Midafternoon sunlight peeks through one of the blinds in Carrie Robinson’s yoga studio. It’s a modestly sized two room space, the back room predominantly used for aerial yoga and the occasional private session. The dim lights create the illusion of cool temperature as a hundred and five degrees of heat thrums through the vents.
The essential oil diffuser in the back of the room is filtering scents of geranium, citrus, and eucalyptus. Best of all, MGMT plays softly throughout the room. Carrie smiles to herself. Nothing could be more her element than leading a hot fusion class.
“Inhale into cobra, keep your pelvis glued to the floor and your chest wide and open to the ceiling,” Carrie says she demonstrates at the front of the room. “Hold it there for ten...and then getting on the balls of your feet, exhale and push your hips back into downward facing dog.”
The door creaks open, groaning as someone shuffles in loudly. Carrie turns her head to see none other than her husband awkwardly trying to lay out his Falconers’ blue yoga mat in the back corner of the room where there clearly isn’t space.
“There’s plenty of room up here,” she chirps. “Remember to inhale, on the exhale push your hips further toward sky, allow your head and neck a moment of rest.”
In the corner of her eye, she notices a few of her new students cringe while some of her regulars chuckle. She notices person who’s clearly a hockey fan gape as Randy begrudgingly rolls out his mat perpendicular to hers.
“Alright, on inhale pick your left leg behind you as high as you can, and on exhale sweep it forward so your ankle is parallel to wrist,” Carrie says. “It’s ok if you need to pick up your foot to readjust.”
Randy catches up to the rest of the group easily enough. Carrie snorts. It’s almost like he’s married to a yoga instructor.
“Turn your right foot so that the outer edge is parallel to the mat. On inhale, you’re going to rise up, engaging those core muscles and tightening them to really feel that inner strength. Keep your arms straight and strong.”
The class follows decently well. Some people readjust as necessary, Randy included. The song changes to something by Alt-J.
“We’re going to be here for a minute, so feel free to bounce your left thigh a little, feel that burn as you push your body deeper into warrior 2. Remember to keep your knee parallel with your ankle...and to breathe.” Her eyes flicker to a young man in the middle of the room. “That means you, Nathan.”
Soft chuckles break the relative silence of the room. Carrie takes herself out of the position, standing up to make her way around the room to give a few students some minor adjustments.
“Now turn your palms skyward, lean your left arm forward and down into triangle pose,” Carrie says.
She helps two of the beginners before checking on Randy, who is notoriously horrible at triangle pose. By the frown on his face and the way he’s intensely staring at the studio’s popcorn-textured lilac ceiling, Carrie knows he’s really trying. However, it’s her job to make sure no one—most of all her husband—gets hurt through in correct poses.
“Bend this knee a little more,” Carrie murmurs as she presses down on his knee gently. “Back is bent a little too forward, and let's bring you out of that bend a little.”
Randy huffs. Carrie has to stop herself from kissing his sweaty forehead. She really is a sucker for a man who, despite the results, keeps trying.
“Exactly,” Carrie tells him. “Focus on your breathing, I’ll make sure these insured hockey thighs don’t give out.”
Class flies by quickly. It always does when she’s got a good group of people who are dedicated to their practice, regardless of whether they’ve been doing yoga for twelve years or twelve days. Randy helps her spray down and wipe the floors as the last of her students trickle out, bidding them both a nice weekend.
“I thought you weren’t back until late tonight,” Carrie says she turns the heat down. She starts fanning out the room with the front door.
“I may have bribed a few people to let me take a health scratch and an earlier flight home,” Randy explains casually.
“Oh?” she asks with a slight grin. “And who would be involved in that bribing?”
“A few coaches, an assistant GM…” he says. “Maybe an alternate captain whose boyfriend offered to babysit tonight.”
“You poor thing. I can’t imagine what you had to promise to get all of that to happen,” she says, shaking her head.
Randy shrugs. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“I’m sure of that,” Carrie says as she unplugs her phone from the speaker system. “Remember that time in Cabo? With the whales we just had to see?”
“We saw them eventually, didn’t we?” Randy counters.
“Sammy thinks San Diego is a part of Mexico now,” she says.
“It should be.”
“One day you’re going to have to explain that to her.”
“Of course I will,” Randy says, approaching her bashfully. “When she’s old enough to appreciate the gesture.”
“Uh huh,” Carrie says with laugh. “So now, you said we have a babysitter for tonight, but it’s only noon.”
“How about we pull Sammy out of school and grab lunch, just the three of us?” he offers.
Carrie runs her thumb across his jaw line. She gets on her tiptoes to kiss him. He wraps his arms around her waist for leverage, pulling her in close. They haven’t seen each other for the better part of a week. Not that Carrie is complaining. Sammy’s in school now, and it’ll be another couple seasons before Randy retires. In the meantime, they have little moments like this to make up for the long hours and time apart.
They have a rhythm. Eventually, they won’t need it. The thought makes Carrie grins harder into Randy’s lips.
1) Can You Hear My Heart Beat? by entirely_too_tall
Rating: General Audiences
Word Count: ~5k
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Ransom/Tater
Summary: Ransom doesn't know what he wants to specialize in med school, and Tater helps him figure it out.
2) Sometimes You Need Your Wingman by aleia
Rating: Teen and Up Audiences
Word Count: ~5k
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Ransom/Tater, Bitty/Jack, Holster
Summary: It's just sad Ransom didn't get to hang out with Tater so I had to fix it.
3) Best Laid Plans by exbex
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 1k
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Ransom/Tater
Warnings: career ending injuries
Summary: Alexei is sober enough to make it back to his room without help, but Justin follows him up anyway. It has something to do with the lines around his eyes that weren’t there a year ago. They look good on him, Justin decides, but they frame a deep-rooted weariness.
4) Of Hats, Closets, and Safety Blankets by nanlicia
Rating: General Audiences
Word Count: ~3k
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Ransom/Tater
Summary: Justin was ready for an epic birthday #keagster. Ready to chill and let the day wash over him as it came. But he was not exactly ready for Professional NHL Athlete and All Around Gloriously Attractive Alexei "Tater" Mashkov to be standing in his Haus. Maybe if he'd been ready for that he wouldn't have embarrassed himself so much. Maybe it didn't even matter though, because holy shit Alexei Mashkov touched his bicep and he then he didn't. let. go.
5) Saved My Love for You by angryspaceravenclaw
Rating: General Audiences
Word Count: ~3k
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Ransom/Tater, Jack/Bitty
Warnings: hockey injuries, post-surgery, post-surgery care
Summary: A year and a half later and here they were. Not really open, but not really a secret.
And here in this bedroom, as Justin curled back up round Alexei who was relaxing as the ice and the meds took the edge off the pain, Justin was as open as he could ever be.
That's all for this week. Please check back in next Wednesday for more recs! Feel free to submit your own recommendations or original works. Please review our submissions guidelines first. If you'd like to have your fic linked to your tumblr account or taken off this list, please send us a DM.
So I talked about how Chowder would see receiving food as love, but now I want to talk about him giving food.
Chowder always putting bits of his food on Farmer’s plate.
He tears off a bit of his bagel for her, scoops some of his burrito bowl over, offers her a sip of anything he’s having, even if it’s just plain ole coke. (Bitty: what kind?)
Chowder was really timid the first time he asked if Farmer wanted to try what he’s having on their first dinner date.
By the third date, he’s liberally piling samples of his food over.
Farmer thinks it’s a cute Chowder Quirk, until Mom’s Weekend and Mama Chow visits and does the exact same thing to Chowder and Farmer sees and it’s “oh”.
Mama Chow eyes Chowder doing it to Farmer and swoons. “Carl, they’re serious!” Daddy Chow is in tears.
Once Nursey and Dex have cooled down enough to be NurseyDex and have civil meals with each other and Chowder, he starts doing it to them too.
“We’re best friends! I care about them a lot. Frogs stick together!”
NurseyDex thinks this is just a Chowder Quirk as well, since they see it with Charmer all the time. They pick up the habit, and soon the Frogs are all swapping morsels at every meal.
Farmer finds out and almost has a heart attack. Mama Chow clutches pearls; she was not ready for 3 children-in-law.
Yes this is polyfrogs obvs, Christopher you sweet summer child. Nursey and Dex are also in denial. The slowest of burns in this one.
Chowder always insists on round tables if he spots one at any restaurant. It’s another Chinese Thing. Food is easier to share that way! Everyone can reach the pizza in the middle!
He’s so excited for Chinese New Year, it’s near Valentines and they go celebrate all of it at the same time, plus Nursey’s bday.
He makes them sit through the 8 dishes, including the whole fried shrimp with the shell still on and the whole steamed fish, bones and all.
Everyone (SMH + Farmer) stares at the heads, the blank eyes and gaping mouth striking horror and fear into everyone. Except Lardo. She is cackling.
“Who wants to eat the fish face?!” “Ewww NO!” “But it’s the best part!!!”
Lardo: More for me.
She takes the whole head for herself. Gives a cheek to Chowder. He gushes, and gives it to Farmer. Lardo chirps him. Farmer cannot eat it. She fears for her life. Chowder is sad. Dex is brave enough to try, and likes it. Chowder is no longer sad.
He ends up divvying up the fish for the rest of the table, doing the Dad’s Work, picking out the bones and handing the flesh off to plates, drizzling the sauce onto their rice. He peels the shrimp for them too.
Chowder really loves his family in Samwell. He really does.
Rating: T
Word Count: 1.3k
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Chowder/Nursey, Dex
Summary: As Nursey starts his Junior year at Samwell, everything seems to change.
Alternate title: "Fuck fuck fuck, my goalie's hot"
2) Still Stirring by palateens
Rating: G
Word Count: 1.3k
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Chowder/Nursey
Summary: Chowder shrugs like he honestly couldn’t give a fuck. Derek chuckles, tired Chris is his favorite. He’s still this light that penetrated any storm cloud, but less willing to put up with pleasantries.
or
The one where Chowder would love nothing more than to keep Nursey company.
3) electrical storms by katarama
Rating: T
Word Count: 1.6k
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Chowder/Nursey
Summary: The spring winds bring Nursey back, make his eyes shine brighter green and make his skin tingle with energy that’s been lying dormant for months. They remind him of what he is and of what’s been missing, sometimes in a way that almost feels too much.
(weather witch Nursey AU)
4) the sound of your heart in your head by hydrochaeris
Rating: T
Word Count: 944
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Chowder/Nursey
Warnings: insomnia, emotional hurt/comfort,
Summary: It’s 3:25 am, and everything is slow and quiet.
5) under cover by hydrochaeris
Rating: T
Word Count: 1.6k
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Chowder/Nursey, Lardo
Warnings: hurt/comfort, mental health issues
Summary: Nursey wasn't at team breakfast today. Or yesterday or the day before that.
That's all for this week. Please check back in next Wednesday for more recs! Feel free to submit your own recommendations or original works. Please review our submissions guidelines first. If you'd like to have your fic linked to your tumblr account or taken off this list, please send us a DM.
Rating: G
Word Count: 530
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Lardo, Lardo & OC
Summary: Lardo met her art friends in the first semester of freshman year. None of them ever really believed that she was angsty.
2) To Carry Your Light by SummerFrost
Rating: G
Word Count: 1.7k
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Lardo, Jenny/Mandy, Jenny&Mandy&Lardo
Summary: Mandy and Jenny discover that they can communicate with Lardo through her art.
3) Muse by WhatWouldLilyDo
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 686
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Lardo, Nursey, Nursey & Lardo
Summary: Derek glanced around the studio, his eyes settling on a rubber duckie on a shelf before flickering back to his friend. When she had appealed for a model for her final project, Derek had been quick to volunteer. After all, most of the hockey team had less appreciation for art, and he could contemplate his own latest piece while she was painting him. He even had a notebook under his chair for if inspiration struck.
4) to feel pretty, to hide your insecurities by KirstieJ
Rating: G
Word Count: 1.1k
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Lardo, Jack, Jack & Lardo
Warnings: career ending injuries
Summary: Jack Zimmerman already has a ton of secrets. He's unsure why he's adding yet another one to the list, yet here he is. With Lardo's help, he tries out something he's been wanting to do but never had the courage to try.
5) Bros to the Soul by Naeshira
Rating: G
Word Count: 1.5k
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Lardo, Shitty & Lardo
Warnings: canon-typical alcohol use,
Summary: Snippets and scenes from the most epic friendship of Shitty and Lardo, accompanied by awesome songs.
That's all for this week. Please check back in next Wednesday for more recs! Feel free to submit your own recommendations or original works. Please review our submissions guidelines first. If you'd like to have your fic linked to your tumblr account or taken off this list, please send us a DM.
We've made some exciting additions to our external blog.
Recommendations Calendar
Weekly Fic Recs will be posted every Wednesday evening. We've got the schedule for the next two months posted on our site. So if you have any recommendations that fall under those categories, or you'd like to suggest a topic for an upcoming week, let us know!
Navigation Page
The main goal of this blog is to aggregate as much content representing as many Characters and Creators of Color in this fandom as possible. Which is why we've compiled an extensive tag list. If you notice we're missing something (or you feel like your favorite tag is lacking content) send us suggestions! We're still fairly new, so it'll take us a while to comb the Check Please! tags ourselves.
A bit more on getting your works posted here
You're always welcome to send links to fanworks to us via inbox. Anonymous questions are enabled if you feel nervous about suggesting works. We'll only publically post questions that require an answer/clarification from our end. However, we understand that even with these policies, not everyone is comfortable suggesting works.
We track the tag "omgcoc". Plus, you're always welcome to tag us in posts you'd like us to see.
Please remember that self-promoting/suggesting your own content is always accepted and appreciated. We want to give back to the Creators of Color of this fandom by showcasing their amazing contributions. And yes! That includes you.
Finally, if you like what we're doing here, please recommend this blog to others! The more the merrier.
[image description: on a plain desk, a black metal box marked "suggestions" sits with a slip of paper being inserted through a hole at the top. one side of the box has a clear plastic holder attached, containing a stack of lined note paper and a pen.]
We want to hear from you!
Let's start a conversation about promoting the voices and stories of POC in the CP fandom. We've noticed there's a lot of room to grow in terms of representation in the fandom. And while we at OMG Characters of Color have our own ideas on how to accomplish that, there are so many ideas and resources that have barely been touched on.
Here are some questions to get things going. It'll be interesting to see what a broad range of preferences and attitudes there--but don't feel bad if you echo what someone else says either. It's useful to know that works for a lot of people (and what doesn't).
How do you find good fanworks about Characters of Color?
What tags or blogs do you follow to find this content?
