Fills Post
Jul. 22nd, 2020 10:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
theoldguardkinkmemeThis Fills Post is now closed to new fills. New fills should go in Fills Post #2.
Fills can but don't need to be anonymous.
Start a new comment for each fill. Don't use threaded comments for new fills. Threaded comments are for fills that take up more than one comment field, or for feedback/squee/praise.
In your fill, please mention the prompt you are responding to, and provide a link to the prompt in the body of the text.
Please use a header with your character(s)/pairing and a title and/or keyword or short phrase. (For example: "Just you and me: Andy/Quynh, Make-up sex" or "Between a Rock and A Hard Place: Nicky/Joe/Booker, first time DP").
Please also comment with a link to your fill in the prompt post, under the prompt you are responding to. Your comment header should include the word "Fill" or "Filled", so that those checking out the thread can find your fic/art more easily (For example: "FILL: Re: Any/Quynh, Make-up sex").
If you end up cleaning up your fill and posting it elsewhere (AO3, your personal journal), feel free to link the posted fic/art here as well.
Fills on Pinboard: For a list of filled prompts on Pinboard, go here.
Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 12:02 pm (UTC)~~~
Joe shouts Nicky lunch. He picks his favourite Mexican place and refuses to take Nicky’s money when the man offers.
“You’re already letting me stay without paying rent,” Nicky protests, frowning as Joe hands over cash.
“Yeah, but I already told you, I don’t need the money, and besides, you did all my housework for the entire week. You even dusted,” Joe says, picking up their table number and ushering Nicky over into one of the corner booths. “I never dust.”
Nicky could tell that Joe never dusted, but he doesn’t say that, because that would be mean.
“Also, you bought the groceries, which I haven’t thanked you for yet. You really didn’t have to do that. I’ll pay you back, since you did the trip and cooked.”
“That doesn’t seem fair,” Nicky points out. “Shall we split it?” He concedes. He doesn’t think Joe is going to drop it.
“Fine, we can split it, but I’m coming with you next time.”
Nicky hides a smile behind his glass of water.
“Not to pry, or anything, but, uh, do you think you’re gonna get a job?” Joe asks. “Unless you’ve got money to cruise on. I have no idea how much money a priest makes.”
“I got a modest stipend from the church.” It wasn’t a lot, but it had been enough for Nicky to comfortably live on as a priest, and make some savings. However, now that he’s no longer with the church, his savings are dwindling. He has enough to live on for a few months, probably a lot more now that Joe isn’t letting him pay rent, but Nicky does want to get a job. He likes being busy. “I have enough savings to last for a while, but I think I would like a job anyway. I just don’t know what I want to do.” Nicky has spent the majority of his life devoted to the church, with little other thought to another career.
“Well, I guess it doesn’t have to be something you're super serious about, right? You’re only going to be stuck here for a year before you go back.”
The reminder that Nicky’s time is limited with Joe stabs a tiny needle into his chest, but he pushes the heartache aside. “That’s true,” he murmurs, fiddling with his napkin.
“Maybe you could find something to do at the Catholic church here?”
Nicky just shakes his head. He’s not sure he can step inside a church without crying at the moment. Leaving had been one of the hardest things he’d ever done in his life, along with the realisation that he’d devoted himself to something only so he could hide who he really was behind it. He’s still ashamed of his motivations, of being such a coward, of lying to his family and friends and to himself all these years. Just thinking of entering another church brings up intense feelings of shame and guilt. It will be a while, he thinks, before he can step into another church.
Thankfully, Joe doesn’t press. Their drinks come, and their food soon after. Their meal finished, Joe leans back in his chair, hand on his stomach. Nicky is similarly very full; Joe had ordered a lot of food, and he’d probably eaten a bit too much, but it had been very tasty.
“Is there anything else you wanna do today?” Joe asks.
Nicky shakes his head. He’s already taken up so much of Joe’s time.
Joe frowns. “You’re sure? You don’t wanna have a look around town? I can show you some of my favourite spots.”
“You do not have to get back to your art?” Nicky asks, tentatively.
“Nah,” Joe says, “I’ve spent enough time in my studio the past week. Come on, let’s go, I’ll show you all the weird statues we’ve got around here.”
~~~
Now that Joe has decided to stop being an asshole, he takes up his fair share of chores. He also tries to cook more, but Nicky ends up preparing most of their meals, just because of that fact he seems to enjoy it, and his food is vastly better than Joe’s. Joe, however, never lets him wash a single dish if he can help it. They share most meals together now, not just dinner, and at night they watch movies or play board games, and Nicky turns out to be a very good but rather aggressive chess player. Joe has only managed to win one out of the five games they have played so far, but to be honest, he’s not playing with all his attention. He finds the dip between Nicky’s eyebrows as he frowns and the way he gnaws at his plump bottom lip, staring down at the board as he contemplates his next move, unfairly distracting.
Joe no longer closes the door to his studio while he’s in there during the day, and extends an invitation for Nicky to come sit inside if he wants. Usually he hates people watching him paint and draw, but Nicky’s presence is quiet and calm, and he never disturbs Joe at all. Mostly he watches serenely, or curls up in the corner with a book, keeping Joe company. Joe actually finds he enjoys Nicky being with him—he never knew that he’d been kind of lonely in his own home.
And then, one morning, Joe gets a package in the mail. He sets it on the kitchen counter and opens the box with a knife, staring down at the mountains of heavily scented red rose petals. There’s a white card placed on top, written in gold foil cursive script. It reads simply: Two perfect rings, one perfect marriage.
Joe makes a face and digs his hand into the seriously ridiculous amount of petals, searching around. Nicky comes into the kitchen just as he lifts out a small dark blue velvet pouch, giving a small cry of triumph.
“Did you get a package?” Nicky asks curiously, coming up behind him.
“Our rings,” Joe says. He opens the velvet bag and upends it over his palm. Two rings tumble out, both simple polished metal and matching in design, a single groove bisecting each ring lengthwise. The only difference is that one is gold, and the other silver.
“Oh,” Nicky says quietly.
“We probably should send them back,” Joe says, ignoring the fact that somehow the website had picked out the perfect wedding rings for him. The only thing he’d entered into the website was his ring size, and not any preference on what ring he’d wanted. Joe would be more impressed if they hadn’t screwed up sending him a gorgeous Catholic priest for a husband. Sighing, he tips the rings back into the bag.
“I can do it,” Nicky offers, and Joe hands the velvet pouch over.
“Thanks. I was just gonna head out for a run.”
~~~
Nicky sits on his bed as he hears the front door close. He stares at the velvet pouch sitting innocuously in his hands, and then slowly tips out the rings.
They’re cool and heavy in his palm. Reverently he traces both rings with a finger, feeling the metals warm with his body heat. They’re perfect.
Biting his lip, he carefully slides the silver ring onto his ring finger. It fits snugly, not too tight, not too loose. His exact size. He holds his hand up to the morning sun coming through the window and stares at the glint of metal, chest tight. For a moment he lets himself imagine Joe greeting him at his front door with a smile and a kiss. But only for a moment, before the guilt sets in. Friends, he tells himself. That is more than enough.
He takes the ring off and slides it and it’s pair back into the velvet bag, placing it inside his bedside table drawer. Joe will never know if he doesn’t send them back.
Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 12:21 pm (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 12:34 pm (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 12:40 pm (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 12:46 pm (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 12:48 pm (UTC)I am ready and scrabbling at my face this is sooooo good.
Cant wait until Joe works out Nicky isn't a priest anymore. And I hope Nicky gets to meet the others and have some friends. He's so lonely....
Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 12:50 pm (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 01:12 pm (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 02:42 pm (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 03:50 pm (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 04:14 pm (UTC)"Nicky could tell that Joe never dusted" I love that you still have Nicky's "little shit" energy coming through even though he's so shy and awkward. I love the relationship you're building between them. You've really captured how easy it feels to be around someone you love, even when it's hard because P I N I N G. (These gay nerds.) I can't wait to read more!
Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 04:57 pm (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 06:22 pm (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-25 11:27 pm (UTC)The hidden pain, the yearning, a character with low self esteem telling himself that of course other people don't want him, that he is not worth more and holding out hope for just the bare hint of friendship is more than he can expect in life (he doesn't realize that he deserves the world!!!! and nice things. nice things that include Joe (I hope?)) is all just... oooof.
I do so hope to see more and get my heart broken further!
Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-26 02:27 am (UTC)also glad to see Joe being a decent person, yes, good.
also omgggggggg nicky reading to children in the library!!!
Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-26 06:42 am (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-26 08:50 am (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-26 09:04 am (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-26 09:37 pm (UTC)Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [3b/?]
Date: 2020-09-27 07:14 pm (UTC)Oh who am I kidding, I’m loving the slow burn and that very slowly Joe is noticing more things about Nicky to love.
Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [4/?]
Date: 2020-09-28 11:11 am (UTC)I'll continue updating on ao3 because posting to the kinkmeme is kind of a pain. :)
Re: FILL: All Hail The Algorithm, Joe/Nicky - modern arranged marriage [4/?]
Date: 2020-09-28 11:12 am (UTC)And bless the algorithm, of course!