#jaq/phin

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“I’ve read a lot about this Christmas holiday of yours. I never expected it to be quite like this.”

For jaq and phin pls 🥰

Thank you so much for this prompt! :) Ok, I am super late with this but I reckon it still counts as Christmas as we're pre-new year so here are roughly 1700 words of pure romantic fluff of Jaq and Phineas enjoying their first Christmas together aboard The Hope

Pixelated flames flickered away on the aetherwave screen and Phineas Welles gave a contented, heavy sigh as he sank onto the sofa. He didn’t think he’d ever felt this full in his life.

“You know, I’ve read a lot about this Christmas holiday of yours. I never expected it to be quite like this.”

Jaq chuckled where they were slumped beside him. They languidly draped an arm about his shoulders, knocking his paper crown askew, before pressing a kiss to his temple.

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Yes, very much so. Though, I’m not sure I’ll need to eat again for several days.”

The feast had been like something from the old Auntie Cleo’s ads from his youth showing the perfect, wholesome, Halcyon family crammed around a table groaning under the weight of the food. Only, in place of ruddy-faced parents and beaming children, the long benches in the canteen had been filled with his lab-coated colleagues and the Hope’s support staff, all tucking into a spread that had been carefully prepared over the course of the morning. Not all of the colonists celebrated in what he was informed was the traditional sense, and there had been other holidays besides this one, but this was Jaq’s favourite and so Phineas had decided it was his, too.

Jaq hummed in agreement and patted their stomach.

“Not quite a turkey with the trimmings, but that was easily the best meal I’ve eaten since thawing out.”

There’d been a great deal of debate over the food in the weeks leading up to today. Everyone seemed to have a different signature dish, a perfect recipe or a family tradition that had to be incorporated. There’d been boarst wrapped in cysty-bacon, mounds of golden roasted potatoes, vegetables fried with cysty-bits, and in pride of place at the centre of the table, the largest chicken Phineas had ever laid eyes upon. This alone would have been more than enough but several colonists had insisted that the meal wasn’t complete without trifle topped with purpleberry-pieces followed by crackers and wooly-cow cheese. After all that, the walk back to their quarters had been quite the undertaking and Phineas was feeling warm and drowsy, his eyes slipping closed.

Jaq nudged him. “No sleeping just yet, you still need to open your present.”

Oh yes, presents. How could he forget after the weeks of agonising over precisely what to give them? Jaq had explained that it should be something small and personal, and preferably inexpensive. Which suited him just fine. He didn’t often leave the Hope, and vanishingly rarely without his partner at his side, so it would have been near impossible to purchase something without them discovering the surprise. No, he had turned his ingenuity rather than his bits toward finding them the perfect gift.

“Come on, we can snooze after this,” Jaq said, getting to their feet with a grunt. They offered him a hand that Phineas gratefully accepted, struggling upright. Good law, all this celebrating was exhausting.

The tree had appeared a week ago, lugged over one broad shoulder from the Unreliable and deposited in the corner of their shared room. Apparently, Jaq had liberated it from the vaults of the hidden Museum of Earth recently uncovered in Byzantium. It was, they explained, a replica of the fir tree that had filled their home each year at this season, and that they must decorate it together. Phineas didn’t quite grasp the significance of hanging coloured paper ribbons and taped together ornaments on a plant, but it mattered to Jaq so he had thrown himself into it with gusto. A few chipped glass flasks and test tubes painted with snowflakes had served well to adorn the plastic spruce and Jaq had been thrilled by it. At the top sat a star, cut from spare sheet metal they’d been using to patch up the hold. It twinkled in the dancing light of the screen as he eased himself down to the woolly cow rug before the fake fire.

“Yours is a little rough around the edges,” Jaq said as they rummaged beneath the tree, groping around the floor for something. They emerged a second later clutching a rectangular object carefully wrapped in brown paper and tied with a ribbon. “I couldn’t find the mineral oil I wanted to finish it with so had to make do with the stuff in the storeroom.”

They gave a near shy smile as they handed him the gift, sitting back on their heels to watch as he peeled away the wrapping a layer at a time until an intricately carved spoon appeared.

“You made this yourself?” he asked, turning the utensil in his hands, marvelling at the workmanship. He’d seen Jaq take apart any number of electrical items and knew that they were talented when it came to mechanics but he’d no idea they could turn their hand to carpentry as well.

They nodded. “Where my family are from, sailors used to give them to their sweetheart before they went to sea, as a token of love and a way of winning their heart. If it was accepted, traditionally that meant you were a couple.”

Phineas ran his fingers over the wood, following the grain. He could imagine the hours of work that had gone into this, could perfectly picture Jaq leant over the bench in the Unreliable’s hold, calloused hands cutting and chiselling, sanding and smoothing, their handsome brow tugged into a neat V of concentration as they worked.

“It’s made from a mock apple tree we’ve transplanted to the New Hope Centre build site. The anchor’s a symbol for safety and security, and these bits, they’re called celtic knots, they mean everlasting. Eternal.”

He glanced up at that to find Jaq watching him intently, a faint flush to their cheeks visible in the twinkling lights strung about the tree.

“I’ve not worked with wood since I was kid, so I hope it’s alright?”

It was a good deal more than alright, Phineas thought. Handmade items were rare in Halcyon, given colonists did not usually have the time nor energy to create them. He knew he held something precious; a link to Jaq’s past, the fruits of their toils, a physical manifestation of their regard for him. He ran his fingertips over the curve of the handle with reverence.

“It’s splendid,” he said, setting the spoon down cautiously between them so that he could take their hand. “And I wholeheartedly accept your gift, my intrepid sailor.”

Jaq grinned, ducking their head. “I’m glad you like it.”

“I do,” he assured them, giving their hand a squeeze before releasing it to go hunting under the tree for his own present. “Now, let me just find . . . aha! Here we are!”

A frisson of nervous excitement sparked in his chest as he slid a thin, square package out from between the branches. He handed it over with care, worrying at his lip as he watched his partner slide a finger beneath the fold of the wrapping paper. Stars, after what Jaq had given him he hoped this would be a suitable gift in return.

Once all the paper sat in a pile by their feet, Jaq was left delicately holding a sheet of plastic. A faintly confused smile turned up the corner of their lips.

“It’s . . . a brain scan?” they said, looking to him for confirmation.

“Yes! My brain!”

He leant over to better show them what they were looking at.

“To be precise, it is a scan of my brain showing the nucleus accumbens – that’s a structure that mediates emotional and pleasure processing – lit up as bright as our Christmas tree.” He took Jaq’s hand, directing them to a bold, white patch between grey squiggles, circling it with a fingertip. “And you see all these sections? The colours here? These are the dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin pathways. Increased activity here is associated with experiencing romantic love.”

He beamed up at them. “Everything you see here is what’s going on in my brain when I think about you.”

Jaq sat silent, processing, and Phineas near reckoned he could hear their own brain ticking over that information. He watched their gaze running over the image as softly as their fingers, deep brown eyes moving from one luminous patch of grey matter to the next with a look of wonder.

“This”- he tapped the plastic film -“this is irrefutable, scientific proof of my love for you.”

Their mouth parted at that but no sound passed them. Their throat bobbed around a hard swallow and Phineas found himself with the sudden urge to fill the silence for them.

“I wanted to see if there was any difference in emotional processing in the brains of those awoken from extended cryosleep, and of course, that required a comparison to a non-colonist brain, and you know I have always been a strong believer in testing the science on oneself . . .”

He knew he was rambling but they seemed to need a moment so he continued on, explaining the basis of the experiment that had led to this particularly delightful illustration of his musings on them.

“ . . . and it can get rather dull lying there in the scanner, so naturally my mind wandered to you and –“

He didn’t get any further as suddenly Jaq’s lips found their sense of purpose, impressing upon his own a kiss that left his head spinning. He found himself gripping tight to their shirt for balance.

“Thank you,” they breathed, their head pressed to his own. “It’s perfect, Phin.”

When eventually they drew back, he could see pure, unfiltered affection writ large across their face and a warmth shining back at him from their eyes that could have engulfed a star. There was no need for a brain scan; Jaq made no attempt to hide the strength of their feeling for him.

Phineas uncurled his fingers and flattened his palm against their chest. The steady, reassuring beat of their heart pulsed against his skin. He gave a thoughtful nod and kissed the tip of their nose.

“Well, yes, of course it is.” He gave them a mischievous smirk, eyes twinkling. “That’s the mind of a genius you’re looking at.”

The delighted laughter that burst from Jaq’s throat rang about the room and a moment later, their fingers tangled in his hair as they pulled him in for a deeper kiss. As Phineas found himself pressed back into the soft embrace of wooly fur, the lights of the tree softly blinking above him, he considered that truly there was something to this talk of magic at Christmas.

Posting this was delayed by me going down a rabbit hole about brain scans and trying to come up with something suitably clever for Phineas to say regarding reward processing centres and the rest. I won’t pretend any of what I’ve written is particularly accurate but if you want to read some of the same articles I did then you can find out more here:

https://www.livescience.com/18468-relationship-longevity-brain-scans.html here -

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2954158/

https://www.medicaldaily.com/what-love-mri-scan-reveals-what-stages-romantic-love-youre-brain-map-326080

I also watched this fascinating video of people thinking about love in an MRI scanner and trying to “win” at loving the most - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1npQEdTsF8

Also, for anyone interested in the history of Welsh love spoons, there’s a bit of info about the tradition and the different symbols here - https://angelwoodcraft.co.uk/history-of-the-welsh-love-spoon/

#just a bit of late christmas fluff and magic #because Jaq and Phineas deserve to have a lovely time together #jaq/phin #captain jaq #phineas welles #christmas fic #tow fic #my writing

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Flufftober, Day 4 - Sparklers and Fireworks

Took a brief break yesterday but I'm back with more tooth-rottingly cute goodness for day 4 of @flufftober2021

This time it's set in the Allotment AU that is on my list of projects. This snippet is post fic, after Jaq and Phineas have finally gotten over their pining and realised they're meant to be.

Jaq hauled the last of the brambles to the bonfire, depositing them in a heap with the rest of autumn die-back. They sidestepped the crowd of plot-holders all gathered around the heat, light dancing in their eyes, and brushed dead leaves and twigs from their jumper. A sudden crackle went up as someone threw debris upon the fire and sparks danced into the sky. It was a chill night, clouds of breath puffing in the air and mingling with the smoke, but their exertions had been enough to warm them.

They glanced around the allotments, searching for Phineas amongst the people sharing drinks and growing tips between the plots. There were carved pumpkins glowing on a few and someone was strumming a guitar further up the hill. As they wound their way between the sheds and veg patches, Jaq spotted sparklers fizzing away, clutched in tiny hands.

“That’s it! Marvellous! Make sure you hold it right out away from you – yes, perfect!”

Jaq grinned. Phineas was bundled up in his jacket and the scarf they had knitted for him and currently surrounded by a group of delighted children. As they watched, he aided a wide-eyed girl in writing her name in the air.

“Now, these sparklers have three main components,” he told the giggling children, all waving their arms around to paint pictures. “An oxidiser, a binder and a metal fuel - ferrotitanium in this case, which produces that lovely yellow-gold colour. Did you know, some of them contain the same component parts as gunpowder?”

There were little gasps at that. Jaq halted at the edge of the group, catching Phineas’ eye. He gave them a wink.

“They’re quite safe though,” he said to his enraptured audience. “They’re only present as reducing agents, to help the sparklers burn longer. There we are, put them out safely now.”

As he spoke, he directed the children to a bucket sat at his foot. Several quiet hisses sounded as the finished sparklers were deposited in the water.

“Now, you better run along and find a good spot. The fireworks will be starting soon!”

Jaq skipped aside to allow a stampede of diminutive feet and brightly coloured bobble hats to go rushing past. They made their way over to him as the children went careening down the path to their parents with happy yells.

“Teaching a chemistry lesson?”

“They’re never too young to learn.”

Phineas grinned as they adjusted his scarf and Jaq pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“Your face is cold,” they muttered and slipped their arms about his waist. Phineas hummed and tucked into them.

“I’m quite warm enough," he assured them, sliding his hands into their pockets. “Though, I wouldn’t mind some of that hot cider that was doing the rounds earlier. And perhaps a toffee apple?”

Jaq laughed quietly, always happy to indulge his sweet tooth.

“Alright. Let’s go and see what we can find.”

#yes I spent most of the time for this fic researching how sparklers work #it's science time with Phineas #flufftober2021 #day 4 #jaq/phin #captain jaq #phineas welles #tow fic #the outer worlds fanfic #allotment au #tow au

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Check out this beautiful moodboard for Jaq and Phineas made by the exceptionally talented @strangefable

Every image is just perfect for them and fits the mood of their story so well! This was just the encouragement I needed to get back to work on the last chapter of Kept Secret But Not Forgotten

#jaq/phin #captain jaq #phineas welles #moodboard #strange fable moodboard #tow moodboard

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kinktober day 10 - hickeys

Ok, so I'm a day late and honestly, this is way more fluffy than anything else (which makes up for missing the last few days of flufftober) but here's my latest offering of Jaq/Phin nonsense - definitely T rated at most so no cut on this one.

“Erm, Doctor Welles?”

Phineas didn’t bother to glance up from behind the microscope, only gave a hum of acknowledgement and twiddled with the dial. It was much too early in the day for interruptions.

There were muffled whispers from beside him and eventually one of his colleagues cleared their throat.

“I don’t want to alarm you, Doctor, but you appear to have some sort of rash.”

He did finally look up at that, mild confusion tugging his bushy brows together. Three of his fellow scientists were stood in a huddle a few feet from his workbench, a series of increasingly wary expressions crossing their faces.

“0h?” Phineas intoned, finally ceasing fidgeting with the petri dish.

The lead scientist – a young botanist by the name of Linnaeus – nodded and pointed at the side of his neck. Phineas removed one latex glove and rubbed at the area absently. Come to think of it, it did feel a little tender. How odd.

As he probed at the skin, he noted his colleagues backing up a pace and shooting each other worried glances.

“You didn’t err . . . didn’t get bitten by anything whilst you were planetside, did you?” Linnaeus asked.

“Might it be contagious?”

“Perhaps you should go to the medical ward?”

Phineas frowned. He certainly didn’t recall being bitten by any insects whilst visiting the New Hope Centre. He was quite sure he’d remember that, what with the frankly horrifying size of the things in Halcyon. Could he have ingested something unusual? Brushed up against a particularly irritating plant? It seemed unlikely. He’d spent all of last night and most of this morning aboard the Unreliable and there was nothing there that would cause an adverse reaction.

Both intrigued and a touch concerned, he glanced about the laboratory, searching for a mirror. He was sure there was one over on that other workbench . . .

His colleagues retreated as he approached, lab coats twitching about their knees as they shuffled away. Phineas arched a brow. Law, how bad was this rash?

When finally he held up the mirror, Phineas narrowed his eyes, tilting it this way and that to get a better look. Oh yes, there was quite a prominent red mark there. It appeared faintly purpleish at the edges and the shape was really quite reminiscent of . . .

He flushed scarlet under the fluorescent lights, the sudden memory of strong arms about his waist and hot breath at his neck tumbling into his mind. He’d groaned Jaq’s name loud enough to echo about the Captain’s cabin when their mouth had met his skin, sucking at him hard. Hard enough to bruise, apparently.

“Everything alright, Doctor Welles?”

Phineas cleared his throat.

“Yes, yes, quite alright! Nothing to worry about.”

His colleagues appeared unconvinced, still keeping their distance. He fought down a strange urge to giggle in response and bit his lip.

“It’s simply a uhh, a well . . . it’s just a few damaged capillaries, you see. From rather . . . rather intense erm . . . suction.”

The three scientists blinked at him, apparently still none the wiser. Phineas pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Oh for law’s sake, have none of you ever had a love-bite before?” he grumbled.

“A . . ? Oh!”

Now Linnaeus had turned an interesting shade of red, flanked by his equally as startled co-workers. Phineas rolled his eyes when the youngest of the three sniggered, immediately stifling the noise with a hand.

“Yes, yes, it’s very amusing,” he muttered and tugged the neck of his lab scrubs higher. Next time, he’d request Jaq find a more subtle spot for expressing their enthusiasm.

“Now back to work,” he said and marched back to his microscope.

As his colleagues returned to their tasks, Phineas traced his fingers over the delightful memento, a smug smile tugging at his lips. He’d return the favour later.

#tempted to add a part two to this #jaq/phin #captain jaq #phineas welles #tppkinktober2021 #the outer worlds fic #my writing

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Flufftober, Day 1 - Winning a Teddy for the Other

I'm going to be attempting to write something for most of the @flufftober2021 prompts list this month. All fics will be for Jaq and Phineas and I'm intending to set some in the various AU's I'm working on.

“Better luck next time bud!” the moustachioed stallholder called, giving a jaunty wave to the young men grumbling and shuffling away, their pockets lighter on bits and their pride clearly dented by their poor showing.

Jaq had been eyeing the shooting gallery with interest whilst Phineas worked his way to the front of the queue for candyfloss. Like most games at Fallbrook fair, it was quite clearly rigged. Not one person had come away with a prize yet and the sympathetic commentary of the big man leaning on the counter was accented with a gleeful smile. His chuckle cut through the thump and rattle of the nearby amusements and Jaq rolled their eyes as another group of hapless young Byzantine tourists, dressed in their finest attempts at outlaw attire, jostled for a turn.

“Thinking of giving it a try?”

Jaq turned to see Phineas stood beside them, a smirk arching his lips and a great flock of candyfloss the size of his head and precisely as fluffy as his hair clutched in one hand. He munched happily on it as he nodded towards where the crack of the pellet rifles was sounding again.

“It’s a fix,” Jaq said, taking a bite of the proffered floss. The sticky, sugary fibres melted on their tongue and flooded their mouth with purpleberry.

“Of course,” Phineas replied, linking his arm through theirs once more and tucking in closer to their side as a particularly raucous group of individuals made their way past. “But then you are especially talented when it comes to beating the odds.”

Jaq grinned at that and puffed out their chest. Well, maybe it was worth a go?

“Step right up, step right up! Try your hand at felling the fearsome beasts of the wildlands and you could win a prize!” the stallholder boomed. His gaze met Jaq’s for a second and his arms sprung wide. “Say, you there! You look like a marksman if ever I’ve seen one! Think you can win a prize for your silver-haired gentleman?”

Phineas snorted at that. “Well, dear?” he asked, an eyebrow raised at them.

Jaq stepped up to the counter, digging about in their pocket for a frankly obscene amount of bits. The stallholder grinned as they lifted the rifle, fitting the wooden stock firmly against their shoulder and peering down the sight at the miniature mantisaur cut-outs that served as targets. There were three rows of them, all lined up against a backdrop painted the colour of the Monarch sky. Most barely appeared to have a scratch.

“You’ve got six shots. The more beasties you down, the bigger your prize!”

There was a sparkle in the man’s eye as he shifted out of the way, confidently swaggering to the side. Jaq glanced to Phineas. He gave them a thumbs up as he munched away at his cloud of candyfloss.

The first shot pulled just right of the centre target, clipping the edge as Jaq overcompensated for the rigging they’d observed. The barrel must have been tampered with, they thought, as they watched the pellet ping off the backdrop and roll in the dirt. Well, now they knew the score, they could work with this.

The second shot struck right in the centre of the snarling face of the mantisaur, sending the target toppling off the stand. A triumphant laugh sounded from behind them.

Within thirty seconds the rest of the targets had been felled and a beaming Phineas was patting them on the back. Jaq tried their best not to look smug as they replaced the rifle and watched the disgruntled stallholder re-setting his game.

“So, which one do you want?” they asked, eyeing the bundles of stuffed animals hanging below the dancing lights of the sign. The opportunity to present Phineas with a fluffy sprat had them feeling inordinately pleased with themself.

“Perhaps that one?” Phineas suggested, pointing out primal stuffy that looked considerably cuter than any wild ones Jaq had ever encountered. “I think he’d make a rather nice mascot to sit on my desk.”

“Oh no, no, no,” the stallholder said with a tight grin. “You’ve won our top prize – Rocky the raptidon!”

Jaq frowned. There weren’t any raptidon toys in amongst the prizes they could see. There was only the giant mascot wearing a cowboy hat that sat atop the stall. But that was nearly the same size as they were, that couldn’t possibly be . . . oh law, no.

“It’ll make a wonderful feature!” Phineas said in delight as Jaq lugged the gigantic stuffed toy back through town and towards the landing pad. They were garnering wide-eyed looks and stifled giggles as they wrestled with the ridiculous raptidon, its gigantic paws slung around their shoulders so they could at least attempt to see where they were going.

“It’s about the size of our sofa,” they said, the words muffled by faux-fur. There was no way it was going to fit in their room – in fact, it was going to need its own cabin aboard the Unreliable.

“Yes, and Bubbles will love it!” Phineas proclaimed and patted their arm with a hand sticky with candyfloss residue. He peered around the toy to affectionately peck their cheek and Jaq decided they probably could just about find space for their new acquisition.

#flufftober2021 #day 1 #jaq/phin #captain jaq #phineas welles #tow fic #the outer worlds fanfic

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Last line tag

Cheers for the tags @damejudyhench @captastra and @the-lastcall and sorry I'm so late with this!

Rules: write the latest line from WIP and tag as many people as there are words in the line. Make a new post, don’t reblog.

The discarded napkin served in place of a scrap of paper and as the noise level grew, Jaq scribbled out a note with nervous fingers.

I'm not sure I actually know that many people! If you've not yet been tagged and you want to share then please consider this me tagging you in!

#the outer worlds au #christmas coffee shop au #captain jaq #jaq/phin

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The Arcane filter makes Phineas in game look about thirty years younger than he is so instead of screenshots here's my attempt with Boris Karloff as his stand in and Tab Hunter as Jaq

#jaq/phin #phineas welles #captain jaq #arcane filter

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wip weekend

Just because I felt like sharing and I'm pleased I managed to get any writing done this weekend, here is Jaq's first meeting with Phineas in the coffee-shop Christmas au I'm working on.

The bell above the door tinkled merrily when Jaq stepped inside, shutting it carefully behind them. Immediately, they were enveloped by a comforting blanket of warmth. A hundred competing scents, each more mouth-watering than the last, washed over them in an instant; coffee, chocolate, baking bread, and a sweetness that seemed to linger in the air and settle in their chest. It was a heady mix and brought crashing into their mind the memory of dark winter evenings spent in a farm house kitchen, playing cards at the dinner table.

The unexpected wave of nostalgia halted them in their tracks until a steady stream of muttered curses roused them. A second later, a head popped up from behind the counter and a wiry, older man appeared, wrestling with a sack of coffee beans near the same size as he was.

“Void-damned suppliers,” he grumbled. “Never read the instructions. ‘Illegible handwriting,’ ha! How dare they?”

Jaq watched as he lugged his burden toward an ancient coffee machine with straining gangly limbs, huffing and puffing as he went. Over a shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal flour-dusted forearms he wore an apron in olive green, dotted with political pin badges and coffee stains. Day-old stubble peppered hollow cheeks and his wild grey hair didn’t seem to have ever seen a comb. Jaq was entranced.

“Probably didn’t even check the note - Ahh! Hullo! Are you here for the union meeting?”

The man abruptly turned his gaze upon them, great caterpillar eyebrows darting about as he took in their appearance. Jaq suddenly found themself feeling strangely self-conscious under his scrutiny, glancing down at the paint splatters and sawdust across their polo shirt and the tool belt still strapped about their waist. Then the peculiar man gave them a smile that lit up sparkling eyes the colour of winter snow clouds.

“You’re a little early, I’m afraid,” he said, his tone cheerful despite the flush of exertion still lingering about his pale skin. “But you’re very welcome to sit and wait.”

It took them a second to remember precisely why they had come to the café in the first place.

“Actually, I’m just here to pick up coffee for my crew,” they managed eventually.

“Oh, I see.” He peered at them, lines deepening about the most expressive face Jaq had ever seen. “You are in a union though, yes?” he said, a sudden intensity about his words. Jaq nodded and his lips turned up once more. “Excellent! Ten percent discount then.”

Tagging in a few people in case anyone else feels like sharing - @damejudyhench @the-lastcall @kourumi and anyone else who wants to :)

#is it love at first sight for Jaq? #it might well be #how many different ways can I come up with for these two to stare longingly at each other? #jaq/phin #captain jaq #phineas welles #christmas coffee shop au #tow au

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Trouble

I wrote another Jaq/Phin snippet that I don't really know what else to do with so here it is!

“Phineas!”

Jaq’s voice echoed through the laboratory cutting through the hum of the air scrubbers and Phineas’ head snapped up from where he had been leant over a microscope. Oh dear. His partner never used his full name. Only if it was something very serious, or something terrible had happened, or he was in –

“You’re in trouble,” Jaq stated, halting before his workbench. A deeply unimpressed scowl was darkening their usually smiling features.

“I’m sorry, my dear?” he asked, racking his brains for the potential issue at hand. He had definitely put his socks in the washing basket this morning and he was quite certain he had tidied the mess from the tomatoes that had exploded during that unfortunate experiment with rapid growth rays . . . Hmm, whatever was the matter?

Jaq raised their hands and it was now he noted they were holding two clear bottles, each containing a pale amber solution.

“What’s this?” They held out the bottle in their right hand.

He shrugged. “Well it’s nutrient solution for the new legumes we’ve adapted. Remarkable plants. Did you know, they actually contain forty-seven percent more protein than-”

“- and what is this?” they cut him off, now holding out the bottle in their left hand.

He peered at the half faded label. “Erm, fizzy tea, I believe?”

“Right,” Jaq agreed and plonked the bottles down on workbench. “So which of these do you think I wanted when I went to the fridge in our quarters looking for a drink?”

Ahh.

Jaq hummed as they spotted the moment he realised his error. “What did we agree about not keeping specimens in our personal space?”

Phineas scoffed. Now that was hardly fair. “It is not a specimen, it is plant food – perishable plant food – and as such it was in the fridge,” he argued. Jaq folded their arms across their chest. “Besides, it is clearly labelled.”

They sighed in frustration and sensing a moment to remove himself from the situation Phineas swept up the precious nutrient and whisked it away to the fridge in the corner of the laboratory.

“You are so very observant, I had assumed it wouldn’t be an issue,” he continued with a grin. Jaq’s scowl slipped a little. “It’s one of those things I love so much about you.”

Jaq rolled their eyes at that but he caught the hint of smile creeping in at the corner of their lips. “That’s not a get out of jail free card, Phin,” they muttered.

Aha! They were still frowning but if Jaq was back to using their affectionate nickname for him then Phineas knew full well he had gotten away with the little mishap.

“Of course not,” he agreed. “You are my get out of jail free card.”

Jaq snorted at that and turned to leave. “Love you too, Phin,” they called as they left the lab.

#jaq/phin #phineas welles #captain jaq #my writing #this might have been inspired by my partner keeping plant food in our fridge #and other projects cluttering the house

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This is it! The epilogue of my long fic for Jaq and Phineas is now done and posted!

One year and 98,000 words later, I am so proud of this fic and I've enjoyed every moment of writing it.

Thank you so much to everyone in the TOW fandom who has offered support, encouragement and feedback throughout. It's meant the world to me to know that other people have enjoyed reading about Jaq and Phineas' journey together.

Now, time to start getting to work on the AU projects!

#jaq/phin #captain jaq #phineas welles #tow fanfiction #my writing #the outer worlds

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Flufftober, Day 6 - Fireman's carry

Today's bit of writing for @flufftober2021 was partly inspired by this @galaxymermaid214 drawing of Jaq assisting Captain Aayla with her Phineas across the multiverse. Thanks for the inspiration!

Roughly 700 words of Jaq/Phin fluff below the cut

“AAACHOO!”

The noise echoed about the laboratory, followed by several loud sniffles and a muted, croaky cough. Jaq frowned as they lent against the doorframe, arms folded over their chest. A few feet away, Phineas sat huddled over a microscope, his body twitching as he shivered, his skin pale and feverish.

“Ahem, hem, hem,” he spluttered, then blew his nose into a handkerchief hurriedly fished from a jacket pocket.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

His head snapped up. His eyes looked red, his nose as bright as a landing beacon where he’d been rubbing at it. He shrugged, tucking the handkerchief away.

“Studying tobaccorn seeds. That batch you had shipped up from the stash at the old Rizzo’s mansion has proved very enlightening. Did you know -?”

“- You’re meant to be in bed,” Jaq cut him off, crossing the floor quickly, the metal plates of the deck ringing beneath their boots. “You can deal with this another day – once you’ve recovered.”

“Bah!” Phineas exclaimed. “I’m perfectly fine. It’s just a mild bout of colonists-cold. Nothing to worry about . . .”

His protestations were somewhat undermined by the coughing fit he promptly descended into. His shoulders shook with the force of it and Jaq rubbed a hand across his back, concern warring with frustration.

When Phineas finally managed to get himself under control, they brushed aside his wild hair to press the back of their hand to his forehead. Their eyes widened. He was burning up, his skin clammy to the touch.

“Phin, come on, you’re not well.”

He was near swaying on his stool and barely looked awake. They’d always admired his tenacity but this was ridiculous.

“Remember how you insisted I sleep loads after surgery?” they argued. “All that stuff you told me about proteins and the immune system and, uhh, those cells, the . . . what were they called?”

“T cells,” he supplied, followed by another cough. “It’s not the same. This is just a sniffle. Besides, there’s work to be done. There’s no time to be lazing about in bed.”

He rose from his desk, began a slow shuffle to the centrifuge, and promptly wobbled sideways, catching himself with an unsteady hand against a workbench. They made a decision.

Before he could argue any further, Jaq halted him in his tracks and in one swift movement, hoisted him over their shoulder. Phineas yelped.

“Jaq! Put me down! I am not a child!”

He huffed and puffed and wriggled in aggravation. They locked their arms around him and marched for the door.

“Correct. You’re a grouchy, stubborn, infuriating old man.”

They ignored his muted complaints and coughs and pressed the door release with their elbow. It hissed open.

“One who I happen to love very much and would like to spend many years with. So you’re going to rest, and you’re going to get healthy, and then you can get back to being brilliant again.”

He gave a dramatic sigh at that and flopped against them, hands clutching at their shirt, apparently resigned to his fate.

“This is highly undignified,” he muttered.

Jaq paused. They likely would have to pass his colleagues in the corridor on their return to his quarters and they had no particular desire to embarrass him. But then again, he had brought this on himself.

“If I put you down, are you going to argue with me?”

“No, dear,” he grumbled.

They set him down carefully. He still appeared unstable, even with his weight resting against them.

“Would you like me to carry you?”

“It . . . might be necessary,” Phineas conceded eventually. “Perhaps I am a little under the weather.”

Jaq rolled their eyes but didn’t hesitate to lift him into their arms.

“I’ll bring you your research papers to read if you really want them,” they offered as they made their way to their shared room. “Or we can watch a serial together? I’ll make that sweet tea you like and some proper homemade soup.”

Perhaps plying him with treats would make him a little more amenable to actually remaining in bed.

#jaq carrying phin about is becoming a theme #phin usually sees it as a perk #flufftober2021 #day 6 #jaq/phin #captain jaq #phineas welles #tow fic #the outer worlds fanfic #my writing

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I felt like 43. “Five more minutes...” and/or 49. “You didn’t have to do all this baby.” would be really cute for Jaq and Phineas? :)

Today I'm combining this great prompt I've been sat on for months - 43. "Five more minutes" - with Day 5 of @flufftober2021 - "Watching the Sunrise"

Here's 900 words of Jaq/Phin fluffiness with a cameo from Nyoka

Phineas woke to pale pre-dawn light filtering through the panels of the tent. It crept across the mussed blankets tangled about his body and stole over Jaq’s tanned skin where they lay flat out beside him, stripped down to their shorts. They were snoring faintly, one arm thrown across his chest, the other curling under the jacket they’d used as a makeshift pillow.

He stretched and yawned, feeling unusually groggy. His head was a little thick, a strange taste on his tongue.

Ahh, yes, that would be the spectrum red, he mused.

It wasn’t often he indulged, but he’d found himself swept up in Ms Ramnarim-Wentworth’s campfire revelries, carried away by the enthusiasm of reunited crewmates and a hunting party making the most of some well-earned downtime. They’d sat up well into the night under a Monarch sky spotted with stars, swapping stories and roasting cuts of raptidon meat over the fire, the meal served up with an array of unusual spices that had made his nose run and all washed down with copious alcoholic beverages.

Jaq fidgeted beside him, sighing and shuffling against the bedroll. Phineas smiled and recalled the way they’d laughed and sighed under his lips in the small hours, how mussed the strands of their hair had been when he had clutched at it and Jaq had looked up at him, their eyes shining in the dark, cheek pillowed against the sensitive skin of his thigh . . . They stirred again, their fingers flexing on his chest. Yes, it had been a very enjoyable evening.

The cry of a pteroray in the distance finally roused them. Jaq blinked awake, bleary-eyed, and gave a faint groan. Phineas smirked.

“How are we feeling?”

Jaq gave a puff of air and shuffled up against him, burying their face in his neck. There was a faint hint of alcohol on their breath and Phineas wrinkled his nose.

“Fine,” they mumbled. “Just need five more minutes.”

He sniggered at that but refrained from commenting further. Jaq hadn’t been especially inebriated, however, they did seem to have a rather low tolerance threshold for alcohol. On more than one occasion they’d suggested it was the result of their time in cryosleep, but given none of their fellow colonists had reported this particular side-effect, Phineas had to conclude that was likely not the case. Not that they appreciated him pointing it out.

“No time for napping,” he said, giving their hand a squeeze. “We have specimen collecting to do.”

Jaq didn’t respond other than to wrap their arm further around his middle, pulling him close. Phineas rolled his eyes.

“I seem to recall you said something about wanting to show me a Monarch sunrise. I was rather looking forward to it.”

Jaq huffed at that, finally disentangling themself from him. They shuffled up on the bedroll, sleepy-eyed and messy-haired. The grey haze peeking through the opening of the tent was just starting to turn to dusty pink. Phineas tossed their trousers at them with a smile and slipped out from beneath the blankets.

When the two exited the tent, Phineas spotted they weren’t the only ones up early. Two of Nyoka’s crew were sat beside the remnants of the fire, stoking at the embers, and the huntress herself was cleaning out a mess tin. She gave them both a nod as they crossed the campsite, making for the narrow path leading through the brush.

Dawn was breaking on the horizon as together they walked hand in hand to the cliff edge, cautiously picking their way through the rocks. Conveniently, there was a suitably large log lying at the viewing point. Phineas settled upon it, Jaq flopping down beside him, stretching their arms above their head and yawning.

The sky was painted a glorious red already, streaks of orange and gold breaking through where the light bounced about the atmosphere. The hues were so intense compared to Terra 2, it was almost like a veil had been lifted and he was truly seeing colour for the first time. The site was remarkable.

“As good as you hoped?”

When he glanced over, Jaq was rolling their shoulders, their gaze resting on him rather than the picture before them. Phineas nodded.

“It’s called Rayleigh scattering,” he said, turning back to the vista. “Light waves diffuse through gases in the atmosphere, creating the colours we can see now. Monarch’s sulphur rather spectacularly increases the result.”

Perhaps he could modify the artificial sunrise on the Hope to mirror the effect? It would make a nice change of pace and perhaps it might help acclimatise any newly awoken colonists expecting to be posted here.

“You really know everything, don’t you?” Jaq said with a smile as warm as the first rays creeping over them.

Phineas chuckled at that and ruffled their hair. They moved to wrap an arm around him in response, just starting to lean in when a voice sounded from behind.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I figured you folks could use some coffee.”

Phineas glanced over his shoulder to see Nyoka making her way to them, sure-footed as she climbed the path, two steaming mugs in hand and a familiar, welcome aroma wafting on the breeze.

“You’re a life-saver,” Jaq exclaimed, accepting the camping mug with a grateful look.

Phineas nodded his thanks and Nyoka smirked, cutting Jaq a wry salute.

“Always got your back, Cap. Have fun.”

With that, she turned and descended to camp, leaving the two of them to sip at their coffee and appreciate one of the true moments of beauty Halcyon could offer.

#thanks for the prompt! #more science lessons with Phin #Nyoka knows Jaq's a lightweight #flufftober2021 #day 5 #jaq/phin #captain jaq #phineas welles #tow fic #the outer worlds fanfic

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Random dialogue prompt: "Hello, nice to meet you…sort of."

I finally wrote something! It's for the fake dating AU!

The context here is that Phineas and Jaq work at the same lab – Phin as a scientist, Jaq as a maintenance technician. Phineas and the other scientists are about to attend their annual conference at the plush Eridanos resort, and, as lower staff members aren’t invited but attendees can bring partners, the two are fake dating so Jaq can attend with Phin. And obviously, they’re both head over heels for each other and terrified to admit it . . .

This scene is set the night before they’re going to leave for the resort. Phineas has video called Jaq at home to finalise plans, and he meets their housemate, Nyoka, for the first time. (roughly 900 words, so more under the cut)

As Jaq disappeared to greet the tradesman, they were replaced in frame by their housemate who casually slid into their chair.

“So . . . you’re the infamous Phineas Welles, huh?”

Infamous? Phineas wasn’t quite sure what he’d done to earn that particular epithet. Judging by the searching gaze Nyoka was running over him through the screen, he wasn’t sure it was anything good.

She was a powerful looking woman with an easy confidence about her that was offset by the cautious depth of her eyes. She appeared roughly Jaq’s age, though he found it a little hard to tell these days. The older he got, the younger everyone else seemed to look. He sat up a little straighter before the computer, doing his best not to shrink under her scrutiny.

“Jaq’s been talking about you non-stop.”

Had they? Well, that sent his mind spinning off in all sorts of directions. Had Jaq explained the situation to their housemate? How much had they said? Or perhaps they’d simply spoken about him in the context of work? Was that a good thing? Oh, law.

Nyoka hummed, as if reaching some sort of conclusion. She cocked her head at him. “Well, nice to meet you . . . sort of.”

The sound stuttered briefly as the wi-fi connection dipped out and the image of Nyoka froze momentarily. When it came back, she was taking a swig from a flask. Phineas tipped his mug to her. “Erm, nice to meet you too.”

“Thought you’d be . . .”

She mulled over her words and Phineas cleared his throat. “Taller?” he suggested, wearily sidestepping the obvious remark about his age. He was all too aware it was likely to be a common theme of conversation over the next week.

Nyoka snorted, an amused glint to her eye. “Hmm, maybe.” She settled back in Jaq’s chair, drumming her fingers atop the desk. “So, Doctor Welles,” she said, drawing out his title. “What exactly are your intentions toward my friend?”

Phineas blinked at her, jaw sagging uselessly as he fumbled for a response. Whatever was he supposed to say to that?

Nyoka raised a brow at him as he struggled for words, and took a long, lazy draw on her drink, now weighing him up. Her gaze was steady, curious perhaps. What had Jaq said she did again? He was sure he recalled them mentioning something about the wildlife park, involving carnivorous animals and caged vehicles and tonnes of meat. Phineas gave a nervous swallow.

“Well . . . I, erm -”

Nyoka didn’t let him finish. “Because one minute they’re all starry eyed, talking about some cute guy at work, and the next I hear, you’re taking them on a dirty weekend.”

Phineas near choked on his tea. “It’s not . . . I mean . . . It’s a conference! For work! . . . and . . .” Oh good law.

It didn’t seem Jaq was likely to come back and save him from this situation any time soon. Over Nyoka’s faint chuckle he caught the occasional snatch of conversation between them and the boiler repairman elsewhere in the house. It sounded as if they were engaged in an intense discussion.

“My intentions toward them are nothing but honourable,” he managed eventually.

“That so?” Nyoka smirked at him. “Not too honourable, I hope. Jaq’ll be disappointed by that.”

Phineas could feel the tips of his ears burning. Law knows why Jaq had felt the need to continue the charade of their relationship with their housemate, but clearly they'd done an impressive job of convincing her they were interested in him. He supposed that boded well for successfully making it through the week without their little deception being discovered.

“Okay, Doc,” she said eventually, raising her hands in surrender. Her smile softened at the edges a little and he got the strange impression he might have passed some sort of test.

Nyoka glanced over her shoulder briefly before lowering her voice and leaning in closer to the screen. “Seriously, though. Jaq’s not had the easiest time with dating and I’ve not seen them this excited about someone in a long while. You make sure you treat them right.”

Jaq had struggled with dating? His Jaq? The handsome, kind hearted, hardworking individual who shared coffee with him in the mornings and attended to his laboratory for him. Phineas fidgeted with his hands. That couldn’t possibly be right.

“I will,” he replied, still mulling that over. Nyoka’s gaze didn’t waver from him, her eyes narrowed and he paused. He might as well be honest, he supposed. After-all, he wasn’t quite as accomplished an actor as it appeared Jaq was. “Jaq is . . . Well, they’re very special to me,” he assured her.

Nyoka nodded at that.

“Alright,” she said, finally sounding convinced. She pointed a finger at him. “Just careful you don’t go breaking their heart.”

Phineas suspected it was considerably more likely he would be the one to end up nursing that particular wound.

“Because a pack of hyenas can eat a human carcass, bones and all, in a matter of minutes.”

Really? How fascinating.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he offered just as Jaq reappeared in the doorway wearing a satisfied expression. Nyoka gave him a final look that clearly communicated ‘I’ve got my eye on you’ before vacating their seat.

#this idea has been kicking around for weeks #glad to finally get something written down #jaq/phin #fake dating au #tow au #captain jaq #phineas welles

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Flufftober, Day 2 - Sneaking Out Together

Day 2 of @flufftober2021 here's some more Jaq/Phin fluffiness, this time set in the Uni AU I am slowly but surely piecing together a full outline for

It was the last day of term and the student-support office was sparsely populated. Only Jaq sat behind their desk at the window, diligently typing away and attempting to ignore the raucous sounds of summer and students enjoying skip out day.

Having not attended university themself, they’d only become aware of the tradition of bunking off lectures and starting the end of semester celebrations early when they had arrived at work that morning and noted the corridors of the main building seemed considerably quieter than usual. Since then, they’d been witness to someone dressed in nothing but the head of the uni mascot suit go streaking through the canteen, half the football team in red bodypaint carrying their coach across the quad, and a particularly jubilant water fight that had ended in the soaking of two philosophy lecturers who had come out to see what all the noise was about. All in all, it had been a day of limited work and keeping their eye out lest they become the latest victim of student pranks.

As Jaq did their best to concentrate, hurried footsteps from the corridor beyond cut through the steady clack of keys and a moment later the door banged open. Professor Welles entered in a whirlwind of grey hair, political badges and brightly coloured corduroy, his ever present lab coat flapping behind him.

“There you are!” he exclaimed, throwing up his hands in a mixture of delight and exasperation. “I’ve been looking all over campus for you!”

Whilst it was very sweet of him to do so, Jaq was a little nonplussed as to why he wouldn’t have tried their office first.

“Where else would I be?” they asked as he shuffled over. “It’s only two o’clock, I’ve got three hours of work left.”

Phineas peered down at them with a confused frown, wrinkling his nose as he eyed their computer screen. “Well not tucked away in a stuffy office on skip out day, that’s for certain. Why aren’t you out having a good time? It’s tradition!”

“I’m not sure that rule extends to the staff, Phin,” they pointed out, rising from their seat and gathering up a stack of reports. Distant chants of “chug, chug chug!” drifted in through the open window.

“Pah! Rules were made to be broken.”

He planted his hands on their shoulders, halting their attempt at filing with a conspiratorial smirk.

“Come along, it’s a lovely day. Let’s sneak out and enjoy the afternoon together. I won’t tell the Dean if you don’t.”

He finished with a wink that provoked a grin Jaq couldn’t suppress and plucked the papers from their hands before they could respond.

“We can go to the park to avoid all the noise,” he said, wrapping an arm through their own and steering them towards the door. “Maybe we could hire one of the rowboats? Oh, and perhaps that ice cream stand will be there again, the one with all the strange flavours. I want to try the pickled mango one this time.”

As he marched them from their office, chattering away about his plans for the rest of the day, Jaq reflected on how much more interesting their life had become since embracing the chaos that accompanied Phineas Welles.

#flufftober2021 #day 2 #jaq/phin #captain jaq #phineas welles #tow fic #the outer worlds fanfic #uni au

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The Newlywed game!

Thanks for the tag @damejudyhench I really enjoyed writing this! tagging in @captastra @thisisrigged4 @ladyoriza and @galaxymermaid214

1. Who can outdrink the other?

Jaq: See, something about cryo-storage messed with my tolerance. Phin mentioned it was to do with bonds and molecules and something . . .

Phineas: I believe the scientific term for Jaq’s condition is “lightweight.”

2. Who says “I love you” more?

Jaq: I think we’re pretty even there? I just . . . if it comes to mind, it seems worth saying, you know?

Phineas: Jaq. I counted. And I never tire of hearing it.

3. Who has trouble sleeping alone?

Jaq: I mean he actually goes to bed if I’m there rather than nodding off at his desk, so . . .

Phineas: I have . . . bad dreams, on occasion. Jaq’s presence helps considerably.

4. Who swears more?

Jaq: He’ll say it’s me but he can turn the air blue when he’s angry

Phineas: Jaq has the mouth of a spacer

5. Who does more of the housework?

Phineas: I do my part. If it’s clean, I really don’t see the issue. Besides, it’s not mess, it’s all part of my filing system

Jaq: We’ve come to a truce on this – I don’t stress about the bed being unmade if he remembers to pick clothes up off the floor, so we’re pretty even

6. Who forgets their anniversary?

Jaq: Neither of us!

Phineas: I would never! My notes are much too meticulous for that

7. Who steals the duvet in their sleep?

Phineas: It’s not stealing if they don’t need it.

Jaq: Phin. I run hot though so I don’t mind. Besides, he pretty much becomes my duvet

8. Who keeps the other awake at night with their snoring?

Phineas: I’ve never been told I snore but then Jaq could sleep through a solar storm.

Jaq: Given how light of a sleeper Phin is, I’m sure he’d have told me by now if I snore

9. Who finds stray animals and begs the other to let them keep them?

Jaq: Does a collection of preserved specimens count? Then it’s Phin.

Phineas: Well Bubble’s was here first

10. Who usually makes dinner?

Phineas: Jaq can produce a meal from nothing. Dinner is safer in their hands

Jaq: He’d skip most meals if I didn’t remind him to eat.

11. Who plays their music out loud?

Phineas: Music is an act of rebellion! It should always be played loud!

Jaq: Phin sings – constantly. It’s cute

12. Who hogs the bathroom?

Phineas: Jaq. They’re quite particular about their hair

Jaq: He’s going to say it’s me but he’s the one that uses all the hot water

13. Who gives the most compliments?

Jaq: Phin. I’m not as good with words.

Phineas: Jaq deserves them

14. Who usually starts/causes arguments between them?

Phineas: The odd debate between partners is healthy

Jaq: Phin has strong opinions

15. Who isn’t afraid to embarrass the other in public?

Phineas: I don’t intend to but, well, I’m afraid thirty-five years of isolation can leave a man a little behind on social cues. Jaq is very patient with me

Jaq: Phin does have his quirks

16. Who gives the other cringeworthy pet names?

Jaq: Oh boy, where to start with this . . .

Phineas: They have a very punny name! It can’t be helped!

17. Who fusses over the other when they get sick?

Phineas: Ha! Jaq is a complete baby about even a sniffle. I, on the other hand, am very resilient and Jaq worries far too much.

Jaq: He’ll say it’s me because I carried him away from his desk one time when he had the flu, but I’m not the one with a stack of medical charts listing every time their partner’s so much as sneezed

18. Who finds it impossible to stay angry at the other for long?

Phineas: Why waste precious time being angry at one another?

Jaq: *shrugs* can’t see the point in letting things linger The quicker you bust up the quicker you make up.

19. Who clings to the other for comfort when they’re sad or scared?

Phineas: Ahh, well, I suppose that would be me. It’s nice to have someone around in those moments

Jaq: No one likes to feel alone.

20. Who is more ‘physically passionate’? (hugs, kisses, or maybe more…)

Phineas: I’d say we’re rather evenly matched there but Jaq is a wonderfully physical individual.

Jaq: *rubbing furiously at the back of their neck* I’m not answering that

#jaq/phin #newlywed game #captain jaq

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sharing an umbrella prompt for jaq and phin??

Thank you so much for this one! :) It's set in my University AU - here's some more pining between Professor Welles and Jaq, the Head of Student Services (1000 words, more under the cut)

The summer rain beat down in a rapid tattoo atop the roof of the car as Phineas stepped out and he hurried to put up his brolly, grumbling at the downpour. Finally wrestling open the stubborn spokes, he slammed the creaking door shut and peered through the haze, spotting a familiar figure across the faculty car park. Jaq was exiting their battered old campervan, struggling to hold their jacket over their head with one arm and balancing what appeared to be two takeaway coffees in an increasingly saturated cardboard tray in the other.

“Hi! Jaq!” he called, waving an arm to get their attention until Jaq cut him a grin that was somehow still as bright as ever despite the unseasonably poor weather. Fat drops spattered the tarmac beneath his feet as he hurried over, dodging cars until he drew alongside his young friend.

“Good morning! Here, tuck in out of this deluge,” he offered, making space for them beneath the shelter of the umbrella.

“Thanks, Phin. G’morning to you too.” Their smile turned grateful as they rounded their shoulders, squeezing their somewhat broader frame in beside his own. Either they had dived straight in their van from the shower or they hadn’t quite managed to drag their jacket over their head in time as their usually artfully ruffled hair was soggy and near curling into their eyes. Phineas watched a droplet trace its way down the smart slope of their nose.

“Looks like another washout day, huh?” Jaq said, bumping up against him as they both set off across the car park, huddled in tight together.

Phineas hummed agreement. Despite the early hour and the downpour it was uncomfortably muggy, the air thick and close and leaving him feeling clammy already.

“Unfortunately so,” he replied as they skirted the edge of an enormous puddle. “Will you have to cancel your camping trip?”

Jaq shrugged, the movement seeming exaggerated as their arm brushed his own. They felt impossibly warm against him and he imagined he could almost feel the muscle shifting beneath the layers between them. A prickle of heat crept up his neck.

“Maybe,” they said with a rueful look to the tumultuous clouds above.

That was a shame, Phineas thought as they drew closer to the great arching brickwork of the entrance to the chemistry department. Jaq had worked so hard recently and they were clearly in need of a break. He’d noted they’d been arriving seventeen minutes earlier than usual, a figure that had crept up over the last couple of weeks.

“More likely I’ll just spend it hiding in the tent or getting soaked. Or getting soaked in the tent,” they added as the two halted at the bottom of the steps. A press of bodies were queuing to get in, shaking off umbrellas and wiping damp feet on the mats. Phineas found himself jostled by the crowd of students and before he could stick out an irritable elbow to fend off the first years, Jaq had tucked in closer, an arm hovering about his back as a protective barrier.

He was near pressed to their chest now and with the similarity in their height, Phineas found himself staring into their eyes, his face inches from their own. At this proximity he was suddenly flooded with an array of very particular smells – a woody, masculine scent that was likely a hair product, the lavender and chemical of washing powder and beneath that, a faint, intoxicating hint of Jaq themself. It was all rather overwhelming and with his brain suddenly scattered, he groped for a distraction.

“I’ll have to give you a bottle of my special waterproofing solution. For your tent, you see?” he offered, the words coming in a rush. “I use extra Sodium Oleate and the compound is formulated to make the bonds between the water-repellent molecules stronger. It’s what I use to coat my brolly.” He shook it a little to punctuate the explanation, sending a shower of water around them. “Works a treat!”

Jaq laughed quietly and then as the crowd moved, they nudged him through the door with a gentle hand at the small of his back. “You’re a genius, Phin. I’ll drop by the lab later.”

“You don’t have time now?” he asked, more than a little disappointed. He did so enjoy their company when setting up for classes. Their morning routine had become something he’d started to cherish over the last few months.

“Sorry, got to get straight to work,” Jaq replied as he hurried to collapse the umbrella and move out the way of the entrance as more bedraggled figures shuffled in. When Phineas glanced up, Jaq was extending the takeaway tray to him.

“Mocha with syrup, extra foam, marshmallows and a double shot of espresso,” they announced, passing over the still steaming drink. Phineas clutched the cardboard cup in surprise, heat radiating through his fingers.

“Did I remember it right?”

When he looked up, Jaq was watching him expectantly, a strangely earnest frown arching their brows as the students milled around them.

“Yes, perfect,” he assured them. He’d made several careful notes on precisely how Jaq preferred their coffee – single espresso, no sugar and a splash of milk – and though once or twice they had teased him about his sweet tooth, he’d not realised they’d been paying equally close attention to his own order.

Jaq gave a smile that looked almost relieved. “Good,” they replied, rubbing at the back of their neck and sending rain drops running down their damp collar.

Phineas inhaled the chocolaty scent, the bitter edge of the coffee just cutting through. “Although,” he added, “I do usually have a triple shot first thing.”

Jaq laughed at that, a sound that never failed to warm him.

“I know,” they said, and squeezed his shoulder for a moment. “But if you won’t look after your heart, then I will.”

The organ in question gave a distinct jolt in his chest at that, stronger than the kick of any espresso and Phineas blinked back at them, his usually whirling mind suddenly leaving him bereft of a suitable response.

Jaq released him a moment later. “I’ll see you after work, Phin,” they said with a smile. “Have a good day.”

“You too,” he offered, finally finding his voice as he watched them disappear down the corridor.

#jaq/phin #captain jaq #phineas welles #tow au #uni au #my writing