#dodge mason edit

[leclercstars]

and if i start writing fanfic about this man… what would y’all do…

[jesuistrestriste]

ghostface!dodge OH MY GOD

now i wanna write a fic about this hmm..

update: fic is posted hehe

*full credit to @/champiqns on tt*

[luwritesomething]

so we all agree that anti-hero is dodge mason and you’re on your own, kid is heather nill, right?

[mikedfaist]

Headcanons

Riff, West Side Story (2021)

Boyfriend!Riff: Part I

Boyfriend!Riff: Part 2

Boyfriend!Riff (Smut Edition): Part 3

Dodge Mason, Panic (2022)

• Boyfriend!Dodge Mason: Part I

Art Donaldson, Challengers (2024)

Boyfriend!Art: Part 1

Boyfriend!Art: Part II

[rubycrvz]

MIKE FAIST semi-private gif pack.

⸺ by clicking the source link below you’ll be able to buy +230 medium sized gifs of american actor mike faist (1992) in his role as dodge mason in PANIC (2021). he is of white descent, so please cast accordingly. all gifs were made from scratch by me for roleplaying purposes only, don’t claim them as your own. feel free to like or reblog if you found this pack useful!

DO NOT…

use in taboo, slave or celebrity rps / to roleplay minors or smut.

repost or use for edits / manips without credit.

⸺ interested in my work? click here for my commission info.

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content warnings: fire, partial nudity.

[mikefaistinfo]

Interview: Mike Faist Isn’t Sure About This Whole Acting Thing

“I can’t tell if I hate acting or if I love it too much,” he said ahead of the debut of the Amazon series “Panic.” Coming soon, a major role in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.” For now, he’s going to Ohio.

By Elisabeth Vincentelli Published May 27, 2021

Tall and lanky, looking as if he were born wearing Wranglers, Mike Faist cuts quite a striking figure in the Amazon Prime series “Panic”: His character, Dodge Mason, is a Stetson-wearing rodeo dude who breaks untamed horses, then soulfully gazes into their eyes.

That, however, is not at all how the character was written in the Lauren Oliver young adult novel that inspired the show, debuting Friday, in which Dodge and a dozen other small-town teenagers face off in a series of life-threatening challenges — think a naturalistic “Hunger Games” with more class war.

After shooting a pilot in 2018 in upstate New York (where the book is set), the production completely rebooted in Austin, Tex., a year later, and Dodge’s back story was changed to better fit the new locale. Suddenly, the school wimp who was interested in cards and magic had been turned into a Western archetype: the strong, do-right loner who doesn’t say much. Faist went with the flow.

“Ciphers can be really boring,” said Oliver, who also wrote the screenplay, “but he manages to capture the power inherent in a certain level of invisibility.”

Dodge is quite a departure for Faist, who is best known for his Tony-nominated performance as the tormented, cynical Connor Murphy in the Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen.” Blessed with a rangy charisma and a bone structure that appears to have been carved with a scythe, the actor, now 29, could have easily coasted in “Panic.” But his sensibility is closer to that of such atypical leading men as Adam Driver, and he modernizes a potentially boilerplate part.

“Mike really didn’t want to be a caricature, but I don’t think he ever could be,” said Jessica Sula, who plays Natalie, Dodge’s love interest in “Panic.” She recalled that when shooting resumed in Texas after a Covid-19-imposed pause, Faist chose to live in a trailer on a plot of land with his rescue dog, Austin.

“He’s just so fabulously ridiculous and wonderful,” she said of Faist, laughing fondly.

Faist’s own course has been ascendant since he dropped out of acting school at 18, and his plum role in Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated “West Side Story” as Riff, the leader of the Jets, should put him on Hollywood’s speed dial when it debuts in December. (Shooting wrapped in September 2019.)

And yet the actor spent much of a recent conversation candidly admitting to ambivalence and incertitude. He spent some of the past year driving around the country with Austin and writing a screenplay. He has been turning down offers and is now selling his Brooklyn apartment and heading back to Ohio.

Faist was warm and laid back on a recent sunny morning in Park Slope, and he laughed a lot in what seemed to be protective self-deprecation as he pondered his future, professional and otherwise. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.

How did they spring the new Dodge on you?

It was still the same elements in terms of, “Oh, here’s the new guy,” but instead of, like, a weird magician, he’s now a … cowboy? I was like, “What do you mean, I’m now a cowboy?” They were like: “Yeah, yeah, you’ll be fine. Maybe try an accent.”

You do look pretty comfortable playing a horse whisperer.

I’d never worked with a horse in a production before. There were two of them: a very calm, gentle horse and a skittish one. We just ended up working with this skittish horse because it was actually doing stuff. The scene where the horse moves toward me was not planned or choreographed at all. They are, you know, unpredictable.

It might have been less intimidating than a sex scene. Is the one with Jessica Sula your first as an actor?

Maybe. I don’t know.

Wouldn’t you remember?

You’d think! I did do a romantic scene [onstage] in “A Month in the Country” with Taylor Schilling. I remember getting a pretty [expletive] review. [Laughs.]

Since the fall of 2018, you’ve gone back and forth between “Panic” and “West Side Story.” How did you handle these very physical projects?

For “West Side,” I found these Bruce Davidson photos of Brooklyn gangs from the late ’50s. If you look at their photos, these guys are emaciated, they have tattoos, and they look wired. Any money they had, they would pool and buy cheap wine and maybe they would have French fries or something. Then they were doing drugs. So I was like, “I need to lose some weight.” But my body was totally breaking down. Then I tried to bulk up as much as possible for “Panic” — just eating potatoes.

Did you do any kind of special training?

I started going to the Mendez boxing gym in Manhattan for “West Side.” I was working with John Rosado, who was raised in New York, Puerto Rican, badass. He was like, “I can’t believe I’m training a Jet!”

Your first big job was in the Broadway musical “Newsies,” which is quite dance heavy. Still, was it daunting to audition for “West Side Story”?

I put together a tape, and then they said, “We want you to come back in and dance.” I was like, “Is there any way you could not have me dance?” They were like: “What are you talking about? This is ‘West Side Story’!” The only saving grace is that Justin Peck [the choreographer] and I have similar body types: tall, nothing but arms and legs. They had their work cut out for them in order to get me up to snuff.

Why aren’t you in the upcoming “Dear Evan Hansen” movie alongside your former co-star Ben Platt?

I feel like I couldn’t do it. I started that when I was, like, 21, and was with it for five or six years. When you’re doing eight shows a week, it very much turns into relying on your technique and the job of it. And the show was such a zeitgeisty thing. It really took a lot out of me, and I didn’t really have it in me anymore.

With “Panic” and “West Side Story” behind you, what are you lining up?

Maybe this is so pretentious, but “West Side” was everything I had ever hoped to accomplish as an actor. It’s really crazy, but it was transcendental: either I didn’t feel like I was myself, or I was the most authentic version of myself. I can’t really tell which one. Having gone from having no money, wanting to just be a working actor — I don’t want to just be a working actor anymore. I had that experience. It [expletive] me up.

What did?

“West Side,” in the best of ways. I can’t unsee what I’ve seen. The pandemic nearly killed us and — what, I just want to be an actor? That’s ridiculous. [Laughs.] I don’t care enough. It’s a weird thing: I can’t tell if I hate acting or if I love it too much. It’s not like I don’t plan on doing it. I just don’t want to follow the trajectory of what the industry wants me to do.

Which is what?

Put on a cape and wear a mask. I need to take more agency because no one’s going to do it for me. It’s tricky, but it’s interesting and pretty exciting. I’m going to hang out with my family in Ohio and then start to figure out where I’m going to go. I would like to ultimately be of service and of use; that’s when I feel at my best.

You can find here: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/27/arts/television/mike-faist-panic-west-side-story.html

[cal-kestis]

my dashboard is a little empty these days, tell me, what are your favorite blogs to reblog content from?

hi!!! i won't list everyone i follow bc the list will be too long, so here are just a few creators who post gifs/edits/themes regularly and/or inspire me to up my game: @nikita-mearss @shegos @sashafierce @demontimes/@tina-snow  @jakeyp @michellesmalon @djarin @userskywalkers @nobodynocrime @chrrispine @lightkeykid @dodge-mason @deepika-padukone @ewan-mcgregor @arthurpendragonns @kenobiis @steverobin and every member of @usergif 💙

[this-is-ali]

I posted 869 times in 2022

That's 593 more posts than 2021!

42 posts created (5%)

827 posts reblogged (95%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@f0ur-elements

@this-is-macy

@drxgonfly

@maureen2musings

@selestial-sketch

I tagged 869 of my posts in 2022

#my aesthetic - 527 posts

#blue - 280 posts

#trees - 244 posts

#musical - 234 posts

#gif - 233 posts

#sky - 195 posts

#water - 186 posts

#nighttime - 184 posts

#gifset - 165 posts

#movie - 145 posts

Longest Tag: 94 characters

#i thought this was the funniest shit in the world when i saw this in theaters as a 10 year old

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

3 times Mike Faist brought his own idea to a character he played and it ended up being better than the original script:

1. Connor Murphy (Dear Evan Hansen)

Connor was originally supposed to sign Evan's cast normally but Mike Faist had the idea to sign it in all caps and have it take up a whole side of the cast. Writer Steven Levenson agreed that that was something Connor would do and that it helped give the audience an idea of who Connor was as a person. (Source: Dear Evan Hansen: Through the Window - page 72)

2. Riff (West Side Story)

The motion of Riff pressing his forehead to the gun in the scene where he purchases it, along with the "Might as well." line, wasn't in the script. Mike Faist came up with it and both director Steven Spielberg and writer Tony Kushner loved it, agreeing that it brilliantly conveys Riff's hopelessness. (Source)

3. Dodge Mason (Panic)

The line, "Then how'd those two kids die last summer?" that Dodge asks Heather in regards to Panic was supposed to be whispered, but Mike Faist chose to shout it instead. He knew that Dodge would have to threaten to make a scene for Heather to reveal the information he was looking for and writer Lauren Oliver agreed that it was a genius decision. (Source)

100 notes - Posted October 3, 2022

#4

Forever thinking about the Sincerely, Me body slam.

134 notes - Posted May 8, 2022

#3

A moment of silence for every reprise that didn’t make the cast recording.

144 notes - Posted August 8, 2022

#2

Anyone else immediately feel safe the second “Brooklyn’s Here” from Newsies comes on? It’s like as soon as I hear that “bada dum... bada dum... bada dum dum dum dum”, I know that Spot Conlon and his newsies are on their way and everything is going to be alright.

186 notes - Posted October 29, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

[Image description: The “he’s probably thinking about other girls meme” with Albert’s face from “Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical!” edited over the man’s face. Text shows that the woman is thinking, “he’s probably thinking about other girls...” while Albert is thinking, “a leg of lamb”. End of image description.]

207 notes - Posted October 23, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[faistfics]

New Dodge fic for ya'll!

Part 1

Word count: 3.1k

Genre/tropes: whump + enemies to lovers

‘’Dodge!’’ I yell. The rain is pouring and I see him walking across the street without an umbrella. What is he doing?

He turns to look at me but doesn’t stop walking.

‘’Hey! What are you doing out here?’’ I’m standing in the doorway of my house watching him. When he doesn’t react I yell again.

‘’Dodge, get over here!’’ At this point I feel my voice crack before I say ‘’Come on, please!’’

He turns his head again and I can see him hesitate before jogging over to me.

Once he’s at the door I rush him inside.

‘’Are you crazy? Oh god, you’re soaked.’’ I scold him, closing the door behind us.

Once he’s inside I look at him and his face turns away from me. His hair and clothes are completely soaked.

‘’I’m fine.’’ He mutters.

I examine him closer but he hides his face from me.

‘’Dodge, what happened?’’ I ask slowly.

‘’Nothing, okay? Thank you for inviting me in but i really don’t need your help.’’

I stiffen at his words but shake it off because he’s obviously upset.

I step closer to him and manage to get a look at his face. I take my hand and cup his cheek, lifting his head up, revealing a bruise on his eye a cut on his brow. His nose is bleeding too and I let out a deep sigh.

‘’It’s nothing.’’ He says, turning his head away from my hand.

‘’Dodge, who did this to you?’’ I ask softly.

He finally meets my eyes and gives me an empty stare.

‘’Who do you think it was?’’ He almost snaps at me.

I think for a second before realizing. ‘’Oh, I knew it.’’ I say, shaking my head, feeling the frustration boil up inside of me.

‘’That’s it, I’m calling Ray. Things can’t go on like this.’’ I go to get my phone but he stops me by grabbing my arm.

‘’No, stop it.’’ He says sternly. ‘’This is exactly why I didn’t want to come in here or tell you anything. Listen, I  know you think your boyfriend is a nice guy or whatever but he’s an asshole. And you choose to act like you don’t see it.’’ He says it like he’s been wanting to say it for a long time. ‘’You calling him is the last thing i need.’’

I frown as he lets go of my arm. ‘’Don’t talk about him that way.’’ I say slowly. ‘’I know what you think about me, okay? You think I’m just some privileged princess who peaked in high school or whatever cliche bullshit you’ve reduced me to and I know you think you’re better than all of us,’’ I say keeping my voice steady, ‘’but you don’t know anything about me. And this little angsty loner act isn’t a good look on you, so I’d think about checking your superiority complex before you judge anyone else because I was nice enough to invite you inside so you wouldn’t freeze to death out in the rain, so would it kill you to be nice back just for a minute?’ I wasn’t expecting to go off like that but I had to say something.

He looks at me for a minute before letting out a laugh.

I raise my brows at him in further annoyance.

‘’Wow.’’ He says looking at me, an almost amused look on his face.

‘’Angsty loner?’’ He repeats my description of him. ‘’Superiority complex? I mean you really got me all figured out, don’t you?’’

‘’Listen, I don’t dislike you, Dodge.’’ I tell him. ‘’I don’t know what happened tonight with you and Ray, but I’m sorry it did. It’s not okay. Let me help you.’’ I say in a calm tone. ‘’Now, why don’t you get out of those clothes, you must be freezing.’’

He scoffs but doesn’t object.

‘’You know, you are such a hypocrite.’’ He says, pulling his sweater off over his head.

‘’Excuse me?’’ I say.

‘’You snap at me for stereotyping you but then you just do the same thing to me.’’

‘’I was doing it to prove a point. I don’t know you and you don’t know me. We work together, we went to school together, that’s it. What do i know about you other than your last name?’’

‘’You know why I was in that fight tonight.’’

‘’What are you talking about?’’

‘’Oh, please.’’ he says, rolling his eyes. ‘’Ray’s convinced there’s something going on between us. You and me, as if that would ever happen.’’

I look at him stunned. ‘’What?‘’ I ask, confused.

‘’Yeah. He told me he doesn’t like ‘how much time we’re spending together’ and the way I was ‘looking at his girl’.’’

‘’We work together!’’ I yell in disbelief.

‘’Well I know that but your insecure boyfriend doesn’t seem to.’’

‘’Are you kidding me right now?’’ I narrow my eyes at him and shake my head.

He shrugs, tossing his sweater on the floor. I look away, trying not to stare at him. I reach into the little cupboard by the bathroom and hand him a towel.

‘’Listen, Dodge, I’m sorry.’’ I say, ‘’I’ll talk to him.’’

‘’I just told you not to do that.’’ He says, drying his hair.

‘’Well what am I supposed to do?’’ I ask, frustrated. ‘’He should know there’s nothing going on.’’

‘’Why? It’s more exciting this way.’’ He says as another amused smile grazes his expression.

I roll my eyes and stand up to go get him some fresh clothes.

I grab a sweatshirt and some pajama pants for him to change into.

When I come back into the room, Dodge is only in his boxers. I refrain from looking at him while passing him the clothes, before retreating to the kitchen and putting on some hot water.

‘’These Ray’s?’’ He teases while pulling the sweatshirt on.

‘’No,’’ I respond, ‘’they’re my brother’s.’’

Once he’s dressed he joins me in the kitchen, taking a seat at the counter.

I turn up the heat on the stove.

‘’Hm, I assumed you’d have people for that.’’ He teases.

‘’Just because my family is well off doesn’t mean I’m some sort of spoiled kid. And besides, I like doing it myself.’’

‘’Must be nice.’’ He mutters.

‘’So, where is this ‘well off family’ of yours anyway?’’ He asks, resting his elbows on the counter.

‘’My parents are away on business.’’ I respond shortly.

‘’What about your brother?’’ He asks and I stiffen.

‘’He’s not really around anymore.’’ I say slowly.

‘’Is it true that he won Panic a few years back?’’

I find myself thinking of a way to avoid the subject.

‘’Um, yeah. He did. He kind of disappeared right after that, though. No goodbye or anything. I don’t really like to talk about it.’’

I think about my brother. I think about the call I received from him two months ago that made me suddenly decide to play Panic. That left me with no choice but to win…

He notices my discomfort and changes the subject. ’’Your dad’s that real estate guy, right?’’

‘’Yeah.’’

‘’You know it’s funny, I think your boyfriend was beating the shit out of me right next to a bench with your dad’s face on it tonight.’’

‘’God, you’re an idiot.’’ I say with a small laugh. ‘’Let’s get you cleaned up.’’ I reach for the first aid kit from the drawer and walk over to his side of the counter.

‘’You don’t need to do that.’’ He says.

‘’Seriously, can’t you relax for once? Would it kill you to accept my help?’’ He’s not much less stubborn at the diner, keeping his distance and trying to get everything done by himself, as if we’re not supposed to be coworkers.

He stiffens up a bit but doesn’t protest anymore.

I wet a cloth with some alcohol. ‘’Since I’m sure this isn’t your first rodeo, I don’t have to warn you this’ll sting a little.’’ I say, dabbing it over the cut above his eye.

It surprises me when he flinches and grabs my wrist. I give him a look and he lets go slowly, allowing me to continue.

‘’Not so tough now, are you?’’ I tease.

‘’Hey, I’m not the type of guy who goes out looking for trouble every night.’’ He says. ‘’So, not your type of guy.’’

I roll my eyes once again as a smile tugs at his lips.

‘’Well you’re sure not opposed to it, though, are you? I saw what happened at the last challenge. Thank god the cops came because you weren’t about to go easy on Ray.’’ I say, recalling the events of last weekend. There’s already been two challenges of Panic and the last one was cut short so no one has been eliminated yet. I eye Dodge closely. Right now, he’s one of the people who are in the lead.

‘’He fucking asked for it. I almost died up there.’’ He says, referring to the incident of Ray’s sabotage when it was Dodge’s turn to do the challenge.

‘’What do you think is gonna happen?’’ I ask in a more serious tone, referring to Panic.

‘’Don’t know.’’ he responds. ‘’You worried?’’

‘’Well…’’ I hesitate. ‘’I mean, I didn’t get to do the challenge before the cops came, which means I didn’t get any points. And I don’t wanna get eliminated or whatever, I just really…need to win.’’ I say slowly, cleaning his cut carefully.

I can see him suppressing an eye roll.

‘’You need to win, huh? What, did daddy cut you off?’’ He mocks.

I shake my head. ‘’I don’t want to talk about it.’’

‘’Some of us actually need the money.’’ He mutters.

‘’Hey, you know what? I need that money just as much as you do. Why do you think I’m working a summer job? And for someone who just moved here and is barely eligible to play the game, you’ve got a lot of nerve passing judgement.’’ I say, annoyed, throwing the cloth away.

‘’The rules say all graduating seniors get to play.’’ He states.

‘’Yeah but not all deserve to.’’ I snap.

‘’Oh and you think, what? Huh? That Ray Hall deserves to win that money? I bet he promised to split it with you, be your partner. Well, I hate to tell you this but he doesn’t care about you. Him and Tyler have got it all worked out and they’re playing dirty. Might wanna change your strategy.’’

‘’How would you know that?’’ I ask, not knowing how to react.

‘’Because tonight wasn’t just because of you, it was about panic.’’ He says.

I raise my eyebrows at him.

‘’With Tyler in the lead, he’s got a better chance at winning than most of us do right now. They’re splitting the money. Ray’s taking his best bet. They tried to get me to join their alliance because they know I’m the one to beat. When I refused they thought their only other option was to mess me up so bad I couldn’t play.’’ He explains.

I’m not sure how to respond. Would Ray really do that to me? It makes sense and why would Dodge be lying? I don’t know what to believe, but either way, should I really be taking that chance?

I give Dodge a look as an idea comes to my mind.

‘’Dodge, you’re going to be my partner.’’ I say.

He chuckles. ‘’In your dreams.’’

‘’Face it.’’ I say. ‘’with Tyler and Ray together, your chances of winning are slim. But not if you have me telling you their strategies. He’s stringing me along so I’ll know what moves he’s going to make.’’

Sure, Ray is my boyfriend. But I’m not about to sit around and let him go behind my back to win. I’ve got to play the game.

He gives me an uncertain look.

I stick out my hand. ‘’And we’ll split the money 60-40%.’’

He smiles at the corner or his mouth, his dimples showing.

‘’Deal.’’ he says, taking my hand.

‘’So what do you need the money for?’’ He asks after a pause. I walk back over to the stove and take the kettle off.

‘’What do you need the money for?’’ I return the question.

He doesn’t say anything.

‘’I mean, we work together, Dodge, and yet, I think this might be the longest conversation we’ve ever had.’’ I say, pouring hot water into two ceramic mugs. ‘’Tell me something about yourself.’’

‘’I want to get out of here.’’ He says.

‘’Don’t we all?’’ I let the teabags soak in the water and turn around to look at him.

‘’You’re telling me you wanna leave all this behind? Your perfect life here in Carp? With your perfect boyfriend and your perfect friends?’’

I fight the urge to roll my eyes at his shallow description of my life.

‘’High school is over.’’ I say with a shrug. ‘’Sure, I’m happy, but I can’t stay here forever.’’

‘’What about Ray?’’

‘’Ray’s far from perfect.’’ I say with a small smile.

‘’Oh, really?’’ He raises his eyebrows in amusement.

‘’Yes, really. But I care about him. And he cares about me.’’

‘’You sound so sure.’’ He mutters.

‘’And what makes you think he doesn’t?’’

‘’I just don’t think he deserves a girl like you.’’

He catches me by surprise. ‘’Oh and what kind of a girl am I, exactly?’’

‘’I don’t know, you’re just a better person than him.’’

‘’I’m flattered.’’ I say, sarcastically, but there’s a hint of something in his voice I can’t quite figure out.

‘’I just don’t think a guy like that knows how to treat a girl like you.’’

‘’You know nothing about my relationship. Ray treats me well.’’

‘’What about Panic?’’

‘’It’s just a stupid game. Everyone’s trying to win and if I expected anyone to play dirty, it was Ray.’’

‘’Do you love him?’’ He asks, all of a sudden.

‘’I...’’ I pause, not knowing how to respond. ‘’That is none of your business.’’

‘’Yeah, but do you?’’ His eyes fixate on me.

‘’Why do you care?’’ I ask.

‘’I don’t know. The kitchen light is making you look awfully beautiful. I was just wondering.’’ He says, seemingly out of it.

‘’Are you joking?’’

‘’It’s probably just the concussion talking. You don’t usually look like that, do you? I mean not that I’ve ever seen you outside of your uniform. This is the first time. You got an icepack?’’ His rambling catches me off guard.

I nod slowly and grab some ice from the freezer, handing it to him.

‘’How come you never talk to anyone?’’ I ask.

‘’Got nothing to say.’’ He puts the icepack over his eye.

I place his mug in front of him, the teabag sinking inside it.

‘’Thanks,’’ He says, going to pick it up.

‘’Careful,’’ I warn, ‘’it’s hot.’’

‘’I can handle it.’’ He says, proceeding to burn his tongue on the warm beverage.

‘’You sure are stubborn.’’ I say, setting my own mug on the counter.

‘’I should go. After this. After this, I should go.’’ He says, hastily.

‘’Okay.’’ I say. ‘’It’s still raining.’’

‘’Shit.’’

‘’You can stay if you need to.’’ I offer.

He looks at me and there’s a distracted expression on his face. ’’No.’’

‘’You sure?’’

‘’Yeah.’’

‘’Finish your tea.’’ I say, nodding towards the mug.

‘’I prefer coffee.’’ He blurts.

‘’What?’’

‘’You said you wanted me to tell you something about myself. Well, there it is. I like coffee.’’

‘’Do you want me to make you some coffee?’’ I ask, noticing he’s more relaxed now.

‘’No, don’t.’’ He quickly declines.

‘’It’s really not a problem, I mean if I had known I would’ve-‘’

‘’No, I don’t want you to make coffee.’’ He cuts me off.

‘’Why?’’ I raise my eyebrows at him.

‘’Because I’ve never met anyone who knows how to make good coffee. I can’t drink it when other people make it. Like, not even at cafes and stuff. It’s terrible.’’

‘’You are so weird.’’ I say. ‘’Here, why don’t you make it, then?’’

‘’We’re drinking tea.’’ He says.

‘’Okay, so we’ll have coffee too. The night is young.’’

‘’You’re the only person I know who drinks tea.’’ He tells me and I scoff.

‘’Seriously?’’

‘’Yeah. Does Ray drink tea?’’

‘’Will you leave Ray alone? No, he doesn’t drink tea.’’ I shake my head.

‘’So tell me something about you, now.’’ He leans on the counter, staring at me.

‘’Like what?’’

‘’I don’t know, how do you take your coffee?’’

‘’With cream and sugar.’’ I answer.

‘’No.’’ He says.

I give him a confused look. ’’What do you mean ‘no’?’’

‘’Listen to me, if you don’t drink your coffee black, you don’t drink coffee. I’m making you a black coffee.’’ He says, getting up from his chair.

‘’I don’t want a black coffee. I like it just fine with my three spoons of sugar.’’

‘’Three? You’re disgusting.’’ He shakes his head.

‘’You’re such a snob.’’ I say with a laugh.

He looks almost offended but laughs. ’’Oh, I’m a snob?’’

‘’Yeah, getting so worked up about something as simple as coffee. There’s like a million ways to drink it, what’s the big deal?’’

‘’Yeah and half of those ways should be illegal. Just try it. Trust me.’’ He says, putting the water on.

‘’So, is coffee like your thing?’’ I ask, taking a seat at the counter.

‘’Why do you think we have so many customers at the diner? Best coffee in town.’’ He says smugly.

‘’Huh, impressive. You know, even Ray likes your coffee.’’ I say.

‘’Yeah, just wait until I spike it with something one day.’’ He says with a grin.

‘’Not funny.’’

‘’A little funny.’’

‘’Why do you hate Ray so much?’’ I ask, leaning against the counter, watching him make the coffee.

‘’Is that really what you’re asking me? He’s rude, he’s self-centered, narcissistic, egotistical-‘’

‘’I’m pretty sure those are synonyms.’’ I interrupt.

‘’Yeah, well, they’re all true.’’ He says. ’’Plus, he’s so insecure he thinks I’m trying to take you from him or something.’’

‘’Well, is he really so wrong?’’ I raise my eyebrows.

‘’What?’’ He turns to look at me.

‘’I’m just saying, if my girlfriend was working with a tall, mysterious new guy, I’d be worried too.’’ I tease.

‘’Tall and mysterious? What happened to angsty loner?’’ He asks with a laugh.

‘’That still stands.’’ I assure him.

He walks over to the counter, leaning against it and looking at me, without saying anything. A small smirk on his face.

My eyes wander over his face and I notice the cut on his lip.

‘’Oh, you’re bleeding.’’ I say, breaking the silence.

I pull another cloth from the drawer under the counter and lean over to press it against his lips.

Our eyes meet and I pause for a minute, captured under his gaze.

‘’Maybe you’re right.’’ He says slowly, as I pull the cloth away.

‘’Maybe Ray should be worried.’’

I look at him for a minute before brushing it off as the concussion talking.

*

i was recently feeling very uninspired regarding my riff fic, so i decided to write a little bit of dodge, which i hope you'll like! i'll try to have part 6 of the riff fic up soon, but in the meantime let me know if you would be interested in a part 2 of this? i have some ideas. also don't forget i'm open for requests!

[alyciadebnamcareys]

Panic + popular text posts [1/?] 

[leclercstars]

Dodge Mason and Challengers fic requests OPEN! 🎾

gonna start working through the ones I already have today 🤭

i live to serve the people!

[luwritesomething]

if you're still taking requests, protective dodge mason I beg of you..... I went thru all your writings and I love them so much and I love my boy

Protective Dodge Mason Headcanons.

Warnings: cursing, as always.

Edited?: No, sorry ;/

Reader pronouns: not stated.

Summary: Dodge headcanons about his protectiveness.

Author's note: Thank you for requesting and sorry for taking so long! I'm very glad you like my writing and THANKS FOR THIS REQUEST BECAUSE protective Dodge Mason has been stucked in my mind ever since he got that individual challenge where he thought Dayna was in danger and he went batshit crazy. I decided to do ths as headcanons because your request wasn't that specific so... Also, I decided to make it as Dodge and Reader already have an established relationship :) . Anyways, here goes nothing. This isn't too long but I hope you like it, excuse any grammar or vocab mistakes since I wrote this in a rush!

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

okay so we all agree dodge mason is a protective mf, great

dodge had a very specific plan, alright? getting a romantic partner and kinda falling in love wasn't in it

but how could he not fall in love with the person with the prettiest smile and sweetest soul?

accepting that he wanted to be with you was kinda hard for him. because that meant he was dragging you into his revenge plan.

but you're dating so hurray!! he made it.

your biggest argument was probably when you told him that you did want to play panic (if it was for the money or the thrill that's up to you)

1. it was in conflict with his plan (the one he hadn't told you about just yet because he's still testing the trusting waters) and 2. it put you in danger, actual danger.

listen, dodge doesn't scream

but when he's concerned about your safety it shows that he's mad.

you just couldn't understand what worried him so much

and he wasn't able to say that you were one of the very few people that made him feel like he was truly there.

losing you would be the third tragedy of his life, and he couldn't risk it --- he wouldn't take it

and seeing you hurt was a living nightmare

i feel like im blabbering, sorry

dodge just carries too much weight on his shoulders, and once he starts dating you, more weight is added.

i mean, you aren't a burden, but he worries --- a whole lot, to be honest. dodge is always making sure you're feeling okay, listening to you when you're not, reassuring that he cares about you if you needed

if you get hurt, he sees it like its his fault --- you have full autonomy on your decisions and actions, but dodge is a caregiver and he feels like he should be there to protect you

but then again he has this complicated relationship with his feelings (i mean, how many times have you seen him talking about them openly?) and he's unable to say all those things when you first argue about that

so the argument remains still for some days and things are tense between you two.

it's you who forced the subject back into your conversations, and it is you who promises him that you'll be careful enough to not get hurt, that he has to trust you.

relunctantly, dodge ends up agreeing and easin up to the idea --- it's not like he can or will forbide you for participating, it's your choice.

so he starts worrying x1000 when panic begins.

when escaping the cops in the second challenge, you hurt your knee and scratched it when you fell to the ground, pushed by all the people trying to escape. and although dodge is the one who had almost fallen from a very high height, he's so pissed (not at you) that you've gotten hurt. even if it's the smallest thing as a scratch.

say that it was ray who accidentally pushed you to the ground --- it takes everything for him not to fight ray right then and there. seeing how little he likes ray it just gives him more reasons to want to punch him in the face (and dodge is not really a violent person).

your safety during panic will probably be the reason to all of your arguments, given he's not jealous at all.

he also hates the whole 'i'm trying to get you jealous' so don't try it, please. dodge doesn't deserve that. if you try to get him jealous, he WILL, and it will hurt him. he learns to trust you wholeheartedly, that's why he knows you won't do dumb shit, but if you're the one who is trying to make moves to other people just for fun... bad thing.

anyways so he ends up, probably, telling you that you're not his responsability but you kinda are. not exactly like that, but he opens up.

it takes a lot of reassuring from your part to make him see that he can't carry so many responsabilities and that he basically needs to chill.

communication, people !! i bet communicating for him it's hard, given how quiet and reserved he is, but he grows very into it.

also on another protectiveness note,,,

romantic partner or friend, dodge is that one person that will text you to tell him that you've gotten home safe.

he's also willing to walk anyone home if they feel uneasy going alone, even if he doesn't know them too well.

he'll pick up if you call him because you need someone to talk to while walking home late at night, and if you think someone is following you he'll run to wherever you are. he's not taking any bullshit.

dodge can hold your cup while you go to the bathroom --- and you can be damn sure no one will put anything on your drink if he's watching it.

going back to romantic partner, if you need reassurence during a challenge or a social situation where he's present, you can bet he's going to surround your waist with his arm to keep you grounded. reassuring touches are his specialty (and also his need).

[arabellas]

hello hello hello!! ✨️ I haven’t done a celebration in a while and 6k is kind of a big deal for me, so here we go! (header inspo)

a big thank you to all of my amazing cute mutuals who make my days better ily forever and always! 💖 and thanks to everyone who follows me in general and especially those who leave kind compliments in the tags *muah* here’s a kiss on your foreheads 💕

if you’d like to join the party, you can vote below and I’ll try making some cool edits:

✨️ vote for your favorite marvel characters (i’ll make gifsets of top 10)

thank you for participating!! ✨️ I’m tagging my beloved mutuals below 💕

a-d

@accioharry @arriettvs @a-dore @andtosaturn @afturglow @aimeegbbs @abednadir @anthonysharma @andrewgarfields @andrewgrfields @ballroomofmymindp @branstark @benjaminbarnes @buckysbarnes @cinderllas @camlanns @caribaheine @chrrispine @denaerystargaryen @daredevile @dodge-mason @daenerys-targaryen @druigs @daisyjohncn

e-h

@eleanoracrain @evermorestay @echoesofnewords @flowerytale @finelinevermore @freddycarterz @greyyjoys @geraltcirilla @haldes @hurmione @harleyquinnz @hotgirlsrk @heartwasglass @hozierswift

i-l

@itstimetogo @ibetyouthinkabtme @jckeperalta @jamesbvck @jesperfahxey @jackharlows @keepyourlife @kiandra-layne @kazzsbrekker @lizzo @lorelaigilmo @loriane-elmuerto

m-p

@mishellejones @magnetoo @miacoslucci @mazykeen @milesgmorales @marcspectors @marcgrant @nataliamaximoff @nevercomingaround​ @natasharomanovf @obiliviate @okoyes @ohwarnette​ @phoebebridgcrs​ @padmaemidala

q-z

@queenofbadlands​ @robertpattnson​ @rodrigolivias​ @r-pattinson @simoneaashley​ @swanxlake​ @spectormarcc​ @sophturne @sergeantbuckybarnes​ @solarinstitute​ @steveroger​ @steveharringttons​ @tolerateit​ @tylorswift​ @tsthearcher​ @userjennifer​ @userbatmans​ @userloki @wandavsions​ @wespers @winterfrosted​ @yenvengerberg​

[disaster-lineage]

KAY’S GRAD CELEBRATION

hello everyone!!! i just finished my last grad school class EVER!! so since i now have some extra free time and i’m in celebrating mood i thought i would have a little celebration here!

to join: - must be following me - reblog this post - send an ask with at least on of the following: ✨ make me choose between two shows, movies, characters, ships, ect. 🌈 send me a show, movie, character, ship, ect and a color or color palette for an edit 💜 and your edit tag and i'll tell you 5 of my favorite edits of yours

i will be using the tag #kaysgradparty if you don’t want to see celebration posts

tagging some mutuals

@capinejghafa @yasmin-finney @madeline-kahn @concepts @andrewgrfields @dodge-mason @buckybarncs @vxngerberg @jjmaybanks @queencalanthes  @yennefer-nazyalensky @dearemma @rambeaus @queenrojpag @spacedjarin @anthonysharma @buckybarness @midgelenny @burningblake @userbatmans @jjdimeo @katherineebishop @padme-anakin @star-kovs @druigs @sashafierce @natasharomanovf @anakinpadme @usermoonknights @oliviarodriog @chrrispine @violets @lenakluthors @nicks-nelson @midniter @lemoncupcake @lucifersmorningstar @maygrant @sadbeautifutragic @charlotte-ritchie @rodgersteves @violetsgauntlets @naiey @gwynthmorgan @fionacoynes @binariesuns @uservillanelle @avalance @spectormarcc @marcspecthor @poppykru @sith-maul @diaaz @agentoutofdiaz @aleagueoftheirown @laudna @miriammaisel @sarah-snook @iridescentides @lightkeykid @morganaofavalon @remuslupin @kieumy @ledszeppelin @everelore @magnusedom @linettigina @sandibullock @william-byers @deepika-padukone @nelsonnicks @itstruthtime @orla-mcool @userdanascully @aimeegbbs @yyh @kimjunmyonie @steveharringttons @vetra @peraltaroy @justlovely @yelenabeluva @shangs

[bellamuertes]

CYANIDE’S CREATOR SHOUTOUTS (MAY 2022)

hey y’all! i see so many beautiful creations on this site, so i wanted to start a monthly shoutout series and give a little extra love to some truly exceptional art. previous shoutouts can be found here!

MOVIES

Ant-Man: A Shot at Redemption | @maguiretobey

Dance Fever + Horror Movies | @talesfromthecrypts

Every Friend Group Should Include... Slasher Edition | @hhellboy

Horror + Women Directors | @talesfromthecrypts

The Batman: Whoever Fights Monsters | @illisius

TMFU: Gaby x Illya | @andrewgrfields

The Mummy: Evelyn Carnahan | @kosem-sultan

MUSIC

Carly Rae Jepsen: Western Wind | @antoniosvivaldi

Doja Cat and SZA: Kiss Me More Grammy Win | @antoniosvivaldi

MARINA: Electra Heart + Music Videos | @neve-campbells

Rihanna: Top 10 Female Musicians | @sashafierce

STAR WARS

A New Hope | @themarshalstale

A New Hope 45th Anniversary | @deathstars

Favorite Trio: Han/Leia/Luke | @starfighters   

May the 4th: Obi Wan Kenobi | @asterkenobi

May the 4th Rainbow | @starfighters

May the 4th: The Same Eyes in Different People | @obihoekenobi

Star Wars + Pink | @djarin

TELEVISION

Better Call Saul: Nacho Varga | @santavenganza

Bridgerton: Edwina and Queen Charlotte | @edwinadaily

Doctor Who: Rose Tyler | @orla-mcool

Peacemaker: TV Appreciation Week | @addycarver

Shadow and Bone: Kaz x Inej | @dodge-mason

Spartacus: Period Drama Appreciation Week | @maddiebuckley

TUA: Luther Hargreeves | @viktorhargreves

TUA: Sometimes an Adopted Family is... | @yenvengerberg

[bosspigeon]

sunshine on a rainy day

Pairing: M!Detective/Mason Word Count: 3669 Summary: Unit Bravo helps Juni with rooting through the sodden mess of his bedroom, and Mason tries to figure out just what the hell is going on with the detective.

I have no excuses or explanations for this. It’s just self-indulgent corny nonsense.*shakes Mason like an Etch-a-Sketch until he can acknowledge his goddamned feelings*

Please check out this cover of “My Girl” by Kele Okereke that inspired this whole thing, because it makes it gay and it brings my little homosexual heart so much joy~

Mild CW for references to sex/m*sturbation

Things are still… weird, with Juni.

Of course, he’s pretending they aren’t, and he’d be very convincing if it were anyone but Mason he’s trying to convince.

His smiles are too brittle, too tense, and they don’t make his nose scrunch up like they should. His laughs are too-sharp and high-pitched, strained with effort, and he hasn’t snorted once. He radiates tension the second Mason looks his way, hides behind his hair like he’s afraid to look him in the eye. When Mason first met the detective, he thought he was soft. Too soft. The sort Mason would chew up and spit out if he cared enough to bother, but then he dug a little deeper, hit a nerve or two, and found that shiny spine. He found that, when pushed, Juni had bite.

He may have gotten a bit addicted to the bite, and now that it’s gone, he feels completely off-kilter. Juni still responds when he flirts, of course, blushing and fumbling like always, but it feels… different, somehow. And it has since the bakery.

He apologized, and he thought that would make it better, but it hasn’t, and now he’s caught between frustration and what might be... guilt?

Clearly, he’s hurt Juni somehow, and he’s not sure how to fix it.

Why do you need to fix it? Why do you care?

He shakes it off. They’ve got more important things to worry about right now. He’s got to keep his head in the game.

“I’m sorry,” Juni says miserably, again, and Mason wants to shake him. What part of this is his fault?

“It’s not your fault,” Nate says kindly, before Mason can get snippy and make Juni withdraw into himself even further. “You can’t be blamed for bad luck.”

Juni snorts, grabbing his arm. “If I didn’t have bad luck, I’d have no luck at all,” he recites, like it’s something he’s said before. He’s wearing a t-shirt that says “I Just Hope Both Teams Have Fun” and it’s a bit odd to see his arms without the cover of his usual sweatshirt. He keeps rubbing at his inner arm and the bird inked there. A self-soothing gesture, as if he’s not used to exposing so much skin. His nails are bitten all to hell, too. A mess of tells, this man.

“That’s the spirit!” Felix says cheerily, punching the air. The look Juni gives him is dry as a desert, and Mason feels a twist of something hot and acidic in his gut he can’t name. He wants to chuck Felix in a dumpster at least once a day, but the urge hits him like a truck out of the blue, and he can’t pinpoint the reason.

Fuck, he’d kill for a smoke.

“I’m still sorry,” Juni says again, squeezing his forearm. “For, y’know, the whole squad needing to babysit me for this.”

“It’s no trouble at all!” Nate exclaims, as if the very thought that Juniper believes their helping him sort through his soggy belongings to see what can be salvaged to be a chore is somehow an insult. “We’re happy to help.”

Juni gives Nate a soft-eyed smile that lights up his whole face, and that acid feeling burns more.

“You cannot be left unaccompanied,” Adam says stiffly, eyeing the horizon as if the Annunaki will swoop down on them in a parking lot in broad daylight. “It is best that we move as a unit when able, to ensure your safety.”

Juni ducks his head, still smiling. “Thank you guys,” he mumbles, and then he almost keels over when Felix slings his arm around his shoulder to shake him. Mason stifles a growl, and while Felix doesn’t notice, Adam and Nate both glance back at him with twin unreadable expressions he meets with the blandest look he can manage.

“I, for one, am looking forward to snooping through your place some more,” Felix snickers. Juni pushes him off.

For the most part, the flat is still in one piece, most of the damage contained to the bedroom, though the floor in the hallway is a bit waterlogged as well. Nate tuts in disappointment as the warped boards creak pathetically underfoot, no doubt mourning the fancy pattern to the antique wood. Mason can smell the water damage, mold and rot that no doubt caused the collapse in the first place, and the choking reek of plaster dust.

Juni sighs as he pushes open his bedroom door. The mess is even worse than Mason thought it would be, from what Juni told him. The bathtub that apparently crashed through his ceiling is gone, but the gaping hole remains, still shedding debris onto the ruined bed. The heavy antique bed frame itself is cracked clean in half, the mattress sagging in the middle, and Mason's chest squeezes.

Juni was right there seconds before an entire fucking bathtub came down on top of it. He could have been crushed.

He jolts when he feels fingers on his wrist, and when he looks down, Juni isn't looking directly at him, but towards him. "You can wait outside, if you want?" he suggests softly while Nate goes trotting into the room to cluck and fuss over Juni's bookshelf. "I know it smells kind of gross in here." His nose wrinkles a bit, and Mason hears the thick clicking of his throat as he swallows uncomfortably. No doubt, the smell’s not doing him any favors either, hyper senses or no.

"Did you bring a mask or something?" Mason asks rather than replying, gesturing to the plaster dust settled all over everything, floating in the air now that they've disturbed it. "Your lungs are already shitty enough."

Juni flushes a pretty, rosy pink and fumbles hastily for his bag with a little blurt of, "Oh, yeah!" He puts it on, and Mason wants to groan. Of course it's got a stupid little cat mouth on it.

"Juni," Nate calls, his voice heavy with sadness. He's holding a book in his hands as carefully as if it were an injured bird. "You have a collector’s edition of The Velveteen Rabbit?"

"Had," Juni corrects, his eyes crinkling with a sardonic little smile Mason can't see, but knows the shape of intimately enough to picture. “It had reproductions of the original lithograph illustrations too.” He gives Mason a quick sidelong look before pattering over to take the book from Nate and sadly try to peel apart the pages.

Felix sidles up to Mason with about as much subtlety as a bathtub through the ceiling while Nate assures Juni they can salvage the book, and likely a good amount of the others, if they are very careful. The younger vampire gives him a startlingly critical look that he tries to hide under his usual smirk. "You guys are ridiculous," he scoffs. Mason snaps out a hand to cuff him, but Felix dodges and rabbit-punches him lightly in the ribs. It’s surprising enough from someone as ambivalent to fighting as Felix is that Mason doesn’t even think to dodge, and when he glowers at him, Felix glowers right back.

It’s not terribly impressive on him, but points for trying.

“Be nice to him,” Felix hisses, and this time Mason is ready enough to swat his hand away before he can get jabbed again.

“I’m plenty nice to him,” he drawls, affecting an easy smirk.

Felix studies him for a long moment, then looks him dead in the eye, smiles glibly, and says, “You’re so pretty.” He reaches out like he’s going to pat Mason’s cheek, but he dodges and stalks away to help Adam move some of Juni’s heavier furniture that might still be salvageable. Felix makes a beeline for the bathroom, probably to rifle through Juni’s medicine cabinet or something.

Juni leaves Nate to meticulously pick through his bookshelf and slip blotting paper (which he made sure to bring the second Juni voiced his doubts the small collection of books in his room would be salvageable) between the pages and setting them aside to pack up and take back to the warehouse, where he has the supplies to take care of them. He starts bagging up clothes, while Adam and Mason prop his mattress against the wall to get it out of the way. He’ll have to get a new one for sure. Just being close to the damn thing makes Mason want to retch with the smell of the mildew. Juni drifts by to start bundling up his bedding, and his knuckles skim against Mason’s lower back.

A shudder rolls up his spine, and he settles as his senses calm down enough for him to actually assist Adam. The mattress isn’t heavy for them by any means, but it’s bulky enough to be a pain for just one of them to carry.

Juni is setting to work boxing up all his little trinkets and knickknacks (and he’s got a lot of them) when Felix comes barrelling out of his bathroom with something purple held victoriously above his head.

“Hey, Juni!” he yells, and all of them, even Juni,  wince at the volume. “What’s this?”

Once he’s stopped, and is no longer a brightly colored blur in the vague shape of a vampire, Mason can actually see what he’s holding aloft like a trophy. Once he realizes what it is, he can’t help but smirk. Before he even looks at Juni, he can feel the heat radiating off him, his blood rushing, his heart rate spiking.

Even if Mason didn’t know what a goddamned magic wand was, Juni’s reaction would be a dead giveaway.

Faster than Mason has ever seen the detective move, he bolts across the room and snatches the thing out of Felix’s hand, hiding it behind his back. “Where did you find that?” he yelps, his voice pitching high and cracking.

“Your closet,” Felix says brightly, his eyes glimmering with mischief. He’s clearly caught on. “Should I not have touched it?”

“It’s clean!” Juni squawks, his face almost glowing red. “Don’t be gross!”

“Man, now I really wish I’d picked that locked box in there open,” Felix cackles, and Juni smacks at his shoulder and then breaks for the bathroom before the vampire can make good on that promise. He slams the door behind him and Mason hears the click of the lock, while Felix laughs so hard he has to brace himself against the wall and hold his stomach.

Adam and Nate are deeply focused on their own work, admirably pretending they haven’t noticed anything going on outside their little tasks.

It takes a while for Juni to be coaxed out of the bathroom again, but even mortification that makes him blush so ferociously that Mason can feel the heat of him from three feet away wouldn’t allow him to shove his duties off on someone else. He does bring a small wooden trunk out of the bathroom with him, closed with a little heart-shaped padlock that Felix could break off easily if he wanted to. Juni seems just as aware of that risk, so he guards the trunk with his goddamned life, even going so far as to sit on it and glower at Felix while he helps Nate pack up all his waterlogged books and fragile little trinkets.

Mason does give the trunk a very pointed look, trailing his eyes up the detective’s body and meeting his gaze with an easy smirk, just to watch him flush even redder, and while he does go so red the smattering of freckles across his nose almost disappears, he looks away sharply and hides behind his hair.

Mason barely resists pulling an Adam and crushing the weird little ceramic owl he’s packing away.

The rest of the day goes pretty uneventfully afterwards. He and Adam move and dry off furniture, drag stuff that can’t be saved outside to be thrown out, Nate delights in every interesting little antique he finds and mourns the damage done to them, Felix flits around and pretends he’s helping when he’s really just having fun rooting through the detective’s things, and Juni helps where he can and avoids Mason’s eyes as they track his every move. Even if they didn’t, he wouldn’t be able to shake the awareness of Juni, wherever he is in the room.

After they’ve packed everything they could into the Agency SUV, they head off. Juni is quiet on the ride back, sitting close to the window with a box of junk in his lap. Felix is between him and Mason, completely ignoring the odd tension and distracting the detective by asking about whatever random tchotchke he pulls from the box. Mason just stares out the window and tries to ignore the niggling desire to light a cigarette, only slightly mitigated by the fact that he doesn't even have one on him.

Later, once they’ve hauled everything to Juni’s room (or in the case of the books, to Nate’s room to be subjected to the tenderest of mercies) Mason sits on the roof alone for a long while, staring consideringly at an unlit cigarette and twisting it between his fingers. His head feels heavy with everything weighing it down, a twisting, confusing mess writhing in his skull. He tries, once again, to direct his thoughts to easier things, but every time he tries to think about Juni squirming underneath him, thighs squeezing his hips, gasping his name, his thoughts inevitably turn to gentle fingers on his cheeks, a bright laugh lighting up his insides, hazel-green eyes looking up at him with… with what?

He growls and shoves the cigarette back into the pack, cramming it into his pocket.

“What does this mean for us?”

Since when is there an “us?”

He falls back onto the roof with a thud, the rough surface making his skin scream with prickling discomfort, but he ignores it. He closes his eyes, tries to quiet the jumble of his thoughts. He unleashes his senses just a bit, driven by instinct and a need to focus on something, anything else, and takes a slow, deep breath. He hears the low murmur of Nate’s voice somewhere below, in the den. Adam’s there too, naturally. He can’t make out the words, but the conversation is easy and familiar, soft with intimacy.

He snorts. The two of them are fucking ridiculous. You’d think they’d have realized they’re basically married a couple centuries ago, and yet…

Felix isn’t hard to locate, though he’s deeper in the warehouse, where the bedrooms are. He’s loud, as usual, so Mason can hear him a bit better, but still he’s not quite close enough to make out words. He focuses a little harder, relaxes his body and exhales slowly. Along with his voice, there’s a light twanging, which eventually strings together into a rhythm. Music? Felix listens to music often, but it’s usually louder, faster-paced. Grates on Mason’s nerves like absolute hell, but this is slower, brighter. And then he hears Juni’s voice, and his senses rush in like a hungry dog spotting a rabbit.

A laugh, low and sweet.

Mason is rolling to his feet and off the roof before he even has a chance to think about it. It’s the work of a few seconds to slip through the window, and he keeps his footsteps light as he slips through the warehouse like a ghost. He passes the den and glances in. Adam and Nate have their heads close together, talking in low voices with files laid out neatly on the coffee table in front of them, two glasses of wine carefully placed a safe distance away from their paperwork. Adam gives him a quick look over his shoulder, and the ever-present tension in them eases somewhat. Mason nods and continues on by.

The twanging music gets louder as he stalks down the stairs, Felix’s bright voice more raucous than ever, but it’s easy enough to tune out when he hears Juni’s answering laugh floating from Felix’s open bedroom door.

“Are you gonna stop heckling me and make a request?” he asks, and Mason can hear the sunny plunking notes of a ukulele under the words, as if the detective is absently plucking the strings as he talks. Mason vaguely recalls Felix triumphantly hauling the little green instrument from underneath Juni's shattered bed frame, scuffed and covered in wet stickers, and Juni sighing sadly at the broken strings.

“Well, what do you usually play?” Felix asks, his bed creaking. Mason can picture him flopping around like a drunk fish, and he has to stifle a snort.

“I mostly just do covers and stuff.” A rustle of cloth, Juni’s shrugging. “I’ve written a few things, but I’m already giving myself heart palpitations performing in front of people, so I think actually performing something I wrote myself would kill me outright.”

“Well, you’re performing for me, aren’t you? And you seem pretty calm.”

“Since when are you people?” Juni snorts.

Felix barks out a laugh. “Rude!”

There’s a bit of a tussle, a discordant twang, and Juni yelps. “Careful, careful! I just replaced these strings, asshole!”

Felix gasps, affronted. “I’m telling Nate you called me that!”

“No, don’t tell Mum!” Juni whines, and they laugh together more.

Mason shifts from one foot to the other, pressing a hand to his stomach as if that’ll help quell the strange feeling there.

“Stop stalling,” Felix prods, and Juni shifts and sighs heavily. “Fine, fine, but don’t make fun of me, or I will cry.”

“Scout’s honor!” Felix chimes, and Mason wonders where the hell he heard that phrase.

They’re both quiet, and then Juni strums at the strings, just dabbling a bit before he actually starts plucking a rhythm. He takes a deep breath, as if bracing himself. “I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day,” he croons, and Mason perks up almost instinctively, sunshine echoing in his ears. Juni’s singing voice, much like his speaking one,  is soft and a little breathy, but it warbles with clear nerves. “When it’s cold outside, I’ve got the month of May…”

Felix gasps, delighted, and Juni falters for a moment, but doesn’t stop.

“Well, I guess you’d say what can make me feel this way? My guy, I’m talkin’ ‘bout my guy...” Mason slides forward, towards the door as if pulled on a string, and he sees Juni sitting at the end of Felix’s rumpled bed with its blindingly bright sheets, cross-legged with his back mostly to the door, but Mason can see his face in profile. Felix is lying at the head of the bed on his belly, with his chin propped up on his elbows.

His golden eyes flicker to Mason, and he smirks, raising his eyebrows and sticking his tongue out quickly, before Juni notices. Which he likely won’t, eyes closed, dark lashes fanned out across his freckled cheeks.

There’s a smile curling his lips, small but happy, and it only widens when Felix begins snapping in time, laughter coloring the lilting notes. “I’ve got so much honey, the bees envy me. I’ve got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees…” He leans into the chorus, rocking back and forth along with Felix’s snapping. "Well, I guess you’d say, what can make me feel this way?"

Mason braces a hand on the doorframe, if for no other reason than to stop himself walking into the room. He has no idea what he’d even say, but he knows he’d spook the detective, skittish little human he is, and break whatever odd spell has fallen over them both.

Juni’s voice gets stronger, bit by bit, as he settles, rising with confidence. He hums along to his strumming, and the smile that lights up his face sticks behind Mason’s ribs, along with the words of the song.

As Juni trails off with a dreamily sighed, “I’ve even got the month of May,” Felix claps loudly and cheers, an enthusiastic audience of one. Mason winces back away from the door, scowling and shaking his head.

He should leave. Either leave, or butt in just to watch Juni get all flustered, but something holds him still, keeps him quiet.

“I think I know that song,” Felix says slowly, and Mason doesn’t need to see his face to know the teasing smirk spreading there. He narrows his eyes suspiciously.

Juni snorts. “Everyone does, Fe. It’s from the 60s.”

“Yeah, but you sang it differently,” Felix presses. “Thinking of someone in particular, were you?”

Mason looks around the door frame just in time to see Juni whack Felix solidly with a pillow. “It was a cover!” he exclaims, his cheeks going ruddy. “A cover of a cover!” He smacks Felix with the pillow again, a solid whump muffling the vampire’s bell-like laughter as it hits him in the face. “Don’t make it weird!”

“I’ve got sunshine,” Felix warbles, snatching the pillow before Juni can swing a third time and hugging it to his chest.

“It’s a cute song!” Juni insists. “I like cute songs! I’ve got a ton I could have sung, but I picked that one, because I heard a cover once that made it about a guy instead of a girl, and you might not be aware of this, Felix, but I am a homosexual.”

Felix’s hand flies to his mouth, amber eyes going  comically wide. “No! You? How long were you planning to keep this from me?”

Juni very carefully sets his little green, lovingly restored ukulele to the side for safekeeping before he tries to wrestle the pillow back from Felix so he can hit him again.

Mason figures it’s a good time to take his leave, before Felix decides to use his presence as a scapegoat from the detective’s wrath.

He slips up the stairs, his head heavy, something… just something stirring in him he can’t even begin to parse.

Juni’s soft voice follows him back to the quiet of the rooftop, a gentle strain chasing itself around in his head.

Sunshine on a rainy day...