aloneintheafterglow

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Guilt immediately engulfed the man as he realized that he had stumbled upon a much shorter, frightened young woman. Several logs falling broke him out of the staring match, one making it as far as a mere inch from his boot. He tipped his head up, taking in the moment when the brunette reached for something else. He meant no harm, but he was constantly in survival mode which prompted him to raise the revolver - a lapse in judgement as he soon realized that she had only picked up a guitar. It was quite beautiful, piquing his attention in the midst of what aught to be a show-down.

"I promise," a palm faced her, a sign of surrender, as he slowly lowered his weapon, tucking it into his belt as a non-verbal form on guaranteeing a non-combative counteract. He didn't bother to buckle the revolver, as there was still a chance that she would turn the situation against his favor. It had occurred one too many times in the past.

"I'm not going to aim it at you - again," the tremble in his voice was slowly dissipating, an attempt to diffuse the tension. A deep breath pushed through his nostrils as he raised his other palm to face her. "I'm sorry for startling you - you don't owe me a thing, and I know. But, all I ask is if you can just look the other way and I'll be out of your hair before sunrise."

* ❁  ─── the night held an icier temperature than usual, it made for restless sleep and the fireplace was yearning for another block of wood anyway. chatter of her teeth hitting together caused for the curly haired brunette to wrap herself in an extra coat before going out in the shed, securing it around her tiny frame over her long night dress. she wasn't expecting a THUD of the shed door to push itself open while her back was turned in the midst of picking out wood to carry in.

it made her JOLT, the firewood rolling out of her arms, onto the floor and narrowly missing crushing her feet once she spun around on her heel. doe eyes widened at another figure in the same building with her, especially at the sight of a man. startled out of her skin, lucy gray quickly backed away into a corner and grabbed for her guitar leaned up against the nearby wall. she was going to hit him with it, risk damaging her most prized possession if it meant saving herself. until eyes landed on the gun and that was no match for wood and some strings. ❝ you sure? cause i ain't ever had an intruder before that wasn't tryin' to harm me. ❞ heart slammed in her chest, staring at him like a cautious animal, ❝ and you're pointin' a gun at me. ❞

[aloneintheafterglow]

TOM BLYTH | TBOSAS Interview (x)

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TAYLOR SWIFT: THE ERAS TOUR (2023) dir. Sam Wrench ↳ @networkthirteen | taylor in 2023 event 

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Billy breaks into your muse’s shed while running away from a dangerous situation.

Open to anyone.

Heart pounding in his chest, almost louder than the steps he’d outrun, Billy’s back was literally up against the wall, nostrils flaring as he tried to calm his breaths in fear that he hadn’t lost the tail of the two men that had chased him with their weapons aimed toward his back. He could make out a light on the inside of the shed he was holding up against.

His revolver against his chest, he felt blindly for the doorknob he had spotted during his sprint, turning the cold metal. After a mental countdown from 3 to 1, he pushed the door open and spun his body into the space. “‘M not here to harm you. I just need a corner for the night,” he promised the occupant already there, revolver in his grip, ready to fire in self defense. “Please,” Billy swallowed as he finally made eye contact with the other.

@indiestarter

[aloneintheafterglow]

© like or reblog if use or save

don't repost without asking!

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in love with these two

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MY FRIENDS DRAGGED COAXED ME INTO GOING TO THIS HAUNTED HOUSE DESPITE MY CRIPPLING MINOR FEAR OF ALL THINGS HORROR. I TRIED TO RUSH THROUGH IT AS NONCHALANTLY AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID BEING CALLED A CHICKEN, BUT WHEN I FELT A CREEPY HAND ON MY SHOULDER, NATURALLY I TURNED AND PUNCHED BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS. NOW I’M WAITING AT URGENT CARE WITH YOU BECAUSE I MIGHT HAVE BROKEN YOUR NOSE. ON THE PLUS SIDE, YOUR COSTUME IS DOPE?

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I FOUND THIS IN SOMEONE'S RULES, AND IT'S RELEVANT

I like to know my writing partner. This isn’t always necessary, and if you’re not the sort of person who tries to get chummy with their roleplaying buddies, that’s absolutely fine, but in my experience, the plots and characters that last the longest are the ones with the players that I can message at 3 in the morning with an idea without feeling like I’m bothering them. 

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Buck couldn’t deny the chemistry he felt between them. He reveled in the fact that it seemed to be mutual, the connection he felt even before he was just inches away from her. The smaller amount of distance between them only helped confirm his suspicions when he was able to take in the way that she held the smile during their conversation. “Fortunately for us, you have met me at my peak in culinary skills. I wasn’t the best in the kitchen. Not with cooking, anyway.”

He was drawn to the way that she effortlessly made causal conversation about dessert feel like it had some sort of underlying meaning - one he would most certainly not complain about. “Lucky for you, I do aim to satisfy,” he entertained the tension between them, lightly nudging his knee against her leg in response. Buck emphasized his response with a lick of his lips, his gaze moving from Harvin's eyes to her little smirk.

"I'm glad that you agreed to let me cook for you. I didn't get to properly thank you for patching me up after the bridge incident." Harvin had been the one to force the firefighter to have a seat and allow an examination, something he swore up and down was not necessary. Eventually, he gave into the check-in, and her light flashed in his eyes, grounding him if even for a small moment.

@aloneintheafterglow​ || Continued from here (Just thought it would be easier to have its own thread. Hope thats ok <3)

The redhead smiled at him. She had to admit, that boyish smile made her tingle. There was just something about Buck that made her forget the rough shift at work in the ER, and just be completely present in the moment with him.

She rose a single brow as he told her what dessert was, and honestly, her mouth was watering at the sound of it. “It sounds incredible.” She told him. “Have you always been good at cooking?” She then asked, a smile still on her lips as she crossed one leg over the other, her foot lightly brushing his leg as she turned her body a little more to his. “Definitely think it will satisfy me.” She then smirked a little.

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"Ah, I see," he noted, after a breath, before he continued to listen. He didn't interrupt, save for a chuckle, as he recalled how strong the cocktail was and it brought several more questions to mind, questions he was in no rush to ask. Not yet, anyway. "It was just what I needed," he commented, without elaborating why he had been grateful for that, Rafe's form of thanking her.

Her question was answered with a softer shrug, less tense as he eyed her during her request. "I feel that," he sighed, leaning back onto his hands, digging in the sand on either side of him. "I can swim, you know," he bumped his knee against hers, once she situated herself on the sand. "So, who are you avoiding? You don't look like the type to go around just pissing people off."

At his question, Cassie nodded her head slowly and let out a quiet laugh. “Uh, yeah, that was probably me. I don’t actually work there, I just help out sometimes.” Hence her forgetting to ask for id, and most likely putting in more alcohol than she was supposed to. But she was a lifeguard, not a bartender. She couldn’t be blamed. “You’re welcome, I guess.” The brunette smiled, giving a slight shrug of her shoulders as she felt the sand beneath her feet, shoes still in her hand.

“You mind if I sit ? ” She questioned, gesturing to the spot beside him. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea seen as he was a total stranger, but right now it seemed like the better option. “There’s a few people up there I’d rather avoid.”

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“Yeah, well you don’t ask too many questions and, so far, all of your work has healed pretty nicely.” He winces as she touches his shoulder, right where he feels the most pain.

He’d been referred to her, although most would say that he had been dropped onto her lap, after a wound required more than just a shot of vodka and gauze. Ever since, it was easy turning to her for help.

This time, a dislocated shoulder and a couple of stitches on his side awaited her care. “What do ya say, not-a-doc?”

muse: reese silva | info here. open to: anyone! @indiestarter suggested plot: your muse consistently comes to reese to get patched up. she doesn't ask too many questions, but she's grown more and more concerned over time.

"you do know i'm not actually a doctor, right? for all you know, i might be doing more harm than good." there's a forced lightness to her tone as she begins to assess their injuries. despite her words, she knows she won't be able to help coming to their aid every time they ask.

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“Never said I needed savin’.” Rafe replied with a shrug of a shoulder. His loaded gaze had been pinned to the waves caressing the shore with every lap, almost drowned out by the noise of the bonfire a few feet away. It was what brought him down to the darker edge where no one else would bother him, or so he thought.

But with a lazy sweep over to the voice behind him, one that sounded vaguely familiar and still distant, he realized who had been talking to his back in that moment. “Hey, aren’t you the one who served me the cocktail back at dinner, and didn’t bother to card me?” He finally turned his body slightly, his attempt to get a better view of the girl, almost positive he was right.

open : m / f / nb | @indiestarter

plot : loosely based on this.

they hadn’t even spoken yet, but the last few days had been filled with frequent lingering stares and slightly blushed cheeks. cassie was a local— she knew almost everyone that resided in town, meaning she could always spot someone who was simply here for the summer. and in a lot of ways that always seemed easier. “you realize that if you choose to swim at this time of night I’m in no way required to save your ass if you’re drowning, right ? ” there was a teasing to her tone as she left the crowd gathered around the bonfire and made her way towards them as they stood at the edge of the water. “my lifeguard duties end at sundown.”

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Buck felt as if he had been holding his breath, the closer that she leaned in, the more that his senses were invaded with everything Joey. His attention danced around her eyes and her relaxed posture - arms crossed effortlessly. He couldn’t properly process the moment as all that he could focus on was the way that her lips wrapped around the silverware that he had somehow managed to keep poised while feeding her with.

That hum; he would be slightly ashamed to admit that it didn’t just settle in his mind, destined to be a memory he would keep close, but elsewhere too. Where the eyes could not see, right now anyway. And that was when he forced himself to lick his lips and swallow some of the air between them. The spoon was mindlessly placed on the table as Buck’s gaze swept shamelessly across Joey's mouth, observing the way that her lips twisted and perked, savoring every flavor he fed her palate.

Frankly, the suspense was killing him and he wasn’t sure what he needed more, to know that he had done a decent job with dessert - or to find out whether Joey would kiss him again. After all this time.

Watching closely, he found himself almost mirroring her actions, glancing around the kitchen as if he couldn't believe that she was prolonging the moment painfully, despite the very obvious smirk permanently fixed on his lips. And then the real answer arrived, before Buck could quip with one of his remarks. Her lips were pressing against his and his heart all but slammed against his chest.

It was everything that he could have ever wished for, yet not enough. Disappointment reared it's ugly head around the corner as the kiss ended much too soon. But if there was one thing that Buck knew about Joey, it was that she was lingering, giving him the freedom to either pull away or do more. Do more, his mind, his heart and every fiber in him begged. Screamed.

He lifted his watch adorned hand, cupped Joey’s cheek and pressed his lips against hers again, this time without pulling away as quickly as she did. He savored the moment, and the sweet remnants of the pie on her lips. A light, pleased hum transferred via breath, as his puckered lips curved into a smile without separating from Joey's lips. "So, i guess i won," he breathed out, nudging his nose against hers, enjoying the closeness before finally pulling away enough to take in her expression.

Something about this was so familiar, so natural, that Joey felt more comfortable than she had in months. Watching Buck dart about for ice cream and utensils, it seemed like it was the most natural thing in the world to be experiencing, that this was just how things were, like nothing had changed or happened in between. It made it easy to relax, and she found herself smiling warmly as she watched him, content to do exactly that for now. 

And then he was sat down, scooped up some of the dessert, and was holding it out for her. She didn’t question it at all, seeing it as just another natural progression, until he asked that question, offered that wager, and she was suddenly very aware of exactly where they were, what had happened leading up to this moment and the pounding of her heart at the thought. 

A kiss. Her eyes flicked from his face, to the dessert, then back to his lips. A kiss. She could see how he’d framed it, given her an out, a way to say no without making things awkward, but a way to say yes, to take that step, without the heaviness to it all. 

It was just a kiss. Just a kiss, but one that she knew, hoped, might change things. 

She didn’t confirm it with words at first, though. Instead, she flicked her gaze back up to his, their eyes meeting. And then she leaned up, arms crossed on the table. She leaned over them and without once breaking that gaze, took the bite from the spoon, wrapping her lips around it. She hummed out a soft noise as she pulled back, keeping it as ambiguous as she could. It was good. Really good, but maybe she could make him sweat just a little longer.

“Hm, I’m not sure. It’s not the worst, don’t get me wrong...” She pursed her lips, feigning thought as she leaned forward gradually again, the distance between them closing even as she tilted her head, pretended to look around. And then, before she could let the heart-hammering, stomach-clenching nerves take her over, she closed that gap and pressed a kiss to his lips. It was quicker than she might’ve liked, a peck really and yet she stayed close, her eyes searching his face for a reaction, for a sign that she should be getting up and getting her shoes. Or maybe a sign for more... 

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Buck’s ego took the hit right where it normally did - his eyebrows joined with surprise at her bold comment. “Oh, so never mind the time I spent measuring and mixing everything, then. Huh?” Of course, he took her remark with a hint of playfulness, naturally knowing that she would never discredit him or his efforts. Still, he kept up his end of the playful banter.

His face relaxed into a warm chuckle, his eyebrow slightly raising as he noted the way that Joey’s cheeks seemed to draw color to her face and gave her that doe-eyed look that always made him weak in the knees. After all this time, she was still so effortlessly and probably unknowingly beautiful, and it took his breath away how she looked leaning against his table. The new table his parents had bought him, despite his insistence that he didn’t need a new one.

“Hold that thought.” He stood up fluidly and returned with the dessert, setting it in the center and between their cups of wine. “Let me just grab something,” he breathed out, mostly talking to himself as he moved around, reaching into the fridge for the ice cream.

Once he’d grabbed a spoon and a pastry knife, he returned to the table, cutting a perfect slice of the custard pie. He fixed a dollop of the homemade ice cream Maddie had made and brought him, and with a steady hand, scooped up an equal amount of pie and ice cream, lifting it to feed Joey.

“How about we make this interesting… with a wager of some sort? Like…” the gears immediately spun in his mind, thinking of ways to fuel what he thought was an obvious spark between them, and that’s when the brilliant idea was born. “maybe, if my dessert is good, you give the chef a.. a kiss,” he tilted his head, challenging her. “And by the chef, I mean me, of course. I don’t really think Athena would appreciate me auctioning off Cap for a kiss.”

There was a spark in his blue gaze that did very little in hiding the mischief behind his intentions. “Let’s just say that I’m confident enough knowing I wont need a losing option.” Sure, the competitive nature of the burly, yet childish man was part to blame for the bet. But, there was more to it and Buck wasn’t sure if Joey even wanted to go down that route. So, what better way to get rejected, than with the satisfaction that it’s just about his skills in the kitchen and not because he ruined his chances at whatever was brewing between them.

Joey gave a light shrug, just one movement away from waving it off. She’d go anywhere he wanted her, that had never changed and while a small part of her wondered just how valuable Bobby would find her after all this time, she was almost giddy with the fact Buck believed she’d make a difference. After everything, it was almost like they were back at square one, where his smiles and his compliments made her chest flutter and her stomach do somersaults. It was such a simple comment, but she knew she was just one more grin away from flushing pink. 

Unless, apparently, Buck started talking like that. His passion, his confidence... they’d always been two things Joey loved about him, two things that had her feeling all fuzzy and a little hot under the collar, but something about this particular situation was making her cheeks start dusting pink. Maybe it was the light in his eyes, or the way his arm seemed to almost be reaching across the table. It took all she had not to reach out and grab for him, to wrap both of her hands around his and hold on, feel the slight roughness of his skin from his job yet the always gentle touch she adored so much. 

“Oh, absolutely. All the honesty you could ever want,” She teased with a smile, resting her own hands on the table for a moment, tapping one finger against the other absently, “Though if it’s got Eddie’s cinnamon in it, I’m sure it’ll be a sure success regardless.” Her grin back at him was bright, almost mischievous, teasing. If he was gonna make her blush just by existing, she would be just as playful back.

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Drew Starkey as Rafe Cameron  OUTER BANKS | Season 3

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MADELYN CLINE as SARAH CAMERON OUTER BANKS S02E01 | The Gold