#lolarae write

[welcometololaland]

Are you ready to get (un)professional?

NOW COMPLETE

(UN)PROFESSIONAL SERVICES | CHAPTER 7/7 | TARLOS | E

Please see enclosed the seventh and final chapter of the unprofessional professional services Tarlos AU by @rmd-writes and I.

Thank you so much to @celeritas2997 for beta reading and for supervising our spiralling! 1000000 fruit baskets for you.

Chapter 1 - Identify the Lead

Chapter 2 - Connect with the Lead

Chapter 3 - Understand the Lead

Chapter 4 - Close the Deal (Part 1)

Chapter 5 - Close the Deal (Part 2)

Chapter 6 - Always have a Contingency Plan

Chapter 7 - Epilogue

As it turns out, the gods of the subway system are smiling down on TK today because their usual train is running just late enough for them to squeeze on at the last minute. He tries not to be too smug about it as he watches Carlos lean against the door of the packed carriage as it speeds through the tunnels, pretending to read the news on his phone.  He’s only made aware of the pretending part when Carlos looks up at him after a few minutes and whispers, “So, when can I return the favour?” Cottoning on to the innuendo, TK tries not to look too pleased and begs his body to behave – getting a hard on around so many people would be kind of problematic. “Tomorrow night,” he replies. “I’ll be expecting something good because that floor wasn’t easy on my knees.” Carlos fixes TK with a challenging look. “I’ll think about it,” he says softly. “I have time tonight, while I’m home alone with nothing else to do.” “I’m ditching my mom,” TK murmurs, trying to keep his tone conversational. “I just remembered I have plans.” “Mhm?” Carlos hums, evidently trying to retain the veneer of being politely engaged. “With your di—” “TK.” TK snorts. “Don’t start something you can’t finish, baby.”

Continue on Ao3

[rmd-writes]

seven sentence sunday

it's been ages since I've shared a proper snippet! thanks for tagging me anyway @anincompletelist @notspecialbabe @hippolotamus @iboatedhere @indomitable-love @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @everwitch-magiks @happiness-of-the-pursuit @affectionatelyrs @alrightbuckaroo @three-drink-amy @freneticfloetry @lemonlyman-dotcom @carlos-in-glasses @cha-melodius @heartstringsduet @firenati0n @kiwiana-writes 💖💖 can't wait to catch up on all of your snippets later!

Here's something from my collab with @welcometololaland:

“Hey Carlos,” TK answers. “Just give me a sec.” He gives Buttercup a shove. “Buttercup, out. Go on.” Buttercup heaves a sigh, slumping off the end of the bed, then slowly ambles out of TK’s room. He closes and locks the door.  “Sorry about that.” “Have I got competition?” Carlos teases. “I mean, not that we’re— You can, I just—”

also, for my RWRB pals, a peek at the title of my current wip (a miracle happened and I both have a title before even starting AND I came up with it on my own)

I feel like everyone has done this already! Have an open tag 💖 and no pressure tagging @strandnreyes @liminalmemories21 @lightningboltreader @dumbpeachjuice @sherryvalli @jesuisici33 @orchidscript @smblmn @inexplicablymine @maxbegone

[officialphoebemagazine-post-blog]

Tekno welcomes baby girl with his musician girlfriend Lola Rae _ Famous Nigerian singer Tekno is now a father _ The well-loved musician recently welcomed a baby girl with his girlfriend singer Lola Rae _ Their baby who was born in London has reportedly been named Sky _ If a recent post of his is anything to go by, popular Nigerian musician Tekno has welcomed his first child. The Jogodo crooner made this known on Instagram. _ Tekno also congratulated his girlfriend and mother of his child singer Lola Rae, writing that he loves her and that she is the strongest. It appears the baby girl has been named Sky. _ Lola has not been seen in a public for a long time and many had begun to question where the beauty was. It appears Lola was holed up in London where she reportedly delivered the baby. _ Fans have already begun to send in their congratulations. _ Congrats to them. _ #tekno #lolarae #officialphoebemagazine

[welcometololaland]

wip wednesday for y'all (on thursday) - thank you for your tags @rmd-writes @carlos-in-glasses @kiwiana-writes @heartstringsduet @cha-melodius @strandnreyes @hippolotamus @inflarescent @alrightbuckaroo @three-drink-amy @birdclowns @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut, i hope to get to the snippets to read on my lunchbreak and reblog! thank you for continuing to think of me, i love reading your stuff <3 here's a little something from the au @rmd-writes have just started entitled Call Me (By My Name):

“Watch it,” the guy snaps, stepping neatly to Carlos’ right as Carlos practically flattens himself against the rear of the truck. They stop for a moment, time seeming to stand still as Carlos stares unapologetically at the man in front of him.

The captivating eyes are framed with dark lashes, fanning out across perfect, high cheekbones and complemented by full, pink lips. They look breathtaking, even though they’re wearing a scowl, and Carlos wants to press the tip of his finger to one, just to see how soft they are. He bets this guy is a good kisser, which is a very inappropriate thing to be thinking at the scene of an accident.

“Sorry,” he murmurs, even though he hasn't done anything wrong. This man – this beautiful, intriguing person – has Carlos’ heart feeling as if it's sitting in his throat, threatening to leap right out of his mouth. “I didn’t—”

“Hey, you’re APD, right?” the guy says, breaking the breathless trance Carlos has seemingly devolved into. “Can you, I don’t know, do your job? My captain is out there breaking up fights between drivers and you’re hiding around the back of our truck.”

Carlos starles at the accusation. “I'm not hiding,” he protests. “I just got here!”

“Great, good!” the man bites back pointing around the other side of the truck with passion. “The fight is over there, just in case you wanted to start helping out.”

“Should I bypass dispatch and just ask you where I’m needed?” Carlos retorts, surprised by his own assertiveness. Mere seconds ago he’d been in some dreamlike state where this man was kissing him into oblivion, but it turns out that’s just a figment of Carlos’ overactive imagination. This guy is a dick.

The man scoffs and turns away, the fluoro on the back of his turnouts directing Carlos’ attention to his name. Carlos opens his mouth, unsure of what he’s planning to say, when TK Strand calls over his shoulder.

“Maybe don’t make us do your job for you next time.”

open tag because i'm very late, but also for @lightningboltreader (because you said you were almost finished one bed!!!!) @watmalik @fitzherbertssmolder @a-kinkajou @inkweedandlizards and @whatsintheboxmh (because i'm a fiend for art wips!) @lemonlyman-dotcom (i know you posted a fic today, but just checking!) @wandering-night19 (spoilers for next chapter maybe?) @chicgeekgirl89 (hows seafaring?) @freneticfloetry (no pressure! i hope your vacation is going well!) @goodways (make me laugh i dare you) @rosedavid (are the words working?) @theghostofashton (more exes more exes more exes??? no pressure obviously i'm just a fiend) @ladytessa74 (did i make up that you were writing a spooky season au?) @indomitable-love (football wip PLS!!!!) @athousandrooms (anything from you is my beloved) @orchidscript (haven't seen you around recently pls share if you have something!!!)

[rmd-writes]

Thanks @welcometololaland @kiwiana-writes @three-drink-amy @celaestis1 @daisymae-12 @jesuisici33 💖 getting in while it’s actually Wednesday here for once! If all goes to plan, I may not be able to share much with you between now and Christmas - I’ll be writing for some fests/fic exchanges which mean I need to keep those fics anon for now, and there’s only so much of Call Me (By My Name) that Lola and I can actually share for Reasons ™️

But for now, have this little snippet from our collab:

And maybe, just maybe, TK spends a small amount of his time at scenes ogling Carlos. What else is he supposed to do, when Officer Reyes struts around scenes like the utility belt slung around his hips it’s weighted? Or when his ass is just presented like the navy-wrapped gift to the world that it is? He has eyes. And those pants cannot be regulation.

TK generally prides himself on having a good radar and he will eat his metaphorical hat if Officer Reyes is not queer. No straight man would bother having his uniform tailored for a fit like that.

It’s not like he’s doing anyone any harm by checking a hot cop out. Carlos is just there and he’s got those arms and a great ass and pretty brown eyes and sometimes he gets this crease between his brows and—

Tagging @reyesstrand @strandnreyes @carlos-in-glasses @alrightbuckaroo @freneticfloetry @never-blooms @liminalmemories21 @orchidscript @redshirt2 @indestructibleheart @maxbegone @lilythesilly @cha-melodius @hippolotamus @stereopticons @blackandwhiteandrose @wandering-night19 @sanjuwrites @basilsunrise @iboatedhere @fitzherbertssmolder @lizzie-bennetdarcy @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @inexplicablymine @14carrotghoul @tintagel-or-cockleshells @dumbpeachjuice @carlos-tk @lemonlyman-dotcom and an open tag 💖

[rmd-writes]

seven sentence sunday

thanks @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @goodways @tintagel-or-cockleshells @indestructibleheart @wandering-night19 @strandnreyes @lemonlyman-dotcom @leaves-of-laurelin @three-drink-amy @cha-melodius @heartstringsduet @carlos-tk @jesuisici33 @kiwiana-writes 💖 love waking up to all of your snippets, on a Monday morning pals! they're in the queue!

Have seven sentences featuring TK being extremely relatable, from Call Me (By My Name), my collab with @welcometololaland

His Instagram feed is pretty boring now that he’s unfollowed almost everyone he knew back in New York. He looks up Mitchell’s account and goes for a hate scroll because he can’t help it. TK taps through story after story of Mitchell at the gym, Mitchell doing food prep, Mitchell shilling some supplement he’s got a discount code for while rolling his eyes so hard it hurts. Then there’s a photo of Mitchell in what TK knows is Alex’s bed, lying in the patch of sunshine that falls through the windows in the afternoon, apparently in nothing but Alex’s very expensive Egyptian cotton sheets.  He throws his phone across the room. It’s not even that he still wants to be with Alex. TK has long since recognised that they weren’t good for each other and that he was clinging to the relationship because he was desperate to be the person who’s sober and deserves the kind of love that manifests itself in soulmates and proposals and happily ever after. He’s not that person.

I have no idea who's done this already, haven't had a chance to scroll the dash yet but I'll tag: @reyesstrand @nelsonnicholas @sunshinestrand @iboatedhere @maxbegone @daisymae-12 @lightningboltreader @decafdino @ambiguouspenny @freneticfloetry @never-blooms @apothecarose @wordthieve @everwitch-magiks @sherryvalli @14carrotghoul @celaestis1 @fitzherbertssmolder @birdclowns + an open tag for anyone else who wants to play 💖

[rmd-writes]

seven sentence sunday

thanks @welcometololaland & @carlos-in-glasses for the tags, I’m getting in early while it’s still Sunday for me for once

He wonders if it’s possible for Officer Reyes to arrest himself because frankly, the image TK is being treated to – utility belt emphasising the movement of his hips as he walks and the stretch of navy fabric across his ass and thighs – should be illegal.

“If you’re done ogling the handsome officer, we could use a hand packing up,” Owen says from behind him.

TK jumps, surprised to hear his dad. “I wasn’t ogling anyone,” he protests.

Owen gives him a sceptical look. “Please, you were looking at him the way you used to look at the Halloween candy your mom bought the week before Halloween. Don’t roll your eyes at me, you know I’m right.”

tagging @strandnreyes @lightningboltreader @stereopticons @maxbegone @indestructibleheart @ships-to-sail @freneticfloetry @liminalmemories21 @three-drink-amy @anchoredarchangel @tintagel-or-cockleshells @cha-melodius @hippolotamus @jesuisici33 @orchidscript and an open tag 💖

[rmd-writes]

wip wednesday

thanks for the tag @welcometololaland how novel to be doing this when it’s still Wednesday for us!!

I have something for you all this week! Not a snippet because the only thing I’m currently writing are the intimate moment prompt fills I’ve received BUT some news!! Lola and I have spent a not insignificant time recently plotting a new Tarlos fic that we’re going to co-write now that unprofeshy is almost fully posted.

The vibes? Sexy, with a little chaos, and a LOT of feelings.

A sample of messages from our plotting:

tagging to share and leave me with snippets to wake up to please and thank you so much: @strandnreyes @lightningboltreader @carlos-in-glasses @alrightbuckaroo @redshirt2 @inexplicablymine @nontoxic-writes @lilythesilly @hrhwrites @stutteringpeach @clottedcreamfudge @kiwiana-writes @rosedavid @bonheur-cafe @lizzie-bennetdarcy @hippolotamus @sunshinestrand @iboatedhere @three-drink-amy @liminalmemories21 @never-blooms @freneticfloetry and 💖 <- that’s an open tag for anyone else who wants to share

[rmd-writes]

wip wednesday

Thank you for the tags @hippolotamus @carlos-tk @alrightbuckaroo @firenati0n @orchidscript @lemonlyman-dotcom @heartstringsduet @carlos-in-glasses @leaves-of-laurelin @kiwiana-writes 💖

I actually have something to share today! Now that I've finished writing my RWRB secret santa fic exchange fic, I've gone back to my collab with @welcometololaland. I haven't managed to write a lot yet, but I'm just having a lot of fun with this fic (square brackets to be filled and all)!

“Dios mio,” she huffs. [SOMETHING ELSE HERE] but she’s smiling, so TK thinks she secretly likes it.  There’s a chuckle beside him and when TK turns towards the source of the sound, he finds Officer Reyes standing there.  “Hi,” he says, still laughing. “She’s not really offended. She secretly loves it when the first responders flirt with her. Don’t you, Francesca?” Carlos winks at her and laughs when she says something back in rapid Spanish and then hands him a bag of take out. TK nods. “I’ll remember that. Maybe one day she’ll give me free tacos if I keep it up.” Carlos shakes his head. “It’ll never happen.” “Sounds like a challenge.” TK doesn’t know why he said that. They don’t really talk and this is dangerously close to flirting. “Anyway, I should...” he gestures at the 126.  Carlos nods. “See you round, Strand.” “Later, Reyes.”

Haven't done the rounds so sorry if you've already shared something @welcometololaland @lightningboltreader @strandnreyes @liminalmemories21 @indestructibleheart @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @freneticfloetry @cha-melodius @myheartalivewrites @smblmn @maxbegone @sherryvalli @fitzherbertssmolder (art wip?) @ships-to-sail and an open tag xo

[rmd-writes]

wip wednesday

one day i will have a pretty header for this like everyone else does but today is not that day. thank you for the tags @jesuisici33 @cha-melodius @hippolotamus @three-drink-amy @alrightbuckaroo @heartstringsduet @lilythesilly @lemonlyman-dotcom 💖

I don't actually have a snippet to share this week cos I've been busy editing unprofeshy with @welcometololaland and getting that ready to post while also ruminating on the RWRB fic I've barely started but am writing next. What I do have to share is this, enjoy some unhinged tags coming to your ao3 this Sunday (with more than one word, but we're just setting things up for now lol):

tagging @sunshinestrand @liminalmemories21 @iboatedhere @rosedavid @stereopticons @nontoxic-writes @basilsunrise @sherryvalli @never-blooms @ambiguouspenny @freneticfloetry @stutteringpeach @indomitable-love and have an open tag if anyone else wants to share this week

[rmd-writes]

is there anything better than spending a Friday morning at work ignoring the timesheets that I haven't entered yet and the work that needs doing to plot fic with @welcometololaland and somehow swinging from

to

and back again?

I think not 😌😌😌

[rmd-writes]

10 & 11!

thanks for the ask Jen! 💖

10. What work was the quickest to write?

to love is to undress our names which is my 4x16 coda - I think from @welcometololaland saying “do it do it” and us deciding that we’d bookend our codas (Lola’s is here) to me finishing the fic was less than 24 hours which is maybe the fastest I’ve ever written that many words.

11. What work took you the longest to write?

(Un)professional Services - it took Lola and I something like 9 months or more to finish it, mostly because it was just a fun, low pressure thing and we both wrote a bunch of other fics in between writing this one. We just followed the vibes and the mood and had a tonne of fun doing it.

[ao3 wrapped (writers’ edition)]

[rmd-writes]

I still can’t stop thinking about That Scene™️, and these fic headers were too pretty not to put in the same post, so I’m sharing the 4 x 16 codas that @welcometololaland and I wrote as companion pieces (pre-test results and post-test results) again 💖

all is near and can’t be touched | T | 3,800

“Being in love with you isn’t just a feeling, baby,” Carlos murmurs. “Being in love is an action, and it’s a choice. I choose to love you, in sickness and in health, no matter what.”

“That makes it sound hard,” TK breathes, sinking into the feeling of Carlos’ fingertips on his scalp, as if they’re touching his heart.

Carlos shakes his head, just slightly. “I think that’s what makes love beautiful,” he says. “Without choice, love doesn’t bind us. It’s an illusion; it’s not real.”

to love is to undress our names | E | 3,800

Carlos had been terrified of what their future might hold, of the prospect of a life without TK even though that’s a risk he faces every day, given their professions. Despite his fear, there was never any doubt in his mind that he would stand by TK, that he would love TK for every single day of his life, no matter what that looked like or how difficult it might get. Not that loving TK would ever be difficult; loving TK is the easiest thing in the world to him. Loving TK is like breathing: wholly and completely necessary, written into the marrow of his bones.

Or find the love is a bet (a wild one) collection here

[rmd-writes]

seven sentence (some)day

thanks for the tag @strandnreyes did I start writing this scene just because I didn’t have anything to share? I’ll never tell

“Dude. What the fuck?” Nancy hisses at him as soon as she finds him in the hall on his way to his mother’s office.

“I’m sorry!” TK exclaims. “I was on the phone with Dad when I sent the email and wasn’t paying attention.”

“Obviously.”

They both hesitate at the door to Gwyn’s office, scuffling over who should enter first, as if she can’t see them through the glass panels.

“You know I can see you both,” Gwyn calls drily from inside her office.

Nancy pushes TK through the door.

“Sorry Mom,” TK says, straightening up and running his hand through his hair.

“Sorry,” Nancy echoes.

Without looking up from her computer, Gwyn sighs and gestures at the chairs in front of her desk. “Sit down, both of you. Having you standing there looking like I’ve kicked your puppy is unnerving.”

“You never let me have a puppy,” TK mutters.

That’s more than seven sentences, but I can’t do maths

What are you working on @cinnaluminum @liminalmemories21 @three-drink-amy @stereopticons @hippolotamus @mostlyinthemorning?

[rmd-writes]

Seven sentence Sunday

Thanks for the tags @iboatedhere and @strandnreyes !

Here’s a little something that I’m working on with @welcometololaland

From: carlosreyes@fmcwpartners.com

To: tstrand@morganpearson.com

Subject: FMCW Partners event

Dear TK

It was great to connect with you on Friday night, I’d love to catch up soon to discuss that potential referral you mentioned.

Do you have time this week to meet for a coffee?

Kind regards

Carlos Reyes

Accountant

Forensics | FMCW Partners

From: tstrand@morganpearson.com

To: carolosreyes@fmcwpartners.com

Subject: RE: FMCW Partners event

Dear Carlos

Sure, we can connect some time…

I owe you a coffee anyway, on me because my friend spilled wine on your jacket and I’m a nepo baby.

Does Wednesday at 11 work?

Warm regards

TK Strand

Associate

Morgan Pearson Lawyers

–

Carlos reads TK’s email at least ten times. He thinks TK might be flirting, or maybe he’s just making fun of Carlos’ use of the word ‘connect’, he really can’t tell. The tone of TK’s email is confusing. Carlos is at least 87% sure they were flirting the other night, but he’d been careful to keep his own e-mail professional, just in case he’d completely misread the situation.

Tagging: @liminalmemories21 @cinnaluminum @three-drink-amy @reyescarlos @mostlyinthemorning @blackandwhiteandrose @stereopticons @likerealpeopledo-on-ao3 and anyone else who wants to share!

[rmd-writes]

I had to consult with @welcometololaland (that’s a tag for you, love) to find an appropriate snippet from call me to share with you today - this will likely be the last snippet either of us can share from this fic because we’re getting to the pointy end and it’s all spoilers from here on out!

Have some chaos!owen aka our favourite brand of Owen:

“Carlos, you’d know about this,” Owen says. TK would like the floor to open up and swallow him whole, no matter how interested he might be in the fact that his dad is implying that Carlos is either on Grindr or sexting. Both? The fact that his dad is even tangentially aware of this frightens him though.

Carlos drops his spoon. “Uh…”

“You know, because you do those talks in schools don’t you? To teach the kids about being safe online and not sending sexty texts.”

“Dad!”

“Maybe I should go,” Carlos says, pushing back his chair. “This seems like, um, a family matter.” He looks frantically around the rest of the table, where the rest of the crew are eating as if this happens all the time. To TK’s eternal regret and humiliation, it does.

“No, Carlos. Stay, finish your dinner,” Owen insists.

“I’m so sorry,” TK says to Carlos.

He shakes his head and looks at his watch. “It’s fine, really. I can’t stay for much longer anyway.”

“Please at least finish your dinner, Carlos. Don’t let my dad scare you away. He’s done talking about this now, aren’t you, Dad.” TK doesn’t phrase it as a question.

Owen raises both hands. “Yep. Done talking about that. For now. You and I are continuing this conversation later, though son.”

“We aren’t, actually.”

“You know, you look like your mother when you look at me like that.” TK rolls his eyes but sees that Carlos has at least pulled his chair back in and looks like he’s about to start eating again.

Tags under the cut!

thank you to @kiwiana-writes @three-drink-amy @strandnreyes @heartstringsduet @firenati0n @vineofroses @orchidscript @lemonlyman-dotcom @wordsofhoneydew @read-and-write- @itsmaybitheway @alrightbuckaroo @cha-melodius @hippolotamus for the tags today

And tagging @liminalmemories21 @lightningboltreader @mikibwrites @porcelainmortal @carlos-in-glasses @goodways @reyesstrand @chicgeekgirl89 @indestructibleheart @ships-to-sail @stereopticons @fitzherbertssmolder @happiness-of-the-pursuit @anincompletelist and OPEN TAG

(I’ve got no idea who’s already done this, so sorry if you’ve already posted today! 💖)