davidhatter

[davidhatter]

@baenxietydad

Hatter was grateful that Mr. Bae both seemed to have understood what this was but also did not to call any attention to it. The last thing he wanted was to be overly praised or thanked for doing something that they did every day. Especially when it hadn't been asked of him. He wasn't very good with gratitude in any shape and he wouldn't have known what to do with it here, either.

There was still some doubt since they had yet to eat any of it, so, only time would tell whether it had all been worth it and any of the food was actually any good. Even after all these years under his belt he always held off judgement of something he made until he had actually eaten it, as there would always be the chance he did something wrong, or someone had switched the salt for sugar without him knowing.

"What are the other nine?" he asked, being the one to step away so that they could go sit down.

Happy Unbirthday || Hatfish

#title: (happy unbirthday) #ch: (mu yeol bae) #(hatfish)

[davidhatter]

@baenxietydad

Hatter made a face, nodding, as if to say oh, right, of course. After one final glance over of Mr. Bae he turned, gesturing to the table as he listed off everything.

"Vegetable stew, penne with pesto and potatoes, roasted garlic with rosemary focaccia, stuffed tomatoes with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, hazelnut and chocolate cake with honey cookies to go with tea after." The last two mentioned items were sitting on the counter, out of the way for now. If the sheer amount of food that had been made wasn't a bit of a give away that a bit of thought had gone into tonight, then the cake probably did.

It was frosted. And not just in the way where he had slapped on a crumb coat and called it a day, since Hatter never really cared about that sort of thing when all he was doing was eating the thing, not taking photos or entering it into a contest. Here, it looked nice. Time had been spent smoothing everything over for a clean looking display.

Happy Unbirthday || Hatfish

#title: (happy unbirthday) #ch: (mu yeol bae) #(hatfish) #happy ACTUAL birthday mr. bae <3

[davidhatter]

@baenxietydad

Hatter knew it was stupid of him to feel nervous about this, since it wasn't any different to anything he had ever done before. It was food. If anything, he should feel rather confident about this since food was one of the only things he did feel like he had a handle on how to do, and how to do well. And yet, whenever he heard the door and the sound of Mr. Bae drawing nearer, he couldn't help the shot of anxiety that hit him.

He stepped to meet Mr. Bae halfway, subconsciously going to stand in front of the table to block it from view for just a few more seconds while he still could. The kiss was received with a bit more enthusiasm than was the usual for this sort of kiss. The greeting kiss, the welcome back kiss, they were quick and lax most of the time. This time there was a little more pressure, a moment more stolen for it before he let Mr. Bae pull away to ask his question. A give away that while he was a little scared, he was also excited to share, the time spent cooking having fueled him with energy rather then getting used up along the way.

"Dinner," he said. "And dessert. If you're hungry, that is."

Happy Unbirthday || Hatfish

#title: (happy unbirthday) #ch: (mu yeol bae) #(hatfish)

[davidhatter]

@baenxietydad

Birthdays had once been big affairs in the Hatter household. That was until their mother had died on their youngest siblings' birthday and then it had felt like a very odd day to celebrate. In an effort to get Sam to not feel guilty and to make him feel special and loved, Hatter had decided that birthdays weren't going to matter. Any day of the year could be the day one of his siblings would come home to gifts and cake and being asked to pick what they were having for dinner.

Alice, too, with her odd birth date being only once every four years and just reinforced to Hatter that birthdays were just another day. Celebrating someone could happen anytime, they didn't have to be allocated.

This thinking, like a lot of things in Hatter's life, had been sort of tossed out the window when it came to Mr. Bae.

Of course he was celebrating with his brother and son on his actual birthday, but Hatter still felt the need to do something. Other than the gift his brother had let him have a hand in. And the soup.

The kitchen had been busy that day and it was practically bursting with excitement. Even the air inside of it felt different, so much so that crossing the line between it and the living area would be noticeable. Everything was basically ready.

The only thing missing was Mr. Bae himself.

Happy Unbirthday || Hatfish

#title: (happy unbirthday) #ch: (mu yeol bae) #(hatfish)

[davidhatter]

@aurora--briar

Hatter barely kept himself from wincing outwardly at the use of the words cute and boyfriend. It all sounded so juvenile. But, he appreciated that she was being very kind about it rather than using it against him to poke fun.

Though he was a little scared as to what that could possibly mean. Did that mean she would bring Hatter up to Mr. Bae? Oh dear. He had never mentioned the whole stint of trying to wake her up to Mr. Bae...

Then again, why would Aurora?

"Thank you," he nodded. And he was very ready to move on from the topic of himself. "Now, how are you doing?"

Rumor Mill {Hatter & Aurora}

#title: (rumor mill) #ch: (aurora briar) #(rose hat)

[davidhatter]

@baenxietydad

Yes, well, if eventually's definition had suddenly turned into meaning never actually, then sure. By all means that was true.

Hatter allowed himself to be pried off the sofa, a feat that was very hard won indeed. Especially these days, when he was far lazier and less inclined than he had to be in previous years. But this was an obvious means of motivation.

He frowned slightly at Mr. Bae's statement, mostly out of confusion since he didn't really care. Showering to him had only ever been just another piece of the routine, never something that was for relaxation or enjoyment. "I'm sorry?"

Day Two || Hatfish

#title: (day two) #ch: (mu yeol bae) #(hatfish)

[davidhatter]

waylon jennings live! || hatfish feat. jun-ha

Obvs it's a TMG song

Date: April 24th, 2024

Summary: Mu-yeol gets The Mountain Goats tickets for his birthday :3 and canonically will see them before I do, how rude

Link!

@davidhatter

#title: (waylon jennings live!) #ch: (mu yeol bae) #ch: (jun ha bae) #(hatfish)

[davidhatter]

I Now Present...This Guy || Hatfish feat. Jun-ha

@davidhatter

Date: April 11th, 2024

Word count: 14,255

Summary: Mu-yeol brings his brother over for dinner at Hatter's flat while he's in town from Korea! He's the first family member to meet Hatter and will be reporting the tea back to Korea.

Click here

That reminded Jun-ha of something. “So…you greeted me in Korean earlier. How long have you been learning? Is hyung turning you?” He then whisper chanted, “One of us, one of us.”

...

He couldn’t help but to glance at Mr. Bae, even though he knew there was no way that Mr. Bae would be distracted and miss his answer. It felt silly now to say. It wasn’t that Hatter had been trying to hide it from him, he just hadn’t thought to mention it for his reasons previously mentioned. He didn’t want Mr. Bae to think Hatter was expecting him to become his teacher or something. 

“Maybe a couple of weeks after we’d gotten together,” he said. 

...

Mu-yeol stopped eating and just stared at Hatter because, wait a minute, what was he saying? He’d been learning Korean this whole time? Because of him?

#title: (i now present...this guy) #ch: (mu yeol bae) #ch: (jun ha bae) #(hatfish)

[davidhatter]

Clean Slate || Jun-ha & Hatter

@davidhatter

Summary: Bae Jun-ha wingmans Hatter so hard.

Link

This, of course, worried him at first. Because what could Mr. Bae brother have to talk to Hatter about that wasn’t bad? Or a warning of some sort. He may have been younger, but he could probably give the you hurt him I hurt you speech. Martha had done it plenty of times to the women in Anna’s life, after all. 

#title: (clean slate) #ch: (jun ha bae) #(hatfish)

[davidhatter]

@baenxietydad

While the warning was appreciated, it was unnecessary as he knew he wouldn't mind. If these past days were anything to go by it was probably worrying that he would rather have just sat here doing this instead of going downstairs to do what he had been doing for almost everyday for decades now.

He gave a little nod, knowing that feeling well. Especially when summer started to bring more heat with the sun's shine. Preparing to let Mr. Bae go, he started to loosen his hold until he heard the follow up.

It made his skin heat and stomach tighten. It also made him snort, smiling, "Alright. But if I slip and fall and keel over, you can't tell people that's how I died."

Day Two || Hatfish

#title: (day two) #ch: (mu yeol bae) #(hatfish)

[davidhatter]

@baenxietydad

Hatter considered Mr. Bae's words carefully, trying to understand them in full to the best of his ability before attempting a reply. He wondered, and probably rather obtusely, if this was because of the incredible amount of loss Mr. Bae had experienced. As if that had made him want to hold on harder to what he did have in an effort to keep it.

He gave a short hum, "Then I suppose it's lucky we found one another."

This was not the first time he had expressed this sentiment. It would not be the last.

"So...don't be content with less," Hatter said. "All you have to do is ask, I'll be more than happy to give."

Day Two || Hatfish

#title: (day two) #ch: (mu-yeol bae) #(hatfish)

[davidhatter]

@baenxietydad

Hatter was reluctant to look back up but allowed Mr. Bae's touch to guide his movements. He should have known Mr. Bae wouldn't have reacted unkindly, but he never did expect to hear things like this. In the past it always seemed like those things were unwanted. That any depth of emotion from him that reached past their shins was where they got out before the threat of drowning could sweep them up. This was very difficult since, despite what the apathetic exterior he practiced might lead one to believe, he was an all in sort of person. It was why a part of the reason he had learned to be content alone, thinking there was no one who want that.

Now it was why he had been trying so hard to look like he was someone who didn't want much of anything, to combat the actual chasm he was.

Mr. Bae had said things like this before. Hatter didn't know why he didn't believe him. Probably because he had yet to say or do anything that showcased this until just now. And, still, Mr. Bae repeated these sentiments.

His brow furrowed a touch as he regarded the other man, "Selfish? How is it selfish when I want to give it?"

Day Two || Hatfish

#title: (day two) #ch: (mu-yeol bae) #(hatfish)

[davidhatter]

@aurora--briar

He wouldn't have blamed her if she did make fun. It practically wrote the jokes itself. He could already hear his siblings' laughter, egregious and joyful. Just another reason to never ever tell them anything.

Hatter huffed, his person bouncing slightly with it. Pining? He hadn't pined, he'd-! ...he'd-.

He cleared his throat, shifting his weight in his seat.

"I don't really know when it actually started for me but I thought he was seeing someone for...three months?" he said, trying to remember and not wanting to recall that time at all. "Sorry if I was ever short with you then. End of that summer wasn't a very good time for me."

Rumor Mill {Hatter & Aurora}

#title: (rumor mill) #ch: (aurora briar) #(rose hat)

[davidhatter]

@baenxietydad

Speaking of said expression, it found its way to Hatter's face as he watched Mr. Bae re-enact it for him. That was where it remained for the rest of Mr. Bae's responses. No matter how much he tried to bite it back, it just kept coming back with his embarrassment at being called out. At being slightly scandalized by the choice of words. At being called cute.

He didn't think he'd ever been called cute by someone who wasn't his mother or one of the elder women that had befriended him after she died. Even then, they'd usually use it as a backhanded complimented, or a politer way of calling him naive.

It was like a horrible feedback loop. He could feel the heat of the embarrassment on the skin at the back of his neck and the more aware of it he became the worse it got.

"Well, I'm glad you think that since I don't know that I'll ever..." he trailed off, unsure of how to put it. He pulled his eyes away from Mr. Bae's. A perfect example of what he was trying to express here. He couldn't even think properly when looking at Mr. Bae. Instead he chose to study their hands clasped together. He inhaled. "There's no hope of that ever quite going away, is what I mean. I can get overwhelmed just...thinking about you sometimes. It's ridiculous."

He furrowed his brow after having admitted that, mouth tightening, awaiting the consequences of those words.

Day Two || Hatfish

#title: (day two) #ch: (mu-yeol bae) #(hatfish)

[davidhatter]

@baenxietydad

This had Hatter blinking, face going a little slack with his surprise. So much of the time he was spent clumsily convincing others of his feelings through his actions because he always seemed to have misplaced the words he needed to express his emotions in important moments. Or any moment, really.

But it was often missed. People didn't understand him when he gave them a box of pastries, didn't know that he was trying to tell them he cared very deeply because he had spent hours on them, didn't get that he wanted to keep them safe by shoveling their walk way after it snowed to keep them from slipping, didn't know he wanted them happy and smiling when he fixed a broken window that would have made a muggy week miserable if left unattended.

How odd to think someone had finally tuned in. Then again, it shouldn't have been so surprising that a man who seemed to have a knack for languages understood. It wasn't. It was the fact he had taken the time to learn this one at all.

He was also surprised that Mr. Bae enjoyed making him unsettled, rather than thinking him an idiot for letting his emotions get the better of him. It was just hard for them to not when in Mr. Bae's presence. "Fun? How so?"

Day Two || Hatfish

#title: (day two) #ch: (mu-yeol bae) #(hatfish)

[davidhatter]

@baenxietydad

The sad part was more concerning to him than the annoying or insufferable part was, as Hatter could never imagine those words pertaining to him. At least, in Hatter's opinion, which was heavily biased. He continued smiling, it turning slightly confused because he didn't understand how this would be considered a threat but he had no intention on finding out anyway.

His expression softened as he listened, relieved that his feelings weren't unheard even if he wasn't the best at saying them. In an effort to work on this, even though he had been just been reassured that it was known, he said, "You are loved. You are important."

It hardly seemed like there was such a thing as reminding him of these things too often. Hatter felt like he could spend the rest of his life just saying these two things over and over and over again and it would never be enough to convey it.

"But I don't think I could ever consider you insufferable," he continued.

Day Two || Hatfish

#title: (day two) #ch: (mu-yeol bae) #(hatfish)

[davidhatter]

@sebastian-morey @truitt-story

"Yes," he replied instantly and without question as to why he was being asked instead of her just doing it herself. Instead he was too busy thinking about how nicely organized this kitchen was.

And also about how he hated icing sugar's ability to get everywhere, no matter how careful you were. There was always a puff of it that stuck to your clothes and followed you home. But he did as he had been asked before silently setting the sugar on the counter beside her, ready to be used when she needed it.

Welcome to the Test Kitchen | Pizza Chef Hat

#title: (welcome to the test kitchen) #ch: (tiana truitt) #ch: (sebastian morey) #(tatter) #(setter) #(pizza chef hat)