#( conversations / adeline )

[rcsesnoir]

@xogiada

LOCATION: somewhere distanced from the carnival. FOR: giada d'amiano.

THE BREEZE THIS EVENING was anything but gentle. adeline found herself overwhelmed by it all. she was tired of pretending. pretending she didn't feel like she was drowning -- that she was tired of the fighting. wondering why the fuck she had even allowed her life to go down the path it had in the first place. but, then again, had she even had a choice? these are the questions that have been keeping her up at night while the rest of the world sleeps -- for a moment, in those instances, she feels like the last woman alive on this earth. she decides to walk some distance outside the fairgrounds -- looking for some semblance of peace, drink in hand. maybe she'll find herself again at the bottom of it. what she doesn't expect is to have company. at least, it's someone she knows will bring her the momentary peace she's seeking. she knows it's giada before she even sees her.

" we always find each other, don't we? "

[roseworth]

comic convos with Comic Dudes are crazy bc we are reading these stupid picture books so differently. when we have a “who’s your favorite robin” convo and i say jason or steph and they say “tim because he’s the best one” i know we are looking for completely different things in these books

[nishihii]

she's so bad at it

[shinceltyblewup]

I'm having fun I'm kind of obsessed with whatever Valen and Juniper have going on...? If the player doesn't get with either of them I hope they continue playing borderline psychosexual yuri cat and mouse

[bclletragedie]

                            @proeliums

LOCATION: juliet's dressing room, the metropolitan opera house FOR: adeline underwood

𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 nothing, until she grew into something. it was the story that juliet huang told herself as her eyes nearly bore through the dressing room mirror following every dress rehearsal, as she began to wipe away the face of carmen and once again replace it with her own. the announcement of her casting had certainly come with some reservations from some ( do you have the... je ne se qoux? the ability to get down and be.. dirty? little did they know... ), but when juliet was asked to take on a role -- she took it on with such devotion and dedication that the questions would soon stop coming. all she had to do was wait out the storm -- for there would soon be light.

as if right on cue the knock on the door pulls her out of her thoughts, endless as they seem, and back to her reality. and while her dressing room is juliet's space of solitude, where she returns to her own two feet -- there is only one person who she permits to visit. while it has not been exclusively said, it is a rule that is clearly unspoken.

adeline. her adeline, if she were to be quite frank. and while she was more than aware that her paramour was certainly her own woman, it was what had drawn juliet into her magnetic pull.. the thought of her being with anyone else made her heart sink. gave way to pure, unadultured anger. juliet wore her sweetness on the surface, no stranger to rage, but she was certainly unfamiliar with the differences of this feeling. and yet, behind closed doors much like the one that seperated them now -- adeline made sure to remind her just how deeply her affections bore.

my juliet. mine. she can hear the words gracing her ears now with the gentleness of a whisper, reminded of the moment they were first uttered. back then when their affair had only been an affair, fingers tangled between the crisp white sheets on juliet's queen bed. adeline had taken residence there ever since, even when juliet found herself sleeping alone.

god, was it both so terrifying and exciting, all at the same time.

" come in! " juliet calls out with a soft lilt to her voice, reserved for the one whom, like it or not, she is completely enamored with. as her assumption is proven true by the other woman's entrance, she utilizes the swivel built into the chair she is perched upon to face her. she can see the look in adeline's eyes from the first instance their gazes connect. the séguedille. from the moment she had stepped offstage from the run through, she had been so enthralled with the madness of rehearsal that she had forgotten the cameras were even there for the promotionals.

adeline, her adeline had been subjected to nearly an hour of watching her tangled with the actor portraying carmen's target, don josé -- in an act of seduction. if her own jealousy overwhelmed her like a forest fire... she could only imagine the destruction adeline was inducing within the confines of her mind. " it was only acting... " the woman murmurs quietly. she speaks as if she believes it, because she does, but she can see the plot coming to life behind her dearest's eyes. " he's a costar, adeline. " it is here where she stands, taking the effort to shut the door and lock it behind them -- to give them some privacy. " you know there's no one other than you.. "

[grandmagbignaturals]

tup had me just about yelling at my phone today

WHAT IS A NORMAL ANTARIS BEAR CHRISTINE

CHRISTINE????

[rcsesnoir]

@bcrninhell

LOCATION: by the kissing booth, following levent's shift. FOR: levent sahin.

ADELINE HAD INTENDED TO come alone. frankly, she was getting tired of events like these. she could show her face in true socialite fashion, laugh and network as one does. but, not at the mercy of another human being, she could quickly leave and go home. however, there are several whom she's happy to say hello to. such as their fearless leader, who she was sure could be either delighted by his assignment or beyond displeased. the duality of men. as he rounds the corner of the booth, adeline is sure to offer him a graceful and pleasent smile. " are your lips sore? " the money cleaner laughs, in a playful manner. she offers him her arm, an offering to lead him away from work and instead relish in the other pleasentries the evening had to offer. " i've heard a drink could help with that. "

[mattyriddlesbitch]

Hii lovely!! I'm not sure if it's alright but just hear me out. maybe a fic stalker theo completely obsessed w reader, maybe kinda dubcon but if not i totally understand !!

Very convenient timing considering I just read Haunting Adeline this weekend. I kinda used one of the parts in it for the instigation, but I hope this works!

Fuck Off

Theodore Nott x F!Reader

Warnings: DUB/NONCON PLEASE DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS STUFF, oral(female receiving), unprotected sex, cream pie, cussing, stalking.

18+ Minors DNI

You've had a stalker for a few months now. They would leave gifts outside your dorm to begin with. Then they started showing up in your dorm. The gifts were sweet and tailor specifically to your likes and wants, which you couldn't decide if that made it creepier or not.

The gifts weren't the only thing you got from your stalker. They would also send you texts from an unknown number. They weren't threatening or anything that suggested harm to you. Maybe creepy since they'd talk about what you were doing in that moment, even when you were completely alone. Sometimes they were sweet, sometimes they were sexual. And you hated to admit it, but they knew exactly how to talk dirty to you, they could get you worked up so easily. It freaked you out but you weren't in danger. Right?

You were sitting in your bed reading, unwinding from the hectic day you just had when your phone went off for a text notification. It startled you out of your little world and you opened the message.

“Have I ever told you how beautiful you are when you're reading?”

Your stalker again.

“A few times.” You replied. At this point, you've given up ignoring them since they'll just keep messaging you until you respond.

“I'll tell you a million more times. You should be reminded every day how beautiful you are.”

“You already do that.”

“Maybe next time I say it, I can say it while my cock's buried deep inside you.”

“Pervert.”

“Only for you. You know you drive me insane. You make me so hard just sitting there. Especially since I know the filth you're reading. You're not so innocent yourself, bella.”

You looked at your phone for a moment before looking around. You did read dirty books, but only in your dorm. Another ping from your phone drew your attention back to it.

“You won't find me, amore mio. You should know this by now.”

“Fuck off.” You replied, angry at him for how he's treating your privacy.

“Careful, principessa. If you say that again, I'm gonna come fuck that little pussy of yours.”

You scoffed, disgusted by his words. Would he really come do it? No. Was part of you also curious if he would and wanted to see who he was? Yeah. That's why you couldn't stop yourself from replying.

“Fuck off.”

“You're in for it now, cara mia.”

You rolled your eyes and went back to your book. Your eyes felt heavy after a while and you put the book aside to fall asleep.

The next day, you got up and headed for the showers, getting ready for the day. You stripped and got under the hot water of the shower, relaxing for a moment before starting your shower routine.

You always got an eerie feeling of someone watching you or being right there when you closed your eyes while rinsing the shampoo and conditioner out of your hair. This time, though, when you opened your eyes after rinsing out the conditioner, there was someone right in front of you. You knew him, of course, everyone did. Theodore Nott.

You screamed and backed away from him, hitting the shower wall while you covered your body as best as you could.

“Get the fuck out!” You yelled.

“I'm not going anywhere, cara mia.” He smiled. You noticed he was fully clothed as he stepped towards you, drenching his clothes from the shower.

“You? You're the fucking creep that's been stalking me?” You made the connection after hearing him call you the same pet name as your stalker.

“If you recall that little conversation last night, I told you I'd come fuck you if you told me to ‘fuck off’ again, which you did.” He took another step closer, his shoes nearly touching your toes. “And I don't make empty threat, principessa.”

“I could scream right now and someone will come in and stop you.” You threatened, hoping to deter him.

“I'm hurt you think I'm so stupid. I put a silencing charm on the room and looking charm on the door so no one could come in and you can't get out.” He said as he brushed a strand of your wet hair from your face.

You flinched from his touch, closing your eyes. “What are you gonna do to me?” You whisper.

“I'm gonna make you feel so, so good, bella.” He said and moved to kneel in front of you.

As soon as his knees hit the tile, you pushed him out of the way and ran out of the shower, trying not to slip.

“I already told you, you cant get out, cara mia.” He called out to you.

You ignored him and tried the door to the bathroom. Wouldn't even budge. You didn't have your wand on you either since you were showering. Hands wrapped around your waist and you fought against him, kicking back to hit him, which just ended up making you both fall to the ground. He was much quicker than you, propping you on your knees so your face was down and ass up for him while he held your hands behind your back. You couldn't see him from this angle, but felt his tongue flick your clit, making you moan.

“You act like you don't want me, but your soaking, cara mia.” He said before licking and sucking at your clit.

Your words died in your throat, replaced by a moan leaving your mouth instead.

“Your body knows what it wants, amore mio.” He licked up to your entrance, prodding his tongue inside.

“Fuck.” You moaned, eyes rolling back before closing.

He moaned against you and kept his onslaught of pleasure on your pussy until you came.

“That's my good girl. That's what I wanted.” He said as he helped ride out your high.

“To force yourself on me?” You asked as you caught your breath once the orgasm faded.

“To make you feel good, principessa.” He shuffled behind you a bit as he kept a hand holding yours down still. You could hear the sound of his pants being undone.

“I think there could've been another way to fuck me that didn't involve stalking and harassing me.” It probably wasn't a smart move to mouth off to your stalker, but you were so angry. You pulled your hands out of his grip and tried taking off, but he just grabbed your legs, making you fall back on your stomach.

“I think you like this, though. I see how soaked you are from this.” He pulled you back onto your knees and held onto both your wrists with both of his hands. His cock teased your entrance, coating it in your arousal.

“You think I like you forcing yourself on me?” You said, hissing from how sensitive you were when he nudged your clit.

“You haven't told me to stop.” He said before thrusting into you, immediately bottoming out and making you cry out. “You're practically dripping from how wet you are for me, cara mia.”

You couldn't even deny that, maybe you were crazy, but you were embarrassingly wet from all this.

He started thrusting in and out of you, his grip on your wrists tight, bruises will probably form later from all of this.

“Not even trying to fight back anymore. You finally accepting that you're enjoying this?” He asked, letting go of your wrists to grab your hips. “Or maybe I got you too cockdrunk on me. Is that it? Am I making you feel so good you can't talk?” His voice was condesending.

“Fuck off.” You said, clawing at the floor to grip something.

“You love testing me, principessa. I don't mind. I'm happy to put you in your place each time.” He said and you could practically hear the smile in his voice. “You can stop acting like you hate this. I can feel you clenching my cock like you can't get enough of it.”

“As if.” You said between moans. He was hitting you so deep and fast, it had another orgasm building quickly.

“Keep talking like that and next time I'll have to punish you, amore mio.” He said, moving a hand from your hip to grip your hair. “How about you be a good girl instead and cum on my cock for me, yeah?”

“Fuck, shit!” You cried out, so close to cumming.

“Scream my name when you cum. Wanna hear how it sounds from those pretty lips.” He groaned, he was getting close himself. “Fuck, you’re so beautiful, principessa.”

You came around him, trembling as his name fell from your lips over and over.

“That's the most beautiful sound I've ever fucking heard. Shit!” He said before moaning, his hips stilling as he came inside you, filling your pussy with his cum.

He pulled out as you both caught your breaths and stood back up, quickly redoing his pants before pulling out his wand and undoing the spells. He left the bathroom without another word to you as you slowly got up and went back to the shower to scrub the filth of what you'd done off of you.

And hopefully convince yourself that you didn't enjoy that.

Taglist:

@jeannie-beannie @yourenogoodforme @mixvchelle @helendeath @evaslytherpuff

@soaked4abby @hpnsfwaddict @mayamonroem @motherfing-stargirl @brittney-121

@dracoslovergirl @littlemadamred @mattheoriddlesbitch @acornacreacure @opheliamalfoy236

@demieyesore

Let me know if you wanna be added!

[rcsesnoir]

FRANKLY, IN A TIME when adeline was far from calm -- she found a distinct amount of comfort in laying eyes on her people. while the woman found herself growing distinctly closer with reyan, she always enjoyed derin's company and wanted nothing more than to see the young woman happy. thus, adeline broke out into a smile as she sat down in front of derin. " unicorn? and why's that? because i'm magestic? " the woman hummed out of genuine curiousity. frankly, she thought she was more of a cat. it was a rare show of ego from the otherwise reserved and self-assured woman. " i just wanted to check in on you, my dear. all is well? "

Location: Face painting Status: open @sinnerssquarestart

Derin was happy to get put somewhere her talents could be put to good use. Being an artist was paying off. Though the little designs were beneath her talents, she was still happy to do it. It made the night suck less. "And what would you like." She said as the next guest took a seat in front of her, "You are giving unicorn."

[tillichan]

⭒˚‧ ︵‿⭒ཐིཋྀ Your life in Blue Lock for @xo-adeline ཐིཋྀ⭒‿︵ ‧˚⭒

Being the manager of the best football team in Europe, Bastard Munchen, is not an easy task. But somehow you immediately fit into this team, becoming an inalienable part of Bastard Munchen. Even though, players may seem like they don't care about you, but that's no true! Conversely, they've a soft spot for you and value your contribution to the team. Your intimidating look is actually a secret weapon of your team you don't know about it though which helped them to make their rivals give up without a fight more than once.

Rival A: Hey, bro, look at this manager. She's planning on murdering or something like this? Rival B: She looks like she's going to kill us if we score even one goal. Bastard Munchen: What are you saying about our manager? Rivals — crap their pants, your team — pleased with themselves, meanwhile you just have no clue about all this stuff.

Usually you do the ordinary manager stuff like paperwork, maintaining the team schedule, taking care of players. But your ability to see a little things and your knowledge of psychology help Bastard Munchen to analyze their matches or their rivals. Sometimes you speak your mind without always thinking about it first during meetings. Your seniors are dissatisfied with it, but your team love your sarcastic and witty personality. And when you subtly mock seniors or team's rivals? Your team adore you! But your routine was interrupted by invitation to Blue Lock, your team as players, you as their manager assistant, because Blue Lock project needs more workers. And if you think that being a manager of Bastard Munchen is chaos, no, being a manager of Blue Lock is real chaos! Where should I start?.. Well, let's start from this part. Now you've not a team of professional football players, you've a team of professional simps-guardians, who literally growl at poor Blue Lock boys, who want to ask you for help, for example. Bastard Munchen are very proud of their manager and brag about you every. single. minute.

Kaiser: Wanna ask manager for help, Yoichi? What a pity, she is my manager! Anri in the background: But she is not only your manager...

Even Noel Noa brags about you in his composed manner! Ego didn't understand his behavior at first. But when you started speaking your mind during meetings and teasing Anri with him... Well, you're really not bad, so Ego thinks now. I'm sorry, Ego-san, this manager is already taken. Bastard Munchen are very chaotic team, you still love them. Despite their attempts to protect you from Blue Lock boys, you've a lot of friends here and carry out the duties of a manager great.

Color of your ego — Dark Blue

Falling in love with a new manager of Bastard Munchen is the last thing Michael Kaiser expected out of his life. But here you are, beautiful, smart and full of love for him. You broke the walls Michael had built around his heart over the years and showered him with love. Even though Michael hate being loved because it makes him weak, he also wants to be loved by someone, strange as it may sound.

♥ You two look so cool together! Your couple aesthetic and aura is something else! Tattoos, blue roses, similar hair colors and intimidating smug look. I bet, you're the hottest topic of discussion in the community! ♥ Michael loves that you're a sarcastic person and tend to speak your mind without always thinking about it. Your personalities suits each other, you both are witty, independent and have your own time of self-doubt. It helps you to understand each other and work on your weaknesses together. ♥ Especially Kaiser loves teasing you whenever you're falling and tripping all over the place. After he caught you, of course. ♥ Since Michael is interested in psychology, as you do, you two have a lot of deep conversations and discussions about it. He'd probably be interested in true crime too because of you. ♥ Please, take care of him in the morning. Michael wakes up in a really bad mood, but mornings are actually not that bad if you're with him~ ♥ Michael hates receiving gifts, he doesn't know how he's supposed to react. Well, if it's not your gifts. Even though, he is still bad at showing good reactions, but he is happy that you think about him.

Alexis Ness acts towards you as your older brother. You and Kaiser are the most important people in his life. Honestly, Alexis loves and protects you even more than he admires Kaiser. He thinks about you as a little sister, because he never received love and understanding from his real siblings. And as your older brother he protects you a lot! If you and Alexis come in, while Kaiser's doing his morning routine consists of standing before the mirror naked, gazing at himself while having a conversation with himself, Alexis will cover your eyes with his hands. It doesn't matter that Michael is your boyfriend. Don't worry, dear, your brother protect your heart from all jerks around you!

Noel Noa is your proud father figure. He always acts cool, but he loves you from the bottom of his heart. Your smart tactics and ideas helped Bastard Munchen more than once, not to mention that he loves that you can keep in line the behavior of the team. Every time Noa has meeting with coaches in Blue Lock, your name keeps coming up. And if Ego or another coach ask him to give you his team? No. That's impossible.

Itsuki Wakatsuki has a fattest crush on you since you first appeared in Blue Lock. The way you tease your, and not only your, team, your sarcastic and witty behavior, your strange but cute habit to do something and then just totally stop and move on, he was smitten with you! Even though your team is kinda aggressive when someone tries to approach you, Itsuki talks to you whenever he has a chance. He enjoys talking to you about football, mocking others players or sleeping on your lap, because he's always tired. The last one happened only once, because your team raised a riot.

Karasu Tabito is your best friend in Blue Lock. You're cool and smart girl, who is also witty and loves analyzing people, consider you're Tabito's favorite person in the whole Blue Lock. Karasu doesn't like receiving a present because he hates to be forced to feel happy. But somehow you've the ability to make him always feel happy not only because of little gifts but also because of little gestures which always get to the point. You two spend your time together analyzing games or players or just talking about your life. Karasu built walls around his heart. And you're the only one person who are able to tear it down.

Nagi Seishiro is one more your Blue Lock friend. You two have a lot in common! Sleeping, playing video games, reading manga, for example. You and Nagi bond over similar hobbies and got along well. You two can be found together reading manga Nagi has a lot of manga apps, so you two always can find something interesting or playing video game. Nagi would like to rest on you lap after a rough training session, but unfortunately this place is already taken. As you do, Nagi loves teasing people around in his own way. So you two have a lot of fun together, imagining Barou Maid Cafe or football players as animals.

[hibiscusspunweb]

Percy Jackson headcanons

-Annabeth absolutely LOATHES dark romance books or books that are mostly smut with little to no plot. She once bought one just to burn it (probably Haunting Adeline).

-When Percy gets angry enough, the air around him starts boiling. He doesn’t even realize until someone points out that theres steam coming off him.

-Leo and Annabeth work well as a team.

-Nico has been forced to used liquid IVs by Will several times.

-Percy shaves regularly after he sees stubble on his face to avoid looking too much like Poseidon.

-Jason, on the other hand, struggles to grow a beard.

-Frank really likes the fall-scented candles from Bath and Body Works.

-When on the battlefield, people give Percy and Annabeth a wide berth individually and together since they fight so efficiently. -Hazel smells like cinnamon.

-Piper’s favorite bird is the blue jay.

-Leo has been caught listening to Taylor Swift on multiple occasions.

-When Will needs to get something at night, he makes himself glow to get around.

-Nico has also told Will to use his “flashlight” ability several times.

-Some Greek demigods’ writing switches from Ancient Greek / Greek to English and they have to be careful about it at school etc.

-Austin once entered a flute competition and won.

-Arrows in the walls, floor, ceiling, EVERYWHERE, in the Apollo cabin.

-The Apollo cabin sings a Broadway song every morning loud enough for most of the camp to hear. Windows and doors open to REALLY let people hear it.

-Percy’s eyes glow in dark water.

-The Aphrodite cabin has a whole shelf of just perfumes and colognes.

-Leo and Will have deep conversations about country music.

-Percy and Annabeth have turned multiple people gay.

[rcsesnoir]

@xogiada

LOCATION: a hotel in a neutral location. FOR: giada d'amiano.

THE ENEMY. THAT WAS what giada was supposed to be, wasn't it? but, how could adeline ever bring herself to hate someone whom she loved so much? frankly, the woman had practiced what she called indifferent avoidance. for a while, she considered herself to be getting better at it with each passing day. conditioning took time. their obligation to their respective organizations was what they needed to focus on right now, when all was said and done. then had come the gala. the initial sight of the woman had caused the breath in adeline's chest to hitch, collect in her throat. but, she leaned on her practices, her pride to stay stable. stay strong in her resolve. however, when everything with francesca had occurred, the look of worry on giada's face was nearly impossible for her to ignore. relieve it. do something. the call was impossible for her to ignore. ever since then, every practice was shattered. faulty. thus, they find a way to see each other -- a neutral location that no one else could think of. even if the hotel was far from either of their usual caliber, frankly, adeline cares very little. not when she opens the door, and there she is.

glossed lips part -- initially unable to speak. she can hear her heartbeat in her ears. after a moment of silence, adeline takes the other woman's hand in her own before quickly tugging her inside, directly into an embrace as the door closes. now, she can finally breathe.

[rcsesnoir]

HER INTERACTION WITH GIADA had certainly left her shaken to her core. after months of fighting what she knew to be true -- that there would never be anyone else who held her attention quite like her, she couldn't escape the feeling of her heart beating in her ears. she could hear it getting closer -- like something was chasing her. she could feel the whisper of its hands grasping at her back, but still missing every single time. had her eyes lingered on the booth for a moment too long -- not initially intending to play, but realizing there wasn't a benifit in saying no. in fact, there was not an ounce of harm in engaging that she could find.

" it's quite alright, darling. " adeline flashes the woman a sheepish smile, still clearly enraptured by her own thoughts. the she plays, the more booths she engages with -- the more she'll be distracted and the quicker she'll be able to go home. run for the hills, and hide within the confines of her apartment. " it would never hurt to give it a shot, would it? more good than any harm. " adjusting her purse on her shoulder, ( designer, of course ), she looks around to get a sense of the game. " any rules i should know about? "

LOCATION: Heart Toss TAG: open! @sinnerssquarestart Over the course of her shift at the heart toss, Breslin had become pretty adept at the game in her downtime, which grew to greater and greater lengths as the sky darkened and the children in the crowd became more sparse. A solid twenty minutes without anyone attempting the game meant Breslin was half-perched on the table at the front of the booth, one leg crossed over her knee as her foot bounced in an attempt to keep the evening chill at bay. She scrolled idly through her phone, her focus drawn so completely that she missed the movement of someone at her back and startled when she finally caught it.

"Hey, sorry--" A sheepish grin drew the corners of her lips up as she shifted from foot to foot. "Here to give it a go? Nobody's won the big one yet," she continued as she motioned to the fluffy white polar bear holding a satin-looking red heart in its arms. "Here to try to impress someone special?"

[fomfarms]

Hi!

Could you please write headcanons for the romanceables, where the farmer accidentally falls asleep on their shoulder (pre-relationship).

Thank you!

Adeline:

she had asked for your help with some Official Mistria business

but that eventually turned into her scribbling away at paperwork into the wee hours, continuously stating that 'I'll only be a moment more!'

she legitimately didn't realize how long she'd be at it, or how late it had gotten

that is until she felt something on her shoulder

she initially gave another 'just one more minute, I promise I'm almost done!'

but when she still felt something there, she looked over

and it was you

not your hand like she had been expecting, but your head, resting lightly on her shoulder as you dozed off

in a moment she's all blushing and embarrassed

how late had it gotten?? Oh, poor farmer...

she sat there thinking for a moment, looking at your sleeping face

she didn't mean to stare but...

well, you might've JUST fallen asleep

and she still did have some more paperwork to finish up

maybe... she could just leave you there for a moment...

'just a moment!' she thought, as she began toiling away into the night with you sleeping peacefully on her shoulder

Balor:

It had been the usual quiet night at the Inn

well, okay, quiet wasn't really the right word

it definitely wasn't rowdy, but it was bustling

everyone chatting, eating, imbibing

you had made your way next to him, and had nestled yourself into the spot the majority of the night

you were less chatty than usually, but it was obviously your body was drained from a long day

and still you came to enjoy everyone's company

his company

how could he turn such attention away

his conversation had shifted to one with Hemlock, who suddenly looked over at you, then back to Balor with a smirk

Balor was confused until he felt a weight gently plop itself against his shoulder

he glanced over, and there you were, sound asleep, resting your head against him

a faint blush covered his cheeks as he looked back at Hemlock

Hemlock just continued smirking and polishing a glass

Balor fidgeted a moment, looking back and forth between you and anywhere else

eventually he cleared his throat a bit, and draped his cloak over you, letting you stay leaning against him

'they had a long day...' he began, 'P-probably should let them rest a bit...'

Hemlock smiled, and gave a nodding reply, 'yeah, probably should.'

You two spent the rest of the night like that, and Balor tried not to pay too much attention to how nice your presence beside him was, or how much it seemed to comfort him...

Celine:

you had just finished helping her garden

you sat together on the bench outside her house, as she rattled on about the behaviors of the flowers that were set to bloom in the coming season

then she stopped, frozen and shocked in a rigid posture, as she felt something lightly touch her shoulder

she looked over, and there you were, in a peaceful sleep, dozing off at her side

her face blossomed into a full blush, as she rigidly looked away, processed this for a minute, then let out a tiny quiet squeak

she looks as you again, your face soft and warmed by the glowing sunlight

proceeds to panic silently

is flipping back and forth between waking you up and letting you sleep

ends up sitting there for hours in that state before you eventually wake up on your own

when you apologize for falling asleep like that she just replies 'no problem'

legend says she's still blushing about it to this day

Caldarus:

you had asked to join him while he plucked away at his lute on the garden bench

he actually didn't notice your head on his shoulder at first, a little too distracted with his playing

but when he stopped, remembering he was with company, he turned and began 'Sorry, I lost myself there for a moment. Would you--' and then stopped

you were against his shoulder, fast asleep

a light blush crept across his face, and he couldn't help but smile gently as he took in your peaceful face

he huffed out a small contented laugh, feeling a sense of contentment he had not felt in a long while

and began to play a long forgotten lullaby

Eiland:

you two had just finished a dig

the sun was bright and the labor grueling, but with your help, Eiland finally unearthed an old statue

it was about the size of a large table, and was about as heavy

he was brushing away finer details, rambling a bit about what the type of stone and style of the make of it suggested

when he left a small weight on his back

he blushed a deep red as you leaned forward on him

at first he thought it was to get a closer look, but then he heard the sound of you breathing steadily and knew you had fallen asleep

he supposed in your sun baked exhaustion, you just couldn't keep your eyes open

he bit his lip as he pondered his options a bit, an awkward blush still on his face

he quietly decided that, well-- maybe he should let you rest of a moment

and he's not going anywhere for a bit, this statue isn't going to date itself

so--- maybe you might as well rest on him... for a bit...

as your arms slinked weakly around his waist, and you leaned more solidly against him, he decided

yep

he's DEFINITELY not going anywhere...

Hayden:

you two sat in the grass among the animals

you had just gotten done helping him with some animal maintenance-- shoes for the horses, sheering the woolly for the summer weather, giving everyone a brush-- and were taking a much needed break to bask in the sun and catch a bit of the breeze that was picking up

the conversation lulled into silence, as you both watched the clouds rolling in the sky

or at least, that's what Hayden thought you were doing

but when he felt a little bump against his shoulder and looked over

he saw you, eyes closed and fast asleep

he smiled warmly, taking in the sight of you

without even thinking, he was pushing some hair out of your face and gently tucking it behind your ear

then he realize what he'd done and started blushing

he turned his embarrassed gaze back to the sky

and let you rest against him as the wind cooled you both down

this was nice...

Juniper:

she had called you over to try out her latest potion

but when you got there a few things had gone wrong with the brew process, and it wasn't ready by the time you arrived

she told you to wait a bit while she figure this out

that ended up taking a lot longer than you both expected, and the scents of the bathhouse began to lull you to sleep

you didn't mean to fall asleep, or to end up on Juniper's shoulder

and when you did, he first response was to snap out a 'I said just a minute, this is a very delicate process, you can't rush--'

and then she stopped as she heard a snore

her expression turned into a sneer as she glanced over

really?? does she look like a pillow to you??

she was about to shrug you off, but something stopped her

maybe it was your peaceful expression, or maybe it was your dumb dorky snore, or maybe... it was something else...

but for some reason

she didn't mind you sleeping against her

maybe she even... was okay with you there...

she huffed as she blushed, turning her attention back to her work as she tried to ignore you

fine! whatever! it's not like the potion was ready anyway...

she supposes she can let you rest there... for now...

March:

March was in his usual place at the Inn

and you were sitting right next to him

he was being his usual drunken goofy self, smiling and yammering on

then he felt a little bump on his shoulder

and when he looked over, there you were

he doesn't know how long you'd been falling asleep, but you were def asleep now

a blush bloomed across his face, and for a moment he just stared at you with wide, awestruck eyes

then he smiled, patted your head and told you 'goobd night'

later, when Hemlock came over, and have the whole situation a surprised but cheery smile

March had loudly hiss whispered at him

'shhhhh, they're sleeping'

Reina:

after a long day, a bowl of soup at the Inn is just what you needed

and Reina was more than happy to provide company!

the hour was late and the usual crowd had long cleared, so it was just the two of you

you talked about your days a bit, but as the exhaustion and a full belly started to take you over

your eyes began to droop

Reina was flipping through her notebook of recipes, talking over ideas she had for tomorrows lunch special

when she felt a tap on her shoulder

she looked over, and you were fully out

she smiled gently, feeling her face warm at how sweet you looked

she decided to leave you there, going back to her notebook silently

but not before leaning her head on yours

Ryis:

you two were in the woods

watching early morning birds

the sun was still dim and the air was cool

and between the bird's song and Ryis gently noting who he was hearing

you kind of ended up lulled to sleep

your head ended up on his shoulder

he jumped a bit as he froze mid sentence

then immediately eased, looking at you with a fond smile

he continued to listen to the birds

while you dozed away next to him

Valen:

you had come to Valen to have your head looked at

someone had found you fainted in the town square

....again

she was giving you the once over, but she had a feeling she already knew the cause

sleep deprivation

she was giving you a small lecture about taking care of ones health as she held your wrist, watching her watch as she timed your pulse

but then you leaned forward, and your head landed on her shoulder

she sighed, as you fell asleep on her

in your slumber, your hand reached for hers, and she responded to the gesture, taking your hand

'you know,' she said softly into your ear, 'it's not nice to make people worry...'

she sat there a moment, before gently lower you back onto the clinic bed and tucking you in

a days rest would do you some good

and this way she can keep an eye on you

[finelinevogue]

gamer!h 🎮

“Hello, hello.”

Harry smiled at the camera as he watched people enter his Twitch stream.

The set up was Harry in his bedroom, his bed in the back corner of the room behind him and an LED light that was writing in a cool font saying; musicforh4rry. That was his Twitch username.

You had bought it to him when he hit 5000 subscribers on Twitch.

His headphones say over his fluffy curls and there was his usual pink glow on his face from another light on his desk.

He looked very pretty for his birthday stream.

"Hi everyone!"

greenigloo: YAY! BIRTHDAY STREAM

datesonic: happy bday H

live4nd1e: your streams are always the best

"How is everyone doing? Ah thank you." Harry responded to the birthday comments as over 1500 people entered the stream.

jadeishere: How was your birthday?

isiton__or: Did you have a good day?

"Today has been so good. It was so chilled. I didn't want anything crazy. I ate cake - I actually posted a picture of it on my Instagram story, which you guys know I never do, because it was that good. Y/N actually made it for me."

You had made his favourite kind of chocolate cake with fudge buttercream, because you loved him perhaps a little too much.

Even though you had a busy week, you would always make the time to do nice things for your boyfriend. After all, acts of service was your love language.

kickers_off: Did you celebrate with YN?

"Yes. I celebrated with Y/N. We went our for lunch. It was really casual. They're actually sat over there reading a new book they got today."

Harry's head popped from around the monitor, looking at you all curled up on a big, plush, beanbag.

You had a massive Oodie on that Harry had bought you for Christmas, so you could have something extra cosy to wear whilst you were reading.

You looked up from your book to smile at him shyly, only half paying attention to the plot as you were mostly listening to Harry. Sometimes you even gave up on reading and pulled up his stream on your phone, which would likely happen later.

cabbage1: yn is a good egg

j0kingimj0king: are you going to play music for us today?

"I was going to play my guitar in a bit. Band practice is on Saturday- Oh shit, tomorrow night! So I need to practice as soon as possible."

s4tellit3: what did u get for ur birthday H?

"Ooh, this stream is about to turn into a birthday haul." Harry joked, leaning over to another side of his desk to retrieve a few of his gifts from today.

He first held up a Converse box, with a pair of grey high-top trainers inside. "These were off my mum. So thanks mom!"

Harry rustled around to grab the next item. It was a leather bound journal and fancy pen. "This was off my band. They're great."

And lastly he held up a book called Haunting Adeline, "And part of Y/Ns gift was this, apparently, joke of a gift. They want me to read it with them. So yeah."

harry_4ever: OMG NO THEY DIDNT

jacksonumber5: oh shit

dropsofharry: harry DONT DO IT

leeksandturnips: you have GOT to film your reaction to reading

"And now everyone is terrifying me in the comments about this book. Y/N! What are you planning?" Harry laughed, leaning over to look at you giggling away in the corner. "I am now terrified."

"You should be, but it'll be fun." You laughed out.

"It'll be fun were their final words of wisdom." Harry tutted.

[itsgiovanna]

playing for love (chapter 8)

pairing: fem!character x mason mount

summary: injured and lost, mason mount begins his recovery with the help of adeline alderidge, a tough yet brilliant physiotherapist with secrets of her own. he becomes determined to break through the walls adeline has built around herself. but some wounds don't heal easily, and the closer they get, the more mason realizes she might need saving just as much as he does.

notes: since i got more time to write, here's another oneeee!!! hope you love it 🤍

word count: 5.7k

warnings: just a lot of teasing, hehe.

next: chapter 9

tag list: @avalentina @a1leexxa

The restaurant, Saray Garden, a lively Turkish eatery on the corner of the street, radiated warmth. Mosaic lanterns dangled from the ceiling, casting colorful patterns on the walls. The scent of freshly baked pita and sizzling kebabs filled the air. Golden cushions and vibrant rugs added to the cozy, bustling atmosphere. Families gathered around low tables, laughter mingling with the hum of conversations.

"This place is amazing." Debbie said, her eyes scanning the intricate wall tiles. "Good choice, Mason."

"I’ve got my moments." Mason replied with a grin, holding the door open as his family stepped inside.

Adeline lingered for a second, feeling the slightest twinge of nerves. But Mason caught her eye, offering a small reassuring smile. She nodded, clutching Lily’s hand tightly.

"We’ll be fine." he murmured as she passed him.

The hostess led them to a round table near a window, where sunlight poured in, illuminating the colorful platters of mezze being carried by the waitstaff. Mason pulled out a chair for Adeline before taking his seat, while Lily settled beside her.

"This is beautiful." Adeline said, scanning the space. "I haven’t had Turkish food in ages."

"Then you’re in for a treat." Tony chimed in. "Mason’s obsessed with this place. He thinks he’s a food critic now."

"Don’t be jealous, Dad. Not everyone has my refined taste." Mason smirked.

"Refined?" Jaz scoffed. "You’re the guy who puts ketchup on everything. Even rice."

"Okay, that happened one time." Mason argued. "And in my defense, I was starving after the match."

Laughter echoed around the table. Mason glanced at Adeline, his smile lingering. He liked the way she laughed, the way it softened her. And for a moment, he forgot about the world outside this table.

"So, how’s he been as a patient?" Debbie asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "We’ve heard all about his physiotherapy sessions."

Adeline chuckled. "He’s… determined."

"That’s a nice way of saying stubborn." Jaz added with a grin.

"Hey!" Mason protested. "I’ve been very cooperative."

"Sure you have, mate." Sam teased. "Especially when you pretend to know more than the professionals."

"I don’t pretend. I do know more."

Adeline shot him a dry look, her lips curving upward. "Except for that time you tried to ‘speed up’ your recovery."

"We agreed never to speak of that again." Mason mumbled, though his grin betrayed him.

"Mummy, what’s Turkish food like?" Lily suddenly piped up.

Adeline smiled. "It’s really yummy. Lots of grilled meats, rice, and fresh bread. And the desserts are delicious."

"They have something called baklava." Mason added, winking at Lily. "It’s all sweet and sticky with honey. Best part, hands down."

Lily giggled, the tension easing from Adeline’s shoulders. Mason’s gaze lingered on her, noticing how her eyes lit up when Lily laughed. There was something about her — a strength, a softness. And it tugged at him.

Just as their conversation flowed comfortably, a sudden stir caught Mason’s attention. A group of girls had noticed him. They exchanged whispers, their excitement barely contained.

"Oh my God, it’s him!"

They approached cautiously, one of the girls hesitating before speaking. "Sorry, Mason, would you mind if we took a picture?"

Mason offered a polite smile, rising from his seat. "Sure."

As he posed for the photo, the fans’ eyes flickered to Adeline. The smiles faltered, and whispers resumed.

"Who’s she?"

"Not his girlfriend, right? She doesn’t even look—"

Adeline kept her eyes on Lily, trying to keep her focus on the little one’s excitement, but she couldn’t help the small, amused smile playing on her lips. The comments still swirled in her head, but she wasn’t bothered — more like mildly amused. She hadn't expected people to think she was Mason's girlfriend.

Mason returned to the table after the picture, sliding back into his seat. His eyes immediately found hers, and there was a brief, awkward silence. He leaned in slightly, his voice quiet but trying to keep it casual.

“So… that was something.” he said with a slight chuckle, clearly still trying to shake off the weirdness of the situation. “Didn’t think I’d be getting a girlfriend so soon.” He gave her a teasing glance, almost shy, like he wasn’t sure if he’d said too much.

Adeline lifted an eyebrow, surprised at the sudden remark, but her smile grew. "Oh, so you do think I look like your girlfriend?" she teased, her voice light.

Mason shifted a bit in his seat, a small blush creeping up his neck. “Well, I mean, if I had to choose someone... you’d definitely fit the bill.” he said, barely above a whisper, as if he wasn’t sure he’d said it at all.

Adeline couldn’t help but laugh quietly at the awkwardness, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Right, sure. I’ll be sure to put that on my resume next time I’m looking for a job."

Mason smiled at her laugh, clearly relieved that she wasn’t uncomfortable. "No one would ever dare question your qualifications." he replied, his voice still playful, though his smile was just a bit softer now.

Adeline’s smile lingered, but her thoughts stumbled for a moment. She had always been quick with a comeback, always had something to say. But Mason’s compliment — so simple, yet so sincere — left her momentarily speechless. She hadn’t expected that from him.

For a split second, she just stared at him, her thoughts trying to catch up. It wasn’t the teasing she was used to, not even the casual banter they usually exchanged. There was something in his voice that felt... real. And it caught her off guard, making her feel a little warmer than she’d anticipated.

She opened her mouth, but before she could respond, Jaz’s voice cut in from the other side of the table.

“Alright, enough with the lovebirds already.” Jaz said with a playful roll of her eyes, clearly not taking the conversation too seriously. “Anyone want more of those bread rolls, or are we just going to keep flirting over here?”

Adeline blinked, snapping out of her daze, and let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She shot Jaz a grateful look, relieved for the distraction. "I don’t know about lovebirds." she said with a light laugh, her tone quick and easy again. "But I could go for another roll."

Mason, still feeling the warmth from his own awkwardness, let out a small chuckle, running a hand through his hair. "You can never go wrong with more bread, right?" he said, trying to cover the slight embarrassment creeping up his neck.

"Right." Adeline agreed, her smile returning, though it held a hint of something softer now. She glanced back at Mason, her eyes briefly locking with his before she looked away, unsure of what exactly had shifted between them, but it was there.

Mason cleared his throat, his usual confidence returning. “Okay, okay, no more lovebird jokes. We’re just two people who can’t stop talking about carbs.” He winked, easing the lingering tension.

"Maybe carbs are the real love of my life, then.” she said, the playful spark back in her eyes.

The brief, quiet moment between them had passed, but for a second, something unspoken had lingered in the air, something they both quietly acknowledged. Neither of them said anything more about it, but it was there — an invisible shift, soft but undeniable. And for Adeline, it was something she couldn’t quite ignore.

(...)

Mason stood by the entrance, casually leaning against the wall, watching as Adeline said her goodbyes to his family. His parents, his sister, and his brother-in-law all gathered around her, chatting like old friends. His mom gave her a warm hug, her smile wide and genuine, and his sister had an arm around her shoulders as they exchanged a few final jokes. Even his nieces, who had been completely charmed by Adeline, waved enthusiastically as they headed toward the door with Sam.

Mason couldn't help but notice how easily Adeline had settled in. She was laughing more freely now, genuinely enjoying herself. It made him feel lighter, watching her engage with his family so effortlessly, though a part of him remained keenly aware of the issue at hand — her apartment was still damaged, and she seemed uncertain about what to do next.

As the goodbyes were wrapping up, Adeline gave his sister one last hug and turned toward the door. She was just about to step outside when Mason straightened up and walked over.

"Heading out?" he asked casually, his voice warm as he stepped into her line of sight.

Adeline turned to him, offering a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, though it was sincere enough. "Yes, we’re just about to grab an Uber back to the hotel."

Mason tilted his head slightly, a thought forming in his mind. "You know, I was planning on heading in that direction. I can give you both a ride, if you want." His offer was simple, no pressure, but he hoped it would give them both a chance to talk.

Adeline paused for a second, clearly considering his offer, before nodding with a smile. "That sounds great, actually."

Mason smiled, relieved she didn’t hesitate too much. "No problem, happy to help."

Lily, who had been listening quietly, suddenly piped up, her voice more thoughtful than you’d expect from a three-year-old. "Mum, can I tell Mason about the rainbow we saw yesterday?" she asked, looking up at Adeline for approval.

Adeline smiled warmly at her daughter. "Sure, darling, go ahead."

Lily turned to Mason, her face lighting up with excitement. "We saw a big rainbow! It was all the colors! Red, and yellow, and blue!" She paused, trying to remember. "And purple! And green! And it was after the rain, but the sun was coming out."

Mason chuckled, charmed by Lily’s enthusiasm. "That sounds amazing. I love rainbows. They always seem to pop up at the best times, don’t they?"

Lily nodded, clearly proud of her discovery. "I like the purple one the best." she said, her small voice filled with certainty. "It's like the color of grapes."

Adeline glanced at Mason, clearly amused by her daughter’s energy. "She does have a thing for grapes." she said with a laugh, her earlier hesitation softening. "She’s not wrong though. The purple one was pretty nice."

Mason smiled at the both of them, feeling the tension ease a little. "I think I’d have to agree. Purple is a pretty great color."

Adeline gave him a light smile. "Alright, I guess we’ll take you up on that ride after all."

"Great." Mason said, his smile widening. "Let’s get going then."

The three of them made their way outside, and Mason led them to his car. As they all climbed in, the mood felt a little more relaxed. Lily continued talking about the rainbow, asking if they might see another one soon, and Mason humored her, offering suggestions for "rainbow hunting."

Once they were all settled, Mason started the car, his hands on the wheel but his attention still divided between the road, Adeline and Lily. The quiet hum of the engine filled the space, but Mason couldn’t ignore the weight of what he needed to say.

"So..." he began, glancing briefly at Adeline. "About your apartment. I’ve been thinking about it. And, if you don’t mind me saying, it sounds like a pretty stressful situation. The repairs, all the unknowns..." He trailed off, watching her reaction.

"Yeah, it’s been rough. I’m not sure when it’ll be fixed, and I haven’t really figured out where we’re going to stay long-term. It’s a bit of a mess." Adeline turned slightly toward him, her brow furrowing a bit.

Mason nodded, his voice steady and calm. "I get that. And look, I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable, but I have an apartment I used to live in when I played for Chelsea. It’s empty now, and I was thinking — if you want some space while your place is getting sorted — you and Lily could stay there. It’s close to where you’re staying now, and it might give you some peace of mind."

"Mason, I really appreciate it. I do. But this feels like a lot. You've already done so much for me, and I don’t want to take advantage of that." Adeline blinked, surprised by the offer. She hesitated for only a moment before looking back at him, her tone gentle but firm.

Mason’s expression softened, his voice warm and reassuring. "I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t want to help. I don’t want you to feel like you owe me anything. But it’s just an apartment — it’s a two-bedroom, nothing fancy — but it’s available, and you won’t have to deal with finding a place to stay in the middle of everything. I just want to make sure you’re not stressing about this while you’re dealing with the other stuff."

Adeline glanced at him, clearly considering his words, but she didn’t seem as hesitant as before. "It’s a kind offer, Mason. I’ll definitely think about it."

Mason nodded, glad she wasn’t shutting it down completely. "Take your time. But just know it’s there if you need it."

Lily, sensing the heaviness of the moment, turned around from the front seat. "Mum, can we get ice cream later?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood. "I want strawberry. And chocolate too!"

Adeline chuckled softly, shaking her head. "We’ll see, kiddo. Maybe after we figure this all out."

Mason smiled at the little exchange, grateful for the small interruption. "Strawberry and chocolate, huh? Sounds like a great combo."

Lily beamed at him. "It’s the best!"

Mason felt a strange warmth spread through him as Adeline agreed to think about his offer. There was something growing inside him, an unspoken connection that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He wasn’t sure what it was yet, but the desire to take care of her, to help her through this, felt natural. He wasn’t backing down now — he wanted to be there for her, however she needed him.

(...)

The car slowed as they approached the hotel, the warm glow of the entrance lights cutting through the darkness. Adeline’s stomach twisted, though she wasn’t entirely sure why. The drive had been easy, filled with Lily’s endless chatter and Mason’s effortless charm. Now, with the ride ending, the lingering warmth of the evening was harder to ignore.

Mason pulled into the small parking lot and shifted the car into park, the soft hum of the engine fading.

"Well, here we are." he said, glancing her way with a small smile. "Not the greatest chauffeur service, but I think I did alright."

Adeline unbuckled her seatbelt, matching his grin. "I’d give it four stars. You lost one for not having free snacks in the backseat."

Mason's chuckle rumbled low in his chest. "Next time, I’ll be sure to stock up. Juice boxes and biscuits, right?"

Lily perked up from the backseat. "I like biscuits! And juice! Can we have some now?"

Adeline shook her head, amused. "Not now, love. We’ll get something later."

Before Adeline could open her door, Lily wriggled free from her car seat and tugged eagerly at Mason’s sleeve.

"Wait! I gotta show you something!" she exclaimed.

Mason barely had a chance to react before Lily dragged him toward the hotel entrance. Adeline followed, her arms crossing loosely over her chest. It was both exasperating and endearing — the way her daughter had taken to Mason so effortlessly.

Inside, Lily rummaged through her small backpack with the dramatic flair only a three-year-old could pull off. With a triumphant grin, she produced a crumpled piece of paper.

"Look!" she announced, holding it up proudly.

Adeline watched as Mason knelt down to inspect it. The drawing was a bright, chaotic burst of color. Three stick figures stood beneath a massive, wobbly rainbow. One was clearly Lily, with bright yellow curls, and the other was unmistakably Adeline, her hair drawn in long, straight lines. The third figure — short brown hair, a smile that stretched ear to ear and a blue jersey — was Mason.

"This is amazing, Lily." Mason said, his voice warm. "I don’t think I’ve ever looked this cool before."

Lily giggled, beaming. "I made your hair brown like real life!"

Adeline’s chest tightened. She hadn’t expected this. She hadn’t expected Mason to kneel there, holding a child’s drawing like it was priceless. She hadn’t expected the way Lily’s laughter rang through the small lobby, or the way Mason looked at her daughter — soft, patient, genuine.

"Do I get to keep this?" Mason asked, lifting the drawing with exaggerated reverence.

Lily nodded eagerly. "Yes! But you have to put it on your fridge!"

"Front and center." Mason promised.

Adeline’s heart gave a little squeeze. She knew she should say something — thank him for the ride, for the kindness, for the way he somehow made everything lighter — but the words didn’t come.

"Alright." she said gently, taking Lily’s hand. "We should let Mason go before we completely take over his life."

Mason held up the drawing. "Too late."

“Thank you, Mase. I mean it.” Adeline said, smiling genuinely at him.

He blinked, the grin faltering just for a moment. "Mase?" The surprise in his voice was unmistakable, though his eyes sparkled with amusement. "Didn't know we were on nickname terms now."

Adeline shrugged, her cheeks warming. "Don’t get used to it."

"I definitely will, Ady." he said, his smile widening.

Adeline froze, her laughter escaping in a burst of surprise. "Ady? Really?" She shook her head, fighting the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. "You’re really pushing your luck, Mason."

"Hey, I’m just following your lead." He shrugged, his grin never faltering. "You started it."

"We’ll see about that." She rolled her eyes, still chuckling.

As he walked toward the door, Lily tugged on Adeline’s hand. Her daughter’s voice dropped to a hushed whisper.

"Mummy." Lily said, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Can Mason be our friend forever?"

Adeline’s throat tightened. She watched as Mason reached the door, pausing to glance back with one last smile. It was so easy to picture him like this — like he belonged.

But that was the problem, wasn’t it?

She didn’t know how to answer.

(...)

Adeline stepped inside Mason’s house, the door clicking shut behind her. She’d gotten used to the informal nature of these sessions, where she’d simply show up and Mason would leave the door unlocked for her. Today, though, it felt a little more unusual. She glanced around the spacious hallway as she set her bag down by the door. No sign of him yet, which was strange given that she’d been a bit early.

"Mason?" she called out, her voice breaking the silence. There was no response. She waited, a little puzzled, shifting her weight from foot to foot. She checked her phone, just to be sure he hadn’t sent her a message about running late, but the screen was clear.

Still no response. It was quiet enough that she figured he might be upstairs or in a different room. Hesitant but curious, she wandered further into the house.

She hadn’t really taken the time to look around before. Today, with no immediate task at hand, she was feeling unusually… nosy. She wandered toward the open living area. The walls were decorated with a few framed photos, mostly of Mason and his teammates in action during their Chelsea days and his family. She felt a strange mix of admiration and guilt — her patient had been a professional football player for years now. It was easy to forget that when they were in these sessions, when she was helping him with something as personal as his injury.

Her eyes wandered toward the shelves that lined one wall, stacked with books and a few glossy trophies. She didn’t want to snoop, but something about the way they were arranged made her curious. Gently, she reached up to touch one of the items — a small, polished trophy. She squinted at it, and her breath caught in her throat.

It was a Player of the Match prize. The same one Mason had earned during one of Chelsea’s most celebrated games, the match that had everyone buzzing about his standout performance. She had heard about it from the sports reports, but she’d never actually seen the award in person. She wondered if he even thought about it anymore, considering how much had changed since then.

It felt odd to see something so significant on a shelf in what now seemed like an ordinary home. He wasn’t just Mason Mount, the physiotherapy patient. He was someone who had once been the hero of a major match, someone who had carried the weight of expectation with every move on the field.

Her eyes lingered on the other trophies — each one marking a major accomplishment in his career — before her gaze drifted to some medals from his more recent seasons. She knew he’d faced some tough times with Manchester United, had struggled with injuries, and hadn’t exactly found his feet in the same way he had at Chelsea. There was a sense of something missing in his collection now, something quieter compared to the years when his career had been soaring.

The sound of footsteps suddenly broke through her thoughts. She quickly placed the trophy back on its shelf, straightening up and turning toward the sound.

"Sorry." Mason’s voice echoed from the hallway as he appeared at the top of the stairs. His hair was still damp from the shower, but he was dressed in a plain t-shirt and sweatpants. He looked completely relaxed — unlike the man whose name had once filled the sports pages.

“Didn’t mean to make you wait, Ady.” he added with a small chuckle, his eyes darting to the space where she’d been standing. "Find something interesting?"

Adeline flinched slightly, her heart skipping a beat at the suddenness of his appearance. "I didn’t mean to—" She paused, shaking her head, trying to cover up the fact that she had been snooping. "Just… looking at your medals and stuff."

Mason smiled and walked down the stairs, clearly unbothered by her curiosity. “Ah, yeah. Those old things.” he said, brushing a hand through his still-damp hair. “I keep forgetting they’re there. I don’t really look at them much these days.”

She raised an eyebrow, still processing the shift in his tone. He was being casual about it, but she could tell there was more to it. "I’d imagine those were pretty big moments for you."

“Yes. They were.” he replied, a distant look crossing his face for just a moment. He walked toward her, stopping beside the shelf of awards. “But, things change, right? Things are different now. It’s not the same as it was when I was at Chelsea. I had everything going for me back then. Player of the Match, the recognition. Now… now it’s different.” He let out a quiet exhale, as if pushing away the weight of his words.

Adeline bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. She wasn’t sure if he expected comfort or just an ear to listen. But she knew that even with the professional boundaries they maintained, there was still a person in front of her. She had seen that person — the one who wasn’t just a football player — during their time together.

Mason cleared his throat, quickly shifting his focus away from the shelf of trophies, his hands finding his pockets as he gave her a lopsided grin. "Look." he said, trying to sound casual again, "That's the past, right? Nothing to dwell on. Just one of those things." He waved a hand dismissively, as if to shake the whole conversation off. "Anyway, let’s get back to business."

Adeline watched him carefully, catching the slight tension in his shoulders and the way he deliberately steered the conversation. He was clearly trying to brush off the topic, but there was something in his tone, something in the way he avoided meeting her eyes, that made her feel like he was pretending a little too much.

She crossed her arms, taking a small step toward him. "Mase..." she started gently, her voice light but sincere. "It’s okay to talk about it, you know."

His grin faltered for just a second before he quickly replaced it with his usual teasing expression. "Talk about what? My so-called glory days? Nah, I’m good." He chuckled, though it didn’t reach his eyes.

Adeline raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You don’t have to pretend it doesn’t matter. I know you’ve been through a lot lately, but it’s okay to care about where you’ve been and where you’re going." Her voice softened, almost coaxing, as she leaned a little closer. "Don’t have to bury those feelings behind a joke."

Mason exhaled sharply, his eyes flicking over to the shelf of awards before looking away again. "I don’t know what you want me to say, Adeline." he muttered, his tone suddenly lower, more serious. "It’s just... It’s hard, alright? Things were different. I was a different player back then. Now, I’m just... trying to get back to where I was. And it’s frustrating."

The vulnerability in his voice, despite the rough edge, caught her off guard. She hadn’t expected him to open up, especially when he was so quick to mask his emotions with humor.

"I get that, Mase." she said quietly, stepping a little closer, her tone gentle. "It must be hard to feel like you’ve lost something. But..." She paused, carefully choosing her words. "That doesn’t mean you won’t find it again. Maybe not exactly the same, but something just as important."

Mason turned slightly, giving her a brief, almost bitter smile. "Yeah? And what if I don’t? What if I’m just stuck here now, trying to scrape by?" His voice was tinged with frustration, but there was also a hint of uncertainty in it.

Adeline didn’t answer right away. She didn’t need to give him some grand speech or offer empty reassurances. She just stood there for a moment, meeting his gaze with a look that was steady, supportive. "I don’t think you’re stuck, Mason. Not at all. You’re just... finding your way through it, like anyone would."

He didn’t respond right away, but the air between them seemed to shift, the distance between professional and personal fading just a little more. He looked at her, really looked at her, and for the first time since they’d started talking, the guarded expression in his eyes seemed to soften.

"Maybe." he murmured, his voice a little quieter. "But it’s tough, you know? Some days it feels like I’m doing everything I can, and it still doesn’t feel like enough."

Adeline gave him a small, reassuring smile. "But you are doing everything you can. That’s what matters. And I know you’ll get there." She hesitated for a moment, then added with a teasing glint in her eyes, "Besides, you’ve still got me to keep you in check, right?"

Mason chuckled softly at that, his lips curving into a genuine smile for the first time in the conversation. "Lucky me." he teased, his voice warmer now. "Wouldn’t want to go through this without your sessions would I?"

She grinned back, the mood lifting just a bit. "Exactly. Now, let’s focus on getting your knee back in shape so you can prove all those doubters wrong."

He nodded, his posture relaxing as he gave her a more genuine, appreciative look. "Alright. Let’s do it."

As Mason settled in for the session, the unspoken understanding between them grew. They weren’t just physiotherapist and patient anymore — they were two people who had seen each other for more than what they were on the surface. And as much as Mason tried to deflect it with jokes, Adeline could tell there was something deeper at play here. Something he wasn’t ready to face fully just yet. But, she thought, it would come in time. For now, it was enough that they could share this space of honesty, even if only for a moment.

(...)

The session had wrapped up not long ago, and Mason was toweling off the sweat that clung to his skin. The sun filtering through the large windows had warmed the living room, adding a lazy glow to the midmorning air.

Adeline scribbled a few notes on her clipboard, but the faint smile tugging at her lips was hard to miss.

“You’re doing well.” she said, glancing up at him. “It’s been a month since we started, and your knee’s definitely showing improvement. Your strength and balance are getting there.”

Mason grinned, the pride clear on his face. “Good to hear. I’ll be back to embarrassing everyone on the pitch in no time.”

She shook her head, though the amusement was evident. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

“Right, right. One step at a time.” He tossed the towel onto the back of the couch, brushing a hand through his slightly damp hair. “But you know, there is one recovery method I’m not sure you’ve approved yet.”

“Oh?” Adeline arched a brow.

He grinned, the gleam in his eyes making her immediately suspicious. “The pool. Perfect for low-impact exercise, great for the knee.” He gestured toward the backyard, where the glistening blue water of his pool was visible through the glass doors.

“Tempting, but I’m pretty sure your idea of pool recovery involves less swimming and more floating around doing absolutely nothing.” she retorted, standing up and gathering her things.

“Not true.” Mason said, taking a step closer. “Well, not entirely true.”

“Besides, I should get going. I’ve got the hospital shift later.” Adeline laughed softly, shaking her head.

“Plenty of time for a swim first.” He gave her a grin that was both mischievous and entirely too persuasive. “Come on, Ady. It’s not every day I offer a free pool day.”

“I’m sure it’s not, Mase.” she replied dryly. “But I’m good. Thanks.”

Mason tilted his head, pretending to mull it over. “Sure?”

“Positive.”

“Alright.” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “But it’s a shame.”

“What is?”

“That you’re gonna end up in the pool anyway.”

Before she could react, Mason lunged forward, scooping her up effortlessly. Adeline let out a startled yelp, clutching his shoulders as laughter bubbled from her chest.

“Mason! Don’t you dare!”

“Too late, Ady.” he shot back with a grin, already carrying her through the patio doors. The sun hit them instantly, the warmth on their skin contrasting with the cool breeze rolling off the water.

“I swear, Mount—”

But before she could finish, Mason stepped to the pool’s edge and tipped forward, sending them both plunging into the water. The coolness was instant, shocking, and Adeline surfaced with a gasp, water droplets clinging to her hair and face.

“You’re an idiot!” she sputtered, pushing her wet hair back.

Mason emerged right beside her, running his hands through his dripping hair with a triumphant grin. “But you’re in the pool now, aren’t you?”

She splashed water toward him in response, and Mason laughed, ducking away with an exaggerated flinch. “Okay, okay, I deserved that.”

Adeline shook her head, but even as she tried to scowl, she couldn’t stop the smile pulling at her lips. The sun reflected off the water, droplets sparkling as they dripped from his jawline. His chest rose and fell, still catching his breath, and without meaning to, she found herself noticing just how close he was.

Their playful splashes slowed, the water lapping gently around them. Mason’s gaze softened, his eyes locking with hers. She could feel the warmth of his skin beneath the water, their bodies only inches apart.

His breathing was steady, his face so close that the faint scent of his soap mixed with the chlorine. Her eyes traced the droplets running down his neck, lingering on the curve of his jaw. He wasn’t smiling now, but there was something else — something quieter — in his expression.

Adeline’s heart pounded, her pulse betraying her. Their noses nearly touched, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the world slipped away. She wasn’t thinking about boundaries or professionalism. There was just the water, the sunlight, and the undeniable pull between them.

Without thinking, Mason’s hand brushed against her waist beneath the water — light, almost hesitant, but enough to send a shiver down her spine. His fingers lingered just slightly, the warmth of his touch contradicting the cool water.

“Careful.” Mason murmured, his voice low and teasing. “If you keep looking at me like that, I might think you actually like me.”

Adeline’s pulse quickened, but she forced a laugh, shifting her weight uncomfortably in the water. “You’re delusional, Mason.”

Mason raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the edge of his lips. “Am I?”

The space between them seemed to shrink, but before either of them could say anything more, the sound of the back gate creaked open, followed by the unmistakable burst of laughter.

“Oi! Mason!” Declan’s voice called out, unmistakably amused.

Adeline jerked back, her cheeks flushing as she turned toward the trio of figures standing by the poolside. Declan, Ben, and another friend she didn’t recognize, all grinning like they’d just caught something far too entertaining.

“Did we interrupt something?” Ben teased, smirking.

“No.” Mason said, though the guilty glance he threw at Adeline didn’t help his case. “Just a recovery session. You know, the therapeutic benefits of water and all that.”

“Oh, definitely. Very professional.” Kai replied, barely suppressing his laughter.

Mason rolled his eyes, desperate to change the subject. “Please, Kai. Enough with the jokes. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

Adeline cleared her throat, trying to remain composed as she waded to the pool’s edge. “I should… probably get going.”

“Shame.” Ben added, a mischievous glint in his eye. “We were just about to suggest a pool party.”

"Mate, shut up." Declan said, bumping into his shoulder.

“I’ll pass.” Adeline said quickly, climbing out of the water and wringing her hair out. She avoided Mason’s gaze, though she could feel the lingering heat of it. “Enjoy your… recovery session.”

And with that, she grabbed her towel, cheeks burning, while the guys’ laughter echoed behind her.

Mason’s eyes followed her until she disappeared inside, his heart still racing — and not just from the swim.

(...)