#Max Lockhart

[slipperymeteor]

Unrivaled - Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James (Hockey Ever After #3)

Read March 2023, after finishing Scoring Position, the second book in the series. M/M.

Unrivaled follows Max Lockhart and Grady Armstrong, hockey players for fictitious NHL teams NJ Monsters and Philly Firebirds (later Piranha and Condors). They are rivals—Max is particularly successful in goading Grady on the ice, costing Grady awards in fair play. Rivalries led to a Grindr hookup led to fake dates led to feelings™️ to working on a relationship.

This is a cozy read (🌶️) and not much angst. Grady thought Max spilled their hookup to his teammate which led to Grady blocking Max’s text messages and Max blocking Grady on Instagram. One of their teams was eliminated earlier in contention of the Stanley Cup and they had to navigate dealing with their team losing in the league. Cameos from earlier characters in the series, particularly Dante Baltierra/Baller from book one and passing mentions of Nico Kirschbaum from book two.

A Goodreads reviewer for book two mentions how she didn’t like that the NHL teams were fictitious because why would she root for a losing fictitious team but because I know zilch about pro hockey it makes no difference to me. Now that this is my sixth? seventh? m/m hockey book that I read I am starting to see how mid-season trades are used for plot points (sounds exhausting and players are expected to uproot their entire lives to a wholly new team in a different city at mere moments’ notice?). If I actually cared about hockey leagues the Stanley Cup thing would’ve upped the ante for me but because I don’t, I get it’s an important thing but had no particular significance for me. In one of the fake dates they went to an American Ninja Warrior gym and I thought it’s interesting that the authors went to describe the details at length and I wonder how well it will age if/when ANW fell out of popularity. Matching tattoos: a 🦞 and a lobster cracker.

Rep: Dante is bisexual. Max also says he is bisexual. Grady’s sister Jess is a lesbian, also a pro hockey player, entangled in an f/f/f situation.

#hockey ever after #Ashlyn Kane #Morgan James #unrivaled #Max Lockhart #Grady Armstrong #m/m books #m/m hockey #bisexual men rep

[cerealbishh]

all my friends hate don corneo

bonus barret and red!

#ffvii remake #ffvii rebirth #ffvii rebirth spoilers #tifa lockhart #cloud strife #aerith gainsborough #yuffie kisaragi #barret wallace #red xiii #cait sith #ff7redit #ffviiedit #ffviiredit #britt baron #cody christian #briana white #john eric bentley #suzie yeung #max mittelman #don corneo #fred tatasciore

[swoodthis]

Shit Max Says, FF7 (& Remake) edition pt 1

“Super Smash Bros Mishonh From God ruined me, I can’t stop calling him Clod.”

“I LOVE Barret.”

“That is… NOT a dog.”

“He’s FLUFFY… I wanna pat Cloud on the head.”

“Tifa ‘Threw Hands With God and Won’ Lockhart.”

“Everyone’s obsessed with Tifa’s boobs, what they should REALLY be concerned about are Tifa’s FISTS.”

“Oh my GOD, I can tell he’s a massive douchebag JUST BY HIS HAIR.” (Roche)

“BARRET IS ADORABLE!!!”

“I pity the fool that doesn’t know Barret’s inspiration.” (People seriously think he’s “racist” wtf)

“Oh my GOD Aerith is BROKEN.”

“Fluffy lad…”

“Oh he is SO UNCOMFORTABLE…”

“AND THEY’RE GONNA MAKE HIM DANCE—!!”

“BY GOD IT’S AERITH GAINSBOROUGH WITH A STEEL CHAIR!!”

#le shitpost #shit max says #final fantasy vii #ff7 #ff7 remake #final fantasy 7 #cloud strife #aerith gainsborough #barret wallace #tifa lockhart

[sunwarmed-ash]

could you imagine the carnage if I put Johnlock on here???

#max polls #kiss kiss bang bang #21 jumpstreet #true detective #detroit become human #criminal minds #white collar #hot fuzz #lets be cops #rust x marty #jenko x schmidt #gay perry #harry lockhart #gay perry x harry lockhart #ryan x justin #morreid #peter burke x neal caffrey #peter x neal #neal caffery #peter burke #rustin cohle #rust cohle #marty hart #marty x rust #derek morgan #spencer reid #derek x spencer #hankcon #honnor #hank anderson

[ninemelodies]

the planetarium scene is so pretty

#final fantasy vii #final fantasy 7 #final fantasy vii rebirth #final fantasy 7 rebirth #rebirth spoilers #cloud strife #tifa lockhart #aerith gainsborough #max plays final fantasy 7 rebirth

[abbycuddles-rockncis]

Hi again!🤍

* ! TRIGGER WARNING: Graphic Depictions Of Violence ! *

This was quite the challenge. Ever since I’ve read Crystal her marvelous ‘Persephone’ fic, while listening to the enchanting instrumental piece "Dance for me Wallis" by Abel Korzeniowski. I felt really strong urge that I should try making a video inspired by it.

So here it is. The second cross-over-video:

Agnes & James, Mrs van Rhijn and Mr Green.

I used tons of cool AI tricks and had so much fun playing with it. Mingling Agnes and James together in scenes again was challenging but also very entertaining.

I hope it justifies all the feels you experienced while reading that fic and listening to the music.

All my love for captain Cross and Orla.

You girls helped me along the way and I’m so grateful for that.

And thanks to the talented Crystal for inspiring me.

Enjoy and feel free to leave a comment ❤️

Lots of love,

Abby

————————

TV SHOW: multi fandom- The Gilded Age | Mercy Street

CHARACTERS: Agnes van Rhijn | James Green

MUSIC: Abel Korzeniowski - Dance For Me Wallis

FIC: Persephone by @crystallitanie

#christine baranski #gary cole #love #mchart #the gilded age #mercy street #agnes van rhijn #Mrs van Rhijn #James Green #Mr Green #HBO #hbo max #diane lockhart #kurt mcveigh #youtube #abbycuddles

[selfsabotaqe]

*       ♡     ◞      closed starter      ╱    for @invcntions​ .

hand pushed the front door shut after coming home from class, while feet cautiously tiptoed across the wooden floors of his apartment to make as little noise as possible   —   particularly careful of his noise levels as to not disturb the man sleeping in his bed. or well, it had become their bed by now. although it had never been officially discussed as such, sides of the bed were clearly divided and the other had been waking up in it every single morning. with every day going by, their new living arrangement got seemingly more and more permanent, and that wasn’t a development max was eager to stop. feet kicked off his shoes along the way from the front door towards his bedroom, and coat and backpack filled with class materials were quickly discarded in the hallway. he then peered inside of the bedroom, finding the figure of the other still peacefully sprawled onto the bed. max then lowered himself onto the mattress too, one arm moving to wrap across his torso in gentle attempt to inch closer.   “ morning, sleepyhead, ”   he then broke the silence, voice barely louder than a whisper.   “ are you feeling okay? ”

#* ♡ ◞ max lockhart ╱ 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 . #invcntions #okay so for context #i was thinking it could actually be cute if this was set the morning after nate's drunk phone call meme you wrote #because that literally warmed my heart and it might also kickstart the whole convo about you know #what are they? are they gonna do this living together thing permanently? do they call each other boyfriends now? #and maybe also because i found these gifs and i was like ya cute need to use

[zerosglaive]

They all deserved better 💔

This trend was pretty popular on ig so i decided to make my version with some of my favorite characters, enjoy 💕

fc: filterisred (by your side) on instagram

#the batman #final fantasy 7 #final fantasy crisis core #gaming #videogames #max caulfield #chloe price #tifa lockhart #ff7 tifa #jinx league of legends #jinxedit #jodie holmes #beyond two souls #violet evergarden #anime #bruce wayne #instagram #multifandomedit

[papermoonloveslucy]

PICTURE PEOPLE: “PALM SPRINGS WEEK END”

1942

In 1942, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz appeared in an installment of PICTURE PEOPLE, a series produced by RKO to accompany screenings of RKO films in cinemas.  Only 3 episodes are known to exist out of the 23 produced. This episode is Season 2, Number 8, released March 27, 1942.

Lucy and Desi appear in “Palm Springs Week End” directed by Clay Adams narrated by Arlene Francis. 

The couple is shown biking through the Palm Springs desert on a bicycle built for two. 

They stop to take photos, and naturally Lucy’s mugs for the camera. 

The pair are later scene poolside at the El Mirador Hotel watching comedy diving.  The hotel boasted an Olympic-size swimming pool with five diving boards, an underwater window on the pool for use by photographers, and a pool observation platform. The hotel was demolished in 1978. 

The film also includes:   

Michèle Morgan and Paul Henried riding horses at Rogers Ranch. The pair starred in RKO’s Joan of Paris (1942). In “The Adagio” (S1;E12 ~ 1951) Ricky imitates Henried by smoking two cigarettes at once, just a Henried did in Warner Brothers’ Now Voyager (1942) with Bette Davis. 

Neil Hamilton creating a fire break by cutting down brush. Hamilton appeared with Lucille Ball in 1941′s Look Who’s Laughing for RKO. 

Gail Patrick is instructed how to shoot skeet by expert Carl Bradshaw. Ball and Patrick had done two films together at RKO. 

At the Racquet Club, owner Charles Farrell gives lessons to his wife, the film actress formerly known as Virginia Valli. Mr. Farrell is best remembered for “My Little Margie”, a CBS sitcom sponsored by Philip Morris that served as a summer replacement for “I Love Lucy.” 

Playing checkers courtside are Gene Lockhart and his daughter June. They wave to the Farrells. In 1947, Gene Lockhart was in Columbia’s Her Husband’s Affairs with Lucille Ball. The year before, June appeared in MGM’s Easy To Wed with Ball. 

On another court, a shirtless Peter Lorre plays against tennis pro Budge Patty and Bob Falkenberg.  In 1942, Lorre appeared in Warner Brothers’ classic film Casablanca. Falkenberg’s movie star sister Jinx cheers him from the sidelines. She sits next to tennis champion Philip Reed. Charlie Farrell and Elyse Knox also watch the match. 

Freeman Gosden (Amos and Andy) and tennis champ Joe Hunt are amused by a mugging contest between Farrell and heavyweight champion / actor Max Baer. In 1942, Baer was featured in RKO’s The Navy Comes Through. 

#Palm Springs #Lucile Ball #1942 #Desi Arnaz #Charles Farrell #Gene Lockhart #June Lockhart Peter Lorre #Budge Patty #Bob Falkenberg #Jinx Falkenberg #Freeman Gosden #Elyse Knox #Max Baer #Virginia Valli #Michele Morgan #Paul Henried #Neil Hamilton #Gail Patrick

[cerealbishh]

"This is so fun!"

"Yeah!!!!"

"We're all a big, happy family!"

#ffvii rebirth #ffvii remake #ffvii rebirth cast #ffvii remake cast #briana white #britt baron #john eric bentley #max mittelman #suzie yeung #aerith gainsborough #tifa lockhart #barret wallace #red xiii #yuffie kisaragi #they're all so cute #i know i'm a month late but better late than never... right? #bri britt and john are so excited that they're all together and i love that for them #pretty sure my hair was like suzie's at some point

[swoodthis]

Shit Max Says, FF7R edition pt 2

“I’ve TRAINED for this, motherfucker! I PLAY MONSTER HUNTER!” (Behemoth Type 0)

“Oh my GOD she’s a GREMLIN. She’s like the friggin’ Scout from Team Fortress 2. I LOVE HER.” (I looked up how to recruit Yuffie after encountering her in OG FF7 and I love her.)

“GREASED LIGHTNING. She really IS the Scout.” (Seeing what Yuffie’s default limit break is called)

“BONK!” (Speaking of the Scout, the nail bat weapon in Remake)

“Oh, she can be Lucario!” (Tifa’s chi attacks)

“This must be that silver lining everyone keeps talking about.” (You know. Cause his name— I’ll stop now)

#le shitpost #shit max says #ff7 remake #ff7 #final fantasy 7 #cloud strife #yuffie kisaragi #tifa lockhart

[goosemixtapes]

max's favorite short stories & articles!

to be updated as i read new things! "articles" could be anything from political points to philosophical musings to fascinating stories. obligatory statement that i don't necessarily agree with everything in every one of these stories/articles, but i think about them a lot and want to share :)

short stories

Avi Cantor Has Six Months To Live by Sacha Lamb (@kuttithevangu) (novella) (so says the writing on the bathroom mirror. of gender & judaism & magic and t4t trans guys. cw for suicidal ideation and bullying)

Epistolary by Sascha Lamb ("The [stuffed] frog you are selling on your blog is MINE and he is NOT HAUNTED and his name is MOSHE not BILLY HOPPER.")

Chokechain by Andrew Joseph White (a trans man discovers his parents have replaced him with a robot version of his pretransition self. cw for transphobia and violence)

Sandrine by Alexandra Munck (the tagline for this one is "I dated a sun god in college" but that doesn't do justice to the sheer concept here please read this)

The Traveler Wife by yves. @yvesdot (an astronaut writes to the wife she left back home)

You Wouldn't Have Known About Me by Calvin Gimpelevich (set in a hospital ward where patients are recovering from gender-confirming surgery)

No Flight Without the Shatter by Brooke Bolander (novella) ("After the world’s end, the last young human learns a final lesson from Earth’s remaining animals." cw for climate change/extinction)

And You Shall Know Her By The Trail Of Dead by Brooke Bolander (what if you had to death-match-fight a virtual version of yourself at your meanest made by your boyfriend whose life you're trying to save would that be fucked up or what. cws for guns and violence)

Hell is the Absence of God by Ted Chiang (stories that clock you in the fucking teeth in the religious trauma.)

A Serpent for Each Year by Tamara Jerée (microfiction) ("Our relationship is almost a year old when I ask Nal why she is covered in snakes." cw for animal death)

The Front Line by W.C. Dunlap (microfiction) (cited as one of the world's finest attention-grabber openings. cws for police brutality, racism, and SA)

Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience by Rebecca Roanhorse (step into the simulation and gain an authentic experience! cws for anti-Native racism and alcohol)

articles & essays

Lockhart's Lament (on how math is taught in schools. that is, badly. one of the most cathartic essays i've ever read on education)

Against Cop Shit by Jeffrey Moro (on adversarial education)

I Am A Transwoman. I Am In The Closet. I Am Not Coming Out. by Jennifer Coates (do you have to be out to be a woman? cw for transphobia, homophobia, and eating disorders)

Debunking "Trans Women Are Not Women" Arguments by Julia Serano (comprehensive, well-written, good to have as a reference point)

On Liking Women by Andrea Long Chu (and on the politics of desire)

Turning a Unicorn Into a Bat by Josh and Lolly Weed (on Mormonism, love, and whether a gay man and a straight woman can marry happily. cw for homophobia)

Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price (musings on motivation from a social psychologist and professor)

How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Peterson (how come everything happens so much?)

White Women Drive Me Crazy by Aisha Mirza (on the harm caused by white women. cw for racism)

Everything You Know About Obesity Is Wrong by Michael Hobbes (should be required reading for everyone at this point. cw for fatphobia and eating disorders)

Becoming Anne Frank by Dara Horn (on the cultural fascination with Anne Frank. cw for antisemitism)

The Ecstasy of Influence by Jonathan Lethem ([on/a] plagiarism)

On the Ethics of Boinking Animal People by Patricia Taxxon (video essay) (ostensibly what the title says, but actually a detailed musing on the essential properties of furry media and the freedom of dehumanization; changed my life a bit)

#max.txt #yayayayayay :) #i've decided i'm going to start doing the 'what i read this month' thing #so this is like #my base to come backt o and update when i find new favorites #readings

[truessences]

20 Questions for Fic Writers!

I saw this from a mutual @teafiend and I'm gonna do it lol

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

9; they're mostly one shots. I think there are two that are multichapter. There are two that are part of a series of oneshots.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

I'm not sure if there's a formal way to check it but 26,602 (as of 11/3/23)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Right now Stranger Things. I have one Harry Potter one.

In the past, on FF.net there might be more, like from Final Fantasy VII and more Harry Potter but I don't post on there anymore so I'm not counting it lol.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1. Closer to You (Mileven oneshot) - 91 kudos

2. One More Light (4 or 5 chapter fic Mileven) - 58 kudos

3. Dirty Dancing (Dramione oneshot) - 55 kudos

4. It's a Mad World (One shot about Mike and Eddie's first meeting) - 49 kudos

5. Roll Away Your Stone (Mike & Max fix set in S3) - 40 kudos

5. Do you respond to comments? Why? Why not?

I always try to, since I don't get a lot of interaction (which is fine, I know how this works lol) so when I do, the comments are super appreciated. I don't post for comments but they are always nice.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?.

Ummmm lol I don't think any of them end angstily lol but maybe not Happily Ever After. At least the ones that are finished lol. Maybe Dirty Dancing because of how it ends? I don't know lol. I'm still debating on if my Stranger Things-Titanic AU will end happy lol

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I feel like they're all pretty happy but not like Happily Ever After kind of thing.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Not yet lol

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

No, I don't feel like I would be good at it lol. Maybe one day and maybe in the Stranger Things-Titanic AU will be my first. I've written it before kind of... but not in a fanfiction... hard to explain lol.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

No but I did have an idea years ago of a Peter Pan/Hermione Granger fic but no idea where I wanted to go with it so lol.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of. Stealing people's fan work is low hanging fruit so get a life.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No... but I have written with people before for other "fan" stuff.

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

That's hard lol I don't think I have an ALL TIME fave but I'll name a few and not in any particular order. And because I like these, doesn't mean I've written a fic for them or read a fic of them (most likely I have though). I actually did a post a while back on some fave anime ships, I'll link that. Fave Anime Ships.

Bamon (Bonnie Bennett & Damon Salvatore)

NejiTen (Neji Hyuga & Tenten)

Cloti (Cloud Strife & Tifa Lockhart)

Hacy (Harry Greenwood & Macy Vaughn)

Kanthony (Kate Sharma & Anthony Bridgerton)

Cole Cassidy & Sombra (this one is new but I really like it lol)

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Nothing, I plan to finish everything.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I'm not sure lol, I feel like I capture character voices well. I tend to write in third person and I can still get across how my characters are feeling and thinking. I also write original novels and have been for over 10 years so I hope my strengths have strengthened over the years.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Tenses really kick my ass and I overthink it. I feel like some people have really beautiful and lyrical ways of writing and I definitely can't do that lol.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

Haven't and won't.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter

20. Favourite fics you’ve written?

Um.... I'm not sure if I have a favorite lol. Maybe One More Light only because I actually teared up a little when writing one of the chapters because I just let my fingers go and it flowed. Whether or not it's good, well lol but I do think that one is emotional.

But that's it!

#stranger things #fanfictions #mileven #bamon #nejiten #writing #creative writing #authors #truanswers #harry potter fanfiction #hermione granger #dramione #overwatch 2 #sombra #Cole Cassidy #mcsombra

[jule1122]

Malex Fic - You know I love you so

Written for the @yearoftheotpevent June challenge of “(accidental) love confessions.”  I wanted to give Michael and Alex some time to enjoy getting back together and to tell people about their new relationship so I added a few days to 3x09 between Kyle being released from Deep Sky and Alex getting sucking into the Lockhart Machine.  This really just some fluff about them telling everyone they are in love.  Their are brief references to past Miluca and Forlex.  As always, this is a Maria friendly fic.

You know I love you so on AO3

Title from “Yellow” by Coldplay

Summary:  There first date is still a few days away.  It's too early for Alex and Michael to say "I love you."  At least to each other. 

Michael sits at the bar, fiddling with his empty beer bottle until Maria comes over.

“Want another,” she asks, already handing him a new bottle.

“Good to see you back in action,” Michael smiles.  “But are you sure it’s not too soon?”

Maria rolls her eyes.  “I wish everyone would stop asking me that.  I’m fine, 100% fine, even certified by both Liz and Kyle.”

“Alright I’ll back off,” Michael holds out his hands in surrender.  “But you can’t blame us for caring about you.”

Maria’s stance softens, and she smiles at Michael.  “I’m lucky I had so many people on my side, I know that.  But what about you?  I heard you and Alex had quite an adventure of your own.”

It’s an opening Michael can’t ignore, but instead of the carefully worded explanation he planned, he blurts out, “ I love him, Alex, I mean.”

“I know,” Maria’s smile gentles.  “He loves you too.”

Michael blushes and ducks his head, but doesn’t deny it.  Alex hasn’t said the words - neither of them have which makes Michael’s confession even more awkward - but Michael feels them.  He feels them in the way Alex kisses him, the way he smiles at Michael’s dumb jokes and the way he holds him in bed, no space between them.

“It doesn’t mean I didn’t love you too,” he says.  And Michael knows that is what he’d really come here to say.  Alex comes before and after - and hopefully forever after - but he doesn’t want Maria to feel like she was just a pit stop along his way back to Alex.  

“I know that,” Maria takes his hand off the bottle where he’d been picking at the label and squeezes it.  “I loved you too.  A relationship doesn’t have to last forever to be important.  We had a good thing together, it was what we both wanted and needed at the time.”

“And now?”  Michael can’t help but ask.

“And now we’re friends.  You’re where you need to be and I,” Maria hesitates for a second.  “I’m figuring it out.”

“We have a date this week,” Michael confesses, a disbelieving thrill of excitement in his chest just from talking about it.  “We wanted to tell you first before you saw us or heard about it from someone else.”

“That’s great,” Maria’s smile is wide and genuine.  “I shouldn’t have said when I did before, but I really do expect an invitation to the wedding.”

Michael knows he should brush it off, but he can’t bring himself to pretend it’s not what he’s always wanted so he draws an “X” over his heart, “Promise you’ll be first on the list.”

“I’d better be.  Now go bother your siblings,” Maria points to where Isobel and Max are sitting, having come in sometime while they were talking, “so I can get some actual work done.”

“Here you go,” Kyle sits next to Alex and sets their drinks on the table.  “Boring beer for you and a Pomegranate Pluto Martini for me.”

Alex makes a face when he sees just how bright Kyle’s drink is.  “So this is why you wanted to meet here instead of the Wild Pony?  Because Maria won’t make you drinks that glow.”

Kyle throws back his head and laughs.  “Just wanted to celebrate my clean bill of health. There’s nothing like Taylor Swift Drag Night to make you feel alive.”

It’s a fairly quiet Tuesday at Planet 7, no drag queens in sight yet, but Alex thinks he understands what Kyle is trying to say.  “I’ll drink to that,” he agrees, tapping his bottle against Kyle’s glass.

“I’ll have you drinking one of these by the end of the night,” Kyle says, quickly downing his drink and signaling one of the bartenders for another.

Alex just shakes his head.  He’s been to Planet 7 a few times with Forrest, but it’s not really his kind of place.  Kyle, on the other hand, seems completely comfortable.  He knows most of the staff by name, has glitter highlighting his cheekbones, and Alex is pretty sure he’s wearing lip gloss.  He doesn’t know what to do with any of that, but tonight is supposed to be about Kyle having a good time so he’s trying not to think too much.

“So tell me what I missed,” Kyle prompts him once his new drink has been delivered.

Michael is the first thing Alex thinks because Michael is all he thinks since their kiss on the patio.  He tries to push away the images of Michael’s smile after they kissed and the way his body looked spread out over Alex’s bed.  “Nothing much,” he answers as casually as he can..

“You got laid,” Kyle’s eyes widen, and he points at Alex.  “Who was it?  Is he here?”

Alex looks around quickly just in case Michael showed up while he wasn’t looking even though he knows Michael is at the Wild Pony with Max and Isobel.  He’d declined Alex’s invitation to join him, sending him off with a kiss and a promise to take pictures if Kyle did anything embarrassing.  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says, doing his best to stonewall Kyle.

“Don’t lie to me.  I know that look.  It’s the same look you had after you hooked up with Forrest.  Is  it Forrest?  Did he come back because he can’t live without you?   He didn’t convince you to run away with him did he? I just got out of coma, don’t leave town again.”

“What is in that thing?  Alex eyes Kyle’s drink suspiciously.  “You shouldn’t be this drunk after one and half drinks.”

“It’s more like four.  I had few before you got here.  Devon makes a mean martini,” he waves his hand carelessly in the direction of the bar and the bartender winks at him.  “But don’t change the subject.  You definitely got laid, and I want to know if you’re running away with some cute guy and leaving me behind.”

“I’m not running away with anyone,”  Alex admits with a huff.  

“So it’s not Forrest.  Who is it?  If you don’t tell me I’ll just get Isobel to get it out of you.”

Alex winces because nothing the Air Force taught him would prepare him for being interrogated by Isobel  “It’s Guerin.  Michael,” he corrects.

“Oh, thank God,” Kyle sighs dramatically.  “The sexual tension between you two was getting uncomfortable.”

“There’s no sexual tension,” Alex protests.

“Maybe not now,” Kyle wiggles his eyebrows.  “But the last time we were all out together, and he was playing pool, the things he did with the pool stick to get your attention were very suggestive, educational too, but mostly suggestive.”

Alex blushes, “It’s not like that.”

“It’s not sexual?”  Kyle sounds doubtful.  “Because I know you got laid”

“Ok, yes I got laid,” Alex cuts him off.  “But it’s not just sex.  I love him,” he admits without meaning to.

“Oh,” Kyle’s brow furrows for a second before a bright smile blooms on his face.  “That’s awesome, dude.  I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks, I’m pretty happy about it too,” he admits, finding it easy this time to say just how much Michael means to him.

Michael walks away from his conversation with Maria smiling and wondering if he should text Alex even if it means interrupting his night with Valenti.  When he gets to their booth, Max and Isobel are having a whispered conversation that stops once he sits down.

“What’s up?” he asks when they both turn to look at him.  He really hopes it's not another Jones emergency.  He wants his date with Alex before the next pile of shit hits the fan.

“Nothing,” Isobel says too brightly.

“You and Maria looked like you were having a pretty intense conversation when we got here,” Max says.

“Not really,” Michael shrugs.  Intense seems like too strong of a word, important yes, but it’s not like they were fighting.  “Just wanted to talk to her about something.  And make sure she’s feeling alright.”

“It’s nice that you are so concerned, but we don’t want you to get hurt,” Isobel reaches across the table and takes his hand.

“Ok?”  It’s a question because Michael really has no idea what she’s talking about.  He feels like he walked into the middle of the wrong conversation.

“Michael,” Isobel sighs and sits up straighter, taking her hand away.  “You know Maria is seeing Greg Manes.”

“Greg’s not the Manes I’m in love with so I don’t see why that would be a problem,” Michael shrugs.

“You mean Alex, right?”  Max asks.

Michael rolls his eyes, “I sure as hell wasn’t talking about Flint.”

“Does this mean we can finally talk about your secret, sordid teenage affair with Alex Manes instead of just hinting about it?” Isobel leans forward eagerly.

“No, and it wasn’t,” Michael makes a face and Isobel raises one brow at him, “sordid.”  He’ll give her secret, but there was nothing sordid about how they felt about each other.  Sure, they fucked it up later, but when he fell in love with Alex it made him feel lighter and hopeful.

“Does he know how you feel or are you still waiting for the right time?  You know the weird emo poet guy is gone,” Isobel tells him.

“Oh, he’s very aware,” Michael smirks, thinking of how thoroughly he’d demonstrated his feeling this morning.

“So you’re back together,” Max, ever the romantic, smiles.

“No,” Michael corrects, but he feels bad when Max’s face falls and Isobel rushes to comfort him.

“Maybe he just needs time,” she says.  “He wrote you a love song after all.”

“We are together,” Michael admits.  “Just not back together.  What we had before is over, and we need to start fresh if this is going to work.  Can’t keep looking back.”

Max winces a little, and Michael knows he’s thinking about his own complicated history with Liz.  

“So when did it happen?  Who made the first move?  Was it romantic or one of those fighting until your kissing moments?” Isobel bombards him with questions, most of which he has no intention of answering.

Michael leans back in the booth and sighs.  “It’s still pretty new, and it’s still not sordid,” he makes another face at that word. “Although the sex is,” he trails off and lets out a low whistle.

Max drops his face into his hands, but Isobel claps her hands, “Tell me everything,” she demands.

“Iz, no,” Max looks up and glares at her.

“What, even you can admit they are hot together.”

“And it’s not secret this time,” Michael says, drawing their attention back to him.  “We have a date this week.”

“That’s awesome, man,” Max beams at him.

“When is it?” Isobel asks.  “I’ll need an hour, no two hours, to get you ready.”

“I can dress myself,” Michael objects, looking to Max for support.

Max laughs, “Don’t look at me.  She has a whole section of my closet marked off for date clothes and knows if I don’t use them.  I’m thrilled she has someone else to torture.”

“I wouldn’t have to do that if I could trust you to get changed before you go out,” Isobel scolds Max.

“Hey, I thought women liked a man in uniform.”

“Not that ugly brown uniform you wear.  Now, I remember how Alex looked in his dress blues for the parade,” she smiles dreamily and turns to Michael.  “Does he ever wear that for you?  Because he should.  The role play possibilities are endless.”

It’s Michael’s turn to cover his face with his hands.  “Maybe we should have kept this secret,” he groans, but no one believes him.

After their respective nights out, Alex and Michael went back to their own homes, and while they exchanged texts about how their evenings had gone, they hadn’t seen each other.  Alex was surprised by just how much he missed Michael even after only a few days together, and pleased at how he isn’t afraid to let Michael know it.  So it was no hardship for him to leave early enough to pick up three coffees instead of one and stop by the junkyard on the way to work.

He leaves his own coffee in the car and heads toward the garage with the other two.  As expected it’s Sanders who he sees first.  Alex isn’t sure if he has an alarm system on the driveway entrance or he just spends all his time watching for cars, but he always appears the minute someone gets out of their vehicle.  

“Car trouble?” Sanders asks as he makes his way to Alex.

“No, sir, just stopped by to see Michael.”  Alex lifts the coffee cups a little higher in the air.

“So you’re coming by in the daylight now, out in the open, instead of sneaking around hoping no one sees you?”

Alex feels a flush of shame on his face.  He was never embarrassed to be seen with Michael, just afraid, but he knows how he looks.  “You’ll be seeing a lot of me now.  I’ll do better by him,” he says as confidently as he can.  “I love him,” he adds because Sanders is Michael’s family, and Alex wants him to know he’s serious.

“I could have told you that.  One eye,” he taps his patch, “but I’m not blind.  Don’t know why I have to keep reminding people of that,” he grumbles.  “And you’ll both do better because you’re not a couple of scared kids this time.  You’re not hiding from that no good daddy of yours, and he’s not so used to secrets he wouldn’t know the truth if it slapped him in the face.”

Alex laughs because he’s not wrong, but “No, now we're just dealing with his,” Alex pauses and reconsiders his words because he can’t bring himself to call Jones Michael’s father in front of the man who really should have that title.  “Now we’re dealing with Jones and all my bullshit from a decade in the Air Force.”

“Never gonna be perfect,” Sanders grunts.  “But you’re better together than you are apart.  Start with that.”

“Thanks,” Alex shifts on his feet. He wasn’t expecting to have a heart to heart with Sanders so soon.  It makes his anxious to see Michael, to be reassured he hasn’t fucked things up already.  “Here, this is for you,” he thrusts one of the coffee cups at Sanders.

He sips it cautiously then smiles before narrowing his eye at Alex. “Michael tell you how I take my coffee?”

“Nope, he told me you take it black.”

“Idiot,” Sanders mumbles under his breath.  “Guess coffee runs are your job from now on.”

“I can do that,” Alex agrees easily.  Sanders' approval is worth the hours he spent reviewing the footage he hacked from the coffee shop to find out Sanders preferred coffee is a double espresso latte with half vanilla, half coconut and almond milk.

“Best be on your way before Michael glares a hole in my back waiting for me to let you go.  Guess I know why he’s been smiling like a loon these last few days.  Probably explains the limp, too.”

Sanders walks away leaving Alex choking on air.  But he spots Michael waiting in the doorway of the garage, and his smile is worth the embarrassment.

#malex fic #rnm fic #yotp 2023 #my fic #S3 fic #alex and michael are in love #and happy about it #fluff

[angrycowboy]

screaming about rnm tonight and uh. i have two new favorite WTF moments from s3.

the first... michael gives alex the turquoise in 3x03 and tells him it reacts to their tech. afterwards, alex goes to deep sky and witnesses the turquoise react to the lockhart machine. except then alex disappears for two episodes while everyone else learns about kyle's radio and the alien glass with jim's message inside. and when alex re-appears in 3x06, this fact is never mentioned again until after maria does her walk through patricia's memory in 3x08 (and the show proceeds to act as if that is how they all learn the lockhart machine is alien-built).

and second... how did jones learn about the lockhart machine? alex didn't tell anyone about it until after maria's little walk through patricia's memories in 3x08. the only thing i can come up with is it's mentioned in tripp's journal, which jones finds in max's safe in 3x04.

so let's assume it's just a vague mention of nora building something while in caulfield. i mean, nora was pretty hush hush about things to tripp elsewhere (tripp only knew that she and louise were "building something in the desert"). jones figures out that patricia is maria's grandmother, and jumps into her mind looking for that memory.

except jones has a specific date. how? if tripp mentioned it in the journal, then alex, maria, and the pod squad would also already be aware of the lockhart machine's existence because they've all read the journal. and if the journal only mentioned nora building something - that doesn't explain how jones picked up on the specific date.

and if the lockhart machine was mentioned in tripp's journal then alex would have known even before he held the turquoise up to it in 3x03 that it was alien-built, and wouldn't have needed the magical alien rock to tell him this.

#roswell new mexico #rnm salt #alex manes #honestly 3x04 is where s3 starts going off the rails

[selfsabotaqe]

*       ♡     ◞      closed starter      ╱    for @prvsoner .

“ okay wait, you’re serious? ”   he did not mean for his voice to crack at the end of that sentence, but the reality of their words dawning on him affected him more than he wished. and as always in his most vulnerable state, fight or flight response was instantly triggered. just perhaps he should have chosen flight this time. to save himself having to face them during his imminent heartbreak.   “ what part of being on a break means breaking up? ”

#* ♡ ◞ max lockhart ╱ 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 . #prvsoner #okay kept this one a little shorter for all of our sanity #but knowing myself we'll be deep into para territory in no time #also i have thoughts about why they might have been on a break for both college verse and pro football verse? #depending on which you wanted to go with #like thoughts about why they needed time to think it over and everything #again if you wish to chat about it #you know where to find me <3