#⟢ ❮ carla ❯ ━━ ❝ but i always say i’m from queens. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

cieloclercs · 7 months

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grace , send me a trope + a character and i’ll write a short drabble from it

hii, can i please request best friends to lovers with ollie?

congrats on 1k btwww 🫶🫶

call me cupid — ollie bearman

pairing. ollie bearman x best friend!reader

word count. 2.7k (i swear i tried to make it short lmao)

warnings. kind of a weird fusion of fluff and angst ??? unrequited love vibes (that’s not actually unrequited but u get what i mean), pining ollie, pining reader, arthur lowkey is the mastermind, and is also sick of said pining, abrupt ending i’m sorry 😭

author’s note. hello anon! thank you so much for your request ☺️ i hope this is ok ! i know it cuts off quite abruptly, but i’d be open to writing a part 2 with the confession if you want one <3

read below the cut

He’s staring again.

It’s becoming a problem, but can anyone really blame him? You look nothing short of angelic under the strobe lights, your shimmering dress catching his eye every time you move. You’re dancing with a girl he doesn’t recognise, that beautiful smile he adores stretched across your crimson-painted lips. It makes him wonder what she’s saying to you to make you seem so content.

Best friends shouldn’t look at each other the way he’s looking at you now. Ollie knows that. Yet on days like today, he really can’t help it. This is your party, celebrating your third Formula 2 victory in a row. He’d watched from way back in P5 as you stormed through the field, fighting off every challenge your opponents tried to throw your way. There’s a reason the fans call you the Queen of Formula 2, after all. You’re practically untouchable. All it does is heighten his awareness of his own pounding heart whenever you’re around; turn his insides to velvet when you so much as smile his way. Yes, it’s becoming a problem — and Ollie isn’t sure there’s anything he can do to stop it.

“You know, I’ve just thought of something you should try.” A voice speaks up to his left, breaking him out of whatever trance you’ve unwittingly put him under. He turns. Arthur Leclerc stands like the devil on his shoulder, arms folded, expression unimpressed. When Ollie says nothing, he goes on, “It’s called talking to her. Works wonders, really, I’d highly recommend. It’s how I met Carla.”

The younger of the two rolls his eyes. Arthur is the only other living soul on earth who knows about his infatuation with you — officially, at least. In reality, almost everyone in the Ferrari Academy has long since figured it out. Everyone except you, ironically. But Ollie supposes it makes sense; why would someone like you ever even consider him as something more than just a friend?

“Can we not do this tonight?” Ollie sighs, exasperated, “I’m just trying to forget about…all of that for a moment.”

This time it’s Arthur who rolls his eyes. Ever since he first caught on to his friend’s crush on you a little over eight months ago, he’s been trying every method under the sun to try and make him see that maybe, just maybe, he shouldn’t be so pessimistic about his chances. But the answer is always the same. Ollie remains convinced, like some poor, naïve, completely oblivious child, that you’d never so much as give him a second glance if he told you how he felt. It’s complete bullshit, of course. Arthur has seen the way your eyes search immediately for his after a race, be it a good result or even a bad one. He’s watched you brush off close friends (including him, many a time) even family members, to get to Ollie. But of course, Ollie himself doesn’t notice. No fool in love ever does.

“You’re not going to forget though, are you?” Arthur muses, glancing at his friend out of the corner of his eye, “I know you, and I know you can’t stay away from her for that long. You’ll cave eventually.” he smirks. At the sight of Ollie’s pink cheeks, he knows he’s caught him out.

“Why don’t you go annoy someone else for a change?” the Brit grumbles. There’s the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. Arthur could pick it out even in the pitch dark.

“Don’t pretend you don’t love me.” he teases.

Within moments he’s cowered behind Carla on the other side of the room, chased away by Ollie’s (half joking) threats to crash him out of the next race on purpose if he doesn’t shut his mouth. But Arthur’s words stick with him throughout the entire night. Somehow, they always do.

In truth, Ollie's been grappling with the idea of telling you for quite a while; to put him out of his own misery more than anything else. He's sick and tired of the 'best friends' label. It seems so trivial, so reductive to say that it hurts him, when in fact, every time you refer to him as such, he’s sure you must be ripping his heart out of his chest. But then he can’t help but feel melodramatic — at least he has you, even if only as a friend. Even if you don’t love him in the way he loves you, you’re still there. Close, though perhaps not quite close enough. Ollie has decided not to take that for granted. He knows how easily it can be snatched away from him.

In the end (just as he always seems to be) Arthur is right — it’s not even an hour before he finds himself gravitating towards you; unwittingly being pulled into your orbit from which he fears, if he’s not careful, he’ll never be able to escape. You’re hovering on the edge of a group of engineers now, sipping on a glass of sparkling water out of a straw. How you can appear drop dead gorgeous yet so damn adorable at the same time, he has no idea. Ollie feels he’ll be spending the rest of his life trying to figure you and your many layers out.

“Hi, Ol.” you greet him with a smile like the sun when he finally plucks up the courage to approach. He mutters something in reply, though as soon as the words have left his mouth he’s already forgotten them — he could have said something completely unintelligible for all he knows. That’s the effect you have on him.

“Having fun?” you prompt again, your soft smile spreading into a full-blown grin. Ollie glances briefly around the room. It’s absolutely packed full of Ferrari Academy members, both drivers and personnel. Normally, this kind of event would be his worst nightmare. Even if he’s known these people for years, the idea of having to socialise and look like he’s having fun makes him feel sick. But then he remembers all this is for you. It’s to celebrate your achievements in a male dominated field, which no woman has ever managed to do before. When he reminds himself of that, all his anxiety suddenly seems to melt away.

“Of course.” Ollie grins back. His heart soars to see you light up at his words, to see you giggle behind the rim of your glass and look at him as if he’s the only person in the world. At times like this he can truly believe that maybe Arthur is right — maybe, if he confesses, his world won’t come crashing down. Maybe you’ll light it up for the better.

“What happened to you at turn one? Nic told me you dropped out of the points." you go on, eyebrows furrowing with the remnants of confusion. Ollie had begun the feature race in P2 behind you, yet you'd find that the competition you'd so anticipated disappeared not even before the first lap had ended. The Brit sighs, shaking his head.

"I collided with Jack trying to defend." he tells you with a wince, "Damaged my sidepods."

Your expression twists into one of sympathy. There's almost no coming back from that, even for a driver as talented as Ollie. Still, you think, to climb back up to P5 after sustaining damage like that is no mean feat. You don't miss the way he flushes bashfully when you tell him as such.

"It was my own fault." he mumbles, trying desperately to cool the flames in his cheeks as you watch him, eyebrows raised. He always feels like he's been put under a microscope when you look at him like this. There's no escaping the calculation in your stare, the curious scrutiny. "I took too much of a risk."

You shake your head. There's the tiniest of knowing smiles on your lips. Ollie is always so hard on himself. It's something you both admire him for, and find yourself exasperated with; he never seems to be able to see how brilliant he really is -- or at least, how brilliant he is in your eyes.

"Well, whoever was at fault, it's a real shame." you dismiss with a wave of your hand, "I miss sharing the podium with you."

Ollie is sure he must be melting. He can't figure out if it's from your words alone, or from the tiny pout that's fallen on your lips, or even the soft glint in your eyes as you gaze up at him. Suddenly the proximity between the two of you seems to have all but diminished. He chuckles nervously.

"Next race will be ours." the Brit murmurs. Little by little you inch closer to him, your hand resting on the ledge you're leaning on, just ghosting over where his own lays flat. He breathes in sharply.

"Promise?" you whisper. The point of your heel bumps against his foot. Ollie glances down at it in a panic, before his head snaps up to meet your piercing gaze. He fears that if he rocks forwards only the slightest bit on the balls of his feet, he'll be close enough for his nose to bump yours. He's never felt so consumed, so intoxicated by another person in all his life. He can smell the honey scent of your hair, feel your warm breath tickling his cheek. His gaze flickers down for the briefest of moments to your lips - soft and pink, parted as if there's something else you want to say, but the words have gotten trapped in your throat.

"I promise." Ollie croaks.

Just one more step, you think. One more step, and he'll kiss you. He's so close, closer than he's ever been before, and suddenly you can see everything falling into place: all the nights spent crying on Arthur's shoulder, wondering whether Ollie is truly just scared as your friend says he is, or whether he simply doesn't feel the same. It will all fade into a distant, long-abandoned memory. Finally, you'll be able to call him something more than just your best friend.

But then he steps away.

You flinch, taken aback at his sudden movement. Ollie stares at you, wide-eyed, breathing heavily as if he's just run a marathon. He can't believe what's just happened — can't believe he was about to kiss you. How could he be so stupid?

"I —" he stammers. The look on your face is hard to decipher: shocked, confused, hurt. If Ollie looked a bit closer, he'd be able to see the last of those emotions, or the way your shock is mixed with a horrible sinking feeling of disappointment. But, of course, he doesn't see it that way. He's stuck on the same, poisonous idea that's been plaguing his mind ever since he first figured out his feelings — you don't feel the same way.

"I'm sorry." Ollie gasps. Then, without another word, he turns on his heel and runs, leaving you stood alone, arms half outstretched as if to try and stop him. You're too late, of course. Within moments he's out of sight. Gone, just like your hope.

"Well that was a train wreck." a familiar voice speaks up from somewhere on your left. You spin around, groaning as you spot Arthur, arms folded, eyebrows furrowed in what you can only imagine is frustration.

"You don't say." you drawl bitterly, glaring down into your empty glass. Wordlessly, your friend passes you his own half-full one. You lean down to sniff at its contents, and pull away, nose scrunched in distaste — definitely not water. But you think, at this point, you're owed some kind of distraction.

"Why does he keep running away from me?" you grumble. It's been months of this cat and mouse game now. Tonight is the closest you've ever got; the first time you've seen with your own eyes that Ollie does reciprocate your feelings. Yet it feels like for that step forward, all you've gone and done is taken another two back.

"Because he's an idiot." Arthur answers plainly. The Monégasque watches as you take a gulp of his drink, pulling a face at the burn in your throat, and wordlessly reaches forwards to take the glass back from your hands. He's grateful that you don't complain.

"Well I wish he'd stop." you mutter. As much as you're willing to wait for Ollie for as long as he needs, it's painful, having to go on loving him from a distance like this. Every time you lock eyes, the longing grows more intense. You're not sure how much longer you can take it.

"You know, you're just as bad as he is." Arthur speaks up. Once again, your head snaps towards him, eyes narrowing.

"What?"

"You heard me." the Monégasque says with a sigh, "Look, I want to help you, I really do, but you could make all of this so much easier for yourself if you just tell him how you feel."

And there it is. You can’t help but let out a bitter chuckle. It sounds so simple coming from Arthur’s mouth — so easy. God knows you’ve tried, time and time again, to be honest with Ollie about your feelings, to rip off the plaster in the hopes the pain of it won’t be too great; that he might just tell you he’s been trying to say the same thing all this time. But whenever you feel as if you might be ready, the words catch in your throat. You just can’t stomach them. It’s a kind of vulnerability you’ve never shown to anyone before, let alone someone who already means so much to you. At the end of the day, you’re still young. No matter how much you love Ollie now, the chances of him being the one are low.

At least, that’s what you’ve been trying to convince yourself. But a part of you knows already — there’s no one else on earth you’ll ever feel this way about. Young or not, it’s always going to be Ollie.

“I don’t know if I can take that risk, Arth.” you say quietly, “If Ollie and I — if we’re not meant to be together…isn’t it better just to have him, even as a friend, than risk losing him entirely?”

You’re honestly not sure which is the most painful: having to pretend that you don’t love him, or the idea of one day not having him at all. Yet, you still know which one you’d choose — even if it hurts like ripping your own heart out of your chest.

“Huh.” Arthur says, eyebrows furrowing again. There’s something different in his expression this time, though. It’s less frustration, more a spark. As if he’s realised something you and Ollie may not have just yet.

“What?” you ask. Suddenly, Arthur begins to smile. You watch him disbelievingly, none the wiser as to what on earth he has to be so happy about at the present moment. Then he’s laughing, shaking his head as if in mirthful despair.

“You really are soulmates.” the Monégasque snickers, watching almost gleefully as you grow even more confused.

“What?” you ask again. Part of you begins to wonder if Arthur has lost his mind — you wouldn’t blame him after the game he’s been playing: acting as some sort of secret go-between in the middle and your and Ollie’s back and forth self-doubts. But Arthur hasn’t lost the will to live with it all just yet. In fact, he thinks he’s finally figured out how to make the both of you see sense.

“He said the exact same thing to me.”

And with that, Arthur turns on his heel, leaving you stood alone, your mind racing. All this time you’ve been trying to play the long game; trying to anticipate what Ollie is thinking, when in reality, your thoughts are practically shared. You’re both afraid. More than you ever have been in your life. But for the first time you begin to think, perhaps fear doesn’t have to be the dividing factor.

“Why do you look so pleased with yourself?” Carla Brocker asks her boyfriend as he retakes his familiar position at her side, still grinning like a child who’s just been told Christmas is coming early. Arthur says nothing, merely tilting his head in the direction of where you stand motionless. It only takes a few moments for Carla to catch on. She turns to face her boyfriend again, mouth hanging open.

“You think you’ve got through to her?” she whispers urgently.

Once again, Arthur Leclerc grins proudly.

“Just call me Cupid.”

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apples-of-eden · 2 years

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Carla: Alena’s personality? That women is indeed a surprising, bold, amusing, and quite…odd. *chuckles* ..however despite her odd behavior at times, she’s a very heartwarming and filled with determination. As her lover, I’m proud to have her by my side. It’s not bad to have someone like her to surprise me at times and especially for me to reward her~

Shin: Reis’s? Fufuh, she’s a bookworm. But surprisingly at times she can be too…kind. She’s very organized and workaholic— and remarkably her cheeks get red merely by small teases. A very amusing person indeed, as you’d expect from my woman~

Kino: Shortcake's personality? She's very shy, naive and trusting, so teasing her is very easy and fun~. It is very amusing to see her all flustered and nervous, stuttering when she's ashamed. She's also very forgiving and patient, so no matter how much I tease her she always let it go~ *chuckles*.

Sometimes she's is too kind and attentive for her own good, always trying not to hurt other's feelings and getting hurt herself most of the times. She's also very easy to please, loving and sweet and that makes her quite cute. Of course she only shows those sides to me, not that I want everyone to see them anyway~.

Yui: "I'm aware that the general public has described Adela as an "Entitled Ice Queen". With me she completely drops the act. Though I'll admit she can be very protective. Adela can also be quite thoughtful when she really wants to make my day! She is also surprisingly shy when I tease her. I'm probably not allowed to say any of this because she has to keep her status. I just want more people to know Adela's true self, so thank you for your question!"

#diabolik lovers oc #diabolik oc #diabolikloversoc #ask blog #apples of eden #anon ask #anonymous #roleplay

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useramor · 11 months

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Hi love, chapter 2 ramblings here💜💜💜 I love this soooo much. Really can't wait to read more:

Buck calls Eddie good dad🥺🥺🥺

Buck, adopt me please 🥺🥺🥺 I want to go to space center

Oh Eddie's insecurities 🥺 I always love fics where people explore it💜

"Not for the first time and definitely not for the last, Eddie is overwhelmed with how lucky they are to have found Buck. Buck, who found Carla, who took Eddie to see Chris after the earthquake, who comes over at least once a week to see Chris, practically ignoring Eddie completely. And Chris trusts him. Eddie hates that his son has been hurt by enough people to have trust issues at age eight, but he wraps his arms around Buck’s neck and stares at Eddie’s best friend like he hung the moon and all the stars in the sky. " 😭😭😭 Bia, I'm emotional. I have tears now

Yes, Eddie you look at Buck with heart eyes because he is good friend. Sure baby

Some backstory for Diaz siblings and character traits for Sophia?!!????? YES THANK YOU!!!!💜💜💜💜💜💜

Eddie listens to Buck's ramblings 🥺 I'm never going to be not emotional about it

Oh, yes let's go queen 👑 call them cute family

"Not that we’re gay, obviously.” “Obviously.” sure boys. Sure. (Can I slap them please? Just tiny tiny slap. I'm promise)

"his smirk growing quickly, making his blue eyes seem stupidly bright in the natural light filtering in from the windows. " Poet Eddie back,babies 💜 and he is ready to be poetic about his bestie (no homo cause he is not gay)

Interesting how you are the one to start talking about hook ups , Eddie, but refuse to really talk about it. Eddie, please be consistent

Oh, evil Buck😈😈😈 let's go baby girl. Make this man give you his dick as you want it so bad

"Maybe Eddie can just have this. And maybe it won’t even end up in flames." You deserve good things, Eddie 🥺🥺🥺

"He briefly wonders if there’s a non-gay way to ask a guy to suck your dick. " ... No comments

I need Hen's pov🤣

Poor, Buck. I'm not sure I could survive Eddie in harness

Eddie, stop look at Buck's hands. They make you stupid

Buck, you're pathetic too. But yet again Eddie in harness would make me pathetic

Hen, wine night to laught about pathetic men?

Boys it's your work place, but ok🥵🥵🥵oh my favourite phrase "not gay". Yes, when you drunk it's not gay. You can trust me

“I’m not gay, man.”“Your dick is interested.”“My dick can’t tell the difference.” ....no comments again

Oh, Buck😈

Oh, gay word again

"Except Buck said he knew he didn’t taste half bad. Eddie’s never cared to taste himself, but maybe if he does it’ll cancel it out, or something. In the same way that a handjob isn’t the gayest exchange in the world because he can do the same thing to himself, maybe if he licks his hand clean it’ll cancel out."🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Oh, Bia, I love you

Oh, yes Eddie those boys wasn't gay just high school mates

"Like he said, it’s a sexual image. Sex is sex, it’s not that he’s attracted to Buck, it’s just that his body has started to form a conditioned response to Buck’s body in sexual situations. Pavlov or something, Eddie’s pretty sure." I want to learn to explain things the way I need them to be for me like Eddie. King teach me to be a denial Queen

Eddie like to be call sir, Buck has a thing for hands. Just facts

MY LOOOOOOOVE YOU ARE THE SWEETEST THE WAY I LITERALLY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY???? HOW DOES ONE RESPOND TO SUCH KINDNESS AND SWEETNESS AND LOVE????? you are a darling i absolutely love you and i'm SO happy you're enjoying the fic (and enough to send me these!!!) you are wonderful. i hope you're having the loveliest day and you continue to have fun with these idiots!!

#bia gets mail #diana tag #straight!eddie fic love

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justcallmeano · 2 years

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Bill and Ted requests :)

Hiii! You sent me a request so I’m sending you a request. Can you do Bill and Ted (it doesn’t have to be poly if you don’t want to write it poly. One or the other is fine) and reader head cannons? If not that’s perfectly fine 😅

-Ghost

WOO uhh no gender was specified soo...Gn reader ig

Im gonna do seperate and ya cant stop me either and this ask wasnt specifically asking for i certain genre sooo Imma just do it in general

William Stanley Preston Esq.

We all know bill ._. Dumb, Cute, Funny, obviously not the best at subjects.. Especially history but ofc he know better enough to shut something down! especially if it is making him, ted, or y/n uncomfortable

Lets just say one day you ask him "hey bill, why do you call yourself esquire?" and he's like "Oh well.. Because it sounds pretty cool and also because I heard that esquire is a british title descended from the position squire, an apprentice to a knight or something like that"

I see him as a heavily pansexual lmao HE DOESNT KNOW IT YET BUT I SMELL IT OFF HIM

Bill and Y/n.. they for sure hang out at his house way more, especially for band practice and bc teds father is a dick and we dont wanna hear yelling about alaska or military school whatsoever meanwhile we doing arts and crafts for a damn science project or smth 😭😐 so you both hang out more in bill's place or better yet .. Just hang out at 7/11, they had 7/11 in 1986 right? EITHER WAY, you hang out with bill at his house or go somewhere else for a date 😋

Any arguments? Forgive and forget babe, dont focus on ths past. I see bill on his knees begging adorably for forgiveness for bein stoopid AND WHY WOULD YOU NOT FORGIVE DIS MAN?!? but then again, I can promise you! Not a lot of arguments would even be happening tbh, y'all are chilling and killin like villains 😎

If you are ever caught wearing his crops tops, like he just showered and it smelt like him soooo why tf not?? right?! He's been dreaming of it, this was a sight to die for 😩

"Woah, babe.. You look ... excellent, like.. down rightoues!"

Ted is totally third wheeling, like.. how could not?? He might as well but be apart of the relario ship already -_- EVEN IF HE WAS THIRD WHEELING ON SOME OF UR DATES, EITHER YOU OR BILL (possibly mostly you) WILL BUY HIM A GIFT SO IT FELT LIKE HE WAS SORTA THERE TOO 😭💗 A switch but probably more dom but depends on what he feels, i feel like he could a lil pervy too but hey you chose to date bill so good luck

invites you to brand practice almost every fucking day, It never gets old and it never will (until he moves to santa carla wink wink)

Ted "theodore" Logan

Ted is.. ted :) but like... Special, ya know?

ted is sweet, like bill but just way too sweet cuz his brain is always brrr, ya know? 😃

He gets you gifts, treats you like a queen, always so kind, so understanding(or tries to be cuz brain go brrr 24/7)

If ur short, he will literally pick you up and carry you cuz u his queen(or king) 🙄😩

YOU PROTECT HIM FROM HIS DAMN FATHER

Lowkey, depending on you. you could possibly make a good impression on his dad, especially if ur his gf/study partner (or bf! either way, you get the point)

You probably babysat his brother a few times , lets just say he probably looks to you tbh

JUST AN OPINION BUT UHM.. I feel like, he would mostly be sub in sex like almost ALL THE TIME like i dont see him being all that dominant tbh, just me? well go away 😭 Ted just slips into the submissive for me, OKAY?! he just seems so adorable 😕😐

Arguments with ted? pfft, funny. You're a really- .. You're a funny person! like omgird you got some jokes

Loves thay you get along with his father better than him, he could learn a thing or two from as well with his brother. You might as well be another parent to his brother or smth, like ur a child whisperer-

ted gives me a vibe that speaks for itself way too loudly "The stoner type" ya know? If ur dating him and friends with bill in the future then I feel like they start smoking at 18 and 19 (18 for ted and 19 for bill)

Calls you an excellent babe, like bill but sweeter in a way?

Swoons when he sees you in his clothes or like his sweaters/shirts/pants/anything for that matter 💗💗

I tried my best,im so sorry if its whack. new to writing so personally it doesnt bother me a lot but still ;-;

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normallyxstranger · 2 years

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Fictober22 Day 7 — "Check that again, are you sure?"

featuring Carla Carlyle & Danica Franklin — characters from The New Ashton Chronicles, written & role-played by F.R. Southerland (@normallyxstranger | @frsoutherlandauthor | www.frsoutherland.com) © October 2022

original fiction

general warnings: strong language, alcohol use, drug mention

Fuck, Danica had a sweet apartment.

She made that good money working as a bartender at Shockwaves, plus the tips she got from flirting with rich customers. Then there was the whole modeling thing. That had to draw in a pretty penny. No wonder she had such a nice place, with a big open floor plan. And that kitchen!

“I think I could live in this kitchen,” Carla said, hefting herself onto one of the stools at the island. “It feels bigger than my entire place.” She eyed the cleanliness of the counters, the empty sink, how everything seemed untouched or unused. “You know, I could move in here. You don’t ever eat so you never even use it.”

Danica rolled her eyes, bringing up one slender, tan finger to flip her off. “I eat. Don’t start with me.”

“I know, I know.”

Carla had always been envious of anyone who could eat a ton and stay skinny, like Danica. She was slim, hardly more than skin and bones, but it worked for her when it came to her modeling. Apparently, people liked that standard of beauty more than they did Carla, with her few extra pounds, bubble butt, and ample curves. Oh well, it didn’t stop her from eating and that’s precisely what they were both here to do. A much needed Girls Night In.

Leaning over, Carla hefted her tote bag onto the island, glass clinking when the bottles of booze she’d brought jostled together. Danica watched her, placing a hand on her hip, bracelets jingling. She had her hair up in bantu knots, which made it look like she had a crown around her head. With her thick eye-liner and bronzed skin, she looked like some goddamn queen. “Don’t just stand there. You might be all high and mighty, Your Highness, but you best help me.”

“That’s right—I’m royalty, bitch. Don’t you forget it.” Danica smirked back at her, playfully stuck out her tongue, then started to help unpack Carla’s bag. “What’d you get for us tonight?”

“Only the best, Your Majesty. I got whiskey, rum, and vodka. And, oh, and a few bottles of red wine. You think that’s enough?”

“It’s a start.” Playfully, she gave Carla’s head a little pat. “My good and faithful servant.”

Wrinkling her nose at the banter and the ruffling of her bangs, Carla went on. “I also got some brownie mix.” She pulled out the box, waving it before passing it to her friend. “All we have to do is add water, bake, and voilà!—yumminess!”

“Hmm.” Danica had the box turned over, reading the directions on the back, one manicured nail tapping. “This says you need eggs, oil, and water.”

Carla blinked. “Wait—what? Check that again, are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Okay, so it’s just a few more steps.” She waved it off, twisting the cap off the bottle of vodka. “Even better.”

“Yeah, except I don’t have any eggs.”

“What? How do you not have eggs?”

“Because, according to you, I don’t eat. Remember?”

"What the fuck?" Well, that put a wet blanket on their night. Carla downed a big swig straight from the bottle. “Mm, okay, that sucks. So what do we do? I really want those fucking brownies.” She took another drink, directing a glare at the brownie box. How dumb was she that she didn’t read the damn directions first? “Hey, can’t you use your powers? Conjure up some eggs or brownies? Save the trouble of baking them?”

Danica passed her a look. “No, because conjuring foodstuffs is never as good as the real thing. Besides, I’m already running on a good cocktail of coke and muscle relaxers. My powers are null and void until I sober up.”

“Aww.” That was disappointing. Danica’s power to create anything from her imagination would’ve been damn convenient. She wouldn’t push it though. “I guess we’re going out to grab some eggs or something.” One for the road, she thought, taking another big swig from the bottle.

“Fuck going out.” Danica took the bottle from Carla, helped herself to a big sip, then handed it back. She had her phone in her hand a half-second later. “I’m ordering some shit. Pizza, with cheese sticks. And a pan of brownies.”

Carla’s face pulled into a big grin. “That’s what I’m talking about! Fuck baking.” She was gonna be good and buzzed in a little bit. Probably for the best they didn’t have the oven going. “Ya know what? Make it two brownies.”

“Yep. Got it.”

#fictober22 #short fiction #urban fantasy #The New Ashton Chronicles #TNAC #long post; short fiction #long post #long post tw #long post //#short fiction; Carla #short fiction; Danica #.Carla.#.Danica.

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a-lilacsong · 1 year

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Thank you so much for the sketch! It’s wonderful as always. The costumes are wonderful. I love Victor’s sombrero and Carla’s flower wreath. What style is her hair in? Is it down? And I’m certain it is emotional for them. We don’t know much about Victor’s family or his relationship with them, but regardless, I can see Dia Muertos being emotional for them. Though I also think that Victor would love telling Carla stories about his parents/family, and that she would love listening to them.

You're welcome, I'm so glad you like it!

Yes, her hair is down, I was trying something different with the line style, so it's a little hard to tell. So it's basically styled like a regular hairstyle, except without the braid so the back of her hair is down. I love his sombrero too, Victor in hats is a very good idea.

I have no idea what Victor's relationship would be like with his family (Well, no one does because it is never clarified in the show, but that's besides the point). I've always sort of headcanoned that he had a strained relationship with them. Not abusive or anything, but just that his parents were probably really busy with other stuff and couldn't really pay too much attention to him as a kid and that could be one of the reasons for why he started doing troublesome things, to try and get attention. So the most common times they would focus on him was when he got in trouble and they would give him punishments and be annoyed at him. He resented that and they never really patched that up.

I mean, yes, Victor specifically references his father being royal treasurer, and yet he never mentions him again. It doesn't seem like he's in contact with him at all, and it could be because he's dead, but then why wouldn't he ever reference any other relatives? In the song Way Back When, it seems like other than Ash being there at some point, Victor and Carla were living alone.

Victor specifies that Shriki banished “[him] and [his] family” and he must have been referring to his birth family because Esteban didn't recognize Ash or Carla when he first saw them. I've always thought that Victor's father must have been loyal to the King and Queen of Avalor, and when he realized his son had a hand in the assassination, Victor was disowned. Their relationship was already strained and Victor presumably got them banished as well, so that was the last straw.

So then when Victor has a kid, he's like, “OK, I'm definitely going to pay a bunch of attention to her and make sure that she always knows that she's appreciated.” Which, you know, he mostly succeeds at, but he's not entirely perfect, no parent is.

Although it could be closer to what you say and he actually had a really good relationship with his family. But then I have to wonder why he wouldn't ask them for help raising Carla when he was on his own. Or why they wouldn't try and stop him from doing crime. Who knows, maybe his parents didn't disown him, but they couldn't survive being banished, and maybe that worsened Victor's resentment of Esteban? So yeah, then he would say nice things about them to Carla, but they wouldn't be there to help him raise her.

Or maybe he was in a similar situation to Esteban, where he projected that he had a worse relationship with his family than he actually did and it was only after he got older that he realized it wasn't that bad? And it could be like either one of the other two scenarios, but would he say nice things about them to Carla once he realized that. But there are probably even more different possibilities than this that I'm not even thinking of right now.

#ask answer #elana of avalor #eoa #Victor Delgado #Carla Delgado #Hooray headcanon time

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deadcactuswalking · 2 years

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REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 18/06/2022 (D-Block Europe, BTS’ ‘Proof’, Joji)

So, naturally, the biggest story on this week’s chart is not any of the new arrivals. It’s that ACR has been reset – likely influenced by the label – on Kate Bush’s track “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)”, allowing it to spend its first week at #1 and become Bush’s second chart-topper after “Wuthering Heights” in 1978. I mean, it is one of the greatest songs of all time, and the chart rules are arbitrary as all hell in the first place so seeing them being flubbed for the sake of an amazing song having a streaming resurgence and coming back to rule the chart... it’s not surprising or really anything I’m ungrateful for. This would probably be a bigger deal in the US, where older songs don’t as easily top the charts bar Mariah Carey, but given in the past few years in the UK, we’ve seen “Last Christmas” and “Three Lions” at the top, as well as “All I Want for Christmas is You” of course, it’s not exactly a big deal, at least not to me. Hell, “Last Christmas” is even older than Kate Bush’s track, even if Bush does now break their record for the longest a song took to top the chart. These little anomalies are fun, but arguably ever-present in the ongoing weirdness of the UK Singles Chart, which I try my best to document. With that said, welcome back to REVIEWING THE CHARTS!

Rundown

This might be a cooler week, in large part because, well, other than Kate Bush, there’s not much to discuss here. I didn’t even find any albums outside of the chart last week that I cared enough about to listen to. To be fair, next week will be a whole lot more stressful considering that there were already many albums I wanted to discuss before you-know-who came around... so this week, I can take it slow and prepare for the inevitable chaos.

For now, we should start with – as always – our notable dropouts, songs exiting the UK Top 75 – which is what I cover – after five weeks in the region or a peak in the top 40. There’s nothing that detrimental this week, but we do say farewell to “Lemon Tree” by Post Malone, “All for You” by Cian Ducrot, “What Would You Do?” by Joel Corry, David Guetta and Bryson Tiller, “Still Sleepless” by D.O.D. and Carla Monroe, and of course, “Shotgun” by George Ezra and “God Save the Queen” by the Sex Pistols off of their returns last week. That’s not to say Ezra’s album wasn’t successful, of course – he got the #1 – it’s just that his older hit couldn’t last for a second run.

“Levitating” by Dua Lipa is back once again at #75 because of course it is, but otherwise, we do have some notable gains, those being songs that jumped up at least five positions from their chart placement last week. This week, we see gains for “Vegas” by Doja Cat at #52, “Stay the Night” by Sigala and Talia Mar at #40, “I Ain’t Worried” by OneRepublic of all songs at #28, “Anyone for You (Tiger Lily)” by George Ezra at #22 thanks to the album, “Last Last” by Burna Boy at #20, “Je M’appelle” by Benzz at #17 thanks to the remix and that’s pretty much it outside of the top 20... and I’ll be honest, I’m not fussed about any of these gains: some just seem like kind of bizarre ways to fill in the gaps.

In terms of our top five, well, bottom top, we have “About Damn Time” by Lizzo at #5, “Afraid to Feel” by LF SYSTEM surging up to #4 – to have a song this subtly weird this high is pretty cool, even if there’s one that’s even more so at the top. There’s also “Go” by Cat Burns at #3, “As it Was” by Harry Styles at #2 and of course, “Running Up That Hill” at the top. Now, since we don’t have an Off the Charts section this week – I know, scandalous – I suppose it’s time to get straight into our new arrivals.

NEW ARRIVALS

#73 – “Cash In Cash Out” – Pharrell Williams featuring 21 Savage and Tyler, the Creator

Produced by Pharrell Williams

So we might just get a new Pharrell Williams solo album after all, and since his Y2K-era Neptunes pop rap is actually in vogue now in terms of the nostalgia cycle, he won’t need to do the plastic “soul” music of his last effort under his own name. Of course, I’m glad about this considering that I never want to hear “Happy” again for the rest of my life, but I do miss the more experimental side of N.E.R.D. Regardless, this new single is a straight-up hardcore rap joint with a blocky, stiff beat made up off of hard-hitting bass and a scratchy vocal loop that is very typical of Pharrell. I actually really like it, and this kind of incoherence can fit both 21, even if his hook is monotonous, and especially Tyler, the Creator. To no surprise, both of them do pretty well here, with 21 keeping a straight-forward flow yet still coming up with some notable flow switches as well as some bizarre lines, like how his bodyguard looks like a horse, and he can turn a third-world country to a million-dollar street, and how he’s Uncle Sam because he’s also taxing. When the flexing is self-aware and clever enough to both acknowledge the violence of his music and compare both his Glock and penis to Kim Jong-un (and it’s not his first time), it’s kind of hard to dismiss it. Of course, it’s easier to forget he’s on the track when Tyler runs away with it, with his level to detail in his bars that address mostly flexing of course but in a variety of ways that both reference his older work and acknowledge his own place in the track (which as he says is to “bring life” to it – if something is Tyler’s best aspect, it’s honesty). A beat this blocky and kind of gross having this smooth and adaptable flow on it honestly feels kind of bizarre on first listen, but the way that Tyler plays with the structure of the verse with his layered ad-libs, hardcore aggression in the final few lines, and the playful sing-songy flows elsewhere is really just effortless. It may not be the most interesting song from any of these artists, but it goes hard, and that’s all it really intended to, especially since Pharrell is actually nowhere to be seen outside of the production. If his next project is really just a DJ Khaled-esque compilation, I’m not sure I’d be complaining if everything is at this level.

#71 – “Sunroof” – Nicky Youre and dazy

Produced by dazy

TikTok strikes again, giving a hit to yet another indie pop artist, this week’s being Nicky Youre, a singer from California who broke out with this song produced by dazy and... I can’t stand this, I’m sorry. The “la-di-da” hook is infectious sure but seldom tolerable, and the plucky acoustic guitars are one step removed from American Authors’ “Best Day of My Life”, except even jerkier over the programmed bedroom pop drums that rid the song of any groove, especially with the shifty reserved percussion in the verses that is such a questionable decision, for such a breezy song no less. Youre is probably the least of my issues, as whilst his delivery isn’t exactly complimentary, he can easily fade in the background when he isn’t not enunciating or whining. Hey, at least there’s a vague excuse for a guitar solo, but it replaces where an actual verse could be because for such a conventional song, it eschews a typical pop structure, in favour of just getting in and out a teenager’s ears as quickly as possible, copping out by fading out instead of resolving tightly or effectively. The fact that this is coming from no-names doesn’t surprise me, but it does just feel like label-manufactured commercial music: you’d hear this, conveniently, in a YouTube advertisement promoting a car which has a you-guessed-it so the song just fits all too snug in that kind of mould. I’m not a fan of this at all, though upon relisten to “Best Day of My Life”, I may want to retract my comparison as “Sunroof” sounds like Pink Floyd with that extra context.

#67 – “So Good” – Halsey

Produced by Tobias Karlsson and Max Martin

Halsey released a really great album last year that I feel not as many people paid attention as they should have, because although it was a bit less accessible thanks to the Nine Inch Nails connection, it was a pretty compelling take on the idea of womanhood that had its fair share of really fascinating songs as well as songs that could have easily been hits – perhaps if Halsey had worn a bra on the cover art, people would be more willing to stream. Sigh, I guess she’s back to making “normal” pop now, but I’m not really complaining as I like this a fair bit too. I don’t really wish to acknowledge the TikTok media garbage tsunami that surrounds the release of it, especially since I hope the label and Halsey know how that was worth a resounding #67 debut (telling) – so I guess I’ll move on and say that whilst Max Martin is a producer, he didn’t write the track and it kind of shows because Halsey has always created characters in their music that speaks for them, even if they are based on people they know, as is done with the bridge here as they mention their friend Maria, and continue to refer to their partner as “the one that got away” even if, ultimately, he came back to them and it’s kind of a unique angle in this kind of cutesy love song. Everything worked out fine in the end, but there is acknowledgement of the frustration that comes with starting a high-profile relationship, and really, the chorus never fully changes: that bitterness about the previous relationship he was in is still there. Halsey themselves may be the weak link here in terms of delivery as they’ve never been able to fully get out of the generic smoky alt-pop delivery, but the glassy instrumental does some heavy-lifting, especially with those flares of synth or guitar that acts as the sparks birthing the relationship. The blend of scratchy acoustic guitars with the uniquely busy drum programming, not too dissimilar from footwork or juke tracks in all honesty, gives the song a sense of driven urgency that by the end feels fully warranted. It’s not that interesting, all things considered, but it’s done really damn well for what it is. That may just be a theme in the good songs this week, but time will tell. Either way, this is a good song and I hope to hear more like this in that next album... perhaps a bit weirder for the deep cuts though because I know they can make that work.

#65 – “Rainfall (Praise You)” – Tom Santa

Produced by Alex Tepper

I always get a sinking feeling when I song I have to review doesn’t have a Genius page... or has a prior hit song in its title and is made by a nobody. “Praise You” by Fatboy Slim is by some levels a plunderphonics track, effortlessly layering many a sample, some from ludicrous sources, to create a track that somehow out of disjointed parts from other forms of human expression, feel a whole lot more human than a lot of the dance music out at the time. It was a breakout hit for Norman Cook and to this day is still the DJ’s only #1. It may not be his best song – “Weapon of Choice” kind of clears – but... oh, okay, this has nothing to do with Fatboy Slim at all. Let’s try this again: “Shackles (Praise You)” is the only worldwide hit by gospel duo Mary Mary, using a gritty guitar, Auto-Tune and contemporary R&B percussion to add a groovy edge to their praise and worship that sounds dated as hell but honestly is kind of better off for it. It peaked at #5 here, and now an Australian DJ under the name of Tom Santa has remixed the track for his only available song on Spotify, speeding the hook up and adding a blubbery bass and some 90s piano house production that should not be unfamiliar to any chart listeners, as well as some live chatter that kind of makes it seem like part of an actual DJ set, even if the looped catchphrases don’t really make him sound exactly like he’s building up audience hype and just sounds like he recorded this to a pre-recorded track. It’s similar to “Afraid to Feel” in terms of how liberally it uses that one sampled hook, but the bridge where he keeps in the dated Auto-Tune and adds some strings that really elevate the track to new heights that I did not think gospel could be taken is actually really well-sequenced. Sure, it leads to a slap-house drop but stakes weren’t risen high enough or with busy enough programming for that to be disappointing so it just ends up working as a relaxed throwback. I was kind of hoping that he’d mash up the song with the Fatboy Slim classic for extra music nerd points, especially considering that before I heard the track I assumed he’d remix the more, you know, feasibly remixable track but this is still pretty good. I wonder where “Tom Santa” will go from here – a Wikipedia page would be a good start.

#62 – “Run BTS” – BTS

Produced by Dem Jointz and GHSTLOOP

These boys, however, need no introduction. BTS released a compilation album before announcing a hiatus. It’s called Proof and naturally already contains their hit “RUN”, so I guess this song, produced by Dem Jointz and with writing credits from Daniel Caesar of all people, needed a new name. Fitting for the production, BTS tackle what is basically a brag-rap song – far from new territory for them – and actually add some decent detail, especially that recurring theme of the crappy old studio that would have leaks in the rain and comparing that to where they are now. All of that is in Korean so without translation, most of the lyrics consist of kind of aimless motifs which I guess is understandable but does make the song sound kind of generic. Now I understand I’m treading on thin ice so for my personal safety, I’ll say that most of my problems with this song come from whatever the hell Dem Jointz is doing. Most of the Bangtan Boys flow as effectively as they can over this gross guitar riff and really chipped, weak percussion that doesn’t fit the gravitas of the sentiment, the charmingly over-the-top delivery or especially the squealing guitars and attempt at having a bassier groove. As always, SUGA’s flow is impressive, and I kind of love RM’s silly little ringtone rap back-and-forth he does before the second chorus, which I don’t think is particularly impressive but I think that really is a result of this beat not clicking with me. The awkward beat switch with j-hope’s Auto-Tuned croon and the trap inflections just sounds really ugly, out of place and lazy, meaning that when the actual intensity, however canned and tinny, comes on that final chorus, nothing feels all that warranted. This isn’t awful, but it could have easily been better.

#31 – “Glimpse of Us” – Joji

Produced by Connor McDonough

I should be over this “Filthy Frank is an alt-pop hit maker” thing now but I really don’t think I have the right to. I never watched the guy but I was a bit too acutely aware of the memes to know that the lack of formal remorse, apology or even acknowledgement before moving onto a new era does bug me just a little. It doesn’t really help that I haven’t found much to consistently like from the moodier stuff outside of the rare single that really hits like “SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK” or “Daylight” with Diplo, but considering that this is his highest-charting single to date, I had some expectations. They were not that it would be an adult contemporary song, but my expectations were within the realm of “pathetic break-up song”. With that said, Joji starts the song by expressing these loving gratitudes towards his current partner... before saying that it doesn’t matter because when he looks into her eyes, all he sees is this past relationship that could have worked. This desperate tone is well reflected both in the lyrics and Joji’s falsetto that can never sound perfect regardless of how many times it’s being multi-tracked, so it expresses “pathetic” pretty well. That doesn’t necessarily mean I like it, given the minimal piano backing doesn’t build up any expectations that it can tug down, which would be the crux of a song like this, and it is bit of a slog, but it’s new for him – even if I’d argue it’s fully an attempt to chase trends, albeit doing them better – so I’ll welcome it with open arms for now, at least before I hear it in album context.

#27 – “Yet to Come” – BTS

Produced by Pdogg

This new BTS album is more than a compilation album: it’s an anthology album that debuted at #8 on the UK Albums Chart, acting as a hesitant farewell and look back on an honestly impressive decade plus of their career and success in Korea and elsewhere. It’s not really a surprise then that this single, subtitled “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life”, comes with a video that references their older tracks as well as lyrics that do feel personal and detailed, even if some of them come off as generic motivation (likely lost with translation). V notes that fame that once felt new and exciting feels like a responsibility or obligation when he says that “unfamiliar names just feel heavy”, SUGA feels that even being called the best or most successful doesn’t stop what he started music for, which is the love of it, that all of the group express without exactly sugar-coating things like their youth and the meaninglessness of industry accolades – “crowns and flowers, countless trophies: we ain’t about it”. Of course, not all of that tone is found in the production, but given that it’s their signature producer Pdogg at the helm instead of people who don’t know what they’re doing, I hoped for some more restraint here... and whilst there’s not exactly “restraint”, this might just be my favourite BTS song so far. The beginning blend of pianos and overlapping vocal samples as well as that driving kick drum remind me a lot of a kawaii future bass song building up tension, so the more down to Earth yet still hard-hitting hip-hop drum pattern that comes in feels like a bit of a relief, and might even parallel the tone that they’re going for. RM interpolating Kanye’s most inspirational hit in the chorus feels nowhere near as forced as it should, and both he and j-hope have some smooth flows and deliveries in that shared third verse. Sure, it’s boy band fluff, but it’s done really well, in the way that I could say that Backstreet Boys or *NSYNC songs had a genuine sense of urgency or reminiscence to them back in the 2000s. This is pretty damn good, and honestly, if this is the last we’re getting from them together, at least it’s ending on a high note and everyone seeming to be – at least on the surface – at some degree of harmony. We, however, do not necessarily end on a high note...

#18 – “Elegant & Gang” – D-Block Europe

Produced by Ghost Killer Track

You know who has never sounded in harmony? D-Block Europe, the UK rap duo that kind of phone it in but put just enough effort in to be funny. They’re teaming up with French producer Ghost Killer Track for their biggest lead single in a while, and it’s honestly not that bad. Young Adz tries his best at being a British Drake, with a fittingly cloudy beat, though he seems to treat his girl better than Drake does his, especially since he makes this fleeting reference to domestic violence that comes out of nowhere, much like that kick drum that’s too loud in the mix and stiff, unfinished trap percussion, which sadly does overshadow some of Adz’s decent melodic flows, especially in the pretty catchy chorus that plays on the “Bad and Boujee” dichotomy. He flows better than Dirtbike LB at least, and kind of shows him up on the second track, but it’s not like either of them are saying anything all that interesting. Once again, I found myself oddly convinced that Dirtbike LB needs some form of therapy, as whilst he says he’s watching Sky Sports, he also mentions a night that he was feeling vulnerable and willing to use substances in a borderline suicidal way just to please this girl and lead her into having sex. This goes beyond the typical rap nihilism right? Get help, man.

Conclusion

D-Block Europe get the Dishonourable Mention here but almost by default and in lieu of being actually bad, just uninteresting with “Elegant & Gang”, whilst Worst of the Week goes pretty easily to “Sunroof” by Nicky Youre and dazy because nothing else was actually all that bad here. Hell, I’d say it was a pretty good week with the best being difficult to decide. I guess I’ll give a tied Honourable Mention to Halsey for “So Good” and Pharrell Williams’ “Cash in Cash Out” featuring 21 Savage and Tyler, the Creator, with Best of the Week going to Tom Santa’s good sample flip on “Rainfall (Praise You)”. Trust me, BTS were close, there was just a lot of competition. For next week, I won’t have to stay as safe – I haven’t exactly sung the praises of this certain Canadian and in the past, and no – it’s not Justin Bieber, I hope he recovers from his condition swiftly. You know who’s coming next week and if you’ve been on Twitter, you might know that there’s not much worth discussing in that regard. For now, however, thank you for reading and I’ll see you next week!

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dialovers-translations · 2 years

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Diabolik Twitter ー Laito Sakamaki [2021 Compilation]

–> This post includes all tweets posted on the official Rejet Twitter account for Laito Sakamaki (@DiaLoverLaitoS) in 2021.

Shuu l Reiji l Ayato l Kanato l l Subaru l Ruki l Kou l Yuma l Azusa l Carla l Shin l Kino

January 12, 2021

> Ayato-kun’s such a dummy.

> I think you meant Saints' Day*? (@Ayato)

--> This continues to play off the pun ‘seijin no hi’ (成人の日) which is the day of the coming-of-age ceremony in Japan. However, Ayato thought ‘seijin’ means aliens (星人, also pronounced ‘seijin’) while Laito says it means ‘Saint’ (聖人, also pronounced ‘seijin’). Japanese is a language with an immense amount of homophones, which makes this possible.

> Nfu~ I lied.

February 14, 2021 (Valentine’s Day)

> Heeey, Bitch-chan~ Why do you seem so fidgety? Aah, you’ve got chocolates for me. But you’re basically offering yourself along with them, no? As you wish, I will devour you with them. ❤️

March 14, 2021 (White Day)

> Bitch-chan, do you remember what day it is? It’s the White Day of Lovers, you know~ With that being said, I prepared a chocolate fondue for us to enjoy~ You can coat some strawberry or banana in plenty of melted chocolate and dig・right・in~

March 20, 2021(His birthday)

> Thank you for preparing both a cake and a delicious meal. How・e・ver, I have a different kind of appetite. ...You know what I mean, right? Tonight, I want you even more than usual. Can I please have your sweet, sweet self~? You’re always so kind to me, so you’ll fulfill this wish of mine, won’t you? In exchange, I’ll give you my everything too.

April 1, 2021 (April Fools)

> I praise myself for living a clean life.

June 15, 2021

> Bitch-chan, quiz time~ What’s the name of a cute flower which blooms in June?

> Correct. Then, do you know what the flower language of the Hydrangea is?

> Apparently it’s ‘capriciousness’, ‘unfaithfulness’ and ‘uncertainty’~

> Nfu~ None of those apply to me, don’t・you・think? ❤️

July 7, 2021 (Tanabata)

> I want to enjoy this summer to the fullest with Bitch-chan. 👙#TanabataWishes

July 31, 2021

> I’ll treat you like a Queen as well~ ❤️#DiaLoversVampireCafe

August 18, 2021

> Hey, Bitch-chan. What are you up to right now?

> Hmm~ That sounds fun to but...Let’s do something even better together~

> You want to know what I have in mind? A secret game for just the two of us~ You’re in, right?

> Nice reply. ❤️ Then, now that it’s settled, come to that place.

August 25, 2021

> Question~ ❤️ Who do you belong to?

> Then, next question...If you belong to me, you’ll listen to everything I ask of you, right? Please answer with ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

> What’s this~? Don’t you remember what I told you? I find girls who only ever nod their head to be incredibly dull.

> Just kidding. That expression of yours is very cute too. ❤️Now, come here.

October 12, 2021

> Hey, Bitch-chan~ ❤️

> You were thinking of me, weren’t you?

> Nfu~ I can read you like an open book.

November 21, 2021

> Ah, geez, Bitch-chan. Is this where you’ve been? Hey, show me your hand.

> No need to be so alert~ Here, this is a present from me, to you. ❤️It’s a hair ribbon, I thought it would look nice on you. If you like it, please give me something nice in return~?

December 23, 2021

> I quite like the idea of tying you up with a ribbon on this special day~ ❤️

December 24, 2021 (Christmas)

> Bitch-chan, I got you something nice since it’s Christmas today! Is it a delicious meal, a cake, a present...or perhaps, I’m the surprise~? If you guess correctly, I’ll give it to you. So, what’s your answer~?

#diabolik lovers #dialovers #laito sakamaki #diabolik lovers translation #diabolik lovers twitter #diabolik lovers tweets #laito2021

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spaceskam · 3 years

Text

woke me up from the longest dream

Summary: Alex and Michael follow up on a lead and find something powerful.

Tags: canon compliant (for the most part), visions, road trips, my deep sky still sucks agenda

ao3

"Why is it so fucking cold?"

"Welcome to Montana," Alex said dryly.

Michael made a face and shoved his hands in his pockets. He was doing his best to be mature about Alex inviting him on this trip. It was another loose lead he found and he was irritated that he didn't find it until after he came back home. Michael had offered to help after a grueling time in self-induced misery and Alex had agreed and he had planned to use this time to show Alex how much he'd grown.

However, there was something about being alone with Alex that made him feel a little like he hadn’t.

"Are you not cold?"

"Didn't we deduce that your species is from a really cold planet due to your body temperature and the clothing Tripp described they were wearing?" Alex asked back.

Michael was used to a vaguely snarky Alex, it was in his genetic makeup. This was a different level though. Alex was in one of the worst moods Michael had ever seen him in that didn't result in a fight, instead it was all icy silence and irritated answers. Michael wasn't sure if it was because of his breakup with Forrest or if it was something else entirely. Maybe it was the fact that Michael was here at all.

He decided to keep quiet.

"You got me," Michael said, taking slightly bigger strides to keep up with Alex.

They were in a small town that served as a hub for a few even smaller towns that surrounded it. It had one small stretch of road with all the local businesses in it, a shabby hotel, a diner, and a farmer's market being the three biggest options. There were a couple others buildings, but Michael couldn't say what they were by just looking at them from the outside.

Alex seemed to know where he was headed though and he waltzed up to a building that was only identifiable by a sign that was meant to say CORRIE'S but was missing a few letters and said CORE instead. He pushed the door open and Michael followed. The inside had the heater blasting in a way that immediately smothered him, but he managed to keep his face even. It looked like a convenience store with only three rows of shelves in the middle. A sign at the back door read GAS PUMP IN BACK. Michael thought that was bad advertising.

"Hello," an older woman at the counter greeted. She seemed to be the only one here.

"Hey," Alex said, approaching her and turning on an easy smile. Logically Michael just knew he was being charming to get what he came here for. Illogically, it felt like Alex could be nice to everyone but him.

How many times could he tell himself to grow up?

"What can I help you two with?" she asked.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but this place is owned by someone who used to live in Fort Belknap?" Alex said, not even beating around the bush to charm her more. That was the only thing to convince him it wasn't just him.

The woman stared at him, face unchanging.

"Who's asking?"

"Holt," Alex said, smiling and tilting his head a little bit, "Carla Holt, to be more specific."

She breathed in and closed her eyes for a moment before opening them a few moments later.

"Their timing has always been impeccable," she said, gesturing towards a door behind her, "Come."

"Who's Carla Holt?" Michael whispered to him as they followed. Alex grabbed his arm and squeezed, nearly causing Michael to fully trip over air.

"Just follow my lead. Stay quiet," Alex explained quietly, "I'll tell you later."

And Michael did as he said.

"You must be the littlest Manes boy," the woman said as she led them into a little office. It was cluttered and didn't really seem like the top secret place Michael was imagining.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Corrie," she corrected, "I never did like the sound of ma'am."

"Alright," Alex said, laughing lightly even though didn't reach his eyes, "My mother told me the same thing."

"I bet so," Corrie said, digging through messy drawers of a desk. She sat down heavily into the beat up chair and started digging through a file cabinet. "I kept telling myself it'll eventually come and bite me in the ass, carrying secrets for someone I only hear from once every few years, but you never know what you're getting yourself into until after you're stuck."

"Yeah, I know how that feels," Alex sighed. Michael's eyes drifted to him. He avoided eye contact completely.

"I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting you. Your brother, maybe. Part of me expected your father to bust down my door more than anyone," she went on. Corrie pulled out a small box and opened it, looking in and making a face before closing it and tossing it over her shoulder.

"Guess I'm the sucker who agreed to clean up duty."

Corrie laughed.

Truly, Michael expected more danger and more difficulty. He expected a fight or at least tension. Instead, Alex and Corrie made small talk about their shitty affiliations while Corrie dug through decades worth of clutter. Eventually, she pulled out a box and opened it and took a deep breath. She closed it again before giving it to Alex and Alex didn't reopen it so Michael had no idea what was in it. All he knew was that it went into Alex's bag.

"Thank you "

"Keep it safe," Corrie said, "Keep yourself safe." Then for the first time her eyes drifted to Michael. "You too. There aren't many of you left."

It was hot in the building, but somehow Michael felt like he'd jumped in ice water.

"Thank you."

"Mhm. Now get the hell out of my store before somebody follows you."

"Of course. Thank you again," Alex said politely and then he did as she said, turning on his heel and walking away. Michael wanted to stay and ask more–if she knew what he was, maybe she knew things he didn't and they could get rid of Mr. Jones–but Michael simply followed Alex's lead.

"Alex," Michael said, nearly having to jog to keep up. Alex opened the door of the store and a blast of cold hit Michael in the face, colder than before due to the extreme warmth inside. It took him a moment to reboot his mind enough to finish what he was saying. "Alex, what's in the box?"

Alex managed to close his eyes and shake his head in disapproval without slowing his pace.

"Can you wait until we get to the hotel?" Alex asked, cold again. Michael nodded despite the fact Alex couldn't see him, deciding that a verbal answer probably would be annoying in itself.

The problem with silence was that it was a sure way to get Michael to spiral. He had discovered very recently that being alone when he wanted to be alone the most was the worst idea. Now, he didn't want to be alone as much as he wanted answers. Walking in silence down a street while wondering what was in Alex's bag, who Carla Holt was, why Alex was angry, etc, etc, etc, was only making his mind race.

By the time they stepped into the lobby of the hotel, Michael was sure that Alex had just borrowed a bomb from an old lady and he was going to explode himself and whoever Carla Holt was was going to hunt Michael down in revenge. He of course didn't say that. Instead, he tapped his foot as Alex requested a room with two queens and didn't realized that the worker snorted because he was assuming they were two queens until after they were already heading to the room.

"Should I go spit in his drink?" Michael asked when he realized.

"No," Alex said, "You'd probably make it taste too sweet."

Michael again found himself stumbling over nothing and he looked at Alex, wondering what the hell was he talking about. But it was the nicest thing he'd said to him the whole trip and Michael decided to take it very personally.

"You sayin' I'm sweet?" Michael asked, grinning. A smile pulled at Alex's mouth that he very quickly schooled, slowing as he came to their room.

"I'm saying your saliva, and probably your other bodily fluids, have a higher concentration of a glucose-like chemical," Alex said, "As proved by Kyle and Liz when we got drunk."

"You guys drunkenly tested our saliva's glucose levels?" Michael asked, laughing a little. Alex finally speaking to him made his brain stop wandering as much. Not completely–he was still wondering about that box–but enough.

"We were talking," Alex said, unlocking the door with the keycard, "And noticed we all thought you three tasted sweeter than other people we'd kissed and, well, you know. So we did some tests."

"That's... Interesting," Michael said, letting the door close behind them.

Alex walked over to the bed closest to the door and carefully sat his bag down. Michael watched him, staying near the door. He was still unsure about where they stood. He knew Alex cared about him and he knew Alex didn't hate him, but he was also still holding him at arm's length. And then there was that box. He didn't want to push.

But Michael wasn't known for his patience.

"Alex," Michael said, "What's in that box?"

Alex swallowed and looked up at him for a moment before patting the bed beside him. An invitation. One that made Michael's stomach drop and twist in 11 knots. But he walked closer, sitting beside Alex. Alex stared at him, his features slowly loosening up to betray his feelings. His eyebrows pulled together in that kind of worry that meant he felt like he was drowning, scrambling to pull himself to the surface and never able to get a good grip. Which would explain the coldness, he supposed.

"You know you can trust me, right? I'm... I'm working on not being so self-destructive, and, like, knowing I'm helping you out kinda helps when I feel shitty," Michael said. Alex huffed a small laugh and shook his head, dropping his chin to his chest for a moment. When he looked Michael in the eye again, he was back to being serious.

"I did something stupid," Alex said, softly like it was a secret, "I agreed to something without knowing what I was getting myself into. And I'm kind of stuck right now."

"Stuck? What do you mean stuck?" Michael said, following his lead and whispering.

"I'm figuring it out, alright? Don't worry. I'll tell you later," Alex said, reaching out to squeeze his arm before dropping it back to the bed, "And I checked before we even left that I wasn't bugged and I've kept my eye out to know that we aren't being followed. And my computer definitely isn't. We're good. They're tracking me, but only to the extent I'm letting them. It's okay."

"That doesn't sound okay," Michael said.

"Trust me like I trust you, alright?" He said. Michael reluctantly nodded. "I need you to hold something for me."

Michael blinked. "The box."

"Yeah."

"Who's Carla Holt?" Michael asked. Alex smiled softly

"It's not a who, it's a what. It's a code from my mom's side of things. She knows more about the alien shit than she let on," Alex sighed, "I didn't stand a fucking chance not being involved with this shit. My dad, my mom, you. So, you know, if you ever feel bad about that, it's my fucking destiny."

Michael swallowed and nodded, feeling more eager by the second to know what was in that box. Needed to keep hearing Alex say how fated they were to know each other. Needed Alex to touch his arm again and smile.

"Okay," Michael said, trying to stay in his own space, "So we're fated. Cosmic connection. Called it."

Alex broke into a wide smile, genuine and welcoming as he shoved Michael's shoulder gently. "Shut up."

"Show me," Michael said instead. Alex's smile faded just a little.

"Do me a favor and double check our surroundings," Alex said. Michael nodded and tilted his head, sending a chair to lodge itself under the doorknob and pressed the curtains tightly to the wall. His eyes slid closed as he did a mental sweep of the building, not noticing anything out of order. When he opened his eyes again, Alex seemed to be closer. "Thanks."

"Show me."

Alex sighed and nodded, hesitantly reaching into his bag and pulling out the box. It was clear now that it was made of really nice wood, intricate carvings covering it. Alex handled it with an extreme care that Corrie didn't have with it. His eyes flickered between the box and Michael a few dozen times before he hesitantly opened it and Michael leaned closer to see.

"It's just a ring," Michael said, almost disappointed. It looked like a normal, silver band that was old and unpolished after years of being tucked away.

"Not just a ring," Alex said, he kept his fingers very precise as he picked it up. Michael didn't miss the way it seemed to ripple at his touch.

"Something alien," Michael acknowledged.

"Something alien," Alex confirmed, "Most of the glass and even the rocks that you've had so far all seem to be crafted and at least heavily altered by your people to be as useful as they are. This... This was passed down as a pure substance that was mined and cut into a wedding band to mimic human customs." Alex looked at him. "It pre-dates your mother landing here, Michael."

Michael let out a shaky breath, eager and hungry for knowledge for the first time in a long time. He'd poured over Tripp's journal over and over, poured over Caulfield and Project Shepard records, all of it painful and sickening with an unhappy ending. And now there was something new– old –that might actually give him something more. Proof that aliens were here before his mother, proof that there was a reason they came to Earth of all places. More secrets he craved to uncover. He missed the feeling.

"It's powerful and, as far as I can tell, the last of it left. The rest was probably destroyed with your planet. But it's old and... and sentimental. One of the older women on the reservation told me the sentimentality powered it more. Because it's not just a ring that symbolizes love or a bond between two people, but it's a new start. Blending the past they chose to leave behind together with something new and different. Safer and secure. Together," Alex said. Michael swallowed, eyes unable to break away from Alex's. Alex cleared his throat and looked back down at it. "That's what she said anyway. There was probably two at one point, but I'm sure the other is lost to time."

"Yeah, okay. Okay," Michael said, agreeing without hesitation, "I'll take care of it and keep it safe."

He went to grab it, but Alex pulled it out of his reach.

"Michael," he said, "When I say it's powerful, I mean the moment you put it on, something's going to… happen."

Michael hadn't really intended to put it on, but it seemed Alex knew him well enough to know that eventually he would.

"What kind of something?"

"I don't know, Michael. I just know legend says it has unspeakable levels of power. So, please, be careful with it. I'd prefer you do it with someone around in case it overloads you or something," Alex said. Michael didn't point out what Isobel had before–he was the only one who didn't have a limit.

"Why not just put it on right now?" Michael said, "We're in the clear and you're here. Why not?"

Alex breathed in and out, staring at him with that same worried, downing look. Michael selfishly enjoyed it for a few moments–enjoying that he cared that much. So he smirked and held out his left hand, feeling confident.

"Go ahead, Alex. Put a ring on it," he said. A smile pulled at Alex's lips that he fought, but he relaxed his shoulders and grabbed Michael's hand with his empty one.

Alex's hand was warm. Michael was sort of obsessed with the feeling of it. Why hadn't they been holding hands this entire time?

"I'm right here, okay? So if you need me to take it off or if you feel like you're going to lose control, let me know. Try not to throw me," Alex said. Michael rolled his eyes.

"I don't give a shit how much power I have injected into me, I'm not going to hurt you," Michael said. Alex raised an eyebrow. "Physically. Come on now, cut me some slack."

"Maybe," Alex said, putting the ring closer. Michael could feel it now that it was millimeters away from his skin, the power of it overwhelming. And Michael was intrigued. "Ready?"

"Always."

Alex slid the ring onto his ring finger.

The wave of power hit him instantly and, before he could adjust, sent him into a mindscape. Or–he thought it was. The room was damp and dark, unwelcoming. Michael looked around for something, someone, but he was alone. It was crowded with things, though, inventions and technological structures. It looked like his own lair but significantly less familiar, less comforting.

“Michael?”

Michael turned towards the voice and saw Alex at the top of a ladder, staring down at him with a face that said he was doing everything to stay calm. He had red stains on his clothes. Michael stared at him, unsure what to do. Alex was down the ladder and centimeters away from him so quickly that it could only be achieved by him seeing something that wasn’t happening just yet.

“Are you okay?” Alex asked, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” Michael said, instinctually, “Where are we? What is this place?”

Alex looked around the room, his face betraying his pain before he met Michael’s eyes again. Then his hand was on Michael’s cheek with a warm and grounding presence. Michael’s heart was about to burst out of his chest.

“My research,” he sighed, “Half of it’s destroyed anyway. Let’s go.” Michael didn’t really think that sounded right. This didn’t feel like Alex’s space. He’d been in enough of Alex’s spaces before to know what they felt like. This wasn’t it.

“Your research?” he said. Alex gave him a look and stroked his thumb over his cheekbone.

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Stop that,” Michael said, his voice sounding more irritated than he meant. He could feel the anger in his body, but he didn’t know the source. “Stop not telling me things. You keep doing that. You need to tell me.”

“You’re right,” Alex agreed, swallowing, “But we need to get out of here. I swear I’ll tell you once we get in the car. But we need to get out of here.”

“You promise you’ll tell me in the car?” Michael said. Alex nodded.

“I promise.”

They were upstairs just as fast as Alex had been downstairs. Michael saw blood. He turned his head to find the source, but Alex’s hand was back on his neck to stop him.

“Don’t look. Let’s just go to the car.”

“What, you tryna baby me?” Michael asked, “You know I’ve seen some shit.”

“Yeah, I know,” Alex said, still leading him towards the door as his thumb dug slightly into the muscle on his neck, “Doesn’t mean I have to show you more.”

Michael sucked in a breath and he was thrown back into his body, the power from the ring still thrumming through him and teasing a possible second surge. It was old and unused and desperate to stretch out some of it's pent up energy.

Alex was there, staring at him and holding onto him. He was so close, so real, and so was that memory that was just in the opposite direction. Michael stared at him, taking him in.

"What happened?" Alex asked, hands squeezing his biceps. His hand started to slide up, but stopped at his shoulder. "Hey, you with me?"

"Yeah," Michael said, "I'm okay."

"What happened?"

"I think, uh," Michael breathed, swallowing. His throat felt dry again. The heat of the hotel seemed to work with the heat inside him; he was on fire in the best way. "I got, like, That's So Raven'd."

Alex blinked a couple times, his thumb moving in slow circles against his collarbone not too far from where it’d been moments ago in his vision. Michael wanted to let his eyes roll back into his head and just sink into the bed with Alex beside him and let this undeniable strength course through him.

"You saw the future?" he said, "Like one of Maria's visions?"

"I think so," Michael confirmed, "Only… mine wasn't of something bad. I mean, not really, anyway."

"What was it?" Alex asked.

Michael licked his lips, studying Alex for a moment. The ring on his finger fit perfectly as if it was made for him. The power it gave settled nicely in him, pulsing and eager to be used just a little bit more, but in a childish, playful way. It wanted to stretch after too many years being cooped up.

"Hey, I'm going to try to see something else," Michael said. Alex's eyes went wide as saucers.

"What? Tell me what you saw the first time," Alex pressed, his hand shifting just enough to cup the side of his neck. Michael layered his hand over his, feeling bold and unperturbed. At some point, they were going to get there. He was sure of that more now than ever.

And he wanted to see more.

" Michael ," Alex said, but Michael closed his eyes and breathed in, letting the power in the ring take him somewhere else.

And he was somewhere else.

He was standing at the end of a driveway. He looked around and tried to grab some sort of identifier, but all he saw was a house behind him and then a school bus headed towards him. It stopped in front of him, a kid stepping off and running towards him with a backpack almost as big as she was.

"Daddy!" the kid yelled and Michael tried his damnedest to act like he was meant to be here as the little body slammed against his legs for a welcoming hug. "Is Dad home yet? Can you tell him to get ice cream? I think we need ice cream."

"Oh, you think we need it?" Michael asked, walking with the kid towards the house. It felt natural, oddly enough.

"Yes," the kid said simply, running towards the door. She threw it open and Michael laughed and jogged the rest of the way. He could hear her already telling a story about school and he was trying to stay close enough to follow.

He walked into a foyer, pictures lining the wall. Family portraits.

Him and Alex. The three of them.

When Michael came back to his senses, Alex was right there again and staring at him without faltering. The ring was still alive, but it was at a sated hum now that it had been used a few times. He wondered how it would feel doing something he understood. He couldn’t wait to try.

“Hey,” Alex said, soft and comforting as he welcomed his weight. The vision he had was definitely not what he was looking for, he wanted to know more about Alex’s research and why it all felt so wrong and where the hell they were, but the second one…

“Hi,” Michael said, breathing and his eyes drifting down to his lips. Michael had experienced a lot of urges to kiss Alex before. Somehow this felt more dire.

“Please don’t do that again,” Alex said, “Maybe we should take it off.”

Michael shook his head carefully, eyes scanning him, “No, it feels fine now. It just needed to be used after being in a little box for decades. It’s good. Feels good.”

“Okay,” Alex said, still clearly hesitant. His fingers played with the hair at the back of Michael’s neck. There were two beds, but Michael was trying to figure out how to convince him to share one. They could fit. They’d shared smaller. “What’d you see?”

Michael breathed deep, wanting to get closer. He kept his hands to himself no matter how much he wanted to touch. He was being good. To get to where those visions said he was headed, he had to be good. Good for himself and Alex.

“Tell me what’s going on,” Michael said softly, “What are you researching? Who are you working with?”

Alex blinked once, twice before dropping his hand off of Michael. Which definitely hurt, but the fact that Alex didn’t move away definitely helped.

“What did you see?” Alex asked again, more pressing, “I know you saw that I’m researching something.”

Michael shrugged. He technically did, but he didn’t see anything identifiable. He didn’t know what it was. He would like to. Then again, he’d always wanted to know everything about Alex Manes.

“I didn’t see what,” Michael said, “I just saw that someone’s going to fuck with it. I think. I don’t know, we were in this basement looking thing and it felt really off and, and not like you, but you said your stuff was in it. And you had blood on you and when we went upstairs, there was more blood. But you said not to look. I don’t know what you did or what happened, but, like, if you told me, maybe we can prevent it getting that extreme.”

Alex stared at him for a long moment.

“You saw that both times?” Alex asked softly. Michael hesitated before shaking his head. “What else did you see, then?”

“Um,” Michael breathed, trying to think of the right words to say, “Uh. I don’t think, um…”

“ Michael.”

“Family portraits,” he said carefully, figuring that was easier to start with than a whole person who called them dad, “Like, ours. Um. I know we don’t belong in suburbia, but I guess we fucking get it anyway.”

He laughed. It wasn’t funny, but it was easier to say it like it was a joke. Alex looked at him, face confused.

“Suburbia? Like. White picket fence kinda thing?” Alex asked. Michael took a slow breath.

“I, uh, I didn’t see a fence, I was too focused on the‒” he stopped, licking his lips. Michael rubbed his thumb over the ring. It seemed to purr at the attention. Michael couldn’t wait to get back home and see what he could really do.

“On the what?” Alex prodded, reaching out to rest his hand on his leg and reigniting the contact. It felt so good. Michael really liked when he was touchy, it was his favorite thing about Alex.

“Um,” Michael breathed, feeling drunk off the attention and the ring all at once. He thought about lying, maybe that they were babysitting because that was close enough, but he was so tired of lies and half-truths and I’ll-tell-you-laters. “On the kid.”

Alex froze for a moment, “The kid?”

“Yeah,” Michael said, shrugging softly, “I, uh, I guess she was ours. She was calling us dad. Do we have any water? My throat is super dry.”

“I… I don’t think you’re seeing the future then, I’m never having kids. Do you realize how awful of a parent I would be? Awful. Neglectful. That’s not… And after I clearly fucking hurt people?”

“Maybe not,” Michael said, not about to argue right now. He was too busy feeling good. Alex kept his hand on his knee. “But whatever it was, it was good.”

Alex stared at him, quiet and clearly thinking things through. Michael let him. It was easier to give him space and time now. He’d gotten better at it before his visions, but they solidified to him that they were on a good path. It felt like they were making good choices and taking good steps. This was just a part of it.

Alex eventually took a deep breath, looked him in the eye.

“I’m gonna tell you what I’m doing, but you have to promise you’re going to stay out of it and trust me,” Alex said, “You promise?”

“I promise.”

“And you’re gonna promise to be honest with me?” Alex said, “And stay safe. Like, seriously. Don’t be reckless just because. I know you.”

I know you.

“Yeah. I’m doing better now,” Michael said, stretching his hand out, “I am. But I’m… I’m tired of not doing shit together. Doing stuff separately always gets us in shitty situations, Alex, I wanna be a team. Can I be on your team?”

Alex swallowed and moved his hand up, tucking Michael’s hair behind his ear.

“Yeah. Be on my team. Let’s be a team,” Alex said. He shifted and Michael waited patiently, watching him. “Okay, so. Deep Sky. It’s… it’s got some good people, I think, but it’s overall fucked. I don’t trust anyone in there, but it’s where I’m doing my research. Sort of. So I’ll tell you.”

It almost felt too good to be true to hear, but he didn’t need the ring to know that Alex was being honest. It showed him anyway. Truthfulness radiated off of him in vibrant blues and whites. He didn’t even need to get in his mindscape to be sure of it. It was strange to feel like that was unnecessary, like his body didn’t need confirmation because it already knew. It didn’t feel like he was stepping off a ledge. He hoped Alex had the same confidence, wondered what would happen if he put the ring on him.

If Alex still felt like he was stepping off the ledge, he was going to be sure to catch every inch of him this time. No piece would hit the ground like all the times before.

He was going to make this work.

“Everything?”

“Everything.”

#malex #malex fic #michael guerin #alex manes #roswell new mexico #my fic

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heademptycarla · 3 years

Photo

“ i’m chile-domini-curican ! but i always say i’m from queens ! ~ ”

carla from in the heights ( 2021 ) dir. jon chu

Originally posted on my instagram; @ peachpoppyart ! Please don’t repost my artwork without permission + credit !

#in the heights #in the heights movie #ith #carla in the heights #stephanie beatriz #musicals #musical #musical theatre #fan art #fanart #in the heights fan art #in the heights fanart #my art #i have so much art to post but i also don't want to spam !! so plz forgive my sporadic uploads #i always say i'm from queens ! ∘₊✧ ─ ✧₊∘ ➵ mine

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cari28ch3-me · 3 years

Text

so I just watched “In the Heights”

here are some positive and negative thoughts:

is it odd that within the first music number the very first thing that caught my eye is that they have dancers of different body types? for real that was the very first thing that cught my eye as I already know the song, so details like that were more important in my mind

speaking of odd, the accents in this movie. Even when I watch a film that happens to have Latino representation it still called out my atention a lot to hear so many Caribbean accents. So often latino artists either play them down or try too hard to sound Mexican and on this one that Caribbean accents are what really caught my atention and I don’t know how many people will point that out.

not to compliment him too much but this is the best LMM has ever sung tbh. Who knew that to make that happen you had to give him 3 songs instead of 30.

Corey Hawkins as Benny is probably the best casting decision in the whole film, I know that he has done other stuff, but a million doors better open for this guy after this ok I had no idea he could sing and dance and command the screen this much.

Daniela and Carla as an offical couple, YAS QUEENS!!! just what we needed for Pride Month even if they are secondary characters, they just always act like a couple.

Cameos from famous latinos like Mark Anthony and mentions of great artists like Chita Rivera, Rita Moreno and Celia Cruz. Finally some education on screen.

Olga Merediz singing “Paciencia y Fe” made me cry so hard that my mom came to see if I was ok, I demand an Oscar nom for her!!!! Olga owns that role so hard ok she originated it on Broadway, played Abuela for 3 years, was in the OBS cast recording, and is still killing it at it 12 years alter

very good cinematography which is Jon Chu’s strong suit no matter what

overall cast does a really solid job

now for the bad under a read more cause it got LONG and spoilery

They shouldnt have added more characters. Mark Anthony makes a cameo, as in literal 1 minute cameo and the reason why becomes an important plot point later on ok, he adds more to the story in one minute than plenty other characters with less time do. Example:

there was no reason to add Cuca, there just wasn’t. Other than giving Dasha Polanco (queen) a paycheck there was nothing for her character to do. She was added to the movie ok the role wasn’t in the play, and thus there is nothing for her to do

bit of a spoiler but all she does is twerk from time to time and follow around Daniela and Carla like a third wheel. If it was a 3 way polyam relationship then that would at least be something but nah, she just flirts with Usnavi (who she knows likes someone else) and shakes her ass, thats it

not enough Pete!!!! he was such a cool character in the play but in the movie he almost does not exist and you don’t get to see the Abuela Claudia’s portrait ok it feels like a waste

they cut out Priscilla!!! why? the fact that both of Nina’s parents want to support her is great and we have enough orphans in the movie already, it makes that fact that Nina’s dad is not a perfect man less impactful and instead make so that everything he does in the movie is seen as perfect, Priscilla putting him in his place was a great scene and we don’t get it

the couples have no chemistry. There I said it. I am ok with the actors they chose but I was rotting for those couples a lot less than in the play.

I expected more out of Blackout ok that song is such a tense and scary moment and here it feels like its played for laughs ok stuff that really hits in the play feels watered down because it is being made into a joke.

This sounds mean but Nina’s voice in the og recording is way stronger than Leslie Grace’s and I knwo that the comparison will be seen as unfair but I have to say it.

to be even meaner, I’m sorry, but Anthony Ramos is a way less emotional Usnavi to me and the reason is that he doesn’t even need the winning ticket to move back to DR, he just gets the check inmediately at the begining of the story so I’m like “ok why bother staying is the other option is always fucking open”.

now for my biggest gripe with the movie: Vanessa’s clothing. Not what she wears but what she designs. Why cleaning rags? just why?

the movie complains and shows the issues with gentrification only for Vanessa to take cleaning rags, from Pete’s job, and turn them into gentrified clothing. I know that the movie was shot 2 years ago but already the clothes she desings look a. out of fashion and b. annoying.

The complain that rich people will buy pants and shirts that are already broken and stained but look down on poor people who broke and stained their clothes while doing actual work has been around for a while, so that pissed me off. You can’t make a movie against gentrification and then gentrify clothes and call it your leading lady being “creative” and “great”.

The fact that no one in the production throught of that tells you that by now they are more “Hollywood” than “from the block” no matter how much they say they are not. Also, remember my Blackout complain? yeah its cause the reason it isn’t tense anymore is that movie brings up over and over again how a tragedy can happen and latinos will just dance and sing like they dont care.

Characters go from being worried about their safety and their businesses that they need to survive to breakdancing to fire works, why? why do you do it like that? why can’t you show latinos as people with troubles trying to fix them through hard work and instead no one was worried about the blackout until Abuela Claudia died ok they were having a bingo party instead of worrying about their livehood and the safety of their homes.

after “Paciencia y Fe” the movie was pretty much not doing it for me anymore and it is these “small details” that bothered me and took me out of it. Yeah those last 40 min of the movie made me rant this hard so I don’t know if I recommend it or not ok I can’t recommend 2/3 of a movie and tell you to just not finish it. No one will care about this much ranting so whatever, up to you.

#in the heights #long post #hollywood why #benny daniela and carla were the best parts #alogn with sonny of course #but thats it #ranting

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six-costume-refs · 2 years

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This isn’t a question necessarily, more of a thought that I can’t confirm if I’m wrong for thinking or not, but I feel like Broadway/Equity’s rules on understudies having principal costumes (which in most shows, absolutely yes 100% do it Bc it prevents so many issues that potentially screw over understudies and also helps with branding like you’ve mentioned especially for a new show) starts to undermine Six’s message of individuality amongst all its queens. Maybe it stems from hearing frustrations from other patrons when I go to the theatre and everyone’s lowkey annoyed when an understudy/alt is on and I don’t, and that you’re getting a possibly once in a lifetime cast lineup and perpetuates the idea that no two performances are the same. But I just feel like Six has been acknowledging, praising, and individualizing it’s understudies in a way that broadways been pushing since they’ve re-opened this past fall (particularly thinking Hugh Jackman’s curtain call speech for Kathy Voytko and the hype Carla Stickler got for coming back to Elphaba). Like in the grand scheme I get it, but it just feels like business as usual for Broadway in a time where you could be acknowledging these individuals for the job they do and giving them an individual style. As always, I love the blog and I’m really curious to hear your thoughts!! (And Sofia’s as well Bc I know y’all are a dynamic duo haha)

You're not wrong for thinking it at all! I have a longer post about why Six started using alternate costumes in the first place and the context of that more widely in theatre. The short version that is relevant to this ask is that part of the reason for alternate costumes were exactly for that reason: individuality and celebrating the alternates when they're on! Broadway rules are both absolutely to help prevent the issues with audiences' complaints about alts being on and also with the idea of keeping alternates more equal with principals.

I totally agree with what you're saying - as much as there are practical reasons for swapping over to all principals like I've mentioned before (I'm guessing from your ask that you've seen this post but linking it for anyone who hasn't), it's also just a really lovely way of expressing that individuality of every actor. I still feel like the old NCL alt system (the alt costumes with one variation per each cover) was a really great costume system that could work well for Broadway's cover system, and I so wish we could have seen something similar on Broadway.

And thank you! I'm so glad you enjoy it! tagging @lightleckrereins as well so she can chime in!

#six broadway #six alternates #alternate costumes

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aserethstorm · 3 years

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Muddy Crowns👑✔️

Levihan + 104th Royalty Au

____________________

The young princes and princesses decided to get down and dirty.

Their father isn’t exactly happy about it.

____________________

“Land for livestock has significantly decreased due to favor of more housings. In effect Meat has increased to six more coins-“

Levi shuts him off, rubbing his temple as re-reads his documents for the 5th time. The officials continue to voice their matters in the background, leaving the King to brew his thoughts in the solitude.

It frustrates him from time to time, having to deal with tiring situations such as this one. Levi shuffles his papers, He’d have to tell the butler to ready some tea once he’s done with this meeting.

The large doors to the hall slam right open, the wood slapping the wall behind them with a loud thud. The room is silenced as they all stood up from their seats, Levi doesn’t need to look up to know who the person is.

“Your highness..” they all bow as Hange walks pass them, she raises her hand and offers a small smile to the crowd. “At ease” she says and the officials return to their seats and once again discuss the topic before.

“Your late” Levi utters as Hange sits on the seat beside him. He signs one of the documents before turning to her, steel eyes demanding for an explanation.

The Queen snickers, barely concealing the action with the back of her palm. “Important matters of Science where at play Levi ! You should have seen it, I just HAD to overlook.” She shrugs and Levi notes the red tinge on her cheeks, the lacking of her glasses and the droplet of sweat that cascaded the back of her neck.

“Tch. Can’t even call you four eyes today. I thought you didn’t care if the royal officials saw you in glasses.” He interacts bringing his eyes back to the matters at hand. Swiping through a new set of works he needed to sign.

“Well...I wanted to test my hypothesis on my eyesight’s capabilities but I also wanted to see your reaction.” She grazes his hand, taking his documents from him. Levi stares at her, unamused as she rests her head on her hands. “Which do you prefer, no glasses or with glasses?” She bats her eyelashes playfully and Levi smirks.

Hange did look a bit more beautiful today. The king had too admit and Levi even noticed that it did seem like she made the extra effort to look like the usual queen of her status.

Even so...

”I prefer you with glasses.” Levi grabs her chin. Drinking in the sight of her exposed warm brown eyes. He kisses her lips and the feeling is warm. His exhaustion disappears as if it was washed away by the touch.

Levi pulls away first and looks her endearingly in the eyes. “Don’t want you falling down a flight of stairs.” Hange laughs, her face even brighter than she entered. Her body relaxes a bit later and the loud laughter fades but a smile remains permanently on her face as she gladly helps him with the rest of the meeting.

The event was adjourned with Hange resolving the land situation. Though not entirely applicable her strategy brings hope that not much of their people will suffer with the plan.

“Your majesties, you have another meeting later with the Marleyan Ambassadors.”

“Ugh, not them again” Hange groans standing up from her seat. “Their promises of compromise are always empty.” She annoyingly adds. Levi hums, offering his arm and Hange gladly takes it. They both walk out of the room with their men and woman behind them.

Hange chuckles and Levi shots her a glare “Your doing this because your afraid I’ll trip?” She muses. Levi snorts, pulling her a little closer “I’m not the idiot who went to fetch me without glasses.” He murmurs and Hange dramatically gasps.

She hits the arm she’s holding and Levi smiles. “My eyesight’s not THAT bad. You should give me more credit.” She points, lips pouting as she held her head high. Levi just rolls his eyes. Not a chance four eyes...

As the two monarchs continue their heated banter a small boy coming from the stairs they were passing, collides with Hange’s dress, ultimately ruining the white satin with the boy’s muddy state.

The brown haired child steps back, hitting his butt on the carpet with a thud. He looks up to meet the curious and familiar stares of his parents. “Mom! Dad!” Eren wails as Hange kneels for the boy to embrace her.

“Prince Eren! What are you doing here!?” Hange’s ladies-in-waiting exclaimed. They quickly rush to their queens side only to see the utter mess the young prince brought to their queen’s gown.

“Prince Eren look what you’ve done to your mother’s dress!” One of the ladies reprimanded as they began cleaning his dirty face. The young prince sniffs, the lady-in-waiting quickly wiping away the snoot. He turns apologetically to his mother, uttering a heartfelt ‘sorry’. Hange smiles not at all mad at the filth.

“Where’s your governess Eren?” Levi finally asks as he stands by his wife’s side. The boy draws circles with his foot, too embarrassed to meet his father’s eye. “She’s still busy looking for me...” Eren mutters, cheeks flushed under the cake of mud.

“EREN!” Armin calls looking from side to side as he ran. The prince halts in his tracks when he finds Eren under the watchful eyes of their parents. “There you are! Mrs. Carla is looking all over for you!” Armin grins, climbing up the stairwell.

Hange takes in the appearance of her older son as he climbed the stairs and smiles. The rest of her party completely aghast. WHY ARE THE TWO PRINCE’S SO DIRTY?!

Even Levi’s surprised, his hands itching to clean the filth himself. “You guys are still playing with the rocket?” Hange chirps, happiness and pride swelling at the thought.

Armin nods enthusiastically “Yep! The way the rocket can fly at such height with just water power alone!? It’s astonishing mother! Me and Jean have been repeating the process you taught us multiple times and uh..well...” Armin rubs the back of his head sheepishly, now reminded of the state of his robes.

“So this is what you meant by ‘late’” Levi glares watching Hange beam at him with a nervous chuckle. “Jean won’t let me do it mom!” Eren adds, filling the short silence quickly.

“He s-said I’m too much of a baby!” The young prince cries leaving his mother and her ladies-in-waiting to calm him down.

“That’s because you are!” Jean belted as everyone turns to him and not just him. The eldest son brings with him the rest of the royal children, their governesses tailing behind. They climb the stairwell as well, dragging with them their filth and dirt and...Levi’s eyes just twitches more every time he looks at it.

His children out of all people. A giant ball of dirt...and mud...and all the disgusting things that just sets Levi off. Control...control.

Jean drops Historia; who he was carrying on his shoulder off on the ground, following behind him were the twins; Connie and Sasha, their appearance anxious as they frequently glance at their father who’s eyes were already burning hell of anger.

“You might get injured! What’s happens then! Huh!?” Jean argues making the little boy glare. Mikasa out of nowhere hugs Eren, slightly calming the young boy down.

To Hange’s vision the little prince in her arms seemed be holding a lot back. Interestingly when he was supposed to combust. Eren ends up sticking his tongue instead.

“Horseface!” Eren says, hiding in his mother’s neck for what’s to come next.

Historia gasps at her brother’s word, the young princess knowing the nickname by heart; as it was used multiple times. She and rest of their siblings slowly turn their heads towards Jean, gawking as they watch the older prince turn red with anger.

“Why you little-“ Jean growls, plunging a step forward, ready to pinch the nasty brats ear.

“Enough.” Levi states and the whole crowd go’s silent. Turning in horror as their king’s expression glimmers with the promise of pain and punishment. “I want this place clean this instance!” The staff gulp at his command, wobbling quickly as they went off to work.

As the last scatter, Levi focuses back on his family. His own children sweating nervously as they watch their father slowly roll his sleeve. Heavens...Even Historia’s tiny crown is muddy.

“Bathroom. Now.” He needn’t say twice as all seven quickly dash for the nearest bathroom. Levi dangerously looming from behind.

Hange sighs as she heads for their rooms, climbing the stairs opposite to their direction. She hopes that to ease the angered king’s wraith she might as well help him get the kids towels and robes prepared.

Here we go again...

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azalea-in-wonderland · 3 years

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I decided Carla likes to read, based SOLELY on that reading lamp you can see on her side of the bed in the opening montage, lol. It’s the little things! And we know so little about her anyway, it’s not like anything can be truly OOC.

People always seem surprised that Carla likes to read. Their surprise doesn’t bother Carla, herself, but it irritates Daniela, every time. The offending person never escapes those encounters without regretting they’d said anything. Daniela suspects Carla’s attachment to books stems from strict parents and the lack of a social life when she was young, especially after her older sisters moved out. Reading was a way to feel connected to other people, to satisfy her insatiable curiosity about the lives and relationships of strangers. Even now, with their vast tangled web of friends and acquaintances and all the connection and gossip and human drama she’d lacked as a kid, she still enjoys prying into the lives of fictional people. Daniela never gets over her amusement at hearing Carla talk out loud to the characters using all her Queens attitude; for instance, gasping and sitting straight up in bed to hiss at her book, “You backstabbing bitch. After everything she’s done for you?”

I’m thinking Daniela is more of a magazine person. And she hates throwing out the old ones, because they smell so good with all those perfume samples, and she justifies it by saying those hair styles will become trendy again at some point so they might as well hang onto them. Carla thinks she’s a bit of a hoarder.

Edit:

@cucascaprisun said: Im still surprised you saw that lamp, I couldn’t see it

You made me wonder if maybe there was no actual reading lamp and I just imagined it the first time, lol! I went back and double-checked just to make sure it was there.

#sorry when i'm writing fic i use tumblr as a way to talk myself through decisions #i know it's annoying but it's just kind of my process #makes me feel like i'm not working in a vacuum #daniela and carla

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rayslittlekitten · 3 years

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Matt and Lucy - Ch. 2

Chapter 1 | Chapter 3

Rating: T

Four months later

"Hey, darlin'!"

"Hey, Matty." Lucy hangs up her keys, throws her purse and jacket onto a nearby chair, and kicks off her shoes.

"Wow, you look burned out. Long shift?"

"Don't even get me started. I literally got burned." Lucy shows him the mark on her arm. "Also, Marco dramatically quit in the middle of his service and Pino ordered the wrong steaks so we had to change the menu last minute. I'm so glad I have off the next two days.” Lucy says as she walks to over to Matt who is in the kitchen over the stove.

“Marco quit again?" Matt shakes his head and chuckles. "He's always been a drama queen.”

“We got anymore beer?” Lucy opens the fridge and looks around.

“Probably but I got something better to unwind.” Matt takes a hit of his pipe and passes it to Lucy.

“Oh man. This is just what I need.” Lucy takes a generous hit and passes it back to him. “We haven’t done this in a while.”

“We are certainly way overdue. You need to catch up. It's gonna be like culinary school all over again.” Matt rubs his hands together.

“Smoke and cook? Or in your case, bake and bake?” Lucy exhales the smoke she’s been holding in.

“You laugh but these elevated pot brownies are gonna be a huge hit at the party tomorrow. Here, try this." Matt takes a spoonful of some of the batter and puts it up to her lips. She tries it.

"Wow. Well, someone is sure going to be elevated tomorrow with these brownies. Why don't you make some mac and cheese while you're at it? You know we're gonna get the munchies later."

"That's your department, darlin'. I'm sweet, you're savory." Matt points to her. "But damn mac and cheese does sound so good right now."

"Some people would say I'm salty. I just came home from a 14 hour shift of slaving in the kitchen. I'm done cooking today. In fact, I'm gonna take a much needed long hot shower before this weed kicks in." As Lucy walks towards the bathroom with her back turned to Matt, she starts to undress. She takes her shirt off, and unhooks her bra. Matt notices and watches her naked back until she disappears down the hall and into the bathroom.

After a while, Lucy comes out of her bedroom and heads towards the kitchen in an over-sized t-shirt and shorts and looking much more relaxed.

"I smelled those brownies from the shower. Still need a taste tester?"

"In fact I do. Try this." She looks curiously at the orange-y and yellow bite he is offering on a spoon and she takes it.

"How the hell did you whip up this mac and cheese so quickly?"

"It was in the oven. You thought I forgot? Come on, Luce. I'm always prepared when it comes to these things."

"Oh, man. Tonight's gonna be nice." She goes to the cabinet to grab two bowls.

"Hey, isn't that my shirt?" Matt asks.

"Probably. I don't know. I found it with my laundry and it's comfy so I kept it." She shrugs and hands over a bowl to him.

"I've been looking for that for a while, you know. Honestly thought Carla stole it the last time she was over." Matt scoops some mac and cheese into the bowl.

"Crazy Carla? The one who wanted a lock of your hair so she can smell it whenever you're not with her?" She passes him the other bowl.

"That was Kara. Carla was the hostess at that last place where I bartended who got fired for stealing."

"Ohhh, Klepto Carla. I'm still mad she stole my expensive shampoo."

"Hey, I paid you back for that."

"You need to stop meeting women off dating apps," Lucy says.

"I stopped doing that a long time ago."

They both head over to the living room and get comfortable on the couch while they eat their gooey mac and cheese. The TV is playing lowly in the background and brownies are in the oven.

“When can I try your brownies?” Lucy asks.

“About 45 minutes and then some more for it to cool down. Also, I’ve named them Better Than Sex Brownies.”

“It better live up to the name because otherwise, it just means you’re having some really shitty sex. I can’t talk though. Honestly anything would be better than sex right now. I haven’t had any since Tom and I broke up,” Lucy says as a matter of factly. "It's not like we were having much anyways."

"Don't worry. You'll get back on that horse.”

"It's hard to maintain a relationship in this business. You know how it is.”

“Relationship? You don’t need a relationship to get laid.”

“I’m not a one and done gal. You know that. Besides, this is coming from someone who usually brings a different girl home every week.”

“Hey, I haven’t brought anyone home since Carla. Maybe you just need a fuck buddy.” Matt shrugs.

“Ha! What buddy am I going to fuck?”

“Henri the dishwasher?” Matt suggests.

“Dude, he’s married.”

“What about Nathan? I heard he just got out of a relationship.”

“You didn’t hear this from me, but I heard he left his girl for another man.”

“Ouch, that must sting. How about Stan?”

“Stan the pastry guy?” You ask him with raised brows.

“Yeah, he seems like a decent guy.”

“No man. He’s a sleaze. Listen, most of the guys I know are either taken, gross, or gay.”

“I mean, maybe it’s the weed talking but I’m single, not gross, I’m into women, and I'm going through a dry spell myself.” Matt shrugs.

"Haha, funny. Sorry, you can't kick me out of the apartment tomorrow morning after you've added another notch to your bed post."

"You make it sound like I'm some man whore." Matt says, feigning being offended.

"But aren't you?" She squints her eyes at him.

"Listen, I know I don't commit to relationships but I just haven't found the right person yet. I don't mislead any women into believing there will be more."

"Oh, what a gentleman you are." Lucy rolls her eyes.

"It's why ladies love me." Matt winks.

"Yeah, I know. You're a charming motherfucker."

Matt grabs the pipe and takes another hit and motions her to come closer to him. She leans into his face and he exhales the smoke into her mouth as she inhales. While she inhales, they unintentionally make eye contact. Their eyes lock and they stare into each other for a moment until suddenly, Lucy turns to the side and coughs her lungs out.

“Whoa, hey there. You alright?” Matt asks as he rubs her back.

She nods as she continues to cough.

"Held that in for too long," She clears her throat. "Oh man." She drinks some water and leans back on the couch.

"You good?" Matt asks.

"Yeah I'm good." She adjusts herself on the couch to get more comfortable and in the process loses her balance and falls on top of Matt.

"Oh, I think you're more than good," Matt laughs.

Her clumsiness and Matt's laughing causes her to start laughing as well, but she remains leaning on Matt.

"I can't move. My head's too heavy," she giggles.

"You can stay here." Matt repositions himself by stretching his arm out behind her and lets her head rest on his shoulder. She adjusts her body and leans her body closer to him and wraps her arms around his waist. Matt glances down at her. “You comfy?” Matt asks.

“Mm hm. I feel cold and you're warm.” Lucy replies. Matt rubs her arm to warm her up. "You smell good too," she says as she buries her face into his chest and takes a sniff.

“That’s because I probably smell like weed and chocolate.” He laughs.

“No, you smell like you. It’s comforting.”

“You are so fucking high right now,” Matt laughs. He channel surfs looking for something to watch.

"I miss these days." Lucy says while staring at the TV.

"Yeah, we should do this more often." After a while, he hears slow steady breathing coming from Lucy. He looks down and sees she's asleep. He continues watching TV and waits for his brownies to be done before calling it a night.

#charlie hunnam #charlie hunnam x ofc #charlie hunnam fanfiction #wip #charlie hunnam x fem #charlie hunnam inspired #ofc

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