#as all cheesy rom coms do when someone has to unexpectedly stay over

[simgerale]

arlie noticed that the christmas tree was still not decorated, and so she took it upon herself to finish the job... as well as spill wine all over her clothes

[piscesparker]

Start of something new H.O

Word count: 1.9k

Pianist!reader

Being a pianist was more of a side job while you struggled with your real one. It was more of a form of relaxation than a job, so you wanted to put your talents to good use and volunteered to play for weddings in a chapel nearby.  It's been almost five years since you’ve  been doing it, as much as you loved watching the bride walking down to your music, you also wished you could be there one day; but little did you know that one wedding would change everything. 

Of course you arrived earlier, you had to. While you made sure you brought along the right notes the bustling of the guests were a background sound for you, but then suddenly a mope of dirty blond curls caught your eye and you couldn’t avert your gaze from him. At first you shook it off thinking that he might be the groom but your cloud of doubts were cleared when the real groom came in and stood in front of the altar while the blond stood beside him. 

As time went on you were signaled by someone from the doors that the bride was ready, playing the first chord it instantly echoed, some had their eyes on you while some on the bride. There ceremony began and your eyes landed back on the blond, you knew that you were staring at him and looked a bit weird but when you noticed that he was look back at you, you wanted to pull away but instead you looked right into his icy blue eyes and then turned your attention back to the piano in front of you. 

After almost an hour and a half later, the ceremony concluded and the guests started moving out, while you stayed back, gathering your sheets and getting ready to head back to your lonely apartment when all of a sudden you were approached by the familiar blond who happened to be much taller now that he was standing next to you. “Hi.” He said nervously. 

“Hi.” You replied giving a tight lipped smile. 

“Uh, I just came over to tell you that uh, you played very well.” He stuttered, his cheeks getting rosy. This was really unusual for you, it was very rare that anyone would actually come to compliment your talent and it was the first time a best man were to do it. 

“Oh, thank you so much.” You beamed at him, you were about to leave when he called you back. 

“Okay, this might seem a bit weird but would you like to be my date for my wedding?” You cocked an eyebrow, “No, no I’m sorry I meant, would you like to be my date to my friends’ wedding?” He laughed nervously hoping he didn’t scare you, feeling a bit brave you agreed to, not like you had anything better to do anyways. “I hope your friend won't mind.” You blush. 

“Nonsense! I’m his best man, he can’t say no,” he reassured, “and plus I think he might be a bit busy to notice.” He chuckled. “Harrison Osterfield.” He said extending his hand forward. “Y/n l/n.” You shook his sweaty palm. The drive to the hall you tried to make small talk with Harrison, usually you were the type of person who hated small talk but there was something about him that made you want to talk with him forever. 

On arriving, he was a true gentleman, helping you out of the car and arms interlocked as you entered the hall. Seeing the decorations, you were in complete awe with the aesthetic of the room. He led you to a table which must have been just for him, he even helped you take a seat. Maybe coming here wasn’t such a bad decision after all. A few minutes went by after Harrison excused himself, he came back with a blonde woman by his side. “Y/n, this is my mum Phil.” You smiled and got up from your seat and was unexpectedly taken into a hug by her. “It’s really nice to meet you Mrs. Osterfield.” 

“Likewise, when Hazzy said that his date was beautiful he wasn’t lying.” She chuckled as you and Harrison were a blushing mess. “Thank you.” You replied. The rest of the evening went by meeting Harrison’s family and his best friend who was getting married and lots of laughs along the way. 

As you were sitting with Harrison his face went white, “What’s wrong?” You asked, worried. 

“It’s just..,” he sighed, “my ex, she’s here.” 

Oh.

“Did you know she was coming?” 

“Yeah, she’s a friend of the bride.” he said as you averted your gaze to the said ‘ex’. 

“Come on.” you stood up as an idea pricked in your head; confused, Harrison agreed and took your hand, leading him to the dance floor. “Let's show her what she’s missing yeah?” You beamed, placing your hand on his broad shoulder as his were on your hips. The slow song played as you looked into each other's eyes, smiling and blushing. Swaying, you decided to get a bit more comfortable by placing your head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around you and cheek pressed to your head feeling absolute bliss in his arms. As Harrison caught his friends eyes who was making kissy faces at him, to which he rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to you. 

The remainder of the evening was more calm, mingling along with guests and devouring the delicious food. As the night came to an end Harrison even offered to drop you back to your apartment considering you were a little tipsy, but still managed to give him the right directions. Helping you up to your apartment while you babbled something, Harrison was able to get the keys from your bag whilst your body weight was on him. He chuckled as you kept on rambling how perfect the wedding was. You plopped on the couch and Harrison helped to remove, which must have been painful heels you've been wearing all day. 

“Harrison?” You slurred, pushing away the stray hair from your face, while he hummed in response, “I don’t think I will ever find love, I’m just…” you huffed, “so unlovable.” Harrison’s eyes softened listening to your situation. 

“Don’t say that love,” he cupped your cheeks and stared right into your glossy eyes, “I’m sure you will find someone who gives you all the love you deserve.” 

“I’ve been playing for weddings for the past five years, and today was the first time anyone has thanked me or even invited me.” You cut him off as a single tear rolled down your cheek only for him to wipe it away with the pad of the soft thumb. 

“Wait really?” He was taken aback, stunned actually; he couldn’t believe that people didn’t appreciate your talent and how you did  it for them without anything in return. “They have no idea what they are missing out on.” He said in hopes to get a small smile from you, which you did. “Thank you Harrison, for everything.” 

“It was my pleasure,” He replied and flashed his famous smile, making you swoon, “I guess I’ll leave now.” He informed, getting up from his position and heading towards the door when he felt a tug on his sleeve, “Stay?” You croaked, and as much as Harrison wanted to leave, he waited. Waited for you. Shuffling, you tried to make space on the couch for him as he took off his coat and tie and slipped off his shoes. Laying down, he opened his arms so that you could cuddle in, “I-is this okay?” He asked but was instantly cut off with your soft snores and cheek nuzzled into his chest, giving him a warm and fuzzy feeling within. 

The next morning you woke with a pounding headache and also the smell of coffee hitting your nostrils. You groaned as you sat up and saw a glass of water and advil just sitting on the table in front of you as you chugged it down you were greeted by the blond you met yesterday. 

“Morning!” He chirped. 

“Morning, uh this is gonna sound weird,” you hesitated, “but did we do anything last night?” 

“No, no, not at all!” You sighed in relief, “I got you some coffee.” Harrison smiled and handed you the steaming cup of starbucks’ freshly brewed coffee; sipping on it you realized the time. 

“Shit!” You cursed, “I’m gonna be late for work!” You dashed to your room to get ready as Harrison awkwardly sat in your living room. Couple of minutes went by when you entered the living room again but this time in your work attire, completely forgetting that Harrison was still there. “Can I drop you?” He asked. 

“You’ve already done so much, I couldn’t possibly.” You hesitated, feeling that it wasn’t right to take advantage of his kindness; instead of arguing he playfully jingled his keys in front of you and opened the door for you. Harrison pulled over your office building and you turned to him, “How can I repay you?” 

“How about a date?” He asked confidently. 

“I would love to.” You smiled, handing over your phone so he could add his number. 

“I’ll text you the time and place.” He informed as he bid you goodbye.  

After a long hectic day at work you got back to your apartment, took a shower and popped open a bottle of wine as you watched some cheesy rom-com. Half way into the movie and you were interrupted by a notification from none other than Harrison, which didn’t only light up your phone but also your face. After hours of texting each other you finally decided on a place and time for your date, that night you went to sleep giddy, feeling that maybe you finally have a chance at love. 

As the wind picked up you pulled your coat closer as you walked to the place Harrison had asked you to come, seeing him through the window a soft blush crept up your face but soon it turned into a frown when you saw a brunet sitting in front of him. You thought she looked oddly familiar, and she did; she was Harrison’s so-called ‘ex’ you had seen at the wedding. Eyes trailing back to Harrison who was obviously agitated. Walking up to the table you tried to keep a calm posture. “Excuse me, but you’re in my seat.” You smiled at her. 

She looked at you in disgust and then eyed you, “You know this bitch Haz?” She asked. Usually you weren’t the type of person to get angered easily, but there was something about her that gave you bad vibes. And you didn’t let anyone take away what you finally were waiting for most of your life. “Who are you calling a bitch?” You scoffed, “you had your chance with him, but you blew it, and news flash? He’s not into you anymore and that’s why I’m here.” You informed as Harrison stifled a laugh. “So get your ass out of my seat before I throw it out myself.” You threatened the brunet who finally got the message, embarrassed she got up and showed herself out of the cafe. “Wow that was-,” 

“Rude.” You winced, cutting him off. 

“No, that wasn’t rude at all! That was really brave what you did, I was never able to get her off my back, thank you so much.” He said, holding our hand as the electric touch made you blush, being ever so grateful that he asked you out. 

a/n: I worked really hard on this so feedback is appreciated.

General Taglist: @in-a-lot-of-fandoms-tbh​ @perspectiveparker​ @veronica011sblog​ @hollanderfangirl​ @calltothewild​ @parkerpeter24​ @whatthefuckimbisexual​ @musicalkeys​ @rnatasha​ @hollands-weasley​ @peterspideysstuff​ @ethereal-beauty-p​ @parker-hollandx​ @theonly1outof-a-billion​ @miraclesoflove​ @theliterarymess​ @osterfieldholland01​

Harrison Osterfield Taglist: @hollandbroz-n-haz​ @hjoficrecs​ @euphorichxlland​ @asshatgrace​

[little-murmaider]

J (Stay Alive), E (I Couldn’t Help But Wonder), A (in general, I want to know because they’re a thing I toil over), N! C, W, U, T, I, D (Stay Alive), I (again, but a different one), D (But You Know Better), T (again, but also a different one), H, E (Deluge In A Paper Cup), R, E (Stay Alive, because this is my ask dammit and I do what I want)?

Lord God in Heaven, Jean, it took me way longer than it should have to figure out what this spelled.

J: Write or describe an alternate ending to Stay Alive.The ending is the first thing I came up with for Stay Alive, so I don’t know how else it could end. However, when this was going to be a one shot (a OnE sHoT), Toki woke up with all his friends surrounding him, and he told them about the dream and they reassured him they’d fight it together, and the final beat was much, shall we say, softer. E: If you wrote a sequel to I Couldn't Help but Wonder what would it be about?It would have to be about another groundbreaking HBO program, wouldn’t it? Perhaps........The Sopranos? An opportunity for collaboration with @walkwithursus​? I have no idea what the story would be.A: How do you come up with titles for fics?They're pretty much all song lyrics or titles. A Nice Bake and I Couldn’t Help but Wonder are lines from the shows discussed in the fics. Not Like a Regular Dad, a Cool Dad is a modified line from Mean Girls. A Whole and Dangerous Heart is a modified line from a short story I was reading at the time that was thematically similar to the story I was writing. A Permanent Arrangement is a pun because I wanted something cheesy and rom-com-y. I’m sorry, I’m SORRY!!!!!N: Answered!C: What character do you identify with most?This is a cop out but it’s my for real answer: All of them, in little ways.W: Do you like more general prompts, or more specific ones?I like general prompts cause they give me free range to do whatever I want heheheheh.

U: Answered!T: Answered!I: Do you have a guilty pleasure in fic, reading or writing?I feel like this will not be surprising to anyone who has spent more than three minutes on my blog or read anything I have ever written in my life, but I love when characters are all sleepy and soft around each other and just sorta chill out and nod off together. It’s cute DON’T judge ME.D: Is there a song or playlist associated with Stay Alive?I actually made a Stay Alive playlist! A couple songs aren’t available through PlayMoss (Run Boy Run by Woodkid and Goodbye to a World by Porter Robinson) but they are there in spirit. I also listened to this remix of the Wonderland themes from The Adventure Zone a billion times and every single YouTube synthwave/cyberwave/darkwave/whateverwave mix that exists.I: Answered, like, right there, right above this answer, see? D: Is there a song or playlist associated with But You Know Better? Yes! Thank You For Breaking My Heart by Ben Folds Fives! Which is also...............where I got the title!!!!!H: Answered!E: If you wrote a sequel to Deluge in a Paper Cup what would it be about?You know after you hook up with someone you unexpectedly start liking, and you’re in a situation that’s very similar to the first time you hooked up, and you do that thing where you’re like, “Ha ha, remember that time we hooked up? That was so weird, right? Wouldn’t it be sooooo weird if we, you know, did it again? Ha ha ha what if we hooked up again?” The sequel would be another house party where Nathan and Skwisgaar do that all night, then eventually hook up in the bathroom, but they’re both so enormous they don’t fit, so Skwisgaar has to stand in the bathtub and slices his head open on the shower head, so they have to go to the walk in clinic and he has to get a tetanus shot and he’s very bad with needles so Nathan has to hold his hand the whole time and it’s all very unsexy, but when they get home they’re too tired to go to their own rooms so they crash on the couch and kiss until they both pass out. R: Are there any writers (fanfic or otherwise) you consider an influence?William Faulkner, George Saunders, Shirley Jackson, Aimee Bender, Daniel Ortberg, Samantha Hunt. To be honest I find influence in everything. One of my favorite professors, the same one who coined the term hyperrealism, said one of the best things you can do as a writer is to figure out the tricks of works you admire and learn how to do it in a way that works for you. He called it “adding another tool to your toolbag.” I try to add things to my toolbag whenever I can.E: If you wrote a sequel to Stay Alive what would it be about?The thrilling sequel, Go Dead. If I ever did this, which I never would because it would literally murder me, it would be a Groundhog Day of Fuck. Toki keeps trying to break the cycle, but no matter what it’s the same end result. He memorizes all the beats, gets everyone out of Mordhaus, but then Salatcia starts changing things. One cycle Skwisgaar dies first. Another cycle Nathan gets corrupted instead of Murderface. Toki’s playing a rigged game, can he ever win?

[ablogcalledrevenge]

Sticky Sweet ~ A Purim Drabble

So I’ve been in kind of a slump lately, money’s been tight and I’ve been trying to look for a new job. But today is Purim! Purim is one of my favorite holidays and being away from home and unable to celebrate it made me sad. But, I was inspired by the holiday and thus, a fic was born. Spawned by my belief that all the Skywalkers are Jewish and my love of Kylux, here’s a fic of Hux and Kylo celebrating Purim. It started off like that and then sort of spiraled into an ode to being Jewish. So, enjoy and Chag Purim Sameach!

The synagogue is warm today, full of light and full of people. They’re celebrating Purim tonight, a holiday Hux didn’t know about until a week before when Kylo announced he’d been asked to play the guitar for the play. A holiday that has a play? Well, mark him down for quietly interested and amused.

It’s not like his religion was doing anything better. Hux was not a religious person, he was raised Catholic more for appearance’s sake than any real devotion to the church. He went to church with his father and stepmother because that’s what good Irish boys did, not because he felt a special affinity for Jesus. He didn’t care that other people did, it wasn’t his place to judge someone for being religious. In a way, sometimes he was jealous of faithful people. To have such simple but unshakable beliefs seemed both ridiculous and comforting. Perhaps it was because most religious people knew their place in the world, while Hux was left floundering after college and the death of his father.

He was supposed to follow his father’s path unthinkingly, continuing his legacy and trying not to fuck it up. When the heart attack took Brendol’s life unexpectedly, leaving Hux with some money and a kick in the ass out the door, he didn’t know what to do. His whole life had been so regimented and confined, that the sudden opening of his cage doors was frightening. What kind of person could he be now? Did he even want to try? With the whole world beckoning him, his cage seemed almost comforting. Would it be so wrong to stay?

Then Kylo crashed into his life. He literally crashed into his life one day when they both walked out of two different buildings at the same time and, like a fucking rom-com, bumped into each other spilling coffee and papers all over the sidewalk. Luckily Hux’s work papers didn’t get stained by the coffee and Kylo’s eye didn’t bruise too badly. They started dating the next day and haven’t stopped being exasperated with each other since.

Kylo wasn’t that religious either but being Jewish, he said, wasn’t always about the religious part. Sure, he’d gotten bar mitzvahed and knew the prayers and celebrated the holidays, but being Jewish was more than that. Being Jewish was more about feelings and family, traditions that sometimes started with the Rabbi, but more often started from an inside joke from the Old Country. There was a comfort in being Jewish, a knowledge that you could be curious and question things without reproach. That you could fuck up and be allowed the chance to fix it. For someone like Kylo, who chafed against rules and got angry too quickly, it worked. Not only was he allowed to argue with the Rabbi about Abraham and Jacob, but he was encouraged. Kylo liked being Jewish and Hux liked seeing him embrace that part of him.

So here he was, sitting in one of the carpeted bench seats of Kylo’s temple, watching a Purim play. It was… interesting. He understood the basic concept of the holiday, enjoying the tale of female empowerment and ingenuity, the rush of rebellion against an evil despot. But this was the children’s service and he felt a little out of place. Granted, he didn’t have to come. Purim wasn’t a high holy day and Kylo had been the one asked to play music for the kid’s play, not him. But Kylo had turned his brown puppy dog eyes towards Hux and said please in that soft, quiet way and Hux had melted. So here he was, watching his boyfriend in a homemade dog costume, play guitar while the rabbi and some parents told the story of Purim.

The costume had been Hux’s idea actually. Kylo had told him that it was part of the holiday to dress in costume. Purim, he said, was like Halloween mixed with theatre mixed with overthrowing oppression. But it was also March, so getting a costume a week before was tough. But Hux was nothing if not clever, so he bought some face paint and some felt and made them costumes. Inspired by the very reason he was doing this in the first place, Hux made Kylo a puppy dog costume: brown pants and a brown shirt with floppy felt ears pinned to his hair and face paint to look like a muzzle and a spot around his eye. Hux drew whiskers on himself, dressed in all black and sported a headband with cat ears. Nothing too fancy but not too shabby either. Besides, it made the kids happy and Hux always had a soft spot for kids.

Like now, for example. Queen Esther had just met with her uncle to discuss their plan of exposing Haman and Hux was holding Nathan in his lap. Nathan’s mother Sarah was holding his younger sister while their father overacted as Haman onstage. Nathan was dressed as a pirate, complete with hook hand, eyepatch, and kippah decorated with a skull and crossbones. He had taken one look at Hux and Kylo and quickly launched himself at them, jabbering on about how he was a pirate and pirates were so cool and he liked that they had matching costumes and he and his sister had matching costumes, she was dressed like a parrot because pirates have parrots and he was so excited for the play and could he please sit with Mr. Hux? Sarah had just laughed, the traitor.

The play was cute, everyone booing and shaking noisemakers whenever Haman turned up. Kylo switched between the keyboard and the guitar so effortlessly, cueing scenes and playing up the drama. Hux was utterly charmed and completely smitten. When the Cantor had started singing, encouraging the kids to join him, Hux bounced Nathan on his lap and sang along. It was a awkward attempt, Hux only knowing random lines and words, but it made the others happy. Hearing Kylo’s baritone mixed with the wink sent his way, soothed his embarrassment.

When the play ended and everyone clapped, Kylo led the parade of children around the benches giving their parents a chance to take photos as the kids preened and sang. Hux waved to Nathan and the other children, feeling so utterly ridiculous in his stupid cat ears. Then Kylo caught his eye and he realized that the feeling wasn’t annoyance or benign appeasement, it was happiness. Being here in the synagogue with Kylo playing the guitar and children clapping, made him happy.

He was able to stop himself from crying.

After the play, the congregation met in the open party space one room over. There were tables set up with wine and grape juice and platters of homemade hamantaschen. The cookies were soft and crumbly with the perfect level of sweetness to mix with the tart jam. They had been made by the Women’s Group headed by Kylo’s mother. Hux had spent a whole day watching Leia and the other women fold the dough into triangles and dollop different flavors of jam in the middle. Kylo’s favorite was strawberry jam and so when Hux was given the opportunity to try and make some, that was the only flavor he used. Only half of them came out lopsided or puffy and he considered that a success. 

It was strange in a way, to be surrounded by people so unlike him and yet who accepted him so simply. He was Kylo’s boyfriend and he seemed like a mensch and he made Kylo happy. They liked him and he felt a surge of affection as he watched everyone partake. Kylo approached him with sticky fingers and in lieu of holding him, kissed his cheek instead. Somewhere in the room a person laughed and somewhere else a baby started to cry. There was the gentle patter of rain outside the stained glass windows and one of Kylo’s ears was askew. Hux adjusted the felt ear and then fixed the barrette holding Kylo’s kippah in place as well. Honestly he was surprised it stayed on so well. Most times, it just slipped off Kylo’s head no matter how many bobby pins held it down.

“It’s a Purim miracle!” Kylo declared, wrapping his arms around Hux. The congregation took no notice. They were a fairly open sort, the rabbi having married two gay couples just last year alone. Hux laughed and shook his head.

“I didn’t think Purim had those kind of miracles. The play made it seem like this holiday was about the perseverance of people rather than miracles. You did a very good job playing the music, by the way.” Hux countered, taking a sip of too sweet wine.

Kylo stepped closer, one of his felt ears brushing Hux’s hair. Across the room, Nathan and two other children played tag while the Cantor told a joke to a group of old men.

“Everyday with you is a miracle.” Kylo said simply, as if that wasn’t the most cheesy and romantic and wonderful thing he’d ever said. Hux, trapped between a snort and a swoon just kissed him instead.

No, Hux wasn’t the religious type, but he was sure Kylo could make a believer out of him.