stellar's writing help

they have been competing for so long that it had become the natural state of things: the other is the rival, not a fellow student. that is, until something happens to humanize them in some way

finding them crying behind the building

realizing they took up smoking again

they suddenly stopped showing up for class out of nowhere and no one knows anything

sickly appearance and voice lacking the energy and strength it used to have

defending them when a member of the faculty is being condescending / otherwise discriminates against them

finding them fishing food out of the trash or working a shitty night job to stay afloat

seeing them get ready to sleep in their car after losing their home

hidden injuries (classic)

both are professor assistants

going to the same boarding school or study trip

group / partner projects

internship at the same place over the summer

only two seats next to each other are open in a busy class

room / dorm mates

sent on the same study trip

sitting together in the cafeteria

stuck organizing the faculty's christmas party

“Are you diagnosing me with parental instinct?”

“Yes.”

“I reject your theory.”

“You can’t just opt out. That’s not how parenthood works.”

“Neither is being diagnosed with it! They’e more like parasites I can’t get rid off!”

Businessman who got a coffee spilled on him x Barista, annoyed that they now need to mop the floor

Kind and upbeat goth x Moody and short-tempered hippie

Bright and happy villain x Dark and pissed off henchman

Selfish Sunshine x People pleasing grump

Human, unbothered by their constraint time on the planet x Immortal who was worn down by a long lifetime of losing people, and not wanting to have it happen again

Understanding empath x Cynical mindreader

Hopeful babysitter x Exhausted single parents

Enthusiastic art critic x Reclusive artist

Sunshine stalker x Grumpy victim

Chatty ghost x Tired medium

“You can lock the door if you want. I want you to feel safe here.”

“The social worker said you get cold easily. Do you want an extra blanket?”

“This is our dog. She is nosy and likes to cuddle, but you can close the door if it gets too much.”

“Do you want to watch something? We can argue about what to watch, that… that's something siblings do, right?”

“Hey, mom said you didn't eat dinner. This is my favorite snack, if you want to share…”

“If you cry, I won't tell. But only if you won't tell if I cry either, deal?” “Deal.”

“Anyone messes with you at school and you tell me, yeah? We're family now.”

“Just be a kid, yeah?”

“You don't have to talk about it, but we're here if you want to.”

“You're not gonna unpack?” “I…” “You want your stuff ready to go, right? I get it. No worries.”

“Can you leave the light on?”

“Where the hell did you get a birthday cake for me?” – “Stole it. Hope you don't have allergies, I got no idea what's in it.” 

“I'm running tonight. I can't stay.” – “… I'll make sure the the porch light stays on. You can change your mind any time.”

“I can't do this.” – “Of course you can. You're not alone. Got us now, come on. We'll help.”

“You call this mess a family?” – “Fuck yeah we are, and you're my newest sibling. Welcome.”

“Whoa, what are you doing here?” – “Saw you ‘subtly’ packing your bag. Thing is, you're stuck with us now. If you're gonna run, we'll follow like a pack of stray dogs.”

“I can't stay, I'm all kinds of fucked up.” – “You think you're a mess? Have you met the rest of us?”

“I'm not sure I should…” — “Come on. You're allowed to have fun, you know.”

✰ “Stop pacing and looking for a mission to complete. Just… sit.”    “You are underestimating how hard that is for me.”    “Try it anyway.”

✰ “No one is taking this away from you. Ease up.”

✰ “You can rest, you know. I'm not going anywhere.”    “You say that now. But what if you disappear the second I wind down?”    “You might have to take that risk.”

✰ “Nightmare again?”    “Mhm. 's okay. Just stay.”    “Always.”

✰ “Where were you?”    “Fell asleep in the garden.”    “You… You fell asleep outside? Wow.”

✰ “Do you want to help me plant the garden for summer?”    “You know what? Yeah, I do.”

✰ “You slept in. Didn't even stir when I got up.”    “I did.”

✰ “Did you lock the door?”    “I did. Want to double check before bed?”    “No. I don't think I need to.”

◎ “Baby, can your cauldron go in the dishwasher?”

◎ “Do you still have the charm I gave you?” “Of course I do. It's my keychain now.”

◎ (voicemail) “Hey honey, um, I heard the creaking again and lit the candle you said helps with protection? Do I also need to spray your moon water in the corners or is that fine? Love you, see you later!”

◎ “Hold on a second, how do I know you didn't hex me to fall in love with you?”

◎ “Is it just me or are you more passionate around full moon?” “Of course. I'm more in tune with the moon, baby.” “Mh. I wish it was full moon all month around.” “That would be incredibly bad for the magic cycles, I can't even begin to explain to you–” “I love you, my little magican nerd.” 

◎ “You don't need to charm me. I'm already yours.”

◎ “Did you just touch something on my altar?” “What, how did you know?” “I'm a witch, honey. I thought we've been over this.”

◎ “I'll be going into town today, do you need any herbs from the old lady under the bridge?”

◎ “You… labeled my jars?” “Yes… Is that okay? They just all look the same and it made me anxious. What if you're tired and make a mistake and suddenly you're offending some ancient deity? I don't have the time to deal with a demon haunting us right now!” “You are adorable.”

Alternatively, B trying to distract A while subtly trying to buy a christmas present for them, sending A on random errand runs but A always return while B is still standing in line at the register.

✶ Flower Shop AU: A crashes their car/bike/whatever in front of B's flower shop. B calls an ambulance, sits with B, and sends a bouqet and their number along with the ambulance.

✶ Tattoo Studio AU: A tends to talk a lot when nervous and rambles the entire time they are getting tattooed by B. While leaving, they are embarrassed and apologize for talking so much. Only when A gets home they discover that B scribbled their number on the bandage, because B found their rambles quite endearing.

✶ Coffee Shop AU: A and their friends come into B's coffee shop to do a group project, but about ten minutes in they're instead planning to set A and B up because A, a usually unshakable and stoic person, froze, dropped their change, spilled coffee and giggled awkwardly when ordering from B.

✶ Book Store AU: A has been going to the same bookshop for years, but one day the old, kind owner is no longer there. Instead B, someone A's age, is behind the counter. A is annoyed, because they don't like change and assume B is some new, uninformed employee, only to find out B is the owner's kid, and the owner 1. is just sick, 2. apparently talks about A a lot at home, and 3, is very much trying to set them up on a date.

✶ Bakery AU: A works the streets at night, and always ends the night by going to the only bakery that opens at 5.30am, to get some good dinner/breakfast. B is very curious about this gorgeous, dressed up person that comes in every morning right when they open.

“It's been a while. Is it a good or a bad sign that you're back here now?”     “I guess we'll find out.”

“Keep looking at me like that and I'll close early.”

“You're doing that on purpose, aren't you?”     “What, licking the salt off the rim of my class without breaking eye-contact? No.”

“I stayed open late yesterday. Hoped you'd stop by.”

“How much for your number on the next napkin I ask for?”     “About the cost of one dinner.”     “Perfect.”

“You know I can feel your eyes burning in my back, right?”     “Don't flirt with other customers then.”

“When are you getting off? I can walk you home. The area can be sketchy this time of night.”

“I'm cutting you off.”     “Buzzkill.”

“Don't apologize. You're one of the few people I don't mind venting.”

“You're drinking awfully fast. Bad day?”    “Give me two more and I might tell you.”

“Let me call you a cab. You're not gonna be making any good decisions tonight.”

carefully holding their hand under the lukewarm stream of water after they burn their hand

doing the dishes and getting hugged from behind, their hands joining in the sink along with kisses on the neck

dropping their ring down the drain and carefully fishing for it

furiously rubbing their hands, trying to get stains off

hurriedly washing hands after coming home, eager to get to the dinner table

rinsing blood off after they cut their hand

running warm water over their numb hands after getting home on a cold day

turning the faucet on for them when their hands are fully covered in dye

washing each other's hand in warm water while making eyes at each other in the mirror

✯ ‘you sought shelter in our shop during a snow storm but it is company policy that you can only stay while eating, so now we are sharing cupcakes and conversation until it passes’ AU

✯ ‘both of us wanted the last lemon cupcake and now we are sharing it in the corner of the store’ AU

✯ ‘you are overly critical over this new shop because it replaced your usual coffee shop, so i learned to make your order to appease you, is that the only reason you come in every day?’ AU

✯ ‘every morning you come in to pick up obscene amounts of pastries and i am really curious what you use them for but i also don't want to cross boundaries by asking’ AU

✯ ‘you are the new trainee and just dropped a tray of pastries and are trying so hard not to cry and i am really trying not to laugh’ AU

✯ ‘after trying a pasty with powdered sugar you got a little white mustache now and i thought it was cute but didn't say anything any now it's been so long since you finished that it'd be awkward to point out now so i am hoping you leave before you notice’ AU

✯ ‘you tried to make a cheesy pun about cupcakes to hit on me but fumbled it and are not aggressively complimenting the pastries while getting increasingly more flushed and why is it kinda working on me ’ AU

✯ ‘the coffee shop next door belongs to you and because our coffee sucks we joined forces and are also serving each other's customers and now we need to work out the tipping situation’ AU

✰ “Can you bleach your hair? I wanna see if it'd look good on me but don't want to fuck up my hair.”

✰ “Hey, honey.”    “Nope, wrong twin.”    “Ah, fuck. Sorry.”

✰ “How did you two turn out so differently?”    “Golly Gee, it's almost like we're not the same person and have indepent free will!”

✰ “I'm the older sibling!”    “By like 7 minutes!”    “Best 7 minutes of my life!”

✰ “It must be hard being the ugly twin.”    “What the fuck did you just say to my twin?”

✰ “So, do you two finish each other's sentences too?”    “We're twins, not psychic.”

✰ “Stop stealing my fucking clothes!”    “They look better on me anyway.”    “That doesn't even make sense!”

✰ “Where are you going? You are grounded!”    “What? Mom, it's me. You grounded [twin]!”

✰ “Wow, you look so much alike!”    “Yeah, that's… the point.”

✰ “You ever considered getting a piercing?”    “Oh, no. My twin did that, it does not suit us.”

“Adorable. Yeah, I'm sure you'll show us.”     “I sure as fuck will.”

“Funny thing, when no one believes in you, a loss doesn't sting all that hard. But a win? Hell of a drug.”

“Don't get me wrong, I know what they say. I just don't care.”    “I think you do.”     “I know they're wrong. That's all that matters.”

“How am I in the wrong here? I won, and you're mad just because your ego is hurt because you didn't believe in me?”

“I know I wasn't your first choice for this, or your second. But… I am here, for whatever you need.”     “Oh, that's sweet, but we're gonna need someone a bit more…”     “More…?”     “Just… More.”

“I've been slaving away trying to catch up, and now that I have, it makes me arrogant?!” 

“You did it! Oh my god, you actually did it!”    “Your surprise stings just a little.”

“They'll see. They may not believe in me now, but they will see. No one'll doubt me again.”

“Where do you want me? I can help.”     “Move. We don't have time for your antics.”     “Why won't you let me help?!”

“You've never believed in me. I didn't think you would now.”