#february2025

"I found the perfect Valentine's candy for you," Alex offered coyly as she tipped her head to the side, her hands held behind her back.

"I highly doubt that." Thomas's brow arched in mild amusement.

Alex held out her hand presenting a small conversation heart between her thumb and index fingers. Her smile brightened as she waited for his reply.

Thomas's intrigue fell. He hadn't expected her to find a Valentine's Day candy he'd enjoy. He found the whole holiday a consumerist spectacle built on artificial sentiment and overpriced confections. The fact that retailers charged three times as much for the same flowers in the name of the holiday as they would the day after was nothing to celebrate. Despite it all, Alex found joy in it, as she did with most things and her joy drew him in. He had hoped she had some magical surprise, something only she proved capable of manifesting. But conversation hearts—his stomach turned at the thought of the chalky sweet—there was nothing quite as loathsome save for perhaps candy corn.

"I know what you're thinking—" Alex interrupted his thoughts, doing her best to imitate his tone and sentiments. "—Alex, you know I don't like candy, and conversation hearts are nothing more than sugar, corn syrup, and food coloring. Even for you, that is a no."

Thomas pursed his lips, folding his arms across his chest. "Are you quite finished?'

"Fine, but this—this right here is a special conversation heart. I designed it myself," Alex gestured to the tiny heart. "It's coffee-flavored! I thought you'd appreciate it."

"My love, coffee is your favorite flavor, though why you would want it in such an artificial sweet is beyond my understanding." He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his fingers.

"Oh yeah—" she winked, popping the little candy into her mouth, humming her satisfaction. "Everything tastes better with coffee. You're missing out."

"Well, at least that's settled. Now if you're ready, we do have dinner plans," Thomas breathed easier, hoping to put an end to the conversation of conversation hearts.

"Uh-uh." She shook her head, smirking. "Did you think I would fold so quickly?"

"I dare admit I might have been a bit overly optimistic." His smile warmed.

Alex turned to the table behind them, picking up another one that was slightly warmer in color but still atypical for the candy type. "Here. This one is for you."

"Do I get to know what it is?"

"It's a surprise."

"You know how I feel about those," his brow rose. His eyes narrowed on the sweet treat preparing himself for whatever godforsaken creative confection she had concocted. He held out his hand, sighing softly. "Let's get this over with."

"Always so enthusiastic." She handed over the candy watching in eager anticipation.

He hesitated a moment, analyzing the treat before reluctantly popping it into his mouth, which turned in disgust before the sweet even touched his tongue.

His expression shifted as the heart melted on his tongue, spreading a sweet buttery flavor mixed with a hint of... "whiskey?"

"Mmmhmm," she hummed, pleased. Her eyes gleamed with triumph. "It's a Whiskey Caramel Hard Candy Heart to be exact. So... what's the verdict?"

"Far superior than traditional conversations hearts, tolerable, if I'm being honest, yet still not something I'd enjoy in excess. But for you. For today. For now. It was perfect." Thomas brushed a kiss on her forehead, his fingers cradling her jaw.

I wanted to write a quick dialogue exchange to go with the art, but this happened. I know it's not all that different than the twist in the birthday fic, but I didn't realize it til the end and I had already written it, so I'm posting anyway. I figured there's like 3 people who read Thomas fics, so I'm hoping you'll still like it anyway.

 (specifically how @foangle drew him):

and an accompanying Jekyll that I came up with myself (because I don’t think scarperseus ever designed a Jekyll).

For Jekyll’s design I used Hyde as a basis and worked backwards. Kept the facial structure mostly the same, since I like Hyde designs that look like a young Jekyll, but tried to make him look in his fifties.

Gave him regular brown eyes to contrast Hyde’s bright orange ones. Added glasses because I thought they would look nice and highlight his age.

The hair was me trying to imagine what Hyde’s hair would look like if it wasn’t messy. Switched the greys and browns around so Jekyll has mostly grey hair except for his brown bangs.

Extras Below!:

[Tagging @sciencegothic and @kusnechik because they might find it neat.]