#and Hugh is just a cinnamon roll

[esfordays]

Watching miss fisher again, and I can’t stop laughing oh my god

The constant underlying sexual tension is very funny to me

And the romance seems so natural it’s actually kind of nice

[withwritersblock]

More Hearts Than Mine-Meeting her Family

~More Hearts Than Mine by Ingrid Andress~

Author's Note: this is the first of my one shot collection series where Luke and Y/N do varies fluffy (or angsty) activities with each other's families ! Per usual not edited Summary: Luke meets Y/N's family for the first time Warnings: I don't think so? Word Count: 3,155 Luke Hughes x fm!reader

Luke stood in the bathroom, staring at his reflection, running his fingers through his curls. He held the gel product in his fingers as he tried to style his hair perfectly. He got a haircut. The sides of his hair were shaved as the top of his hair was longer on the top. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it. It’s been almost a year since he had his hair this short. 

Y/N walked into the bathroom, wearing a maroon sweater with black jeans covering her frame. “Lukey, you look handsome. Please leave it alone,” she mumbled as she took a hold of his forearm. He glanced towards her direction in the mirror before he dropped his hands from his hair.

“It’s so short,” he said as he leaned towards the mirror. She rolled her eyes as she looped her arm through his. “I didn’t think she was going to shave it like this when I said shorter on the sides,” he explained, looking at his reflection again.

“Hey,” she mumbled as she reached her hand over, taking a hold of his chin to force his gaze to her. “You look very cute,” she muttered as she leaned towards him and kissed him briefly.

“Cute’s good right? I mean for meeting your family? Cute is supposed to be-”

“Luke,” she mumbled, raising her eyebrows. He nodded, taking a deep breath as he turned on the sink to wash the remainder of the gel in his hands. “It’s just three days,” she mumbled as she rested her hand onto the bathroom counter. 

“Three days is a lot of time to mess up and make your parents hate me,” he let out as he shifted his body to fully face her. She smiled towards him while shaking her head. 

“You want the cliffnotes?” she asked him and nodded as he delicately placed his hands onto her waist. He toyed with the ends of the sweater as he looked deeply into her eyes. 

“My mom will love you. She’ll say you’re too skinny and will feed you all the cinnamon rolls you can eat. She’ll probably end up loving you more than me,” she said with a wide smile. 

“My dad likes to think he’s this big tough guy. He’ll try to intimidate you but he’ll be a big softy once he sees how much I love you,” she explained. His hands slowly looped around her waist, pulling her closer. His cheeks flushed slightly as the word love leaves her mouth.

“My sister is nosey, she’ll try to get you to blush and she’s really good at it. She may even ask about our sex life,” she explained, raising her eyebrows as she watched his eyes widened. “Don’t tell her anything,” she teased. He nodded dramatically as she rested her hands on his chest. 

“My brother will probably ask you a thousand questions about hockey.” She leaned towards him wrapping her arms around the center of his back. He squeezed her tighter. “You’ll be okay, everyone is going to love you,”

“Am I allowed to touch you, or do I avoid all contact?” he asked, she chuckled as if he was joking but he was serious. She pulled away, keeping her arms wrapped around the center of his back.

“They know you’re my boyfriend, Lovely,” she teased. 

He licked his lips nervously, “I know but are they weirded out if we cuddle on the couch or something,” he asked as he brushed a few pieces of hair away from her face. 

“Please cuddle me,” she muttered as she leaned towards him and delicately pecked his lips, “But maybe wait to kiss me until tomorrow,” she let out.

“Noted,” he muttered before he kissed her for a few more moments.

~~~

Luke drove the hour and half it took to get to her parents house. With the ran and the traffic it took thirty minutes longer than normal. Luke was quiet, taking deep breaths as he tried to calm his nerves. Every so often she would reach her hand over and squeeze his hand that was in his lap. He would smile softly towards her briefly before he would shift his gaze back to the road. 

He slowly pulled into the long driveway into her childhood home. She lived in the middle of nowhere. “You can park there, Honey,” she said as she pointed to the small gravel side of the driveway. He nodded as he slowly pulled the car into park. He let out a long drawn out huff of air as he looked towards her. “Just be yourself, my love,” she hummed as she reached her hand across to rest her hand onto his cheek. She ran her thumb across the skin of his cheek. 

“I don’t know how to do that. What if they think you’re too good for-” she silenced him by kissing him. He melted into the kiss as his body relaxed. She pulled away, keeping her lips a mere inch away from him. His eyes fluttered open as he took another deep breath, “Thank you,” he let out before he pecked her lips once more.

“Come on, Lukey,” she mumbled as she opened her passenger side door and stepped outside. The rain had stopped during the last ten minutes of their ride. He stepped out of the car as well, slamming the door shut as he squinted his eyes.

“Please don’t call me Lukey in front of them,” he whined. She fought off the smile on her lips as she shook her head.

She walked towards him as she linked her arm with his as she whispered, “I’ll think about it,” she paused, “Lukey.”

He rolled his eyes playfully as they continued up the small path towards the front door. His heart began to quicken as they stepped up onto the deck, the board creaking as they stepped towards the dark blue door. She met his gaze and he gave her a reassuring nod before she knocked a few times before she pushed the door open. She stepped inside, dragging Luke into the house. 

Her house was a small farm-like house. It was cluttered but homey. Her living room had the fireplace lit and it was already quite warm in the house.

“Mom! Y/N and her boyfriend are here!” her little brother shouted as he jumped from the couch to greet the pair at the door. Luke’s cheeks flushed red instantly as his eyes widened. Y/N glanced towards Luke admiring his pink cheeks before she looked towards her little brother. Who’s not so little anymore, he’s fifteen and already taller than their dad.

“EJ, look at you!” she let out as he jogged towards them. He hugged her instantly, chuckling. After a few seconds she pulled away and looped her arm around Luke’s again. “EJ, this is Luke,” she said, pointing towards him. Elijah lit up as he reached his hand across to Luke to shake his hand. Luke quickly returns the gesture.

“You say that like I don’t know the guy.” Elijah muttered excitedly. Luke smiled, “Great game the other night, I’m a huge fan,” he continued.

“Thanks man. Y/N tells me you’re a goalie?” Luke offered. Elijah nodded dramatically. Before their conversation could continue her parents emerged from the kitchen together. Her mother was practically tearing up at the sight of them.

“Elijah James, will you let them enter the damn house!” her mom asked teasingly. Elijah moved out of the back towards the couch to his video game he was playing. “Come in, come in!” she said excitedly. Her mom guided them towards the living room to allow the couple to breath. 

“Oh Luke, we’ve been so excited to meet you.” her mom let out as she gave him a hug, his eyes widened as he returned the hug. He looked towards Y/N awkwardly. Y/N chuckled as she hugged her dad as he was ignoring Luke and her mom was ignoring Y/N. “How was the drive?” she asked him.

“It was raining but otherwise it wasn’t too bad,” he replied, a small smile on his lips.

“Oh good, come on, dinner is ready,” she said as she began walking back towards the kitchen to walk towards the dining room.

“Two point night the other night, huh?” her dad offered, keeping his hands in his pocket as he looked Luke up and down.

“Yes Sir,” he mumbled, Y/N tried to fight off the smirk toying to her lips. Y/N gave her dad a warning look.

“That was a really impressive goal in OT,” her dad let out as he cautiously clapped his hand against Luke’s shoulder. He walked towards Elijah who was still in the living room. Luke and Y/N walked through the house, ending the conversation there.

“You’re right, he’s scary,” he whispered into her ear. She rolled her eyes playfully as they wandered into the dining room where her sister, Jasmine was sitting waiting. She lifted her gaze from her phone to see the pair walking into the room. Jasmine was her younger sister. Jasmine and Elijah are twins.

Jasmine and Elijah were vastly different. It was hard to even believe that they were twins. Jasmine had dyed red hair and was a part of the school’s theater program. Elijah was the starting goalie for the varsity hockey team. He had been since he was a freshman. Despite their many differences they were very close and they shared the same friend group.

“Hey!” she said excitedly as she lifted her gaze from her phone. “Oh he’s cuter in person, nice job sis,” she said as she scanned Luke up and down. Y/N clenched her jaw as she guided Luke to sit at the dining table. They manuvered towards the empty side of the table, where she was closer to her dad and he was closer to her mom. 

“Luke, this is Jasmine. She tends to lack a filter when talking to people,” she explained as Luke pulled out Y/N’s chair for her to sit. She smiled towards him before she sat down. Luke sat down beside her, reaching for her hand desperately. She delicately interlocked their fingers as she moved her chair closer to him.

“Get a man who pulls out my chair for me,” she said as she mocks typing in her Notes App. Luke pulls his lips between his teeth as he feels his skin get hot.

“Are you doing okay?” Y/N whispered as she leaned towards him, he met her gaze and nodded.

It took a few more minutes before the rest of her family to join them all at the dinner table. Y/N reassuringly ran her thumb across the top of his hand beneath the table. It helped him calm down, feeling her touch on his skin. 

“Luke, how many days do you get off?” her mom asked as they all started to serve themselves food. 

“I get a week off and then I have practice the day before our next game,” he explained as he added salad to his plate. 

“Will you watch the All-Star games?” Elijah asked excitedly. Luke nodded.

“My brothers are there, I have to support them,” he said, meeting Elijah’s gaze. 

“I can’t believe my sister is dating an NHL player,” he said before he took a dramatic bite of his salad. Luke chuckled nervously as he met Y/N’s gaze. 

“Luke, Y/N told us you’ve only been in Jersey for about a year. Where were you before?” her mom asked as she put all of her attention on him.

“I was in Michigan, but I’ve been a bit everywhere,” he replied before taking another bite of his food. Y/N delicately rested her finger on his knee, delicately tracing reassuring circles. 

“That’s exciting,” her mom muttered. “How are you liking Jersey?” she asked. 

“I like it a lot. It's hard to enjoy the city when I’m traveling as much as I am but I plan to stay longer in the off season to experience it,” he explained. Y/N smiled towards him with so much admiration as he spoke. Her father watched the soft smile on his daughter’s lips.

Y/N’s brought home two other boys before Luke and her father couldn’t stand them. Mainly because she never looked happy around them, but she hasn’t stopped smiling since she was home with him.

“Can we come to one of your games?” Jasmine asked. Luke lifted his gaze, looking towards Y/N for assistance. 

“Let the kid chew his food before you ask him any more questions,” her dad interrupted. Luke met his dad’s gaze and chuckled as the rest of the table laughed along.

~~~

It was a few hours after they arrived and it was past ten o’clock and her parents were already in bed. Her siblings were in the living room with Luke and Y/N. They were all watching an episode of Friends. Y/N curled up to Luke’s side, his arm was draped along her shoulder as she was nuzzled into his chest. His hand would slowly trail from her wrist all the way up to her shoulder. 

It was simple and easier than what Luke thought was going to happen. Her sister was funny and her brother was super nice. Her mom was overwhelmingly kind and her dad was slowly getting accustomed to his presence. 

“How long have you guys been together?” Jasmine asked out of nowhere. Y/N blinked slowly as she lifted her head from Luke’s chest. 

“Seven months,” she looked towards Luke and his lips turned upward slightly.

“Wow,” she muttered as she tilted her head back against the couch.

“Who asked who out?” Jasmine questioned again, Luke pursed his lips forward as his cheeks pinked up.

“I did,” he mumbled.

“How’d you do it?” Jasmine pressed with a smirk. 

He looked towards Y/N, raising his eyebrows as he asked for permission to tell her the story. 

They met through a mutual friend. Y/N’s friend, Zara, had a fling with Luke’s brother Jack for a few weeks around the playoffs run last year. After a Devils win, Y/N and Zara went out with the team to celebrate. 

While Y/N was completely uninterested in partying as well as Luke. The pair sat together and talked for several hours before they left. After they lost their playoff series, Jack and Zara fling ended horribly. Except Luke really wanted to see Y/N again. It took days to convince Jack to break no contact with Zara to get Y/N number. It worked.

They later found out that Y/N wanted her to do the same thing but Zara refused.

They spent the first month FaceTiming and texting all of the time. There was a hint of romantic tension but they never acted on it until Luke moved back to Jersey. It took thirty minutes into hanging out in person for him to ask her on a date. There was not an ounce of hesitation to say yes.

“So you guys didn’t see each other for another month?!” Jasmine asked. 

“He was back in Michigan, Jaz. It was a little hard,” Y/N said with a chuckle. 

“A bit of a long game then, Lukey Boy,” Elijah teased as he slapped his hand on the shoulder of Luke. Elijah took a long breath as he continued towards the set of stairs near the front door. “I’ll see you guys in the morning, don’t do anything weird in our house,” he said with a yawn as he walked up the stairs towards his room.

Luke chuckled nervously as he met Y/N’s eye.

“He’s a real gentleman, sis. It’s a shame there aren't more guys like him out there,” she mumbled as she dropped her gaze to the floor as she walked towards the stairs to her own room. 

Luke kept his gaze on Y/N as she watched her younger siblings leave them alone in the living room. He took a hold of her chin, delicately turning her gaze to look towards him. Their eyes met and he felt his body relax. Her eyes looked down towards his lips as she inched towards him, “Kiss me,” she let out barely above a whisper. He smiled as he glanced around the living room. “Please,” she mumbled. 

He slowly leaned towards her kissing her so delicately, not to make a scene. It had only been a few hours without feeling her lips against his and he missed it desperately. Her father had stepped down the stairs, stopping short. He looked towards the pair, desperately wanting to interrupt them. Luke’s hand slowly rested on her cheek as he pulled away, keeping his face close to hers. “You look beautiful,” he muttered.

Her lips curled upward slowly as she tilted her head to the side. “Thank you, Lukey,” she replied before she leaned towards him and rested her head onto his shoulder. 

Her father fought the smile forming to his lips as he watched the small interaction between them. The entire night, he watched Luke and Y/N put on a show of their relationship and happiness. It was comforting to watch them be fully themselves. He awkwardly shuffled down the stairs pretending that he didn’t see anything. Luke fully scooted away from Y/N as her father walked towards the kitchen.

“Are you ready for bed?” she whispered wide eyed and he nodded as a reply. 

They both stood up from the couch, out of habit Luke rested his hand onto her lower back as they walked towards the stairs. Her father smiled softly as he watched the pair climb the stairs towards her childhood bedroom. She walked towards the last room at the end of the hallway and pushed the door open. 

Luke’s eyes lingered on each childhood photo of hers on the walls of the hallway. He stared the longest at a photo of her sitting in the center of a bean bag with Elijah and Jasmin in her arms. She was smiling shyly as her eyes were staring at her little sister. “That’s a nice picture,” he muttered as he pointed towards it. 

“I was terrified of holding them,” she muttered as they continued down the hall towards her bedroom.

Her room was extremely cleaned as her mother constantly kept it from being dusty. They stepped inside and she shut the door behind them instantly as she met his eyes. Her back was against the door as he rested his hands on her hips. 

“They like you,” she muttered as she ran her hands up and down his chest slowly. He shyly smiled while his cheeks flushed red. “I mean it, my dad would’ve said something if he didn’t,” she teased. 

“I like them too,” he mumbled before he leaned towards her and kissed her delicately.

[spocks-evil-godmother]

I love the characterization of Paul Stamets and Hugh Culber's relationship as the classically grumpy rain cloud (Paul) and the cinnamon roll sunshine guy (Hugh) and just how that all goes. I love that Hugh's genuine warmth, kindness, and joy clearly has an influence on how Paul interacts with the world and brings out his own warmth and kindness in its own way. I also love that Hugh's presence of love is gritty and holds space for the hard stuff because 1) he is a doctor and has seen some shit and 2) one must have a gritty love to tolerate loving Paul Stamets for any length of time. I don't think it is that Paul's pessimism brings out the pessimism in Hugh, not at all. It's more like you meet Hugh and you're like "oh he's so sweet and kind" and then you meet Paul and you're like "oh shit he's kind because he works for it and believes in it" and idk I love them both

[equallyshaw]

star crossed lovers au | connor bedard x kailey hughes au ↳ new years with you.

↳ part of the star crossed lovers au! ↳ au masterlist!

warnings: none! word count: 2.4k+

the two had not been able to stop texting each other over her holiday break, and ellen quickly caught on.

"hey kailey...just go. go back to chicago." she said the morning of the 31st. "what?" kailey questioned, looking up from her cinnamon rolls and egg. ellen just laughed, "go to chicago. see whoever you haven't been able to stop talking to. im sure becca would love to join you, too!" ellen said bringing her coffee mug to her lips. kailey's eyebrows crinkled, "uh, i don't know what you're talking about." she tried to play off. jim from the living room laughed. "don't lie kiwi, but you also don't have to tell us." he said walking into the kitchen. he plucked a cinnamon roll from the plate, "ill even give you gas money." he mused, before she rolled her eyes. "go go! we wont be upset, our friends invited us over across the street tonight, so we wont be upset if you do go." ellen said trying to get through to persuade her daughter. kailey sighed before giving them a small smile, "alright, ill make a couple calls." she said getting up from her stool and headed upstairs.

an hour later, she was on the road and off to chicago. her body grew with nerves, each mile she passed and each border she crossed. as soon as she was back in the city, she picked up her friend from her friend's house and the two were on the way back to their apartment in the loop. "are we meeting with connor and his teammates?" she questioned, and kailey shrugged. "im waiting for a response, though tessa reached out to me a few weeks ago after alex saw us and invited us out. I've missed her." she said throwing her bags down by the door, and headed towards the washroom. "did you not stop once?" becca teased, as kailey came out. kailey did not respond, which made becca laugh. "hughes genes are strong apparently." she teased and kailey shook her head. "im going to nap, and then we will get ready starting at 8?" she questioned, and becca nodded.

_

the team was at soho house in the west loop, and tessa quickly went to go fetch them from the door. "hi!!!" she said pulling kailey into a bone-crushing hug, and then hugged becca after introducing herself. "did he ever get back to you?" the blonde questioned the other blonde, and kailey shook her head. "what?!" she asked before looking over at becca, who nodded in agreement. "i know! he's being an ass." becca said and tessa grinned, she pulled the two by the hand towards the bar. "add it to our tab, the team is paying for everything." tessa mused, and becca didn't need to be told twice. kailey nodded softly and without effort, she saw connor from behind tessa. he was in the middle of a animated conversation with alex, who only grinned when the two of them made eye contact. he lifted his drink, as if to say hi. kailey blushed turning away quickly, and a little too quickly. connor had followed alex's gaze towards the littlest hughes. connor felt heat rush to his cheeks, before looking back at alex who only grinned. "did you get back to her?" alex questioned, drinking a bit. connor shook his head, "well good thing tessa already invited her out a few weeks back." alex mused and connor nodded. "go. ill make talk with somebody else, but just please put yourself out of misery and speak to her." alex said before giving him a subtle push towards kailey. connor rolled his eyes with a small smile, before heading over towards the three girls who were on their way over.

"connor! oh, where did alex go?" tessa nodded and connor pointed over towards his direction. tessa walked off, with becca in tow as kailey stayed in her place. "hi connor." she said with a smile. "hey." he responded, feeling somewhat awkward. "i uh, im gonna go head with them." she said about to step past him, but he grabbed her hand. she looked down at it, before meeting his gaze; which was already directed towards her. she now felt herself blush, "do you want to find a quieter place?" he questioned, and she nodded allowing him to pull her through the crowd and towards the coffee bar, in the next room. he pulled her through, not letting her hand fall from his. once they exited the room, he still didn't let go. the two found a few other couples or dates, in the coffee bar booths and they took the last empty one. "you good with your drink or do you want a coffee?" he questioned, and she shook her head. "im good, but thankyou." she said and he nodded going off to get a small cup of expresso for himself. she sat down in the booth, and texted becca that her and connor went to the coffee bar in case becca needed her for anything.

connor sat back down, as she put her phone on dnd. "so! what have you gotten up to this winter break?" he questioned sweetly, "nothing much honestly. lots of reading and writing, and getting some much-needed quiet time with my parents. just me and them." she mused, sipping her seltzer. "did your brothers come home?" he questioned, and she shook her head no. "nah, my parents though flew to new jersey and i went to vancouver to be with quinn. he was thoroughly surprised to see me." she smiled softly. "my parents surprised me with tickets to go see him since they knew i was pretty bummed, to have not seen him since summer." she said leaning back in the booth a bit. "did your parents come? i know you said your sister was here, already?" she asked and he nodded. "yeah, they flew out with my grandparents. it was really nice to have a few days off with them." he smiled. she nodded, "why didn't you respond to my text today? it seemed as if everything was going fine and then you left me on read." she blurted and he cringed. "i uh..-" she cut him off, "don't lie to me connor please. I've had too many people lie to me in my life and i don't feel like adding you to that list." she said giving him an unenthused look. he'd be sure to ask her about that, later.

"i was nervous." he said and her eyebrows creased, "nervous? what for?" she questioned leaning on her elbows. "i was uh nervous, seeing you person... after getting to know you these past few weeks." he said and she giggled, "i hope its good nerves. hopefully i didn't spook you." she said teasing a bit. he shook his head, "no all good. good nerves because..because I've uh grown feelings for you and despite kevin saying you liked me back, i didn't believe him." he said blushing like a fool. "why don't you believe it?" she questioned with a soft glint of humor. he didn't speak for a second, trying to gauge if she was saying what he thought she was saying. "i like you connor..i thought i was being obvious." she said grinning, and connor shook his head whilst blushing. "sorry mr. number one overall, sorry i didn't just come out and say it. i was trying to be organic about it." she teased, and he laughed. "you can take a breather con, everything is okay." she said taking his right hand in hers, and his breath paused for a brief second at the way she said con. "no i know, i just didn't think there would be any reason to like me." he said and her heart fell, did he really think so lowly of himself?

"hey hey, don't say that. i promise there is much to like about you." she said softly rubbing her thumb with his. "especially beyond hockey, you're.. mysterious in the best and most innocent ways." she said sweetly, taking another sip of her drink. "you're also really easy to make blush, i find that endearing." she gushed as connor rolled his eyes playfully. she was about to say something more, but her phone began to ring. her eyebrows crinkled, flipping over her phone and rolled her eyes.

"yes?" she questioned pulling the phone to her ear. "hey kiwi, i tried texting you but your phone is on dnd and i wanted to make sure you were good." she smiled softly over quinns concern. "yes q, im out with becca and a few friends." she said and caught connor's eye. "where are you guys at?" he questioned, and she chuckled. "were at soho house, why?" she questioned. "just curious, but wanted to say happy new years incase you fall asleep before it rang on my coast." he said. "you're probably right though, about that. but happy new years q ill talk to you tomorrow." she hummed before they hung up.

"sorry quinn was just checking in on me." she said turning her phone off dnd, and then looked up at connor. "very brotherly of him." he mused, sipping the expresso that was just set down. she shrugged, "he does the least amount of 'hovering' so its appreciated from time to time." she said sarcastically. "things still rough with jack?" he questioned, referring to the fight her and jack had just had about him being to engrossed in her life. by that, it meant that jack had been nagging her recently, like he used to do growing up. "i could kill him." she said annoyed, before sipping more of her drink. "he's such a child, its comical." she huffed, shaking her head. connor nodded, "and then luke, oh my god i wanted to tell him off the other day. he just was pushing my buttons, begging me to come for tonight but he just couldn't or didn't want to take the word no." she said pulling a piece of hair behind her ear. he shook his head amused, "laugh all you want bedard." she mused sarcastically. he held up his free hand in innocence as people began to count down from 30. "is it really midnight, already?" she said looking around and saw the coffee bar empty. they were the only two left.

connor looked around and saw exactly what he was looking for to be empty. he stood up and held out his hand for her. she took it, an eyebrow-raising. he then led her over to the photobooth, and she giggled. "seriously?" she asked amused. he nodded, "yeah, didn't you say it was your dream to do one of these? you said it was very, '80's.'" he said pretending to think hardly, causing her to giggle. "yes, very!" she smiled as he sat down first. he then held his arms wide for her, and she smiled feeling herself blush. "i wont bite, i promise." he said and she nodded, stepping and sitting down on his lap. "lets figure out how to do this thing." he muttered more to himself than her, and she then pressed the button on the screen. "like that was hard." she said grinning down at him as the camera went off, then she looked forward doing a fish pout, before looking down at once more. then she wrapped her hand around his face, pulling him closer and pressed their lips together. ofcourse, right as midnight rolled around. they pulled apart only a few inches, resting their foreheads to giggle as they laughed. "i cant believe that just happened." she whispered, peering into his blue eyes. "you're kinda cute from this angle." she teased, "kinda?" he taunted, pinching her sides just a bit causing her to laugh loudly and flying around in his gasp. "stop stop stop! connor!" she said as he tickled her just a bit before the only way she could stop him, was by pulling him in for another kiss.

she pulled away from him, and then hopped out before he could tickle her again. "wait! don't move." she grinned, leaning in the booth. "i want some of just you, so that when you're away i can have you with me, always." she said before pressing the screen to begin, and then shut the blind. all connor could do was smile and chuckle just a bit at her forwardness. the flashes ended, and she quickly grabbed the picture's to inspect them.

she smiled down at them, and connor wrapped an arm around her waist from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. "you're adorable, connor bedard." she smiled looking over at him. his cheeks flushed, as she put the pictures in her bag. "for safekeeping." she teased, moving a strand of hair from covering his eyes. "anywho. lets go back to our friends." she said now taking hold of his hand, and leading him back to the bar area.

"there you are! we i have to show you something." becca beamed, pulling the young blonde away from connor. she looked back at him before they lost sight of each other.

"where are you taking me?" she said as becca pulled her outside towards the rooftop, and then kailey smiled. the cooler air, traveling up and down her body at rapid speed. her pale body covered with goosebumps as she peered at the fireworks going off at navy pier. becca wrapped an arm around her best friend, "i cant believe that we've only dreamed of this our whole lives." becca gushed, as the two thought back to when they were 7 living in toronto and planned to move to a big city when they were older, and promised to go to the same college together. "who'd a thought?" kailey hummed, thinking back to the last few years, and how she had gotten to this point in her life. "here's to another year of friendship." kailey said sweetly, and becca smiled. "here's to another year of tormenting your brothers." she joked and that made kailey laugh out loud.

"becca! kailey!" they heard tessa behind them, and then they saw some of the younger players come up behind her. tessa smiled taking in the city of chicago, and without notice, connor's hand had found hers as becca moved away from her. she looked up at the taller hockey player, who was already looking down at her. she pulled his hand behind her back, resting her head in his shoulder. she felt his head rest on her's, as the two looked out at the west loop neighborhood.

in the middle of it all, she'd found connor. through all the madness of her life and school, she'd found him. and its most likely safe to say, the same thing for him.

thaaaat was longer than i intended it to be lol, hope you enjoyed tho!!

[meilas]

Socks' Ultimate Phantoms list

Phantoms

Franc D'Ambrosio - Yes. Brings all the sad noises and I am here for it. Nice voice. Excellent acting and facial expressions. Very expressive eyes. Is a cinnamon roll irl. Gary Mauer - Best voice ever. 10/10 would believe this man was an angel. Greg Mills - Looks like a cinnamon roll, will kill you. I never thought tongue action could be sexy but here we are. Ted Keegan - Looks like a cinnamon roll, is a cinnamon roll. Surprisingly sexy. Killian Donnelly - Looks like a cinnamon roll. I can't explain why I like him, but I do. Christopher Carl - I've only heard audio of him but I like him based on how he sobbed on the golden angel. Jeremy Stolle - Nice voice. Acting is too subtle. Peter Karrie - I love how he takes certain notes up a step, just to show that he can. Slightly nasally, but tolerable. Davis Gaines - tbh all I remember really is him slowly rocking his hips while he was sprawled on the portcullis and I now judge all phantoms on a metric of how good their pants look. 9/10 his pants. Peter Joback - I absolutely hated him when he sang in English. I liked him a little better when he did the show in Swedish. James Hume - Unmemorable. Michael Nicholson - Excellent acting choices. Was thinking about him for two weeks after watching. I just really like the production in German, okay? Earl Carpenter - Better in his earlier runs. Good acting choices. Simon Pryce - Very deep voice. Stands nicely. Scott Davies - He looked like fun and I wanted to like him. Noped out of that one pretty quick. Too much vibrato. Anthony Crivello - From the Vegas boot! I actually don't remember too much about him. But I know I liked the boot! Ben Crawford - Tended to have really weird pronunciation toward the end of his run. He was decent when I saw him right after the Broadway reopening. The most remarkable thing he did was to belly slide all the way across the stage during STYDI. Other than that, I recall nothing specific. Thiago Arancam - Remarkable only in the fact that he is boring. Uwe Kroger - The boob-stroking guy. I remember nothing else. Cooper Grodin - Entertaining in the fact that his acting is so wooden. Nice voice when he's not doing blocking at the same time. Good pants. It helps that he never skips leg day. Laird Mackintosh - I think he was good? I honestly don't remember. Geronimo Rauch - I remember I liked him! Norm Lewis - Nice voice, a little boring. Sorry Norm. John Owen-Jones - Hands. Michael Crawford - Absolutely not. I do not understand what anyone sees in him. His voice sounds like it's about to snap any second, and he is very unsexy. David Shannon - Yes. Absolutely yes. Excellent acting choices and nice voice. Does sad very well. Deserved better. Saulo Vasconcelos - All I can recall is @wheel-of-fish spamming the chat with "hands" all night and that's all anyone really needs to know about his Phantom. Ethan Freeman - Looks like a goddamn stick insect during Final Lair and I am here for it. Looks like Tony Shaloub. Bronson Norris Murphy - Technically only was the Phantom in Love Never Dies. RIP. He deserved better. Anyway. His voice is a little deeper than Franc's or Gary's. I wish he had gotten a chance to play the Phantom in POTO proper. I am very curious as to how he would have played it. Looks like a cinnamon roll, is a burnt cinnamon roll. Ramin Karimloo - He was my intro to POTO on stage. I liked his performance enough that I went looking for more clips of the musical, and found the Saturday Streams. Eiji Akutagawa - Ah yes. The self-groping Phantom. That's all I can remember about him. Josh Piterman - Does sad very well. Gerard Butler - My first-first Phantom. I still like him. There's something about his voice that I do actually like, and it annoys me very much when people go "he can't sing" yes he can, everyone has the ability to sing. Just shut up and let me enjoy what I like in peace. Hugh Panaro - Great voice, excellent acting. Funny. Fun to watch. Reminds me of Franc, in that they're both innocent/childish. Hugh is more childish and angry. Looks like he could kill you, and he might, it depends on his mood.

PART TWO

[stereax]

bc i miss them (devils) so much, what are your favorite moments for each player (or select players) from this season? on or off ice moments

for EACH player??? anon I'm gonna die I love them ALL so MUCH I CAN'T GO BACK AND ANALYZE EVERY MOVE THEY MAAADE :') okay let me think of a few

Brendan Smith: The best I can think of is my friends cheering him on and hoping he'll FINALLY get a goal as a meme (spoiler: he did not, in fact, get a goal).

John Marino: Consistent Norris-caliber defensive play that saved our asses every single night.

Dougie Hamilton: The social media admin thing or the Douglings after the Game 3 OT goal.

Alexander Holtz: Trawling through his Instagram and ascertaining that he has a girlfriend (some Swedish artist) and a boyfriend (Fabian Zetterlund).

Nico Hischier: "As Jack would say, let's go on a heater".

Nate Bastian: The Bastian Effect, full stop - basically any time I can see my boy it's a good day.

Yegor Sharangovich: HE HAS A WIFE, AND A BABY BOY, AND A BIRD NAMED HAM APPARENTLY.

Ondrej Palat: When he lost an edge in the Rangers series and Marino and Gravy had to push him off the ice LMAO.

Mikey McLeod: Game 7 shorty, enough said.

Damon Severson: The OT goal against the Rangers in the regular season.

Mackenzie Blackwood: Him clenching his asscheeks in that one Bruins game and actually posting a decent save percentage after letting two in, almost letting us win that game.

Ryan Graves: 1.4 seconds left goal to ensure the Blue Jackets didn't get Bedard.

Akira Schmid: Two (2!!!) shutouts against the Rangers in the playoffs!

Vitek Vanecek: The saga of Marty Birdeur (Vitek's bird friend), or the hibachi memes, or the "I am funny guy" memes, or the - he's just a cinnamon roll and a gold mine of happiness.

Curtis Lazar: I identify spiritually with Lazar because he really just walked into the Devils' locker room and immediately adopted Luke Hughes, and like, I get it.

Luke Hughes: LUKE HUGHES IN OVERTIME!!!

Miles Wood: Wanted to put a curve in his wooden stick, set it on fire accidentally, pretty sure that was this year right?

Fabian Zetterlund: All the pictures where he looked so happy and at home here...

Erik Haula: Watching him finally break through his snakebite just in time for the playoffs and the reeling-in-the-fish celly with Igor Shesterkin lying there dead behind him.

Jesper Bratt: Bratt in the Hatt Trick!

Jesper Boqvist: Uhhh maybe Boqvist Bowl when we played Columbus?

Jonas Siegenthaler: Going Directly To Worlds with Nico and his Worlds goal where he does a slippity slide and almost faceplants on the ice.

Tomas Tatar: Getting ready to celebrate a goal but needing to find his mouthguard because "it's a good mouthguard".

Jack Hughes: Him beating the shit out of Sebastian Aho is a highlight - there are many highlights.

Kevin Bahl: The "Wrecking Bahl" shift in Game 5 against the Rangers where he laid 3 massive hits and then got into a fight.

Dawson Mercer: THE FAVOR LETTER MY BELOVED I would run through WALLS for Dawson.

Timo Meier: Pissing off the Rangers for seven games straight and then shaking Trouba's hand with a shit-eating grin - also, his media spots with Nico.

And you, anon?

[radiant-fanon-maker]

I'm on a roll!

Jelly Serpent: Tickles anyone that go for [their] treasures

~~~

Truffle looking at Blackberry and Onion getting tickled by her spiders: Just this

~~~

Cinnamon and Prophet: Both use tickling magic spells on customers for 50 cents

~~~

Peppermint wanted to try tickling, and Pirate was [their] most easy victim. And no one stopped it. Not even Pirate.

V [mind]: What's with all the fog?

V: HAH?!?

V: Rebel? What are-

V: Hugh!

V: Come on. I was fine without a fight.

R: How about a tickle one?

V: NOHOHO

R: yehehes!

[fictionkinfessions]

i just remembered the first time i was given real food. there was some sort of celebration, and it coincided nicely with my recovery timeline, so beverly invited me down to ten forward. i sat quietly, off to the side, as i was still uncomfortable with large crowds. but my need for space was respected, and she made sure i was comfortable. and i really did enjoy being able to be part of the festivities, though i can’t remember for the life of me what it was about now. geordi brought me a baked good that i don’t think exists here. it was about the size of my fist, warm, and somewhere between pancakes with maple syrup and a cinnamon roll with icing, and i absolutely loved it. i know it’s a biased viewpoint, but it was the best thing i’d ever tasted, even if i was a little sticky afterwards. beverly and geordi’s smiles were always so infectious. …i really love memories like this.

-hugh

🧸

[chrism02]

hello! just wanted to let you know that your fics for hugh weldon are so good, and i love how soft they are??? (also they got me to finally start watching the librarians, thank you so much for making them ♥︎)

Hi! I'm glad you like my Hugh Weldon fics. 😁 He's a precious cinnamon roll and needs lots of love. 💖

The librarians is a good TV show and it's worth the view. Do be careful though, you may like Jenkins. I know I did. 😉

[invisiblemelonmoose]

*slides in* Silver for that chara thing? >:3c

1: sexuality headcanon Bi, but not particularly interested in relationships, sexual or romantic. He's got more important things on his mind (trauma).

2: otp Kris obviously. The original single otp that triumphs all in my heart. The artistic parallels, the character development. A++

3: brotp Also Kris because I definitely think that, even if not romantically involved, they're beasties. Besides her, I feel like he'd get along rather well with Green and Red. I'd also love to see him interact more with Hugh.

4: notp Honestly? I really hate how most of the fandom tends to portray him with Gold/Ethan. He's waaaaaay to sexualized, and tsundere.

5: first headcanon that pops into my head He was never properly socialized as a child. Team Rocket and his father taught him to treat people and pokémon as tools and it wasn't until he met the protag(s) that he started figuring out how to do so otherwise. Blunt af, but also very genuine when he compliments because of this.

6: favorite line from this character

"GET ANGRY AS SOON AS THINKING THIS, YES, OUR LOVE MUST BECOME STRENGTH. "

"…You won, fair and square. I admit it. But this isn't the end. I'm going to be the greatest Pokémon Trainer ever. Because these guys are behind me." Crying over this boy's character development and working with his pokémon.

7: one way in which I relate to this character We're both sore losers who have learned to grow out of it. It's taken us a lot of effort and growth, but we're better because of it. My case is significantly less sever than this, but it's also a case of losing out on things I want in general rather than competition specific.

8: thing that gives me second hand embarrassment about this character This kid does not know how to interact with other humans. He thinks everyone is below him, but then has no idea how to react when it's proven he's not. It'd be funny in an adorable way if it weren't incredibly depressing.

9: cinnamon roll or problematic fave? Yes. He's honestly super naive and doesn't quite understand the world because he's just this kid, but also he's a little klepto and I adore him.

[bnesszai]

Furuba and/or FMA for the ask game? 💙

Hi friend 🥰

note, which you probably will already guess at: any anime specific question will be about Brotherhood, not the original fma

fandom asks~

The first character i fell in love with

Fruits Basket: Kyo

FMA: probably Ed

(see a theme here?)

Character i used to like/love, but now do not

Fruits Basket: uh ? 🤷‍♀️

FMA: i love everyone idk what to tell ya

A ship i used to love/like, but now do not

Fruits Basket: can't think of any

FMA: also can't think of any xD

My ultimate favorite character™

Fruits Basket: KYO KYO KYO KYO KYO

FMA: too hard. Too many good characters. I cannot.

Prettiest character

Fruits Basket: Tohru

FMA: general Armstrong

Most hated character

Fruits Basket: Akito.

FMA: ???? Again i love them all. Even the assholes are just such good characters

Oh actually on further thought. Yomi maybe but even he gets good at the end

OTP

Fruits Basket: KYORU

FMA: hard to choose between edwin and royai

NOTP

Fruits Basket: Yuki/Tohru

FMA: royed

Favorite Episode idk why this question is always so hard for me vosbgknsgla uh

Fruits Basket: ima go with chap instead and stray from the norm and not do a kyoru thing and say when, as a two parter that are related: when Takeru and Yuki make a mess and talk about "when the buttons are done up wrong" and when Yuki leanrs about Machi's issues with perfection and helps her ourposefully fuck things up

FMA: honestly might be when Al uses the philosophers stone and fucks shit up

Saddest death

Fruits Basket: Kyoko

FMA: Hughes;_; it still gets me every damn time

Favorite season

Fruits Basket: mmm. im happy for the reboot and all but. Mm.

FMA: maybe predictably, the last one

Least favorite season

Fruits Basket: the last season cuz i feel like they lost the point and did not do the manga justice, personally

FMA: it's not a whole season but the part with Tucker

Character that everyone else in fandom loves but i hate

Fruits Basket: uh the annoying and obssesed senpais?

FMA: love. them. all.

My ‘your a piece of trash but you’re still my fave’ fave

Fruits Basket: Shigure, which most everyone will agree on I'm sure

FMA: Ling 😂 jk he's not actual garbage. Envy

My ‘beautiful cinnamon roll who deserves better than this’ fave

Fruits Basket: LITERALLY ALL OF THEM??? these characters are soso traumatized ohmygod (Kyo)(Tohru)(but also again all of them)

FMA: Al (most of them but…Al)

My ‘this ship is nasty and makes me want to cleanse my soul but i still love it’ ship

Fruits Basket: i ain't about to start shit on the dash so 🤐

FMA: N/A

My ‘they’re kind of cute and i lowkey ship them but i’m not too invested’ ship

Fruits Basket: 🤷‍♀️

FMA: N/A

[libertyreads]

Christmas in July TBR and Plans--

This Saturday (6/25/21) will be the start of Christmas in July for me. It’s a two week long event (6/25/21--7/9/21) where I read as many Christmas related things as I can as well as watch countless Christmas movies and hopefully, bake some Christmas cookies. I’ve done my version of Christmas in July a few times now and it’s always a lot of fun. I always trying to do it around my birthday as well. This year I’m reading exclusively NetGalley ARCs. Or at least that’s the plan. We’ll see how much I manage to read this year.

The TBR-- 1. Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle-- This one is kind of like A Christmas Carol. A selfish woman is hurting during the holidays thanks to losing all of her money and not wanting anyone in her life to know about it. But accidentally summoning up a Holiday Spirit named Hall might just turn it all around for her.

2. Christmas at the Ranch by Anita Hughes-- A woman is forced to go to her publisher’s holiday party in Wyoming and on the plane she meets a cute man who she spills all her secrets to, only to find out that he’s her publisher’s son.

3. In the Event of Love by Courtney Kae-- This one didn’t take much to sell me on it. This holiday romance is sold as a steamy, queer spin on the feel-good trope of a Hallmark movie. It’s also said to be good for fans of Casey McQuiston and Alexandria Bellefleur.

4. All I Want for Christmas by Maggie Knox-- Two country singers must fake a relationship in order to win the opportunity of a lifetime. If they can fake it, and do well on the reality singing show Starmaker, all of their dreams might just come true.

5. Lucky Girl by M. Rickert-- To round out my reads for Christmas in July, I’ll be reading a Christmas Horror novella. As in, oh, the horror, Christmas in July is over. This one is a story told across multiple Christmases about a struggling writer named Ro who invites four strangers to an impromptu Christmas dinner.

The Movie Options-- 1. Home Alone

2. Santa Clause

3. Any Hallmark Christmas Movie airing during that time

4. The Knight Before Christmas

The Cookie Options-- 1. Snicker Doodles--My husband’s fave.

2. Sugar-- Unlikely given how hot it is outside.

3. Cinnamon Roll Cookies--My favorite holiday cookie, but also temperamental in hot weather.

4. Peanut Butter Blossoms-- A cookie my husband’s family made every year at Christmas.

5. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip--My favorite cookie of all time.

I’m excited to get my head back into my favorite time of the year. I know there are other Crazy Christmas Ladies(gender neutral) out there.

[cecexsblog]

It’s Freezing | L. Hughes

warnings: just some suggestive content but not to much.

pairings: Luke Hughes x fem!reader

a/n: this is probably going to be another long one but I love the skate tying trope so I thought I’d add it:) (also not edited)

~

It was Christmas break and Ellen and Jim decided to spend it at the lake house. Quinn and Jack were already there while me and Luke still drove down the long winding road to the lake house.

“I’m teaching you how to skate this weekend” he randomly blurts out while steering around a turn.

“I know how to skate Luke” I say rolling my eyes.

“Yeah whatever” he says as we pull into the lake house property and to the gravel drive way. It was so cold out that Luke told me to run in and not worry about the bags. He had them. The house was so warm and smelt like cinnamon, lights going up the one banister.

“Luke?” I hear Ellen call from the kitchen.

“Nope just me” I say walking around the corner so she could see me. “He’s just grabbing the bags.”

“Oh honey you must be cold, take your jacket off and sit by the fire place, I just made hot chocolate” she says motherly. Luke came trudging through the door with his nose all red. He quickly took his things off and rushed next to me by the fire place.

“It’s so cold out there” he says huddling closer to me. I just wrap my arms all the way around him, arms and all. Leaving a small kiss on his forehead as he leans into me. Gently running my hand up and down his arm.

“Where is everyone?” I ask.

“Jack and Quinn ran to town for firewood, we’re hopefully going to have a fire pit on the ice tomorrow. And Jim is out flooding part of the lake to make it easier to skate on” Ellen says. She walks around the counter and brings us each a glass of homemade hot chocolate.

“Thanks mom” Luke politely says.

“Mhmm, thank you” I say.

She walks back around the counter proudly smiling. I lean my head on Luke’s shoulder as I watch the flames flicker.

~

At dinner we ate pizza in the living room while all laughing. Quinn and Jacks girlfriends weren’t able to make it so me and Ellen felt slightly out numbered but I guess she kind of always has. Ellen decided to show a video on the tv of the boys playing ball hockey in the living room we were in at that moment. At one point Jack shoves little Luke and he starts crying, Quinn running over to him and hugging him telling Jack to go easy on him because he’s little.

“Not so little anymore” Jack scoffs. Luke just hides his face deeper into my shoulder. I hold the side of his face with one hand caressing his cheek and ever so often playing with his curls as he lays more onto my chest. Although he was way bigger than me he didn’t act like it. Always curling up into me like a big baby.

Everyone slowly went to bed leaving just me and Lukey on the couch. My hand lifting his sweater and running my fingers up and down his spine as he slowly drifts to sleep.

“Lu…” I whisper.

“Hmmm”

“I’m tired”

He gently wraps his arms around me so they’re under my back and lifts me off the couch. I wrap my legs around his waist and tuck my head into neck as he carry’s me up the stairs. I slowly run my hand through the curls on his neck.

As we get to his room he slowly open the door and sets me on the bed, I could see his sleepiness in his eyes. He wanders over to my suitcase and grabs my pjs (one of his t-shirts and a pair of his boxers).

“Lift your arms love” he whispers. He slips my knit sweater over my head and gently unclasps my bra. Usually he goes in for my friends but tonight he just gave me a tiny smirk then slipped the t-shirt over me. I slipped my jeans off as he handed me a pair of his boxers and slipped those on too. We were both too tired to do anything so we both curl up into his bed trying to get heat off of each other. I curl into his chest as he drapes an arms over me caresses my back under my shirt.

~

The next morning I wake up with Luke practically draped over top of me as he slowly breathes in and out. His chest on mine as his head is nestled into my neck. One arm under me the other draped on the pillow with my hair. I look down to see his lips slightly parted and his eye lashes perfectly splayed out. His cheeks slightly flushed and itty bitty freckles. Each of his curls falling miraculously around his forehead and ears, then down his neck.

“I can feel you staring” he whispers. A giggle leaves me and his arm on the pillow comes down to lightly jab my side. He rolls over onto his back taking me with him so I’m on top of him. I begin to pepper his face with general kisses. He just lays there with his eyes still closed and a smile spread across his face.

“Pretty boy” I whisper. His cheeks turning red at my words. “Like an angel.” He really was that gorgeous tho, perfectly shaped. Each muscle carved perfectly, as well as his jawline and nose.

I feel his hand run up and down my back under my shirt again, sending me shivers.

“I’m hungry” he quietly says.

“Me too” I say pecking his cheek and standing up from the bed, sticking my arm out to help him out. The sun shone through the window on him, picking up the definition of his body gorgeously. Each ab flexed across his stomach.

~

After breakfast Jim had checked the ice out on the lake that he had prepared the night before and said it was perfect conditions for a day of skating on the lake. The boys immediately ran for their rooms to get in there warm clothes, me trailing behind Luke.

“Shoot! I forgot a regular hoodie” I say rummaging through my suitcase. Luke walked over to his closet and grabbed me one of his hoodies from high school which had his old hockey team spread across the front and ‘HUGHES’ plastered across the back.

“Here baby” he said handing it to me and leaving a kiss on my forehead.

“Thank you Lu”

~

Before we went out I insisted on taking photo in his mirror, 0.5 of course. Luke was wearing black sweatpants and a grey hoodie with a Michigan jersey over top and a dark blue touque. I wore his hoodie with a vest and black leggings with mid length white socks and a white touque. His hands slink around my waist as we stand in the mirror.

“So pretty” he whispers in my ear as his hands move under my hoodie to my stomach. I lean back into him and kiss his jawline, he leans down and attaches his lips to mine for a deep chaste kiss.

“You guys ready?” We hear Jack yell on the other side of the door, taking us out of our lovey state.

“Yup” Luke says while opening the door and guiding me out holding my lower back. I notice he grabbed our gloves too.

~

“So you know how to skate?” Luke says raising an eyebrow as he ties my hockey skate. My foot between his knees as he tightens the laces.

“Yes Luke I know how to skate, I’m from Canada, children learn how skate before they walk up there”

“Okay okay” he says finishing tying my skates. “I won’t help you then”

“Okay” I say while shrugging and stepping onto the ice carelessly. The truth is it had been a couple years since I skated but it’s like riding a bike.

I stood on the edge waiting for Luke to get his skates on.

“Well?” He said looking up at me from the bench. “Show me your skating abilities”

“I’m waiting for you” I say slightly pouting.

“Well before I get on I need to see your skills and see what I need to teach you” he says with a smirk. I role my eyes and push off with one foot, a little wobbly but I slowly got the hang of it again. Gliding across the ice, crossing my feet as I turn, I switching between backwards and forwards skating.

“I told you I could skate” I say quickly stopping in front of him.

“Your turns could use some work” he says with another smirk.

“Whatever” I say grabbing his hands as he steps onto the ice “Tag you’re it!” I say while quickly skating away as fast as I could. Luke chasing me around the rink and finally catching me by wrapping his arms around my waist from behind and spinning me around.

“Gotcha!” He says while kissing my cheek.

“Okay can you guys stop having sex on the ice and grab your sticks, we want to play hockey” Jack says while glaring at us, Quinn on his left. Ellen and Jim walking down the path towards the lake.

~

We end up playing hockey and skating around till the sun sets and the air gets colder. Making Luke’s nose and cheeks bright red, I could tell he was acting all tough though.

“It’s freezing” I say huddling into Luke as he checks his phone. He puts it in his pocket and turns to me and grabs my bare hands tightly in his hands, almost making a fist around them. Then he brings them closer to his lips and blows into his hands to warm up mine.

“Better?” He says with a slight worried look on his face. I just shrug. He then brings my hands under his hoodie and coat the place on his skin. I hear his breath hitch when my hands touch his skin but he relaxes into it while pulling me closer to him and sticking his hands down the back of my pants to warm up his hands. Jim and Ellen had went in earlier before to make dinner so they weren’t much of a worry.

“I’m kinda hungry too” I say looking up at him.

“We can go in” he whispers as we step off the ice.

“You guys going in already?” Quinn yells across the ice.

“Yeah just hungry” Luke yells back as he unties my skates and slips my Uggs back on my feet. As we walk up he wraps an arm around me holding me close ever so often leaving a kiss on my cold nose.

~

After dinner everyone heads to bed. Me and Luke huddled in his blankets watching a movie. I end up drifting off against his chest.

“I love you” he whispers, thinking I can’t hear him”

a/n: so this was actually longer then I was expecting it to be but I hope you guys like it. Tried adding a tiny bit of spice into it:)

[thedaveandkimmershow]

It's Christmas day!

It's Christmas day and we're up around seven (ish) so we can ease our way into the morning.

What that means, of course, is that I'm the one up at seven to kick start Kimmer's morning wake-up routine by getting the coffee started.

By 'n by, I also set up a monitor in the living room to stream and play Christmas movies across the day. It's a habit we picked up many years ago when we happened to be watching "The Polar Express" in the late afternoon and then started opening presents.

We kicked off this year's tradition with "Home Alone". ☺️

In the meantime, Kimmer's finally up 'n about, getting in a final bit of baking that involves crescent dinner roll dough set onto a baking pan in the shape of a Christmas tree after which she adds some magic ingredients, bakes it, then frosts it.

In broad terms, it has the flavor of a cinnamon roll. Tasty as hell. 😁

By 'n by, we stage our Christmas tree like a crime scene... with all the evidence of someone having entered our home while we were sleeping. And whilst in our home, this person filled out stockings with candies, goodies, and gifts... and placed Christmas packages for each of us under the tree.

And then vanished into thin air.

☺️☺️☺️

The whole "crime scene" thing, of course, is a tradition that started when Linzy was the littlest of little, that narrow window of her life during which she believed in Santa Claus. A window that lasted right up to the moment she was the only one in her grade school class still defending the big man. She was all in, our little one. And we enjoyed setting the living room scene ever since even so.

By the way, if it's not super evident, our presents are color coded. Oh sure, they mostly have gift tags... but we don't actually rely on those. The red presents are for Linzy, the green ones Kimmer, and the black ones me.

We also ran low enough on time and decided to not drive ourselves crazy trying to make everything just so. So there's no ribbon or bows on the presents. That's just how it worked out this year and we're okay with that.

So.

The scene's set, the coffee's drunk, the tree-shaped super low profile cinnamon rolls are ready. Linzy shows up around 10:30 for breakfast and our first round of Christmas presents featuring the opening of the stockings which usually, definitely in this case, involves more stuff to eat. 😁😁😁

Okay.

So Linzy shows up around ten-thirty, we do breakfast and stockings, then it's time to head off to the movie theater for the 12:30 showing of "Wonka" for which we already have tickets. All we need's...

The tub 'o buttered popcorn!

And a sweet, sweet movie...

Definitely the filmmakers know where the emotional heart of this story is and aren't afraid to wield it at just the right moment. Every oompa loompa scene with Hugh Grant's a winner. And the music from the original still gets me after all these years.

We're back home around three with friends arriving around five. So we set about opening our presents from under the tree, a tradition we've had for a long, long time now. At least a decade if not more. Get up in the morning, breakfast, stockings, Christmas movie of choice, lunch, favorite Christmas movie in the background, then opening our presents.

It makes for a full day. Rather than a coupla hours in the morning and then you're done.

This year, where dinner would normally appear, our dear friends showed up bringing their portion of the Christmas meal to match up with the food Kimmer was cooking on Christmas Eve.

The children, of course, immediately wanted to do filters with Linzy. She held them off until after dinner at which point they joyfully indulged.

Earlier this year we went to Universal Studios in Orlando. While there, each day we hid an object in some picture we were taking. At first the object was a 3D printed neon green tugboat. Then I lost the tugboat so we bought a keychain Minion. So then we'd take pictures with that Minion somewhere in the photograph and we'd send that photograph (or two, or three) for our friend's kids to examine.

On Christmas, then, Linzy hid that Minion somewhere in the tree and the kids were told that if they could find it... it was theirs.

Linzy did such a good job that it took the entire evening with both kids looking for it as well as, at various points, their parents. Many hints were given. At one point our friend Ben was in his back under the tree trying to see what he could see. At another point, even after having been told the Minion was hidden at kid level, the kids insisted on standing on a chair for a bird's eye view.

It's hard to ignore the implications, though, that they thought they were being lied to about the Minion being at kid level. 🤨🤔😕

On its own, the evening was its own complete Christmas experience with a wonderful, shared dinner, a fun dinner experience, a lot of hanging out and playing in our living room and family room, some fancy drinks conjured by our friend, a touch of gymnastics once the mat was unveiled, all atop plenty of conversation, friendship, and family.

Oh yeah.

And presents.

☺️

We wound up coloring Christmas 2023 right out to the edges with family and friends, with tradition and improv, with presents and fun and laughter.

I think by the time the last child was out of the house, it was somewhere around nine. Prolly after, a bit.

Maybe nine-thirty.

And yes.

We got a fantastic night's sleep after that.

😁😁😁

[a-skirmish-of-wit-and-lit]

Book Review: Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle

What do I say? Just Like Magic may be the zaniest, kookiest, holiday crack I've ever had the privilege to read.

It's a trippy, Christmas-gone-bonkers farce with magic and romance and absurdity stirred into it like dancing Little Drummer Boy marshmallows in a mug of hot cocoa. That means it's out there, folks, not going to lie. Way out there. As a result of that, it may not be the sort of book for everyone--especially if you're not the type of reader who can suspend belief (like, a lot of it), make room for cheer as well as chaos, champion a spirit/human pairing, or accept outrageousness with a laugh instead of a bah-humbug Grinchness that makes you prone to pouting.

If you're up to the task, however, and a little patient (there are a lot of theatrics), I think there's a lot of merriment to be found in these pages. Festivity and humor, too.

The story itself follows Bettie Hughes, a cynical and materialistic social media influencer who has fallen on hard times. So hard, in fact, that she's broke and squatting in a dead woman's house in Colorado. Her family has no idea, nor will they if she can help it.

As she's feeling hopeless one night about the looming Christmas holiday and its pressing obligations, which requires attendance at her grandparent's mansion for the week, she gets drunk and plays "All I Want For Christmas" by Mariah Carey backwards on vinyl. Doing so summons Hall, a Holiday Spirit who is as buoyant in cheer as he is handsome (not to mention human) in flesh. Though she's shocked at first, Bettie soon realizes she has a solution to her problems and it's standing right in front of her doused in peppermint and pine needles.

Why--she'll bring Hall along, of course! He'll be the Plus 1 to make all her dreams come true!

Now, with a ready-made fiancé who can work magic to boot, she believes she not only has a way to save face with her family and con them all into believing she's still a flourishing success, but she can enact her revenge, too. It's a win-win! What more could she want this holiday season? Nothing.

...That is, until Hall bursts in all Deck The Halls to upend everything she thought she wanted or needed this Christmas.

A cross somewhere between Elf, A Christmas Carol, and Meet the Parents, this book is one of a kind. There's nothing else like it out there. What I liked was how it didn't take itself seriously at all, with the author unafraid to lean into its blinking Rudolph-red quirks rather than tone them down, and that gave the story a child-like zeal and unexpectedness which was refreshing even if it did occasionally leave me at a "what the hell is happening" loss. The romance was a bit saccharine as well, but it had to be to accommodate the jubilant cinnamon roll that was Hall. (He's Buddy the Elf sunshine wrapped in green tinsel. Too pure for this world!)

All in all, if I had to describe my reading experience of this book, I'd equate it with what it must be like to make an ugly Christmas sweater: Colorful. Glittery. Chaotic. With many balls of mismatched yarn tangling up in each other to make something eye-catchingly bizarre, unique, but altogether amusing. Definitely one I'll remember.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my review.

3/5 stars

**Follow me on Goodreads

[nopoodles]

Actually, let me introduce you to the characters I keep blabbering on about in most of my character tag games.

Guardian Cadet Series (Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse, Merry Arlan: [TBA])

Merry, Meredith Arlan: she/her the protagonist. She's ambitious, driven, and hiding secrets that could destroy everything she's ever wanted and tried to build. She's like a skittish kitten, mostly she'll hide from you but she does have claws.

Commander Jonathan Whitclé: he/him Human overworked, undervalued, and a bit of a stickler for the rules. Whitclé wants the best for the Guardians and the world at large, it's hard to do. And his paramour is... You can read about Rakael below.

Kitty Hughes: he/him Dragon Born Merry's roommate. Protective, sweet and distractible, Kitty is an alchemy student caught up in a new relationship.

Gergorio Valencia: he/him Elf. Kitty's boyfriend, a Guardian Cadet. Gergorio is the sun whether you're up to deal with the warmth and brightness of him or not

Rakael Valencia: she/her Elf. Mercenary with penchant for getting into trouble of the violent variety. She's been cursed, and she's gonna die soon if she can't break it. 👀

Colonel Kalik: he/him Human "mmmm, squishy cinnamon roll" (my wife's assessment)

Lior, Liorellion Folcs: xe/xem, Half-Goblin Half-Elf Merry's best (and only) friend. A spell-singer by trade, Lior is completely adrift with no idea what xe wants from xyr future except that it makes xem anxious to think on it.

Jhoto Folcs: she/her Goblin. Proprietor of Jhoto's Bar and Club, where both Merry and Lior (her kid) are employed.

Professor Sorenson: she/her Goblin spell-singing teacher at the Five Towers University

PT: he/him, Human the Guardian Personal Trainer, nobody makes it into or out of the Guardian Cadet Training Programme without his say so

Cpn Etta Amaranth: she/her pirate saved Merry's life once

Professor Simonde: she/her Goblin has a bad habit of forgetting that people have need when she stumbled into a research hole; quintessential academic

(this is just a select number of the characters that I wanted to share)

If you want to find out more about these characters or the story, check the Guardian Cadet Series tag or pick up a copy of Merry Arlan: Breaking The Curse