#fic: midsummer misadventures

[sweetdreamsofgelato]

Making considerable headway today on Midsummer Misadventures CH 8 and I am EXCITED.

[tallulah-caseys-misadventures]

Peppermint Mocha and Charlotte Brontë

646 words, oneshot, read below cut

It was a cold, foggy day as I made my way to the café on high street, cold enough that I'd pulled my legwarmers out of my suitcase where I'd pre-packed them for school next week. I'd gotten the matching bolero too, though it was more like a pair of arm warmers that were attached across your back, and with my thumbs through the thumb-holes its sleeves peeked out from underneath my jumper. I think it made me look a little more put-together than just having the legwarmers on their own.

The café was doing a special on their festive drinks, probably to try and get rid of leftover stock, so I got myself a peppermint mocha. I settled in to the corner furthest from the door with my drink and my croissant, and cracked open my copy of The Life of Charlotte Brontë. It wasn't the most exciting read, but it was recommended for the course, so I gave it my best shot.

…If this woman's description of the Brontë sisters' hometown is accurate, no wonder they were like that. Maybe Heckmondwhite was cold, and not as cosmopolitan as advertised, but at least it had colour. When it wasn’t foggy, anyway.

The bell above the door chimed and I looked up on instinct as the local goth couple walked in. Aoife, the redhead, runs her father's music store when she wasn't off at college, and I think her girlfriend Roisin works at the animal shelter a town over. I didn't want to be caught staring, so I went back to reading about how sad and grey the landscape surrounding Haworth was.

I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on Aoife and Roisin, it just sort of accidentally happened when I heard them say Liverpool and College in the same sentence. There can’t be that many colleges in Liverpool, can there? Especially if I heard correctly and they’re doing music, you wouldn’t have a performing arts college and then a separate music college in the same city, I think. Not unless it was a really big city. What if they know Alex? Would it be weird if I went up and asked them what college is like as an adult? If I befriend them and he knows them, I can be his cool college friends’ friend from back home instead of just his little sister’s mate.

Okay, Tallulah, it’s time to display some Northern Grit and ask them, very casually, about life as a higher-ed arts student.

“Um, hi, I couldn’t help but hear that you two are doing a music course in Liverpool?” I said, trying not to sound as nervous as I felt. “Yeah, why? Are you thinking of signing up once you’ve done your A-levels?” replied Roisin. “Maybe, but I want to know a little more about what it’s like first,” I said, “I’ve been going to a performing arts school in Yorkshire and we do some classes on music there,” “We can’t speak for the more theatrical courses, but the music course has been really engaging and I’ve learned a lot about how music is produced, not just performed,” said Roisin, “Aoife grew up around music though, so she had a bit of a head start,” “Not as much as you’d think, I can play almost anything you hand me but figuring out the best way to record is a whole different beast,” said Aoife, before launching in to a detailed explanation of how mixing desks worked. I nodded along like I understood, even though the closest I’d gotten to learning about how music was recorded was a quick session with Bob that got derailed by some disaster or other. Maybe I’ll try to learn more next term. I asked Aoife to write down some things for me to look up before I went back to my own table and packed up to leave.

A/N:

I wrote all 600+ words of this last night, which is quite the change of pace from my usual three-sentences-if-I'm-lucky writing habits, so I thought I would post it before I had too many second thoughts. It was an exercise in prompted writing, you can find the journalling game I played for inspiration here - note that you'll need a deck of cards to pull for the prompts, or you can use this generator I just put together for it. I might add more to this at a later date and post it to AO3, but I can't guarantee that so I'm posting what I have now.

[meowdarame]

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞… 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛.

An open collab for both writers and artists, meant to show appreciation for underrated and under-written characters!

Theme: Underrated and under-appreciated characters! Give me Atsushi Sendo, Choso, Connie Springer, or Takeomi Akashi! Write about the time Yuta Okkotsu got stuck in an elevator, or about the misadventures of college athlete Bertholdt Hoover! Let’s show some appreciation for our fem characters and best girls--- Sasha, Senju, Nobara, the list goes on! Overall, this summer shall be filled with love for our “fodder” characters (as Shion Madarame would put it!)

Fandoms: Tokyo Revengers, Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan

Deadline: September 22, 2022 (If you need an extension or want to drop out, no worries! Just let me know!)

STATUS: ACCEPTING CREATORS. JOIN NOW!

Rules:

You must be 18+ to join! Please have your age visible on your blog; ageless blogs will not be allowed to join and minors will be blocked.

SFW/NSFW/DC are all allowed! Just please be sure to tag warnings as necessary.

All characters must be canonically 18+ or aged up. No exceptions.

All writing is accepted (headcanons, drabbles, oneshots, fics, series, etc). There is no required word limit; however, please try to write at least 500 words!

To join, send me an ask or a DM, including which character(s) you are writing for, your preferred reader (M, F, GN). Last day to join will be September 1, 2022.

Each writer can sign up for only one work at a time. I want this to be a fun and low-stress collab! Should you finish and want to write another, you are welcome to sign up again.

Two (2) character repeats are allowed. So if your first choice character is already chosen, please select another one!

Threesomes/poly relationships are accepted, as long as the under-appreciated character is one of the main focuses of the story.

Please reblog this post after you sign up!

When your work is posted, please tag me or send it to me in my inbox. Please also use the tag #summeroflovecollab on your submission!

Notes: If you have any questions regarding the technicalities of the collab or need help fleshing out an idea, do not hesitate to reach out to me! I’m glad to help!

Masterlist:

Tokyo Revengers

❥ @sweetsbysatori | dilf!shion madarame x f!reader | hair salon AU

❥ @wakasa-wifey | boyfriend!seishu inui x f!reader | “aphrodisiac love”

❥ @harufilms | dilf!takeomi akashi x f!reader

❥ @1990-06-12 | takeomi akashi x reader

❥ @kisakiapologist | shion madarame x reader

a midsummer night’s dream

❥ @rueren | shinichiro sano x college student!reader

❥ @tettatonin | dilf!tetta kisaki x reader

❥ @cherrywrites-fanfics | izana kurokawa x reader | sfw

❥ @httptamaki | hakkai shiba x reader

❥ @bxnten | senju kawaragi x reader x haruchiyo sanzu

❥ @bokuroskitten | taiju shiba x reader

❥ @kazuwhora | senju kawaragi x reader

❥ @shuwuji | tetta kisaki x f!reader | nsfw

❥ @noekoi | dilf!kakucho x reader

❥ @semisgroupie | takuya yamamoto x f!reader x kazushi yamagishi | nsfw

❥ @sugusshi | kakucho x f!reader x ran haitani | nsfw

❥ @planetbimboxoxo | atsushi sendo x reader

❥ @esperranza | south terrano x reader | “corndog incident”

❥ @pinkhorangnabi | peh yan x f!reader | sfw

wedding bells

❥ @sirthisisa-wendys | keizo arashi x afab!reader

green light

❥ @the-fishing-basket | izana kurokawa x gn!reader

i hate the feeling that your leaving, ‘cause we’re having so much fun

❥ @qiaipia | akane inui x gn!reader | ice skater AU

Jujutsu Kaisen

❥ @portfolio-of-dreams | junpei yoshino x gn!reader | sfw

summer mornings with you

❥ @pixieinc | megumi fushiguro x reader

❥ @touyasghosty | choso x reader

❥ @suckerforsugawara | toge inumaki x reader

❥ @rxmera | nobara kugisaki x reader

❥ @mrskenmakozume | toge inumaki | sfw art

❥ @ry0m3n | zenin maki x toge inumaki x okkotsu yuuta x gn afab!reader | nsfw

❥ @martellprincess-writes | toge inumaki x reader

❥ @ryuuzaa | yuta okkotsu sfw art

yuta and his ice cream art

❥ @arozaur | choso x m!reader | DC/yandere

wilted rose

❥ @aqoamoon | todo aoi x f!reader

Attack on Titan

❥ @christeningsakusa | bertholdt hoover x f!reader | late-night snack run drabble

❥ @miya-dynasty | colt grice x f!reader | sfw domestic drabble

❥ @tetsukentona | connie springer x reader | sfw college AU

❥ @tinydiors | marco bodt x reader x jean kirstein

❥ @itssdonnie | connie springer x f!reader x bertoldt hoover | nsfw/dc

❥ @sunat2508 | connie springer x reader

[hansolmates]

oldies but goodies

s.coups

-Monday to Saturday ☀ feat. smoothie boy!Seungcheol -Meeting the Boys ☀

vernon (!!!!) 

One Shots/Fics

-Rainy Days ☀ feat. “Why are rainy days always associated with sadness?” -For all the marbles: A SVT!kindergarten AU ☀ feat. kindergarten!AU, when someone you like-like gives you a piece offering from the playground, Jeonghan slays at marbles -Kiss Me ☀ feat. unrealistic expectations of college parties, drunk making out -Shut up, and dance with me ☀ feat. lovey dovey wedding feels -Fake Wedding Date ☀ feat. fake dating -Cafuné ☀ feat. “finding out you’re totally into me when I definitely wasn’t supposed to know” AU, playing with each other’s hair -When we get married… ☀ feat. that moment when he thinks, “she’s the one” -Hey baby, I got my ion you ☀ feat. science students!AU, clumsy!Vernon -The “Do Nothing” Day ☀ feat. Mario Kart date -But darling, would you still love me in the morning? ☀ feat. morning cuddles! -Flooded, like ocean waves ☀ feat. university!AU, clumsy!Vernon, and bubbles. lots of bubbles. -But baby, it’s a baby ☀ feat. random mall adventures, playing with a lil baby -But you, you deserve a beautiful life ☀ ☂ feat. MC getting over a break-up with her bff Vernon -Jealousy is pretty ugly, but you’re just pretty ☀ feat. university!AU, petty jealousy, Jeonghan and Joshua are little shits enjoying the show -And the points don’t matter ☀ feat. idol!AU, if Vernon was a student -Let the good times roll ☀ feat. the first phonecall -lucida ☀ feat. valentine’s day, the prettiest stars with the prettiest date

When Vernon “Cooks” ☀

Misadventures in NYC ☀

Spending the first night together ☀

Disney Date ☀

Hiking Trip ☀

Seungkwan third wheeling the hell out a date ☀

Trying to get rid of a random boy hitting on her ☀

Vernon Singing ☂

Egg Tart ☀

Being insecure about her body ☀

When he dyes your hair and fails ☀

Waking up together ☀

Vernon Being a Noisy Tenant/Neighbor ☀

Accidental First Kiss as Friends ☀

Meeting the parents ☀

Vernon as your next door neighbor ☀

Him making the first move ☀ ☂

bffs, awkward!Hansol ☀

Sunny Side Up  ☂

First time (m) ☀  ☕

barista!Vernon ☀

Date Night In ☀

Cherry Kiss ☀

Dance Lessons ☀

Gym Scenario ☀

Opening up about being Korean-American/Biracial ☂

Saying “I love you” for the first time ☀

Blind Date ☀

Midsummer Night (feat. Hoshi/Seokmin) ☀

Series

Drinking Series (Vernon/OFC)

-Taking care of her being impossibly sad drunk ☂ -Taking care of her being impossibly happy drunk ☀ -drunk!Vernon ☀ -drunk!In Paris ☀

Get lost in the rhythm of me (radio host!Vernon/OFC) ☀ 1

Hansolmates!Verse

-soulmates!AU ☀ -Forgetting to ask you out ☀ -First meeting, blue (Soul-identifying colors) ☀

Dating App!AU

-Select your gem: Vernon’s Route? [Yes/No] ☀

Seventeen As

A:tLA Benders

Who are the blood/lava/metalbenders

Who are the lightning/spiritual projectors

Moodboards

la vie en rose (Vernon)

[believingispowerfulmagic]

Fanfic Master List (March 2017)

I figured it was time to update my list and to combine my two posts into one to manage easier. It’s long, so I’m putting it under a cut. 

Series:

All That Was Me

All That Was Me (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

AU! On a much needed vacation to England, Regina Mills-Ahern goes into Sherwood Forest during the Midsummer, when legend says travel between worlds is possible. She exits into a different forest, one populated with characters she only knew from fairy tales. Trying to return home, she encounters intrigue, friendship and love. Stable Queen, Outlaw Queen and other pairings.

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? (FF.net/AO3)

Set ten years before the events of “All That Was Me,” young Regina Mills and Daniel Ahern go on their first date.

The Life and Times of the Wicked Queen (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

How Zelena became the Wicked Queen in my story “All That Was Me.” Journey from Oz to the Enchanted Forest with one wicked witch.

The Land Without Magic (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

Sequel to “All That Was Me.” Regina Mills has been returned to the Land Without Magic and reunited with Robin and Roland. Together, the growing family faces the challenges of this world as they await the day when Emma will be called upon to break the curse. Outlaw Queen. AU

Once Upon a Time (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

Third in the "All That Was Me" series. With the knowledge that their friends are living their cursed lives only miles down the road, Robin and Regina try to figure out a way to rescue them. However, this brings them back in the path of familiar foes and they need to be more careful than ever-especially with three children now to worry about. Outlaw Queen, other pairings.

Dark Robin Saga

The Prince of Darkness (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

Season 5 AU. When the darkness tries to take Regina, Robin takes the dagger and becomes the new Dark One to protect her. As Robin and Regina adjust to the darkness inside him, everyone works together to save their friend and stop the Dark One once and for all. OQ with other ships in the background.

The Dark Legacy (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

Sequel to “The Prince of Darkness.” Happily married and raising their four children, Robin and Regina face two main concerns: Zelena and the dark magic about to awaken in their daughters’. When a strange figure begins stalking the girls, the two must band together with Zelena in order to protect their children from a cruel fate. OQ with other ships in the background.

Stand alone:

Thoughts in the Aftermath (AO3)

Following the events at Granny’s in the finale, both Regina and Robin muse about their situation.

The Magic of Christmas Day (FF.net/AO3)

Christmas comes to Storybrooke and Regina finds there’s still magic in the season.

A Thief and a Queen (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

A collection of my OQ drabbles, mostly written for OQ Week on tumblr.

Comfort Food (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

After horrible weeks, Robin Locksley and Regina Mills both reach for the last box of mac and cheese at the store. They decide to share it and find it is the start of a beautiful relationship. This relationship is explored in a series of one-shots. Outlaw Queen AU.

The Nanny (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

Regina Mills is hired to be the nanny for Roland Locksley, the young son of widowed millionaire Robin Locksley. She balances her duties as Roland’s nanny with caring for her ailing father all the while fighting her instant attraction to her employer and her own past. Outlaw Queen, modern non-magical AU.

It’s a Love Story (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

A series of one-shots based on Taylor Swift songs and Outlaw Queen. Will cover a wide range-canon, AU, Outlaw Bandit, Missing Year, etc. Will contain several ships in the background as well.

Building a Family (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

Ten-years-old Sophie Mills had a goal for her summer: Find her dad. With her mother, Regina, not wanting to talk about him, she comes up with a plan to find him from the one photograph that may contain him. When she does, she discovers she may have started looking for a dad but found a family instead. OutlawQueen, non-magical AU.

Henry’s Adventures in Fairytale Land (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

Based on “Babes in Toyland,” young Henry Mills wakes up after a car crash in a strange new world. He helps Regina, the Miller’s Daughter, on her quest to find the Toymaker in order to save her true love, Robin Hood, from the Wicked Witch. Will they succeed? And will Henry get back home in time for Christmas? [Gen with a strong OutlawQueen undercurrent]

Crown My Heart (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

OQ AU. Leopold realizes that Regina doesn’t want to marry him and sees a chance to strengthen Mist Haven’s relationship with a neighboring kingdom. He arranges for her to marry the new King of Sherwood, with whom Regina has an immediate connection. However, she carries a dark secret and faces a hostile court. Will their love be strong enough?

The Christmas Wish (FF.net/AO3/Wattpad)

Henry Mills and Roland Locksley are best friends who decide to ask Santa for one thing this Christmas: to be brothers. It's a wish which will have life changing consequences for all, especially their single parents, Regina Mills and Robin Locksley. Outlaw Queen, non-magical AU. Hood-Mills family

tumblr fics

An Enchanted Thanksgiving: One-shot set in the All That Was Me verse, where Regina introduces Thanksgiving to the Enchanted Forest.

Masquerade: Leopold throws a ball in honor of his anniversary with Regina. She meets a masked stranger there and shares a moment with him.

Caught: A mission goes wrong for Robin and Regina.

Forgotten: Set in Season 4B, Robin returns from New York to find the Evil Queen. Can he help her remember how much he loves her?

Assassin: King Leopold hires infamous assassin The Hood to kill his wife, Regina. Robin didn’t expect to be drawn to her.

Hades: When the Queen of Death finds a young boy in her river, her life is changed forever.

Archery: Regina agrees to spend a morning with Henry and Robin learning how to properly shoot a bow and arrow.

Hope: After an accident, Regina gets a peak into what her life could’ve been.

Pain Management: Regina takes care of Robin after he is injured and she soon learns he has an interesting reaction to painkillers.

Snowball Fight (Missing Year Trilogy #1): Robin and Regina get into a rather interesting fight.

On the Balcony (Missing Year Trilogy #2): Robin and Regina have a heart-to-heart.

Fever (Missing Year Trilogy #3): After Regina is injured during an attack, Robin takes care of her.

The Reveal: A season 4B AU. Robin returns from New York at the tail end of a battle for Storybrooke and learns something about Regina.

Waking Up: A sequel to Pain Management. What happens when the painkillers wear off and Robin wakes up.

Bath Time: Robin convinces Regina to relax after a long day.

Wicked: Robin and “Marian” go see a musical in New York City. Offers what my theory of what would’ve happened with the Marilena arc.

Happy Ending: A different ending for “There’s No Place Like Home” for Outlaw Queen.

The Dark One: Season 4 finale AU. With the darkness trying to take Regina, it is Robin, not Emma, who takes the dagger instead. (Became chapter 1 of The Prince of Darkness).

Comfort Food: Based on a prompt. Robin and Regina have no good, horrible weeks and reach for the last box of mac and cheese. (Became part I of Comfort Food).

The Reveal Part II: Sequel to The Reveal. Robin reveals what happened in New York and how he returned to Storybrooke.

A Purrfect Beginning: Based off a prompt. Robin gets off on the wrong foot with new neighbor Regina when his cat impregnates hers.

Aquatic Fun: When the Hood-Mills-Swan-Charming family spends a day at a water park, a friendly rivalry blooms between Robin and Regina.

True Love: Outlaw Bandit. Robin feels drawn to Regina, even after only meeting her once.

Family Matters: Regina needs a date and asks her best friend, Robin, to accompany her. She might get more than she expected.

Lost Souls: Interlude between “Lily” and “Mother.” Regina goes for a walk to clear her head.

The Nanny: Regina Mills becomes the nanny for the young son of billionaire Robin Locksley. (Became first chapter in The Nanny)

Welcome Home: (Set in the Comfort Food verse) Robin and Regina bring home the newest member of their family.

Teach Me: Robin asks Regina to teach him how to drive and she finds an incentive to help him succeed.

The Tattoo: In the missing year, Regina and Robin have a little competition.

Goodnight, My Someone: Outlaw Bandit. Regina and Robin wish goodnight to the same star.

The Storybook: In the missing year, Henry’ storybook comes to Regina and brings her closer with a certain outlaw.

The Impossible: Based on a prompt. Regina’s visit to Dr. Whale doesn’t go the way she planned.

Best Laid Plans: Based on a prompt. Robin’s surprise for Regina doesn’t go as planned.

The Talk: Outlaw Believer fic. Henry asks Robin to give him that all important “Talk.”

A Night Together: Written as a birthday gift and is mostly Dimples Queen. When the Charmings throw a ball, Regina offers to babysit Roland.

First Snow: Writing challenge. Regina and Henry introduce Robin and Roland to snow days.

Family Bonds: Regina worries that Roland feels bad that so many people remark about how much Peanut looks like Robin but he surprises her with his answer.

Love Thy Neighbor: Robin and Marian discover their new neighbors are swingers and he finds he has a passionate connection with Regina.

Dirty Secret: During Season 4A, Regina and Robin sneak around behind Marian’s back.

What Child is This?: Written for OUAT Secret Santa. Regina and Robin learn something surprising about Peanut.

Not Just Another Day: Everyone has forgotten Regina’s birthday...or have they?

A Drunken Misadventure: After a night of drinking, Robin gets a brilliant idea--confront the Evil Queen.

Baby's Firsts: Regina and Robin have bets over Peanut’s milestones.  

The Nanny: Christmas Interlude:  Christmas at the Locksley household, since I didn’t show it in The Nanny.

Comfort Food Interlude: Betrayal: Regina gets betrayed by the one thing she thought never would.

The Shower: Regina and Robin wash up after another monster attack.

Steal Away: Robin robs the wrong person...or has he?

Steal Away: Cohabitation: The Locksleys and the Mills adjust to their new living arrangements.

The Evil Queen and the Thief: When Robin Hood is captured, the Evil Queen has some fun with him.

Teacher and Student: Robin will do anything to pass his class. Professor Mills is willing to see what “anything” means.

Missing Year: Regina and Robin have a private moment before going to find Rumpelstiltskin.

Comfort Food: Invitation: Robin struggles with an important question--does he invite his parents to his wedding to Regina?

Comfort Food: Nightmare:  As the trial approaches, Robin finds that Regina is very affected by it.

Comfort Food: A Snowy Day: Robin and Regina enjoy a day in when snow blankets the area.

All That Was Me: Rescuing Regina: Robin discovers Regina is missing after the wedding and rallies the Merry Men to find her.

Secret Santa: Written for the 2016 OQ Advent Calendar. Regina suspects that best friend Robin is her Secret Santa but she is surprised at the reason why. 

A Place Called Home: Written for the OUAT Secret Santa. Regina celebrates Christmas throughout the years in Storybrooke and finds a home at last. 

A Valentine’s Day Surprise: Written for Love from OQ exchange. Regina makes a wish on her birthday and it slowly comes true. 

Jamie Hood Series

Daddy's Little Girl: Jamie (Peanut) wants to be just like her Daddy.

Mother Knows Best: Regina intervenes after Robin and Jamie have a fight.

Life With Siblings: Jamie and her bond with her brothers.

Friends and Extended Family: Jamie has to make a family tree, raising concerns in her parents.

Questions and Answers:  After getting her family tree back, Jamie has some questions for her parents.

Free Day:  Jamie meets her biological mother.

Hotel Verse (In order they happen in the verse, not order of publication)

(Can also be read on FF.net, AO3 or Wattpad)

The Hotel: When a termite infestation forces Regina and Henry out of their house for a few days, they stay at Storybrooke’s only luxury hotel. There she meets handsome handyman Bobby Locke.

Part Deux: Regina and Henry continue to spend time with Bobby and Roland.

Playdate: Bobby and Roland visit Regina and Henry for a playdate at the mansion.

First Kiss: Henry’s birthday party leads to a present for Regina.

Green-Eyed Monster: Graham finds out about Robin and Bobby. He is not happy. 

First Time: Now together, Bobby and Regina have sex for the first time.

Jealousy: When Regina gets jealous, Bobby assures her she’s his only one.

Memories: On a camping trip with Roland and Henry, Bobby has a strange episode that changes him. 

Merry Christmas, Regina Mills: As Christmas approaches, Bobby/Robin surprises Regina. 

[sweetdreamsofgelato]

Do you take requests? I just caught up on Midsummer Misadventures and assuming the goal is for the reader and Henry to end up together I would love to know how she feels about telling people who know them! I could see her being very unhappy to share the news considering how unhappy she is to admit that she clearly likes him more than she wants to believe! You're an amazing writer by the way!

Firstly, thank you so much for the lovely compliment! I wish I was updating more often (read: at all) but, per usual, real life insists on getting well in the way. I shan't go into specifics yet, but the end goal is indeed a HEA and Reader will undoubtedly be dragged there kicking and screaming. 😂 It will definitely be an admission through gritted teeth, partially because of the history of antipathy but also because of the inevitable stream of "I KNEW IT/ I told you so" coming from everyone who knows their history.

[sweetdreamsofgelato]

Question about reader in Midsummer Misadventures if thats allowed (please disregard if its not, but I miss the story and think about it a lot lol)...What does she think of his love of warhammer and general nerdiness? Does she mercilessly tease him while secretly thinking its cute? Does she just roll her eyes and wish he'd stop talking about it? Is she into all of that too?

My dear Bonnie Nonnie,

Questions are ALWAYS welcome. I adore getting them because I love rambling about my characters but also because more often than not it forces me to sit down and think...and then hopefully write. 😅

Honestly, I miss my story too and I'm so sorry it consistently takes forever to update. Writing has mostly been on the back burner lately because, of the many things going on in my life, over the last few months I've been knee-deep in the process of moving house. It's not gone smoothly at all so that's been fun, but things are starting to settle now. Hopefully, I will be able to return to something approximating a normal routine, but that said, a normal routine for me is typically just barely contained chaos. 😂

Sorry for rambling! Onto your question:

I think I answered something similar to this in this ask, but for the record, Reader would absolutely roast him mercilessly for it, and he would give back just as much with her guilty pleasures because that is their love language. 😂 There is definitely potential for Reader to find his nerdiness endearing, not necessarily because she also enjoys such things (though she theoretically could), but rather because I think she is attracted to that undercurrent of passion that Henry carries for his interests (though she loathes to admit it).

I think I've mentioned before that I see Reader as being fairly neutral on nerdiness. While RI naturally requires one to suspend disbelief to a certain degree, I've purposely tried to leave some things vague or open for interpretation to keep Reader as RI-friendly as possible. Sometimes I feel I've failed magnificently at that but there it is.

For your patience, here's a little sneaky peek!

You bowed over him and jammed a finger in the centre of his chest, forcing him to lean back even further. Your whisper was sharp and low. “It’s the only reason I’ve not gone home and left you here to sort out your own mess.”

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

“Where was this concern when you signed that bloody guestbook or when you threw me over your shoulder like a neanderthal?” Contrition flashed across his face, but your satisfaction was short-lived. The memory brought a fresh rush of heat to your already temper-inflamed skin. “Do not pretend that you’re doing this for any reason other than to protect your precious image, and don’t you dare impugn my integrity!” 

His gaze quickly flicked from yours down to his chest, and then made a lazy ascent once again. His eyebrow ticked up as he sat straight and slowly, purposefully leaned into your finger. 

A direct challenge. 

“Our mess,” Henry corrected heatedly, “and I’m sure the money has absolutely nothing to do with why you’re still here.” 

There was bitterness in his tone that felt undeserved. “You would hold a business agreement—one you approached me with— against me?”

“No, but perhaps you ought to be honest about your motivations before vilifying mine.”

[sweetdreamsofgelato]

I know life is busy and your real world obviously comes first so this is in no way meant to pressure you to update, but I've been craving some Misummer Misadventures level sass lately! Those two just kill me with their constant bickering when it's so clear they care about each other a whole lot.

Honestly, I crave it too. The writer really needs to get her shit together 😂😉 I'm actively writing it, it's just taking more time than I'd like. The next chapter is 2/3 done. The delay is partly caused by one particular scene for which I have two options in mind and haven't decided which to choose...unless I go the completely mad route of trying to combine them some way. Decisions, decisions.

I swear, being a writer is being permanently stuck in a Choose Your Own Adventure story of your own making. 😬

[sweetdreamsofgelato]

Goddamn, what's a boy to do? Tryna keep his cool while the walls fall in Goddamn, what's a boy to do? Tryna keep his cool stood next to you

Oh, we fell Fell in love at the end of the world

[sweetdreamsofgelato]

Okay so I have been rereading Midsummer Misadventures (because I deserve a treat of wit, humour and self-indulgence) and I am terrible at picking up (romantic) hints. But while rereading it I gasped multiple times like - was he into her from the beginning? Like reading it for the first time I just thought: Yep, he is mean and does and says all those things because of their dynamic and history but on second read it seems to be because he doesn’t know how to react to maybe his changing feelings for her and how to woo her (not just her opinion). Whether I have misread the signs or not, I am excited as heck about the (potential) clues and how the story will continue to play out. I am wondering what role Jack will play in all this and about - about it all actually!!!You have such a talent for building sentences and writing dialogs and using words I have never heard of and I thank you so much for posting your wörk😘❤️

Oh my days, what a compliment 😭 You're so kind. Thank you so much for reading (and sorry that there's not been a recent update. I am working on it when I can! It's been a struggle 😭) If it all seems murky, that's the intention and the reason why I wrote it from a single POV. Single-POV narrators are not always reliable. 😁 You've homed in on Henry's struggle with the latter. He's a mess and doesn't know what to do about it basically (the same can be said of Reader). If you've not read it already, I went down a little rabbit hole about their mindsets, etc, and it may answer some of your questions. Please feel free to check it out here. Jack is a bit of an enigma even to me The Writer, but that's part of his charm. You'll see his role take more shape in the next chapter.

[sweetdreamsofgelato]

Hopelessly I'll love you endlessly Hopelessly I'll give you everything But I won't give you up I won't let you down And I won't leave you falling If the moment ever comes

[sweetdreamsofgelato]

So this and it made me think in reader and henry in midsummer misadventures🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 like fastforward a couple of years🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹✨

LOL yes, I could see this unfolding like the film The Money Pit. 😂

[sweetdreamsofgelato]

"I think she is attracted to that undercurrent of passion that Henry carries for his interests (though she loathes to admit it)" I can so see this! She'd like 'ugh Henry stop being so damn passionate about everything, it's turning me on' as he's in the middle of a rambling explanation about something nerdy

Haha yes, absolutely!

[sweetdreamsofgelato]

Ooh any details you can share about your potential Hiddleston fic? I have no prompt suggestions but I love your writing and I'm excited to see what you have planned for Midsummer Misadventures and see what you might do with Tom or Chris Evans!

Not too many unfortunately as it is still very much in the conceptual phase. I think I've finally settled on a fluffy one-shot Coffee Shop or Bookshop AU for my first Tom fic. I also had in mind to do a Librarian AU, but I feel that would definitely end up a multi-chapter fic (probably a mix of fluff, smut, and angst). I know I will end up writing the Librarian one anyway 😂, but I'm trying to avoid another multi-chapter whilst I'm working on Midsummer Misadventures and In the Pursuit of Happiness.

[sweetdreamsofgelato]

Midsummer Misadventures: Chapter 6

(Henry pic credit. The rest are Google.)

[CH 1] [CH 2] [CH 3] [CH 4] [CH 5] [CH 6] [CH 7]

Pairing: Henry x Female!Reader (you)

Word count: 4392

Warnings: RPF; Enemies to Lovers. Slow Burn Smut (not yet). Snark. So much snark. Olympic-level bickering. Adult language and themes, etc. Somewhat arrogant Alpha-male Henry because I have questionable taste in men. Plot holes and predictability abound.

Disclaimer: Henry is probably nothing like this IRL. This is 100% fiction. Don’t take it seriously and don’t come at me with hate.

Summary: Henry hires you as his property solicitor and you go on a misadventure in Scotland.

A/N:

So I finally succumbed to better judgement, set my perfectionism aside, and split up the massive chapter I was working on into smaller chapters. It was getting excessively long (three scenes and the first is 4000+ words, so you can imagine!) and it's just better this way. A 12,000+ chapter would have been a slog for everyone, I'm afraid.

Also, I just wanted to post something, so this chapter is mostly introspection and dialogue, but not as much action as we would've if I hadn't split up the scenes. However, I hope you all enjoy it anyway. You all are so gracious and patient, I just 🥺 I don't deserve you.

As a personal update, I am juggling A LOT right now and this will continue for the next few months at least, but I am still writing and will update when I can. Thank you all so much for understanding!

Unbeta-ed. All mistakes are my own.

Reposting my works on other sites or platforms is prohibited. Reblogs, likes, and comments are, as always, greatly appreciated.

Whether it was purposeful or merely a shred of long-awaited good fortune, Henry hadn’t returned before you fell asleep. He definitely came back at some point during the night, as you had vague, semi-conscious recollections of him slinking in, shuffling about the pitch blackness and silently slipping into bed, only to sneak out again as the first traces of dawn peeked through the windows.

You woke alone, though despite Henry’s physical absence, you didn’t feel alone: The pillow smelled of him, as did the sheets and—you sniffed at your shoulder and your nose crinkled—you. You were completely surrounded by a scent that’d become far too familiar in such a short span of time. The constant reminder of him flung the memory of the storage cupboard straight back to the forefront of your mind.

Not that it’d never left.

The previous evening, you’d tried to push it away, to relegate it to the deepest recesses of your mind and write off the sudden, impetuous lust as some unfortunate trauma response. However, despite your best efforts, it lingered whilst you’d showered, lurked in the background when you’d enjoyed the most amazing savoury pie and raspberry cranachan, and persevered when you’d stared at the slip of paper Jack had given you, wondering if you ought to send him a message.

You hadn’t.

“If you need a friend” had hit a particularly raw nerve. You really could do with one, and you were unable to think of a single person with whom you felt close enough to confide your circumstances, let alone these new and unwanted…

It was impossible to even name them. What they were, you didn’t know, but what you did know was that they were completely unexpected and entirely unwelcome.

Henry had tossed you over his shoulder not two days ago and you’d felt nothing more than annoyance and now the mere memory of his hands on your skin sent your nervous system into a tailspin. You wryly wondered if he somehow dislocated your sense of reason when he tackled you into the cupboard. Your judgement was clearly compromised, and the fact that you couldn’t think of anyone with whom you trusted enough to confide in about all this was salt in an old wound.

Henry’s rise to fame made being even peripherally connected to him lonely and isolating, and over time you’d become resentful. With the proliferation of social media, privacy was all but nonexistent, and though you’d never chosen to be in the public eye to any degree, you were continually thrust into it by association.

It was never something you voluntarily disclosed, but everyone in your life knew you had ties to Henry. Even though you’d tried to distance yourself and bury the connection, people managed to dig it up eventually: The few joint family get-togethers or outings you both attended inevitably got papped or some bygone childhood memories immortalised on the internet got dredged up and recirculated for public consumption, especially when he was promoting his latest project. Whilst curiosity from strangers generally faded once it was discovered there was nothing salacious to gossip about, it was impossible to ignore how the people in your orbit treated you differently.

Romantic endeavours either ghosted you or interrogated you on how close you were with him, ultimately succumbing to insecurity and jealousy that ended relationships before they began. People who took only a mild interest in your existence suddenly invited you to lunch or out for drinks in an attempt to jockey for some sort of favourable position. Colleagues who typically treated you with haughty indifference started asking your professional opinions whilst not so slyly digging for dirt on Henry, ultimately inquiring if he was single and looking—personally or legally.

The worst, the absolute worst, were the ones who played the long game. Months or even years of emotional investment (something that was already incredibly challenging for you) in someone you’d thought was a friend, only to have them ingratiate themselves into the most protected corners of your life for their own perceived gain.

Somehow explaining, ad nauseam, that you and Henry had no meaningful relationship on any level was not the slightest deterrent, and the repeated violations of your inner sanctum inflicted lasting damage. To say you had trust issues was putting it rather mildly.

It was bad enough when the media identified you as a family friend or, erroneously, as “perhaps a distant cousin,” but now, with a false rumour that you were his secret wife: The commentary, scrutiny, and conjecture would be far-reaching and a thousand times worse than ever before. It would be invasive and relentlessly cruel, and your resentment took an even more bitter turn. Part of you felt guilty for not rising above, but it was difficult to be the better person when the mere existence of someone you actively avoided routinely upended your life. To add insult to injury, frustration with yourself was now equal to your resentment because, like an idiot, you’d willingly placed yourself into the line of fire by agreeing to this job.

Yes, it was your poor decision and you owned that, but Henry wasn’t guiltless in the grand scheme of things. He wreaked considerable havoc and he was far too perceptive to be ignorant of it. The only explanation that made sense was that he simply didn’t care, and anyone unfortunate enough to be caught in the crossfire of his fame and ego was considered an acceptable loss.

It shouldn’t be surprising; he’d always played fast and loose without a thought to the consequences, but perhaps you’d held onto some absurd hope he would grow out of it, if just for everyone around him. One would think being a public figure necessitated developing a certain sense of prudence, but you supposed he didn’t have to when he was able to pay a whole bloody team to clean up after him.

The sour cherry on top of it all was that you now had to contend with the aftermath of whatever had happened in that blasted cupboard. Even sleep had offered no escape; the memory of being completely wrapped up in him had invaded your dreams with such illicit efficiency it’d be admirable if it wasn’t so fundamentally distressing.

Not to mention complicating.

Stifling.

Crawling out of your makeshift blanket fort, you reached over to the bedside table and once again picked up your phone and the slip of paper that rested under it. Of course, if Jack had meant “friend” in an entirely different context...

…the fleeting, emotionless, with no strings attached kind of friend.

Nope. You unceremoniously dropped the paper and phone back onto the bedside table. No, there were too many eyes on you at the moment for any good to come of it. Impossible for many reasons, including the fact that every time you tried to envision yourself with Jack—and by God, you’d clung to that fantasy with embarrassing desperation—the memory of being tangled up with Henry, with his warm breath on your neck and deep rough voice in your ears, repeatedly razed it to the ground.

Just as you let out a frustrated and mortified groan, you heard the door swing open. The unmistakable sounds of Henry shuffling and then stopping abruptly, followed by rattling dishes and low cursing cut through the air.

“Am I interrupting?” Henry called out from the doorway. He sounded more cautious than sarcastic, though the insinuation was obvious.

“If I say yes, will you go away?” you answered.

“Is it safe to come in, yes or no?” he replied impatiently. “This shit is heavy.”

You pressed a finger to your temple and sighed wearily. “I’m neither naked nor in any compromising positions.”

Henry promptly bustled in and made a discouraging noise when you immediately retreated back into your blanket fort.

“Arise,” said Henry with a tired sort of amusement, “for the end is nigh.”

“That’s not the slightest bit encouraging.”

“But it is the truth,” Henry replied matter-of-factly. “Were you not the one who gave me a proper dressing-down yesterday for not being honest and forthcoming?”

You winced. He just had to phrase it like that. Dressing-down.

“Plus if you don’t get up, you can’t have this.”

As if on cue, enticing aromas wafted in your direction, deftly slipping through the tufted defences of the bedding. You peeked out from under the edge of the duvet to see Henry had moved your side of the bed (good lord, there was now a “your side of the bed”), and in his hands was a hefty serving tray laden with a generous breakfast and a very large, steaming mug.

You reached a hand out from under the covers but Henry slid just out of reach.

“Nice try,” he chided, “but I’ll need more commitment than that.”

You were sorely tempted to kick him out, but knowing Henry, he would take breakfast with him just to be spiteful. Regardless, there was no way you would relax even with him gone. Your own mind was no longer a safe haven, so with a distinct sense of self-loathing, you dragged yourself upright, brushed the sleep-mussed hair from your face, and immediately took the proffered coffee. “I thought you weren’t an enabler.”

Henry smiled and shrugged in a way only a man with a mercurial conscience could. “When it suits me.”

You took a sip, eyes fluttering closed on a moan. It was a heady, indecent thing, but you didn’t care. After the exceedingly exhausting day before and subsequently restless night, it tasted like heaven and you didn’t care who knew about it.

After another sip and satisfied hum, you remarked, “So much for moral superiority.”

Your gaze flicked up to find Henry’s face tightly drawn. His knuckles whitened around the handles of the tray, and his expression shifted in an odd progression from dazed, panicked, to horrified. Surely this wasn’t the first time someone questioned his moral compass. You were fairly certain you’d done so on at least a half-dozen occasions.

Hell, there was sufficient evidence to question whether said compass even existed.

“Sorry?” he asked, sounding rather froggy. Bereft of his earlier swagger, Henry clumsily sidled away and slid the tray onto the sideboard.

You eyed him curiously before indicating the mug and the breakfast. “Bribe.”

“Ah, yes…sadly there is no high ground when it comes to public relations.” He cleared the residual grit from his voice with an awkward cough. “Survival of the fittest. Kill or be killed. It’s all quite Darwinian.”

“Rather grim for this early in the morning.”

“Welcome to my life.”

You shot him a caustic look over the top of your mug. He didn’t miss it.

“What now?” he snapped defensively though didn’t give you the time to answer. “Do you think I find all this enjoyable?”

“It would explain some of your questionable decision making.” Admittedly, calling him out may be the pot calling the kettle black, but it was still true.

“My life is not as charmed as you like to think it is.”

“If you think to give me some sob story about the woes of being rich and famous in the unfettered patriarchy, I’m not interested.” You knew celebrity was not all rainbows and roses—you were currently suffering some of the worst of it after all, but honestly, check your privilege.

Henry’s jaw twitched but he quickly changed the subject. “I ran into Caroline downstairs last night.”

Both your blood sugar and tolerance levels were too low for whatever Henry had to say next. Your eyes flitted woefully from the breakfast across the room to your phone beside you, and your mind drifted again. Henry droned on in the background, though what he said was lost in the haze of your own thoughts. You’d set the mobile to mute long ago and thankfully all of your socials had always been private, but the missed calls and unread messages were increasing exponentially. Henry may have said it was best to stay off the internet until this all blew over, but you wondered if you ought to check. Just rip off the bandage and witness the carnage firsthand. As frustrating as this all was, it didn’t pay to be ignorant; the more you knew about the lies being bandied about, the better you could prepare a response.

Anxiety pinched sharply in your chest. Okay, maybe you weren’t ready for it, but you really needed to get in touch with your family, if only just to warn them not to believe anything they may hear or read. And definitely not to answer any calls from journalists, reporters, or internet randos.

“Are you even listening?”

“Hmm?” You looked up and blinked Henry back into focus.

He glowered down at you from the end of the bed, spine ramrod straight and his arms folded tightly across his chest. Something in the authoritative posture, the shimmer of irritation that shadowed his sharp gaze, and the hard edge of his voice sent a thrill down your spine. To your horror, everything became uncomfortably warm.

Was this a thing?

Was this your thing?

“Sorry,” you muttered, quickly taking a drink in an attempt to smooth the parched rasp that’d clawed out of your throat.

“I said,” frustration drew out his words, “I have our costumes.”

Henry stalked into the sitting area and disappeared to the right. When he reappeared, you immediately choked on your coffee as he produced what could only be described as an utter abomination masquerading as a gown.

It was horrifying: The snow-white sleeve puffs were larger than your own head and the heart-shaped corseted bodice was embellished with so many rhinestones and sequins it would surely burn the retinas of everyone within a three-mile radius. A matching taffeta overskirt was pinned back with string pearls and oversized bows, revealing a comically voluminous underskirt made of layers upon layers of satiny bubble-gum pink trimmed with white lace.

It was amazing that the original lead hadn’t abandoned the play long ago.

Tears welled in your eyes as hot liquid seared your nose and throat. You gave your chest a few sharp whacks to dislodge the coffee and your disbelief. “You can’t be serious,” you wheezed through a cough.

Henry slid you a humouring look, one a condescending adult might give a small child when explaining a simple concept. “Did you really expect to not wear a costume?”

“That is not a costume,” you said severely, “it’s a crime against humanity.”

“It will help you get into character.”

“What character would possibly wear something so ghastly?”

You weren’t sure if his refusal to answer came from a place of provocation or self-preservation, but there was a mischievous sparkle in Henry’s eyes that you didn’t like it one bit.

“Regardless,” you pointed emphatically at the dress, “this twisted, outlandish roleplay was not part of the deal.” As soon the words left your lips, you inwardly cursed. His earlier expression, eerily reminiscent of an exasperated professor scolding an inattentive student, had apparently taken root in the most indecent corner of your mind and made for the worst Freudian slip.

“Curious choice of words,” Henry murmured smoothly in return, the corners of his mouth lifting in a devious smile. It was gone in a flash, and he spared a contemplative glance at the gown in his hand before he looked back to you. “You have a role in a play. It is quite literally the definition of roleplay and part of the deal.”

The heat that burned the tops of your cheeks as your already racy thoughts intensified at his suggestive remark.

“Technically,” you ground out, “I didn’t make a deal.” When Henry moved to confiscate your coffee, you clutched the oversized mug closer to your chest and made a threatening motion with your free hand. “It’s ridiculous and I’m not wearing it. I’ll look like a fussy, bedazzled cupcake.”

“Not to put too fine a point on it, Cupcake, but it’s not a matter of choice.”

Something simmered low and dangerous in your belly at his sarcastic use of the pet name; you jerked your gaze away and did your best to tamp it out.

Henry twisted around and picked up a short stack of papers from the sideboard. He cleared his throat and read dramatically: “For I am our hero, the dashing Lord Thane, revered knight of the realm—”

“Sure you aren’t the villain?” you muttered harshly into your mug.

Henry levelled an impatient look at you before continuing, “Mighty and courageous slayer of dragons. Honourable and true—my costume is over there, by the way.” He pointed to a perfectly reasonable, theatre-issue knight’s garb draped over the chaise longue and you wanted to wail at the injustice.

“And this lovely confection,” he waved the flouncy, beribboned monstrosity in your direction, “belongs to the singularly enchanting Lady Mariella, a soft-spoken damsel in perpetual distress who spends her days picking wildflowers, randomly breaking out into song, and reciting poetry to her personal—”

“What?” you shrieked. Not waiting for him to answer, you clumsily deposited your coffee on the bedside table and scrambled across the bed.

“I know,” he remarked with feigned gravity as you snatched the script from his hands, “such a character is a bit of a stretch for your first performance. Have you ever been accused of being soft-spoken?”

You shot him a fiery look, rolled up the papers and whacked him on the arm.

“Read for yourself,” Henry’s chest shook with a self-satisfied chuckle and you loathed how your attention pulled to the movement. “I suggest starting with Act Two.”

Focusing on the imminent doom at hand, you frantically flipped through the crumpled pages.

“Scene Five.”

You froze and your gaze jerked to his. “Have you already memorised this?”

He brandished a smug smile. “Professional.”

Grumbling something terribly insincere, your attention slid back to the script in your hands. Henry rocked forward in an outward display of impatience as you read; he craned his neck over the script, then turned the page and pointed toward the middle.

“Unicorns?” Your voice rose with disbelief. A whole herd of them, evidently.

Henry let out a commiserating noise. “It could use a bit of editing,”

“This is absolute madness,” you muttered as you continued skimming. No wonder Jack refused so adamantly; this is nothing short of total public humiliation. A dark trend as of late. Your stomach churned uneasily and you handed the script back to Henry. “This is a bad idea.”

Drawing attention to themselves, as this spectacle certainly would, seemed the last thing they ought to do.

“This is reality,” Henry stressed as he dropped the papers onto the rumpled bed. “Word of the play has already spread. To back out now would make for massive disappointment and even more negative press.”

Of course he was worried about his image. To be fair, you were as well, but not for the same reasons. Henry was a professional actor with an entire resume full of successes. While you both may be forced to assail your dignity, the general public would ultimately consider Henry’s sacrifice endearing, and though his colleagues may give him a good-natured ribbing for the whole ordeal, you (professionally speaking) would be lucky to get out of this with your reputation intact. Not great when you were trying to strike out on your own.

Personally…well, you didn’t even want to think about it. The internet vultures were no doubt already picking your whole life apart.

“Massive disappointment?” You rolled toward the wardrobe, ripped it open, and rummaged for fresh clothes. “You’ve got a terribly high opinion of yourself.”

A few agitated footsteps sounded around the bed. Henry’s fingers gripped the wardrobe door and pulled it back, bringing him once again into full view. His voice dropped low and grew serious. “If we renege, we won’t be the only ones dealing with the blowback.”

Understanding arrested your movement. Terrible idea as it was, crying off would leave the locals to deal with the disgruntled public who would undoubtedly accuse the townfolk of exaggerating for attention or profit. To a small village like Muirford, the resulting scandal would leave its mark. In the aftermath of last night, you felt little sympathy for overzealous fans or parasitic media; they could stay mad as far as you were concerned, but the thought of leaving permanent scars on the reputation of the locals and their village left a bitter taste in your mouth. Still, you still felt entitled to your resistance.

You gathered your outfit in your arms and turned, and nearly collided into Henry’s chest.

You slid to the side and he parried, blocking your path once again.

“Move.”

“Not until you hand over your clothes.”

Your eyes widened with shock. Perhaps it was his choice of words or his coarse and insistent tone—or just your wayward hormones, but in that instant, every phantom tingle and needy ache you’d held back surged forward with the force of a tsunami, rolling over you in ever-intensifying waves. He held firm, his eyes locked on yours in this absurd game of chicken you always fell into, and every inch of you felt hot and desperate for something staggeringly unwise. You knew in your bones that feeling any sort of way about him was not just a bad idea, it was the worst idea, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to convince your body of it.

You let out a breathy gasp, at his sheer audacity and your maddening inability to control your own misguided desires. Unfortunately, it didn’t sound nearly as outraged as you would’ve hoped and that was positively mortifying. “You must have a death wish.”

“Funnily enough, you aren’t the first person to accuse me of that,” he said rather flippantly, seemingly unaffected by your internal disquiet, “but regardless, we have a dress rehearsal.” Henry smoothly propped one arm against the top of the wardrobe door and lifted his free hand, the hook of the dress hanger dangling from his fingertip; the dress gently swayed heavily back and forth as he said, “Think of the children.”

Oh, that was low. Never mind that he was parroting your exact words from the day before.

He angled around the dress to look at you. “Or perhaps think of Jack,” he said with a slow smirk.

You’d already tried and a fat lot of good it’d done.

Determined to regain some sort of control, you gracelessly shoved past, clothing firmly in hand. “Why don't you just find someone else? We could go down to the pub right now and ask your adoring fans, and I guarantee you won’t lack volunteers.” Jack may have run them off last night, but you were certain that they were lingering, instilled with the hope of a new day.

“I’m not getting some stranger’s hopes up by feigning interest just so you can get out of a situation you put us in.” You turned and sputtered at the accusation, and his voice rose over your indignation. “More importantly, how’s it going to look if a happily married man goes pub crawling for a stage partner?”

Your fingers tightened on your clothes and for a moment you feared you may rip them to ribbons. “We are not married.”

He’d reiterated it just to stoke your irritation, you were sure, but you were about three seconds away from throwing open the window sash and screaming it to the world. Not that anyone would bother to listen, apparently.

“Eternally grateful for it, but the reality is that rumour has unfortunately become conspiracy.”

This was it. This was the hill you died on. “And whose fault is that again?”

Henry shoved away from the wardrobe and toward the sideboard, letting out a long string of curses along the way, a sure sign of rising frustration. “Does it really matter at this point?” he muttered and rubbed at the back of his neck.

Even if he had agreed to try to set it right, the situation was beyond fixable now, and the desire to feel put out was completely elemental. “We wouldn’t be in this mess if you had just an ounce of self-restraint.”

“Really?” He rounded sharply, forbearance snapping as he aimed the end of the dress hanger in your direction. One brow rose in a dark, accusatory arch and there was no shortage of sarcasm in his voice. “I’m the only one in this room who lacks self-restraint?”

Taut silence expanded between you and shame immediately dampened your ire. His expression was humourless when he silently thrust the dress toward you once more.

You swallowed thickly around nascent guilt; heat crawled up your neck and proceeded all the way to the tips of your ears. Loathe you were to admit it, your juvenile attempt to one-up him had played a direct part in your situation. His retaliatory question laid blame quite squarely where it belonged, and you hated him for it. You stamped over and snatched the dress from his hand and hated his self-righteous, triumphant smirk even more.

“Truce?” It sounded more like a statement than a question. He still looked rather stormy, but the tension in his voice eased somewhat when he added, “If only for the sake of our sanity?”

Grudgingly, you couldn’t argue with that. Survival mode made sense and more could be accomplished working together than snapping at each other’s throats. Hadn’t you made the same point just yesterday morning? Given the finality of your situation, perhaps it was better to focus on a solution rather than who was at fault.

Realistically, the likelihood of success was low. Cooperation always seemed short-lived with antagonism ultimately winning out in the end.

You let out a tired sigh. “Fine, but I still don’t think this…” you gesticulated wildly, the massive dress rustling loudly with the movement, “...is going to do any good.”

Henry picked up his own costume, sagged against the wall, and hummed soberly as you proceeded to the bathroom. When you turned to close the door, you caught sight of hard resignation creasing his face. His eyes were unfocused, fixed onto some unseeable point in the distance of his mind; he looked tired and deeply conflicted, and it gave you pause.

He suddenly caught your gaze. It was as intense as the words that followed, and a flash of something acute once again fizzled up your spine: “People tend to believe what they want to believe regardless of the truth. Trying to convince them otherwise is wasted energy.”