Hello and welcome to the first year of Fluffuary! This is a prompt based event open to all fandoms! Created by two authors who couldn't find a fluff event for January so decided to make their own.
To reiterate, this is our first year running this event and first time either of us has ever run an event like this so please bear with us as we work out the kinks! Below the cut you'll find our rules, posting information, written prompts, and 10 alternative prompts! Thank you so much for checking us out and we hope to have a great fluffuary with you!
Click here for our 2026 Ao3 Collection
How This Works (Rules/Posting Info):
This is a multifandom event for January because we couldn’t find any others for this month! You’re free to post for any fandom, ship, platonic pairing, or whatever else! No minimum or maximum word counts. The only restriction is the fic must be fluffy, and absolutely no generative A.I. usage.
Hurt/comfort is allowed, but with a focus on the comfort please. N/SFW both allowed, but be sure to tag properly. Minors please do not submit or interact with NSFW submissions.
Sexually explicit RPF involving real minors is not allowed.
Though this was made with the intention of being a writing challenge, all art forms are welcome! Writing, art, edits, whatever else!
We follow the classic fandom rule: Don’t Like, Don’t Read/Interact. We will not police what you choose to write about, as long as it’s fluffy and properly tagged. Harassment of any kind is not allowed, and if you are found harassing others you will be blocked and works removed from the Ao3 collection.
Our tag is #fluffuary2026 Please make sure you do NOT put a space between fluffuary and 2026 or we may not see your post. Use our hashtag and tag us for the best chance of us seeing your works and reblogging them.
Yes, we will be reblogging posts we see but please keep in mind we are only two people and may miss some. If a day or two has gone by without us reblogging your post, send an ask to our inbox with a link to the post please!
Last submissions are welcome but unfortunately, for the sake of organization, we will not be reblogging those works! Early submissions are welcome too!
You do not have to write for every single day! Write for one day, write for five days, or write for them all if you wish. Furthermore, you can bend and twist the prompts however you need — don’t worry about if you’re getting too far off base. This event is for fun at the end of the day, participate however you want to.
Have questions or concerns? First check #fluffuaryquestions to see if we've already answered. If not, please feel free to send a message to our inbox or privately if you'd prefer!
Hi guys! I know you might be wondering why this account hasn't reblogged anything in a few days and it's simply because the second mod ended up having to drop out and I personally work over 40 hours a week, so I haven't had the time for social media. But I will be trying to catch up tomorrow so please just continue being patient and I will get to you. Thank you again for being so generous and patient, I know this has been a chaotic first year, and hopefully next year will have the kinks ironed out.
April knocked once and waited for a familiar voice to call her inside the room, but heard nothing in response. She tried again and then pressed her ear to the door.
She heard shuffling and even some music, but no answer, which was strange since she knew Jackson was expecting her.
April pushed forward and let herself into the apartment. She expected to see him moving furniture or even working out, since, despite it being the end of football season, Jackson liked to keep in shape.
His back was facing her, so she approached him carefully, removing her shoes as quietly as possible and then tiptoeing across the floor. She held one hand out in front of her and tried to contain her mischievous laughter with the other.
Jackson dug further into the fridge to try and find what he was looking for, but it seemed like a hopeless pursuit. He knew that he should have cleaned the fridge out sooner, but he, like the rest of his roommates, was equal parts busy and lazy.
There really weren't any excuses for the mess and April would be here any minute. Her dorm space was modest but always impeccably tidied and neat whenever she invited him over while he was scrambling to clean up before someone else saw the state of the apartment.
Ben had gone home for the weekend while Alex was competing at a wrestling tournament and wouldn't be back until the following evening. Growing up as an only child, Jackson was used to the silence, but when April asked if he wanted company for the evening, he was not about to turn her down.
Everything was pretty much done except for the fridge, which was the current disaster area. Alex's leftover Chinese food and the care packages Miranda sent to Ben had the poor appliance filled to the brim. He called it quits on trying to make something and just ordered a pizza for them to share instead. All he needed to do was retrieve two beers, but each time he moved something, there was something else threatening to topple over.
“Hi!”
“Argh!” Jackson screamed when he felt a hand on his shoulder and reached out to grab the Tupperware that Ben had stuffed into the fridge, but wasn't quick enough to catch the old take-out boxes.
They plummeted to the floor in a congealed heap at his feet and he heard April gasp behind him.
Sheepishly, Jackson turned around and scratched his head. “So much for making sure you don't see that.”
April grimaced at the soggy take-out boxes and sticky, sweet-and-sour sauce that covered the kitchen floor. “I know I told you that Chinese was my favourite, but this is a little excessive.”
Jackson rolled his eyes but chuckled as she made herself at home and shoved a broom his way before she sat down at the counter.
April shed her scarf and coat, carefully draping the clothing I've the back of the stool. When he returned to the island and handed her the cold beer bottle, she tipped the head of it his way and gave him an appreciative but teasing grin.
“It’s not mine. It’s Karev’s hoard,” Jackson shrugged as he got to work cleaning up the spillage. “I just figured you cook whenever I come over, I figured I would return the favour, but I can’t find anything in that damn refrigerator.”
“Aw, you were gonna cook for me? Wow, an Avery original.” April said wistfully, a hint of sarcasm tinting her voice.
“Whatever.” Jackson dumped the food in the bin and chuckled. “I got us a pizza instead. I was just trying to contain the biohazard before you ran up on me.”
April opened the pizza box and let the warm, flavoursome aroma drift from the box past her nostrils before she helped herself to a slice. Jackson washed his hands at the kitchen sink.
“Mm, thanks,” April said, chewing and covering her mouth to speak. “But now I feel like I'm missing out. It’s not every day Jackson Avery cooks for a girl, or so I hear.”
Jackson crossed the kitchen and flicked her with the errant water droplets that fell from his fingertips. She gasped and propped up the pizza box to hide as he grabbed a slice for himself.
“Can you not poke fun every two seconds?” Jackson asked after chewing on a slice.
“Can't handle it?” April laughed and folded her arms after setting her slice down. “You used to love to rile me up, especially during freshman year.”
“I wasn't that bad.” Jackson protested, but April sat up in her seat.
“I had a silly, harmless crush on my TA, and you thought it was so funny to tease me in front of his girlfriend.” April reminded him, and he covered his face with both hands.
There was no malicious intent in his actions, and now that he thought about it, it was rather childish. However, when he realised that April had a crush on their first-year TA, he realised how much fun it was to watch her blush or get flustered when he mentioned it.
“Okay, so I may have been a dick,” Jackson conceded guiltily. “I was young and stupid.”
“Alright, you weren’t all that stupid. You obviously had great taste in friendships,” April laughed triumphantly when she got him to smile. She remembered during their first year that he didn’t do much of that either, but as the years went on, she felt a little proud of herself when she got a grin out of him.
“Oh, he’s smiling. Are there pigs flying around right now?"
Jackson pressed his palms against the counter, laughing, "You would know, farm girl.”
“Touché.” April twisted the cap off the bottle and brought it to her lips, eyes glinting.
She was about to reply with another quick retort, but her phone buzzed in her pocket. April pulled her phone out to answer the call, but frowned and grumbled when she saw who it was was calling her.
She quickly pressed decline and placed her phone on the counter, face down.
“Who was that?”
“Matthew.”
“Oh,” Jackson visibly deflated at the mention of his name, and April awkwardly cleared her throat.
It was a silent fact, but she knew that he was never Matthew Taylor’s biggest fan. Luckily, they always had more to talk about than who they were seeing, but Jackson realised that they had been broken up for quite some time, and he still had no reason why.
The question was on the tip of his tongue, but April hopped off the stool, withdrawing herself. “Let’s watch the movie. I still can’t believe you haven’t seen 13 Going On 30.”
April climbed onto the couch and patted the spot beside her so he’d take it. They watched the film together in a comfortable silence and were lured in by the story of two best friends falling in love. She was able to relax again, and after a while, she cuddled up to him on the sofa and lay her head on his shoulder.
Jackson wrapped his arm around her back and stroked her arm. “Why did you break up with Matthew anyway?”
April shrugged and turned the notebook over in her hands. “I just realised it wasn't gonna work out between us. You know, people change.”
“Come on? That's really all you're gonna give me,” Jackson pleaded, and she lifted her head, sighing.
“Okay, but you can't tell anyone else,” April warned him.
“April, please, who am I gonna tell?”
“Ben or your roommates?” April raised an eyebrow. “Men love to act like they don't gossip, but I've heard you all giggling in the breakout room about the latest whenever you get the chance.”
“Hey, we do not giggle.” Jackson corrected her firmly. “We discuss.”
April rolled her eyes. “Do you want to know or not?”
He stopped talking and held his hands out to pause her. He stretched them wide as he lay against the back of the couch.
Jackson crossed his legs, relaxing his eyes from a squint. “Okay, I'm ready. Tell your story.”
April scoffed and lightly kicked his shin, but his legs didn't topple. She took a deep, steadying breath and wrung her hands like she always did when she was nervous.
“Okay, so do remember when we were talking about declaring our majors?” April asked him, and he nodded even though she was about to continue. “By the way, I'm still not sure if I should go for neuroscience or purely biology. I wouldn't want to restrict myself too early, you know? Anyway, it got me thinking about the future. We're still in college, but you know that I like to plan. I thought it would be a simple conversation between us.”
April fiddled with the sleeve of her cardigan with a frown. “Matthew talked about life after graduation a lot. I didn't question it before. I mean, we met at the faith centre, so I knew we'd have a lot in common, but as our relationship went on, I'd notice things.”
“Like what?”
“Like he didn't like that my friends were so different from his, or when I met his younger sister last spring, and she asked about applying here, he totally bulldozed the conversation and said that she had no interest in college, but I knew he was just imposing his own opinion on her. I told him that I wanted to declare a major in science, and I was gonna apply for a scholarship so I could go to med school after we graduate. I told him I wanted to be a doctor and help people that way, but he looked just confused when I told him.”
“Why would he be confused? I can see you as a doctor,” Jackson interjected.
“Really?” April asked. “I mean, I'm not asking because I changed my mind, but I am nervous. I’d be the first one in my family to go to medical school.”
“Are you kidding, April? Of course, you could.” Jackson said reassuringly. “And even if you’re the first, who cares? If it’s what you really want to do, then do it.”
“Thanks,” April breathed a heavy sigh of relief. “You had a much better reaction than Matthew did.”
“What else did he say?”
“He said that I was aiming too high. Can you believe it?” April exclaimed, her brows angling down. This was the angriest Jackson had seen her. “And that I might have been smart enough for college, but med school would be too tough for me. He said that the best way for me to help people would be to serve the people in my community as we do with the fundraisers at the faith centre, and don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy it, but I think that medicine might be my calling. Matthew said that he’d want his wife to stay closer to home.”
“He’s an idiot.” Jackson criticised, even as he ignored the twisting in his gut at the mention of the two of them discussing marriage.
They had been dating for a while and were the kind of people to settle down early, but for Jackson, the idea of Matthew and April being betrothed forever made him want to vomit.
Her lip wobbled, but there was also a clarity in her eyes. “He said that I was different now, and that’s why I didn’t want to see his point of view. It was a pretty bad fight, but I’m not changing my mind. I really want to do this.”
Jackson edged closer to her on the couch. “Then I think that I can help you.”
April tilted her head. “How’d you mean?”
“My grandpa is running a programme at Mass Gen and I’m helping him out.” Jackson took her hand excitedly. “You can come with me this summer.”
April felt a tingle in her palm from where he was touching her and felt her heart rate speed up at his proposition, but quickly shook her head to snap herself out of it. “What? I couldn’t just tag along. I’m sure there’s a whole process, applications…and -”
“April. You said that you think this is your calling,” Jackson insisted, and he noticed that she hadn’t let go of his hand yet. “So why are you trying to talk yourself out of a great opportunity?”
“I…”
“You know that I’m right.”
“Okay.” April nodded gently.
“Is that a yes?” Jackson smiled genuinely for the second time that night.
April smiled back, “Yeah…yes. I’ll come to Boston with you.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much for this, really. I won’t forget it.” April hugged him tightly like always, but this time Jackson felt a different kind of heat when she withdrew from him.
A follow-up to Part 1 and Part 2 - there will definitely be a Part 4, and maybe a Part 5. 😊 (It was really only going to be one. lol)
Fandom: High Potential
Pairing: Morgan Gillory x Adam Karadec
Featuring: Dapne Forrester, Lev "Oz" Ozdil, and Selena Soto
Rating: Teen
Words: ~1,450
Summary: The cat may be out of the bag - at least to Daphne - but Adam is determined to carry on like nothing's happened at all. And he's certain he can do it - until...
A/N: Participating in @fluffuary's day 16 - feelings realization
By the time Morgan strut into the bullpen the next morning, her tangerine-bedazzled thermos in hand, Adam had already given his recent confession to Daphne much thought. And, after careful consideration, he had come to a decision - nothing had to change.
In fact, he had already developed a strategy to cope with the mess – one that would serve him well. His plan? Act normal. That’s it, no one had to be the wiser.
Unfortunately, it took no more than Morgan walking through the door as she always did – a colorful whirl of sarcasm and energy - for him to come to a blaring realization: His plan was crap.
Act normal. Act normal, he thought. But his thoughts and his actions were two different things, so he jumped up from his seat and offered a stiff, overly formal “Good morning” that didn’t match the familiarity between them. If things weren’t weird enough, he followed that up by knocking his own coffee to the floor.
Morgan instinctively scrouched down to help him – a little confused over what had taken place. “Uh… morning, partner?” She said, wiping up the mess. “You doing OK there? You seem a bit jittery. Perhaps we should replace this spilled Java with something a little less caffeinated. Chamomile? Warm milk? Maybe vodka?”
Karadec chuckled, a gentle blush on his cheeks – as Daphne watched from a few feet away, trying (and failing) to conceal a grin.
“I’m fine,” he insisted with a smile that faltered as quickly as it appeared. “Just fine, but yeah... maybe I’ll switch to decaff.”
“Probably a good idea,” Daphne chimed in as Oz arrived in time to witness the tail end of the melee, his eyes darted between Adam, Morgan, and Daphne.
“All right…what did I miss?” he asked cautiously.
“Nothing,” Adam snapped back, too quickly. “Absolutely nothing.”
“Karadec has the jitters,” Daphne offered, her eyebrow rising along with her mug.
Oz stared another moment, shrugged, then hurried off to the kitchen, muttering something about needing coffee “to deal with whatever this is” under his breath.
But there was one person who was unfazed by all the awkwardness, and that was Morgan. She was already propped up in her usual spot – leaning against the Karadec’s desk. She chewed on a stick of Juicy Fruit gum and flipping through the new case notes without a care in the world. In her mind, order had been restored, everything was back to normal - until Adam took his seat.
He tried to concentrate on work, he really did - but no matter how hard he worked to keep his eyes fixed on his computer screen, they kept wandering back to Morgan’s fuchsia spandex-wrapped hip that sat far too close for his comfort. Yesterday, he wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow over this - but today? Today, it was a recipe for disaster.
“Uh, Morgan,” he said sheepishly. “Would you mind sitting… at your own desk?”
She turned and stared daggers at him, insult all over her face.
“Mind? Yes, I most certainly would mind,” she replied. “We have a deal – you got me a desk, because I wanted one really, really bad, but we both know it’s decorative. A prop. You know my best work happens here – in your jurisdiction.”
“Well,” he said, a bead of sweat beginning to slide down his neck, “I think we should change that. Once and for all.”
“Excuse me?” she blinked. “Since when do you care where I stand? I remember a time when you were just happy that I showed up on time and without any traffic infractions on the way. What’s going on with you?”
Daphne choked on her coffee. “Yeah, Karadec,” she smirked. “What’s gotten into you today? You’re really not yourself.”
He shot Daphne a look that screamed, thanks, pal. He didn’t need that; what he needed was an assist, because he was floundering. He couldn’t come up with a single believable reason to explain his odd behavior, and with Morgan waiting on an answer, finally, divine intervention appeared.
“Hey, Morgan!” Oz shouted from the kitchen. “You’ve got to get over here. Captain Wagner brought fresh jelly donuts, and the jelly-to-dough ratio is insane!”
Morgan gasped with the kind of gasp she’d normally reserve for a surprise proposal or discovering her kids cleaned the house without being asked.
“Hold that thought,” she said, tossing her folder onto Adam’s keyboard. “Breakfast emergency.”
With her mercifully gone, Adam let out the breath he had been holding since she walked in. But his reprieve didn’t last long, because Daphne was next to him at once.
“So,” she said, circling back to her unanswered question from the previous night, “what are you going to do about your recent revelation? Because whatever this is? It’s not working for you.”
Adam kept his eyes glued to his desk. “Nothing. I’m going to do – nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Yes,” he said, with certainty. “Nothing. She’s my partner, Daph. And we’re good together - really good. If anything... more... happened between us, it would be a mess. We’d have to report it, we wouldn’t be able to work together, all of this,” he gestured widely, “would be over.”
Daphne paused for a moment, deep in thought. “It’s not like you’d have to go public.”
Adam shook his head. “I couldn’t do that. I wouldn’t be able lie to Lieutenant Soto. She knows me too well; if she asked me one question, I’d crack. And, besides, you’re assuming that Morgan feels the same way about me, which she probably doesn’t, and if that’s the case,” he stalled. “Honestly, I’d rather not know.”
Daphne’s expression softened, “Hey - you know what they say - nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
“Nah,” Adam shrugged. “I’ve never been very successful at the whole relationship game,” he said. “I made peace with that long ago. But you know what I am good at? This job. Really good. And the work relationship I have with Morgan is one of the best I’ve ever had. I don’t want to screw that up.”
“I don’t think you’ll be able to sit on that forever,” Daphne said, shaking her head. “Nor should you. Come on, Adam, you’re a good man, you deserve more in your life than just work.”
He chuckled, even though she hadn’t said anything funny. “It’s all right. I’m not built for all that. I’m successful at what I do, and that has to be enough.”
The bullpen felt eerily quiet after that – the humming sound from the fluorescent lighting and the distant conversations weren’t enough to lift the heaviness that had fallen over them.
Daphne gave him a small, sympathetic pat on the back. “All right, you have to do what’s best for you.”
Whatever else she might’ve added was brought to a halt when Morgan and Oz reappeared.
Oz was beaming like a kid on field day with two donuts in hand, while Morgan trailed behind him, wiping sugar from her lips like she was trying to hide a secret.
“Hey, Adam,” she chirped, buoyant as ever. “I took the liberty of filling up your ludicrously large water bottle that you leave on the drainboard, trying to impress us.”
She plunked it down on his desk with a wink and a smile. “I have no clue what’s gotten into you today, but hydration fixes most things, so maybe this will help. Or it might just make you pee a lot, which is also good for you – prostate awareness, and all that. You know, you’re not thirty anymore.”
“Morgan,” he sighed, but there was a laugh tucked in it. He glanced up at her, something soft and unguarded in his expression. “Thank you,” he said, quietly. “For looking out for me.”
Morgan paused a moment, a warmth she didn’t fully understand rising in her chest. “Don’t mention it, partner,” she grinned, placing a hand on his shoulder. “That’s what we do, right?”
Right,” he murmured, the word landing heavier than it should have.
Before either of them could say more, Lieutenant Soto threw her office door open.
“Hey, team, listen up!”
Everyone pivoted. And in that half-second when no one was looking, Adam dropped his head into his hands and exhaled, long and tired.
Just act normal, he thought. What a brilliant plan.
He sat back up, determined to focus on the briefing, only to catch Morgan from across the bullpen making exaggerated eye contact and sticking her tongue out at him like a five-year-old hopped up on sugar. He had to laugh, that bright, warm smile that went all the way up to his eyes - a smile he didn’t give to anyone but her.
He pushed out of his chair and joined the rest of the team in the briefing circle.
He didn’t know what the future held, but he was sure of one thing — normal had already shifted, and there was no going back.
Fluffuary day 17: Highschool/College AU alternative prompt: Crush
This is revival fluff!
Tagging @today-in-fic
~
They’re on their way home from the Poundstone case, but work feels impossibly distant when Scully can still feel Mulder on her skin. There was no time to take a shower this morning, having slept late. It’s a wonder they got any sleep at all, given how insatiable they were. Scully squirms in the passenger seat, her underwear uncomfortable. She might still not be satiated.
Before last night, her last non–self-induced orgasm lay so far in the past that she couldn’t even remember it. While separated from Mulder, she went on exactly two dates, and neither ended with any form of intimacy or even interest in it. Every time had felt like betraying Mulder. He was – and is – the man she wants.
And, she fears, she wants him again. Right now. She dares to glance to the side, catch his profile. She knows him long enough, has seen his face a million times, and can detect the smallest hint of a smile. He is proud of himself. He should be after his performance on that pull-out couch last night. Not that she ever had any complaints in that department.
“I can see you watching me,” Mulder says, keeping his eyes on the road.
“Just checking you’re not falling asleep. You didn’t sleep much.” There’s no point in pretending last night didn’t happen. Or matter. Scully doesn’t want to do that. What happened last night wasn’t a goodbye fuck. They never had one of those. Partly, she reasons, because she didn’t think they’d stay apart. Weeks stretched into months, stretched into a year, and then two. Now her body is buzzing, screaming out for his touch, for every part of his body against her own.
“You didn’t sleep much either.” He throws her a quick, triumphant grin. “You look a bit flushed, Scully.” She touches her cheeks, finding them warm. Her palms, she realizes, are sweaty, too. Her heartbeat is quicker than it should be.
She looks over at Mulder, who keeps glancing over, and every time he does, butterflies release into her stomach. It’s official: She’s a woman in her 50s, and she’s crushing hard on her coworker, who also happens to be the love of her life. The thought makes her giggle like a schoolgirl. It turns into a full laugh, making Mulder suspicious.
“What is happening?” he asks.
“Mulder, this is crazy,” she says, shaking her head. Tears slip from her eyes from laughing so hard.
“Hey, you know me. I like crazy.”
“I know. I know you do. So do I.” Calmer now, she reaches over and puts her hand on his thigh.
“Oh.” She’s not sure he meant to say that.
“You know why I’m flushed? Because I just realized – this is really is crazy. I think I have a crush on you, Mulder.” Her laugh is softer now.
“You do, huh?” His wide grin is full of appreciation. “That is cute. I fear I’m a bit further ahead than you because I think I might be in love with you.”
“I’ll catch up,” she says, squeezing his thigh. Truth is, she’s already there. She never stopped loving him after. The crush feels like the cherry on top of this new version of them. “Take us home now.”
“Home? As in our home?”
“There’s no other home, Mulder,” she says, leans back, and closes her eyes. Mulder speeds up, and she smiles. They’ll be home soon, but somehow she thinks they won’t get much sleep tonight either.
A Star Wars the Old Republic high school AU for @fluffuary event Fluffuary 2026 day 17 high school/college featuring my ocs.
A teenage boy named Hamhill arrived at his new high school at Lucas High and he is ready to begin his high school chapter of his lift, coming through the front door and passing by a lunch room where two boys around Hamhill are doing their school work. Hamhill step next to them and he said to them, "Hello, my name is Hamhill. What is your name?" and a big boy said to Hamhill, "My name is Pedrorex, and this is Fredprinze, whose seem himself as a cool kid." which Fred said to the two, "Hey, I'm a cool kid." and Hamhill is unsure about that.
A World of Warcraft high school AU for @fluffuary event Fluffuary 2026 day 17 high school/college featuring my ocs.
At their locker room, the high school students of Orgrimmar High whose made up the Orgrimmar Greenskins football team get ready for their match with their rivals the Lordaeron Stormers with Gramakk Axeband, the star of the team, Gramakk Axeband, meeting with the team's coach on possible plans to use during the game so that his team would win the game for Orgrimmar High.
A Billy Blauter story for @fluffuary event Fluffuary 2026 day 17 high school/college featuring my ocs.
Billy arrived at Brickville High for another day at school where his best friends Fred and Jack were waiting for him with Jack asking the blond hair boy, "Hey, did you miss the bus again?" and Billy said to Jack, "Well, the bus usually drive past my family mansion because of the ghosts...." and Billy's friends were unsure if that is true or Billy could have just oversleep this morning and he miss the bus, forcing him to run to school.
A Baldur's Gate 3 college AU for @fluffuary event Fluffuary 2026 day 17 high school/college.
At Faerun University, Iruthom arrived at the theater room where Astarion said to the students gathered at the theater, "Alright, we are going to do tryouts for Hamlet. Everyone do their best and they get a role in the play, even the role of Hamlet or Gertrude." and Iruthom speak up, "Wait, Gertrude is the queen, and I'm sure any male student would play her." which Astarion said, "Actually, back in Shakespeare's time, the women roles were played by men. I'm sure that you would make a fine Ophelia if you want." and Iruthom decide to not ask any more questions.
Additional Tag(s): Fluffuary, Fluffuary 2026, Fluff, High School/College AU
Language: English
Summary: Maru is exhausted from working on a research paper. Penny helps her to relax.
Start Author’s Note: Welcome to Day 17 of the Fluffuary 2026 Challenge (Ao3) and (Tumblr)! Today, the topic is High School/College AU.
I hope you enjoy!
Research Paper – Day Seventeen: High School/College AU
-Maru-
“Yoba, this paper for my statistics class is something else,” Maru complained, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes just to get a break from her laptop. She had been staring at the screen for the past two hours, and this was just tonight! She had been working on the paper for weeks, and while she had the majority of it completed, there was still a long way to go.
“Maybe you should take a little breather, Maru.” Maru opened her eyes and leaned her head back over her chair. She saw an upside-down version of Penny, who was currently sitting on Maru’s dorm bed reading a book with a title she couldn’t quite make out at this angle.
Maru sighed. “You’re probably right.” She straightened back up and looked at the screen for a few moments before groaning. Taking her glasses off, she pinched the bridge of her nose with her free hand. “But I still have to put together the appendices and draw the conclusions in the discussion portion.” She placed her glass back. “I’ve got the abstract, the method, and the results covered, so that’s a relief, but still.”
She heard her girlfriend close her book and move to stand behind her chair. She felt her hands on her shoulders and felt Penny lean down and move her head next to hers, also looking at the words on the laptop. There were a few moments of silence as Penny, presumably, read the paper, and Maru sat there, looking but not really absorbing what was there.
“Well, from what you’ve told me, the discussion is just extrapolating from the results and explaining what they mean, and the appendices are just organizing the tables and graphs that you already have, right?” Penny bonked her head into Maru’s affectionately. “Your research paper’s not due for a few more days. So you can afford to take the rest of the night off in my opinion. It’ll be better to get a fresh start on it tomorrow.”
Maru smiled. “A future teacher telling me to stop my schoolwork? How scandalous.”
Penny laughed. “Everyone needs a break sometimes. A teacher who just demands from their students without giving them time to relax isn’t a good teacher in the grand scheme of things.”
“True.” Maru quickly saved her work and shut her laptop lid closed before turning to look at the other woman. “What did you have in mind?”
Penny smiled, giving Maru a peck on the cheek. “I was thinking we could snuggle up on the bed and read. I’m in the middle of a good story, and you have that science-fiction novel that you’ve been wanting to make time for, right?”
Maru stood up and stretched, feeling her joints pop. “That sounds great!” She opened her desk drawer and took out the book, noticing the spine of it was as stiff as hers was. She hadn’t even cracked it open yet since she’d been so busy with her work.
Penny took her free hand and led her girlfriend to the bed, sitting down and patting the spot next to her.
Maru settled in, leaning back against the pillows situated in front of the headboard. Their shoulders touched from their close proximity, and Maru could feel Penny’s body heat through her shirt.
The two read side-by-side for a while, neither saying anything. Maru appreciated the quiet. Their friend group tended to be on the rowdy side, and college seemed like just another excuse to throw wild parties. Maru loved her friends, of course, but sometimes, she wanted to be able to just exist without having her ears being bombarded by techno music. Penny was a calm individual, and Maru needed that in her life.
After a bit, Maru felt the pressure on her shoulder grow heavier. She turned to see that Penny had fallen asleep, her book in her lap. Maru smiled.
Gently taking Penny’s book, she closed it and placed it along with hers on the bedside table. Her digital clock showed that it was just past midnight. No wonder Penny had passed out. Her girlfriend’s classes tended to be earlier in the day to prepare her and her fellow classmates for school schedules, so it was not uncommon for Penny to be up before the sun was.
Turning back to Penny, Maru moved her arm around her shoulders, adjusting their positions to make sleeping more comfortable.
She gave her a kiss on the crown of her head. Placing her glasses on the bedside table as well, Maru took one last look at Penny, thinking that even the blurry version of her girlfriend was absolutely adorable.
“Sweet dreams, Penny,” Maru whispered as she turned off her bedroom lamp.
End Author’s Note: Hope you enjoyed! See you tomorrow!
A Monster High fanfiction for @fluffuary event Fluffuary 2026 day 17 high school/college featuring my ocs as well @legofanguy1999 oc Kurozuki Hina as a special guest.
Japanese Gorgon Kurozuki Hina come visit the American high school known as Monster High for a month which Kurozuki was unsure of the culture of this school as well her fellow students. As Kurozuki walk outside to the gym while making sure that none of her snakes come out of her hair and turn anyone to stone, a pair of girls run past her with one of them calling out to a girl wearing a yellow shirt, "Wait up, Crystal! I'm going to kick the ball first!" and Kurozuki was surprised that these students are playing soccer out of gym and she wonder what they are thinking.
When you’re on a late night stakeout and your breath shows in a white cloud, he cups your hands in his own and blows on them before rubbing, while looking pointedly at you. “I told you you wear gloves,” he mutters.
When you need to camp out, he zips your and his sleeping bags together and envelops you. His hands pull you close and he tucks your face into his chest. Throughout the night he keeps waking you, just to make sure you’re not freezing, because hypothermia can be silent.
When you have had a long, cold day, he loves drawing you a hot bath (and he loves even more joining you for it).
When the heating goes out and he hears the door to his room open, he just silently lifts the blanket and lets you slip in beside him. “Frostbeule,” he murmurs into your skin as your icy feet press against him.
When he is cold for a change, he immediately goes to check on you. If he is cold, that means you’ve probably gone full snowman by now.
When you are all cold and grumpy, drowning in a thick jacket and scarf and glaring up at him, he gets serious cuteness aggression.
Premise: It’s Picture Day at Edenbrook, but roping Ethan into it is a challenge.
Fandom: Open Heart
Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Cassie Valentine); feat. Amalia Kallis (F!OC)
Rating/Category: Teen. Fluff.
Words: 1,840
A/N: Thanks to @rafasgirl23415 for sending me the pic in the header. It inspired this fic, and the return of Amalia from Edenbrook's comms team.
Submission for @choicesmonthlychallenge January prompt "New beginnings" and to @fluffuary Day 16 prompt "Feelings realization"
“Picture Day is all about coordination, efficiency and staying calm at all times. You can’t let anything distract you from the job. Every additional hour literally costs us money.”
Amalia Kallis recalled her manager’s advice when he handed her the assignment a few weeks ago.
At the time, she had nodded earnestly. Now, after chasing senior physicians and researchers across Edenbrook Hospital like it was a high-stakes scavenger hunt, she was beginning to suspect Brad had undersold the chaos.
After a memorable intern year with the hospital’s communications team, Amalia had been offered a permanent role—and a modest raise that would come in handy living in Boston. She was excited for whatever came next.
Wanting to prove they hadn’t made a mistake hiring her, she’d been highly confident—perhaps too much so—that she could get this project done on time and on budget.
Of course, she hadn’t counted on Chief Ethan Ramsey derailing the whole thing and almost getting her fired.
Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration. Their director, Maureen Lively, probably wouldn’t let her go just for this (at least Amalia hoped she wouldn’t).
Maureen had been working at the hospital a long time and knew what Dr. Ramsey was like. She also wasn’t the type of boss to blame her staff for something outside their control.
But ever since Amalia had managed to convince him to do a Reddit AMA and an interview for the hospital’s video channel, the team had started calling her the Ramsey Whisperer.
She’d tried to convince them she hadn’t done it alone. No one could persuade Dr. Ramsey to do anything he didn’t want to, except Dr. Valentine. And she had been a huge help to Amalia in making it happen.
But her protests had gone unheard, and now she was under pressure to deliver or risk disappointing her team.
Technically, Picture Day was spread out over three days. They’d hired a photographer and converted a boardroom into a makeshift studio for taking official photographs to use on the hospital website, donor reports and other public channels.
Amalia had tried—really, she had. But, getting Dr. Ramsey to respond, make this a priority, or just show up at his appointed time—after his assistant had confirmed it was on his calendar—was an exercise in patience.
Now here she was on the last day, with only an hour left until the photographer started charging overtime, and there was still no sign of the Chief.
“Want a hit?”
Amalia tore her eyes from the door and toward the can of soda the photographer’s assistant was offering. She normally didn’t drink soda, but right now she popped the tab and took a long, grateful pull.
Jesse was her age and super cute in that good guy trying to be edgy kind of way. He’d been low-key flirting with her for the last three days. If she hadn’t been so shy (and, okay, painfully aware screwing up Picture Day was not an option if she wanted to keep this job), she might have flirted back.
When her gaze lifted over the rim of the can, she froze, like a deer caught in the headlights. He was watching her, eyes a stormy gray and just a little amused. The unexpected attention made her inhale sharply, and she spluttered, soda stinging her nose.
Suddenly, the door behind her swung open and Dr. Ramsey strode in, his footsteps quick and determined.
“Sorry I’m late. Patient emergency,” he said, though nothing in his tone even hinted at an apology.
Heat crept up Amalia’s neck, a ridiculous flush that made her feel as if she’d been caught doing something far less innocent than drinking a soda.
But she needn’t have worried; Dr. Ramsey didn’t spare her more than a perfunctory glance of greeting before scanning the room, taking in the light stands and diffusers with cool assessment.
“Is this where you want me?” he asked, taking his place in front of the white backdrop and arching a brow in her direction when she didn’t respond.
That look—and the impatience threading his voice—shook Amalia out of her stunned daze. She shoved the soda can back into Jesse’s hands and hurried to stand beside the photographer.
A few minutes later, Amalia whispered a silent prayer of thanks that they were almost finished, and without too much trouble. He might not enjoy this part of his role, but the Chief did accommodate the communications team…in his own way.
“Now we just need a few without the white coat,” she said, stepping forward to reach for the garment.
“Why without the coat?” Dr. Ramsey protested, folding his arms across his chest. “We’re a hospital. People expect doctors to wear the coat, don’t they?”
Amalia nodded. “Yes, Dr. Ramsey, but given your role, we need some photos that are a bit more…casual.”
She trailed off, searching for the right word. Between Jesse earlier and standing beneath Dr. Ramsey’s beetled brows, her nerves were rattled.
Luckily, the door opened just then, and Dr. Cassie Valentine strolled in, a smile blooming the instant she spotted her husband.
“There you are!”
Well accustomed to their relationship by now, Amalia wasn’t surprised when his expression softened immediately.
“I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow,” he said, reaching for Cassie’s hand.
“Hitched a ride with my parents. They’re off to Newport for a few days.”
“Lucky me,” Dr. Ramsey murmured, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her lips.
As it always did in their presence, Amalia’s young heart burned with yearning. She inadvertently caught Jesse’s heated gaze—fixed on her, not the couple. Flushing, she looked away quickly, determined not to embarrass herself any further…especially at work.
“Hi, Cassie. Hope your trip went well,” Amalia said.
“Hey. Long time, no see,” Cassie joked, making her laugh.
She had been the first to show up for Picture Day, citing her travel schedule as the reason for going early. But Amalia had been grateful; starting with Cassie had been an easy win.
“Are you almost done here?” Cassie asked her husband.
“I don’t know. Am I?” he said, turning to face Amalia.
Amalia couldn’t help the flicker of amusement at the challenging tone in Dr. Ramsey’s voice. She knew he’d like nothing better than to be finished, but she had a job to do. And she hadn’t spent three days wrestling with his nonsense just to cave now.
“We need a few more,” she said firmly, then bypassed him entirely to appeal to the one person he actually listened to. “Without the coat.”
“Alright, you heard her, babe. Take it off,” Cassie ordered, cheerfully ignoring his startled “hey” as she whisked the white coat off his shoulders and nudged him back toward the backdrop.
He stood with one shoulder tipped against the backdrop, legs crossed at the ankle in a deceptively casual stance that did absolutely nothing to hide the exasperated amusement beneath it.
“And if you need some lessons on how to strike a pose, just know that I am an expert,” Cassie teased, a twinkle in her eyes. “Always happy to teach you my ways.”
“Were you a model, Cassie?” Amalia asked, excited and genuinely curious. There was so much she didn’t know about her favorite doctor. “Come to think of it, I can see you walking the runways during fashion week.”
Dr. Ramsey snorted as Cassie gasped in delight.
“You’re so sweet to think so,” Cassie said. “But no. My mother’s charity issues an annual calendar. My brother and I have been modeling for it—and just that—since we were too young to remember.”
“And she never lets you forget it,” Dr. Ramsey drawled.
One hand slid easily into his pocket, the other resting at his side as he smirked at his wife. “Don’t you text me to complain the whole time you’re doing the shoot?”
“I said I was an expert, Ethan, not that I enjoyed it,” Cassie retorted, crossing her arms. “Now,” she continued briskly, “be a good Chief and do what you’re told so you can take me out to dinner.”
Amalia bit back a smile as he rolled his eyes and grumbled, but still followed the photographer’s direction, trying to master that impossible balance between relaxed and composed.
Cassie circled him once, tapping one finger against her lips.
“Here,” she said, gently guiding his shoulder toward the backdrop.
She stepped back and looked him over, then shared a conspiratorial look with the photographer before turning back to her husband.
“Maybe don’t look so stern. No one’s grading you. And remember, babe—smile.” She demonstrated by stretching her own lips into an exaggerated grin.
“I know how to smile, Cassie.” He huffed, unimpressed, but did as she asked anyway.
Thinking of how she needed proof of this moment, Amalia furtively snapped a quick photo. She wasn’t quick enough, though, for Cassie caught her.
Flushing, she tucked her phone away and stepped back as the photographer moved into position.
“Send it to me, please,” Cassie whispered, slipping in beside her behind the camera.
Amalia nodded, and whispered back, “Thank you so much—”
She would have said more but Jesse’s arms brushed against hers as he handed his boss a new lens. Amalia jolted as though she’d just been shocked, the sensation overloading her nerve endings.
She rubbed her arm absently, trying to make sense of the reaction, and completely unaware of the knowing look Cassie was giving her from the corner of her eye.
All too soon, it was five o’clock and Picture Day was over. Right on time, Amalia exhaled in relief, feeling the tension of the last few hours finally slip from her shoulders.
In the mood to celebrate—and maybe a little inspired by Dr. Ramsey and Dr. Valentine’s relationship—she decided to be brave and ask Jesse out for a drink.
Resolved now that she’d made up her mind, she scanned the room for his familiar mop of dark hair, only to be disappointed when she realized he was nowhere to be found.
Feeling a bit deflated, Amalia thanked the photographer, grabbed her things and headed back to her cubicle.
Later that evening, she hunched over the bar at Donahue’s, sipping a martini and scrolling Pictagram. The place was popular with hospital staff, a safe haven for drowning her sorrows or escaping the grim reality of her nonexistent love life.
Remembering Cassie’s request, she switched to her messaging app, attached the photo and hit send. The reply came almost immediately.
Reading their exchange, Amalia laughed into her drink, feeling a spark of hope, and maybe a bit of disbelief at Cassie’s perceptiveness. She supposed that kind of intuition was exactly why Dr. Valentine led Edenbrook’s world-famous diagnostics team.
She paid for her martini, shrugged on her jacket, and headed out.
Despite its challenges, today had been a good day, she mused as she stepped onto the T platform.
And now she had Jesse’s number. Life was certainly looking up.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Vörjeans (Band), Humorgruppen KAJ (Band)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jean Filip “Määnin” Mannerheim/Tommy Tall
Characters: Tommy Tall (Vörjeans), Jean Filip “Määnin” Mannerheim
Additional Tags: fluffuary 2026, Male Friendship, Gay Panic, Idiots in Love, Pizza Day, I’ve decided that Tommy likes pineapple, i’m projecting, let me project, Making Out
Series: Part 18 of Fluffuary 2026
Summary:
Tommy had suddenly come up with the bright idea of trying to make homemade pizza. It did sound great, but there was only one problem: Neither him or Määnin were very good cooks. To be honest, they could barely be trusted in the kitchen. But Tommy had been craving pizza for the past few hours and he just so happened to have some pre-made pizza dough Freppa had dropped off the other day. Thank God for that, because trying to make the dough from scratch would have been too much of a hassle in Tommy’s mind. And so he pulled Määnin up from the couch and dragged the man towards his tiny kitchen.
