Ace \ Teddy. - Tumblr Posts

“ i was about to bring you one, ” he insists, and it’s partially true. had been his intention before he’d gotten easily distracted. “ i was just testing them out first, you know, so i could bring you the best one. which is the cherry cola, by the way. naturally. ” coincidentally also his slushie flavour of choice. head shakes, wide grin in place as he glances across at her. “ you’re never too old to be a unicorn. besides, you’d make the prettiest unicorn in all of palmview. ” compliment rolls off his tongue with ease, and he thinks earlier words over, lips slightly pursed. “ now what small, non-harmful crime could one spider and a unicorn who is very important to him possibly commit together ? ”

"so many lies, such little time," teddy says with a shake of her head. a sigh escapes her lips as he goes on and on about jello. "and you didn't think to bring me one? extra hurtful, considering you also haven't said i am indeed important to you..." she drops their hands and goes to link their arms instead so they can start moving forward. "i'd say pretty acceptable... even more acceptable if you plan on committing a small crime and not getting caught. what do you think i should get? does a unicorn sound fun or too kiddy?"

it takes him by surprise, eyes momentarily wide as she wraps him up in her embrace. it stills him, acts of a affection something he’s not quite used to unless they come from his dog, and that’s usually because he wants fed. but he eases into it, a slight flutter in his chest. oh. that’s new. “ i already have a web shooter, ” he responds quickly, and it takes him far too long to realize how it might sound when he is in fact talking about a toy. “ oh god, wait, not that ! i mean, i-i do have that but i meant like, you know . . . oh my god i’m never opening my mouth again. ” cheeks are now vibrant with a rosy tint, embarrassment abundantly clear.

teddy is ready to keep her pout act up until he utters the words prettiest unicorn and very important to him. she abruptly stops to wrap her arms around him, almost knocking the both of them over. "well, ace of my heart, knowing you and me... we could definitely get into some trouble. theft from one of these stalls maybe? but something harmless, like a treat maybe. do you think the face paint comes with a web shooter?"

he shifts uneasily on his feet, isn’t quite sure what he’s in store for here though he is happy to be spending time with her despite appearances. but that little voice in the back of his mind is causing havoc, whispers fears and what-ifs that make him squirm. in his more rational moments, he laughs off the worry, convinces himself there’s no way someone as amazing as teddy could actually have any romantic interest in him of all people. it's a relief, or so he tells himself. though he can't seem to shake off the sinking feeling it creates in the pit of his stomach. “ yeah, ” ace nods, subtly clearing his throat. there's a weak attempt at being enthusiastic, but his heart is pounding in his chest and despite the way he wills it to slow down, it does not. " totally ready. it's just, uh, surprises tend to make me a little on edge. one time in high school i fell victim to a ' surprise ' and it actually ended with me being stuffed into a locker, which, you know . . . not fun, and kinda of a long story and nothing to do with this, or us, so . . . i'll save that for another time, i guess. " he's rambling so much, it takes him a moment to notice that something has been placed on his head. stops for a second, brows crinkled, smile growing. there's no need for worry, is there ? it's her. theodora. theo. teddy. she's a comfort, not a fear. " i'm ready, " he assures now, calmer tone.

LOCATION: sunshine bakery ( after hours ) STATUS: closed / ace auelua @dreamerfms

in all their years of friendship, teddy had never let ace go past the front counter at sunshine. she'd baked plenty of time in her own kitchen and even in his, but something about the ovens here just... felt different. however, when rhodes asked her to make an i'm sorry cake for his friend, it felt like the perfect opportunity to introduce ace to the sunshine workstation. so, she's hoping when she sent the I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE OUR FRIENDSHIP TO THE NEXT LEVEL text, it's met with excitement and eagerness. yet, he seems to feel tense. the fact that he's blindfolded doesn't seem to add to his excitement. teddy ties her hair back in a low bun and places a hairnet on her head before grabbing one and placing it on ace's. she smiles to herself at just how silly he looks, but it feels unfair to keep all that joy to herself. "okay, are you ready for the big reveal?"

☎️

for all the important ones 🩷

put ☎ in my ask for your muses info in my muses phone:

ACE :

ace & teddy.

NAME: my teddy🧸

RINGTONE: a compilation of all the funny things she’s said to him in voicenotes ( though he always forgets to turn his phone off silent )

PICTURE: x

LAST TEXT RECEIVED:  it worked !!!! rhodes and his friend are on the rhode to bestieship again 💙 thx for being my sous chef 👨‍🍳

LAST TEXT SENT: now that we’ve baked together, how do you feel about matching halloween costumes ? i have ideas and none of them are fun solo

NOA :

noa & ronen.

NAME: wombmate ( twinnie ) ♓

RINGTONE: default / constellation.

PICTURE: x

LAST TEXT RECEIVED:  did you go through our closets again ?

LAST TEXT SENT: guilty as charged ! but can you blame me? talk about a double fashion disaster. you’re totally welcome, by the way. i know you'd both be lost without me xox

noa & apollo.

NAME: apollo, good posture pv

RINGTONE: default / constellation.

PICTURE: x

LAST TEXT RECEIVED: stop asking.

LAST TEXT SENT: oh my gosh !! why are you being so tragically stubborn about this ? it's like your a love hater or something, it's actually a little sad. so sad it might actually ruin my night. thank you very much 🙄

NOVA :

nova & apollo.

NAME: apollo

RINGTONE: default / slow rise.

PICTURE: x

LAST TEXT RECEIVED: i won't be home for dinner. i'll see you later tonight

LAST TEXT SENT: i couldn't sleep so i went for an early morning run. just about to grab a coffee. do you want your usual ?

" see, this is the reason i shouldn't be trusted in any kitchen at all. not even my own. " he's a notoriously bad cook. while some children with neglectful parents managed to fend for themselves that way, ace had always just throw together sloppy sandwiches, or ordered takeout when there was a smidge of extra cash. adulthood hasn't changed much there. he still cannot make a decent meal, nor even a half-decent one. but nervousness goes out the window when she mentions her apron, gaze softening when he moves to place it around his frame. heart warms when he glances down to see her name in print. " wait, i have be you for the night ? 'cause i gotta tell you, teddy, i don't know how to be perfect, " words come out light, then he realizes what he just said and clams up again. moves to distract himself, and potentially her too. narrowed eyes reading off the list and he's nodding as if he has any kind of clue. but he does something, thinks it's right. scoops flour into the measuring cup and empties it into the bowl, prouder than he should be. ace listens intently as she speaks, takes in the drama and tries to make sense of it. " okay, so rhodes went to the party with his friend and ditched him for a chick ? " he's about to potentially try and find some reason in it, when she continues. words leave him confused, but also in a way he gets it fully. can't imagine her making out with any of his friends either. in fact, he's almost certain he wouldn't like that at all. " okay, well that's a lie because if i know anything it's that i cannot flirt, and i never attempt it, so . . . ha, " he smiles proudly, though it may be somewhat of a lie because there's most definitely been times he's flirted with teddy. albeit pretty terribly. " but you have yourself a deal, lee. i won't make-out with your friends if you don't make-out with mine. shake on it ? " flour-covered hand is extended out towards her, stupid smile on his face.

"okay, well, there really shouldn't be open flame. and, the fact that you think there might be actually does have me a little worried... but still, we'll persist !" it was too late to turn back now. "i have an apron for you too ! it's actually my personal one, but i wore just a generic one so you could have mine," she tells him, pulling down a baby blue apron with flowers embroidered above her name ( THEODORA in all caps ). "i loosened it a little bit, so it should fit you just fine." with that, she places it around his neck and moves to his back to tie it. "well, now you really look like you belong ! you could be me for a day," she jokes.

teddy can't help but chuckle as ace inquires what her friend has done that warrants an i'm sorry cake. she begins moving what she has laid out, pushing cake pans out of the way and focusing on ingredients and mixing bowls. she pushes a mixing bowl and all the dry ingredients to her left, offering him an array of measuring cups. "you can start with the dry ingredients if you'd like. i've written measurements down on this whiteboard right here if you need to reference it," she points to the wall to their left. "as for what rhodes did," she begins, cracking a couple eggs into the bowl in front of her. "basically, he told his best friend he was going to get them more beer and then disappeared to make out with emma," she says, reaching for the oil. "was gone for over an hour. and, as much as i don't like the other guy, i can't blame him. i'd be pretty pissed off too. so, take this as a warning, i guess. you already ditched me at the party for ages to go flirt with strangers, but don't go making out with people. ESPECIALLY not my friends."

" maybe, " ace answers honestly, because he can't make any promises he won't mess it up. " i’m kind of known for that, teds. it’s my thing. i’ve made a lot of people regret a lot of things. " his words are light-hearted, spoken with a teasing tone and accompanied by a casual shrug. a grin spreads across his face, and for a brief moment he considers making a joke about his parents— but he quickly decides against it. he’s not sure teddy would let it go over her head like others did, and now isn’t the time to open up about things like that. not when they have something important to focus on. " i pay plenty of attention, " ace assures her, keeping his eyes fixed on the ingredients in front of him. he’s not sure he trusts himself to look at her just yet. lately, he’s becoming too aware of what his heart is trying to tell him, things his mind is desperately trying to ignore. like how pretty she is, or how no one has ever made him laugh as much as she does. " but you’re the only person who can be you, teds. you’re one of a kind. " scrunches his nose, deep in though. " but if someone bought you a cake that you didn’t make, wouldn’t you be mad they went to someone else ? i can’t get my cakes anywhere else now. it feels like bakery cheating. " he laughs, a real laugh this time. he finds it hard to believe anyone would describe him as confident. sure, he can fake it when he needs to, but deep down insecurity runs rampant. " i’m not confident, especially not when it comes to stuff like that. " somehow, though, he still manages to attract attention from time to time. which is fine when it’s just for the night, but the idea of someone actually falling for him ? that terrifies him almost as much as the thought of him falling for someone. though it appears it may already be happening. his breath catches in his throat when she takes his hand, his gaze lingering a moment too long. when she asks who his friends are, only one word escapes his mouth, " you. "

"to be fair, between the two of us, i most definitely have been the kitchen dweller... and yet here i've brought you, against my better judgment. are you going to make me regret this?" time with ace was never time wasted, even if it did currently seem like they could go up in flames at any moment. literally. and that potential doesn't stop her from letting out a laugh as he compliments her. "what, just being in my orbit for years hasn't taught you a thing or two by now? i'm really starting to think you don't pay attention..."

"you know, i'm not too sure if they came to the party together. i think maybe they just ran into each other? it would be extra fucked up if they went together though... do you think both would warrant a cake? no one has ever bought ME an apology cake... although, i guess i would probably be the worst person. i judge every cake that i eat." never too harshly-- it was cake after all. hard to mess that up. "well, i just simply don't believe you. you come in here, so confident with your one-liners. no way you don't go repeating those all around town. anybody besides me stupid enough to fall for them yet?" teddy looks over to his hand, another chuckle escaping her lips. "i've made a real big mistake i think... how are you already covered in flour?" still, she sticks her hand out and grabs his. "who are your friends again? like, ones you'd be really mad about? just so i can be extra cautious," she jokes, giving his hand a light squeeze before dropping it.

ace can't fathom it, the idea of anyone regretting letting her speak freely. one of his favourite things about her is hearing all of her unfiltered thoughts. it's refreshing, endearing. thinks he could listen to her talk all day long without interrupting once, and that's rare for ace. whenever he's having a bad day, the sound of her voice easily makes it better. the sad part is he doesn't know how to accurately voice that, how to tell her. how to open himself up to vulnerability. the last decade of his life had been spent trying to shield himself, learning to hide it all with a joke, smile long enough that the worries behind his stare went unnoticed. he laughs, and it's deep. " well, there's no need to thank me. you make the best cakes i've ever tasted. there's not competition. " thought sparks, head tilting slightly. " you should totally make that a thing though— welcome home cheater cakes. think of the amount of faces that'd be smooshed into them. " " no, you can ! and you should. your reflection is pretty, of course you should kiss it. " cringes hard at his words, forever awkward. never quite knowing what to say, though sometimes he'll magically say the right thing. cheeks are pink, all too telling. he wills the moment to pass. when it does, ace watches her take control, and honestly he thinks it's for the best. but her earlier words have his mind racing, and he feels guilty. why ? he's not sure. but it almost feels like he's lying to the person he cares for most. " i do, though, you know . . . have insecurities. i just got good at masking it with really bad jokes, " he shrugs, cracks a half-smile. he should stop there, and while his brain tells him to, his mouth keeps going. " but i'm insecure about a lot of things, like how my hair just doesn’t do the thing, you know ? " he rubs the back of his neck, glancing away as if suddenly very interested in the wall. " or how i trip over nothing at least once a day. which is fine, except for the fact that it's not even, like, graceful tripping. it's more like watching a baby deer learn how to walk, but somehow worse. and, i, uh, struggle with the idea of letting anyone all the way in because i have this crippling fear that i'll never be good enough. " which increases around her, because he's met someone he wishes he felt good enough for. and it's in no way her fault that he doesn't, it's his past.

"not sure if it makes you feel any better, but people have regretted things with me, too. mostly letting me speak without interruption, but, the sentiment is the same." she looks over to meet his gaze, only to notice he's not actually looking at her. which, given what he's saying about PAYING ATTENTION, is pretty ironic. if this were anybody else, she'd wonder if he was saying that just to satisfy the fishing instinct within her. but she was teddy, and he was ace. he'd always been honest with her, even if he couldn't make eye contact with her. at least, that's how she always felt. but, at the end of the day, he was a master poker player. she just had to remind herself that actions always reflected intentions, and there was nothing there to hint that their friendship was a fake one.

"and i'm glad you think so, because i definitely would consider it bakery cheating... so, thanks for saving me the effort it would take to make a WELCOME HOME, CHEATER sign." she reaches over and collects the dry ingredients from him, mixing them with her bowl. on the off chance this experiment totally went south, she would just stay late to make rhodes a proper cake. "well, you hide it well. i've never sensed insecurity coming from you." but perhaps her confidence was too overbearing for her to notice-- or just enough for the both of them. and comments about how she is the main friend in his life definitely didn't help with her ego. "well, shit. i can't kiss my mirror anymore? what an unfair wrench you've thrown at me."

he glances at the three pieces presented with a puzzled expression. " uh . . . well, three looks most like the hand whisk i have, so . . . three ? " not that he's ever used said hand whisk. truly, he's not quite sure why he has it. confusion soon turns into a smile, eyes vibrant as he watches her take his small idea and turn it into a full-blown vision. she's amazing, he thinks to himself, is almost certain his face says it too. in all his life, he’s never met anyone like her— someone so willing to embrace his quirks and match them with her own. sometimes it’s like they exist in their own little universe, where the world fades away, and it’s just them, laughing and enjoying each others company. he wishes he'd met her sooner, long before circumstance had made him so overprotective of his own heart. " yeah, " he nods, feels breathless. " i can totally help you set up an instagram for that. but anything i do won't make it viral, that'll be all you. " because she commands attention all on her own, such a breath of fresh air and honesty he can't imagine anyone wouldn't feel drawn to her. he doesn't say much at her next set of words, only a slightly awkward, " the real thing is even better. " if he was to say what was fully on his mind, he'd tell her she's the most beautiful person he's ever seen, inside and out. radiates something he can't pinpoint, but that often has him dreaming of her when she's not even there. there's part of him that's afraid to admit to himself what it all means, because once he does he won't be able to switch it off. ace meets teddy's gaze, caught off guard by the way she forces him to look at her. he can’t help but feel a warm flutter in his chest, one that spread quickly even as his thoughts swirl with anxiety. the moment stretches out, and all he can think about is how her hands on his cheeks feel like a jolt of electricity. suddenly he's all too aware of the close proximity between them, swallows down hard as he attempts to focus on her words instead of the strong pull he feels towards her. " i don't know how to describe the thing, it's just the thing, you know ? " probably not, because how does that even make sense. " no matter what i put in there, it still looks the same. so much so i don't think even a haircut could change it. " but he appreciates the offer. lonely, it's a word he knows well. in fact, he's certain if he didn't have his grandfather growing up that feeling may have swallowed him whole. " i mean, yeah, maybe sometimes. but i've felt a lot lonelier staying around people who were supposed to care and didn't. like my . . . " he pauses, feels like he might explode as he battles against the part of him that wants to keep it all in, but he fights to get it out, " my mom. " he used to think his dad leaving when he was a young boy was what broke his heart, but really he thinks it might have been his mother staying. both felt like forms of abandonment in their own right.

she pulls her mixer closer to her, offering three attachments to ace. "okay, pop quiz-- which one is used for cakes? one, two, or three?" her brows raise as she watches ace, waiting for him to make a selection. while he's deciding, she takes it upon herself to resume their previous conversation. "you know, you may actually be onto something... i can see the vision now. your man is cheating, and you want to just... disappear. you pack all your shit, leave your spare key on the counter next to a masterpiece. well, a cake masterpiece. in the shape of whatever you desire... a broken heart... a knife... and on top it says welcome home cheater. it's like a scene from a movie! i think you're right. maybe that should be my specialty. is this my push to make an instagram for my cakes? do you know how to make things go viral? could you do that for me?"

there's no stopping the laugh that erupts from her as ace encourages her to... kiss her reflection. "well, it's good to know you think my REFLECTION is pretty. we can only hope the real thing is as well," she teases, patting his chest lightly. maybe it's mean, but there's a part of her that finds joy in watching him stumble over his words. not because he's struggling, but because she finds it endearing. finds him endearing. it's hard not to when he's standing in front of her laying all of his flaws out on the table. he never tried to be TOO COOL for her. teddy wouldn't have gotten along with him if he had. she knew she was weird and quirky, and she was proud of it. she'd collected a group of real and genuine friends, and ace was obviously part of that. someone who met her on her level, who really understood her. which is why, when he starts telling her his insecurities, she finds herself confused.

ace isn't looking at her, and that's probably purposeful, but she brings her hands to his cheeks and forces him to look at her. well, really, it's so she can get a better look at his hair. "what 'thing'? i like what your hair does," she assures him. "but, if you really want something different, i have a history of giving haircuts. you can ask my cousin miles." haircuts that only got her into trouble with their family. "okay, that's not really true. i mean, i did give him haircuts, but when i was, like, four. BUT, i do know a lot of beauty and style people. so, if you really wanted to change your hair i'm sure we could. just let me know. and as for tripping-- you've just gotta pick your feet up, baby. or take an acting class to learn how to fall more gracefully. whichever is easier for you." his final admission stops her for a second. the normal lighthearted air between them disappearing as the conversation takes a serious turn. "that one, well, i can't fix that. i can find you some affirmations that could help, though. you'll feel silly doing them at first. ronnie used to always make fun of me, but i don't know any different. but it does help, i think. or i'm just actually the coolest person to ever exist," she says with a light shrug. she'd never had confidence problems, and perhaps the affirmations really did help. "that sounds really lonely, if i'm being honest."