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unmaskedagain · 4 years

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Wolves don’t Party with Sheep

I got this request last week, and I thought it was a neat idea. Thanks @etsuko-99 for sending me the ask.

When the Akuma alert sounded, most of the class had been at the end of year party at the park. They had been planning it for weeks and had been careful not to reveal its existence to the class problems aka Marinette, Chloe, and Nathaniel. The three had been has exiled from the rest of the call all year for their bullying of Lila and mean accusations that the girl was lying.

Class president? They voted to replace Marinette the first day of school.

Class picnics; the three weren’t invited.

Field trips; they got Bustier to exclude the three in the beginning of the year. Not that it mattered anyway; all the wonderful trips they had wanted to take had fallen through. They never had enough money to take it. And they never did the required paperwork.

Birthday parties; they weren’t invited to anyone’s in the class. No one went to Nathanial’s birthday party. Or Chloe’s. No one even bother to accept Marinette’s birthday party invitations, she mailed out a month ago. They even missed the required RSVP date on the front on purpose. The invitation was clear, if you don’t confirm your planned attendance, you can’t come. Then they told Marinette they were going to a party for Lila instead.

No one wanted the drama. No one wanted Lila to feel like she wasn’t welcome. And if the three found out, then maybe they should’ve been nicer.

Again, everyone from the class who was invited showed up apart from Adrien to Lila’s dismay. Alya assured the tearful girl that Adrien was probably just busy at a photoshoot, he’d be there if he could.

Lila had just stepped away from for a moment to take a call from Prince Ali when the Akuma alert sounded.

It was a socialite hurt by the malicious lies her so-called friends said about each other by each other’s back decided that everyone should be forced to reveal what they really think. The Akuma was called Two-faced (As soon as Two-face from Gotham heard about the new villain, he contacted his lawyer; someone was getting sued.) Every time someone talked; the world would hear their inner voice say what they really thought about you.

“We should wait for Ladybug,” Alya said. “She’ll be here soon. Nino, turned down the music we don’t want to attract the Akuma’s attention.”

“You don’t kiss me enough,” Alya’s voice was suddenly heard throughout the party, though the girl’s mouth was shut. “You’re amazing. I love how much you dream. You’re a little naïve. We’re perfect for each other. But what’s a girl got to do to get to third base?”

Nino blushed a scarlet red. There were snickers from the fellow students.

“Babe, a little awkward; maybe no one should talk.” Nino said. But as soon as his mouth closed. “I’ve already named all of our children.”

The laughter that resulted from this laughter the couple paralyzed.

“This is so amazing,” Rose burst out. As soon as she stopped talking. “Juleka? Look at me! I have been flirting with you for three years. You know what I got for it? Nothing. Do you like me or not? You think you got it bad, Alya. I once showed up at her house drenched in rain, in a t-shirt, and Juleka didn’t bat an eye. Stop complaining. At you got a boyfriend who wants to kiss you. All I got from Juleka was insecurities.”

Juleka looked torn between wanted to die from embarrassment and looking utterly pleased with the situation.

Alix snorted, “Still think it’s amazing.” She mocked. Her eyes widened when she realized she spoke. “Rose, you’re the definition of a ditzy of blond. I can’t believe we’re friends.” There were gasps. Rose looked at Alix with hurt eyes. “Honestly, I can’t believe your friends with me. You’re nice, girly, and super sweet. A freaking ray of sunshine. Everything I’m not. I love you for it. I kind of hate you too. You’re the daughter my wishes she had. I can’t stand you sometimes.”

“Ouch!” Kim said and gasped. His inner voice added. “This is way too serious for me. I should’ve just hung out with Ondine. And how is no one talking about how killer Max’s ass looks in those jeans?”

The questions was met with blinks.

“Damn, I owe Luka ten bucks,” Juleka slipped out. She quickly covered her mouth but she couldn’t stop what came next. “Luka dislikes all of you. It’s why he left Kitty section. He’s thinks you’re all gullible idiots. He always told me to watch my back around you. After what happened with Marinette, I see why.”

Mylene frowned. She thought Luka left the band because he didn’t have time for it anymore. “That’s really mean.”

“Truthfully, I saw it coming,” Mylene’s inner voice said. “What’s a guy like that doing in a band called Kitty Section? I mean really. But yeah, I totally called in it Kim being a little into Max. Like back in third grade. The Chloe thing was a massive attempt to hide his crush. I get it. Max can do better than a Neanderthal.”

“Hey!” Max glared. “Like you’re one to talk!”

“Have you seen Ivan,” Max’s inner voice hissed. “He’s a future UFC champion. You’re a future kindergarten teacher. Mylene, beauty, Ivan, beast. It only works out in Disney movies, honey. Besides at least Kim’s funny, and cool, and nice, and hot. Wow, I can’t believe he likes me. I’m a geek.”

Kim grinned, “I like that you’re a geek.” His inner voice, “He’s thinks I’m hot. He think I’m hot. He thinks I’m hot. …I wonder if Nino would be cool with a joint wedding.”

“NO!” Nino and Alya yelled together. Their inner voice, “NO!”

After that everyone was too scared to speak; scared of what they really thought be heard.

That when Lila came back to the party. A happy grin on her face. “Sorry everyone, Prince Ali was insisting I attend his ball. I hope he’s isn’t going to purpose again.”

“You’re all a bunch morons,” Lila’s inner voice echoed through the park. “But useful ones. I’ve never even met Prince Ali.”

Lila paled, “I didn’t say that!”

“Crap,” Her inner voice cried. “What the hell is going on? Do you know how hard it is to keep my stories straight? How hard I work to get these sheep to believe me? Well, not that hard. They’re idiots. I few grand tales and practically believe I shit gold.”

The class stared at her horrified.

“It’s not me!” Lila stomped her foot.

Her inner voice cried out, “Don’t look at me like that. You’re the dumbasses who believed me. It’s your own fault. I only told you what you wanted to hear. Add a few tears and you did whatever I wanted.”

Alya gasped, “Marinette was right.” Her inner voice, “What have I done. My blog is ruined. I’ll lose all my fans.”

Lila fought not to glare, “Marinette’s a mean bully,” She whined. “Remember? She’s been so awful to me since I got here.”

“She called me out on my lies,” Lila’s inner voice snickered. “I warned her I’d get her back. I told her I’d take all her friends away. She should’ve believed me. You guys are idiots who believe everything I saw. Oh, Marinette picking on! Why doesn’t Marinette like me? Did I do something wrong? Waa! Waa! Now I’m here and she’s not. So there! I won!”

Lila finally picked up one what was going on and covered her mouth. The class remained silent torn between wanting to scream at the girl and keep what they really thought secret.

At that moment, Marinette, Nathaniel, Luka, Adrien, and Chloe strolled to through the park with ice cream cones in their hands and big smiles on their faces. They talked pleasantly with each other, stopping when they saw the party streamers and the class.

Marinette didn’t blink twice, “Another class party?” She said sweetly. “Our invitations must have been lost.”

Her inner voice was cold, “Doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t have come to your party if you paid me. Why do you think I put the deadline on the invites? I knew you’d pretend to forget to RSVP. I only invited you to my birthday party because my mom made me. Something about being nice or whatever.”

The students of Bustier’s class reared back as if struck.

“It really pity you can’t come,” Chloe drawled. Her inner voice, “In addition to forgetting to RSVP, you must have forgotten that Marinette’s knows Jagged Stone and Clara Nightingale and a bunch of other celebrities; all of which are going to be at the party.”

“They’re having loads of fun here,” Adrien said brightly. “The party looks great.”

His inner voice was a lot colder, “I told them! I told Marinette, Chloe, and Nathaniel every time you had this party, and every other party, a picnic, a guy’s night, a girl’s night, anything. I told them Alya was the one who got Bustier to not let them on the class trips. Why did you think I never showed up to any events? They’re my friend I showed them the group texts where you all did nothing but insult Marinette. You were bad friends. You trusted a perfect stranger over freaking Mariette Dupain-Cheng. That’s why I stopped returning your texts, Nino! Why I stopped returning all of your texts! We’re not friends anymore.”

Mouths dropped. To his credit, Adrien let his ground and just sent a cold glare to his classmates.

“Mom saw the texts, Juleka,” Luka shook his head. “She’s disappointed in you.” His inner voice, “So am I. I couldn’t believe it at first. How could my own sister be so cruel? So vile. I know Lila didn’t get into your head. But I think feared did. You were scared these idiots in your class would turn on you too. You knew it was wrong treating Marinette the way you did but you did it anyway. I don’t recognize you anymore. I don’t even want to look at you right now.”

Silent tears slipped down Juleka’s cheeks. Rose did her best to comfort the other girl.

“We should go,” Nathaniel told his friends. “There’s nothing for us here.” His inner voice, “Honestly you guys ditching us was the best thing that could ever happen. I have best friends now. Chloe, Adrien, and Marinette are literally the freaking best. I told them how much I liked Marc, and they listened. Chloe actually ended up locking in a supply closest but it all worked out. We’re dating now! I only got a little claustrophobic too.”

“You locked them in a closest?” Marinette pinched her nose. “That wasn’t the plan. It’s kidnapping.”

Marinette’s inner monologue, “I’m not going to jail for you! Oh who am I kidding? Of course I’d go to jail for you. Better be for something cool.”

“It will be,” Chloe preened. Her inner voice, “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. I’d pick you over all high-end couture in the world.”

“I’m not bailing you out for less than a felony,” Adrien chimed in with a smile. His inner voice, “Chances are I’m going to be right next to you.”

Marinette rolled her eyes, “Nathaniel’s right. We have to get ready for our trip. And my party.” She said. Her inner voice. “Thank you Alya for getting pushover Bustier to remove us from the class trip. Now while you guys are headed to the amusement park. We’re going to Metropolis, and Gotham, and New York City. We’re going on the best trip of our entire life while you guys watch Kim puke up fifty chili dogs… Again.”

Still the class was too scared to speak. Apart from Lila who glared angrily, “Oh please, like your birthday party will be any good?”

The five looked at her and the class with smirks.

“Oh course not,” They chimed together. “It’ll be a small get together.”

“If you call a thousand people small,” Adrien’s inner voice said. “I still can’t believe Marinette has so many friends. People are coming from all over the world for her birthday. Prince Ali’s going. My dad’s going! And he barely remembered my birthday this year. Like what the fuck! How did Marinette become the favorite child? Fine, though, I stole her parents. Also her room.”

Marinette side-eyed him. She knew had been finding more and more of Adrien’s stuff in her room. But she thought she was imagining things. Chloe did the same. Then the top bunk was always made. Again, she let it go. He slept over a lot. Chloe did too. Then he took over a drawer or two for some of this things. Again, not surprising. Chloe did the same; except she took over half of Marinette’s closet. Sometimes she’d come home and he’d be hanging out in her room playing video games. It was fine. Chloe tended to do the same; except for it was laying on Marinette’s bed on her phone.

…Wait, what?

“Jagged Stone performing for his favorite niece Marinette,” Chloe inner voice sang. “Clara Nightingale’s performing. Luka’s singing. They both invited all the celebrities they knew. MDC’s party. Did you hear about that?” The class gasped in shock. “It’s trending literally everywhere. Marinette Dupain Cheng’s party. It’s practically a red carpet event now. By the way Adrien, Sabine and Tom like me best.”

Again, Marinette had to side-eye her friends. Did they move in when she wasn’t looking? How did they move in? When did they move in? For god’s sake’ yesterday, she caught Chloe working behind the register while Marinette’s parents worked in back. She caught her dad teaching Adrien how to bake cookies and croissants.

“Peter Parker’s going,” Luka’s inner voice added on. “Marinette and him met each other at camp. And where Peter Parker goes, his parents follow. His parents: Tony Stark and Steve Roger ring any bells. And if Iron Man and Captain America’s going, the rest of the Avengers follow. They all RSVP’d.”

“Harry Styles,” Nathaniel’s inner voice repeated like six times. “If I wasn’t dating Marc, I’d go for it. Like, you have no idea; how much I’d go for it. Marc’s concerned. …He should be.”

Marinette smiled as her inner voice spoke what she was always too nice to say, “You were terrible friends. You turned against me for basically no reason. You threw me away. You followed Lila Rossi, the world’s biggest liar, because she told you grand stories and promised you things and opportunities. I’m happy you’re not going to my birthday party. Because you’re going to miss the chance to meet all those celebrities Lila lied about knowing. The chance to talk shop and create connections with the rich and the famous and be famous yourselves; the real reasons you ditched me. Most of the guests don’t know. But that’s fine because I’ll have real friends at the party; and you won’t be among them. Because you’re not real friend. You’re mindless, gullible sheep. …And Adrien, Chloe, I swear to the all gods, if you think you can just take over my room, you got another thing coming!!”

Both blonds didn’t bother to even pretend to look remotely shamed or scared. They just smirked.

It was at that moment, the Akuma two-faced came crashing into the party. All the documents, those in the class and not, scattered off screaming. The five took that opportunity to transform.

Ladybug, Chat Noir, Queen Bee, Viperion, and Renard Rouge came swinging to the scene.

Alya couldn’t believe her eyes. She had been replaced. How could Ladybug just replace her? She didn’t even have the guts to tell Alya!

Fury overcame her, “Ladybug!” The glasses-wearing screamed. Her inner voice, “Look at me. How could you do this? Why?”

Ladybug looked at her teammates. They nodded her a: Go for it. Ladybug swung over the the reporter. “What, Alya?” Her inner voice, “Why are you bothering me now?”

“You replaced me,” Alya stomped her foot. “I’m the fox hero. Not that poser.” Her inner voice, “I’m a much better hero than he’ll ever be. I should’ve been made permanent. I should’ve been made an official partner of you and Chat Noir.”

Ladybug glared, “You posted lies on your blog. You never fact checked. And my sources told me you frequently took part in bullying of three students.” Her inner voice, “You’re a bad journalist. Why did you think I stopped giving you interviews? All those lies you post from Lila Rossi about her, about me. You never even bothered to research anything. Then you ice’d out Marinette; the sole reason I even bothered to give you a chance. You and your classmates really hurt her and the other students. You were mean bullies. And you’re unworthy of being a hero.”

Alya froze. “But, I, it’s not fair!” She cried. “I didn’t know Lila wasn’t telling the truth.” Her inner voice “Crap! I forgot you knew Marinette. She probably told you everything. Ugh, why does she always have to be right all the time? It’s so annoying. At least Lila was fun. Besides, Marinette never even bothered to offer let me meet any of her celebrity friends. Or even mentioned she knew them And that’s so not cool. What kind of girl does that to her bestie? If Marinette had just told me she knew them, I’d have never believed Lila.”

Ladybug just stared at Alya in disgust, “We’re done Miss Césaire.” Her inner voice, “Forever.” Then she was gone.

When the Akuma was defeated, and Ladybug put everything back to the way it was. The students didn’t know what to say or do. Lila had taken the time to vanish form the party. The five continued they stroll through the park. Unfortunately, they had to walk past the class party again.

“Hey!” Nino called. “You guys can come join us if you want.”

“We’re really sorry,” Rose yelled.

Juleka didn’t say anything just looked at her older brother with pitiful eyes.

Alya rushed over, followed by the other students. “Girl, you were so right about Lila. She’s such a liar.” The classmates nodded. “I’m your bestie. I should’ve never forgot to RSVP for your party. If it’s not too late, I’d love to go. Maybe we can even join you on your trip overseas. I’d love to go the Daily Planet.”

“Yeah, me too!” Nino grinned.

“Count me,” Alix cheered and high-fived Kim.

Marinette looked them up and down, “It’s too late. Far too late,” She told them. “To go to my party, to go on the trip, to get back into my good graces, to be friends again. We’re not friends. And we never will be again. None of you be celebrating my birthday with me.” She gave them a cold smirk. “Wolves don’t party with sheep.”

#ml fic #ml salt #class salt #marinette dupen chang #Marinette deserves better #adrien agreste #chloe bourgeois #alya salt

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winterrose527 · 3 years

Note

have you done an Ella - museum curator, Robb - investor on a tour work??

Ummmm no I had not! And wow was this one cathartic to write. It came out way longer than expected because this is a subject near and dear to my heart...

Thank you for this prompt!!

***

She was so sick of this shit.

Over a year of it. Ever since the governor’s order in April 2020. Back then she’d almost believed it was just a blip, a couple of weeks. A vacation, almost.

But then the ban on gatherings. The shutdowns. Finally the masks.

Every museum in the country had shut its doors along with libraries, movie theaters, and every other place desperate parents could take their children on a rainy Saturday.

Theirs had been luckier than most. An endowment a few years prior, which had been earmarked but not mandated for an expansion had been used to keep the lights on and the staff fed - literally. Their programming had gone virtual and understandably attendance had dropped but not entirely – thanks to a few local artists that had generously donated their time for a last minute plug.

Ever since restrictions had lifted, the crowds had returned somewhat. A rainy spring and summer had helped, but they were nowhere near their ‘pre-pandemic’ levels (and with the Delta variant on the rise she wasn’t super comfortable with the term ‘post-pandemic’ to describe their current state of affairs).

She wouldn’t say that today though.

No, today everything would be rosy – not just the botanical gardens that abutted the museum and had been started in 1853 – no, 1854.

Not that she imagined the potential donor would be fact checking her but nevertheless there was no room for error. She needed to represent the museum well. Her colleagues were counting on her – not to mention the collection itself depended on her.

The board had decided at its most recent meeting if they didn’t get an influx of donations within this quarter they were going to sell off a few pieces from the collection.

There was nothing sadder to a museum than deaccessioning. The staff all loved and protected the collection, and they truly felt the impact they and it had on the community. Myrcella loved to walk through the galleries on Thursday afternoons to see the regulars who’d come to visit the paintings like old friends of theirs, stopping by to say hello to a Baroque oil here or an Impressionist watercolor there.

So if schmoozing yet another prospective donor was what it took to mean that Mr. Poole’s favorite still-life stayed put for his bi-weekly Wednesday morning visit, then she would schmooze. She would schmooze Sansa Stark like her life depended on it.

She knew Sansa Stark sort of. It was the sort of thing where pre-pandemic they had run into each other at half a dozen events every year and always had a lovely chat and discussed getting together and then never did. The North was a small world and they ran in similar circles. But they weren’t friends.

Still, she was her best bet. From the wealthiest and most philanthropic family in the North, of course she was.

And she had to deliver.

The board had all made it clear that they expected results, and it had been suggested that really Myrcella Baratheon shouldn’t have such a hard time finding donors. But all her usual suspects had come to her with their own sob stories full of please tell me you won’t shut your doors but without any promise of relief, and the people she knew down south – the sort that profited from the world being in such dire straits had no interest in a little regional museum. No matter how much she marketed it as a hidden jewel.

To them, there was little worth in a jewel hidden, and they had no interest in having their act of charity buried under the northern snows.

So Sansa Stark was it.

She smoothed her dress, chosen carefully for the occasion. Sansa was always impeccably dressed and favored ladylike, tailored dresses for daytime, just as Myrcella did. Today, which had turned out to be a gorgeous one, she’d chosen a pale blue scallop trim knit dress, her grandmother’s wristwatch her only accessory. Feminine but appropriate. More comfortable than the clingier dresses she only ever so occasionally wore when taking around a male potential benefactor.

“Good luck,” Gilly, their glum registrar said as she raised her wrist to her nose to make sure she could still smell the scented oil she’d spread there that morning.

“Thanks baby,” Myrcella sighed, “Lunch from that naughty salad place when I’m done? My treat?”

Gilly smiled at that, “My treat if you get her.”

“Oh, now the stakes are really high,” she teased and blew Gilly a kiss and walked through the halls.

She felt eyes on her as she went. It was a small, tight-knit team, and it made it all the harder every time she received a sheepish regret. If she couldn’t succeed, one of them might lose their job if the board couldn’t decide what to sell. Even if they could, depending on how long this lasted.

Game face, Baratheon.

She took a deep breath and then smiled for fifteen seconds. She let it drop, knowing that it would still be in her eyes when she walked outside and it felt a little more genuine when her heels clacked along the gorgeous marble floor.

Walking over to the security desk, the smile reappeared on her face.

“Morning Roddy,” she grinned.

“Good morning to you Miss Myrcella,” Rodrick greeted her, “You see the game last night?”

“You’ve known me for four years,” she noted, “When in all of that time have I ever seen the game?”

He chuckled, “There was that one time in 2018.”

“Oh no, I totally lied about that,” she assured him, shrugging, “I wanted you to think I was cool.” She then looked around the empty lobby, “No Miss Stark?”

He grimaced, “Not yet. Traffic is back though, folks still aren’t used to it.”

She nodded, picking at a non-existent thread on her dress and looked around. Her eyes narrowed in on something and she crossed the lobby and picked up a tiny scrap of paper, crumbling it in her hand and then walking back over and tossing it in the trash behind Roddy’s desk.

“I’ve been sitting here for two hours, didn’t see it,” he noted.

She smiled, “Well you’ve been doing less important things like making sure no one robs the place.”

He opened his mouth to say something to her but then his gaze was directed behind her, “I’m sorry, sir, we don’t open until 11 o’clock on Tuesdays.”

“I sort of have an appointment,” the man said.

She knew that voice. She’d heard it before. In a coat closet at Alys Karstark’s birthday party. At the next table over at a charity even in 2019. Deep, stubbornly Northern, as unyielding as Valyrian steel.

She felt her palms sweat and forced herself not to rub them on her dress, rubbing them together instead and then turning around with a bright smile.

“You’re not Sansa Stark,” she greeted him.

He grinned sheepishly, though she wasn’t sure this man had ever had occasion to be sheepish in his entire life, “Afraid not. Myrcella, right? We met at that thing – that um… save the…whatsits.”

She giggled, and she heard the sound echoing garishly on the marble, “I believe that evening we were saving the seals. Or the… tulips, maybe.”

His smile spread slowly across his face, a dimple marking its end like an exclamation point, “Well we did our part even if we can’t remember what it was, I’m Robb Stark.”

She liked that he introduced himself. He’d done so every time they’d met, as though he in no way expected her to remember him. Sansa had done it the first five or so. Must have been how they were raised.

On the other hand, she’d been raised to act as though someone was foolish for not knowing who she was, introducing herself had been something she’d had to learn when she moved north, like parallel parking and salting her stoop.

Her hand extended and his met it, taking hers in his larger one and shaking it firmly as he looked her in the eyes briefly and then her lips slightly longer before purposefully going back to her eyes, “Myrcella Baratheon, and I remember you, Mr. Stark.”

“Well if that were true you’d remember I prefer Robb,” he noted, releasing her hand.

She shrugged, leaning forward conspiratorially, “Old habits. Can I get you something to drink before we begin our tour?”

“No thank you, I’m fine,” he shook his head.

She nodded, “Well it’s beautiful out now, why don’t we start in the botanical gardens. There’s been a bumper crop this year, we recently had the Cerwyn wedding here, did you attend?”

He fell into step next to her and said, “No, I didn’t. I was meant to but they reduced it to just family.”

She nodded, “Right, seems to be happening quite a bit. Will you do the same for your wedding?”

He stopped walking briefly and before she could stop too he had started again, “No… uh, rather than reduce the guest list we decided not to have it at all. We called the engagement off in January.”

“I’m so sorry!” she internally stabbed herself in the throat, “I didn’t know.”

He shrugged, “The nice thing about there not being any events over the past year is that the press didn’t really get wind of it.” Then stopped abruptly, “Not that… it’s not like that makes up for the past year or anything.”

She laughed, “Don’t worry, I know what you meant. I am sorry though, about your engagement.”

“As am I,” he agreed, “But it’s for the best. We parted as friends. Had we gotten married, I’m not sure we could have done so, so I’m grateful for that, and for her.”

A gentleman.

So many men played the part. Opening doors, buying flowers. So few of them realized that manners mattered very little when they were offered without grace.

“That’s lovely,” she noted, pleased for once not to have to lie.

It was a gorgeous day, a perfect seventy-nine degrees and clear blue skies. As though they’d understood the importance of the occasion, the Phlox stood proudly in battle formation and the scent of honeysuckle surrounded them.

“Sansa wanted me to apologize for missing your meeting,” Robb noted.

“I hope nothing’s the matter?” she asked.

A grin overtook his face, “No nothing at all. She’s in labor.”

She smiled, grabbing his forearm briefly. They both looked down at her hand on it and she pulled it back as gingerly as she could.

“That’s wonderful,” she told him, “Her second, right?”

He nodded, “A girl. And I’ve convinced her out of the name Corona.”

She chuckled, “Oh come now, you could call her Corrie for short.”

“And her parents idiots for long,” he noted. Then told her, “They weren’t really going to call her Corona.”

She smiled, “And here I was about to tip off the press…”

He smirked, “Narrow miss, then.” He looked around, “So. Flowers.”

“Not just flowers,” she pointed out, “We have a community garden to the left and down that lane local beekeepers keep their hives.”

“My mistake,” he allowed with a close-lipped smile.

That smile annoyed her. It was the same one she’d heard in the voice of every southern donor she’d called when they’d offered her good luck with her little country museum.

It was the smile someone gave her when she’d already lost.

“Perhaps we should go inside,” she noted, “I can show you our contemporary wing which we’ve recently devoted to elevating female and underrepresented artists. Or perhaps that’s a bit too avant-garde for you. Would you like to see our hall of armor and weaponry? I believe we have a few pieces that your ancestors left on one battlefield or another.”

“I’m sorry,” he noted, rubbing his jaw, “I told Sansa we should just cancel this meeting but she insisted.”

“With all due respect, Mr. Stark –“

“Robb,” he corrected her.

“No, I’m addressing Mr. Stark right now,” she argued, all of the frustration and helplessness of the past few months bubbling up inside of her, “May I ask what exactly it is about this that you find amusing? Is it the painting that we’re going to have to sell so that it can end up in someone’s climate controlled storage unit and never looked at again? Or is it the leaky roof? Perhaps the pay cut we asked all senior employees to take? Or how about the summer interns who had gone through a rigorous hiring process only to be told we couldn’t take them on at all? I certainly hope it’s not the seniors who used to come here for their Saturday afternoon watercolor classes which we had to cancel because we didn’t have anything to pay the instructor even though it would have been the perfect activity for them because it is outdoors and safe. Or maybe it’s the after-school programs you find so laughable…”

“I’m not laughing,” he pointed out. “But you’ll forgive me if I take your righteousness with a grain of salt.”

“I’m not sure that I will, actually,” she argued.

“No?” he asked, “Well let’s talk about those seniors? Don’t you think that funding is better spent ensuring they have free and safe access to the vaccination that can actually save their lives? Or what about those kids? Sure, the after-school program is great, but how about providing computers to allow them to do remote learning? Now I’m sorry if you have to lose one of a thousand paintings in this place, but if money can be better spent giving people what they really need then I’m sorry – sell the damn thing.”

That was hard to argue with.

But not impossible.

“So you’ve drained your coffers?” she asked.

There was only room for one of them on the moral high ground and she’d always enjoyed the view.

His cheeks had turned blotchy in anger but they paled now, “Excuse me?”

“Are you in the red?” she asked, “Declaring bankruptcy? Let’s not go that far - Taking out loans? Leveraging assets?”

His jaw clenched, revealing a muscle in his left cheek that might have been attractive if she wasn’t about to rip his head off.

“No,” he noted, “But my family’s company and my family have given an exceptional amount this year already.”

“Well,” she pointed out, “It has been an exceptional year already.”

“Are you always this haughty with potential donors?” he asked, stepping ever so slightly closer to her.

A flash in her mind of his hand ghosting across the back of her neck as he secured her coat over her shoulders. That smell.

“Never,” she admitted, stepping ever so slightly towards him, “But you’re not a potential donor, are you? And tell me, is it really because you don’t think it’s worthwhile or because it doesn’t sound worthwhile?”

His face contorted in anger, “You think we’re giving so that people will write songs about us? We want this country back on its feet. We want to return to normal and if we can’t do that, we want to make sure to give people as comfortable an existence until it reverts on its own. Tell me, Miss Baratheon, can you actually find fault in that?”

She shook her head, “No, I can’t.” He looked surprised and she shrugged, “It’s a flawless argument. Just an incomplete one. Giving an exceptional amount right now isn’t enough. You have to give until it hurts, because you can. It is wonderful, exceptional, heroic, to be doing all that you have done so far. But what comes next? What comes after? What happens when the dust settles? When things open? When we get things under control? What happens when people are ready to return to what was before and none of it is left because it wasn’t deemed essential. Because it’s just flowers and amateur beekeepers and pretty watercolors? I understand that we are not on the top of the list and we shouldn’t be. But we should be on the list. We need to do more than survive, Robb. There are things apart from us that we need to endure. Things we need to protect.”

His mouth twitched at that.

“I’m sorry to say I don’t have time to see the armor,” he told her.

She felt the defeat trickle through her veins slowly.

She held out her hand, “Thank you for letting me rant at you.”

He shook it once again, narrowing his eyes at her, “Something tells me you’ve still got some left in the tank. I’d quite like to hear it. Have dinner with me tonight and convince me.”

It was happening to all of her girlfriends. After a year in isolation, their ability to detect a creep from a mile away had withered. She hadn’t thought that hers had too. He’d seemed like one of the good ones.

She pulled her hand away, “That’s not the way I do business, Mr. Stark.”

His eyes widened in horror, “No, that’s not what I meant. I don’t get to make these decisions.”

“You’re the CEO,” she pointed out.

“Yes I am but Sansa insisted on inserting a clause into her contract that she gets final say over any philanthropic decisions,” he sighed, “I literally am not even allowed to choose the location of a book drive.”

She couldn’t help but laugh at that, a tiny bit of hope bubbling inside of her, “So when you said you should have cancelled the meeting…”

“It’s because Sansa’s already decided that we will be giving a donation, she wanted to discuss the structure of it with you – you know whether you’d prefer a lump sum, or whether you want it in increments, if you wanted it to be public to inspire other donors or whether you wanted it to be private so that they couldn’t use it as an excuse not to give…” he waved his hand, “She’s better at the specifics and I’m sure she’ll be calling you in between contractions to fine tune them.”

She laughed, “Please tell her not to. A pledge is more than enough to take to my board, we can map out the nitty gritty whenever she or whomever will be replacing her in the interim has time.”

He nodded, “You’ll have them within the week.”

She was about to thank him but the words caught in her mouth, “So wait a second… did you just wind me up for the sake of it?”

He grinned, a chuckle present in his voice though it hadn’t yet broken, “I’d like to point out that it took very little to wind you up.”

She laughed, because he was right and admitted, “It’s been a tough year.”

He nodded, “For everyone. So, now that you know I have absolutely no control and can hold absolutely nothing over you… have dinner with me.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because I enjoy arguing with you,” he told her, then grinned sheepishly, “And because I lied. Sansa told me that I could cancel the meeting and I insisted on coming because I wanted to see you. The bad thing about this year is that there were no events where I could have a chance of bumping into you…”

“Oh that’s the bad thing about this year?” she asked.

“Well,” he grinned, then did a scarily good impression of her, “Maybe it shouldn’t be at the top of the list, but it should be on the list.”

#fanfiction #modern au #robbcella #fluff #prompt

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morkofday · 3 years

Text

2020 – a (content creator) year in review

I decided to make this into a mix of these two games I was (kinda?) tagged into so thank you for @leonzhng and @tiesanjiao ♥ I hope you don’t mind me doing it like this ^^ all the questions were just so interesting that I wanted to try!

(bc of the amount of questions, I’m placing them under a cut so that I don’t flood anyone’s dash)

(this is the 2020 year in review that hanyi tagged me to ♥ sorry am so late!)

Top 5 Movies you saw this year

wow tbh I didn’t watch many movies this year as I realized yesterday when I was thinking about this for certain reasons. Or at least I feel like I didn’t watch that many? Nothing really stuck with me it seems.

Because of this, I will only mention two: Parasite and The Old Guard. Those were both wonderful in their own ways and I’m very happy I got to watch them both ^^

Top 5 TV shows you watched this year

this one is difficult bc I watched so many (and forgot even more?) but:

The Lost Tomb Reboot (my introduction to DMBJ. this drama stole my heart and helped me through the tough autumn semester!)

Joy of Life (it’s nuts that this happened during 2020? it feels like it was ages ago)

Kingdom (such a positive surprise and I really hope we get more of this :o I really recommend!)

Detective L (easy, nice aesthetics, amazing costumes. Bai Yu was a delight as Luo Fei)

Sand Sea (I am still baffled by how much I loved this bc I had so many doubts? am happy I did tho)

Bonus: Guardian (bc it has come to stay and the rewatch has been so emotional but so rewarding)

Top 5 songs of 2020

this is a tough one too bc I’ve heard so much new music during 2020 but I will try to put it simply:

Black Swan by BTS (I absolutely adore this song. I listened to it on repeat when it came out at the beginning of the year, I have cried for it a ton, I enjoy every stage I see for it and it’s just a masterpiece. it has also helped a bit with my writing struggles that I’ve felt creeping up on me lately)

Always by By The Coast (an amazing song that always leaves me in my feels. inspires me a lot all the time)

Love me or Leave me by DAY6 (this whole album was a masterpiece and I listened to it on loop for like. two weeks? this was my favorite song on it even if I adored the rest too, especially Zombie)

all of my life by Park Won (listened to this a lot in relation to my xicheng and the wedding I finally got to write for them ;; that’s one good thing that came out of this year tbh)

雨人 by 刘畅 (Liu Chang) (with the Reboot’s ending song, this one is my favorite on that ost. I love Liu Chang’s voice, I loved Liu Sang as a character and as I said, I loved Reboot as a drama. I get super emotional about this ost so I think it defined this year a lot for me)

Top 5 books you read in 2020

All For The Game -trilogy (listened to these as audiobooks but that counts right?)

The Song of Achilles (as an audiobook too and really adored the reader’s voice)

The Smoke Thieves -series (I really just binge read the two first books in this series and am so excited for the next one!)

Call Down The Hawk (love love love)

Guardian novel (am not very into these novels usually but I was positively surprised this time? it was so cool to finally get the original story and compare it with the drama version)

5 positive things that happened in 2020

joined mdzsnet and met all the amazing ppl there and got to become part of this loving community and :’) I’m so thankful, it’s been a joy

learned more about editing? or started doing it regularly. I still can’t do shit but am having fun learning more all the time and I really hope that maybe the upcoming year I can switch to PS and try out giffing?

went to Halsey’s concert! it was in february so a bit before all the hassle with covid happened over here ;; it was super cool and so nice and I just. I love Halsey

fell into the DMBJ hellhole which am very much enjoying. it’s a great universe and the story is so good and the dramas have been so fun to watch and. it feels like a good continuation to The Untamed somehow haha (also brought me a new friend! you’re amazing ashen!! ♥)

started therapy and it’s been... a journey. but towards something better I think? it’s something I would’ve needed ages ago but it’s better late than never I suppose

My Creations

(this is the other part where ali was being super sweet and mentioned me ♥ thank you for being so awesome!)

1. first creation and most recent creation of 2020: wow it’s been a while since I’ve looked at this horrible creation but here ya go jkdhgk [x]. I’ve come a long way from this (and my xicheng has come a long way from this too). most recent one is this xiaoge edit that I absolutely adore [x].

2. one of your favorite creations from 2020: this wwx edit that was part of my agust d2 edit series [x]. I loved to give him blue instead of his typical red.

3. a new style you tried this year and a gifset edit that uses it: this [x] wwx edit which I don’t know if I like or not but I was playing around with the font and all the effects instead of just normal screenshots + coloring. also I just adore the quote.

4. a creation to be proud of: I could mention that xiaoge here but in addition, I will also say this wu xie edit for reboot [x]. I managed to capture my vision so well, I was surprised. for cql, this songxiao edit [x]. I loved how it turned out in the end.

5. a creation that took forever: this wangxian edit [x]. like I’ve said several times, I lost sleep bc of it. I just kept struggling with the third pic and how to place the text there D:

6. your creation from 2020 that received the most notes: this lwj/wangxian edit [x]. I had many ideas for this edit when I first started making it and I never managed to capture my vision in the way I first intended... the pictures I was supposed to use just never fit quite right sigh. I dunno why it was this one that gained all the notes in the end bc I personally think I have better ones too but am still thankful :’D

7. a creation you think deserved more notes: as said, dmbj fandom on tumblr is very small so I really want to say the two already mentioned ones (wu xie and xiaoge) and then my pingxie edits [x] [x]. also these wwx edits which I personally am very happy about [x] [x]. and from my agust d2 series, this yun bros one [x].

8. a new fandom you joined and a creation you made for it: really just dmbj this year and I’ve already linked all of my creations for that :’D tho I have plans for another pingxie edit and a liu sang edit! oh and maybe I could mention guardian here with this shen wei [x]. I had so much fun while making it (also the quote just haunted me relentlessly until I gave it a moment).

9. a creation you made that breaks your heart: this must be my easter islanders (lwj and jc) edit [x] that just. awoke many thoughts in me? I’m going to put a link to the version where you can read my ramblings underneath :’D

10. a ‘simple’ creation that you really love: my creation for the creator (gif?) challenge that was going around! [x] it was simple and nice to do and I loved the result. also, it was nice to work with jl for a change :’)

11. a favorite creation created by someone else: oh wow ok so this is going to be rough bc I have so many favorites ;; you can look at this post here [x] to see more!

but to love my two taggers am going to say these [x / x] [x] [x] [x] [x] by hanyi (I always love your edits, the colors you choose, the thoughts you put into them (and your humor too!). there are so many cool things you’ve done that I just stay in awe of! I adore all of it ;; ♥) and these [x] [x] [x] [x] [x] by ali (I love all of your gifsets so much, they have such pretty colors and such good scenes, and I am thankful every day that you make all the amazing dmbj content, pls never stop ;; I should go through all of your creations properly one day! I noticed you have sand sea stuff too and let me scream?) ^^ ♥

12. your favorite content creators and blogs that you appreciate: this is going to be a huge list and I’ve already made my love heard for some but no hurt in doing it again so @i-am-just-a-kiddo @ashenwren @tiesanjiao @kholran @lzswy @englishbunnyrocks @leonzhng @aheartfullofjolllly @yibobibo @inkblue-black @cross-d-a @bloody-bee-tea @fytheuntamed @mdzsnet @lifegoesmon @creeds-eagle @underaswift-sunrise @sarawatsaraleo @lan-xichens @mylastbraincql @wangxianbunnydoodles @manhasetardis @distantsnows @ohsehuns @minmoyu @linglynz @highwarlockkareena @yiqiie @aowyn @alienwlw @wangxiians @kingbadcat @sassyassassy @tytangfei @lanzhannnn @skzmxtp @leoyunxi @yoonqiful @softjeon @rapbabenamjoon @ronan-adam @miyakuli @pavusdorian @arsuf @brolinskeep @gawincaskeyy and so many others! (sorry for all the random ppl on this list that I’ve never even talked to ^^’ just know that you make my dash a wonderful place! ♥)

I won’t tag anyone separately here but everyone who’s already been tagged or sees this is free to do this (or link me posts if you’ve done these already!) ♥ have a nice day everyone!

#tag game #wow this took ages #am sorry am late #thanks for tagging me tho!!#i enjoyed this a lot #about me

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obvious-captain-rogers · 4 years

Note

Hii, so i saw you were taking buddie prompts and i wanted to ask if you could do one with fake dating? No rush!! Thank you

I’m going to be completely honest, I wrote and rewrote this so many times but this one has been the best one. I started writing it almost immediately after the finale and I’m pretty excited about it- hence why it’s so long. Also, there are some things in here that I’m not a 100% sure are canonically correct, but I’m just going with it so bear with me.

Eddie frowned as he watched Buck distractedly wash and then dry the lunch dishes. Ever since the train derailment he’d been acting off, Eddie had just figured it had to do with seeing Abby again and the ensuing conversation that the two of them had apparently had- not that Buck had told Eddie that himself, oh no he’d had to hear about it from Bobby. Not that he was hurt by that, or jealous. Because that would be childish.

Eddie got up from the table and he moved to lean back against the counter next to where Buck was washing the same plate that he’d just dried off. “Everything okay?” Eddie asked quietly and leaned in a little to brush their shoulders together.

“Huh?” Buck asked and looked up, obviously broken out of whatever headspace he’d been in by Eddie’s touch. “Oh, yeah. Everything’s fine.”

Eddie wanted to push because he knew that something was wrong with Buck, but he didn’t know how to without being a jackass and making Buck get all defensive with him. He scratched at the corner of his eye with his thumb and tried a different tactic. “You know that Christopher’s still at sleep-away camp and the house has been too quiet without him around. You want to come over for a bit? We can watch some movies, play some video games, or whatever. We could go out if you wanted to do that instead.”

Buck watched him for a moment, obvious suspicion in his blue eyes at Eddie’s question being followed up by the offer, but then he nodded. “You know there’s that place down on South Figueroa…” Buck trailed off and Eddie nodded.

“Sounds great,” Eddie said and he took the dish towel from Buck’s hand to finish up drying the dishes. Buck grinned at him and Eddie rolled his eyes before snapping the towel at Buck’s hip playfully. Buck danced away from the towel with a laugh that had something warm and content settling into Eddie’s chest at managing to lighten Buck’s mood- even if it was just for a little while.

…..

Eddie followed Buck in his truck so that both of them would have their vehicles when it came time to finally head home. Buck’s semi-flirty smile that he gave the hostess- typical Buck behavior because he knew how that smile made people melt- wasn’t as bright as usual and Eddie winced a little as they were walked over to a corner booth.

Buck glanced over the drinks menu before he looked at the waiter with a charming smile. “I’ll take an old-fashioned but instead of the house bourbon I’ll take Jack, please.” The waiter nodded and Eddie shot Buck a surprised look. Buck didn’t usually drink hard liquor, so something had to be bothering him for him to order something so strong. “Eddie,” Buck said expectantly, and Eddie snapped out of it.

He sent the waiter an apologetic smile. “Tequila, straight.” Buck’s eyes widened and Eddie just bumped his foot under the table. The waiter simply nodded and went to take their orders over to the bar. “What?” Eddie asked when Buck kept looking at him with that worried puppy-dog look.

“Tequila?” Buck questioned.

“An old-fashioned?” Eddie countered with a raised eyebrow. Buck slumped down a little in the booth and Eddie bumped Buck’s leg under the table again so that Buck would look at him. “What’s going on, Buck?” Buck fidgeted in his seat and after a moment he reached over to pull something out of the inside pocket of his jacket. He tossed it over to Eddie and kept his eyes down on where he was resting his wrists on the table.

Eddie leaned over to take the envelope. He saw Buck’s name written in a neat and objectively pretty handwriting. He traced his fingers over it before flipping it over and pulling out the cardstock that was inside. He flinched as he read it over. It was an invitation to Abby Clark’s wedding. He could certainly see why Buck was ordering hard liquor now.

“Well shit,” Eddie said and tucked the invitation back into the envelope before he dropped it onto the table.

“Yeah,” Buck murmured softly and picked at his nails. The waiter came- effectively cutting of their awkward attempts at a conversation- and gave them their drinks. Eddie thanked the waiter as the shots were set out and the waiter handed him a couple of lime wedges and a salt grinder.

Eddie nodded his thanks before he turned his attention back to where Buck was resolutely staring either down at the table for into the bottom of his glass. “So what are you wanting to do?” Eddie asked before he licked the back of his hand and sprinkled salt on his hand as he waited for Buck to find his voice.

His eyes had lifted from the table to track Eddie’s movements, so Eddie took that as a minor victory. “I don’t know,” Buck admitted after a moment before he lifted his own glass to take a drink. He fiddled with the glass as Eddie licked the salt off his hand and threw back his first shot. He swallowed thickly before taking a lime wedge from the bowl and taking a bite. He wrinkled his nose at the sourness. “I don’t want to be the pathetic ex that shows up to the wedding alone and moping. I- I don’t want to get back together with Abby- she left me in the worst way possible and I don’t think I could ever trust her again- but she was my first love, you know?” Buck shrugged almost nervously as he fiddled with his drink.

“Then don’t go alone,” Eddie said as if it were that easy. He understood how heavily a first love could weigh on someone. He’d had a hard time letting go of Shannon when she’d left him and then once she’d told him that she wanted a divorce. He felt for Buck, but he also knew that Buck wanted to be a good friend to Abby despite everything. And good friends went to their friend’s wedding.

“It’s not exactly like I have anyone I could bring with me. You know I haven’t been… well, I haven’t been looking but that’s besides the point. I’m not good at this.” Buck grimaced and Eddie could hear the dejected note to Buck’s voice.

“What do you mean?” Eddie asked after he’d downed his second shot. He couldn’t understand why anyone would want to leave Buck- let alone the way that Abby, or even Ali though that one wasn’t nearly as bad, had done it. Buck was smart and kind and so considerate- and not to mention so incredibly hot: with the eyes and the biceps and the cute little birthmark. Eddie blinked and thought maybe he needed to slow down a little on the tequila. Not that he wouldn’t normally think about how attractive Buck was- he wasn’t blind- but it certainly didn’t sit so warmly in his stomach.

“Dating,” Buck said and finally looked up at Eddie. “I guess I’m pretty good at the physical part,” Buck said with a bit of a smirk that had Eddie snorting and shaking his head fondly, “but the emotional part.” He made a noise in the back of his throat. “I don’t know.”

“You haven’t found the right person, Buck. You’re twenty-eight, that’s young enough to still be making mistakes with love.” Eddie shrugged and Buck gave him a bland look.

“You’re only three years older than me, Eddie. And you were married with a kid,” Buck pointed out blandly.

“And we see how that turned out,” Eddie shot back. Buck’s mouth clamped shut and Eddie shook his head again. “Don’t turn this around on me. We’re talking about you.” Eddie downed his last shot and stacked the glasses inside themselves before thoughtfully chewing on the lime wedge that was left. He tossed it back into the bowl. “Easy solution to all of this is just ask a friend with to come with you and act like you’re together.”

Buck looked at him for a long while before he shook his head. “There’s not really anyone that I could ask- not that Abby doesn’t already know- so...”

“Abby doesn’t know me,” Eddie said and he had no idea where that had come from, but he wouldn’t take it back. Not with the stunned and maybe- just maybe- hopeful expression it put on Buck’s face. “I could go with you.”

Buck’s face flushed prettily and Eddie couldn’t help but feel a small smile tug at his lips. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You’re not asking, Buck. I’m offering.” Eddie shrugged despite the nerves now squirming in his stomach. Buck watched him for a long moment and chewed his lip, Eddie’s eyes reflexively dropping down to focus on Buck’s mouth.

Buck released his lower lip from between his teeth and downed the rest of his drink. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Eddie asked, having been momentarily distracted.

“Yeah, let’s do it.” Buck said and tucked his hands underneath his thighs. Eddie grinned and he felt warm all over when Buck grinned back, the flush from earlier still highlighting his cheeks.

…..

Eddie was in the middle of getting his bills in order and was chewing on the cap of his pen when the door to his house opened up and Buck swept into the room. His hair was damp and sticking up in soft waves that Buck was usually so careful to gel down. Eddie tried not to ignore the slight flutter in his chest.

“We’re going to have to come up with a plausible cover story if this is going to work,” Buck said without any sort of context. “The social media aspect is covered because I’ve been posting pictures with you and Christopher for- well basically since we’ve been friends.”

“Buck, what’re you talking about?” Eddie asked and shuffled his papers into a pile so that he could give Buck his whole attention while not having to worry about Buck’s flailing knocking them onto the floor.

“About the whole fake-dating thing for Abby’s wedding,” Buck said and he tucked his hands into his pockets. “If we don’t have our story straight, the whole thing will fall apart and that will be more embarrassing than if I showed up alone.”

Eddie watched Buck fidget for a while before nodding for Buck to sit down. “Well, every good lie starts with the truth. We met at work,” Eddie said tentatively. “Abby saw me at the crash, so I assume she’ll remember that I’m with the 118.”

“Right,” Buck said and he squirmed a little in his seat. “So how did we get together?”

Eddie frowned. “I don’t know, Buck. Like normal people do.”

Buck rolled his eyes. “I meant who asked who out? When? Why? That sort of stuff.”

Eddie sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Uh… we could say that you asked me out,” Eddie said. “Not going to sting my pride and anyone who knows you will probably believe that. You’re more… personable.” Buck was an extrovert that thrived on attention. Granted, all of the people Buck had gone out with- to the extent of Eddie’s knowledge- had been the one to ask him out but that didn’t necessarily mean anything.

“Okay…” Buck said and nodded, obviously trying to think. “We can’t say that it’s a new thing because you don’t invite a new partner to something like a wedding. Gives off the wrong kind of vibes. So I guess… about a year? Seems a good timeline for ‘be my plus one to a wedding’ type of commitment.”

“Sounds fine to me,” Eddie said not really understanding at all what Buck was talking about. If you had a significant other and were invited to a wedding did it really matter how long you’d been together? With the look Buck was giving him, apparently it did. “As for the why- that’s none of anyone’s business. Besides, one look and five minutes with you and everyone will get why.” Eddie felt the back of his neck heating up at how much he’d revealed, and he cleared his throat. “Good enough?”

“Yeah,” Buck said and his voice was a little strained. He pushed his fingers through his hair, mussing it up further, and let out a harsh breath. “You really don’t have to do this, Eddie.”

Eddie let out a short laugh and shook his head. “It’s not a big deal. We go to a wedding, have a nice time, and then you get to come back home feeling better about this whole Abby thing. I’m alright with being part of that. I don’t get enough opportunities to get dressed up,” Eddie teased and knocked his foot against Buck’s ankle.

Buck opened his mouth- probably to say something smart- but then he flushed and closed his mouth firmly. Eddie frowned a little at that, it wasn’t like Buck to be careful with his words, not around Eddie anyways, but he didn’t push. He didn’t really get the chance anyways because Buck was launching into a million questions about Eddie’s plans for when Christopher got home.

…..

“Hey, Eddie, can I talk to you in my office for a second?” Bobby asked and Eddie looked up from the book Carla had recommended to him.

“Yeah,” Eddie said and folded down the corner of the page before closing his book and tossing it onto the side table. He made his way into Bobby’s office and only felt a little nervous as Bobby closed the door and went to sit behind his desk. “Everything alright, Cap?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing,” Bobby said and gestured for Eddie to sit.

“What do you mean?” Eddie asked with a frown.

“Well, Buck just told me that you and him are going to need some time off. Because you’re his date to Abby’s wedding.” Bobby fixed him with a pointed look and Eddie tried not to squirm under Bobby’s gaze. “Is there paperwork I need to be filling out?”

Eddie felt his face get hot and he was sure that he was turning red. “This isn’t like that,” Eddie said and shook his head. “Buck didn’t want to show up to Abby’s wedding alone. I guess he thought that it would look bad- or make him look desperate- and so I offered to go with him.”

“As his date.” Bobby raised an eyebrow but it wasn’t really a question.

“Yeah. As his fake-date.” Eddie’s stomach flopped as Bobby’s face slowly turned from a confused frown to an almost knowing smile.

“Oh, I see. His fake-date,” Bobby said and his mouth quirked up in amusement, only making Eddie’s face burn all the hotter.

“So can you get someone to cover or should I tell Buck that both of us can’t go?” Eddie asked, a little defensively in his embarrassment.

“I’ll make it work,” Bobby said and waved Eddie off. Eddie stood and he straightened out his uniform shirt to try and salvage some of his dignity in the face of Bobby’s fatherly teasing. “Have fun.”

Eddie nodded at Bobby and turned to walk out.

“But not too much fun,” Bobby teased and Eddie turned to give Bobby a sharp look as a blush bloomed across his face and down his neck.

…..

“What do you think?” Eddie asked and stepped out into the living room where Carla and Christopher were sitting at the table, working on a new craft project that Christopher had learned at sleep-away camp and wanted to recreate at home. Eddie had put on his suit to make sure that it still fit and that it would be nice enough for the wedding, though he’d sprung for a new shirt and tie. And if his shirt and tie were specifically picked to complement Buck then no one needed to comment on it, thank you very much, Carla.

“Well look at you,” Carla said with a laugh. “Very handsome.” Carla came over and helped settle his collar a little better and to pick imaginary lint off of his jacket.

“You look good, Daddy,” Christopher said and beamed at Eddie for a moment. Eddie grinned back just as brightly.

“Should get it off and packed up then,” Eddie said and fiddled with the buttons at his cuffs.

“Oh no, not yet. Buckaroo made me promise to get pictures,” Carla said and pulled out her phone.

“He doesn’t trust me to dress myself?” Eddie asked and tucked his hands into his pockets awkwardly as Carla got her phone ready to take some pictures.

“I’m pretty sure he just wants to make sure you two match,” Carla said and lifted her phone before frowning at him. “Oh come on, Eddie. Strut a little. You know you look good.” It pulled a laugh from Eddie and Carla snapped a picture while he laughed. “That one’s a keeper.” Eddie pushed a hand through his hair and sent Carla a flat look when she snapped a picture then too. She snapped another of his unimpressed face before Eddie shook his head and held up his hand.

“Alright, alright. That’s enough. I don’t need a paparazzi moment,” Eddie laughed and rocked on his feet before nodding over his shoulder. “I’m going to get out of this. Eddie leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of Christopher’s head. “Do I pass, Superman?”

“Yeah. Buck’s going to think you look really handsome, Daddy.” Christopher said it so innocently, but it made Eddie blush a little to think of Buck looking at the pictures of him in a suit and thinking Eddie was handsome. Eddie nodded and he went back into this room to change into one of his old Army t-shirts and a well-worn pair of jeans.

…..

Buck was trying to piece together a suit that didn’t make him cringe when his phone chimed with a message from Carla. He thumbed open the messages and he felt his eyes get wide as he looked at the pictures of Eddie in a suit. He bit his lip and smiled a little as he looked at Eddie’s bright laughter, expertly captured by Carla’s photography skills. Eddie looked really nice in his suit but in this picture, he looked relaxed and happy. The second picture though, that was… well. Buck bit his lip harder but not for the purposes of stepping on his growing smile. Eddie was handsome all the time, Buck had often found himself thinking about the various aspects of Eddie that were attractive, but this… this was next level. Eddie looked sexy.

Buck scrolled past the picture and couldn’t help but snort at the annoyed expression on Eddie’s face in the last one. After a moment, a message from Carla came through. Seems like your mans knows what he’s about and he’s not playing around. Everyone’s going to be very jealous of you, Buckaroo.

Buck’s face felt hot and he tapped his finger on the corner of his phone as he tried to think of a response. He couldn’t think of anything and he tried to busy himself with matching his shirt and tie to Eddie’s suit, and if he took more time than necessary to study the pictures of Eddie to do so- well there was no one around to call him out on it. His phone went off again and he picked it up to see a text from Eddie.

Eddie: Do I pass inspection?

Buck huffed a short laugh before tapping out his response.

Buck: I don’t think you need me to stroke your ego.

You look great, Eddie

You certainly made my life easier by having a black suit that I can match mine to.

Eddie: Well, we wouldn’t want you to have a fashion melt-down 😉

Buck snorted and he definitely would have to thank whoever it was that finally taught Eddie to use emojis- it was probably Christopher or Hen if he had to hazard a guess.

Buck: Nope. No meltdown here.

Okay, maybe there was the beginnings of a meltdown, but that’s not the point.

Buck could almost hear the way that Eddie would be laughing at him on the other end of the phone. The little ellipses popped up one or twice and Buck frowned at it, but nothing came through. Buck tucked his phone into his pocket and finished up picking his suit and getting it packed up, trying not to overthink what Eddie had been trying to tell him.

…..

Eddie lifted Christopher onto his hip and pressed another kiss to his son’s cheek. “You’ve got to promise to be good for Hen and Karen, alright? It’s only a few days, but-”

“I’ve already promised three times,” Christopher said and pressed his hands against Eddie’s cheeks seriously. “You can go, Daddy. It’s going to be o-kay.” He patted Eddie’s face and Eddie could hear Buck stifling his laughter behind them.

“Alright, alright. You know that you can call me whenever you want,” Eddie said and settled Chris down, smoothing a hand through his son’s hair.

“Yes, now go!” Christopher said and gave Eddie a playful push towards Buck.

“If you need anything-” Eddie said, looking at where Hen was watching the whole display with a grin.

“I will call Carla or Isabel,” Hen said with a firm look. “Like you said, it’s only a few days. We’ve got this, Eddie. You and Buck have some fun.” The way she said it made Eddie’s neck burn and he gave her a short nod before turning to look at Buck.

“Ready?” Eddie asked and shouldered his carry-on bag. He and Buck had decided to just put their suits and couple of sets of clothes into one checked bag. To save money. Of course.

“Are you?” Buck asked teasingly and Eddie rolled his eyes before shoving him and grabbing their checked bag. They made their way over to where they could drop off their bag and Eddie couldn’t help but keep looking over his shoulder to where Hen and Christopher were waiting, Christopher waving at him. Eddie waved back as Buck handed their bag off.

“Honeymooning?” The woman asked conversationally as she tapped at the computer and printed out a label for their bag. She glanced up at them as she fixed it to their bag.

“Uh, not quite. Friend’s wedding,” Buck said and glanced at Eddie out of the corner of his eye.

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, your son seems to be in good hands. The first trip without them is always the worse.” Eddie blushed and he fumbled for a second, not sure if she should correct her assumption that Eddie and Buck were together.

“Thank you,” Buck said easily, and she nodded before she put their bag on the conveyer belt.

“You’re all set. Have a nice flight.”

Both of then nodded and they went through security in relative silence, not that it was particularly easy to talk to each other while you were going through security, but when they were on the other side, Eddie gave Buck an apologetic grimace. “Sorry about that- back there,” Eddie said and pointed over his shoulder.

“No big deal, Eddie. Not like it’s the first time,” Buck shrugged and tucked his hands into his pockets. Eddie felt a sharp spike in his heartbeat.

“What?”

“People have assumed that Christopher was our son before. It’s not a big deal. He’s a sweet kid and-” Buck was about to go on one of his incredibly heart-warming rambles about how great Christopher was, but Eddie cut him off.

“Like when?” Eddie asked as they started to make their way towards their gate.

“Remember when we took Chris to see Santa. That first time.” When Eddie nodded, Buck continued. “Well, one of the elves thought Chris was our son. Told me that we had an adorable son.”

“What did you say to that?” Eddie asked, his heart hammering against his chest. He wasn’t sure what he wanted Buck to have said.

“I said thank you,” Buck shrugged casually. He glanced over at Eddie and winced at whatever he saw in Eddie’s face. “Should I not have?”

“It’s not a big deal, I just… I never thought about how it looked to have you with me when I took him. That’s all,” Eddie said and bumped their shoulders together. Buck quirked a small smile and leaned in so that their shoulders were pressed together the whole time they were walking.

They sat outside their gate for a while, just talking about nothing mostly, before they were able to board. Buck seemed to get a little tense as they walked up, had their tickets checked, and then started to get onto the plane. Eddie watched the tension in Buck’s shoulders and he reached out and rubbed Buck’s back softly as they made their way to their seats.

“You okay?” Eddie asked and covered Buck’s hand where Buck was gripping the arm rests of his seat.

“Yeah, I just- when I first started working at the 118, I worked a crash,” Buck whispered so that only Eddie would be able to hear him. “I just remembered it and-”

“Hey,” Eddie said soothingly and he slipped his hand between Buck’s and the arm rest so that Buck was holding onto him. “It’s gonna be okay. It’s only about an hour and a half.” Buck nodded and he just held onto Eddie’s hand as everyone else boarded the flight. “I’ve got a book in my bag if you want to try and distract yourself.”

“Yeah?” Buck asked, almost like he was worried that Eddie was going to shut him down.

“Yeah. It’s probably right up your alley too. It’s about space,” Eddie teased. Buck and Christopher both had such a fascination with space and Eddie had watched the two of them fall into documentary and research holes more than once. Buck rolled his eyes but when Eddie held it out to him, he took it and opened it to the first page eagerly. Eddie watched him fondly for a minute before he settled, his hand still folded in Buck’s as Buck balanced the book open with one hand and one of his knees.

When the plane started to move to take off, Buck’s eyes squeezed shut and Eddie gently tugged at Buck’s hand to get Buck to look at him. “So what do you think Christopher is going to get up to with Hen, Karen, and Denny while we’re gone?” Eddie asked to keep Buck’s mind off the feeling of them taking off.

“Probably con Hen into way too much sugar,” Buck said and he laughed, even though it sounded a little strained. “Though I wonder how well he’s going to get along with having a toddler in the house. It’s always just been you and him, or him and his friends.”

“Hen said that Nia’s sleeping through the night most of the time, so I’m sure it’ll be fine. If anything, Chris’ll probably be excited to not be the youngest.” Harry was a few years older than Chris, and Denny was the same age- though as he like to proudly declare he was actually a few months older than Christopher- so Nia might be his chance to play big brother for a bit.” Eddie gave Buck’s hand a squeeze as they evened out. Buck let out a short breath and Eddie stroked a thumb over his knuckles. “Good?”

“Yeah, thanks.” Buck said and he gave Eddie a soft smile before he went back to the book in his lap, though he never let go of Eddie’s hand and would every so often trace little patterns against Eddie’s wrist. Eddie just smiled to himself and tipped his head to look out the small window.

…..

Buck shot a grin over his shoulder to Eddie as he unlocked their hotel room and stepped inside. Though he froze when he took in the room. He was sure that he’d booked a room with two beds, but right in the middle of the room was one large bed and Buck felt his mouth go dry.

Eddie didn’t seem fazed as he moved to set his carry on down and opened up their bag. “We should hang up our suits to make sure they don’t get too wrinkled before the wedding tomorrow,” Eddie said and bumped Buck’s hip as he moved past him with his suit folded over his arm.

“There’s only one bed,” Buck blurted out and turned to look at Eddie with a frown. Eddie froze from where he was hanging his clothes up and turned to look at Buck. Before Eddie could say anything, Buck was shuffling over to the phone. “I’ll call and have them bring a folding bed. You can sleep in the bed and I’ll just-”

“Buck, it’s fine. It’s not like there isn’t plenty of room. We can put the extra pillows between us if you’re that worried about us touching.” Buck looked up at Eddie and both saw and heard the bitterness in Eddie’s tone.

“Why would I care if we touched?” Buck asked with a frown. Anytime they were stood or sat next to each other they were plastered to each other’s sides from shoulder to thigh.

“Why would I?” Eddie challenged and raised a pointed eyebrow. “It’s not like we’ve never been in close quarters before, Buck.” It was one thing to be in separate but close together bunk in the bunk room and another thing entirely to be in the same bed, but Buck wasn’t going to argue.

Buck nodded and tucked his hands into his pockets. “Okay then,” Buck said, aiming for casual but his voice came out just a bit squeakier than he would have liked. He ducked his head at Eddie’s warm grin and moved to gather his suit so he could hang it up.

“I’m gonna text Chris so he knows we’ve landed,” Eddie said and he moved to sit down on the edge of his bed with his phone. Buck just nodded and finished up with his suit before he started tossing his other clothes- really just for the flight back home- into the dresser. He grabbed his bathroom bag and settled it on the counter in the bathroom before he stepped back out and sat next to Eddie on the bed. “Seems like he and Denny are living it up.” Eddie leaned in closer, his breath ghosting along Buck’s neck warmly, as he showed Buck a picture of the boys that Karen had texted him. Both of them were in a blanket fort with little bowls of popcorn and candy as they watched Coco.

“Hen and Karen are going to have quite the time trying to get Christopher to sleep after that,” Buck laughed and his chest ached a little. Looking at the picture made him miss Christopher a little bit more than he’d have thought. “I have made that mistake one too many times.”

“You learn to roll with it,” Eddie said and bumped Buck’s shoulder. “What do you say we take a walk? Just kind of explore, find some place to get something to eat, and then we can turn in early. I’m sure you’re gonna want to take your time tomorrow and make yourself all pretty.” Eddie was teasing him but Buck blushed a little. He knew that Eddie wasn’t calling him pretty, but it was close enough.

“Sounds good to me,” Buck said and Eddie nodded before he stood up and nodded towards the door. Buck followed after him with something warm settling in his chest as they fell into step beside each other.

…..

Getting to sleep the night before the wedding hadn’t been as difficult as Buck would have thought. He and Eddie had felt that initial awkwardness of trying to settle into bed with someone you’d never slept beside before, but once they’d figured it out- it was easy to fall asleep.

Buck woke up slowly to the familiar soft sound of his alarm and he grumbled his displeasure as he reached over to turn it off. He pressed his face further into his pillow but then he frowned when he heard a soft huff of breath right by his ear.

“Comfortable?” Eddie’s voice, a little rough and thick from sleep, said from right by his ear. Buck blearily lifted his head and found himself nose to nose with Eddie. He’d been pressing his face into Eddie’s shoulder and now that he was more aware, he could feel how he’d plastered himself to Eddie’s side.

“Shuddup,” Buck mumbled and he let his head fall back onto Eddie’s shoulder. Eddie huffed another small laugh and he combed his fingers through Buck’s hair for a moment before he nudged the side of Buck’s head.

“Come on,” Eddie said and slipped his hand down from Buck’s hair to squeeze the back of his neck. “Up.”

Buck huffed against Eddie’s neck before he rolled away and pushed himself out of bed. “How are you so awake?” Buck muttered and he scrubbed a hand down his face.

“I have a kid who is determined to be up right around the time the sun comes up. And of course, former Army.” Eddie’s smile was soft and almost liquid around the edges. Buck felt something warm pool in his stomach and he grinned as he pushed his hair away from his face. “Don’t use up all the hot water, I’ve got to shower too,” Eddie said and stretched to poke Buck’s thigh with his foot.

Buck caught his ankle and gave it a squeeze before he stood. “I won’t.” He let his touch linger a little before he padded over to the bathroom. He shut the door behind him and turned the water on to start getting warm while he brushed his teeth.

The hot water felt good but he didn’t let himself linger like he would if he were showering at home. They didn’t really have time for it, and Eddie did ask him to leave him some hot water. An unbidden image of Eddie in the shower flashed in Buck’s head and he sucked in shaky breath before shoving it away and turning the water off. He dried off his hair and dried himself off before knotting the towel around his waist and opening the door.

“All yours,” Buck murmured as he moved to open up the dresser and pull out a clean set of underwear. He had to focus on getting his clothes so that he didn’t look over at Eddie as Eddie made his way over to the shower.

Buck waited until the door was shut before he tossed his towel over the back of a chair and pulled his underwear on. He pulled his undershirt and slacks. He didn’t want to pull his shirt on yet because he knew that he should probably shave before they left.

The bathroom door opened and to show Eddie in his underwear and his undershirt as he rubbed a towel over his hair. “I’ve got to shave,” Buck said and pointed into the bathroom with a raised eyebrow.

“Just need to shave and brush my teeth,” Eddie said and Buck nodded as he stepped into the humidity of the bathroom.

“Not like we can’t share,” Buck said and his hip brushed against Eddie’s as he leaned over the sink to grab his bathroom bag. They both went about their routines silently and Buck couldn’t help but glance over at Eddie every so often in the mirror. He’d seen Eddie clean up after a shift, but this felt different. More intimate.

Eddie sent him a small smile in the mirror around his toothbrush before he spit into the sink and rinsed it off. Buck’s hand nearly slipped at the warm jolt of electricity it sent through him. They both finished up shaving and Eddie laughed softly before he tilted Buck’s face and wiped away a bit of shaving cream that was just behind the curve of his jaw where he couldn’t see it. “Wouldn’t want you walking in with that,” Eddie said and his thumb on Buck’s skin felt like getting too close to a live wire- that same prickling sensation breaking out along his skin. Eddie dropped his hand from Buck’s skin and combed his hair back from his face so that it sat flat. “You should leave your hair wavy,” Eddie said abruptly as he glanced at Buck in the mirror.

Buck pushed his hand through his still slightly damp hair. It wasn’t long enough to fall into his face, but it laid across his forehead in almost curls. “You think so?”

“Yeah,” Eddie said casually and Buck just nodded. Eddie touched the small of Buck’s back before stepping out and going to get dressed. Buck knew he should finish up, but he felt overwhelmed a little at how easily he and Eddie were falling into these roles. He swallowed thickly and reminded himself that Eddie was just doing this as a favor to a friend. He was being supportive because he was Buck’s friend and that’s what friends did.

Buck blew out a breath and went to finish getting dressed. He stood in front of the closet mirror and fixed his tie and made sure his collar wasn’t twisted up before he slid his jacket into place. He gave himself a short nod in the mirror before he glanced over to where Eddie was pulling his jacket on as well. He rolled his eyes a little as he noticed that Eddie’s collar wasn’t sitting right because of how his tie was adjusted. Buck just wordless turned Eddie around and tugged at his tie before leaning in so he could smooth his collar.

When he stepped back, his hands still on Eddie’s lapels, Eddie was blushing a little and Buck bit his lip. “Wouldn’t want you walking in like that,” Buck said, teasingly repeating Eddie’s words back to him. Eddie’s face broke out into a smile and he swatted at Buck’s hands playfully. “If you’re ready, we better get going,” Buck said as he glanced down at his watch.

“If you’re not ashamed to be seen with me in public, then I think we’re good,” Eddie joked and Buck shoved at his shoulder. Eddie wrapped his arm around Buck’s back and guided him towards the door where their shoes were lined up and ready for them to slip them on.

…..

Eddie settled his arm over the back of Buck’s chair as the ceremony started- Abby’s procession having already led her up to the altar with her brother on her arm. Buck had tensed a little when the wedding march had started and when he’d first caught sight of Abby- who Eddie had to begrudgingly admit look really pretty in her soft pink dress- but Eddie had just stroked his thumb over the back of Buck’s shoulder and he’d slowly relaxed. The ceremony was much shorter than Eddie had remembered his being, but then again he’d had the full Catholic ceremony as a way to appease his family’s traditionalists.

They started inside, the wedding having been held just outside the reception hall, but Eddie stepped away from Buck when his shoe came untied. He stepped out of the way so that he could crouch down and tighten the laces of his shoe before quickly knotting them and tugging to make sure it wasn’t going to fall out again. When he was satisfied, he found Buck in the small crowd and frowned as he noticed that Buck was talking to Abby and Sam at the entrance to the reception. His whole body was screaming how uncomfortable he was so Eddie politely made his way through the people towards Buck.

“I thought you were bringing a date? I didn’t see her with you,” Abby said and it shouldn’t have struck a nerve- at least not with Eddie- but it did. Eddie stepped up and wrapped an arm around Buck’s waist securely.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to leave you out to dry,” Eddie said and brushed a kiss against Buck’s cheek for good measure. He put on his most charming smile as he looked at the newly married couple. “Hey,” Eddie said brightly. “I’m sure that you don’t remember me, but I’m Eddie.” He held out his hand and both of them shook it. “It’s nice to get a proper introduction and under much better circumstances.” There was an almost brittleness to his tone that neither of the strangers picked up on, but Buck did as he turned to look at Eddie with a slightly shocked expression.

“You’re the firefighter from the crash,” Sam said as it clicked into place. His smile brightened marginally.

“One of many,” Eddie joked as he smoothed his thumb over the soft material of Buck’s jacket. “I’m glad to see you’re doing better.”

“I couldn’t do much worse,” Sam joked and Eddie laughed. It wasn’t Sam that he had anything against. The man had just happened to fall in love and who could really fault him for that?

“I didn’t know Buck…” Abby started but faltered as she glanced between the two of them in a way that made Eddie’s blood start to simmer.

“Buck was into men?” Eddie asked, his polite façade never faltering for a second as he shrugged casually in the wake of Abby’s obvious embarrassment. “Well, there’s a lot about Buck that will surprise you when you actually get to know him.” It was said with the right balance of pleasantness and pointedness that it could be seen as just giving Buck a compliment. He smiled at Buck fondly and Buck seemed to be in quiet awe as he smiled back at Eddie. Eddie looked back at them and gave them a short nod. “We shouldn’t monopolize your time. You’ve got other guests.” Eddie led Buck into the spacious room with a glowing feeling in his chest at the ringing silence that was left behind.

“You… Eddie,” Buck said in a hushed tone, the same soft expression on his face from earlier.

“I told you that I’d have your back, Buck,” Eddie said and he rubbed Buck’s back as they found an empty table and sat down. “I meant that.” Buck ducked his head and Eddie nudged at his foot carefully, not wanted to scuff either of their dress shoes.

Buck’s blue eyes were bright with something that Eddie couldn’t place before it was replaced with one of his huge, genuine smiles. “Thanks, Eddie.”

…..

The reception is winding down and Buck actually found himself having a good time. They talked a little with the other people at their table- who were absolutely enthralled that Buck and Eddie were both firefighters- but most of the people had gotten up and wandered to mingle with other guests or dance. Since Buck and Eddie only knew each other, it hadn’t been a problem for them to just relax in their own little bubble.

The song changed and shifted into something slow and sweet, an Ed Sheeran song if Buck was right, and Eddie knocked his shoulder against Buck’s. “I’ve been a terrible date, I haven’t even asked you to dance yet.” Eddie’s smile was soft and only had a slight note of teasing to it. Eddie slipped his hand into Buck’s and gave it a gentle tug. “Come on. I promise I won’t step on your toes.”

“Yeah,” Buck said and he followed Eddie out onto a corner of the dance floor. Eddie wrapped his arm around Buck’s waist and held onto his other hand.

“I only know how to lead,” Eddie said with a hint of an apology in his voice. Buck just shrugged a little and let Eddie lead him. The same sort of easy intimacy from the bathroom earlier settled over them and Buck let himself lean into it tentatively. Eddie’s cheek brushed against his own and Buck let out a soft breath at the slight rasp of Eddie’s stubble despite having shaved just this morning. Buck could practically hear Eddie thinking as they danced slowly to the acoustic guitar and Ed Sheeran- and it was Ed Sheeran now that Buck was listening closer- singing about home. “Let’s…” Eddie faltered and then he pulled back a little bit so that they could look at each other. “Let’s get out of here.”

Buck felt his breathing hitch in his chest as the suggestion in Eddie’s eyes. He was being purposefully vague so that Buck could just brush it off if he wanted to, but Buck didn’t want to. He was tired of this song and dance between them. If Eddie was ready and offering, then Buck wasn’t going to say now.

“Yeah.”

“Yeah?” Eddie asked and his smile was blinding as he held Buck just that little bit tighter.

“Yeah,” Buck laughed and leaned in to bump their noses together. He wanted to kiss Eddie so badly, but he also didn’t want their first kiss to be in a room full of strangers. Eddie stepped away but he laced his fingers through Buck’s as he guided them towards the exit, not even bothering to tell the happy couple goodbye.

It felt good.

But not as good as when they were finally back at their hotel room and Eddie crowded Buck back against the door and finally- fucking finally- kissed him.

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doctorrookie · 3 years

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Something Else, Chapter 1

A/N: Second ever fic down, this time a cute little series featuring conjugal bliss. I hope you enjoy!

Word count: 1,391

Genre: Fluff 💕 but a little tainted with some 😏 (but just a little)

—

His hands roam my back as his lips hover above my left ear. His breath, hot and shallow, grace my earlobe, sending tingles down my spine.

“Ethan, no. We can’t.”

He pulled away and fell back into our bed. He looks at me with dark, lustful eyes, but I’m not about to fail now.

“As a doctor, you should know better that patients should follow pre-appointment instructions.” I sit up and move slightly away from him. “I booked this months ago, and this was the only available slot this month at my gyno.”

“But does it have to be two days after we get back from our honeymoon? We could barely keep our hands off each other on the return flight.” He holds my hand up to his lips, leaving a trail of scratchy, yet tender, kisses.

My mind brings me back to yesterday morning, where we had a little bit of naughty time under our airline blankets when the lights were dimmed. It was mind-blowingly incredible, plus the idea of being so close to getting caught was pretty exciting.

“It’s a routine check, baby. I’ve had it every July since I was 21. I can’t miss it.”

I hate myself so much right now. I could go for a quick one to prep myself for work after my checkup, but I know it’s not going to do me any good. I’m usually alright with breaking habits from time to time, but I take these important habits seriously. I pull my arm away from him before he could reach my neck. Once he got there, it’s going to break my resolve.

“Then come with me to the convention. Harper could spare losing one if it meant that we’d have more representation on the panels.”

The convention is in two days, and Ethan has to leave by noon tomorrow to leave for his flight. My appointment is at 11 am, so we won’t get to have any intimate time for a week because of the overlap, much to my dismay.

“I know, but at least one Ramsey has to stay in and hold down the fort, right?” I say, even though I only mean half of it.

He beams and pulls me in for a cuddle.

“By the way, have you thought of what you want to go by?”

I had thought of this. Before our wedding, I never really gave it much thought, and I thought maybe I should just continue to be Alexandria Lee, but ever since the day of our wedding, we’ve been Mr and Mrs Ramsey, and I’ve grown to love that.

Mrs Ramsey. It just rolls off the tongue in the most natural way. It’s weird being called missus, but a good kind of weird that you love and get used to. It’s the same feeling when you feel a band around your ring finger for the first time, or when your love places a second one on during the ring exchange. It feels strange, almost unnatural for the first minute, but it fades as quickly as it comes and you just grow to love it.

“I think I’ll hyphenate for professional purposes, but I definitely love the sound of Mrs Ramsey.” I lock eyes with him as a smile floats onto my face. It’s uncontrollable, really. His smile is more infectious than you’d think. Or maybe it’s just the newlywed glow.

“I love it too. And Dr Lee-Ramsey has a nice ring to it.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

He plants a gentle kiss on my forehead, his lips so soft and supple that I could feast on them for days. It’s really too bad we can’t feel each other tonight, or for another week for that matter. It’s not just the steamy things. I’ll miss waking up next to him, falling asleep in his arms, laughing together at dinner, and crying together at those Disney movies that he insists he dislikes, but secretly loves. I’ve grown accustomed to our routine and nuances for the past two years, and sometimes I just need some good forehead kisses to get me through my day. We haven’t been apart that often, and I think it would be best if we could spend even more time together after we’re married.

“I’ll miss you, baby. Can’t someone else go to the convention? Ines or Zaid?” I look at him hopefully.

He sighs as we sink back into bed. He pulls me in, and I collide against his chest. We’ve been pulled apart for too long by ethics and pressure, and it just feels like… we deserve a long, undisturbed time together before our next adventure. I’ve always thought of my life as a story, and marrying Ethan is my happily ever after, but it’s just the end of a very long chapter. Well, at least we’ve got the next one to look forward to. Reality is often disappointing, but it just makes the good moments shine brighter. We learn to be more appreciative, and I certainly appreciate E after our whirlwind romance.

“It’s only a week, and you’re welcome to join me any time. Miami’s just a flight away.”

It’s honestly so tempting, and Harper would understand. In fact, she was the one who convinced us to extend our honeymoon. Although, I know that once I get back to work, I’ll just be in work mode, and I’ll barely even miss him. Okay, that’s a lie. I’ll miss bumping into him at the hospital and giving each other knowing smiles. I’ll miss having lunch and dinner when we’re on shifts. I’ll miss messing around in his office or the supply closet just to sneak in a few kisses during the long workday. I’ll miss holding his hand as we walk to the parking garage. I’ll miss competing to see who Jenner decides to pounce on that day.

But I can’t. My patients matter to me too. I may have taken my vows just a month ago, but I took an oath years ago, and I can’t just ignore my patients for the pursuit of personal pleasure. The both of us had enjoyed ourselves on our honeymoon, but we were constantly checking for updates on their conditions. I need to get back on the ground and make up for the lost time. Catch up with them, make sure they’re as comfortable as they can get before we discharge them.

“What are you thinking about?” He lifts my chin up with his fingers.

“My patients. I miss them. I never got to see Mrs Tabitha get discharged.”

Mrs Tabitha is a sweet, old lady who was under my care for a month, and we really bonded. I would buy her a tea with just a touch of cream every morning, and she knitted me a scarf when I told her that we were going to Switzerland for our honeymoon. She got discharged on week 2 of our honeymoon and I was really happy for her because it meant that she’s recovered, but sad that I couldn’t give her a big thank-you hug before she left.

“I liked her too. It’s not every day you get wife advice from a retired matchmaker.”

“Wife advice?”

“More like Aly advice.” He smirks.

I can tell he’s keeping his lips zipped, and I think I’ll coax it out of him another day. Probably over some tiramisu. He was never the dessert type, but he loves chocolate and tiramisu. Oh, that reminds me: I have to remember to get ladyfinger cookies.

I shoot him a look before pushing myself up to give him a peck on the lips. His hands trailed down to my waist and supported me while we kept our lips locked. He licked my bottom lip, requesting entrance, and I know we might take it a step too far but damn, I’m weak. His tongue explored every crevice of my mouth, and I follow suit. His free hand crept under my shirt and I know that once he starts his gentle caressing, there’s no turning back.

“Let’s do something else, E. You’re way too dangerous.” I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from groaning. I really hate myself sometimes.

“What do you propose?” I could tell he’s unimpressed, slightly grumpy, and yearning for something sinful. He needs his dessert.

“Let’s make chocolate tiramisu.”

#ethan ramsey fanfiction #ethan ramsey #dr ethan ramsey x mc #ethan x mc #open heart #dr ethan ramsey #playchoices

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hellomynudebrain · 3 years

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Paths (Jumin X reader) Part#24 Final chapter

Hello, nurses! Finally, it took me ages, but the final chapter is here! Yay!

Thank you for the nurses who read this story. I couldn’t finish it earlier because lots of thing happened between. My job, my chores, some family problems, a lapsus of depression and more. I don’t want to give more details about it, but we did it. We finished this journey together.

Enjoy the last chapter!

Since the proposal in the party, the efforts of Eve, Jumin and May to control the media were a little bit wasted. Because between the guests you invited were celebrities which atrack paparazzis and the media. The scandal was inevitable, but not all the efforts were wasted, because most of the tittles on the magazines, tabloids and gossip programs where "The misterious cinderella of the C&R prince"

Most of the articules only focus on the proposal night and Jumin, they wrote just a few data, like your workplace and that you were foreigner, nothing else. Your workplace became a mess, your boss saw you like a potential client and started to treat you as a V.I.P. worker which you hate. Some people began to talk behind your back, more than before, but you knew how to deal with that and more. The ban of sharing the bed was still on the table.

You could spend the rest of the afternoon watching a movie on the private theatre or spending the evening reading next to Jumin, but when was the time to go to bed, he ran and locked his bedroom.

With the pass of the months, the news about your engagement were banished and the gossip about you and Jumin in magazines, tv programs and tabloids limited to only an article or none, problably "The triple alliance" , that's how you refer to Jumin, Eve and May, had to do with it.

The wedding was organized by Jaehee, Eve and Ali, except for MC, because her pregnancy was really advanced. However, they were really excited about it. The RFA's girls felt in debt with you since the party. You became their good friend.

The day of the wedding has been prepared, the dress, the reception, the groom, the security was prepared by Eve, Zen was the singer of your wedding.

Inside the rooms of a church,you were in front of a mirror, wearing a replica from the wedding you burnt in Jumin's villa, your hair style was a vintage one, the make up was light but you had red liptick to make it more dramatic.

You felt divine.

A pair of eyes peep from the door behind you, it was Jumin in a white tuxedo, elegant and handsome. You couldn't belive he was about to become your husband.

"Love, you look beautiful."

You blushed with his remark while he looked at you with mesmerised eyes, but that day was not full of sweets and marshmallow, because someone was behind Jumin's back.

A hair color you knew better than anyone, those pair of eyes which made you cry, that smile which you dreamed to see again. It was Jihyun.

"Love, I know he's the last person you want to see this day, but he wants to talk with you."

The person you cried until you fell asleep was in front of you, as if nothing had happened. He entered in the room, like he was an outsider in all of this, you were angry, but even so, you had to talk with him.

"Yes, sure"

Jumin felt like the world tumbled with your answer, he felt that if he left you alone with Jihyun. He'll never see you again, but he could see in your eyes, your real feelings, so he calmed himself and left the room.

"...Hey! Hi!" Jihyun spoke first to you in an awkard manner.

"...yeah...Hi! How have you been?!"

"Fine, thank you for asking....Wow, this is a wedding...hehehe..."

"Yeah...How it's your wife?"

"Oh!...She's good, she's been improving a lot, we are moving in a few days to Alaska"

"That's great!"

You felt how awkard the air was inside the room. However, this was your opportunity to say good bye to the person who was a big part of your life, and finally wish him luck.

"Hey, do you want to take a seat?" You asked him politely.

"Yes, sure.."

"Jihyun look..." You mumbled.

"Why don't we escape from this wedding and live together in far away place?" He asked out of nowhere.

"What?...No! Wait, I don't want to go back with you. You have a wife that you chose to be with and I'm going to marry your best friend who I love with all my heart!"

"...Ah, yes...you're right..."

"Yes!"

"I love you, tho. No matter who you are the rest of your life and no matter who I'm going to be the rest of my life. I will always love you" He spoke desperately.

"Jihyun *sign*... I'm going to tell you this once and only once. So listen, I loved you, more than anyone I have ever loved in my life, but you hurted me like anyone ever have done in my life. Our relationship was one of the best things that happened in my life, but also the most painful one. You chose the guilt over love, I chose love. I wish you the best luck and be happy!"

Your eyes were watering when you said those words to Jihyun, he was crying. He finally could see you in a wedding dress, but the groom wasn't him. You were his soulmate, but you found the love of your life.

"Maybe in our next life, we can be together, but you're right. I chose and you chose. We took different paths. I wish you luck on your married life and here, this is my wedding gift for you..."

He grabbed your hand and gave you a portrait of Jumin when he was a child.

"Thank you, Jumin didn't let me see his old photos!" You smiled with an special shine.

Jihyun could only see how bright you looked when you saw the portrait of the man of your life. Lastly, with regret and sadness in his heart, he leaned toward you and gave you a kiss on your forehead.

"I love you, have a good life. Good bye."

And with that, Jihyun turned his back and left the room. Jumin was outside of the room, he felt insecure, but at the same time he had his trust in you, and he was right when he saw Jihyun leaving the room with some tears in his eyes. He felt bad for his friend but also relief. Jumin rushed where Jihyun was.

"V... I mean Jihyun..."

"Make her happy, Jumin..."

"Yes, I will...where are you going?"

"I'm going back to Jeju island and take Rika with me to Alaska."

"Wait, today?! I thought you will take the flight in a few days..."

"Yes, I don't have the strenght to bear with all of this. It's better if I go"

"Jyhyun...I...I'm sorry..." Jumin said in a apologetic voice.

"Jumin, we are going to be fine. Now go with her, she's waiting for you"

"Yes...go to the back gate, that way the other members won't see you."

"Yeah, thank you, Jumin"

They hugged like brothers who would never see each other again and parted ways.

Finally, after all the drama on the back, the ceremony was taking place.

You were in the entrance of the church holding Jumin's arm walkig slowly but firm to the altar.

Once in front of the altar, Jumin and you gave your wedding vows, exchange rings and sign your marriage with a kiss.

The reception was fun and chaotic. Yoosung took the opportunity to proposed to Ali in the middle of the dance floor. Ali rejected him, but only because Yoosung had to travel to Ali's country and ask her hand to her dad, after that she plans to say yes.

Saeran and Jaehee plan to have a trip together and asked Jumin permission on the wedding, he didn't had any other option than agreed. That was Saeran's plan.

And to end your night, MC entered in labour when Zen was in the middle of his performance.

All of you had to rush the the nearest hospital. So Jumin came out with the idea of taking MC in the wedding limo he prepared for the wedding.

"Come on, Saeyoung! Get in the car! Driver Kim, take us to the hospital!" Jumin yelled.

"OH GOD, PLEASE KILL ME!" MC screamed in pain.

"MC please bear with the pain, we are taking you to the hospital!" Saeyoung spoke with fear.

"Yes...You're going to be a dad, Saeyoung..."

"YES! I'M GOING TO BE A DAD AND MY BROTHER AN UNCLE!"

"Yes, I heard you, stupid brother. Now take my sis to the hospital" Saeran answered annoyed.

"Saeran!" Jaehee screamed to Saeran.

"Eve wenny, my performance was ruined!"Zen spoke with dissapoinment.

"Don't worry Zenny, it worth since we are going to be uncle and aunt!" Eve tried to cheer him up.

"MC, Do you want sugar?" Yoosung asked innocently.

"YOOSUNG! I'M NOT A COW"

"Yoosy, don't worry. We cacth the on the hospital. Let's go" Ali encouraged Yoosung.

MC, Saeyoung and you get inside the limo and driver Kim drove all the way to the hospital.

The doctors and nurses recived MC and take her to the labour ward.

The other members were on their way to the hospital, while Saeyoung was inside with MC.

You and Jumin were on the waiting room, helding hands. Your head on his shoulder.

"Happy wedding day, wife!"

"Hahaha. Happy wedding day, husband.From here on, what do you think is awaiting to us?"

"I don't know...but anything is fine, if you are with me..."

Both of you shared a kiss and from here on, the hapiness was your only path.

The End

#the end #fanfic #mysme jumin #jumin x reader #jumin x you #mysme #mc #mystic messenger #mysme fanfic #paths #wedding

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justsmilestuffhappens · 4 years

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March 26th - Day 4: “You want to marry me?” + love @evanbuckleyweek

Marry and be Merry

Eddie walked into Buck apartment with bags in his arms. He and buck were going to make simple but delicious tacos and watch a new movie tonight while Christopher was at a school lock-in for their last day of school.

He had anything that he might need for if Christopher called with an emergency to be picked up.

Buck was sitting on the kitchen table looking deep in thought at papers.

"You okay?" Eddie asked while putting down the bags.

"I think I'm screwed." Buck said more of a whisper.

"What's wrong?" Eddie moved closer.

"My hospital bills. Most of the visits were covered but others weren't or not fully at the time."

"How much are we talking?" Eddie asked while sitting down next to buck. The food forgotten now.

"So big that I could use the money I'd have gotten from the settlement." Buck gulped.

Oh. Oh, no. This was worse than bad. How could Eddie help?

"But you're back on your full coverage now?" Eddie asked putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah. So the last few weren't a problem but the ones before still are. I don't know what to do. Well I do but I don't like it." Buck frowned.

"What are you gonna do?"

"File for bankruptcy or see if they'll adjust payments so I actually have a chance to start catching up." Buck sighed.

"Buck. That'd be- you shouldn't have to do that." Eddie suddenly felt a pit of anger for the world at never letting buck feel good for long. "What are theses?" He thought to change the subject. At least for tonight, he could keep buck's mind off this problem.

"Other bills and a letter from my Gram's" buck pulled the letter up and opened it.

She was the best. While grandma couldn't be around often she always tried to kept in touch with them. She helped him on getting the jeep when his parents couldn't because he really needed it then.

Eddie looked as buck's brows meet in confusion. "Hmm."

"What is it? She's okay right?"

"She asked why I'm waiting so long to get my inheritance?" Buck said the word like it was a foreign concept.

"What inheritance?"

"I don't know. Let me finish reading this. 'Evan I can't change it within the time left with how busy I am traveling. You have till your thirtieth birthday which will be coming up next year right? I had hoped it'd be a nice wedding gift for your future family but if not it'll be returned to my estate and either split up or given to charity if you all can't agree on what to do with it. I think of you often. Love, Grammy Eve.' What? There's two numbers to call at the bottom." Buck looked it up on the phone.

"She put money away for you?" Eddie surmised while buck got up.

"It's her accountant and a lawyer. I think I've gotta call them to ask about it. I don't remember her ever telling me this. I gotta call her too." Buck was pacing back and forth.

Buck didn't look as down but he did look confused and anxious as he waited for someone to pick up.

After a solid hour and a half he finally got the whole story.

Grandma Evelyn had put a large sum away for him but didn't want him instantly getting it upon being a legal adult so it was suggested to add stipulations.

She'd told Bucks parents and given them a letter before Bucks graduation that she'd have to miss. So either they didn't tell him and kept it or they forgot and lost it. Both options were horrible.

And so buck would have from the age of twenty one to thirty to get married. Upon viewing of a marriage certificate the money would be given to the newly married couple.

"How am I gonna find someone by next year? I haven't dated anyone since Ali. It's not enough to fully cover it but that's a lot. I could pay off the rest way easier." Buck was worrying his lip.

"Did the stipulations say anything about who you could marry?" Eddie asked.

"No. But I don't wanna go to Vegas and find a random person who will even up getting half when they find out. I doubt i could talk them into a prenup. I'd be back at square one." Buck's stomach growled.

"Let's make dinner. We can talk more after."

Once the food was prepared and made they ate as Buck looked less worried. Food always put him in a better mood especially when it was one of his favorites.

"The reason I was asking is because- I mean it doesn't say they have to be a woman. I know you're straight but-" Eddie said.

"I'm pan dude. I mean I've only been with women for a while but I still find others attractive too." Buck corrected him. "Wait.

"Well, you know there's nothing I wouldn't do for you right. I mean, it's not like you could be around us more than you already are." Eddie laughed.

"You, want to, marry, me. me!?" Buck asked like it was a struggle to push out each word.

"Who wouldn't? You're a catch buck. And it doesn't have to be permanent. I mean, I'm just suggesting, because I'm a sure bet and I understand you already so you don't have to explain," Eddie said. "I should be asking if you'd want to marry me."

"Why wouldn't I? You're the one of us with actual experience being married."

"Because she didn't want to be?"

"Who didn't want what? Shannon?"

Buck looked like he was putting together things slowly but surely.

"Before she died, we had dinner. I thought it could be the beginning of us reconciling. But, she told me she wanted a divorce. She still wanted to be a part of Christopher's life but, I think our relationship was just too far gone and she wanted to focus on being a mother."

"Eddie. Am I the first person you told this to?"

"I just- kind of- everything happened so fast. And I couldn't let Christopher know that or see that. Then this happened to you."

"Eds." Buck acted on instinct. He reached out as he stood up bringing Eddie with him.

Eddie was suddenly wrapped in a firm holds by buck's arms. "I'm here. It's gonna be okay."

He felt as Eddie whimpered before he shook quietly.

"I'm so sorry you had to keep that to yourself for so long."

"I only told Bobby. I didn't mean to but after being caught fighting, I was so caught off guard. And it I just did," Eddie whispered.

"Are you sure you're okay with this though?"

"With telling you? You're my best-"

"No. With marrying me? I mean, I don't want it to hurt you more Eddie."

"I could never regret marrying you. I meant what I said. And I realized recently I wasn't as straight as I once thought I was." Eddie said.

"You like me too?" Buck asked.

"No buck. I love you. I know this isn't a good time to say it but I have to if we're doing this. And after, I'd want to give us a shot, if you're okay with that." Eddie said.

"I'd be more than okay with that." Buck smiled. "Eddie can I ki-"

Before he could finish his word Eddie moved forward to kiss him.

"Umm. Could we do that again, I think I liked it. But I wanna know I liked it for sure," buck winked.

"Yeah. We can."

Buck pulled Eddie into another kiss.

Part ( 2 )

#buddie #Buck Buckley #Eddie Diaz #911 #evan Buckley #ficlet #fic #long #my writing #solo mio #nine one one #evan Buckley week #buck week #ew2020 #evanweek2020 #evan buck buckley #evan buckely #marry and be merry

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madhansband · 7 months

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youtube

Song of the week from the previous show:

Mitwa "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" Song Performance From Madhan's Band | Shah Rukh Khan Songs | Wedding

Video Link: https://youtu.be/Ln7FTuzQAOY

For Event Bookings and Enquiries: Call: +919840153443 / +919786766666

Music Band: Madhan's Band & Team Location: Pondicherry

Kindly Support us with your reviews by giving us 5 Star Ratings and by your valuable comments. Madhan's band Google Review Link:

Services we offer: -Corporate Events -Virtual Events -Weddings & parties -Abroad Shows -Musical Instruments Rental

Get in touch with Madhan’s Band:

Website: http://www.madhansband.com/ MOBILE: +91 97867 66666 / +91 98401 53443 EMAIL: [email protected] / [email protected]

Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadhansBandMusic/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Madhansband/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MadhansBand Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MadhansBand Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/MadhansBand/

Original Song Credits:

Singer: Shankar Mahadevan, Caralisa Monteiro, Shafqat Amanat Ali Movie: Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna Lyrics: Javed Akhtar Composer: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy Label: Sony Music Entertainment Starting: Shahrukh Khan,Rani Mukherjee

Lyrics:

Love will find a way Jaaniye heeriye Love will find a way Jaaniye heeriye Mere mann yeh bata de tu Kis aur chala hai tu Kya paya nahi tune Kya dhoondh raha hai tu Joh hai ankahee Joh hai ansuni Woh baat kya hai bata Mitwa kahe dhadkane tujh se kya Mitwa yeh khud se toh na tu chupa Love will find a way Jaaniye heeriye Oh … mere mann yeh bata de tu Kis aur chala hai tu Kya paya nahi tune Kya dhoondh raha hai tu Joh hai ankahee Joh hai ansuni Woh baat kya hai bata Mitwa kahe dhadkane tujh se kya Mitwa yeh khud se toh na tu chupa (Sargam) Jeevan dagar mein Prem nagar mein Jeevan dagar mein Prem nagar mein Aaya nazar mein jab se koi hain Tu sochta hain Tu poochta hain Jiski kami thi kya yeh wohi hain Haan yeh wohi hain Haan yeh wohi hain Tu ek pyasa aur yeh nadi hain Kaahe nahi isko tu khul ke bataye Joh hai ankahee Joh hai ansuni Woh baat kya hai bata Mitwa kahe dhadkane tujh se kya Mitwa yeh khud se toh na tu chupa Oh … teri nigaahen Paa gayi raahen Par tu yeh soche jaun na jaun Yeh zindagi joh hai naachti toh Kyun bediyon mein hain tere paon Preet ki dhun par naach le pagal Udhta agar hai udhne de aanchal Kahe koi apne ko aaise tarsaaye Joh hai ankahee Joh hai ansuni Woh baat kya hai bata Mitwa kahe dhadkane tujh se kya Mitwa yeh khud se toh na tu chupa Mere mann yeh bata de tu Kis aur chala hai tu Kya paya nahi tune Kya dhoondh raha hai tu Love will find a way Jaaniye heeriye Love will find a way Jaaniye heeriye Mitwa mitwa mitwa Love will find a way

#madhansband #youtube #wedding #events #marriage #instrumentals #orchestra #entertainment #wedding music #weddingplanners #wedding plans #wedding planner #event managers #event management #corporate events #shah rukh khan #music #Youtube

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stfreds-arc · 3 years

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@yoursmary sent : 11 + 25 / soft & simple asks , not accepting !

11 —— describe the memory of the last time you felt true happiness .

december 14th, 2011 —— sweetwater, texas.

in a week they will be married: she blooms with the rose shade of youthful exhilaration whenever anyone casts their gaze on her. they’ve picked a bar for the reception, nothing fancy — neither of them are fancy people. this is what one might call a rehearsal dinner, but it’s an excuse like any other to get the drinks flowing, chicken wings on the house, music she dislikes but is strangely perfect for the night, booming from the corner speakers. tonight, for the first time, the motel seems a million miles away; it might as well be right across the ocean, she has a feeling she won’t set foot in there again. she feels sorry for the girls — abandoning them hurts, it’s like giving up pieces of her own ribcage. but they understand, and when they talk about the wedding night they ask shameless questions and they’ve almost lost all those shades of CONCERN from their eyes. sometimes he looks over from the other corner of the bar and he’ll turn to his friends and she can see the way his lips are moving he’s saying something like ‘my girl’, or ‘my wife’, and she feels a tingle in her stomach at that notion of belonging. it feels like a movie — one of those fuzzy romances she catches on the tv sometimes, after a long shift. the ones where the heroine refuses the idea of LOVE until a prince comes and shows her a secret so small, so meaningful it shifts the ground beneath her feet —— the kind where the act of love itself can make small women turn to queens, to goddesses. he whispered it in the car one night, after he proposed : i’ll make a queen out of you. now, when one of the girls touches her shoulders and peers over, looks into her eyes ( oh : angie would have that same look on her face ), and asks : are you sure, fred ? she stops for a second, she trembles inside, but then thinks of those movies. yeah, ali, she says. i’m sure — surer than i’ve ever been. i’m happy. he’s staring, from the other side of the bar. he’s smiling.

he’s happy.

25 —— w hat’s a song that gives off good vibes anytime you listen to it ?

one night, when she was seven or eight, a storm had blacked the ranch out. she wasn’t truly frightened, maybe she just needed that bit of attention eight year olds need from their older siblings — she’d whined and moaned, and while grandpa went out to check on the horses angie grabbed her stereo ( the portable one: it works with batteries, too! angie had proclaimed to justify her purchase years before, when her mother had openly disapproved of her spending so much of her allowance on a stupid thingamajig ), put on the stones. ‘ gimme shelter ’ would’ve sounded ominous, but she’d made a dance of it —— give it ten minutes, the thunders kept rolling but fred’s attention was all focused on twisting her feet, mimicking her sister, singing along. grandpa had shaken his head when he’d gotten back, but he’d laughed when fred had desperately tried to bring him onto their makeshift dance floor. it didn’t work, but she remembers — he never laughed, maybe she made this up. but the memory bubbles back to the surface every time she listens to that song. it carries a heavy baggage, and afterwards she misses them harder than any other moment —— but for a second it always works its magic. reminds her of shelters: chases the storm away.

#yoursmary #sometimes i feel like an inland ocean — hc .#no such thing as good grief baby — ask .#god this was painful to write #maybe that's why it took me 2 months !!#smh #thank you so much for this tho love #even if it took me a lifetime gkjfhg #q.

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themostexpensiveboningknife · 3 years

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2020

Failed party, money in drawer, communicate, move house, move boxes, drive in van, walk to shops, buy noodles, think it’s the end, see whole bus of soldiers in Beijing, new area, walk in darkness, think about leaving, leave, think its temporary, in taxi, post stupid photos, check and check again phone, think people with goggles on my plane are over reacting, take off my mask to eat, keep taking off to loosen, arrive back in London. Tube. Cold. Pub. Party at WeWork. Exhibition at Dulwich Gallery. Farringdon. Drugs and drinks. Brockley, South east London. DJ. Ethiopian food. Morley’s Peckham. Walking on the River. Photographer friend’s house. Canal cycle. National Gallery. Car crash, Dalston. Omar Souleyman. Corsica Studios. Meet girl, back to my friends, back to hers, sex. Morning up to mum’s best friends birthday, Covent Garden restaurant. In a van, Sunday roast. Chisenhale Gallery. arebyte Gallery. Getting worse in China, seems nice and easy and calm in England. Camberwell beers and more. Second-hand book shops, Charing Cross Road. Courtauld. Leafed through a book about a man who lived his entire 86.5 years in East London. Still talking to the same girl back in China. Both believe I’ll be back soon. Chicken wings. West London, meal. South London pub. DJing somewhere inside. Kent, see grandma. Rave, Bermondsey. Friends from Israel and Germany arrive. More drinks, more drugs. Mixing friends. Gay bar in Bethnal Green for old friend’s birthday. Acid, confused and hilarious. Tate Britain. Serpentine. Cranes on the bridge. Liverpool Street film screening. Feels shallow, but good. Begin regular E Pellici sojourns. Primrose Hill with Dad. Beer festival with Keaton and co. Peckham, school friend’s house, bad vibe. More drinks, more drugs. Working on first music compilation with Slowcook and Fafa. Begin watching all of the Studio Ghibli movies. Watching Breaking Bad. At some point have huge argument with my brother, it went like this: He came home from work and I was sitting watching Breaking Bad, he asks, “Have you been like that all day?” I either took it in the wrong way or picked up on a sly dig. It was probably me, but at this point I was pretty self-conscious and worried about going back to China and whether or not I would have a job back there. Was getting surprisingly pissed off with my brother mentioning his work, felt like an affront to me. Weird. He goes crazy (he has a short fuse), punching a wall, ready to fight me. My mum is pretty upset. A few days later I go into his room and try to patch things up. Turns into a deeper chat. He feels like I haven’t been a good brother to him, he gives the example of not looking out for him on his first days of school. I say I’m sorry, it’s because I’m a bit scared and insecure. In retrospect I regret a little laying so much weakness on the table, seems his interactions/ways of acting around me have changed a bit. Still not sure how I feel about it all. Considered getting a gold tooth with Matthew. Play with cats, enjoying them more and more. Rave in Dalston, good music from Asia and beyond. Looking at magazines. Not doing much work at all. Being out and about instead. Go to Norfolk. It’s beautiful, but get way too drunk on first night, sick everywhere, wake up naked in sick. Massive fucking shitshow. Majority of people there have no choice but to act weirdly around me now, which is understandable. Still some nice aspects. One girl there surely hates me a lot. Tate Modern. Art stuff by self is good. Corsica Studios, semi-art, semi-music event. Mr. Bao for first time of many. Radio in Tottenham. Take drugs. Pubs. Drive to Asda with brother to stock up on food. It’s March and the reality of the pandemic is hitting. More canal cycling. First and only group chat on Zoom. BH Funk. Probably have taken cocaine and messaged one of three or four girls numerous times by now. If there’s one, in the cold light of day, horrible and disgusting thing I’ve done too much this year it’s this. Incessant messaging of poor girls that I know will react (although increasingly they don’t, I manage to alienate even close friends in this way). Southbank and The Mall with Nick. Reading about Wuhan. List of good texts. Continuing to do some writing. Making WeChat posts for guī WeChat, including mix series and miniessays. Greenwich park with Matthew. Grime quiz online. Delivering food regularly for my mum’s school. Hackney Marshes with Luan. Epping Forest with Mum and Dad. By this point probably have woken up feeling sorry for myself in Ludo’s flat, after untold amounts of alcohol and cocaine. Online rave. Beijing artists only mix. Go to Switzerland, pass through Italy on the way. Its breath taking, the mountains, the expanse of scenery, not used to it. Climbing up mountains with no one around. Rolo and Patrick and Rita smoke too much weed. I really, really, really still hate smoking it. Feel a bit annoyed how long we spend sitting around while they smoke, but this is way outbalanced by the uniqueness of where we are and the beauty all around. Producing more and more, actually getting somewhere. Cooking more and more food. Reading more and more, like: Black and British, The Corrections, Real Fast Food, Bass, Mids, Tops, Zadie Smith, Olivia Lang, Graham Greene, JG Ballard, Monica Ali, Mo Yan, Jenny Zhang, John le Carre, Naked Lunch, Nabokov, Bukowski, Zora Neale Hurston, Wiley, Bitcoin, Murakami, Judith E. Butler, The Painter of Modern Life, Maupassant, Chekov, Video Art, Gravity’s Rainbow (couldn’t finish), Anaïs Nin, The Net Delusion (couldn’t finish), The Establishment and how they got away with it (couldn’t finish), Roddy Doyle, The Secret of Scent, General Intellects, Women In Love, The Intelligent Investor, Lyndon Johnson. Victoria Park more often than I can remember. To Chrissy’s house. Mile End Park. Very regularly sitting on the river in Wapping. Bring the chessboard and play Ludo sometimes, people smile and look at you differently when you’re playing chess and drinking beers versus just sitting and drinking beer. I May Destroy You. Industry. The beautiful wide expanse of Hackney Marshes. My incessant quest to reach 1000 followers in Instagram. More cycling, and I hate to say it but it really was: Here there and everywhere. Margate with my Dad to see my grandma in hospital and saw the Turner Prize exhibition. Light blue like scrubs, the sky and sun felt eternal. Swimming in dirty water. Make a DJ mix of old 2000s Road Rap. Eat cheese in Peckham. Cycle along the canal north, keep going and going through Tottenham, past Enfield keep going, it’s mad how quickly it becomes quiet fields on all sides, arrive to some kind of lake, swim and then back to the centre of town. Outside a Hawksmoor church in Shadwell ate chicken with Karim and Ludo. DJing. From my bedroom window saw a big crane in the middle of the night sitting on the canal. Begin developing the second DCCY compilation this time with BULLY magazine. Go to a house in an old school in Camberwell. Discover new secret riverside spots in East London. Finally give up my apartment in Beijing. Mile End park. Cycle further and further East to a pedestrian bridge I didn’t know existed. Get onto the beach and into the Thames water. Interview Akito. Begin writing more, after few months of wiling away the summertime. My friend Emmy gets married in Rwanda, I give him some money as a wedding gift which he tells me he used to buy his wife’s dress. Protests in HK always on TV. Get more into finances, crypto and trading, and just saving in general. Had sex with an old friend. Now meeting a girl I first knew years ago in Beijing. More secret river spots. Keaton has his baby, Noah. More times on Hackney Marshes. Barbican conservatory. Watching more films, try to watch all the films of some directors including: Jia Zhangke, Bong Joon-ho, Edward Yang, Wong Kar-wai, Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Decide to watch all of the infamous lauded series, go through Breaking Bad, The Wire and The Sopranos. Go to the seaside for a few days, camping also. Henry Wu album launch in a car park in Bermondsey. Go to visit Keaton’s baby for the first time. Good photography exhibition at Photographer’s Gallery. Go to Wallace Collection again. August. Go to Berlin. Swimming in Berlin lakes until I get an ear infection. It makes me drowsy and lethargic, but still seems to spend all my time cycling around the city. On one night cycle for hours to a rave on the outskirts of the city. Like a lot the abandoned airport in Berlin. Oh yeah, vaping. Found a dead bumble bee. Speak with Nevin about projects. Write a piece about the future of the art world for a magazine being started by Nevin’s friend in Canada. Go to Lithuania. Walk around Vilnius, get too drunk by myself. Get to the Curonian Spit and Nida, beaches and new friends. For the Nightlife Residency project. For a short while life is like on a desert island of new food, new people, new locations, quiet and new meaning. Go to the Russian border on the beach. Cycle to the road boarder and get stopped by the police. Go nude on the beach for the first time. Sauna, sand dunes and forests. DJ out for the first time in ages, this time with Nono. To Kaunus and try nice and stodgy Georgian food for the first time. Hackney Wick back for party. Meet a ginger girl online and go on a date. Wallace Collection again. Free beer and pizza. White Cube. National Gallery, Titian. On BBC Radio London with my Dad. Riverside beers. Saw a lost swan near my front door. Meet Keaton near his work, one of many times. Making more and more music, getting better. Decide I need more organisation and clarity, put everything I’ve done on a blog. More or less long since given up on my job at M Woods. But don’t really begin looking for anything new because it’s still sunny. At some point I start getting benefits money. Go to see La Haine in the cinema. Someone blocks me on WeChat because of me. Some pub somewhere. Sunday walks and breakfast with my parents. Go to an exhibition in Woolworth Road with Muzi. Realise how nice it is to run to Victoria Park along the canal. Vicky Park in general. Dinners at friends’ houses. Museum of London. Walking with Michael in some countryside near London, surprising how quickly things turn green. Break onto a pier in Wapping with Jack. Battersea Park. Tate, Bruce Nauman. Old Street Weatherspoon’s with Keaton, drugs. Central London cemetery. Chinese in Camberwell. Chinese in Aldgate. Italian in Camberwell. More and more exercise, running, weights and yoga with my brother. Sadie Coles. Nick, Central London. Gucci Mane. Hampstead Heath more because Ludo and his flatmates are nearby. Ludo’s now house more for days and nights of you guessed it. Borough Market more, with Emma. Alexandra Palace walk and famous sandwiches after. Tate Britian new lights. More time at Muzi’s. Signing up for cycle courier. LYL Radio show. Shave head. Take acid and it hurts my stomach. Camden Arts Centre with Muzi. Christmas party with friends. Birthday. Cake with Muzi, presents and Indian takeaway from family, walk in Vicky Park with Ludo and Karim plus battered sausage and chips. Christmas at home nice and warming meal. Evening to Ludo’s place with more friends. Boxing day with Matthew, pints and then more at his house in Peckham all night long. Next day is tough! Giant turkey sandwiches, turkey soup, turkey curry. Buy first NFTs. New Year’s Eve stay in at Muzi’s, one drink and a cake.

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