#911 lone star exchange

[noxsoulmate]

💞⚾ Noxy’s Tarlos Baseball Fic ⚾💞

💞⚾ now complete ⚾💞

Ship: Tarlos | Fandom: 911 Lone Star | Author: noxsoulmate | Read on ao3

Chapter: 2/2 | Word Count: 10940 | Complete: 16330 | Rating: Explicit | Warnings/Tags: baseball, valentine's day, different first meeting, meet-cute, running into each other, coffee shops, farmers market, night clubs, hook-up, baseball player TK, baseball player Carlos, rivals, Red vs Blue (but not the episode), banter, sexual innuendos, flirting, teasing, basically Tarlos uses the baseball game as foreplay, and they don't hide it, implied sexual content, but TK has a dirty mind so the rating is explicit, making out, strangers to lovers, love at first sight | Art made by me

Summary:

The moment he spots him, he freezes. For just a tiny second, he wonders if all his thoughts of Carlos have summoned him. And then he takes in the man as a whole, attire and all – and his mind goes blank. Because Carlos is wearing a jersey as well. And it’s blue. Carlos is wearing the blue jersey… of APD.

~*~

Meet cutes are only meant for rom coms, right? So why is it that TK has a total of four of them with the same stranger in just one day? Besides, Valentine’s weekend is certainly not the right time for him to have his head in cloud nine – not when the annual Baseball game between Fire and Police is on the line. Apparently, Police hasn't lost in years thanks to their pitcher. But now Fire has TK on their team – a paramedic who had a chance to play in the major leagues...

💞⚾ Chapter 1 ⚾💞

💞⚾ Read Chapter 2 on ao3 ⚾💞

Sneak peek under the cut:

“TK, can you tone down that grin a little bit?”

“Why?” TK asks, his grin turning cheeky instead. “Isn’t this supposed to be a fun day anyway?”

“Ah, hell na?” he hears Judd as he comes up right next to them. “This ain’t no fun. This is serious business.”

“Besides,” Paul throws in, baseball bat across his shoulders as if he’s stretching his arms. “We all know that grin isn’t because of the game ahead of us. It’s about that mystery man you disappeared with last night. Don’t deny it.”

“Not denying it at all,” TK replies, smile stretching even wider. “So I had a great night – wasn’t that exactly why you took me out?”

“Yeah, we just didn’t expect it to go that well,” Marjan says, pointing at what he guesses is his sunny smile. 

Even though Marjan’s not on the team, she’s still dressed in the red-and-black combo of the fire department and sitting on the bench with them. She’s their unofficial social media expert, meaning she’ll film the game and then put some great highlights of it online later. Hopefully she’ll be able to post about a win for Fire.

According to Judd – and the rest of the team – they really need this win because their losing streak is a disgrace to their department. TK didn’t pay it much mind before but now that he’s seeing the stands fill with a large crowd, he starts to understand that it’s not just about Police versus Fire. It’s about community. He was skeptical when Judd said the annual match between Fire and Police is a highlight in Travis County, rallying crowds of hundreds, but now he’s a witness. Hell, there’s even a news van and people with homemade signs. Fire definitely needs to bring home the trophy this year.

“Yes, TK,” Nancy thankfully pulls TK out of his thoughts before he can overthink this. He’ll simply play his best game, no need to worry. “Tell us how it went? We didn’t see much of the guy but from what we saw, he was hot as fuck.”

“Oh, he definitely is,” TK agrees, his smile instantly back and all the worries in the world gone.

“Anyone else worried we’ll have to see that grin for a whole while longer?” Paul asks the group, who all agree.

TK rolls his eyes. “So what, I met a dude that might just be the absolute jackpot. Aren’t you happy for me?”

“TK,” Judd starts in his slow southern drawl, one of his big hands landing on his shoulder. “From what I hear, you just met the guy and what? Had one good night with him? You’re running around like you’re on cloud nine. Brother, don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for you, I just think you should be careful too. Do we need to check him out?”

While TK’s truly touched by Judd’s genuine desire to protect him, he still gives him an impish grin. “Well, for one, how long did it take you to know that Grace might be the one and definitely worth chasing?”

“Ahh, but I knew her from months on the phone.”

TK gives him a mock-shocked look. “So you’re saying, if you had just met her at the honky tonk without your history, you wouldn’t have thought her worth your time?”

Judd looks almost comically shocked and pained before he lifts his hands in surrender and quickly amends, “Touché.”

“And besides,” TK starts, finally feeling ready to drop the bomb. “Last night wasn’t the first I saw of him…”

💞⚾ Continue on ao3 ⚾💞

Written for the @tarlosweeklyprompts Valentine's Fic Exchange and my giftee @sugdenlovesdingle. The prompt was: TK and Carlos meeting via the police vs fire baseball game when they’re on opposing teams (bonus points for a grey’s anatomy-like thing where they hook up the night before without knowing who the other is and then seeing them at the game).

The biggest, biggest thanks goes out to the amazing @lightningboltreader and @bonheur-cafe. These two spent the past few weeks explaining an American game that seems to have no rules to a European who had zero knowledge about it - and they did it in a way that said European was able to write a fic about it. I bow to you two! They also helped plot out every step of the game - Char, Dalawa, this fic truly wouldn't exist without your help, and for once, that's not just a phrase 😂

Noxy’s Tagging List: @chaotictarlos, @detective-giggles, @sgirl18,  @sapphire11, @bubblesandroses8, @firstprince-history-huh, @beautifulhigh, @rangergurlgleek1211, @shadesofdeviant, @otter-love-asl, @ramblingdisaster73, @first-kanaphan, @xtltokio, @lightningboltreader, @buckybarnesalways, @meditating-honey-badger, @mangacat201, @tarlossource

[tarlosweeklyprompts]

TWP Event: Valentines Fic Exchange

I'm hosting my first fic exchange and what better time to do it than during Valentine's? It'll be nice and simple, and hopefully fun! Below is all the information that I hope you will need!

Sign Ups Start: January 6 - there will be a form for you to sign up on with questions that need to be answered to best match you with someone else

Sign Up End: January 20

Fic author information will be sent out: January 27

Posting will be between February 14 - 28 - you may post your fic anytime during these dates.

If for any reason, you can not write your fic and post it within that time frame, please contact me to arrange something.

Fics need to be at least 1,000 words long

All works must be Tarlos Centric.

Please use the #TWPVFicExhange and tag the blog in your posts so that I can reblog them.

[tarlos-spain]

OK people here we go. I'm nervous and excited. The first time ever Easter Tarlos Exchange.

So here is the form to fill if you have any doubt please let me know.

Also I'm remind you about the dates.

Sign Ups Start: February 25 - That day I'll post the form you have to fill out with all the necessary information

Sign Up End: March 3

Fic author information will be sent out: March 13

Posting will be between April 02 - 10 - You can choose a date in the form you will fill

If for any reason, you can not write your fic and post it for the event, please let me know so I can arrange a pinch hitter to finish it.

Fics need to be at least 1,000 words long

All works must be Tarlos Centric.

Please use the #ETExchage and tag me Tarlos_Spain so I can reblog it.

Thanks for coming in advance

[pragmatic-optimist]

It’s the way TK sounds so excited to tell Carlos he’s ready to make a will and how it shifts to how excited he is to say he’s going to leave everything to his husband.

It’s the pride in his voice for me when he says my husband.

[mooshkat]

this episode is the funniest one of the season actually oh my fucking God I'm howling

[guardian-angle22]

911 Lone Star -> S4E8 | TK & Carlos Exchanging Looks

[tailoredshirt]

FIC: Now, and in the hour of our death (911 Lone Star)

—

Carlos couldn’t see TK, but he could hear him gasping for air. Trudie was looking down at him with genuine anguish on her face.

“I really wish you hadn’t done that,” she told him.

—

(How 4x04 could have gone if TK had gotten suspicious of Trudie and sweet-talked himself into the house, namely everyone getting head injuries from common household items.)

For @whenshereads for the 2023 Tarlos Secret Santa exchange. Thank you to @tarlos-santa and @whenshereads for your incredible patience with me.

AO3 link / PG-13 / 3k

[rmd-writes]

✨ Fic Writing Review 2023 ✨

Thanks for the tags @hippolotamus @jesuisici33

Rules: Feel free to show whatever stats you have. Only want to show Ao3 stats? Rock on. Want to include some quantitative info instead of stats? Please do this. Want to change how yours is presented? Absolutely do that. Would rather eat glass than do this? Please don’t eat glass but don’t feel like you have to do this either.

Words and Fics

Words published to ao3: 160,298 (includes one collab)

Fandoms: three - Red, White & Royal Blue, 911 Lone Star, Schitt's Creek

Most recent drop (excluding drabbles): get fucked (or die trying) (RWRB | E | 7.5k)

Longest fic: (Un)professional Services (911 LS | E | 63k) a collab with @welcometololaland

Top Fics by Kudos

I'm only counting those fics published this year because the explosion of the RWRB fandom means that a number of my older fics have eclipsed everything I've ever written 😅

Are You Screwing With Me? (RWRB | E | 6.5k)

the key that unlocked me (RWRB | E | 3.8k)

get fucked (or die trying) (RWRB | E | 7.5k)

A Helping Hand (911 LS | E | 6.7k)

(Un)professional Services (911 LS | E | 63k)

My fandom fic events in 2023

Not as many as I would have liked! A lack of time, a nasty case of writer's block and just life things meant that I had to drop claims for some SC fic fests which made me sad.

I did write some smutsgiving drabbles here, here and here, and will be posting a firstprince fic as part of a secret santa fic exchange I do with some friends before Christmas.

Oh! I wrote some drabbles for prompts from @thebrownstone this year too.

Upcoming Projects for 2024

Another collab or two with my beloved @welcometololaland, and otherwise, the same wips that have been on my list for a very long time eg more Tarlos gym au, firstprince lawyer au part 3, tarlos model au, tarlos spy au, firstprince meet cute feat. cute dogs, the firstprince tattoo shop, long lost childhood friends to lovers reunion fic that I have wanted to write for over a year now and more.

How many of those will get written? Other than the collab Lola and I currently have on the go, I really don't know but hopefully many!

Tagging to share their own fic writing reviews: @welcometololaland @three-drink-amy @strandnreyes @reyesstrand @lilythesilly @rosedavid @kiwiana-writes @indestructibleheart @lemonlyman-dotcom @carlos-in-glasses @goodways @freneticfloetry @orchidscript @sherryvalli @clottedcreamfudge @everwitch-magiks @indomitable-love @tintagel-or-cockleshells @cha-melodius @inexplicablymine and an open tag for anyone else who wants to play!

[chicgeekgirl89]

I Won’t Say I’m in Love

Fandom: 911 Lone Star

Characters: Carlos Reyes, T.K. Strand, Michelle Blake, Adriana and Francesca

CW: Tequila and Drinking

Summary: 

“Seriously Carlitos?” Adriana says. “Have you seen your face lately?”

“My face?” Carlos asks.

Adriana rolls her eyes. “The last time you looked this besotted you were six years old and the Blakes had just brought home their new puppy.”

“I—what?”

“You spend all your free time with him. And when you finally deign to give us a couple hours, all you do is talk about him,” Francesca says.

“I do not!”

A fic in which Carlos Reyes cannot possibly be in love with T.K. Strand. 

Read on AO3

“No wait, put that back, use this one,” Carlos says, plucking the bottle from his sister’s fingers and handing her a different one instead.

“Um, what the hell? Why are you giving me the shitty tequila?” Francesca asks incredulously.

“Yeah, what the hell? We don’t rate top shelf?” Adriana echoes as she dumps chips into a bowl.

“That bottle is for special occasions,” Carlos tells them, closing his liquor cabinet firmly. 

Francesca slaps a hand to her chest. “Are you telling me that hanging out with your favorite sister and cousin doesn’t rate as a special occasion?” 

“Oh it’s definitely special,” Carlos says, biting back a chuckle at the snark he’s about to unleash. “But considering that your goal is to outdrink each other in margs tonight, I think I’ll hold onto the good stuff.”

“I bet he lets T.K. drink the good stuff,” Adriana grumbles.

“Actually T.K. doesn’t drink,” Carlos says matter of factly, moving the bowl of chips from  the counter over to the table. 

“You mean he doesn’t drink tequila,” Francesca corrects.

Adriana snorts. “Lightweight.”

“No I mean he’s sober,” Carlos tells them. “He doesn’t drink at all.”

There’s silence, which is terrifying since usually the two of them never shut up, and Carlos snaps his head up looking around frantically for a tornado or a rabid mountain lion or a man with good morals and a steady job, whatever has made the girls go suddenly mute with horror. 

Instead of danger he finds both of them staring at him in shock. “Is he…is he okay?” Adriana asks quietly.

“Yes?” Carlos says in confusion. “Believe it or not some people choose not to drink themselves into oblivion on a regular basis.”

“Well then. Wow. He is a strong man,” Francesca says. 

Carlos’ mind immediately drifts to some very, very sexy things that happened mere hours ago and he smiles. “Yes, he is.”

Adriana and Francesca exchange a glance, but he ignores them, choosing to finish putting the final touches on their margaritas instead. 

He’s just adding decorative limes when the doorbell rings and Adriana runs to get it. “You are my favorite man in the entire universe!” she exclaims as she opens the door, startling the delivery driver on the other side.

He stares open mouthed at the beautiful, exuberant woman in front of him. “Th-thank you?” he stammers. “That’s um, $43.50.”

“Oh.” She turns back and purses her lips into a pout at Carlos. “I—“

“Conveniently forgot your wallet?” he asks, already rifling through his own. He hands over the cash along with a tip and thanks the man while Adriana whisks the bags away to the counter where she and Francesca start eagerly pulling out cartons.

“Wait! Get him back! This isn’t right!” Francesca calls just as Carlos bids the guy goodnight and closes the door.

“What’s wrong with it?” Carlos crosses the room and glances into the bags, not finding anything amiss. 

“There’s no Mongolian beef or scallion pancakes,” Adriana says, checking the labels again. “They gave us sesame chicken instead. And wonton soup.”

“Oh, no, that’s right,” Carlos says as he opens the cabinet to the left of the sink and grabs some plates.

“You always get Mongolian beef,” Francesca says in confusion. “Like, always.”

Carlos shrugs. “T.K. likes sesame chicken and wonton soup. It just sounded good tonight.”

There’s another brief silence full of loaded glances, which Carlos ignores. It’s bait. And he knows better than to take it. “I got extra egg rolls,” he says and that is enough to get them digging back through the bags again.

Carlos has a rule about eating on the couch, but Adriana and Francesca have never once followed it, so he doesn’t even bother wasting his breath reminding them as they settle into place in front of his TV. He does reach over and exaggeratedly put coasters underneath their glasses, sending them pointed looks, which they ignore as they chatter on about how their stocks are doing and what the Kardashians have been up to lately. The women in his life contain shocking multitudes. 

He pulls up Netflix as he takes a bit of chicken. They’ve chosen to watch a couple episodes of Great British Baking Show, one of the few things they can all agree on. 

“Why is Stranger Things in your recently watched?” Adriana asks. “That’s not your kind of show.”

“T.K. likes it. We’ve been watching it together. It’s fun,” Carlos says.

“Wow. Okay. You really are in love,” Francesca says with a laugh.

The words shoot an unexpected bolt of panic through Carlos’ chest and he almost chokes on the bite of rice and chicken in his mouth. “I’m not in love,” he says. “We’ve been together for like a month.”

“Seriously Carlitos?” Adriana says. “Have you seen your face lately?”

“My face?” Carlos asks.

  Adriana rolls her eyes. “The last time you looked this besotted you were six years old and the Blakes had just brought home their new puppy.”

“I—what?”

“You spend all your free time with him. And when you finally deign to give us a couple hours, all you do is talk about him,” Francesca says.

“I do not!”

“Carlos, I can tell you T.K.’s Chinese order, that he was on the track team in high school, that he once rescued a guy from the Chrysler building, hell I can tell you his shoe size,” Adriana says. “You’ve got his hair product in your bathroom, his vitamins on your counter…”

Carlos narrows his eyes. “How do you know I’ve got his hair products in my bathroom?”

Francesca shrugs. “Sometimes we snoop to see if you’ve got anything good in there.”

“You shouldn’t be snooping around in my bathroom!” he cries.

“Don’t change the subject,” Adriana chastises him.

Carlos takes a sip of his margarita. And then another. And then another. He’s not drunk enough for this. Not even close. He might need to go break out the expensive tequila after all. “We’re dating,” he finally says. “That’s all.”

“Okay,” Francesca scoffs.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Carlos asks.

“It means I believe that you believe that all you’re doing is dating.”

Carlos blinks a couple times. “That sentence doesn’t even make sense.”

“What she’s saying is that you’re delusional,” Adriana tells him. “You love this guy. Like love love him.”

“T.K. is…great,” Carlos says. “I mean, he’s better than great. He’s…” Words like “incredible,” “impressive,” and “amazing” all float through his mind, but none of them quite seem to be right. T.K.’s all of those things and more, he’s…

“The love of your life?” Francesca supplies the answer for him, amusement all over her face.

Carlos scowls at her. “Stop putting words in my mouth. And how would you know anyway? The two of you go through men at a rate previously unknown to humankind. Have you ever even been in love?”

“Nope,” Adriana says, popping the “p” and then using her chopsticks to pick up another bite.

“Hey! I was in love with Brandon Sanchez in tenth grade!” Francesca says, shoving her cousin with her foot. 

“Oh you were not. You just loved his abs.”

Francesca breaks into a dreamy smile. “He did have really great abs.” She sighs. “Okay, fine, I wasn’t in love. But that doesn’t mean I don’t know what it looks like. I’ve watched every episode of Grey’s Anatomy.”

“Look, admit it or not, it doesn’t matter,” Adriana tells him. “We’re happy that you’re finally happy. When you very stupidly married your fake wife, we weren’t sure you’d ever find your happy ending, but we’re glad you have.” She pauses. “In more ways than one I’d imagine.”

Carlos winces. “Could you not bring up Iris ever again? Thanks.”

He’s beyond grateful that she’s alive, but it’s ripped open some incredibly painful old wounds and he is doing his very best not to think about how it complicates his life in fun new and excruciating ways.

“Whatever hermano,” Francesca says around a mouthful of chow mein. “You want to be in denial about your feelings, that’s between you and T.K.”

“Did Carlos tell you that T.K.’s a male dancer?” Adriana asks, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Francesca whips her head around to look at her brother accusingly. “Wait I thought you said he was a firefighter!” Light dawns in her eyes. “Ohhhhh. That kind of firefighter.”

“No, he’s an actual firefighter,” Carlos says, taking the last egg roll as punishment for their obnoxiousness. 

“Have you checked? Because if you yank on his pants and they come apart with velcro…”

“His turnouts are real,” Carlos tells them. “I work with him. I’ve seen him in action.”

“Oh yeah, I’m sure you’ve seen him in action a lot,” Adriana says with a wicked grin.

Francesca throws a pillow at her. “Perv. I don’t want to think about my brother’s sex life.”

The girls end up getting very drunk (as he knew they would) their margaritas becoming progressively less margarita and significantly more like large shots as the night goes on. They both end up passed out before midnight. He carries Francesca up to his spare room and tucks her in, but Adriana only rouses enough to shove him away and tell him to “fuck off.” He sets a few pillows on the floor next to the couch so she doesn’t die if she falls off in the night and then takes himself to bed.

In the morning they’re both hungover so he makes them omelets and forces them to drink water and take some Tylenol before ejecting them from his home. Their groggy state is probably why they don’t argue much about being awake before ten in the morning, they’re practically docile when they’re like this. He tells them to go home, but he’s pretty sure they’re headed out for bloody marys instead. 

T.K.’s not on shift, but he’s spending time with his dad today and won’t be by until later, so Carlos busies himself by doing some weekend cleaning around the condo, making a quick trip to the farmer’s market to find something for dinner, and then…he doesn’t know what to do.

He tries to read a book, but it doesn’t hold his interest. So he scours his streaming services for a show to watch, but his eyes keep drifting away, and he’s halfway through an episode of some random procedural before he realizes he has no idea what’s happening. He turns it off with a sigh. He’s never struggled to entertain himself on a weekend before and he can’t quite put his finger on why he’s so bored today.

Not until T.K. knocks on his door around five o’clock.

Carlos practically runs, wrenching the door open so fast it nearly goes flying out of his hand and slams into the wall. “Hey,” he says, immediately reaching for T.K.’s waist and pulling him inside, as he presses a kiss to his lips.

“Hey,” T.K. says when they pull apart, his eyes sparkling with fun. “That’s a way nicer welcome than I get at my dad’s house.”

“I missed you,” Carlos says and that’s when the realization strikes him. He wasn’t bored this afternoon. He was lonely.

Adriana and Francesca’s words drift through his mind and he takes a step back, putting some distance between them, not wanting to seem too weirdly eager. “How was your time with your dad?”

“Good,” T.K. says, dropping his bag by the door. “We got lunch at this vegan place he wanted to try and then I helped him set up a new phone.”

Carlos winces in sympathy. “How did that go?”

T.K. sinks down onto a stool at the counter as Carlos heads back to the stove. “You know for a guy who really tries to stay with the times, he’s definitely an old man when it comes to technology.”

That makes Carlos chuckle. “Been there. I had to help my abuelita get on Facebook a couple years ago so she could see pictures of her great grandbabies. It did not go well.”

“I cannot even tell you how many times I had to explain to him that there are no buttons anymore,” T.K. says with a roll of his eyes as he pops a grape from the bowl on the counter into his mouth. “Thanks for rescuing me. I’m sure he’ll call with questions, but I’m going to ignore him and deal with that another day.” He smiles up at Carlos. “Tonight I’m all yours.”

Carlos’ stomach explodes with butterflies so intense that he feels almost like he might need to sit down. What the hell is going on with him?

He turns away to stir the sauce he’s got going and feels T.K. come up behind him. He practically melts when T.K. slides his arms around his waist and plants his head on his shoulder. “Whatcha makin’?” he asks.

“Bolognese,” Carlos says, resisting the urge to whip around and claim his mouth right here and now in the kitchen. “And I got fresh berries from the market today for dessert. I made whipped cream earlier.”

T.K. groans. “I literally don’t know how I survived before I met you. My dad’s cooking trends significantly more healthy than hearty.”

“That’s how I lured you in,” Carlos says, turning a little so he can smirk suggestively. “I know a desperately hungry man when I see one.”

“Oh I was hungry,” T.K. says with a chuckle, and then he drops his voice. “But it wasn’t for your cooking. That’s just a perk.”

He kisses the side of Carlos’ neck and Carlos shivers. “If I leave this it’s going to burn,” he says, sucking in a shaky breath when T.K. doesn’t stop at one kiss but continues to press his lips into Carlos’ skin

T.K. sighs and lets go, hopping up to sit on the counter, swinging his legs and back forth. “Fine. But you owe me later. Now, tell me all about movie night.”

“Well no one got alcohol poisoning, so we’re going to consider it a win,” Carlos says as he puts the pasta on to boil.

T.K. snorts. “They sound like fun. When do I get invited?”

“Ha!” Carlos blurts out a laugh louder than he means to because the thought of T.K. being interrogated by Adriana and Francesa is more terrifying than anything else he can think of. “Trust me, it’s safer if you’re not.”

“Come on!” T.K. says. “They’re important to you! I need to meet your people!”

“You work with Michelle.”

T.K. rolls his eyes. “That’s not the same. Michelle’s not your family.”

Technically she kind of is, but Carlos isn’t ready to spill those beans yet. “Here, taste this,” he says, changing the subject as he brings a spoon to T.K.’s lips.

“Wow,” T.K. says as he swallows. “That’s incredible.”

“It’ll be ready in like five minutes,” Carlos tells him. 

“Can I help with something?”

“You can set the table.”

T.K. hops off the counter and Carlos’ heart does something funny as he watches him open the silverware drawer and pull plates down from one of the cupboards. He doesn’t need Carlos to tell him where things are; he already knows. He’s not a guest here anymore, he belongs.

They eat and then T.K. helps him wash up the dishes before suggesting they settle down to watch another episode of Stranger Things, which he knows means T.K. is going to watch for about ten minutes before he starts fooling around. It’s therefore not a surprise when they abandon the episode halfway through to make their way up to Carlos’ bedroom.

They hold each other after, sweaty and breathless, and as amazing as the sex was, this is better. Feeling T.K. breathe against him, knowing T.K. is his boyfriend, that he’s not just here for a good time is…everything. The dinners together, the watching TV, the going on dates to movies and the matching toothbrushes in the bathroom, it all feels like everything he’s ever wanted. Like everything he never thought he’d be able to have. 

It feels like…

The word love flickers through his mind and his heart stutters in his chest. It can’t…this can’t…

Before he can examine anything more fully T.K. props himself up on one elbow and runs a hand down Carlos’ chest. “I’m going to take a shower. Want to join me?”

That’s not an offer he’s going to refuse and so that word, those four letters, get pushed from his mind for a little longer.

                                                         XXX 

He has lunch with Michelle two days later. When she finally arrives (late) she looks exhausted and Carlos’ heart squeezes with sympathy. “Hey chica,” he says warmly, pulling her into a hug.

“Hey.” She holds on for longer than normal and Carlos lets her, trying to absorb some of the sadness he can feel radiating off of her.

“How are you?” he asks when they finally break apart.

Her face is drawn and there are dark circles under her eyes. Iris’ decision to stay out on the streets is weighing on her in a different way than her sister’s first disappearance ever did. Michelle fought tooth and nail for years and now that there’s no one left to fight it’s like she’s been emptied out.

Carlos should have checked on her sooner.

“Hungry,” she says, sending him a genuine if somewhat tired smile. “I hope you don’t want any guac because I am going to eat all of this.” She reaches for a chip and digs into the appetizer he’s ordered for them.

“All yours,” he tells her, nudging the basket closer. “I got you a lemonade too.”

“Bless you,” she says gratefully.

“Also just a heads up, my mom wants to bring over tamales for you and your mom on Tuesday. And you know she won’t take no for an answer.”

“Tamales from Andrea? Who could say no to that?” Michelle says with a smile.

“How’s your mom doing?” 

“She’s…okay,” Michelle tells him and he can see the worry wearing at the edges of her. “It’s hard. We both just want Iris home, but she’s still not interested. It’s going to be a long process.”

“Would it help if I went to see her?”

Michelles shakes her head and dips another chip. “I think right now it’s better if she doesn’t feel overwhelmed or pressured. But once we get her back and on some meds, I’m sure she’d love to see you.”

There’s relief and guilt mixed together at those words, but Carlos pushes it all aside. “She’s still on my health insurance. So whatever she needs, let me know and I’ll take care of it.”

“Thank you,” she tells him softly, reaching over to place her hand on top of his. “Enough about me though! What’s up with you and T.K.? You guys are official now, right?”

Carlos steals a chip and nods. “We are, yes.”

“And how is that?” Michelle’s face says she already knows exactly how it is.

“It’s good,” Carlos says mildly.

She smacks the table. “Come on Reyes! I’m stuck in the family drama muck over here, let me live vicariously through you and the sexy boyfriend!”

“It doesn’t bother you at all that you are asking for explicit details about your co-worker?”

“Well you don’t have to tell me everything. Just a little. Come on. Is it still the honeymoon period? Or does he snore? Or drool?”

Carlos chuckles. “Yes, no, and no.”

“Good,” she says. “Love looks good on you.”

He sighs, curling a hand around his cup. “What?” she asks in confusion.

“Why does everyone keep saying that? That I’m in love?”

“Well you are, aren’t you?”

“No!” Carlos says it too loudly and immediately looks around to make sure no one else noticed. “It’s too early for that. We barely know each other.”

“Carlos you’ve been head over heels for him since the moment you met. I saw you that night at the honky tonk with stars in your eyes.”

“That was just attraction. And lust,” Carlos says, remembering the sparks that had ignited in him the second T.K. had said yes to a dance. Those sparks have yet to be extinguished.

“I mean, I’m sure he’s good in bed, but nobody is that good in bed,” she tells him, huffing out a laugh. “You talk about him constantly. You spend all your free time together. He pushed you away and then you invited him back in anyway. Sweetie, you sat at his bedside and held his hand while he was in a coma.”

Carlos goes silent as he processes this, thinking about all the feelings he’s been having over the last few months. Feelings he’s never had before. Feelings that have him feeling just barely this side of crazy. “Am I?” he asks, barely more than a whisper. “Am I in love with him?”

“Would it be so bad?” Michelle asks. “If you are?”

“I—I don’t know,” Carlos says. “I don’t want to freak him out.”

“You don’t have to tell him,” she says. “You can wait until the moment feels right. You can even wait for him to say it first if that’s what works best for you.”

“God,” Carlos groans as he buries his face in his free hand. “I don’t know how to do a relationship like this.”

“Hey.” She reaches up and brushes a hand over his cheek, a fond smile on her face. “You deserve to be loved Carlos. So if you love him, then love him. And if he wants to, let him love you back. Don’t listen to that voice in your head telling you it’s too soon or that you’re not worthy or that he couldn’t want someone like you. Let it happen. And enjoy it.”

She winks at him and picks up a menu. “Now, let’s decide what we’re eating because these chips alone are not going to cut it.”

                                                         XXX

He hates days like this. Days where it feels like they can’t save anyone. There’s too much blood, too much crying, too much trauma, and it makes him question whether or not this job is worth it. 

He’ll sleep on it and feel better in the morning, he always does. But right now he’s down a deep, dark hole of grief over lives that will never be the same because there’s too much evil in this world and they didn’t get there in time to stop it today. 

The hole is so deep and so dark that he doesn’t even remember he has a boyfriend until he walks in his front door and sees T.K. sitting on his couch. “Oh, Jesus,” he says in surprise, a hand going to his chest as his heart gives a startled leap the sight of someone else in his space.

“And hello to you too,” T.K. says with a laugh as he mutes the TV. 

“Sorry,” Carlos says. “Sorry, I just, I didn’t expect you to be here.”

“You gave me a key and said to use it,” T.K. says, eyes going from cheery to wary in a heartbeat. “Did you not want me to—“

“No,” Carlos interrupts quickly. “No, of course I meant for you to use it. You can come whenever you want. You belong here. I just didn’t…it’s been a long day.”

He drops his stuff, not even bothering to put it all away correctly and heads for the kitchen. He’s so tired that if he closes his eyes he could probably fall asleep standing up, but he’s also starving and dinner isn’t going to cook itself. “Did you eat? Do you want um…” he scans the fridge trying to make the contents form a meal. “Tacos? Or I could do like a stir fry?”

He feels T.K. come up behind him. “Why don’t we do takeout tonight? Or I can cook.”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind.”

T.K. reaches around Carlos’ body and gently pushes the refrigerator closed. “I know you don’t mind, but you’re exhausted. You don’t need to cook. Let me figure it out for tonight,” he says softly.

Carlos can’t come up with a response. His brain is telling him that he needs to provide a meal, but he’s so tired he can’t come up with words to explain that to T.K.

His silence goes on for too long and T.K. reaches down and laces their hands together. “Come on, come with me,” he says, tugging softly and leading Carlos over to the couch. 

Carlos sinks down into the cushions and T.K. grabs a throw pillow, leaning it against the arm rest. “Lay down,” he says, reaching to help Carlos lift his feet up so that he’s completely horizontal.

Carlos shifts, nestling himself into the cushions until he’s comfortable as T.K. settles onto the edge of the coffee table, eyes searching his. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Carlos shakes his head. Not right now. He can’t. 

“Okay.” T.K. reaches out and brushes a hand over Carlos’ curls, still slicked back from his day at work. “Why don’t you close your eyes for a little bit? I’ll wake you up when the food is ready.”

He hasn’t had someone take care of him like this in years, not since he was a kid. It feels…good. So good. 

T.K. stands up, but Carlos catches his hand. “Thank you,” he says.

“Hey, what are boyfriends for?” T.K. tells him with a smile. 

He watches as T.K. bops around the kitchen pulling out way more pots and pans than necessary and it’s so right it makes his heart ache.

I love you.

The words swell inside of him and this time he feels them without fear. They’re a certainty. Permanent. Something everyone else has been seeing and he feels stupid that he ever doubted their truth. He loves T.K. Has probably loved him since he laid on eyes on him.

“Hey T.K.?” 

“Yeah babe?” T.K. calls back as he rinses vegetables in the sink.

“I—“ 

The words are true, but he hesitates to say them yet. The little voice that tells him they’re real also tells him that he needs to wait, because he might be ready, but he’s not sure T.K. is. So he finds other words instead. “I meant it. What I said before. You belong here.”

T.K. pauses and his face breaks into a smile so big that it’s like the sun has come out. “Thanks babe.”

He goes back to work, already making more of a mess than Carlos usually makes during the entire dinner process. Carlos’ eyes drift closed to the sound of pots and pans clanking around and he feels himself relaxing despite the chaos. 

This is love. And it’s good. 

[alidravana]

Fandom: 911 Lone Star

Pairing: TK Strand & Marjan Marwani, background Tarlos

Summary:

TK goes to visit Marjan after she gets out of the hospital. Things don't necessarily go as planned.

Written for the @tarlosweeklyprompts Daily Word Prompts for March!

TK paused, his hand hovering over the door as he debated whether or not to knock.  It was not the first time he hesitated on his way over, going back and forth in his mind whether or not he should visit.

It’s not that he didn’t want to see Marjan.  He very much wanted to check in on her, both as a friend, and as a paramedic, to make sure that she was recovering okay.  It was a bit selfish in a way, wanting to see her outside of the hospital, no longer surrounded by beeping machines and blinding white sheets and walls.  At least he had Carlos with him then, to help him distract him from all the memories.

TK knew that Marjan wasn’t lacking visitors either, wasn’t recovering alone.  Nancy had sent him a text that morning that Paul was there when she and Mateo stopped by, and Tommy had indicated that she would stop by later that night.  

TK let out a quiet groan, squeezing his fist tightly and forced himself to knock lightly on the door.  He was being silly.  Besides, TK thought as he looked down at the container of soup that Carlos had insisted he bring over; he had to drop this off.  

“One second!�� A man shouted, and TK smiled, instantly recognizing Judd’s voice before the taller man opened the door.  “Hey kid.”

“Hey Judd,” TK replied, sliding in the door, and waving to Marjan with his free hand, who was cocooned on the couch in the living room.  “Want some of Carlos’s soup?  Or do you want me to just put it in the fridge?”

“Fridge please,” Marjan said, patting her stomach.  “Judd brought over some of Grace’s cooking too.  I’m stuffed.”  

TK nodded, stifling a laugh when he opened her fridge.  It was crammed with food, likely a combination of Paul’s, Tommy’s and Grace’s help.  Rearranging a couple of bottles, he was able to tuck the soup into the top shelf, closing the fridge with a slight prayer that nothing would fall out the next time it was opened.

Judd was already shrugging on his jacket, exchanging goodbyes with Marjan when TK turned around, trying to stifle the slight panic that flared when he realized that he would be alone with Marjan.  But he pushed it down, told himself that he was being unreasonable.  He had come over to visit Marjan.  That was it.  He didn’t need Judd there to supervise.

“You okay?” Marjan asked, pulling TK from his thoughts, Judd already being long gone at that point.

“Yes, yes,” TK waved his hand, scooting over into the living room to sit down across from Marjan on one of her colourful chairs.  “I should be asking you that.”

Marjan rolled her eyes, shifting back into the couch.  “I’m sure you know as much as I do, that that's what everyone has asked the moment they step in the room.”

TK tried to force out a chuckle, knowing that Marjan was expecting it, but instead ended up letting out a weird sounding cough instead.  He ducked his head, avoiding her concerned gaze, picking idly at the bottom of his jeans.   

“TK, I need you to tell me what’s wrong,” Marjan said, wincing as she struggled to sit up straighter.  

TK’s head shot up at her wince, his arms shooting out as if to indicate she should stay put, only to drop them rapidly at her violent flinch.  “Sorry, sorry,” TK whispered, taking a step back, and sitting slowly down in the chair, cognizant of Marjan watching his every move.  “Didn’t mean to startle you, just didn’t want you hurting yourself,” he muttered, watching her just as closely, to try to see if anything had torn, or worsened with her sharp movements.  

Marjan finally settled back into the couch herself, but her eyes were still on him, watching his every move.  

TK felt a cold shiver run through his body as he thought through her reaction; how scared she had been, how uneasy she still was.  More had happened in those woods then what she had told them, that was for sure.  Biting his lip, he briefly thought about trying to ask, but shut that down quickly.  Not now.

“Sorry I’m being so awkward,” TK settled on, his left foot tapping rapidly on the carpet.  “I thought…that maybe since I had been shot before too, that I could…I don’t know, help you through this better.”  He paused, trying to find the right words but failing.  “Turns out, that was a bunch of bullshit,” he said, frustrated at himself.

“Instead, you find yourself remembering it all like it was yesterday, right?” Marjan replied softly, TK nodding quickly in agreement, but also confusion.  Had Marjan been shot before?

“No, no, no prior gunshot wounds, thank goodness,” Marjan said, causing TK to wonder if he had said that outloud, or if she was just that good.  “Past car accident,” she elaborated, and TK nodded again, feeling a bit silly about his repetitive movements.

The two sat quietly for a few minutes, both of them lost in thought.  

“How about this, we both agree that we can talk to each other about every little detail, but not right now.  Not while everything is so...fresh,” TK suggested, fighting the sliver of guilt that rose, that he still wasn’t over his gunshot wound even though it had happened a while ago.  But Marjan’s smile and pat on the couch beside her had TK smiling in return.  

“Rom-com?” TK asked as he picked up the remote, turning towards the TV.  

“Definitely,” Marjan said, settling back into her end of the couch, only to kick him lightly with her foot.  “And go grab some of Tommy’s caramel chocolate chip cookies, we’re going to need them.”

[noxsoulmate]

💞⚾ Noxy’s Tarlos Baseball Fic ⚾💞

Ship: Tarlos | Fandom: 911 Lone Star | Author: noxsoulmate | Read on ao3

Chapter: 1/2 | Word Count: 5390 | Rating: Explicit | Warnings/Tags: baseball, valentine's day, different first meeting, meet-cute, running into each other, coffee shops, farmers market, night clubs, hook-up, baseball player TK, baseball player Carlos, rivals, Red vs Blue (but not the episode), banter, sexual innuendos, flirting, teasing, basically Tarlos uses the baseball game as foreplay, and they don't hide it, implied sexual content, but TK has a dirty mind so the rating is explicit, making out, strangers to lovers, love at first sight | Art made by me

Summary:

The moment he spots him, he freezes. For just a tiny second, he wonders if all his thoughts of Carlos have summoned him. And then he takes in the man as a whole, attire and all – and his mind goes blank. Because Carlos is wearing a jersey as well. And it’s blue. Carlos is wearing the blue jersey… of APD.

~*~

Meet cutes are only meant for rom coms, right? So why is it that TK has a total of four of them with the same stranger in just one day? Besides, Valentine’s weekend is certainly not the right time for him to have his head in cloud nine – not when the annual Baseball game between Fire and Police is on the line. Apparently, Police hasn't lost in years thanks to their pitcher. But now Fire has TK on their team – a paramedic who had a chance to play in the major leagues...

This fic is finished, chapter two will be posted tomorrow.

The biggest, biggest thanks goes out to the amazing @lightningboltreader and @bonheur-cafe. These two spent the past few weeks explaining an American game that seems to have no rules to a European who had zero knowledge about it - and they did it in a way that said European was able to write a fic about it. I bow to you two! They also helped plot out every step of the game - Char, Dalawa, this fic truly wouldn't exist without your help, and for once, that's not just a phrase 😂

💞⚾ Read Chapter 1 on ao3 ⚾💞

Sneak peek under the cut:

TK knows better than to check his phone while walking. He actually has been dispatched to scenarios in which walking while looking at the phone had ended in tragedy in one way or another. So clearly, he should know better.

But that doesn’t stop him from answering Nancy’s text while he’s in the middle of the supermarket, walking along the cereal aisle. The moment he hits send, he’s reminded just why it is so bad to not look where you’re going.

The only thing he really registers is that he smacks into something solid, losing the grip on the few groceries wedged into his arm – because who needs a shopping cart or basket, right? Apparently, he does because right away, everything tumbles to the floor; the oranges roll away and for a split second, his heart stops when he fears the jar of honey will break, but it lands on the jug of milk first so the fall is softened, thankfully. The only thing he can catch is his phone – thank God – and with his heart pounding, an apology on his lips, he looks up.

Only to lose his breath again.

He’s staring into the warmest, softest brown eyes he has ever seen and while that should be a completely boring color for eyes, it certainly isn’t on this man. Those eyes are eyes he could stare into for days and still not get tired. And that isn’t even acknowledging the rest of this perfect face.

“I’m really sorry, are you alright?”

It takes TK a second to realize that the man just spoke – holy hell, what a voice – and he has to shake himself to get his head back online.

“No no, that was all my fault, I’m the one who’s sorry,” TK hastens to apologize before quickly kneeling down to pick up his stuff. The handsome stranger follows, crouching down to help with the oranges while TK starts rambling. “I was checking my phone. I know that’s something you shouldn’t do but my partner just messaged me and she sometimes gets impatient when it takes me too long to reply and I don’t want her to worry. She’s worried about me enough already and–” He looks up to see the man holding out another orange to him, a soft grin on his face. “Aaand I should stop talking. I’m sorry,” he adds one last time as he takes the last orange and stands back up.

Once again, the handsome man follows and for a second they stand and look at each other, frozen in the moment. Until TK remembers his manners.

“Are you okay? I ran right into you.”

“I’m fine, don’t worry about me. Also, all of my groceries are safely in a cart,” he adds with a little grin, definitely teasing TK, who huffs out a laugh.

“I only have a few things, no need to bother with a cart.”

“If you say so.”

TK wants to reply – wants to stay and spend hours talking and teasing with this man – but right then, his phone pings with a new message. His eyes fall to the screen.

“Well, uhm, sorry again for crashing into you,” he says with a little smile. “I need to get going.”

“Careful though. No need to run into someone else.”

For a wild second, TK wonders if the man means this in a flirty way. For an even wilder second, he wonders if he should just take a leap of faith and ask for the man’s number – but then he remembers that he’s living in Texas now – has been for over a year, in fact – and that in this place, he can’t just hit on random strangers even when his gaydar tries to convince him it would be okay. The risk of hitting on someone who will take it the wrong way is just too high. So, accepting defeat and the fact that he can’t just ask a random stranger for his number because it would sound weird and crazy and be potentially risky, TK simply smiles and nods.

“I’ll try my best.”

The whole long way down the cereal aisle, TK forces himself not to look back, not even once, not even when his senses try to convince him that someone’s staring at his back the entire time.

💞⚾ Continue on ao3 ⚾💞

Written for the @tarlosweeklyprompts Valentine's Fic Exchange and my giftee @sugdenlovesdingle. The prompt was: TK and Carlos meeting via the police vs fire baseball game when they’re on opposing teams (bonus points for a grey’s anatomy-like thing where they hook up the night before without knowing who the other is and then seeing them at the game).

Dear SugdenLovesDingle, I'm really sorry you get your gift this late, Corona stole a whole month from me... I really hope the story will make up for the wait 💖 I loved your prompt so, so much! I've always wanted to write a coda for Red vs Blue - but this is even better. I'm a sucker for alternative first meetings, so this was just brilliant! I hope you like the little twist I put on your bonus points prompt - I just couldn't decide on the meet cute I wanted for them, so... I gave them all 😂

Bingo square used:

@mfbingo O3: Meet Cute

Noxy’s Tagging List: @chaotictarlos, @detective-giggles, @sgirl18,  @sapphire11, @bubblesandroses8, @firstprince-history-huh, @beautifulhigh, @rangergurlgleek1211, @shadesofdeviant, @otter-love-asl, @ramblingdisaster73, @first-kanaphan, @xtltokio, @lightningboltreader, @buckybarnesalways, @meditating-honey-badger, @mangacat201, @tarlossource

[tarlosweeklyprompts]

REMINDER: SIGNS UP CLOSE JANUARY 20TH

Below is the form you will need to fill out in order to sign up for the Tarlos Weekly Prompts Valentine's Fic Exchange! Sign ups are open until January 20th.

[tarlos-spain]

Easter Tarlos Exchange

I've decided to host the first Easter Tarlos fic exchange, because who doesn't like to receive some surprises in the form of easter eggs?

This is the information you need to know to make it fun and simple.

Sign Ups Start: February 25 - That day I'll post the form you have to fill out with all the necessary information

Sign Up End: March 3

Fic author information will be sent out: March 13

Posting will be between April 02 - 10 - You can choose a date in the form you will fill

If for any reason, you can not write your fic and post it for the event, please let me know so I can arrange a pinch hitter to finish it.

Fics need to be at least 1,000 words long

All works must be Tarlos Centric.

Please use the #ETExchage and tag me Tarlos_Spain so I can reblog it

[reeeallygood]

911 Lone Star Rewatch: 3x01

Ahhhh!! I'm so excited!!!!! I love love love the ice storm arc. It's so brilliant. (Like, if I had a nickel every time a 911 show had a multi-episode arc at the beginning of their third season that changed me as a person.... you know what I mean?) Okay, okay. Enough yapping. Let's get into thissss.

Opening with the shot of Billy and his black eye is iconic. You deserve it greasy man. "if you want to blame anybody, blame yourself." "And yet, I blame you." Tell him, Owen!!!

MARJAN'S OUTFIT. Her headscarf wrapped like a long braid!! She looks gorgeous.

"We never give up, until hell freezes over" immediately switch to an it's always sunny in Philadelphia title card that says 'Hell freezes over & the gang gives up".

I have to say the thing that they do on this multi-episode arcs where they show you the first part of an emergency, but don't come back to it until sometimes episode later, stresses me outtttt. That kid under the ice is just so terrifying.

Okay but why are the paragon uniforms so good though? Paragon is the worst, but TNT looks great in powder blue.

So did everyone know that TK and Carlos were broken up before the episode aired?? Like was it in promos or trailers or was it a shock during the first episode??? Someone who was around, let me know! Because I would have been shocked.

Charlie's nursery is so beautiful. Judd put so much care into his little cloud animals for his daughter. Ughhhhhhh. The only dad ever.

So Carlos gets to the 126 preeeetty quickly after they call the cops on Marjan. Is that where his beat is? Or was he just around the area because he knew what was happening that day and knew Marjan was gonna cause some trouble.

Season 3 is definitely the best Carlos' entry.

I'm not gonna lie, I loved Owen's hill country era. Just him and buttercup going on a little walkabout for a while, leaving the house to Matteo and TK. OH AND SADIE. She sucks, obviously. But god she is so fun. Because you really don't see her betrayal coming at all.

"Look at our little probie all grown up!" That's his brother your honor. Matteo and TK's dynamic is great and, admittedly, underappreciated.

Billy... I love you...I hate you... I love you...I hate you...

"Try not to hit any pot holes on the way". TK is trying his BEST, Tommy.

Carlos have such a cool and calm exterior and then just being the most awkward and sweet man on the inside. I want to study him like a bug.

Here's the thing, Marjan. I get what you are saying about how Owen could've just signed the letter. But I am with Judd and Paul on this one. "unprovoked, cowardly attack" would have made me throw another punch.

Judd talking to Grace about Owen hitting Billy is so funny. "he knocked that man out cold." "But did he die though????"

I think one hug from Buttercup would heal me.

"hide behind your beard and your strategically placed clutter" I'm sorry Owen, but Marjan ate you up a bit with that one.

Okay wait. When the roof of that building collapses, right before Carlos picks up the Major, I can't quite catch what was said. Does Carlos ask him 'do you trust me?'. Cuz if so, the Major says yes so fast. And I think that says a lot about the impression Carlos leaves on people. He's just so clearly a decent human.

OH GOD. Carlos immediately forgetting how to speak as soon as he sees TK. And TK BEING THE ONE TO RESPOND TO CARLOS' QUESTION with his little sassy answer. Ugh, you idiots are so in love.

Matteo, Paul, and Judd are peak brotherhood in season 3. Like their whole Elsa's palace exchange is golden. Matteo and Paul start to make fun of Judd and he takes it to 11 immediately.

Owen is always going on the most insane side-quests.

I forgot this episode ends with Marjan's crash! Another cliffhanger! After a whole hiatus!! I would have been gnawing at the bars of my enclosure.

Season 3, my beloved!! I'm very happy to be in this part of the rewatch. These next 17 episodes are going to be great. 10/10!!

[sugdenlovesdingle]

Twenty questions for fic writers!

thanks for the tag @bonheur-cafe 💜

How many works do you have on ao3?

in total 265 - emmerdale 238, Lone star 27

What's your total ao3 word count?

659,962 (!!)

What fandoms do you write for?

Mainly 911 Lone Star at the moment but I do have a RWRB fic in the works (for a new years gift exchange 🙈) and I'm sort of playing with a Buck/Tommy og 911 idea because they've taken over my brain since That Kiss.

Top five fics by kudos

I'll just stick to Lone Star for this

Austin TX first responders week

It started with a concussion

Filling in the blanks

Love and Lou

See you later

Do you respond to comments?

I try to! I appreciate each and every one of them but I never really know what to say other than thank you (also I tend to over-think things). I really should make myself do it more often. We writers complain about people not commenting, but when they do, they should at least feel like it's appreciated!

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I don't do angsty endings. Though PS I love you is kind of... emotional I guess

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

All of them. I need a happy ending in my media - always. Though Fire Camp, Love and Lou, and Love online (god I need to work on my titles) all end with tarlos getting married - so that's definitely happy.

Do you get hate on fics?

I have in the past but not on Lone Star fics.

Do you write smut?

I have attempted it... but that's as far as it goes. Nothing worth posting!

Craziest crossover:

I've never actually written a crossover. I don't really read them either. (911/lone star is the only exception)

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don't think so.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

No but I have translated fics way back when I was into ATWT Luke and Noah, does that count?

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yep a few times.

All time favourite ship?

I don't have one favourite ship. I have a few favourites on rotation that sort of take centre stage every now and then.

Robron, tarlos, Nancy/Marjan, Buck/Tommy (my favourite at the moment), Kate/Anthony Bridgerton, Pacey/Joey Dawson's Creek, Ian/Mickey Shameless, Henry/Alex RWRB

What's a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

All of my multi chapter robron fics probably 💀 I still get kudos on them every now and then but i'm kind of done writing fics for them I think. (Unless Ryan Hawley gets his ass back to Emmerdale, then I won't be held responsible for my actions)

What are your writing strengths?

I don't know... I like writing dialogue I suppose. Maybe banter™ I've gotten comments from people saying certain parts of my fics made them laugh. And most stuff i write is a fluffy "what if the bad thing never happened?" kind of deal.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Actually finishing things? lol I can't describe things for shit. And sometimes it's a challenge when writing tarlos fic to not slip in British expressions. I learnt British English in school and years of obsessing over British boybands and watching British soaps have *influenced* my writing/English skills in general.

And also sometimes it's "fuck what's [Dutch word] in English???" and then i spend way too long digging through online dictionaries and stuff because NOTHING FITS and WHY IS THERE NO WORD FOR [THING]???

Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

Don't do it unless you speak the language or know someone who does who can help you with it. I've picked up some Spanish pet names/words in the tarlos fandom (and Spanish shows on netflix) but I won't go any further than that in my fics. And I'd rather die than use Dutch.

First fandom you wrote in?

Luke and Noah (Nuke!) As The World Turns

Favourite fic you've written?

I don't know. Most of them have something special that makes them stand out (to me). But I got kudos on The first morning the other day (aka I saw it in the email from AO3 and didn't remember what it was) and the music/musical theatre trivia i slipped in amused me.

I have absolutely no idea who's been tagged so I'm just going to leave this as an open tag for whoever wants to play!

[guardian-angle22]

911 LONE STAR REWATCH 2024 ↳ favorite things I noticed or appreciated more upon rewatch

1.06 Friends Like These

This scene in the firehouse kitchen is so short and yet there’s so much I want to shout out. First up being Paul making a comment that I feel in my bones. I could just tack this onto literally any conversation tbh.

TK and Marjan exchanging a high-five as she exits.

At first you think TK is making this coffee for himself, but then it turns out he’s making it for his dad, he's just drinking a mineral water. He is a sweetheart and I love it. Also this is the 2nd time we see him making coffee for someone else...Coffee as a love language confirmed.

also must appreciate the excellent looks happening here for Paul & TK.

I love this little moment of Owen ribbing into TK like this, again must point out how much I love their bond especially in s1… However, this line is confusing to me in hindsight because it’s TK saying ~some of us will be having only mineral water~ in response to Judd saying they’ll go get beers… but no one in this conversation except Owen knows about his addiction at this point so why would he say that in front of all of them as if they know the context? idk just feels like some clunky writing.

the way Judd tosses this manual away is so fucking dramatic and extra and I love him.

obligatory thirst portion of this recap for workout TK.

I'm now playing a game called "how many horses and firetrucks can I find in the Ryder household?"... the props department was told this is the house of a lifelong firefighter and texan and they said we got u boo.