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beautifulhigh · 2 years

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On the significance of Tarlos and sleep: an essay

@kiras-sunshine made the "mistake" of putting in the tags of a Carlos sleeping gif set something which made me go, "I wanna". So I did.

#i could write a whole essay about this

#because in 3x13 he wakes up simply because tk isn't in the bed with him

#but in 3x18 he sleeps through all of this because tk is there with him

#something about safety and love

To understand the significance of Carlos and sleep in 3x18 we need to establish the significance and importance of sleep in a literary term, define the parameters of the analysis, and establish precedent within the show before looking at the opening beat of the proposal scene.

Or: how Nea set me a challenge to write an essay on Carlos sleeping and I (hopefully) rose to it with almost 5,000 words of an essay. Which you can also read on AO3 if you want. And go leave me a comment and some kudos because I live for validation.

Sleep as a Biological and Social Function

We all need sleep. It’s the part of the day where our bodies basically do inventory, file away memories via our dreams, engage in biological downtime, and do what repair jobs they are able to do. Like night closure of roads so repairs can happen without massive disruption. Our bodies slow down, we go through different cycles throughout the course of the night, and without any input from us our bodies do what they need to do.

We don’t need to be taught to sleep, same as we don’t need to be taught to blink or breathe or swallow. It’s hardwired into us as Stuff We Have To Do To Survive. What is also hardwired into us is the knowledge that when we sleep we are vulnerable. Research shows that when we were tribal and nomadic we kept shifts so that there was always someone awake throughout the whole day and night. If you’re a night owl then congrats, you get to sit by the fire and watch the stars come out. The larks will take over when the sun comes up. Sleeping in the presence of someone (or someones) shows that you trust them: you trust them not to hurt you while you are vulnerable but also you trust them to protect you.

I love the bunk scenes with the firefam for this reason because this is a group of people who trust each other completely and so them sleeping in the same room is an extension of that trust.

But sleeping with a partner? As in sleep-sleep rather than Adult Fun Time sleep? That’s another level.

There is safety in numbers: if one of the group decides to not protect you then others will. They’ll also step in if they decide to smother you or bash your head in with a rock. When it’s you and your partner? Well, no one is going to stop them if they decide they can’t put up with your snoring any longer or you hogged the covers one too many times.

When we share our bed with someone, platonic or romantic, we are telling them “I trust you”. You are at your most vulnerable and you let them stay anyway. And the best part is that they are making the same declaration to you.

We also use the term ‘sleep with’ to mean Adult Fun Times because it often involves a bed (1x02 excepted) but it also involves a level of vulnerability. Even if you’re just hooking up with someone you’re removing barriers (and clothes) and putting yourself in a position where you could be hurt should they choose to do so – and I’m not just talking about feelings. What you choose to do with your body is pretty much the only thing in our control and power and to give that over to someone else shows maybe a higher level of trust than simply going to sleep next to them.

Sleep As A Metaphor

Sleep is perhaps one of the biggest metaphors there is in literature. It is a symbol of peace, of contentment, of trust, and of death.

“To sleep, perchance to dream.”

Hamlet III:i

When Macbeth murders Duncan he finds he can no longer sleep, such is his guilt for what he has done to his king and country in the pursuit of his own ambition. In the Buffy finale (“Chosen”), any character seen sleeping prior to the final battle ends up losing their lives before the final credits roll.

For a show about first responders death is at the forefront of so much of the episodes. The characters work hard to preserve life, to save and protect. It doesn’t always work: the pilot episode opened with the deaths of almost everyone at the 126, and when the action moved to New York we meet Captain Strand, whose whole arc is tied into the tragedy of 9/11 and the deaths that came on that day – and since with it being the cause of his cancer diagnosis.

In episode 3x18 we are faced with death once more: the building has collapsed and Judd is inside. Owen’s cancer may be back. We also have a very adult discussion about death and preparing for it: the 126’s own NDE MVP not having a will tying into a very blasé attitude towards death, contrasted with literally everyone else’s opinion and behaviour lets us know that for (most of) them, death is a constant. It walks beside them and they hope to not have it take them by the hand for as long as possible.

Fandom (and Rafa) are clamouring for some Carlos NDE because of all of the characters he’s one of a few who have not had death brush up against his hand only to not take it at the last moment more than once. The only time Carlos has come close to death in the show was the fire in 2x12 and that happened while he and TK were in bed – the other use of the word “sleep” when it comes to someone. But whilst he was in danger he was not exactly getting up close and personal with death, not like so many of the 126 have.

Still, as the long-suffering partner who seems to collect near death experiences like they’re Pokémon, it is no surprise to anyone (except TK) that Carlos not only has a will but that he keeps it updated. This man is practical and logical and he knows that death is inevitable. The comments the 126 firefam make about being prepared is exactly why you make a will: it gives you peace of mind knowing that those you love will be looked after and that things will be taken care of when you’re not there to do it yourself.

Sleep as a form of peace comes from the idea that we have let go of our daily worries and thoughts and entered a neutral state where we are our most ‘natural’. We aren’t actively trying to convey anything or hide anything from those around us. We’re not in conscious control and so there is a concept of sleep being our true selves.

There’s a scene in the TV show Babylon 5 in which an inter-species couple, Delenn (Minbari) and John (human) are beginning a relationship. The Minbari have a ritual for when a couple start to get close: the woman spends three nights at the man’s place watching him sleep. They believed that in sleep your true self comes to the fore and so she would watch for this true self. If she liked what she saw on the first night she would stay two more and observe further.

When we sleep we have no guards up, no barriers, no walls or protection. We are exactly who we are and it’s why we love watching babies sleep – because we see them exactly as they are. (Fucking adorable.)

Sleep and Death

Ever wondered why Ye Olde Beds were so short? It’s not because we’re so much taller now than we were (although average height today is more than it used to be), it’s because such was the relationship between sleep and death that people honestly believed that if you were lying flat then Death, as it walked past your window, could think you were dead or dying and come and claim your soul. So beds were deliberately made shorter so you couldn’t lie fully flat and Death would carry on its way and leave you to wake the next morning.

Dying in your sleep is generally seen as the “best” way to go. You fall asleep as normal and then… that’s it. This gave rise to a lot of the sayings we have about sleep, most notably the advice to never go to bed angry. If someone doesn’t wake up then the argument will never be resolved. (It’s more likely about not letting things fester, and you don’t really get good and restful sleep when a part of you wants to smother the person lying next to you. But a good essay looks at all possible avenues.)

Before I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

Four corners on my bed

Four angels there a-spread

Two to foot, two to head

Four to carry me when I’m dead

[a wonderful prayer I was taught to say when I was little because nothing help sleep like the thought of dying during it]

Ultimately, we develop a sense that just as death is the end of something, so is sleep. We finish our day, we make peace with our actions, and we hope to wake in the morning and have the chance to do it all again.

The Language of Death

We have come up with so many ways to describe death. We use the phrase “passed away” to make it sound gentler, but the relevant phrase here is “the big sleep”. The concept of closing your eyes and not being on this plain of consciousness or existence. It marries the concept of death being peaceful but also means that we are not present in whatever moment we are missing – be that temporary while we nap or permanent while we are mourned.

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there, I do not sleep

Poem “Immortality”, Clare Harner

We comfort ourselves with faith and a belief that there is something after this because that makes death less terrifying for us. Just as sleep ends with the morning and a new day, death “ends” with a new life or existence or something.

Death isn’t the end for our characters either. Up until 3x18 Owen kept a physical reminder on his desk of all those who died. The memorial to the fallen members of the 126 has been in places of prominence. Tim’s name is painted on the side of the rig so he will always be riding with TNT.

We’ve also seen hints of this with Tommy and her desire for a message from Charles. It doesn’t matter why or how the lights flashed in a 1-4-3 pattern, to her it was a message from beyond and a sign that even though her husband is dead he is also still here. She went to his grave in 3x17 and talked to him.

When Gwyn died TK wanted to honour her through Chinese food (3x08) and remember her through the photo albums (3x13), something tangible that they shared together over multiple occasions and memories sparking the full spectrum of emotions.

Every single one of the characters who has experienced death finds a way to keep their lost loved one’s memory with them because to them, death is not the end of that relationship. They, and their influence, continue on with the living.

I half-remember something about a person having three deaths: the first is brain death, the moment you cease to be alive; the second is when your physical body no longer exists; and the third is when your name is spoken for the last time. We all hope that each of these come as late as possible but they will come for almost all of us. A lucky few will have their names remembered for much longer than normal and so they will continue to live on.

It is a very human trait to try and find positives in the negatives, especially when the concept is as terrifyingly unknown as death.

The Presentation of Death

As different cultures approach death in different ways, it is possible to take every extreme and apply it to the concept.

Death is darkness but we also have the concept of light. Black is often seen as a funeral colour (shoutout to Queen Victoria for never moving out of her mourning phase) but in certain religions white is the outfit of choice. Death is the end of life, the beginning of life. It can be a comfort; it can be a tragedy. It can be noble; it can be senseless. Funerals can be solemn and serious or a joyous celebration.

However you see death, whatever your approach to it, it is the only certainty we all have in this world. Owen’s speech in 3x18 was on the money with this.

Death is also used as a concept: the 126 died in 1x01 and was reborn by the end of the same episode. Paul’s health scare pushed him to reject treatment until he realised he can be who he is and stay alive; TK’s journey to rehab as seen in 3x08 and his drive to stay clean; Judd’s fear at losing Grace in 2x09 which is contrasted with the promise of new life by the end of the same episode. Ultimately, death has come to mean the end of one thing before something else begins and that is both terrifying and uplifting.

So what do metaphors, language, presentation, and even death have to do with the sleeping scenes we have in the Tarloft?

Everything and nothing, such is the joy of an analytical meta. But bear with me as I link in the previous 2200 plus words to the scenes that Nea challenged me to write an essay on.

Tarlos and Sleep in 3x05

The first time we see them ‘sleeping together’ (last night I slept in my stilettos, Holiday Inn) is when Carlos is combing through the footage and TK has fallen asleep next to him, on him, whatever. It’s adorable. TK woke to an empty bed and sought out his partner at three in the morning. The fact TK says “come back to bed” means that they started off there together and Carlos either woke up or couldn’t sleep.

Sleep is when your brain slows down and allows your body to relax and prepare for unconsciousness and so if your brain does not slow down then sleep will be hard to come by.

TK joins Carlos, even taking up a position on his “side” on the couch. Ultimately he falls asleep and Carlos continues to work through the night. There is a level of comfort for them both with this: TK is able to fall back to sleep and Carlos is able to continue working. He had already declared the footage as unsettling and is then able to continue working without having the same reaction that he did when TK startled him.

It's the first clear indication that we have that these boys are fully committed to each other, that the situation and drama of the breakup and ice storm is being put – if you’ll pardon the pun – to bed. They are comfortable and intimate with each other in a way that doesn’t involve Adult Fun Times, or even their bed. But it does involve sleep – and coming off the back of an arc where TK wasn’t just holding hands with Death they were halfway out the door – it will also provide reassurance to them both.

TK’s line to coma!Gwyn, “what if he doesn’t want to take me back?” showed his fear when it comes to their relationship. Does Carlos love TK enough to forgive him? (Yes. A thousand times yes.) Are they fixable? TK had to nearly die for him to confront what he did and the part that he played in their breakup. During his coma Carlos held vigil, and when Andrea joined them she encouraged Carlos to speak to TK and tell him what was in his heart. Even though TK was close to death Carlos engaged with TK and we know thanks to the coma dream that TK could hear him.

Our senses are still processing information even when we’re asleep and it’s deviations from the norm which cause us to wake up: a loud noise, the sun being up suggesting it’s daytime and not four in the fucking morning, the absence of a physical presence which should be there (or one that should not be).

TK is hovering in this state between life and death and it is treated as a dream, a product of sleep. (Oh, so that’s why you talked about death so much, Jen? Yes, yes it is.) Because TK’s coma dream is full of light and love and bits of the real-world bleed in with the pain and the noise and Carlos’ final speech (release the tapes, Tim. We need to hear the whole thing). TK is happy enough in his coma dream, inching towards death. He wants to stay and so Gwyn adds to the timer. The real world is hard and cold and full of uncertainty but it’s a choice he makes to wake up, to come back to Carlos.

And so now that he’s back and he’s home and he’s building this new life with Carlos he wants to wake up and come back to Carlos, over and over again. And once again Carlos is there by his side as he sleeps because he’s done enough sleeping without TK.

Tarlos and Sleep in 3x13

In 3x13 Carlos wakes up alone to an empty bed. We immediately hear TK talking in the next room so we know nothing bad has happened – well not that bad anyway – but his absence is unsettling given the hour. Conversations held in the small hours of the morning rarely tend to be good ones.

When we see Carlos at the start of that scene he’s wrapped up in their bed. The sheets are white, his shirt is white, there is a strong visual sense of light and joy and life there. He’s also the one who’s asleep, so let’s throw peace into that imagery. The room is dark but the bed, and its sole occupant, is light. The contrast between the two echo the different natures of and approaches to death. The contrast of light and dark, of joy and pain foreshadow the scene that is about to unfold.

Carlos turns over and reaches out to the other side of the bed and it’s only when his arm goes all the way over that he realises that TK is not there and he stirs. Carlos is pulled from his peace and rest by the absence of his partner and so that loss is registered in his unconscious mind and wakes him fully. It could be that TK’s gone to get a glass of water, or gone to the bathroom, or unable to sleep he’s sitting on the couch reading a book so as not to wake Carlos by putting a light on. Whatever the reason, TK is not there and this jars with Carlos.

He gravitates towards TK’s voice, overhearing the conversation with Cooper, and he (mis)interprets this as TK not needing or wanting his support through his recovery. The concept of Carlos as the be all and end all for TK died in that moment (and over the episode he comes to realise that’s not a bad thing) and he returned to their empty bed alone. The shot of him in the small gap in the door, slipping into the darkness reflects on how the light and joy that Carlos represented is being lost – but it will only be temporary. The night passes and the sun rises again.

On the other side of the bedroom door, even though Carlos has been framed as the light in the dark in the bedroom, TK is the one bathed in light in the main area of the loft. He has the white throw blanket over his legs and the only darkness there is the one that TK is dealing with on the inside. Contrasted to that, Carlos is light and yet surrounded by dark. The gulf between them in this moment later could ‘kill’ their relationship but they talk it through – Carlos saying he wants every part of TK (no, baby, no) and TK telling Carlos that he needs things that Carlos cannot give him.

This revelation for both of them is them making preparations and being practical when it comes to their relationship: Carlos understanding he can’t be everything for TK, and TK understanding that just because Carlos can’t support him with this specific thing it doesn’t mean he doesn’t get it. Bit like making a will.

They both reach a new level of intimacy in this episode, one that goes beyond them sleeping in the same bed and having Adult Fun Time together (both of which we also get in this episode). We get them both laying out their vulnerabilities on the table while they are literally sitting at it. They trust each other with their bodies and their hearts and their futures and so now they lay out their final pieces for the other knowing that these ones cannot be picked up and looked after by the other.

Trust also comes by telling someone “hey so this is a thing you cannot fix and you cannot make better” and knowing that it won’t be an issue. Showing someone your whole self, every part of your truth, just for the sake of them knowing it.

When Carlos woke in 3x13 it was to a sense of loss and exclusion and by the end of the episode, when he comes into the room and rouses TK from their bed, the whole loft is filled with light (both of them are dressed in darker tones: TK in blue, Carlos in grey showing that things aren’t 100% back to light and bright and happy) and there’s a balance, understanding, and acceptance of where they are going from this point on. It’s been said that this was the moment for TK where he was “I could marry this man right now” and with that the sense of loss and exclusion are gone.

Tarlos and Sleep in 3x18

Carlos is asleep, TK is awake, but this time he is with Carlos. Whatever thoughts are going around in TK’s head he’s not retreating with them to the next room. He’s sitting in their shared darkness, watching Carlos sleep. His brain is now racing with thoughts as we suppose Carlos’ brain was in 3x05.

The contrast between them is different again: this time TK is the one in the white shirt (headcanon of shared clothes is very real), Carlos is in a grey vest. There’s a light and dark theme going on but even the ‘darkness’ of Carlos’ sleepwear isn’t all that dark. The room is dark as it was in 3x13 (round of applause for the gif makers who had to deal with that in this episode) but this time it’s a darkness shared.

Carlos’ sleep is so different here to 3x13 because it takes TK a few beats to get him to wake up. Carlos reacts to TK’s touch by rolling over and so his unconscious body is already aware that his is not alone in their bed. See commentary on 3x05 about our senses when we’re asleep. So Carlos’ mind has no reason to worry because it’s quiet and it’s dark and there’s someone in his bed.

The hand through the hair and TK’s voice is not what is expected and so Carlos snaps awake, immediately on alert. When we are pulled from sleep in the middle of a cycle disorientation is very real. If I were to find a line to describe what your brain is going through when it goes from sleep to is the lizard back? then I would go with something like “I’m not looking for… this”. Ah, 1x02. Such a delightful mess for them.

Once the panic has died down Carlos is immediately attuned to TK and realises that he has been woken up for a reason. And what a reason it is – but TK’s speech is another essay and we will focus instead on sleep.

Firstly, Rafa is fucking adorable with his line delivery so jot that down.

“You’re not just saying yes so you can go back to sleep are you?”

“I mean maybe, maybe but…”

Secondly, he still needs his sleep. He wants his sleep. Being woken up in the middle of the night to be asked “hey, wanna spend the rest of your life with me and make a serious commitment in front of our loved ones together?” isn’t exactly the kind of danger the larks relied on the night owls to protect them from.

Finally, I will be a language nerd on Carlos’ line because he’s being playful and half-serious but… it’s the but. A contrasting connective which basically means “ignore everything I just said”. Maybe he was saying it to go back to sleep. BUT. This is what he wants, what he’s wanted since 1x01 if we believe Rafa, and certainly since buying them the loft.

And so they fall back onto the bed for the other kind of sleeping together, before falling asleep together.

The Significance of Sleep For Tarlos

For a show that runs parallel to death so much, the instances of sleep show moments which walk the line between sleep and one of its metaphors or representations. From TK’s coma dream through to the sharing of the moment in the darkness, each instance highlights a new aspect of their relationship, develops it further, and shows us how much these boys have come to love and trust each other over the three seasons.

Prior to them officially moving in together in 2x10 we know that TK has been spending a lot of time at Carlos’ house – enough to have left things lying around the place and be given a key (2x04), spending extensive time together (couch cuddle scene in 2x07) – and so they have moved beyond the point where TK stayed over on nights where they had Adult Fun Time. Now he’s staying because he’s staying and they are at the point where they are sleeping together without sleeping together.

When TK declared in 1x10 that they made a “pretty good team” he was setting out his stall for where he saw this relationship going. Since then they have been a team: in life and in Catan. They have learned how to trust each other, let the other in, show the other parts of themselves for nothing more than information’s sake. They have made decisions together and built a life together, all of which culminated in their bed in 3x18, with TK rousing Carlos from sleep to ask Carlos for everything “until death parts them”.

(Also the line about it being “the kind of love you can’t get away from” is just everything, especially if like me you grew up with Ghost being the big romance movie of your childhood. Sam’s line “the love inside, you take it with you” adds weight to the concept of death being a part of a story rather than the end of it, and so sleep and dreams are but one part of the Tarlos story.)

#tarlos #tk strand #carlos reyes #911 lone star #911ls #overthinking jen is overthinking #kirassunshine #this was a lot of fun #thanks for letting me run with it

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stuckinapril · 4 months

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friend wanted to see my tumblr, and when i told him i can’t show it to him bc it’s basically my personal diary he went “oh so I can’t see it but a bunch of strangers on tumblr can??” he literally does not get me. no one will get me like the people in my phone get me

#It’s just so different #even though it’s public it still feels secret and safe. i feel comfy sharing a lot more on here than I do in my actual day to day life lol #in my head I’m also just speaking to myself 90% of the time which helps #if a friend off tumblr saw my thoughts I’d feel so weird ab it #esp bc they might get the vagueposting about certain situations and tell mutual friends #no thank u. this is for me. I’m not about to start censoring my thoughts bc someone I know knows my tumblr #u guys literally saw me have LIVE BREAKDOWNS #meanwhile I’ll have the worst fucking day in history and tell no one about it. I’m already cripplingly private but way more so in real life #this is basically a low stress journaling outlet for me. it’s so important for me to maintain the separation #like this is actually my diary & has been so handy for letting out emotions / articulating thoughts / staying on track !!#& I’ve met so many kind people on here who actually get me. which is so hard to find irl bc I’m surrounded by pre-med gunners/overachievers #who are by standard not very good w emotion & can be competitive/judgmental. or at least it’s hard for me to be vulnerable in front of them #and I’m part of that crowd so I reserve my emotions only to a handful of very close friends #it’s nice to hop on here and express negative emotions!! or positive emotions!! just whatever I want and it’s low stress and people get me #I don’t have to worry about judgment or competitiveness etc etc #like everyone on here is so kind & nice & understanding. & just a breath of fresh air from the types I run w. it’s just nice to have this #so idk that’s why I think I’ll always be strict about keeping the worlds separate. it just works #p

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gravehound · 8 months

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my karnaca nights art for @10yearsofdishonoredzine 🌹 today is the last day for leftover sales!

#thank you for letting me draw her and for running such a fun project....... she is everything to me.#billie lurk #meagan foster #daud #dishonored #art tag

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poorly-drawn-mdzs · 5 months

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This one is dedicated to @shirokokuro, who made a lifeguard AU fic to fill the void where there was none.

Read it here! It's great: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51598429

#poorly drawn mdzs #mdzs #modern au #mdzs au #nie mingjue #lan xichen #lan wangij #wei wuxian #I am still so flabbergasted. And boy it is such a treat of a fic. Thank you for making my dream come true. 5k+ is WILD!!!#You made me laugh so many times! The jokes were on point!#I have *not* been able to stop thinking about:#"Lan Zhan has half a mind to march over and explain aquatic safety to them.#(“Wow you're so familiar with the pool rules“ the lifeguard would swoon. ”Let's run away together!“)”#The truly unhinged Lan Pining was very well done!#LWJ suffers emotionally but in only the most teenji way he possibly could.#Also I'm such a nerd - I love the fact you put links in for reference. Genuinely felt giddy each time #I will make people read this fic with every power bestowed upon me

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bogkeep · 1 day

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thoughts, repeating.

#art #sketch #digital art #ocd #wish i could clear my brain cache sometimes!#but no instead everything that ever happens to me is a cognitohazard #anything can be my brain's favourite chew toy #there's nothing more to extract from that thought but sure let's run into it like a knife a million times #and it becomes habit that reinforces itself. i will wake up thinking thank god im not having the thought right now! oh! surprise!#i don't wish my memory was worse but i wish it knew how to let go #one beautiful day when im in a place more long term i will find a therapist that can help hopefully #also im doing fine mostly!!!!!!#ive been meaning to draw this for a while just havent had the time and im slowly smoothing it over

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charlilil · 8 months

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In an incredible turn of events, I got to do a NADDPod poster for some of their upcoming live shows! NADDPod is probably my favourite podcast ever so I’m super honoured that I was even asked to do this.

If anyone is going to these shows and picks up a poster I’d love to see pics!

#Naddpod #not another dnd podcast #moonshine cybin #hardwon surefoot #beverly toegold #balnor the brave #paw paw gump #my art #okay now that I’m hidden down in the tags #i keep looking at this and seeing mistakes BUT i am ultimately proud of it #thank u Caldwell for letting me run with this silly idea #not another d&d podcast

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atorionsbelt · 10 months

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the look on jamie’s face when roy rejected his hug

#let him love youuuuu roy #if a man hugged me twice but wouldn’t let ME hug HIM i would be confused asf #thank god he let him few eps later but still. look at HIM #he’s only baby how could u do this to him #clearly i’m running out of things to talk about #ted lasso #jamie tartt #roy kent #royjamie #roy x jamie #jamie x roy #op

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cerise-on-top · 4 months

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Hi, love your writing. it's so good 💚💚

Could I request some HC for LV + Graves who have an S/O who has three cats that love to sleep on top of them?

😸💚

Thank youuuu! That's very kind of you! This ask actually inspired me to text my friend again and ask her for some cat pics since those critters are just so goshdarn adorable!! I wish I had a cat! I once had a tortoise, though, and she was just the most lovely and adorable little thing out there! I loved her so dearly! Anyway, thank you for the request!

Alejandro, Rodolfo and Graves with an S/O with Three Cats

Alejandro: He gives off quite some canine energy, so there’s a chance your cats won’t like him too much. That, of course, you can try to combat by having him feed them. Either way, if they like Alejandro, then you can expect him to be all over your cats, always talking to them, petting them, picking them up, kissing them and what else it is you do with a cat. He loves your little kitties and would kill someone for them. Although he’s more of a dog person himself, he doesn’t prefer dogs by much, so he can really go either way. When he sees just how cuddly your cats are and when they take a nap on his chest while he’s watching TV with you or something, he will not hesitate to pet the cat, scratch the little fella behind its ears and try his best to make them purr. He loves the sound and the vibration, it brings good vibes and makes him just as content as the cat. The rule that one must not move when a cat is sleeping on top of them holds true for him. If he needs to use the bathroom while one of your cats is sleeping on him then he’ll just have to endure until it wakes up. But if he’s content as well, then he might just cuddle the cat, or your cats even, and take a nap himself. While he’s not usually one for napping, he will when he genuinely can’t move because of your lovely little felines. If your cats let him, he will give them big hugs as well. Is so smitten, he’ll buy them some toys and play with them, if he has the time. And if your cats are too lazy to actually play, then he’ll pick them up and lovingly scold them for being so unmotivated. Meows back at cats too.

Rodolfo: He gets along well with just about any animal. While he’s not scared of them per se, he does have a healthy amount of respect for them and won’t just walk up to your cats to give them pats and kisses and hugs. He will comply if your cats walk up to him because they’re curious, but he really doesn’t want to annoy them or worse, end up with him getting scratched. While he may not meow back at your cats either, he will talk to them as though they’re regular human beings. It’s somewhat funny, he takes them seriously and will, in a deadpan tone, tell them that there will be no more snacky treats for the evening. No matter how annoying your cats might get, he won’t budge. His decision is final, so there are no more snacky treats. He quite likes the thing where if you scratch a cat’s butt, it will move it upwards. Loves doing that to your cats, it’s funny and endearing to him. When your cats are sleeping on top of him, then he won’t particularly budge either. He’ll pat them, but he will also move them if he really needs to use the bathroom. No privileges for your cats this time. However, considering he is, more often than not, pretty tired, he will pretty much always take a nap with your cats if he can. The pressure on his chest is comforting to him, plus he gets to feel something nicely warm and furry on top of him as well. However, he sometimes moves in his sleep, which might wake up your cats, which might wake up him. It’s a never ending circle, but if he can, he’ll just sleep with your cats in his arms. Take a picture of him like that and he’ll try to take embarrassing pictures of you as well with your cats.

Graves: He is definitely more of a dog person, since those are strong and reliable. A cat will meow at you in the dead of the night because it knocked over its water bowl and can’t turn on the faucet on its own. Honestly? He always has something to complain about. Your cat pooped again. It knocked over the food bowl. It farted in his face. Things like that. He means them, but the way he says those things is sort of just funny. Imagine a 40 year old man having beef with a cat. He has very little shame when it comes to scolding your cats. At first, he will use his human words to get them to listen. But as soon as he realizes they believe it’s snuggle time, he will meow at them, making the situation even worse. However, every time you hand him one of your cats, he will take it from your arms and cuddle it a bit. Every time one of the critters walks up to him, demanding attention, he will pick it up and carry it around a bit. Sometimes in his arms, sometimes he just slings the cat over his shoulder and keeps it there. It’s sort of funny, he might pretend to really hate them, but he would never yell at them, only be stern and tell them to not be so gluttonous. When your cats are sleeping on top of him, he does not move an inch. He would never admit it, but they are your shared furry babies and he, like any American, would shoot anyone who ever tried to hurt you or them. Takes naps too when he can, or when nothing of interest is on TV, but he prefers getting to hold something instead of having your cats lie on top of you. You can take pictures of him to show him that he really doesn’t hate your cats as much as he pretends to, but he will always claim you photoshopped it, despite knowing fully well that happened.

#cod #cod x reader #alejandro vargas #alejandro vargas x reader #rodolfo parra #rodolfo parra x reader #phillip graves #phillip graves x reader #cats are so adorable one day I'm gonna have one and spoil her rotten #but then again I just want to cuddle someone or something #either that or just have some company for once haha #give her a kiss on her little forehead if she lets me #one day #but for now I'm content with looking at pictures of cats and tortoises #have you guys ever seen the image of a kitten cuddling a tortoise? I think that's my favorite image on the internet it's so stinking cute!!#this is the third request I've written today I've been such a busy bee today #but I had them queued so I won't run out of requets to be posted #Two more requests tomorrow and I'll be done with all five I had today thank god #I am so tired again and I've been writing for almost four hours now #but only four because today's requests were luckily a bit on the shorter side and headcanons only!

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nostalgicfun · 1 month

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Flying a kite with dad, 1999

#there's such a cute story behind this picture #1. my dad desperately wanted pictures of us doing activities together but my mom refused to go anywhere with us OR use a camera #(like. she never went to parks/on bike rides/out to lunch with us etc. because she doesn't like going out)#he kept setting the timer on the camera and then running over and trying to get a good picture of him and I flying a kite together #2. BUT THEN I let too much string out on the kite and it flew away and I was devastated #so he went and called my grandfather and then put my grandfather on the phone with me #and my grandpa told me my unicorn kite came to visit him and that he had her now :) and thanked me for sending her to visit him #such a good wholesome memory

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essektheylyss · 4 months

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I'm going to finish writing the most existentially stressful grocery run TODAY. It's GOING TO HAPPEN.

#megs is writing #honestly I could probably snatch some of the earlier iterations of this scene but #am I going to do that? probably not. I will at least reference it for help but anyway #on a related note god it's apparent that I started writing this book in november of 2020 huh.#feat. such anxieties as 'will a grocery run kill me' 'under no circumstances can I leave this house' and 'does the government want me dead?#will I be mentioning this when I query it? absolutely the fuck not. I'll let them figure it out if they can.#I do actually think that this draft is the one that's gonna come together. and thank FUCK

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bbqhooligan · 3 months

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omfg in the end of Saiki K Live Action its pretty much implied he was going to let her have the date she worked so hard for because she had solved everything else, then the rival school delinquents attack, etc etc and when he rewinds the time to do it perfectly this time, he catches Teruhashi's coy glance his way and he exasperatedly smiles with affection. thats the only way i can describe that expression literally he looks like hes trying to hold his face in place but the smile is bursting out by force causing the awkwardness. THEY HAD THEIR DATE IN THE LIVE ACTION UNIVERSE

#mypost #saiki k #saikik #saiki k live action #saiteru #terusai #idk how to explain it but live action saiki is more into teruhashi than anime saiki #like saiki is also begrudgingly going along with her schemes but live action saiki feels like. hes actively suppressing this...#this...inclination to like her? like he almost does #hes always blankly going “i cant like someone who thinks like that” but it almost feels like playfully telling your friend theyre being evi #like “lmao ok you know what i cant be friends w you anymore ok bye”#i cant like someone like this teruhashi-san *eye roll* *lets her grab his arm and run all the way to the gym*#idk the FONDNESS is stronger to me. maybe the blank voice+ limitation of animation makes saiki look more dead #and kento yamazakis face betrays anything. like that twinkle in his eyes when she genuinely asked him if he was ok with no ulterior motive #he went O.O -.- oh yea im fine. thanks.#great acting great direction i caught every crumb

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snowyquokka · 3 months

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just in case you weren’t aware that this exists:)

#choke me please #on my knees #stray kids #skz #lee know skz #snowyquokka #he def has a big dick #big dick energy #someone sedate me #lee minho #meowing #veiny arms #i’d let him ruin me #could run me over and i’d thank him #going feral #use me pls #dick me down

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rizzstappen · 8 months

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College Au, I agree that you def should write it 👀👀

Ahh okay I’ve been tinkering with this for a bit! Thank you for this ask Danni!!

This is my first time writing for Maxiel and first time writing rpf in years so please be easy on me 😭 but of course feedback and any questions are welcome!! Inspired by this picture and the tags!!

Sorry for any mistakes! But I don’t think I can look or edit this anymore without going insane 🤪 enjoy!!!

Maxiel College AU where it’s a special day during junior year!

—

“C’mon one more DR!” Blake shouted from across the tennis court. The Austin sun beating down on them making the already humid day feel worse than it actually was.

“Yeah, nah mate,” Daniel called back as the three men walked toward the net where they had set their backpacks down to get in a quick tennis match. “Max is waiting for me. I promised I’d be back on time. He says it’s a special day.”

Daniel had been thinking all day about it.

Before leaving for class Max had whispered to Daniel something about a special day. In his sleepy haze all the Aussie could do was hum and try to pull his boyfriend back into the warm duvet covers away from the busy campus outside their window.

Every morning was a routine once the semester began. Max woke at 7 am for his 8 am lecture. Showered. Got dressed. Kissed Daniel before he headed out the door. Daniel, of course, didn’t have class until 1:30. He liked sleeping in and staying up late. Plus he worked at the local bar which meant late night shifts. Max didn’t mind it. They always made sure to leave the afternoons free around dinner time so they could catch up on the day before Max went to play FIFA or do homework and Daniel went to work.

“He said that? You don’t know what the special day is?” Scotty asked with a slight scoff knowing if he forgot a date Chloe would have his head.

Daniel rolled his eyes sliding his backpack onto his shoulders and hiding his sweaty curls under a black and green hat “no he didn’t say what it was. If I ask he might kill me so I’m off to get some flowers on my way home” he nodded hopping the day would reveal itself when he walked in the door.

After saying bye to Blake and Scotty, Daniel headed out to the local flower shop. It was small with a French exchange student behind the counter who flirted way too much with Max in his opinion. The green eyed student recommended a bouquet of roses. Cliche.

Instead Daniel opted for an assortment of red, yellow and white tulips. Like the ones Max spoke about from his home country. Daniel liked to get flowers often wanting to give Max a little piece of home since he couldn’t travel back to Holland often.

The jingle of his key alerted the cats of Daniel’s return to the small apartment. Once inside the cats curled around his ankles and purred against his leg welcoming him back. Daniel leaned down scratching both Jimmy and Sassy behind their ears with whispered ‘hey guys, where’s dad?’ He toed off his shoes by the door before walking towards the living room. Max wasn’t in his usual spot on the worn leather couch Daniel had practically begged Max to bring back after they found it on the side of the road last year.

“Hello?” He called out the crinkle of the cellophane echoing around the tulips in Daniel’s hand.

“Shit” Max’s quiet voice echoed coming from the kitchen. Daniel made his way over seeing Max fussing over…something? His broad shoulders hunched down pulling at the fabric of his black polo that were tucked into his jeans being held up by a black belt.

Max turned holding a tray in his hands with what should’ve been a cake. The white frosting and vanilla bread had clearly turned into a crumbly mess.

“It’s supposed to be a cake, of course, but I think I took the bread out too soon and it was too hot. Of course I just wanted it to be decorated before you got back-“ Max rambled. A grin spread on Daniels lips “a cake for this special day?” He asked trying to real more information out of his boyfriend about this mystery day.

Max raised an eyebrow and nodded “of course why wouldn’t there be a cake?” He says.

Cake. Birthday? No. Anniversary? No. Daniel still couldn’t wrack his brain about what this special day might be.

Max smirked at his boyfriend as he sets the tray down on the linoleum lined kitchen counter “you have no idea what today is huh?”

Shit. He was caught. Max could read him like a book but Daniel wouldn’t admit it of course. “What?! Of course I know what today is. I got you flowers. Tulips” he grinned handing over the bouquet.

Max inspects the flowers. Not as good as the ones from his hometown but he knew it was the thought that counted. Max looked his boyfriend in the eyes a grin on his lips as he speaks “then what is today?”

Daniel looks back for a moment. What other possible date would be important enough for a cake?

A laugh bubbles up from Max “you don’t even know!” he smirked happily moving to get a vase filled with water for his flowers. “Daniel it’s the day we met in class” he spoke over the water running into the green vase “three years ago, of course” he nodded shutting the water off and sliding the flowers into the water before setting them down “it’s called a meet cute. I think” he said before he gestured to the cake sat on the counter “that’s what Victoria called it. She said it would be cute to celebrate it.”

The words ‘happy 3 year meet cute’ scrawled out in red icing against the white frosting in Max’s handwriting

Daniel was stunned.

3 years. He couldn’t believe 3 years had flown by. He remembered walking into his Horticulture 120 lecture and the only spot left was next to Max at the front row. He was sure he’d drop the class. It was an elective after all. But then he turned and saw Max’s eyes. Blue. Like the Maldives. In that moment Daniel knew he had to stay. So he did and clumsily introduced himself. His braces giving him a slight lisp. But it was the best thing he had done. Now he had an apartment and two cats with that same boy. And they were celebrating meeting 3 year later.

Daniel gives his boyfriend a soft look before his own laughter filled the space between them “oh Maxy” he said “that’s adorable really. Thank you” he says admiring the icing work he had attempted winning his finger into the white frosting and licking it off his finger.

“Happy three year meet cute anniversary” he said leaning in kissing Max’s blushing cheeks.

Max smiled turning to look at his boyfriend “happy three year meet cute anniversary” he whispered before planting a kiss on Daniel lips.

#thank you again Danni!!! I hope this meets your expectations!!!#in my head Daniel and max didn’t get together until halfway through the semester while working on a project together #that’s when they find out they live in the same dorm and hang out even more after that #and daniel is a engineering major at first but he switches to photography by this time #max does computer science #of course they go to UT!#and max is there on visa and Blake Scotty and Daniel decided to all just go there because dan loved it #hook ‘em!#and Charles runs the flower shop when he’s in school and flirts shamelessly with all the people who #come in and buy flowers #let me know if you want any more!!!#again I hope this is okay!#maxiel #my fic #asks #onboardsorasora #college au

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