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pollenallergie · 5 months

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the favourite

Word Count: 4k

Description: Ralph checks in on his favourite maid.

A/N: as always, all credit for Ralph’s canon surname goes to @mypoisonedvine!! <3

CW/TW: nothing to see here, just good ole fashion comfort fic. some brief mentions of vomiting/stomach issues, but that’s all. just good ole wholesome fluff. reader is referred to as a woman, and she/her pronouns are occasionally used to refer to her… i’m sorryyyy i really meant to make this more gender-neutral, but there was some wording that sounded really clunky when written to be gender neutral, and i couldn’t find out how to get around it, so i caved. i’m sorry :/

Ralph paces outside the maids’ quarters, fretting about what sort of state you must be in. He’s not seen you all day, and that, in and of itself, is quite unusual.

From the moment he’d noticed that you were missing at breakfast, he’d begun to worry. However, his anxiety only increased tenfold when he’d overheard a couple of the other servants discussing how you’d fallen ill in the late, late hours of last night. Now that Ralph knows the true reason for your sudden absence, he debates whether he should pay a visit to the maids’ quarters to check in on you.

On the one hand, he cares for you deeply, probably more than a man should care about one of his maids, and wants to support you in your time of need. However, on the other hand, Ralph is quite squeamish and he worries that he will not be able to handle seeing you in such a compromised state. Or, rather, he fears that any reaction he may have to your sickly plight will only make things worse for you.

“Ralph,” his sister, Victoria, shouts from the other room, “Would you stop pacing? I can hear your feet pitter-pattering, it’s driving me mad! And you’re creating a draft,” she scolds him harshly.

“R-right, of course,” he stutters, now forced to make a choice. Shall he go in and check on you or should he simply wait for you to come out on your own, once you’ve recovered?

Suddenly, it occurs to Ralph that you may never recover, that this mysterious ailment may well be fatal. Should that be the case, then Ralph would lose you forever. That thought stirs an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.

It’s decided then, Ralph thinks, I must go check on her.

So, he peeks down the hall, ensuring Victoria is far enough away that she won’t notice him sneaking into your room. Once he’s confirmed to himself that his sister is too far from him to be aware of his clandestine activities, Ralph slowly and quietly opens the door to your rooms, calling out your name to ensure that he won’t startle you.

“It’s me, Ralph. Are you decent?” He inquires politely.

“Yes,” you hum out pathetically as one of your cold hands snakes under your duvet to gently cradle your aching stomach. At this point, you can’t tell if your chills are the result of the frosty winter weather that roars on just outside the thin glass of your bedroom window or of the illness you’d awoken with last night.

At the sound of your pitiful tone, Ralph swiftly enters your room and softly shuts the door behind him. He then promptly makes his way over to you before coming to kneel at your bedside, his brow furrowing with concern.

“Oh, dove, what’s happened to you?” Ralph asks frantically with his eyes flitting back and forth as he takes in your sallow appearance. Your heart thrums at the term of endearment he’s used.

Perhaps it should be concerning that one of your employers has invaded your space, the only comfort you are owed as a domestic servant, this realm of so-called privacy that you share with two other young ladies and one very pious older lady. Not to mention that he’s referred to you in such an inappropriate manner. However, you’ve come to expect such behaviour from Ralph, who has never much bothered with upholding social customs.

Surprisingly, he frequently pays even less mind to cultural standards than his twin sister, Victoria, a woman known far and wide for her eccentricities. Victoria, for example, certainly doesn’t make a habit of fraternising with the help beyond the typical daily exchanges that take place in the home. Ralph, however, is quite chummy with all of the staff of the Penbury House.

Though, recently you’ve become his favourite, most likely because you indulge his odd little whims more than the others and more than you probably should. Although, now you’re hardly in the right state to properly accommodate such spontaneity.

“My stomach,” you pathetically whimper your response as you look up at him with sorrowful, glassy eyes.

Ralph feels his heart break at the sight. Only then does he notice the empty bin positioned precariously by your bed, and he begins to feel a nervousness flutter about in his belly.

“Are you- Have you gotten sick?” He asks, his voice having gone up an octave from all of his worrying.

You nod before attempting to provide verbal confirmation, only to then be cut off by a sharp, cramping pain shooting through your abdomen. You wince at the horrid feeling, causing Ralph to frown.

“Is it painful?” He asks softly.

“Yes,” you whimper out, an unintentionally adorable pout taking over your features.

You cannot help but feel ashamed. A member of the household staff should never make their discomfort known to their employers, even if your master did ask you directly. Perhaps, if anyone overheard you, you can simply blame it on your fever-addled mind. Certainly that seems reasonable, right?

You’ve heard of men at war having delusions of grandeur as a result of incredibly high fevers, caused by infected wounds, warping their minds. Certainly then it must be reasonable to suspect that your mild fever is at fault for your current inability to properly think things through before you say them aloud.

Oblivious to your mental plight, Ralph lifts his hand to rest near your temple, the tips of his fingers gently stroking the damp, wispy strands at your hairline as he coos, “Oh, poppet, I shall call for a doctor at once.” It’s a comforting touch accompanied by words that speak of a kindness someone like you simply will never deserve from someone like him, you are well aware of that, yet you cannot help but lean into the touch all the same.

“I’ll be alright, my lord,” you reply, giving your polite, indirect refusal.

Ralph tsks in disapproval, “Sweetling, you know that I will not know peace until you’ve recovered. Please, let me help you,” he begs sweetly.

You sigh, your resolve swiftly melting under the heat of the pleading gaze that his coffee brown eyes fix you with.

“Thank you, my lord,” you say, simultaneously accepting his aid and articulating your gratitude for it while your lips curl up into a small, shy smile.

In turn, he rewards your reluctant acceptance with a big, beaming grin. He then gingerly takes one of your clammy hands, the only one which is not currently cradling your aching stomach, into one of his own before placing a chaste kiss to the back of it.

“Rest up, dove. I’ll be back shortly,” Ralph informs you giddily, oddly excited by the prospect of caring for you. He then swiftly departs, rushing off to ring up their local physician.

Only an hour or so later, you're suddenly awoken by the sound of the door to your quarters opening with an eerie creak. You huff and roll over without opening your eyes, presuming it to be one of the other maids.

“Darling, I have returned,” Someone calls out in a singsong tone as they enter your room, “I apologise for being away for so long. You would not believe how difficult it was to get in touch with our family’s physician.”

“Ralph?” You ask, momentarily forgetting your manners due to the lingering exhaustion, as you roll over and open your bleary eyes to look at the person.

“Yes, ‘tis I,” he confirms theatrically, just as energetic and campy as ever, as he sets down a glass of water and a cup of tea on your night stand.

Ralph then gracelessly plops down on your bed, a canvas bag filled with various bits and bobs still loosely tucked into the crook of his elbow as he comes to sit just by where your feet rest under the blankets.

“Oh, how I do love it when you simply call me by my name,” he remarks cheerfully as he gently boops your nose.

“It’s improper,” you grumble, “I should always refer to you by your title.”

“Perhaps it is, but I love it all the same,” Ralph replies, still sporting his cheerful smile as he busies himself with setting out all of the things he’s brought with him on top of the wooden trunk that sits near the foot of your tiny bed.

Now that Ralph thinks about it, he really should arrange for you to get a bigger bed, maybe he should arrange for all the staff to get bigger beds; he can’t imagine these are very comfortable. You’re a grown woman, a lovely, amazing, kind, unfairly beautiful grown woman, you deserve to sleep in a bed befitting a grown adult.

“Now,” Ralph begins to explain once he’s arranged everything to his liking, “It would seem that Dr. Wycoff has already stepped out for the day, so he won’t be able to come until tomorrow morning. However, you needn’t fret, for I had one of our footmen go out and fetch you some things that might ease your discomfort, at least until we can get you proper medical attention.”

“My lor-” you attempt to interject, most likely to remind Ralph that his fretting over you is both completely unnecessary and entirely inappropriate, though the attempt is in vain as your master continues with his ramblings.

“Now, let’s see, I’ve got some ginger tea to help calm your stomach, a hot water bottle for the cramping, a glass of cold water with some mint leaves in it, a couple pieces of toast, and a collection of poetry that I can read to you. What shall we start with first?” He asks eagerly, looking at you with those wide, kind eyes of his. There’s a spark of determination present in his warm gaze and it lets you know that any further attempts you make to refuse his care, whether they’re for propriety’s sake or otherwise, will be futile.

You huff out a breath, the sound of it is something between a humorous chuckle and resigned sigh, before smiling up at him fondly.

“Perhaps we could start with the hot water bottle and maybe the book of poems as well,” you suggest.

You don’t know how it’s possible, but, somehow, his smile seems to become even bigger and brighter than before. “Marvelous idea, poppet,” He says sweetly as he grabs the hot water bottle.

Rather than simply handing the item to you, as you initially expect, Ralph simply lifts the linens away from you, revealing your form to him, so that he can place the hot water bottle on your aching stomach himself. The moment he registers that you’re in your nightdress — your white cotton nightdress, which is surprisingly thin and not doing much to conceal your form from him — he realises his mistake.

Ralph gingerly, yet hastily places the hot water bottle on your stomach, his fingertips able to feel the warmth of your skin through your nightdress as he does so. His cheeks and the tips of his ears burn with a warm blush as he aids you. Ralph then promptly rights the linens back in place so that you’re properly covered, before swiftly rising to his feet, turning away and attempting to disguise his flusteredness by clearing his throat.

“I apologise,” he exhales a shaky breath, still refusing to look at you, “for erm- well- I only meant to help. It was not my intention to erm- to violate you. I would never want to dis-”

“My lord, it’s quite alright.”

“-respect you or to- to, erm, to dishonour you.”

“You haven’t, my lord,” you attempt to interject, though it seems nothing you say will halt his spiraling.

Oh, well, drastic times call for drastic measures.

“It was certainly not my intention to force myself onto you or to, erm, to take advantage of you in such a vulnerable state. Truly, I only meant to help you, to care for you, because, well, I think I might l-”

“Ralph,” you interrupt.

The sound of his own name finally captures his attention as he turns to face you once more, mostly out of shock; you hardly ever call him by his first name, despite the fact that he’s made it very obvious that he wishes you would only ever refer to him by his first name, his name, not the name held by his father and his sister and every other Penbury who’s not him.

You reach out to gently grasp one of his hands in one of your own, clammy, hands. “It’s alright.”

He looks down at your intertwined hands, then back at your face, focusing on your eyes which look up at him so kindly, and then down to your lips which are curled into a soft, shy smile, one that, in his wildest dreams, he lets himself believe you reserve only for him.

“It is?” He asks, his tone still wavering with worry.

“Yes,” you reassure him before patting the spot he once sat in, silently encouraging him to sit back down, to be near you again.

Ralph obliges your wordless request and hesitantly lowers himself to sit back down on the edge of your bed.

He’s quiet still, too quiet, especially considering that neither of the Penbury twins are ever quiet. You worry that he’s still lost in his own mind, panicking about propriety, much like you always are. You don’t like seeing him worry.

“My lord, I do believe you promised to read some poems to me,” you remind him, not truly wanting to boss him around, but rather wanting to give him something to focus on other than his recent misstep.

“R-right, right, of course, I, erm,” he pauses to clear his throat, looking down at his hands as he wrings them together, deciding whether he should speak the next words allowed given how he’s already disregarded your boundaries today. Ultimately, he sighs and decides to take the risk.

“I’ll, erm- I’ll read them to you but only,” he whispers before pausing briefly to let out a shaky breath, “only if you promise to stop referring to me as ‘my lord’ when we’re alone. I’d,” he pauses once more, summoning the courage needed to speak his next words aloud, “I’d much rather you call me Ralph when it’s just the two of us.”

He’s told you this many times before and you’ve never been outright offended, but still, he worries.

Although, you’ve recently, within the last few minutes, called him Ralph all on your own, making that the second time that you’ve referred to him by his name today. Twice is certainly the most you’ve ever called him by his name in a day as you almost never refer to him as anything but ‘my lord’ when addressing him directly and ‘Lord Penbury’ when referring to him in conversations with the other household staff members; conversations he really shouldn’t eavesdrop on, but that he always does, at least, when you’re a part of them.

Certainly your seemingly waning hesitance to call him by his name must be a good sign, right?

You reply, “Maybe I shall call you Ralphie.”

It’s a joke, one that shouldn’t be said aloud, one that you didn’t properly think over before you said it aloud, one that has entirely too much truth behind it, one that really wouldn’t seem like a joke at all if not for your humorous tone. Ralph certainly doesn’t seem to think it a joke.

He smiles brightly, some of that characteristic Penbury enthusiasm returning to him in that moment, as he genuinely replies, “I would love that, sweetling.”

“Now,” Ralph continues, “as for the poems, this book is from my own personal collection. It’s the selected poems of John Keats. He’s one of my favourites. It’s a shame tuberculosis took him so young. Thankfully you don’t have tuberculosis, or, at least, I’ve got no reason to think that you do. I believe tuberculosis is the one with all the coughing, and you haven’t a cough, just an upset stomach, right, darling?” He rambles as he digs the book out of his bag and then thumbs through it in search of his favourite poem.

“Right,” you confirm, “no coughing.”

He hums at that, offering mere acknowledgment as he’s already moved onto another subject entirely. Usually you’re one of the only ones who’s able to keep up with him in conversation, whenever you’re actually afforded the opportunity to indulge him in it without getting caught by the housekeeper, the woman in charge of you and all the other female servants. However, today it’s difficult to keep up with his rapidly shifting focuses, likely due to your current state of ill health.

“Are you familiar with his work?” Ralph asks suddenly.

“Hmm?” You question, too lost in your own thoughts to remember who he’s talking about.

“John Keats. Are you familiar with any of his poems?” He asks again, not at all bothered by the fact that you seem to have lost focus for a moment there.

One thing you’ve learned in your time working here at the Penbury estate is that the younger of the two Penbury twins is exceedingly patient, whilst the elder is exceedingly short-tempered.

“I’m afraid not, erm,” you heistate before calling him by his desired nickname, still reluctant to let go of propriety, “Ralphie,” you reply, giving in to the temptation to please him, to make him happy by calling him something far more personal than his title.

It’s the first time you’ve actually used that nickname when addressing him and the sound of it sets fireworks alight in his chest.

“Oh, how dreadful! I suppose we shall start with the classics then, yes? This one is called ‘You Say You Love’ and it’s easily one of my favourites of all the poems I’ve ever read,” Ralph explains before leaning in close to tap your nose with an audible ‘boop’ before assuring you, in a tone that’s much like the one he uses when he’s cooing lovingly, “you’re going to positively adore it, sweetling, I’m certain of it.”

He sits up again, opening the book to the correct page before suddenly remembering the tea he’d had the kitchen staff prepare for you.

“Sweetling,” Ralph calls out to you.

“Yes, Ralphie?” He can’t help but smile at the sound of your sweet voice uttering his preferred nickname, this time noticeably less tentative than before.

“Do remember to drink your tea before it goes cold, my lo- my dear,” he clears his throat out of embarrassment before reaffirming, “erm, j-just dear. Dearest, even!”

She’s not yours, Ralph, you blasted fool! He harshly reminds himself.

You bravely rest one of your hands atop his own, knowing he needs the comforting touch to ground him and help him avoid another spiral. “I will,” you assure him.

“R-right, erm,” he clears his throat, “let us begin.”

You hum your approval as you reach over to carefully grab the cup of tea from where it sits on the trunk by your bed. Ralph can’t help but smile as he watches you take a sip, all while still clutching the hot water bottle to your tummy.

“You say that you love,” he begins, immediately channeling the energy of a romantic poet, like John Keats, waxing poetic about unrequited love, “but with a voice chaster than a nun’s…”

You sit back, resting against your thin, floppy pillow, sipping your ginger tea whilst you listen to him recite one of his favourite poems in a tone of voice so soft and intimate, that it begins to lull you to sleep.

It’s not long before you’re sound asleep, but, even then, Ralph doesn’t stop reading his poems; mostly because he’s so engrossed in the works of his favourite poet that he fails to notice that you’ve fallen asleep.

Once he does notice, however, he sets his book aside so that can help get you settled. He carefully eases the cup of tea out of your clutches, lest you spill it on yourself in your sleep, and sets it aside. He takes great care in gently tucking you in, careful not to wake you as he makes sure you’re sufficiently covered by your bed linens.

Thanks to your lack of consciousness, Ralph even finds the courage to lean forward and press a gentle, chaste kiss to your forehead. Though, he soon realizes that might have been a mistake as your forehead is very sweaty, no doubt thanks to your fever, and now your now-cold perspiration is on his lips. He grimaces at the gross feeling as he harshly wipes your sweat off of his lips with the sleeve of shirt. He also indulges in a sip of your tea, just to make sure that your sweat is well and truly gone.

“I shall remain right here as you sleep, sweetling. I won’t leave your side, not for a moment,” Ralph reassures your sleeping form.

He makes good on his word, sitting at your side and watching you sleep, memorising the slope of your nose and the roundness of your cheeks, reading poem after poem to you even though you aren’t awake to hear them.

Ralph even replaces your hot water bottle when it goes cold, handing it off to Langley — who’s been dutifully waiting outside the door to the maids’ chambers ever since he discovered his master was in there — so that he can have the kitchen staff rewarm it for you. He still blushes and flusters when he lifts the linens to take the now useless water bottle from you, he still feels wildly guilty about crossing any boundaries, even though you’re in too deep of a sleep to notice. Ralph even finishes your tea before it goes cold and then has Langley order the kitchen staff to prepare some more for you.

Speaking of dear Langley, the Penburys’ head butler whose current, steadfast presence by the door to the maids’ quarters, a place he’s never been posted outside of before, gives away Ralph’s presence in your room to anyone and everyone who walks by.

Luckily for Ralph, Victoria would never set foot in what she colloquially refers to as the “Help Hall,” a hallway lined with doors that lead to the various rooms the staff of the townhouse reside in.

Still, he can’t imagine that the women with whom you share your room are at all happy to have their master lingering in their space. So, when the evening draws to a close, and he hears the murmurs of other staff members going off to their rooms in that same hallway, Ralph reluctantly leaves your side to avoid causing any offense to the other maids, who’ve never been anything but kind to him.

Nevertheless, before he leaves, Ralph places another soft kiss on your forehead, and this time, he has the forethought to use his handkerchief to wipe away most of the sweat before he presses his lips there. He holds his lips there a bit longer than last time, hoping that, even in your sleep, you can feel the warmth of his affections pouring through the gesture.

When Ralph pulls away, he whispers to your sleeping form, “Unfortunately, I must take my leave now, but I will return tomorrow morning so that I may continue to look after you in your time of need. I shall return every day until you are well again, dear heart, this much I promise, and you must know that a Penbury always keeps their promises,” Ralph pauses, his brows furrowing as he thinks over his words, “Or, at least, I always keep my promises. If memory serves me correctly, I’ve not broken a promise yet, and I most certainly do not intend to start doing so now.”

Suddenly, Ralph sighs; it's a solemn, dejected sound that perfectly conveys his reluctance to leave your side. His eyes rake over your sleeping form once more, hoping to memorize the sight of you in the hopes that you might appear in his dreams tonight.

“I know you cannot hear me right now, sweetling, and m-maybe that is for the best, but,” Ralph trails off, interrupting himself to take a deep, calming breath. He then uses his handkerchief to wipe off some of the sweat on your cheek before leaning in to plant a gentle kiss there. When Ralph pulls away, he moves just slightly so that his lips hover near your ear, and then softly whispers, “I love you.”

#ralph timewasters x reader #ralph timewasters #ralph penbury #ralph penbury x reader #timewasters

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babybluebex · 11 months

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making waves | ralph penbury blurb

listen, this is just a cute and sweet little blurb about doing ralph's hair before a party, obviously inspired by @quinnkeerys :) cw, brief mention of drug use (but it's an itty bitty tiny reference)

“Oh, damn!”

You startled, shaking your head as you looked up from your vanity, settling your lipstick back in your makeup bag. Ralph never cursed, usually choosing something tamer when he was frustrated, but hearing him curse from the bathroom made you stand up and go find him. “Ralphie?” you asked, and you heard a plastic tinkling, like he was firmly setting his comb down.

When you turned the corner into the bathroom, you saw Ralph standing in front of the mirror, bent over to get close to it, poking at his slicked hair with his fingers. He wasn’t fully dressed yet, just his slacks and suspenders with his high-buttoned shirt, his sparkly dress coat still on its hanger, and he groaned again as he continued to fiddle with his hair.

“Ralph,” you said again. “What’s the matter?”

“My hair!” Ralph moaned. “I can’t get it to do what I want!”

“What are you trying to do?” you asked, tilting your head curiously.

“Finger waves,” Ralph said, pouting out his lips. “But they don’t look like waves at all! I just can’t do it!”

“Alright, it’ll be okay,” you assured him. Your lover was the dramatic type, and you loved it, and you planted a kiss on his cheek before you turned him around to examine his hair. It was slicked down to his head in a way that was by itself quite fashionable, but you could just see the beginning of the waves that Ralph wanted but that he couldn’t exactly accomplish. “Here, sit down, let me help.”

“I just want to look nice for the party,” Ralph said, settling himself on the edge of the marble countertop to allow you to play with his hair. You took up the comb again and began to smooth his hair back towards your fingers, gathering it all up against the flat of the comb, and you smiled gently at him in the mirror.

“And you will, my love,” you told him. “Stop wiggling, though.”

“Sorry,” Ralph said quickly. “I’m just excited.”

“I know, honey,” you told him. “You’re so cute. When I’m finished, your hair will look perfect.”

“Thank you, darling,” Ralph told you, and you leaned down to kiss his cheek again as you kept at his hair, working to do it in the tidy waves that were so in style now. You had never done them before, but you had read enough about how to do them that you felt confident you could achieve it, and pride bloomed in your chest as you saw the waves begin to take shape.

“Looking quite handsome, Ralphie,” you cooed at him, and Ralph smiled in the mirror. “My handsome boy. You look so amazing, Ralphie, I’m so glad I can celebrate this with you.”

“Ah, shucks,” Ralph mumbled, his cheeks going all bubblegum pink. “I’m glad that you want to celebrate with me.”

“Of course I do,” you told him. “You’re the light of my light, baby, I’d be happy to do anything with you.”

“Have I ever told you that you’re the loveliest lady I’ve ever had the pleasure of being with?” Ralph told you, and it was your turn to go all melty under his chocolate gaze.

“Oh, Ralphie,” you started. “On occasion, you’ve told me so.”

“On occasion?” Ralph asked incredulously. “No, no, I need to tell you more often! I really do love you, so much! I can’t handle how much I adore you, I need to tell you every day!”

“Alright, baby, calm down, you’re wiggling again,” you told him, and Ralph straightened back up. You kept forming the waves in his gelled hair, proud of your work, and you said, “You don’t need to constantly tell me how much you love me, I feel your love all the time.”

“Really?” Ralph asked, and you nodded.

“I like how you always let me have the last spot of tea at breakfast,” you told him. “Or the last bump of coke.” You playfully tickled his side and he laughed, and you smiled at him. “You kiss me good morning and good night, you hold my hand when I get in and out of motor cars; I mean, you proposed to me within days of knowing me. I feel your love all around me always, and I cherish that because men haven’t always treated me that way.”

“You deserve to be loved unabashedly and constantly,” Ralph declared. “If you’re not being worshipped, what’s the point?”

“So wise, Ralphie,” you told him, and you set the comb down on the countertop, sighing. “I think we’re done. How does it look?”

Ralph turned his head in every direction, seeing his wavy hairstyle from all angles, and he grinned at the sight of it. “It looks wizard!” he exclaimed. “Thank you, lovie, I adore it!”

“Oh, you’re welcome,” you smiled. “I’m glad it came out alright, I’ve never done it before.”

“It’s perfect,” Ralph said. “Now, I think a shindig is happening without us, and that simply won’t do.”

“Oh, no?” you teased, and Ralph leaned in and smacked a kiss on your lips, careful not to smudge your lipstick. “Well, let’s go join it, shall we?”

#ralph penbury x reader #ralph penbury #ralph timewasters x reader #ralph timewasters #joseph quinn #timewasters #joseph quinn x reader

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no-mercy-bby · 2 years

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Would love to request an x reader with Ralph during their wedding. I know that boy would have tap shoes on at the reception lol

OMIGOSH YEAH HE WOULD

[Marriage, fluff, not proofread: it's 1 am people]

Please

The ceremony had just finished. Your dark colored lipstick was still smudged across Ralph's grinning lips as he led you out of the church.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look today, darling?" Ralph drawls flirtatiously after exiting the church while leaning in towards you. You giggle softly, and turn your face towards him as you readjust your hold on his arm.

"You might have mentioned it, love." You smile brightly at him, as you squeeze his arm closer to yourself. The air had started to cool, and the wind was starting to pick up, causing your long veil to swirl a dance behind you. Making a noise of surprise, you reach back with your free hand to grab a handful of the flowing white fabric to keep it flying off of your head; despite all the pins that were supposed to be securing it down.

"Here let me, my love." Ralph murmurs, his fingers already carefully plucking hair pins from your hair. Ralph's tongue pokes out the corner of his mouth as he concentrates, and you can't help but admire him.

"There, we needn't worry anymore about your veil running away." Ralph jests, pecking your forehead with a tender kiss as he bundles up said veil under his arm.

"Thank you," You bite back your grin at his doting nature, affectionately brushing your nose against his, "My husband."

Ralph's cheeks turn rosy as his warm eyes gaze into yours, and his free hand moves to hold yours.

"My wife," Ralph charms with a grin you could only describe as lovesick before chastely kissing you sweetly, " Let's go, shall we?"

"We shall." You hum agreeably, then Ralph leads you across the street to the restaurant that was reserved for your reception.

It was then after he held the door open to the restaurant that you were finally able to sigh out your nerves. Not that you were nervous about marrying Ralph of course, but rather that having over a hundred of both of your families and closest friends witness you swept up in a rather passionate kiss. It was all water under the bridge now, seeing as your wedding cake was almost taller than you.

"Come on, darling." Ralph chuckles quietly, pulling on you down the narrow hall which lead to the kitchen but also the powder room.

It was there you both had stashed a few of your belongings in the cupboard under the sink. You swapped out your short heels for a more suitable pair of flats, considering dancing all night in heels would certainly lead to aches. The clutch with your makeup was also there, since you had placed it there beforehand, and you take a few moments or maybe minutes to freshen up your makeup. When you reapply your lipstick you remember how it was still smudged across Ralph's lips earlier, so you grab a water cloth and carefully soak some water into it.

Turning to Ralph at your side, you notice he was kneeling as he tied his shoes, but not the ones he was wearing during your wedding ceremony.

"My love," You start but you can't help not smiling as Ralph stands up, familiar tapping noise and all," Are you wearing a new pair of tap shoes?"

"Yes! It's the big day, innit? When I saw them it made me think of when we first met, so I had to have them darling." Ralph's fondness for you had poured into his voice like honey, and you don't even try to stop yourself as you kiss him lovingly.

Ralph's grin oozes off lips and onto yours as you both move your lips in a rather heated tango. His hand travels to cradle the back of you neck, his thumbs caressing the edge of your jaw, pulling you closer and closer still. When you both part fractionally to greedily inhale air, you admire the sight of Ralph's lips now more smudged with your dark lipstick.

"Mmm, you've got a little something here," You hum as you eye his lips before quickly catching them with your own," And here..."

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Wedding cake my beloved

#ralph timewasters x reader #ralph timewasters #ralph x reader #timewasters #joseph quinn x reader #eddie munson x reader #joseph quinn imagine #mmm i hate tagging these #i wrote da #i feel like this one is real bad so sorry

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kwistowee · 4 months

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#that little scream JOSEPH QUINN as RALPH | TIMEWASTERS (2017)

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brighteyedbushybrowed · 2 years

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𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐌𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐨

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 (Ralph x Reader) You’ve been pining after Ralph for months now, convinced that he’s not interested in you or any other woman for that matter. Little did you know that you were only half right.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 Smut (18+ only, MINORS DNI I don’t care what you say, be respectful of my goddamn boundaries it’s not that difficult), mentions of masturbation (m and f), mentions of pillow humping, protected p in v (wrap it before you tap it hens), riding, Ralph is a virgin, mutual pining, crying, oral (m receiving), some fluff, I guess there’s also some angst?

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 Briefly proof-read but may still be some mistakes. At 7.7k words, this is by far the longest one-shot I’ve ever written. I was minding my own business, being in love with Eddie, and then Ralph came along and decided that I should also be in love with him. At this point my love life is fictional characters and only fictional characters, and I’m at peace with that. Also, I really shouldn’t have to say this, but if you’re a minor you really shouldn’t be reading my work or interacting with it or my blog. I’m not responsible for the media you consume, you are, and I will block you if I think you’re a minor. (Also before anyone says anything, condoms did exist in the 1920s, they were just thicker and probably not as comfortable or effective as they are nowadays)

When you first met Ralph, it had been a year ago at one of the parties his sister held regularly. You’d been invited because you were a cousin of one of Victoria’s friends, though you suspected back then it was just for them to have someone new to ridicule and make a spectacle of with the way they kept looking at you from a distance and giggling. However, whatever snide or mean remarks had been made about you had never reached your ears. In fact, quite the opposite happened. You heard nothing but kind words that Victoria and her confidants had said in regard to you. Pleasant, delightful, entertaining, sweet, compliments were all you’d heard spoken about you. However, something curious they’d also said had also gotten back to you.

Oh, she’d be the perfect friend for Ralph, don’t you think?

Ralph himself had been nothing but a gentleman to you for the short amount of time you conversed at the party. He was like an excitable puppy at times, definitely not acting his age, but it was something you found to be endearing. He asked you so many questions about yourself and your dreams and aspirations, genuinely interested in you despite having only just met you. You were disappointed when he was dragged away by his father to talk to other guests and worried that you’d lost your chance to get to know him more.

Your concern dissipated, however, when Victoria started inviting you over to the estate more. You were there as her guest and not Ralph’s but somehow you ended up spending more time with him than the elder of the twins. She didn’t seem to mind though, encouraging your friendship with him whilst also getting to know you more herself. You found her to be a little abrasive at times (you didn’t approve of the way she treated her brother) and more materialistic for your tastes but she proved to be a steadfast friend just like the younger twin.

After a while, you found yourself spending more and more time at the estate but at the request of Ralph. That wasn’t to say that Victoria had stopped inviting you to the estate, but her invitations were less frequent, and you ended up spending more time with her twin than with her. Even when you were invited to stay for a week or two at a time, you saw more of the younger Penbury than you did of her unless it was for dinner or for an outing with both of the twins to go shopping and explore the city. You didn’t mind this, however. It gave you the two of you the opportunity to get to know one another better, resulting in you become closer friends because of it. You’d even go so far as saying that he was your best friend and someone that you could rely on. His puppy-like energy and enthusiasm were matched by his love of playing the ukulele, which he often strummed when you asked him to, and that intelligence and insightfulness you’d caught vague glimpses of at the party. He was a lot smarter than his sister gave him credit for, and he seemed to positively glow and flourish when it was just the two of you.

With the amount of time you spent alone together, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise when you realised you’d developed feelings for him beyond friendship. Despite the differences in your backgrounds and lives, you both bonded and formed a friendship that meant a lot more to you than other friendships you had. You were always writing to each other if you couldn’t see one another, and when you did spend time together neither of you wanted it to end. Some of your happiest memories now were from your time spent in each other’s company. Ralph making up songs about you on his ukulele. Drinks by the fireplace. Days out to explore a part of the city that he hadn’t shown you yet, even if it was somewhere you’d been before by yourself because it just wasn’t the same if he wasn’t there with you. Dancing together at parties and laughing at each other’s jokes while you stood so close your lips could almost brush against his.

Once you had this realisation about your feelings, you ultimately decided not to bring it up with Ralph. He never seemed to be interested in romance or relationships, more than satisfied with his lot in life. His father had often offered to find a wife for him, but he declined each time and wasn’t pressured into finding someone. The younger Penbury was content playing his ukulele and throwing parties with Victoria. Seeing him happy and being his friend was enough for you. At least, that’s what you told yourself while you were in his company.

In the hours of the night, when you were alone in your own room at home or the guest room that had basically become yours for whenever you stayed over at the estate, you had to silence yourself as you let out your pent up feelings and attraction towards him. You’d spent the hours of the early morning on more than one occasion imagining what it would feel like for him to touch you. To hold him against you as you bounced up and down in his lap. The way he would sound moaning or whimpering above you as he thrusted in and out of you. The feeling of his skin against yours, his tongue lapping at your dripping cunt while he pinned down your hips to stop you moving. You were embarrassed at times by how much you craved him, often having to avoid his gaze the morning after your pleasured yourself to thoughts of him. If he’d noticed the way you refused to look him in the eyes until later in the day, he hadn’t said anything to you about it and didn’t act any differently around you.

Now, exactly a year after you first met one another, you were preparing for yet another party. Victoria had invited you and had even insisted on you staying at the estate for a while after, three weeks to be exact. It would be the longest that you’d visited, not that you were complaining. You could never complain at getting to spend more time with Ralph, even if that meant it would be three weeks of you endlessly pining after him while forcing yourself to maintain the friendship you had. You’d endure it as long as you got to see that beautiful, boyish smile of his.

When you arrived the morning of party day, Ralph eagerly greeted you as you stepped out of the carriage. He was quick to pull you into a tight embrace, beaming from ear to ear.

“Oh, Y/N, how I’ve missed you so! I couldn’t sleep a wink last night thinking about you,” he said as he pulled back, his hands lingering on your arms for a brief moment.

“I’ve missed you to, Ralph. Ever since Victoria’s letter arrived in the post, I’ve been preparing for the party. Father even bought me a new outfit for the occasion. I can’t wait for you to see it later tonight.”

Ralph bent his arm at the elbow and held it out for you. “Darling, you’re going to look absolutely marvellous. I daresay you’ll be the most beautiful lady there.”

You laced your arm through his and tried to ignore the way your stomach fluttered at how the pet name rolled off his tongue so easily. It was something he’d started calling you two or three months ago now and you still somehow hadn’t managed to get over how much you adored that you were the one he addressed in such a way. He didn’t even call his own twin sister darling. You assumed it was because of how close you’d grown as friends, the two of you inseparable whenever you stayed at the estate.

You didn’t know it then, but that night you were going to realise how wrong you were.

***

As always, the party downstairs was busy and buzzing with conversation and jazz music. You hadn’t meant to be late heading down into the ballroom, but you wanted to make sure you looked absolutely perfect before making your entrance. Even though you knew Ralph wouldn’t see you any differently, a tiny part of you hoped that he would notice and perhaps change his perspective of you from just friend to something more. It wasn’t a scandalous outfit by any means, but the way black skirt hugged your curves and stopped at the ankles to reveal stocking clad legs and black heels certainly made you feel like you looked scandalous. Partnered with the loose white blouse tucked into the waistline and the delicate gold necklace hanging around your neck that your mother gave you, you prayed that you looked both elegant and appealing enough to grab his attention. With one final look at yourself in the mirror, applying another layer of lipstick anxiously, you finally left the guest room and made your way downstairs and to the ballroom.

You immediately spotted Victoria with her friends and waved, smiling when she returned the gesture happily and took a sip of champagne from her glass. You politely said hello to the familiar faces that were in attendance and weaved your way through the crowd to sit at yours and Ralph’s usual table. He was nowhere to be seen, but you thought nothing of it as you took your seat and scanned the room to try and spot him. The butler brought over your own glass of champagne for you, and you thanked him before taking a sip and resuming your search for your best friend. When your eyes finally did land on him, you deflated a little at seeing him standing beside his father. He looked terribly bored as he listened to him droning on and on with another guest, glancing around the room. You beamed when his eyes finally landed on you and wiggled your fingers at him, feeling a rush of happiness when he waved back to you. You hoped you’d get to speak to him and have at least one dance with him before the end of the night.

A tap on the shoulder pulled your focus away from him and you turned your head to see an unfamiliar man standing before you. He looked to be about the same age as you and Ralph, his hair dirty blonde curls and a narrower jawline than you friend’s. He had a nice smile, you supposed, but it was nothing compared to Ralph’s.

“I was wondering, my lady, if you would care to dance?” he asked, holding out his hand for you to take. You were ready to decline and say no, but when you glanced back and saw that Ralph had now been roped into the conversation with his father you sighed and turned back to the stranger.

“Why not? It would be my pleasure,” you told him politely as you rose and took his hand. You allowed him to lead you to the dancefloor and forced yourself to keep smiling so that you wouldn’t embarrass Ralph or his family. Even though you weren’t a member of the household, you still felt obligated to uphold the image they cared about so much because of how often you found yourself staying at the estate. It was like a second home to you now, and as such you were going to treat it and the family as such.

“So,” the man in front of you said as you started to dance. “I hear you’re a frequent guest of the Penburys’. Would I be correct in assuming that you and the young Mr Penbury are courting, my lady?”

You felt your heart sink in your chest. “While I may be a guest here often, you would be incorrect in that assumption. Ralph and I are just friends.”

Your heart sank even more at the way he lit up at that. “Oh really? A woman as pretty as you? Does that mean you’re open to courting others, perhaps?”

“I’m flattered, but I –”

“Why don’t I take you out to dinner sometime? There’s a delightful restaurant that I’m sure you’ll love.”

Your patience was beginning to wear thin. “As lovely as that sounds, I’m afraid I will have to decline.”

“But why?” he asked, making you grit your teeth behind your smile. “Are you already promised to another man?”

“No. I would just rather –”

His hand gripped your hip a little tighter and you started to feel uncomfortable at his persistence. “Won’t you please give me a chance, my lady? I’m sure you’ll find me to adequate company, and I can offer a lot of money to someone like you.”

You stopped dating then and dropped your hands, stepping away from him. “I’m sorry, my lord, but I would rather die alone than spend my life with you. I have tried to tell you that I’m not interested, but still, you persist and ignore me. Now please move out of the way if you would be so kind. I need some fresh air.”

Unwilling to wait for a response, you pushed past him and made your way out of the back of the estate and into the gardens, hugging yourself as you stood in the cold. You knew that you might have negatively impacted the Penburys’ reputation and good standing by being rude, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care. All you’d wanted was to spend the night dancing and laughing with your best friend, and instead you’d been forced to leave the party just to escape that stupidly persistent man. You weren’t naïve; you knew that there were men out there who weren’t like Ralph and treated women more like objects of their desire as opposed to real people just as worthy of their respect as other men were. In fact, you thought yourself to be rather lucky that Ralph wasn’t like the others. He was sweet and kind and treated you like an equal, never once forcing himself on you or presuming that you were interested in him just because he was a rich man that lived in a fancy estate.

Assuming the footsteps you heard behind you belonged to that man from the party, you didn’t bother to turn around and continued to stare out over the vast gardens. You forced yourself to maintain a neutral facial expression as you prepared yourself to be bombarded once again with questions asking you to court him and why you were turning him down. If you weren’t so concerned about sullying the Penburys’ reputation and upsetting Ralph, you’d turn around and give him a piece of your mind. Perhaps you’d even give him a good knee to the –

“Darling? Are you alright?”

Thank God, it was Ralph.

You gave him a small smile as you turned your head to look at him. “Of course I am. How are you enjoying the party so far? From the looks of it, this could be your most successful party to date.”

Maybe you’d been hoping that your question would be a distraction so that you wouldn’t have to tell him what was wrong. Unfortunately, you weren’t so fortunate.

“You’re trying to change the subject,” he stated, his tone stern. “I saw you leave. Did something happen in there?”

“It’s nothing. I just needed some air.”

You gasped when he grasped both of your hands in his, staring into your eyes with determination.

“Please, don’t lie to me. There’s something else going on here and don’t think I haven’t noticed it. There are times when you won’t even look at me, times where you seem sad and distant, and then you lie about it and say that everything is fine. How am I supposed to help you if you won’t tell me anything?”

A sigh left your lips. Of course he’d noticed. He was much more perceptive than everyone else gave him credit for, including you apparently. The hurt expression on his face had you tearing up as you looked down at your joined hands. He was always noticing things, why wouldn’t he have noticed that his best friend was acting differently?

A choked laugh left your lips when he dropped your hands to wipe away your tears once you’d lifted your head, his fingers leaving tingles in their wake.

“Come,” he cooed, “let us go up to my room. There’s more privacy there and we won’t be interrupted. Then you can tell me what’s truly on your mind.”

You didn’t have the strength in you to decline and feed him another lie. So, you allowed him to tentatively take hold of your wrist and lead you back into the house. You caught a quick glimpse of the man you’d left behind on the dancefloor as you passed the ballroom, grateful that he seemed to be preoccupied with dancing with some other unfortunate woman.

The lock clicking once you were both in Ralph’s room made you release a breath you’d been subconsciously holding in, the sounds from the party downstairs dulled and muffled. You watched as the younger Penbury twin lit a few candles before he returned to you, sitting on the mattress and motioning for you to join him. You hesitated momentarily then decided that it would probably do more harm to shut him out than let him in and took a seat beside him.

Ralph cleared his throat. “So… um… well…”

“Yes?” you asked, gazing at him and watching in amusement as he shifted uncomfortably.

“Yes. Well. It has come to my attention that for a few months now you’ve been a bit off with me. I want to know what it is I’ve done that’s upset you.”

Your heart broke a little at his words. “Oh, Ralph, you’ve done nothing to upset me whatsoever. In fact, you’ve been a true and wonderful friend. The best friend I could ever ask for.”

“Then what is it? What’s been making you so sad? Has Victoria said something to you?” The touch of panic with his last question had you frowning.

“No, she’s not said a word about you. Was she supposed to have said something?”

His face grew a little paler. “Ah, no! Not at all. Forget I said that. Besides, we’re supposed to be focussing on you here, not me.”

“What is it that you think Victoria has said to me? Is there something wrong that you’re not telling me?”

“Y/N –”

“Ralph.”

“– please just tell me what’s going on. I’ve been worried these past few months that I’ve done something to hurt or aggrieve you and even now I still fear that I’ve chased you away somehow. Just tell me what it is so that we can talk about it and sort it out.”

You ran your hands down your face, not caring if it ruined your makeup anymore. You always knew that eventually you’d have to have this conversation with him, you just hoped for a while that maybe it wouldn’t need to happen because either you or he would find a partner and you could move on. However, nobody could even hold a candle to Ralph, so you never tried all that hard to find somebody else and he was just never interested in anyone. Now, as you sat on his bed keeping him away from his own party, you chose to just lay all of your cards on the table and hope that he would still want to be friends after this.

“Sometimes… sometimes it hurts to be around you, Ralph,” you started, staring straight ahead. “From the day we met last year – a year ago today, in fact – you’ve treated me with nothing but kindness and respect. You bring such joy and happiness into my life that I am unable to imagine a life without you in it. But then I had to go and spoil it all by developing feelings for you and thinking of you in ways that I shouldn’t. There are times when I can’t even look at you because I know that the thoughts I have about you would make you recoil in disgust and then I wouldn’t have my best friend anymore. I never intended to make you feel like you’d done something wrong. I also never intended for you to know about these feelings because I know you have no interest in courting or romance and I didn’t want to make things awkward between us. You matter too much to me for me to throw away a friendship so dear to me, but now I can no longer keep my feelings locked away because I’ve been hurting you by doing so. I hope that you can forgive me one day for that.”

The silence that met your words almost hurt more than if he were to shout at you and tell you to leave and never return. At least if he yelled it would be a response that told you how he was feeling and thinking. You weren’t sure how long you both sat there in silence until you heard a sniffle. You turned your head and felt a pang of guilt when you saw that Ralph was crying.

“Oh, Ralph, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. Please don’t cry,” you said, taking his face in yours to wipe away his tears and being met with an expression you never expected to see in response to your confession.

Ralph was beaming.

His shaking hands rested on top of yours as he turned his head slightly to kiss both palms. “How could I ever be disgusted by you, darling? You could never do anything to change how I feel about you. Here I was, scared that I’d somehow scared you away, and all this time you’ve been hiding how you truly feel to try and save a friendship that didn’t need to be saved. How long have you been suffering in silence like this?”

“A few months now. It started after I began visiting more frequently. We spent so much time together that it felt almost inevitable, but I was sure that you didn’t feel the same way,” you told him, a part of you still trying not to keep your hopes up.

Your best friend brought your hands down into his lap, thumbs caressing the skin. “Truth be told, Y/N, I’ve been feeling the same way since we first met at that party. I overheard Victoria and her friends talking about you and I was intrigued, so I begged her to invite you so that we could perhaps become friends. Then we started talking and you were so genuinely interested in getting to know me as a person and not as some rich boy, and I realised that you were special. Do you know how many women have tried to get to know me because they know that my family and I are wealthy? But you were different. You were interested in me and not my monetary worth, which meant more to me than I can express. I knew then that you would be the only one for me until the end of time.”

Your heartbeat pounded in your ears as you took in Ralph’s words. You almost couldn’t believe it. Was he really admitting that he reciprocated your feelings towards him? This wasn’t a dream, was it? Perhaps you were still at home and fast asleep and would wake up to the bitterness of disappointment.

“Y/N,” Ralph said, his cheeks flushed. “Would it be too forward for me to ask for your permission to kiss you? I’ve never… you know…”

You gently placed a hand on his cheek and leaned in slightly, careful not to spook him. “I have thought about kissing you many times over these past months. If you wish to kiss me, I’ll be more than happy to kiss you back.”

As Ralph slowly leaned in so that your lips were almost touching, you remained as still as you could, wanting him to feel reassured that he was the one in control and could back out if he wasn’t ready or comfortable kissing you. When he finally closed the distance and his lips pressed softly against yours, you closed your eyes. You hesitantly moved your lips against his, mouths sliding innocently over one another as he tried his best to kiss you back. The fingers of one of his hands gently pressed against the back of your head to hold you in place while the other rested on your knee. Your free hand that wasn’t cupping his face took hold of his bow tie and lightly pulled, making him gasp against you.

When he broke the kiss, your eyes fluttered open to see that his cheeks were still flushed pink and his lips were a little swollen. He was panting a little as he gazed at you through his lashes.

“Did you like that, Ralphie?” you asked, the nickname slipping out before you could stop it.

He let out a quiet, high-pitched whine at the name. “Call me that again. Please.”

You smiled at the neediness in his voice. “Ralphie. My darling Ralphie. Did you enjoy our kiss?”

“I did.” His tongue ran over his bottom lip. “Please… please could I kiss you again?”

Without saying another word, you talk the initiative to kiss him this time. Even though he was inexperienced, and this was only his second kiss, he was a little more confident and his thumb stroked your knee over your skirt, his lips moving with yours. You bravely swiped your tongue against his lips and took the opportunity when he gasped to slide it into his mouth. He tasted faintly of champagne and strawberries, his tongue roaming your mouth as he tried to figure out what he was supposed to do with it. You tangled your fingers into his hair, ruining the meticulous way he’d styled it for the party, and smiled against him when you heard him moan at your gentle tugging. When he pulled away from you a second time, a small line of spit connected both of your mouths.

“Y/N, I feel a bit…” Ralph said, trailing off as he looked away bashfully.

“Is everything okay? Was that too much?” you asked as you removed your hands from his hair and leaned back to give him some more space. He moved is hands to his lap and stared down at his legs.

“No, it was wonderful,” he replied. “I just feel a bit… funny.”

You frowned at him, trying to decipher what he meant, and glanced down at his hands, quickly realising what he meant from where he’d positioned them.

“Don’t stare! It’s embarrassing and a lady like you shouldn’t have to see this.”

You raised an eyebrow at him. “Ralph, with all due respect, seeing it will have no effect on my feelings for you. It’s perfectly natural for your body to react that way and to feel ‘funny’. Sometimes I feel ‘funny’ too when I think about you if you understand what I’m saying?”

If Ralph was blushing before, he was now completely red. He hid his face in the crook of your neck and you giggled as you pressed a kiss to the top of his head.

“I don’t want you to think that I’m being… inappropriate, darling,” he mumbled against your skin.

You cupped his face and moved him so that you were looking him in the eye. “Sweetie, I promise I will tell you if you ever make me feel uncomfortable or if I think you’re being inappropriate towards me. And I would hope that you would do the same for me too.”

He nodded his head, his big brown eyes wide when you pressed a chaste kiss to his lips.

“Now,” you said, “will you please remove your hands? You don’t have to if you’re not comfortable doing so, but I’d like to see what effect I have on you. Women like knowing that their partner is aroused by them.”

He cringed when you said the word ‘aroused’ but did eventually remove his hands and placed them at his sides on the mattress. You waited for a moment to make sure he was okay with you looking and then glanced down to find that he was already tenting his trousers. While he likely wasn’t fully erect, you could tell he was straining against the fabric. You watched his face as you slowly brought a hand to his tent and gently applied pressure. He gasped and tilted his head back, his breath huffing out in pants as you began to palm him, grinding your hand down to create friction.

“God, Y/N, p-please,” he choked out.

You stopped moving your hand for a moment. “Please what, Ralphie? What is it you want?”

“I don’t… I don’t know.”

Your lips ghosted along his jawline. “Do you want me to continue? Or do you want me to stop?”

“Please don’t stop. But maybe… maybe you could… take my trousers off?” The last part came out as more of a squeak, making you smile and hum against his skin before you stood up and motioned for him to do the same. Your fingers fumbled with his belt buckle and yanked it out of the loops on his trousers before you set about unbuttoning and unzipping them. Before he could say anything more, you were on your knees and pulling down both his trousers and underwear just enough so that his hardened cock was freed and standing to attention level with your lips.

“Oh, sweetie, look how hard you are. If I’d known this was the effect I had on you, I would have told you my feelings sooner,” you told him, teasing him a little as you looked up at him and fluttered your eyelashes.

Ralph spluttered and covered his face with his hands. “Please stop.”

You giggled and gave his tip a gentle kiss, making him jolt with a quiet yelp. “Sorry, Ralphie. Tell me at any point if I go too far or you want to stop, okay?”

You waited for Ralph to give you a ‘yes’ before you took hold of him at his base and pressed another kiss to his tip. You sucked it into your mouth gently, your tongue dipping into the slit to taste the salty precum that was already leaking from him. He mewled as you slowly moved your fist up and down along his cock while you gave the head some love, your tongue swirling around it as you sucked it. One of his hands rested on the top of your head and you glanced at his face, his other hand covering his mouth as he watched you. His pupils were dilated as he kept his sights trained on you. You took a little more of him into your mouth as you observed him, a muffled moan barely audible over the dulled sounds of the ongoing party.

“Let me hear you, Ralph. I want to hear how good you feel,” you encouraged him as you pulled your lips off his dick with a quiet pop.

“But it’s embarrassing,” he replied, removing his hand all the same.

You continued to jerk him off as you pressed your lips to the underside of his cock. “If you don’t feel comfortable with it then that’s alright. I just want you to know that no sound you make could ever be embarrassing to me. I thought a lot about the kinds of sounds you’d make in this kind of situation, and never once did I think to myself that it would be embarrassing to hear them.”

His breaths came out in huffs. “Do you promise?”

“I promise, sweetie. Everything about you is beautiful, and I know any noises you make will be beautiful too.”

You placed him back in your mouth, taking half of him in this time and bobbing your head as you sucked. The groan that left Ralph’s lips as he stroked your hair made you squeeze your thighs together, desperate to feel even the tiniest bit of friction. You continued pumping his cock in time with the movement of your head, spit running down your chin while your tongue rubbed against a vein on the underside of his cock. His free hand squeezed your shoulder and his hips jerked forward when your teeth gently grazed against him.

“Ah, Y/N… feels so good, please go faster,” he rasped above you.

Obediently, your head bobbed a little faster and you dropped your hand to take him as far into your mouth as you could. You gagged when he hit the back of your throat and he yanked your hair.

“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to pull. Your mouth just…” Ralph’s words trailed off as he whined, his legs starting to shake.

“My mouth just what? Use your words, Ralphie.” Your hand was back to pumping him quickly as you pulled your mouth off him, squeezing his tip each time your hand reached it.

“Mouth feels s-so amazing. My body feels all tight and hot when you touch me like that.”

You lapped his dripping head with a hum. “I’m glad. Would you like my mouth around your cock again, Ralphie?”

His hips were rocking into your touch as he shook his head. “Don’t want to make a mess of you. Please…”

You immediately stopped what you were doing and rose to your feet, wiping your hands on some tissues from a box beside his bed from the last time you visited. He’d been sick at the time, locked up in his room and moaning in pain a lot.

Wait…

You smiled as it clicked in your head, but you decided not to mention it to him, not wanting him to feel embarrassed or ashamed. It was a discussion that could wait for another time. For now, you returned to Ralph and placed a soft but wet kiss on his cheek, wrapping your arms around his waist in an embrace that he reciprocated.

“Y/N?”

“Mm?”

He was quiet for a moment before he spoke up once more. “Do you think we could… oh, I’m not sure how to put it! I’m not all that experienced with relationships and… s-sex.”

You leaned back and kissed the tip of his nose. “Sweetie, are you trying to ask me if I want to have sex with you?”

He nodded his head swiftly, the tips of his ears flushed.

“I need you to use your words for me, okay? If you don’t use your words then I won’t know what you want, will I?”

Ralph took a deep breath. “Please could we have sex?”

You rewarded him with a kiss. “Good boy. Yes, we can indeed have sex. Do you have any protection?”

He frowned. “Protection?”

“Yes.” You sat down on the edge of his bed, leaning back. “Something that’ll stop me getting pregnant. Neither of us are ready to bring a child into the world, especially out of wedlock. Maybe Victoria will have some in her room?”

Ralph tucked himself back into his underwear and trousers, still hard, and promised you he’d be right back before he took off to his twin’s room. While you waited for him, you removed your blouse and skirt, placing your shoes neatly by the side of the bed. You were about to take your stockings off when he re-entered the bedroom, frozen in front of the now closed door with a box in his hand. His eyes widened as he drank in the sight before him: you, laying on his bed in just your undergarments.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” you asked him, snapping him out of his trance.

He nodded as he approached, holding up the box. “Um, yes. It turns out she has quite a few of them.”

Once he was stood in front of you, you sat up and placed a leg on either side of his so that he was standing between them. You boldly took hold of him by the bet loops and pulled him until he fell on top of you, your back hitting the covers while he kept himself propped up on his elbows.

“Are you sure you definitely want this?” you asked him, staring into his wide brown eyes.

His breath tickled your lips. “Yes. Do you? I don’t want you to think that we have to just because you… you know…”

“Ralph.” You made sure you maintained eye contact as you spoke. “I’ve wanted this for a while now. I've never been surer of anything in my life.”

He grinned at your response. However, before he could kiss you, you held a finger up to his lips.

“Before we start, what position would you feel most comfortable in? Would you rather I be on top or you?”

Ralph bit his lip in thought for a moment. “Could you, um, be on top, please? You seem to know what you’re doing more than I do and I don’t want to hurt you.”

With a reassuring kiss, you pushed him off you and made him lie down on the bed against his pillows. You pulled down his trousers and underwear, allowing him to lift his hips for you, and tossed them behind you to join the rest of your clothes. Your underwear and stockings were quick to join them, your body no longer concealed by fabric. You gave his cock a brief stroke, smiling at the broken moan that escaped him, and removed his blazer. Once that was on the floor too, you removed his bow tie and began to slowly unbutton his shirt, your fingers teasingly brushing against his chest. Once he was fully naked, you took in the sight of him beneath you and gave his thigh a squeeze.

“Oh, Ralphie,” you cooed, “you’re so beautiful. Such a pretty boy beneath all of those clothes. It’s criminal that you have to hide so much of it away from me.”

He whimpered at your words and ran a hand through his hair. “Do you truly mean that?”

“Of course, sweetie.” You leaned over him as you started to place kisses on his neck. His hands rushed to grip your hips as you littered his throat and chest with kisses, tiny remnants of your lipstick left behind in your wake. His words caught in his throat as he gazed down at you. When you reached his groin, you sat up and took the box off him, opening it and carefully pulling out a condom. It was thick and didn’t feel too pleasant, but you much preferred that to an unplanned pregnancy and becoming a social pariah.

Ralph cleared his throat. “It won’t hurt, will it?”

You frowned. “What? Putting this on? It shouldn’t hurt, no.”

“No, no, no.” He licked his lips. “I meant when we… you know… when we do it.”

You couldn’t help but smile and place a soft, wet kiss to his thigh. “Having sex shouldn’t hurt. It may feel a little odd for you at first though seeing as this is your first time. We’ll take it nice and slow, and you can tell me to stop at any moment. Even if we’re both close to finishing, if you tell me to stop, I’m more than happy to stop. I promise.”

As he finally, fully relaxed, he nodded to you reassuringly and you gradually rolled the condom down his cock until he was fully sheathed. You gave him an experimental stroke as you glanced up at his face.

“How does that feel?”

“Good,” he replied, his voice breathy.

Satisfied that he was comfortable, you straddled his hips and hovered over his erection, gently gliding the tip through your slick folds. “You’ll need to tell me when you’re ready, Ralphie. I won’t put you inside me if I’m not completely certain, so I need you to use your words.”

“Please keep going, darling. Please. I don’t think I’m going to last much longer. Just put me in, please.”

At the sound of his begging, you began to insert his dick inside of you, slowly sinking onto him before stopping halfway. He was already unleashing high-pitched groans and whines, his hands fisting the duvet cover. You gently rose yourself up so that he was slipping out of you and then sank back down onto him again, stopping at the halfway point once more. Your head tilted back as you repeated your actions, trying to get Ralph used to the sensation before trying to sit down on him fully. You listened to his shuddering breaths and moans, feeling him move as he arched his back off the bed.

“F-feels so good, Y/N. You’re squeezing me,” he sobbed, making you look down at him. His knuckles were white as he gripped the sheets tightly and his face was scrunched up as he closed his eyes.

You stopped moving and took hold of both of his hands. “Hey, pretty boy. Can you open your eyes for me?”

At the sound of your cooed request, he did as you asked and swallowed thickly as he watched you smile down at him.

“Relax for me. Use your hands to guide how fast or slow you want me to go. And keep your eyes open. I want you to be able to see what you do to me, okay?”

He nodded. “Sorry. You just feel amazing. Feels better than my hand. Definitely better than my pillow.”

You moaned at his words, gently moving down so that his cock was inside you completely. “You used your pillow while thinking of me, Ralphie?”

“I did,” he confessed. “Sometimes my hand wasn’t enough, so I’d hump my pillow thinking about how you might feel around me.”

You started to ride him slowly, Ralph’s hands dictating the pace. Each time he was completely sheathed inside you, you felt him graze against your inner walls. He squeezed your hips with each movement, and you gazed down at his face, cheeks burning hot as you saw the way he eagerly watched you gliding up and down his dick and the way your arousal made him glisten.

“Did you ever think about me riding you like this?” you asked, your voice husky.

“Fu- I did, darling. I imagined the way your boobs would jiggle if you went faster. It made me finish too quickly sometimes.”

You allowed him to bounce you in his lap a little faster, the two of you groaning at the sounds of squelching emanating from where your bodies met. You rocked against him each time your hips met, savouring the way he mewled and rolled his own up against you to try and get impossibly deeper.

“Mm, your cock feels so good inside me Ralph. Wish we’d done this sooner,” you purred, watching with glee as his eyes snapped up to your face, drool beginning to leak from the corner of his lips and down to his chin.

“M-me too. You’re squeezing me so fucking good, I won’t last much longer,” he cried, his eyes beginning to water.

Wanting to cum with him, you took hold of one of his hands and began guiding his fingers in rubbing your clit. The sensation immediately sent what felt like a jolt of electricity through your body. You rode him faster, clenching your walls around him as you leaned down to capture his lips in a brief kiss.

“Can you – ah – keep moving your hand like that if I let go?” you asked, unable to hold back the moan that cut through your words.

“Yes, anything for you, Y/N.”

You began to suck and nip at his neck, the hand that had been showing him what to do tangling itself in his hair. His finger continued to circle your clit and his free hand moved so that his arm was draped over your lower back.

“Say my name again,” you whispered into his ear.

He shuddered. “Y/N. Y/N, I’m going to –”

His hips jerked up into you as he wept, his chest arching against yours as he came inside the condom. Your climax soon followed, and you chanted out words of praise intermingled with his name, his fingers still moving against your clit but the movement sloppy.

You both lay there in that position for a while after, his hand removed from your bundle of nerves as you kissed the back of it. He gently removed himself from inside you and you fell so that you were laying on your side and facing him while he remained on his back. Your fingers delicately traced up and down his chest, grounding him as he came down from his high. When he eventually turned his head to look at you, you gave him a sweet smile and kissed him.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” you asked, somewhat self-conscious that he perhaps hadn’t liked it as much as you did.

His arms wrapped around you and pulled you so that your head was laying on his chest. “That was amazing. Perfect. I didn’t know that it could feel so… so…”

“Amazing?”

“Mm.”

You cuddled up to him but glanced up when you heard him sniffling. You sat up, worried that he was already regretting what had happened, but you felt a warmth flood your chest at the smile that adorned his beautiful face. He gazed up at you in awe, his eyes taking in every inch of you that he could see.

“I love you, Y/N,” he whispered, reaching up a hand to caress your face.

You leaned your head into the touch, kissing his palm. “I love you too, Ralphie. With all my heart.”

Almost as if only just remembering, Ralph rose to his feet and removed the condom, tying a knot in it and walking on wobbly legs over to the bin to dispose of it. Once he returned to you, he lay back down on the bed and pulled you down to hold one another. The two of you eventually drifted off like that, the party downstairs abandoned and forgotten about.

#spicy content #timewasters #ralph penbury #ralph penbury x reader #ralph timewasters #ralph timewasters x reader #ralph penbury smut #ralph timewasters smut #smut #virgin!ralph #fanfic #my fanfic #mine

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joesquinns · 9 months

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JOSEPH QUINN as RALPH in Timewasters

#stcastedit #josephquinnedit #jquinnedit #joseph quinn #joe quinn #ralph #timewasters #*

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stinkysam · 7 months

Text

MASTERLIST TV SHOWS / MOVIES (a->z)

••••••••• •••••••••

–AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D

Deke Shaw

Past, Present, Future - (fluff/nsfw)

Patience is a man’s best virtue - (fluff)

On Monday - (fluff)

Bed sharing - (fluff)

But if you had told me, I would've told you - (fluff)

••••••••• •••••••••

–ALICE IN BORDERLAND

I will not write for Niragi.

Chishiya Shuntarō

Random headcanons - (fluff)

••••••••• •••••••••

–DOOM PATROL

Larry Trainor

No, I don’t wanna talk about it - (fluff)

••••••••• •••••••••

–ONE PIECE LIVE ACTION

Buggy the Clown

Five more minutes - (fluff)

So no head ? - (smut) - pt.1

Repaid in kind - (smut) - pt.2

You can slice me, you can dice me... - (fluff)

Pretty please ? - (fluff)

Seastone cuffs - (smut)

Give me your dick - (smut)

Meet my ex - (angst) - pt.1

Head keeper - (angst) - pt.2

Flashy flashy ! - (fluff)

Uh-oh - (fluff)

Me ! Me ! Me ! - (fluff)

This is you - (fluff)

Am I me ? - (fluff)

Your move - (angst)

Buggy the sugar baby - (fluff) - pt.1

It's getting expensive - (fluff) - pt.2

Furnace - (fluff)

I don't feel it anymore - (angst)

Who's got it bigger ? - (fluff)

Twitch streamer - (fluff) - pt.1

Game con - (fluff) - pt.2

So handsome - (fluff)

I'll haunt you - (fluff)

My marine bf - (fluff)

Cabaji

Honk honk - (fluff)

Monkey D. Luffy

Always together - (fluff) - pt.1

Glue - (smut) - pt.2

Is it a monster ? - (fluff) - pt.3

Dancer - (fluff)

For staying alive - (angst)

Captain - (fluff)

Fish - (fluff)

When are they gonna kiss - (fluff) - pt.1

Oh, they more than kissed - (smut) - pt.2

Maybe the paradise is the friends we made along the way - (fluff)

Cook - (smut)

You'll have to cut my arms - (fluff)

Look - (fluff)

Roronoa zoro

I don’t need saving - (fluff)

Well, this is awkward - (angst)

Fucking idiot - (fluff)

Different - (fluff)

Dinner - (fluff) - pt.1

Eat me - (smut) - pt.2

Stronger - (fluff)

Vinsmoke Sanji

Oh boy - (fluff) - pt.1

A date ?! - (fluff) - pt.2

Confettis - (fluff)

Me ? - (fluff)

Princes - (fluff)

I'll peel every tangerine for you - (fluff)

Twitch streamer - (fluff)

Bonus

How they take it - (smut)

••••••••• •••••••••

–SPIDER-MAN (TOM HOLLAND)

Peter Parker

Next time I’ll answer for you - (smut)

Unlucky days are not so bad - (smut)

No one would know - (smut)

Moon - (smut)

Can I hold your hand ? - (fluff)

Ever heard of privacy? - (fluff)

My son !? - (smut)

••••••••• •••••••••

–STRANGER THINGS

Eddie Munson

1985 - (fluff)

In your arms - (fluff)

Summer of 85 - (fluff) - pt.1

Man crush - (fluff) - pt.2

••••••••• •••••••••

–THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN (ANDREW GARFIELD)

Peter Parker

Some people are gay, Steven - (fluff)

There’s no happy ending possible - (angst)

I wanna thank myself for always having my back - (fluff)

Hit “send” - (fluff)

The suit stays on - (smut)

First time - (smut)

Did you know I love lizards - (fluff) - pt.1

Man, I love lizards - (fluff) - pt.2

Closed door - (smut)

Blind - (angst)

I wasn't here - (angst) - pt.1

I never lost hope - (fluff) - pt.2

All about the angle - (fluff)

••••••••• •••••••••

–TIMEWASTERS

Ralph

The dance - (angst)

Secrecy - (fluff)

••••••••• •••••••••

–UNDER THE SILVER LAKE

Sam

Is it a good idea ? Depends. - (fluff)

Helping hand - (smut)

••••••••• •••••••••

–VENOM

I will not write nsfw for any of them.

Eddie Brock (+ Venom)

This is killing me - (fluff)

Spider on thin fuckin’ ice - (crack)

Two losers are worth more than one - (fluff)

Alien - (fluff) - pt.1

The second beer - (fluff) - pt.2

Salt lamp - (fluff)

Pinky promise - (fluff)

••••••••• •••••••••

#masterlist #male reader #agents of shield #alice in borderland #doom patrol #one piece live action #Spider-Man #stranger things #the amazing Spider-Man #timewasters #under the silver lake #venom

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ladyfogg · 2 years

Text

Words of Advice - Part 1

Words of Advice – Part 1

Fic Summary: Months after being so spectacularly rejected by Lauren, Ralph finds his interests being drawn to the pretty new maid. Having no idea how to approach you, and not wanting to repeat mistakes of the past, he seeks advice from everyone and anyone who’ll provide it, which is probably not the wisest decision. (Part 2) Fics Masterpost.

Fic Rating: 18+ (Minors DNI)

Pairing: Virgin!Ralph (Timewasters)/Female Reader

Warnings: Canon Divergent, It’s Not Unrequited Love They’re Just Idiots, Mutual Pining, Attempts at Flirting, Slow Build, Eventual Smut, First Time, Unprotected Sex

A/N: Hey there, lovelies! Originally this was going to be a oneshot, but it became a lot longer than I anticipated (that’s what she said) so it’s been split into two parts. I don’t have an ETA on part 2 but I hope you enjoy part 1!

Ralph decides that he won’t run off and join the French Foreign Legion.

While Lauren’s harsh words and rejection broke his heart, he begrudgingly admits to himself that he may have rushed things a bit. Proposing marriage after knowing her for a few days was on the fast side. Perhaps he should have waited for a more respectable amount of time, like a month.

Regardless, he has no interest in chasing a woman who clearly wants nothing to do with him. Unfortunately, he hasn’t met one who does

It’s a bleak and confidence busting realization. Ralph resigns himself to bachelorhood and takes solace in the notion that he at least has his many interests and hobbies to occupy his time. Although, there are only so many times he can play his ukulele, read, or any of the other skills he’s picked up over the years.

Currently, he is in the dining room, just about to sit down for lunch, when the doorbell rings. Normally, one of the servants gets it but at least two quit the week before and replacements have yet to be hired. It seems no one else in the house deems it necessary to stop what they’re doing because after a few short minutes, the doorbell rings again.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get it,” Ralph says to no one in particular, throwing his napkin down in annoyance.

He walks through the dining room and into the front hall. If he’d realized who was on the other side of the door, he could have done something to prepare. He’s not sure what could have prepared him for opening the door and finding himself face to face with the most beautiful creature he’s ever seen.

“Hello, sir,” you say, giving him a warm smile. “I’m here about the servant’s position.”

Ralph is frozen, brown eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. It’s like every word or thought is plucked out of his head, leaving nothing but the sound of his heart pounding.

When he doesn’t say anything, you shift nervously. “Sir, did you hear me?”

“Ralph.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Ralph. My name. It’s my name. I mean…” Ralph clears his throat, remembering who he is and that he shouldn’t stand there floundering like a fish. “Please, come in.”

You smile and Ralph swears his heart stops beating. “Thank you.”

You cross the threshold and Ralph barely moves out of the way in time. The scent of flowers wafts off you and Ralph closes his eyes, savoring it before he catches himself and closes the door.

“And your name is?” he asks, turning to face you, his back pressed against the door in a subconscious attempt to keep you from leaving. Though, judging by the suitcase in your hands, that doesn’t seem to be happening any time soon.

You tell him your name and extend your hand towards him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Ralph takes it, desperately wishing you weren’t wearing gloves so he could feel your skin on his. “I’m delighted to meet you as well.”

From the upper level, he hears his twin’s boisterous voice say your name. Victoria glides down the stairs, immediately grabbing your attention away from Ralph.

“It’s so good to see you!” she says. “I appreciate you filling in on such short notice. We’ve had a bit of a turnaround lately and are in desperate need of help.” She turns to face her brother as if she’s noticing him for the first time. “Ah, Ralph! I see you’ve met our new maid.”

“Yes, we were just getting acquainted,” Ralph says, eyes never leaving you.

“He was being most hospitable,” you say with a smile Ralph’s way that has him clutching the doorknob for support.

Victoria doesn’t miss it. She narrows her eyes suspiciously but it only lasts a second because when you turn to her, she’s smiling once more. “Let me give you the tour and explain your duties,” she says, motioning for you to walk ahead of her.

As if being pulled by an invisible string, Ralph makes a move to follow. Victoria stops him with a hand in his chest. “Don’t you dare, brother,” she says in a low voice. “I’ve already had to put an embargo on all the hired help to keep Jason from going through them. I won’t have you scaring this one away.”

“But…”

“No! Stay!” she says, flicking his nose.

Plastering that big smile on her face once more, she turns to lead you down the hall. Ralph leans on the nearest doorframe for support, watching your swaying hips as you go. He swears it’s giving him heart palpitations and he may need to have a lie down until his head stops spinning.

“Wow, she’s…” He can’t think of another word and whispers the last to himself. “Wizard.”

“Well, you move on fast, don’t you?”

Ralph whips his head to the side to see Lauren standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking highly amused at the unfolding events. How long has she been standing there??

“I mean no disrespect,” he immediately says. “I am well-aware your…feelings towards me. Or rather, lack thereof. My infatuation faded some time ago.”

“Glad to hear it,” she says. Then she shoves her hands in her pockets and sighs. “I am sorry for that, by the way. Didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

“Water under the bridge,” he says, turning his attention back to the hall you vacated seconds ago. He sighs dreamily and leans against the doorframe again. “Under the most beautiful bridge I’ve ever seen.”

“Oh, bloody hell. Alright, look mate. You didn’t ask for my opinion but I’m giving it anyway,” Lauren says. “Word of advice: if you’re going to go after that one, don’t be yourself.”

With that, she gives him a firm slap on the back that makes him stumble a bit and, with a smile that seems like she’s given him the most important piece of advice in the world, she heads out the door whistling to herself.

Don’t be himself? Then who the bloody hell is he supposed to be?! Ralph turns to ask but she’s already gone.

Well…bollocks.

Between that and his sister scolding him, he’s thoroughly confused. Alright, he can figure this out. He can work around his sister’s rule. He may not be able to go after you, but what if you came to him? He could hardly be to blame if you became infatuated with him. It would be rude not to reciprocate and if Ralph is anything, it’s a respectable gentleman.

Besides, it falls in line with Lauren’s “don’t be yourself” suggestion. And a beautiful woman such as yourself falling for him would absolutely be the opposite of his usual go to.

Not that he knows how to even begin to make that happen. Lauren’s gone so he can’t ask her for clarification. But maybe her brother will have better insights!

Ralph scours the house looking for Nick, almost running into Victoria and you as she gives the tour. He ducks from room to room, hoping you don’t see him, but stealing fleeting glances when he can. He finds Nick in the quarters he shares with his bandmates. He’s standing at a chalkboard, scribbling what looks like gibberish.

Ralph knocks on the open door. “Knock, knock! Nick, do you have a minute?”

“Lauren’s not here,” Nick says over his shoulder. “Sorry, mate.”

“Oh, I know. I’m not looking for her, I’m looking for you. I was hoping you’d give me some advice.”

That seems to get his attention and his eyes light up when he turns to face Ralph. “You want my advice? About what?”

“Women…well, a woman specifically.”

Nick sighs and puts down the chalk, placing his chalky hand on Ralph’s shoulder. “Ralph, you really should move on from my sister. I appreciate your dedication but she’s made it clear she’s not interested.”

Ralph huffs, knocking his hand away. “I’m not talking about her. I’ve met someone else.”

Nick looks pleasantly surprised. “Oh, that’s fantastic! Well, what can I do for you, then?”

“How do I get her to notice me?” he asks, discretely wiping the chalk dust from his suit jacket as Nick turns away to regard his work. “Well, I guess more than just notice me. How do I get her to fall madly in love with me?”

“Oh, that’s easy,” Nick says, waving his hand. “Show her how smart you are. Girls love a guy with a brain, you know what I mean? Smart is sexy.”

Huh. Ralph hasn’t tried that angle before. “Smart is sexy,” he repeats. “I can work with that. I’m not one to boast but our library has over a hundred books and I’ve read almost all of them.”

“Right, yeah, books. Reading,” Nick mutters, going back to his work.

Sensing he’s lost his attention, Ralph leaves Nick to whatever the bloody hell he’s doing. Smart is sexy. Smart is sexy. Is this a common phrase that everyone knows about except him? Typical. He’s always the last in the loop. Ralph’s mind is racing, trying to formulate what his next move should be.

Two days later, he’s ready to act. He chooses a time he knows you’re going to be cleaning the downstairs and makes himself comfortable in the library. He sits in his favorite wing-backed chair in front of the fireplace and picks the biggest book he can find.

He then spends the next several minutes trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. How should he sit? Should he lean back and be comfortable? Or possibly sit up straight and seem intrigued? He does have excellent posture, that might be the way to go. When he hears footsteps coming, he scrambles to grab the book and appear as though he’s deeply engrossed. Unable to decide between comfortable and upright, he settles on a strange combination of the two which is decidedly uncomfortable.

The door opens and he “casually” glances up. His heart races when he sees you standing in the doorway.

“Oh, hello, sir,” you say with that same smile you gave him when you first met. In your hands you nervously twist a feather duster. “I hope you don’t mind but Miss Victoria asked me to dust in here.”

“Of course, do what you need,” Ralph says, attempting to keep his demeanor calm and collected, eyes shifting back to the page in front of him.

You go about your business and Ralph watches, staring over the top of the large book that he’s hiding behind. Or rather, that he’s pretending to read.

You’re in uniform now and he swears as many servants as he’s seen over the years, none of them have ever looked the way you do in those clothes. They hug every inch of your frame and he finds himself having all manner of impure thoughts. Which he promptly scolds himself for. You’re a lady and should not be thought about in such a way. Anytime you turn in his direction, he quickly shifts his gaze to the book in his hands, trying to appear pensive and deep in thought.

As minutes drag by, Ralph begins to fidget. He’s waiting for you to notice or say something but it’s not happening. Occasionally, he clears his throat but you’re focused on your work. It’s not until he angles himself in your direction as you turn to dust the mantle that you finally speak.

“Quite a hefty book you’re reading, sir,” you say.

Thrilled to have a chance to speak, Ralph lowers the book so fast it slaps his lap painfully. He tries not to flinch. “Oh, this old thing? I must have read it a dozen times already,” he boasts, throwing you what he hopes is a charming smile. “In fact, I’ve read almost every book in this library.”

“Wow, impressive.”

Ralph’s heart flutters. It’s working, he thinks excitedly. “Do you enjoy reading?” he asks.

You’ve stopped your work and are giving him your full attention, which is more than he could have ever asked for. He doesn’t remember the last time anyone’s done so. Normally, people half-listen or brush him off.

“On occasion, when I have the time,” you say. “What’s it about?”

Ralph is so busy staring at your beautiful face he forgets the conversation for a second. “What’s what about?”

You smile. “The book.”

“Oh, right, yes, the book.” Ralph scrambles, having not thought this far ahead and trying not to look down at the cover to give himself away. “You know, the world, the philosophy of man, life. Very deep…smart things.”

Bollocks, bollocks, bollocks, he’s messing this up.

But instead of looking bored or uninterested, you just smile once more and say, “Sounds delightful. Well, I’m done my work in here. If you won’t be needing anything, I’ll excuse myself to the kitchens to begin dinner preparation.”

Ralph wants to beg you to stay, to keep talking and learning about you. But he tries to play it cool and sits back in his chair, lifting his book once more. “I am all set, thank you,” he says.

“Great.” You head towards the door and Ralph’s eyes track your movements like a hawk. When you turn around again, he doesn’t have a chance to avert his gaze. “By the way, sir. That book is upside down.”

With a giggle and a flourish of your skirt, you’re gone and Ralph stares down in horror, realizing that indeed, his book is upside down. With a heavy sigh, he tosses it aside and buries his face in his hands.

So much for looking smart.

Needless to say, he avoids you for days after such a fiasco. At least until the crippling embarrassment goes away, then he’s back at it. Ralph is undeterred. If anything, his desire to converse and get you to notice him is even stronger now that he wishes for redemption.

Since Nick was of no help, he decides there’s one person who certainly knows much about the opposite sex. He finds Jason lounging in the salon, casually admiring that blasted advertisement he posted for. “Hey, bruv, what’s up?” he asks, barely looking at Ralph. “Where you been hiding?”

“I haven’t been hiding, I’ve been…out of sight,” Ralph says.

“Whatever, same diff.”

Ralph decides to get this over with and cuts right to the chase. “Jason, what advice would you give to someone who is trying to get a woman to notice him?”

Jason chuckles. “Still pining over Lauren? Seriously, bruv, there are other fish in the sea.”

“No! Not Lauren…someone else.”

Jason perks up. “Who? What’s her name? I saw her first.”

“You most certainly did not and it doesn’t matter who,” Ralph says. “Just answer my question. How do I get her to notice me?”

Jason sits up and tosses the ad aside. “Easy. You gotta show her the goods.”

Ralph frowns. “I don’t know what that means.”

“You know…” Jason stands and immediately starts to open his shirt. Ralph protests but it falls on deaf ears. “Show her the goods. Let her see what she’s missing!”

He does what Ralph assumes is intended to be a sexy pose. Ralph raises his hands to block as much of Jason’s exposed chest for his view as he can.

“So your advice is to flash her my half-naked body? That doesn’t sound like an appropriate idea.”

“Don’t just do it without warning,” Jason says, despite the fact that he definitely just did. “Work it into the conversation.” He looks at himself and then back to Ralph. “Of course, your body isn’t like mine, so maybe try to bulk up first or, you know, step into the sunlight. But I’m telling you, bruv, flashing some skin is a guaranteed way to get her eyes on you.”

“Yeah, alright, I don’t know why I thought asking for your advice was a good idea,” Ralph says, still averting his eyes as Jason has not even attempted to cover up. “I’ll take your words into consideration.”

He hurries out of there as fast as possible, rolling his eyes when Jason calls after him, “Wait, seriously, though, who is it? I’m telling you, I saw her first!”

Later that night, in his room, Ralph is getting changed into his sleep clothes when he pauses to contemplate Jason’s advice. He’s never really thought about his physical appearance.

He’s aware that he’s quite dashing and impeccably dressed. But he’s never thought about the state of his body. After all, he hasn’t shown it to anyone so it’s never come up. The idea of showing it to you, however, makes his face flush and he has to take a few deep breaths to calm himself.

Once he does, he turns to his full-length mirror and eyes his reflection. He’s in his underclothes and thinks for a moment before removing his under shirt. True, he doesn’t have the muscle definition that Jason has but he thinks he looks relatively well-defined.

Ralph stands up straight and tries to puff out his chest a bit.

Hmm. Maybe this can work.

Perhaps Jason isn’t a complete nutter. Ralph studies himself a bit more, wheels turning as he tries to figure out how to go about following this latest piece of advice. He practices in the mirror, trying to perfect the nonchalance that failed him in the library.

“Oh, hello there,” he says. “Pardon my state of undress…absolutely not. That’s not going to work. She’d probably run screaming, thinking I’m propositioning her. Then she’ll quit and Victoria will have my head.”

He puts his trousers back on and grabs his undershirt. Now he is more respectfully covered, though it doesn’t show skin, which was the point according to Jason.

Ralph removes the undershirt and grabs a freshly pressed white button-up. He slips it on and keeps it open. Without the undershirt, this state of undress is not too forward and still flattering. The longer he looks at himself, the more he thinks this might work. He hopes it’ll be enough.

On the morning of the next laundry day, he stays in his room and waits. Any other day, he’d promptly dress and leave his clothes for the maids to gather. Instead, he paces back and forth, listening for the telltale sound of footsteps, noting how cold he is without his undershirt. The urge to dress properly is strong but he fights it.

When he hears someone approaching, he hurries to his closet. Suddenly, fear and uncertainty seize him and he realizes how ridiculous this is. His hands attempt to quickly button up but then there’s a knock and he’s calling, “Come in!” before his brain catches up.

He’s able to turn his back the moment before you enter.

“Oh, excuse me, sir,” you say. “I just came for the laundry but I can return—”

“No, no, it’s alright. I’m decent.”

Sort of, he thinks.

Ralph hears the door open and close and the sound of you crossing to the laundry bin. He’s so nervous he can’t get his fingers to work properly. There’s a beat of silence before…

“Do you need some help?” Ralph turns to find you watching him with a smile. “I think you’ve missed a few buttons.”

Ralph looks down and swears to himself. Yes, yes he’s missed buttons. Several actually. Can nothing go right in front of you?? “Oh, bully me.”

Laughing, you cross the room towards him and before he knows what’s happening, you’re reaching out to undo the buttons he so thoroughly messed up. It takes him a moment to register what’s happening and when he takes in how close you are and that your hands are on his shirt, he feels the heat rise to his face.

Equal parts embarrassed and interested, Ralph suddenly doesn’t know what to do with himself. Should he look away? Look at you? Look at his shirt? He opts for the ceiling until you straighten his crisp white shirt and re-button it properly.

“Which bowtie are you going to wear today?” you ask.

Ralph looks down only to find your eyes staring into his. “Pardon?”

“I asked which bowtie you’re going to wear today. I notice you wear one every day. I think I favor the blue…if that’s not too bold to say, sir.”

Ralph shakes his head vigorously. “No, not bold at all. I like the blue one as well. And…you don’t need to call me ‘sir’. Ralph is just fine.”

He can’t get over your smile. It makes his heart feel like it's bursting from his chest. Without prompting, you pick up the blue bowtie from his dresser where he has all of them displayed in neat rows. You carefully lift his collar, tie the bowtie for him, and then fix his collar once more.

“There, all set,” you say.

Ralph struggles to find his voice. “Th-Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome…Ralph.”

With that, you return to the laundry bin, gather the clothes, and leave. Ralph stands there for some time, not quite sure what to make of the interaction. Did Jason’s advice actually work? Or did you take pity on Ralph after seeing him struggle? God, how pathetic he must have looked, especially after the whole book fiasco.

Ralph honestly doesn’t know what to think and spends the next several days dwelling. If his goal was to get you to see him, it’s worked. You’ve certainly noticed him. He wishes it had been under more flattering circumstances but he decides that beggars can’t be choosers. However, now he’s run out of advice and aside from those particular interactions, he hasn’t had many with you. He can’t. Every time you’re in the same room, he gets so flustered he has to leave. Or Victoria is there and he can’t try to converse with you.

His plan is quickly becoming a miserable failure.

About a week later, he finds himself in the sitting room, contemplating his situation, when Horace sits next to him. “Alright, Ralph, you’ve been pouting for days. What’s wrong?” he asks.

Ralph purses his lips together. “I am not pouting!” However, when Horace simply raises an eyebrow, he sighs heavily. “I’m hopeless. Absolutely, hopeless.”

“Why do you think that?”

“I’ve met someone, Horace. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and I’ve been trying to get her to notice me, but I feel all I’ve done is embarrass myself. And before you say anything, it’s not Lauren.”

“Mate, I know that. You’re talking about the new maid, yeah?”

Ralph looks at him, eyes wide with surprise. “How did you know?”

Horace chuckles. “I see things most people don’t. You’re always looking at her when you think she can’t see you and ducking out of the room. It’s pretty obvious.”

Ralph groans and buries his face in his hands. “What am I to do, Horace? Victoria has made it perfectly clear no fraternizing with the help. And all the advice I was given backfired spectacularly.”

“Whose advice?”

“Jason, Nick, Lauren…”

Horace laughs, shaking his head. “See, there’s your problem right there, bruv. Never go to those three for any life advice. What did they tell you?”

“Show skin, smart is sexy, don’t be myself.”

“Yeah, sounds about right. What’s wrong with being yourself?”

Ralph shrugs, throwing his hands up. “I don’t know! Lauren didn’t elaborate.”

Horace sighs heavily and shakes his head. “Don’t listen to her. Of course she would say that because you’re not her type. That doesn’t mean you’re not anyone else’s type. Look, throwing away all that you’ve been told and forgetting Victoria’s silly rule, what do your instincts tell you to do?”

“To woo her!” Ralph says, excitedly grabbing Horace’s arm, vibrating with energy. “To shower her with gifts and affection, to tell her she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen and I want to write songs about her smile.”

Horace laughs and pries Ralph’s hand off his arm. “Alright, alright, relax. Now think of all those things and push them aside. Don’t forget them, just, scale it down a bit and let’s start smaller.”

Ralph searches his mind, trying to think of a romantic gesture he could do that wouldn’t be too ostentatious. “Dinner,” he says. “A small dinner. Intimate, just the two of us. She cooks for all of us though so I would cook for her.” He grins as Horace and boasts with a shake of excitement, “I’m quite skilled in the kitchen. Pastries are my specialty.”

“See, there you go!” Horace says. “I think that sounds nice. Simple, romantic, while also discreet.”

Ralph’s mind is alive with ideas and he can’t wait to get started. He flings his arms around Horace in a tight hug. “Thank you!” he says before bolting for his bedroom.

When he gets there, he runs to his desk and sits down. Going through his stationary, he begins to draft an elegant invitation, crumpling page after page to start from scratch several times.

It’s late in the evening when he finally finishes, proud of his work. He selects a blue ribbon, almost the same shade as his bowtie, and carefully ties the invitation closed with it.

Ralph checks the time, going through your schedule in his mind that he assuredly observed and committed to memory days ago. Now is the perfect time to deliver it personally. He catches you as you’re coming out of the kitchen, having just finished evening clean up. The other servant is already down the hall when Ralph shows himself, suddenly stepping out in front of you.

You jump in surprise. “Ralph! You startled me!” you say, hand over your heart. “Jesus.”

“This is for you,” he says, handing you the invitation.

You stare at it in awe as he shoves it into your hands. “What is it?”

Ralph fidgets with excitement as you carefully open it. “I would like to ask you to have dinner with me on Friday night. I am aware my sister has her party and you will be in the kitchen all day, so once the party is underway, I would like to personally provide a meal for you…if that’s agreeable.”

You clutch the paper to your chest and stare at him with wide eyes. “Ralph…this is…”

He tries not to be nervous, tries not to imagine all the horrible ways this can go wrong. Is too much? Too little? He should have done more. Blasted, he should have went and bought a dozen roses before the stall closed. What kind of a man offers a woman a romantic invitation without a dozen long-stemmed red roses!

“This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever asked of me,” you say. “I accept the invitation. I would love to have dinner with you.”

Ralph reigns in his excitement, though he does give you a wide grin. “Lovely. Wonderful. Excellent.” He pauses for a moment. “And to be clear, I do mean this in a romantic courting sense. Though, if that’s not something you’re interested in, I completely understand and would not expect you to do anything you’re not comfortable—”

To Ralph’s amazement, you lean forward and place a gentle kiss on his cheek. He’s stunned into silence, his hand reaching up to lay over the spot.

“With.”

“My answer is still the same,” you say. “What time?”

“It’s…it’s…” Ralph points with his free hand to the paper in your hands. “Says there…the time. And attire. Formal. Well, causal formal.”

You nod excitedly. “I’ll be ready. I cannot wait!”

And with that, you leave him right where he is, his hand still pressed to his cheek. When he’s alone, Ralph jumps up and down and pumps his fists before pulling himself together and hurrying back to his room.

He has a date to plan.

Taglist:

@palomahasenteredthechat

#joseph quinn #joe quinn #ralph timewasters #timewasters #ralph penbury #ralph penbury x reader

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luv4fandoms · 2 years

Text

At Last-Ralph x FReader (ch 1)

So I haven't written in over a year lol, and this was SUPPOSE to be a one-shot, but I started writing and got in the groove again sooooo...it became a chapter story! Lol. Hoping to get a chapter out every Friday til the story is finished that way I can balance it with running my Etsy shop and all 😊.

Summery: After you and your friends are transported back to the 1920's by a time machine elevator, you embark on an adventure, and that adventure leads to a beautiful man.

Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

Pairing: Ralph x Reader

Words: 3,328

Warnings: Ralph being a cutie, also some possible trigger words for some, I do apologize, I was simply quoting the show and they were used.

I also have a Ko-Fi 😊

⚠️ 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞.⚠️

"At last, my love has come along

My lonely days are over

And life is like a song"

"So…Just to recap so that I know I am not losing my mind here….We actually just followed a homeless man into an elevator"

"Yeah"

"That was actually a time machine"

"Yeah"

"That actually took us back to the 1920's"

"Yeah"

"How do you know it's the 20's?"

"Which box do we check first, the cars? The hair? The fashion?"

"1920's London"

"Not exactly what I signed up for when I decided to vacation from America" you sighed, looking around the cobblestone road. Somehow, because you still couldn't wrap your head around a time machine elevator, you and your four friends had landed yourselves in London…In the 1920's. Horace and Jason were looking around please, for different reasons, Horace in amusement and Jason at all the women. Nick looked like he was about to have an aneurysm, while you and Lauren sat back and took in your situation. You would be lying if you said that this whole thing was at least somewhat exciting, odd and unbelievable, but exciting. You had decided to visit your friends over the summer, having met Lauren online some years ago when you were in a Facebook group for "Things to do when in London", since you were hoping to visit that following year. Lauren and you struck up a fast friendship over music, and soon found you had a lot of similar interests.

"Alright, let's just stick together and avoid any

plantations." Nick said after a moment.

"Imagine all the things we could do." Horace said with a smile

"Invest in stocks and shares and get filthy rich in the present day." Lauren replied with a mischievous smile back.

"I was gonna say burn a witch, but we could do that." Horace replied

"...Now I suddenly don't feel safe" You replied, causing Horace to turn to you.

"Can trace my ancestors back to Salem remember" you laughed, causing his eyes to widen.

"Right! No, sorry, no witch burning" he backtracked, causing you to laugh more.

"It doesn't matter what time we're in, any time before the mid-'80s isn't good for black people." Nick stressed

"You have a point" You stated

"Bruv, how can you not wanna explore? We owe it to ourselves! People like us never

get to time travel. It's what white people do,

like skiing, or brunch." Jason replied,

"Anyone got a fiver? I'm gonna buy a house." Lauren laughed as you all made your way onto the streets.

"Look at you perving at all the ye olde ladies." She teased Jason.

"I'm just appreciating when women dressed like women, and not like twelve-year-old schoolboys." He told her, earning a punch in the arm.

"I wouldn't call you eyeing every woman as simply appreciating" you laughed. Noticing a woman staring at Lauren before muttering.

"That reminds me, I must buy some black pudding."

"Would it mess with the future if I smacked that woman in the face right now?" Lauren asked, causing everyone to snicker but bringing up a very good question, what would happen to the future, your timelines, by you simply existing in the 20's?

"No, seriously, she's right. Time, space, ripple

effects and all that. What would happen?" Nick asked, causing Horace to reach into his pocket.

"Homeless Pete gave me some rules. Um 1, Don't kill anyone."

"That's not even specific to time travel." Nick muttered

"Don't impregnate, get impregnated. Don't touch any animals."

"Awe there goes your fun Jason" you teased.

"Have fun and try to blend in." Horace finished

"Try to blend in?" You asked

"Am I the only one noticing that?" Nick pointed behind you, you all turned and noticed a large crowd of white people gathered to stare…ah…yeah…people of color were not as common in these times indeed.

"Why are we in a suit shop?"

"Because I didn't see a Foot Locker."

You noticed the man behind the desk look up from his magazine as you all walked in before suddenly looking very scared.

"Good afternoon" he said nervously

"How may I eat you-, help you?" He quickly corrected himself, his eyes landing on you.

"Hello sir, my friends would like suits please"

"Y-Yes of course, I'll just go eat the-Get the manager" he nervously smiled before escaping to the backroom.

"She's alright." You heard Jason say as you leaned over the counter to see the magazine the man had been looking at…Ah cannibals…that explains the oddness.

"Going by the day's events, don't you think you have enough girlfriends?" Nick asked

"Alright, then you go talk to her."

"Well, obviously I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because she's about 90 years older than me."

"What?"

"Yes, I could go outside,and yes, I could chat her up. But what if I fell for her, and she for I?

And we had this whirlwind love affair where we couldn't be without one another.

And at the peak of everything, she decides to come back with me to the 21st century. But as we return to the present day, I'd turn to her only to see that she'd become the age she would be in that time. And I would have the girl of my dreams as an old woman, dying in my arms." Nick concluded.

"Ahh Nick, always the romantic" you snickered

"Bruv, I just said to get her phone number." Jason replied just as a new voice spoke up.

"Ahem!"

Spinning around you suddenly felt like the air got knocked out of you as you looked toward the new people in the small shop.

'Oh…Oh'

"Hello" they spoke at the same time, and you could hear Horace say something along the lines of

"Hail thee, good morrow,how doth thou?" Behind you, but he sounded so far away, everything did, it was like everything suddenly blurred into nothing until there was just him. He wore a cream colored suit and a boater hat, a simple enough outfit for the time but that wasn't what caught your attention, his eyes, the way his smile made them sparkle as he excitedly told the woman beside him to ask them, before prompting her again, causing her to quickly snap at him and his smile fell, and you watched his eyes dull a bit, the sight making your heart clench.

'Don't look sad please,never look sad'

"Ask us what?"

"We were just wondering-" He started but again was cut off by the woman, you could feel yourself beginning to get annoyed at her as you watched his eyes dull even further.

"Yes, Ralph!..Are you a jazz band?"

"What makes you think we're a jazz band?" Lauren asked, and you watched his eyes move over to her, eyeing her up and down and you felt your chest ache…So…Even in a different time nothing changes. Your eyes drift away from him, everything coming into focus again as Nick and the woman talked.

"Quartet."

"Well, four (five) coloured chaps in London. What else could you be?" She replied

"You're also carrying instruments." He added

"Oh, so you are." She smiled, looking at their hands and glancing at you.

"Now call it fate, but Ralph and I are hosting a sick-makingly glorious birthday party." She smiled excitedly, something about this woman gave you a headache already, but at least now you knew his name was Ralph…It suited him.

"We're twins.Non-identical." he stated, as if the non-identical needed to be added you thought, finding yourself smiling a bit.

"I was born first." She added

"So Victoria and I are having

a party-" he started again, only to get cut off once more, and by how he slowly sank back you knew this happened often…Too often.

"Yes, Ralph!...And daddy promised us a Negro jazz band."

"You really shouldn't use that word." Lauren added.

"Oh, sorry. A Negro jazz quartet. Quite a shame, the band we hired cancelled.

"One of the poor fellows got polio." They laughed, causing you all to kind of look at one another.

"Typical, isn't it? All bad things seem to happen to me." She pouted

"How much we talking?" Lauren asked

"You'll be paid fabulously"

"So please, please, please say you're a jazz quartet!"

"We are a jazz quartet."

"Sorry, we'd love to but unfortunately we've got to get home." Nick started but Lauren jumped in

"We'll be there."

"Wondrous!"

"It is rather a formal affair."

"Yes, so no curious native trousers or, um, spongy foot sheaths."

"I can't wait!"

"Please don't let us down, otherwise Ralph and I will howl with shame and take our lives in a tragic double suicide." She stated, causing everyone to let out a nervous laugh, except they weren't laughing…before a simple.

"See you chaps later!" And just like that, they were gone. You watched them through the window, watched as he retreated with his sister, his excitement visible if only for a moment before she dampened it again.

"All I'm saying is that when people time travel, it's to prevent a natural disaster or to save mankind from extinction.Not to perform as a

'Negro jazz quartet'" Nick ranted after everyone left the shop with their new suits, you excluded. You looked around after you all stopped in the street, everyone ranting about how Nick wanted a paid gig and now they have one, Nick ranting about how everyone needed to get home and he was going to go back and find the lift to get us out of there. In the end Nick left on his own, leaving the four of you in the streets.

"Right so do we just have a look around then?" Horace asked.

"You can go ahead, I'm going to look in some shops, still need to find some clothes" you replied, thumbing towards some more shops.

"Oh right!" Horace started but Lauren cut in

"Why don't you lot go on ahead, we'll meet you at the gig" she stated, before walking with you towards the shops. The first two shops you both quickly walk out of after looking at the price tags. Yes you had some money but not that much. The 3rd shop was a bit cheaper, it was a bit of a thrift store in a way, returns from other shops that maybe had lost a few beads or had been repaired hung on the walls.

"So…You trying to look your best tonight?" Lauren asked while you looked at the dresses.

"Just looking to blend in I suppose" you shrugged, watching as she nodded but continued to stare at you from the corner of her eye.

"So you wouldn't be looking for somethin' to catch his eye?" She asked after a moment, causing your head to whip in her direction.

"W-what?" You asked, trying to keep your voice low and even.

"Come off it, I saw the way you stared at what's his name…Ralph, back there. Looked like a deer in the headlights, if the deer was also in love with the car" she smirked before adding.

"Also pretty sure I heard you gasp when you first turned around"

"I….I don't know what you're going on about, I had no such look" you stated, going back to the dress.

"Oh really?"

"Really"

"Cause it looked to me like-"

"He had his eye on someone else anyways, now can we please drop it?" You sighed, grabbing a dress and heading to the changing room. Lauren watched you walk away, confused by your reaction, she was only teasing in her own sort of way, but the way you acted…she felt like she was opening an old wound. When you emerged again you were dripping in black and gold, a beaded headpiece around your (h/c) locks and a faux pearl bracelet around your wrist. Mary Janes adored your feet and as you looked at yourself in the mirror you truly felt like you were living your Great Gatsby fantasy.

"Whoa" Lauren said behind you.

"Good Whoa or Bad Whoa?" You asked, teeth worrying your bottom lip.

"Good Whoa" she smiled, causing you to sigh, before you grabbed your bag that was now filled with your old clothes and walked to the cashier, handing her the money, very glad you had exchanged your Dollars for Pounds.

After shopping the two of you met up with Horace and Jason again, walking around the town for a bit before heading to the party. A party that you were both looking forward to and dreading. Once there you were shocked by the amount of people already there, and the amount of alcohol. You watched as the three of your friends drank from the bottle, you yourself sipping from your cup, before Jason noticed something, tapping Lauren on the arm.

"Someone's got an admirer." He nodded towards a table, you all looked over and noticed Ralph, his eyes raking over Lauren as he smiled at her.

"I'm guessing he's gonna be pretty pissed off when he finds out you're a girl." Jason joked

"Yeah, well I'm guessing Victoria's gonna be pretty pissed when she finds out you're a girl." Lauren replied, her eyes looking over to find you, your front facing the bar, your back to Ralph as you drank your drink. She looked back at Ralph, noticing that his eyes were on you, eyebrows furrowed before he caught her gaze, smiling again. The rest of the night was a whirlwind, first there was trying to stall hoping Nick would show up, then Jason almost started up with how it was now a Trio, the Wu-tang clan, before Nick actually showed up and they played their asses off. You couldn't help but actually enjoy yourself, the alcohol in your system mixing with the good music made it easier as you danced with random men and women. But all nights had to come to an end, and so soon while you were gathering round with your friends and smiling, Victoria and Ralph appeared.

"Such a giddy-making delight of a night, all thanks to you gentlemen." She smiled, before looking at the boys.

"Now, who would like a dance with the birthday girl?" She asked, Horace started to raise his hand before Jason pushed it down.

"I thought you'd never ask." He smiled and left with her.

"And what about the birthday boy?" Ralph asked, and your eyes met Lauren's.

"Oh, I'm not-" Horace started but Ralph cut him off.

"Oh no, I was talking to that-,This one-, particular one of you." He gestured to Lauren before asking her directly.

"Would you?" She looked over at you once more, unsure of what to do, and noticed Ralph turn his head to look at you as well, seemingly following Lauren's gaze. You smiled, hoping it was a happy and reassuring smile, but the look on her face said that the disappointment showed through. But she still sighed, looked at Ralph and nodded.

"Yeah, go on then". You watched them head to the dance floor, Ralph looking especially excited while Lauren looked uneasy.

"Oi, you alright?" Horace asked, looking over at you.

"Me? On yeah I'm fine" you waved him off, going back to your drink.

"You sure, you look….sad"

"No I'm fine, just a bit tired is all" you lied, and from the look on his face, he didn't buy it.

"Right come on then" he stated, putting your drink down and grabbing your hand.

"Excuse you sir" you laughed.

"Nope, don't even try it, no friend of mine is going to be looking like the girl who didn't get asked to prom" he smiled, you knew his comment was supposed to cheer you up but he didn't have to hit home like that.

"Thank you?" You questioned as the two of you started dancing.

You couldn't help the glances over to Lauren and Ralph, glances you thought were sneaky…guess you thought wrong"

"You fancy him?"

"What?"

"You do" Horace smiled

"I don't know what you're talking about" you stated, slightly glaring at your friend.

"You find him proper fit yeah?"

"Horace please" you begged

"I'm not gonna tell, everyone has their types" he smiled.

"His is Lauren" you muttered, but he was close enough to catch it.

"So that's what's got you so down" he spoke, making you look at him.

"Don't let one fish ruin the sea for you"

"It isn't just one fish though" you sighed, jumping slightly when Lauren's voice was beside you.

"Why don't we switch partners, make the evening even more fun" she smiled an uneasy smile at you, Ralph behind her looking confused as she took your hands from Horace and replaced them with her own, both of them trying not to grimace at the weird action for them both.

"Oh..um.." you stood, mouth opening and closing as they danced away, you slowly turned and were met with those same eyes that made your entire world melt away just this morning.

"Shall we then?" He asked after a moment.

"Oh..yes…sure" you gave a shy smile, placing one hand on his shoulder and holding his other, your breath catching in your throat when his hand rested on your waist. The two of you slowly swayed to the music, your eyes darting between his gaze and anywhere else, afraid if you stared too long you may get lost in those brown puppy dog eyes. It really should have been illegal for someone to look this beautiful. But a distinct tapping sound brought you out of your thoughts and as you slowly identified the sound you couldn't help the giggle.

"Are you wearing tap shoes?"

"Yes, aren't they wizard!" He smiled excitedly, his eyes twinkling just as they had this morning. And you couldn't stop the smile that reached your lips at the sight.

"Very, if I knew tap shoes were allowed I would have brought some, they make dancing more fun" you laughed, causing him to smile even brighter at you.

"Oh do they, tonight has been the best birthday" he replied, and you nodded, because it really had been a good night.

"I'm glad you had fun Ralphie, happy birthday" you smiled, and watched as his face slowly morphed from excited to shocked, making your smile drop to a confused expression.

"Ralphie?" He questioned, causing your eyes to go wide as you quickly tried to come up with something, how could you do that? How could you slip up and give him a nickname the day you met him?! And not just any nickname, but one that sounds like it would be said by a lover! You wracked your brain for something, completely missing the blush that had spread on his cheeks from the nickname as he replayed it again and again in his head.

'Ralphie…Ralphie' he loved the sound of it, or maybe he loved the sound of you saying it with such affection, his mind playing him small movies, you sitting next to him, his head in your lap as he played his ukulele, you smiling down at him, playing with his hair as he sung…You curled up in his arms as he read you his favorite book, both of you comfortable under his sheets before you would drift off for the night…You atop him…your dress slowly sliding off your shoulder, your head thrown back and mouth open as you repeated that name…his na-

"I'm so sorry, I forgot that some people don't like nicknames, I tend to give them without thinking, I really am sorry" you settled on your excuse, watching as he blinked repeatedly, seemingly coming out of his thoughts.

"That's um" he cleared his throat.

"That's quite alright, you just caught me unaware, I'm not used to being called such…simply Ralph" he replied, finally meeting your eyes again, and you noticed his pupils were a little blown.

"Sorry, I'll just stick to Ralph" you tried to laugh it off but he quickly cut you off"

"I like Ralphie.

Chapter 1 done!! Let me know what you think!

Also let me know if you'd like to be added to the taglist.

Taglist

@quirkyquartney

@the-a-word-2214

@no-mercy-bby

Your dress

#joseph quinn #ralph #timewasters #he is such a precious bean!#chapter 1 #at last #ralph x reader #this boy holds a place in my heart

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