An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
"It is 105 degrees outside and Ricky Bowen’s blood is boiling. Not literally. It would need to be at least 212 degrees for his blood to boil, and at that point his skin would have burned off already. He and Nini looked it up on a particularly slow (they both knew better than to say “quiet”) shift. No, Ricky’s blood is boiling because he’s barely even changed into his uniform and EJ Caswell is already preening. Like a rooster. Or a peacock."---Aka "the first responders au." Ricky's a paramedic. EJ's a firefighter, and even though they work in the same station, they can't stand each other. At least that's what EJ's telling himself.------GUYS @justowrites AND I DID A THING!!
After like a YEAR of planning, this passion project is finally live! It's a caswen first responders au and I CANNOT WAIT to hear what yall think - and just in time for the finale!
hey what was your old ao3 account called???? i remember you changing it but i can't for the life of me remember what it used to be called and it's driving me crazy because i hate forgetting stuff like that (plus that way i can say "oh yeah, i've been a fan since his account was called ____")
“I’ve been a fan since his account was called…” may be the highest compliment anyone’s ever given me anon, so thank you! I was called ebi-pers which was my username on fanfiction dot net. I made it when I was like 12, and I legit cannot remember why I called it that lmao
rules: post the first lines of your last 10 fics posted to ao3. if you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics.
My ao3 is @ justowrites and my 10 most recent first lines are:
(See under the cut due to length)
1. When they were little, Ricky was always the one who wandered off down the beach, collecting seashells in a bucket or winding seaweed around pieces of driftwood.
Title: almost gone | Fandom: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series | Word count: 53,059 (and counting!)
2. Ricky opens the trunk of his car and stares at the bags and boxes that lie in disarray, strewn across the folded-down rear seats and spilling into the front.
Title: The Opposite of Love is Indifference | Fandom: HSMTMTS | Word count: 157,721
3. “Kourtney?” Nini’s voice is small, barely audible on the other end of the line, and for a minute, Kourtney wonders if she’s dreaming the entire thing.
Title: for all the things my hands have held (the best by far is you) | Fandom: HSMTMTS | Word count: 16,135
4. “I’m stuck,” Ricky announces, throwing up his hands in defeat and looking forlornly at Nini across the room.
Title: Let Our Bells Keep on Ringing | Fandom: HSMTMTS | Word count: 32,036
5. The alarm clock goes off at 8:00 sharp, and he reaches for the snooze button instinctively.
Title: Pilgrimage | Fandom: HSMTMTS | Word count: 22,358
6. “Ricky!” Nini cries, swatting his hand away from the cooling rack full of mini quiches.
Title: Do You Hear the People Sing? | Fandom: HSMTMTS | Word count: 94,531
7. It feels strange to be back, especially after saying her goodbyes and promising to write.
Title: betty (i don’t know anything, but i know i miss you) | Fandom: HSMTMTS | Word count: 5,566
8. Kourtney opens the door within seconds of Nini pushing the doorbell.
Title: Home is a Feeling (Home is Where You Are) | Fandom: HSMTMTS | Word count: 10,320
9. Ricky Bowen is afraid of very little in life.
Title: meet me in the middle | Fandom: HSMTMTS | Word count: 7,613
10. “Ricky,” Nini sighs gently, turning away from her desk to stare pointedly at her boyfriend.
Title: Stardust | Fandom: HSMTMTS | Word count: 1,878
There are too many talented writers across multiple fandoms to tag, so if you’re seeing this, please share some of your first lines!
while i am not fan of nini not saying goodbye to the people who’ve known and loved her their entire lives, this was a pretty good way to close the chapter of ricky and nini. they had depended on each other their entire lives, pretty much. they started that list together, they’re both adults, they’re both 18. and shit got real mucky in the last year, but nini’s final act of love to someone she’s known her whole childhood was helping him close out his by finishing what they started together. are you fucking kidding me???? TEARS. actual tears.
everyone who said we were WRONG when we KNEW redlyn was a bi4bi couple all along you were praying on our downfall but bisexuals never lose and we’re always right
ej says to val "i'm only doing this right now because you're leaving early" when he calls his dad. he says "i need some moral support."
so you're telling me he had to make the call prematurely because he didn't feel there was a single other person who could morally support him through this? not his cousin who he's had these kind of conversations with before, not his ex girlfriend who was shown to be a source of strength and support for him, not a single one of his friends from school would be willing or able?
he had to squeeze such an important call in before she left because she was the only one really on his side.
I have so many thoughts about the HSMTMTS finale but for now I’ll say this:
The fact they gave Gina the speech was the most ridiculous decision the show has ever made. You’ve honestly got to be joking??? I don’t know if that’s because Ricky already gave Nini a speech in season one, or, what, but Gina has already laid out her feelings to him multiple times.
“You’re not a maybe to me” — yea NO DUH, that was established when she spilled her guts multiple times and then cried over him for a bunch of episodes? After everything they’ve been through RICKY NEEDED TO BE THE ONE TO LAY OUT HIS FEELINGS FOR HER. And to twist the Portwell breakup to make it work for that speech … come on. Her breakup with EJ felt so weird and that’s because it was all so it would fit another narrative even though it made NO SENSE. If Gina didn’t want to be with EJ because of their age difference or even because of Ricky fine but don’t try and cram in that she was a “maybe” because she is literally all EJ wanted.
And don’t even get me started on the treatment of EJ who literally lost two girls the exact same way to the exact same person and then still called Ricky his brother, celebrated his birthday and walked away. All while directing a show alone, with no help, dealing with a hateful dad, and having to play a donkey in a play when Ricky gets the lead for shows he doesn’t even know the names of the character for.
I literally hated everything about that storyline in the finale and I am just … flabbergasted Ricky wasn’t the one to be honest with Gina about his feelings. I’m shook so hard by that.
What I will say is Big Red and Ashlyn both being queer is dope as hell, I liked that they didn’t magically take away Kourtneys anxiety (even though it needed a rewrite to be less after school special) and Ninis send off was absolutely PERFECT I was sobbing my eyes out I’m so glad she gave Ricky the lotto ticket. Flawless, respectful exit for Olivia Rodrigo.
