you're my best friend | kylian mbappé
bestfriend to lovers, inspired by the song you are in love by taylor swift.
one look, dark room meant just for you.
when you met kylian it honestly wasn't love at first sight. admiration at first sight. it seemed that all eyes were focused on him. lucky would be the one who left this party with him.
time moved too fast, you play it back. buttons on a coat, light-hearted joke. no proof, not much... but you saw enough.
small talk, he drives. coffee at midnight. the light reflects, the chain on your neck...
you don't notice the moment a hello turns into a cute joke with his french accent or how different the shape of his mouth is when he speaks spanish. the way the loud laugh echoed when he said he'd be able to drive you home and you said "driving? i doubt it..." when you shared the first coffee at midnight. latte.
he says, "look up" and your shoulders brush. no proof, one touch but you felt enough.
when you sat side by side on the stairs and he showed you the sky. asked if you thought you'd end up leaving the party for coffee at midnight. the goofy smile when you say partying isn't your strong point, the shoulders touch.
the months passed. there was no way not to look at him and see comfort. kylian was no longer the guy who took you out for coffee at your first fundraiser, he was the guy you called when things didn't go well at work. the guy you sent huge paragraphs to about how your favorite singer released a new album. the guy who listened to hours and hours of theory about taylor swift songs.
you can hear it in the silence.
you can feel it on the way home.
you can see it with the lights out, lights out.
morning, his place. burnt toast, sunday.
you keep his shirt...he keeps his word.
mornings at his house became routine. go there after work and find him on the couch playing fifa. going to the bedroom and picking up any shirt that was on the bed with his scent on it and sitting in the living room to play with him was also routine. waking up in the morning with the smell of burnt toast, watching him try at all costs to do something in the kitchen other than the food already prepared by the nutritionist.
one day he was napping on the couch, a routine moment. he wakes...strange look on his face, pauses, then says:
you're my best friend
and you knew what it was he is in love. and so are you a thousand times more. in the silence of the living room, in the warmth of the sofa. in one of his psg sweatshirts. with the smell of home.
and for once, you let go of your fears and your ghosts... one step, not much but it said enough.
the first kiss didn't happen on the couch, it happened in the middle of the street. close to the 24-hour coffee shop that was routine when the two couldn't sleep.
you kiss on sidewalks. you fight and you talk.
it happened in the middle of one of the stupid, pointless fights. talking about him and his interest in any blonde that is minimally functional.
"you speak without understanding" he says
"kyky, even a blind man knows your type! skinny blonde french girls! i don't understand why you keep denying it all the time, denying is worse!"
"do you just like to pretend you can't see?" he says, taking another sip of the latte, which in the cold of Paris, felt warm in his hands.
"here it comes..." you say holding your own cup
"my type is very specific. likes to play fifa, loves bronwie, horror movies every tuesday. is in love with lilac, but always tells me that i look great in blue. my type actually has brown hair. cuts bangs whenever she's having an existential crisis, she looks great in them. my type, have the most beautiful eyes i've ever seen. you know it's you."
and you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars.
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Making Lists of Characters Interesting
Epic fantasy often has so many characters that a list of characters (also known as dramatis personae) is a necessary aid to readers. The trouble is, a character list is usually as dull as dishwater.
The best solution I have seen is from Lindsey Davis. Her character lists in her Roman mysteries about the Falco family have a definitely flippant tone to them. As a result, they are so entertaining that I often read them after finishing the novel they appear in, when I can fully understand the jokes.
In fact, I admire them so much that I have shamelessly copied their tone for my character list in my current project The Bone Ransom:
The Ravenpiper Family
Talson Ravenpiper: A teenage boy, corrupted by stories and the training for the role of a second child.
Skulae Ravenpiper: Talson’s older sister. Nothing is her fault.
Bronwy del Caleryon: Talson’s mother, a ruler who knows she’s right.
Dyr-am-Syrans (Dhuramtsuran)
Kosky, aka Kahuin: A teenage girl, caught between two cultures and sarcastic about it.
Hilaswy: Kosky’s father, a dignified chieftain and drunk.
Guji: Kosky’s body-fluid foster brother. Disgustingly popular.
The Elite Housecarls
Ragger: Bronwy’s steward, and leader of the housecarls. A retired hero who has seen too much.
Aldleaf, Morgrim, and Eimur: Three veterans housecarls on duty in the city.
Ulfman: A housecarl not known for his polish.
Other Torsmyrians
Aglachad Torhte: Second cousin to the Ravenpipers, and not important enough.
Eshborg Torhte: Aglachad’s daughter and Talson’s ex-lover. An embarrassment.
Bloody Eyril: A Barber-Surgeon. He’ll extract your teeth for a fee, or punch them out for free.
Hindcalf, Gruce, and The Glover: Bronwy’s circle of enablers.
Lyxus: A Lawgiver with a bad memory for his oath of office.
Ivoryne: Server to Bronwy.
Borrie: Ivorne’s baby, named for Talson’s grandfather. But it’s not what you think.
Darogar: A swinging smith.
Frith’s Osgerd, Dallader, Slorm, and Fyrwulf: Members of the Fox age-group of the Hearth Guards. Veterans and still trying to forget the fact.
Off Stage
Karllaron (Lawbench) Hringesthorn: An elderly but still active rival of the Ravenpipers, fond of practical music.
Osbolt IV: The Margram of Torsmyr, the Ravenpiper’s titular overlord. A religious reformer.
Gone But Not Forgotten
Elzymer Ravenpiper: Talson’s father. A reluctant hero with a roving eye.
Borogrim Ravenpiper: Talson’s grandfather. The upstart who conquered the province of Ilvarness and freed the serfs.
Rungest “Dicer” Ravenpiper: Talson’s ancestor, who ended a civil war and died the obligatory heroic death. Pure ballad-bait.
Kermane Ravenpiper: Founder of the Ravenpiper family. An intimidating ancestor.
Purcirm Ravenpiper: Talson’s ancestor, who disappeared while exploring the Silvorn River, making himself romantic.
Skordis: An ancient runewife whose name is still used to frighten children.
Leel, Runger, Timple, Varchild and Ashnborg: Female housecarls who have let themselves go.
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