mercy & a minute

Grant Andersen fc: chris evans indie roleplay | 21+ written by grim

[onstraypaper]

✑ main ✑ bio ✑ face ✑ muse ✑ starters ✑ wishlist ✑

about:

This is a sideblog, and I follow back from my main @grimmusings. Please direct IMs there, since it's easier for me to keep all my messages on one blog. It's also easier to start interactions with me there, where I regularly post open starters and meme prompts. For a full list of rules, see my main. Honesty hour questions will largely be answered IC and treated as anonymous unless signed by a muse.

Grant is an original character primarily based in real world, non-magic universes. I'm happy to write him into AUs and fandom crossovers, but unless it's heavily plotted ahead of time, he either doesn't know about any magical/supernatural elements or doesn't pay a lot of attention to them (e.g., the Avengers are public figures, but it doesn't have a lot of overlap with his daily life).

default verses:

welcome to new york: Following his divorce and the death of his daughter, Grant is a children's book illustrator living in New York City. (bio)

crystal beach: Following his divorce and the birth of his daughter, Grant moves them both to sunny California and works as an art instructor at a university. (bio)

[vvolfatthedoor]

moving forward, i'll be sliding aven's replies over to my oc multimuse @weniightmareyou 💛

[onstraypaper]

same for grant 💛

[musette22]

'Who doesn't love a healthy, happy dog?' @thinkjinx

[onstraypaper]

Grant could afford to live alone, but working from home and living alone left him far too much time to get in his own head, and that wasn’t always the safest place for him. Rachel kept things lighter, and he liked to think he kept her steady, and so far the arrangement had been working for both of them. A new project meant meetings, and he’d been out most of the day, a smile coming to his lips as he opened the door to the sound of her singing. He leaned in the hallway, watching her dance around with amusement. "Is this a private concert?"

[musicallyprcmiscuous]

The brunette jumped when she heard him talk, turning and stopping her song and clutching her brush to her chest. Getting used to having a roommate was...difficult. It wasn't like she needed it. Her friends had eyed her when she mentioned having a roommate -- especially a male roommate. Sometimes, Craigslist wasn't that bad. She had been as careful as she could have -- and did thorough background checks and research. Her friends were to close to...what had happened and just seemed to walk around on eggshells with her -- which was exactly the opposite of what she wanted. She didn't want people to walk on eggshells around her. Plus, Grant was rarely there. So him being there while she was embarrassingly dancing around their apartment was...even more embarrassing. "I didn't realize you were here otherwise I would've made you pay. I don't do free shows. My talent deserves to be shown off -- but also with a paycheck."

[onstraypaper]

He felt bad about startling her. Grant had yet to truly settle into the place. He hadn't lived with a roommate since college, unless he was counting his ex-wife. He spent most of his time there drawing in his office or in the coffee shop on the corner and trying to give her space. Maybe it was the wrong approach, given they'd mutually agreed to this arrangement.

"I agree. Artists should always be paid for their art." He smiled, pausing before he added, "I could make it up to you with dinner? If you're free." She looked like she was getting ready to go out. It was a rather contrived excuse, but he thought it might help them be more comfortable around each other to break the ice a bit. When it came right down to it, he didn't actually know that much about Rachel.

[theking-blackheart-muses]

@onstraypaper

"How do you think I look?" Ollie asked as he looked at Grant with bright eyes and smiles on his face as he looked at Grant. Ollie had always been terrible at ties, he hated large crowds and was scared and nervous. He knew that Grant knew him so well and could that Ollie was nervous. Events like this always seem to trigger his anxiety and memories of a terrible time back before he moved and ran to New York which was years ago. He was waiting for the other's answer. Sometimes, all of this felt like a dream to Ollie because he was happy and he never believed that he would ever find someone who would love him, someone who he would trust. He had two people in his life that he would do anything for. Theo who was his brother, he did not care that they were not blood related. He saw the man as his older brother and Ollie looked up to him so much and valued their feedback, insight. Then there was Grant, a man so sweet, charming with a smile as bright as the stars in the heavens. A smile that matched Ollie's own. Since he met Grant, he could tell the male was kind and sweet and plus he also fell in love with Grant dog.

"My tie is all messed up. I always seen to make it even worst," he sighed still looking at Grant, Ollie wanted to so very much to not go and reject the award but, he knew that this could bring good publicity and attention, also sponsors for the clinic to help people with animals who can't afford treatment.

[onstraypaper]

Grant had hesitated to date seriously again after his divorce, but a few casual dates in those first few months of living alone had proven to him that he didn't know how to do anything else. He wasn't the sort of person to have casual feelings. He'd also been nowhere near ready for another relationship at the time, and he'd settled into a couple years of being alone. It wasn't the worst thing. He got a dog to keep him company, and his career was going well.

He wasn't expecting Ollie. They were friends first, and friends had gradually turned into something more, thanks in no small part to Aven's meddling. Grant wasn't sure he'd have had the courage to ask him out without her reassurances that Ollie wanted him to. It was new, but he was cautiously happy. He'd been to plenty of publishing release parties and thought this would more or less fall into those lines, just with fewer pretentious literary types about.

He'd dressed and come to pick up Ollie, and he chuckled as he stood up to straighten out his tie. "Let me help you with that." He quickly unknotted and reknotted it, pulling it snug again. "You're going to be great," he assured him softly. He could practically feel the anxiety coming off of him. He'd felt that way the first time he did a reading for one of his books. "I'm so proud of you."

[alwaysxinxtrouble]

continued from here {x}

The city was a far cry from home, her heart longing for the familiarity of the mountains. There was so many people and they were absolutely every where, seeming unable to go a few steps without bumping into someone and each time she had to softly apologize. It got to the point where she didn't think anyone heard her over the loud sounds of traffic. To go anywhere, to do anything, it was so much hassle. This morning all she wanted was a cup of coffee before she got to work, not wanting to use the machine in her office. Once in awhile, coffee just tasted better when it was made by someone else.

Today was one of those days.

The line at the cafe hadn't been too bad by the time Robin got there, happy with the pace things seemed to be moving until she finally got to the counter to place her order. Her attention wasn't on the rest of the shop while she waited, only on the hot hypnotic scent of coffee percolating with the occasional check of her watch to make sure there was still a chance she could be on time to the office.

Coffee in hand, Robin began to weave her way through the tables back towards the door with her purse tucked close to her side so not to bump anyone by accident. But even with how careful she was trying to be, she was no match for the large emotional support dog darting out from underneath a table as she walked by, causing her to trip in her attempt to keep her balance and stumble to the side into another table, her coffee spilling over the papers the man had been writing on and her hand.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" Setting down the coffee with her not burnt hand, she quickly reached for the napkin dispenser while trying to ignore the sharp pain in her hand. She tried to shake it out behind her back, forcing back just how much pain she actually was in her worry over him. "Are you alright?! I'm so sorry, the dog startled me and I tripped...again, I'm sorry! Here, let me go get some ice for your hand. If you don't mind, just waiting here a minute..."

@onstraypaper

[onstraypaper]

Grant had always been a city boy, a Boston native who'd gravitated toward New York City for college and then never left. It had made sense in those early days of his marriage for them to stay here while they both started their careers. After, of course, he'd considered moving countless times, to somewhere that didn't have ghosts around every corner, but he'd never acted on it. It was home, and his work was here, and no other place had ever called to him strongly enough to go through the hassle of uprooting his entire life. Again.

He was the sort of person who always noticed dogs, and guaranteed he already would have asked to pet it had it not been a service animal (and Max would have been very jealous when he got home). It would have startled him too, the way it was suddenly in her path though, and there wasn't a lot of room to navigate between tables. Coffee had seeped over the table and into the napkin where he'd been jotting notes, the ink blurring the lines of his absent-minded sketching. He had a thousand more just like it at home, littering the counter and the coffee table or tucked absently into drawers and pockets.

"No harm done, I promise. It was nothing important." He cast her a quick smile, fingers brushing hers with a soft apology as they both tried to mop up the mess. The skin was faintly red where coffee had spilled on him, but it was already fading. It'd had the length of his phone conversation to cool sitting there on the table. "It barely stings anymore. Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" There was coffee on the floor as well-- not his, he presumed, but she'd also tripped and hit the table.

[onstraypaper]

muse: Grant Andersen (OC) limit: 18+ only please, mutuals and non-mutuals set: a coffee shop in New York City open to: other OCs, fandom crossovers, whatever! triggers: n/a

Grant was sitting in a coffee shop at a table by the window, the sun spilling in on an untouched mug of coffee and the napkin he was doodling on. His phone was tucked between his ear and shoulder, and he made affirmative sounds every now and then to whoever was on the other end. His agent must have realized he didn’t have his full attention because the next question came out more snappish than the others, and he smiled. “Yeah, I’m writing it down.”

He wasn’t. He added another line to the wings on the tiny fairy girl in his drawing. He was a chronic doodler, his grocery lists and post-it notes and the margins of all his college notebooks filled with illustrations. He was fully capable of drawing and listening at the same time, but they both knew he was going to e-mail him the details as soon as he got off the phone. “Friday. 10AM. I've had time to carve it in stone,” he teased.

He hung up just as someone bumped into his table, sloshing hot coffee onto the table, the napkin, and his hand, and he hissed under his breath as he jerked it back from the sting. "You alright?" He glanced up, already reaching for a fresh napkin from the dispenser on the table with his other hand to mop up the mess.

[baringtccthxx]

He's usually the observer, the more level-headed person, yet, Lance finds himself too focused on one task. Ok, maybe he was enjoying his little party last night with the group, something they do when life around you seemed to be shit. And who was going to say no otherwise? They weren't a bunch of high schoolers, and all the agents were grown adults, but he knew having a sip of that drink too much would give him a massive hangover.

This leads him to groan and moan about the pain in his noggin, knowing well he needed a drink of water to wash away the taste. Mom would have yelled at him for such stupidity, daydreaming about his mother only ends up with him with the side of his waist hitting against a table. A yelp, hissing at the sudden pain he backs away, rubbing the stinging sensation it gave, and only to stop himself with a pause.

Crap. Did he just ruin this man's drink? "Shit! shit!" he curses, the bruise ignored as he moved over to pull out his own handkerchief, "Holy shit! Sorry about that, man. You alright??" Dipping the cloth and trying his best to erase the evidence of chaos he started, "Crap, dude. My bad about the coffee, do you want me to get you another one?" Totally brushing over their concern for his own body.

[onstraypaper]

In spite of the mess, he couldn't help a small smile when the man pulled out an honest to god handkerchief. That was… such a cute detail on someone under the age of sixty. (A cute detail at any age, but somehow more charming in generations accustomed to disposable everything).

"Don't worry about it. No harm done," he assured him, lifting the cup to run a napkin beneath it. It was still more than half-full, and when it came right down to it, Grant didn't come here for the coffee. It was just a nice atmosphere to draw and not be stuck in his office all day.

"Are you sure you're alright? That sounded like it hurt." He'd stood on impulse in case the spill drifted toward the edge of the table (it hadn't), and now he balled the two napkins in his fist, a couple steps to the side to toss them into a nearby trash can.

[annislittleshopofhorrors]

Jinx & Chris - Rescuing Dogs at Animal Haven (Part 3)

[evansensations]

CHRIS EVANS | Instagram Stories

[not-your-chosen]

@grimmusings @onstraypaper finally has an encounter with a NYC mutant

---

It was the end of their shift at the 24/7 coffee joint they worked part time at, now to get maybe 5 hours of restful sleep until going to campus in the early-afternoon. Packing the apron in their bag, bundling up for the snow as best as they can, they exit through the back door, walking out to the mouth of the alleyway behind the shop.

They didn't really have recollection of what happened next, all they know was that someone pointed a knife in their direction and they just... panicked.

Now they stand above his unconscious body, lightning arcing between their fingertips, half-dead eyes looking at the figure that they figured was coming to their aide.

"You... you didnt see anything, did you?" They breathe out, before the constricting feeling in their chest and the pit in their stomach overwhelms them. Their Mom was right, they had to be careful or gods knows what would happen. feeling static in their limbs, they realize.

oh shit im having a panic attack

[onstraypaper]

Grant was a regular at the coffee shop, and he could spend hours drawing at a table by the window, oblivious to the rest of the world. He had an office at home, too, but sometimes the quiet was too much for him. Even if he wasn't interacting, he needed the noise of other people. He’d left around the same time, not realizing how late it had gotten while he was absorbed in his work.

Maybe it was a good way to get stabbed, running toward danger like that, but he’d never been the sort of person who could stand by and watch someone get hurt. He’d been boxing since he was a teenager, and it had been useful in the occasional bar fight, but it was probably no match against a knife. Then there was a flash of light and the crackle of electricity, and he stopped in his tracks while all her attackers hit the ground.

"I don't… know what I saw," he admitted, honest to a fault as always, and it was true. He couldn’t explain what had just happened. "Hey, calm down. Slow breaths, okay? Everything's going to be fine. You're safe." He didn’t come any closer, his hands raised in the universal sign for meaning no harm, his voice low and calm as he tried to talk her down.

[scinglives]

He went home and promptly passed out for a couple hours, the alarm he’d set on his phone dragging him from sleep. His body ached more after the rest, muscles sore from the whiplash, but he didn’t want to risk being groggy from the painkillers for this conversation. In truth, he might not have taken them anyway. Physical pain was no match for the emotional kind. Taking an Uber over the subway to her place was a small concession that he wasn’t feeling his best though.

It was both strange and familiar to be back in her apartment. If not for the obvious tension, he could almost imagine nothing had changed. Those words hit like a punch, and he actually staggered back a step, coming to sit in one of the kitchen chairs. There was a point in his life where Grant had been overjoyed to hear that news, but now it came with all kinds of trauma associations. Of course he’d thought about it when he asked her to marry him, but he’d assumed it was a long way in the future, something they’d have time to figure out together.

He didn’t have time to sink into that grief spiral right now, and he’d gotten better at side-stepping it, tucking his emotions into his pocket for later. He’d feel them all eventually, but not here. “I’m glad you told me,” he said finally, raising his head to meet her eyes. “Of course I want this baby. No matter what there is between us, I would never leave them–or you–alone in this. If you don’t want to be with me, that’s okay. I realize this doesn’t change everything. But we’ll find a way to make it work, okay?”

Sofia hadn’t wanted any of this to go this way, for them to have a child and be in the middle of a break up. When both of them were so shattered by losing one another, and some how they would have to navigate a baby in all of this? She had no idea how it would work, but telling him was the first step. 

She just wished she hadn’t blurted it out quite like she did, but that the nerves and anxiety getting the best of her. The more she drew it out, the worse it would be. 

Sofia felt a wave of relief wash over her, of course he would be there. She felt crazy for ever doubting that, because that was the man she fell in love with. That would stand by her side no matter what, and she wished she could have given him a family in better circumstances, because she knew the reason they broke up was because she didn’t feel ready for all of this. For the commitment. 

“I love you.” She whispered and shook her head as she felt her eyes welling up. “And I was an idiot to – we can make it work.” She said, echoing his open words she looked up to meet his eyes for a second. “I’ve been so scared and freaked out, i want this baby and I know this isn’t – i know I was scared of being with you but I know I want this.”

[onstraypaper]

In Grant's experience, there was no ideal scenario for having a baby. That was fiction straight out of a rom-com. Even when he’d been married and stable, there was nothing easy about it. His first child hadn't been expected, and he’d never gotten the sense his ex-wife was overjoyed to be a mother. Being a parent was always messy and flawed and imperfect, and it was also the best thing he'd ever been. It absolutely terrified him to think about trying it again, but he wouldn’t even hesitate. The second she said those words, he was already a father again.

"Hey, come here. It's going to be okay." He drew her gently closer, unable to see her tearing up without trying to comfort her. "I love you too. I never stopped," he said softly. He also knew that fear didn't just go away, and there was an internal struggle going on. He wanted to be with her, and he also didn't want this baby to trap her with him. That wasn’t fair to any of them. He’d been devastatingly alone even while he was still married, and that wasn’t something he ever wanted to experience again. "If you want to give us another try, you know I'm in. But we'll be a family either way, okay? I'm not going anywhere, Sofia, I promise."

[onstraypaper]

muse: Grant Andersen (OC) limit: 18+ only please, mutuals and non-mutuals set: a coffee shop in New York City open to: other OCs, fandom crossovers, whatever! triggers: n/a

Grant was sitting in a coffee shop at a table by the window, the sun spilling in on an untouched mug of coffee and the napkin he was doodling on. His phone was tucked between his ear and shoulder, and he made affirmative sounds every now and then to whoever was on the other end. His agent must have realized he didn’t have his full attention because the next question came out more snappish than the others, and he smiled. “Yeah, I’m writing it down.”

He wasn’t. He added another line to the wings on the tiny fairy girl in his drawing. He was a chronic doodler, his grocery lists and post-it notes and the margins of all his college notebooks filled with illustrations. He was fully capable of drawing and listening at the same time, but they both knew he was going to e-mail him the details as soon as he got off the phone. “Friday. 10AM. I've had time to carve it in stone,” he teased.

He hung up just as someone bumped into his table, sloshing hot coffee onto the table, the napkin, and his hand, and he hissed under his breath as he jerked it back from the sting. "You alright?" He glanced up, already reaching for a fresh napkin from the dispenser on the table with his other hand to mop up the mess.

[justgonetobedelered-deactivated]

The coffee shop was busier than Hattie thought it would be at this time. Regardless, she needed a little pick me up. She slipped inside and headed up to the counter. After she placed her order she stood near a table near the window. The man sitting there was on the phone but it seemed as he hung up someone bumped into her causing her to bump into his table. “I’m so sorry”. She apologized to him as a nod came from her.

“Yeah im okay. Are you?” She asked politely in return as she got a look at his art. “Wow. You’re extremely talented.” Hattie confessed to him with a half smile. “I hope the coffee didn’t reach it. Can I buy you another cup.”

[onstraypaper]

"Yeah, no harm." He gave an easy smile as finished mopping up spilled coffee. It was slowly bleeding toward the drawing as well, and he chuckled as he crumpled it up with the rest of the napkins. "Oh-- just a phone doodle. Nothing important. Got a thousand more just like it."

He hadn’t fully realized how busy it was getting while he was on the phone. That was usually cause for Grant to make himself scarce. He didn’t mind a crowd, but he did mind taking tables from paying customers at a local business that was just trying to stay afloat. "Sure. Maybe to-go? There's a dog park right across the street, if you feel like some fresh air." It was also completely public and usually pretty busy at this hour, in case she had reservations about going off somewhere with a total stranger.

[spider-mann]

Chris Evans surprises shelter dogs

[onstraypaper]

muse: Grant Andersen (OC) limit: 18+ only please, mutuals and non-mutuals set: a coffee shop in New York City open to: other OCs, fandom crossovers, whatever! triggers: n/a

Grant was sitting in a coffee shop at a table by the window, the sun spilling in on an untouched mug of coffee and the napkin he was doodling on. His phone was tucked between his ear and shoulder, and he made affirmative sounds every now and then to whoever was on the other end. His agent must have realized he didn’t have his full attention because the next question came out more snappish than the others, and he smiled. “Yeah, I’m writing it down.”

He wasn’t. He added another line to the wings on the tiny fairy girl in his drawing. He was a chronic doodler, his grocery lists and post-it notes and the margins of all his college notebooks filled with illustrations. He was fully capable of drawing and listening at the same time, but they both knew he was going to e-mail him the details as soon as he got off the phone. “Friday. 10AM. I've had time to carve it in stone,” he teased.

He hung up just as someone bumped into his table, sloshing hot coffee onto the table, the napkin, and his hand, and he hissed under his breath as he jerked it back from the sting. "You alright?" He glanced up, already reaching for a fresh napkin from the dispenser on the table with his other hand to mop up the mess.

[pctentialbreakupsong-archive]

open starter ||

OPEN: any. mutuals only. friend. lover. who knows. probably someone she lives with though MUSE: rachel berry. actress. 30-ish.

She was home alone, which meant that she was in charge of the music and she could blast it as loud as she wanted to. Her musical playlist was blasting as loud as it could, and she was singing along to every song loudly as she showered and afterwards. "Let's find a chair where we can sit and talk. Or get some fresh air, maybe we could take a walk.Tell me what you're thinkin', talk about your day. Tell me what to do, I'll do anything you say," she sang, as she twirled down the hallway toward her bedroom to finish getting dressed.

[onstraypaper]

Grant could afford to live alone, but working from home and living alone left him far too much time to get in his own head, and that wasn’t always the safest place for him. Rachel kept things lighter, and he liked to think he kept her steady, and so far the arrangement had been working for both of them. A new project meant meetings, and he’d been out most of the day, a smile coming to his lips as he opened the door to the sound of her singing. He leaned in the hallway, watching her dance around with amusement. "Is this a private concert?"

[onstraypaper]

No matter what Grant’s feelings were about Sofia, he wouldn’t have left her alone in that. He wouldn’t have walked out on his kid, not for any reason. But there was also the fact that he was still in love with her. It didn’t just go away that fast, much as he might want it to.

“Sure. I can pick something up on my way, if you want. Just text me.” Making plans with her like this hurt more than the injury. It was so much like when they were dating, stopping by to see her at work, figuring out their plans for dinner, all the little things that went into a relationship. “You got it, doc.” He gave her a faint smile to go with the words, but he wouldn’t have agreed if he didn’t mean it. He wasn’t positive he or his car were in any position for driving right now.

[scinglives]

Sofia nodded when she agreed to coming round to hers, and it made her feel nervous for the rest of the day. Was she going to ruin his life by telling him she was pregnant? The hours of the rest of the day seemed to drag on, and once she got home she was more annoyed because she couldn’t just have a glass of wine to calm herself down. 

She ordered a pizza, though she didn’t know if he would want to stay for food. As soon as he was at her apartment, Sofia knew she couldn’t hold out any longer in telling him. “Listen before we – I need to just tell you why I asked you to come here.” She explained and took in a deep breath. “I’m pregnant, and I know we broke up and I – I know we’re maybe not great for each other. But you – I couldn’t not tell you and I – I understand if you want nothing to do with the baby. But I’m having this baby and – I’m frankly terrified because I was so in love you and now – well, you know…”

[onstraypaper]

He went home and promptly passed out for a couple hours, the alarm he'd set on his phone dragging him from sleep. His body ached more after the rest, muscles sore from the whiplash, but he didn’t want to risk being groggy from the painkillers for this conversation. In truth, he might not have taken them anyway. Physical pain was no match for the emotional kind. Taking an Uber over the subway to her place was a small concession that he wasn’t feeling his best though.

It was both strange and familiar to be back in her apartment. If not for the obvious tension, he could almost imagine nothing had changed. Those words hit like a punch, and he actually staggered back a step, coming to sit in one of the kitchen chairs. There was a point in his life where Grant had been overjoyed to hear that news, but now it came with all kinds of trauma associations. Of course he'd thought about it when he asked her to marry him, but he’d assumed it was a long way in the future, something they'd have time to figure out together.

He didn't have time to sink into that grief spiral right now, and he’d gotten better at side-stepping it, tucking his emotions into his pocket for later. He’d feel them all eventually, but not here. "I'm glad you told me," he said finally, raising his head to meet her eyes. "Of course I want this baby. No matter what there is between us, I would never leave them--or you--alone in this. If you don't want to be with me, that's okay. I realize this doesn't change everything. But we'll find a way to make it work, okay?"

[onstraypaper]

“I'm about to close… Maybe we could go somewhere?”

@pleinsdemuses

Some days, Grant preferred the solitude of his home office, and others he thought that quiet might be enough to drive him over the edge. He had a couple coffee shops and one bookstore where he liked to take his work, but Alba's was his favorite. He could lose himself for hours drawing at a table by the window, the sun spilling in on a forgotten cup of coffee and his latest project. He’d had a lot of luck early on getting his work published, and it was steady enough now that he had more say in the stories he illustrated.

If he also liked the pleasure of her company, that was his business. He'd dated casually off and on since the divorce, but something always stopped him from actually asking her out. Maybe he was hesitant to ruin this small bit of peace, hard-won as it had been for him. He’d lost track of the time, absorbed in the pages on his tablet that were rapidly coming to life under his hand, and it took a moment to blink and come back when she spoke. It was only then he realized how dark it had gotten outside, how empty the cafe was except for them.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize…" he trailed off as the rest of her words registered, a small, surprised small curving his lips. He hadn’t come here today with the intention to do anything but work, but he wasn’t likely to get a better opening than that. "Are you free for dinner?"