#this ficlet collection is like the biggest reason why 'think of the children!!!!' makes me laugh as an excuse against smut

[unxpctedlygreat]

Would love to share examples of my DSi/3DS writing but 1) they're in french 2) I was like 13-14 at best 3) I got embarrassed re-reading only one of them and it wasn't even the worst of the lot

[nct-oli]

I also miss atots! I wanna read your ramblings so may I ask what are some of your head canon for phutian whether it’s during the series or post-series.

HI!! You’re so sweet. I am so sorry that I haven’t responded to this sooner! Life got really hectic, and it honestly kind of stole my creativity, to the point where I read this back when you sent it, but I could not think of a single headcanon at all.

But I’m here and I’m going to finally talk about some because I rewatched ATOTS with a friend and it sparked some headcanons in the process!!

1) This is probably my biggest headcanon. Phupha and Tian wrote emails to each other during their two years apart. I’ve seen some people say letters, and of course letters are super cute and classically romantic. Plus they are fitting given that’s how Tian was communicating with Phupha when he returned to Bangkok. But the reasons I like emails for them are:

Getting letters domestically to a rural village is one thing, but getting them internationally without some of them getting lost feels a bit less likely. And I think Tian and Phupha would know that. So emails are a more consistent and reliable form of communication.

Obviously Phupha can’t access the internet from the village, but you know who does have internet? Dr. Nam. I very much love the idea of Phupha strolling into the clinic every so often trying to be all cool and not at all giddy to check for a new email from Tian, and Dr. Nam never, ever letting him use the computer without a lot of proud best friend teasing. Remember when Phupha went to Dr. Nam to ask what a scar on the chest would mean? Yes, just like that, except regularly. (And when Phupha doesn’t go to Dr. Nam’s clinic, he could go to town to check his email too.)

This part doesn’t really fit the canon storyline at all given Phupha was still gazing at the only photo he had taken of Tian two whole years after taking it and also Phupha never told the children where Tian was. BUT think of the photos they could send each other. Tian sending photos of himself in various places in the US, his hand with Phupha’s ring always visible so Phupha can be there with him for every adventure. Phupha sending photos of the kids as they grow, the tea sachet business (or whatever the villagers end up doing with Mr. Sakda gone), the very rare selfie by a rather self-conscious chief... sending physical letters limits the number of printed photos they could send each other. Plus printing photos may be a bit easier for Tian, given he can just print them at a nearby Walgreens or something, or even have them ordered online. But that would be tougher for Phupha, needing to leave the village and find somewhere. So emailing photos back and forth would be easier.

Imagine Tian printing every email sent back and forth and collecting them. Imagine him in the library with the biggest smile on his face, printing out emails to and from his mountain boyfriend back in Thailand and his university friends watching him with the most confused but intrigued eyes. I love it. I love that idea.

I remember there being discussion post-finale about whether Tian and Phupha communicated in that time at all. The discussion revolves especially around how at ease they seemed in their Pha Pun Dao cliff reunion and they didn’t quite act as though they had been fully apart for two whole years. And I fullheartedly believe they had contact, even if very infrequent. I think they found a way. And while I do think letters are incredibly romantic and fitting, I just have this fondness to emails. Maybe it’s a result of watching We Best Love recently. I’m not sure.

2) Tian chose to go to the US ultimately on his own. Now, we all know his mother is the one who picked the university for him and “sent him away.” But I do like the idea that, after coming to terms with the fact that maybe running away to Pha Pun Dao immediately wasn’t the best plan, especially if Phupha wanted to forget him, he grew to like the idea of going abroad. It would be his chance to have probably as much freedom as he could get. He wanted to go to the US before he died (episode 3 conversation with Tul). He could take time to himself, without the influence of anyone else, and figure out just what he wanted for his life. And when Phupha showed up at the airport and they got their true feelings out in the open, Tian didn’t feel like his family was pushing him away from the man he loved and the life he wanted; he felt that he had agency in choosing the US and asking Phupha to wait for him, to give him the chance to figure out this new chapter first. I find comfort believing Tian didn’t board that plane feeling resentful but instead feeling hopeful. And when he returned, he wasn’t filled with regrets. He was filled with excitement that he was returning home to Pha Pun Dao and Phupha right on time. (Plus Phupha had more confidence when Tian returned to him that he truly wanted to be there in the village with him, because despite literally traveling the world and seeing so many options available to him for places to build his future, Tian still chose Pha Pun Dao.)

3) The teacher’s house remains Tian’s home too. Hear me out: I don’t mean full time. I’m obviously a massive softie for domestic PhuTian, so I want him to still stay with Phupha. And Phupha probably can’t leave the base permanently, as he’s the chief and needs to be there regularly for his rangers, so the two of them can’t move into the teacher’s house fully either. But Phupha’s room is quite small. I love the idea that Tian still escapes sometimes out to the teacher’s house where it’s quiet and he can still have his own space. A space to lesson plan, to take the students when they need a new environment, to feel connected to his three original months in the village when he fell in love with the people and his person (Phupha). That house was his home, and while Phupha’s place is now also his home, I like the idea that Tian still keeps that house for himself too. At least so long as it isn’t needed by anyone else. (Also, if Phupha and Tian need space, well, there’s no Yod out there to start knocking.)

4) This semi-connects to the last one. When Tian and Phupha finally get married, they have a ceremony in the village and Tian convinces Tul to stay a night in Pha Pun Dao. His parents come to the wedding too, but they stay in a hotel in the city, where Tul stays some nights except for the night Tian gets him to stay with him. Tian and Tul stay in the teacher’s house, and Tian tells him all about his many nights sleeping there. Tul is, well, not convinced of its appeal at first, but watching Tian share his stories with the brightest smile, he decides he can warm up to it a little bit. And after seeing Tian with Phupha, with the kids, and with the rest of the village, and finally understanding how perfectly Tian fits in Pha Pun Dao, it starts to make sense to him why some of the luxuries don’t matter to Tian anymore... will Tul himself ever move to a rural village like that? Absolutely not. He’s not convinced that much. But the joy that village life brings his best friend and the glow he exhibits is enough to leave Tul content for one night on a hard mattress inside a mosquito net in the middle of seemingly nowhere. (No but really, imagine the chaos of Tul trying to live in Pha Pun Dao for a night. I want to watch that so much.)

5) Okay, I hope the couple that got married have a child and that child goes to school under Tian’s teaching. Or someone else in the village has a child. Imagine Tian getting a new student and having to navigate a classroom with early teenagers and a tiny kid. (Headcanon within a headcanon: Tian did a LOT of research during his two years abroad specifically on multi-aged classrooms because he knew he wanted to return to Pha Pun Dao one day and would need the skills.)

6) Longtae and Tian most definitely go on that trip across the border that Longtae wanted (just a couple years late). And they have the best time. Longtae tells Tian about any new stories from university. Tian shares stories about his students and tries not to talk about Phupha too much but occasionally can’t help it, to which Longtae smiles brightly like the cute bestie he is. And the two of them get the CUTEST photos that Longtae prints for Tian immediately when he gets back to the city.

All of these headcanons are for those two years away or after he returns. I’m trying to think of some headcanons for the show prior to ep 10 part 4/4...

6) OH this doesn’t necessarily have to be before ep 10 part 4/4 in the timeline, but Phupha and the rangers apologize to Tian and the villagers for not telling them about Torfun’s death sooner and that burden being left for Tian to carry instead. I just want that settled.

7) HERE’S ONE FOR WITHIN THE SERIES TIMELINE. At the wedding in episode 4, Phupha didn’t deny it when Dr. Nam called Tian Phupha’s guy. So yes, of course Dr. Nam started calling Tian that all of the time, to which Phupha did eventually argue against but he secretly liked hearing it. His guy.

8) I’m back to going outside of the timeline again... all of my headcanons are for after the series it seems. Oops. But Tian most definitely brought the kite to Pha Pun Dao with him, and it hangs very proudly on the wall in their room. Tian tells Phupha about how he had it flying back at his family house in Bangkok, how seeing it blow in the wind brought him comfort when he felt homesick for the village and for Phupha. That knowledge had Phupha smiling for the rest of the week.

I’m running out of ideas. I kind of wanted to hit ten, but I just don’t have ten headcanons off the top of my head. BUT if I think of anymore, I’m sure I’ll post about them somewhere. Maybe I’ll even write a ficlet about some of these... I used to write those here and there, way back when... we’ll see.

Thank you again for your message, anon! You are a wonderful human. I’m sorry for taking so long to respond, but I didn’t forget about your message or ignore it. I just couldn’t get my brain to give me anything to respond with! I hope my rambling was sufficient for you. <3

(Also man, I miss writing about ATOTS so ridiculously much. This felt so familiar and also kind of sad. Phupha, Tian, villagers... come back to us. I miss you.)

[ms-march]

12 Days of Turn-“Decorations”

Another lbl ficlet, this one convers my favorite side plotline, Thaddeus and Elizabeth Schuyler.  It is shorter than an average chapter and shows the more intelligent side of Adrienne more explicitly than usual.  I really like this piece because it shows how their relationship and lives are developing later in the fic.  If you like it please give this post a like, comment, and/or reblog!

Adrienne had to admit that the camp in Morristown was growing on her.  She never in a million years would have guessed it, but Adrienne found that she did not mind the noise of the camp.  She enjoyed the walk she took to visit John every morning walk through the officer’s tents that lined the inside of the camp.  She would ride if she did not have young John with her, usually, on the days she deemed it simply too cold to his slight frame.  These same days her husband would scold her for visiting, claiming that he required her in the best of health and that riding through the snow and cold was actively working against his wishes.  He would then proceed to pull the chair from his desk to rest in front of the office fireplace, bidding her sit there till the rosiness in her cheeks was no longer caused by windburn and chill.  Today, however, was different.

Today Adrienne did not venture out to visit with John in the morning, for no particular reason beyond the desire to stay warm and cozy in her bedroom here at the Cochran’s New Jersey estate.  She had only moved from her bed to collect her darling boy from his resting place so that she might hold him close, propped up in the bed.  The two of them made quite the sight, still dressed in none but her chemise and dressing robe, her sweet, rapidly growing boy, wrapped loosely in his blankets.  They remind this way for some time, Adrienne delighting in each little coo and squeal that lit up across his face, until she finally rose from her bed, dressing her young John with a new sash to match the deep green color of the candy stripe silk gown she donned for the day.

The house was not decorated, likely because of Gertrude Schyler Cochran’s old age, but Adrienne had discussed it with her some nights ago and today was the day.  Today would be spent decorating the house. Adrienne had been given free rein over the house’s servants and fully intended to join them in their decorating as much as she did at Belvoir when she was young.  She stood before the parlor’s mantle, reaching up to fret with the greenery and holly upon it, but shrieked when two large hands landed on her waist, a tricorn hat being held in one of the hands.

Hot breath fanned out across the side of her face, “And what crime has this greenery committed that it might be subjected to your scrutiny this morn, my dear?”

Adrienne huffed, placing a hand comfortingly over the empty hand on her waist, “It refuses to look as charming as the rest.” She continued to fiddle with it, prompting John to steal a kiss to place upon her cheek. “John!” she admonished, “Not in the parlor!  It is too public.”

“Because a man placing a kiss on the cheek of his wife is cause for scandal?”

“Because he does so in the home of another that has been so kind as to open it to them?  Yes, indeed.”

John turned her ’round in his hands and defiantly placed a kiss upon her lips, maintaining his grip on her when she playfully attempted to push him away. “And where is my son?”

“Is that why you are here,” she deflected, teasing, “Just to see your son?”

“No,” he retreated, “I sorely missed my morning visit from the best wife on American shores and was worried something had happened.” John scoffed, dramatically looking around the room to add to his performance, “I see now that I was merely cast aside in favor of holly and pine.”

“Very important holly and pine,” Adrienne defended.

“You are dodging the question,” John accused, coming back around to his original inquiry, “Where is my poor son?”

“Our son,” Adrienne emphasized, “Is out with Miss Elizabeth Schuyler.”

John laughed cheekily, “I see he is already endearing himself to the ladies.”

This prompted a giggle from Adrienne, “Oh, you should see the charms he puts on for Mrs. Martha Jefferson.  I would not be surprised if you were to receive an offer for their youngest.”

John snorted, pulling her close to rest her head against his chest for a moment before furrowing his brow in realization. “Is Miss Schuyler not out on a stroll with Alexander this morning?”

“She is,” Adrienne hummed.

“And our son is with them?” he asked, confused.

“Was that a poor decision?”

“It might have been,” John argued, “I cannot speak for Miss Schuyler’s own talents, but Alexander is absolutely miserable with children.”

“Well,” Adrienne began, “If what I have been hearing is true, I should imagine he will need to improve upon that greatly.”

John looked down at her, some light surprise etched into his face, “You really believe that she will choose our brash Colonel Hamilton over Thaddeus’ soft-spoken temperament?”

“I know that she has been spending far more time with Colonel Hamilton.  As well as asking about his person, his history, and temperament.” Adrienne smiled softly up at her husband, “And I think that by this time next year, he may find himself in your shoes.”

She wanted to add that with Alexander preoccupying Miss Schuyler’s thoughts and time, she would not have any time to concern herself with Adrienne’s Thaddeus.  Their relationship has been strained since the wedding, Thaddeus remaining close with John, enough so to be named John Henry Laurens’ godfather.  But since the birth, he has been standoffish at best, no doubt to take it as a sign to step away from the seemingly happy family.  

Adrienne missed him, and finding out from Lafayette about his courtship with Elizabeth Schuyler tore her to pieces.  She sat with the Marquis in his tent, allowing him to hold her in his arms, crouched down on the grass floor of his tent together as Adrienne cried in his arms.  His quiet soothing and the comforting little nothings whispered into her ear were not something either of them would be remembering any time soon.  Whenever Thaddeus did visit Belvoir, he would vocalize that he called upon John Henry, not her, bringing various gifts that Adrienne made a point to put on display, to give them use.  If he would not talk with her, she would have to find other avenues to ensure he saw her appreciation.

She never told him she knew.  Thaddeus was pushing her away, and if Lafayette did not tell Adrienne about Miss Schuyler, he likely would have never told her.  Adrienne would not have been surprised if they had gotten married, being far too similar in temperament to one another to not work seamlessly.  She would be wounded by the lack of invitation that would likely be extended to her, but she would survive, if just barely.

Adrienne was torn from her pathetic musings by a kiss placed delicately to the side of her neck. “We could take this upstairs.” John was whispering against her skin, the hot air against the sheer of the wrap across her shoulders.  

“No,” Adrienne flushed, pulling away from him, “Not here, my dear.  If you wish such activities, you must visit me in Virginia.”

“You know I cannot do that, my love,” John whispered against her skin, pulling her back into his arms before the fireplace.

“You can,” Adrienne began, staring into the unlit logs, “But you will not.”

John sighed, “Come now, Addy, I thought we had passed this.  I thought we were warming up to this possibility for our future.”

“You had done that years ago,” Adrienne replied briskly.

Another sigh escaped John’s lips, “And you would rather make it out that I and all of my closest friends are playing dress-up till tomorrow, or the day after, we will all give up and go home.”

“It is settled then,” she bristled, “I think you nonsensical, and you think me naive.”

“That is not what I meant,” he murmured.”

“Isn’t it?”

John released her, stepping away from the mantle to lean up against the arm of a chair. “Can we not do this,” he begged, his face worn from the previous arguments on this same topic.

“Of course,” Adrienne conceded, moving back to fiddle and fluff the greenery, “Why would we ever wish to talk about the biggest divide in our marriage.”

“Would you like me to leave?” John offered defeated

“Only if you wish to.”

“Do you wish me to?’ John asked, peering up at her as she turned slightly to see him over her shoulder.  

Adrienne huffed, allowing her arms to drop from fiddling with the greenery atop the mantle, approaching the arm of the chair her husband threw himself in and perching herself on top of it.  He rubbed his thumb in circles over her wrist, and she pecked a kiss on his cheek.

Eventually, they had shifted to the couch, John’s arm wrapped around Adrienne’s shoulder as she leaned against him.  There was some chatter outside the house, the front door being visible from Adrienne’s spot on the couch.  She noted the heavy blush across Miss Schuyler’s cheeks, the broad smile donned by Colonel Hamilton as his eyes glittered with joy.  Her lips pulled subtly into a smirk.  If this behavior continued, then Miss Schuyler should become Mrs. Hamilton in no time at all.  And the quicker she took the redhead’s name, the sooner Thaddeus’ attentions would return to Adrienne.  All would become right in the world once again when the lean arm around Adrienne’s shoulders could be replaced by the curving muscles of her dark-haired lover.  All will become right when she is pressed with a kiss, not from soft lips that hold a sweet taste upon them, but with slightly chapped ones with the remnant taste of black tea and coffee in their crevices.