calmedflames

[calmedflames]

her glow matches his because it's that simple for rick — you're happy , i'm happy. the embrace he was looking for finally comes around and the man returns it with a tight squeeze.

" you don't have to thank me , sweetie. i'm just as excited! it's only fair to give him a chance.. " a beat. a sigh. " you did do the same for me back in the day. "

the grip loosens and rick retreats just a touch to get a better look at the young one , " besides , this way i can look him in the eyes when i tell him not to hurt you.. or else..... " a joke.. — a half-joke.

like the flip of a switch, sawyer lightens up — wide eyes, bright smiles. if anyone was to come around, of course it'd be rick. still, she's overjoyed that he does.

  〝 really? 〞 as if he's ever anything but sincere. 〝 i'd love that. 〞

and with newfound enthusiasm, third time's the charm. arms swung around her mentor, sawyer practices the same sincerity—only a tad more emotional.

  〝 we'd love that. thank you. 〞

[calmedflames]

he's not an idiot... oblivious sometimes , but not an idiot. the lesser convincing hug and an exasperated tone is understandable — he knows what it's like when the ones close to you don't approve.. don't see what you see. he knows how exhausting it is to constantly defend the love of your life and rick tries his hardest to not put the young one through the same cycle.

" no one's in the dog house! — in fact , why don't you invite him over to my house house and we can all have dinner together? i'll even make my famous lasagna and if that's not giving him a chance , i don't know what is. "

he's trying, and that's more than she can say for the rest of them. but she can still sense the judgment, that patronising concern that she could do without. a hug reciprocated, only with less enthusiasm than rick.

  〝 it was one stupid kiss when we were kids. i get my feelings hurt over less every single day … it's like, if i knew he'd be in the dog house forever, i wouldn't have told anyone.  〞 a pause. 〝 just, promise me you'll give him a chance. a real one. nobody else will. 〞

[calmedflames]

" wait , are you okay?? you didn't get hurt , did you? — and yeah 'course! just get in , i'll put it in the back and i'll fix it up and get it to you tomorrow , don't worry about it. "

"   I was just... visiting someone, and my bike tire popped. Can I put it in your trunk? And then, yeah. Home.   "

[calmedflames]

" i bet you are! — say , how's about we test that theory out? but i wouldn't mind you pointing me to the right direction... — any requests? or are we going classic coldplay? "

" yes, i am an absolute doll. a little might be just enough if you choose the right song, which shouldn't be so hard to do since i am the perfect muse. "

[calmedflames]

" okay , okay — there's nothing to worry about. got it. " his arms raise in surrender , a sort of formal retreat that hopefully cools the situation and gives him a chance to gently hit the breaks on his not-so-subltle fatherly interrogation.

" although.... " because the man can't help himself. " sawy, sweetie you've been hurt before and i guess.. no one wants to see that happen again. — but you're right , people change and if you believe that , so do i. — i'm on your side, okay? always. " and because he can't help himself , he pulls her into another hug. one that's tighter and brimming with nothing but trust and love.

for a moment, she gets to share her joy with someone. it's a ray of sunshine in an ocean of complaints, and she almost keeps going—about how happy she is, about beckett, about them. but the moment is brief, much like the hug he prefaces his doubts with.

  〝 what would she even have to be worried about?  〞 exasperated now, she wishes she'd never brought her sister up in the first place. 〝 and no, she's not worried. she just hates him. like she always has. so, if anyone's incapable of change …  〞

[calmedflames]

" wow , aren't you the nicest! — but uh , i guess i can sing a little.. definitely not enough to serenade you, though. i know i embarrass myself a lot but even i know where to stop. " chuckle.

" not that good yet? please, you are superb. and your arms look amazing while you play. can you sing too? maybe you should serenade me. "

[calmedflames]

" right? i could never. — maybe a bit of that archibald charm but never a van der woodsen. " he argues his case with goofy yet endearing smile , the flick of gold locks only adding to his defence. " and sweetheart that is... that's so great. i'm so happy for you. if you're happy , i'm happy. " a quick embrace follows his sigh of relief. " — what does sienna have to say, though? ... is she , hm i don't know , worried? "

  〝 'course not, you'd never! 〞 her agreement comes coated in a hefty layer of sarcasm, quickly shaken off with the love - sick smile that follows. 〝 but, for the record, i'm doing great in that department. like, really great. everything's been—i don't know … i'm just happy.  〞 beat. 〝 and cue sienna.  〞

[calmedflames]

starter for @anoetics !!

" your personal pick-up service has arrived , but what were you even doing out here so late? — want me to take you back home? "

[calmedflames]

starter for @tombstoun !!

" wha— ahh !! jesus chr— you scared the crap outta me. " deep breath. " what are you even doing here? "

[calmedflames]

starter for @lcgndsx !!

" i'm not saying that the last blind date i had was bad.. it's just that there was no... spark. y'know? — i guess i'm just more old school when it comes to.. love. — what happened to meeting someone in a coffee shop and instantly hitting it off? "

[calmedflames]

starter for @whteorchids !!

" — come on , we're drinking tonight. "

[calmedflames]

starter for @esscntial !!

" name one problem a puppy couldn't solve? — you can't... i mean come onn , don't you wanna adopt this cute little fella? "

[calmedflames]

" i mean will any of us ever be as glamorous as a van der woodsen... " sigh.. " come on sawy , you don't have to worry about what sienna's saying, besides i'm sure she's just.. worried about you. curious at best , though i would never ask you what's happening and how you're doing... in that department. nope. — aha you do you girrl. "

  “ are you kidding me? i can't wait until my fourth wardrobe change of the day. it's kind of my dream to live in a cw drama. even if i'm not nearly as glamorous as a van der woodsen. ” beat. “ sienna's … you know, sienna. always got something to say about what i'm doing, or who i'm dating. like it's any of her business. ”

[calmedflames]

starter for @strcwberrymilk !!

" — okay , i know it's not that good yet but i'm rusty.. it's been years since i last played... "

[calmedflames]

" aw you shoulda' told me.. i can take over, don't stress out. — but what happened with sienna? ... you can take a few days off too y'know. "

  “ that's the understatement of the year. don't get me wrong, i love my job—but there are only so many sprayings a girl can take. plus, sienna's being a major b word. you know, the usual. ”

[calmedflames]

      “ it’s allllmost done! it just needs to brew enough for the aromas to really shine, y’know? ... but , please don’t snort it. — tough day? ”

  “ i need caffeine. whatever form you've got. i haven't had any all day. i'll drink it, shoot it, eat it, snort it … whatever form it's in—gimme. ”  @calmedflames

[calmedflames]

it hurts for a multitude of reasons . seeing her is one , but seeing her pretend like nothing ever happened has to be on the top of her list. where it feels like everything is put above her own self , her work , her friends... friend , and even the stupid earth now. she takes a big sip. it hurts to feel like a villain , like a crazy ex who just can't get over this stupid , apparently meaningless relationship.

" — why not? " she questions quietly. " i have many accusations piled up against me , you can have one , can't you? one of having a particular vendetta against me.. or maybe one of never giving a shit about me.... — of never... loving me. "

“  burn ‘em and release carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere?  greta’s out there getting arrested by government bitches for this planet, and i can’t hoard some stuff in my closet? c’mon.  ”  kaylee isn’t a fan of the clear hostility, so she acts like they’ve somehow moved past it all. it’s still weird to see ella make herself at home, but she doesn’t have the heart to call her out on it.  “  even if there was a girlfriend, it’s just a pink box. didn’t wanna get ‘em mix up, let your stuff get shredded by a garbage truck and, i don’t know— get accused of having some sort of vendetta against you.  ”