@gluupor this is one of the last harvests from “your” bleeding heart in my yard. 🥰

Secrets and Lies

It rankled him, the secret he was keeping from Neil. Five years they’d been together, their nothing having changed into something real and solid and unbreakable, but still Andrew kept silent. He justified it to himself by repeating that Neil would never understand. Not this.

He’d rarely been able to indulge his desires while still in college, only being able to slip away unnoticed to seedy sports bars with bright televisions and cheap beer infrequently. Warring feelings of shame and excitement had always plagued him when he indulged himself. When Neil had asked where he’d been, his lies tasted sour on his tongue. Sometimes he got the urge to come clean, but he knew that Neil would never forgive this indiscretion and he couldn’t risk losing Neil.

It was easier after he’d graduated. Alone in the big city, he could do as he wished in the privacy of his own apartment. Whenever Neil visited Andrew was aware of the secret between them, but Neil’s happy smiles and easy pliancy (for him, only ever for him) chased away any thought of telling him. He imagined how hurt and outraged he would be if he ever found that Neil was keeping something of this magnitude from him, but he still couldn’t make himself say anything.

When they eventually ended up on the same team, and living together, Andrew knew it was only a matter of time before the truth came out. He’d gotten too used to his freedom to indulge whenever he wished; sooner or later, Neil would find out.

Still, he attempted to keep his secret. He tried not to bring it into their home, the place where Neil felt safe and secure. But secrets had a way of getting discovered, and all it took was Andrew taking a stupid risk and Neil coming home unexpectedly early.

Andrew froze on the couch when Neil came in, caught in the act. Neil looked puzzled, still not understanding what he was seeing. He looked back and forth between Andrew and the television several times.

“What— Is that— Andrew, are you… watching baseball?” he stuttered.

Andrew sighed, knowing there was no reason to deny the truth any longer. He met Neil’s eyes unflinchingly. “I like baseball,” he admitted. “I am a baseball fan.”

Neil clutched his stomach as if he’d been sucker punched and stepped backward, flailing as he ran into the wall. His face was pale, all the colour having drained out of it. “For how long?” he asked in a low voice.

Andrew closed his eyes. “Forever,” he said. “Since I was a child.”

“Were you ever going to tell me?”

“I didn’t think you’d understand.”

“Understand? Andrew, I— No, I don’t understand! You keep saying you hate sports.”

“I said I hate exy.”

Neil moaned, as if in pain. “You… you like baseball more than exy?” he said, his voice turning shrill. “And you never thought to mention this to me?” He shook his head. “I can’t… I can’t be here right now.” He turned to leave.

“Neil—” tried Andrew.

Neil waved a hand to silence him. “I need to be alone right now,” he said, and walked from the room.

Andrew hung his head. He’d known his preference for baseball would come back to bite him. If only Neil would listen. He could come to like baseball, too. Baseball was full of stats and Neil loved stats.

Neil returned suddenly, his face grey and drawn, illuminated only by the glow from the television. “Just tell me the truth so I know how bad it really is,” he said, grimacing and clearly bracing himself for even more bad news. “Are you a Yankees fan?”

Are you an AFTG artist?

Do you draw, paint, make digital 3D models, sculpt, quilt, manipulate photos (photoshop), sew, crochet, etc?

Consider joining the Aftg 2021 Big Band here and making art based of a beautiful fic writen by one of the talented writers

Pinch Hitter Sign ups!

Did you miss writer sign ups? Did you sign up as a writer but want to write two prompts? Good news, the AFTG reverse big bang is looking for pinch hitters to step in and fill in for writers who have had to drop out of the event.

If you are interested, please SIGN UP HERE

Pinch Hitter Sign ups!

Did you miss writer sign ups? Did you sign up as a writer but want to write two prompts? Good news, the AFTG reverse big bang is looking for pinch hitters to step in and fill in for writers who have had to drop out of the event.

If you are interested, please SIGN UP HERE

New AFTG challenge!

Since:

2020 has been… 2020

Let’s take the time to laugh and enjoy ourselves however we can. Here’s my offer, challenge, and invitation:

BADLY DRAWN AFTG!!!!

This challenge is for everyone who would like to take a shot at drawing anything AFTG related and never dared to! 

Or anyone who just want to have some fun with some doodles about our beloved characters.

So, here are the “rules”:

- Draw a piece of AFTG art. Any character, any combination, any rating (just tag any NSFW!)

- Draw it as badly as possible. Seriously, just have fun!

- Any media is accepted, pics of a hand drawing, digital drawing, collage, you name it!

- Post it and tag whoever else you like. 

- If anyone feels the unstoppable need to write a drabble about the art presented… Well, that’s a bonus!

Please #tag your post with “badly drawn AFTG” so people can find all our posts easily.

Of course the idea of this is to just have fun and not offend anyone!!

Please reblog and tag whoever would be interested!

AFTG Mixtape Exchange 2021

You know that one, perfect jam that hits you in the AFTG feels every time? Or that ballad that makes you close your eyes and make more space for your OTP to live rent free in your head? Or maybe it’s that song that gives you the warm fuzzies about your BROTP?

So…what if someone listened to your song a hundred times and then wrote a fic for you?

Well. Guess what. We’re doing it.

<<<SIGN UP HERE>>>

DATES:

Signups Open: NOW :)

Signups Close: Dec 2, 2020

Assignments Out: Dec 9, 2020

Posting: Jan 25-31, 2021

REQUIREMENTS:

HOW IT WORKS:

This is a gift fic exchange - with a twist! Instead of traditional prompts, you submit one song that is meant to be inspiration for your gift. One song and one relationship - that’s it! That’s the prompts! You write a gift, you receive a gift in return. 

And when it’s done? We’ll make a Spotify playlist of all the mixtape songs. 

Questions? Send us an ask!

Mods: @justadreamfox & @alittlelately

Last Chance to sign up as a writer!

Sign ups to participate as a writer in this year’s AFTG Reverse Big Bang are closing very soon! This is your last chance to sign up!

SIGN UP HERE

AFTG RBB 2020/1 Writer Sign ups!

Sign up for the AFTG reverse big bang for writers are open from now until November 7. See the schedule here and check out the faq/requirements here.

Interested in participating? SIGN UP HERE

Sign ups close soon!