#[pls don't feel obligated to match length!]

[sebvora]

LOCATION — Outside of a random dive bar in town.

CHARACTERS — Sebastian & Lucas ( @lucas-williams )

"You're seriously going to be a bunch of fuckin' pricks over, what? Broken glass? I told you, it was an accident — get your dirty hands off me," Sebastian spit over his shoulder towards the security — bartender? Random patron? He couldn't tell — that had a firm grip on his shoulder, forcefully guiding him towards the open front doors of the bar as he fought them tooth and nail against it. As it turns out, dropping one glass and having it shatter against the floor could clearly be labeled an accident, but by the third time someone had to come out and sweep up tiny little shards, they were recommending he leave with a pretty insistent stare. He tried to tell them that it wasn't his fault, that it had kept slipping from his hands conveniently whenever Colorado had scored during the rerun of the hockey game on the overhead TVs, but apparently there were only so many times that they could believe him. They were fucking dicks, clearly, by not wanting him to have fun in their bar — it had pissed him off and he wound up making the situation so much worse than it needed to be, hence ending up standing in the middle of the sidewalk with no other backup plan in mind for the night.

He figured that he might as well go home, because now he was a teensy bit tipsy and annoyed as all fuck and he realized that he left his pen at home anyway; it was probably for the best. However, when he pulled up his phone and tried to call his roommates, both of them had the audacity to ignore his call. It was then he remembered that CJ and Jeanie mentioned something this afternoon about spending the night with their respective families, and he huffed out a sigh.

His thumb scrolled down his list of numbers in search of his brother's and he accidentally scrolled too far, hovering over Lucas' contact instead. Rather than debating on if it was a good idea or not in his mind, he clicked down on his name in the blink of an eye and put it on speaker. He shifted his weight on his heels, unsure whether to expect an answer or to be sent to voicemail this late at night. "Heyyy, Lukey — listen, can you come pick me up? I'm, uh . . ." he looked upwards, "I'm in a bit of a pickle 'cause I may have, like, totally pissed these guys off at this stupid bar I was at — it was fuckin' ridiculous, Luke, really. Absolute bullshit. But, um, I forgot I couldn't get home tonight and — yeah. I'll text you my location, if that's helpful. Please?"

[erabundus]

@diverse-hearts-ocs &&. said... Sumeru. It was much hotter and clamy than back home, not enabling him to hide under the layers he normally would, having come to check on a research project that was being funded by the Fatui. Only the mask to hang on his hip showed what he was, the male currently looking over a few weapons at the blacksmith as he waited for his meeting to be ready. - Niwa

loath  though  he  was  to  ADMIT  as  much,  the  wanderer's  choice  to  remain  in  sumeru  was  a  calculated  one.  (  not  merely  inspired  by  his  arrangement  with  the  dendro  archon.  )  he  could  feign  aloofness  all  he  wanted,  pretend  he  had  survived  learning  the  truth  and  reliving  his  miserable  past  and  come  out  the  other  end  whole  —  but  the  reality of the situation  wasn't  nearly  so  simple.  yes,  his  head  felt  clearer  than  it  had  in  ages.  yes,  he  had  finally  come  to  terms  with  the  shattered  fragments  of  so  many  discarded  identities.  yet  piecing  together  the  new  (  and  old  )  him  that  was  left  in  the  aftermath  would  take  time. he still felt ... off. shaken. perhaps that was normal; it didn't make him  hate it  any less.

...  thankfully,  he  had  all  the  TIME  in  the  world  to  get  it  together.

and  so,  the  wanderer  had  taken  to  wandering.  he  drifted  aimlessly  through  the  streets,  eyes  placidly  taking  in  his  surroundings.  watching  humans  go  about  their  business  the  same  way  one  might  find  themself  observing  a  flock  of  birds  —  pecking  mindlessly  at  the  ground.  truth  be  told,  it  was  almost  therapeutic  in  its  simplicity.  though  inevitably,  ren’s  steps  brought  him  to  more  familiar  territory.  the  scent  of  hot  metal  on  the  wind  stirred  feelings  of  NOSTALGIA  he  had  (  until  quite  recently  )  tried  his  very  best  to  crush.  there  would  be  no  harm  in  satisfying  his  ever-present curiosity.

or  so  he  thought  —  until  he  saw  him.  a  dead  man.  a  ghost.  (  a  most precious  friend.  )  the resemblance was so unmistakable it bordered on downright sickening. for  a  moment,  the  wanderer  swore  he  found  himself  in  a  much  SIMPLER  time,  staring  at  that  familiar  back,  hanging  off  his  every  word,  every  explanation  as  though  it  were  gospel. his breath hitched painfully in his throat — then ceased entirely as he FORGOT to breathe. he was alive? he was alive? he was alive?

it was the rhythmic clanging of the FORGE that cut through ren's memory and brought him back to his senses.

hands  balled  into  FISTS  to  stop  their  trembling.  it  was  then  that  he  noticed  the  mask  on  the  stranger's  hip  —  and  that  much,  at  least,  was  able  to  put  his  mind  (  somewhat  )  at  ease.  fatui.  disgusting.  he  would  have  never  associated  with  the  likes  of  them. perhaps just a passerby with uncanny resemblance, then — there was no reason why he would be in sumeru, long after his unquestionable death, on that group's behalf. even so, ren still frowned to himself. fatui in sumeru ... he supposed that meant fatui in his territory, by proxy. ah, that simply wouldn't do.

the  wanderer  stepped  closer,  one  hand  tipping  his  hat.   ❝  excuse  me.  ❞  he  called  out,  faking  a  polite  tone  and  amicable  smile.  ❝  sorry,  i  don't  mean  to  interrupt,  but ...  have  we  MET  before?  ❞ odd resemblance or otherwise, it was an effective method to force a conversation.

[archaictold]

HE   stood there at a loss, wooden spear in hand to watch the sun hit the horizon. It was a cityscape he found he did not recognize, full of bright lights and large, looming buildings scraping the very surface of the sky. Zhilan would consider himself well-traveled prior to last evening. He had studied abroad for several years, and he had thoroughly traversed the roads of Liyue many a time over—even off the beaten path, in nooks and crannies that were seldom touched in the Land of Geo’s new age of mankind. Though with a bit of wandering with very little clue to go, he came to realize he was not nearly the seasoned adventurer he might have been led to believe he was. What he was instead was indisputably lost, and he was lucky if the pedestrians on the street gave him anything more than a glance, should they not overlook him altogether. And it was strange, because Zhilan felt it certain that he stood out—idling knock-kneed and confused on a sidewalk just after sunrise. But if he stood out, no one gave him indication of such... It seemed best that he start asking around, had he any hope of locating his supposed place of stay. A gentleman clad in dark clothing happens to catch his eye first, if only because the color sits starkly amongst the sherbet hue of morning. So he breaks into a brisk walk to catch his attention before the man’s coattails disappear from sight.         ❝ E- Excuse me! ❞   He starts with, and once he’s near and the stranger isn’t in danger of slipping through his fingers he slows his steps against the concrete, one hand instinctively over the Vision at his collar and the other let loosely at his side.

        ❝ Excuse me, I... Would you, happen to know where this is? ❞   There’s a vague gesture, like he’s realized he should probably specify.   ❝ This city, is it in Fontaine? ❞ Sighing softly, he pushes up his wispy bangs with his palm, dismissing the idea almost outright...         ❝ No, that can’t be right... What I mean to say is: do you know if this city has a name? ❞ @contractuum​   ——  s.c.!

[fyrewalks]

It's a bad idea, he thinks when he catches Hangman's eye across the Hard Deck and there's a sparkle of something more. It's a bad idea, he thinks when they're quiet in the backseat of the uber, neither wanting to ruin the anticipation with pointless small talk. It's a bad idea, he thinks when his fingers start on the buttons of Seresin's annoyingly tight button-up once safely inside his temporary accommodation - except then Seresin's, Jake's, tongue is down his throat, and really, Bob isn't thinking at all, anymore.

As he's lying there, sweaty and sated, half drowsing, Jake's arm across his belly like he simply forgot Bob's there and is too tired to adjust, it's easy to rationalize the gravity of the situation away. Tomorrow, they'll all scatter back to their postings as if the detachment never happened. He'll go back to the Eagles, Jake to the Vigilantes; they didn't cross paths before at Lemoore, and there's no reason for them to now.

Bob is no stranger to one-night stands, temporary bits of fun. He knows the routine, but when caught attempting to make a quiet exit the next morning, he can't muster up the usual excuses or goodbyes. What's he supposed to say - thanks for the fuck, see you never?

Except, as it turns out, whatever rational thinking he employed that night, wasn't all that thought out. Back with the Eagles, it's harder to avoid Hangman than he assumed. Bob dodges him in hangars, at bars and hangouts Nat dutifully drags him out to. He absolutely does not think about how Jake kisses, or moves, or the way he tastes. Absolutely not. And just when Bob thinks he's got a handle on the worst of his intrusive, betraying thoughts, the orders come - they're all being recalled to Top Gun for the official formation of the Dagger Squad in a month's time.

A week into tense briefings, all of them frustrated and annoyed by the endless paperwork and ground time, Bob thinks himself foolish to think he struggled at all in Lemoore. At least then, Hangman had given him a wide berth too. Now, often stuck in the same room for hours at a time, Hangman's usual taunts feel sharper. If anyone's caught on to how he's singled Bob out, no one voices their suspicions. At one point he worries Natasha's caught on to something, but when she raises her eyebrows at Bob, he mutters something about Hangman being Hangman and that seems to satisfy any curiosity.

And then, Bob has the misfortune of finding himself alone in the locker room after a few miles on the treadmill. If the way Hangman corners him is any indication, he'd guess it's purposeful. Bob very carefully keeps his eyes on the next set of lockers, just to the right of Hangman's face.

"What - miss an insult or two in the classroom," he snarks, surprising himself. Admittedly, it's a little easier when Natasha is in the cockpit with him. Bob takes a breath, his eyes flicking to Hangman's eyes, his lips. Bob refocuses his gaze. "Don't you think it's a little obvious?" If it's not curiosity, it'll be a joke - one that skirts too close to the truth. After all, navy pilots are known for their crude humor. Bob knows himself; he'll struggle to shrug it off. // @a1truist

[velvetrogue]

Carina wasted no time in taking his aching cock into her mouth, and Truman couldn’t have been more grateful. When he felt his tip hit the back of her throat, another particularly loud moan shot from him. Even though they were in the privacy of a hotel room, Truman didn’t care if anyone outside would happen to hear him. He was simply so consumed by his lust in the moment. 

As Carina blew him, alternating between slow and quick sucking, Truman writhed in his seat. His muscles tensed, and his toes curled whilst waves of building pleasure shot through every fibre of his being. He was still a while off orgasm, yet Truman knew Carina could very easily up the ante to force him into a position where climax would be seconds away. Heavy breaths and deep moans from Truman permeated the room as Carina continued, moving between teasing his cock with her lips when she broke for air and then taking him deep into her throat.

When she slowed, Truman took it as a sign and reached out to gently take a fistful of her hair. He pushed her head down onto him, pressing his cock so the tip again hit the back of her throat. Once it did, Truman then began thrusting quick and hard, fucking her mouth like he owned it. 

@siiinfully

Fuck, he was so hard. Carina felt a stab of pride in herself in knowing that she inspired that level of arousal in her former professor. While she didn’t need to think of Truman like that, it added a silent layer of sexiness to their whole encounter. With his erect cock now free, she covered it with her mouth and throat, not bothering with the usual foreplay. Why should she, when he was hard as a fucking rock and leaking copious drops of pre-cum? It wasn’t like this would be her first blowjob anyway. She’d had men who fucked her mouth until she cried ( tears of pleasure and joy, nothing more ), and she wondered if he would be satisfied spilling his seed down her throat or if that was his form of foreplay.

However, his earlier words hinted that he might be the latter, and it excited her to no end. It also spurred her to switch between slow and quick sucking, so he had a variety of stimuli. Her only response to his lewd questions was the wet sucking, the soft pops when she pulled his cock out of her mouth and teased them both by tapping the tip on her lips, before swallowing it base deep. Eventually, she slowed down, not because she was getting tired, but because she wanted him to take over, to pump his orgasm right down her throat.

[ @velvetrogue ]

[taintedcigs]

✦ STRESS RELIEF | steve harrington x f. reader ✦

wc: 1k+

pairing: steve harrington x fem!reader

warnings: 18+ !!smut, smut smut!!, MINORS DNI!! swearing, bj, or*l (male receiving), nicknames (sweetheart, baby, princess, etc.), praises!! lots of praises! vv soft!dom!steve, sub!reader, kind of aftercare!! 18+ ONLY!!!

summary: you help steve relax after a long day at work.

authors note: this was a little thought of mine that somehow turned into a 1k fic it is still short tho!! i did not proof-read this im v sorry for being so lazy. i do not like the pics they don't match BUT look how fucking DREAMY joe looks in a suit omfg, also PLS PLS leave some feedback they r my joy and hope!! and feel free to COME TALK TO ME IN ASKS, OR SEND ME A PM!! okay that's it enjoy!! mwah xo, em💌

you knew steve had a long day at work.

as soon as he came home he was seated on the couch, huffing as he mumbled something about how bad his day was.

his face was scrunched up, you could see that he was visibly stressed, it killed you to see him like this, and you were willing to do anything to cheer him up.

so, you offered to help him relax, and steve nodded mindlessly at that, thinking that you were going to give him a massage or something, he relaxed his shoulders, and his head was still filled with a lot of thoughts about work.

but as soon as you dropped down on your knees in front of him, your soft hands slowly parting his thighs, his thoughts disappeared immediately and his mouth almost drooled at the sight.

you, on your knees, as you looked up at him with a mischievous smirk plastered on your face, it was now etched into his brain forever.

he couldn't help but let out a relaxed sigh, his mind fuzzy when you helped him get rid of his pants, along with his boxers.

when his soft cock faced you, you wasted no time lazily pressing kisses at his pink tip, giving it kitten licks as you rested your hands on his thighs, giving them a massage.

soon with your hands fondling his balls, steve grunted softly, his eyes curiously watching you as pre-cum leaked out of his slit, you were quick to collect it with your thumb, making a show of it as you put your finger in your mouth, slowly licking it off while you remain eye contact with him, pretty noises escaping from your lips.

steve groaned lowly at your movements, his eyes rolling back in his head, blood rushing to his cock immediately. 'jesus, baby, you're gonna be the fuckin' death of me.' he mumbled huskily, making your lips twitch into a light smirk.

his cock twitched at the thought of your wet, warm mouth, and he was getting eager. 'had such a long day, sweetheart, need that warm mouth of yours...' he whined, and you were more than ready to oblige his request, your lips were quick to wrap around his cock, as he threw his head back in pleasure.

's-shit, baby, takin' me so fuckin' well.' he praised, mumbling and your mouth slowly sank down on his hardened cock, his breathing ragged as he fisted your hair in his hands.

'j-just like that sweetheart, such, a good fuckin' girl for me, yea?' he hummed and pushed your head lower on him, your muffled moans when you taste him were enough to bring him over the edge.

'not gonna last long, if you keep doing that- fuck.' he cursed as your lips were stretching around his cock, his groans getting louder now that the warmth of your mouth had engulfed him.

he buried his hands in your hair as he watched you take him in your mouth fully, his moans grew louder at the sight in front of him.

you, looking up at him, all doe-eyed, as your lips were wrapped around his length, he enjoyed fucking your face, his hips thrusting forward roughly as he watched his cock disappear slowly into your mouth.

when his tip hit the back of your throat, you gagged around him, the whimpers you made as you cried around his cock were enough to make him grunt loudly, he was in awe of how ethereal you are.

your hands are quick to replace the rest of him that doesn't fit into your mouth. 'fuuuck, mhmm, just like that, princess.' he praises, and you sink down faster on his length, enjoying the way steve's huge cock is stretching your throat as his groans are getting louder.

'i'm gonna cum, princess.' steve can't handle it anymore, the sight of you, the most beautiful girl, on your knees, innocently looking up at him, your mascara smudged, and your eyes pooling with tears.

your pretty lips wrapped around his length, drooling as you gag on his cock, saliva dripping down from your lips to your cleavage, and steve almost growls, wanting to lick and suck on your pretty tits.

the sounds you make as you are slobbering and choking on his cock make his eyes roll in the back of his head and he's sure he is in heaven, and he's sure that you are so fucking good to him, and so fucking perfect.

his hands grab a fistful of your hair as he starts fucking your face harder, his animalistic growls and the sound of his skin slapping against your mouth filling the room.

'mmpf, such a good fuckin' girl, gonna coat that pretty little throat with my cum, yea?' his hips jerk into your mouth faster now and you whimper around him.

'you want that pretty baby?' he asks almost mockingly, knowing you can't answer when your mouth is full, and you nod immediately, your moans muffled by his cock.

and with that, he lets out a loud groan, rope after rope of his warm cum coating your throat. 'fuuuck, take it all baby.' he instructs as you can feel him twitch in your mouth.

'take all of my fuckin' cum, princess.' you can feel his thighs shudder, and feel him fill your throat.

his hands are soft as they stroke your hair, steve's head is thrown back as he is riding out his orgasm, and you try to collect all of his load.

when you do, you stick your tongue out at him, showing you have lapped up all of his juices. steve gives you a slight smirk, praising you.

you swallow every drop, and you make sure to lick up any of his cum that might have spilled and a proud smirk is plastered upon steve's face. 'such a good girl for me.' he murmurs as he eyes you.

when his cock softens inside of your mouth, you pull your lips off of his length, making a popping sound as you grin up at him.

'are you relaxed now, stevie?' you ask giggly, and he pulls you up to his lap, nodding eagerly.

'for now, princess.' he presses a kiss to your lips, soft but still very needy, you whine when he breaks the kiss.

'i might need to use this to relax more.' he pinches your clit.

[elifalvey]

location — the grape escape.

time — saturday, august 13th ( during the reception ).

status — for aslihan ( @draslihanxfahri-bailey ).

Elijah was fairly certain there weren’t enough words in the English language to describe how stunning Aslihan looked tonight. The second he laid eyes on her, when she was finding her seat at the ceremony with Alex, he knew that he was going to have a terrible time trying to keep them off of her. The never-ending supply of free wine wasn’t helping in that regard, either, admittedly — the more he tasted, and the more warmly buzzed he became, he had a desire in the pit of his stomach to seek the brunette out in the sea of people. There were several times where he was on a mission to do just that, whispering ‘I’ll be right back’s to Rachel who was often otherwise preoccupied with something else in that moment, and getting as far as standing up to weave his way through tables, except all of them thus far fell short. For a reason unbeknownst to him, he just couldn’t catch her at the right time. She was either walking away, engrossed in a conversation, dancing with Alex — whatever she was doing, he just couldn’t catch her eye and he always wound up plopping next to Rachel and waving it off as weird. 

Because it was. Spectacularly weird, almost. Hours into the event and he hasn’t so much as gotten a single word from her, when usually the two would have at least shared a smile by now. But he was trying not to think too deeply into it, even though the confusion of it all was hard to shake, and just enjoy his time with his friend. 

Another glass of wine later, and he thought that he owed it to himself to try again. A glance over to the table she was sitting at only told him that now was a good a time as ever — she wasn’t dancing, or talking with anybody, or busy with any other activities — so he tapped Rachel’s arm to let her know that he’ll be back, and stood. He padded his way towards her table, coming up behind where both her and Alex were sitting, and an idea popped in his head as he realized they hadn’t noticed him approaching. He slowly came up to them, and leaned down as much as he could before saying, “Boo!” His face broke out into a smile immediately as they both turned around, and he was kneeling down to be more level with the little girl’s height. “Hi. Did I get you?” His eyes darted to Asli momentarily and his expression softened before continuing, “You both look very, very beautiful tonight — you’re having fun, yeah? Dancing a lot? I saw your moves, bug, you’re the best one out there.”

[tvrningout-archived]

@never-surrender gets a wishlist starter!

     " tengen-san? ”

     kaiya waits patiently outside the sliding door, brow creased with worry and fingers fidgeting with her obi. suma, between all her sputtering, told her the retired pillar hadn’t left his room for several days, had barely touched the food prepared for him. they tried giving him time, yet nothing changed. really, it didn’t seem to matter what the three wives did -- tengen remained right where he was ( guilt could make one so damned stubborn ). and suma, with those big, blue eyes of hers, had held kaiya’s hands and asked her to help him, get him out of his room, get him to eat, anything! 

     how does one help a man who does not want to be helped, though?

     the situation is uncomfortably familiar despite the very different circumstances. she thinks of all that time ago when she first regained her memories, how it was all too much all at once, how the guilt consumed her, and how kaiya had sought solitude where she could never hurt anyone again. she remembers wasting away in that abandoned home, remembering all the innocent lives she’d stolen, until finally, mercifully, sleep claimed her weary soul. she remembers being alone and thinking it’s what she deserved; kaiya still believes it’s what she deserved, but she had killed innocents. tengen... even if he took his brother’s life, had he really had any other choice? was it fair to treat himself so harshly when the deaths he caused were never his choice? of course not, but tengen would see it differently.

     when no answer ever comes, kaiya cracks the door open to peek inside before finally entering. each shuffle and step seems so loud in the quiet of tengen’s room as she draws nearer to sit in front of him. how solemn he appears, so unlike himself, and kaiya’s heart breaks a third time since hearing of his situation. it broke first when she learned he had killed his sibling ( how painful it must have been, no matter the state of their relationship ), and it broke a second time as she embraced hina, makio, and suma ( how tightly each of them held on, how shaky their breathing had been ). and now... someone known to be so boisterous, who so easily made her laugh and brightened the stormiest of moods, should not appear so... empty.

     “ it’s been a while, ” kaiya begins, and for a first time, she feels awkward speaking. “ i’m sorry... ” for his loss? for not being there? for not coming sooner? there is too much to be sorry for and not enough words to express it all. so kaiya reaches over instead, laying a small hand upon tengen’s and squeezing. 

     “ will you tell me what’s on your mind? you have us all worried, being so subdued. it isn’t like you. ”

[liamscxtt]

closed starter ; ivy & liam

it wasn’t every day liam had almost nothing to do. in fact, he barely had any days that weren’t planned down to the minute. his days were messily planned in the whirlwind that was his mind, or lazily scribbled onto a piece of paper he kept in his pocket; he was good at remembering things, but the higher power knew he was simultaneous forgetful. he had the entire day dedicated to touring monarch - seeing everything the beautiful campus had to offer, and then some. he decided to dip as soon as orientation was done, the deal was absolutely exhausting and liam didn’t need those vibes in his life for any longer. he can attempt to show himself around another day, hopefully. he dragged himself to the nearest bar that wasn’t mars bar. it would be nice to get a sweet discount on shots, but the man already worked there - he didn’t need to be a regular there too. he found a place on google called the renegade, and it didn’t hurt to give it a try.

he stepped into the dimly lit yet vibrant vicinity, his eyes scanning the place as a protective strategy as he stood close to the door. it was better to bolt now if he noticed something than to continue on and possibly be trapped. once getting the sense that it was relatively safe, the man continued on - making his way towards the long dark countertop where the bartender was. “hey. a shot of jack for me, please.” he spoke politely to the bartender as he found his place on the barstool. he tapped to the rhythm of the music with his fingertips, his eyes scanning the vicinity once more until he landed eyes on the brunette sitting just two barstools down from him. “so i’m here by myself because i’m the new guy. what’s your excuse?” he asked in both a cool, yet enthusiastic tone. it was obvious she was alone, so it didn’t hurt to spark up a conversation. hopefully she didn’t think he was the next ted bundy. @ivyjones​

[sergeantjhart]

Location; Town Hall When; Early June Who; Closed @liamhart 

If there was one thing he missed about Chicago, it was probably the cool breeze that was always on the air. Sure, it snowed and was shitty in the winter, but he’d trade that off for a livable summer. If his documentation was correct it was only the beginning of June, too - there was so much worse to come weather wise. Given the opportunity, Georgia never would’ve been a place he would’ve chosen to settle down. But these times were certainly not ideal. 

He combed his hair back from his face once more, flipping through the pages of his tattered notebook absently before his eyes shifted as people walked past the doorway. Normally he would’ve thought little of it. Just another survivor being brought in, going through the steps of being welcomed into the town or whatever else...

But there was something that pulled his attention back. The flash of a lanky kid. The murmur of a voice that was far too familiar... But it couldn’t be, could it?

There was a part of him that thought to just shake it off, to not get his hopes up again just to be denied. But he had to try, right? He had to keep clinging onto that hope even if it hurt. So he rose from his seat and stepped out into the hall, to the retreating footsteps and the familiar form.

“Liam?” 

[margaretflorist]

starter for: open location: outside beau & kaye’s time: friday, just after nine pm

it is not margaret’s day.

she’d been late to work, earning her a scolding from beau, who’d just happened to drop by on the one morning she’d slept through her alarm. she’d been flustered while opening, listening to beau rattle off the reasons why he was so disappointed in her. catherine palmer had stopped by to bitch about the floral arrangement that had been delivered a few days ago, claiming it had wilted the second she’d unpacked the box. (margaret wouldn’t be surprised to discover that flowers withered in catherine palmer’s presence.) she knew the woman was lying, beau knew the woman was lying, and still, he’d shaken his head and sighed like a disappointed father and promised catherine a fresh bouquet on the house.

this isn’t like you, margaret.

he’d followed palmer out, gardenias in hand, and cast her a final look over his shoulder. she moved through the rest of the day in a fog. spilled coffee on white carnations and her sneakers. discovered the granola bar she’d packed for lunch expired a year ago. received an email notifying her of another rejection of another short story from another publication. and now, as she’s heading out, the door to the floral shop locked tight behind her (she double- and triple-checks), it starts to rain.

she fumbles in her bag, praying she’d packed an umbrella. she drops the keys to the shop right by the sidewalk, and when she kneels down to save them from the puddle, her notebook falls out of her tote, landing pages-down in the water. then the car rolls by, a little too close for comfort, speeding down the road, and margaret kind of loses it.

“watch where you’re going, fucking asshole!” she stands, shouting after the car. she throws in a middle finger for good measure, and then she realizes she’s not alone. she catches their gaze, a flush spreading over her cheeks. awesome, she thinks.

“sorry.” she mutters, scooping her notebook out of the gutter. she wants to fucking cry, but she hates crying for an audience. makes her feel like the silly little girl everyone already thinks her to be. “s’not been the best day.”

[moonscenes]

open to: f/nb.

plot: it’s the holidays, every hotel is booked up. somehow, our muses have accepted the hotel’s crazy offer of sharing a room.

          “we’re sorry, ma’am. but there are no vacant rooms, this lady took the last one.”

          god, logan felt guilty. so f/ucking guilty. so she awkwardly turned to the woman being denied a room and sucked it up. the anxiety of rejection filled her body, but she’d seen her on the flight and overheard her talking about her family and it just came out: “you can stay with me, there’s... there’s no rooms left anywhere. i’ve checked.” keegan would be so proud of her, or mortified. she wasn’t sure. for some reason, she accepted it and logan was now feeling completely awkward. 

         so, there they were, unpacked and standing in a hotel room that smelled of cleaning solution and freshly washed cotton. clearing her throat, the blonde ran a nervous hand through her hair and pulled her leather jacket off. so many patches sewed onto the back pertaining to who she was. she ended up texting keegan because she was afraid she mght’ve been rooming with a murderous homophobe and one look at logan’s attire would let them know. finally, she cleared her throat. “do you want wine? i, uh, got some for tonight but ‘cause of all the cancellations i... guess i won’t be sharing this with my family,” she muttered, pulling her backpack up onto the table and looking at the single king sized bed. “my name is logan, by the way. i think i introduced myself on the plane but, uh, you could’ve forgotten.”

[lilywhittaker]

closed starter for... you guessed it, @nateblackwood​ location: NOT A COFFEE SHOP nate’s office at the blackwood foundation

Lily’s heels clicked against the tiled floor of the corporate office of The Blackwood Foundation, the woman more than familiar with the halls from when Nate had previously been employed there. She had not expected to have returned to this building, especially not to visit Nate in his office. What happened? Lily thought, her brows knit together as she absentmindedly greeted familiar staff members with whom she’d previously interacted. “I’m here to see Nate Blackwood, I don’t have an appointment but he’s still expecting me. Can you direct me to his office?” she asked the secretary politely, who was more than okay with obliging as she knew the Whittaker heiress from her time working with Nate on charity events. The way Nate spoke to Alli was far from okay, and while she didn’t condone violence she also understood Quinn’s anger. 

Mr. Blackwood, Miss Whittaker is here to see you. She said that you— Lily stepped out from behind the secretary, giving Nate a warm smile. “I was in the neighborhood, figured I’d stop by,” Lily greeted cheerfully as she stood in the doorway behind the secretary, making her way inside the office after thanking the other woman for showing her the way. “It’s… a nice office. Didn’t expect to be back within these walls, but life seems to keep surprising me these days,” the brunette drawled as she observed her surroundings, walking slowly yet purposefully in the direction of the desk even though her eyes didn’t meet his quite yet. If the stories were true - and she had no doubt that they were, given where he was currently employed - there was a lot that needed to be discussed. A lot that Lily needed to hear from Nate directly.

“So, I’ve been hearing a lot of stories lately. Stories concerning you and various town residents. Want to explain to me what’s going on?” Lily asked, stopping as she reached the center of the room, her stance remaining firm yet her gentle tone of voice contrasting with everything else. In spite of his irrational and uncharacteristic behavior lately, Nate was still one of her closest friends. “Something changed, Nate. I don’t know what, but whatever it is, I can help you - I just need to know what’s happening. You’re back here, the same place that sucked the life out of you not even two months ago?” she continued, eyebrows raised while looking around as though they were being eavesdropped on. “Talking down on Hawthornes, picking fights with people? That’s not the Nate I consider to be one of my closest friends.”

[memoriesofyccjungrk]

baby steps.

a closed starter for @rkheejin​

gahyeon felt strange the moment she stepped into the sphere building on july 1, and hasn’t quite shaken that odd feeling since then. she had hardly expected to actually make it into the project, there were tons of talented trainees, and although gahyeon knew she was one of them she had her doubts. the moment she stepped into the group of trainees associated with the heartz project, gahyeon suddenly felt small. probably because these girls had been training together for months while gahyeon, yena, and heejin were only just joining. but gahyeon knew she was talented, potentially even more so than some of the other girls here. however, they didn’t know that yet. and god was gahyeon wanting to prove herself more than anything.

while gahyeon herself had never been a part of a debut project, she knew that this was a better time than any to give her 110%. after all, she was ultimately competing against the other girls in the project. so, that meant that gahyeon had to give everything she did her all ... but that didn’t mean she had to shun the other girls in the project. gahyeon was awkward and often stumbled when talking to new people, but if she’d learned anything in her years at royal, it was that she had to make friends if she wanted to progress. she couldn’t just rely on herself to teach herself something that she knew little about – and that made a perfect opportunity to get to know the other girls.

the first person gahyeon turns to is heejin, if only because heejin is also a new girl, and it was almost easier to approach one of the new girls versus a girl who’s been in the project for the last couple of months. they’ve taken a break from group practice, and gahyeon’s antsy to keep working – so she figures approaching someone to help with her solo is as good as any. after all, gahyeon isn’t exactly the best vocalist, and perhaps it’s good that she knows her own weaknesses and is determined to better herself for the sake of debut. singing may not be her forte, but she’s more than willing to make an effort. and jeon heejin is a vocalist if gahyeon ever knew one. she vaguely remembers the younger girl being on the mgas, winning the mgas ? gahyeon wonders idly as she approaches. quite honestly, she doesn’t remember – but what she does remember is that she has a great voice, and practice has shown that much as well.

so, gahyeon decides to wander up to her during their break, a slight smile on her face as she takes a seat next to heejin against the mirror. “ hi, you’re jeon heejin, right ?  – i’m lee gahyeon ... ” she introduces. “ um, so, you’re a vocalist, right ? i figure from the line distribution, and – you were on the mgas, season 5, right ? ” gahyeon asks, brows raised as if she doesn’t clearly remember. quite honestly, the season had been a blur, but heejin’s face was recognizable enough. “ so, i’m sure you’ve noticed that i’m not exactly the strongest vocalist, but i was wondering if maybe you could give me some tips, or help me out a bit ? i want to be able to be prepared for whatever happens with this project, and i’m a great rapper and dancer, but considering the solo evaluations require it, i think ... vocalizing is kind of important, too. ” she chuckles gently, then glances over at heejin. “ you definitely don’t have to – but i just figure ... us newbies have to stick together, right ? ”

[girlxftomorrow]

@inze

Mixed emotions of hope and shame course through her. She had been banking on her niece’s kindness and decency to shine through to forgiveness for what she’d done. But she hadn’t expected any particular compliments. She’d come to her. Said she was tired of fighting and wanted to end this. Something that before would have been completely shameful, not brave. But Kara’s words meant more to Astra than any that rattled around in her own head. Rather than speak any words, Astra acted. Before it would be too late. Her arms wrapped around Kara, pulling her in tightly. Knowing she was here and alive and willing to let Astra be better, be the aunt she’d once been, was everything. “Thank you, Kara. I will continue to try and prove you right.” 

There were certain things Kara had accepted as lost: the Jewel Mountains; pods zooming between curved, crystal spires; her father’s workshop and his soft voice as he explained his latest experiment; bonding ceremonies by the fire falls; her mother’s hands as they brushed through her hair when she wasn’t feeling well. And Astra. Astra pointing to each star and telling her its history, spinning stories of her exploits across the galaxies. There were so many things Kara had given up before she even realized what giving up truly meant. Never in a thousand lightyears had she imagined she’d ever have to give them up again, and yet–

She believed so strongly in hope and second chances. Maybe it was her endless optimism to blame, or maybe it was the ache that always sat heavy in her chest. The big, gaping hole left by Krypton that she spent all day every day filling with love and laughter and family, feeding it and feeding it but never filling it completely. Rao, she loved Astra. She needed Astra. The DEO would question her up and down, but the moment Astra stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her, something lost slotted smoothly back into place, and Kara knew this was something she couldn’t bear to lose again.

“I–” For a moment, she stood ramrod straight, hands up and unbelieving. Then it all fell into place in a moment, all the years and battles between them falling away. Kara was twelve, holding a spy beacon, and waiting for her aunt. She finally wrapped her own arms around Astra, balling the fabric of her shirt in her hands, squeezing tight just because she could. “This isn’t going to be easy. We have so much we need to talk about.”

[makcitpink]

Reading wasn't exactly chief among Flora's many and varied hobbies, but even she had to admit that there was something to the concept of curling up in the comforts of her pillow-top bed with a good book for an hour or so before turning in for the night. Most of the appeal centered around the opportunity to shut her mind off for a few precious hours – to become so absorbed in a storyline that there simply wouldn't be room for the laundry list of to-dos and mental notes stored in that brain of hers – but then again, the broad-chested man with the chiseled face and flowing blonde hair that was plastered front and center on the cover certainly didn't hurt, either. What could she say? Even the most uptight of people had their weaknesses, and if cheesy romances were her worst vices, Flora figured she was still in good shape. 

Unfortunately, the woman quickly discovered that she was woefully out of touch with the inner workings of the library, which left her with no other option but to wander through row after row of shelves in the hopes of finding the section she so desperately needed. Thankfully, the universe decided to drop help right into her lap in the form of a complete and total stranger. "Well, now that you mention it, I could use some help. I was looking for..." she paused, swallowing thickly as the mental picture of that cover flashed in her mind, a pointed accusation of just how embarrassing asking a total stranger for help in finding a trashy romance novel would be. "Fiction." Yes, yes - vague enough not to put a pin on her thoughts, but just enough to get her in the right direction. Sure, the delivery was stiff, but it might've at least been enough for her to pull her diversion off. "Yes! That's it – the fiction section. I was hoping I could find it on my own, but this place is like a maze."

Starter: Open Location: Library

Sarah spent a lot of time at the library, even on her days off. She had worked today, but ended up staying for awhile after her shift, lost in the research of Evermore and avoiding any fiction stories for the sake of her emotions. The last book she read, she ended up crying for hours after it ended, and couldn’t stop thinking about it for days. How do people just finish a book and move on with their lives so easily? Her fingers danced across the spines of different books on the shelves, a notebook held close to her chest with her other arm. No research would be complete without some notes to go along with it. She hadn’t initially realized someone else was close by, though, glancing in their direction and immediately feeling like she was in their way. “Sorry .. Are you looking for something, too? I can get out of the way, or help you find something if you need it.”