museum, a temple of modern art dedicated to the concept that anything and everything can be art. However, if anything can be art, is anything really art?

The newly rebooted museum features exhibits like a room full of piles of gravel (which the cleaning crew regularly messes up in overnight cleanings), a huge sculpture of… something… which hangs from the roof and makes obnoxious clanging sounds, and giant neon signs which tauntingly read things like “You Have Nothing.”

The main new piece of art is the title exhibit, though, a large square in the sidewalk, bordered by lights, which is supposed to be a safe space for contemplation.

The film follows the adventures of the museum’s curator, a slick and handsome guy named Christian (Claes Bang) who is put in charge of selling this new vision of the place to the public.

Early in the film, Christian walks out into the museum’s courtyard and hears marketers asking passersby “What would you do to save a life?” as they walk past the motionless sleeping bodies of homeless men and women.

So, yeah, this isn’t going to be a subtle film.

The subtlety continues to spin out until we eventually reach a scene that starts off somewhat fascinating, but way overstays its welcome, in which an aggressive artist terrorizes a rich charity dinner.

Other oddball scenes include an artist’s press conference being interrupted by the obscene screams of a man in the crowd, but everyone there is afraid to interrupt him or throw him out because he may have Tourette’s syndrome.

And that’s not even taking into account many of the side-plots, like when Christian’s wallet and phone are stolen and he and his assistant come up with a hackneyed idea to get them back, which crazily works, but also offends everybody in an entire apartment building. Or the insanely offensive advertisement that a couple of millennial museum workers put together, just to be edgy.

American actors Elisabeth Moss and Domenic West pop in from time to time as a smitten journalist and a pretentious artist.

There are lots of funny – if slightly obvious – jabs at the pretentions of the art world. But like I said earlier, it eventually just goes on much longer than it need. The points were made, why keep beating on them?

Still, The Square does have some of the most thought-provoking and oddly funny scenes you’re going to find.

You’ve got to give writer/director Östlund this – he may overreach sometimes, but the guy is fearless. In some ways, The Square is as pretentious as anything in its fictional museum, but it is also a savage takedown on high society. It could have used some pruning, but I’m glad I saw it.

Jay S. Jacobs

#The Square #2017 #Movie Reviews #Ruben Östlund #Jay S. Jacobs

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xhorlali · 4 years

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Okyeame Kwame's Wife Fires Backs At Gyedu-Blay Ambolley

Okyeame Kwame’s Wife Fires Backs At Gyedu-Blay Ambolley

Award-winning rapper Okyeame Kwame’s wife, Annica Nsiah-Apau has joined the fight between her husband and Gyedu-Blay Ambolley. A press release from Okyeame Kwame’s lawyers this evening was sighted by xorlali.com which had the rapper calling on Gyedu-Blay Ambolley to apologize for passing defamatory statements. One can recall how the 70-year-old singer Gyedu-Blay Ambolley said that Okyeame Kwame…

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kuyarexdelsdiaries · 4 years

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PeliKuya: Isa Pa with Feelings

(Starring each month, KRD will post a movie review. the EIC will post one particular movie feature based on his criteria: Sensory Value, Entertainment Value, Christian Value, and Overall Impact. These four segments will be decided in each movie to be featured and recommended. The views & opinions expressed herewith by the EIC does not reflect or represent KRD, or the movie producers both domestic & international, and its views and opinions stated in this corner.)

STARRING: Maine Mendoza & Carlo Aquino DIRECTED BY: Prime Cruz (also the director of Regal Entertainment & Idea First's The Debutantes in 2018) RELEASED: October 16, 2019 PRODUCED BY: Black Sheep (under ABS-CBN Film Productions) & APT Entertainment LENGTH: 1 Hour & 42 Minutes (102 Minutes) EXECUITIVE PRODUCERS: Carlo L. Katigbak, Olivia M. Lamasan, & Antonio P. Tuviera

This is the first Filipino feature movie to have sign language elements in line with the continuing celebration of the Centennial Year of Philippine Cinema.

Mara Navarro (portrayed by Maine) is a future architect and meets a sign-language teacher Gali Pastrano (Carlo) who happens to be her condo neighbor. They first met in a sign-language class. Everything became worst for Mara, from her Architectural Board Exam failure, to her eventual accident when her car suddenly crashed Gali's car at the condo's basement carpark, and she cried. Gali didn't mean to crash her car by accident. Gali invited Mara to his unit since she left her keys in her unit. While Mara was in the middle of her stay, Gali tried to escape and jump out of his window, but Mara stopped it (at first, it was a suicide attempt). After they ate, at a glance of a magazine, Gali wants to have his scholarship to enroll in a International Deaf School in the U.S., thus Mara now can have big dreams for him. Gali tried to escape this time and passed by her unit unnoticed when she shouted Gali, and he said that he is ok. He then opened Mara's window and he was worried when her unit was clottered. Gali opens the door at the time Mara presses the doorbell and he was worried about the clottered things.

Despite the trouble by her parents, Mara looks at Gali's aquarium and while he feeds the fishes, Mara does the same too. Gali asks her if she wants her own fish to put in her aquarium. The two then visited a pet store and he says that he often feels left out when he sees the fishes in the aquarium. he gives a goldfish to her but at first, she regreted it due to the debts in the car crash, but eventually she accepted it. He then invited her to a dance studio. The two listened to a song called Buwan by Juan Karlos (the movie's theme song), although Gali can hear it in a vibration sense since he is a deaf-mute. Suddenly, the dancers stepped in the studio for some practice. Gali & Mara gave their best to practice their steps in time for the recital. Upon talking with the dance instructor, she said to Mara that Gali wasn't looking for a partner until he finds it. Mara then asks him why does he dance, and he replies that because he want to prove himself.

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One of my favorite scene in the movie is Mara imitating a scene from the 2015 reboot of Pangako Sa 'Yo where Amor (played by Jodi Sta. Maria)does her dramatic act, while Mara interprets Amor's scene through a sign-language that she learned & practiced. Gali impressed her sign-language interpretation ala Amor Powers. Fast forward, Gali & Mara are at a Thanksgiving party since her workmate invited her. But an unexpected scene led to Gali's departure at her party, while TJ, Mara's boss convinced her to go back to work even if she is under board. She noticed then that Gali was gone. Mara was at Gali's condo and apologized him since he was not replying to her text message last night. He was on an emergency bu he was ok. The two were at a shoes store to find suitable shoes for their recital when Annica, Gali's former girlfriend arrived along with Gino, her fiance.

Another favorite scene i love is when Mara want to see her in a lights show which he is seated in a vibrating chair. Mara interprets Buwan in sign-language while he watches her performance. She joins Gali in a dance while the lights synchronized with the song currently playing. He suddenly kissed Mara but as he impressed her interpretation, Mara stops the music.

The emotional part of the movie is when Mara & Gali confronted each other after an almost freak accident happened. Days later, when Gali escapes and bypassed her window, he invites Mara for a coffee date. While in a cafeteria inside the condo, they exchanged their thoughts and apologized each other.

At the day of their recital, they danced to the tune of Sino by UNIQUE, but as the music stops, a song plays in the background (Buwan) and Gali recalls the days from their first encounter, and with their flawless encounter, the audience applauded.

RECOMMENDATION & REACTION

This movie has a call of awareness to the deaf community. the cast underwent training at the Philippine School for the Deaf before reeling in for the movie. It reached more than P40 Million in the box office from its release since the majority of the viewers are fans of Carlo & Maine.

Sign language has expressive feelings but no tones that's why as the film title suggests, the sign language must be with feelings.

THE VERDICT

My verdict and rating for Isa Pa with Feelings: 9 out of 10 because of its sensory value among viewers especially the deaf.

(PHOTOS: Black Sheep, IMDB)

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spreadoutghana-blog · 7 years

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[Download it here] Okyeame Kwame Brand Book out

Authored by wife and Brand/ Business Development Manager Annica Nsiah-Apau, Okyeame Kwame’s brand book details his “standards, style, overview of its history, vision, personality, values among others”, an official press statement reveals. A 36-page document, the book was officially launched on January 31 at the Xylophone Media premises in Legon, and was graced by by veteran broadcaster Earl…

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#okyeame kwame

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glennsamm · 7 years

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Okyeame Kwame releases brand book

A 36-page document, the book was officially launched on January 31 at the Xylophone Media premises in Legon, and was graced by by veteran broadcaster Earl…

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#Okyeame Kwame

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laurenairay · 3 years

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Decorating Disaster - J.Markstrom

Summary: what could go wrong with a little competitive holiday baking with your boyfriend Jacob?

Word Count: 1.7k

Warnings: some bad language, a lot of cute fluff, too much glitter…and he’s on the Flames. Sorry K 😅

A/N: fully in my winter holiday feelings! ❄️ This one is for @danglesnipecelly – I hope it warms your grinchy heart 😘

“Hey älskling, are you busy?”

You looked up from the magazine you were reading at the sound of your boyfriend’s voice, shaking your head with a smile. You’d only been reading it in the first place because Jacob had popped out to the grocery store – but now he was back…with multiple bags?

“What are you planning?” you asked, raising an eyebrow at his big grin.

“Nothing!” he said cheerfully, pecking a kiss to your cheek as he whirled past you into the kitchen.

Okay now you knew he was up to something.

“I don’t believe you in the slightest,” you teased, hopping up on the counter as he put the bags down next to you.

“You wound me!” he gasped, clutching dramatically at his chest, making you giggle, “I just thought we could do some baking together this morning,”

What?!

“Baking. You want to bake,” you said dryly.

“Yeah! It’s a fun holiday activity to do together!” Jacob grinned, ignoring your confused expression as he started to rustle through the grocery bags.

You put your hand on top of his to stop him. Seriously, what is he doing?

“J, you don’t even like baking. You purposely steered clear of the kitchen when I made pepparkakor with your mom last year. Why do you really want to do this?” you mused.

Jacob’s grin faded, and he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Hah, you knew there was a real reason.

3…

2…

1…

“Tanny told the Flames about my last disaster baking attempt and they were all teasing me – I told them that I’d been practicing with you and I was way better than him now,” Jacob admitted.

What a little liar!

“But you haven’t been practicing with me,” you pointed out, trying to stop a grin spreading across your lips.

“Yeah I know…Tanny didn’t believe it either, and he said that I should prove it. Gio turned it into a team group challenge as bonding…but I need to do this!” Jacob sighed.

“So you want to bake…because of a dare?” you snickered, “to save a reputation that is a lie?”

Men. Seriously.

Jacob just grinned, nodding at you. And then that grin turned into a hopeful smile. Oh no. Absolutely not.

“Ohhhh no, count me out,”

“Please? There’s no way Tanny and the others won’t have help too!” Jacob pleaded, “I already know that Elias and Annica are planning on making cookies together!”

Damn those puppy dog eyes.

And if it would make Jacob feel better in front of the team…

“Fine, you ridiculous man. Let’s do some holiday baking,” you sighed fondly.

Jacob whooped and scooped you up off the kitchen counter in his arms, swinging you around in a circle, making you squeal. When he eventually put you back down on your feet, he pressed a firm kiss to your lips, making you lose your breath even more. Wow. Yeah, anything for him, if that was the reaction you’d get.

“Thank you älskling. This is going to be fun, I promise!” Jacob grinned.

“I believe that when I see it,” you giggled.

Now that this was a competition, rather than the fun activity he had initially suggested, you knew Jacob was going to be a nervous mess. There was no way this was ending well. But hey, it would be good teasing material, if nothing else.

“I thought we could do gingerbread men? That way we can get extra points for decoration,” Jacob suggested, “I would’ve said gingerbread people, but there was only the male stencil cutter at the store,”

Fair enough.

“Very strategic, I like it,” you teased.

To be fair, it was a good plan. And meant you could get more creative with it too. Jacob just blushed. “I picked up so many options at the store. Like, all of the decorating options. So there’s lots to choose from,”

“Let’s get the gingerbread going first – we can decide what decorations we’ll do when it’s in the oven,” you mused.

“See, this is why I need your help!” Jacob grinned.

You couldn’t help but grin back. So adorable.

“Alright, let’s find a recipe and get started…”

Making the actual gingerbread took so much longer than it should’ve done. It didn’t make things any easier that one of the ‘competition rules’ was that everything had to be filmed for judging by an impartial panel (aka coach, coach’s wife and the team nutritionist) – so there was way more pressure that you would’ve liked. Jacob almost didn’t sift the flour, would’ve resulted in lumpy batter if you hadn’t corrected him, and he very nearly put sea salt flakes in instead of sugar, which you only just about saved in time. Not to mention the pieces of egg shell he’d dropped in that you asked him to carefully take back out. Each time he looked a little more dejected at the mistakes he was making, but there was no way you were giving up on this. He wanted to do this together, so he was damn well sticking with it. Especially since you were in the competition video too – it was a matter of pride now.

Instead, you put his strong arms to good use in the mixing, which cheered him up a bit (and gave you some excellent eye candy, even if you were sure the video would catch you watching appreciatively), and in the end the dough didn’t turn out looking too bad. After cutting out the figures using the shapes that Jacob had bought, you put the gingerbread men on the trays and into the ovens. And you made sure to set a timer when they were finally in the oven. If they burnt at this point, you thought you would actually cry.

“Is it time to decide on decorations now?” he asked hopefully.

“Definitely!” you nodded.

Jacob grinned and quickly washed his hands before sitting down at the kitchen table, making you laugh. You washed your hands and joined him, Jacob pressing a quick kiss to the top of your head that made you blush.

“So the gingerbread men will need to be in the oven for 15 minutes, then we take them out and let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes, before turning them out onto those wire racks you found to cool completely,” you explained.

“And then we decorate?”

You rolled your eyes fondly at your boyfriend, nudging his shoulder, earning a nudge back. “Yes, then we decorate. Although with all of this stuff you bought, I have no idea where to start,”

Like, seriously. There were so many little packets of candy as well as tiny little piping bags of colourful icing (that must’ve come from a kit) – honestly way too much stuff – but just one look at Jacob’s face showed you that he had a plan. Oh this should be fun.

“I was thinking…the colourful chocolate buttons for their tummies, with the blue, green, red and yellow icings for their shorts which we can then pair with the matching edible glitter on top. And then gummy drops for the eyes, with a white icing smile?”

The hopefulness in Jacob’s voice meant there was no way you were countering any of that – and as it was, it all sounded like a great plan.

“Shall I do the icing parts, and then you do the placement of all the candy plus the glitter?” you suggested.

“Sounds like a plan!” he grinned.

The two of you washed up the mess that you had made so far while you waited for gingerbread to cook, only devolving into a water fight once, ending in some sweet slow kisses (that Jacob promised would be edited out of the video before it was shown to the team), and by the time the gingerbread men were cool enough, you could tell Jacob was getting impatient.

“Remember take it slow and steady – they need to look good so you win the competition,” you murmured into his ear, quietly so the camera wouldn’t pick it up.

Jacob blushed slightly but nodded, counting the candy into piles as you started the first of the icing. To be honest, they looked alright. Nothing was burnt, they were all the same size and shape, and they smelled amazing. So you were happy – they were going to taste good at least! And with your little line process with Jacob doing separate tasks to you, the decorating was taking on good shape.

But there was one thing that you were worried about. The edible glitter. Everyone knows that glitter is almost impossible to get rid of if it spills anywhere, and with Jacob’s track record, you were hesitant. But he was so excited about adding that extra winter magic to the gingerbread men that you ignored your concerns and let him get on with it. It would be fine, right?

Time to put your nerves to the test. Jacob yanked on the lid of the edible glitter, but it wouldn’t budge. As he gripped the vial and the cap with both hands, pulling as hard as he could, you felt a bad omen coming over you. But before you could say anything, the cap suddenly flew off of the glitter vial…

…and the glitter exploded everywhere.

You burst into laughter, burying your face in his shoulder at the astonished look on his face. Glitter was all over his hands, shirt, jeans, the floor and the poor gingerbread man. Holy shit.

“Oh my god,” he gasped, eyes wide.

You were still giggling as you sat upright, tears at the corners of your eyes. How did you not see this coming?

“We can still save this little guy,” you choked, picking up the figure and tapping the excess glitter off of him onto the table, “and luckily you bought so much glitter that we still have another couple of vials,”

“I’m not going to live this down, am I?” he sighed, although the laughter in his eyes made you feel better.

“Probably not, that’ll probably make some kind of bloopers reel at the very least,” you grinned, “But it was only the first one, so there’s plenty of time to make up for it!”

Jacob just grinned back at you, pecking your lips in a kiss before standing up. “I’ll go wash up, and we can try again?”

“Sounds good to me,” you nodded.

Even if your gingerbread men didn’t win the competition, even if the team teased Jacob for the glitter explosion, you wouldn’t trade these memories for anything. This was going to be a holiday time to remember forever, you just knew it.

#my writing #lauren writes winter #i hope you enjoy this K!#marky being adorable AND competitive? sign me up!#jacob markstrom #jacob markstrom fic #jacob markstrom fanfic #jacob markstrom x reader #jacob markstrom blurb #nhl writing #nhl fic #nhl blurb #hockey writing #hockey fic #hockey blurb

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