[Image description. Image reads âTropetemberâ, in the background, a picture of a mug placed on an open book in front of a blanket invokes a cozy feel. End id] Thanks to @supericelightâ for the image description!
Hello and welcome to Tropetember 2025!!
Tropetember is a multifandom event celebrating everyoneâs favourite fanfic tropes, held during the month of September. There will be a trope prompt for each day of the month, but this is only a guide - feel free to choose any of the tropes as you wish.
This year, we again have a âHard Modeâ list for anyone that needs or wants more specific prompts to fill!
Here are the links to the prompts!
Tropetember Prompt List
Tropetember Hard Mode List
From the beginning of September, we will be accepting submissions to this blog for fanworks tagged with âtropetemberâ and âR-tropetemberâ (for works with adult content). To place a submission, you should click on the submission button under the blog title. This will mean that we post your work directly from the main Tropetember blog. Make sure to TAG APPROPRIATELY on the submissions box.
If you create your own post and want us to reblog it instead, you must @ us at the beginning (above the cut) of the main body of the post (@tropetember) - we are not able to monitor the #tropetember tag.Â
All entries should either contain a link to a fanfiction site where your work is posted (eg. AO3), or the text/body of your work, as well as the trope/prompt used.
We have also opened an AO3 collection titled âTropetember 2025â into which you can post your work. When you go to post a new work in AO3, there will be a section that says âPost to Collections / Challengesâ. In the field next to it, type âTropetemberâ and it should pop up. Make sure to submit it to this yearâs collection!
This event is intended to be a minor-accessible companion to Kinktober. NS/ FW content is welcome, but we want this to be a safe event for minors too, so we ask that any content rated M or E be tagged 'R-tropetemberâ so that everyone can curate their experience. Content that might be considered sensitive and/or controversial should also be tagged as 'R-tropetemberâ along with any other relevant warnings.
Weâre releasing the prompts early below so that authors, artists and other fan creators can make a head start, but we will not be posting any submissions before September starts. (If we miss your submissions to the blog and a few days have passed, feel free to @ us or send an ask to let us know!) At the time of this post the Tropetember 2025 AO3 collection is already open and you can submit your work there. It will be moderated until September 1st, after which it will be opened, so don't worry if your fanwork doesn't show up before September.
This event is not a bingo and you donât have to fill all the slots. You can do only one, some, or all of them, or repeat any trope several times, and still be a part of Tropetember - weâd love to have you!
For any doubts and questions, you can find our FAQ here, and several other answers here.
Please reblog or share to spread the word!! Enjoy your tropes and remember to have fun!
Hi again everyone! A final reminder that we have one week left to go before Tropetember 2023 begins on Friday, 1st September. For those of you who are new, Tropetember is a month-long celebration of everyone's favourite fanfic tropes, open to all fandoms, characters and pairings! You can find our prompt lists below:
About Tropetember
Tropetember Prompt List
Hyperspecific/Hard Mode Prompt List
Please signal boost by reblogging this post - or one of our prompt lists - to spread the word around to your favourite fandoms and creators!
[Image description 1. Image reads âTropetemberâ, in the background, a picture of a mug placed on an open book in front of a blanket invokes a cozy feel. End id]
Hello and welcome to Tropetember 2022!!
Tropetember is a multifandom event celebrating everyoneâs favourite fanfic tropes, held during the month of September. There will be a trope prompt for each day of the month, but this is only a guide - feel free to choose any of the tropes as you wish.
From the beginning of September, we will be accepting submissions to this blog for fanworks tagged with âtropetemberâ and âR-tropetemberâ (for works with adult content). Submissions should either contain a link to a fanfiction site where your work is posted (eg. AO3) or the text/body of your work. To place a submission you should click on the submission button under the blog title.
We have also opened an AO3 collection titled âTropetember 2022â into which you can post your work. When you go to post a new work in AO3, there will be a section that says âPost to Collections / Challengesâ. In the field next to it, type 'Tropetemberâ and it should pop up. Make sure to submit it to this yearâs collection!
This event is intended to be a minor-accessible companion to Kinktober. NS/ FW content is welcome, but we want this to be a safe event for minors too, so we ask that any content rated M or E be tagged 'R-tropetemberâ so that everyone can curate their experience. Content that might be considered sensitive and/or controversial should also be tagged as 'R-tropetemberâ along with any other relevant warnings.
Weâre releasing the prompts early below so that authors, artists and other fan creators can make a head start, but we will not be posting any submissions before September starts. (If we miss your submissions to the blog and a few days have passed, feel free to message us to let us know!) At the time of this post the Tropetember 2022 AO3 collection is already open and you can submit your work there.
This event is not a bingo and you donât have to fill all the slots. You can do only one, some, or all of them, or repeat any trope several times, and still be a part of Tropetember - weâd love to have you!
Please reblog or share to spread the word. Enjoy your tropes and remember to have fun!
For anyone who is curious, hereâs the link to last yearâs prompt list!!
Thanks to @supericelightâ for the image descriptions!
[Image description 2. Image reads âtropetember prompt listâ. Both images have the same background. End id.] Â
Fusion / Crossover / Harlequin / Rom-Com (eg: Hogwarts, Pacific Rim, Daemons, Hunger Games, The Princess Bride, Pride & Prejudice, Love Actually, 10 Things I Hate About You, etc)
with hot chocolate season on the way, there are a lot of subtle ways to work a little magic into your mug! a compiled list of easy recipes to have some magic in your day
for all recipes, melt chocolate in the microwave, and mix in heated milk.
Caramel đŹ
½ cup milk, 5 oz. chopped milk chocolate, 3 tsps caramel, Ÿ cup heavy cream.  for love, kindness, domestic works
Cinnamon Spice đ
1 cup milk, Â 5 oz. chopped dark chocolate, Âź tsp cinnamon, a pinch cayenne pepper. divination, fortune, healing, power, prosperity, protection, psychic abilities, spirituality, wealth, and wisdom.
Orange đ
1 cup milk,  2 oz. chopped dark chocolate, ½ tbsp sugar, ½ tbsp grated orange peel. for beauty, divination, fortune, love, purification, and wealth.
White Lavender đž
1 cup whole milk, ½ chopped white chocolate, Ÿ tsp lavender flowers. for chastity, happiness, love, peace, protection, and purification.
Peppermint đŹ
1 cup whole milk, ½ cup chopped milk chocolate, 1 peppermint candy.  for healing, love, psychic abilities, and purification.
Pumpkin Spice đÂ
1 cup whole milk,  1 tsp. chocolate powder, ½ tsp pumpkin spice, 1 tsp. maple syrup.  for banishment, divination, healing, prosperity, and protection
Hazelnut đ°
1 cup whole milk, a pinch salt, 1 tsp cocoa, 2 tbsp nutella or Âź tsp hazelnut extract. Â for fertility, protection against evil, creativity, intuition, and psychic abilities
Vanilla đž
½ cup milk, 5 oz. chopped milk chocolate, 1 tsp vanilla extract. for happiness, love, and lust.
Peanut Butter đ°
1 cup skim milk, Â 2 oz. chopped dark chocolate, Âź cup peanut butter, add cream to taste. for wealth, love, and fortune.
Tropetember Day 14 - Monstrous (Human/Monster romance) / Cultural differences / Language barrier
Hot drink?
Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x GN!Reader (Reader is British for the purpose of this fic)
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Rating: General Audiences
TW: Tooth-rotting fluff?
AN: Day 14 of @tropetember. So, I've skipped day 13 for the minute as I'm struggling to do it justice. Instead, enjoy this short sweet nonsense.
Enjoying a night in with soft Hotch
Find this story on Ao3 here.
Word Count: 0.4k
âDo you want something to drink?â
You look up from your position curled up on the sofa to see that Aaron had finished his shower and was heading towards the kitchen, likely to stick some coffee on.
One of your favourite things about moving in with your lovely American FBI agent was that you got to see him at his softest every night you were both at home. With you working for Interpol, and occasionally having to head home to the UK to assist with training and attending conferences, it was the easiest way to maximise your time together, as well as with little Jack.
Youâd do a great many things to be able to spend a quiet night with Aaron in his pjs and fluffy soft hair.
He calls your name, drawing you out of your thoughts.
âTea, please.â
He gives a quick salute and a cheeky grin before retreating back to the kitchen. Gosh heâs handsome. To pass the time, you flick through Netflix to find something to watch. Maybe The Good Place?
As youâre browsing, an odd sound draws your attention.
âAaron sweetheart, why can I hear the microwave?â
There is a short pause.
âIâm making your tea?â
âIn the microwave?â
You stand up and pad into the kitchen to see your mug in the microwave. You tilt your head in confusion. And then it hits you. Americans are monsters. You canât help but laugh.
âItâs easier to use the kettle, tastes better as wellâ you chastise lightly, wrapping your arms around him and pressing a gentle kiss to his shoulder before moving to rescue your mug. You grab the kettle from where itâs ended up hidden behind the coffee machine and set about boiling it while Aaron wraps his arms around your waist.
You lean back into his chest, enjoying being close to him, as the kettle boils and you make your tea, grabbing his coffee and leading the way back to the sofa. All the while, youâre muttering under your breath about how sacrilegious it is to make tea in a microwave.
Once youâre both settled in, head on Aarons chest and his arm around you, you set the TV playing.
Tropetember Day 12 - Getting together / Love confession / First kiss / Break-up/Make-up / Fix-it
Limp away with me
Pairing: Armitage Hux x GN!Reader
Fandom: Star Wars
Rating: Teen and up
TW: Injuries, implications of rough childhood
AN: Day 12 of @tropetember. So, this is quite rough and holds a lot of potential for fleshing out into a proper story, whether that's just a longer one or a multi-chapter. Is that something anyone would be interested in? Fix-it fic cos they did General Hugs dirty
Allegiant General Pryde has shot General Hux. Lucky you're the Surgeon General really.
Find this story on Ao3 here.
Word Count: 1.6k
âAllegiant General Pryde just shot General Hux.â
Your breath catches and you allow yourself a moment to close your eyes. Next moment, youâve grabbed your bag and are focused back on task.
âCollect the body,â you direct them, âand bring it to the medbay autopsy lab. Carefully.â
You and Armitage had prepared for this eventuality. One of the advantages of having a partner in the medical core was that the chances of surviving treason were much higher.
Whilst neither of you had entered First Order service willingly (no matter what Hux said, you had both been forced into it), Armitage had quickly excelled and embraced his duties in an effort to outshine his father. To try and prove himself as worthy. You, on the other hand, had enacted the only act of rebellion against your family that you would be able to survive. You had chosen to enrol in the medical core rather than aiming for command. If you had to be a part of this monstrous cause, you would try to save as many as you could.
Youâd worked your way quickly up to the rank of Surgeon General and had been stationed on the Supremacy for a number of years. Thankfully, youâd survived the reign of Snoke and, so far, had survived Renâs reign of terror. It had been a blessing that Hux had been reassigned to the vessel from the Finaliser. You enjoyed each otherâs company and it was helpful to be able to train on your self-defence with someone who wasnât trying to beat the stuffing out of you to make a point. He was a good outlet for a lot of energy in other ways too.
You glance up from checking you have all your equipment when you realise the orderlies havenât moved. You turn your most piercing stare on them.
âDid I stutter?â
They look at each other until one of them pulls up their big boy panties and says âhe was shot for being a spy.â
You laugh. Mostly at the fact that one looks like he wants to cry and the other like heâs about to collapse. They donât need to know that though.
âYes, by Allegient General Pryde who is well known for being a thorough and competent leader. Oh wait. No, heâs not. Heâs had a grudge against Hux since he reappeared from whatever hell hole he had been hiding in. I said go fetch me the body! Now!â
They scarper out and you take another deep breath to centre yourself before busying yourself again with grabbing supplies and the emergency make-a-break-for-it kit you stored in your office. You then straighten your uniform, brace yourself and head out into the chaos of the medical bay.
---------------
Armitage is deathly pale when he finally is brought down to you but you swiftly move into action, infusing blood and bacta and checking the depth of the wound. Youâd both known that, were he to be discovered, the weapon he was likely to be shot with would pierce the thin body armour he wore beneath his uniform. Unfortunately, it was the maximum thickness he could get away with before it became noticeable but you had both agreed that some bleeding would sell the ruse. You just didnât like it.
Checking out the wound, you sigh out a quick breath of relief when you realise it is not too deep and hasnât damaged any of the major blood vessels or organs. Though gruesome to witness, it was mostly superficial.
You lose yourself in your efforts, remaining undisturbed in the autopsy room, until youâre happy that heâs stable for travel. Itâs at that point that you revive him, despite the fact heâs going to be in a world of pain.
He slowly blinks into reality with a scowl and a hiss of pain. You try to soothe him as best you can but there isnât much you can do right now. You need him mobile to get to the shuttle and someone would notice you carrying him.
Gently running your hand through his hair you tell him âcome on sweetheart. I know it hurts but weâve got to move.â
Despite the pain, he seems alert and nods, letting out a grunt of agreement as he allows you to help him sit up and then stand. You gather the spare stormtrooper armour youâd pilfered a few months ago and quickly get him dressed up in it before leading the way swiftly to the small landing bay where Armitageâs private shuttle was stored.
You whisper a thanks to whatever Gods there are that the chaos on board the vessel means that there is noone around and you manage to get the pair of you on board with little drama. In fact, the whole escape into hyperspace is amazingly smooth and once youâre away with your course set, you sag a little in relief.
Or at least, you do until you see Armitageâs slumped frame and quickly grab him and get him moved to the small bedroom to continue his care and knock him back out while he heals.
Youâre just about to inject the sedative when he grabs your hand, making you look at him.
âYou know you are my world, donât you?â he asks quietly.
You smile softly and lean forward to press a gentle kiss on his lips. You smile again as you feel him smile against you.
âI do, I wouldnât have committed treason for anything less.â
He rolls his eyes before pressing another gentle peck to your lips and releasing you to get back your work. You take the opportunity to knock him out for now. Itâs how heâll be most comfortable.
And if youâre grinning so hard your face hurts, noone in deep space can see it. They canât see you internally debating whether itâs ethical to dope someone up to get soppy confessions from them in the future either.
---------
It wasnât often that General Dameron of the Resistance found himself in the Outer Rim.
Even 3 years after the end of the war, he was still mostly stuck to the core planets and mid-rim in efforts to support the Senate and help guard the peace which had settled upon the galaxy.
Heâd been on a training mission with a few new recruits for Green Squadron when theyâd been ambushed and theyâd all received some pretty injuries despite eventually winning the battle. Injuries that required attention sooner than they would be able to if they headed back to base.
After a quick argument with Finn via the comms, the squad set course for a local med facility that was gaining a reputation for itâs high quality care.
Poe made sure all his squad were checked out before himself and he was happy that they were all being looked after so well. It was strange. The lead Doctor seemed familiar.
It wasnât until you met his eyes that he realised.
You calmly continued his consultation, gently palpitating the wounds and collecting dressings, something you appeared to be doing more quickly than he was able to collect his thoughts.
âYou!â
You snort. You canât help it.
âYes, me General Dameron.â You gently dab some bacta on some of the smaller cuts. âDid that break heal up correctly?â
He nods a bit dumbly. Youâd been responsible for his care after Ren and a couple of the Stormtroopers had tortured him. Youâd been a welcome relief, if he were honest. In fact, apart from the fact youâd worked for the First Order, he wasnât aware of any accusations against you.
âIâm glad.â You finish wrapping his wrist and nod. âAll done. Your pilots should be ready to go in around 2hrs, just to allow any drowsiness to wear off. I have some spare rooms if you need to stay on planet tonight?â
He thanks you profusely but explains that they are expected back tonight as you head back into the main waiting area. You shake his hand before leaving him and approaching a tall red-head across the room who instantly wraps his arm around your waist and drops a quick kiss on your head. You whisper to him for a few seconds and blue-green eyes suddenly lock with Poeâs before his face breaks out in a smile.
âGeneral Dameronâ Armitage says, approaching slowly and holding out a hand to a shell-shocked looking Dameron. âIâm glad you won. You and your squadrons are welcome to drop in here for treatment if you ever require it and are close by. Free of chargeâ
Poe, for his part, has a LOT of thoughts at this moment. Part of him wants to jump up and arrest him immediately whilst another screams that he was a spy and was seriously harmed because of it. Itâs neither of these things that eventually seals his reaction though. Itâs the loving glance Armitage throws your way as you offer them both coffee, the expression rendering him almost unrecognisable when juxtaposed against the version he used to know.
âThank you.â He finally chokes out. âIâm assuming youâre not known by your old names?â Given the whole living in peace and not being turned into the authorities and all that?â
Hux just laughs.
âYou would be correct. Weâre both going by Y/Nâs motherâs maiden name.â
âOh?â
âYesâ Armitage says, looking far too amused. âWeâre Armitage and Y/N Organa.â
Poeâs jaw drops to the flood. How on EARTH was he going to explain any of this?
Turns out, after it became the top recommended med centre by all members of the Resistance, he didnât have to. He just had to keep pretending he didnât know Hux had survived and not let Finn anywhere near. Poe was good at keeping his mouth shut.
Strange galaxy you live in really. And you couldnât be happier
AN: Day 11 of @tropetember. Sorry for the wait, life has been a bit mad. Not the best but hope you enjoy :)
The aftermath of an away mission gone wrong.
Find this story on Ao3 here.
Word Count: 1.3k
It wasnât uncommon for members of an away crew to end up in the sickbay upon their return to the Enterprise. Injuries regularly ranged from small cuts and bruises to native diseases to broken bones. A visit to Dr McCoy was something all members of the crew had to mentally prepare before beaming down. What was uncommon was for people to be in the sickbay for longer than an overnight stay.
Spock and Kirk had both had a couple of longer stopovers following heroic (read: risky) actions. Dr McCoy dreaded either, or worse both of them, being there because they were both hard-headed and constantly tried to sign themselves out against medical advice. Luckily, this wasnât something McCoy had to worry about with the current resident of the sickbay. What was happening was far more worrying. Because you had been in a coma for 4 days now and nobody had any clue as to what to do.
Running his hand down his face, Dr McCoyâs gaze remained laser focused on the most recent test results, trying to find an answer. Any answer. Even a clue. Nothing. There was nothing indicating why you werenât waking up.
Sighing quietly to himself he got up and headed to your room, checking on the monitors. He hadnât even realised anyone else was there until he turned to exit.
Stood leant against the wall next to the door, Captain James T Kirk stood like a sentry. His eyes watched everything in the room, in between regularly checking on you. The Doctor pressed a hand to his heart as he processed his surprise. Had Kirk not been wearing his yellow command shirt, chances are McCoy wouldn't have even noticed him with how still he was standing.
âJim, youâre the Captain not a shadowâ he observed, his normal gruffness softened slightly.
The gentle rebuke received no response from Kirk. He simply flicked his eyes from the body in the hospital bed to McCoy and back again.
It was clear to see that all was not right with the Captain. His uniform was creased, his eyes red. He looked like he hadnât slept in days.
âJim, you ok?â
A small sigh and a shake of the head is all he receives in response. McCoy props himself up against the wall next to him, a show of silent solidarity.
"They weren't even supposed to be there, Bones."
You'd opted to go on the away mission instead of Mr Spock to allow the Vulcan some time off from Kirk-sitting, and as part of your push to keep at least one of them on the ship at all times. "Cos, you know, regulations" was all you scoffed when someone pointed out that they'd both made a break for it onto some distant moon, leaving you as Lieutenant Commander in charge of the ship.
The additional position had been created to help support the demands of a 5 year mission on the crew as a whole. Given the Enterprise's tendency to have an engineering emergency in the middle of crisis, Mr Scott was often unable to support in the way the Chief Engineer may on other ships. You bridged the gap, allowing Kirk, Spock and Scotty to hand over some of their day-to-day responsibilities to focus on the extreme.
Though they had initially railed against it, they would all now agree that your presence had improved the efficiency of the ship. It also allowed them all some welcome downtime. The crew appreciated that more than they would ever admit in front of the higher-ups. Kirk in particular could get bitchy when he was tired.
Something that no one would have predicted about adding you to the crew, was the depth of the friendships you had formed with the command crew. In particular, you had developed a close friendship with the Captain, despite his initial wariness. You and Jim were regularly spotted in observation watching the stars float by whilst having a drink, or heading to each other's quarters with a holodisk in hand.
Jim, for his part, had been reluctant to get to know you. The Captain of a starship is supposed to be separate from the rest of their crew. But, as with the interpersonal relationships between the crew, the length of the mission had required these expectations be adjusted in the interest of crew morale.
The outcome of the slow blossoming relationship with you was something he had not predicted. Where he always felt responsible when crew were hurt, the shot of ice through his system when he saw you being stabbed with a syringe was much, much stronger. More importantly, his almost visceral reaction had been completely unexpected. He was the Captain, he had to look out for everyone. Yet, he spent every second of the day and night since returning to the Enterprise worrying about you.
Drawing himself back from his thoughts he glances to Bones, who is watching him with a combination of concern and soft understanding.
âWe have the best people in the Federation working on this Jim.â He gently grasps Kirkâs upper arm. âTheyâll be ok. Youâll get them back.â He pauses then, glancing between the two of them. âThen you can maybe have an honest conversation about the two of you.â
Kirk sharply glances at him over his shoulder before allowing his own shoulders to sag.
âI hadnât even realised,â he quietly whispers, moving to the side of the bed. He takes your hand in his before sitting down next to the bed. âItâs not allowed, Bones.â
McCoy for his part just smiles at him.
âNever stopped you beforeâ
That gets a small smile out of the Captain as he turns his eyes back to you. Heâs so focused on you that he doesnât even notice as Dr McCoy slips out to head to his office.
-----------
Waking up after being unconscious for an unknown amount of time is, in a word, disorienting. The sickbay lights are bright, your throat is dry and sore and your head feels like itâs stuffed with cotton wool.
It takes you a while to come to but youâre ever so grateful to hear Dr McCoy's southern drawl welcoming you back.
âThere you are darlinâ, you had us worried.â
You let him run all of his tests without complaint, using the time to orient yourself. Itâs not until heâs nearly finished that you notice thereâs someone else in the room. You throw Jim a small smile, followed by a grimace as McCoy hits you with a hypospray.
âThat should be everything for the minute,â McCoy tells you. âWeâre going to keep you in for observation for a few days but your recovery is going as well as we could have hoped.â
You smile in relief at that, and he tells you heâll be back in a few minutes before he heads out of the room.
After taking a moment to shuffle yourself into a more comfortable position, you wave a hand at Jim to beckon him over. He takes a gentle hold of your hand as he moves closer. It fills you with warmth and you canât help a small smile.
âManaged not to blow up the ship while I was out of commission then?â you tease, wanting the frown to disappear from his face. He shakes his head in response.
âI honestly donât know. I havenât really left this room.â
You glance at him surprised, and then see the soft expression on his face. Huh. You thought it was just you.
Taking the plunge, you gently tug at his hand until he slides into bed next to you, your head resting on his chest. The beat of his heart starts to lull you back to sleep.
Itâs probably best to rest while you can, you decide. Youâve got a lot to talk about.
Tropetember Day 10 - Slice Of Life / Domestic / Found Family
Pizza Fairy
Pairing: Gen (NCIS x reader platonic)
Fandom: NCIS
Rating: General Audiences
TW: Food
AN: Day 10 of @tropetember. Just an easy to read, short piece of team fluff today. Enjoy!
Dinner with the NCIS team at the end of a long day. Short cute fluff.
Find this story on Ao3 here.
Word Count: 0.5k
The art of pressing the lift button to the MCRT floor whilst balancing a stack of takeout containers in your hands was a skill you mastered early on in your NCIS career. You are genuinely surprised it wasnât included in the official NCIS recruitment brochures and interview process given how many times itâs required per month.
Although you were not specifically attached to the Major Crime Response Team, your skills as the in house profiler, brought in by Director Shepherd, regularly led to you working with Gibbs and co. They'd semi-adopted you as a member of the team and, as you worked on your own in a separate office for the majority of the time, the companionship was very much appreciated. Consulting could be lonely.
When you exit the lift into the offensively orange office, you see the team almost immediately. Tony has his head down on his desk whilst Ziva, McGee and Gibbs finish their reports. As you approach, Tony's head snaps up.
"Pizza Fairy?"
"Technically, it's Special Agent Pizza Fairy to you," you laugh. He looks so excited, like a kid at Christmas. He must be a good 10% pizza already.
"Have I ever told you that you're my favourite?" Tony asks you, prompting noises of protest and flying balls of paper from Ziva and McGee. Gibbs just stands up and wanders over to you.
"Except for you of course boss, obviously," Tony quickly continues. Ha, coward.
Gibbs, clearly unbothered by and entirely used to Tonyâs comments, just grabs a pizza box and tells him "don't worry." He pauses for a large bite of pizza. "They're my favourite too."
Tony's noise of outrage is much louder than either of Ziva's or McGee's and you take pity on him, handing over his pizza.
After handing out the rest of the pizzas, and giving Abby a call to let her know the food is here, you grab yours and slowly head toward your office. Or at least you try, until Gibbs' voice stops you.
âHey, where are you going? Dinner is a group activity.â
You glance around at the people youâve come to know so well over the last few months, and see the smiles on all of their faces. You glance back to Gibbs and he gives you a small nod, before grabbing a spare chair and setting it up at the end of his desk.
Settling down, you join in with the easy conversation, laughter and teasing and just enjoy the contentment at being fully accepted into the team. Throughout it all, you canât help but reflect on how lucky you are.
Itâs been a long time since youâve been a part of a family, and itâs never been a family quite like this.
Tropetember Day 9 - Historical (Regency, Ancient Greece/Rome, Prehistory etc.) / Modern / Futuristic AU
Mr Hotchner, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance (Regency AU)
Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x Female Reader (dresses, mention of becoming an old maid)
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Rating: General Audiences
TW: None
AN: Day 9 of @tropetember. Yet another Hotch story that could be expanded into a small series. Not sure how effective it is a Regency piece? Any feedback would be much appreciated.
A widower with a good fortune and a son moves into the nearby great estate. Will that be any concern of yours?
Find this story on Ao3 here.
Word Count: 1.5k
When Jane Austen observed that a young man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife, she was not incorrect. The question is whether all of those criteria needed to be met for similar conclusions to be made of men in similar circumstances.
Mr Hotchner, whilst in possession of good fortune, could no longer be classed as young, being in his mid-thirties. To further complicate matters, he was a widower and had a child from his first match.
When the inhabitants of the surrounding area became acquainted with the details of the new owner of the neighbouring great estate, they too were unsure. Some claimed he would be past his prime, grief would likely have ruined him, left crags upon his face and aged him beyond his years. Others, notably those with unwed daughters, argued that a mother figure for his son and match for himself would only increase the happiness and imagined handsomeness of the fine gentleman due to enter the parish.
As it is in most cases, neither party was entirely correct. On his arrival into the county, he was noted to be a handsome man, but he never smiled. He was charming and generous, but rarely spoke unless questioned. He may be improved by feminine influence, but did not seem to be in the market for such.
Whilst you were aware of the excitement of the new neighbour, you chose not involve yourself in the fray. At nearly 29, your future as an old maid had been declared by the villagers for many years. You were lucky that your younger brother was set to inherit your fathers modest estate upon his passing. You knew your brother would continue to look after you, and in return you did what you could to help your family in the day to day.
You had been so disconnected from the gossip, that it came as a surprise when your father notified you that the family had been invited to the estate for dinner and cards. Mr Hotchner was hosting one of his friends, Sir David Rossi, and it was apparently at his suggestion that the event was conceived.
As usual before an engagement, you select a nice dress, a new one you had been treated to a few weeks earlier, made of fine fabrics and with lace trim. Your maid, Sarah, had helped you style your hair and by the end of it, even you would agree that you looked pretty. Youâd never be a beauty, but you were looking your best in the spring of your late bloom.
The carriage ride to the estate was quiet. Your brother mainly discussed business with your father as your mother and yourself admired the countryside. This admiration only grew as you entered the estateâs gardens. They were spectacular. A balanced combination of wilderness and cultivation.
Pulling up, you all clambered from the carriage and were led into the house by one of the servants. Inside, a modest party of the foremost members of the neighbourhood were gathered and you greeted them as you entered. It was not until around 5 minutes later that Mr Hotchner and his friend entered.
He was very handsome, something the slightly severe expression on his face could not hide. You could not help but watch as he slowly made his way around the room. He had a very authoritative presence, but not in an arrogant or rude way. It seemed more that he was aware of his role and status.
It was not long until it was your turn to be introduced to him. You curtsied and shyly met his eyes as you rose back to full height. For the first time in many years, you felt your breath catch slightly.
Your eyes were drawn away from Mr Hotchnerâs as Sir David was also introduced to you. He was older than his companion, with a well maintained beard and a gentle grin resting on his features. He was also effortlessly charming but in a more extroverted manner than his friend.
You conversed with the pair for a while, polite conversation you make with new acquaintances about how they are enjoying the area and settling and such. It is not until dinner is called that youâre reluctantly separated. Good conversationalists were sorely lacking in this part of the world and you were already looking forward to getting to know them.
Dinner was a tasty and lively affair, with many laughs and much conversation. Afterwards the gentlemen separate off to have their whisky, leaving the women to gossip and you to nip out to answer the call of nature.
On your way back, you are met with an unexpected sight.
At the bottom of the main staircase stands a young boy in a dressing gown, stuffed toy in hand. Seeing that he looks upset, you slowly approach him and smile gently.
âHelloâ you greet him. âAre you well?â you ask the little boy, not wanting to crowd him but unsure why he is upset.
He shakes his head shyly and his eyes stay trained on the floor. It breaks your heart a little.
Bobbing down, you pull a handkerchief from the hidden pocket in your dress to gently wipe his tears. Once theyâre cleared away, you introduce yourself to him.
He reaches out a hand as his manners kick. âIâm Jack Hotchner. It is a pleasure to meet you.â
His voice isnât full bodied but itâs a good start.
âWell, what a polite young gentleman.â He smiles at you for the compliment and holds himself a little taller. âWhere might you be heading this late at night.â
âI," he pauses, "I want to see my father.â
You nod your head.
âOf course young sirâ you give a theatrical bow to offer your hand to him which makes him giggle as he takes hold, âfollow me.â
You head down to the room you saw the men head into and knock gently, hearing Mr Hotchner call for you to enter.
Gently pushing the door, you answer his questioning expression. âI found someone in the entrance hall who wished to see you.â He looks concerned until he spots his sonâs head peeking around you. His face breaks out into a large smile which makes him appear far more youthful than you would have guessed. Sir Davidâs tales of him being a heartbreaker may not be as exaggerated as you first believed.
He greets the young boy, taking his hands as he lowers himself to his sonâs level to ask what is wrong. On discovery of Jack having had a nightmare, he brings him into the room, thanking you for looking after him and releasing you to head back to the ladies.
Your mother immediately corners you upon your return and you do your best to divert her by claiming to have been appreciating the art decorating the corridors. It is not necessarily a lie, the house itself is beautiful enough itself to be considered such, but you doubt Mr Hotchner would appreciate you sharing his sonâs nightmares with people who are strangers to him.
You do not have to distract your mother for long thankfully, as the gentlemen soon return and card tables are drawn up. There are slightly too many people for everyone to play so you offer to sit out and take a seat on a nearby settee with one of the books from the shelves. You are slightly surprised when a small body, now dressed in his fatherâs suit jacket, settles on the cushion next to you.
As you entertain the young Hotchner, you are unaware of the discussion taking place across the room.
âShe seems good with him,â observes Sir David, deliberately keeping his voice down and pretending to contemplate his cards.
Mr Hotchner shoots him a withering glance before allowing, âshe does. In general, she seems like a lovely woman. I am glad we have made her acquaintance.â
Sir David hums as his gaze drifts back to you, now teaching the young boy some sort of clapping game. âYou know, I would be rather upset with you if you were not to throw a ball before I am to leave for London.â
âI believe you are meddling again Sir David,â Mr Hotchner plays a card as he continues, âbut I will speak to the staff tomorrow about organising one.â
âYou will be expected to dance, since you are hosting.â
Despite not normally being one to give into his friends' schemes, Mr Hotchner nods, eyes once again fixed on you.
âIâm sure I can find someone suitable,â he says and at that moment your eyes meet his. Yes, he thinks, he is sure you will dance as beautifully as you smile.
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