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he leaned back against the wall. arms crossed over his chest, cigarette dangling unlit between his fingers. hadn't even planned on smoking it. just something to hold. something to do. habit. he said all the right things. timing lines up, camp starts after, we can figure it out. hell — he looked good while doing it. all excited like this was it, what they needed. and every part of cruz wanted to be right there with him, but the realistic side of him knew better. " every time we get close to figuring it out, something comes up. " not bitter, not even disappointed, just worn. the kind of tired that came from hearing the same almost over and over again. how this would be any different didn't seem to land. " just don't say you're in if you’re gonna bail halfway through. that's all. " a shrug followed. casual like it wasn't a big deal, even though it kind of was. he'd rather ryder just leave him alone, get out of his head. take the tour to clear his mind and get under someone else. a distraction. he let out a sigh though, lazy smile taking over features because maybe it was worth a shot. " but if you mean it, then… cool. "

ryder expected this reaction. too many almosts between them that ryder had to cut out last minute. it sucked because in his own ways . . . ryder really did care about cruz. cared about him in ways that scared him because he'd never allowed himself to. he didn't like relying on people so why did he suddenly want anything with cruz? he still tried to figure that one out. "and that works out perfectly with my camp starting up at the end of july for the league," he mentioned, stuffing his hands into his letterman jacket and rocking back on his heels. was this going well? fuck, he hoped so. "i think it'll give us more time to . . . figure all this shit out."

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" not exactly a dance club ? " words echoed, a slow blink following as she tried to piece together what exactly that meant. her tone stayed light as thoughts started to wonder a bit. her fingers paused on the ring. tilted her head just slightly, a soft little hum caught in her throat before she looked at him again. " what like… a strip club ? " eyebrows arched, but nothing pointed. gentle. offered a shrug. " that's fine too, I mean… no judgment from me. " she kept her orbs fixated on him, like if she looked long enough something would slip. it wasn't that she didn't trust him. it was just that there were gaps. little ones. missing puzzle pieces in between the late night texts and charming smiles. ones she just overlooked, made excuses herself even. " okay yeah, sure. I mean if she's basically your sister, and it was just business, then cool, good. " and she meant it, jealousy wasn't really something she wore outwardly. this wasn't even that hardly, more like trying to figure out the whole picture — wanting to figure it out so she wouldn’t keep trying to fill in the blanks herself. " what are you doing for your dad these days anyway ? "

"it's not exactly a dance club, babe," wesley informed her, scratching behind his neck. he'd been asked by his dad to talk to kali from his club to warn her about some of the questionable men that had been cycling through. wanted her to keep an eye out for anything suspicious so she could report it back to eddie. "but i mean, if you wanna go to an actual club we can," he offered up, playing absently with the string on her jacket. wesley hated that he had to keep what his dad - and in turn him - did for a living. sure, wesley were merely the hacker for his dad's mob ring but it still came with danger attached to it. if lying to her meant protecting her? then so be it. "promise it was all just business when i talked to her, yeah? she's more like my adopted sister in a way than anything else."

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" oh. right. sorry. " the blonde offered after a moment. a single step closer, careful and smooth. " sometimes people try to sneak in. weird stuff. want like, hair or just stare at me in disbelief that they even got here. " a small shrug, glossed lips turning into a gentle smile. " need better security I guess, now that I think about it. " words mumbled half to herself as she reached for the letters. delicate fingers brushing the top envelope. energy buzzed faint beneath the paper. adoration, obsession, devotion. it always clung to these. even sealed, she could taste it. " I'm estella, by the way. " orbs still on him, just for a second longer than polite, curious. " you're — a mailman ? "

"oh. shit. uh. they told me to bring this back here?" jasper holds up a stack of fan letters for the other.

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" okay. " words started, slow and measured. like maybe if he spoke calmly enough she wouldn't start throwing things. " in my defense, they were siren strippers. " a brow lifted, met her eyes like that fact alone should explain everything. to him it kind of did, as good an excuse as any. " otherworldly, mind altering, you-forget-your-own-name kind of strippers, I was stuck. " leaned against the car now, head tilted back to stare up at the stars. didn't even realize what was going on until one of them tried to bite him. " I'm sorry, alright ? I didn't know. they said welcome party, I figured whiskey and cards. I left as soon as I snapped out of it. " orbs flicked toward her again, bracing for more impact. 

"okay but you didn't leave after you realized the strippers were there !"

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her lashes fluttered, slow, a blink that was coated in genuine disbelief at those words. " hurt me ? " a breathy laugh fell out. " you couldn't hurt me if you tried. " words punctuated it that didn't line up with the laugh at all. she took a step closer head shaking, disagreeing with his sentiment entirely. " you didn't hurt me, you disappointed me. and now I'm over it, over you. " her head tilted, that perfect little smile spreading across glossy lips. expression otherwise unreadable. discarding people wasn't something new to her, but this sinking feeling deep in her chest was. despite the pointed features on the outside, this one did in fact hurt — the blonde would never admit to it. 

sebastian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "i know i shouldn't be here. but it's killing me to know i hurt you. i just had to come over and try to talk to you."

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didn’t budge from where he was leaned back against the tailgate of his truck, one boot crossed over the other. there wasn't much breeze, just the soft hum of cicadas and the occasional clank of metal from somewhere deeper inside the garage. but all that noise seemed to fade a bit the second she walked up. " awful long way just t' come say hi, don't ya think ? " words drawled, head tilting just a little as his eyes dragged over her frame. lingered a half second longer than they probably should've. he didn't exactly make a habit out of hiding the way he looked at things he liked. " but since you're here — " pushed off the tailgate, slow and easy, shoulders rolling back as he took a step forward. " howdy. "

the blonde shook her head. "full of yourself, huh, levi?" alana smirked. "i just wanted to come say hi."

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Joseph Zada as Johnny Sinclair Dennis — WE WERE LIARS 1.03 "The Ties Were Black, the Lies Were White"

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she didn't look up right away. fingers danced across the keyboard, focused. soft clicks and rapid keystrokes, paired with the blinking of loading bars and bypassed firewalls. there was nothing like it. nothing like this little thrill. people got tattoos or jumped out of planes.. this was hers. her bottom lip tucked between her teeth as she leaned in a little closer to the screen, expression glowing with quiet satisfaction. " mmm, no no no, nice try. " words mused, finally glancing toward her with that smile. one that didn't exactly match the situation. " we're way past guilty by association. you are officially an accomplice. " spun her chair slightly to face her, hands still idling on the keyboard like they might start up again at any second. " but you're so lucky, you're in the best of hands. I've never once crashed anything important. okay — once. but that system came back eventually. " and then, a finger tapped the final key like the punctuation mark.

burt umber globes take on riko's form, so-ri's lips curl smugly, amused by the woman's certainty in her own mischief. "and if we get caught. . . you're not taking me down with you, right? because from where i'm standing, i'm guilty by association."

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his voice made her laugh and for a moment, she wasn't entirely focused on the fear that had slowly taken over more and more. something about the way he tried to make light of it, helped. her hand skimmed the rope, just ahead of the worst part of the wind's tantrum. boots shifting deliberate in each placement. " noted. wolves first, then a letter. maybe a song in your honor, too. something dramatic. " she tossed it back easily, without looking over this time, too focused on where she was stepping. because one wrong move meant game over. not really, but close enough because that wind was really... seriously, not helping. her boot slid just a little, too much weight to the outside edge. not enough give. and the wood beneath her foot didn’t break but it did bow, flexing in a way that sent her balance sideways. " shit — " both hands caught her before she could tumble clean off, knees smacking down with a thud against the old wood, thankfully not enough to send anything down. it knocked the breath out of her, though not entirely, and the sting of it crept in a few seconds after. palms splayed, heartbeat racing. her head ducked just slightly as she let out an awkward laugh. now, literally forced to look below them through the cracks. even with near death right in front of her, she wasn't going to stop moving though. bruises she could live with. what she couldn’t deal with was freezing up. she pushed herself back up onto her feet, movements a little slower now. " um, yeah lets get the fuck off of here. "

brown eyes pull briefly closed at the gentle sway of the bridge, and dillon finds himself suddenly certain that the wind must be far stronger than it was only moments before. or perhaps he's just noticing it more. either way her reassurance is a welcome distraction, enough to turn his attention back to the task at hand as he glancesa head to offer a quick smile. one that only lasts a moment before his focus is shifting back to the task of taking a few steps forward. “ if i do fall, d'you reckon you can try and get to my body out before the wolves — maybe tell my family. ” he does his best to joke, hopeful the sentiment will somehow make it all feel a little less serious as he takes a few cautious steps forward. away from the safety of the starting side. “ oh, i'm peachy. ” the reply falls with a soft grimace, gaze unable to help dropping momentarily to the space below in a decision that he very quickly regrets. “ you know what, i'm good actually, i reckon i can just stay here. ” on the bridge, without moving in either direction, at least until the wind dies down.

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the answer stopped him. not completely. not like he froze or lost that effortless rhythm he always carried, but it slowed something. just enough. head tilted slightly, gaze dragging over the other with a flicker of something unreadable threading through the usual cool. he hadn't expected that. not from nate. not from the one who always seemed to roll his eyes at danger like it was boring, the one who had a comeback for everything and a smirk like he knew the ending already. it was real. the kind of fear you couldn't just laugh off or outrun. the kind that sat with you. followed you. he didn't say anything about it, though. didn't press. didn't tease. he just gave a small nod. not mockery. not sympathy. just… understanding. like yeah. he got it because, well, he did. family only cared about him for an heir, an employee. most everyone else he kept at an arms length or they did to him. " clowns. cool. "  words came out slow, punctuated. like he was mulling them over as a combo in his head. " you're kind of a freak huh ? " the corner of his mouth pulled up just enough to be a smirk. a softer one than usual. his boots were already carrying him forward, movement smooth as he ducked beneath another low branch and glanced back briefly over his shoulder. " pretty sure there's another table this way. " voice low, steady, like nothing had shifted. but it had. he could feel it. they weren't friends. they weren't really anything. just two people shoved into the same situation with too much history and a lot they didn't say. but he wasn't as guarded anymore. more .. understanding, respect.. some bullshit he wasn't going to overthink right now or ever for that matter.

any suggestion of joking slips from his features with the ease at which the male does the task, sincerity of the answer taking him back ever so slightly. for just a second it flickers to his mind that perhaps he's misjudged xavier, though the knoweldge of how little that matters settles in just as fast — either way, he has to beat him. he needs this, and if xavier's done it, then it leaves very little choice. a quiet sigh still escapes his lips as he takes the phone, aware of exactly what the other male did in giving them an answer that they can't use against him. “ my biggest fear — ” he pauses for brown eyes to flick to xavier, as if he can will the other male to disappear in the few moments before his attention turns back to the camera. “ is, uh... i guess that when i die, it'll be alone, and it'll take anyone a few weeks to notice. ” it shouldn't matter, after all, he'll already be dead. though that knowledge certainly sounds like a miserable way to spend his last moments. he clears his throat gently as he turns off the camera, attention turning back to the other male with a quick shrug. “ i don't actually mind clowns, you know, they're kinda cool. ” far better than small spaces, though he suppsoes they're far more liekly to use that against him than they are to kill him.

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the words caught her off guard, enough that they pulled a soft laugh out of her before she could even try to swallow it. something in the way he said it. so matter-of-fact and playful but entirely sincere at the same time. head tilting just slightly as she watched him finish off the recording. " oh yeah ? I look pretty today ? " teasing, quiet, but it still came with a little raise of her brow. fingers curled around the phone as he handed it off and for a second she just stared at it, thumb hovering above the screen. the answer felt obvious as she clicked the record button. " person who most deserves to win ? logan, obviously. " her voice stayed even, maybe a bit soft. like it meant more than she could wedge into just a few seconds. " he's smart. like, actually smart, not the kind that just pretends to be and guesses. " though she was entirely certain that was how he saw it, she had a different view. " and he's good. at all of this. and — " orbs glanced toward him briefly before finishing the thought. " and he really wants it. " a breath out. that part was easy. the next part ? her brows furrowed as she turned the phone a bit in her hands. thoughts trailing off. dillon was the obvious answer based on logan's pick. but being here for someone he cared about didn't disqualify him. that's exactly what had pulled her here. she couldn't fault him for that. lips pressed together, still thoughtful as she clicked her tongue once. " least deserving ? probably jaiden, just doesn't need it. " small shrug as her voice trailed off and she clicked off the camera. hopefully she didn’t just glue a jaiden sized target on her for the future. probably should have picked someone a little less influential. 

lips stretch to a grin as his gaze pulls to the flickering light, pace picking up ever so slightly at the knoweldge they probably ought to have found something so far. and perhaps now they have. “ spooky. ” he can't help but joke as they reach the dimly lit table, hand reaching for the instruction card as blue eyes scan over the words. “ right, well, it's weirdly easy. ” the observation falls cheerily as he holds the card out to nova, grabbing the phone quickly from the table as he turns flicks the camera on. “ the person who most deserves to win, obviously nova lin. cause, you know — she's a badass, and a great best friend. and cook. also, she looks very pretty today. ” he's speaking to her more than he is the phone, joking smile dancing on his lips and yet he does mean the words even as he glances back to the device. “ and, uh — ” features scrunch as he considers the question, aware he didn't quite think that far ahead when he started it. “ least deserving is dillon, since he's only here cause he doesn't trust me, and is probably already vert lost. ” words joke, camera clicked quickly off as he holds it out to nova. “ i hope he doesn't lose points for that. ”

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she didn't flinch when he said it. we're not a pair. sure. maybe not. but the way it landed still hit her square in the chest. and they weren't a pair either apparently. tongue pressing to the inside of her cheek as she glanced away. like that made it easier to pretend it didn't matter. pretending it didn't matter would eventually make it true. chin up, never falter. that was her whole thing right ? arms stayed crossed, like armor more than anything now. funny. it didn't feel like a game right now. " you actually should rush, that's kind of the point. we're wasting time. " flat, annoyed — pulling away and then she was moving. pivoted sharp against the dirt. stride a little too confident for someone who had no idea if she was even going the right direction. didn't matter. any direction away was the right one now. she wasn't going to just stand there and let him look at her like that anymore. like she was being unreasonable. like she didn’t have a right to be pissed off when he was the one that kissed melissa fucking clarke. " maybe you should go find melissa." tossed over her shoulder. sweet, but just enough bite under that sugar to hopefully do some damage. " help her rack up a few more points. " she didn't look back. mostly because if she did, if she saw anything in his face that resembled guilt or worse, affection.. she wasn't sure what she'd do with it.

he's not sure what reaction he expects, though not getting one is somehow worse than any of the alternatives. “ we're not a pair. ” the correction falls with no hestiation, head shaking quickly as he looks at the blonde. “ she was just there already, alice. and it's a game, that's it. ” but it's not it. he knows it because he knows exactly how he'd feel in her shoes — though it's difficult to tell if the feeling goes both when she's looking so blankly at him. “ yeah, well, you haven't — i'm in no rush, hit a few tables already. i can go back that way. ” it's supposed to be a casual suggestion, as if they aren't both aware the alternative is her going there alone and finding someone else. the thought's more of a distraction than he really wants to carry on with, unsure if heading to a more mentaly challenging task when most his mind is focuesd on who alice might be kissing is the best way forward.

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" yeah, well, I wasn't happy. " she said simply, swirling the liquid in her glass. " you weren't exactly trying to be easy to like. " a breath.. slow, calculated. she tilted her head, strands of soft waves falling over her bare shoulder as she took a small sip, eyes never leaving his. the glass clinked softly when she set it down on a nearby tray. " if you're waiting for a formal invitation, dex — you're gonna be here all night. " her fingers brushed the lapel of his jacket. a flicker of contact that hadn't been there between them in awhile. a tsk and a shake of her head followed. " you can't really be sure, guess it's just up to you if you want to try and find out. "  because if he wanted her, if he really meant it then she wanted to see him take it. prove it. stop asking for permission and show her. for months he was someone else, someone she didn't recognize. if anything was going to happen between them again, she had to see more of a flicker of the person she loved. and if he didn't ? well. she'd be gone before the next round of champagne even reached their side of the room. fine. she already got over him once, what was avoiding and moving forward again ? 

dexter knew that she deserved better than him, --- yet he can't seem to find it within him to let her go. he'd been reminded by friends or really anyone in his social group about how he could have anyone. though the only woman he wanted was the one stranding in front of him. the person that he had screwed up the most with, and he'd be lucky if he'd ever get another chance with. if it had meant that he needed to put away his stupid childish behaviour than that is exactly what he would do. all dexter needed to hear is her tell him exactly what she wants from him and he'll do it. he hadn't been expecting such a statement to be spoken by her. " if i remember correctly, the last time we spoke you weren't exactly all that happy with me. how am i to be sure that you'd be just fine with me making a move? " if she wants him to take what he wants than he won't think twice about his next moves.

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he could feel it. slowly falling back into that boyfriend role that he tended to avoid at all costs — but it didn't mean he wasn't good at it. for her, he'd be the best at it. fingers brushed lightly over her thigh, slow and absent minded like he wasn't even thinking about it. like his body had already decided he wanted to keep her close. " could get used to you talking to me like that. " words murmured along as he nodded. he didn’t say things like that often. didn’t need to but there was something about the way she looked at him, like he wasn't some accessory or just his last name. like he had value outside his multiple passports and balance. she didn't chase his attention. didn't treat it like currency. " I don't know, sounds manageable. " a lazy grin tugged at his lips. " pretty sure I make a few people jealous just by showing up with you on my arm. " shifted slightly in his seat, body turned more toward her, elbow resting along the back of the couch.  " I mean it, kim. anywhere you want. " he wasn't trying to be romantic. not really. but maybe it still came out that way. her kiss lingered longer in his chest than it did on his lips. not showy. just theirs. his thumb traced slow circles on her leg, the weight of her kiss still echoing. good, settled — and still intimidating in its own way. mostly because this was the first time in a long time something felt like it could slip away and matter. if he messed it up it'd hurt ...which was why he never fell into this kind of thing in the first place. but for now, he'd push those thoughts away. better things to focus on sat right in front of him.

kimberly had always been one to seek attention from anyone that would give it to her. it hadn't needed to be good attention, and it usually had been the bad kind. it likely had to do with the attention that she never got from her parents. with him though she never had to see out attention, he had given her his attention so freely. " hmm, not exactly sure they would view it the same way. not only that but none of them even come close to shinning as bright as you. " the way that kimberly found herself speaking is a first for her, but yet it seems so natural when speaking about the male that sits before her. " oh definitely. I can even bet on the fact there will be a tad bit of jealousy. " she wasn't exactly the type that saw herself as having anyone to be jealous of. " i'll go wherever as long as i get to go with you by my side. " fem spoke in a loving tone as she leans in to place a brief, but yet sweet kiss upon his lips.

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♡ open to: m/f/nb ♡ riko tanaka - hacker

" relax — you're acting like I've never done this before. "

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an underrated kink is corruption. i want to make you worse. i love to coax it all out of you and make you admit how hot you really think it is. don’t worry, no one’s going to find out. no one’s going to judge you. it’s okay, you don’t have to fight it anymore. just let it get to you. you need this.

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closed starter ♡ for angelsdvsts.

" hey. " voice a little quieter than usual. no pout, no sass. just.. her. she stepped closer, chewing at the inside of her cheek. " I, um… " ugh. this was so awkward. she hated being awkward. she glanced up at him, then around at anything else. " I wanted to say sorry. " words mumbled, then clearer. " and thank you. for earlier. with the guy. that could've gotten bad. " she lifted her head again, meeting his eyes now, and there was something genuine behind hers — not just the adrenaline she was still pretending she didn't feel. not just the heat in her cheeks from the way he'd stepped between her and that guy who was trying to do who knows what. all this time she felt like she was untouchable but genuinely he was there for a reason. that was settling in now. " I know I've been kind of… difficult. " added, reluctantly. never one to like to admit when she might be wrong. " I just thought if i made your job annoying enough, maybe you'd, I don't know — crack. flirt back. something. " the blonde shrugged, expression softening. " but I get it. you're here to keep me safe. and today… you did so, yeah thank you. "