#re-meetcute

[skyler10fic]

Fall Back Into You

Summary:

Carol Danvers and Daisy Johnson were high school sweethearts, but when leaving for university pulled them apart, they broke up and went their separate ways. Now they are adults who just got jobs after graduation...

For @yearoftheotpevent's high school sweethearts (also sort of hurt/comfort!)

Read on Ao3 | Fic Playlist

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Chapter 1: Haunted by the Ghost of You

Carol was 23 tonight. She’d put on a good show being happy with her friends at the bar, but now alone on her fire escape, one foot dangling off as she watched the lights of the city below, the birthday just ached. She swirled the beer in the bottle before bringing it to her lips, then leaned back against the brick wall and sighed.

Pathetic. That’s the word for being a 23-year-old still pining for her high school sweetheart. Undergrad had been chaotic enough to distract her, but now that was over and real life had begun. Her lifelong dream of being a pilot ended in withdrawing from the ROTC Air Force officer path and focusing all of her attention on aerospace R&D. Her friend group had shrunk to a few who stayed in the LA area after graduation. Now she was hoping that an entry-level university job and grad school would keep her from feeling… well, anything.

Someone tonight said her parents would have been proud of her. But Carol huffed out a bitter laugh at the thought now that she was alone. She’d wanted to respond, “We’ll never know, will we?”

Her dad had been upset at rumors that his 14-year-old daughter had been seen holding hands with another girl in ways that solidified what everyone had suspected. Mom had convinced him to go with her to the Officer’s Club banquet on base. While they were out, there was a storm. He’d had too much to drink. He’d been so angry. And he never saw the speeding truck that hydroplaned right through the red light at a flooded intersection.

How could she take comfort in assurances that her parents would be proud when the last words they spoke to each other were shouted through tears and pleas for the other to change?

The next four years at a new high school in California, living with Aunt Wendy, had helped heal not only Carol’s complicated grief over her parents’ death but the complicated life they had had as a family. And the brightest light breaking through those clouds was a transfer student in their sophomore year: Daisy Johnson. Carol had been understandably terrified to be too close to Daisy, especially with such an obvious crush on her. Still, in time, surrounded by Aunt Wendy and the school GSA and Daisy’s persistence in flirting without pushing Carol’s boundaries too far, Carol had let herself fall head over heels. Daisy and Carol were always together. Eventually, the summer after graduation closed this chapter of their lives. One fateful August night, they drove out to the desert and lay in the bed of Carol’s pickup stargazing and savoring each second together, knowing that in the morning, Daisy would be headed to MIT and Carol would move into her dorm at Caltech.

A long-distance relationship seemed impossible, especially with no guarantee of living on the same side of the country anytime soon. They said a tearful goodbye that night—and again in January after they hooked up during winter break, and again as Daisy called to let Carol know her parents were moving to the East Coast that summer and Daisy wouldn’t be in California again for the foreseeable future. They had to stop pretending. It was really over. Closure.

But for Carol, Daisy haunted her even still, all these years later. She tried to date, but it always felt like cheating somehow. A thousand times, Carol thought about reaching out, but Daisy’s sobs over the phone that last time they spoke always stopped her. Let her go, Carol told herself. Let her move on. Daisy had a right to live her own life without the burden of some girl she dated in high school still bothering her. Who knows, by now she could be married and happy with someone else.

Carol tried to count her blessings as she watched the traffic move along the highways below. She wasn’t alone in this life. She had a beloved brother 10 years older who had practically raised her along with their aunt. A group including a best friend who had her back no matter what and a goddaughter whose smile lit up the world. A new boss and faculty advisor who believed in her at a new university for a fresh start.

And a new, quiet one-bedroom apartment full of boxes to unpack in this city of possibilities. They said anything could happen here. She looked up to the sky, though she knew the stars were rare due to light pollution, and most of the pinpricks of light turned out to be airplanes. A jet shot across the sky and she pretended it was a shooting star.

She made a birthday wish for something good, a pleasant surprise, to make this year more than just another cycle of pain and numbing. She figured that was specific enough for any trickster god and vague enough to appease her therapist’s encouragement to stay open to joy and hope.

The horn honks of taxis, chatter on the street, and the tunes of a midnight busker serenaded her as she finished her beer and headed inside to get some rest. Careful not to trip over any half-unpacked boxes, she tossed the empty beer bottle in the recycling on her way to the bathroom to get ready for bed. She washed her face quickly, ashamed of the tear-streaked makeup, and then felt silly for feeling ashamed since she was alone and no one had seen it anyway. Or maybe she was ashamed that the heartache hadn’t just been grief for her parents or fear about her new life, but missing someone she should have gotten over a long time ago.

—------------------

The wicker couches of the bar’s outdoor patio provided a perfect place for gossip and bonding between a small circle of UCLA coworkers.

“Alright, that’s enough about Fitz and me and the wedding. How about you, Daisy? Any new love interests this summer?” Jemma asked Daisy. This girls’ night was getting more confessional the longer they talked into the night and the more cocktails they drank. A waiter came by with their bellinis, and Daisy took the opportunity to think about how much to share with these new friends.

“I’ve only been here a few months,” Daisy pointed out, but the girls called her out for deflecting the question. “I don’t know, I dated around in college, some girls, some guys, but nothing really stuck and I guess I just want to settle in here before trying again.”

“You never know,” Elena remarked with a small shake of her head. “I met Mack before I’d even moved back from Miami. My sister-in-law introduced me to people here to try to get me back in LA, and now…” She held up her hand with a ring to make any girl jealous.

Daisy shrugged. “I guess it could happen. It’s just been a really long time since anything has gone past a third or fourth date. Love just doesn’t work out for me.”

“C’mon,” Piper prodded. “Give us something. Surely you’ve been in love before, right?”

“Well…” Daisy squirmed. The alcohol washed away her filters and hesitancy. “There was once. A long time ago. It’s stupid.”

This led to a cacophony of “No, tell us!” “Oh you can’t tease us and then not…” “Daisy…”

She was in too deep and couldn’t stop now. She sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I can’t believe I’m telling you all this. Okay, so there was this girl in high school.”

“Aw, teenage sweethearts?” Jemma cooed.

“Yeah, yeah,” Daisy admitted sheepishly, “the whole prom photos, holding hands under our desks, making out in the parking lot, Valentine’s flowers and candy kind of deal. Suuuuper cheesy. We were there for each other through everything, and I thought we’d be together forever. But we both got into our dream schools. Caltech didn’t accept me, and MIT didn’t accept her, and the decision was made for us. So we broke up.”

“And you haven’t seen her since?” Piper filled in. She was on the edge of her seat, fully invested.

“I mean, okay,” Daisy laughed and rolled her eyes at herself a bit, “we did sort of spend the following Christmas and New Years together, but then after that, my parents moved to be closer to me and to my mom’s parents in Boston, and we needed to get on with our lives. She’s way out of my league anyway. She was going to be an Air Force pilot, maybe even become an astronaut, and I work in IT. She was literally reaching for the stars, and I spend all day writing code and eating Doritos.”

Jemma sent Daisy an expression that said she was being too hard on herself. “You’re a cybersecurity specialist for The University of California system, that’s not exactly failure by any measure.”

Daisy took a sip of her drink and smiled to herself. “You didn’t know her. She was perfect. Not just Barbie blonde—sure, she was beautiful—but so fierce and smart and brave. I could never have been enough for her anyway. She’s probably prepping to go to Mars or something right now.” Daisy laughed, but behind it, the women could see past it to the ache. They fell quiet.

Elena broke the ice, “And here you are with us. Damn, that’s sad.” They all laughed.

Jemma raised her glass. “I propose that Sunday brunch is devoted to making a dating app profile for Daisy, who’s with me?”

“Here here!” Piper clinked her glass with Jemma’s.

“Hey!” Daisy protested.

“Girl, you need to get back out there,” Elena agreed and clinked her glass.

Daisy didn’t think anything would come of it, so she accepted it solely as an opportunity to grow closer with these new friends. She had known Jemma before moving here through Fitz, who had also gone to MIT, but Elena, Piper, and the rest of their crew were still getting to know and accept her as part of the family. Might as well go along with this game, and at worst, she’d get to know more people in LA. At best, maybe she’d be proven wrong that true love only came once in a lifetime and if you missed it or it came too early, nothing else could compare.

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Chapter 2: One Single Thread of Gold Tied Me to You

Daisy scrolled through social media apps on her lunch break, stabbing a salad with a plastic fork with the other hand. Early September in LA was still summer hot, so she sat indoors in the faculty club cafe under too-bright lights and surrounded by faculty bragging about their research or star students. She’d been one of those students once. Now she was successfully launched into the professional world, scrolling through photos of engagement announcements and tragic news events and lists of self-care tips that always ended in a discount code for their products.

She sighed and opened her newest app, the dating profile her friends had set up a few weeks ago. Daisy looked around to make sure no one could see what she was swiping through and then checked the options the app presented her with this week.

She dropped her fork and paled as she swiped to reveal a familiar face. Grown up now, but still a blonde bombshell, with a smile that didn’t quiet extend to her eyes. Others probably wouldn’t notice, but Daisy still remembered every expression that provided a window into Carol’s innermost thoughts. The profile details were sparse, but Daisy read over them like they were water in the desert. Carol wasn’t a pilot after all. And she was still here in LA. Close by, living within a mile, the app said.

Daisy remembered to breathe and swiped through the photos once more. Paddleboarding, hiking, a very sexy picture of her doing archery in a sports bra and tiny shorts… Daisy was tempted to screenshot that one, but it felt a little creepy.

“Hey!” Fitz greeted her and launched into an enthusiastic update on how his latest project was doing as he sat down. Daisy jumped and dropped her phone, but not before hitting the huge heart to “like” Carol’s profile.

“Shit shit shit,” Daisy cursed as she saw what she’d done. She unliked it, but it was too late. She knew Carol would get the notification all the same. Maybe Carol didn’t have notifications on and never checked this app. It didn’t seem like she was all that active or interested in it given how little was on her profile.

Fitz, of course, required an explanation, and before she was done, Jemma had joined them, and Daisy had to start the humiliating story all over again.

Fitz and Jemma exchanged a silent expression that said loud and clear that they were plotting something, but for Daisy’s sake, the couple moved on to discussing how their first-year students were faring in the labs they taught.

—---

When her morning shift was done, Carol checked her phone as she walked to the faculty club cafe for lunch, and the first notification made her stop in her tracks, right outside the door.

“It can’t be,” she mumbled to herself. It wasn’t just a Daisy who had liked her profile, but her Daisy. The photo showed a more mature 23-year-old verson of her ex, but it was undoubtedly her. Single, then. No kids. And the app said she lived not far from the university. Here. Not 3,000 miles away. Two. Two miles. That fact repeated over and over in Carol’s mind.

The profile was marked as brand new, only created in the last month. And Daisy had found her. Maybe the like meant she didn’t know whether to say hi, if Carol would want to reconnect. Or maybe she just wanted to acknowledge that they were both in the same area, on the same app, and this was her way of avoiding starting a conversation. Or maybe she did want to talk, even just to catch up as old long-lost friends, and wanted to make sure Carol could handle it. Could she handle it?

If it gave her the chance to see Daisy again, even if just for a few hours over a drink? She could handle anything.

Which was a very lucky conclusion, because the door she had stopped in front of to stare in shock at her phone opened outward. Quickly.

“Ow!” Carol held her cheek and backed away from the door, squinting her eyes shut in pain. “Damn.”

“Sorry! Sorry!” a familiar voice rushed out before changing tone completely. “Ohhhh my God.”

Carol put her hand down and opened her eyes. They stared at each other, speechless for an eternity.

“Hi,” Carol said finally. This was not at all the reunion she’d dreamt of for over four years.

“Hey.” Daisy returned and smiled breathlessly. “Oh! We should get you ice. That’s gonna bruise. Sorry, again.”

“It’s not your fault, I should have…” Carol saw her opportunity and took it, no matter how purple her cheek was about to become, as they walked to the ice dispenser. “Well, okay, it is kinda your fault.”

As they reached their destination, Daisy sent Carol a puzzled look as Carol held up her phone. Carol unlocked it and showed that it was open to Daisy’s dating app profile.

“You liked me,” Carol explained. “And that’s why I was standing there.”

“So you stopped in front of the door to see what a dork I still am, and then there I was, hitting you in the face.” Daisy laughed and held a wad of napkins filled with ice up to Carol’s face.

Carol’s hand replaced Daisy’s on the makeshift ice pack, but their bodies stayed close.

“How are you here?” Carol asked in awe, hardly able to believe her eyes.

“I work here.” Daisy shrugged. “My friends started grad school here this summer, and they helped me find a job in cybersecurity. I was ready to come back anyway. I’ve missed a lot about this city.”

The conversation easily could have gone into small talk jokes about Boston winters or comparing traffic or all the flaws of Southern California. But Carol was stuck on the fact that she was now coworkers with her high school sweetheart.

“Yeah? Like what?” Carol let the leading question slip out before she caught herself. Of course Daisy didn’t mean her. She couldn’t have even known Carol was still in the area, much less at the same university in the same city.

Daisy smiled and shook her head. “Maybe some of the people.”

Jemma and Fitz saw them and rushed over.

“Wait, is this…?” Jemma asked as soon as Carol lowered the dripping, melting ice napkins.

“I’ll get a proper ice pack,” Fitz volunteered. “But don’t share any juicy details until I get back.”

Carol looked to Daisy for an explanation, so Daisy made the introduction.

“Jemma, this is Carol. Carol, this is my friend Jemma who was with me right after I liked your profile and I told her about us. And that was Fitz, Jemma’s fiance. He also knows the whole story.”

“Ah.” Carol understood Fitz’s comment now.

Jemma shook Carol’s hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Really?” Carol couldn’t hide how this pleased her and decided to turn it into teasing Daisy. “You told your friends about me?”

“No, not a lot. It came up in conversation, like twice,” Daisy explained. “One of which was a few minutes ago about your profile on this dating app that Jemma made me join.”

Carol turned back to Jemma. “I’m glad you did.”

Fitz returned with the ice pack, but as soon as he handed it over to Carol, Jemma ushered him away. “We’re going to let you two talk now.”

Despite Fitz’s protests, Jemma led him toward the exit with a hand on his back. “I’ll fill you in, just come with me.”

When the other couple was gone, Daisy turned back to Carol. “I hate to say this, but I really need to get back to work. How much time do you have? Do you want to grab something and walk me back?”

“Yes!” Carol answered a bit too quickly. Daisy waited as she grabbed a chicken sandwich and fruit cup to-go and paid. They left the building and began walking toward Daisy’s office. “I still can’t believe you’re here.”

“I can’t believe you’re not stationed on the moon or something!” Daisy playfully hit Carol’s arm. “I would have thought you’d be spending more time in the air than on the ground these days. It never would have occurred to me to look for you down here.”

Carol shrugged. “Didn’t work out.”

“It was your dream for so long…”

“Yeah! Not great at blindly obeying orders, it turns out.” Carol deadpanned, and they broke into a snort-laugh.

“Okay, yeah, that makes sense,” Daisy giggled, remembering their teenage shenanigans.

“Plus Dr. Fury talked me into R&D. I’m over there.” Carol pointed to a building down the street. “Come by sometime and I’ll show you around. At least, the parts I know about. I’ve only been on the job this summer.”

“I started in August. For a month, we’ve been this close and never knew it.”

“Now we do.”

“Painfully aware?” Daisy made the joke about Carol’s bruise so she didn’t have to. They stopped in front of Daisy’s building. “This is me.”

“Hey, do you have plans for dinner tonight?” Carol stuck her free hand in her pocket, and she scuffed her shoe on the ground, suddenly feeling 16 again.

“For you? I’m always free,” Daisy promised. “But yeah, I also don’t have any plans anyway. Wanna show me your favorite spot?”

“I know just the place. 6’clock. I’ll text you the address.” Carol smiled. Muscle memory told her to peck a kiss goodbye, but Carol didn’t want to rush things and didn’t even know if Daisy was open to even potentially having those feelings again, so she used all of her willpower to draw back and walk away.

“You still have my number?” Daisy asked, just to be sure.

“Same as always?”

“Yeah. Same as always.” Daisy’s heart fluttered. After all this time, Carol kept it. That was a very good sign. Then maybe she’d pick up that it wasn’t just Daisy’s number that hadn’t been lost to time.

—---------------

Carol’s fire escape was crowded that night with two reunited lovers, two bowls of pasta, and four years' worth of stories and emotions and life. They talked long after the bowls had been replaced by glasses of wine and the sunset over the Pacific far on the horizon had been replaced by the nearer lights of the city, giving hope in the dark.

Maybe not everything dies in the fall. Maybe some things that go dormant in summer regrow years later, in the first chilly breeze of autumn nights.

#daisy johnson #carol danvers #aos #agents of shield #captain marvel #daisy x carol #carol x daisy #wlw #sapphic fic #femslash #lesbian carol danvers #bisexual daisy johnson #skywriting #rated: g #re-meetcute #year of the otp #university staff au #background parental homophobia #background parental death

[insertcoolnameherethanks]

Dating apps aren't for me

#Was about to re-download one and then the memories from last time hit...can't do that again #Where is the devotion where is the love when will it be my turn for a meetcute #Hello I'm speaking here

[strangerstilinski]

𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙮

summary: Steve gives his best friend some admittedly questionable dating advice — but it all works out in the end.

fem!reader ~ just a silly and awkward little meetcute. alcohol consumption. lots of pining. far too many mentions of robin's freckles. and i threw in a silly moment with steve because, well, this is me we're talking about and how could i not? fluff [1.9k]

a/n: baby's first robin fic — wow! as always, please leave some love in the form of comments and feedback if you enjoy xx

Steve has practically sworn on his life that the pick-up line will work on you. On the condition, of course, that Robin delivers it with the right amount of cool nonchalance, with just enough flirty undertone to let you know her intentions.

So, naturally, Robin is repeating the phrase over and over again in her head, because the last thing she wants to do is screw up this monumental opportunity her best friend has practically laid out in front of her. Though, now that she's making her way toward you, she's belatedly realizing that Steve's confidence is almost entirely based on the fact that the line had worked on him when a girl used it at a party. Which was... Decidedly not the most reliable focus group, but she's determined to push past her fear regardless. Plus, Steve has technically shared more words with you than Robin ever has — even if that does equate to a single conversation to Robin's zilch.

Was it against her better judgment to willingly accept dating advice from Steve Harrington? Maybe, but she manages to swallow past her anxiety long enough to push the words out anyway.

"Is this seat taken?"

The words pull you out of where you've been lost your own head. The music coming from the boombox at the corner of the patio, paired with the raucous laughter from the group splashing around in the pool, had lulled you into a trance-like state.

You were third-wheeling beside Nancy and Jonathan, because you work with them and they're really the only people that you really know at this party. So you might kind of be clinging to them a bit.

You've let your mind wander in an effort to remain unbothered by their flirty laughter, especially with the way that light intoxication and the chaos in the Harrington backyard has slowly brought the volume of their conversation from hushed to outright loud beside you.

Before you knew it, you've spent a good fifteen minutes sipping steadily on your drink and watching the ants march in and out of a gaping crack in the cement in a mindless daze. So, when you hear the question, your head snaps up so hard it nearly gives you whiplash as you focus on the girl standing in front of you.

You've seen her before, but that does nothing to lessen the blow of just how pretty she is. So pretty. Her cheeks are still a little pink from the setting sun, freckles marking her skin everywhere your eyes land as your gaze rakes over her. A wonderfully short pair of denim cutoffs cover the tops of her thighs, and you have a hard time forcing your gaze to continue to travel upward. She's picking at the label on one of the bottles of beer in her hands, both of them dripping with ice water from the cooler she must've snatched them from. Her eyes are wide, a panicked little grimace pulling at her lips before she seems to shake herself off and school her expression into something more relaxed.

"Hey, Robin." Nancy acknowledges sweetly, Jonathan nodding in greeting beside her.

The pretty girl, Robin, smiles in response, albeit tightly, before her attention moves determinedly back to you. She blinks once, twice. Shifts on the balls of her feet and repositions her beers, the glass clinking as they knock together between cold fingers. Her gaze flicks just once to something or someone over your shoulder and she seems to nod to herself once before an adorably nervous little smile pulls at her lips.

You've only ever seen fleeting glimpses of her from afar as she re-shelves movie rentals at Family Video. You'd tried to catch her at the check out counter one time, but Steve Harrington had crushed your hopes the moment he had nudged his co-worker away with a not-so-hushed whisper about letting him test the waters that had your shoulders slumping dejectedly.

When he'd spotted the empty plastic case in your hands, he'd squared his shoulders, a poor attempt at nonchalence, "Gremlins, huh? Uh.. Gun to your head! Who's hotter — Phoebe Cates or Zach Gilligan?"

You'd laughed before correcting him, "Galligan. Gilligan is the guy on the deserted island."

He'd only waved you off, taking the crumpled dollar bills you pulled from your pocket with an oddly pointed comment about how pretty Phoebe Cates was though, right? You blame the way his eyes had flashed with something like excitement when you'd agreed as the reason for your next comment-

"But all time celebrity crush? Gotta be Claudia Wells." You'd paused after the admission before continuing somewhat nervously, "Y'know, from uh, Back To The Future?"

"Oh! The guy's hot mom?"

"Oh, no. His, um, Marty's girlfriend. I just think she's a little softer than Cates. Pretty but still approachable, y'know? Girl Next Door. That kinda thing."

He hadn't looked judgmental, but the moment you'd left the store and the adrenaline brought on by the absurd encounter had receded, you'd been mortified with yourself for being so goddamn transparent. You'd almost gone back a week later, hoping to see the cute mystery girl working the counter again — alone, preferably — but in the end you'd chickened out. Had a friend return your rental for you and you hadn't been back since.. Because she really was nerve-wrackingly pretty, and you were a coward.

But right now she's looking at you expectantly. Waiting.

"Hi?" You manage, words soft and unsure.

The playing field doesn't quite feel even with her standing above you. It's a bit unfair, you think as you blink up at her a little dumbly — It's hard to focus when her attention is on you like this. The sky is a backdrop of pink and orange behind her, stunning little shadows collecting beneath the bridge of her nose and the ridge of her brow. Perfect teeth dig in at the corner of her lower lip with her smile. There's a pale stripe of skin at the base of her middle finger, untouched by the sun and only visible because the chunky ring she's wearing has gone slightly askew against one of the beer bottles in her hand.

"Hi," Robin returns, just the single syllable sounding giddy on her tongue. Blue eyes drop to where you sit on the stone bench beside Nancy, gaze lingering on the bare skin of your thighs beneath your shorts before they travel back up to meet your own again. "Is this seat taken?" She repeats, a little more hopeful this time.

"Oh." It only comes out a little dejected. You look toward Nancy and Jonathan in your peripherals, as if willing another space on the stone bench to suddenly appear — When one doesn't, you sigh. The nearly empty plastic cup in your hands crunches when you clutch it a little tighter to your chest. Your jaw tightens, heel scuffing against cement as you kick your foot out in preparation to rise and relinquish your seat. "No, I mean.. Yeah, you can have it." You nudge Nancy with your arm, chin to your shoulder as you speak a little softer, "I'm gonna go grab a drink and, um.. Mingle."

The look on Nancy's face immediately gives away the fact that she knows there's no way in hell that you plan to do anything of the sort. You are not a person who mingles, Nancy and Jonathan both know this. However, before Nancy can say anything, Robin is speaking again.

"No!" She nearly yells, voice cracking. Her eyes have gone a little wide. She takes a small step closer, one of her knees knocking against your own and effectively impeding your ability to stand.

"..No?" You echo in confusion.

"Um," Robin swallows harshly, curling in on herself just a little. Her face scrunches with embarrassment, her teeth scraping along her lip. She blows out a harsh breath before thrusting one of the beers in her hands toward you, "Here! I, uh, I brought this over for you."

You bend to place your plastic cup beneath the bench in a flash, entirely too eager when you reach out to take the offering. You get a little distracted by the way her fingers glisten with condensation, and your stomach outright flips when they brush your own in the transfer.

"Oh. Thank you," You feel a bit like a schoolgirl with the airy cadence that slips into your voice. Her touch lingers for a moment, blue eyes seemingly glued to the place where your index finger covers her pinky around the neck of the bottle. "You can totally still have my seat," You add quickly, "I don't mind! Like I said-"

"Actually-" Robin interrupts, "Well, actually, I thought- If you want, of course- I thought we could maybe, kind of, in a way, share the seat?" It comes out as a question and only serves to make you more confused. "I thought – again, if you want – I thought I could, possibly, sit.. on your lap. Just, because.. You know, that way you could avoid forfeiting your seat and maybe, you and I, we could get to know each other a little better? But we totally don't have to! That's okay too! Absolutely okay, in fact. You can just enjoy that beer and I'll go-"

She's already shuffling a small step back as her words bleed together in her anxious rambling. Your free hand catches her wrist to pull her back before she can get too far, your legs parting to allow her to slip between them. Her knees brush the insides of your thighs and your heart thumps entirely too obnoxiously beneath your ribs in response.

"I don't mind," You say quickly. Your fingers shake with the adrenaline that washes over you suddenly and you give a gentle tug to urge her to sit. "You can sit. You can absolutely sit."

She sits.

She sits and pockets of her denim shorts press into the top of your thigh, her knees knocking together as she tries to settle into a comfortable position. You surprise even yourself with the hand that lands on the small of her back to keep her balanced, and when she presses into your touch minutely you choose to leave it there. Your palm is without a doubt sweating where it settles against the cotton of her shirt, but you don't dare move it now that it's found a place there.

If you thought it was hard to breathe when she was standing in front of you, it's a whole new ballgame to have her face this close to your own. You're still looking up at her, neck craned back just a little to look at the cluster of freckles above her cupid's bow, the dark eyeliner smudged artfully beneath her lashes.

You watch her gaze drag slow over your own face — like you're something to be admired and, God.

You can practically hear your own blood pumping in your ears, and you will your excited nerves to settle, sipping from the chilled beverage in your hand just for something to distract you, even just for a moment. The glass catches the top of Robin's bare thigh when you lower it again and she gasps at the cold, the gasp turning over into a breathless laugh while you curse and stutter out an apology.

You miss the way her gaze flicks over your shoulder to meet Steve's watchful eye where he sends her a whole flurry of excited hand movements ending with an emphatic thumbs up. But, you do notice the way her toe nudges into your shin lightly, the shy smile pulling at her lips as she leans into you a little more comfortably, arm pressing into your shoulder.

"Hi," She starts slowly, "I'm Robin."

lovely dividers by @strangergraphics

#robin buckley #robin buckley stranger things #robin buckley fluff #robin buckley fic #robin buckley x reader #robin buckley x you #robin buckley x female reader #robin buckley x y/n #robin buckley x reader fluff #robin x reader #robin buckley fanfic #*

[tgmsunmontue]

Hangster MeetCute (writing while eating breakfast).

Bradley is kitten sitting for a non-Navy friend in their apartment building and the fire alarm goes off at 3am. So he packs the kittens into a carrier and takes the seven flights of stairs down to the street.

There happens to be an attractive guy standing there in nothing but his underwear. Bradley approves. Guy notes Bradley 'approving' and gives him a smirk. Bradley grins back, not really minding getting caught out.

Jake comes over and introduces himself as Jake, they chat, they get the all-clear to re-enter the building and Jake then realises he gapped his apartment without his keys to get back in.

Oh no - whatever will he do?

(They're both still Naval Aviators in this, but don't realise who the other is until they meet later...)

#Hangster #Sereshaw #MeetCute #look at that I finished my breakfast and will now go and write my ACTUAL WIPs...

[doodlevich]

DTIYS: Mickey + Puppy 🐶

For dear Harvey’s challenge!❤️ @mikhailoisbaby

I got inspired by Mickey and the dog and wondered how Ian would fit in to the whole things… and then a wrote a little au meetcute fic about it for good measure :-)

🔽🔽🔽

“The fuck is wrong with that thing?”

Ian glances over his shoulder and in doing so almost trips over a tree root sticking out of the ground.

Standing in front of him is a gorgeous, dark haired man, sporting blue eyes that basically pierce Ian’s fucking soul. He’s wearing various shades of black and the look of disgust curling up his sharp features tells Ian that the guy wouldn’t like it much if he was referred to as ‘slightly petite’.

But he is, though. Just Ian’s type.

“What’s w-wrong with what?” Ian sputters, at a loss for words as he takes it all in. Then he remembers he happens to be holding a shivering chihuahua wrapped in a pink puffer doggie vest and pink booties to match.

Goddamnit Tami.

“Oh? The chihuahua?” Ian chuckles once the pieces all click. “She belongs to my sister-in-law. I’m dog-sitting while she and my brother visit her family.”

The dark haired stranger snorts. “If you can call that a dog.” He reaches down to pat his own animal on the head, and Ian realizes he was so caught up with the man than he didn’t even notice the pit-bull by his side. “Looks like it’s one wrong move away from being lunch-meat.”

Ian shrugs. It’s a fair point.

“Yeaaaah, Penelope it’s one for picking fights.” The Chihuahua wriggles in the crook of his arm and yips at the mention of her name.

The man snorts. “Penelope? Jesus Christ, man.”

“Fitting right?” Ian smiles at the pitbull’s blissed our expression as the mystery man scratches below the chin. “What’s his name then?” He nods towards the larger dog. “Monster-mutt? Grave-digger? Maximum Destruction?”

The man laughs, a low rumble, and it’s the best thing Ian’s ever heard with his own two ears.

“First off, stop listing names of fuckin’ monster trucks.” He snorts. “And second, her name is Lia.”

Ian laughs along. “And you’re over here busting Penelope’s balls for having a cutesy name?”

The man shrugs. “She already had a name when I adopted her from the rescue shelter. Not gonna confuse her by re-naming her.”

“She’s a rescue dog, huh?” Everything Ian learns makes him want to know more about this guy. “Mind if I ask her owner’s name?” Ian can’t tell if he’s being smooth or coming across as a dumbass, but the man seems amused regardless.

“Me? Name’s Mickey.” He extends his hand to shake, and before Ian takes it he notices the knuckle tats- yet another factor to drive him wild. “How about you? Got a name?”

“Ian.” Ian shakes his hand firmly, and it feels like more than a mere formality. He swears he’s not imagining it- there’s a spark when they touch, and Ian realizes he can’t waste an opportunity to change his life for the better.

“You up to anything after this?” Ian asks, projecting all the confidence he can muster. “I know a bar about a block from here that’s dog-friendly…”

Mickey’s eyebrows shoot up, and for a moment Ian wonders if he’s reading the signals wrong. Then a grin appears on Mickey’s face.

“You askin’ me on a date, Ian?”

Ian’s face heats up, but he’s giddy, something he hasn’t felt in years. “Maybe. If that’s what you wanna call it. Kinda just want to get to know you better, Mickey.”

“You’re in luck then, cuz I love a good mid-day beer.” Mickey sets off down the park path, motioning for Ian to follow him. “And a drinking buddy wouldn’t be so bad, either.”

It takes Ian a moment to realize that this is Mickey’s way of saying ‘yes’, but once he does, he’s jogging to catch up, Penelope bouncing in the crook of his arm.

Something tells Ian he’s just made the best decision of his life.

#dtiys #gallavich #mickey milkovich #ian gallagher #gallavich fanart #ian and mickey #ian x mickey #shameless fanart #digital art #gallavich fic

[gabessquishytum]

Pregnant shifter Omega moves to a new town; the currently unattached Alpha of the local pack takes a (flirty) interest after helping the omega reach something on a high shelf at the grocery store.

Dream doesn't really like shifter packs - the Alphas tend to be controlling and expect omegas to do everything they say. As an unmated, pregnant omega, Dream isn't optimistic that the local Alpha will just let him be, but he made the appointment with Alpha Gadling to introduce himself in a few days. But he still needs groceries, so he's not staying in his new apartment hiding until that meeting!

Being pregnant (and alone) means that being self sufficient is challenging --- case in point, he needs that stupid bottle up on the third shelf and he just can't reach it. Dream hears a cough behind him, smells alpha (a really really good smelling alpha) and turns to see a beautiful man standing a respectful distance away, who asks if Dream needs help.

Dream blushes and nods.

The alpha introduces himself as Hob, proceeds to grab just the thing that Dream needs, offering to help Dream with his shopping,,,,,if that was okay? 😳 Hob smells safe and nice. So Dream allows Hob to assist him - pushing Dream cart, lifting any heavy things, and filing the silence with warm chatter. Dream is charmed.

Dream is comfortable enough to share a little with Hob - the baby, his nerves re meeting the pack alpha, the work he needs to do on his new home. Hob's scent gets even warmer as he offers to help Dream fix up his new house and to not worry about meeting Alpha Gadling, because he's a sweetheart.

As Hob walks Dream to his car, he offers to stop by with some friends to get started on fixing up Dream's place. Dream assents and says he will see Hob tomorrow.😳😊

Unsure if Hob or his father is the Gadling that Dream is meeting with at the end of the week.

This is a really adorable meetcute, and I highkey love the idea of Hob being a pack leader?! The Gadling pack is quite a motley group of waifs and strays. Those who want Hob’s protection and attention are always welcome at the New Inn, and those who want to get on on their own are left to do as they please. Hob is far from a traditionalist, he knows most omegas are more than capable of running their own lives. But he does have a soft spot for the vulnerable and those in need of help.

Hence he starts lending Dream a hand with stuff. He's totally focused on helping out, no ulterior motives. The idea that a pregnant person would be moving into a new place with no help just appalls him! And then he looks at Dream properly, and catches his scent.

Hob is head over heels from that moment on. He spends the whole weekend with Dream getting his house in order. Some others from the pack are there too, but Hob is the one making sure Dream doesn't lift anything, making him sit down, chatting to him about stuff. They grow comfortable with each other quickly, and Dream even pulls Hob in to feel the baby moving.

So on Monday morning when Dream nervously heads in for his meeting with alpha Gadling, he's a little miffed to see Hob grinning at him from behind the desk. Apparently he was worrying about nothing. Hob assures Dream that he'll have all the help he needs, but there will be absolutely no pressure, no bullshit, and no one will try to pair him off with an alpha.

And Dream says that that's kind of a shame. There's an alpha he was rather hoping he might get to know better. He knows its awkward with him being pregnant, but...

...Hob requests to court him before he can even get to the end of that sentence. There will still be no pressure and no bullshit. But he would really like the chance to get to know Dream better. Maybe scent him a little bit?

Dream ends the meeting with alpha Gadling laying on the couch in the office, having his ankles rubbed by Hob’s big warm hands. Looks like this pack isn't so bad, after all!

#the sandman #dreamling #nsft #cw omegaverse #cw mpreg

[aithusarosekiller]

Okay, current wips because I need to keep a relatively strict list:

- Jegulus fluffy miscommunication fic (I promise that'll make sense eventually) ft. Relationship advice king Peter

- dorlene bookshop Meetcute

- Reg re-learning to love physical touch so he can hug his brother on his birthday (I'm projecting)

- dorlene annoyances to lovers, royalty arranged marriage au (you remember the one)

- the time travel fic

- Amber of ember glows (the darksun one)

- James being mirrorball coded fic (starchaser)

- snippets of the chaotic four as kids ft. Some darksun probably

- starchaser space soulmates au

Things I might work on but aren't guaranteed:

- the Jegulus vampire au

- Lwsf (I fell out of love with it but we'll see)

- all my other ofmd fics

- stargazer/possible jegulily fame au

Feel free to ask about any of these!

#jegulus #starchaser #darksun #killerchaser #jegulily #regulily #stargazer #dorlene #seagazelle #not tagging ouizzy bc loads of them hate marauders fans 🤡

[birgittesilverbae]

wait, you can’t say dads!mary/shannon meetcute and then not give us the meetcute. inquiring minds would like to know!!

"Are you Mary?" 

Mary scrubs a hand across her brow, wiping away beads of sweat, and stands tall from where she'd been waist deep in an engine compartment. "That's me. What can I do you for?"

There's a low whistle and Mary pauses for a moment, deciding whether or not to preen. She knows she looks good, her back and arms wiry with muscle from years of wrestling with cars, but some asshole hitting on her at seven in the morning is that absolute last thing she needs. 

She turns, then, with a sigh. "What do you want?"

The girl isn't even looking at her, and Mary re-evaluates the whole encounter. She's got her face buried in her phone, eyebrows pinched tight together, a look of concern readily apparent on her face.

"Hello? Anybody in there?"

The girl jumps, flushes bright red to her hairline. "Sorry, sorry, just got a text from my– my sister. Yeah. My sister. You're Mary, yeah?"

"Who's asking?"

She sticks out her hand and Mary takes it. The handshake is firmer than she'd expected, the girl's forearms corded with as much muscle as Mary's. "Shannon. The guy at the front desk really sang your praises about your skill with jeeps."

"Did he, now?"

"Said you're the best he's ever seen with them."

"He's not wrong," she admits, leaning back against the truck's bumper. "Though I haven't worked on any in a few months. You bring one in for me to look at?"

Shannon's smile is blindingly bright. "Well, here's the thing…"

//

"Want some more water?"

Mary shades her eyes with her hand and squints up at Shannon. "Do I want some more water," she echoes.

"Yeah." Shannon shakes her water bottle in demonstration, her tank top gapping open with the movement, revealing flashes of hard abs. Mary tears her eyes away, forces her gaze back to Shannon's face. "Hydration is paramount."

Mary grabs for a pebble and flings it at her. "Remind me again why I agreed to let you drag me out into the middle of nowhere?"

"Because it's your job?" 

"I'm a mechanic, not a backcountry hiker."

"Well, today you're whatever I pay you to be," Shannon snaps back, eyes flashing angrily. She jerks her head towards the trail. "It's only a kilometre or two further."

Mary pushes herself to her feet with a groan and shoves Shannon's shoulder as she passes, swiping the water bottle from her hand on her way. "Better get moving, then."

//

The jeep's halfway down a gully, still in the shade of the cliff wall. Mary eyes it as they clamber down towards it. An older model, beaten up but quite clearly lovingly repaired. An enthusiast's jeep, not just a weekend warrior's. She eyes Shannon with renewed interest, but Shannon's gaze is elsewhere. 

"Lilith?"

Mary startles once at the volume of Shannon's yell, a second time when a head pops up in the rear of the jeep.

"Back here, Shan," the kid calls. She's sixteen, maybe seventeen, and she eyes Mary with deep-seated distrust. 

"Settle, Lilith, she's here to help. Where's Bea?"

Mary jumps a third time when a hand is raised beside Lilith and waves awkwardly.

"'m here, Shan." It's another young voice, high-pitched and reedy. Lilith catches the waving hand and kneels back out of sight. 

"My sisters," Shannon says, as though that explains anything at all given how little alike she and Lilith look. She nods towards the hood of the jeep. "I think it might be something with the radiator, but I'm not sure."

"What–"

Shannon shakes her head, tugs on her backpack strap. "Keys should be in the ignition. I need to–" She gestures awkwardly towards the rear of the vehicle, and Mary nods her assent. At least the presence of two teenagers likely decreases the chance she's going to end up murdered, right? 

//

"You were right about it being the radiator," Mary says, poking her head into the back of the jeep.

"Huh?" Shannon's head snaps around towards her from where she's kneeling beside a prone teenager. Lilith's got the girl – Bea? – Bea's head in her lap, and Shannon's rucked her shirt up to reveal her stomach. There's a massive bruise spanning her side, centred on imprints of waist and chest seatbelts. Shannon strokes Bea's cheek and nods to Lilith. "I've just gotta–"

"Go wheel," Bea says, her voice hazy. Lilith snorts out a laugh, and when Shannon jumps down from the back of the jeep her face is bright red. 

"Wheel?" Mary asks, but Shannon shakes her head. 

"Ignore her, she's a bit out of it. You said it was the radiator?"

"Leak in the coolant hose. I patched it with duct tape. Should be enough to get it back to the shop to replace the hose." Mary glances down the gully. "Not to judge or anything, but did you really go off-roading without knowing that emergency fix?"

Shannon's face manages to turn even more red, if that's possible. "No, I know that," she says, pulling off her ballcap and running a hand through her hair. "I just– I wasn't thinking clearly." She gestures towards the rear of the jeep. "I think of Lilith as more capable than she actually is sometimes and I let her drive because she's got her learner's permit so it's fine, right, only obviously it wouldn't be but I get carried away with them sometimes because they're just, like, so adult about so many things and–"

"Hey," Mary says, laying a hand on Shannon's forearm, "hey, breathe."

Shannon presses a hand to her chest and breathes deeply, once, twice, a third time. "I'm sorry I jumped down your throat on the way up," she says, her voice ragged. "I really appreciate you coming out here."

"Well, my thought process was 'if I die, I die, and I'm bored anyways'," Mary admits, shoving her hands in her pockets and shrugging. 

Shannon peers up at her. "Oh, God, this was a really strange request, wasn't it. I didn't think that through at all. Oh, fuck me."

"Well, yeah, the five klick hike back to town when you absolutely have cell service out here kinda clued me in to that." Mary chuckles at the stricken look on Shannon's face. "It happens, alright? Your sister got hurt, it's normal to panic about that. But I've patched the hose and topped up the coolant to replace the leakage and we're gonna get her to the hospital to get her ribs looked at and then you're gonna pay me more than it's worth to replace the hose."

"And you're gonna get her phone number," Bea's slurred voice calls from the back of the jeep. 

Shannon turns scarlet, and Mary cocks an eyebrow, unable to tamp down a smug grin. "Is that so?"

"And take her on a date," Bea adds, almost as an afterthought.

Shannon buries her face in her hands and sighs.

#fic: dads #mary x shannon #ask #anon #ty for the prompt! #they're all fucking disasters #shannon is trying so hard to be what her kid sisters need but then her panic response of 'get help' overwhelms everything #sisters in the 'these are my baby ducklings now' kinda way #shorthand to avoid having to explain Tragic Backstories #'they're my sisters but they're not each other's sisters' #mary: I don't even wanna ask #myfic #mywn

[gi-nathlam-hi]

RINGS OF POWER VALENTINES WEEK DAY 5: MEETCUTE

Galadriel x Celeborn

Someone help him. His armor doesn't fit & he's being bullied by a woman as tall as god.

(re: "I told him he looked like a silver clam" which lives rent-free in my brain)

(as picked by the poll! thank you to everyone who voted and helped me decide!)

#continuing my tall!Galadriel x short king!Celeborn bc it's basically canon #galadriel x celeborn #galadriel #celeborn #the rings of power #rings of power #lotronprime #tropvalentinesweek2023 #my art

[rmd-writes]

weekend wip game (I stole your banner Lola, soz)

Tagged by @welcometololaland @jesuisici33 💖

1. WIP List:

I don't really have any real wips currently (okay, there is one), I'm in that weird limbo where I finished my last project and am about to start another, but I guess I can do this for anything I've given a little thought to - some have an actual plot, some have a line or two or dialogue, some are just a concept

Call Me (By My Name) - a Tarlos collab with @welcometololaland this is actually the thing I'm about to start working on

SC Frozen Over 2023 fic

Tarlos gym AU series

Firstprince dog meet cute AU (aka Frida fic)

Tarlos model AU

Tarlos spy AU

Vet!TK/social worker!Carlos fwb to lovers AU

Firstprince childhood friends to exes to lovers tattoo shop AU

Lawyer AU pt 3

2. Which of your WIPs is currently the longest?

The firstprince dog meetcute is the only one that I've actually put words to

3. Which WIP do you expect will end up the longest?

Either Call Me (By My Name) because Lola and I have no control over words when we write together, or the Tarlos model AU has the potential to spiral into something lengthy

4. Which WIP is your favourite to write/the most enjoyable to write? Why?

Pass. See above re not actually working on any of them yet. But the collab is going to be super fun because it's low pressure and we just vibe

5. Which WIP do you find the most intimidating to write? Why?

The firstprince tattoo shop AU because the way I want to tell the story, it has two timelines and I want it to be non-linear. Also the Tarlos spy AU because it's so out of my wheelhouse

6. Which WIP do you experience the most self-doubt about. Why?

See above

7. Which of your WIPs will you seek out a beta/sensitivity reader for? Why?

I have almost everything that isn't just PWP beta read! I like having trusted friends in my docs, it gives me motivation to write and also I am needy and require validation while I'm writing. Beta readers make such a difference though - I can edit my own work and come up with a pretty clean copy when I don't use a beta reader - but it's always good to get fresh perspective to address any plot holes or just add that little bit extra. And also to remind me that sentences should not be 5 lines long all the time and point out when I use the same word 3 times in one paragraph 😅

8. Have any of your WIPs been struck by the curse of writer's block?

Oh it's not on the list because I don't know if I'll ever go back to it, but

9. Which WIP has your favourite OC? Tell us about them?

Lawyer AU part 3, because Brianna (Alex's PA) is an absolute queen

10. Which WIP is the sexiest?

either the gym AU (I mean, if you've read the earlier parts of the series, you'll know why) or the Tarlos spy AU or Call Me (By My Name) (the things Lola and I have ✨planned✨ 😌😌😌)

11. Which WIP is the angstiest?

Probably the firstprince tattoo shop au because it has an exes element

12. Which WIP has the best characterisation (in your humble opinion)?

13. Which WIP has the best scene setting (in your humble opinion)?

14. Which WIP have you worked the hardest on?

lol none of them yet

15. Which WIP do you have the highest expectations for? Why?

16. Do you dream about any of your WIPs?

I never remember my dreams!

17. Do any of your WIPs have particular complexities that your other fics don't?

As above, the firstprince tattoo shop au will have dual timelines and be told in a non linear way

18. Which WIP is the funniest or has the most humour?

Call Me (By My Name) because it's Lola and I, so expect sexy vibes with a healthy dose of chaose

19. Do any of your WIPs contain outside POVs or a deep dive on a character other than the main ship? How are you finding that process?

Lawyer AU pt 3 is going to be mostly outsider pov!

20. Tell us one thing we don't know about one or more of your WIPs.

If I manage to get my shit together and actually write some SC fic for the Frozen Over fest this year, that will make it three years in a row that I've participated in that fest 💖

Tags and questions for artists/gifmakers under the cut!

Tagging: @orchidscript @carlos-in-glasses @goodways @lightningboltreader @reasonandfaithinharmony @guardian-angle22 @herefortarlos @fitzherbertssmolder @never-blooms @liminalmemories21 @freneticfloetry @ambiguouspenny @lizzie-bennetdarcy @wandering-night19 @sherryvalli @heartstringsduet @iboatedhere @clottedcreamfudge @kiwiana-writes @cricketnationrise @sunshinestrand @stereopticons @ramonaflow @chelle-68 @hearitinthesilencesilence @leaves-of-laurelin @maxbegone and anyone else who wants to play

Questions for artists/gifmakers

1. WIP List:

2. Which WIP is your most complex?

3. Do any of your WIPs involve you using a technique/style that you haven't used before? What inspired you to try it?

4. Which WIP do you expect will take you the longest?

5. Which WIP are you finding the most enjoyable to create?

6. Do you have a favourite character to draw/stitch/paint/depict? Are they in many of your WIP projects?

7. Which WIP do you experience the most self-doubt about. Why?

8. Have any of your WIPs been struck by the curse of creator's block?

9. Do any of your WIPs contain characters outside the main ship? How are you finding creating those?

10. What emotions are you hoping to convey through your WIPs?

11. Are there any features/details you are finding challenging in your WIPs?

12. Which WIP has the most complex shading/colouring?

13. Which WIP has the most complex background?

14. Which WIP do you have the highest expectations for?

15. Do you dream about any of your WIPs?

16. Do any of your WIPs have particular complexities that your other art doesn't?

17. Are any of your WIPs commissions?

18. Do you have a character that is more difficult to draw/stitch/paint/depict? Are they in many of your WIP projects?

19. Tell us one thing we don't know about one or more of your WIPs.

#tag game #weekend wip game

[horsegirlalexkralie]

on hands and knees begging to hear even more about the vampire alex and vampire hunter tim au. literally ANYTHING. how they meet, what thier dynamic is, what happens when they kiss and make out. you know the drill

okok so the original draft i had was very partial to vamp!tim w masochistic tendencies (only drinks blood from animal meat- permanent burn on his chest from wearing a crucifix 24/7- etc) who uses his heightened senses to hunt other vampires and gets drawn into a cat&mouse thing w vamp!alex, who had a botched transformation and is kind of a freak abt finding someone to bite him again and finish the job. tims having a very tortured edward cullen moment abt alex's blood and alex is constantly encouraging it.

i never thought abt their meetcute tbh the draft started in media neme-res (sorry) but off the top of my head i think it'd be fun if alex finally found a guy to sire him n tim broke his door down and staked him lol. i had a vision of them trying to fight in the blade nightclub but b subtle abt it and make it look like theyre making out .. alleyway fistfight that ends w tim giving alex a split lip and kissing him to drink it .. i never decided if theyd ever get together fr but they r doing mad intricate rituals. lots of alex baring his throat and drawing his own blood and tim homoerotically holding stakes over his chest

#g.txt #timlex #nsft #vampire au #vampire s&m was the vision. yk. theyre touchin each other w crosses n shit #tims got a little bottle of holy water n he wants to watch alex choke. for normal reasons

[britcision]

re: "Wait where the hell do people not pump their own gas" --- > NEW. FUCKING. JERSEY. It is literally against the law to pump your own gas in NJ. They have dedicated gas station attendants to do so. IDEK it's a weird fucking law and as a Pennsylvanian it INFURIATES me. If only because it's one more reason to hate fucking Jersey and their asshole drivers who can't drive correctly in Allentown. Takes twice as long to get your damned gas, too. Anyway, this means that since Gotham is in NJ, the batfam have never filled their own vehicles at a (civilian) gas station unless they're out of state. I wish I saw this more in fanfic because it is absolutely hilarious to picture. Especially if the one of the kids are on like, a civilian road trip and go to gas up out of state and wait five minutes before they realize, Oh, Right, Fuck, I gotta go do it myself, and then fumble through it like a fucking 16 year old blushing as they remember their dad walking them through how to do it using terms like "male plug" and "female socket", even if they're in their 20s.

I fucking HATE having someone else put gas in my car I did it once by accident cuz I didn’t realize it was full service and then I was there and couldn’t just LEAVE

So I’m just literally never going to New Jersey ever and that’s fine

BUT ALSO

I need this to be a feature of team ups more

HOW OLD WAS BRUCE WHEN HE FIRST PUMPED HIS OWN GAS

When Teen Titans go zooming around, who fills the tank???

And far more importantly, Who Fills Up The Batmobile

Motorbikes are probably under the same law, imagine RED FUCKING HOOD rolls up covered in explosive residue for a top up

Fuck it, DP x DC meetcute Danny works at a gas station that has somehow become a bat’s favourite place to top up

If it’s Red Robin, Red Hood, or Signal they can just casually stay astride the bike it’s fine

#dp x dc #gas station meetcute #danny casually bullying the lot of them for being jersey kids #but they love it #all vigilantes are masochists #just like markiplier

[discluded]

These two..!!!!! I mean at least he asked lol

https://twitter.com/sinnadreams/status/1579588547065294849?s=46&t=LkZAavbC9m-m_JjNk595Jg

Love them ❣️

Hahahaa I've been given the OK to let you all know that @mellowroxy is sinnadreams. Yes, she spotted this cute moment of early flirting!

I'll give you another cute in return I referenced in the thread:

Funday was shot circa early April (Mile posted the photos Apo took of him on April 6)

After that, Apo went on a meditation retreat and Mile missed him so much he commented on Apo's instagram on April 11 that the silence was too loud without Apo around.

Annnnnd a bonus, twitter user roxysshi discovered what appeared to be their first date on April 16. (yeah I know, ~delulu as hell~ but whatever. Something happened on April 16 though that Mile and Apo had a lot of fun at! And appeared to reference it multiple times after.)

If you all missed it, October 10 (10/10) was Mile and Apo's 2 year re-meetcute-iverssary. That means all this happened around exactly 6 months after they met again 🤗 Take from that what you will.

And yeah, like I said: the Vogue interview was also super interesting to me (text transcript alt) because even as many conversations as they've had, sometimes professional interviews give them a chance to say things they don't know how to inject into their normal course of discussion. After all this time, there's more they have to learn about each other 🥺 4/5 isn't a bad thing.

#old but gold #mileapo #mileapo x funday #timeline #i'm not giving y'all anymore than this #and neither is yams #vogue thailand #mileapo x vogue

[soupernatural]

                           ↝ 2022 a03 wrapped

✿ rituals - a quick little 800 word fic about dean and cigarettes ✿ confirmation - priest cas, engaged dean, a lot of internal crisis re: playing a role and wanting to bang the priest  ♡ a holy fire - 400 words about catholic school girl claire and her relationship with religion ♡ from the ashes - castiel rebuilds deans body after rescuing him from hell. lots of grace/soul lovin’  ✿ ariadne’s thread - dean rescues cas from the empty ✿ hold me close - touch starved dean winchester gets cas cuddles ☆ the cable guy - outsider pov fic. meet dave the comcast worker. wish him luck on his wifi install. ✿ perfect disaster - miracle (the dog) induced destiel meetcute ❊ under covers - ncis au. case induced fake dating coworkers ♡ the devil has come home - dean finds john pointing a gun at sam. carrienatural ♡ lonely for words unspoken - marynatural. mary, still hunting even with dean and john at home, stops for a drink with ellen harvelle

             ♡ my faves | ☆ most kudos | ❊ most hits

#<3 here it is #spn fic #zo.txt #theres still 4 hours left in my timezone so check it #why does everyone like dave the comcast guy so much

[ninesdb]

Might as well make this a reason to shout out all the writers im reading stuff from.

For square no. 1 and no. 4 in once, a great re-read:

One Hundred and Seven to Go (3358 words) by @spinachgarden

Chapters: 1/1

Fandom: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV), The Avengers (Marvel Movies)

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Sam Wilson, James "Bucky" Barnes & Sam Wilson, James "Bucky" Barnes & Peter Parker, James Bucky Barnes/Original Male Character(s) (Mentioned)

Characters: James "Bucky" Barnes, Sam Wilson (Marvel), Peter Parker

Additional Tags: First Kiss, Matchmaking, Implied Sexual Content, Peter Parker is a Little Shit, Human Disaster Bucky Barnes, Birthday Fluff, Gay Bucky Barnes, Gay Sam Wilson, Bisexual Peter Parker, Post-Canon, no beta we die like men

Summary:

“C’mon, you’ve got to have other apps,” Peter says, because it really is a slow night, and apparently he’s got nothing better to do than bother Bucky about dating.

“I tried Tinder, I hated it.”

“What about MeetCute?”

“What?”

“It like, pings your phone when you’re close to someone else who uses the app and meets your preferences. It’s new, but it’s already got a bunch of people on it.”

“I am going to specifically not ask why you know so much about dating apps,” Bucky says with a knowing smirk.

“It’s a good app!” Peter protests, then snatches Bucky’s phone out of his hands and starts tapping away at breakneck pace. “I’m downloading it and setting up a profile for you."

#sambucky #bucky barnes #sam wilson

[tfw-no-tennis]

onepiece liveblogs 811-812

yea babeyyyyy

811!!

wow caesar just completely unable to read the room huh. not even charming like when luffy does it 🙄

get his ass chopper

sanji looks so chill w his sunglasses on lol he looks like he's about to go cruising around in a convertible

luv the strawhats fucking up enemies

so all the women in one piece are drawn w/yuri legs but honestly brook and sanji have it a bit too lol

also obligatory - I haaate how the women look in modern one piece style, I miss the style from the beginning of the show sooo much, everyone was so cute ughhghhgh

the men too honestly why is everyone all roided out. why are the necks Like That

n e wayz

nah sanji don't listen to caesar of all people re: the minks

nami and wanda gay meetcute fighting <3

like liiiiterally nami pinning and straddling wanda????? nami my beloved lesbian

OOOOBHHHH chopper taking charge and triaging oooooobbhh I loooove when he does medical stuff awbhh

^biased bc I'm currently in medicine school

NAAMI ILY NAMI

chopper forcing caesar to help...yes get his ass chopper<3

omg nekomamushia Large. like I knew that but seeing sanjji climb on him puts it in perspective lol

all the straw hats helping w the medical stuff <333

nami wanda mistaken enemies to lovers speedrun

I luv franky did u know

chopper pulling day AND night shifts he's such a dedicated Dr aww

luffy's like fuck yes I wanna meet the giant cat guy

loving the subtle full moon foreshadowing w/the minks

brook should do some musical exposition

THE DRAMA I LOVE IT YUMMMMMMMM

omg pekoms I was wondering when he'd appear

this is so tense and it's taking so long to find out where sanji went I can't even imagine reading this live lol

812!

awwww nojiko and genzo!!!! <333

so many people in this arc wearing sunglasses lol

sanji becomes a furry then gets kidnapped: the arc

nami seeing sanji being annoying like :|

Kill Him Nami

yea I don't wanna see momo's human form either bc of that haircut 😅 ik it's traditional but uh. oof

caesar's evil thought bubbles of 'why must I be forced to do non-evil things' lmfaoooo

'the animal kingdom pirates'? that aint is chief lol

also me reading that as animal cracker pirates lmfao

HHHHHHHHHHHH THE DRAMATIC TENSION (for me, upon reread, seeing caesar freak out bc he thinks the big mom pirates are here for him, BUT THEY'RE REALLY HERE FOR SANJI...ok and caesar but ALSO SANJI)

'when did we become bros' ok get his ass sanji.

wowww caesar fucked over big mom. Good Going Moron lol

I do love when sanji gets to be like. strategic. that's one of my favorite aspects of his character, and it separates him nicely from zoro & luffy, the other main fighters - I especially love early on in the story when sanji will go full sneaky and run off to ruin the enemies plans before anyone realizes what's happening

so yea I love him being in charge here

him glaring down at bege...does sanji have any idea that bege is here for him??? I don't remember but hhhhhh juicy

brook is like. comically tall and skinny lol

HAHAHAHA the panel of pekoms hugging sanji is FANTASTIC lol

damnnnnn I forgot that pekoms was willing to let sanji go and take the fall w/big mom...

PEKOMS OH NO does he actually die I don't remember. doubt it

ok bege's power is like. SO weird and One Piece™ and also cool??? like wtf. his nickname is 'gang' and like. yeah. he is a whole gang bc he's a castle with a bunch of shrunken dudes in him lol

Bag Of Holding Ass Powers..

ngl i fucking LOVE in one piece when a character is like 'I have the ____-____ fruit. I'm a ____man' like idk why but that tickles me lol

like bege saying 'I have the castle-castle fruit. I'm a castle man' fantastic 10/10

omg I forgot abt bege's guy who looks like a cross between chrollo hxh and ryuk deathnote and is also named vito (godfather reference that I now understand after watching it lol)

like mannnnn it's so weird that they all go inside bege lmao but also it makes sense. bc its one piece

I feel like sanji must know something is up, with everyone else chained up on the floor and he's at the table talking to bege - though it could be that sanji's the one in charge, but stiiiiill...

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THERE IT IS THERE IT IS THERE IT ISSSSSSSSSSSSS

SOOOOOOO FUCKING HYPE legit probably my favorite cliffhanger in all of one piece MANNNNNNNNN

like. listen. AUGHHHHH so much. the 'chapter 800+ secret family reveal' WOULD NOT WORK in like 99.9% of stories but it flows PERFECTLY in one piece bc there is such a precedent for this sort of thing!! for the sort of behavior where you never ever talk about your 'real' (biological) family or where you came from bc IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT!!! OF ONE PIECE!!!!! that the characters get to CHOOSE where they belong and who their family is

(also this reveal happening so late makes the sabo reveal - the 'chapter 500+ secret amnesiac brother reveal' - seem practically early lol)

and like, obviously this theme of choosing your family is handled a lot - like everything with ace, who does exactly this ^ and yet is still burdened by his blood

but ok what I'm getting at is that in basically any other story, a reveal about one of the main characters coming this late would be suuuuuch a stupid asspull, but in this case, it's one of the best writing decisions in the story in ages

like half the straw hats have mysterious/unknown biological origins - nami, zoro (outside of SBSs), franky, sanji (before now), brook (ig lol)...even luffy's mom and robin's dad and stuff are never mentioned. and none of this is ever really remarked upon - they DO have family, even if it isn't by blood

so the story sets this standard that the found family is The family and it doesn't matter where the characters came from. and this is the 'right' way of going about things, that the straw hats and other 'good guys' support

however, not everyone in the story agrees with this. which is huuuuge and so so juicy. like, ace gets to choose his brothers and his pirate dad/family, but the world govt will NOT forget or ignore his biological parentage, and they kill him for that. GODDDD it's so goooood

so you get the POV charaters (straw hats) who believe that where you came from biologically doesn't matter, and a lot of the antagonist characters who think it DOES matter.

so this creates the perfect atmosphere for us to never hear about the vinsmokes, bc we're seeing things via the straw hats, and sanji would never want or need to mention them, ever

the antagonists, though...different story. so that allows the perfect time for a reveal here!!!!

and HHHHH there are some EXCELLENT little tidbits earlier in the story - obviously sanji mentioning he's from north blue, and even his name w/the 'three'...it's stuff that's so small that it can easily be brushed aside if it doesn't amount to anything, but since it did we can look back and be like oh shiiiit

even him calling himself mr prince!!! like...he technically IS a prince by blood!!!

and like, ik a lot of people thought he'd be a celestial dragon, but I think it's better this way, bc if he DID have knowledge of the celestial dragons, even from when he was a kid, that would be useful in a way that would make it look bad if he witheld the knowledge previously, whereas the vinsmokes existing and sanji knowing about them doesn't really help anything...anyways, rambling.

so I love the last panel here, with sanji just looking completely shocked and horrified. because it isn't like he's really been hiding his past on purpose - he thought it didn't matter where he was originally from, because with the straw hats, it DIDN'T!!

but I feel like he had to have thought about it at least sometimes - what would happen if the vinsmokes came looking for him for whatever reason

but at the same time, we find out later that they basically kicked him out and told him to never come back, so he probably thought he'd never have to deal with them again (though I feel like he had to have wondered if he'd ever run into them in his travels...)

aaaanyways okay this is getting long and this is literally just the beginning of my long meta rants I'm sure. more to come soon!

#ehell yeahhhhh #lj reads one piece