#like again i picked up it was a little gay on the skim bc its by a gay poet abt a gay poet. and bro is described using words like beautiful

[broke-on-books]

Holy topic change batman

How did we even get here

[laurent-ofvere]

what are your favourite m/m books?

im just gonna list a bunch that ive read this past year ish, you’ve likely heard of most but anyways 

edit; will just keep coming back to this list and adding as i read one that i find worth recing

the foxhole court by nora sakavic - the slowest of burns, i adored all of these assholes, wold take a bullet for andrew minyard, him and neil deserve the world

the song of achillies by madeline miller - im sure you’ve heard of this but if not then oh my gah. my sweet gay sons who i cry for once a week

carry on by rainbow rowell - listen. if you like harry potter then you’ll love this even more, if you’re like me and dont give a fuck then you’re solid bc i fuckin adored this book regardless. i was Not prepared for the delight that was snowbaz, and baz pitch is one of my favorite characters Ever. hes a smart, cynical vampire who’s kind of an asshole but also kind of a soft loser and i would throw it all down for him. these two fuckers owned my entire ass

six of crows by leigh bardugo - not actually a romance book so its not technically m/m but there are romantic relationships woven throughout the story and there is m/m and 💖✨ (but regardless please read this if you wanna go on a wild ass adventure and scream for 2 full length books, some of the greatest most diverse characters to ever be written)

in other lands by sarah rees brennan - this book was in its entirety a goddamn delight. elliot is by definition a disaster bisexual, and theres no greater pleasure on earth than reading his sassy obnoxious pov. if i wasn’t laughing i was just grinning throughout the whole thing. he goes through different relationships throughout the book (m and f) and i wont spoil but in terms of m/m oh my god ❤️❤️❤️

the gentleman’s guide to vice and virtue by mackenzi lee - this book was similarly delightful as hell and monty is another disaster bisexual who deserves the world. this is literally just a book full of shenanigans and the tropiest tropes. you’ll wanna shake monty but also give him a hug and the universe and his best friend who He Is In Love With 

wolfsong by tj klune - this is an abo book which isn’t everyones thing, but i enjoyed it when i read it and ox is an adorable lovable bisexual who has all my love 

rock by anyta sunday - my memory is fuzzy on this one but i remember loving it sooo much, i wish i remembered the details better but its one of those books that take you through the years so you experience them as kids, teens and young adults and its done very well. i really recommend looking it up and seeing if you’re interested, there was heartache but it was also very heartwarming and i’l definitely re read soon

the gladiator’s master by fae sutherland - so i went into this bc i saw it had themes of erotica & D/s which im personally into, but for some reason that i cant recall i mainly skimmed it when i started reading it and ive been slowly reading it for a while now but i only have the vague idea since it was a skim read (still not done, i pick it up randomly) and honestly i actually enjoy what i read of it and wish i remembered what compelled me to give it a half ass read when i started. (i might have thought the relationship pacing was a bit fast? but i actually dont fully feel that way now when i look back?? idk??) ill probably start it again eventually and read it properly so you should look it up and see if it intrigues you

think of england by k.j. charles - im currently reading this and im somewhere in the middle. im enjoying it, but its one of those books that i had recd so much that i had REALLY high expectations so im a little bit “hmm” about it, but again, im only in the middle and could finish it like ASDFGHJ so theres that

the raven boys by maggie stiefvater - there is a m/m couple in the series and its very slow burn but its DELICIOUS and i LOVE THEM BOTH SO MUCH and one of the guys is MY ENTIRE DARK HEART

aristotle and dante discover the secrets of the universe by benjamin alire sáenz - i was very wary about reading this bc its YA and i really dont like cutesy teen books at all, and while it can be that, it was still nice?? the themes and relationships are very endearing, the pov character is an angsty boy who struggles with a lot and it was very nice seeing him learn himself/the world/his place and their relationship was 💞

[adrift-in-writing]

Français Between Us - Chapter 6

Gonna try something different, see if this is what’s actually happening...

_________________________

“Lena.” A French accent rang out into the air, albeit muffled through all the high-pitched white noise the student could make out. She lightly groaned, shaking her head just as she had felt a light breeze tickle her on the nose. Then, her eyes slowly opened up to see Amélie gently fanning her student’s face.

“Wake up.”

She did, but not without her heart skipping a beat and immediately jolting her. She vaguely recalled fainting earlier, and fell back into her chair with an elongated sigh. With a soft chuckle, Amélie gently waved at her student. “There she is! Welcome back to the land of the living.”

“How...how long was I out?” Lena groggily spoke out, now trying to remember where she was and why she passed out.

“About fifteen minutes, give or take.”

“Oh. Not too bad at...least…” Lena then remembered her predicament and earlier pratfalls. At the revelation, she fell out of her chair, grunting. Her eyes widened, and - again - she began stuttering. “Y-y-y-y-y-yuhhh!” Lena ended up pointing directly at her professor, now at a complete loss for words while still down on the floor. “Kiss!”

More incoherent babbling from Lena, it seemed. But that was really not surprising for Amélie, considering she liked the idea of being a big tease. She just...smiled, and set the little fan back on the table. “First one’s free.”

Lena hoped that was a joke and it was an accident.

She had extended her hand out so Lena could grab it and get back up from her chair, though her student seemed fairly reluctant to get back up. Inevitably, push came to shove, and Amélie felt compelled to just bring Lena back up by forcefully dragging her. “Come on, Lena.” Her professor raised the chair back up and sat Lena back down. “N’ai pas peur!”

That didn’t just happen.

No, god dammit that didn’t just happen . Was Amélie reading her mind, especially just before they had even arrived in the café? This was supposed to be a simple outing and yet, somehow, Lena got kicked in the face by how unpredictable the past few minutes were.

Today wasn’t real. Nope. Not at all. Somewhere out there in the world Professor Lacroix was looking down upon her because she was a buffoon. This date wasn’t real. She wasn’t laughing away at her misfortunes or just out of the blue kissing her 19-year-old student on the lips.

The waitress from earlier had arrived again with a requested hot towel and Amélie’s second cup of coffee. Confused and unsure of things, Lena just sat there with wide eyes like a deer in the headlights, awkwardly staring at their server before she moved away.

Presumably, that hot towel was meant for her. The professor sitting just across from her smugly took a sip from her second cup of coffee. As she set it down on a saucer, Amélie rested her chin using her thumb and index finger whilst her elbow supported it.

“Well,” Amélie tilted her head again. “I’m sure you’re having mixed signals, aren’t you?”

That was putting it delicately, holy god. Lena didn’t even get permission to use the hot towel; she just went after it and wanted to get away from this embarrassing scene.

But there it was again.

That light-hearted chuckle emitting from across the table, and an equally delicate smile to greet her with an ethereally warm glow to it.

And that made her blush even more with an added amount of tiny squealing, as Lena found it hard to breathe in the presence of her professor right now. She wished that it was the first day of school again, because that Amélie compared to now was...refined, and very sophisticated. That ‘I am unapproachable’ feeling, combined with the stern and serious looks she gave, and yet she never seemed to have any other emotion outside of anything serious.

Compared to the Amélie before her now, it seemed like she was very interested since the first meeting. So incredibly filled with the joy of life, and so carefree about it all as well. It seemed...awkward, and out of place. Yet they always did say that looks are deceiving, and to never judge a book by its cover.

Lena did in fact have questions, but the sheer amount of fuckery going through her head was trying to process its way and not slip out by accident. She took a deep breath and exhaled just the same, neatly folding back the hot towel. She had gazed at her professor, who in return had the intent of answering any questions thrown her way.

“...You like me, don’t you?” Lena had said, throwing a bit of confidence in her voice.

All Amélie really did was shrug. “I did say you were brilliant the first time we spoke face-to-face, did I not?”

She did. As a matter of fact, Lena kind of took it personally on that day, but thought nothing of it. Little did she know, that was definitely how her professor saw her.

“And...the kiss?”

A light chuckle was heard, just before Professor Lacroix moved her hands down to relax on the table.

“Like I said. If you never knew me as Amélie Guillard, you’d love me just the same, oui? ”

A single nod came from Lena.

“Then it should be quite obvious. My money and my heritage mean little to you.”

It was then Amélie leaned in again and had her smug little smile again. “The only thing on your mind is loving me, not as an object of value, but as a person. That, and impressing me.” She leaned back, and her smile faded. “That’s why I chose to kiss you.”

Lena swallowed, feeling beads of sweat fall down once more. This time, however, she wouldn’t let it get to her and instead, she kept on being a bit defensive, lest she get unexpectedly kissed. Or hugged. Or anything that’d cause her to hurl herself out the window in embarrassment.

“Is that all?”

“Hrm,” Amélie rubbed her chin. “You are quite adorable, I’ll give you that.”

And there goes all that confidence. Lena sank in her chair and started blushing again, now nervously laughing just as a response.

“But,” Her professor’s tone immediately shifted. It sounded more like the old Amélie, or rather the one Lena was used to. “I am well aware that you are timid around this side of me. If you want...I could just go back to my professional self. You seem more comfortable with that.”

“N-no! It was just outta left field is all! I’ll adapt real quick!”

Of course, that made her professor lightly chuckle again. “Good. You’re in France. Maybe I should teach you how to be less timid and more…” She licked her lips, then looked away coyly. “Enticing.”

She already fainted once, but Lena didn’t want to faint again. Instead, she just squirmed in her chair with widened eyes and a very worried expression painted on her face. She hated how she was somehow really, really easy for her to melt into her professor’s hands, and how easy it was that Amélie would always constantly tease her to no end, intentionally or not.

Curse her! I’m too bloody gay for this!

Rather than say anything else, Lena just let it happen and shook whatever was on her mind out. Save for the jazzy music in the café still in the background, things died down after that. Amélie downed her second cup of coffee, just in time for the waitress to come pick up the towel and both of their respective cups.

For a while, Lena went back to viewing her phone, though she occasionally snapped a picture of her professor to send to her friends.

_________________________

Lena: (Picture of Amélie again)

Lena: I have a bit of regret for this decision

Angie: Is this not what you wanted?

Angie: Because it sounds like this isn’t what you wanted.

Lena: It is!! She just kissed me too!

Angie: She kissed you? Are you sure it’s not you who kissed her?

Lou: wooooo you got some!

Lou: bettin’ you deserve it too

Lena: Me kiss her?  n o……...

Hana: proof?

Lena: I don’t actually ha

Hana: ha? are u laughing at me?

Lena is typing…

_________________________

Amélie had swiftly snatched Lena’s phone away from her, curious as to what was diverting her attention away.

“ Hey! Not okay!” Her student pouted, trying to take her device back.

The professor really wasn’t listening, nor was she letting her student have it back, not at the moment. She skimmed through the messages, and had a sly smirk on her face. “Proof, she says?” She leaned in on the table, moving her saucer and coffee cup away. “Is she that desperate to see us together?”

“It’s not that important! Don’t encourage her either!”

Amélie hummed, taking hold of Lena’s phone still. She stood up, moving over to where her student was sitting. “If she wants it so much, I have no reason not to comply.” She knelt down slightly, and toggled the functionality for a selfie to be taken. Her body then brushed up against Lena’s own, and she gave a soft smile.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Say fromage, ma chérie.”

“ Fr...fromage ?” Lena eyeballed her professor, who was on her left. Just before a photo was snapped, a rather awkward smile was placed on Lena’s lips, followed by her blushing just at how close her professor was in terms of personal space.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Amélie rose back up and hummed, pulling the chat back up from the background.

_________________________

Hana: listen man i get that shes good for u but

Hana: just bc u got a smoking hot gf now doesnt mean anything to me

Hana: so dont laugh k?

“Lena”: (Selfie)

“Lena”: I hope this is enough evidence to sate your oh so curious appetite, petite fille.

“Lena”: Oh, and Hana?

“Lena”: I’ll definitely speak French between her legs. All night.

“Lena”: Don’t pretend you’re jealous she’s got a ‘smoking hot girlfriend’ who will do that and you don’t.

Hana: W H A T

Lou: daaaaaamn

Angie: …

Angie: Not a good time for me to come back to this chat, I think. I’ll be going.

Hana: NO U STAY RIGHT HERE

Hana: THIS BINCH

Hana: C’MERE U DRY BAGUETTE

Hana: ILL FITE U

Hana: YOU HEAR ME?!

“Lena”: Oh, yes. I do hear you, child.

“Lena”: I would very much enjoy seeing you fly over here and try.

“Lena”: Adieu~ <3

Hana: FUCK OFF IM NOT A CHILD

Angie: Hana. Please calm down. All-caps rage is not going to get you anywhere.

_________________________

“Here you are.” Amélie smugly chuckled, sliding back Lena’s phone to her student, with the chat still running in the background. Lena reluctantly took it back, unsure of what even just happened. When she scrolled up to read what Amélie put into the chatroom, she squeaked, really, really loudly. On top of, she was visibly shaking from pure nervousness. She struggled to raise her index finger to indicate that a moment was necessary, and she took a long, hard look at her professor.

“W-w-w-why?!” Lena bumbled on, now trying to read a rapid-fire rant that Hana was sending out in her respective Korean language. She didn’t understand it at all, for they were just symbols to her. But, that was the least of her problems right now.

“Why did you even do that?!” Lena was in the midst of her own meltdown trying to process all of this info. “Aghhhh! You can’t be bloody serious!”

“About the girlfriend thing? And the French-speaking between legs?”

“That…” Her nostrils flared up, and she took a deep exhale. “No! My friend!”

“Hana should know better than to tease you like that.” She giggled again, shaking her head. “It shut her up, didn’t it?” Amélie shrugged, and crossed her legs. “Do unto others as they would do unto themselves. She teases you, I tease her.”

Her student groaned, almost in agony about her predicament she had placed herself in. “Why? Why me?”

Maybe this was just some really deep, next-level fever dreams she was having. She was probably sent home early on the account of not feeling well at all. Maybe, this was just a pure fantasy that had gone on for a little bit too long. Even a semblance of sanity would prove she was living inside a dream.

But no. This was completely fucking batshit crazy.

She slid her head down to her arms on the table, really hoping that Amélie couldn’t see the shame on Lena’s face. Half of her was enjoying this, but the other half...not so much. It was the most mixed amount of signals going around her mind that made things worse; on one end, it was crying out of joy this was happening, and on the next, it was crying out of misery this was happening .

Eventually, she’d have to accept it. Angela was right. This was what she wanted, and she’d have to bite and swallow a fairly large bullet as consequence for trying to start something she obviously wasn’t prepared for. As such, the student lifted her head up and calmed herself down.

As the last few sips from Lena’s cold coffee were gone, it was time to leave. In total, both teacher and student spent an hour and thirty minutes in a café. Unrealistically, however, most of that was waiting. With the check paid in full by Professor Lacroix, she softly grinned and laid back on her chair.

“I hope you had as much fun as I did!”

“Not...really.”

Truthfully, it was kind of awkward how things turned out. If Lena had expected it or perhaps saw it coming, maybe she’d have a good time. But, much like 99% of her experience in France, all of it came down to her blundering her way around like an idiot.

“Well, why not?”

“I mean...it was nice, but not the way I thought it’d go.”

On the flip-side, however, a part of Lena had at least gotten to hold onto a secret her professor didn’t want to tell anybody. She felt a bit special that way, even if all the things she did on this date would’ve appalled or embarrassed any other girl dating her.

“Hm...how about I make it up to you in the future, then?” Amélie tilted her head to the side. “Say...Monday after class?”

“Yeah,” Lena spoke, in a rather meek tone. “Monday.”

Then, Amélie nodded and stood up. Just as she was ready to leave, however, she remembered something and sat back down.

“Ah, one moment.” She reached into her handbag, shuffling around all the assorted folders and make-up product inside. The professor had fetched out a black inkpen and set it on the table, and then went about finding a suitable space to write down some things. She had found her stack of sticky-notes, and delicately peeled one off from the stack. With a few obscured scribbles that Lena could not see, Amélie then stuck the note on her student’s arm. “For you.”

Lena blinked a few times, a bit confused at what happened. She peeled off the note and took a glance at what Professor Lacroix wrote for her.

Inscribed on the note was a phone number and an address, relatively closeby to her own place. It was probably just a couple blocks, into the single-person apartment dorms that were often sold out within the first minutes of their sales opening up.

Her head lowered, but her eyes gleamed at Amélie, slackjawed. “You’re having a laugh. You must be.”

“If by ‘having a laugh’ you mean I’m kidding, then no. If by ‘having a laugh’ you mean I had a good date and wish to spend more time with you outside of class, then yes.”

Professor Lacroix began packing back up her purse, grabbing the pen and sticky-notes to put back in. “Next time however,” Amélie began, lifting her purse up to her shoulder. “We talk about your personal life. Would that be okay with you?”

“Could you...could you set the date, then?”

Amélie took a brief moment to reflect on that thought, before lightly humming and nodding. It only seemed fair that they would rotate on who would go next. “Of course. I might need your phone number and address for it though.”

Once more - but for the last time - Amélie brought out her pen and sticky-notes for Lena to write her details in. When she did, Lena then began adding in her professor’s number and the like lest she forget later and accidentally ignore her due to an unrecognized person texting her.

With all that said and done, Amélie smiled and packed away all of her things. “Monday, oui? ”

“Oui.”

“Lena?”

Her student looked on towards the professor.

“I’m not always a misbehaver. Just, today I wanted to be a bit more loose. So,” A hand was placed on Lena’s shoulder, then lightly shook. “don’t fret. I’m much nicer and more calm than I gave as an impression.”

What occurred would’ve said otherwise. But, Lena did believe her. After all, Amélie never lied to her. She couldn’t say the same, lest she forget their first meeting. In return, she just nodded, and pondered about what else to say.

“Then this concludes our date. Adieu , Lena.”

Amélie then turned around to make her way out of the Cygne Noir café. Considering they sat a bit farther away, she had bumped into a few waiters and waitresses on the way out. A few steps after, Professor Lacroix had been obscured into the crowd of others, and Lena decided to stand up as well to catch up to her. “Wait up!”

Amélie stopped, just as the door swung open. Rather than hold onto the door forever, she lightly closed it back, shifting around and tilting her head again. “Yes?”

Now wasn’t the time to mess up. Fucking do it, Oxton.

Lena nervously swallowed, and then got up on her tippy-toes, leaning in to press her lips against Amélie’s cheek. It caught her off-guard, but it did feel warranted. Lena stepped back, balancing her feet and clenched her fists together before raising them upwards. “Monday!”

Amélie rolled her eyes and licked her lips. “If you keep this up?” She leaned down towards her student, just to return the favor ten-fold by delivering a tender kiss on Lena’s lips again. Lena squeaked, almost falling back from the suddenness of it all.

“Sunday,” Amélie softly spoke, gently flicking Lena on her cheek. “so I can teach you how to kiss a woman and not be shy about it.”

This time, Lena just froze in place with her eyes widened. Awestruck once more, she flinched before having a goofy smile on her face. “U-uh, y-yeah. Sure, sure. Sunday. I’ll keep my phone not on mute.”

“If I don’t, then Monday.”

At least now, Lena could go home and scream in a pillow all she wanted. But she wouldn’t. Rather, she’d just try to be brave.

Do it for your crush, after all.