@theblacklistrareshipsweek

Good morning, fellas!

It’s Day 1, “When I First Saw You”. Brush up your memory here: FAQs|Guidelines|Daily Themes|Ship Ideas|

Something to set your creative mood for the day by our glorious host, @yddraigwyllt​

***

Ressler/his badge

It was a glorious sunny day, and Donald Ressler would have noticed that if he wasn’t so anxious.

He could swear that enormous goosebumps crawled up and down his spine, curling over his legs, but he forced himself to stand still.

“Donald John Ressler, step forward.”

His legs were a bit itchy when he obeyed the order. At first, he thought he couldn’t take a single step, but then he took a second step, third… The FBI’s Director Newman didn’t seem impressed at all—he just held out his hand and gave Ressler a small brown box. Ressler froze, looking at the box like a child at Christmas, and then opened it.

“DEPARTMENT OF INVESTIGATION.”

“SPECIAL AGENT DONALD RESSLER”

“Congratulations, son,” Newman murmured. “Now move on, I’m busy”.

“Oh… Oh, yes, I’m sorry,” Ressler took a step back. His legs were still trembling, but he looked at his new badge with awe, charmed by the bronze flare of its shape. Donald brushed his fingertips over it, as gentle as he could, and the realization struck him.

Special Agent Donald Ressler.

His heart did a jolt.

***

WE TRACK: #the blacklist rare ships week, #TBLRSW (#tblrsw).

TBLRSW Day 3: "Hands All Over"

Red/Cooper

Day 8. Admin finds his stash

Day 4: “The Things You Do Aren’t Good For My Health”. Peddington/Prescott.

Btw, I have a fix-it AU (Ressler/Prescott)! In Russian, yup, but still. 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/24271807

Day 1: “When I First Saw You”

The scene which made you fall in love with your ship/the first scene your favs meet each other.

The very first one. It’s hard to remember exactly what I thought the first time through, but I started watching when S2 was about halfway through airing, and I had heard a rumour that Ryan’s character was more than he appeared. I didn’t know what that meant (I think my earliest theory was actually CIA), but I’m a sucker for badasses in domestic scenes. They’re just so normal here… until  you get to know them. That’s when you see the little things like the way that Tom easily lifts Liz’s badge or that neither of them are at all bothered by the fact that there’s a chopper to pick her up.They’re efficient and in sync with each other. They were a team and worked well together even before the bomb dropped about Tom’s identity. 

The Blacklist Rare Ships Week

Day 5: “Come on closer...”

Let me begin by saying that this is a crossover pairing. I’d also like to say that I ship Reddington and Snape platonically. While I can see Sev getting together with a man, I can’t see that for Red. Besides, friendship is so underrated! It can be stronger than romance at times.

The similarities between Severus and Red are significant. Both of them are broken, damaged men who happen to be close in age (Severus is only a month older than Red, his birthday being January 9th, 1960). They both hide behind masks of confidence, whether it’s negative or positive. They both carry a lot of pain within themselves that they don’t dare share with others. They’re both immensely afraid of being vulnerable. Lastly — and most importantly — they’re both living in a state of purgatory.

They’re both morally gray.

Both of them have done utterly reprehensible things, and yet, they both have a deep sense of humanity. They’d certainly bond over their trauma if they ever met.

The difference between the two is that Red isn’t shy about telling people how he feels. Sev, on the other hand, uses Occlumency to prevent himself from feeling at all. There are moments when Severus’s rage is unleashed, but those are one-offs. That difference could balance out the dynamic quite nicely. Red would definitely be intrigued by the mystery of Severus, and using his abilities with charming small talk, he’d be able to draw a response from Sev.

These two would keep their distance, since I believe that Severus is sensitive to touch. He’s described as being twitchy, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he got a panic attack at the prospect of a hug. Red would have to learn that, though, since touch is literally his love language. But they’d be able to keep their friendship nonetheless, since neither of them are quitters.

A funny thing I’d like to think is that Red would be extremely drawn to Severus’s magic. He would definitely take Sev’s wand and examine it before asking Sev to perform some spells. Red would be absolutely enamored by the spell-casting. He’d be curious to learn about the Wizarding world and how witches and wizards operate.

Here’s an art piece I drew for my crossover fic on Sev and Red, Living in Purgatory. It’s the opening scene of the first chapter, where Red introduces himself in a similar way to how he introduced himself to Anne. If you’d like to read Living in Purgatory, you can find it on FFN and AO3.

FUN FACT: James Spader and Alan Rickman were actually in a film together. The film was Bob Roberts, a political comedy released in 1992. However, Spader and Rickman didn’t share any scenes since Spader’s appearance was a cameo as a news anchor.

Yay, we made it to Friday! Let’s drift to headcanons’ lands and imagine our favs hitting the dance floor ;)

Day 5: Come on Closer

Red braced himself against the car door, his cuffed hands gripping the leather seat in front of him as the driver took a violent turn around the corner – tires squealing over the tar.

This was not exactly how he had planned his Saturday morning. But somethings just could not be helped. Particularly your own kidnapping. 

They all righted again with a jerk. The driver clapped off a few choice insults in Arabic, his voice high with growing panic.

“You should listen to your friend,” Red drolled, “The FBI are quite adamant to have me in their possession, and this won’t end well for either of you.”

The passenger turned in his seat, whipping out his pistol to point straight at him, “Shut up!” he snapped and sat back.

Red shrugged, “Only trying to be helpful.”

Another violent jerk tossed him to the right side this time. He once again grabbed the seat, the ensuing momentum making his insides churn. Damn, he hated car chases. When he righted, they were next to the ocean, still keeping a blistering pace.

The driver’s voice climbed higher up on the panic threshold, and Red peered around the seat. He smiled.

Charging down towards them was a black FBI SUV, and by his guess, it was most likely Donald.

“He’ll swerve!” snapped the passenger.

“He won’t,” said Red, already grabbing the seat belt to click into place. “I can guarantee you that.”

Another few panicked words were exchanged, should they slow down, or keep going? The gunman glanced at Red then at the driver, his face was soaked in sweat his eyes shining bright with fear and terror, but also thick with anger. “Don’t swerve. They don’t want to hurt him!”

“You’re going to play chicken with a man who doesn’t understand the meaning of self-preservation?” he chuckled, then sat back, relaxing his entire body, “I wish you all the luck in the world.”

Another few panicked words, rising higher and higher, until the driver’s nerve faltered and swerved at the last second. 

The impact ripped through his bones, making the car rip and jolt over the tar. Shattered glass shot by him, and for a moment everything spun, he closed his eyes against the nausea, he felt the car tilt, heard the terrified screams of his kidnappers and they came to shaky stand still. The world silent after the screams.

Dazed and out of it, Red shook his head, trying to sit as still as possible. He jumped at the sound of gunfire, two shots, and then his door was ripped open.

Donald, a little bloodied and clearly shaken by the crash was standing next to him. Red offered him a light smile and in an instant, all the tension just seeped out of his body. “Hey,” said Donald, reaching out to the cuffs, “You okay?”

Red held up his hands, “Dazed, but in one piece,” the cuffs clinked open and he rubbed his wrists, “You’re very late Donald.”

He smiled, revealing bloodied teeth. “Yeah?” glancing around he made sure no one was near – his two kidnappers already dead –  before leaning in close to press a quick kiss to his cheek, “I’ll make it up later.”

The ensuing warmth made him smile like a fool, “I look forward to it.”

_____

A/N: Agent Ressler has a death wish. That is all.

Day 4: “The Things You Do Aren’t Good For My Health” or “I’ll Take Care of You” - Whump moments with your favs. If that’s not you jam, alternatively, you may show us the moments they care about each other.

Kate would have loved taking care of Masha and Kat, and she would have done a fantastic job too. As fate had it, she ended up looking after Liz and Red instead. Who may or may not be the man in the top picture.

Day two: Damn your eyes

There has always been something about his eyes that fascinated Red. Donald’s job, his moral compass and his blind loyalty to his ‘FBI’ has always bored him to tears. But his are eyes an entirely different matter.

They are like the coolest pools of green, a sonnet can easily be written of their depths, their sheer intensity, their honesty. His face might be resilient to showing emotions, but they have no such qualms. Burning like fire, freezing like ice, softening like heated butter. They show what he’s thinking – without his consent.

And more often than not, when turned to Red they are hardened like steel, ready to be forged in the fire to be burned into a flaming weapon.

It never fails to make him smile.

Donald is not without passion, not without merits. Red often wonders what it would be like to turn that passion to something of real value. To send Donald into deserts and jungles to liberate those who cannot liberate themselves. He knows he would be marvellous at it. Donald was born to protect and defend; he would take to it like a Knight to his sword.

But it’s not to be. Donald has been sealed into the core of his FBI, he’s been crafted and moulded into something unbreakable. Even if Red could convince Donald that he can help people, the man would never turn his back on his team.

It angers Red, only serving to make him jaded and bitter towards Donald when the thought comes up. Donald takes it, let’s the punches land like bombs against his shields, keeping his face impassive and his words measured.

But his eyes burn, with fire, with anger and brimstone. And Red remembers why he endures all his failings.

He just can’t get enough of them.