#cfwc for the boys

[jerzwriter]

Haunting

Book:                   Open Heart (Pre-Series/Hopkins Days)

Featuring:           Ethan Ramsey, Tobias Carrick

Rating:                 Teen

Category:            Fluff

Summary:           Tobias plans a Halloween double date with Ethan. He insists it's foolproof, but who ends up the fool in the end?

Words:                 Approx 2000

A/N:                     So the ask about haunted houses this morning inspired this! It’s a quick and fun fic, didn’t have time to proofread much, I hope you enjoy it.  😊

Participating in @choices-september-challenge-blog - Day - "What are you smiling at?" and @choicesficwriterscreations "Let's Hear it for the Boys".

CHARACTERS BELONG TO PIXELBERRY STUDIOS.

The rattling of keys in the door distracted Ethan from his studies. Even more distracting was the mischievous grin on Tobias’s face as he entered. It was at least twice the size it normally was, and Ethan knew that could only mean trouble.

“Whatever it is, I’m not interested,” Ethan muttered before returning his focus to his books.

“Ramsey!” He simpered. “Ramsey, Ramsey, Ramsey! Not only are you going to be interested, you are going to be thanking me.”

He pulled four tickets out from his coat pocket, fanning them dramatically before tossing them at Ethan.

“Clear your calendar Saturday, and decide what fine specimen you’re gonna bring along because it will be your lucky night.”

Ethan eyed Tobias suspiciously before lifting a ticket, an annoyed scowl on his face. 

“The Nevermore Haunt?” Ethan asked incredulously before dropping the ticket. “Yeah, hard pass.”

Tobias leaned against the kitchen counter and popped open a can of soda. “Oh,” he chuckled. “It will be hard, alright!”

“Come again?” Ethan asked.

“Yeah,” he grinned, taking a gulp from the can, “You could probably do that too.”

 Ethan removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “I’m trying to study….”

“Chill out,” he said, handing his friend a can of soda. “I’ll be studying in a minute too. But all work and no play makes Ethan a very dull boy. Just look at me as your guardian angel.”

Ethan finally relented, unable to contain the smile on his face. “You and the word angel should never be in the same sentence, Tobias. Can we just establish that as law?”

“Maybe if we were in law school,” Tobias shrugged, “but I see no need for it here.”

“So, since you’ve already sidetracked me, why am I supposed to be excited about this?”

“Because it is the scariest freaking place on the East Coast outside of Dr. Coleman’s bedroom.”

Ethan raised a brow. “You’ve been to Dr. Coleman’s bedroom?”

“We don’t speak of it,” his friend answered firmly. “But trust me, it’s scary. We went to Nevermore last year, and my buddy Carlos almost shit himself.”

“Well, if your goal is to get your buddy Ethan to shit himself this year, you’re out of luck. I won’t be going.”

“Why?” Tobias asked with a shocked expression. “Don’t worry, Carlos is a liberal arts major. They can’t handle the shit we can. You’ll be fine.”

“Maybe so,” Ethan agreed, “but haunted houses just aren’t my thing.”

“They don’t have to be. Jesus, do I have to teach you everything?”  Tobias shook his head. “Ethan, I’m bringing Tracey….”

“The redhead in our chemistry class? The one with the….” Ethan held his hands in front of his chest. 

“That very one. And when she is all screaming and scared, well… I’ll be too happy to console.”

Ethan let out a sigh. “So essentially, you’re going to cop a cheap feel?”

“Hell no!” Tobias exclaimed. “I mean, maybe high school era Tobias would have done this, but this is med school level Tobias. He’s in it for the gratitude afterward.”

“You’re a horrible human being,” Ethan snickered.

“Oh, am I? Are you telling me you never once took a date to a scary movie?”

Ethan’s cheeks reddened as a look of shame spread on his face. “Well, there was Becky Forrester during freshman year of college.”

“SEE! Don’t act all holier than thou. This place is ten times more frightening than any movie you can dig up. So only one question remains, who ya bringing?”

Ethan looked out the window, a melancholy look on his face. There was only one person he was interested in, but their friend Vincenza was now firmly coupled with a third-year student. He and Tobias were lucky to even see her these days. Tobias knew that look, even understood it, but it was his mission to get his buddy over this.

“Ethan, Chenza is coupled up. I know she’s quite the catch, but she’s also off the market... unless...  you want to try to get her back on it.”

“I’m not about to do that!” he answered with disgust.

“Good answer!” Tobias gleamed, “but then you have no business sitting home on Saturday night. So, who ya gonna bring?”

~~~~~ 

Saturday night arrived, and Ethan and Tobias were meeting their dates at the quad. Tobias’s smile widened as a beautiful redhead sashayed in his direction.

“Tracey,” he sang, biting his lower lip. “How do you manage to look more beautiful every time I see you.”

Ethan rolled his eyes as Tracey slipped under Tobias’s arm. “Please, tell me those pathetic lines don’t work on you,” he implored.

“This isn’t our first rodeo,” Tracey bubbled as she snuggled closer to Tobias. “I don’t mind the flattery, even if I know it’s bullshit.”

The smile shed from T’s face, “Hey!”

“I’m just teasing!” She laughed. “But where’s your date, Ethan.”

“Yeah,” Tobias jumped on, “don’t tell me the scariest part of her night was the thought of going out with you?”

“Not quite,” a beautiful brunette with warm, brown eyes stepped up, slipped her arm into Ethan’s, and then extended her hand to Tobias and Tracy. “Hi, I’m Ava.”

“Ava,” Tobias smiled, shooting Ethan a look of approval. “So lovely to meet you, and I haven’t seen you around campus. Do you go here?”

“Yes,” she replied, “but I spend most of my time in the library. Probably why we haven’t met.”

“Hey, I’m second in my class so far, hon!” Tobias chuckled.

“And if you were in the library more, perhaps you’d be number one,” Ethan smirked.

“All right, all right. I like her. Now let’s get the hell out of here. Once we’re at Nevermore, all of you will be taken down a peg or two,” Tobias grinned.

Ethan shook his head with a smile. “We’ll see about that… buddy.”

The group arrived at Nevermore, and the eerie music outside already had Tracey on edge. 

“You’ve been here before,” she said to T. “Are you sure it isn’t too scary.”

“Everyone’s always made it out alive, sugar. I won’t worry.”

“Besides,” Ethan offered. “You have big, bad Tobias to protect you. If he doesn’t end up slipping as he runs away in his designer shoes, that is.”

“You talk a big game, Ramsey. But I’m the only one who has ever made it through this place multiple times.”

“Are they always like this?” Ava asked Tracy.

“No,” she smiled. “Usually, they’re worse.”

Once inside, the fun really began. Between the darkness, smoke, and blinding strobe lights flashing all around, it was almost impossible to see where they were going.

“I don’t like this,” Tracey whimpered. “They’re going to jump out at us at any moment now, aren’t they.”

“Probably,” Ethan sighed. “Just know it’s coming, then you won’t be so scared when it….”

A giant ghoul with pointed talons jumped out in front of them. You could barely hear the screams, coming from everyone except Tobias, over the creatures deafening, guttural cries. A chuckling Tobias took Tracey’s hand and motioned for the group to follow him as they rushed down another black-lit hallway.

“We should be fine if we go this….”

The harsh sounds of two chainsaws cut him off, and the mutants carrying them began rushing in their direction.

“I know this is all fake,” Tracey cried, “but I want to leave. It’s too scary!”

Ethan caught Tobias winking in his direction as he pulled Tracy closer under his arm. 

“Don’t worry, Darlin. It will be over before you know it!”

“Tracey,” Ethan interrupted through gasping breath as they all ran away. “Remember, state law prohibits them from coming within more than two feet of us. So no matter how scary, you’ll be fine.”

“Really?” Tracey cried. “You’re not just making that up, are you?”

“No, I looked up the law today.”

“Wow,” Ava eyed him, clearly impressed. “You are smart.”

“I like to be prepared,” Ethan smiled brightly. Ava chuckled at his teeth glowing brightly in the purple light.

“Why didn’t you know that, T?” Tracey spat. 

“What’s the fun in knowing?” he answered.

Suddenly, the solid ground they were running on turned wobbly. They tried to keep their footing as they ran over a suspension bridge. 

“What the fuck is this, T!” Tracey yelled.

“It’s just a bridge, dear, it’s….”

“It’s scary! I want to leave!”

Tobias chuckled as he pulled her near, but she pushed him away. “It’s not funny!”

“No, it’s not,” Ethan reassured her. “I see an exit sign a head, all in favor….”

“AYE!” was screamed by all except Tobias.

“You guys have to be kidding me! We’re not even halfway through!”

“Oh, we’re more than halfway,” Ethan assured, “because we’re going right out that….”

“AGGGHHH!” The group screamed again when a host of actors dressed as zombies appeared before them and blocked the door.

Ava had her face buried in Ethan’s sweater, and Tracey lurched back, directly under Ethan’s other arm.

“All right, guys, I don’t know what you’re paid for this gig, but we all know you’re actors, not real zombies, and we’re headed right for that door,” Ethan scowled.

“Yeah, and if you come within two feet of me, I’ll sue!” Tracey yelled.

"I can't believe this," Tobias groaned as they barrelled out the door, letting out sighs of relief as they stepped onto the well-lit Baltimore street as onlookers at the bar across the street laughed and cheered. 

“Look at that,” Tobias gestured, “they're laughing at us because we’re quitters.”

He went to put his arm around Tracey, but she wasn’t there. Turning around, he found her still under Ethan’s arm and Ava nestled under the other.

“Uhh, what’s wrong with this picture?” Tobias asked.

“Nothing!” Tracey replied. “You were too busy thinking it was funny, but Ethan understood me!”

“He was just scared himself!” Tobias insisted.

“Yes, so I was relatable,” Ethan winked.

“Very funny,” Tobias laughed, “Why don’t we go get something to eat now, since fun time is over.”

“No, I don’t want to go out. I’m still terrified, and I just want to go home,” Tracey insisted.

“Trace,” Tobias spoke, rubbing his thumb against her cheek, “if I thought you’d be this frightened, I would never have taken you. I’m sorry, why don’t I drop Ethan and Ava off at the restaurant, and then we can go to your place.”

“You can drop them off,” she said, “but I’m taking a Xanax and going to sleep with my bedroom door locked. So you’re not coming over.”

Ethan tried to contain his laughter, but s snort escaped him nevertheless. Tobias shook his head in surrender as they walked to his car. 

“Fine. We’ll bring you home then, and I guess I’ll third wheel it with you two over dinner.”

“Uhh, no, you won’t,” Ava interjected as Tobias shot her a questioning look.

“Sorry,” she shrugged, beaming up at Ethan. “But you were really impressive tonight. What do you say we skip dinner out and order in back at my place instead. Just the two of us.”

Ethan smirked toward Tobias, who stood slackjawed by his car.

“You have to be kidding me,” he exclaimed.

“Nope,” Ava smiled. “Not at all.”

“Fine,” Tobias surrendered. “Just get in the car. I’ll give you a lift home.”

“No need,” Ava grinned. “I live three blocks away. We can walk it.”

“Oh, you do?” Tracey enthused. “Can I walk with you then? I’m just two blocks down.”

“Sure, happy to get you home,” Ethan beamed.

“Wha... Tracey? You don’t want me to drive you?”

“Nope, in this traffic? I’ll get home faster walking. And like I said, I just REALLY want to get home. But thanks for the offer, T.  I’ll see you on campus Monday."

Tobias cursed under his breath as he slipped into the driver's seat. Looking back over his shoulder, Ethan asked the women if they’d just give him a minute, then he approached Tobias’s still parked car with a shit-eating grin. Tobias looked up with annoyance, which quickly melted into bemusement as his friend approached.

“OK, wise-ass… what are you smiling about?”

“I just wanted to say you were right, Tobias. I do want to thank you. It was a wonderful night.”

“You know,” Tobias grinned, “if you cared about me, you would have stopped right after the part when you said I was right.”

“Yeah,” Ethan laughed, “well, who said I cared? You ok? Tracey dumping you hasn’t permanently wounded your ego, has it?”

“MY Ego,” Tobias simpered, “Please. It’ll take more than that. Besides, I have a backup. Always have a backup, buddy. You sure you don’t want a ride.”

“I’m good.”

“Then I’ll see you back at the apartment.”

“Yeah, about that…,” Ethan winked. “Don’t wait up.”

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[liaromancewriter]

The Question

Premise: Ethan has an important question to ask Max, but what follows is a heart-to-heart.

Book: Open Heart (post series) Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Cassie Valentine); Feat. Max Valentine (M!OC) Rating/Category: Teen. Fluff. Words: 1,700

A/N: Submission for @choicesficwriterscreations Let's Hear it for the Boys event

Ethan Ramsey had never imagined he would be in this position, ever. He remembered it was only a few years ago when he’d told Cassie that he didn’t believe in marriage. And he hadn’t, back then. Or maybe he had but was trying to pretend otherwise. He didn’t know anymore.

What he knew was that it didn’t feel unreal anymore to see himself as a married man. He thought he’d done quite well as a boyfriend. Marriage was just an extension of that, but with jewelry and paperwork. Right?

Ethan stared out his office window and resisted the urge to bang his head against a wall. He’d been going round and round on the topic since proposing to Cassie. They had set the date within two weeks, both of them rushing each other. They were getting married in less than eight weeks, and he hadn’t even bought her an engagement ring.

And yet the idea of slowing down didn’t appeal to either of them. Cassie’s mother likely disagreed, wanting a fairy tale wedding for her only daughter. But he and Cassie didn’t want a societal affair that was more about the guests than the couple.

Besides, what was the point of making a big circus out of something designed for tax breaks and insurance discounts?

There he went again, he thought, pinching the bridge of his nose. Hyper rationalizing something that wasn’t rational and entirely his decision. He knew what he wanted to do, what had to be done for his own sanity, and he should stop dragging his feet.

So, he unlocked his cell phone and switched to the messaging app. He wanted to just call but knew the other man shared his fiancée’s peculiarities. Besides, he might be halfway around the world. And wouldn’t that be inconvenient?

Later that day, Ethan followed Max into his penthouse apartment. His first thought upon seeing the amazing view from floor-to-ceiling windows, gourmet kitchen and expensive art on the walls was it seemed to suit the younger man.

“It’s your first time in my apartment, right?” Max asked from behind him.

“Yes. It suits you,” Ethan said, turning away from the view to watch Max take off his suit jacket and fold it on the back of a kitchen stool.

“Thanks. Sienna said the same thing last year,” he said simply. “Can I get you something to drink? It’s too early for scotch, but I can make coffee.”

Ethan almost passed on that but then thought better of it and nodded. He was nervous, afraid of rejection possibly, and could use something.

A few minutes later, he sat across from Max at the kitchen island, his drink in front of him while Max poured tea for himself. Ethan knew Max wasn’t a coffee drinker per se, but he knew how to make it well. Cassie’s influence, no doubt. Just like she must have told him his preferred coffee selections.

“So, I’m assuming you didn’t come down here in the middle of a work day for my superior coffee or killer view?” Max joked when Ethan continued to silently drink his Vienna. “What can I help you with, future brother-in-law?”

Ethan’s mouth twitched at the title. “I practiced what I’d say during the short flight, but now that I’m here, I don’t know why I’m prevaricating. That’s not like me at all.”

“No, it’s not,” Max said. “You and Cassie don’t beat about the bush, not when it comes to the hard stuff. It’s one of the qualities that makes you both good at your jobs. So, just say it.”

Ethan wrapped his hands around the ceramic mug, leaning in. “You know, I’ve spent the last few days alternating between panicked, seeing marriage as a trap for the gullible, and rationalizing it as nothing more than a piece of paper.”

“Look, if you’ve changed your mind….” Max began, stopping when Ethan scoffed, his brows snapping together in annoyance.

“It’s not a damn piece of paper or a trap. I know that.” Ethan sighed, deflating. He focused on his coffee to give himself a minute. And then he looked Max straight in the eye. “You know about my mother, don’t you? Cassie would have told you.”

“Some,” Max admitted. “I don’t know all the details, though. Cassie keeps your secrets, even from me. But I know enough to understand it’s a sore topic for you.”

Ethan lifted the coffee mug to his lips but set it down without a sip. “My mother walked out on my dad and me when I was eleven, and she walked back in just as callously almost three years ago….”

Over the next little while, Ethan told Max everything, appreciating how the other man didn’t interrupt. With no judgment or pity, the sincerity on his face and the quiet way he listened reminded Ethan of Cassie.

“Anyway, that’s the long and short of it,” Ethan said, coming to the end of his telling. “Louise fell off the wagon, once more, a few months ago. And, I decided I couldn’t take a chance on her again. Both Cassie and my father have agreed to respect my decision and....”

He shrugged off the rest. He looked down when he felt Max’s palm rest atop his hand, squeeze lightly, the expression on his face full of understanding, and then he let go.

“I’m sorry, Ethan,” Max said. “For what happened when you were young and now. I cannot relate and won’t pretend to. But it helps me better understand you and your relationship with my sister.”

Ethan inclined his head briefly in acknowledgment. “I didn’t come here for this, but I thought it was important that you know because I’ll need your help.” He tapped his fingers on the granite counter. “I came here to ask if you’d consider being my Best Man for the wedding.”

Max stilled, but Ethan continued talking, wanting to get the words out. “I know our relationship got off to a rocky start, not unlike mine and Cassie’s. But I respect you, and I like you. When I think about standing at the altar, waiting for your sister, there’s no one else I’d rather have beside me.”

“Ethan…are you serious?” Max asked hesitantly.

A smile tugged at Ethan’s lips. “You know, Cassie asked me the same question, in the exact same manner, when I proposed.”

Ethan held up his hand when Max looked like he might ask again. “I’m very serious. Aside from the reasons I gave you, I’m afraid I’ll mess things up. I trust you to not let that happen. Or at least give me a swift kick in the pants if it looks like I’m about to make a run for it.”

“If you’re that afraid, maybe you shouldn’t be marrying Cassie,” Max said. “Or at least take your time with a longer engagement. Be absolutely sure.”

Ethan raised one brow. “I can’t wait to marry her. But…”

He sighed, and then his expression turned resolute. “I told you about my mother because everyone says I get my restlessness from her. I need someone to stand up with me at that altar, to remind me that I love Cassie and this marriage is my choice. You love her, and I know you won’t let me hurt her.”

Max peered intently at Ethan, the silence stretching, and then he appeared to come to a decision. “I would be honored to be your Best Man, Ethan. I accept.”

Ethan let go of the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding and simply said, “Thank you. This means more to me than I can explain.”

“You’re welcome,” Max said, and then he chuckled. “Of course, now you’ll have a twin on either side at the ceremony, so you might regret asking.”

Ethan just rolled his eyes. “I proposed without any thought to a ring. Talk about regrets. And now it looks like we might need wedding bands before I manage to buy her an engagement ring. I don’t even know her size. Do you know how long it takes for jewelers to turn those around?”

“I do know,” Max admitted. “But I might be able to help you out. Consider it my first duty as your Best Man.”

Ethan looked intrigued. “Go on.”

“There’s a jewelry store on Dupont that Cassie’s always loved. It’s a family business, third generation,” Max explained, pulling up their website on his phone and passing it to Ethan.

“Anyway, the owner’s daughter and Cassie are friends,” he said as Ethan scrolled through the rings on their website. “They know what my sister likes and have her ring size on file. I’ll call them now, tell them we’re coming. If the ring needs resizing, they’ll do it for Cassie while we wait.”

It was almost ten o’clock at night when Ethan boarded his flight back to Boston. A black jewelry box with the engagement ring was tucked away, secure inside his coat pocket.

True to Max’s word, the proprietors had gushed as soon as they learned the purpose of the visit. Within an hour, he had the ring selected, with Max’s guidance on what Cassie would absolutely love and hate. The resizing hadn’t taken long either, as the original band was close to Cassie’s size.

When the flight began its descent into Logan, Ethan reflected that he had enjoyed his time with Max more than he had realized. He might have gone to DC with only one mission, but he suspected he had gained an ally for life.

Four years ago, he would have scoffed at the inference that he needed anyone in his life. But that Ethan Ramsey was burnt out, a bit of a bully and a loner, content to be so. Now that he knew what lay on the other side of life, he was okay to leave that man behind.

The new Ethan Ramsey had something more to look forward to, and wasn’t that amazing?

-------------------------

All Fics & Edits: @potionsprefect @trappedinfanfiction @bex-la-get @mysticalgalaxysstuff @genevievemd @choicesaddict5 @jerzwriter @vi-writes-stuff @coffeeheartaddict2 @quixoticdreamer16​ @zahrachoices​ @lucy-268​ @a-crepusculo​ @jamespotterthefirst​ @headoverheelsforramsey​ @takemyopenheart​ @queencarb​ @crazy-loca-blog​ @peonierose​ @cariantha​ @annfg8​ @openheartforeverinmyheart​ @bluebelle08​

Ethan & Cassie only: @custaroonie @lady-calypso

@openheartfanfics

[choicesficwriterscreations]

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS

HELLO, CHOICES FANDOM!

We're happy to announce the first of our two upcoming events.

Let's Hear it for the Boys is a two-week event where we encourage our talented creators to submit their fanfics that celebrate the friendships of the guys of Choices!

We will be hosting a" For the Girls" and "Friends Forever" event in future months. But this time, it's the guys' turn to shine!

The event will run from September 11, 2022 - September 24, 2022 October 1, 2022

All participants will be placed in a raffle for a fanart from the lovely and talented @bayleedrawsx ! The winner will be selected via a spin of the wheel on Sunday, September 25th. October 2, 2022.

For rules and prize eligibility, please see below the break. Happy writing!

Rules:

While the event is focused on the guys, you can have any gender friends included in the group. However, at least one main character must be male.

Your characters can be from any Choices story.

The friendship can be from canon, but it doesn't have to be.

There are no prompts, and this can be any type of fiction, but the focal point must be friendship.

You must mention @choicesficwriterscreations on your post, and you must use the tag #cfwc for the boys.

Prize Eligibility:

A raffle for a fanart by @bayleedrawsx will be drawn on Sunday, September 25, 2022. To be in the raffle, you must:

Submit a fic that meets the rules of the contest, including using proper tags

You must be following @choicesficwriterscreations

You must follow all other rules set forth above

While everyone is encouraged to write for this event, the following are not eligible to win the prize:

CFWC Moderators or Administrators

Writers who are not following CFWC

Anyone who has won another prize from CFWC in the past 6-months.

Some ideas if you need them: Boys' night out * Planning an event together * Helping a friend through a rough time * Celebrating a milestone * Doing a project/taking a trip together * Trying to heal a broken friendship/ reestablishing a friendship * Recalling a past memory * Becoming roommates, and anything else you come up with!

If you have any questions, please contact @jerzwriter or send us an ask!

A special thank you to @inlocusmads @lilyoffandoms @dr-colossal-pita @storyofmychoices @peonyblossom and @liaromancewriter for helping me brainstorm this idea!

ADDITIONAL EVENT NEWS

[potionsprefect]

Unlikely Allies

Pairings: Ethan Ramsey x Tobias Carrick (bromance)

Word Count: 433

Summary: A tragic event bring two former enemies much closer

Rating: General Audiences

Category: Fluff

It felt as if a weight had been released off of his shoulders, his once racing heart now beating at a much more steady rate.

Victoria was now in her new room, recovering after her ordeal. Sleeping away all her troubles and tribulations.

The cleaning of the floor where the tragedy took place had already started, people in hazmat suits disinfecting the floor to rid it of anything that might be dangerous.

“I thought you’d be downstairs.” A voice said to Ethan’s right.

Ethan turned to see Tobias walking towards him, a small smile on his face.

“I need to observe the cleaning. Make sure they don’t miss anything.”

Tobias laughed. “I doubt even the smallest trace will be left. They know what they’re doing.”

Ethan looked at him. “You’re right. I’m being paranoid.”

“I think your concerns are valid, it’s been a scary ordeal for all of us. It seems to have hit you hard though.” Tobias smirked.

The face of the man next to him made Ethan roll his eyes. “I know you want to use this as a way to one up me.”

Tobias laughed. “Just tell me I’m right.”

“Yes, I may have feelings for Victoria.”

“May have?”

“Alright, I do.”

“Have you told her?” Tobias asked.

“No. But I will do.”

“There’s no time like the present. Do it whilst you still can. Life is precious. I think we’re all aware of that.”

“Even more so.” Ethan turned to face him. “I haven’t properly thanked you for your help. We might not have found a cure without you and your team.”

“Just doing our jobs.” Tobias smiled.

“Even more so, I know there will be a lot of grateful people.”

Before he could even think, Ethan reached out a hand. He hadn’t done so in a while, it felt unusual but at the same time, the right thing to do.

Tobias didn’t hesitate, he shook his hand, both men looking each other in the eye as mutuals, not enemies.

“I better head home. I am in desperate need of sleep.” Tobias chuckled. He turned and headed back down the corridor.

“Tobias?” Ethan called as he was about to turn out of sight.

“Yes?”

“The next time you’re in Donahues, the first round is on me.” Ethan smiled.

Tobias laughed. “I’ll hold your word to it.”

Without another word, he headed out of sight. Ethan turned back to inspect the cleaning of the hallway.

Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance to rebuild a once broken and irretrievable friendship. After all, there was a lot to be thankful for.

I won’t tag my normal tag list for this

@choicesficwriterscreations let’s hear it for the boys event

[harleybeaumont]

Cordonian Ghost Hunters

Episode 1 - The Decuir Hotel: New Orleans, LA

Book - TRR AU

Pairings - none so far

Synopsis - Three lifelong friends have a terrifying encounter with the paranormal that changes the course of their lives. Determined to find answers, they travel the world, investigating unexplained phenomena and documenting their findings. Drake, the unapologetic skeptic, Max the true believer, and Liam the analytical linchpin that holds the team together become the worldwide sensation known as.. The Cordonian Ghost Hunters. 

A/N - This fic started with me and @angelasscribbles​ discussing how we wanted to write something with a ‘horror feel’ to it, and we both came up with different ideas. Go read hers, if you haven't! Thanks to Angela and @txemrn​ for brainstorming with me and helping me come up with ideas to get this started! And thank you Angela for literally writing the synopsis for me when I finished this fic and couldn’t get my brain to form another coherent thought. Lol

A/N 2-  I plan on having several more chapters as the guys go to different haunted locations across the world. I’m open to location suggestions if you have them. I’m tagging those who are on my perma tag list and a couple others who have asked, but if anyone wants on or off the list let me know! <3

Chapter Warnings - supernatural creepiness, hauntings, language, mentions of death

Word Count - 7,300 (Sorry! This first chapter is long because it explains the backstory of how everything came to be. The next chapters won't be this long!)

Episode 1 - The Decuir Hotel: New Orleans, LA

The air was thick and damp with humidity as they stepped out of the car. The sounds of cicadas and crickets played a melody that filled the warm night air around them. South Louisiana. This was stop number three on their tour of historical locations around America. 

Liam was given permission to take a break from his royal duties after he convinced his father that he needed to travel the world and “find himself.” His older brother Leo had already gone through his social season and was engaged to a gorgeous woman from Monterisso named Katalina. Liam actually liked her, and it was nice seeing his brother happy. He knew they would make a great king and queen for Cordonia someday. 

Liam convinced Drake and Maxwell to travel with him, telling them they could choose the first two stops on their tour of America. 

Their first stop was chosen by Maxwell- Las Vegas. The ‘entertainment capital of the world’ had proven to be just that. During their stay the guys visited several clubs, bars, casinos, shows, and even went skydiving. 

The second stop was chosen by Drake - Tennessee. First they went to Nashville, so Drake could visit where his mother was born. The next stop was the Jack Daniels whiskey tasting tour, which the guys figured was the real reason Drake wanted to go to Tennessee in the first place. 

Liam’s choice surprised everyone - New Orleans, Louisiana. When Maxwell and Drake asked why, he said he always wanted to visit during Mardi Gras. Fortunately for him, the guys had no idea that Mardi Gras was months away, so they didn’t suspect the real reason he wanted to go. Growing up, Liam was always interested in ghost stories and haunted houses, and the rich history in Southern Louisiana intrigued him. He loved watching documentaries about voodoo, haunted old buildings, creepy tombs and graveyards, ghosts and witchcraft. Louisiana had it all. 

Liam grinned as he stepped onto the enormous wrap around porch of the three hundred year old building. “The Decuir Hotel.” He looked up at the imposing structure in awe. “This place is gorgeous, right?”

“It’s something.” Drake said, peering into a window. “I can’t believe they let you rent out this entire hotel for the night. They must think you’re a pompous ass, needing a whole hotel for yourself!” Drake chuckled, adjusting his backpack on his shoulder.

Liam laughed. “Well, they were more than happy to accommodate my request after I gave the staff compensation for missing a night of work. Not to mention paying to rent out every room.”

“Wait..” Max looked at him incredulously. “You sent all the staff home? So.. it’s just us staying here? Not another single person inside?!”

“Nope. We’re just waiting for Bastien’s guys to finish doing a sweep of the building, so we can head inside.”  Liam smirked, turning back to the door. 

“Why did you send all the employees home?” Drake arched an eyebrow.

Liam grinned and shrugged. “To see if it’s really haunted.”

Max and Drake both turned to Liam in surprise. “Li, you can’t be serious.”

Liam ignored Drake, running his hand across the wooden banister. “Wouldn’t that be fascinating though? This hotel is three hundred years old! Can you imagine how many people stayed here over the years?”

“I think it’s creepy.” Max couldn’t help but shiver as he stepped close behind Drake and Liam in front of the old hotel. He wasn’t sure why, but something about this place sent a chill down his spine. He couldn’t help but be curious about the amount of people who probably died here, hell, who were probably killed here. After all, certain parts of the south held a dark history of contemptible injustice and mistreatment. If there were any malevolent spirits, this is probably the place they would hang out at.

Drake clapped Maxwell on the back with a chuckle. “Dude, you don't really believe in ghosts, do you?”

Max glared at him. “Of course I believe in ghosts! And if you knew what was good for you, you would too! Haven’t you seen Poltergeist?!”

Liam gestured behind them toward the two palace guards who had ridden with them in the car. “Max, there is a guard stationed at every door, and-” he checked the text he just got from Bastien. “-they are done with their sweep and it’s completely empty. It’s safe.”

Max rolled his eyes. “Oh ya, I’m sure the fucking undead give a shit about ‘palace guards.’ Dammit Liam, get with the program! They can walk through walls! What makes you think they are going to be intimidated by our meager, mortal forms! We’re just pathetic sacks of flesh to them!”

The loud laugh that burst out of Drake made Maxwell jump in surprise. “What the actual fuck are you talking about, Beaumont?”

“I don’t know!” Max shuddered as he stepped closer to Liam. “I just want to get through this night as quickly as possible.”

Liam paused before opening the door. “You can always sleep in the car if you want.”

“Oh ya, so the Rougarou can bust out the windows and drag me into the night before devouring the flesh from my bones? No thank you.”

Liam shook his head with a smile and pushed open the heavy, ornate door.

The first thing he noticed when stepping into the grand entryway was the smell. It wasn’t a bad smell, just.. old. Slightly musty. Liam was used to being in old places. After all, he lived in a palace with literally hundreds of years of history in it, but something about this place was just different. It was like you were breathing in the life and memories of the building. 

The next thing he noticed was how dark it was. Being that this hotel was built in the 1700’s, of course it originally had no electricity, but renovators had put in lights, plumbing, and (thankfully) air conditioning. Noting that they wanted to keep the historic feel of the building, each room was usually only lit by artificial candles and lanterns. 

The third thing Liam noticed when they entered the foyer was the overall feeling of the building. Something that warmed and chilled him at the same time. It was quiet and empty, yet somehow it felt like the hotel was full of life. Liam couldn’t help but feel a thrill go through him, as this was the exact reason he wanted to come here in the first place. He knew the history here, although he didn’t dare mention it to Maxwell. He couldn’t wait to explore each room further. 

“Your Highness.” Bastien nodded to Liam as he made his way over. “A guard will be stationed outside of your room and at each entrance throughout the night to ensure your safety.”

Liam smiled. “You know what.. That won’t be necessary.”

“But, your father insisted-” 

“You can set up a perimeter outside if you want, but tonight I just want the three of us to be inside.”

Bastien opened and closed his mouth a couple times, trying to decide whether to obey Constantine or Liam in this situation. “Are you sure, sir?”

Liam clapped Bastien on the back. “It’s ok, Bas. I trust that your guys checked this place out thoroughly. It’ll be fine.”

Basien gave the orders for the guards to go outside and once the place was empty, Maxwell looked at him wide eyed. “Liam! What the hell? You said the guards were here and we were gonna be safe from ghosts!”

Drake laughed. “And you said that the guards wouldn’t help anyway. Something about them hating our fleshy sacks or something..” Drake couldn’t help but laugh harder at Maxwell’s indignant expression.

“You know how much I want to laugh at the fact that you just said ‘fleshy sacks’? But I can't! That’s how fucking creeped out I am by this place.”

“If you’re gonna bitch all night, then I’ll lock your ass in a closet.” Drake said as he tossed his bag into a corner of the foyer and plopped down in an antique chair.

“You wouldn’t dare!” Maxwell glared at Drake. “Liam, do you hear what this asshole is-” Max stopped as he realized Liam was removing several different items from his backpack and placing them on the front desk. “What's all that?”

Liam shot a quick glance to Maxwell, then continued unloading his bag. “Just some stuff I thought we could use to maximize our experience here.”

Drake made his way over and picked up what looked like a small camera. “What’s this for?”

“It’s a thermal camera.” Liam grinned. “It can detect the presence of heat energy and can measure thermal changes wherever you point it.”

Drake groaned. “Oh Li, not you too. You really believe in all this haunted shit?”

“Of course I do!” Liam pulled out three walkie talkies and digital recorders. “Get ready boys. Tonight we’re going ghost hunting.”

________________________________________________________

“You can't be serious!” Maxwell backed away, heading toward the front door. “You know what.. I think I’ll take my chances outside with the Rougarou.”

“Go ahead.” Drake gestured to the door. “I know you’re a coward. Go sleep in the car.”

“Coward?” Maxwell glared at Drake with his hands on his hips.

Drake shrugged. “It’s ok, man. I won’t tell anyone that you practically pissed your pants as soon as we got inside.”

“I didn’t! No.. you know what? I’m not sleeping in the car while you post a pic on insta of you and Liam living it up in this hotel with the hashtag ‘max is a pussy.’ Nope. Sorry Drake, I'm staying here.”

Drake shared an amused look with Liam, who turned away to hide his laughter. They knew Max too well and that trick always worked on him. Liam handed Maxwell a walkie talkie and winked. “Ok then. Welcome to the team.”

“Right.” Maxwell took it nervously. “Well, I hardly doubt there will be any ghosts anyway with the Mardi Gras parade coming by. When does it start anyway? I thought there’d be more people outside by now.”

“Errr.. about that..”

_________________________________________________

Liam decided to set up their ghost hunting headquarters in the grand ballroom since it was in the center of the hotel. It had been remodeled slightly, but the ornate artwork, decorations, and sparkling crystal chandelier were authentic to the original design.

“Why is it so dark in here?” Drake asked as he looked around the room. “Did you tell them to keep the lights off to make it extra creepy?”

Liam chuckled as he handed each of them a flashlight. “Something like that.”

Drake picked up several pieces of expensive looking equipment from the table. “How’d you get your old man to let you buy all this stuff? I know he’s not the type to condone ‘ghost hunting’.”

Liam smirked. “Travel expenses.”

“Right.” Drake couldn’t help but chuckle. If Liam was going to waste his fathers money on this, he was all for it. Constantine spent enough of Cordonia’s money on balls and parades and other useless bullshit to promote his image. 

Maxwell sighed defeatedly, only slightly resolved to the fact that he was not going to get to party during Mardi Gras. “What does this do?” Max hesitantly held up something that looked like a walkie talkie with several small buttons on it.

“That’s what they call a ‘spirit box’. It continuously sweeps through different radio frequencies, and entities can manipulate it to talk to us. In real time!” Liam giggled with glee as he turned it on, holding it out so they could hear the radio static and white noise. “It kind of.. Gives them the energy they need to communicate. Hopefully someone will talk to us tonight! Wouldn’t that be awesome!?”

“No, it would not be awesome.” Maxwell shuddered at the thought, and picked up another device from the table. “Don’t tell me ghosts can use a digital recorder to talk to us. Bertrand uses these all the time, then gives them to me to upload to his computer. I told him he could use an app that translates voice to text, but you know he likes the sound of his own voice.”

“Oh ya.” Liam grinned. “We’re each gonna have one of these tonight. We can ask questions, and once we play back the digital recorder, we’ll see if they answered! Might need to upload them to the computer and use a program to sharpen them up or enhance the sound. Think you could do that, Max?”

“Me?” Maxwell’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Ya. You said you do it for Bert all the time.” Liam grinned broadly and clapped Maxwell on the back. “Hey, you can be our tech guy tonight!”

Despite the fear of possibly hearing a voice from ‘the beyond’, Maxwell felt a swell of pride inside that he could actually be useful for once. “O-okay. Ya. Ya, I can do that!” Maxwell grinned, nodding his head enthusiastically. 

“Who’s ready to get started?!” Liam clapped his hands together in excitement and Max jumped back, startled. 

“Shit, Liam.” Maxwell ran his shaking hands through his hair and sat in a chair. “If we’re doing this.. At least tell us what to expect. Like.. What kind of paranormal stuff goes on here?”

Liam sat across from Drake and Maxwell with his hands steepled, trying to look as dramatic as possible. “Let me tell you about Sally. You see, she was the daughter of the former owners of this hotel back in the 1800’s. She was very mischievous, constantly playing tricks on the other guests in the hotel. Well.. unfortunately that led to her untimely demise. She, uh-”

“Don’t.” Maxwell shook his head. “Nope, nope, nope. Don’t wanna hear about the creepy child ghost anymore. Next, please.”

Liam thumbed through some of the papers he had printed out. “Well, there have been various sightings believed to be former guests who perished in the hotel over the years. People have seen a lady in a Victorian dress pass through the halls. Um.. a man in a top hat seems to hang out around the front desk occasionally. But room 413 is the one with the most activity. A woman is said to have died in that very room, and often makes her presence known to the guests who dare to sleep there. Many have even reported finding mysterious scratch marks on their body when they awoke the next morning. It’s where we’re staying tonight.”

“Of course it is.” Maxwell stood up and made his way across the ballroom, flashlight in hand. “Can we at least get a snack in the kitchen first? I’d like to have something sweet for my last meal.”

Drake rolled his eyes and followed Max across the room, heading toward the kitchen. 

“Alright, we can eat first.” Liam chuckled and grabbed his own flashlight, preparing to follow them. The horrific sound of a man’s scream coming from their direction caused his blood to run cold.

“What the hell?” Liam took off after them, sprinting across the ballroom and down the hall toward the kitchen. He froze when he saw Maxwell standing a few feet away from a small girl wearing a white dress. 

“Oh my god, it’s Sally!!” Maxwell shrieked before scrambling back across the room behind Drake.

Just then, the kitchen lights flicked on and Bastien and a man entered. “I apologize if we frightened you all.” The man said with a smile. “I’m the head chef here, Maurice, and this is my daughter Amelia. When she heard there was a real prince staying here, she insisted I bring her along to meet you.”

“Holy shit.” Maxwell whispered in relief, holding his hand over his pounding heart. Drake laughed hysterically and Liam gave Maurice an apologetic smile. 

“I’m sorry Maurice.” Liam nodded politely to the man and crouched down to the little girl's level. “I hope my friends didn’t scare you.” Liam stage whispered to Amelia. “The one wearing the squid shirt is a bit of a chicken.” Amelia put her hand over her mouth and giggled as she looked at Maxwell. 

“It’s quite alright.” Maurice smiled. “I just wanted to let you know that the kitchen is yours for the night. In the refrigerator, I have several Louisiana dishes prepared that you may not be familiar with. But anything you want is yours - Gumbo, etouffee, jambalaya, red beans and rice. Truly, help yourself.”

“Oh my god, yes.” Drake grinned, already helping himself to the contents of the large refrigerator. 

“Thank you so much, Maurice. That’s very kind of you.” Liam chuckled. “We will definitely take you up on that offer.”

Maurice bowed. “Well, we’ll get out of your hair and let you enjoy your night, Your Highness.”

“Wait.” Liam stopped the man, who was following Bastien out of the room. “How long have you been working here?”

“Hmm. I’d say over twenty years.”

Liam nodded. “And have you ever seen anything.. Uh, paranormal here?”

Maurice’s face sobered as he shared a look with his daughter. “I should say so. Just.. don’t provoke them.”

Liam felt a chill run through his body. “What?”

“I’m sorry.” Maurice chuckled. “You must think I’m talking crazy.”

Maxwell and Drake were both listening intently now as well. “No, I don’t think that at all.” Liam said. “Please tell me what you mean.”

“There are several residual spirits here. They’re basically just stuck in time.. Going through the motions day after day, unaware of life carrying on around them.” Maurice lowered his voice, leaning closer to Liam. “And there are some.. Who are very much aware. Some who.. Play tricks, or make their presence known in other ways.”

“Like S-sally?” Maxwell’s voice trembled and he clung to Drake’s bicep tightly.

“Yes. However, she is one of the friendly ones.”

“And some are..” Maxwell gulped. “Unfriendly?”

Maurice forced a smile. “Like I said.. Just.. don’t provoke them and you’ll be fine.” With that, he took his daughter’s hand and followed Bastien out of the room and into the dark hallway. Liam, Drake, and Max stood unmoving in the empty kitchen, as they heard the men's footsteps grow fainter, then the sound of the main doors opening, closing, and locking once again.

“Ok, I changed my mind.” Max wrapped his arms around himself, rubbing them vigorously as if trying to get warm. “I’m not hungry. Definitely lost my appetite.”

“Well I’m not letting this go to waste.” Drake continued piling food onto a plate and put it in the microwave. “You know they’re just telling you what you want to hear. Trying to play into the whole ‘haunted hotel’ thing.”

Liam was still standing in place, while Maurice’s words echoed in his head. ‘Don't provoke them.’ When he bought all the ghost hunting equipment, he had just planned on talking to them.. That wasn’t provoking was it? Nah, he thought. “Drake, you can't seriously think that all the people who have had ghost encounters here and seen the same things are lying. And Maurice has been here for over twenty years! I think he’s telling the truth.”

Drake blew on a spoonful of steaming hot jambalaya. “Naw, man. That’s because you always wanna see the best in everyone. I’m telling you.. It’s all a bit.” Drake took a bite and closed his eyes, savoring the spicy dish. “Oh my god, you have to try this.”

Liam and Max fixed themselves a plate and the three friends sat at a small table in the kitchen discussing the food. Maxwell even seemed to start relaxing as they laughed and joked together. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long, and a loud clang echoing from the direction of the ballroom halted their conversation.

The guys looked toward the direction of the sound and then back at each other. Liam wiped his mouth and stood up, making his way toward the door.

“Liam!” Max grabbed his arm to stop his friend. “Don’t! It’s the ghosts! They want us gone!” Max looked frantically around the room, suddenly feeling like there was someone watching him that he couldn’t see.

Drake sighed. “No. It’s probably Bastien again. You gotta tell him to stop letting people in here or Beaumont is gonna shit himself.”

Drake clicked on his flashlight and pushed past Liam, heading down the hall toward the ballroom. There were only a few dim candelabras on the wall lighting his way, and Drake couldn’t help but feel a little creeped out by how dark it was. Not that he thought there were ghosts. No, Drake Walker did not believe in ghosts.. However, the darkness had him feeling like he was not in control of the situation. “Huh.” Drake stopped and furrowed his brow once he reached the table with their equipment. “Li, you must have left the spirit box thingy on the edge of the table.” He stooped down to pick it up.

“No.” Liam shook his head softly. “It was in the middle of the table, Drake.”

Drake rolled his eyes. “Or so you think.”

Liam felt chills go down his spine. He knew he put the spirit box directly in the center of the table. He took it from Drake and clicked it on. The static and random radio noise rang out, echoing through the ballroom. They saw a flashlight streaming into the room as Maxwell entered hurriedly.

Suddenly the spirit box let out a noise that sounded like different syllables being sounded out. Liam quickly gave Max a camera to start filming, while he held the spirit box out in front of him. “Um.. is, uh.. Anyone in here with us?”

The radio crackling stopped for a moment and the three of them heard a distinct “yes.”

Liam’s entire body erupted in goosebumps and he nearly dropped the spirit box in shock. Max was trembling and Drake was looking around wide eyed. Liam summoned all his courage and spoke again. “Um.. do you want to tell us your name?”

Again, static and crackling with just barely a hint of different syllables.

Liam waited with bated breath, but there was nothing. After five more minutes, he sat the spirit box back on the table. “Can you believe that?!” He grinned at Max and Drake.

Drake rolled his eyes. “That thing probably just picked up some trucker’s radio frequency or something.”

Liam and Max both started talking animatedly. 

“No way!

 It was definitely someone trying to contact us!” 

Max shivered. “Or someone trying to tell us to get out!”

“There is a logical explanation for everything!” Drake raised his voice to talk over them.

“John.”

The men halted their conversation and spun back around to the noise that had come from the spirit box. Liam gulped and spoke to the dark, empty room in front of him, “W-what did you say?” 

Once again the static crackled until a distorted, faint, male voice said, “John.”

______________________________________

After another hour of Liam trying to speak to ‘John’ and Maxwell trying not to cry, they decided to move on to a different room. Liam gave Drake the thermal camera, and he and Maxwell each took a night vision camera of their own. 

Liam flipped the camera around to show his face and started talking into it. “Ok, so far we have footage of an EVP from a man named ‘John’-”

Drake cut him off with a smirk. “Unless Max forgot to hit record, or his hands shook so much the camera broke.”

“Hush.” Liam shot Drake a warning look before speaking to the camera again. “Now we're making our way to the front desk where people often see a man with a top hat.”

“I fucking hate this.” Max whispered as they made their way down a long hallway, and Liam turned the camera to focus on Maxwell.

“You’re on camera, Max.” Liam grinned. “Say hi!”

“Ya, hi everyone. Look, if you find my body in the morning, I need to make sure my conscience is clear so that I can move on to the afterlife. Tell Bertrand that a few years ago, I borrowed his toothbrush to get the gunk out of his watch.”

“What?” Drake’s face wrinkled in disgust. “Why would you do that?”

“I had to borrow Bert’s watch one time to impress a date, and by the end of the night we ended up wrestling in the mud. I took off my clothes but forgot about the watch, so of course it got dirty!”

“Mud wrestling? Who the hell did you go mud wrestling with? Surely not a noble!” 

“Oh you’d be surprised.” 

“Who was it!? Oh my god, don’t tell me it was-” Drake stopped himself. “You know what, I don’t wanna know.”

Maxwell sighed. “So anyway, I had to clean the dried dirt and whatever else out of the watch and I wasn't about to use my own toothbrush, because eww!”

Drake rubbed a hand down his face in exasperation. “Why didn’t you just get a new toothbrush to clean it? Surely there were extras in your house? Or why didn’t you use literally anything else to clean it besides your brother’s fucking toothbrush!?”

“Drake, if I knew the answer to that question, I wouldn’t have done it in the first place!”

“Shut up, both of you.” Liam scolded them quietly, once they reached the lobby where the front desk was located. “Drake, turn on the thermal camera and look around.”

“Yes sir.” Drake mocked and fiddled with the camera until it was turned on.

“Let me know if you see anything.” Liam whispered.

Drake sighed and scanned the room, turning in a slow circle. He paused for a moment, and looked up from the camera, then back at it again. “Liam, what’s this purplish blue spot?” He asked in confusion. 

Liam ran over to Drake and looked down at the camera where a tall form, resembling a human, appeared unmoving across the room. “That means there's something cold over there.” Liam whispered while chills once again ran down his spine.

Drake spoke quietly, desperately trying to keep a level head. “That must be like.. From the AC or something, right?”

Max scurried behind the two of them, glancing down at the thermal camera and wishing he hadn’t. “Oh shit. It’s gotta be the top hat guy. Oh shit, oh shit.”

Liam aimed his camera down at the thermal camera screen, then back up to the empty spot across the room. When he looked back down at the thermal camera, the image was gone. “Oh my god.” He whispered.

“Maybe.. Uh.” Drake stammered. “Maybe the AC shut off and that’s why it’s gone.”

Liam and Max both gave him a deadpan stare, and Drake looked away uncomfortably. 

Liam grinned as a thrill ran through his body, then turned the camera to face himself once again. “So that’s TWO different paranormal encounters we’ve had so far in just a matter of hours! Agh, I can't wait to get to our room and communicate with the spirits in there!”

“Wait, what?!” Max whirled around to face his friend. “Maurice said don’t provoke them!”

“I'm not going to provoke them! Just.. talk to them a little. And see if they want to talk back.”

Drake remained silent as he followed the two of them up the stairs, still holding the thermal camera out in front of him, scanning as he walked. Once they reached the fourth floor, they made their way down the hallway, pausing at door number 413.

Liam entered first with his camera on night vision, scanning the room slowly. “Drake, you got anything on the thermal?”

Drake checked the room and shook his head. Liam flipped on the lights and saw that their bags had already been brought up for them. He dropped down on the bed. “Well it’s 2 am, we can go around the hotel with the spirit box and digital recorders, or stay in here and see if we get anything. What do you guys wanna do?”

“Sleep.” Drake said with a yawn.

“You can’t be serious!” Liam looked at him in dismay. “We’re not going to sleep yet! We have a whole haunted hotel to ourselves for the night, we have to make the most out of it!”

“Look, I’m tired as shit from all the traveling we’ve done lately. And I don’t want to stay up all night trying to talk to or video things that aren't there!”

“Fine! Go!” Liam waved him away. “But you can stay in another room. I have work to do.”

Drake rolled his eyes and grabbed his bag off the floor, slinging it over his shoulder. “I didn’t want to sleep in that little bed with the two of you anyway!”

Liam gave Drake the master keycard and he made his way a few doors down, opening a room for himself.

Liam lay back on the bed and sighed in exasperation. Why was Drake always so difficult? “Well Max, I guess it’s just the two of us.”

“I never thought I'd say this but.. I’m kinda with Drake.”

Liam bolted upright. “What?!”

“Not that I don’t believe in ghosts.. I’ve just kinda had my fill. I’d rather stay in a room that’s not haunted and get some sleep.”

“Max, not you too!”

“Sorry..” Maxwell gave him an apologetic glance before heading out and down the hallway to get the keycard from Drake. “I’ll take the room next to yours, ok Liam? Well.. maybe not right next to yours in case the ghost forgets which room is theirs and accidentally go into mine. I’ll be a couple doors down and across the hall.”

“Fine.” Liam waved him away with a sigh. He set up a camera on a tripod in the corner of the room and turned on the digital recorder. “Guess I’m doing this on my own.”

That night, Maxwell and Drake both lay in bed in different rooms of the Decuir Hotel preparing for a good night's sleep. Unfortunately, that wasn’t in the cards.

_____________________________________________

Drake

After a long shower, Drake pulled on a tshirt and sweatpants, brushed his teeth, and climbed into the plush, queen sized bed. It was already 3 am, and he was exhausted. Tonight had been a ridiculous waste of time. Liam seemed to enjoy it, and Drake enjoyed laughing at Maxwell, but all this ghost and haunted business was just absurd. There was a logical explanation for everything. Everything! Sure the voice in the ballroom was.. weird. And the cold ‘figure’ across the room in the lobby was.. unusual, but that didn’t mean it was anything that couldn’t be explained. Drake pulled the blanket up to his chin and closed his eyes.

He lay in bed trying to relax, hoping that he could fall asleep, when a rush of cold air blew across his cheek. He opened his eyes and touched his face. Must be the air conditioner. Yep, that’s all. He rolled over on his side in the pitch black room, facing the door to the hallway. A faint but firm pressure on his leg caused him to bolt upright and kick off the blankets, certain that a rat or something was crawling on the bed. He threw on the lights and searched the entire room, but found nothing. Drake couldn’t help but feel a chill down his spine, but he reprimanded himself. He was just being stupid. Maxwell and Liam must have gotten to him. The room was quiet, the only sound coming from the occasional car driving past from the street below. A soft buzz filled his ears and the bedroom lights flickered slightly.

“What the fuck..” Drake reached up and tapped the lightbulb a few times and it stopped. He chuckled to himself. “See, theres a reasonable explanation for everything.”

“Drake.” 

A blast of cold air against the back of his neck and the sound of his name uttered in an echoing whisper, caused him to dash across the room. He fumbled for the thermal camera that was on the dresser and clicked it on, pointing it to where he had just been standing. His breathing was erratic as he watched a cold figure move across the room and disappear completely. 

_________________________________________________

Maxwell

The first thing Maxwell did when he entered his room was flip on every light: the bedroom, all the lamps, bathroom, and even the closet. Next was the television. He turned on a rerun of SNL so that he could lighten his mood and fill the room with some kind of happiness to cover the fact that everywhere in this hotel felt dark and creepy. He realized he still had the camera Liam had given him, and he turned the screen toward him and pushed record. “So, it is now exactly 3 am, aka the witching hour. I am officially resigning from this ghost hunting stuff that Liam was so kind to spring on me under the pretense of being able to party my ass off at Mardi Gras!” He shook his head in mock offense, speaking to the camera with a grin. “Thanks a lot, Liam! I could have tons of plastic beads around my neck right now, but noooo! I’m in the fucking Stanley hotel, feeling like any minute, someone is going to yell ‘REDRUM’ from out in the hallway! Like seriously-” 

A noise from the hallway stopped him, and Max turned toward the door with a jerk. 

He crawled to the edge of the bed slowly, trying not to make a sound as he listened intently. A distant childlike laugh from the other side of his door left his body frozen in terror. “What the-” Maxwell whispered and remembering he still had the camera in his hands, aimed it toward the door to the hallway. He muted the tv and climbed out of bed, nervously making his way across the room toward the door. Suddenly, he heard the heavy thumping of someone running down the hallway, and the jovial childlike laughter filled his ears once again.

Maxwell’s body was flooded with adrenaline and before he realized what he was doing, he threw open the door and stuck his head out into the hallway. Instead of seeing a child, he caught a quick glimpse of a man in the distance with brown hair turning the corner at the far end of the hallway. “Damn it, Drake! Fuck you, that’s not funny!”

Max went back inside his room and slammed the door closed in frustration. He tossed the camera onto the bed and stalked into the bathroom to wash his face. As he looked in the mirror, he heard the laughter once again outside of his door. He shook his head and yelled out, “I never knew you could make your voice that high pitched, Walker. Fuck off!”

Instead of another laugh, this time there was a knock at the door. Followed by another, louder series of knocks, that became more insistent. Max sighed and threw the door open. “Yes, Dra-”

No one.

Max peeked his head out but once again the long hallway was empty and completely silent. Then the heavy thumping of feet running across the floor echoed through the hallway, growing louder and louder as they seemed to get closer to his room. Max dashed back inside and slammed the door behind him, locking it and crawling under the blankets trembling as he pulled out his phone to call Liam. No signal. Of course.

_____________________________________________

Liam

With his friends abandoning him, Liam was determined to get more hard evidence by himself. He sat on the bed with a camera on a tripod across the room facing him, and the spirit box on the dresser beside him. “Ok.” He clapped his hands together. “Let’s see how haunted this room really is.”

Liam turned off the lights and closed his eyes. “Is there anyone here with me?”

Silence.

He chewed the inside of his cheek as he thought. “I know you’re here. Come talk to me.”

Silence.

Liam sighed. He wanted more evidence. No, he needed more evidence. He needed to show Drake and Max what they missed out on by not staying. Don’t provoke them. Nah, he wasn’t going to provoke them.. Just tease them a little to get them to respond. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves and grabbed the digital recorder, pressing record. If the spirit box wasn’t picking anything up, maybe the digital recorder would show something when they reviewed it later. He checked the clock on the bedside table. 2:59 am. 

 “Come on, talk to me. Show yourself! I want to show my friends that you’re real.” Liam knew Max would hate him for saying this, but he needed results. “If you won’t talk to me, go talk to them! They’re just a few doors away. They’d love to meet you.”

Silence.

The spirit box still only crackled with the same old static, and not a single blip. “What, are you afraid of me?!” Liam raised his voice, trying to bait someone into responding. He decided to channel his inner Olivia.. If that didn’t work, he didn’t know what would. “Wow.. I thought the spirits here would be more impressive, but you are pathetic! This has really been a waste of my time.”

Liam waited for what seemed like an eternity, listening intently.

The spirit box made a few incoherent noises that sent shivers down his spine. Someone took the bait.

A robotic sounding female voice manifested over the static. “No.”

Liam’s breath quickened and his heart was beating a mile a minute. “No? What do you mean no? No, you don’t want to talk to me?”

The spirit box crackled again. “Go.”

Liam had goosebumps on top of his goosebumps. He tried to speak, but his voice cracked and his throat was dry. “A-are you telling me to go, or to not go?”

Silence.

Liam furrowed his brow, trying to make sense of this. Maybe Drake was right. Maybe this was just picking up someone's radio frequency or something. He turned on the lights and searched through his backpack for the thermal camera, then remembered Drake had it. Liam reached out for the doorknob when suddenly a stinging pain radiated down his forearms and the spirit box crackled with the same distorted female voice.

“Stay.”

_________________________________________________

“Never again!” Maxwell shook his head as he made his way out of the hotel and onto the sidewalk, where the sun shone brightly. “God, I can’t wait to get out of here and get back to my normal, boring, unhaunted home!”

Drake hadn’t spoken a word all morning, but followed behind Max. “Ya, I’m ready to get home too.”

Maxwell quirked an eyebrow. “Oh really?! Mr. I-don't-believe-in-ghosts! Something happened to you too last night, didn’t it?”

“Nah. I slept like a baby.” Drake looked away, trying to seem nonchalant. There was no way in hell he was going to speak a word about what happened in his room last night. He wasn’t even sure what had happened. “I just miss my whiskey cellar.”

“Of course.” Max chuckled as he sat his bag down on a bench on the street. The city was alive again and people hurried past on their way to work or wherever their busy lives took them. Faint jazz music poured out of a nearby cafe where patrons enjoyed coffee and beignets. A souvenir shop across the street with a display window full of alligator heads and tie dye t-shirts, flipped their sign to ‘open’. A man and woman busking outside of a nearby library sang zydeco music while playing the accordion.

Liam shook the hotel manager’s hand, thanking him, before following his friends out to the street. “Well, that was an experience we’ll never forget.”

Maxwell shuddered. “But my therapist will be working overtime to try and remedy that.”

They climbed into the back of the limo and Max checked his Instagram account. “Guys, oh my god.”

“What’s up?” Liam leaned over to view Maxwell’s phone.

“I put some of the footage on Instagram early this morning, because God knows I wasn’t sleeping. Hell, I may never sleep again.” Maxwell shook his head to clear the memories from the night before. “But anyway.. I uploaded some of the footage, and people are loving it!”

Drake scoffed. “Yes I’m sure dozens of people around Cordonia have liked it.”

“Try 3.3 million people around the world in the last 2 hours.” Max smirked, holding it out for Drake to see. “They’re calling us the Cordonian ghost hunters.”

Liam chuckled. “That’s cute.”

Maxwell scrolled through thousands of comments, in awe. “Guys.. we’re famous!”

Drake rolled his eyes, taking a bite of a croissant that Bastien had picked up for them that morning. “You know Liam is literally a prince. He doesn’t need this to make him famous.”

Maxwell grinned as he read. “Oh my god, Drake, you're famous! Listen to this. ‘Drake Walker is so hot! Like, can I die and come back as a ghost so I can haunt him?’”

Drake blushed and snatched the phone. “It doesn’t say that!”

“Does too!” Max grabbed the phone back, and soon they were all laughing and smiling at the comments.

“This was fun.” Liam grinned at his friends as they made their way down the road toward the airport, preparing to return to Cordonia.

“I mean..” Drake shrugged. 

Max smiled. “If you overlook the paralyzing terror and traumatizing memories that will haunt me for the rest of my life.. Then ya, it was fun!”

Liam couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face as an idea brewed in his head. “What if.. We became the Cordonian ghost hunters? Like, for real.”

Drake and Max looked at Liam and back at each other. Liam spoke up again. “We could travel all around the world. People could send us recommendations for different haunted places and we could stay there and film it.”

“Seriously?” Drake arched an eyebrow and smirked. “This wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that you don’t want to go back home and start training for a spot on the council, would it?”

Liam feigned offense. “Of course not!”

Max continued to scroll through his phone in awe. “We could make our own insta page for it! Ahh! Guys, let’s do it!”

“Really?!” Drake asked in disbelief. “You were scared shitless back there! You want to go to more ‘haunted’ places and do that all over again?”

“Not really!” Max shrugged. “But come on, we’re badass ghost hunters! How fucking cool is that?”

Liam laughed and the two of them stared at Drake hopefully. After a moment he threw his hands up and sighed. “Fine. Fine, let’s do it.”

“Yes!” Max began shimmying in his seat excitedly.

Liam knocked on the privacy window between the front and back seats, and Bastien rolled it down. “Bastien, change of plans. We’re not going back to Cordonia. We’re going to hunt more ghosts.”

“Sir?” Bastien looked at Liam incredulously.

Drake chuckled. “Ya, Bas, just don’t let any more random people into the hotel in the middle of the night and scare Max to death again.”

“I'm confused.” Bastien furrowed his brow as he looked between the three friends curiously. “Let random people into the hotel?”

“He means the chef and his daughter.” Max said as he chewed a croissant. “Which by the way, did he make these? They're freaking delicious!”

Bastien still looked utterly lost. “I didn’t let anyone into the hotel last night. Liam, you told me that no one was to enter, so not a soul passed through those doors until morning. Not even me.”

The three friends stared at each other in horror, as they made their way through the busy streets in South Louisiana. The air was thick and damp with humidity and the cicadas and crickets played a melody that filled the warm air.

 Max took a deep breath and added a comment to the page. “Where should we go next?”

[lucy-268]

Pancakes

Series/Pairing: Open Heart - Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Charley Valentine)

Other Characters: Tobias Carrick; Bryce Lahela

Disclaimer: Most characters belong to PB, Charley is sort of mine

Rating / Warnings: T

Summary: Ethan decides that he is going to learn to make pancakes. Bryce and Tobias are going to help him.

Comments/Notes: Written for the For the Boys event at @choicesficwriterscreations​.

Word count: ~1,510

Ethan looked around as Charley bounced into the kitchen. “Good morning,” she wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him.

He shifted his coffee cup to the other hand and turned in her embrace, leaning down to kiss her. “Good morning to you. This is unusual. You, awake and dressed at this time on your day off.”

“I hope you can drive just a few miles out of your way to drop me off at Sienna’s this morning. She’s giving Bryce a cooking lesson and I was invited for breakfast.” She smirked at him. “Sienna is hoping that her pancake lesson goes better for Bryce than her last student.”

He shook his head. “Don’t remind me.” He poured her coffee into her to-go mug. “Let’s get you to Sienna.”

Ethan walked out of his meeting with Leland and decided he needed to shift his focus. He checked his watch and headed for the nurses station on the third floor. “Dr. Varma, when do the interns have rounds?”

Jackie’s head snapped up from Tobias’ phone that the two of them were laughing over. Tobias grinned at Ethan. “Still haven’t learned how to make pancakes yet, buddy?”

Ethan took the proffered phone and looked at Charley’s post.

“Interns, Varma?”

“Right.” She pushed herself up from where she had be leaning against the counter. “They should be here in about five minutes. Dr. Carrick is leading rounds today.”

“I’ll be joining you on rounds today, so if Dr. Carrick wants to find something else to do, he may.”

“You will?”

“Bad meeting with Bloom?” Tobias asked. When Ethan glared at him, Tobias added, “I’ll go along on rounds, too. You may scare them off.”

The next Sunday after Charley left for her shift at work, Ethan poured himself his second cup of coffee while he waited for Bryce and Tobias to show up.

Bryce arrived first and handed Ethan a recipe card. He recognized the neat hand writing of Sienna. “She swears by this recipe,” Bryce stated, “and I was able to master it on my first try.”

As Bryce followed Ethan into his kitchen for coffee, he looked around and let out a low whistle. “This is some kitchen. My apartment in Palo Alto could fit in here with room left over.”

Ethan smiled. “It was actually one of the selling points when I bought it. Cooking is relaxing for me after a difficult day.”

Tobias had arrived and walked through the apartment. “As long as it isn’t pancakes.”

“Don’t you ever knock?”

“Not when I’m expected and you leave your door unlocked.” Tobias set a bag on the counter. “I have in here the ingredients for the best pancakes ever.”

Bryce picked up Sienna’s recipe card. “Sienna’s are the best.”

Ethan handed them a printout of a recipe he had. “I have my own recipe here.

Tobias pulled the page out of his hand. “What is this? Grams? Milliliters?” He laughed. “Nigella’s recipe, right?”

Before Ethan could answer, Tobias set the paper down and pulled a container of ricotta cheese, a quart of buttermilk, and a couple of lemons out of his bag, setting them on the counter. “We are going to make lemon ricotta pancakes.”

Bryce objected. “No. Those sound too difficult for Ethan. He needs to start with something easy.”

“I will have you know, I am a fantastic cook.”

Tobias waved his hand to silence Ethan. “Bryce, first of all, Ethan has proven time and time an time again that he cannot make a simple pancake recipe. Second, except for his pancake game, he is a wonderful cook, so a more difficult recipe should be right up his alley.” Tobias pulled his printed recipe out of his pocket and dropped it down with the other two.

“Charley loves Sienna’s pancakes.”

Ethan sighed. “Let’s go with Sienna’s.”

Thirty minutes later, Bryce frowned as they looked at the pancakes. They were flat. Ethan sighed. “This always happens.”

“I told you Sienna said not to mix the batter until it was smooth. It’s best to have a slightly lumpy batter.”

Tobias picked up the plate and moved it to the counter by the sink. “Next recipe?”

“Nigella’s.” Ethan said as he carried a blender over to the counter they were working.

Bryce and Tobias looked at each other. “A blender?”

Ethan picked up the paper and read. “The easiest way to make these is to put all the ingredients into a blender and blitz. But if you do mix up the batter by hand in a bowl, make a well in the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar, beat in the eggs, melted butter and milk, and transfer to a jug: it's much easier to pour the batter into the pan than to spoon it.”

Tobias shrugged. “If Nigella says blender, I guess we use a blender.”

Bryce set down the electric griddle they had used. “Let’s do this.”

Soon the batter was ready and Ethan poured some of the batter onto the griddle. “Should it spread like that?”

“It should not.”

While Ethan and Bryce gathered the second batch of pancakes and set them on the counter next to the first while Tobias assembled the ingredients and mixing bowls for the lemon ricotta pancakes. “Saved the best for last.”

Tobias stepped back to allow Ethan to mix the batter. “Careful you don’t overmix. Make sure it’s just combined.”

“I can read, Tobias.”

Soon Ethan was dropping the batter onto the griddle. Even Bryce looked impressed. “We may have a winner.”

Tobias smiled. “I knew it. Regular pancake were just too easy and not for you.” Within ten minutes the men sat at Ethan’s kitchen island to dig into the stacks of pancakes.

Tobias took the first bite and his eyes widened in horror. He used his fork to dig into the pancake pulling out a clump of ricotta cheese. “I warned you not to overmix. I should have also said don’t undermix.”

Bryce and Ethan both pushed their plates away. “At least these ones looked edible.”

Tobais looked at his watch. “It’s now past noon. Let’s go grab lunch. My treat.” Ethan looked at the mess spread over his kitchen. Tobias grabbed Ethan by the shoulders and turned him towards the door. “We’ll come back and help you clean your kitchen before Charley gets home.”

Four hours later Tobias pulled up in front of Ethan’s building. “Just drop me off.”

“No, Bryce and I will be happy to help you clean up, won’t we Bryce?”

“Yeah.”

“I got it. Thanks for trying to help me this morning.”

Ethan was soon unlocking his door. He stopped short as he saw Charley leaning against the island in the kitchen. “What happened here?”

“Bryce and Tobias decided to teach me how to make pancakes. It didn’t work, so we went out for lunch. I intended to have this mess cleaned up before you got home.”

She smiled as she glanced at him over her shoulder. ”I’ll help you clean the kitchen, then you can fix me Georgian stuffed chicken.”

Two weeks later Charley woke up alone in bed. She tipped her head as she heard voices from the kitchen. She headed down the hall and stopped out of sight of the kitchen.

Tobias’ voice floated back to her. “Man, the least you can do is let me have breakfast with you.”

“You’ve already eaten three!”

“I didn’t get to wish Charley a happy Sunday.” Tobias protested. “Are you going to tell her you didn’t make the pancakes?”

Charley heard plates clattering before Ethan said, “Here are plates for you and Bryce. Enjoy work and you should head to the hospital now.”

Charley smiled at the exchange between the two men, thinking back to the meeting with Tobias in Bloom’s sitting room. At that time, she would have never thought she would see them together, not that she would consider Tobias a treasured friend. She headed back to the bedroom as the front door closed behind Tobias.

Ethan returned to the bedroom, carrying a tray loaded with pancakes, bacon, and coffee. “Good morning!”

Charley yawn and stretched, sitting up in bed. “Breakfast in bed? What’s the occasion?”

“We’re both off today. It’s special enough for lemon ricotta pancakes.”

Charley dug her fork into the fluffy stack of pancakes. “Mmm. These are wonderful! I’ll have to thank Tobias next time I see him.”

“Tobias?”

“He helped with the recipe, right?”

“Oh, um. Yes, yes, he helped.”

As they enjoyed breakfast together, Ethan finally broke down. “Tobias made the pancakes!”

Charley threw back her head and laughed.

“You knew! He told you.”

She shook her head. “If you want to surprise me, you need to be quieter in the kitchen.”

Ethan grabbed the tray off the bed and carried it over to the dresser. He returned to bed and pulled Charley against him as she was still laughing.

“You need to stop laughing and I can think of one way to make you stop.”

Charley wrapped her arms around his neck, “Your methods are very effective.”

Tagging List (since Bryce and Tobias were featured as well as Ethan, I’m tagging all of my Open Heart lists): @choicesficwriterscreations​ @openheartfanfics​

Perma - @a-crepusculo @bex-la-get @danijimenezv @genevievemd @jamespotterthefirst @jerzwriter​ @liaromancewriter​ @potionsprefect​ @writer-ish​ @crazy-loca-blog​ @quixoticdreamer16​ @starrystarrytrouble​ @zahrachoices​ 

All Open Heart - @annfg8 @coffeeheartaddict2 @utterlyinevitable @differenttyphoonwerewolf​

Open Heart - Ethan & Charley only - @ohchoices @queencarb @headoverheelsforramsey @rookiemartin @youlookappropriate 

Open Heart - Bryce & Maggie only - @burnsoslow​

Open Heart - Tobias & Samantha only - @burnsoslow @kat-tia801 

[coffeeheartaddict2]

Clearing the air

Book: Open Heart (When Egos Collide timeline)

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x Tobias Carrick (platonic)

Category: fluffy angst

Summary: whilst in Hawaii for a colleague’s wedding, Ethan and Tobias have a frank discussion about their past.

Warnings: Alcohol consumption, language

Disclaimer’s: Characters belong to Pixelberry

Authors note 1: before you @ me, yes I touch on this in chapter 11 of When Egos Collide and I did mention it in my HC for Tobias and Ethan but I felt inspired to write the whole scene between these two

Authors note 2. Submission for cfwc event Let’s hear it for the boys

🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃

It was Friday and for the first time in awhile Tobias felt like he was able to let loose just a little. He was pleasantly surprised to be invited to the wedding of Ines DeLarosa, he had only known her a short time and they got along. He made his way to the bar to have a few beverages. He nearly texted Ethan to see if he wanted to join him but decided against it, figuring he would want some alone time with Casey. So when he entered the bar and saw Ethan sitting at the bar nursing a drink he was surprised.

He walked up,

“I thought you would be playing musical beds with Casey?”

Ethan chuckled whilst Tobias looked perplexed. “If I was in tropical paradise with the woman I loved I would be wanting to spend every free minute with her.”

“Gives me a chance to think about what I want to say to Casey without fucking our relationship up” said Ethan.

“What do you mean, without fucking stuff up?” Asked Tobias.

Ethan took a deep breath. “When Edenbrook was facing closure lets just say I nearly screwed our relationship up when it came to a our future chat. I kind of do not want to do so again.” Said Ethan very resolutely.

“Well be honest will be the only advice I would be qualified to give. I mean if both of us were any good at relationships then we probably not be in a bar in Hawaii the night before a colleague’s wedding.” Stated Tobias.

“True. I think the only thing I can say is that I am glad neither of us would have ended up with Estelle. God that ended up a mess.”

“Oh god, I am surprised we managed to stay friends after that debacle.” Said Tobias.

“I think we realised we were being played, and our protracted pissing contest had not taken its full toll.”

“Yeah, that is a point. How did we let it get so bad?”

“Well we did stay friends and yes everything else had not taken its full toll but at the end of the day things were never the same after that night.”

“True,” said Ethan. “I think we wanted too many of the same things, and wanted them for too long, especially with Estelle.”

“Wanted her yes, but she had the eyes for you, I had no hope. If I had my time again, I would have not detoured to the bar or called one of her friends.”

“So you are saying you regretted it?”

“Whilst doing it no, but after, I was physically sated and believe me, after a session that intense, I would be asleep nearly all the time but I could not, because I regretted it, the regret was worse when I got home.”

“I could not trust you after that, you know?“

“Believe me I know, I guess that is why we did not address it at the time but it was the beginning of the end that is for sure.”

“Ethan takes a drink. “The irony is, the fight we had that night was about our feelings, as she thought that she loved me and wanted to know if I felt the same as she wanted to know where to apply for residency. I felt something at the time, I know now it was not love but you do wonder if she really did love me if she was fucking you at the first opportunity.

“That is a point, we both were under the influence however. Still does not excuse my behaviour however…”

“No, it does not but did Estelle give you a reason to believe that she was lying.”

“In honesty, No.”

Ethan signals the bar tender and orders another drink for both of them.

“Is the regret you felt after that night the main reason why you did not fall for her games after?”

“Partially, the other part was a vain hope that we could remain friends after that night, I know I grossly violated the “bro code” and your trust but if I showed that I could be trusted then I hoped we could repair, I was wrong at the time but it was my hope.”

“And here we are, more than 10years after the fact and working on the same team that we so badly wanted in on.” Said Tobias. “I was saddened that we could not be friends when you reached out but I guess it was not our time.”

“Well at the time I did not have a scheme to bring down a tyrant of a hospital CEO, nor had I made any attempt to get over my abandonment issues at the time either.”

“That is true,” reflected Tobias, “I am glad that we have had the chance to correct that…”

“Well if someone had told me even three years ago, let alone when we fell out, that I would be working on the same team as you, contemplating a future involving marriage with one the brightest medical talents I have seen ever then I probably would have sent them to the psych ward to be locked up.”

Tobias nearly choked on his drink.

“Your contemplating what with who now?” Tobias was shocked. The Ethan he knew did not believe in marriage, especially for himself.

“Believe me, it took me far too long as you to admit my feelings for Casey to myself, let alone her, but when I realised the true extent of those feelings, my mind did start to change on many of things, marriage being one. I at least want to give her some surety going into the boards and also with offers that I will go with her wherever she goes.”

Tobias was still in shock but was happy that Ethan was happy.

“Well, you can tell the levels of personal growth if you are willing to enter into marriage.”

“I did not think it was in the cards for me since I was eleven but I am glad that I have been proven wrong.”

The two continued with a few drinks and their chat. They turn in. Both surprised at how pleasant their evening had being. Tobias knew he was a real prick on earlier occasions when Ethan had reached out earlier to reconcile and working together had been enjoyable. Maybe time was what they needed for them over themselves and what happened. Both men felt lighter for clearing the air over Estelle. It was their beginning of the end and both were glad the air had been cleared in relation to her. Both felt even before this frank chat that they were well on the road to reconciliation but now they felt it more so and both despite being nervous at what Leland could throw their way, we’re looking forward to bringing him down and to resuming a friendship that had been on hiatus in both their opinions far too long.

Tagging: @jerzwriter @jamespotterthefirst @genevievemd @potionsprefect @liaromancewriter @tessa-liam @crazy-loca-blog @a-crepusculo @bex-la-get @schnitzelbutterfingers @binny1985 @lucy-268 @ofmischiefandmedicine

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

[inlocusmads]

The Great Gratitude-Gorging Feast

Maura comes up with a brilliant plan to team up Eli and Troy together in the kitchen, in lieu of the anniversary of Camp Cypress's First Solstice.

Featuring: Eli Sipes, Troy Hassan & Maura Tauber (MC) from Wake the Dead

Word Count: 2.5k | Mentions of Gore/Teen & Up

A/N: Written for @choicesficwriterscreations's "For the Boys" event. I had such a fun time writing this! Big thanks to CFWC for hosting this event! I was bummed that Eli and Troy didn't have their moments. They give off such "older, tired brother" and "younger, spunkier brother" energy.

“I’m not reconsidering.”

Maura paused, inching closer to reconsidering the decision. She scanned the planner quickly, searching for an empty slot, but there was none. The kids handled the flowers and the centrepiece. The Builders took care of all reparations before the Ceremonial Feast. The Raiders, along with Angel Savage, were in charge of afternoon border patrol, so they couldn’t possibly be disturbed. The Ironmount Knights had fully occupied themselves in the armoury engaged in inventory-taking, and the villagers from Sunflower Creek offered to do the cleaning and maintenance.

 Everything had to go according to plan, and Maura couldn’t afford to make last-minute changes. So she gave Eli Sipes an austere look and shook her head.

“If it is any consolation, perhaps I can supervise while you work. Make sure Troy isn't pulling off any of his crazy hijinks."

“It isn’t the cooking that bothers me,” he affirmed. “And you don’t have to babysit me. I can handle myself just fine. But the concerning bit is..”

“I know what bothers you and it is quite — baffling to me. Eli Sipes--” she let out a chuckle. “Famed for being calm in the face of grave danger, but somehow equally nervous when instructed to work in the kitchens.”

Maura dug into her drawer and removed a delicate leather-bound notebook. She placed it on the desk in front of Eli.

“It is just one hour. Elder Merryweather has offered to handle most of the main courses. These--” Maura pointed to the book. “-- are Shannon’s handiwork. One hour, Eli, and then I’m putting you back on patrol with Angel.”

“Fine. But if anything goes wrong, I will blame you.”

Maura shook her head with a grin on her face as she swivelled around in the office chair. “It’d be such a disappointment if you turned up dead! Try not to!”

Camp Cypress, under Maura’s governance, had its fair share of rules and traditions to upkeep.

First, under the Rules, nobody walks alone. The Camp thrived and survived thanks to everyone’s collective efforts during the Solstice Seasons and one’s personality matrix (introversion, “I work better alone”, shyness, et cetera) was frankly irrelevant to Maura. Everyone worked with a team and were part of a bloc. If they weren’t interested, they were more than welcome to leave and assume the role of a zombie’s breakfast. 

It didn’t help Eli.

Second, also under the Rules, Play to your strengths and weaknesses. There was no such thing as a “weakness” according to Maura, just mere excuses. At Camp Cypress, everyone was given an adequate opportunity to play to their strengths and their weaknesses. If one had trust-issues, no problem! There were plenty of people to get along with, to form some sort of support group. Trouble lifting heavy weights? No worries at all. There was always a Raider ready to help. Can’t cook? The Sunflower Creek fellows were more than happy to pass on their culinary wisdom. There was no “can’t” at all.

It also didn’t help Eli, because there was no “How To Make Friends and Get Along” class.

Armed with Shannon’s handwritten recipe notes that she’d surveyed and collected from the many, many groups of people that Cypress housed, Eli entered the kitchen to find Troy Hassan, possibly his worst nightmare, sitting on a table and poking at the stove with an alarming wooden stick. Neither of them was sure what the other was really doing, and Eli was glad to remain that way.

It wasn’t the fact that Eli simply didn’t get along with Troy. After all, they experienced more or less the same trauma, the same losses, pain, grief, love, human emotions and they were humans, so that was something they shared too. But Troy. Ah. Sweet old Troy was just too— what was the word? Mischievous? Childish? Possibly dangerous being left alone in the kitchen? A fire hazard? Eli wasn’t sure, but it was all of them. Teaming up with Troy had never gone well. Eli still remembered the time Troy nearly got them both killed at the hands of one notoriously overpowered Scout. And ever since then, there wasn’t much to do other than simply respect each other’s differences.

“If we’re going to prepare the side courses, we’re going to have to issue some ground rules.”

“Still worried about me setting everything on fire?”

“Actually, that concern runs through my head. Every single day.”

“Aw, you think about me everyday?” Troy shot him a smirk before accidentally tumbling down to the ground from the table. “Ouch.”

“Ground Rule One. Let’s split up. That way, we can cover more dishes quickly.”

“What’s Ground Rule Two?” Troy asked, massaging his shoulders and knees as he stood up.

“There’s only one rule.”

“Could’ve called it The Ninja Rule.”

“Why would I call it that?”

“Because branding motivates people. It’s like calling colourful, but boring candy Awesome Rocks or something. To get kids to eat more and fall sick more. Branding!”

The Solstice Feast that once started to commemorate the liberation of the people in the Tower from Blackstock’s reign and to honour the Fallen, now became somewhat of a traditional get-together thing. Every year, around June, the Camp stocked enough provisions and some extra luxuries, like mushrooms and fresh fruit just in time for the gathering, that Troy had wonderfully dubbed, “The Gratitude Gorging”. It was the one thing everyone looked forward to, and Eli desperately wanted to get it right. 

This year, thanks to Shannon’s data-hunting project, they’d successfully put together a melting pot of different cuisines, ranging from the Sunflower Creek’s infamous Cabbage Soup Delight, the Raiders’ Every-Meat Stuffed Turkey, Ironmount’s Royale Ramen Bowls, the Builder’s Dirt-And-Hardtack Cakes and everything else that Angel’s groovy and slightly grotesque brain can come up with, including her Zombie-Brain Surprise, which didn’t in fact, contain zombie meat, rather regular old chicken made to look like a zombie’s head. 

“We’re going to start off with Ironmount’s simple salad recipe for the sides.”

Now, cooking in a post-apocalyptic world wasn’t easy. Though the ideas looked good, the recipes weren’t 21st century Michelin star classics. It was more about forging and figuring out what to eat, and luckily Cypress had some expert scavengers. Of course, sometimes the calories weren’t enough and somehow or the other, someone always went hungry, but it was the most they could do. And Eli, though incapable of wearing emotions on his sleeves, was much more capable of feeling sympathy and putting together this one good meal set a precedent for the rest of the year. 

“Do not eat them!” Eli grabbed the plastic bag before Troy could sneak in another raw chickweed leaf. “Here’s what you do. Toss some sorrel leaves into that colander— no, not that one! The other one! Yes! God! Seriously, man. Now— according to the recipe, we’re going to need some finely sliced garlic, dandelion leaves and clover flowers. I think we have those in the cabinet.”

“Yep, we do.”

“Oh, great.”

“Is that a Yay!-Great or a I can’t believe for the first time in my life, I was not disappointed-Great?”

Eli blinked, running on nothing but blanks.

“I’ll slice the garlic. You get the ingredients. And wash the leaves!”

“Yeah, yeah, got it. I’m not a complete idiot, you know.”

“Sometimes that’s very hard to believe. You are incapable of following instructions.”

“I believe my rebellious nature is to be blamed for that.”

“Maura will be disappointed.”

“Oh, I’ve known Maura for all my life and trust me, she can never possibly stay disappointed at me.” Troy proclaimed, boastfully. That I am cooking is a glorious service‌. Because I never cook and somehow, I’m fantastic at it out of the blue. For instance, I know where everything is! That’s a first for me, because I can never find the strawberry jam those Sunflower hippies make.”

“That’s Angel’s doing. I’ve seen her take some for herself. If “some” equated to “all”, then yes.”

“It’s always Angel’s doing.” Troy sighed. “I just want a frickin’ smear of jam, okay? I’m just so miserable!”

“Life is nothing but an endless cycle of misery, Troy. It’s high time you get used to it.”

“Never in my life did I ever fathom I’d be the one shovelling all the guts from the turkey.” Troy huffed as he cut out a large enough hole inside a butchered-up, de-feathered bird. He was seriously considering a conversation with the Raiders, no matter how much they scared him with their culinary monstrosities. Carefully, he made slow cuts and precise incisions to create some sort of pathway for the stuffing to go through; like some kind of sewage pipe, with mucus, muck, and excrement stuck to the sides. 

“You severed a zombie’s stomach for fun a week ago.” Eli said, who was now in charge of word-for-word creating the Raider’s stuffing recipe with a bit of meat, egg, thyme and peppers - or whatever they could find in the garden that wasn’t poisonous.

“Yeah, because it was fun that way. Just going at it, like stab, stab, stab--” Troy raised his kitchen knife and poked it at the air. “It’s stomach practically drooling with black blood and the intestines slowly melting into the biggest pile of goo and clots you’ve ever seen and the skull. The skull! One final blow towards the side- somewhere near the ears and you can hear the loud pop of the bones and subsequent pop, pop, pop of its twisted spines--”

“And--” Eli chimed in, “Their mangly hands!”

“Oh, the hands! You just crush their wrists under your boot and they just--”

“Pop, pop, pop!” Eli chuckled. “My best kill was when I shot a direct arrow from the top of the roof at this Scout. It went right into the roof of its mouth and it let out this huge shriek and tried to get it out, but the arrow was super sharp, yeah? I worked on the arrowheads myself. Some sandpaper and a really sharp flint stone can really help you up the quality of your arrows.”

“So it severed its tongue?”

“Yeah! Its tongue was dripping with blood and promptly collapsed. The arrow had pierced through its throat and whizzed out from the back of its neck. And Scouts are especially weak at their necks; at least the newly mutated ones. It was trying its very best to hold on, but promptly exploded. Literally.. Exploded! You had guts and flesh on the grass and its rotten teeth floating on this big pond of rubbery jelly.”

“Exploded? Did you tell someone about it?”

“I informed Shannon. She said she’ll look into it and see if it was some recent development. Anyway, the stuffing is done. We need to smoke the turkey now.”

“Hold on— aren’t we in charge of the sides and the Sunflower dudes are doing the major stuff?”

“Yes, but the “Sunflower dudes” don’t actually consume meat.”

“Ah, okay, point taken. So it’s going to be all veggies on the table and this one abnormally large freakazoid Sewage Pipe Protein Turkey for the rest of us, then?”

Eli stifled a laugh, but it still showed as a subtle grin. “Looks like it.”

“Why bother with this survivor’s lentil soup, anyway?” Troy complained.

“Because we don’t have cabbage.”

“And it was you with this enlightening idea to replace cabbage with lentils? Seriously? I’d rather eat my left ear, but I won’t, because I’d hate to get up in the morning, admire myself in the mirror for having lived a great life, and find my ear missing from its place.”

“Stop complaining. We’re all doomed to die, anyway.”

“So lentils help?”

“Actually, they do the opposite. They make us healthier and increase our lifespans by eight to thirteen extra years.”

“God-frickin’-damn it.”

“Why? Were you hoping for a quick-early death or something?”

“No. I just hold this massive hatred for lentils, okay?”

“Holy crap, that’s a heck ton of noodles. Guess they’re not just a “side course” anymore.”

“The Builders have been busy. Clearly. Each individual strand of ramen is so efficiently rolled up and stretched. It’s akin to staring into the face of the Sun of Perfection.” Eli exclaimed.

“Are you— flirting with the ramen?” Troy chuckled.

“No, of course not. This is admiration. There’s clearly a difference.” Eli dismissed. “And of course, you wouldn’t be able to notice the difference. You were one boost of testosterone away from kissing that stray Drone that trespassed Camp borders, about a month ago.”

“Ah, but I killed it by shooting its rib, didn’t I? It’s that thing these kids say. What is it? Let me kiss you and then kill you or something like that. I don’t know. The point is, it got the job done! Eli, my friend, you have absolutely no idea what horrors I’m capable of.” Troy said, before exploding into mock evil laughter.

“Hey, Casanova Boy. While you were out there daydreaming, you added sugar to the pot instead.”

“Where did the salt go?”

“Dirt cake doesn’t sound like a word at all.”

“It’s two words and yes, it is frankly an unfortunate name. Do you have better ideas?”

“Muck Cake sounds better. Like some rapper’s name from the 2020s. Lil Muck.”

Eli audibly snorted. “We’re not calling it a “muck” cake. Something better.” he insisted, as he used a mortar and a pestle to crush up some hardtacks into dust. “Something like, say, The Civil Engineer’s Delight, because the Builders are indeed civil engineers, in one way or form.”

“No wonder civil engineers are constantly depressed. Come on man, think of something cooler, like Awesome Rocks!”

“This isn’t a rock.”

“Aah, but it will come out as a rock from the hearth. Seriously, how good do you estimate our baking skills to be?”

“I’m an excellent baker. Not sure about--” Eli gestured to all of Troy. “All of this.”

“So — how did it go?” Maura asked, as soon as Eli stepped into the lounge, exactly two hours later. He didn’t know where the time had gone, but he partially blamed Troy’s poor turkey dicing skills. If it weren’t for his little mess-up, they could’ve been done half an hour earlier, but Eli wasn’t complaining. Not anymore.

“It went — decent.”

“Did Troy behave?”

“You’re enquiring that as if he’s some child--” Eli chuckled. “He’s pretty good.”

“So, you worked well together?”

“I thought we’d be at each other's throats, but things ‌ran smooth. Troy wasn’t at his most hormonal teenage self and he actually is a decent cook and an even better baker, if I have to — admit.” Eli nodded approvingly. “I believe this could benefit Troy. He’s always been constantly on-edge. I’ve observed that it might be the post-traumatic stress disorder. And perhaps he should be encouraged to find such cathartic outlets to express himself.”

Maura peered at him with some curiosity. “That is the most feeling-sy thing I’ve ever heard from you. I like it.”

“This isn’t a recurring thing you know, I just thought it would be--”

“And that’s precisely why from now onwards, you’ll be his permanent Patrol partner.”

“Hold on--”

“I’m putting your name down on the Planner. I can never erase it. Once's it is on the book, it never goes away. That is, until you die, but I think that's highly improbable in the coming years.” Maura said.

“You know what? Do it. Go ahead. I enjoy working with him, anyway." Eli spoke, adamantly.

“You always continue to surprise me, Eli Sipes.” Maura smiled broadly before adding his name against Troy’s. “Have fun.”

A/N: The recipes were adapted from the book, The Art of Eating Through the Zombie Apocalypse: A Cookbook and Culinary Survival Guide by Lauren Wilson. (Except for the Raiders' stuffed turkey. That's just a big old gastronomical delight waiting to happen.)

Tag List:

Perma: @ofmischiefandmedicine, @quixoticdreamer16

If you'd like to be tagged for only Wake the Dead works, which are definitely in the making, please let me know! This is just the first of many coming right up. (But FYI, my WTD works won't contain any MC-centered romance, since Maura's aro/ace.)

Sidenote, I've kind of sort of lost all my tag lists after my, shall we say, "reboot", so if you really wish to be tagged for pure garbage like this, do drop a comment or send me an ask or in whatever way you see fit. Just let me know!

[aria-ashryver]

Meet my OC - Viktor Ivanov

Name: Viktor Ivanov Book: Immortal Desires Orientation: Bisexual Pronouns: He/him Birthday: 12th October 1997 Sign: Libra Born: Dunedin, New Zealand Raised: Sydney, Australia, and Inverness, Scotland (with some short stints in both NZ and Croatia) Heritage: Croat

More under the cut! 🖤✨

Family

Henrik Ivanov (younger brother) Mother (name tbd) Father (name tbd)

Viktor’s closest family member is his younger brother Henrik (Henri, as a diminutive), who is eight. Henri attends boarding school, so they do not see each other much, but Henri idolises his big brother and Viktor would do anything to keep Henri from being hurt. He believes his parents treat Henri as the “do-over” child, and that they think Viktor “lacks ambition” and “refuses to take anything seriously”. There is a lot of pressure on Henri to perform well academically and to follow in his father’s footsteps, career-wise.

Viktor’s father’s career remains something of a mystery to him — he knows it is a somewhat high-ranking governmental position that requires him to travel a lot, so his father is only home for short stints every few months. When he was around 12 or 13, Viktor decided he would ask his dad outright what his job actually was the next time he showed an interest in one of Viktor’s hobbies or interests.

To this day, Viktor has no idea what his father does for a living.

His mother is a stay-at-home housewife. She is the family member Viktor sees the most often, and also the one he has the worst relationship with.

Skills / Hobbies

Sketching, painting, singing — frontman and founder of grunge/rock band Your Bisexual Awakening. Also plays bass

YBA cycles through names often, all of which have a story attached. They choose a new name via the following system: if a band member says something stupid or memorable in conversation, and two or more members simultaneously say "band name", they must change it to whatever was just said. I.e.

Cal: seriously, guys? again? Ava: my bad. Angel's refractory period is more like a Refractory Comma Angel, Viktor, and Luca, simultaneously: band name Ava: aw, fuck.

Random Trivia

Moved a lot as a child — growing up jumping between Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and Croatia has left Viktor with the weirdest accent. Its mostly Scottish... ish? Kinda?

Enjoys anime — once described watching Tokyo Ghoul as the purest spiritual experience of his life (and then sulked inconsolably for a week when he found out the final season was copaganda)

Scared of dogs (was bitten when he was younger)

Loves having his photo taken, but also can’t look at photos of himself sometimes, because they often bring on depersonalisation episodes

Huge collection of slogan t-shirts he crops and alters himself.

Can do overtone / polyphonic singing (but not well)

When he shared a dorm room with Luca at Avalon, for a while his alarm was this Marc Rebillet song (until Luca threatened to beat him to death with a pair of socks unless he changed it)

Has a crush on Kylo Ren

Is deeply ashamed of his crush on Kylo Ren

Favourite movie is Sucker Punch (will rant AT LENGTH about how people completely miss the feminist read)

His fashion sense is varied and questionable. One day he’ll be in gritty, black techwear, the next he’s full flower-boy poet. Then he’ll be Grandma-chic, and the next day he might be wearing a three-piece suit patterned exclusively with cobs of corn.

He does really love garments that drape and flow, though, and is a bit of a sucker for glitter and fun textures. No matter how loud, he somehow manages to always wear the outfits, and not have them wear him.

Viktor’s goals are informed by an odd mix of wanting a sense of agency and independence, while also just wanting to be taken care of and not have to think

Pathetic Babygirl of All Time

Personal Life

cw!! for talk around mental illness, suicide, and substance abuse

Viktor’s childhood was extremely difficult in that his mother simply does not believe that mental illnesses and neurologic disorders are legitimate conditions, and denies that Viktor’s many conditions are real. She believes he is making everything up for attention. Viktor has had this rhetoric drilled into him since childhood — there is nothing wrong with him, he’s just weak, lazy, a failure, a troubled child.

As such, he has never been diagnosed with anything on record.

He is quite mistrustful of authority figures as a result of his upbringing.

The first real, healthy parental influence in his life was Terri O’Rinn. She was the one to refer Viktor to a specialist doctor — she called in a favour from a friend/colleague, who was able to confirm Viktor’s diagnosis of mild to moderate Tourette Syndrome. This diagnosis remains strictly off-record. He primarily has motor tics, but he does have some verbal ones too — many of his tics are indistinguishable from the way he carries himself and his usual, somewhat eccentric mannerisms of speaking and moving.

Viktor also suffers from depression and generalised anxiety disorder. Luca has “diagnosed” him with “ADHD by peer review.” Viktor also deals with frequent bouts of passive suicidal ideation. Luca has had to talk him down on two separate occasions when he has threatened attempts. He has attempted once, on his own, and has never told anyone about it. Viktor loves Luca like a brother, as they do him, and their bond is fundamentally unshakeable.

Viktor fell into performing initially as a means to cope with his Tourettes — music helps to help him feel in control of his symptoms, so he can often be found singing, humming, or whistling to himself as he goes about his business. Alcohol and weed incidentally dial back his premonitory urges as well, allowing him to more easily suppress his tics, so there have been patterns of substance abuse throughout Viktor’s life when he’s been in a bad place mentally.

In classes at school, he was something of the class clown — Viktor quickly realised he liked dictating the kind of attention that was on him (and that he actually really loves attention when its the kind he has sought out himself). So rather than people staring at him because of his tics, he’d rather enrapture them on purpose with beautiful and hypnotic performances. Leaning into his role as the band’s vocalist and frontman did wonders for his self-confidence and overall quality of life.

Also — he’s just really, really, good at singing 🖤🖤🖤

You can find out more about Viktor via my masterlist, or read about him in my longfic, snow in crimson, starlight in gold on AO3! 🖤(direct link, fic is rated Explicit)

tagging: @choicesficwriterscreations

[therideordiechronicles]

Watch "A Ride-or-Die Christmas Story ~ Part One" on YouTube

Fast forward 14 years Logan and Bronwyn still ride or die, only now with three very eager and impressionable teenaged children determined to learn their secrets and maybe even follow in their footsteps. Follows #therideordiechronicles previous series

Fanfic written and designed by KRYounger also known as Choices.lady

*DISCLAIMER - Some characters, most background art, and some audio are property of Pixelberry Studios. All rights reserved by Pixelberry Studios.

*Contains original music:

Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson

Last Christmas by Wham

@choicesficwriterscreations

[jerzwriter]

The More Things Change...

Book:                   Open Heart (Post Series)

Pairing:                Ethan Ramsey, Tobias Carrick

Rating:                 Teen +

Warning:             Some cursing

Category:            Fluff / Humor

Summary:           No one was more surprised by the rekindled friendship than they were, but it was all going well, until… after spending an afternoon together, Tobias didn’t listen to Ethan’s advice, and then….

Words:                 1099

A/N:                     Whomever the Nonny is who sent these prompt requests for Ethan & Tobias, THANK YOU! These were so much fun to work with all four prompts are in bold below.  Additionally, I’m participating in @choices-september-challenge-blog Day 28 – “Do you ever stop talking?” which is also highlighted below.  This is also being submitted for @choicesficwriterscreations "Let's Hear it for the Boys" event. Thanks for reading! 😊

They would have laughed if you had told either of them that a day like this was possible even a couple of years back. Well, Tobias would have laughed, Ethan would have glared at the accuser and walked away without a word. But here they were. After an afternoon of running errands together, they stopped in a bar to have a few beers and catch the end of the Red Sox game. It wasn’t like old times… it was better. But since both had evening plans that did not involve the other, it was also time for it to end.

Tobias half smiled as he slid into the driver’s seat and turned the key in the ignition. His smile growing wider as Ethan fastened his seatbelt beside him.    

“You know, this is nice,” he said, pulling out of his parking spot. 

“What is?” Ethan asked.

“This… me, you… spending time together… it’s nice.”

Ethan turned to his friend with a wicked smirk. “Please… don’t tell me you’re going to propose now, Carrick.”

“Ha!” Tobias’s laughter filled the car. “Soon, buddy, very soon… but I assure you, not to you.”

“Well, thank goodness,” Ethan grinned, “I really didn’t want to break your heart.”

“As if you could do better than me,” Tobias snickered. 

The pleasant conversation continued as they drove through the streets of Charlestown until Tobias turned onto Rt. 93.

“What are you doing?” Ethan asked.

“Driving you home. Ethan. I know you’re a bit older than me, but is memory loss setting in already?”

“I know that, wise ass. I mean, why are you going on 93?”

“Because you live Downtown Ethan…” he answered sarcastically. “So I’m going over the Zakim. Eventually, I’ll turn on to State Street, then….”

“All right, I don’t need the play-by-play. It’s just better to drive down to the Longfellow.”

“Longfellow?” Tobias asked incredulously. “That’s going so out of the way, then I have to backtrack and, while I’m happy spending time with you, we don't need to prolong it anymore.”

Ethan let out a sigh. “That route is less traffic, and the roads are in better condition.”

“Listen, E, as the great philosopher Jay-Z once said, you buggin.”

“Whatever,” Ethan grumbled with a shake of his head, “suit yourself.”

Tobias turned up the radio as the conversation tappered; Ethan was about to make a crass comment about his friend's taste in music when….

BAM!

“What the…” Ethan startled.

“Aw, FUCK!” Tobias exclaimed.

“Did you hit something?” Ethan asked as Tobias slowly drove his car to the side of the raised highway. 

“It was a pothole,” he growled, “more like a freaking crater. I swear it was an accident. I didn’t see it.”

“NO! Tell me more, Captain Obvious,” Ethan mocked.

“You know,” Tobias groused as he stopped the car in an emergency lane, “you’re not as funny as you think you are, Ramsey. It’s not the end of the world. I have a spare in the trunk. Let’s get out and put it on.”

“Are you out of your mind? We’re on the side of the highway!”

“Oh, who is Captain Obvious now?”

“A raised highway!” Ethan emphasized.

“Ethan. Less lip service and more help.”

Ethan stepped out of the car with a huff. “Don’t you have roadside assistance you can call? You probably have damage to the chassis!”

Tobias stopped dead in his tracks and tilted his head. “Really? How fast do you think I was going?”

“Fast enough to get a flat.”

“But not enough to damage the chassis!”  Tobias opened the trunk and tossed a jack at Ethan unexpectedly. He caught it singlehandedly but still shot his friend a look of disgust.

Tobias approached Ethan, who was already hunched over by the tire, putting the jack in place. 

“Did you put up a reflector?” Ethan asked.

“Yes, Mom. Do you even know how to use that thing?”

Ethan grimaced in his direction. “I’m a doctor,” he stated.

“Yeah, and I don’t remember them teaching us how to do this in Hopkins. The way you were whining for roadside service for a simple flat… forgive me if I assumed you’re clueless.”

“Clueless,” Ethan chuckled as the two men removed the flat tire from the car. “I told you to go to Longfellow. I told you the road conditions here were horrendous. Then again, one of us is clearly smarter than the other.”

“Are you kidding me?” Tobias sassed. “Do you even drive in Boston? Every damn road has potholes this time of year! You’re such a freaking drama queen!”

Ethan ignored Tobias who was screwing the last lug nut in place. Tobias looked up at him with an obnoxious smirk.

“There, all done! And we live to tell the tale!”

Wordlessly, Ethan took the flat tire and placed it in the trunk before returning to his seat. Tobias was already inside the car, wiping grease from his hands. Ethan refused to look at him, he could see the shit-eating smile on his face.

“Now, was that so bad, Cinderella? It took all of ten minutes. I’ll still get you back home, so you’ll be ready for the ball in time.”

Not wishing to encourage him further, Ethan stared out of the windshield. But Tobias remained undeterred.

“I know you were scared, but it was unnecessary. I mean, worst case scenario, let's say we didn’t know how to change a tire… all I had to do was stand on the side of the road and show a little leg… there would have been a ten-car pileup with people trying to pull over to help me.”

A grin spread on Tobias’s face when he caught Ethan losing his battle to remain stoic. Giving up, he shook his head with a laugh.

“Tobias, you’re insane.”

“Yeah,” Tobias shrugged. “People keep telling me that. They may even be right, but you know what they say about crazy people, Ethan?”

“No,” Ethan bantered, “and I’m almost afraid to ask. What do they say about crazy people?"

“Fucking amazing in bed!” Tobias declared proudly.

Ethan ran his hands down the front of his face. “How does Casey even put up with you?” he mumbled.

“Fucking amazing in bed!”

“All right, let me out,” Ethan joked, “I’m walking the rest of the way home.”

“No, you’re not, buddy,” Tobias smiled. “We’ve got ten more minutes together, like it or not.”

“You know what,” Ethan surrendered, “I like it. You’re right. This is nice.”

“It is,” Tobias grinned, “but Ethan?”

“Yes?”

“I’m still not proposing to you.”

Permatags: @a-crepusculo @aishwarya26 @animesuck3r @annfg8 @annoyingmillenialnewbie @bex-la-get @binny1985 @bluebelle08 @bluerosesbloom @cariantha @coffeeheartaddict2 @crazy-loca-blog @danijimenezv @different4strawberry @differenttyphoonwerewolf @dorisz @fayeswiftie @forallthatitsworth @genevievemd @inlocusmads @jamespotterthefirst @jennieausten @kingliam2019 @liaromancewriter @lilypills @lucy-268 @mainstreetreader @mysticalgalaxysstuff @ofmischiefandmedicine @onikalover @peonierose @peonyblossom @potionsprefect @quixoticdreamer16 @rookiemartin @schnitzelbutterfingers @secretaryunpaid @socalwriterbee @tessa-liam @toadfrog26 @trappedinfanfiction @uneravine @youlookappropriate @zahrachoices @jerzwriter-reblogs-asks

@openheartfanfics

[lorirwritesfanfic]

Knock knock. It's that time of the year again :D this time I have a gift called

Our fav Sunkissed boi!!! We don't talk much (smh smh) but when we do, I always look forward a new excuse to do hehe, so here are five reasons why you rock 🤩

Your writing is so realistic and easy to relate to and full of our fav thing: ✨drrrrrrraaaaaamaaaaaa ✨ (the fluff is nice ig /lh)

You are a badass!! Truly, I admire you and how you take no bs from nobody. I also enjoy translating your roasts and takes on your country's politics. Who gave u the right to be so funny and right smh

You literally created CFWC!! That makes u a literal fandom legend, period. I'll fistfight anyone who diagrees 🤺🤺🤺🤺

You have a dog!!! Instant green flag 💚

You are an inspo to me as a writer and woman, really. I'm always learning through you and I look forward learning more!!

To a 2023 where we can talk more and I can learn from the legend herself. Keep being amazing, Lori 🧡🧡🧡🧡💞

This is so sweet of you, Noe! And the moodboard is sooooooo pretty 😍😍😍

I know we don't talk much (I have serious introvert problems, sorry 😌), but I'm always happy to see you on my dash and I'm in awe of how strong and talented creator you are at such young age.

Thank you so much for your kind words, my dear! I wish you a wonderful weekend ❤️

[choicesficwriterscreations]

Let's Hear it for the Boys EXTENDED through 10/01/2022

We have extended the deadline date for this event through Saturday, October 1st

We want to give people a little more time to write. You can find event information and rules about participation here.

Remember! Anyone who submits a newly created fic will be placed in a drawing. The prize will be a fanart of your design from the lovely @bayleedrawsx!

Fanart fitting the theme of the event will be accepted through October 1st.

You can submit two fanfics for Throwback Thursday, as long as one fits the theme, one more time.

The raffle will now take place on Sunday, October 2, 2022

If you have any questions, send us an ask or DM @jerzwriter

[dancingboba]

Sleeping In

CFWC Kinktober @choicesficwriterscreations - Day 14. Sleepy Sex | Size Difference | Phone Sex

Fictional kissing prompt - 6. lazy morning kisses before they’ve even opened their eyes, still mumbling half-incoherently, not wanting to wake up

Colt x MC | Choices Ride Or Die

Just joining in the fun for Kinktober. 

Warning: N*FW, Sex, Swearing

Wordcount: 1055

Summary: Ellie wanted to sleep in, Colt had something else in mind.

He wasn’t sure she would say yes when he asked her to move in with him. Hell, it must be a miracle that she chooses to stay with him after everything they have been through. Despite all the odds, here they are. 

It feels surreal that he gets to open his eyes and see her pretty face first thing every morning. He would never admit it out loud, but the sight of her precious sleepy form curled up in his arms every day makes him feel like the goddamn luckiest guy alive.

What has he done to deserve her?

He’s never the affectionate type. But Ellie seems to draw out this whole different side of him. Every morning, he just can’t resist peppering kisses all over her, drawing the most adorable murmurs and mumbles from her. It has become his most favourite thing to do first thing every day and a habit he’d gladly pick up for the rest of his life.

“Mm...Colt...I’m sleeping.” her face scrunching up adorably as he brushes his lips over the tip of her nose.

“Come on, I know you’re awake.” he murmurs in her ears, feeling her body shiver at the tickle of his breath. 

“It’s Saturday, let me sleep!” she complains weakly, nonetheless rolling her head to the side to give him better access to lay kisses on her neck.

That is all the encouragement he needs, dipping down to latch his lips down her jaw and neck. When his lips connect with a particularly sensitive spot, he can feel the muscles of her cheeks tugging into a smile and the vibrations from her throat as she hums appreciatively. 

“Mm...what about now?” he smirks, trailing his kisses lower and swirling his tongue just so that makes her let out a pleasurable gasp.

Yet, she still refuses to open her eyes. “...Still sleeping.”

“Hmph.” he hums, hand sliding beneath her shirt to cup her breast, fingers drawing teasing circles that draw out those irresistible moans he’d never get tired of hearing.

She starts to squirm against his touch as his hands skate down the curves of her body and edges his fingers down the waistband of her pyjama shorts, pulling them off along with her underwear.

“Mm...Colt...” she mumbles, lazily raising her arms above her head to let him remove her top, but still stubbornly keeping her eyes shut.

He lets out a low chuckle and shakes his head, her ridiculously cute act is only making him more determined to wake her. And he knows exactly how he’s going to do that. 

He places a kiss on her lips, then moved down to her collarbone and lets his tongue trail down through the valley between her breasts and down her stomach.

“Now?”

“Still sleep--Oh!” Her eyes fling wide open as his mouth reaches its target with a flick of his tongue.

Now she’s awake.

Her back immediately arches into his touch as he moves his tongue in practiced precision, eyes screwing shut again as she enjoys the waves of pleasure slamming at her.

“Coolt.” she moans, voice still raspy and lacing with sleepiness. 

He pulls back for a brief moment to take in the sight of her, cheeks flushed and every sign of her body language wanting for more.  “Colt!” she whines, hips bucking up to chase after the loss contact, “please.”

He brushes his lips over her clit before pushing a finger in, his tongue slowly tracing a path up her body as he moves his finger in and out. “Someone’s demanding.” he teases, lips busy trailing along the span of bare skin in front of him. “I thought you’re still sleeping.”

“I am...but--Coooolt!”

His other hand finds her breast, fondling and kneading at her nipple before his mouth finally reaches there and enveloping it in between his lips, gently sucking and pulling. All the while, he speeds up the hand working in between her legs, cutting her words short and leaving just frantic moans falling out of her lips. 

Her hands finally relax after clenching the bedsheets in a white-knuckled grip through her orgasm, eyes slowly batting open to focus on the smug smile on his face.

“Hm, I really wanted to sleep in today.” 

“You still can.” he hovers on top of her and captures her lips in a languid kiss. “But I’m not done with you yet.”

“But I’m tired!” she protests half-heartedly, eyes still tired but her body says otherwise as she rocks her hips against his in slow, lazy circles.

“Don’t worry, I’ll do the work.” he says, swiftly pushing his pants off. “Just lay there and enjoy.”

He rolls her over on her stomach and slips a pillow beneath her hips, kissing a teasing trail down her spine before sliding in, burying himself deep inside her. The feeling never fails to amaze him, the way her body welcomes him like it’s home, their bodies fitting so perfectly together as if they are made just for each other. 

She gasps loudly as he thrusts into her, the position giving him the perfect angle to effortlessly drive into that sweet spot over and over. He sets a steady pace, eliciting pants and screams of his name, albeit muffled by the pillows around her. His hands grab around her hips to lift them higher, angling himself to go even deeper, the sensation lighting up and overwhelming every nerve down to his toes. 

He knows she’s getting there, again, as the screams grow louder and her walls beginning to pulsate around him. She unravels once again, walls tightening around him and quickly sending him over the edge as well, leaving him light-headed and dizzy as he empties inside of her.

“Fuck, El. That was good.” he pants, collapsing beside her on top of the messy bedsheets. 

"Yeah, that was amazing.” she sighs contently, remaining comfortably in her position, eyes blinking heavily as sleepiness slowly creeps back in as she comes down from her high. “Join me for a sleep in?”

“Sounds good right now.” he presses a kiss on her forehead and loops an arm around her, pondering once again how lucky he really is before shutting his eyes and let the sound of her breathing lull him into another hour of sleep. 

Life with her is fucking good, to say the least. 

[lucy-268]

well now i must know - what fic are you attempting to finish??

I have many in process, but my top three I’d like to finish are: the one where Charley leaves to be a oncology fellow and returns years later after Ethan has married (and divorced); a coffeehouse AU where Charley (with a business degree) becomes the new owner of Derry Roasters); and Samantha’s story, that focuses on her relationship with Ethan until he says ‘reset’ and the beginning of her relationship with Tobias through their friendship after the attack, to becoming a couple and working through issues because their friends each have concerns.

Plus I want to write one for our Let’s Hear it for the Boys event at CFWC.

I also want to do at least one for the September monthly event and for the Pictober monthly event (that will tie in with our Naughty and Nice event at CFWC for October).

But I have been unable to write much of anything for too long. However, I will post a Sunday six this week. And if I don’t, please someone, anyone, call me out publicly for not doing so.

[coffeeheartaddict2]

Weekend at Hopkins

Book: Open Heart (post series)

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x Tobias Carrick (platonic)

Trope: And they went to a reunion

Category: fluff

Warnings: alcohol consumption

Summary: Ethan and Tobias head back to Hopkins for their 20 year reunion.

Disclaimer: Characters belong to Pixelberry

🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃

If anyone had told Ethan Ramsey that he would not only be attending his 20 year Reunion at John Hopkins but also looking forward to it, he would have had them sent to the psych ward for suggesting something so idiotic but here he was, looking forward to it.

He had avoided his previous reunions and various alumni events but with he and Tobias being best friends again, work going well he decided to attend.

Tobias also was oddly looking forward to the reunion also. He went to the 10 year reunion and a few alumni events in Boston but on all the occassions he had missed having Ethan there, even when they were not on speaking terms.

The weekend came and they made their way to Baltimore and to the campus where their friendship was formed. Not much had changed, the coffee shop that they went to after their first lecture and tutorial together was still there, under new ownership but still there and still selling the best coffee on campus.

“How saccharine will the reunion itself be?”

Tobias smirked, remembering how Ethan described the mixer they first met at.

“The 10 year reunion was just a whole bunch of drinking and reminiscing, if anything, it is the general alumni events that are the more saccharine affairs.”

Ethan nodded. They finished off their coffee and walked around campus for a bit before heading back to the hotel to get ready. They walked pass the dorm buildings and Ethan got a wistful look when they reached the building Tobias lived in initially.

“We had some good times didn’t we?” Asked Tobias.

“We sure did, I know we fell apart in the last year and a bit here but I still think of the good times more.” Stated Ethan.

“Me too, buddy, me too.”

A few hours later it was the reunion event for the class of 2007. Much of their graduating class was there, including faculty members, some of whom were still there and were also in attendance. Tobias quickly found Dr Dwayne Freeman, Dr James Monroe and Dr Robert Calgary. The five of them generally would be found together during medical school. Ethan had kept up with them professionally, however had lost touch as time went on. All except Tobias were surprised to see Ethan in attendance but at the same time really excited. Dwayne, Robert and James had heard about the takedown of Leland through the grapevine and were duly impressed, they were also impressed with how he was going as Chief of Medicine. They were also impressed with how the famed diagnostics team was going under the running of Tobias and Casey. Personally they caught each other up on what was happening and everyone except Tobias was surprised that Ethan had married and had a child.

The formalities commenced. Ethan was glad it was not as saccharine as he thought it would be but he had to admit the company was making it enjoyable.

As the formalities wound up, the group decided to head to one of their favoured off campus bars to continue the festivities. Tobias brought a bottle of Bourbon for the table. They drank, remembered the fun times, also the not so fun. Talk went to some of the end of year pranks and Dwayne bought up the cadaver incident of their first year.

“It was me!”’proclaimed Ethan.

Everyone but Tobias was shocked.

“Wait,” Robert said to Tobias, “you knew and said nothing?”

“Well it was good old Dwight that knew…”

Ethan chuckled.

“Well I wanted to do something, I thought I would commandeer a Cadaver. I scoped the building, had the guard schedule, everything, except what to do with said Cadaver, anyway, I had not anticipated how heavy the cadaver would be, I was struggling, guard due back and Tobias came, came up to leave the cadaver at the door and make it look like that he tried to escape.”

“I am just glad I was able to help you, well Dwight was anyway.” Said Tobias.

“So am I in all honesty, man the look on the guards face was hilarious.”

“Sure was” said Tobias.

“We were lucky that the investigation came up empty.”

“We sure we’re.”

The bourbon remained flowing and the reminiscing of medical school. Last call was called and the men made it back to their respective hotel rooms.

Ethan and Tobias woke up the next day with a sore reminder that they were no longer in their 20’s. They ordered room service.

Whilst eating their breakfast Tobias asked.

“Hangover aside, did you enjoy yesterday?”

“Very much, I know I have been adopted by Casey’s group, well we both have really but it was good to see the old gang again.”

“The fact that we are friends again helping?”

“Most definitely”

They say, eating their breakfast, in companionable silence, both once again regretting their falling out but thankful that once again they were brothers.

Authors note: submission for cfwc event “For the Boys.

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