campbell🩵🍊

garlic soup week ended a week ago but whatever.

behold, the hottest polycule of the seven seas, taking a well deserved nap together

alt versions under cut:

...and I think to myself, what a wonderful world 🌷💕

Calling all TealOranges and Garlic Soup OFMD fans! We're announcing TealOranges & Garlic Soup week, a prompt week focusing on Jim/Oluwande and Archie/Jim/Oluwande/Zheng (and any combination of pairings among them)!!

This prompt week will run Sunday June 23 - Saturday June 29. Prompts and more information will be released next Monday April 15! Follow us on tumblr here, or we can be found on twitter.

We can't wait to see what you create!!

[Image Description: A graphic with text reading:

TealOranges & Garlic Soup Prompt Week

Saturday June 23 - Saturday June 29

What: A celebration of all things Jim/Oluwande and Archie/Jim/Oluwande/Zheng (or any combination of pairings among them! )

How: Create or Share - Fic, art, and other fan creations!

Prompts released April 15!

#GarlicSoupWeek

Ohhh heck yeah thanks buddy!!! I love this prompt SO much.

This is set in my "plumbing the depths" AU, which is Jim/Olu/Ed featuring literal kraken Ed (and background Ed/Stede).

The AU is smut, this lil snippet is not. It's T rated for non-sexual nudity. It got a little longer than intended, but that's fine!

--

"Oh yeah, this fucking hits the spot." Edward sighed and sunk into the cool water, letting everything but his head submerge. It was just the four of them - himself, Stede, Jim, and Oluwande - and no one cared that he'd stripped and thrown himself into the ocean before they'd even really settled down. It had been too long since he'd been swimming, and even longer since he'd been happy to let his tentacles loose. But he let them out now, unfurling into the water around him, inky and black.

There was nothing like being in the water. It made something in his heart sing, a return home that he always craved whenever he spent too long on dry land or aboard the ship. The sea was his home. In a bit he would really let his limbs stretch - head out a half mile, maybe take a little deep dive, let himself creep along the ocean floor - but for now he just wanted to relax.

It was a solid ten minutes of floating and basking in the water before anyone disturbed him. He'd been half listening to the conversations from the shore - Oluwande had found a coconut tree, and it sounded like Jim was scaling it for fruit. Stede's worried reminders not to fall made him smile, but Edward had seen them climb often enough not to worry. He kept his eyes closed, let the waves move him about. The sun was warm, the water was cold, and he was blissfully happy.

A loud splash behind him finally made Edward open his eyes and look back. Jim - just as naked as he was - was swimming towards him, wet hair plastered to their head. On the shore Oluwande was lying on a blanket, naked save for his shorts, basking in the sun. Stede, meanwhile, was wading along the shore, pants hiked up high, shirt still on. Poor man, he burned so easily.

"Hey," Jim grinned, swimming right into his space. "You good out here? 'S fucking cold as shit. Olu won't even come in."

His tentacles moved for them, twining around them easily as they curled a hand around his jaw and pressed a wet, salty kiss to his mouth. It wasn't a long kiss, but it still made him smile. "Yeah, man. I love cold water."

"Octopus," they said fondly. "Unfair. I want to just lie in the water too, but no, I get too damn cold -"

Edward grinned and reeled them back in with his tentacles, close enough that he could wind an arm around their waist, smudge a kiss to their mouth. "Guess I'll have to keep you warm then, hmm?"

He kissed Jim until they were both a little breathless. When they pulled away their eyes were bright, grin wild and free.

"Warm me up later," they panted. They looked towards the shore, and a slightly devious edge crept onto their smile. "I wanna go dunk Stede first, and I don't know how long he's going to be wading."

Edward snorted and shook his head, but unwound his tentacles from around their waist and limbs. "Good luck, mate, you're gonna need it."

"Luck is for the weak," they called - and then they were gone, sinking in until just the top of their head was visible, swimming stealthily towards an oblivious Stede.

Now, Edward had no problems about Jim dunking Stede. Hell, he would even gladly help, when they finally convinced Stede to strip and come swimming later on. But he thought it would be much, much funnier to foil Jim's plans than it would be to watch them drag Stede under water.

So Edward set off himself, even stealthier than Jim, moving with liquid grace through the water. Because unlike Jim, he didn't need to breathe underwater.

The water was clear enough that it was easy to swim behind Jim, tracking their faint splashing. They never noticed the big, black mass following them, and neither did Stede.

When Jim sank under water, clearly intent on swimming the last few meters completely submerged, arm outstretched as they reached for Stede - Edward struck. His tentacles lashed out, winding around both ankles. He stood up in the shallow water, dragging a spluttering, struggling Jim up along with him, laughing at the look on their face.

"Ed! You motherfucker -"

"Sorry babe." Edward grinned and hauled them into the air, tentacles growing thicker, longer, strong enough to dangle Jim by their ankles and hurl them back out into deeper waters. They flew spectacularly, screaming until they hit the water with a terrific splash, Edward's laughter ringing out over it all.

"Darling, what on earth was that for?" Stede splashed out deeper into the water, giving him an affronted look. "The water's not that deep!"

"Drops off a few feet out from here," Edward explained. He sank back into the water and winked, voice rising to a shout as he headed for where Jim was already flailing back to the surface. "I'm just defending your honour, my love! The vile pirate shall not dunk you under the waves to your gloomy death on my watch!"

Stede laughed. "So I should head back to shore, then?"

"Or just watch out for grubby hands grabbing for your ankles -"

With a loud war-scream, Jim sprung at Edward, cutting him off. Hands clung tight to his shoulders, their whole weight pressing on top of him, trying to push him underwater. It was kind of adorable - if he didn't let them, they didn't have the weight or the strength to dunk Edward either with or without his tentacles. But he still let them, sinking under, curling tentacles around Jim as he went, dragging them under with him. Holding them too him, while they struggled and thrashed and likely tried to curse even though they were under water.

And sure enough, they were cursing when Edward swam them both up to the surface, spitting water and trying to wipe wet hair out of their eyes. "Olu!! Come help me!! I'm being attacked by an octopus -"

Oluwande waved a hand from shore, barely moving. "I've heard kissing them helps!"

"You fucking traitor!" They tried to splash Edward, but he just wrapped more tentacles around them, plastering their bodies together.

Edward laughed at them, leaning in to kiss the curse out of their mouth. "Sorry babe," he said with a grin, "couldn't help it."

Jim's mouth was salty, wet, and so warm compared to the ocean. They grinned back, kissing him again. "I forgive you if you'll let me dunk Stede later."

"Deal." He winked, nodding towards where Stede was watching them, a fond smile on his face. "I'll even help."

This one is for @dragonmuse, who requested "something about living well." It is loosely set in their Leda House 'verse, where Oluwande is a drag queen who goes by the name of Teal Magnolia, and Jim is a drag kink who goes by The Menace. Set sometime when Jim and Olu are getting older.

--

The drag room was quiet when Jim slipped inside. At one point they'd talked about making it a spare bedroom, but in the end it made so much more sense to fill it with Teal's dresses. Even if they weren't worn as often nowadays, they were still important. Still loved. There were a few chairs in the room, and a table for sewing. In one corner stood a lovely little vintage vanity table they found while scouring an antique market. Oluwande was sitting at it now, staring at himself in the mirror.

Jim didn't say anything. They just slipped up behind him, curling loose arms around his shoulders. Oluwande's hands came up to take their hands, his cheek pressing against their arm.

"My hair's all grey now," he said, still staring at himself in the mirror. They knew him well enough to recognize that he wasn't necessarily upset. More - contemplative, and a little bewildered. "When the hell did that happen?"

"About the same time as mine." Jim leaned on him a little, resting their chin atop his head. Their hair, still short on the sides, curling a little now on top, was pure silver. They were still learning to like it. Maybe they'd dye it someday, a bright colour rather than their natural black. But maybe not. They kind of liked the grey, in the same way they liked the laugh lines around their eyes. Signs of a life well lived.

Oluwande finally looked at them. His face softened. "We're so old now."

They squeezed him a little, nodding. "Yeah. Who would've thought we'd make it?"

It's not entirely true. They always knew Oluwande would. But themself... well. They expected to die very young.

"I did," Oluwande said softly. "I always did."

Jim smiled and pressed a kiss to his hair. "This is why you're the smart one."

That got them a laugh. Oluwande leaned back into them, smiling properly now. "Think I should stop being Teal?"

They'd already pulled back so much. Too much else to do, especially with Jim running the agency now, and Oluwande managing the youth centre. But every now and then, they both danced again.

"Nah. We need more old queens. Matriarchs are important, y'know?"

His smile turned small and quiet. "Matriarch. I like that."

"Thought you would." They give him one last squeeze, but don't pull away quite yet. "You ready for lunch now?"

Oluwande nods, squeezing their hands. "Yeah."

Ask cont'd: and bc i’m dumb and forgot some prompts, have any or all of these for the archie/zheng drabble 🤲 traveling together, sunrise/sunset, sharing clothes

Ooooh ok ok! Neither of these are characters that I feel super comfy writing yet, so hopefully this is ok! I also ran in a little different direction with your prompts, hope that's ok XD

This is set in a modern au where Jim, Olu, Archie, and Zheng are in a polycule.

--

Archie stands at the airport and stares out at the cars coming and going, briefly wondering if she should pull out her phone and see if she missed Jim. But then there's a honk, and a shout, and she sees their shitty truck pull into a space that's far too small.

"Archie!" But it's not Jim yelling at them from the driver's seat. It's Zheng, big sunglasses on her face, waving to catch their attention before she flips off the car she cut off to claim the spot. She turns back to Archie, still glaring. "You coming?"

Her old duffel bag gets tossed in the truck bed, then Archie dutifully climbs in. They barely get their seatbelt buckled before Zheng is bullying her way back into traffic. She's a safer driver than Jim, but only because she doesn't speed in quite the same way. While Jim drives like they're in an action movie, Zheng drives like she owns the road. Which, maybe she does, Archie doesn't know.

"Where's Jim?" Archie asks. "Thought they were going to pick me up."

Zheng raises her eyebrow and gives them a look. "Didn't you get their texts? They got called in to work."

"Oh. Shit." Archie digs out her phone and squints at it. "Still on airplane mode. Oops."

Sure enough, when they turn cell service back on, there's two missed calls and three texts from Jim, and another from Oluwande.

They catch the brief hint of a smile when they say as such before Zheng turns back to the road. "Well, I free, and Jim didn't mind me taking this piece of shit truck since my car is in the shop, so..."

"Cool. Thanks, mate." Archie grins and kicks their feet up on the dash. There's already scuff marks there, from countless other times. "Surprised you didn't bring Olu, have a nice little car date on the way here."

There's a brief moment of hesitation, then Zheng sighs. "I... thought it would be nice to have one with just you, instead."

Archie stares at her. "Come again?"

"We don't really ever do this, just you and me." Zheng gestures between them, but keeps her eyes on the freeway. It's busy, all loops and busy traffic, and Archie's glad Zheng is driving because they always get lost when they come here. "Me and Olu go on dates, you and Jim go on dates, or you and Jim and Olu, or all four of us. Even Jim and I fuck around when you two are gone, but..."

Realization slowly dawns. "Never just you and me."

It hasn't been intentional. It's just been the way things have fallen into place. It's too easy to lean into the relationships that are already there, and Archie sometimes forgets to try and make new bonds. But Zheng is right. They're in this together, and even if they try and all that ends up happening is a strong friendship, then that's okay. It's still important that they try.

Besides. Archie doesn't think that they'll end up that way. Zheng is too cool, and Archie falls in love too easily.

Zheng's got her 'I'm pissed that I'm having to be vulnerable and talk about shit' look, which is cute in a scary sort of way. Archie's into it. "So I thought that maybe, I could come pick you up, and you and I could have time. And if you hate it, then we can never do it again."

"I won't hate it. Promise."

Her eyes flicker over to Archie's. "Really?"

"Really really." Archie grins. "You gonna take me for fancy dinner on the way home then? I'm fucking starving."

"I was thinking burritos or burgers," Zheng says dryly, trying to hide a smile. "Something to fill your bottomless stomach."

Archie's stomach gurgles as if on cue. "Fuck yeah! Maybe burgers, unless you want me shittin' my pants on the way home."

"Charming." But Zheng still heads for the next exit, as if she knows a spot.

Archie waits until they're off the highway and stopped at a red light before she turns, tucking her knee up on the bench seat, scooching as close as her seatbelt will allow. "Hey."

Zheng eyes her warily. "What?"

"Just -" Archie leans in, and presses a soft kiss to Zheng's pretty mouth. She pulls away and smiles. "Just wanted to kiss you, is all. Didn't really say hello."

A pleased smile creeps onto Zheng's face. She reaches for Archie, fisting a hand in her t-shirt, and pulls her back in.

Her mouth is just as soft against Archie's the second time around. And if they're still kissing when the light turns and the car behind them starts honking, well - that's alright. Archie just laughs against Zheng's mouth, flipping the middle finger out their rear window.