freesia-writes

[freesia-writes]

Right?! That was all @nika6q 😂

The Hero We Never Knew We Needed: A Tribute to Bop

GIF thanks to @skybson

Word Count: 484

Minutes Spent Laughing While Writing: 19

-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-

The Clone Wars were a grim time, a galaxy torn apart by opposing ideologies and forceful rulers who sought to unite everyone under their own structure. Clones were created by the millions, raised at twice the speed of a normal life and thrown onto the battlefield as soon as they were able. Battalions would go forth, brother after brother falling under the relentless forces of the Separatists. Replacements were shipped in daily, as though one man could just as easily replace another, as though their entire lives were for one singular, dismal purpose. The heavy weight of conflict crushed the freedom and enthusiasm of the previously free systems, and what little joy there was to be found was fleeting, often followed by despair, death, and defeat. Wave after wave, soul after soul -- some would argue that those who survived had a harder time, somehow spared from the sweet release of death and instead forced to repeat their worst nightmare every day.

And then there was Bop.

A brave and fearless soldier on the battlefield, Bop would mow down droid after droid, dual-wielding his blasters and charging forth alongside his brothers with a fierce battle cry no matter how grisly the odds were. He was unstoppable, a force to be reckoned with. He fought hard.

And he played harder.

See, Bop knew how to live. His scarce time off was spent at 79s, where he could be found dancing the night away, a euphoric grin plastered across his face. His joy was infectious, and he didn’t care how many or few were on the dance floor -- he was there to start (and finish) the festivities. There were droids assigned to contribute to the jovial atmosphere, moving in their jerky rhythms to entice others to join, but they had nothing on Bop. He was CT-1999, because that was how he partied***.

He was such a battlefield hero that he was promoted to officer, assigned to a Venator-class Star Destroyer and placed over the ship's weapons systems. He traded in his plastoid armor for a slick uniform with gloves, a belt, and a gray cap, and proudly wore his rank insignia plaque on his chest. Insightful and quick on his feet, Bop was a legend. Droids feared him, fellow clones respected him, and creatures of all species yearned to be the one he would take home at night.

But Bop had only one mission. He did his job with precision and excellence, and when he was finally released to enjoy the temporary illusion of autonomy, he sought out his place of zen. His sanctuary. His place to both rejuvenate himself and restore hope and wonder to the galaxy through the delight of dance. The neon lights of 79s would illuminate every angle of his jive, painting the dance floor with his unbridled groovy enthusiasm.

Bop would die one day, whether by age or by artillery, as we all must fall. But today was not that day.

***(this line was a comment from @nika6q and was so good I had to add it)

@doublesunsets @rosechi @501st-rexster @meshlaxbunny @anxiouspineapple99 @softsunburstlove @starrylothcat @the-bad-batch-baroness @thecoffeelorian 😂😘

[freesia-writes]

Ahhhh what a cool idea!! These are awesome!

Hello all! I've officially finally decided to open up an Etsy shop since getting into making paracord bracelets. As of now, I'm strictly doing bracelets for members of TBB, but if all goes well, I may put up additional listings for other clone troopers, as well as regular bracelets too❤️

You can find my shop right here!

Here are some examples of what the bracelets look like!

[freesia-writes]

WOW these are amazing! I'm speechless! I don't even know which one is my favorite! Wonderful job. :D

Paint studies feat. Hunter

[freesia-writes]

For those of you who have exploded onto the scene since I've gone somewhat dormant, if you're interested in my particular flavor of writing, here's a small menu of favorites!

I'm lobbing this right back to your ask box, because the questions were great, and I'd love to know your answers!

Ok. So. If someone wanted to read your works…

Which do you think is your best piece and why? You can split the answer into short and long fics if you want. 😜

Which do you think is your most delicious, sexy, satisfying piece of smut?

Which do you think has the most intimate/immersive POV of a character, like really takes you in their heart and mind and makes you feel what they feel? Takes you on the ride with them?

And which one do you think everyone should read? I know, choosing one is torture. 😉😘

I should be going to bed right now but my brain is a steam engine and this train of thought is CHUGGIN. 😂 So. Since you had such amazing answers for your own...

Which do you think is your best piece and why?

Honestly... Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt, the Hunter x OC longfic that I worked on for 9+ months, because it's intricately cohesive, intentionally structured from start to finish, and amazingly enriched with fanart, mood boards, and other stuff that makes it completely immersive. I'm really proud of it. 🥹 It's got plot twists but doesn't leave the reader feeling stupid (*coughTBB*), has fully developed and very unique characters that are also relatable (I hope), and I think (and have been told, lol) that the characterization of the Batch is dead-on and their family dynamics are absolutely delightful. It feels weird to speak freely about its strengths, but we should be able to do that without it being braggy. So, it's amazing in a lot of areas and definitely needs work in others (like me, ha).

Which do you think is your most delicious, sexy, satisfying piece of smut?

*dons monocle to consult @spicy-clones master list*

Shoot, I guess I have to say Sharp Edges, the Crosshair x Reader longfic I wrote with @lightwise. There are quite a few smut scenes, but what makes it fantastic is that it starts off hot and shallow, then evolves and deepens in areas beyond just the physical to lead to a really satisfying climax (hahaha). And it's a really good story -- after all, when you get two author brains on a project, it's that much better! Tons of character development, funny dialogue, and an excellent fix-it ending. 😉

Which do you think has the most intimate/immersive POV of a character, like really takes you in their heart and mind and makes you feel what they feel? Takes you on the ride with them?

I guess I'm gonna be really redundant here... The Hunter one, because readers experience the story through his eyes (where other works are from a reader, OC, or omniscient POV). So they were hopefully just as surprised as he was at sudden plot twists, but I also tried to add just enough detail and subtle lil winks to the reader to "let them in" on some of the secrets so that they could feel shrewd and insightful without just having it all out there plainly so Hunter's the only one and the rest of us are rolling our eyes and smacking our foreheads at him the whole time. 😜 I mean, there was some of that too. 😂

And which one do you think everyone should read?

If the two pitches above for Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt didn't seal the deal, then that one is lost beyond redemption. 😜 So I have two shorties...

This Pets 4 Vets story featuring Jesse is long enough to create some chemistry, have some funny ups and downs, and enjoy a satisfying connection at the end (and some hot bangin' in the bonus chapter, LOL). I love the trope of being let in by someone who hides behind a front and this one was really enjoyable that way.

And lastly, this Tup x Reader keeps coming to mind. Idk why, but it's playful, awkward, satisfying, and sweet. The dialogue prompt was "Don't ever do that again! ...you have no idea what it does to me." And it involves his hair, surprise surprise. 😉 PLUS, I love writing "the boys", whether it's the Batch or the 501st, cause those dynamics seem to really enrich the whole thing.

Thanks for letting me ramble. 💕

AND FOR ANYONE ELSE READING, hahah, I feel like I write almost the same trope over and over, so if you have some requests that you'd like to hear in my style, but are different in content than my usual stuff, drop em in my asks!

[freesia-writes]

Remember when I used to write? *sigh* Me too.

ANYWAY

Thought we could all use a little Bop to start off the summer (in the northern hemisphere at least, lol). Enjoy. ;)

The Hero We Never Knew We Needed: A Tribute to Bop

GIF thanks to @skybson

Word Count: 484

Minutes Spent Laughing While Writing: 19

-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-

The Clone Wars were a grim time, a galaxy torn apart by opposing ideologies and forceful rulers who sought to unite everyone under their own structure. Clones were created by the millions, raised at twice the speed of a normal life and thrown onto the battlefield as soon as they were able. Battalions would go forth, brother after brother falling under the relentless forces of the Separatists. Replacements were shipped in daily, as though one man could just as easily replace another, as though their entire lives were for one singular, dismal purpose. The heavy weight of conflict crushed the freedom and enthusiasm of the previously free systems, and what little joy there was to be found was fleeting, often followed by despair, death, and defeat. Wave after wave, soul after soul -- some would argue that those who survived had a harder time, somehow spared from the sweet release of death and instead forced to repeat their worst nightmare every day.

And then there was Bop.

A brave and fearless soldier on the battlefield, Bop would mow down droid after droid, dual-wielding his blasters and charging forth alongside his brothers with a fierce battle cry no matter how grisly the odds were. He was unstoppable, a force to be reckoned with. He fought hard.

And he played harder.

See, Bop knew how to live. His scarce time off was spent at 79s, where he could be found dancing the night away, a euphoric grin plastered across his face. His joy was infectious, and he didn’t care how many or few were on the dance floor -- he was there to start (and finish) the festivities. There were droids assigned to contribute to the jovial atmosphere, moving in their jerky rhythms to entice others to join, but they had nothing on Bop. He was CT-1999, because that was how he partied***.

He was such a battlefield hero that he was promoted to officer, assigned to a Venator-class Star Destroyer and placed over the ship's weapons systems. He traded in his plastoid armor for a slick uniform with gloves, a belt, and a gray cap, and proudly wore his rank insignia plaque on his chest. Insightful and quick on his feet, Bop was a legend. Droids feared him, fellow clones respected him, and creatures of all species yearned to be the one he would take home at night.

But Bop had only one mission. He did his job with precision and excellence, and when he was finally released to enjoy the temporary illusion of autonomy, he sought out his place of zen. His sanctuary. His place to both rejuvenate himself and restore hope and wonder to the galaxy through the delight of dance. The neon lights of 79s would illuminate every angle of his jive, painting the dance floor with his unbridled groovy enthusiasm.

Bop would die one day, whether by age or by artillery, as we all must fall. But today was not that day.

***(this line was a comment from @nika6q and was so good I had to add it)

@doublesunsets @rosechi @501st-rexster @meshlaxbunny @anxiouspineapple99 @softsunburstlove @starrylothcat @the-bad-batch-baroness @thecoffeelorian 😂😘

[freesia-writes]

I LOVE THIS FICCCC 😍

I never thought I'd like Dogma but you've made him so engaging while still keeping him exactly as he seems in canon. It's amazing!

The Mindset of a Set Mind Chapter 14: Disguises

Dogma and Jheyla reluctantly get ready for the harvest dance.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/62554303/chapters/169752568

It wasn’t that he wasn’t enjoying her company. Far from it. The long moments of quiet allowed him to focus his attention on other things about her—things like how her footsteps fell in step with his as perfectly as if they were marching together and how the dwindling orange rays of early evening were using the wine-colored tones of her auburn hair as an accelerant to set it on fire. It was that flaming hair that reminded him of the item burning a hole in his pocket.

Art of Dogma in a sweater (and accompanying art ref) by @thecoffeelorian Dogma divider by @lornaka and @freesia-writes Reblog divider by @dystopicjumpsuit

[freesia-writes]

Oh he's a MOOD! 😂😍

CT-9075 „Holobomb“ 😎🤌🤌📸

„I learned a lot of things on Kamino: hand-to-hand combat, battle strategy, firearms and ordnance, piloting skills…but do you know what would have been nice to know before I left? Don’t do anything to put Alpha-17’s undersuit in a twist. I bombed one holopic. ONE! And now I’m on custodial detail at Coruscant Guard HQ—for a week. Was it worth it? Well, I’m in a commander-level group shot, so yes. Would I do it again? Good question. Ask me again in a few days.“

HB rant by gorgeous @eclec-tech 🫶 Thank you so much, my dearest writing owl twin ✨🦉🫶🦉✨

✌️📸 Him holobombing and he needed a name, indeed

-> read the scene with him and the one and only Alpha-17 ✨😎🤌🤌

Taglist: @bixlasagna @vrycurious @dystopicjumpsuit @chaicilatte @spaceyjessa

GAR Goth Night friends and Chaos vode 🖤✨ @ghostymarni @lonewolflupe @wings-and-beskargam @eclec-tech @foxwithadarkside @fiveminutetrash @crosshairs-dumb-pimp-gf @feralferrule @ladylucksrogue @nika6q @skellymom @vimse @gargothnightzine @sunshinesdaydream @noblelightfighter @returnofthepineapple @freesia-writes @covert1ntrovert @vikushat @nocturius8015ficore @mamuzzy @risavulpes @niobiumao3 @sazzujazzu @blackseafoam @thora-sniper @gars-weaponeer @leenathegreengirl @vodika-vibes @headphones-ct-09978 @bad4amficideas @wyvernsrus @fuzzyenthusiastnelket01

[freesia-writes]

@enigmaticexplorer People are finally waking up to the hottie they’ve been sleeping on! 😂

Sir Howzer, the Haunted.

Rex: Howzer, how many mags are you gonna carry? Howzer: YES

[freesia-writes]

Oh this is GORGEOUS!!! The color and mood and texture and shading… wow!

[freesia-writes]

@precioustech Aaahhhhh thank you so much! 😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️

Master List

During the Clone Wars, the Bad Batch is tasked with a variety of missions across the galaxy. An unexpected addition to their team throws a wrench in the mix, particularly for Tech, who finds a particular connection with this disillusioned Padawan-turned-mechanic named Vel throughout the events in this action-adventure romance. COVER ART BY @zaana 🧡🧡🧡

Chapters:

Interference

Indignation

Interdependence

Instigation

Insight

Interest

Invitation

Intentions

Interception

Injustice

Intellect

Injury

Ingenuity

Incitation

Undercover

Untraditional

Undermined

Unrequited

Unpredictable

Upended

Unveil

Return

Revelation

Revilement

Repentance

Refreshment

Relentlessness

Resonance

Reactivity

Costuming

Conspiracy

Catastrophe

Contentment

Cohabitation

Completion

[freesia-writes]

Educational Saturday 😉❤️

I come to you today with a very important and very loving blurb about requests, courtesy, and how this site works.

This was a recent interaction I got, and I know others will be able to elaborate on it much better, so I'll keep it simple:

The single most important way to support writers is to REBLOG.

This site operates on REBLOGS.

Reading or requesting without doing anything to share the writer's work is very one-sided and not how we do things here.

SO, my beloved readers...

If you enjoy it, reblog it.

Don't bother with likes.

Comments can be put in the reblog.

.

sincerely, one of many authors putting their hearts and souls into creating awesome stuff for you to enjoy (and appreciate). ;)

[freesia-writes]

CT-7567, Captain Rex of the 501st Legion

[freesia-writes]

@enigmaticexplorer hiiiiiii!! 🥹🥹❤️

HUNTER AND LYRA by @raevulsix!!

This touches my heart sososososoooo much, because Rae was the first one to ever bless me with fanart when I first joined this site. I was shamelessly begging artists to draw a specific undercover casino scene from my first fanfic, Tech and Vel, and she took it on. It was so amazing to see a scene come to life visually and not just verbally.

So here we are, a bit over a year later, and she's graced us again with a sweet, tender little scene from the Hunter fic!

Look at his sweet little face! Oh my LORD. And fanartists are exceedingly kind to my plain old Lyra, making her look just so beautiful and stunning. And look at his soft gaze! And his delicious forearm! And the perfect tattoos!

Every single piece of artwork from my writing is such an incredible gift. Eternal gratitude to all of you who see something you like and bring it to life in your own unique style. I've got a few more pieces from this fic to share, but they're a bit spoilery so I'm gonna hold out on em for now. ;)

I keep a running list of ideas for fanart that would go well with the story, so if you're ever lookin for something to draw and something from the list strikes your fancy, FEEL FREE! ;)

xoxo

@lightwise @sweetcream-coldfoam @clonethirstingisreal @have-a-hiddles @sverdgeir @roam-rs @littlemissmanga @dystopicjumpsuit @523rdrebel @solstraalaa @skellymom @internm0thb0y @sunshinesdaydream @photogirl894 @reader6898 @jedi-hawkins @moonstrider9904 @hipwell @lamiliani @catoo @ilarria @totallyunidentified @padawancat97 @yve-barr @lucyysthings @flowered-bicycles @maddiedrmr @techhasmjolnir

Join the tag list for this fic or all my works by requesting an invite to the discord server or filling out my form. :)

[freesia-writes]

Awwww shucks! I'm glad. And thank you!! This one had me smiling a lot while writing. 🥹

What do you think Gregor would be like on a first date, especially with someone who hasn't dated in years and maybe feels a little unsure of themselves?

Awwww yeah, let's go on this one! :D Buckle up, reader -- you're going on a date with our favorite amnesiac! I'm putting them on Pabu (or Santorini, take your pick) just because Gregor deserves a beach vacation after his years on that empty sand planet.

No content warnings. It's frickin adorable. ;) And it totally got away from me so it's 2.5k words...

*insert Gregor giggle*

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

You take your hair down again, for the eighth time it seems, letting out a frustrated huff that it seems to be defying your every wish. Glancing at the clock, you feel the anxiety begin to rise, and you make one last attempt at twisting your hair into a half-decent updo. Standing in front of the mirror, you smooth the front of your clothes, studying yourself top to bottom with a critical eye. Why did you agree to this, again? Well, you didn't, you suppose, but you did make the bet, which you lost, and here you are. You cringe as you remember your friend's laughter as he reassured you, "Don't worry -- he's not like the other clones."

Whatever that meant. Either way, it had been ages since you'd been out with anyone, choosing instead to enjoy your quiet life of career, nature, and home. Yet, to spice things up one week, in an impulsive moment of bad judgment, you had taken your friend up on his bet and had wagered a blind date. Deciding this was as good as it's gonna get, you grab your bag and head for the door.

It's a warm, breezy evening, and the enticing smells of a wide variety of dinners being prepared makes your mouth water as you walk through the winding paths of the village. Built on a mountainous island, everything is condensed and vertical, with a seemingly endless maze of walkways and alleys. Your friend made the reservations for the two of you and told you to look for a "guy with eyebrows". You can't possibly fathom this going well, and you realize as you make your way to the restaurant that you're working yourself into a fuss. You reach the doorway and, taking a deep breath, decide to try to let it all go and just see what the night holds. "Try" being the key word.

You enter the restaurant, a rectangular building set on the side the mountain with a bar in the middle, tables scattered throughout, and a balcony along the edge that provided a handful of tables with spectacular views of the houses below, all the way to the water that stretched out into the horizon. You pause in the entryway, scanning the tables for anyone seated alone, and start to feel concerned as you see none. A sudden burst of laughter erupts from the bar, catching your attention.

A man with dark hair, cropped short on the sides but longer and swept back on the top, claps two Pantorans on the back, enjoying a few last chuckles with them, before turning to look around the room. Well son of a Hutt... there's the eyebrows, arched in curiosity. He's a clone, alright, but has an odd way about him. His movements are slightly erratic, and he seemed to be the life of the party a second ago but is now shifting awkwardly on his feet. It's got to be him. You take a deep breath again, and make your way toward him.

"Are you... Gregor?" you ask, once within hearing range, and he whirls to face you so quickly that you're almost startled.

"Depends who's asking!" he says, and a little giggle escapes that seems wildly out of character... well, for any other clone you've met thus far. "But I sure hope you're the one I'm supposed to meet here!" You can't detect any hint of sarcasm or flattery in his voice; it just sounds like a genuine statement. You've been rehearsing a million different scenarios leading up to tonight, anticipating all types of characters, but this one's got you baffled so far.

"Well, if you're Gregor, you're stuck with me!" you say, trying to sound playful but immediately wanting to cringe.

"Lovely!" he claps his hands together, inviting you to the table on the corner of the balcony; it's still relatively early for dinner, so the place isn't too busy, and the tables nearby are empty. But as you get closer to the table, you notice a small bouquet of flowers on one of the place settings, tied neatly with... a napkin?

"Ah, yeah..." Gregor says, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I have no idea how all of this is supposed to go, but I saw those on the way here and picked them for you... off people's porches!" He giggles again, and you find yourself relaxing a bit, put at ease by his unapologetic glee. "But I didn't have anything to tie them with, so... I'll cover for you if you want to steal the napkin," he winks.

"That's really sweet," you say with a smile, and he beams back at you, plopping into his seat and scrambling back to his feet just as quickly with a little muttered "oops", instead coming to stand behind your chair, beckoning you to sit and carefully pushing the seat in behind you as you do. Now you're uncomfortable again, feeling suddenly as though you have no idea how to act in these situations after all.

The waiter comes, dressed to the nines, holding a bottle in his hand with a white towel draped over his arm. He holds it out to the two of you, eyes moving slowly from you to Gregor, lips pursed in the snootiest expression you've seen in a while.

"Oh! Yes please!" Gregor says enthusiastically, pushing the two crystal glasses on the table toward the waiter, whose brow drops at such a plebeian reaction. He removes the cork with a flourish (and a little "ooh!" from Gregor), then pours a tiny bit into your glass, straightening up expectantly.

"Aww, no need to be shy!" Gregor chimes in, taking the bottle from him and filling both of your glasses to the absolute brim. "We're good for it!" He grins and gives the waiter a thumbs-up, but the only response he receives is a stifled look of horror as the server slowly hands him a menu. Gregor plunks the bottle down onto the table, taking the menu and opening it excitedly.

You do the same, stifling a chuckle of your own, and try to focus on the food options, but you're distracted by the steady stream of muttering coming from behind your date's menu. Peering over the edge, you see Gregor not only reading the options aloud, but providing quiet commentary on each of them... to himself. You almost want to be critical of it, but it's so endearing that you instead discover a warm and fuzzy feeling growing in your chest.

Snapping his menu shut, Gregor returns his attention to you, catching you by surprise. He smiles, tilting his head and regarding you warmly, "So... eh... tell me about yourself?" he invites sheepishly, saying it more as if he's asking if it's the right thing to say rather than actually asking you.

You find a smile on your own face as you launch into what you hope is a very exciting and thrilling account of your career, interests, and story so far, realizing perhaps a bit too late that you've been going on for a while. You drop off rather quickly, stammering an apology, and his face changes from attentive listening to puzzled confusion.

"Why'd you stop?" he asks, with genuine curiosity.

"I... eh... I was kinda going on and on," you admit.

"Well I loved it all!" Gregor replies, and you are surprised to see that he means it. He opens his mouth to continue when the waiter returns, a distasteful look on his face as though he's just swallowed a Bantha hair when he sees that Gregor has repurposed the bottle into a vase for the small bouquet he brought for you.

"And what will you be having this evening?" the server inquires, turning to you first, and you panic, realizing you hadn't actually finished reading the menu. Surprisingly perceptive, Gregor chimes in, "We'll take two of this, please!" He points to the menu and gives the waiter a cheerful nod, followed by a little wave as the stern little man strolls off toward the kitchen. "I hope I wasn't out of line there," he says to you, eyebrows curving up in an impossibly concerned expression.

It all happened so fast, you're not quite sure what to say, but his authentic consternation is so charming that you can't find anything but reassurance, "No! I'm not normally one for surprises, but I guess we'll see if you have good taste!" You've impressed yourself with your witty response, and you smile with a bit more confidence now.

"Excellent, excellent..." Gregor muses, raising his eyebrows and lowering his chin a tiny bit, "I hope you like womp rat stew!"

"What?" you say in shock, unable to fathom that they'd serve something like that here... or, well, anywhere... but your dismay is short-lived as Gregor bursts out into another giggle. You're unable to suppress a grin, and you give him a look of mock sternness.

"Oh, excuse me," he says in response, putting his hands up in surrender, "I'm forgetting my manners." He returns his hands to the table, looking up at you from those expressive eyebrows, and invites you to continue your story from where you left off.

The food comes, empty plates go, and the two of you find yourself lost in conversation. He listens eagerly to your stories, asking questions and seeming to delight in every last detail. You finish your glasses, feeling warm and rummy with bellies full of food and brains sparkling with the slight influence of drink. The conversation turns to him, finally, and you are highly curious to hear what has brought him to this point.

"Ahh, that's quite a story," he says, shaking his head, "but I believe our time here is up!" He stands, beckoning you to join him, and you feel anxious immediately. Did you talk too much about yourself? Was he calling it, just like that? You thought you'd been having a great time, laughing and chatting, so this was an abrupt surprise.

Speechless, you follow him to the doorway of the restaurant, and he offers you an arm, which you take, feeling slightly reassured at the gentlemanly gesture. Without asking, he begins walking, guiding the two of you along a myriad of paths toward the water, talking about a few local birds that he apparently found hilarious. It takes you far too long to realize that he's not walking you home, and you kick yourself for getting all paranoid for nothing.

"So," Gregor says, strolling with ease next to you, "I was a Clone Commando for the Republic..." and he proceeds to tell a nearly-unbelievable account of war, defeat, death-defying survival, amnesia, remembrance, and explosions. You feel shocked that he let you talk for so long when he's got a story like this, and you share as much, earning another one of those little chuckles that you're coming to enjoy quite a lot.

"Well, that's what got me here, but it's definitely not who I am now," he says, still smiling but voice taking on a somber tone. "I mean, my voice wasn't the only thing changed in the explosion; I took a pretty hard hit to the head, you know. So sometimes I get a bit... forgetful." His bouncy composure has softened a bit, revealing perhaps a bit of shame?

You turn your head to look at him more fully, temporarily stopping the leisurely stroll, and discover an expression on his face that moves you to the core. His animated eyebrows have settled low across his brown eyes, which are downcast to the ground in front of you, and his lips are together in a firm line. You feel compelled to speak, though wildly unprepared.

"Well... Who are you now?" you ask, almost cringing again as it comes out. It sounded better in your head, and you begin to try to come up with something better, but he looks at you with a gaze that takes the words right out of your mouth.

"I... I don't really know," he says, with a chuckle that seems more reflexive than intentional. "I guess I'm kind of starting over, in a way." He is suddenly pensive, eyebrows working overtime with all the thoughts rushing through his mind, and you feel another warm rush in your chest at his unguarded truthfulness.

"For what it's worth," you say, feeling emboldened, "I think you're delightful." You hope it's encouraging, because you struggle to wrap your mind around what his existence must be like, but it's also honest, you realize -- you've completely let your guard down and have been thoroughly enjoying your time together.

He smiles, dropping his eyes with a bashfulness that makes you want to squeeze him, and squeezes your hand against his side with the arm you've been holding onto. "I might say the same about you!" he answers, a bit of his playful spark returning, and the two of you continue down the last cobblestoned staircase to the water.

The sun has set and the sky is glowing with a tranquil twilight. Pink and blue hues cast everything in a dreamy glow, and Gregor leads you to a large piece of driftwood, sitting in the middle of it and patting you a seat next to him. You join him, leaving a good few inches between you, and enjoy the warm sea breeze in silence for a moment.

He shifts awkwardly, moving his hands from his lap to the log behind him, then back to his knees, then folding them together. He finally sits up, turning to you, and holds your gaze as he slowly folds one arm in toward himself like some kind of weird praying mantis before extending it out behind you. "Eh?" he says, hovering his arm over your back, one eyebrow arched and a closed-mouth grin on his face.

You smile, scooting closer to him and nestling up against his side, and he takes that as a yes, wrapping his arm around your shoulders with the most endearing little "ha!" you've yet heard. He runs his other hand through his hair, gazing off into the distance as though he's conquered the world. He continues to surprise you with his quiet contemplation, content to simply enjoy the beauty without any need for words and also without it feeling awkward in the slightest.

The cold fog starts to roll in, so he walks you home with your hand snugly tucked into the crook of his arm. The chatter is lighthearted, playful, calm... You feel more relaxed and delighted than you have in as long as you can remember. As you approach your door, a bright blue that contrasts the white arched stucco all around, he gently unfolds his arm and takes your hand in his, lifting it to his lips to place the most tender kiss on the back of it.

"I... ah... I hope we can do this again," he admits, eyes large and eager. "And again, and again..." he laughs.

"I would love that."

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Author's Note: Did I just fall in love with Gregor?!

Just might have.

Thanks a lot, @drafthorsemath ;) <3 <3 <3

[freesia-writes]

@returnofthepineapple ANOTHER! :)

@ghosts-of-rishi This is gorgeous!! <3

Happy Pride month! Take care of yourselves and stay safe

[freesia-writes]

Trick in the water

[freesia-writes]

SNIPER SUNDAY!

Color pencil, art paper, and marker

@crosshairs-dumb-pimp-gf

Come get yer man!✨