#Austin outdoor seating

[keayexplores]

Central Machine Works: Where Community, Craft, and Good Times Meet

[massacre-rade-magician]

Hot Tub - Pool Ideas for a remodel of a medium-sized Mediterranean backyard with a rectangular infinity hot tub

[hawkesoutdoor]

#ironman4x4 #king #chair with #lumbarsupport so comfy and #portable at ...

[marymars-shop]

Pool Infinity Mid-sized tuscan backyard concrete paver and rectangular infinity hot tub photo

[metuere]

Infinity Pool in Austin

An illustration of a medium-sized Tuscan backyard with rectangular infinity hot tubs and concrete pavers

[lenisbalenas]

Retaining Walls Austin An example of a large contemporary drought-tolerant and shade front yard gravel retaining wall landscape in spring.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

People who live in glass houses. Here's a 2008 mostly glass treehouse in Austin, TX. I mean, you can really see the main living areas at night. 4bds, 4ba, (at least you can't see thru them), 2,180 sq ft. $1.45m.

It's beautiful, but I'd feel so exposed. Even though it's secluded, who knows who'd come lurking at night.

The left side is probably the beds and baths.

I don't see any shades. In the living room there's a nice view of the trees, rock walls and patio.

Cement floors. It's really bringing the outdoors in.

It's a beautiful home, though.

Compact kitchen with dark gray cabinets.

Love the counters and look at the window seat- there's a fish tank above it. I'm guessing that the big exhaust pipe is intentional to give it an industrial look.

Look at this- behind the kitchen, on the other side of the fish tank wall, there's a spacious primary bedroom/bath combo.

Very nice wall with a little place to sit and relax.

Behind the bed there's the sink and tub. I like the fireplace.

Thru the glass door there's a beautiful stone shower with a rock bench.

Spiral stairs go up to the other bedrooms and baths.

Bedroom #2 and ensuite are very nice.

Bd. #3 has a tub in the room and sliders to a private terrace.

The terrace is pretty big.

It also has an ensuite.

Bd. #4 is lovely. I like this one's decor the best. So cozy.

Spiral stairs going down to the garden and patio.

There's a round parking area up here.

7,623 sq ft lot

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3025-Geronimo-Trl-Austin-TX-78734/89546110_zpid/?

[movingmusically]

Hi can I request an austin one shot where there is only domestic fluff

Author’s Note:

I decided to make this one a collection of sweet memories rather than flowing story.

Word Count: 4,596

Masterlist

The Little Things

The soft glow of the TV lit up the room as you nestled deeper into the sofa, your legs draped lazily over Austin’s lap. A half-empty bowl of popcorn sat between you, mostly forgotten as his hand moved in slow, absent-minded circles on your calf. The movie—a romcom you’d picked—was nearing its predictable, heartwarming ending, but neither of you seemed to be paying much attention.

Instead, you let yourself sink into the quiet comfort of the moment. The warmth of his hand on your skin, the soft sound of his breathing blending with the faint hum of the TV—it all wrapped around you like a cocoon. You could see the subtle curve of his lips, the way his head tilted back as he absently traced patterns on your leg. The simplicity of it made your heart ache in the best way.

Your mind drifted to the smaller moments, the ones that didn’t make grand romantic gestures but settled in your heart all the same. It was those moments, more than anything, that made you realise just how deeply you loved him.

The first time Austin cooked for you felt like a glimpse into a part of him you hadn’t seen before. It was early in your relationship, it had been a casual invitation to his place—nothing fancy, he’d said—but when you arrived, the smell of cedar and herbs greeted you before he did. You found him in the backyard, standing near his prized wood-fired pizza oven, the flames dancing warmly behind him.

“I hope you’re hungry,” he’d said, flashing you that easy smile as he turned a cedar plank over in his hands, the fillet of salmon already resting on top. “Thought I’d keep it simple tonight—just some salt, pepper, and a little lemon. Let the wood do the work.”

You’d perched on a chair nearby, watching as he moved between the oven and the small outdoor prep station he’d set up. He worked with a careful ease, sprinkling fresh dill over the fish and checking the temperature inside the oven with practiced precision. It wasn’t just cooking; it was something closer to art.

“You’re really into this, huh?” you teased, trying to keep your voice light, though the sight of him so focused and content made your chest ache in the best way.

He glanced at you, that boyish grin creeping across his face. “It’s the smell,” he said, motioning to the oven. “The wood, the smokiness—it reminds me why I got this thing in the first place. Plus, it’s kind of a win-win. I like making it, and you get to eat it.”

You couldn’t help but laugh at that. “So selfless of you.”

When he finally set the plate in front of you, the dish was both simple and beautiful—a fillet of salmon, perfectly tender, paired with roasted vegetables he’d tossed with just the right amount of seasoning. You’d taken one bite and practically melted into your seat.

“This is incredible,” you said, meaning every word.

He leaned back in his chair, a look of quiet satisfaction settling on his face. “Good,” he said, his voice softer now. “I was hoping you’d like it.”

That night had stayed with you, not just because the food was delicious—though it absolutely was—but because of the way he’d shared it with you. The way he’d talked about the smoky cedar and the simplicity of salt and lemon, like it wasn’t just a meal but a piece of himself.

It became something of a tradition after that, his cedar-plank salmon making an appearance on birthdays, anniversaries, and lazy Sundays when he just wanted to do something special for you. But no matter how many times you’d had it since, nothing quite compared to that first night—watching him cook under the stars, the wood-smoke curling through the air, and the way his smile lingered, like he knew he’d made an impression you wouldn’t soon forget.

Another memory bloomed, soft and sweet, as if it were happening all over again. It had been at a small gathering—friends, music, and the low hum of conversation filling the room. You’d been sitting beside Austin, your hand resting on his knee, when someone mentioned party tricks.

“I don’t have one,” you’d said with a laugh, taking a sip of your drink. “Unless embarrassing myself counts.”

Austin had grinned, that easy, mischievous smile you loved so much. “I’ve got one,” he’d said casually, reaching for a napkin from the table.

Your brows lifted in surprise. “You do?”

“Oh yeah,” he replied, already folding the napkin with practiced precision. His fingers moved quickly, twisting and creasing with a focus that drew the attention of everyone nearby. The group around you leaned in to watch as he shaped the plain napkin into something delicate and intricate.

By the time he finished, he held out a perfectly crafted rose, its petals soft and curved, the stem twisted just enough to look real. “Voilà,” he said, offering it to you with a little flourish.

You’d stared at it for a moment, caught somewhere between awe and disbelief. “You’ve been hiding this from me?” you teased, taking the paper rose from his hand.

“I can’t give away all my secrets at once,” he said, his voice low and playful.

“Where did you even learn this?” you asked, holding the rose carefully like it was something fragile.

He leaned back with a grin, crossing his arms like he was about to tell a story he’d been waiting to share. “There was this kid at my sister’s high school—cool Brazilian guy, leather jacket, the whole vibe. He used to sit in the corner of the cafeteria making these for the girls. I was enamoured with him and begged him to teach me.”

You laughed at the image of teenage Austin, wide-eyed and determined to learn this one oddly specific skill. “And did it work? Did you impress anyone?”

His grin widened as he leaned closer, his voice dropping. “Well, you tell me.”

You couldn’t stop smiling, shaking your head. “Yeah, it worked.”

The rose from that night had been the first, but not the last. Over time, you’d quietly started saving them, stashing them in drawers, on shelves, even between the pages of books. There was a small collection now—each one a little different, depending on the material he’d had to work with, but all of them unmistakably his.

Every time you looked at them, you thought of moments like that night. The way he made something so simple feel special, the way his hands could turn an ordinary napkin into something extraordinary, and the way he always managed to make you feel like the most important person in the room.

From there, your thoughts drifted to the day you moved into your first place together. It had been chaos—boxes everywhere, carefully chosen vintage furniture waiting to find its place, and a list of things to do that seemed endless. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, the two of you had tackled it with a mix of determination and laughter.

“I think this couch is going to be perfect here,” you’d said, stepping back to admire the mid-century piece you’d hunted down at a vintage store.

Austin had tilted his head, considering it. “Yeah, but it’s missing something. Maybe a throw or a few pillows to make it feel less… serious.”

You’d grinned at his unexpected but very valid opinion. “Who knew you had such strong feelings about throw pillows?”

“I contain multitudes,” he’d replied with a smirk, and you couldn’t help but laugh.

The best part of that day, though, had been painting the walls. You’d insisted on doing it yourselves, ignoring the advice of friends who told you to hire professionals. Armed with rollers, brushes, and a playlist you’d both curated, you spent the afternoon covering the white walls in a warm, inviting shade that instantly made the space feel like home.

Austin, of course, couldn’t resist turning it into a competition. “I bet I can get my wall done faster than you,” he’d declared, already reaching for his roller.

“You’re on,” you’d replied, narrowing your eyes.

But your friendly rivalry quickly devolved into chaos when you “accidentally” flicked paint in his direction. He’d retaliated, and before long, you were both covered in streaks of colour, laughing so hard your sides hurt.

At one point, he’d grabbed you around the waist, smearing paint on your cheek as you tried—and failed—to wiggle free. “Guess this means I win,” he’d said, his voice low and teasing.

“You cheated,” you’d accused, breathless with laughter.

“You started it,” he’d replied, leaning down to press a kiss to your temple, leaving a faint smudge of paint behind.

When the walls were finally painted—more or less successfully—you stood together in the middle of the room, taking it all in. The sunlight filtered through the windows, bouncing off the still-drying paint and making the space feel alive.

“This is going to be amazing,” you’d said softly, slipping your hand into his.

“It already is,” he’d replied, his thumb brushing over your knuckles as he glanced around the room. Then his eyes settled on you, his smile softening. “We make a good team.”

And in that moment, surrounded by your collective mess and the beginnings of what would become your home, it felt like everything was falling perfectly into place.

You shifted slightly against him, and his hand slid higher, resting lightly on your knee. His touch pulled you back to another memory, one that still made your heart ache in the best way.

The time you’d caught a nasty flu and spent days feeling miserable, wrapped in blankets on the couch. He’d insisted on looking after you, keeping your water glass full, bringing you soup, and tucking you in with the kind of gentleness that made you cry when he wasn’t looking. He never once complained, not even when you’d been at your worst.

You’d tried to tell him not to come over, insisting that you didn’t want him catching whatever awful bug had knocked you down. But Austin being Austin, he’d ignored you completely. He’d shown up at your door with a grocery bag in one hand and a determined look on his face, like this was a challenge he was more than ready to tackle.

“You’re supposed to be avoiding me,” you’d croaked, your voice hoarse and your face pale as you stood in the doorway, a tissue clutched in your hand.

“And you’re supposed to be resting,” he’d countered, breezing past you to deposit his bag on the kitchen counter. “Now sit your stubborn ass down and let me take care of you.”

It was hard to argue with someone who was already unpacking cartons of orange juice, a medley of medicines, and a loaf of freshly baked bread. You shuffled back to the couch, your blanket trailing behind you like a cape, and collapsed with a groan.

Over the next few days, he didn’t just look after you—he made it an art form. He was everywhere, refilling your water glass the moment it ran low, heating up soup (always homemade, never canned), and checking your temperature every few hours. When the coughs kept you up at night, he sat beside you, rubbing slow circles on your back until you finally fell asleep.

The first night, he’d perched on the edge of the couch, but by the second, he’d given up entirely and joined you under the mountain of blankets. “You’re already a mess,” he’d teased, tucking you in against his chest, “what’s a little more exposure?”

You’d felt awful—feverish, achy, and more than a little embarrassed that he was seeing you like this. But he never made you feel like a burden. If anything, he made it seem like taking care of you was exactly where he wanted to be.

And then there was the moment that really got to you. It was late, and you’d just had a coughing fit that left you red-faced and teary-eyed. He’d come back from the kitchen with a mug of honey-laced tea, his brow creased with worry as he knelt beside you.

“Hey,” he’d murmured, brushing a stray strand of hair from your face. “You’re okay, baby. Just sip this for me.”

It was the way he said it, soft and steady, like nothing else in the world mattered except you getting better. When he kissed your forehead, murmuring that you were still the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen, you couldn’t stop the tears from spilling over. You’d turned your face into the pillow to hide them, but he’d noticed anyway, leaning in to press a featherlight kiss to your temple.

“I’m fine,” you’d mumbled, your voice thick with emotion. “Just… tired.”

“I know,” he’d said, settling beside you and pulling the blanket over both of you. “Sleep. I’ve got you.”

And he had. Through the chills, the fever, and the endless rounds of tissues, he’d stayed. Even when you’d insisted he should go home and get some real rest, he never once wavered.

It wasn’t the grand gestures that had stayed with you—it was this. The quiet patience, the way he never flinched when you were at your most unlovable. The way he cared for you so selflessly, like there wasn’t anywhere else he’d rather be. It was then, as he sat beside you in the dim glow of the living room lamp, his hand resting on yours, that you’d realised you loved him more than you ever thought possible.

And then there was the music. It was one of your favourite things about him—how he could sit down at the piano or pick up his guitar and make the world feel quieter, softer, more whole. He didn’t just play; he felt the music, letting it flow from his hands like it was a language only he truly understood.

You’d seen him lost in those moments countless times, and each one made you fall a little harder. The way his brow would furrow in concentration, his fingers gliding over the keys or strings as if they were an extension of himself. He’d sometimes hum along, his voice low and warm, or glance over at you with a small, knowing smile, like he was sharing a secret meant just for you.

The first time he’d played for you, really played, was late one night when neither of you could sleep. You’d wandered into the living room, finding him at the piano, his fingers tracing a melody so soft and delicate it felt like a lullaby.

“Couldn’t sleep?” you’d asked, padding over to sit beside him on the bench.

He shook his head, his eyes still on the keys. “Thought I’d work some things out here instead.”

You’d leaned against his shoulder, listening as the notes filled the space between you. After a moment, he glanced at you and started playing something familiar—a love song you’d heard a hundred times but had never sounded quite like this. His voice joined the piano, raw and unpolished but filled with something that made your chest ache.

“Don’t stop,” you’d whispered when his hands paused on the keys.

He smiled softly and kept playing, the music wrapping around you like a warm blanket. Sitting beside him, your head against his shoulder, you’d felt something click into place—something you hadn’t even realised was missing.

Another memory surfaced, this one more chaotic but no less cherished. It was a lazy Sunday, one of those perfect, unhurried days where time seemed to stretch endlessly. Austin had picked up his guitar, settling on the couch with it balanced against his thigh. You’d sprawled out next to him, your head resting on the armrest as you watched his fingers pluck out a soft melody.

“What’s that?” you’d asked, your voice light and curious.

“Not sure yet,” he’d replied, a small grin tugging at his lips. “Just messing around.”

As he played, you started humming along, letting the music carry you. Emboldened by the ease of the moment, you started to sing—a brave but ill-advised decision given your complete lack of pitch.

Austin’s hands stilled, and he looked at you, his brows lifting in exaggerated surprise. “Well, that’s… something,” he teased, his grin widening as you smacked his arm.

“Don’t make fun of me,” you said, though you were laughing despite yourself.

“I’m not!” he insisted, his voice thick with mock seriousness. “It’s unique. One of a kind, really.”

“Don’t laugh at me!” you’d said, nudging him with your elbow as you tried to suppress your own giggles.

“Laugh? Never,” he said, his voice laced with exaggerated sincerity. “You’re… breathtaking.”

You rolled your eyes, but when he started playing again, you kept singing—off-key, out of rhythm, but with enough enthusiasm to make up for it. And despite—or maybe because of—how bad it was, he never stopped smiling.

Eventually, he’d set the guitar aside and pulled you into his lap, his arms wrapping around you as he pressed a kiss to your temple. “You’re a terrible singer,” he murmured against your skin, his voice filled with affection. “But I love it anyway.”

You’d laughed, leaning into him as the room filled with the quiet hum of love and music and the kind of joy that only came from being completely, unabashedly yourselves. Even now, the memory of it made your chest feel warm, like you were still wrapped in his arms.

The memory made you smile, the warmth of it settling deep in your chest. Your legs were already draped across Austin’s lap, but when he caught the shift of your weight, he tugged you closer, his hands gently guiding your hips until you were nestled against his side, your head resting on his shoulder.

“What’s got you smiling like that?” he asked, his voice low and teasing, though the way his fingers traced soft, absent-minded circles on your thigh gave away his affection.

You shook your head slightly, not ready to share just yet. Instead, you leaned further into him, your hand resting on his chest as you let the steady rhythm of his breathing settle you. The quiet hum of the movie faded into the background, and your mind drifted to another moment, one filled with warmth and love, ready to unfurl like the pages of a favourite story.

The memory came to life so vividly that you could almost feel the warmth of the kitchen that day. You’d wanted to surprise him, determined to bake a cake from scratch despite your distinct lack of baking skills. The result had been… well, let’s just call it memorable. The cake was lopsided, leaning precariously to one side, and the icing—meant to be a smooth, glossy finish—looked more like it had been applied with a paintbrush by a distracted child.

But you’d worked so hard on it, painstakingly piping “Happy Birthday, Austin” across the top in wobbly letters that looked more like a first grader’s handwriting than your own. By the time he came home, the kitchen was a disaster zone—flour dusting every surface, chocolate smudges on your cheek, and a pile of discarded attempts at icing in the sink.

When he saw it, though, he’d grinned from ear to ear, like you’d given him the world. “Did you make this?” he’d asked, his voice full of awe, as if he couldn’t quite believe you’d gone to the trouble.

“Well, I tried,” you’d admitted, your cheeks heating as you gestured to the cake. “It’s a bit of a mess, but—”

“It’s perfect,” he’d cut in, his hands gently cradling your face as he kissed you, ignoring the faint taste of sugar and flour on your lips.

That night, you’d sat across from him at the table, watching as he took his first bite. “This is amazing,” he’d declared, his blue eyes sparkling with sincerity. You knew it wasn’t—the cake was dense, and the icing a little too sweet—but he’d eaten every bite like it was a Michelin-star dessert.

After dinner, you’d put on one of his favourite songs, a soulful track that filled the space with a gentle rhythm, and grabbed his hand. “Dance with me,” you’d said, already pulling him toward the living room.

He’d let out a small laugh, shaking his head as though he couldn’t believe you. “You baked me a cake and now you want to dance? You’re spoiling me,” he teased, but his hand was already sliding into yours.

The hardwood floor was cool under your bare feet as you stepped into him, his arms wrapping around your waist with an ease that made your heart flutter. He led you in slow, unhurried circles, the two of you moving in quiet synchrony as the music washed over you. There was no rush, no reason to impress—just the feel of his hands on your back and the warmth of his body close to yours.

At one point, he spun you out, his grip firm but gentle, and when you twirled back into his arms, your balance faltered just slightly. He caught you effortlessly, his arms wrapping tighter around you as he grinned down at you.

“Careful,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing. “Can’t have you taking a tumble on my birthday.”

You laughed softly, leaning into him. “I wasn’t going to fall.”

“Sure you weren’t,” he teased, his eyes bright with affection as he pressed a kiss to your temple. “Good thing I’ve got you.”

The two of you swayed together again, his hand sliding to the small of your back as he pulled you closer. The song shifted into its final notes, but neither of you moved to let go, the quiet intimacy of the moment wrapping around you like a second skin.

“Best birthday ever,” he’d whispered into your hair, his lips brushing your ear as the music faded into silence. And you’d smiled, knowing that no gift, no cake, no grand gesture could ever mean as much as this.

The warmth of his hand on your thigh pulled you back to another moment, one of your favourites—those lazy mornings when neither of you had anywhere to be, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.

Austin had always been a perfectionist when it came to his coffee, treating it less like a beverage and more like an art form. The La Marzocco espresso maker he’d splurged on sat proudly in the corner of your kitchen, gleaming like a piece of fine machinery. You hadn’t understood the obsession at first—not until you saw the way he lit up when he started his ritual.

It usually began with him weighing out the beans, his brows furrowed in concentration as he adjusted the scale to the gram. “You’d think I was performing surgery,” he’d joke, but there was no denying the satisfaction on his face when he got it just right.

Then came the tamping, the careful precision of his movements as he pressed the coffee grounds into the portafilter. “You’ve got to get it evenly compressed,” he’d explained once, his tone entirely serious. “Otherwise, the water doesn’t extract it properly.”

You’d leaned against the counter, watching with equal parts fascination and amusement. “So you’re telling me there’s a wrong way to make coffee?”

“There’s a right way,” he’d corrected with a grin, reaching for the Minor Figures oat milk. “And trust me, this is worth it.”

The steam wand hissed as he frothed the milk, his hand steady as he tilted the pitcher just so. “Barista blend,” he’d said once, holding up the carton like it was a prized possession. “It froths better. Or so they tell us.”

You’d teased him mercilessly about his dedication, but secretly, you loved it. There was something oddly soothing about the whole process—watching him lose himself in the craft, his focus so intense it made your chest ache.

When he’d handed you your first latte, the artful swirl of a heart floating on top of the foam, you’d been stunned. “You’re kidding,” you’d said, cradling the mug like it was a masterpiece. “How did you even do that?”

He’d just shrugged, a boyish grin spreading across his face. “Takes practice.”

It had become a tradition after that—Saturday mornings spent in the kitchen, him perfecting his craft while you lounged nearby, content to let him spoil you. Sometimes he’d try new designs, laughing when they turned out more like blobs than flowers, and other times, he’d pull you into the process, teaching you how to steam the milk or tamp the grounds just right. You weren’t nearly as skilled as he was, but you didn’t mind. The way he’d stand behind you, guiding your hands, made it impossible to care about anything else.

And then there were the quieter mornings, when he’d bring the coffee to you on the couch, his own mug cradled in one hand as he settled in beside you. “Perfect cup,” he’d say every time, even when the foam was less than ideal or the milk wasn’t quite as frothy. It wasn’t about the coffee, really—it was about the way he shared it with you, the way he made the simplest things feel like rituals worth treasuring.

The memory lingered, warm and comforting, as if you could still smell the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee hanging in the air. You let it settle in your chest for a moment longer before the sound of Austin’s soft chuckle pulled you back to the present.

The movie’s credits had started to roll, but neither of you made a move to get up. His fingers continued their lazy circles on your thigh, and his other hand reached for the now-empty popcorn bowl, setting it on the table without a word. You tilted your head to look at him, catching the soft, sleepy smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“You’ve been quiet,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing. “What’s on your mind?”

You hesitated, not because you didn’t want to tell him, but because words didn’t feel like enough to capture the depth of what you were feeling. Instead, you smiled and shifted closer, draping your arm across his chest and pressing your cheek to his shoulder.

“Just thinking about us,” you said finally, your voice soft but steady.

“Yeah?” His hand moved to rest on your back, his thumb brushing soothingly against your shoulder blade. “Good things, I hope.”

“The best,” you replied, your smile widening as you closed your eyes.

You felt him press a gentle kiss to the top of your head, his lips lingering for just a moment longer than necessary. “You’re all I need, you know that?” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

You didn’t answer—not with words, anyway. Instead, you tightened your arm around him, your fingers curling slightly into the soft fabric of his shirt as you let the steady rhythm of his heartbeat guide you back into the quiet comfort of the moment.

The warmth of him, the ease of being wrapped up in his arms, and the soft glow of the TV fading into the background—it was everything you loved about him distilled into one perfect moment. And as your thoughts settled, you realised that no matter how many memories you’d made together, this one—this quiet, ordinary moment—might just be your favourite yet.

[ythankucaptainmccoy]

The Cowgirl and The Aviator Ch12

WARNING: Character harm, blood, hospitals, ranch hands being protective, hurt, comfort, trust building and fluff.

Jake didn’t even pack a bag as he booked a flight to Austin and a rental car for when he landed. Bradley even volunteered to take him to the airport. “When you get there tell her we miss her here, and you better apologize on your knees because she won’t accept anything less”, Bradley said. “I will do anything and everything to get her back”, Jake replied. Bradley watched as Jake fidgeted in the passenger seat and he decided to speed a little to get him to the airport.

Once Jake made it into the airport he went through security and ran to the gate only to realize he had to wait thirty more minutes before he could board the plane. He tried your cell phone several times but it would ring before rolling to voicemail. He begged and pleaded for you to give him another chance that he would do anything for you. Even admitting he would go AWOL from the Navy if he had to.

They announced boarding and to Jake it felt like the longest boarding he had ever sat through. You on the other hand were helping Bull and the other ranch hands brand and castrate the young calves. “Nothing like being outdoors and working like this huh”, he said. “I wouldn’t mind having a ranch like this one day”, you replied. Bull noticed how happy you were and he knew that even though you loved Jake you would be okay. 

It was late afternoon by the time you got done and the guys were setting up to cook some dinner. “I’m gonna walk Rebel down to the creek”, you told Bull. “Don’t be gone too long once these guys get the food done they don’t hesitate to eat it all”, Bull jokes. You nodded and walked the mile to let Rebel cool off and get a drink. While there you noticed someone walking down the creek. You figured it was one of the guys coming back from getting cleaned up in the creek as you relaxed.

Jake had just made it to his sisters front door where he knocked incessantly. Evelynn opened the door with a frown on her face and a glare in her eye. “What do you want?”, she asked. “I need to talk to (Y/N)”, Jake explained. “And you think she came here? Even if she was here, why would I tell my jackass of a brother where she was?”, she scolded. “I know she’s here and I have to get her back, Ev. Ever since breaking up with her all I see when I close my eyes is her. I hear her in my dreams and I messed up. I’ll get down on my knees for her. I know now that the photo was all a trick and I should have let her explain”, Jake rushed.

Evelynn had never seen her brother so distraught, not even when he found the girl he was planning on marrying was cheating on him. “She isn’t here right now, but she’ll be back tomorrow afternoon. Until then you better think about what you’re going to say to her”, Evelynn said. Jake was at a loss so he walked out to the barn where he found your cot with your duffle bag. He noticed a picture poking out of the bag and when he pulled it out he noticed it was a picture of him. 

It was an old photo of when he had just joined the Navy, and he knew that Evelynn had given it to you. It was nice to know you still somewhat cared about him. You were taken by surprise when the person that had been walking stopped beside you. “Hey (Y/N) long time, but I told you that I was going to take you back home”, the person said. You knew that voice right away and when you looked up there stood Jackson pointing a gun at you. “Look I don’t want any trouble”, you said. “Well I just wanted you to come home and now I have to resort to making you come home”, he says grabbing your arm. 

You automatically let Rebel go and slapped him to get him to run. To your relief he started heading back to the camp. Bull was helping put more wood on the fire when Rebel came running into the camp. When Bull grabbed a hold of him his eyes were wide and seemed panicked. He knew something was wrong, Rebel wouldn’t have left you otherwise. He told the boys to mount up as he was the first to saddle up and ride off. 

Jackson was dragging you along the creek when you could hear a horse approaching. Before you could distinguish whose horse or who was coming you heard a cry and before you understood you hit the ground hard. When you were able to find your feet Bull had leapt from his horse and tackled Jackson to the ground. They were scrapping and Bull was winning until Jackson pistol whipped him. Jackson got up pointing the gun at him when you leapt into action. 

You had just hit Jackson when the gun went off the first time. You fell on top of him as you both scrapped knowing now that this was life or death. You could hear the rest of the ranch hands on their horses approaching as you continued. You reached for the gun in Jackson’s hand when it went off and you felt the burning in your abdomen. Jackson pushed you off of him and ran, but one of the ranch hands lassoed his foot bringing him down hard as the gun went flying out of his hands.

Bull was by your side in a second as you could hear Jackson yelling for the guys to unhand him. “You're hurt”, you told Bull. He had some blood coming down from his gray hair. “Hun you’re worse than I am. Someone give me their shirt and ride hard and as fast as you can for the house to get help. They might have to call in the airlift!”, Bull bellowed. A shirt was handed to him when you looked down to see the blood soaking your shirt. “This is gonna hurt hun, but I got ya’. Hold on”, Bull soothed. He used the shirt to put pressure on the wound as you cried out and grabbed his arm. 

“Boss, what do you want us to do with him?”, one of the ranch hands asked. “Rough ‘im up”, Bull growled. That’s all they needed to hear as Jackson started screaming for you to help him. Jake was talking with Colton when one of the youngest ranch hands came riding in like his ass was on fire. “There’s been an accident (Y/N)’s been shot and Bull said she might need an airlift to the hospital”, the young man rushed. Jake felt his blood go ice cold as the ranch hand told them what field they were in.

Colton called for emergency services and explained as he handed Jake his truck keys. “They are sending emergency services”, Colton relayed. He told Jake where to go and when the ranch hands came into view he saw you laying on the ground. He barely put the truck in park as he ran to you. “(Y/N) darlin’ I’m so sorry”, Jake said as he kneeled beside you. Somebody had put their saddle under your head to keep you somewhat comfortable. 

“Jake what are you doin’ here?”, you asked. “I’m here because I messed up. I was coming to beg you to take me back. I know now that I should have listened to you when you tried to explain about the photo. I’m a jackass and I love you”, he tells you. The whole time he is stroking your hair and crying. He worries as you start looking tired and too pale. “I love you too. I never stopped loving you even after everything that happened”, you sigh. He sits with you as you start to feel weaker and weaker.

“Jake”, you whisper. “Yeah darlin’ “, he replies. “I feel cold and tired”, you admit. “You gotta hold on darlin’ the ambulance is on its way. You have to hold on for me. I can’t live without you please hold on”, he panics. Bull is on your other side as you glance at him and notice even he is crying. The ambulance finally arrives as they get out to assess you. Jake insists on riding with you in the ambulance as they load you up. 

“Jake”, you whimper. “I’m right here darlin’ I’m not goin’ anywhere”, he tells you. “Jake I’m scared”, you say right before you slip into unconsciousness. Jake loses it at that moment as sobs take hold of him. The EMT tries to assure him that your pulse is strong as he checks the blood bag he had hung up. Jake is overwhelmed at this point and everything is a blur as he walks into the ER and nurses have to hold him back as you're rushed to surgery.

Bull and the others wait for the police to show up and when they do Jackson is in need of a hospital as well, but once the officers hear what happened they insist on taking everyones statement on what happened. When they find that he has a restraining order they automatically read him his rights and take him into custody. Colton, Evelynn and Bull show up at the hospital where Jake is sitting in the waiting room pacing.

“Jake I’m sure she is gonna be fine son”, Bull tells him. Evelynn tries to get him to sit down as Colton tries to get him to talk. Hours go by when a doctor comes to the waiting room to find them. “How is she please tell me she is going to be okay I can’t lose her”, Jake pleads. “She is going to be just fine. The bullet was removed and internal bleeding dealt with. She is still asleep but I can allow at least one family member back to see her”, the doctor announces. “I’m her husband”, Jake blurts. 

The doctor raises a brow, but walks him back to the room you’re in. He pulls a chair up to your bedside and pulls your hand into his. He doesn’t know how long he sits there just watching to make sure you’re still breathing, but eventually he falls asleep. When you open your eyes you notice that you're in a hospital room and that your abdomen is painful remembering being shot. Then you look to your right to see Jake sitting in a chair slumped on your bed fast asleep. You also notice that your hand is in his and you can’t help but smile. 

A nurse comes in to check on you and make sure that the morphine drip is doing okay. “Your husband was so worried about you. Paced in the waiting room the whole time you were in surgery and hasn’t left your side since he came in here”, she says. “That sounds like him”, you croak. “Here honey, let's get you some water. Ya’ sound parched”, she tells you. The nurse pours you some water and hands it to you making sure you have it before letting go. You drink enough to wet your dry throat as she sets it back on the small rolling tray. “I’m going to come back in a little while to check on you”, she tells you.

After she leaves you squeeze Jake’s hand and call to him softly. He stirs and wakes immediately looking up to lock eyes with you. Tears fill his eyes as he lets out a relieved sigh, “I thought I was gonna’ lose you”. “Oh, well I couldn’t leave my husband”, you tease. He smiled and got up to kiss you. You reached up to wipe the tears from his eyes. “Here I am crying while you're comforting me when it should be the other way around”, he says. “I’m fine you look like a wreck. How did you know where I was?”, you ask.

“Well Penny after hearing me confess that I would beg on my knees to get you back told me where you were”, he says. “Well I’m glad she told you and for the record I will wait for you to beg on your knees”, you say. “I get it if you want some space”, he says. “I think we have spent enough time apart”, you reply. “I hope you can forgive me”, he says. “It might take a while, but I’m sure I can in time”, you tell him.

“I can live with that. Oh Rooster wanted me to tell you that they all miss you”, Jake says. “I should probably call them and let them know what happened”, you yawn. “Don’t worry about that now darlin’. Right now you need to rest up”, he tells you. You both sit and talk as Jake tells you how he found out that the picture was set up, and you tell him about working on the ranch. He listens intently as you talk until you start yawning. 

“Get some rest, I'll be here when you wake up”, he tells you. You fall asleep quickly as he watches you for a while before catching some more sleep himself. The next day Evelynn came up to visit and bring Jake some clothes since he came without any. The room you were staying in had a shower, but Jake would only get in long enough to wash his body and hair. Your stay in the hospital was a week to make sure you were healing properly. 

When it came to leaving the hospital you swore Jake was worse than a mother hen with new chicks. He helped you into the truck that Evelynn and Colton had lent to him. Then he drove ten miles per hour under the speed limit. “Jake honey you can drive the speed limit. The doctor discharged me and said as long as I don’t lift anything until the sutures come out I’ll be alright”, you protest. “Absolutely not, these roads are bumpy and I will not risk hurting you”, he replied. You roll your eyes as he continues to be passed by angry drivers. 

When you finally make it to the ranch you tear up when you see that Colton, Evelynn, Annabelle, Georgia, Bull and the rest of the ranch hands are there to welcome you back. Bull gives you a hug much to Jake’s worry as he rants about being careful. “He’s worse than my wife God rest ‘er soul. She used to fuss over the smallest things”, Bull laughed. You laughed along until pain caused you to stop and slightly double over. “See this is why you should rest”, Jake said. 

“I’ll be fine”, you tell him. He continues to watch you to make sure you aren’t over exerting yourself. After everyone welcomes you back Evelynn goes to cook dinner as you offered to help. “Now I hate to be like my brother, but I feel you should sit down and relax. I do have a job that requires sitting down”, Evelynn says. You follow her to the kitchen where she has potatoes that need peeling. Jake had followed you both in as you felt like you were suffocating. “Honey I think I can sit and peel potatoes without a problem”, you told Jake. 

Annabelle came into the kitchen being careful not to hurt you as she hugged you. “I’m happy that you’re okay”, she says. Georgia comes toddling in and climbs right into your lap as Jake tenses. “Wuv you aunt (Y/N)” Georgia said. That brought tears to your eyes as you hugged her then asked her if she wanted to help peel the potatoes. She excitedly clapped her hands as Evelynn handed you the potato peeler. 

Jake finally relented and walked out with Annabelle to find something to do as she pulled at his hand. “I swear he has done nothing but hover since I got shot”, you say. “Pray you don’t get pregnant anytime soon”, Evelynn laughs. “Oh I could only imagine how that would go”, you snort. “I know my brother is a jackass, but he does have a heart of gold”, she replies. “I still love him, but I can’t forgive him just yet”, you whispered. “I understand me and Colton had a moment like that. It took some time, but we overcame it eventually. Now we can laugh about it”, Evelynn confides.

You smiled at that then giggled a little when Georgia got impatient waiting for you to help her with the next potato. Once dinner was done Jake made your plate bringing it to the table for you. You leaned over and kissed his cheek thanking him for being there for you. He seemed to be more relaxed now than he had been all week. “We need to head back to San Diego, but I don’t know if you can handle the drive”, Jake announced. 

“I’m fit for travel besides you can drive my truck this time. Now I’ll admit it isn’t as fancy as yours”, you reply. The next couple of days Bull helps you pack up your gear, and you start to cry. “What’s wrong hun?”, Bull questions. “You’re the closest thing I have had to a father since I lost mine and I hate goodbyes”, you cry. “Oh hun you’re gonna’ be just fine and if ya’ ever need anything I’m gonna’ be right here on this ranch”, he sniffles. “I thought old cowboys don’t cry”, you laugh through your tears. 

He laughs along with you as Jake comes to make sure you’re ready to head back to San Diego. You had already gotten a doctor appointment set up for a check up back in San Diego so you were ready. After hugging everybody and saying goodbye you and Jake hit the road. You received a phone call from the police asking when you could give a statement. You explained that you were going to be staying in San Diego and the officer took down your information so they could come to you.

“I’m probably going to have to testify at the trial”, you say. “I’ll come with you as long as I’m not on deployment and I guarantee that Bull will go with you if I can’t”, Jake replies. The rest of the ride is calm other than the frequent stops that Jake was taking. He told you it was to get snacks or bathroom breaks, but you know that he is trying to make sure you are okay. Jake eventually books a hotel since he wanted to make sure you got the rest you needed.

When you arrive at the hotel you call Bradley to let him know what has been happening while Jake goes out to get food. When you tell him about what had happened he loses his mind. He continues to ask if you’re okay and starts to sound like Jake. The only way you get off the phone with him is telling him you need rest as directed by your doctor. When Jake comes back with food you let him know about telling Bradley.

“Great I bet he is going to hate me even more now”, Jake says. “Honestly I told him that you're a helicopter boyfriend and he agreed that you should be right now”, you laugh. Jake just stares at you as you open your bag of food until you notice him staring. “What?”, you ask. “You called me your boyfriend”, he says. “Well the way I see it I never broke up with you”, you smile. In one swift moment Jake is sitting beside you pulling you in to kiss you. 

“I love you so much. I made the dumbest mistake of my life when I did what I did”, Jake rambles. “I love you too, but you're taking the couch tonight”, you tell him. You hadn’t let him sleep in bed with you as a sort of punishment and he had obliged without protest. You have had some time to heal, but you want to see if he is serious about you. After staying in the hospital and how he has been by you since then it wasn’t going to take long to convince you he was all in. 

That night he slept on the couch as you took time to think about the last couple of months. Even with him being on a couch, but in the same room brings you comfort. The next morning when you wake up Jake is sitting at the small table with breakfast. “Why didn’t you wake me?”, you ask. “You need rest and you looked peaceful”, he tells you. You smile as you get up and sit beside him to eat. Jake waited for you to finish up then went to the front to check out once he got you to the truck. 

While sitting in the truck you could see Jake peeking through the doors checking on you. You smile when he comes out looking absolutely gorgeous in his jeans and t-shirt. When he gets in and starts driving you scoot to the middle and buckle up. It feels like forever, but eventually you both make it to the apartments. You are both tired and before you know it arms wrapped around you and you could smell Bradley’s cologne. 

“Bradley”, you laugh. He pulls away and asks how you feel, to which you respond. Jake waits patiently as you both catch up. When there is a lull in conversation Jake makes his move. “I know you probably haven’t thought about it, but where are you wanting to stay?”, Jake asks. Bradley looks to you waiting for your answer before Bradley takes you aside. “(Y/N), I know that what he did was wrong, but he has been a mess around here without you”, Bradley confides. You look back to Jake as he watches the ocean while you talk with Bradley. 

“You wouldn’t be upset if I go back to staying with him?”, you ask. “It’s your decision”, he tells you. You ponder it for a moment then smile as you realize that even though he had hurt you, you had missed everything about Jake. “Even though he hurt me I still love him. He has some trust building to do, but he is making up for it. I mean he never left my side at the hospital”, you say. Bradley respects your decision as you hug him and head back over to Jake. “Bring me home cowboy”, you grin. Jake smiles and it feels as though the last couple days fade away.

Once inside Jake helps you get ready for bed like he has for the last couple of days. Everything smells like him and your tension just melts away. He goes to walk back towards the living room when you call out to him, “Where are you goin?”. “The couch I figured you would want your space”, he replies. “Not tonight Jake I want you here with me tonight”, you reply. He hesitates at first until you pat the other side of the bed. The apartment is quiet as you both settle in to sleep.

[austinsgirl]

Rather Die | Chapter 18

word count: 3405

warnings: talk of pregnancy, mild language

master list

———————————————————————

It's Black Friday morning. Austin, Victoria, & Ashley go out to The Grove, which is an outdoor shopping center.

It's all decorated for the holiday's; Christmas music plays in & outside of every store. It's Victoria's favorite time of year.

"So, what are we shopping for? Or who, I should say." Ashley asks.

"I'll be shopping for my family, Mila, Ashton, and the baby. I know she won't be here for Christmas, but if I see anything on sale that I like, I'm getting it." Victoria says.

"What? Not buying for me?" Austin asks her.

"I mean, I will, but not today. Can't buy for you while you're with me, Aus."

"We should stop into Pottery Barn Kids & look at furniture for the nursery." Austin mentions.

"Oh, definitely. We haven't even decided on what we want yet though. Like a color scheme or a theme."

"Do you have any ideas?"

"I was thinking maybe an accent wall with floral wallpaper, and the walls being a color to match the wallpaper. Probably like a baby pink or something. White furniture."

"I like that. Let's go see what furniture they have."

The three of them headed into Pottery Barn Kids and started taking a look at everything they had.

"Vic, do we want a bassinet or a crib?" Austin asks.

"Um, I'd say for the nursery, we get a crib, and a bassinet for the bedroom. She'll be sleeping with us in the bedroom for the first six months or so."

"With us? Like, me & you? In the same bed?"

"Maybe the first few nights we'll do that while she gets accustomed to being home. We can get a portable bassinet, take turns on who gets her during the night, and we can transfer the bassinet back & forth from my room to yours."

"Yeah, that would work. Especially if we both have relationships, we'll want nights off to spend with said relationships."

"Exactly. You think you might find someone?"

"Maybe. You never know. I might start looking, but if it happens, it happens."

Vic nods her head in agreement.

"Good. Maybe he's moving on from me." she thinks to herself.

"Do we like this bassinet? It's on wheels and seems pretty basic. We don't need anything too fancy." Austin asks.

"Yeah, I like that. Seems perfect to me. Do we want to buy the stuff today and take it home, or order it?"

"Uh, we can order it. I don't think I'd have enough room in my trunk to put everything."

"Okie, that works. Let's take pictures of everything so we know what to order."

They go over to the furniture sets and right away Victoria spots a dresser/changing table she loves.

"Austin, look at this one! I really love the gold handles on this."

"Oh yeah, that's sharp. I like that."

"Let's just get this one then with the matching crib, which is 4-in-1?! Woah. That's so worth it. She can have this like her whole life if she wants to. Eventually she'd just make this into a bed."

"Bab-Vic, let's look at the others before settling." Austin almost called her babe, but caught himself before he did.

They continue to look at the sets, but nothing was speaking to them more than the 'Ava' set.

"Are you good with the 'Ava' one? Or do you want the 'Larkin' one?" Vic asks.

"I'm good with 'Ava'. I really like those handles too. What do you think, Auntie Ash?"

"I think it's a good choice." Ashley says. "I love the handles too. It's different."

"Alright, furniture is picked out then! What about a rocking chair?" Vic says.

"Oh yeah, let's look at those."

Victoria sits in one and practically melts into it. "Oh my god. Good luck getting me out of here. This is too comfy."

"Let me try it, Vic." Austin says to her.

"Okay, but you're gonna have to pull me up."

Austin grabs onto her hands and pulls her up.

"Already getting hard to get up?" Ashley asks.

"Sometimes, yeah. Depends on the seat. Also it's just really comfy & he'd have to pull me up anyways or else I'd just stay there for awhile."

"Okay, yeah. This is super comfy. Goodnight." Austin jokes, making himself comfortable, stretching his legs out onto the ottoman the chair comes with.

"I think that should be it. We'll look online at everything else and add it to our registry when we have the wallpaper & paint picked out."

They headed out of Pottery Barn Kids, and hit up some clothing stores to get some family members some gifts.

"I have to stop into Victoria's Secret to get some new bras. The girls are filling up with milk and are getting bigger. Also want to get some perfume for Mila." Victoria mentions.

"I'll go in with you. I should get some new panties." Ashley responds.

"I'll go into Barnes & Noble while you're doing that." Austin says.

"Alright, want us to meet you in there?" Vic asks.

"Yeah. I can kill a lot of time in there, so take your time. I'm sure it's hectic in there so it'll be awhile."

"Okay, sounds good."

"I'm going to drop my bags off in the car. Want me to take yours?" Austin asks the both of them.

"Yes, please." the girls say in almost unison.

Austin takes the bags from them and heads out to the car to drop them off, then heads to Barnes & Noble.

He starts at Starbucks inside the store, getting himself an oat milk latte before walking around the store, seeing what new books he could find.

He picks up a book he's been wanting to check out, "City on Fire" by Don Winslow, a couple others before heading over to the parenting books.

A worker stocking shelves in that section, female, average height, medium length blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and freckles, wearing a white button down with jeans, notices Austin looking intently into the back cover of one of the most popular parenting books.

"That's a good book, by the way. I mean, I assume so. It's a best seller in this section." the girl says.

"Oh, really?" he looks over to her.

"Yeah." she chuckles. "I've cashed out a few of those & have restocked it a couple of times."

"Well, I guess I'll get this one. I have one already, but wanted something different, that more goes over every little thing. The one I have is just super basic info. Thanks for the advice."

"No problem. I'm Juliet, by the way."

"Austin. That's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl." he holds out his hand to shake hers.

Juliet blushes, "Thank you. I thought that's who you were. Butler, right?"

"Haha, yeah. That's me."

"It's nice to meet you." she smiled.

"Nice to meet you, too." Austin smiles back.

I loved your new movie by the way. You were incredible. I took my grandma to see it as she loves Elvis, and she cried."

"Aw, that's so sweet. Thank you. You'll have to say hi to your grandma for me."

"I will."

"Or maybe, one day I could say hi to her myself? That's if you'd like to go on a date with me & we hit it off."

"I'd really like that." Juliet smiles. "You're not dating Victoria right? I just want to make sure."

"Oh, no. We're not."

"Okay, good. I did see the announcement you guys made, but I just wanted to make sure nothing had changed since."

"Yeah, we're still just friends and co-parents."

"That's great, because I'd really like to take you up on that date."

"How does tonight sound? I can pick you up when you're off work? Maybe get some take out & hang at my place?"

"Actually, that sounds perfect. I've been having to uber lately with my car being out of commission. I'm off at eight."

"Cool. I'll see you then. And I can give you a ride home later. Let's exchange numbers so if there's change of plans or anything."

"Yeah, let's do that."

Austin & Juliet exchange numbers and said their goodbyes so she could get back to work.

"Hey, Butler!" Vic calls out as she seems him when she walks in.

Austin turns around with a smile on his face & walks to them.

"What are you all smiley about?" she asks.

"I may have met a girl, and got her number, and set up a date with her for tonight. She's coming over to hang out & get take out. I hope that's okay with you."

"Oh, um, yeah. That's fine. I'll just hang in my room for the night & watch some chick flick Christmas movies."

"Perfect."

"So, who's this girl?" Ashley asks.

"Her name is Juliet. She works here in the store. She was stocking books in the parenting section and the book I was looking at, she had told me it's a best seller & we just got to talking a bit."

"Aw, that's good you met someone, Austin!" Ashley says.

"Yeah, that's great, Aus. Love that for you." Vic mentions.

"Thanks, guys. She seems really nice and she's insanely gorgeous. Blonde, blue eyes, so many freckles."

"Well, I'm sure we'll get to meet her & see her beauty for ourselves if it works out." Ashley says.

Austin cashes out at the register & they all head out to finish up their shopping trip.

By the time Vic & Austin drop off Ashley at her house & get home, there's not much time until he has to go out and get Juliet from work.

He takes his shopping bags into his room and puts them all in his walk in closet, then changes into black jeans and a blue button down shirt. He makes sure his hair looks good & sprays some cologne on before heading back out.

"Hey Vic, I'm about to go pick up Juliet, then we're stopping for food. Want something from whatever we get?" Austin asks her, stopping by her room.

"Oh, yeah. That'd be great. You know my usuals." Vic responds.

"Alright. I'll be back soon."

Austin heads out the door and drives back out to The Grove.

He sees Juliet waiting for him outside of the store.

"Hi!" She says getting in the car.

"Hey! How was the rest of your shift?"

"It was good! Just finished stocking and then put away the things people didn't want."

"Sounds easy enough. I'm glad you had a good day. No shitty customers? I know working retail on black Friday you can come across some crazies."

"I didn't have to deal with any, but my co-worker said there was this lady who thought these certain books we're half off but it was buy one get one half off. The lady would not give up on it, even though the sign was right."

"Damn. Not surprised though. I remember when my mom was working as an aesthetician, she would complain about clients not understanding the pricing and sales on the products they sold in the spa she worked at. Even my dad working in real estate would deal with 'Karen's'" he chuckled.

"Yeah, any kind of retail sucks. I can't wait to get out of it."

"What do you want to do when you get out?"

"Well, I really want to be a writer. Well, I am a writer, that has yet to be published. So, once I get published, and if I do well enough, I will leave retail."

"That's really cool. What genre do you write?"

"I write young adult romance, mainly. I've also written a romantic thriller. This girl is super obsessed with this married man, and she tries everything to get the wife out of the picture. I saw the movie 'The Crush' and was inspired. Have you seen that movie?"

"I don't think I have."

"This teen girl who is apart of a rich family, get's a really hot guy renting out their guest house. She gets a highly obsessive crush on him and tries to sabotage things in his life because she isn't getting what she wants, which is the guy."

"That sounds really interesting."

"We could watch that tonight if you want."

"Yeah, that'd be great." Austin smiles at her. "Any food recommendations?"

"Oh gosh, I'm not sure. What's good around your place?"

"Um, there's this really good Japanese place that has really good sushi."

"Ooo, that sounds good."

"Okay, we can do that then. If you want, you can look up their menu & see what you want, then I'll call them and order."

"Alright. What's it called?"

"Aji Ten."

Juliet looks up the menu & decides on what she wants, then Austin places the order.

They get to the restaurant with about ten minutes til their order is ready for pickup.

"So, Juliet. Tell me more about you." Austin says as they wait in the car.

"Okay. Um, I'm 27 years old. I'm from Anaheim-

Austin cuts her off, "Wait, you're from Anaheim? So am I!"

"Oh my gosh, really? That's so cool."

"Yeah, I grew up right by Disney Land & Knott's. My mom would take my sister & I all the time."

"We went a lot too! We probably crossed paths at some point."

"Probably! What else is there about you?"

"Hm, well you know where I work and what I want to do for a living. I have 2 older brothers & a baby sister, my parents are divorced."

"My parents we're divorced too."

"We're?"

"Yeah. My mom, passed away, when I was 23. They divorced when I was 12, I believe."

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry Austin. That must have been so rough. I can't imagine going through them divorcing and then having to go through losing your mom. I can't imagine losing a parent."

"Thank you. It's definitely gotten better, but I still miss her a lot."

"Oh, I'm sure."

"Looks like the food should be about ready. I'll go in and get it. Be right back."

Austin goes inside and picks up the food, then they head back to the house.

"Welcome to my humble abode. Make yourself comfortable." Austin says, leading into the house.

They go into the kitchen and see Victoria unpacking bags and sorting the new baby stuff in the living room, which is connected to the kitchen.

"Oh, hey Vic. This Juliet. Juliet, this is Victoria." Austin says.

Victoria waves, "Oh, hi! Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." Juliet says.

"I'll be right back, I'm going to use the bathroom." Austin says. "Vic, we got Aji Ten. I got your usual, small miso soup & Cali roll with extra avocado."

"Perfect. Thanks, Aus."

"You're welcome!" He calls out as he heads to the bathroom.

Victoria looks over Juliet as she takes some plush bunnies out of a bag, watches her as she looks around the house waiting for Austin to get back. She sees Juliet take off her jacket and unbutton more of her top to reveal clevage.

"Horny bitch." Victoria let's her thoughts slip out of her mouth.

"Hm?" Julia asks, being caught off guard.

Vic looks down at the plush bunnies and starts talking for them, playing it off. "No, you're a horny bitch! Nooo, you're a horny bitch!" she laughs it off nervously.

Juliet laughs nervously as well, playing along.

"I'm back! Let's get this food." Austin says walking into the kitchen.

"I guess I'll grab my soup and sushi, & get out of your guy's hair." Vic says.

She gets up and grabs her food, along with a Sprite from the fridge.

"Have a good night, guys. Nice meeting you." Victoria says nervously before heading off to her room.

"What the hell just came out of my mouth?" she thought to herself.

She sat down at her desk, and propped up her phone to Facetime Mila as she ate.

"Hey girl, what's up?" Mila answers.

"Austin has a girl over."

"He has what now?"

"A girl. A really hot one too."

"Oh my. Do you think he's over you now that he's met someone?"

"God, I hope so. But you know what I did? You know what I fucking did?"

"What?"

"I was watching her look around the house while Austin was in the bathroom, and she took off her jacket, then she unbuttoned her top more to show off cleavage."

"Okay, and?"

"Then I just out of no where, blurted out, "Horny bitch."

"You didn't...."

"I did. Thankfully I was holding these plush bunnies we got for the baby and I played it off as they were fighting on who's the horny bitch."

"Wait, why is that funny?" Mila laughs.

"Oh my god, stop. It was so embarrassing. Like why did I just blurt that out?"

"Maybe he's over you, but you aren't over him. Kinda sounds like jealously." Mila takes a sip of wine.

"Is that wine?"

"Mhm."

"Lucky. I can't wait to drink again. Gonna be pumping and dumping when we go have a much needed girls night out after this pregnancy."

"Oh, yes. Once your body is up for it, we'll go and get LIT."

"Please, I need. But, let's not go to that one club though where we went for the cast parties. It's been Eliana's hangout."

"Oh, yeah. We'll go somewhere else."

"But back to you saying it sounds like jealousy. I am not jealous."

"You sure? Because I don't think you'd call the new girl Austin is seeing a horny bitch for showing off her titties a bit."

"I'm sure."

"Oookayy. If you say so."

"It was probably just pregnancy brain."

"Mhm."

"I'm not jealous."

"Uh-huh. What does she look like?"

"She's about my height, blonde hair, blue eyes, freckles."

"She sounds cute. What's her name? I wanna look her up."

"Juliet. I don't know her last name. She works at Barnes & Noble."

"Got it."

"That was quick."

"Eh, I've always been good at finding people. You know, before I got into acting, I was kind of a geek and was really good at tech stuff."

"Really? I don't think I knew that."

"Yeah. I worked at Best Buy once upon a time, selling computers."

"Wow. I don't think you ever brought it up."

"Mhm. Anyways, she is pretty. Her last name is Moreno. She's from Anaheim. Big family. Italian."

"Damn, you're good."

"Aren't I?" Mila flips her hair.

"Austin's from Anaheim. I'm sure they've bonded over that."

Mila gives Vic an eyebrow raise.

"What?"

"Jealousy, jealousy."

"Stooopppp, I am not!"

"Okay, okay. But are you sure?"

"Oh my god, yes Mila."

In the morning....

Vic walks into the kitchen to see Juliet wearing Austin's Mighty Ducks muscle tank, revealing some side boob.

"Good morning." Juliet says to Vic, as she makes herself a cup of coffee.

"Morning."

"Would you like some coffee?"

"Oh, no. That's okay. I can't have much caffeine and I usually just have a protein shake in the morning. Thanks though."

"No problem. I really hope we didn't get off on a rough spot..."

"Oh, because of what I said? That wasn't-

"Victoria, I saw you looking at me when you said it. I could tell it was about me."

"Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I didn't even realize I said it until it was too late."

"You would have thought it either way though, right?"

"I don't know, but I'm sorry."

"I just hope you know that's not my intention with Austin."

"Good to know. Speaking of, where is he?"

"He's still in bed."

"No, I'm not. Good morning, ladies." Austin says as he walks in, shirtless in just his underwear.

"Good morning." Juliet smiles at him.

He kisses her sweetly. "I had a lot of fun last night."

"Me too." she giggles.

Victoria lowkey rolls her eyes & grabs a protein shake from the fridge and a banana off the counter, and goes to sit in the living room.

"I'll be heading out soon. I have to work in an hour and a half, and I want to stop at home first to get ready." Juliet says to Austin.

"Alright, sweetheart. Want me to give you a ride home?"

"No, that's okay. My roommate is going to pick me up on her way back from her hair appointment."

"Okay, sounds good."

When Juliet was leaving, Austin was saying his goodbyes.

"Call me?" he asks.

"You know I will."

He kisses her & sparks fly. Maybe he is over his feelings for Vic.

--------------------------------------------------

[once-and-future-loser]

My Fandom Informed Experience Attending the 2024 USGP in Austin TX

Hey!  I just wanted to share my favorite experience at the 2024 USGP in Austin TX.  My goal is to provide some tips and general information from a fandom perspective to those thinking about attending in the future!  I've been to many comic cons, two Supernatural conventions, plenty of Ren faires, tons of baseball, soccer, hockey, basketball, football games as well as a number of horse races and concerts.  So that's my background.  Read if you want!

Thursday 

So we flew into TX on the Thursday before.  The airport and rental cars were a nightmare.  Be sure to book ahead and separately (don't book the car through the airline) and confirm as much as you can by phone.  (I'm a paranoid anxious traveler, but also with the UT vs. Georgia game the same weekend the greater Austin are probably increased in size by 400,000-500,000 people that weekend so…)

Anyway, we got to our Airbnb in a Northern suburban area and then took a train downtown (the returning train is at like 8 so might not be a good option for you, but I have a weird train thing).  There was amazing BBQ and the downtown is decent, no Chicago or Nashville, but pretty cool.  There were some pop-up F1 events (that we missed because my dad wanted to see the bats fly out of the bridge (they didn't come out that night)) that you should totally look into and try to go to.  We checked out the music scene and bars and then called it a night.  Not a lot of night life happens downtown till later, so wouldn't really recommend that kinda stuff, but if that's your thing definitely check it out!

Friday

Let's get into the good stuff.  We bought our general admission and Lot R parking pass ahead of time.  I highly recommend this, but it's a pretty long walk so be prepared for that reoccurring theme for the whole weekend.  We got to the circuit around 8ish, took about 15-20 minutes to get parked and were inside the gates by around 9.  When we got in there were a ton of experiences and stores and whatnot.  I went straight to the fan stage because none of the driver interviews were advertised online.  There was a schedule on the screens there.  So it's very important to get there when the gates open to see the schedule and secure a spot to watch.

We then walked around to all the GA viewing spots just for fun.  Early in the day Friday is the only time you'll be able to do this without waiting in significant lines to cross bridges or service roads.  We watched FP from the area between T2 and T3 then SQ from T19.  Great spots and some interesting people to meet.  Merch is hella expensive, but ya gotta get something at the track just because.  COTA Merch is much more reasonable than the F1 stuff.  I also got a branded personalized cowboy hat with my initials and the shape of the circuit which was pretty cool!  

We didn't stick around for Sting because we wanted to go to Academy Sports and Outdoors to buy some $6 fold up chairs.  You need these for GA.  Believe me.  Sitting on the ground on dried up dusty Texas drought stricken grass sucked.

Saturday 

We managed to sneak water into the track and some snacks as well which helped a lot because food was expensive.  $20 a meal per person and $16 for a beer roughly.  We also got the race radios from Amex with my card, although they seemed to give them to anyone really.  

I insisted we get there as the gates were opening which is good because it got us front seats for the driver interviews.  They were really cool but only about 10mins per team and then Hass and RBR shared a slot.  

I knew going into it that I would not meet any important people and would not get much exposure to the drivers.  So that realistic expectation was very helpful.  It's a sporting event for hundreds of thousands of spectators after all and I'm a simple musician and office worker so I couldn't afford anything like paddock club passes.  GA was under $500 which I thought provided A LOT of value.  Money well spent.  That being said, seeing the drivers IRL was still really really cool and fulfilling in a reasonably healthy way.  Would a picture or handshake been cool like when I met Jared, and Jensen in Nashville at a SPN con?  Yes.  But that's NOT what kind of event this is, which I knew going into it.  All that to say, if you want to go to meet a driver and engage in that kind of fan event, it's likely not realistic.  But I love the sport as well so the race was my real reason for attending and talking with other fans was cool.  I wouldn't bring up RPF if I was you…. But I could tell the amount of lore I knew about the drivers and their interconnected careers did raise some suspicion amongst those I talked to.  But I'm paranoid.  Mostly people (my dad mostly lol) were impressed with how much I knew about the actual racing.

Anyway.  We watched the sprint and qualy in the shade in front of the T10 grandstands which was perfect to then get into the entrance for Eminem after (my dad wanted to see him, I couldn't have cared less).  Then we left before he was done and beat all the traffic.

Sunday

We got to parking lots when they were supposed to open (note that they changed the traffic pattern that day so keep your wits about you.  There's not much signage to help on Elroy Rd.) and they were already open and starting to fill.  We wanted to sit at turn one which took us close to an hour to walk there.  There's always a line to cross the track on the bridges.  There's a tram but we never used it.  That day they were randomly checking bags, but they didn't look in my backpack so not an issue for me and my food and water.

By the time we made it to Turn one it was already packed but we managed to get a decent spot.  This was 8:30am. 

The good News is there are a ton of other races going on during the day so you don't get too bored waiting seven hours for the actual race.  Plus there's the drivers parade and the delight of getting to shout “boos” and curses at the rich fuckers getting hot laps and special track tours on semi trailers.  So definitely worth getting there early.

Speaking of "boos", the only real ones I heard were for the rich people and the governor of Texas (for obvious reasons) there was some booing of Max, but not too much.

We also chatted with the people around us.  Lots of Checo fans and the guy in front of me was a Max fan but was “tired of him winning all the time” and was wearing a Norris jersey.  So.  Hot take.  Interesting people.  But really fun to talk with.  People get possessive of their spot so get to know those around you to secure yours and gain goodwill.

It's hot and sunny.  Bring sunscreen.

The national anthem and fighter jet flyover is cool and had me feeling patriotic.

Then the race which was a religious experience to see in person.  Seeing the pit stops even from afar and seeing the tires strategy.  Watching the overtakes and shouting and cheer with other fans was just indescribable.

After Charles won we quickly made our way to get into the long line to watch the podium ceremony from the track.  This is very cramped so he prepared.

The podium celebration was amazing and I took a few rocks from the gravel trap and rubber pebbles from the tires home as a souvenir.  Probably not supposed to, but hey.

We saw all the cars being inspected in parc ferme which was cool and then walked around the track to exit at T19.

Traffic getting out was hell, but my dad wanted air conditioning, which was in the car.  So….  I'd recommend doing something during that time like going up in the tower or doing other experiences or just hanging out.  Let the traffic die down.

We flew out the next morning.  TSA was packed and took some time so I advise getting there at least 3 hours early or more.  I have precheck and it was still an ordeal.

So all around a fantastic weekend that I will cherish forever.  My dad was even tolerable if not even enjoyable to be around, so the whole thing about fathers and their gay sons and Motorsports brings people together. Blah blah blah.

Anyway, if you have any questions feel free to drop an ask or send a DM.  I plan on pretty much leaving Tumblr after this post, but I'll leave my email notifications on and I'll hopefully get back to you.  If you want to see some pictures I took, search the tag OFL goes to Austin.

Hope this was informative!!

[keayexplores]

Austin Beerworks Sprinkle Valley – A Must-Visit Brewery & Gathering Spot in East Austin

Nestled in East Central Austin, Austin Beerworks Sprinkle Valley (10300 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX 78754) is a brewery experience like no other. I was invited out for a hosted experience and brought my mom along for a little trip down memory lane—since I went to high school just down the road from here between 2010-2014. Seeing how much this area has transformed made the visit even more…

[seattle-to-san-diego]

Tuesday, June 11

Feel kind of lucky actually. Aaron found that the tire pressure in our right front tire had dropped from 32 to 24. Went right to the Oakland Airport and traded our trusty Prius in for a Honda CRV AWD Hybrid. A much better fit for Aaron!

Our first wine tasting was at Austin Hope. We’d been introduced to this winery by Meroe and Stefan. Hope Family Wines was named “2022 American Winery of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast. We were seated in an outside cabana and man, was it hot! 90 degrees and uncharacteristically humid. We succumbed to using wash clothes dunked in ice water. The wine was as good as we remembered. We are now club members of a fine line of wines.

Our second tasting was at the Dauo Vineyards. The view from the winery’s hilltop overlooking Paso’s vineyards well crafted for flowers gardens was mighty special. We opted to go inside for our tasting ~ the tasting space was spectacular with a backlit marble bar and beams as wide as a redwood tree. Aaron had read about the quality of their food, so we ordered a charcuterie board (Courtney would have awarded an A+) and a chopped salad with pickled golden raisins, feta emulsion, kale, farrow and more. The wines followed suit. We loved (did I say loved?) the Reserve Seven Forty (cab franc forward) and the Estate Cabernet. We did some higher math and realized with the comp of the tasting and some major rationalization, we could join the club and have some beautiful wines in store for special times. YOLO after all. 🥂

Our airbnb is in a typical neighborhood. But wowza did this host create an experience inside! Fresh flowers, champagne and Pellegrino in the fridge, boxes of snacks, a bidet (I think I need one of these!&#!), a towel/robe warmer, oodles of cozy blankets and a private outdoor patio with a breakfast table, couches and a gas fire pit. We’re having a blast using all of the amenities. A much appreciated mid journey break.

So good to have a little down time. We decided to have some snacks and watch “Hit Man.” Lots to talk about with that one 😝.

[total-drama-takes-takes-2]

tti episode 4

“Last time on Total Takes Island- the Inane Anons took on the Flying Fujoshis in an epic game of dodgeball. There was blood, sweat, even some tears- but in the end, Peter took a serious crash and the Anons got to stay to play another day. Who will sustain a life-threatening injury? And who will get out with only minor cuts and bruises? Find out now, on Total! Takes! Island!”

The Inane Anons are sitting atop the steps to their cabins, impatiently waiting for the challenge to begin early in the morning. Kelly steps outside and smiles. “Good morning, everyone!”

The team grumbles back, most of them still half-asleep. Julia sighs and closes her eyes for a moment before being abruptly woken up by a loud scraping noise. Everyone whips around to see Kelly dragging a huge portable tanning bed out of the cabin. 

“What the hell is that?” Max asks. 

Scary giggles, earning a glare from Julia. “I hope it’s a coffin,”

“Or a transportation device that’ll take me out of here,” O sighs.

“Looks like a portable tanning bed to me, baby,” Austin says, jogging around to the other side of the machine and lifting it with Kelly. “I’ve got my own at home.”

“Great. That’s awesome,” Max mutters. Austin rolls his eyes and helps Kelly carry the device to the communal bathrooms. 

“A little impractical,” Scruffy shakes their head, taking notes on their little pad of paper before flipping it closed and tucking it in their pocket.

“What’s that thing for, anyway?” Max asks, holding his face in his hands and leaning on his knees. 

“Oh, I’m just taking notes on everything. For my thesis, you know? I’ve already seen all the past seasons a million times, so I know what the challenges are going to be, but this is with a whole new cast. It’s kind of like an experiment to me,”

---

MAX: In all honesty, Scruffy wouldn’t be a bad ally to have. They seem to be one of the less mentally unwell members of the team, and having all of that information could be helpful…

---

“Alright, campers- your next challenge starts in five! And make sure to bring your A-game!”

Bonnie walks alongside Caesar on their way to the designated “challenge area” for the day, hands in their pockets. “Do you think this one’s gonna be anything?”

“Well, Mal said that this is the talent episode, right?” 

“Did she?” 

“I was talking to her and Ass earlier. You know, making connections,”

“Ah, okay. Talent show, then,”

Courtney watches their conversation from a few feet away and frowns, clearly troubled, but they don't say anything. McLovin jogs to keep up with them and notices their expression, giving them a look of vague concern.

Patrick and Kitty stay some distance behind, but it’s clear he’s still paying attention as Kitty frolics. “Talent show. Hm. How can we work with this?”

Kitty babbles something incomprehensible and scales a nearby tree. 

The team arrives at a shabby, half-built outdoor theater, lined with splinter-covered bleachers. The Anons are already there, sitting on one side of the area with their team’s logo on it. Mal- who inexplicably seems to have arrived before anyone else, somehow- waves over Ass. “Saved you a seat!”

“That doesn’t even make any sense. The bleachers are empty,” Courtney says. 

“Don’t be a hater, Court,” McLovin gives them a faint smile and playfully elbows them. Courtney grumbles back. 

“Welcome to our newly rebuilt amphitheater!” Chris walks out on stage, holding his arms out for emphasis. “This week’s challenge is one of my favorites: a talent show!”

Caesar nods with a smirk as the Anons look at each other nervously. 

“Each team will have five hours to choose their three most talented campers and train them to perform on stage for their teams, where Chef will judge via the Chef-o-Meter!”

“Oh, me! Me!” Kelly waves their hand in the air. 

“What’re you gonna do? Tan us to death?” Julia asks, to which Kelly glares. “I’m sorry, which one of us took eight years of competitive new-wave gymnastic-aerobic fusion classes?”

Julia rolls her eyes and leans back, crossing her arms over her chest. Max shrugs. “Any other volunteers?”

Frollo begins to raise a hand, to which Max immediately says no. 

Scruffy clears his throat. “I might step in,”

“I don’t think competitive note-taking is really a talent, Arachne,” Scary giggles, looking over from where they’re carving gore into the bleachers with a sharpened rock. 

“No, way, I was my province’s spelling bee champion for five years,” 

Everyone groans, except for Max. “Eh, why not?”

Julia glares. “Are you serious?”

“What? Intelligence is always impressive,”

“Unbelievable,”

“Do you think you could do better?”

She pauses, looking long and hard for an answer, but eventually gives in and leans back. Max smiles. “Anyone else have anything in mind?”

Everyone looks at each other. Austin suddenly smiles. “I-”

“Anything appropriate?”

He falls silent. Finally, O clears his throat. “I can drink a gallon of milk in under thirty minutes,”

“What? How is that a talent?” Michael asks. 

“If you’ve ever tried it, you’d know,”

“Well, if that’s all, I guess we got our players,” Max sighs. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”

---

“I say we go for Kitty,” Patrick says, crossing his arms smugly. “Last night I saw them strip the bark off an entire tree with their teeth.”

“What?” Courtney asks, looking over to where Kitty is digging a hole in the ground on all fours. “I don’t know if… you know what, whatever. That’s fine.”

“What about Mal?” Ass asks. “She does modern dance.”

“Aw, you’re flattering me, I’m really so bad, not even comparable,” Mal chuckles. “But yes, I accept.”

Courtney stares. “Wait, shouldn’t we vote on that?”

“I don’t think anyone has anything against it,” Caesar shrugs. “Now, let’s talk about meeeee!”

“I’m sure hosting is really great, but it’s not really what we’re looking for,” Patrick says coldly. “My vote for Kitty still stands.”

---

PATRICK: "If you’ve ever seen Total Drama before, you’ll know that the consistent winners are the freaks, the losers, and the physically unattractive. Think about it- Owen, Beth, Mike- by allying myself with the most deranged team members, I’m guaranteeing myself a ride to the finale.”

---

“Ok, how about we substitute Caesar for Mal?” Courtney says hopefully. “That way, we can get Kitty in, too!”

“There are three slots, silly!” Mal smiles. “Plenty of room for all of us!”

“Not so fast,” McLovin rises from his seat. “I want to compete.”

Mal snorts. 

“What’re you gonna do? Show everyone how to fit through a keyhole?” Patrick asks. McLovin glares back. 

“I’ll have you know I’m an expert magician,” 

“Yes! Okay, Caesar, McLovin, and Kitty- it’s perfect!” Courtney says, grabbing McLovin’s shoulders. 

---

Courtney stares at the confessional camera for a few moments before sighing. 

COURTNEY: It’s not that I hate Mal, it’s just that… Well, it’s a long story. The two of us kinda go way back… But I know if she gets up there, she’ll throw the challenge, like she’s been doing for the past few, I’m sure... I can’t let us lose.

---

“Actually, I think I’ll sit this one out,” Caesar shrugs. “It might be fun watching from the other side of the screen, if you catch my drift.”

“Aw, but-”

“Perfect! Me, McLovin, and Kitty!” Mal smiles. “It’s settled!”

A look of nervousness crosses Courtney’s face and they walk away. 

---

“Welcome to the second Camp Wawanakwa official talent contest, where six campers will showcase their skills and desperately try not to humiliate themselves, and then likely fail at that!" Chris chuckles. An intern attempting to fix a lighting feature in the dark falls off the catwalk and lands next to Chris, who has no reaction. "First up for the Flying Fujoshis is Kitty!”

Their team cheers weakly as they scamper out on stage, where a log has been placed in the center. The Inane Anons watch in confusion as Kitty gnaws at it like a beaver, chewing it down into splinters. Scattered applause follows, and a few Fujoshis glare at Patrick as the Chef-o-Meter gives them 3/9 points. 

“Next up, for the Inane Anons- Kelly!” 

A round of cheers opens their act as they bound on stage in a leotard, sporting a ribbon and a baton. They bow, then throw the baton in the air, using the ribbon to lasso it back, and then do an elaborate and mesmerizing cartwheel and backflip sequence through the ribbon, landing perfectly on their feet. 

The Inane Anons give a standing ovation (Austin cheering especially loud right in Max's ear) and Chef gives a nice 6/9. 

“Alright, very nice! Next up we have the wonderful Miss Mal doing an interpretive dance piece for the Fujoshis!”

Courtney groans and puts their head in their hands. 

Mal walks on stage, wearing an odd outfit that strongly resembles a garbage bag, and then begins to do the most uncoordinated, odd, somewhat offensive dance sequence that any contestant has ever seen. Chris’ eyes widen in both shock and amusement as he chuckles. “We’re gonna have to censor some of that, huh? Let’s see what Chef has to say!”

1/9

“Nothing good. Excellent!”

The Fujoshis look at each other nervously. “Next up, let’s hear it for O!”

The Anons cheer as O steps on stage, holding a gallon of milk and looking incredibly nervous. Max shakes his head. “We’re dead, aren’t we?”

O raises the jug and begins drinking. Chris watches nearby in bewilderment as he finishes about 1/3rd the jug before a pale, sickly look crosses his face and he runs backstage to throw up. 

2/9

“Wow. Impressive display from the Anons,” Chris chuckles. 

Backstage, McLovin peers around the curtain nervously, swallowing a lump in his throat as Ass coaches him. “No pressure, okay? Our team’s win is on your shoulders, but no pressure,”

“No pressure,” he repeats, trembling, pacing back and forth. “No-” 

McLovin stumbles backwards, tripping on his magician's cape and crashing into the table of props, crushing most of them. Ass gasps. “Oh, this is so not good!”

“No- no- I can fix this!”

“What could you possibly do now?! Pull a dove out of your-”

“I’m talented in many ways,” he says confidently, tearing off his cape and handing it to Ass. “McLovin always pulls through!”

“Next up, last one for the Fujoshis- McLovin’s Magic Ex… Extravaganza… who wrote these things?” Chris says, tossing away his cue cards. 

McLovin approaches the microphone with a solemn look on his face. He takes a deep breath before continuing.. “The magic show has been canceled,” the Fujoshis give each other nervous looks. “Hit it.”

A nearby intern puts a record on a turntable and a funky beat starts playing. McLovin nods along to the beat and immediately starts busting it down. His sweet breakdancing moves captivate the entire audience for the few minutes he goes on, dead silent and serious as the plague. 

The song ends and he spins into a perfect closing pose, earning a round of standing applause. Chef gives it an 8/9. 

“Despite their rocky start, the Fujoshis are currently leading with 12 points to the Inane Anon’s 8. It’s gonna take a solid performance to win this!”

Everyone glares at Max, who tries his best to keep a straight face. Scruffy steps out on stage, dressed neatly with their hair pulled back. They approach the microphone with a smile as an intern hands Chris another set of cue cards. 

“Oh, great. This is really riveting, guys. Your first word is necessary,”

“Necessary,” Scruffy smiles. “N-e-c-e-s-s-a-r-y.”

Scattered applause follows the sound of a correct ding!

“Loquacity,”

“Loquacity. l-o-q-u-a-c-i-t-y,”

“Chiaroscurist,”

Scruffy pauses to think for a moment. “Could I have a definition, please?”

Chris squints at the index card. “An artist who uses shade and lighting over color to make illusions of depth.”

“C-h-i-a-r-o-s-c-u-r-i-s-t,”

The Anons hold their breath in silence as they lean forward, on the edge of their seats. 

“Staphylococcus,”

“Um... Definition?”

“It’s a type of bacteria or something. I dunno, dude,” Chris chuckles, tossing the cards away again as interns rush to replace them in his hand. 

Scruffy is beginning to look nervous. “S-t-a-ph-y-l-o-c… um, o-c-c-u-s,”

“Correct! One more!” Chris says cheerily. “You’re gonna love this one!”

The Anons look at each other anxiously, and Scruffy crosses their fingers behind their back. 

“Your final word is Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis,”

Max noticeably winces, and the rest of the team sucks in their breath. A bead of sweat trickles down Scruffy’s face as a grin spreads across Chris’. The Fujoshis are already smiling and fist-bumping each other, congratulating their fellow team members on the win. All but Mal, who’s looking a little annoyed. 

“Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis,” Scruffy says, voice trembling. “Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis…”

The Inane Anons are biting nails, pulling hair, and staring intently. Even Chris seems invested as he leans forward with wide eyes.

Scruffy takes a deep breath, and then, in a calm, collected voice: “P-n-e-u-m-o-n-o-u-l-t-r-a-m-i-c-r-o-s-c-o-p-i-c-s-i-l-i-c-o-v-o-l-c-a-n-o-c-o-n-i-o-s-i-s!”

Chris stares in awe. "That's... that's correct!"

The crowd stares in shock for a moment before the Anons jump to their feet, screaming and cheering. 

---

JULIA: I’ve never seen anyone so hyped over spelling, but… I gotta hand it to Scruffy. That rocked.

---

“And Chef gives Scruffy’s spelling an 8/9, putting the Anons at 16 points and winning the game! What a game! What a game!” Chris shouts, tossing the cue cards in the air for interns to scramble over and pick up. 

The Fujoshis groan as the Anons cheer, surrounding Scruffy on stage and hoisting him up, carrying him like a king back to their cabins. 

“Fujoshis- I’ll see you all at the campfire soon,” Chris chuckles. 

---

MAX: Aaaaaand my judgment was right all along. Big surprise!

---

“Fujoshis- you’re here because you sucked. Big time. But only one of you will be going home tonight. 

You know the drill- whoever doesn’t get a marshmallow must walk the dock of shame, board the boat of losers, and never return, ever. 

And the first marshmallow goes to…

McLovin and his wicked moves. 

Mal, you’re safe, too. For some reason,” Chris chuckles. 

“Courtney, Bonnie, Caesar. Safe.

Ass, Sha-Mod, you’re still on. 

Kitty- your disappointing performance left a lot to be desired- and Patrick, you’re the one who vouched for Kitty while losing the respect of all of your teammates. If it were up to me, I’d send you both home. But it’s not! So…

Kitty…

…You’re safe.”

Everyone turns to each other nervously. Patrick stands, a look of cold hatred on his face, his fists clenched and teeth gritted. He marches over to Chris, shoving him over, and turns back one last time. “I’ll be back,” 

"Yayyyy!" Kitty smiles, waving. "Byeee!!'

Chris shivers from the ground. “Yeesh. Touchy,”

He pops up back to his feet, dusting off his shirt. “Who’s going home next time? And who’s staying to win? Find out on the next exciting episode of Total! Takes! Island!”

[softsnzstuff]

Rockstar Au,

Eddie if possible

🥵🤬🎭

Thank you for the prompt and for making this lovely list of prompts!!!

🥵Fever on a hot day • 🤬Grouchy •. 🎭Overly dramatic

*~*~*~*~*~

Why the fuck did they sign up for a music festival in Austin, Texas in the middle of July? Why???

If you asked the boys, the easy answer was, “it’s the music capital, Eddie.” And on any other day he would’ve agreed whole heartedly.

Today, however, both the outdoor temperature and his internal temperature were holding steady at a fixed 101° and the rocker was downright miserable.

“Why is it so hot in here??” Eddie shouted as they stepped into the makeshift tent green room.

“Sorry guys, the portable AC unit just died. We’re working on it now.”

Eddie sighed heavily and wiped a few beads of sweat from his temple. His head was pounding, body ached, skin hurt, and everything was just hot.

His jeans shorts were practically clinging to his legs and there was already a U of sweat on the neckline of his tee shirt.

The other guys were obviously hot as well - 101° in a Texas summer had a knack for feeling like 113°. That being said, the other guys were expecting this and were excited for performing at this event.

“Lighten up Ed, they’ll probably get it fixed in an hour or so. Have a seat, take a break.”

Eddie didn’t have to be told twice, all but collapsing dramatically into one of the chairs in the tent.

He rested his elbows on his knees pitching forward, adding to the damp spot already on his shirt.

“H’etSCH! T’issHUhew! Ehh… ii’KTSCH!”

“Bless you, man.” The guys offered, knowing they were walking on eggshells with their already grouchy bandmate.

One of their handlers came back, resting a hand on Eddie’s shoulder and having him an ice water bottle from the ice chest.

The long haired man winces, holding the ice bottle to his burning forehead. He just wanted to get this show over with.

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