#finally a nice wholesome fic for the new year
Text
Step By Step -Old Dogs and New Toys, Part Two.
Part One
Summary:
“That’s the problem!” Vi interjects, throwing up her hands. “Cait’s mom already thinks I’m this big, nasty burden on her daughter. If –if Cait has to get me the right clothes, and teach me how to dance, and eat, and talk, and drink, and everything, that’s only going to prove Mrs. Kiramann right. Plus, Cait’s up to her eyeballs in casework. I don’t want her to have to take extra time just to teach me the ropes. I just want to be able to show up, have everything down, and… and surprise her a little. And, well, you’re the only other person up here who doesn’t look at me like I just crawled out of a sewer grate–”
“I understand why you came to me,” Grayson assures her. “Can you make weekends work?”
“I’ll make it fit.”
or, alternatively, Grayson helps Vi prepare for the Snowdown Gala and lowkey-highkey adopts Vi.
Pairing(s): Grayson x Reader, implied Vi x Caitlyn.
Rating: G for fluff and worldbuilding.
Word count: 9.6k.
You’ve always said her precinct office is something of an archaeological exhibition.
She agrees, but she thinks it’s because of the elaborate, gilded gold and blue trim everywhere –around the door frames, the windows, along the baseboards and crown molding, even along the built-in shelves that boast a scant few personal touches that she’s added over the years (a few potted plants that seem to live off spite alone, books, a couple pictures of you and her over the decades, and a couple trophies from shooting competitions). It’s regalia at its finest; a shrine to Piltover’s abundance and the institutions funded by it.
You maintain, however, that it’s because of the countless coffee mugs, case files, and old newspapers with half-finished crosswords scattered everywhere. “It’s like walking through history,” you joked the first time she’d shown you her office –though that had been a cubicle, way back in the day, when she was just a Sergeant. “Judging by the number of coffee cups and how dark the stains are, I’m going to guess the last time you slept was some time last year.”
She’d laughed then, and she laughs thinking about the memory now.
Grayson’s never been the tidiest person; she’s not terrible, but keeping up with menial cleaning when she’s knee deep in bureaucratic headaches and attempted coups by the Undercity just takes too much energy most days.
She has an assistant, now that she’s Sheriff. Lana keeps track of memos and calls, schedules her meetings, and clears coffee cups and old newspapers from her desk without complaint. Still, even with Lana’s help, her office still happens to be something of a disaster zone. Such are the hazards of often being hip deep in any variety of figurative shit.
So, when Lana opens one of the double doors that separate her office from the outside vestibule and announces that Grayson has a visitor, only for Vi to walk in, Grayson’s momentarily grateful that her office doesn’t look too disastrous. She doesn’t peg Vi as the type to mind clutter, but still. Standards, and all that.
The gratitude, however, fritters away to guilt when she catches Vi openly grimacing at all the filigree and expensive accoutrement. Can’t say I blame her. Grayson swallows, then offers Lana a smile and thanks before her assistant closes the door. “It’s good to see you, Vi. How can I help you?”
Vi jams her hands in her pockets and rocks back on the heels of her worn boots. “I need a favor.”
Grayson pauses, then pretends to glance over some paperwork Lana had laid out on her desk that morning. “Is it your sister?”
“No. It’s me.” At Grayson’s wary glances, Vi holds up her hands in a reassuring gesture. “It’s not anything illegal. It’s that–” Vi snaps her fingers until the words come to her. “That snowfall party.”
Grayson blinks, then nods when she connects the dots. “The Snowdown Gala.” She sets the paperwork back on her desk, then checks her calendar. “That’s… at the start of next month.” Shit. That’s sooner than I thought. I need to make sure my tux still fits. “What about it?”
“I…” Vi swallows, throat flexing, then looks away. “I –I don’t know what to do for it.”
“...It can be a lot to take in,” Grayson agrees, trying to reassure her, when Vi doesn’t offer any additional information. She studies Vi for a moment, then leans forward and crosses her hands against her desk. “Not that I’m unwilling to help you, but I’m certain that Caitlyn would–”
“That’s the problem!” Vi interjects, throwing up her hands. “Cait’s mom already thinks I’m this big, nasty burden on her daughter. If –if Cait has to get me the right clothes, and teach me how to dance, and eat, and talk, and drink, and everything, that’s only going to prove Mrs. Kiramann right.”
Grayson grimaces, but says nothing. Unfortunately, she’s not wrong.
“Plus, Cait’s up to her eyeballs in casework,” Vi continues without waiting for Grayson’s prompting. “I don’t want her to have to take extra time just to teach me the ropes. I just want to be able to show up, have everything down, and… and surprise her a little.” She takes a moment to catch her breath, then continues explaining. “And, well, you’re the only other person up here who doesn’t look at me like I just crawled out of a sewer grate–”
“I understand why you came to me,” Grayson assures her. She leans back in her leather desk chair, considering. It could work, she reasons as she checks her mental calendar. There’s enough time for fittings and some dance lessons, provided it can wait for the weekend. “Can you make weekends work?”
“I’ll make it fit.”
Grayson nods and smiles. “Then my wife and I would be happy to help you.”
Vi’s eyebrows spike upwards. “You have a wife?”
“I do.” Grayson grins and gestures to the picture frames on the bookshelves, then grabs a pad of paper and writes down her address while Vi examines them. “We’ve been married for… oh, nearly thirty years now. And we’ve known each other closer to forty.”
“Damn.” Vi nods, approving, then offers Grayson a crooked grin. “You scored.”
She laughs. “That I did.” She tears off the piece of paper and holds it out to Vi. “We’ll start with dance lessons, that way you can practice during the coming weeks. That is my personal address, so I appreciate your discretion.”
Vi nods, expression solemn, and tucks the paper into the pocket of her red jacket. “What about suits and shit?”
“I’ll have to schedule an appointment for a fitting consultation,” Grayson says as she makes a note to do just that. “But I should have something booked by next week.”
“‘Consultation?’” Vi’s face scrunches up. “What, we can’t just… I don’t know, go and buy one?”
Grayson suppresses a smile. “It’s not that simple, no. Shall I see you around one, on Saturday?”
“Sure.” Vi nods, then turns and walks towards the doors. She stops halfway and turns around again. “Uh, Grayson?” When she raises her eyebrows in question, the younger woman ducks her head, then nods. “Thank you.”
Grayson smiles and nods in return. “It’s my pleasure.”
…
There’s a knock on the door at a quarter past one on Saturday.
Vi grimaces when Grayson opens the door. “Sorry for being late. Got turned around a couple times.”
“No apology necessary.” Grayson ushers Vi inside, then closes and locks the door behind her. “I’m sorry for not giving you better directions.”
Her apology goes completely over Vi’s head; the younger woman is too distracted by the inside of Grayson’s home. Vi pivots slowly, staring at the decor, plush furniture, and various paintings decorating the walls. “You live here?”
“For nearly forty years.” She only got this place to make a life with you, after all. Grayson motions for Vi to follow her, then starts walking deeper into the house once she’s got Vi’s attention. “We wanted something small.”
Vi lets out a quiet, shocked laugh behind her. “‘Small.’”
Grayson grimaces, having caught her faux pas too late. “Relatively speaking.”
You’re in the back of the house, narrowing down record choices. You look up when Grayson walks into the room, then smile warmly when Vi follows. “Oh, good. I was worried you got lost.” You set the small stack of vinyls down, walk towards the two of them, then hold out your hand and introduce yourself. “You must be Violet. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Vi returns the handshake with a wary smile. “Everyone just calls me ‘Vi.’ And I’m sure the Sheriff has a few opinions about me.”
“Nothing negative, I promise.” You glance at Grayson, then wink teasingly before looking back at Vi. “Maybe a little exhausted at times, but that’s probably the caffeine withdrawals talking.”
“There’s the pot calling the kettle black,” Grayson fires back with a smirk.
You laugh, then go back to your collection of records. “So, Vi, how much experience do you have with dancing?”
“Uh…”
You bite back a smile when Vi’s voice trails off, then put a few records back on the shelf. “We’re starting from scratch, then.”
Vi’s shoulders hunch up. “Sorry.”
“Oh, no, not at all!” You wave one hand, then pull a record out of its protective paper covering and place it on the gramophone. “It’s not a problem. We’ll just start with learning how to pick out rhythm in a song.”
Grayson peers over your shoulder. “Oh, ‘River’s Waltz.’ Good choice.”
“Well, I figured a waltz would be best,” you explain as you move the gramophone arm and set the needle in place. “They always play one at the gala, and it’s an easier dance to pick up.” You turn the gramophone on, then turn to Vi once the sound of melodious strings and horns starts flowing from the speaker. “Alright, so what you’re listening for is the beat of the song. That’s the measure you’ll use to pace yourself during the dance. All waltzes are in three-four time counts.” You start clapping your hands along to the beat to illustrate your point. “Each measure in music has four counts, but a three-four count only uses three beats, then leaves the fourth as a rest –so, one, two, three, rest. One, two, three, rest.”
Vi nods, head bobbing in time with your counts. “I can kinda feel it with how the music flows.”
“Good! Very good!” You motion for her to step into the space and have her stand next to you on the rug. “So, right now, we’re just going to get you familiar with feeling that beat. Can you feel the emphasis on the first beat of every measure?”
“A little.”
Grayson watches you for a moment with a soft smile. Such a natural.
But then, that’s why you’re the Professor and she’s the Sheriff.
She picks up a book and settles in her arm chair after a couple minutes. The last thing she wants to do is make Vi uncomfortable with her staring. (Though, if she happens to steal a glance every now and then and smile at your enthusiasm, or Vi’s earnest attempts, that’s between herself and her novel.)
…
By the time the day’s lesson concludes, Vi’s advanced from finding the rhythm of a song to practicing a simple waltz.
“You’re doing well,” you assure her when Vi seems discouraged. “You’re already good on your feet. Just keep practicing and you’ll have it down handily before the gala.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am.” You pluck a record from your extensive collection, then hand it over to Vi. “This is the Snowflake Waltz. It was one of the most popular pieces written at the height of the jazz movement. It’s played every year at the Snowdown Gala as part of tradition. The steps we worked on today will work fine with the song.”
“Right.” Vi nods, looking somewhat shell shocked. She stares down at the record case, eyes wide, then swallows hard and nods again. “Right.”
“You’re going to be fine.” You place one hand on her shoulder and smile warmly. “Look, between the two of us, if Gray could learn how to dance, then you’ll be a master by the time of the gala.”
“Slander,” Grayson fires back with a grin. “I was more than adequate at the start.”
You glance at her, then back to Vi and shake your head before laughing. “You’ll be just fine. I promise.”
“If you say so.”
“You will,” Grayson agrees with a reassuring smile. She sets her book on the coffee table, then stands with a grunt. “Come on. I’ll walk you to the trolley.”
Vi blinks rapidly. “Oh –no, it’s fine. I can –thank you, but I–”
“It’s alright. Call it safety in numbers.”
Understanding settles over Vi’s features, followed by exhausted frustration. “Yeah. Thanks, uh, Sherriff.”
She chuckles as she heads towards the front door to grab her coat. “Grayson is fine, dear.”
…
The walk down to the trolley is brisk. Even with the sun still hanging in the cloudless sky, the late Autumn wind cuts through everything in its path.
Grayson winces when a particularly biting breeze tries to snake under the collar of her coat. “How is your sister?”
“She’s… coping,” Vi answers with a pained twist of her lips. Despite wearing significantly fewer layers, the younger woman seems practically unaffected by the chill; the gifts of youth, perhaps, or just standard Zaunite hardiness. “She’s gotten good marks at the Academy this term.”
“Good. Give her my congratulations.”
“Yeah –sure. Thanks.” Vi sidesteps a Piltovan man in a light gray suit that nearly bowls her over. She scowls and jams her hands in her pockets. “Asshole.”
Grayson glares over her shoulder at the man –not that he notices, since his back is to them both–then carefully places one hand on Vi’s shoulder. “And how are you?”
“I’m fine,” Vi answers quickly, automatically.
She doesn’t buy that, but a frigid stroll to the trolley is hardly the time or place to dig into one’s psychological well-being. Grayson files the topic away for later, then moves on. “I’ve scheduled an appointment for a tuxedo fitting this coming Saturday at nine in the morning.” She nearly gives Vi the address, then reconsiders. “Perhaps I could meet you at the trolley station around half past eight?” She watches as Vi tenses, chafing against the notion of having an escort (an Enforcer escort), then squeeze’s Vi’s shoulder. “For what it’s worth, I trust you. But you know how things are up here. I’d rather you not get in trouble over nothing.”
Vi scowls, nostrils flaring in irritation and disgust. “Yeah.” She glares at the ground for a few moments, then cracks her neck before asking. “Half past eight?”
“I think that would be best, yes.”
Vi works her jaw, then nods once. “Alright. Half past eight on Saturday it is.”
…
Progress Haberdashery is nestled into a towering, multi-story, sandstone behemoth in Piltover’s fashion district. Located on the first floor on the building’s front face, the window that boasts the shop’s name in elegant, swirling gold script seems like every other shop alongside it. If you aren’t looking for it, it’s easy to pass by.
Grayson knows the shop’s location by heart; she’s been a patron of the haberdashery for decades now, after all.
Agatha Wainwright is just as Grayson remembers her –short, stocky, with large, thick, round-rimmed glasses that give her an owlish appearance. Her short, steel-colored hair is neatly styled and smoothed down with pommade, and she has a measuring tape draped over the back of her neck and a pencil tucked behind one ear. She’s scribbling on a notepad, hunched over the desk behind the front counter when Grayson ushers Vi inside, but she lifts her head and turns around when the bell for the front door rings. “Grayson!” She perks up and smiles, then bustles out from behind the front counter.
Grayson grins easily, then accepts Agatha’s hearty handshake. “It’s been too long, old friend.” She glances over at Vi –who’s distracted, unsubtly gawping at the displayed suits, accessories, and photos–then gestures at the younger woman. “This is Vi. She’ll be needing a tux fitting today for the Snowdown Gala. Vi, this is Agatha Wainwright.”
Vi starts at the mention of her name, then recovers and shakes Agatha’s hand. “Hey. Uh, nice to meet you.”
The corner of Agatha’s mouth ticks up as she nods in return. “Glad to have you. Come on back with me.” She motions for Vi and Grayson to follow her, then turns on one heel and motors towards the back of the shop. “Remind me, Gray, the Snowdown Gala is considered black tie?”
“Technically black tie creative,” Grayson replies, lengthening her stride to keep up with Agatha’s quick clip.
“Oh, good.” She half turns, still walking, and gestures loosely at Vi. “I wasn’t liking black for her. That gives us options!”
“I, uh–” Vi pauses to clear her throat. “I thought the rule was ‘black looks good on everyone.’”
“Yes and no.” Agatha turns on the light for one of her fitting rooms, then ushers Vi and Grayson inside. “Yes, black is a neutral color, which means you can pair it with any other color and it won’t clash. Yes, a lot of people wear it because that means it won’t clash with your hair, or eyes, or accessories. It’s an easy color to style with. But when you get into the chromatic value system–”
Grayson smirks teasingly when Vi shoots her a slow, wide-eyed look. “You just had to get her started.”
“Fuck off,” Agatha fires back with a grin. She rolls her eyes when Grayson chuckles, then returns her attention to Vi. “In fashion, there’s a whole system of color theory that relates to a person’s skin tone. It focuses on what colors look most flattering with which skin tones and undertones. And it’s not just about hue, but also the boldness of the color. Some people can wear really bright, bold colors, and they look absolutely wonderful in them. Some people, on the other hand, either wash out or get all shadowy in the face when they wear bolder colors.” She gestures to her own face to demonstrate. “Especially around the mouth and eyes, which ages them. And black, even though it is a neutral color, is a bold color. So, for people with such skin tones, more muted shades of gray are often more flattering.” She clasps her hands together, waits until Vi nods (albeit uncertainly), then continues. “So, in your case, just at a glance–” she gestures up and down Vi “–my immediate instinct is that black would probably look harsh on you, and that a dark gray would likely suit you better. Although…” She leans back on her heels, puts her hands on her hips, then glances at Grayson. “You said she was from the Fissure?”
“I grew up in the Lanes, yeah,” Vi answers, somewhat curt.
Agatha purses her lips, then sighs. “Black might be better, then. It’s more traditional.”
Vi frowns, upper lip curling in confusion and frustration. “I thought you just said black wasn’t a good choice.”
“If we’re working strictly off what colors best flatter you, then no, probably not,” Agatha agrees. “But it’s the most traditional choice; even though it’s black tie creative, a lot of people are still going to be in black tuxedos. A lot of people are still going to expect others to wear black tuxedos.”
“It might help deflect unwanted criticism,” Grayson adds when Vi scowls. “Think of it as a precautionary measure.”
“Do you really believe that?” Vi arches one eyebrow, then shakes her head and laughs bitterly when both Grayson and Agatha hesitate. “Let’s be realistic. The color of my damn suit isn’t going to do shit. They’ll just find something else to gossip about.” She smirks, frustrated, then gestures at herself. “I mean, it’s not like they’re lacking for choices.”
Grayson remains silent. There’s not much else to say.
“The only person I care about in all of this is my girlfriend,” Vi continues, facing Agatha. “The only reason I’m doing any of this is for her. All I care about is looking good for her and making her feel like she’s the only woman in the room that matters. Fuck tradition, pick the colors that look best.”
Agatha smiles slowly and nods. “I can respect that.” She directs Vi to stand on a wooden podium surrounded by mirrors. “First, let’s get your measurements.”
…
It starts off simply enough.
Granted, measurements aren’t generally the hard part (relatively speaking). Vi holds still, cooperates, even chats amiably with Agatha.
“Got a lot of bulk in the shoulders,” Agatha comments while scribbling on a yellow notepad. “That’ll make taking in the waist… interesting.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Vi asks, glancing between Grayson and Agatha.
Agatha shrugs. “Does your girlfriend think it’s a bad thing?”
Grayson smothers a chuckle when Vi smirks. “It just means the tailoring will be a more involved process.”
“But I am a professional,” Agatha assures Vi as she crouches to measure Vi’s inseam. “And it won’t be the hardest job I’ve ever done. You have very nice lines, by the way. Have you considered modeling?”
Vi goes wide-eyed, then looks over at Grayson. “Uh…”
Grayson merely smiles and waves one hand.
And then there’s choosing between tuxedos.
“They look the same,” Vi says with a shrug when Agatha lays out five different, dark gray sets of tuxedos, slacks, and vests.
“It might be easier to see the difference when you have them on,” Agatha assures the younger woman.
Vi, in fact, does not see the difference.
“They still look the same,” she declares after trying on the fourth suit. “I mean, they look fine, but they’re all just gray, right? I don’t know, why not…” She twists, then points at a mannequin dressed in a pinstripe gray suit. “Why not something like that? The stripes look cool.”
“Oh.” Agatha looks at the mannequin, then back at Vi. “Well, we can look at something with a faint pinstripe, if you want, but that particular one is a suit, not a tuxedo.”
Vi blinks, expression blank. “...Aren’t they the same thing?”
Agatha blinks, then turns on one heel and picks up the fifth tux. “I’m going to pretend she didn’t say that.”
“Don’t torture the poor kid,” Grayson admonishes the seamstress when Vi shoots her a panicked look. “The easiest difference to spot is the cut of the lapels. You see here, how the buttons come up higher?” She gestures to the suit on the mannequin and waits until Vi nods. “Now, look at what you’re wearing.” She traces the line of the left lapel with one finger. “This section is larger and angled differently from a standard suit, see?”
“There’s also a difference in the fabric,” Agatha adds as she takes the fifth option out of its protective plastic covering. “The lapels and pocket trim are made from satin, and the buttons are covered in satin as well.”
“And that… matters?” Vi asks, face scrunching up in confusion. She glances between Grayson and Agatha when the two older women nod, then sighs heavily and sets her shoulders resolutely. “Alright.”
Vi opts to let Grayson and Agatha pick the most flattering tuxedo (in terms of color, since Vi’s take is that all the tuxedos are “gray”). “Sweet.” Vi starts to shrug the tuxedo jacket off. “Is that it?”
“Uh–” Agatha goes a little wide-eyed and gets the jacket back on Vi’s shoulders. “Not quite. We need to do some pinning for alterations.”
Vi frowns, confused, and glances between her own reflection and Agatha. “It looks fine, I promise.”
“It will look much better tailored to you,” Grayson interjects. “Trust me.”
Vi sighs again, then straightens up and lifts her chin. “Okay.”
And then, part way through deciding what alterations need to be made, Agatha has a realization. “Ooh, it’s black tie creative! We can play with color!” She looks up from Vi where she’s adjusting the length of the slacks. “What color dress is your girlfriend wearing?”
“Uh…” Vi looks towards the ceiling, then shrugs. “I think she said blue?”
“...Okay.” Agatha waves one hand. “Powder blue? Royal blue? Progress blue?”
“...There’s a difference?”
“We’ll have a color sample the next time we come in,” Grayson interjects when Agatha pinches the bridge of her nose.
Eventually, the two of them leave in one piece, but Vi looks almost haggard.
Grayson takes one look at the younger woman, then smiles sympathetically and clasps Vi’s shoulder with one hand. “Would you like to get something to eat? It’d be my treat.”
Vi balks. “I wouldn’t have the money to pay you back, most likely.”
The response activates her mind’s eye; it’s a dim, but still visible memory of one of the first times she asked you out for coffee. She hums and slows her pace as she reflects. “You know, my wife said something similar to me the first time I asked her out for coffee.”
Vi glances up at Grayson –then, the penny drops and she does a double-take. “Is she from Zaun?”
“Yes,” Grayson says with a nod. “Her family lived on the Entresol level.” She stops and squeezes Vi’s shoulder. “I should clarify: I would like to spend some time with you outside of the fitting. That’s why I offered up lunch. If you’d rather not, you won’t hurt my feelings by saying so.”
Vi nods slowly, looking away while she mulls it over. After a bit, she looks back at Grayson and raises one eyebrow. “Nowhere too fancy?”
Grayson chuckles and grins. “I think I know a place you’ll like just fine.”
…
She takes the Vi out to the fringes of Piltover, where the City of Progress starts to blend into the Promenade levels of Zaun. Things aren’t near as modernized out here. The buildings are smaller, more humble establishments made out of white-washed bricks and granite. The roofs are still blue, but the edges and various trimmings aren’t capped in gold. The roads are rougher, not quite so neatly tended to as in the city’s main districts.
She takes Vi through a marketplace, stopping as Vi gets distracted to tell the young woman about what the various stalls boast. She buys a bag of dried mango for them to share, then guides Vi down a side street to a shop where the front door is painted green.
Cheriqui’s has been around since her parents were children. She can still remember her grandmother and mother bringing her here for traditional tea services and Farsi practice on Saturday afternoons.
Grayson inhales deeply as she sets foot inside the deli. She’s greeted by a veritable perfume of spices –saffron, cumin, garlic, ginger, cloves. She’s carried back to memories of home –of her family working in the kitchen–and she smiles.
“Wow.” Vi gawks, staring at the deli case of breads and pastries, the bins of bulk spices along the wall next to the deli case, and the shelves of various foreign goods not typically found at “traditional” Piltovan markets. She rolls up on the balls of her feet, then lets out a low whistle at the sight of meat roasting on vertical spits and the grills in the kitchen behind the deli case. “Damn.”
Grayson ushers her towards the deli case. “How’s your tolerance for spicy food?”
Vi shrugs. “Everyone blasts their food with hot sauce in the Lanes. It’s the only way it tastes like anything.”
Grayson nods, then straightens up when a portly man with tan skin and a thick, silvering mustache approaches the deli case.
“Grayson.” The man raises one bushy eyebrow teasingly. “And here I’d thought you’d forgotten us.”
“I’d be hard pressed to forget you and your family, Abdul,” she replies, slipping into easy Farsi. She introduces Vi and Abdul to one another, then returns her focus to Abdul. “We’re here for lunch. This is Vi’s first time trying Persian cuisine.”
Abdul nods, expression lifting in understanding before settling into serious contemplation. “How’s her tolerance for heat?”
“She says it’s good.”
Abdul shoots a wayward glance at Vi, clearly skeptical, then holds up one finger before bustling back into the kitchen. He returns a few moments later and sets a tray with little cups of soup and a plate with small pieces of meat and bread atop the deli case. “Try first,” he explains to Vi in heavily accented English, “and decide how well you tolerate it, okay?”
“Right.” Vi stares at the tray, then looks over at Grayson. “What am I working with here?”
“It’s traditional Persian food,” Grayson explains, gesturing to the tray. “It’s a bit of a melting pot; many countries fall into the fold of Persian culture, so there are many regional cuisines. These–” she gestures to two of the soup cups “–are adasi, or lentil soups. The yellow one is milder, and the red one will be spicier. This one–” she gestures to the third cup “–is aush, or a thick noodle soup.” She switches her attention to Abdul. “What’s today’s recipe?”
“Chicken and barley noodles with seasonal vegetables.”
“It’s good.” Vi nods along, already halfway through the cup of yellow adasi. “What’s the meat on the plate?”
“Lamb,” Grayson answers after checking with Abdul. “But they have goat and chicken as well, if you prefer.”
“Oh, I’m not picky.” Vi lifts the sample dish of red adasi and smiles at Abdul. “This is good!”
Abdul beams, then nods his head in appreciation. “Thank you.”
There’s a commotion in the kitchen –the sound of quiet chatter, followed by dishware clacking. Then, footsteps approach. One of Abdul’s sons-in-law, Badir, appears with a small dish of shawarma style chicken. He places the dish atop the deli case, on the tray with the other samples. “She should try shawarma.”
“One moment!” A few seconds later, Badir’s wife –a short woman named Shohreh—jogs out of the kitchen with a small plate of pickled and fresh vegetables. “You forgot the toppings, silly,” she admonishes her husband. She rolls onto the balls of her feet to set the plate on the crowded tray, then smiles at Vi. “You take the bread,” she explains in English, holding up her hand as an example, “and then you add the meat, and then the vegetables. There’s pickled onion and cucumber, sauteed spinach, and tomatoes.”
Vi nods along as she follows the instructions, then folds the flatbread around the meat and vegetables and crams a decent bite into her mouth. She chews, and then her eyes roll back in her head. She lets out a pleased groan. “Oh man.” She holds the back of her hand over her mouth, then continues once she’s swallowed. “I could eat this every day.”
Grayson finds herself smiling along when Abdul, Shohreh, and Badir all grin.
There’s more noise from the kitchen –and then Abdul’s youngest, a son named Hashem, pokes his head around the corner. “Do you want to try a goat eye?”
“For shame!” Shohreh hisses and swats at her younger brother while scolding him in Farsi. “Don’t gross her out. Have some sense!”
“Wait, like, actual goat eyes?” Vi’s eyebrows spike towards her hairline. She looks at Grayson. “They have those?”
“The practice is to use the whole animal –or as much as possible, at least,” Grayson explains. “So, when you have the head, you can roast it whole, then break it down afterwards. Jowl meat, tongue, and the brains are all fair game. The eyes are edible, but they’re not necessarily… common ingredients, as it were.”
“Huh.” Vi mulls it over, then nods and turns back to the counter. “Yeah, sure.”
Abdul, Badir, Shohreh, and Hashem all freeze.
Abdul recovers first; he blinks rapidly, then frowns cautiously. “Are –are you sure?”
Vi shrugs. “Yeah, sure. Why not?”
Hashem laughs and sticks his tongue out at his sister, only to get shooed and berated back into the kitchen. He returns a couple moments later, though, with a roasted, cloudy, glistening eye and still attached, cooked through ocular muscles on a small plate.
“It should have a meaty flavor,” Grayson says as Vi gives the eye a once over.
“Yeah, it's the same with fish,” Vi reasons. “Tastes like what it came from.” And, with that, she plucks the eye up with her fingers and pops it into her mouth. She chews, nods, and grunts with approval. “‘S pretty good!”
Grayson chuckles, then shares a shrug with a slightly stunned Abdul.
…
They wind up in the corner of the deli, sitting at a table clad in a fine, white linen tablecloth.
They start with some yellow lentil aush, taftun bread, finely sliced lamb seasoned with spices, and a side plate of fresh and pickled vegetables. Then, Badir comes out with shawarma style chicken and a small dish of borani for Vi to try. Another family member follows a few moments later with a dish of savory saffron rice. A few minutes later, Shohreh comes out with two cups of fragrant mint tea.
“You’re going to have to roll me out of here,” Vi jokes. She follows Grayson’s lead, loading up a piece of taftun with some shawarma chicken, greens, and borani as a sauce, then folds the bread around her fillings of choice and bites down. She groans, nods, then chews and swallows before saying, “Janna, this is fucking good. I gotta tell Cait about this place.”
Grayson swallows, then chuckles. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I’d eat this for the rest of my life, if I could,” Vi says, unabashedly earnest. She takes a sip of her tea, then asks, “You’ve brought your wife here, yeah?”
“Many times,” Grayson answers with a nod. “She met my mother and grandmother here, and we’ve been here on several dates.”
“Oh, shit.” Vi glances at the reversed lettering on the front window, then frowns, confused. “Is this your family’s place?”
“No, no.” Grayson waves one hand dismissively. “No, the Cheriquis are just old family friends. My mother and her mother used to bring me here for tea and lessons in Farsi every week –to keep me connected with our culture.”
“Oh, okay.” Vi nods, mulling the information over. Then, she laughs and smirks. “Did your lady ever take you to Jericho’s?”
Grayson laughs and nods. “That she did.” She leans back in her seat and shakes her head. “It was… quite illuminating.”
“I bet,” Vi laughs. “Did you get sick after?”
“Like a dog,” Grayson answers with a grin.
Vi cackles and shakes her head. “I bet. You gotta grow up with that shit, or it just goes right through you.”
“You aren’t kidding.” Grayson smirks ruefully, then shakes her head when Vi laughs again. “She took good care of me while I was sick. And it was a good experience, in sum. It was… eye-opening.”
“Yeah.” Vi leans back in her seat. She watches Grayson for a long moment, drumming her fingers against her thigh, then asks, “Was that your first time in the Lanes?”
“It was,” Grayson answers with a nod. This was bound to come up eventually. “It was my first time in Zaun, actually. I’d only been on patrol in the Piltovan shopping district before then.”
Vi’s jaw tightens. “Why’d you become an Enforcer?”
The venom dripping from the word “Enforcer” is palpable, but Grayson keeps her expression neutral. “To be honest, it was a way out.” She shifts her gaze to look out the window, towards the shoppers passing the deli by. “My family…” She grimaces, then lets out a tired laugh. “They were planning on having me marry well. Do all the things that daughters traditionally do.” She looks down at the table, gaze scanning the fine texture of the tablecloth. “My father hadn’t come around by the time I was eighteen, so I enrolled in the law enforcement academy.”
“...Did your father disown you?”
“No. However, things weren’t exactly happy for a long time.”
Vi nods, expression solemn. “Did you get what you wanted, in the end?”
“I did.” Grayson nods and smiles. “I met my wife, married her, had a life with her, a career… I don’t think I could ask for more.”
“So, your dad came around?”
She shrugs and chuckles faintly. “More like my mother put her foot down.” She grimaces, then sighs. “I don’t think their marriage ever really recovered.”
“Shit.” Vi shifts in her seat. “Sorry.”
“It’s old history,” Grayson assures her with a wave of her hand. She sits forward in her seat and starts filling her plate with rice and lamb. “And, once I was old enough to know better, I stopped worrying about what my father thought.” She meets Vi’s gaze and smiles ruefully. “Some people just aren’t worth the stress.”
Vi shrugs, then loads another piece of taftun with chicken and lamb. “What’d your mom think of your wife?”
“Oh, she adored her,” Grayson replies without hesitation. “I think my mother liked her more than she liked me.”
Vi laughs, but it trails off into a strained sigh. She spoons more borani onto her plate, then mutters, “I don’t think I’ll ever have that problem with Cait’s mom.”
Grayson goes still. She considers for a moment, then reaches across the table and places one hand over Vi’s. “For what it’s worth…” She waits until Vi looks at her, then smiles reassuringly. “Her father likes you.”
Vi’s face scrunches up. “How would you know?”
“Word gets around. Official functions, that sort of thing. And everyone on the council is a massive gossip.” She retracts her hand, but when Vi’s despondent, disbelieving expression doesn’t lift, she adds, “Besides, it’s clear that Caitlyn adores you.”
Vi’s face goes as pink as her hair. She ducks her head briefly, then grins, crooked and bright. “Yeah. Cupcake’s really something.”
‘Cupcake?’ She quickly bites back a grin, but still makes a mental note to tell you about it later. That is precious–
“How is everything?”
Grayson looks up, then bites back an amused smirk when she sees Abdul approaching the table with yet another plate in hand.
“It’s amazing,” Vi gushes. “At this rate, I might just move in.” She takes note of the plate, then leans forward and cranes her neck. “What’s that?”
“Goat kebabs.” Abdul lowers the plate so Vi can see. “Would you like to–”
Vi nods and starts moving plates and bowls to make room on the table. “Bring it on!”
Grayson helps make space, then waves to Abdul as he heads back to the counter. “Alright, so there’s an easy way to get the meat and vegetables off the skewer. Hold the kebab on one end–” She picks one up to demonstrate. “And then you take your fork and push from the base so everything falls on your plate.”
“Right.” Vi mimics her, then stabs a piece of meat and grilled squash with her fork before shoving the food into her mouth. She lets out a satisfied sigh and slumps back in her seat.
Grayson grins. “Good?” She chuckles when Vi lets out an enthusiastic groan, then adds some pickled vegetables and onions to her plate.
“I hope your wife knows you’re here, Grayson.”
Grayson turns in her seat, then smiles when she sees a squat, white haired woman clad in a flowing skirt and royal blue blouse with gold embroidery shuffling over to their table. “Aunt Roshie.” She stands, steps around the end of the table, and greets the elderly woman with a kiss on each cheek. “It’s so good to see you. How are you?”
Despite being nearly ninety, Roshanak Cheriqui’s dark eyes are still clear and bright. “It’s good to see you, too, kid. And I’d be a hell of a lot better if people stopped asking me how I am. It’s the only thing anyone asks you when you’re my age! It’s boring!”
Grayson chuckles, then turns and gestures to Vi. “This is Vi. I was helping her with a tux fitting for the Snowdown Gala today, and I thought it’d be nice to bring her here for lunch. Vi,” she says, switching to English, “this is Roshanak Cheriqui. She opened this place with her husband.”
Vi glances between them, then blinks a few times before standing. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Cheriqui,” she says, holding out one hand.
Roshanak shakes Vi’s hand, but scoffs all the same. “Everyone knows me as Aunt Roshie,” she insists in heavily accented English. She clasps Vi’s hand and pats the back of it warmly. “You are enjoying lunch, yes?”
“Oh –it’s amazing,” Vi confirms with an enthusiastic nod of her head. “Everything tastes incredible.”
Roshanak beams, eyes crinkling around the corners. “Good!” Then, she glances at Grayson before leaning towards Vi and smiling conspiratorially. “You know, I have known Grayson since she was this big.” She gestures to her knee. “She used to come here every Saturday with Mahshid and Nasrin for our traditional tea service.”
“Yeah.” Vi nods. “She told me about that.”
“Did she tell you that she hated the dresses her mother made her wear?”
Grayson sighs and places one hand on the back of her chair to steady herself. “Aunt Roshie, I don’t think we need to–”
“One time,” Roshanak continues, undeterred, “when she was three, Grayson decided that she had enough–”
“I don’t think Vi needs to–”
“–and she got halfway out of her dress at the table before her mother stopped her.”
Vi presses her lips together and nods, though she can’t quite stop the slight snort that escapes her.
“You didn’t stop there, either.” Roshanak grins, entirely amused, up at Grayson. “Once you were older, you kept trying to sneak your tights off and get rid of them in the bathroom trash.”
Grayson sighs, resigned, and grumbles under her breath in Farsi, “They were itchy and terrible.”
“So you kept saying.” Roshanak winks at Vi, then faces Grayson. “What is it about my deli that turned you into a stripper?”
Grayson stares down at the elderly woman (who looks like the cat that caught the canary). She can feel her eyes bugging out; if you were here, she knows you’d be falling over in gleeful laughter.
Vi, to her credit, is far better versed in stoicism. She coughs quickly and presses the back of her hand over her mouth. Her shoulders and chest jump in jerky movements, but otherwise she stays composed.
Apparently satisfied with the carnage she’s wrought, Roshanak turns back to Vi. “You come back anytime you want, okay?” Once Vi nods and promises that she’ll return, Roshanak turns to Grayson and pats her arm. “As for you, bring your wife here, soon. It’s been too long since I’ve seen her.”
Grayson briefly clasps the elderly woman’s shoulder as Roshanak starts to shuffle off. “Yes, Aunt Roshie.”
“And keep your clothes on!”
Grayson closes her eyes, inhales deeply, then lets out a ragged sigh. Decades of service to the city and devotion to my wife, but that’s going to be my legacy, isn’t it? She opens her eyes, then points at a red-faced, silently snickering Vi. “Not one word.”
Vi holds up her hands in a placating gesture, then sits when Grayson does. She giggles a little, takes a long drink of mint tea, then asks, “So… Butch from the start?”
“Decidedly.” Grayson shakes her head, then drinks some tea to soothe herself. “You couldn’t move in those damn dresses. I would’ve given my left eye for a pair of trousers.” She takes another sip of tea, then adds, “I cut my own hair when I was ten.”
“No shit.” Vi cocks her head to one side, like she’s trying to envision it. “Was it long?”
“It was down to my fucking ass. It took ages to brush and braid! It was completely impractical!”
“So, you just–” Vi mimes a pair of scissors with her fingers “–had at it?”
She nods. “I took my mother’s sewing scissors, snuck into the upstairs bathroom, and started cutting everything until it was above my ears.”
“Oh, I bet that looked great,” Vi teases with a grin.
“It looked terrible,” Grayson admits with a laugh. “I think I made my mother cry. She loved styling my hair when I was a young girl.”
Vi nods, then smirks. “I tried my first side shave when I was thirteen.”
“Oh, really? How’d that go?”
Vi laughs and shakes her head. “Well, I didn’t know to cut the part I wanted shaved first–”
“Uh-oh,” Grayson interjects with a grin.
“Yeah. And, to make things worse, the clippers I were using were real fucking old, so they kept dying, like, every five minutes!”
Grayson chuckles. “Oh, great.”
Vi snorts, then shakes her head. “Vander caught me halfway through. The entire left side of my head looked like it’d gotten caught in a blender, the sink was full of hair–” She cuts herself off with a laugh. “Vander helped me finish the job, in the end. It didn’t look half bad.”
Grayson nods and chuckles. Then, she lifts her cup and holds it towards Vi. “To unconventional style choices.”
Vi grins, then lifts her cup and lightly taps it against Grayson’s.
…
They finish lunch with saffron ice cream and bamie –deep fried dough soaked in sugar syrup. Once they’re done eating, Grayson leaves a semi-comatose Vi at the table and heads to the deli case to pay the tab.
“No, no.” Abdul holds up one hand and shakes his head. “I’m not going to charge you for what we brought out to you of our own accord. It’s dishonest business.”
“I appreciate the sentiment,” she argues back in Farsi, “but we nearly ate the whole menu. It’s not reasonable–”
“As the person in charge of the business, I think I get to decide what’s reasonable.”
Grayson levels him with a flat look. “We both know that your wife decides what’s reasonable. If she didn’t, you’d still have those ridiculous sideburns.”
“They were perfectly stylish! Besides, Esther isn’t here, so that leaves me.”
“Actually, I’m pretty sure that leaves your daughter.”
“Well, she isn’t part of this conversation.”
Grayson raises one eyebrow, then leans to the side so she can see into the kitchen. “Shohreh!” she shouts. “Come talk some sense into your father!”
“What?” Shohreh’s voice echoes out of the kitchen. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing!” Abdul shouts back. “Ignore this poor, senile old woman.” He grins when Grayson glares playfully at him. “She has dementia! She’s imagining things!”
“I’m not imagining those ugly-ass loafers you promised Esther you’d get rid of.”
Abdul purses his lips together, then shuffles closer to the deli case to better block any view of his feet. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She smirks. “If you don’t want your wife to know what I’m talking about, let me pay the tab.”
Abdul places one hand over his heart and feigns a gasp. “Blackmail? From the Sheriff?”
“If we’re talking misconduct, what you’re doing could technically be construed as a bribe–”
“Oh, enough, both of you.” Roshanak shuffles to the front and fixes both of them with a stern, matronly glare. “I could hear you two from the pantry. Aren’t you two too old to be bickering like children?”
“Sorry, mama.”
“Sorry, Aunt Roshie.”
Roshanak purses her thin lips as she looks between the two of them –apparently none too satisfied with their unrepentant expressions–then scoffs and waves one hand. “Brats, the both of you. And as the co-founder of this establishment–” she turns her focus to Grayson alone “–I say our hospitality is ours to give.”
Grayson relents with a sigh (and makes a mental note to put what’s left of the tab in the tips jar Hashem has out for his Academy fund). “Alright. If that’s what you want.”
Roshanak nods, then sets a pale yellow, square box on the counter with the family name in dark green on the side. “And these are for your wife.”
Grayson peeks through the cellophane window on top of the box –more bamie and baklava–and smiles. “Thank you. She’ll enjoy these.” She considers, then says, “But I am paying for these.”
Roshanak shakes her head. “No–”
“She would want me to,” Grayson insists –because you would. She smiles when Roshanak relents with a sigh and a wave of her hand, then turns back to Abdul. “Now, what does this leave us at?”
…
She walks Vi back to the trolley, then takes a longer route home. It does a world of good –if only because she’s less likely to pass out on the couch from the sheer volume of food she ate for lunch.
You’re in the back of the house, where the two of you keep the bulk of your books and the record player. You’re curled up in your arm chair –a plush, quilted emerald green seat–with a book in your lap and a cup of tea on the end table between your chair and hers. You smile and look up when she walks in –then your jaw drops when you see the box tucked under her arm. “You went to Cheriquis?”
“I took Vi there for lunch,” Grayson defends herself. “She was a bit overwhelmed after the initial tux fitting –speaking of, don’t let me forget to sleuth out the color of Caitlyn’s dress; Agatha needs a swatch to work with.” She walks over to your chair, bends to give you a kiss, then holds out the box to you. “Aunt Roshie sent these home for you.”
“Oh, bless her.” You slide your thumbnail through the sticker holding the box shut, then lift the lid. You select a perfectly round bamie, bite through half of it, then close your eyes and let out a blissful groan. “I haven’t been to Cheriqui’s in forever and a day. And, if we’re on the topic of reminders, don’t let me forget to book a reservation there for my senior’s final’s study group.”
“I’ll do my best.” She sits in her chair with a muted groan. “How has your day been?”
You wave one hand dismissively. “Literally nothing has happened. I’ve been utterly unproductive.” You grin when she chuckles, then finish off your bamie before holding the box out to her.
Grayson holds up one hand to turn you down. “Gods, no. We practically ate the whole damn menu.”
“Oh.” You blink, then smile. “Oh. Was it Vi’s first time trying Persian food?” When she nods, you laugh lightly. “That was a dangerous admission to make. I nearly passed out the first time you took me to Cheriqui’s.”
“Vi was in a similar state to you when we left,” Grayson says. “But she enjoyed herself –and the family enjoyed her, too.”
“I can’t fathom how she wouldn’t. I’m glad they liked her, though!”
“I’ll say.” She smirks. “I think they were all impressed when she ate a goat’s eye.”
Your eyes widen, and your brows spike towards your hairline. “Yeah, that’d do it.” You laugh. “How’d she handle it?”
“Apparently, she’s familiar with fish head stew, so it didn’t faze her.”
You nod. “The food in the Lanes is definitely rustic.”
“You don’t say!” She grins when you laugh, then shakes her head. “She met Aunt Roshie, too –she wants you to stop by soon, by the way.”
“Oh, twist my arm. What did Roshie think of Vi?”
“I think she liked Vi –but I think she liked telling Vi stories about me trying to get out of my dresses and tights as a kid.” She pauses when you snicker, then sighs and adds in a resigned tone, “And she definitely liked asking me ‘what about her deli turns me into a stripper’ in front of Vi.”
You burst into delighted cackles and clap your hands together. You rock back in your chair –hard enough that your chair scoots back slightly. “She did not!”
“Oh, she did.” Grayson grimaces. “In English.”
“Oh, Janna!” You clutch at your sides as tears of mirth stream down your face. “Bless that woman. I absolutely adore Roshie.” You wipe your cheeks, then your eyes, all while giggling. “Oh, I wish I could’ve been there for that!”
She can’t help but smile, exasperation aside. “I don’t doubt it.”
Once you regain some coherency, you shift so you’re sitting properly in your chair once more and look at her. “How’d the fitting go?”
“It went alright. I think Vi was overwhelmed, though.”
“By Agatha, or by the process?”
“By the process.” Grayson drums her fingers against the arm of her chair. “I mean –I know how things were for you, at the start. You certainly know how they were for you.”
“I do,” you agree while nodding slowly. Your expression is grim, lips pressed into a tight line. “I also know that they don’t always get better on a bigger scale.”
“I know.” She sighs, weary, and folds her hands in her lap. And Vi doesn’t seem like the type to take the route of “blending in.”
The first few years of your relationship had been a brutal, rude awakening. Not just in seeing the destitution of Zaun for the first time –and being lightly hazed with what Jericho thought was passable as food–but realizing just how much Piltovans hated anyone from the Undercity.
You’d had to scrape and fight your way through university; she hadn’t witnessed it personally, but you’d told her horror stories about professors docking points because you didn’t have a surname to list on your assignments. Or marking you down during presentations because your accent was different. Or refusing to let you attend office hours without security present because they were “concerned” for their “wellbeing.”
She’d heard stories about you getting harassed at work by colleagues and bosses, only for human resources to do nothing. She’d witnessed the harassment once –one of your male coworkers had slapped you on the ass–and she’d had to go up the chain of directors and presidents as a Captain in the ranks of the Enforcers before any recourse was afforded.
She’d had extended family members sit her down for countless interventions when she’d proposed to you. They’d cited rampant crime and drug abuse in the Undercity, how you’d bring unbearable baggage with you, how your reputation and “status” would harm her career and ability to climb the ladder. Hell, she’d had ex-girlfriends come crawling out of the woodwork and try to interfere with your relationship, only to later find out that several meddling aunts had orchestrated the whole nightmare. She’d married you anyway –and sent them all notices in the mail that they were not invited to the wedding or reception.
People used to nearly walk over you in the streets. Men would catcall you, or call you a “bitch in lady’s clothing.” Women would whisper to their companions and laugh at you, regardless of whether you were in earshot or not. People would come up and talk to her without once addressing you, or even looking in your direction.
There was one glorious incident, shortly after she’d been promoted to Lieutenant, when she’d gotten a call from her patrolmen about a drunk and disorderly complaint. She’d shown up at a local shop, only to find you in cuffs –and utterly sober, no less.
She doesn’t remember much of what she said while dressing down her patrolmen. She’s heard, however, that she made one man throw up afterwards, just from sheer terror.
It’s not as bad as it used to be. The people who remember you as an Undercity hopeful aren’t really around anymore. You’ve got the right clothes, a respectable career, and several awards and accreditations in journalism under your belt. People know you as a professor now. As her wife.
Somehow, I don’t think Vi wants to be known just as Caitlyn Kiramman’s wife, she thinks to herself.
“Gray.” You squeeze her hand. “Where’d you go?”
She inhales sharply as you drag her out of her reverie. “Nowhere, really.” She clears her throat. “I was thinking about how things were for you when we first got together. How… how hard it was.”
You smile reassuringly. “It wasn’t all bad. I had you.”
Grayson smiles back, then takes your hand in hers. “I’m flattered, but we both know it was terrible.” When you wince, but don’t say anything else, she continues. “I suppose I’m worried that Vi will have a harder time of it. You…” Her voice trails off, and then she grimaces. Shit. How do I say this without being insulting?
“I blended in better?” you surmise with an arched eyebrow and a smirk.
“I don’t see Vi adopting popular hairstyles or covering her tattoos,” Grayson allows in an attempt to be tactful. “Or attending university.”
“She shouldn’t have to,” you point out.
“I know,” she agrees. “I just…” She sighs, then squeezes your hand. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt powerless like this. I haven’t missed it.”
You coo softly and cock your head to one side. “You’ve become very fond of her.”
“She’s a good kid,” Grayson admits, emphatic. “She has a good heart. And I’d hoped this city had grown out of its prejudices over the past couple of decades, but…”
“But it hasn’t,” you finish, soft and sympathetic, when her voice trails off.
“But it hasn’t,” she echoes wearily. She rubs the bridge of her nose with her other hand. “I’m so tired of the fucking bureaucratic bullshit.”
“Easy, love.” You rub small circles against the back of her hand with your thumb. “Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t.”
I’m the Sheriff of Piltover. I should be able to do whatever I damn well like. She huffs, but sets aside the mental grousing for more productive lines of thinking. “I might get a new tux for the gala.”
You blink a few times, then frown. “...Okay?”
“Vi went with a charcoal colored tuxedo,” she explains. “In all due fairness, Agatha recommended it.”
“Ah.” Your confused expression settles into a small, melancholy smile. “A non-traditional color choice.”
“I think I’ll pick up something non-traditional, too. Just so Vi isn’t the single odd duck out.”
Your eyes crinkle around the corners as your smile grows. “That’s sweet of you. What color do you think you’ll get?”
She shrugs. “Maybe silver. It’d be a winter color, at least.”
“Ooh.” Your eyes light up. “You’d look good in silver. Very distinguished.”
She grins at you. “I’m glad you have your approval.”
You grin, then wink. “I bet you’ll look good out of it, too.”
Grayson laughs, heartfelt. Then, she leans over and kisses you.
#sass writes#grayson x reader#arcane grayson#grayson arcane#enforcer grayson#happy new year everybody!#finally a nice wholesome fic for the new year#odant#grayson lowkey highkey adopts vi as her gay butch baby#pls excuse the nebulous worldbuilding#i went with some middle eastern culture -iranian specficially#bc grayson's va is iranian#but a lot of the sources i used referenced persian food and culture#and i wasn't sure if there was a region in LoL that would square with the middle east let alone iran#so i used the term persian pls don't kill me#no smut in this one sorry lmao
70 notes
·
View notes
Text
you ain't woman enough
☆ EDDIE MUNSON'S MASTERLIST ☆
❣ AGATHA'S MAIN PAGE ❣
Summary : some crazy diehard fan claims to steal your man, of course- you won't let that happen
Word Count : not too long, I hope
Warnings : 18+ Rockstar!Eddie Munson x FEM!reader, language, reader and Eddie are both (25) also they're MARRIED to each other, no use of y/n, Gareth is (18), Jeff is (20) mentions of a fan having self-harm history, the lunatic fan (I named her Delancy, she's 18) can be very invasive, disrespectful, delusional and too obsessed with Eddie, alcohol consumption, mentions of pregnancy at the end, I think that's just it tho
What to Expect : angst and fluff teehee
Note To Reader : guys, you're not going to believe this because my fever just bounced back again making me suffer once more 💀 (but I'm good right now don't worry)
Author Note : LOVE LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH- OF COURSE YOU KNOW I'VE HAD TO MAKE A FIC WITH IT ;)) (idk if I feel satisfied about this fic but here it goes)
You and Eddie have been together for ages
A bit dramatic, isn't it?
But no, seriously, it's like you spend a lifetime every minute, hour and seconds being with him
Since high school, Eddie thought it's cruel joke when you talked to him for the first time
He had a bit of time to grow on you back then, but when you finally get to know him when he unsheds his layers of showing the tough act to people at school
He is actually very sweet
That's where it all took off
You're always been there
The Hellfire Club campaigns, The Hideout sessions, the best part is that you we're also there when he got his long-awaited diploma
Wayne loves you, gosh, Eddie can still vividly remember the teasing moments that make him so freaking embarrassed when it revealed that Eddie has a crush on you
It's the most silliest confession that you both shared to each other, giggling at the same time
It's also wholesome in a way that you feel like yourself when you're with him than you're own
That's says something
You watch him grew to become one of the highest paid rock bands all of time, Corroded Coffin
Back in graduation in college, he said that he'll marry you and you'll be on his side while he's touring around the world
The words you told him never left his mind
"Always keep your dreams alive, Ed's"
You both love metal music, films, obviously certified nerds, always excited when you're both talking about your favorites
I mean- what's not to love?
"You're ready? sweetheart?"
"Yeah"
You gave him 360° turn to your full ensemble for the tonight's show
Oh, he was stunned at it, he takes a minute to process
"Well?"
"You look fantastic- I mean- hot, super super hot"
You snort "Okay, let's go rockstar"
You've prepared yourself for this since the beginning, the moment that Eddie got himself big time at a record label
You know what you're in for
You're ready to face it all, the tabloids, loads of paparazzi everywhere, awestruck fans that recognize the both of you walking in the streets of L.A
You also know once you entered this business, there's no longer privacy that you knew before
The fandom that Eddie has is like a freaking movement almost like an activist, every false lies, rumors, gossips, they defend him with his bandmates
You adore them, really, grateful for it
The head of the official fanbase of Corroded Coffin is really nice and respects everyone of you, even treat you like normal human beings
They organized parties when it's time for an occasion like Corroded Coffin won a Grammy, New Year's, when someone in the band has a birthday, it's really great
Sometimes, you wish every fan is just like that, or sometimes even not a fan, you wished they'll treat you kindly
While eating lunch with Eddie at a local diner downtown
"You know, there's a young girl keeps looking at our spot for like 30 mins now" Eddie is wearing Ray-Ban black sunglasses as he quietly speaks as he takes a sip of his coffee
You had a mouth full of philly cheesesteak as you turned around to find what your husband is referring to
There, you spot her, when you catch her eyes, she simply look away shyly
You hum as you shrug "It looks like she wants to say something"
"Oh, boy, here she comes"
Before you can react to what he just said, she's now standing to where you both seated but she gave a distance for personal space that leaves an impression to the both of you
Eddie caught a glimpse of the young girl's wrist with marks of healed pocks, you saw it too, he watches her intently but when he saw how genuine her eyes are, he knows this isn't some weird fanatic
You cleared your throat as you smile at the young girl
"Uh- hi, I'm so very sorry, if I made you both uncomfortable but I- I just want to express my gratitude, your songs really helped me a lot and ever since I stopped doing it for 5 years already and I feel a whole lot better and uh- your love story has always been my favorite- it's very inspiring and I've always been looking up to the both of you and uh- yeah thanks for everything" she leaves at that
the young girl went on and on with her slightly ducked down too shy to even look at the both of your eyes
"That's really sweet" you say with twinkling eyes as you kept your eyes on the young girl
"Wow, see- this is why I'm doing this! I will keep on making music when something like that happens! I can help people!" He beams exhilaratingly with a smile
"Eddie, haven't you realized you've been doing this since highschool?" You hold his hand across the table
"Yes, I know and I will do what I do best" he winks and you by that look
You know he's gonna make this interaction memorable
"Hey, kid"
The young girl almost can't believe the Eddie Munson called her out
"We appreciate you so much" he says as he picked the whole new latest album from his bag
Young girl is appalled, felt weak on the knees almost, you giggled at her reaction
To make everything go insane, he even signed the album cover
You hand it out to her "We're so proud of you"
She takes it with shaky hands as she laughs "I-I'm sorry, I'm freaking out inside, thank you so very much"
"You'll be the first person to hear it"
"I'll listen to it once I get home, I will never forget this day in my life!"
You and Eddie both chuckled "Treasure it, sweetie! You deserve it!"
"I love you both so much, you have absolutely no idea! um- I'll be attending your show this coming Saturday" you shyly added with a grin
You squealed as you look at Eddie with excitement, he took his glasses off
"That's very metal, dear" he makes a rock n roll sign as the kid does the same time, both shared laughs
You watched the kid happily as she runs over to her parents with the album in hand as they become starstrucked when they saw both of you, waving at their daughter
You sigh in content "Isn't that just awesome?!?" You slam your hands on the table feeling giddy
Eddie throws his head back in laughter as his mind replays the endearing interaction earlier
"My manager is going to kill me after this"
"Oh, yeah right- you weren't supposed to reveal your latest album yet"
"I doubt it she'll not spread it to everyone"
"I'll drink to that"
Turns out, both of your guts we're right, the young girl didn't leaked the whole ass album for the whole world to hear
The tour was going fantastic, the crowd roars, screams, cheers everyone is going nuts once the band came out the stage
The after-party is your favorite part when the set is done, it's just you, Eddie, Jeff and Gareth hanging out
It's like old times, the difference is that all of you are a part of public figures now
But, no, never once or anyone of you let that get into your head, you don't want to believe or let yourself be aware of that "I'm a celebrity and you're nothing" type of shit, all of you remained humble since day one
No wonder why people adored you so much
Jeff finished his degree last year, now he's got himself a babe beside him, Gareth only have 2 years left at his college
He is so sick of it already, but he won't stop until he finally graduated
"Now, I get it why- Eddie feels so fucking drained after college" Gareth groans as he sats down next to you
"But my tutoring while on the tour bus helped, right?" You gave him an sympathetic smile
He smiles tiredly "Yeah, I'm just so exhausted but I'm almost there"
"That's the spirit!"
"Man, I don't know how you do it, are you getting enough sleep?" Jeff chimes in as he drinks his beer as he awaits for his friend to answer
"I don't even remember when's the last time I got a good night's sleep"
"Your time has run out" a voice rudely interrupted your conversation
You, Jeff, Gareth turn around at the girl who is standing closer to you
Jeff and Gareth shared confusion looks to each other
"Excuse me?" You say as look at her directly
"I said he's done with you"
"Who?"
"Eddie"
Jeff makes a face and Gareth is unamused, offended by it
You tried your best to be polite as you wave your hand in front of her dismissively, maybe it's just some girl who mistakenly thought you're someone that she knew
"He doesn't love you anymore"
Who is this person? You think to yourself
You laugh incredulously as you lean forward, Jeff and Gareth looked at you and thinks why you're aren't doing anything to be mean just for once
They're watching the nicest argument ever
"You have to let him go" she says as she crossed both of her arms
"Why would I do that?"
"So, I can take him"
You, Jeff and Gareth looked at each other with knowing looks as you tried to keep your composure stable
The bartender is clearly knows what the fuck is going on and couldn't help but to bite back a laughter as well
"Ooh- okay, hot shot- gimme a sec" you say with a mockery on your voice as you bit your lip to stop bursting to any second
You kick Jeff and elbowed Gareth to stop them from snickering
"Hey, Francis" you paid for the tabs, you treat the guys for the drink tonight
"You didn't have to-"
"I insist, you always gave me fine drinks and you never let me pay? Come on- take it"
The older man smiles and sighs and muttered a small thank you
All of you go down to your rotating circle chairs, but before you left her, you twirl around with a teasing smile
She became annoyed at you, you didn't even know what the hell she's annoyed at you for
"Sorry to burst your bubble, you can't do that"
"What makes you think that I can't?" She snaps and it makes you amused
Jeff and Gareth make a teasing "Oooh's" as you flipped the guys off behind your back
"Because-" you looked at her from top to bottom
She really wasted her beauty for pulling a stunt like this?
"You aren't there yet"
You know, she ain't gonna understand that phrase because she's young, you didn't even bother to explain what it means so you turn heel and left her at it
You wiggle your fingers at her as you wave goodbye and she watches the three you finally booming the streets with the loud cackles
At the backstage, 10 mins left before the show starts
"Eddie! Stand still!" You say as you fix his outfit
"I've been performing for years and I still get nervous" he says with a unsure smile
"That's totally normal, Eddie, once you get out of there and feel all of the people energy and literally once you start singing? You'd be great like you always do" you say as you finish doing touch ups to his look
He didn't replied, he instead hugged you
"Oh" you got startled at his sudden action but you melt with it
"Thank you, sweetheart"
"Anytime, Ed's"
A frequent knock is going on the door, almost breaking it, he swung it open- he got cutt off by someone
"Alright, alright! I'll be there-"
"Where have you been?!? I've looked for you everywhere!"
"What-"
"Didn't you missed me?!?"
You lean onto your side of the doorframe with arms crossed as Eddie looked at you for help almost like he's saying "Do you have any idea who is this person?!?"
The young lady who you encountered last night meet your eyes, you swore you saw the fire ignited once you came into the frame
"What is she doing here?!?"
Eddie is so perplexed as he continues to look at the random girl and you just smirk to yourself
She reached for Eddie's hand as he became so stunned at her action and you raised both of your eyebrows at her boldness
The audacity of this person is wild
"Honey? Care to explain, please?" Eddie is obviously trying to let go of the grip that she's holding onto him
"Oh, I just met her last night and how rude of me not knowing your name- if you even had one" you sarcastically speak up, it's very comedic to watch her face crumpled up to your smugness
"It's Delancy"
"Yeah, right- Delancy!" You act like it was the most interesting information ever
Eddie is watching you with a wolfish grin, he finally understood it
"I'm here to support my boyfriend" she lOviNgLy looks up at Eddie, the situation doesn't even get worse from there as he looks at you through his bangs as he purses his lips together
"Sweetie, before you can get to him, I'll have to move over and I'm gonna stand right here"
"You can't!"
"It will be over my dead body"
Eddie finally got away from the hold as he looks at her with fake sympathetic smile with a pout as he throws both of his hands in defense
You glanced at the corner and saw the security guards probably looking for her
You lean closer as you say "So, get out while you can" you nudge your chin towards the guards and she panic as she runs away
"Oh my fucking god" Jeff jogs as he tries to catch up his breath
"Give me a minute" Gareth holds up a finger as he pants
"So, she's the girl that you little shitheads talking about, huh?"
Both of the young men nod as they chuckled slightly
"Can't believe she got herself inside" you scoff as you shake your head
"Hmm, maybe there's a way to end this ridiculousness" Eddie smirks as all of you looked at him in confusion
The show is exhilaratingly amazing, Eddie called out for you, is this his plan?
You shyly get up on the stage as the crowd cheers for your name
Once you walked closer to Eddie he pulled you in for a kiss
You're surprised but managed to recover as you wrap your arms around him as you kiss him back
Jeff whistles as Gareth clapped aggressively
The whole crowd screamed harder as Eddie pulled you closer more to him as if that were possible, you became flustered as you break the kiss from running out of breath but Eddie?!? Kept stealing kisses as you giggled
"My beautiful wife everybody!" Eddie announces in the microphone not caring if your lipstick is all over his face
"Thank you guys for the insane night! We love you! We appreciate all of your support! Take care and we'll see you soon! Keep on rockin'!" Eddie left with that as Jeff and Gareth came onto your side as they join you for a bow before all of you waved goodbye and exit the stage
The interview is happening in the morning after the last night's show
"Have you heard about the rumor? There's basically a young girl claiming your husband, Eddie, to be as her boyfriend? What is your comment about this?"
Gareth chimes in with a smirk on his face as he leans over to steal a moment in the camera "No comment" he says as Eddie, Jeff snickered as you chuckled as well
"Yeah, I did, I even interacted with her- she seems....interesting"
"Interesting for a therapy" Jeff adds as the three man crack up to his joke
"She even said that Eddie looked at her at the concert last evening" the interviewer spoke up as you can watch Eddie genuinely reacted to this
"Oh my god" Eddie rubs his face as he hides his face buried on his palms as he tries not to laugh
"Well, a man looks at things sometimes that he doesn't need, I think she's referring to what happened at the backstage-"
"I took a second look-" Eddie narrows his eyes at you
"But he's in love with me" you point to yourself ignoring your cheeks blush
"Exactly" Eddie grins as you held his hand
"She even said that the kiss that happened was a fake"
"I don't know where that leaves her" you shrug at the interviewer
"You know where you stand"
You chortled at the interviewer's remark, knowing that this will even more pissed her off
"Precisely, I know where I stand" you agree as you nod
"And there you have it, folks, The Corroded Coffin, it's such a delight to finally to get to talk to you all and the man of the hour, Eddie Munson with his wife, Jeff and Gareth the icons behind the band, Thank you for tuning in!" The interviewer wraps it all up
"Please, do invite your fans to come on over to your tours"
"it's our pleasure, to share our music around the world and all we wanna do is just inspire people" Eddie smiles at the camera while he always pulled you into his side, you love that he never fails to show you off
As the airing ends, Eddie whispers to your ear
"Let's make her even more furious" Eddie bites his lips as he could think for a conniving idea
You snorted at him with a playful smile
"Telling to everyone that you're having a baby" he winks
"Eddie!" You push him playfully on the chest but he laughs as he carries you and spins around at the studio
But he ain't wrong with that, you'll even consider it later ;))
#eddie munson#eddie munson x fem!reader#eddie munson x female reader#eddie munson fluff#eddie munson x y/n#eddie x fem!reader#eddie munson angst#stranger things 4#eddie munson fic#loretta lynn#you aint woman enough#agirlwholovesrockstarsfics#Spotify
88 notes
·
View notes
Text
RWRB FirstPrince Roommates & Neighbors Recs
All the oblivious pining, cuddly bedsharing and forehead kisses your heart can handle. Click below for my faves!
thigh'm in love with you by @cheesecurdsgravyandfries. E, 1.8k. Henry has a date.
Alex knows, because for the last four months, his roommate’s choice in soundtrack as he primped and preened before a date has been extremely consistent, and there’s no way Good as Hell, All About That Bass, and Dancing Queen playing consecutively is a coincidence tonight.
too worried to be sleeping by viciouslyqueer. G, 2.7k. Just as he’s getting ready for bed, Alex hears something in the apartment next to his – it sounds like glass shattering on the floor. Then, the voice of a man, choked up, like he’s been crying.
He sighs heavily and clambers out of his bed, shoving his feet into his slippers and opening the door to his bedroom.
and i don’t get much sleep most nights (i’m seeing you in every dream) by @autiespring. T, 2.9k. “Alex Claremont-Diaz can’t sleep.
The thing is, insomnia isn’t new. He’s been like this all his life.
The ADHD diagnosis is newer.”
two nights where alex and henry can’t sleep and one where they can (a love letter to neurodivergence)
all's well that ends well to end up with you by karish. T, 3k. “Fuck, thank you, you’re a lifesaver, Hen,” he says as he closes the small distance between them and places a faint kiss on Henry’s lips.
His lips are soft and Alex melts into it for a second before pulling away. He bumps their noses together for good measure before stepping back and grabbing his bag from the chair. When he turns back to look at Henry, he’s still standing still, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. Alex can even see a dark flush starting to spread over his face. It looks cute. Alex wishes he could–
Oh.
Oh shit.
Fucking goddamn shit.
He just kissed Henry. Fuck.
So, Kiss Me by onesmoluke. M, 3k. Just a wholesome getting together fic
Alex is a poli-sci major and he's been in love with his roommate Henry for years. Things finally come to a head when Henry makes a slightly ridiculous request.
From the prompt: "Could you kiss me? I need it for writing purposes."
the conclusion literally any normal human being would come to. by @chaa-kiao. M, 3.2k. My [21M] flatmate [20M] gives me forehead kisses when he thinks I'm asleep. How do I ask him to do it when I'm awake, too?
Henry and Alex are roommates quarantined together. Henry takes to Reddit when Alex's behavior gets too confusing for him to sort out on his own. Surely this will have zero impact on their completely platonic relationship, right?
kiss me like you've got nowhere to be by @anincompletelist. M, 3.2k. In the three years they’ve lived together, he thinks it’s safe to say that he and Alex have gotten… close. The kind of close that other people like to point out sometimes when they’re in public, and not just their overinvolved older sisters and overly suggestive friends. A few of Alex’s colleagues have made comments when Henry shows up at the holiday parties or after a stressful work day to make sure Alex is eating and staying hydrated, just the same as Henry’s clients each know little bits of odd Alex-facts that he lets slip sometimes in his sessions.
Regardless, it’s all terribly domestic, and the twinge of satisfaction Henry gets when Alex’s dates don’t go well is most definitely not appropriate, even if they are kind of in a weird, probably mostly platonic, very codependent relationship. If he’s not careful, Henry’s going to get himself so, so hurt one of these days.
Mambo de la luna by @clottedcreamfudge. E, 3.4k. Fuck. God, this is so bad. It would be so much better if he just wanted Henry for the way he moves his hips and the fact that he has the flexibility of a double-jointed yoga instructor, but instead he just wants to… hold him??? Sure, fucking him would be a nice bonus, but the one thing he wants more than anything else is to be following Henry into that room and curling around him before they fall asleep.
Henry is a stripper, Alex is his roommate. The stripping part isn't the problem.
sacred new beginnings by Standinginmoonlight. NR, 3.4k. Alex Claremont-Diaz doesn’t get sick.
Or: Alex Claremont-Diaz gets sick and Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor looks after him.
only bought this dress (so you could take it off) by @coffeecatsme. E, 3.8k. “Take off your pants, show me your dick, and you’ll see. I’ll pleasantly admire it from afar, I can even offer a few compliments about the size if you want a boost to your ego—”
“I don’t need—”
“But,” Alex presses before Henry can continue, “I’m not going to touch you because, as I made it incredibly clear, I’m not gay. So.” He waves his hands in a gesture that he hopes conveys, go on. “Take off your pants.”
Or, Alex realizes some things about himself. Henry helps.
every constellation hiding in the sky of your body by coffeecatsme. T, 3.9k. He's straight. Alex is pretty sure he’s straight. Yet sometimes he catches Henry move around the room with just a towel wrapped around his waist, he glances over to find waves of blond fallen over his forehead, he meets those blue eyes and the shy smile Henry only saves for Alex and wonders.
Or, the one in which Alex is drunk and has a lot less impulse control when it comes to Henry.
In my dreams (In your dreams) by @lizzie-bennetdarcy. E, 3.9k. He opens his mouth to tell Alex it's fine, they can stay, when Alex shakes his head. "The room is spinning. That's not fun. Alright, sweetheart, let's go home." He jumps up from the stool, and immediately lists sideways into Henry. "What will it take to get you to carry me home?"
"More than you're prepared to give, I'm afraid." Kiss me, marry me, have my children, please.
Alex is very drunk, and very affectionate, and it's becoming increasingly difficult for Henry to pretend like he isn't completely in love with him.
Play Me a Song by @three-drink-amy. G, 4.1k. Every night, like clockwork, Alex's upstairs neighbor plays the piano for two hours, giving Alex the motivation to sit and do his own work so that he can listen. One night, he leaves a letter for his neighbor to thank him for the music. When his neighbor comes to his door to thank him for the note, he finds it's the same cute guy he's been running into in the lobby.
blackout by rizcriz. T, 4.3k. When the power goes out, Alex and Henry are sitting in their living room watching the latest fantasy show to hit Netflix. Alex has his feet in Henry’s lap, and his head pressed up against the side of the couch. One of Henry’s hands is burning a hole through the thin spread of Alex’s pajama pants where it’s resting on his shin. Everything goes out like a flash of lightning, but it takes a moment for it to really register that they’re left lying in the dark.
When it does, Alex sits up, the backs of his calves pressing into the firm weight of Henry’s thighs. He tries not to think about that, though, even as Henry’s hand tightens around his calf. The moon’s shining through the window, so it’s not like they’re blanketed in total darkness, but when Alex looks at Henry, and Henry looks at Alex, the shadows drifting over his face, it feels as if all the light has been sucked out of the world entirely.
Or, Alex and Henry have a conversation by candlelight.
your name has echoed through my mind (i just think you should know) by vibrantsaturn. T, 4.6k. Still in a frenzy, Alex grabs the thermos. Says, "thank you, baby. Fuck, I love you." He raises himself on his tip toes and presses a quick kiss on Henry's lips with a hand on the back of his neck and bolts with Pez in tow. Just before the door closes, he sees Henry standing there stunned, his fingers on his lips.
They take a few steps until Alex just. Stops. "Pez, did I just-"
"Tell Henry you love him? Kiss Henry without realising what you were doing? Yes," Pez says in a daze and Alex curses. Fuck, how is he going to face Henry now?
Alex realises he's in love with Henry after playing Fuck, Marry, Kill and he does not know how to deal with it.
It Was Never Home Until You Were There by earth_to_alex16. T, 5.1k. Henry and Alex are roommates that share a bed - Henry during the day and Alex at night.
How can a connection form when they've never met?
Or, The Flatshare AU that no one asked for.
Always Where I Need To Be by @cha-melodius. T, 5.4k. Alex doesn’t even know how he does it most of the time. He’ll take his glasses off for five minutes while he’s working to rest his eyes, and somehow David will snag them off the coffee table and run off with them. He doesn’t chew them, thank god, but the slobber is bad enough. Plus, there’s the fact that Alex has to go on a search to find whatever random place he’s managed to hide them.
Except… the places the glasses end up don’t seem to be exactly random.
(Alex's new roommate has a puppy with a penchant for theft—and, seemingly, strong opinions on where Alex needs to be.)
No Sense or Sensibility by @inexplicablymine. T, 5.5k. “When and where was your first kiss.”
Oh shit.
The thing is… Alex actually has an answer to this one, it’s just a matter of admitting that it happened.
Kennedy’s. 7pm, Pub Quiz and Ice Cream. Every Monday ‘til death due us part. Alex liked his little routine, until Derryl got it in his head to host The goddamn Newlywed Game instead.
Don’t Wanna Be A Fool For You by @myheartalivewrites. E, 6.2k. Henry had always known it would come to this, in the end. That his ridiculous, unrequited, life-destroying love for Alex would always break his heart. He’d chosen to indulge it, because, if he’s being honest with himself, pulling away from Alex at any stage in their friendship would have broken him. He could have brought it forward or put if off, but the end result had always been inevitable. So he’d chosen to delay it, for as long as possible.
Not So Silent Night by @inexplicablymine. T, 6.1k. Sure, Alex can admit in the deepest recesses of his mind, at two in the morning, when the Liszt is playing forlornly like some kind of bugle call for grief, that whoever the fuck lives next to him is on another level with the keys.
Or
Alex has no idea who his piano playing neighbor is, but Alex knows one thing for certain… This means war.
But he’s always had an extraction plan in place for when it became too hard. A fake family emergency. Some last minute thing calling him to England, the details unimportant. A quickly packed suitcase and a note stuck to the fridge. He has a credit card and his passport lives in the top drawer of his bedside table, where he can get to it easily. He has an open invitation to stay at Pez’s place, or Bea’s.
Henry had always known the day would come.
Henry and Alex are roommates, Henry is in love and Alex is oblivious. And then, ONE DAY…
Dreams that Keep Me Up in the Dead of Night by earth_to_alex16. T, 6.3k. Alex gets a little too honest when he's tired.
Oxford Days by myheartalive. E, 6.3k. "Alex’s new roommate is kind of a slut.
No. Strike that. Not kind of. Definitely. Definitely a slut."
An ode to slutty Henry.
Hide and Sneak by clottedcreamfudge. E, 6.7k. Henry shouldn't be here; 'here' meaning the flat he shares with his friend and unrequited crush, Alex, who is irreversibly straight and likes to walk around in his boxers like some kind of sexy torture device.
Alex, unlike Henry, is meant to be here, and here is where he is.
On their sofa in the living room.
Jerking off.
Can be summed up by the line, "If we don't touch each other, it's probably not gay."
It's a (Birth)date by Celaestis. T, 6.9k. 5 times Henry is oblivious that they're dating and 1 time he isn't.
like coming home by Standinginmoonlight. M, 7.3k. Although he doesn’t know it yet, Alex is screwed from the second Henry signs off his email with ‘best wishes’ like a Dickens character.
Or: the one where Alex Claremont-Diaz has been in love with Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor all along.
craigslist cutie (please don't go) by matherine. M, 7.7k. Here’s the thing. Alex is simultaneously very, very smart and very, very stupid. Nora calls it the Claremont-Diaz Paradox, and every time she does, June sticks out her tongue like she’s about twelve years old, and then Nora makes a comment about what she would rather June be doing with her tongue, and – okay. Off track. Not relevant to Alex’s current predicament, which is perhaps the most damning example of the Claremont-Diaz Paradox. Alex got himself into NYU Law with flying colors and LSAT scores in the 99th percentile, worked his ass off for three years, and graduated with honors and a crippling caffeine addiction. And then, because he is an idiot, he decided to take his JD, his potential, and his mountain of student loans to his brand-new job as a public defender.
Unfortunately, being a public defender pays about as much as working at a Hot Topic. Which means that Alex really needs a roommate. Like, pronto. STAT. ASAP. He’s not sure who’s desperate enough to move into the other room in his beautiful, probably-not-bedbug-infested 700 square feet of Hell’s Kitchen, but he really fucking needs to find somebody.
Craigslist is a last resort, but it does bring him Henry.
am i homophobic? (URGENT) (PLEASE HELP) by holdinggrudges. E, 7.9k. Now, it might be pretty early in the morning and Alex’s brain functions might not be working as quickly as they normally do, but he can still put two and two together. There's a strange man in their kitchen. Henry is shirtless, rumpled, and holding two pairs of boxers. Henry and this Sam guy slept together. Which… obviously is fine because Alex is not an asshole, but he’s definitely feeling something about this development that he will examine at a later date. But of course, instead of saying something normal, you know, like a normal person would, he says, “Ohh.” Like a fucking weirdo.
or: the "am i homophobic?" roommate au that no one asked for
The Kids Are Alright by earth_to_alex16. T, 8.3k. Renovations at the LGBTQ shelter bring Henry's work into his flat with his roommate Alex.
Henry is good at his job and deeply in love with Alex.
Can he multitask?
like I do by @smc-27. E, 8.5k. They live together and work together and Henry cannot go more than a few hours without seeing Alex, and it should be a problem but it isn’t. Henry likes Alex, and when he puts it like that, he hears the part of his brain responsible for his rooting in reality begin to laugh. Hard. Like is certainly not the thing Henry feels. He’s ignoring it.
(He’s failing, but there’s an attempt.)
Obliviously Devoted by @uglygreenjacket. T, 9.3k. She looks at him in the way only June can. She's the only one he'll allow it from without a fight. "I don't know if you're ready to have this conversation or not."
His fork clatters to the plate in front of him. "What is that supposed to mean?"
June sighs a sigh of long-suffering and pinches the bridge of her nose, before she looks him dead in the eye and sets his world upside down. "You know you and Henry are dating, right?"
Alex gapes at her. Mouth hung open, eyes blown wide. "W-what?"
"I say this with all the love in the world," she says. "But sometimes, I swear, you are the most oblivious idiot on the face of the planet."
Am I the Asshole? By @everwitch-magiks. E, 9.5k. AITA for spending Valentine’s Day with my roommate instead of my boyfriend?
It’s well past midnight on a Saturday and hardly the first time Alex has scrolled aimlessly on his phone instead of trying to sleep, but it’s definitely the first goddamn time Alex has discovered his roommate has made a lengthy post about last night’s curry debacle to r/AmItheAsshole — a post that’s apparently gone fucking viral.
In which Alex and Henry are college roommates, and a few thousand strangers think they should fuck.
Baby, it's Cold Inside by Celaestis. E, 9.8k. When winter officially arrives on November seventh, it’s with a bang. Actually, the bang is due to the building’s ancient heating system failing in spectacular fashion. It coincides nicely with a cold front moving down from Nova Scotia which means New Yorkers of all stripes are suddenly getting their winter coats and hats out earlier than anticipated. It’s not usually a problem. But then their building usually has heat.
red lights (they burn us out like kerosene) by vibrantsaturn. T, 10k. "We could go anywhere," Alex says and he's not sure why he's whispering. All he knows is that this moment is going to monumental in their lives.
"Anywhere?" Henry asks, his voice low, and there's a trace of wonder in his voice.
"Anywhere," Alex confirms, a soft smile on his face.
It's Getting Hot in Here (So Hot!) by Celaestis. E, 10k. Henry’s firm and unwavering belief in Alex’s hetrosexuality does wonders for their relationship. He can coexist with Alex in the same lobby for entire half-minutes at a time while checking for post, he can make solid eye contact during glances in the hallway. Alex is still the most beautiful man he’s ever beheld, and maybe Henry’s hook-ups are tending towards the Latino types more than they ever did in the UK, but still. Alex is straight. Henry is fine about it. Really.
or,
3 times when Alex takes Henry on a drive to get him out of his head over the years, and the one time Henry does.
you turned a moment (into forever) by viciouslyqueer. M, 10k. Sharing an apartment with Alex had seemed like a good idea at first. They’re best friends, prices in Brooklyn are absurd, and they had both been in urgent need of residence – it only made sense.
Except for the small, tiny, teeny, barely there fact that Henry has been in love with Alex from the first moment he laid eyes on him. And the fact that Alex doesn’t know, and can never find out.
Or, as coffeecatsme so eloquently put it: Roommates AU where Alex has insomnia and slips into Henry’s bed every night because it’s the only way he gets a good night’s sleep.
How to say 'no' to Alex Claremont Diaz (is a book Henry definitely could not write) by TwinMoonSun842. T, 10k. What do you do when you are very gay and your best friend/roommate/secret crush Alex Claremont Diaz asks you to help him out by letting him put a few hickeys on your neck? What happens when you like that a little too much? How do you go back to denying that you're pining for him when know what his lips feel like on your skin?
These are questions Henry would very much like the answer to.
take me out, and take me home by weather_stained. T, 11k. They’ve only been living together for two months, since Alex moved to the city for law school. Henry's Brooklyn apartment was a short commute to NYU, and the price was unbeatable, so he agreed to move in without even meeting the man in person. He was nervous, at first, to share close quarters with a stranger, but it’s worked out shockingly well; Henry is kind and considerate, and they mostly leave each other alone.
He’s also quite obviously gorgeous, and Alex doesn’t know why there isn’t a string of men coming and going from Henry’s room at all times, or perhaps one steady man. Inexplicably, Henry seems to have been single since Alex moved in in August.
AKA:
5 times Alex doesn't realize Henry's in love with him, and 1 time he gets a clue.
Lay Me Down in Sheets of Linen by He_is_half_my_soul. E, 14k. Alex may hate Henry's guts but when he gets thrown out of his apartment in the middle of fucking winter and with no warning at all he offers to room with him until he finds another place to stay. He is not a total monster.
Pour Your (He)art Out by @athousandrooms. E, 17k. Sometimes, after particularly rough nights, Henry will switch his first Earl Grey of the day for a latte. Alex learns this a month into knowing him. That’s not the only shock of the discovery, though.
“Oh my god, how are you real? Who does casual latte art for themselves on a weekday? Before you had coffee?”
Apparently Henry used to be a barista. Alex pokes at him, tells him it looks easy.
Henry raises his eyebrows, mouth curved at the corners like it’s guarding a looming laugh. “Would you like to try?”
A challenge. Alex loves those.
Or, five times Alex makes questionable latte art for Henry, and one time they make it right together.
just a figure of speech by @congee4lunch. E, 17k. henry, an omega, hasn’t had good sex in a long time. as his alpha roommate and friend, alex can help with that. in a totally platonic bro way, of course.
Five-Drink Henry by @whimsymanaged. E, 18k. Henry’s mouth opens then closes. He can feel a flush creeping over his cheeks, but he does his best to ignore it and hopes Alex will too. “Oh. Hello. Sorry, I’m—hi. Thanks for inviting me.”
Alex’s smile only grows, and he steps back to let Henry in. “You’re the first one here. Lucky me. Come on, I’m getting some margaritas going.”
Or, Henry’s new neighbour is a party-throwing, margarita-making menace, and Henry’s helpless against his charms.
What If (We Were Roommates) by Krissielee. M, 35k. "HOUSE/PET SITTER WANTED"
Alex never expected this when he replied to that ad.
(Alternative summary: Oh my GOD they were roommates)
Speak for Yourself by @welcometololaland. E, 106k. Alex could have walked out of the Williamsburg apartment at any time. Instead, he decides to sign up to twelve months of Henry.
OR
Alex makes a rash decision and Henry inexplicably runs with it.
(The "accidental housemates" AU that literally no-one asked for).
(Art by @stardisnight - chapters 7 and 12)
I only tag an author once per post, but I'm still figuring out firstprince author handles. If you see one I may not know or find a broken link, please give me a heads up!
Master List of RWRB FirstPrince Recs
Master List of Recommendations
89 notes
·
View notes
Text
red, white, and royal blue (rwrb) fic recs (part 4)
other rwrb fic recs here
other fic recs here
personal favorites are starred, by the way.
everything is complete unless stated otherwise.
since the first 3 were well-liked, here are a few more of my favs.
*Turning of the Season by indomitablelove (~5k)
‘What’s going on, Philip?’
And then, Philip slumps. His head falls into his hands and his back curls in on itself, his palms cover his face and he pinches at the bridge of his nose. When he looks up at Henry again, he looks like a different man, broken. ‘I have to know,’ he says quietly.
Henry's brow furrows. ‘I have to know who it was,’ Philip says.
A few weeks after the emails, Henry and Philip talk, and Henry looks forward.
it broke my heart most how philip was henry's enemy in the book, i just wanted some wholesome sibling feels (bea's the absolute best!), so this is a little fix-it, i guess. post-canon btw.
Redemption by MaryaDmitrievnaLikesSundays (~3.5k)
Bea sighed. She looked just like how Philip felt: drained, angry, and exhausted.
”What if you had never been allowed to marry Martha?” She asked. “What if you’d been forced to sneak around, and suddenly, in spite of how hard you worked to keep it quiet, you’re both in a load of trouble for it, and everyone is screaming at you, and she is crying to you and you can’t even comfort her because you’re still not allowed? How do you think you’d feel then?”
Philip was silent for a long, long moment.
Bea gave him one more glance as she opened the door to the dining room.
”Read the e-mails, Philip. And try to understand.”
Or, Philip says some very bad things, does some very bad things, reads the e-mails, and finally, finally, finally understands.
another philip does better fic. warning for homophobia at the beginning, please please please always read the tags.
I can't breathe, if you're not there by softcinnamonroll (~2k)
One moment, Alex was laughing at some joke Henry had made, and then the next there was a loud noise from the TV and the livestream cut out, leaving Alex alone in their dark living room. At first, Alex was sure there had just been a power cut, or some technical difficulties that caused the stream to cut out, but then the messages and BREAKING NEWS notifications started pouring in.
BREAKING NEWS: Explosion at Prince Henry of Wales Charity Event. Casualties Unknown.
read the tags please, it has some things that may be triggering.
Powerless by floatingaway4 (~3k)
“Do you know what I’ve had to put up with in the last twelve hours?”
Henry wants to point out that in that same twelve hours he’s had his body sliced open and an organ removed, but this doesn’t seem to be the time. He also got to sleep through his experience, while Alex was very much awake while dealing with Henry’s family. And Henry got the nice drugs, while Alex looks like he could use a drink.
sex ed in 6 steps by coffeecatsme (~9k)
“Please tell me you used a condom, Fox,” Alex drawls out, leaning against the wall, and Henry chokes on his next breath.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re gonna tell me all about this tomorrow, but for the love of God, tell me you used a condom and we won’t have mini Henrys on campus anytime soon.”
Or, 5 times Alex thinks Henry's straight and 1 time he finds out the truth.
Or, 5 times Alex jokes about Henry's sex life and 1 time he gets to be a part of it.
college au where they are roommates and alex is oblivious.
Let's Finish What We've Started by andrealyn (~16k)
When Alex fell in love with Henry, his dreams changed into something new -- still bright, still exciting. Eight years on, Alex is running for the Senate and taking those steps to achieve those dreams, but something feels off in his marriage and Alex can't really explain if it's in his head or whether he and Henry actually have a problem. In the midst of a busy campaign, eager to show Texas what he can do, Alex also has to ask himself -- is it all worth it if Henry isn't at his side?
future fic.
If you feel the way I do by everwitch (~2k)
It's apparently true, what they say about soulmates. Once your sixteenth birthday has passed and you find yourself in their presence, close enough for your soulbond to come alive, you'll be able to feel it. You'll simply know.
Henry knows, all right.
He opens his eyes, his heart beating madly in his chest as he looks across the cafeteria. His gaze is drawn to a presence that he can feel so completely, now, almost like it's become part of himself, like a piece he's been missing. He blinks, slowly, as he meets the wide eyes of another boy.
It's Alex Claremont-Diaz.
Henry's breath hitches. Fuck. Oh, fuck.
high school soulmate au, it's super cute.
*she's a (rock & roll survivor) by loyaulte_me_lie (~3k)
"Good for you," Stevie Nicks says, "the world needs more rock and roll princesses." // the (un)making of Beatrice Fox Mountchristen Windsor.
BEA NEEDS MORE SCREEN TIME. tell me why this had me sobbing at 1 pm. i adored her before, but this fic made her so heartbreakingly human, i can't help but love her now.
#red white and royal blue#red white and royal blue movie#rwrb fic recs#rwrb fanfiction#rwrb fanfic#rwrb movie#rwrb#alex claremont diaz#henry fox mountchristen windsor#royal's rwrb fic recs
82 notes
·
View notes
Text
♥️ Billy Hargrove Masterlist ♥️
This is a masterlist dedicated to things I've written about Billy Hargrove.
Check out my Prompt List and my Character List in my Masterpost which is pinned for more info on who I write for and some inspiration for requests.
Asked Out:
Summary/Request: “Meeting billy for the first time? Maybe the reader is dustins sister or something. They could go on a date etc?”
Favorite Pain:
Summary/Request: “prompt 7 and 14;) with Billy Hargrove, do whatever it is you please!!"
Ass Is Grass:
Summary/Request: “billy hargrove - enemies to lovers with prompt 17?? <3333"
Make Me Stay:
Summary/Request: “Billy and the reader having a fwb relationship but he's not really nice or gentle, more just using her and she finally has enough of it?"
I'm A Gentleman Now:
Summary/Request: “the little thing you wrote about Eddy comforting reader was so cute!!! sooo naturally my mind wandered off to Billy immediately and now I would like to request the same prompt, but with him :))"
Not Afraid:
Summary/Request: “CAN YOU PLEASE DO BILLY HARGROVE W THE PROMPT 'I'm not afraid of you.' PREFERABLY NSFW?"
Gentle:
Summary/Request: “can you do 18 and 21 from your prompts list with billy hargrove🤍"
Don't Believe You:
Summary/Request: “So... Can I ask about prompts 2, 8 and 21 with Billy Hargrove please? Like, the reader have a pretty heavy life trying to be perfect for her family, and stuff."
Heroic:
Summary/Request: “billy opening up to the reader abt his childhood, and the reader comforts him?"
Precious Cargo:
Summary/Request: “Following the move of the Byers, with El, to California and everything that happens with Vecna, the reader and Hopper move back into his Cabin in the woods, taking the time to fix it up. She has trouble adjusting, even after the years of being free from the lab, she still struggles to fit into the puzzle that is Hawkins. But with the new friends she's made while attempting to save the world and the object of her attraction, Billy, she begins to understand what it's like to be an actual 18 year old, not a lab rat."
Like This:
Summary/Request: “I'm literally obsessed with how you write soft Billy, so I would like to request a little fluff/angst/soft-in-general fic with Billy and trope 1 (There's only one bed)"
Loving This:
Summary/Request: “FUCK man like imagine eddie or Billy hitting it from behind, hand fisted into your hair or gripping your shoulder to force you back into their thrusts 🤤 or them leaning all the way forward so their chest is pressed against your back and whispering dirty words to you🥵"
Bitten:
Summary/Request: “Billy would leave such dark hickys and bite marks along your neck and thighs so when you wear shorts or skirts they're visible and he'd cover ABSOLUTELY every inch of your chest with hickys 🤤 making sure everyone knows your his"
Backdoor:
Summary/Request: “Okay but a fic of reader and Billy doing anal…..?"
Seething:
Summary/Request: “Billy finding out that the reader gets hit by their parents because the parents are drunk?"
Worth Your While:
Summary/Request: “okay okay, but after Eddy and Steve,, what about Billy cumming too fast ??"
Overstimulation:
Summary/Request: “PLEASE im begging you to do something with billy being submissive and the reader edging/overstimming him and maybe possibly having a slight mommy kink 🙏 this inspired me im on my hands and knees rn"
Devour Me:
Summary/Request: “prompt number 17 wirh billy pls!!"
Purely Wholesome:
Summary/Request: “i love your work !! can you maybe write something with billy? like maybe the reader acted the whole day like a brat, teasing billy and now he gets to punish her and fuck the attitude out of her?😩"
Gentleman Nonetheless:
Summary/Request: “22, prompt list, billy Hargrove, nsfw"
Little Things:
Summary/Request: “ic with Billy where you and him have been in a relationship for a little while and one day you happen to find out that all this time he’s held onto all kinds of little things you have him. Like for example little notes you wrote him in class, or receipts from dates, maybe things you don’t even recognise anymore. You had never expected Billy to do this, yk, cause he’s Billy."
Enemies:
Summary/Request: “OMG CAN YOU DO AN ENEMIES TO LOVERS W BILLY HARGROVE?"
Gain or Lose:
Summary/Request: “Could you please do a Billy Hargrove fluff of the reader being insecure of their looks as their mother is pestering them to continuously fix themselves up please and thank you?"
Feisty:
Summary/Request: “lifeguard billy x reader one shot? Like he’s all touchy and kissy with her even tho he’s at work and maybe a bit steamy? And he makes sure she knows that he only had eyes for her and doesn’t give a shit about the others (moms in particular lmao)"
Twelve Pack:
Summary/Request: “Hi I was wondering if you could write about Billy and reader having the biggest argument in their relationship but in the middle of the argument the reader gets an anxiety attack?"
Bloody and Broken:
Summary/Request: “recently i’ve been a little bit too interested with billy hargrove fics pfft but i wanted to mix two things from the prompt list and wanted to see your take with it:) 22 and 10"
Abandoned:
Summary/Request: “I peeped into your prompt list and was inspired to request a Billy Hargrove x fem!reader fic 👀"
Sacrificial Lamb:
Summary/Request: “billy x reader fic where the reader has this negative idea of billy bc she heard rumors that he was just a terrible person, but they end up being forced to spend time together for whatever reason."
Pull Over:
Summary/Request: “Hiii! Can I please request Jealousy/Friends with Benefits with The Prompts 'Make Me”with Billy Hargrove please"
NSFW Alphabet
147 notes
·
View notes
Text
I’ve been in this fandom since March 2022. If you’re like me, you’ve read a good chunk of the fanfic that’s been published, and you have a hard time finding new stuff that’s to your taste. In honour of this, here is my rec list of the fics you definitely want to read but may not have come across!
✨My Gentlebeard/Blackbonnet Fic Rec List✨
Smutty (E)
Short (<4k)
The Good Plan by TheMewsAtTen: Stede treats Ed to some devoted stress relief, including hair brushing. A good cozy read. (4k)
Only You by gayasstheythem: Stede plunders a fancy blindfold in a raid and the sex is kinky but also really wholesome. Lots of tears and laughter and healing. (3.9k)
Mid length (4-8k)
Are You Lonesome Tonight? by RoughWinds: Ed and Stede have some kinky married roleplay sex where Stede plays a neglected housewife and Ed plays the next door neighbor that stepped up. They are achingly in love. (6.5k)
Smoke Signals by Spicy_Soldiers: Ed seduces Stede with some sensual cigar smoking. The imagery is so sexy and vivid that it’s almost dreamlike. (4.7k)
Won’t Rush It Along by camerasparring: Ed and Stede have marathon sex to figure out just how many times Stede’s magic dick can go. Very hot and silly. (6.9k (nice))
Of Oils & Jealousy by @kipli: Stede starts a line of scented olive oils (as he would) and the two of them go to the Republic of Pirates in search of a seller. They meet a pirate that’s a little too happy to meet Stede; Stede is blissfully ignorant of the man’s advances. Insanity ensues—including wild possessive sex. (4.7k)
Friendly Competition (Blackbeard Always Wins) by @cufeilidh: Stede and Ed disagree on who’s turn it is to service top and make the decision with a sex game. This fic makes me laugh every time because it’s so on brand. (4.9k)
sunflowers in the kitchen by dardreamcrash: Ed and Stede pretend to bicker like a married couple in a home goods store and then they go home and fuck nasty about it. Totally absurd and extremely cute, classic over the top in character insanity. (7k)
Long (>8k)
It Was Yellow and Pink by Bazzle: Ed confides that he misses when things were easier and simpler between them, so Stede stages a roleplay to fulfill his desire. Sweetest most healing sex ever (warning tho: undernegotiated kink). (14.9k)
A Sunday Kind of Love by WellSussed: Stede keeps trying to propose but Ed’s busy work schedule gets in the way; when their time tables finally align, Stede spoils Ed with a New Year’s to remember. Another one that makes my heart explode. (8.8k)
Spicy and Swearful
The Kissing Game by veeagainst: Set after s2ep5, Ed comes up with a kissing game as a way to take things slow with Stede. It works until it doesn’t, complete with lots of pining. (8k, M)
Other Delicacies and Delights by reddiegays: Stede and Ed spice up their married life by flirting across the bar they co-own. (1.3k, T)
Continue to Continue to Pretend by skeletonsandroundabouts: reunion fic written pre s2, but in tune with s2 tone. Stede stumbles upon a sulking Ed in a bar and they pretend not to know each other. Stede is a bombastic menace who thinks the ruse is working, but Ed is also a dumbass. Makes me laugh out loud every time I read it, and the character voices are perfect. (4.8k, T)
Fluff
Permanent Ink by insidethevoid: Ed is the cool distinctly tattooed step dad. Hijinks ensure when Alma wants to be cool like him. (5.2k, G)
Thy, Sweet, Love Remembered by @kazoo-world: Ed and Stede promise to always go to sleep together. It’s always the perfect remedy for the day’s frustrations. Look, yes, I wrote this and I’m biased, but every time I read it I can’t stop thinking about how mind blowingly cute it is. (1.1k, T)
Modern AU Meetcutes
Our Tesco Means Death by shipmates: Stede gets a job at Tesco after leaving his old life and notices and is noticed by his kind and smoking manager, Ed. Reading about Stede trying very hard to impress Ed by shoplifting makes me laugh rambunctiously. (21k, G)
the happiest place on earth is here (with you) by @medievill: Stede and Ed strike up a whirlwind romance at Disney World with Ed showing Stede around his usual haunts. Equal parts heart-wrenching and heartwarming. (33k, M)
Unlocked by @festiveferret: Newly divorced Stede accidentally breaks into rockstar Ed’s apartment thinking it’s his own. They fall in love as they hang out together. Ed has two beautiful and perfect guard cats and Stede is perfectly in character levels of insane. (15.5k, T)
10 notes
·
View notes
Text
BIG tuesday
i skipped last tuesday because i was working on a take-home exam and simply did not have the time nor the inclination, so: beefy tuesdaypost today!
listening:
my brother recommended 'dead magic' by anna von hausswolff and boy what an album. gothic, punchy, very vibey. the kind of album you let wash over you like an ocean wave.
pulled 'mostly kosher' from my to-listen list. fun, funky, very jewish, good vibes.
ikh hob dikh tsufil lib
i've continued to mainline borodin symphonies 1 & 2. idk they're just hitting right.
and the new pieces for the orchestra i'm in - very french this time round:
debussy's fêtes: kinda spooky and ominous and also fluid in a fun way! lots of buildup that seems to resolve into nothingness. horn parts for this are pretty good, not too difficult but are definitely Heard.
chabrier's españa: really bumpin horn parts. fun bouncy motifs. what's not to like.
pocasting-wise, i'm up to partizan 38. 10 episodes left!!! the home stretch!!!!! it's so good but things are definitely amping up in the end-of-fatt-season way.
i've also listened to my friend b's gotham tv show podcast 'jim gordon must die'. very good and funny. i laughed out loud at some of the episode 3 descriptions.
reading:
i was stuck in Bad Airport Times this past saturday (flight delayed 3 hours, then sat for an hour on the tarmac, arrived at 10pm when i was originally supposed to arrive at like 630) so i blasted through all ~150k words of 'freefall' by Kunoichi21 and xoTsundoku. bog-standard mafia au, but with a fun little circus arts twist; fun background fengqing; i do not like that they made beefleaf wholesome. give me my toxic beefleaf god damn it. but otherwise it was a fun read, sappy romcom-style. the fic itself isn't quite done but it's in endgame. the author notes have peak fanfic culture energy of "hey guys! sorry i didn't update, i started nursing school and my dad died" bro .... ;___; goddamn. please take care of urselves
watching:
we are almost done with kill la kill! last two eps!!! so tonight we're doing that and also watching last week's dunmeshi together.
friend and i finished comrade detective. incredible. no notes. so funny. we started 'endeavour' which is a detective morse prequel thing and goddd the british-isms, and also started serial experiments lain. i don't know what i was expecting but god it was not this. i literally thought this was a cute fun hacker mystery show in the energy of cowboy bebop. it is Not That. not even close. it's good though i'm enjoying it. currently staggering through life going uhhhhh like lain does in the first few eps.
playing:
fallow. i am re-installing disco elysium on my computer though. ive been wondering if i should try to keep going on the save file from last year or if i should just start over because i barely got in there at all.
making:
many things. pottery!! some good some not as good.
so this design came out SO nice but the underglaze is so gd streaky! i hate it !!! i don't think it's really fixable either, i tried the hairspray trick to put new solid glaze over top the inside so at least that would look less like shit but i could not get it to work. maybe sanding it down? idk. it's ugly. it was supposed to be a bright teal but the woman who runs the studio mixed the batch up wrong so it's like. a really drab gray and not in a fun or intentional way. idk.
some new bisque:
teacups came out! still mismatched but cute nonetheless! gonna do them in a sort of celadon-type color with white flowers to match the teapot that my SO has :)
i don't feel like adding more photos for these lol they're very boring. the pot for my mom came out fine i think. gonna go in with normal white glaze over top to paint in some trees or other botanical designs. i sponged the underglaze on so hopefully the final result won't be streaky. sponged red on my seder plate to hopefully accomplish the same thing. mugs came through the bisque with no issues but i didn't do anything fun with underglaze on one of them so no new pics of that, but the other i did this tree thing again:
i KNOW it'll be streaky as hell. i just know. so i'm considering how i want to do it. perhaps putting some slightly transparent green over the top of it all to meld it together? unsure.
some new stuff:
made a citrus juicer, this was attempt number 2 and just barely got it to work, attempt 1 was a total disaster. also made another mug type object, hopefully it'll still be wet enough this weekend to slap a handle on.
two mugs with red clay, i really loved the lascaux mugs that jessica bartram put up for sale last year but i didnt snag one in time so i was like. fuck it. i will make my own. gonna let them dry to leather hard before going in with black underglaze.
i've been trying to draw again but. idk. i just feel very uninspired. i start drawing and it's like :| :| :|
eating:
i was on my own food-wise for much of the last week because my roommate was babysitting for the rabbi, so i did not eat nearly as extravagantly as i normally do, LOL.
i made a lo mein recipe that was kinda just a stir fry. this could have been my fault because i added a bunch of extra shit like bok choy and mushrooms. i also didn't use the correct type of noodle, and i didnt have oyster sauce so i used worcestershire, etc. many substitutions so it's probably not fair for me to say it was Just Fine. will have to try again at some later date actually following the recipe.
herb and radish salad with feta and walnuts: delicious. 10/10. i tossed in some extra arugula and that was also good.
and i made the tofu brussel sprouts tahini/hoisin sauce thing again because it's easy and tasty.
misc:
visiting my grandma right now ...... entrenched in the ennui .............. spring break ........................
8 notes
·
View notes
Note
Hi! I’m not really feeling well since I’m bedridden sick, and I was hoping if you can make a MoonKnight one shot, where Marc & Steven take care of a teen! Reader whose like Eleven from Stranger Things, and she’s having a nightmare about her past and the boys comfort her.
I just think it would be really wholesome and cute
We’ll never let you go back there again
Hiya! I hope you feel better soon ☹️❤️🩹
Thank you so much for this idea it was so sweet and I almost cried writing it haha. I’m sorry if the intro is a bit long tho lol I tried to put a bit of character backstory for the reader and it ended up being a little longer than I intended it to be. I do hope that’s ok (I put a marking of where the actual fic starts). It’s angsty with comfort in the end. I hope this can help you feel better and that you take good care of yourself. ❤️ (also I want to mention that I tried making the DID as accurate to how it’s shown in the show as possible. I don’t want any inaccuracies so if I did anything wrong or messed anything up please let me know so I can do better).
You only started out as some kid from the streets. You had lost your parents at such a young age. Your mother was exposed to unnatural substances that made her very ill and she died giving birth to you, while your father died not long after due to heartbreak. The doctors were scared that you would end up with physical abnormalities due to the unnatural substances, but it was, in many ways, so much worse. They noticed a lot of weird things about you when you were dropped off at an orphanage. It wasn’t until you started making things float that they realized something was seriously wrong.
You then got sent to a lab where you were tested. They were horrible tests. Sending electrical currents to the pain receptor area of your brain just to see how it would trigger your abilities, forcing you stay awake for days in order to be able to test your brain activity and see what happens to it if you didn’t sleep. But no matter how painful the tests were, no matter how much you would scream and cry, or even beg them to stop or even let you rest, they wouldn’t allow it.
You finally ran away when you were old enough to figure out how. You were only about 15 years old and struggling to keep yourself alive. But a year later a man found you. He had said his name was Steven and seemed very worried. You recoiled from him when he tried to touch your hand. You almost ran away. But you eventually you learned to be able to trust him and went with him to his home. You soon after met Marc, who was just as nice. They had given you what you thought you could never have. You were given a new name, your current one, that had kept you well disguised and hidden from the labs system. You also soon got used to the system between Marc and Steven. They gave you so much unconditional love.
———
One night you found yourself back there again. You were being dragged by a man in a lab coat, right down the hall you had been down so, so many times before. You knew exactly where you were headed. You tried to yank your arm out of the man’s grip but it was like trying to break out of stone. When you turn your head, you notice a familiar black silhouetted figure far behind you. “STEVEN! STEVEN! MARC! HELP ME!” You begin to scream at it, with tears streaming down your face. How could they have let you gone back there? You thought you could trust them. You kept shouting their name, hoping any of them would be able to hear you.
Then suddenly you found yourself jerking awake, realizing you had been screaming their names out loud in your sleep. You still felt a hand around your wrist and desperately pulled at it like your life depended on it. You were hyperventilating and trying to get away from whoever had you.
“Hey, hey! Love, don’t worry it’s me! It’s just me!” You recognized the British accent in the darkness and felt yourself calming down slightly. Your breathing slowed as well. You whole body was shaking uncontrollably. You realized you were drenched in sweat and that your face was wet from crying. Steven then turned on the lamp on the bedside table and you were finally able to see him better.
“Are you alright?” Steven asked gently. Upon hearing those words you felt fresh hot tears beginning to fill your eyes and roll down your cheeks. You let out a sob as your shaking body fall into Stevens lap. He just strokes at your head comfortingly and makes soft shushing sounds as he lets you cry for as long as you wanted.
“Love, what happened?” Steven asked, his voice full of worry, “You were shouting to Marc and I for help so we ran here as fast as we could.”
You just keep crying as you clench at his pajama shirt. Then Marc Spector fronted, “That’s alright kid,” he said as he continued Stevens head stroking, “you can tell us when you’re ready.”
When you finally start to feel a little better you grab to hold his non head stroking hand and try to tell him.
“I-I had a h-horrible d-dream…” you say with a weak voice, “I-I d-dreamt that I w-was b-back t-t-there. A-and t-that y-you l-left…” you start to sob again into his shirt.
“Oh.. Y/n… I’m so, so sorry you had to revisit that wretched place again…” Marc said sadly, “Please remember that we love you and we would never even consider making you go back there again.”
“But don’t you worry, Y/n.” Steven said with a soft smile as he fronted again, “we will absolutely NEVER let that dream come true, even if it’s the last thing we do. Never ever will we let that happen, and that’s a promise!”
With those words you calmed down a bit more and stopped crying. “W-will you s-stay with me?” You ask as you wipe the tears away. “Of course. As long as you want us to.” Marc said with a smile. He slowly lay you back on the bed and laid himself down next to you as he cuddled you in his arms. Soon the two (three) of you had fallen asleep. You didn’t wake up again from anymore nightmares that night.
#sprite🥤#fanfiction#moon knight#moon knight marc#moon knight steven#moon knight fanfic#moon knight fanfiction#marc x teen!reader#steven x teen!reader#marc and steven#marc spector#steven grant#marc spector angst#marc spector x reader#steven grant x reader#ptsd!reader#sad!reader#marc x sad!reader#steven x sad!reader
102 notes
·
View notes
Note
I just watched the new games video and can we talk about the Chamanda dynamic? Like Changela and Amangela are power duos, but I really enjoy Chamanda? On smoshmouth they're old girlfriends catching up with some wine and on board af they're the petty aunties fighting during game night. Their episode of reddit stories is one of my fave with all the back and forth that didn't need Shayne to steer the conversation, he just let them do their thing.
You can feel that they became really close in the last year and it's apparent on tntl. If Angela is there they almost do all their bits with a combination of the 3 of them and if she's not, like on tntl #132, they choose each other for their duo bits pretty much exclusively.
Every time Chanse makes a joke she cackles and every time she makes a joke or a weird sound, he's doing his wheeze laugh, which I feel like only her, Angela, Courtney and recently Shayne have unlocked. He seems hard to make laugh, or if somebody makes a joke he'll say "that's funny" and not laugh lol but they tickle his funny bone and it's so wholesome.
I'm sorry for the word vomit but their dynamic is underrated and I love them. I mourn idiots presents everyday...like imagine a Chamanda, Amangela and Changela episode, what could've been...
FINALLY GOT AROUND TO ANSWERING THIS FIC omg
but yes!! yeah!! i feel like chanse and amanda, when paired together for something, are definitely the duo that Commit Hard, and they especially want to commit hard if angela's involved. like, Amanda throws something at chance and chance volleys it back with the most intense/unhinged energy ever. you can see it in the baf legacy video with amadeus/katchem/danny
and the familiarity too! LOVEE their service industry reddit stories, you can really see how they relate to each other and its nice :))
8 notes
·
View notes
Note
For the Love Your Fandom Asks 1, 9 and 24!
1. list 3 positive things about your current fandom(s)
- All the OCs! I have heard through the tumblr rumblings that not all fandoms love OCs? The nature of dragon age is such that OCs are baked in and people go wild. YES! MORE OCS. MAKE THE OCS KISS!
- The deep head canons in various, under explored corners of the game. People out there writing entire long fics in Avvar country! People writing dwarf dynasties and long-running Chantry dramas. YES! MORE!
- The size? Is that valid? It's JUST big enough where there is a steady stream of fanfic and fan art and engaged fandom members, but not SO BIG that it's an overwhelming sea of noise and you're drowning in it and can't be like, known in tumblr and discord server communities.
9. a ship that isn't your OTP but that you enjoy
Warden/Alistair which I explained in this post.
24. how has fandom positively impacted your life?
I had been in a fantasy text-based RPG for a long, long time. It grew increasingly toxic over the years and I had finally had it. I quit in early 2021. But I missed the writing. Fast forward to Jan 2022 and I am writing my first Dragon Age fanfic. I had written fanfic before but had forgotten how much fun it can be to just play with the blorbos in your head. It nicely filled in the writing void the game left behind, and it's a lot less toxic! Downright wholesome.
Also I've made new and real friends! Two fandom friends I made in early early 2022 are now coming to my wedding this June irl. YOU SEE? WHOLESOME AF.
Since I was already asked #9 I'll answer #2 as a bonus.
2. a headcanon you weren't sure about at first but have come to like!
"Solas was a spirit that Mythal bound to an elven body" as in, he was never born in the typical sense. At first I was like "pfft" but then I was like "oh ho ho ho? Cole saying cryptic shit? Yes? Hello?" and now it is in a WIP as a FACT for me. I think it's decently supported but as with all cryptic shit Cole says, you never know 100%. Who cares. I like it. insert marge-simpson-I-think-it's-neat meme.
3 notes
·
View notes
Note
It's so nice to have new Sebagni content with big feelings and disabled Sebastian
So much content of this ship is made by antis and I don't want to suport them so thank you for making this story that I identify with
Anon 🥺🥺🥺🥺 … this ask made (makes) me so happy.
I’m such a sucker for all those things in a story and there just…. Isn’t a lot of it in the fandom, especially for ships like sebagni. I also am sad that antis love that ship so much, bc as wholesome as it can be, I also like exploring some darker aspects of Agni’s character.
I think it’s easy to see him as this perfect paragon, and maybe he did become that, but he wasn’t always that way, and even so, he was still human. I think antis especially like to pretend the “bad agni” that existed before Soma never existed…. But I think the fact that Agni wasn’t always so pure and saintly is part of why he such a loveable character.
I’m glad you can identify with the story, too (though I’m sorry if it’s bc you also deal with illness/disability and all the frustrations that go with it 🫂)…. I really didn’t ever intend to publish the story. At first, I was just gonna write it for myself as I desperately needed something to cling to with the absolute bullshit I’ve had to deal with in the last couple years (this year especially), but I am glad that I did opt to share it, as it does seem to have resonated with a niche group of people. <3
I’ll spend the next day or two on editing and formatting, so hopefully I can update officially on Wednesday. Unless something happens, it should absolutely be this week.
I’ve been really enjoying finally writing sebagni, so much so that if I am able to finish this story this year (that would be amazing if I could), I may try and start another sebagni piece, maybe one of my abandoned (put on the far back burner) ideas, or maybe another one in a similar vein…. I guess time will tell.
For now, I’m really enjoying the relationships in this fic, especially Seb & Tanaka and Seb & Agni ofc. But also Tanaka/Vince. In fact, I may end up doing a oneshot spin off that covers some of their relationship, like how they met, why they couldn’t be the couple/family Tanaka wanted, and how Vince died…. But it’s possible that may end up as part of Synch proper….
I have a semi-concrete idea of what the rest of the fic will entail, and I think it’ll be around 10 chapters. But so far it’s been surprising me, so it may be longer than that… but it’s not gonna be a fraction as expansive a story as WDH, so it is theoretically possible I could finish it this year.
I’m trying to take a laid back approach to this story, just write what I need to for my sanity and enjoy it as I go.
But I’m excited bc we’ll have two new characters to meet in ch 4!
Ty again so much for this ask. I’m really glad you’re enjoying the story. (^_^)
You can read the first 3 chapters of Synchronize on AO3.
Anyone is welcome to read and comment as long as you’re respectful and kind. 🥰
#poi answers#anon#synchronize au#sebagni#sebastian michaelis#agni#black butler#people saying nice things#positive feedback#gif#chronic illness au#disabled sebastian
15 notes
·
View notes
Text
KTH: Christmas / Holiday Season AU
List of all Taehyung fics under 'Christmas / Holiday Season' AU:
* s - contains smut
* Last updated: 30/04/2023
D R A B B L E S
Candy Cane by hamsterclaw s friends au
Summary: You wake up with your head in Taehyung’s lap, and he shows you how his dick is as sweet as candy.
Day 1 by minisugakoobies s rivals to lovers, coworkers au
Summary: Your work rival has an unusual Secret Santa gift for you this year.
Good Sportsmanship by agustdealer strangers to lovers
Summary: You’re on a mission this Festivus. And as it turns out, so is Taehyung.
* “Guess we’re sharing that twin bed.” by kpopfanfictrash college au
* Kissing in the snow by breadoffoxy friends to lovers
* “Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays, love.” by breadoffoxy established relationship
* “Tinsel is the weed on Christmas’ front lawn.” by kpopfanfictrash coffee shop au
* “Where on EARTH did you get that sweater?” by breadoffoxy friends to lovers
O N E S H O T S
A Dash of Love by btsmosphere wc~11k / chef au, restaurant au
Summary: Your whole life, you’ve hoped to get a job at your idol’s restaurant. It finally comes, with the added bonus of the executive chef and your new best friend, Taehyung (who you definitely don’t have a crush on), but what if it’s all too good to be true? You and Taehyung try new things.
A Kiss of Your Elixir by scriptaed wc~3.5k / established relationship
Summary: After a year of holding hands and sheepish, overjoyed blushing, your boyfriend finally requests the possibility of a first kiss. Clueless as to how to grant your wholesome relationship that one kiss, an unexpected mistletoe comes to rescue the both of you on behalf of his birthday wish disguised as a Christmas miracle.
All I Want for Christmas by hazytaezy s wc~3.8 / friends to lovers
Summary: Taehyung's hands would make a very nice necklace indeed.
Besos Navideños by jjungkookislife s wc~25k / exes to lovers, brother's best friend
Summary: A Christmas wedding, a house full of childhood friends, and an ex-boyfriend. What could possibly go wrong? Dread fills you the moment you’re back in town for Alea’s wedding, and not even your best friend, Hoseok, can cheer you up with his rendition of Christmas carols on the ride home. After a messy breakup, seeing your ex, Taehyung, flares up your fight-or-flight response. Will you two be able to keep it cordial, or will this wedding turn into an absolute disaster?
Cheap Skate by gukslut s wc~25.2k / established relationship
Summary: Granny Park’s Gossip: Who doesn’t know Taehyung and his lady? Cutest couple in town, I’d say, and have been since they started dating in their college days. Oh, that was a while ago, though. And still, they’re happy as can be in that place they have together. Almost hate seeing one without the other, y’know, it’s like seeing just one testi- oh, right, I’m not supposed to talk like that. Anyhoo, I only say that because I saw Taehyung at a jewelry store the other day while I was buying my sweet Jiminie his presents. Maybe that boy’s finally gonna pop the question, but I do hope he’s got a good plan for it. Something sweet and romantic. Maybe I’ll find out after Jiminie gets back from that cabin he’s visiting.
Exchanging Heat by jinfizz s wc~25.1k / college au, roommates au
Summary: When your roommate drops out right before the end of the semester and leaves you high and dry for next month’s rent, you’re forced to turn to craigslist to find an absolute stranger to save you from financial ruin. The shy Korean exchange student you find to replace her seems nice enough despite the language barrier, but what will happen when the heat cuts off one fateful evening, and you’re forced to turn to each other for warmth? Alternatively: “I want to sleep with you.” ‘You what?”
Fire Meets Frost by luxekook s wc~5.8k / exes to lovers
Summary: Just like a bad holiday song, you gave Taehyung your heart last Christmas. Only in this scenario, he broke it eight months later. Now you’re both back at that same damn holiday party where you first met one year ago and you’re just praying for you and your heart to leave in one piece.
Four Weeks by gukyi wc~20k / enemies to lovers, college au, roommates au
Summary: Four weeks. That’s how long you’re trapped on campus after missing your flight home because of a grossly overtime final. And as you’re walking around your empty campus, thinking that you could sink no lower, you find yourself alone in the art building with a certain freshman-year-dorm-neighbor from hell, and he’s got an offer that you don’t think you can refuse: he’s staying on campus this winter break as well, and he’s happy to let you live with him. Or, four weeks is all it takes to fall in love.
Home for the Holidays by triptaech s wc~5k / resident assistant!Taehyung, college au
Summary: Winter was cold and lonely, but thankfully he received a Christmas miracle.
If You Don't Ask Me to Stay by yoongiphoria s wc~4k / angst, FWB, exes au
Summary: Every December, you go back to your hometown - for the one person who is always waiting.
Let It Snow by suga-kookiemonster s wc~18.8k / FWB
Summary: It all started by accident, but it continues by choice—even before you began sleeping together, things with your friend Taehyung have always been comfortable and easy. Simple, and this new arrangement between you is certainly no exception to that rule. Well…that’s definitely what you thought before a major snowstorm traps the two of you in his apartment over the holidays. Now? Now, it is quickly becoming apparent that things are a bit more complicated than you realized.
Let's Try Again by kth1 s wc~7.1k / pregnant!reader, established relationship
Summary: Taehyung, your husband and father of your child(ren), continues to lead a teasing game which consists of persistence, dedication, dirty talk, and more. He just wants to try again!… and again, and again, and again.
My Favorite Things [AO3] by goodsoop s wc~2.6k / friends au
Summary: Your friend Taehyung, won’t stop moaning over your holiday cookies, dropping compliments left and right has you dripping in the kitchen.
Present Without a Bow [AO3] by goodsoop s wc~2.2k / established relationship
Summary: When Taehyung agreed to spend Christmas at your house, it slipped his mind that Santa might know he was there. Lucky for Tae you have a variety of gifts lined up for him.
Rockabye by sugaurora wc~8.9k / flower shop au
Summary: With the sting of your divorce renewed by the winter chill in the air, you certainly weren’t looking for anything like love this Christmas. But even flowers can blossom from deep within the snow.
Secret Santa by ttttaehyungie wc~6.2k / friends to lovers
Summary: What you thought was an ingenious plan to figure out the perfect gift for your secret santee turns out to take a whole bunch of wrong turns, but with the best outcomes.
Snow is Falling by bangtsblossom s wc~5.9k / established relationship
Summary: Spending the week with your fiancés family for the holidays meant that you wouldn’t get much alone time together… so when everyone was out, you decided to make the most of it.
Sugar Plum Wishes by army-author wc~12.7k / fantasy au
Summary: You wish for a boyfriend for Christmas. A passing winter fairy decides to grant your wish…
Taste of Love by vopegist wc~2.4k / strangers to lovers
Summary: Getting to taste food from almost every restaurant or cafe in the city during holiday season sounds like a great idea when you’re not a food critic. But you are, and you can do nothing but come to terms with the fact that every place you would have to visit will offer you the same old boring holiday experience. As it turns out, Goût d'amour is different.
The Holi-Date by kpopfanfictrash s wc~40.5k / fake dating, neighbors au
Summary: When your ex-boyfriend becomes engaged to his new girlfriend at your annual Holiday party, you admittedly are not in the best place. Which explains why you down six shots of alcohol, enthusiastically drop it low on the dance floor and – oh, yeah – tell everyone you are also dating someone. The only problem? You are obviously not. Good thing your neighbor happens to be cute and in need of a ride to work every morning.
Under Wraps by jungkxook s wc~15k / enemies to lovers, fake dating
Summary: There’s nothing you and Taehyung seem to hate more than each other - except for Christmas. Having recently been dumped by your (now ex) boyfriend only seems to make this holiday even worse. But when Taehyung suggests that you should pretend to be dating each other to save you both the embarrassment, pity, and bothersome questions from family and friends alike for a fun carefree month of celebrations, you can’t possibly say no.
Winter Bear by army-author wc~8.3k / fantasy au, shape-shifter au
Summary: When you enter a toy store looking for a gift for your niece, you don’t expect to go home with a teddy bear that can shape-shift. But this Christmas seems to be a little stranger than normal...
X and O by army-author wc~11.4k / fake dating, teacher au
Summary: You accidentally send ‘xo’ at the end of a text to your daughter’s teacher, and he seems to get the wrong idea…
11 notes
·
View notes
Note
I go back and reread your posts occasionally because I really resonate with your posts about Epic Romance that I think transcends some of the tropes fandoms evolve around (e.g. enemies to lovers) which I don't always find myself connnecting with. I am just a bit curious about something:
What do you think of the pairing Solas/Lavellan from Dragon Age? (I searched your blog for it just in case you already spoke on the subject but sorry if I missed it).
I don't know if video games are your thing, or if a Player Character changes the dynamic you're into, but I was curious because it's a mythic romance of quite epic proportions. I know you've mentioned you sort of don't like a blog that is into adjacent ships to it (I think when you discussed Raistlin/Crysania) or maybe I'm just reading into that hahahah, so I understand if that influences if you do/don't. What I like about it beyond the character of Solas is that it's a tragedy with potential for hope ('Our love will endure'), and I think that's something your speed?
If you are not interested in the pairing (though I'd be interested to hear why, especially because Solas hits a few similar archetypal boxes and the reason why you don't like the pairing is as interesting to me as why you would!) and want another question to respond to instead:
2. Are there any new ships you've got into recently, or old you've revisited?
Hope you are doing well and doing the things you love!
Thank you for the ask! Yeah, same. EtL is only rarely written with the dynamic that I like, so most of the popular ships are not for me. I think I've disappointed a lot of fellow travellers by having zero interest in rivalry or frenemies style EtL ships.
I do play games, but I've only played like five minutes of one of the Dragon Age games. I've seen a lot of people talking about Solas and know he's the wank magnet tragic murder boy fav of the franchise, but I haven't gathered much of anything about the ship dynamic. I don't know enough about his arc/characterisation to say whether I'd be interested. But for sure, if there's an element of enduring hope, tragic romance can be my thing (so I read 5437540 fix-it fics).
I'm sorry I really don't have any thoughts to offer either way! :( If I get around to playing the game, I will post any ramblings I have about it!
I'm developing a fic for my long latent and repressed Cosmo/Kathy shipping urges, but that's like a radical departure for me on several levels lmao. Yes, I confess, sometimes I'll ship a couple of wholesome cinnamon rolls who have zero conflict because the banter is spicy and the vibes are adorable.
It's so funny how people are always trying to compare B&tB ships (like Reylo, E/C, etc. with grotesques or tragic heroes) to the Bad Boy/Ingenue/Nice Guy triangle and dismiss redemption romance fans as silly girls who haven't learned their lesson about being attracted to Bad Boys, because any example you can name of a triangle where the love interest is actually a Bad Boy, I ship her with the faithful friend (not a Nice Guy, but a legitimately nice guy). Like, I watched Pretty In Pink a couple years ago and man it was obvious she was not supposed to end up with Blane. I felt so vindicated when I read about the intended ending lol.
But anyway, I've been crying about whouffaldi again lately, re-reading some E/C fics, thinking of fleshing out/finishing some very self-indulgent E/C one-shots I made notes for, still wanting to write that Oh Hyun Jae/Soo Young fic that I accidentally wrote a kind of weird 'humour' prequel too D:, and as always trying to finish my Lokane fic finally. It has 2-3 more chapters, tops, and it's killing me I can't just get it done. It already has its main emotional climax, so I'm not leaving people hanging too bad, but maaaaannn!!! I swore a blood oath with myself I wouldn't start another novel-length fic until it is finished and this has lead to cascade of procrastination where I use it as an excuse not to do other things while also making zero progress with it. Agjkdfhdfd.
Also, I kinda want to add that extra chapter to my Bang-won/Hui Jae fic because I looooooove him and it's such a great pairing and I was pleasantly surprised how well that fic turned out, but it would be hard to justify and thus hard to find an 'ending' for it. It'd just be some 'stuff' pasted on lol.
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
ohmigosh the new toh episode….
random things that i felt during the ep(out of order. sue me)
warning for obvious spoilers.
why is belos here????? get out old man i’m trying to enjoy the ep without angst please
HOLY SHITAKE THERES A NON-BINARY PERSON HERE?????
i hope they become friends with vee(again, ig?????)
luz and amity’s relationship is seeming to be on thin ice, i don’t like thisssss
hunterrrrr hunterrrr(so cool)
the fact that camila was and still is like luz but just hides it from everyone hurts me. it’s so wholesome and sad and i hope she’s able to be herself in the next ep
DEMON POSSESSION?????
wtf man hunter just got a haircut
me thinking that flapjack’s blood was just gonna bring hunter back to life(was he dead???) but he also dies too.
we had flapjack for like, one season or something come onnnnnnnnnn
but ig it’s supposed to represent hunter discarding the “caleb” in him
but flapjacks in him so maybe it’s not that
i want more willow and gus they’re relationship is one of the only wholesome things left
or just willow. i want a willow ep i don’t know how she’s taking the move
i like the contrast in how hunter likes being in the human realm(before belos showed himself there) cuz he can finally find himself but gus misses his dad so bad.
why is the WHITE MAN BACK AGAIN??? man i thought that since he was fired i would never see him
how did he know that he had different ears tho????
not only did gus and hunter get into a space book and are now complete nerds, but it’s camila’s book too???? so cool
i thought i was the only one who wrote fanfics in docs but seeing from luz’s computer there’s a fic in there i guess i’m not alone
“guys, im sorry for not posting my fic for about a year. i went into the demon realm and i accidentally caused some carnage that ultimately scarred me for life. i’ll be getting back to it in a month or so.”
yay camila comes to the demon realm too!!!! this is gonna be interesting!
the fact that camila trust vee to take care of everything while she’s gone is so nice man
and ig this is the only ep in this season they’ll have in the demon realm. fine with me, as long as we get to see vee and her friend again.
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
Liars and Liars (Chapter One)
Yes that is my lame WIP name for this.
Tags: TW: Manipulation, Coffee Shop AU(?), both of these idiots deserve nice things but also to be slapped, based off of a Danganronpa rp, slow burn, POV switches between third person Kankou to later third person Nik, starts with a romance trope but isn’t exactly a romance fic necessarily…
It isn’t in this chapter, but later chapters may have sexual themes.
Characters Active: Nikolas, Kankou
Characters Inactive but will be around later: Cerrel, Ginko, Chisa, Rick, others eventually
Gold eyes fixed on the pavement. The bitterness of Winter had melted away into the wholesome beginnings of Spring. Kankou found little thrill in life as usual. It has been seven years since that strange dream and ever since then he’s never felt properly like himself.
School… a school with people with extraordinary talents. People of all kinds with all sorts of backgrounds, made to kill each other with the prize being to escape. Seven years since he had met these people who changed his outlook on lying and how to treat others, that changed his outlook on hope and the future…
It ended horribly.
His best friend in the dream, who’s name escaped him (was it Clementine?) dismissed him for the night, and a mutual friend had lured him away and taken his life. It was realistic to him and so, so painful.
He woke up the next day and cried into Ginko’s arms- both out of relief and out of remorse for the friendship that never existed.
He was so small then.
He remembered his actions in the dream though, and followed through; he switched treatments for his leukemia up and consulted with an endocrinologist to kick-start his puberty. It only took two shots of testosterone to get his body to remember to mature, and the rest is history.
Compared to the sniveling small child from his past, Kankou was now grown to 5’6- average, to his surprise- and his voice had dropped from that raspy soprano to a dull baritone. He weaponized his looks on missions now, making people fall for him so he could use their information, just like he’s always done. But after any “overnight study”, he always felt horrible and numb. He would never feel more than pity, and he couldn’t play up that he felt more to anyone other than the target. He would be lying and manipulating, and words from that dream seven years ago would make his heart thud.
Muddy ground squished under his feet until his shoes finally hit pavement. He occasionally still dressed androgynously and could pull it off, but that was really rare nowadays. He traded out his uncomfortable skinniness for a new diet and gym routine since he’d been cancer free, and was now lean enough to stay androgynous, but significantly better at clinging to walls and the like. His hair has gotten longer, keeping a small amount of it in a ponytail that hit his mid-back. A little girl once told him he looked like a prince. He still treasures that compliment.
He was in the city now, on his way to meet up with a target. He saw his profile online and when a client said that was who he was looking for, butterflies erupted in his stomach. I mean, he could find a target attractive, sure, but the anxiety was brand new. Maybe it was because this target seemed to be adept in protecting himself physically? Maybe it was because the request had him not crossdress or stalk the target ahead of time? Regardless, Kankou had pepper spray, a taser, and his work phone in case of emergencies. Ginko and Ran were always ready to pick him up.
That’s right… his sister. She’d surpassed him socially by now and has a husband, and has thought about having a child. Even Kazene has a long-term girlfriend- Shinobu, the one with the horns who he found kind and beautiful- and he was stunned when Clove even spoke about her having a crush on a peer in school. Kankou wondered if it was possible for him with his line of work, and if he could ever move past what he felt years ago.
CL-CLANG
Pain bloomed on his forehead and he clutched it. While distracted, he ran face first into a stop sign. As he cussed and hissed backing up, so did someone opposite the sign.
“Fucking bitch shit man!” A man said, holding his nose.
Kankou looked at the blonde and felt a sudden urge to be outgoing, so the words bubbling in his chest spilled out past his lips, “Wow, this sign is horribly placed, isn’t it?”
“I’ll say, Jesus Christ…” Blood leaked out from his fingers. The bluenette reached into his pocket and grabbed a handkerchief.
“Woah, mister, that looks bad. Here,” Kankou slipped his handkerchief in the blonde’s grip, narrowly avoiding the sign in the process.
“Thanks dude…” The taller man held the rag to his nose and leaned back.
“Ahh, wait. If you do that you’ll swallow the blood and might make yourself sick. You should actually tilt your head slightly forward,” Kankou tilted the man’s head forward gently. The man reacted with understandable muted surprise.
“Here, there’s a shop nearby with a sitting area in it. You really should rest until it stops bleeding,” Kankou gently lured the stranger to the shop, genuine concern lancing through him. It wasn’t irregular for him to care about people like this, so this much should be fine.
Once inside, Kankou helped the strange man sit down.
“Sorry, I didn’t even introduce myself. It would make you feel more comfortable, right mister?” Kankou made small talk as he sat across from the stranger. His target could wait a bit, and he hasn’t gotten notification that his target was spotted waiting in the area yet.
“That would certainly help, yeah…” the blonde had a casual and friendly, yet honest way of speaking. Kankou focused on the person across from him with sudden interest.
“My name is Kankou, what’s your’s?”
“Oh, my name is Nikolas, but you can call me Nik,” Nik smiled warmly, appreciating the trust Kankou put in him to say his name.
Nikolas… that’s my target’s name. Kankou looked at his nails. Maybe it’s a coincidence.
“That’s a pretty name, my surname is Kaname, by the way. You know, like the first name,” Kankou joked lightly, one shoulder shrugging.
“Oh… uh…” Nik picked up on the game, eyes squinting a bit, “Clemence.”
“Oh, like the author?” Kankou leaned in.
“Exactly. Actually, that’s me,” Nik smiled genuinely, removing the now bloodied handkerchief from his face, “Have you read any of my work?”
“Certainly, I find your darker pieces enjoyable for the…” he rotates his hand in the air a bit, “they’re a work of satire in a sense to portray the poor state some children must grow up in, and how society looks the other way, in a lighthearted and almost easy to digest manner.”
Nik blinked a couple of times, and sat the handkerchief on the table.
Kankou blushed faintly, “Sorry. I quite enjoy a good book.”
“No! Nothing wrong, I’m just flattered. I hardly get people approaching me with that kind of enthusiasm about my writing anymore.”
“I’m glad it inspires joy…” Kankou tilted his head that was resting in his palm into the meat of his hand.
“I’m glad you took care of me, but I really need to head out, I’m meeting up with someone. Thank you, Kankou. Hopefully I’ll see you around?” He looked a bit hopeful, earthy toned brown eyes widening a bit in earnesty.
“Yes… I’ll see you around. Mind that sign,” Kankou playfully reminded him, ignoring the violent wrench of his gut. He knew this must be his target. Weird… the target didn’t have blonde hair and freckles… But they definitely look alike.
As soon as he left the cafe he went the opposite direction the way they entered.
“Kankou?”
Kankou immediately wheeled around when he heard Nik, “Yessir?”
“You were going down the street this way, and now you’re going the other way…” Nik smiled wryly. Kankou felt a small chill shoot down his back, but as was typical of him, he looked entirely unaffected. Then he smiled a self deprecating quirk of his lips.
“Yeah…”
Nik immediately continued, his expression resolving to a more friendly one to smooth over the awkward air, “Are you familiar with the area? Do you want a hand finding where you need to go?”
“Oh, uh… I’m meeting someone at Eclipse cafe,” he figured being honest would be the least suspicious call, and if Nik stuck around and wasn’t the target, he’d just take the target to another location where Nik couldn’t possibly tamper with the plans.
“Oh, for real? Me too! My friend set me up with a blind date!” And that confirmed all Nik needed to know. As they walked, Nik eyed Kankou with a bit of internal euphoria that this was definitely the man he thought it was. How pretty he was, for being such a weasel of a human.
Nik knew entirely what he was getting into. He was the one to make the call on himself, after all, and put it under his roommate’s favored pseudonym. The bastard would find delight in Nik’s morally corrupt plan, likely.
Nik knew Kankou, as an informant, was a threat for his manipulation being outed. He was also well aware that it was only a matter of time until some rabid fan called this universal informant to gather intel on Nik, or maybe some corrupt bastard who wanted to twist Nik’s arm until he gave them what they wanted.
It was too much of a risk.
It was far out of his pay grade, but he’s spent his life manipulating people, he could do so to Kankou, surely. It was a matter of making him trust Nik (and really, who wouldn’t trust someone who agrees with almost everything you say?), close enough that he would let him into his house and he could likely take his records from there slowly. For his next step, though, he needed Kankou’s records as well.
It didn’t feel good, but to prevent Kankou from ever discovering Nik’s secret and possibly selling it, he would have to prevent Kankou from being an informant forever. Through whatever means may come easiest, he will have to kill or disable Kankou to prevent him from going forward with his investigations.
He had a plan set- his roommate scheduled a blind date with someone, and he’ll play that he’s surprised it’s a man. He’ll be shy and pleasant and lure what Kankou likes out of him, and adjust perfectly to be his taste. This may take a while, but he was in for the long con.
Next chapter? Click here.
#original works#technically a really big collab#Kankou Kaname#Kankou#Nikolas Clemence#Nik#I won’t tag the others yet#slow burn#spy x spy trope#drpt#oc#oc x oc
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
10th Anniversary Celebration Day 5: Favorite Fanfics (Just a few of them...)
So, for the fifth day of this blog celebration week, I’m going to post a little about some of my favorite fanfics, featuring a couple of writers who have either inspired me or had an influence on my own writing. The first three were written in 2007 and 2008, while the last two were written in November 2019 and at the end of last year, respectively.
I can’t exactly remember when I started reading fanfiction, but it was probably after I started looking at the official Tales series forums that unfortunately shut down at the end of 2013, so I suppose I would say it was around 2006 or 2007. I’ve read quite a few fics in that span of time, though I will say that after I started this blog I kinda stopped until I started posting my own fics about three years ago. I think I also started to privately write my own fics at around this time (2006 or 2007). I remember having a lot of anxiety about posting my own fanfics to this blog up until about three years ago, and I am so glad I finally decided to do it (though I sort of wish I had done it sooner).
Anyway, all five of these fics are about Kranna, so I guess this is another shipping related post...
On the Coldest Winter Night by Cataclysmic Eclipse
A New Dawn by Cataclysmic Eclipse
Unraveling a Dream by Cataclysmic Eclipse
So, like I mentioned earlier, these three fics are older, and while they are all rated T, they are pretty wholesome and fluffy with a little bit of angst as well. I really love this writer’s style, and their fics really inspired me at around the time I was trying to write my own, so rereading these is always kinda nostalgic for me. I also love that music inspires their writing and fic titles, because the same goes for me as well. I think out of the three my favorite has be ‘On the Coldest Winter Night’, because I’ve been really into AUs where Anna lives in recent months.
Now for the last two fics!
Please be advised that the following two fics are rated Explicit. Both contain graphic smut and the first also contains a bit of vulgar language, so please be aware of that before reading.
Next To Me by ZombiesAreGarbageAtKnitting
Just For You by ZombiesAreGarbageAtKnitting
So I first found out about this writer after they left a really nice comment on my first Explicit rated fic, ‘To Feel Every Inch Of You’, shortly after I posted the first part of that fic. It wasn’t until a few months after that that I decided to read their fics. The first one was actually written for Kranna Week 2019, and I was shocked (in the best way, mind you) at the time I read it that someone actually wrote something spicy for one of the prompts. Overall, I like how bold and daring this writer is in their approach to writing smut, and I think that’s what I like most about these two fics (tbh, mine are kinda tame in comparison).
Anyway, I’ll end this post here, and I do hope some of you will consider reading (or perhaps reread) these fics and leaving kudos or comments on them!
2 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
residents-of-hells-hotel
Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss Imagines and Headcanons
editinglive
Editing Live
tanhkworld
Absolute Beauty
tailsis-nice
imma be real idk much abt sonic the tank hengine