#Even the crow skull buttons on his shirt are sad

[tiiracotta]

He did not want you to see that 🥺 It made him sad

[halfblackwolfdemon]

Stop giving my fucking plunnies ideas (don't stop, kthanks)

[Imseet Catchy Name Here]

Danny tugged again at the bowtie his father, Jack, forced him into for what felt like the millionth time that night. The "Party" was in full swing, and the expansive dance floor of his Keeps ballroom was full of well-dressed ecto-entities, liminal beings, death-adjacent, death-touched, and deathborns.

Danny was looking for love (true), and he was offering his hand in marriage to the one who could catch his eye (not right away, damnit. He had to get to know them first!). It was pedantic, stupid (in his perfectly valid opinion), and bordered on cruel since everyone would be leaving disappointed tonight.

John Constantine, Zatanna Zatara, and the champion of Magic, Shazam, were amongst the crowd somewhere, having been some of the Mortal Emissaries to hand out invitations to the myriad invitees on the other side of the Veil. He spied Constantine talking animatedly with a group of Yeti's, and guessing by the awed looks on their faces was entertaining them with a story of heroics.

Beings from all over the Infinite Realms had flocked to try their hand at garnering Danny's affections, though the man had yet to meet with anyone he felt even a modicum of interest in besides the polite etiquette that Lady Dorathea and Lady Pandora had drilled into his thick skull all those months ago.

There were chaperones for those too young to be by themselves, and even a few representatives from the Living World were intermingled on the sidelines. Most were from other realities, though a few Danny recognized from pictures he had been shown earlier.

The people of the Far Frozen adored hero stories.

His mother's hand slipped around his wrist and took hold of him in a vice-like grip. "Sit up straight, Danny. Proper posture, please." Maddie glanced over at him, her tight smile strained and the crows feet around her eyes crinkling under her forced cheer. Danny's mom was not a fan of this whole affair but knew, because of Danny's Kingly status, that she had no real say in how the Old Texts treated the possibility of marriage to the thrown.

She had lamented her sadness at losing her baby boy already (Danny made the mistake of saying, "I'm 22, mom, I'm an adult now." To his mother once. The wails and clinging he received were heard all throughout the lair for weeks afterwards.) But Danny had assuaged her worried... Kind of. He would make it a long engagement and she would have a say in most of the wedding planning.

Jazz had laughed outright after that before Maddie had cornered her and said she'd do the same for Jazz whenever she found her forever person.

Danny laughed at her right back for that one.

But now, after nearly four grueling hours of hand shaking, fake smiles, forced bravado, and tedious conversations, Danny was mentally done.

A glowing sticky note floated in front of him, and the young King snatched it from the air. He jumped up, turned to his mother, handed her the note, and booked it out of the main ballroom and into the winding gardens that connected to the right side of the ballroom before she could stop him.

The soft purples, pinks, and yellows of the flora, the gentle orchestral music, the faintly glimmering fairy lights that lined the cobblestone walkways eased the tension from Danny's shoulders as he shifted from his Ghoat King form to his human form. But, even Human Danny couldn't get out of wearing some type of monkey suit.

His dad had insisted.

It was a standard black suit, tailor fitted to his body ("Thanks, Vladdie! You didn't have to!"), with a soft blue button-down, long sleeve shirt that "brought out his eyes," as mom said. He had a blue pocket square, shiny black shoes with red bottoms, and his Hero emblem as gleaming cufflinks. He felt pretty fancy, but still, he felt like scratching his own skin off because of all this hullabaloo.

"Fuckin' shit, I'm so tired." He grumbled while pulling his jacket off and draping it over his left forearm, insistently tugging at his bowtie until he huffed out angrily and phased it through his neck. Feeling somewhat childish, Danny chucked the offending choker ahead of him, only to squawk in surprise when an immaculately dressed tank of a man turned the corner, right into the ties flying trajectory.

Said man's soft, "Oh!" And quick hands made sure the stupid tie didn't hit him square in the face.

Danny felt his cheeks turn red before sheepishly walking towards the taller man. "Sorry, man. Didn't know anyone was gonna be out here." He apologized, ears burning as his embarrassment grew.

The man's striking blue-green eyes glanced at him, doing a quick once-over, before a blindingly bright smile spread across his (kissable) mouth. "Not a problem, sir. I take it this isn't your type of party?" He walked over to Danny, and the halfa mentally cursed, once again, that Jazz got Dad's tall genes, and Danny got Mom's lithe, short-stack genes.

The guy was almost a head and shoulders taller than Danny, with broad shoulders, a tapered waist, long legs, and big hands. He looked like he could wrestle with his dad and could maybe, maybe, win.

"Ugh, no. My mom 'n dad kept bugging me to go and then my peepaw was all, 'If you don't then the Realms will fall to ruin,' and my sister kept being a brat about it and..." Here, Danny waved his hand to summon a garden bench, big enough that if Tall, Tan, and Handsome wanted, he would have room to lounge. The ravenette flopped down and flicked open the top button of his shirt.

"I'm sorry you feel that way." The other man said, plopping down unceremoniously next to Danny, even going as far as looping his arm around the bedrest to relax further. Danny felt his blush spread down his neck because no one had any right to look that fucking sexy without even trying, and the halfa would know, he could generally get the surface emotions of everyone around him if he focused.

And this guy? This guy was practically on cloud nine right now. He was so in his element, Danny could taste it.

It was nice, though, to bask in so much happiness and giddy vibes. He could feel his own trepidation at the entire event smooth out. If someone like this guy, who looked like he would (and probably could) sword fight for his honor, felt this comfortable, maybe Danny could to.

Turns out, the dude, Jason, was a hero in his home dimension but was also a major book nerd. He even confessed that he came here to live out his romance novel fantasies. "Look, if Jane Austen taught me anything, it's you gotta do what you enjoy. And this? All this shit? Fucking slaps in my opinion." He said, even going as far as to quote some of the stories he's read.

Danny didn't know them, but was impressed that such a masculine guy could have such a soft and sweet side. It was... Endearing. Sweet.

Danny talked about his own story a little, letting Jaspn know that he was a retired hero, how he died at 14 ("Wow, small world! I was killed at 15 being stupid, too. Obviously it didn't stick, but... You do what you can with the life you're given."), that his parents were ghost hunters turned ghost anthropologists.

What was supposed to be a quick five minute walk turned into an hour of connecting with a sweet man with a heart of gold and a laugh and smile that sent Danny's heart racing.

So, when Dorathea came to collect him, saying he needed to get back to selecting his Consort, Danny waved bye to his new friend (crush) and transformed into King Phantom as he floated by his ghostly friend.

👻❤️💚 Jason POV 💚❤️👻

'I'm gonna tap that.' Jason thought as Danny cackled loudly at his latest 'heroic tale'. With their magical meeting to the way the two just clicked, Jason felt like he was literally living his fairytale fantasy.

Almost get hit with something the other protagonist threw? ✔️

Size difference? ✔️

Feel his heart race when the other smiles? ✔️

Like the way they laugh? And that they laugh at his jokes? ✔️

Enjoy the way the lights danced across their adorably freckled face, how they made Danny's eyes bright and adding a soft glimmer to them? ✔️

Everything on his mental bucket list was being checked one after another. But, as it was, the universe came to ruin his fun.

As Jason watched the glowing ghostly blonde woman who looked to be straight out of a medieval TV show float towards them, a sinking feeling entered his stomach. The guy across from him, Danny, was so funny, smart, and sassy.

Jason didn't want to end the night.

"Danny, darling, it's time to return. Lord Clockwork says you have had a long enough break. Your... choices... are getting restless." She said, voice soft and sweet.

Danny groaned, letting his head fall backwards onto the backrest of the wrought-iron garden bench. "Do I gotta, Dora? It's so fucking boring." He whined and Jason nudged his knee with his own.

When Danny turned turned his head to lock eyes with Jason, Jason couldn't stop his devilish smile from forming or the way he winked playfully at him. "Don't worry, Cinderella, I'll find your shoe later tonight."

"Get the fuck outta here, bookworm." Danny laughed, raising his hand to shove, gently, at Jason's shoulder. "I'm not Cinderella, that's you."

The ghosts smile was teasing, "Now, now, my King, acting like a child is unbecoming of someone of your status." Her red eyes glimmered as she extended her hand for Danny to take. "You may speak to your friend afterwards. I will send a guardsmen to keep him company, if you wish?"

'King?' The sinking feeling turned into a gaping hole as embarrassment speared through Jason. He kept his smile as cordial and light as he reanalyzed everything Danny had talked to him about. How he lamented being here, how he thought it was so stupid to pick a partner like this, how he thought the King should be able to just date without the whole rigmarole of the ball and courting and the stuffy suits.

Before he could voice anything to Danny, Jason watched as a ring of bright white light circled his waist and in place of the sweet, snarky man Jason had been talking with for the past hour stood High King Phantom, Savior of the Infinite Realms, Defeater of the Mad King and Guardian to All.

Danny turned and waved happily to Jason before looping his arm with the female ghost, letting her lead him back to the ballroom.

Jason exhaled sharply before he tilted his head backwards, letting his eyes trace the glowing green skies above him. He couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled up from his mouth at how storybook perfect this whole night had been. Maybe he could sneak into Danny's room later that night and take him on a magic carpet rife?

He sat forward suddenly, steepling his fingers together while he rested his elbows on his knees. The turn of events were picture perfect for so many storybook Happily Ever Afters.

👻END👻

Now, which one to choose?

OK, this took hold of me. I don't know what else to add and I def started to run outta steam at the end, but... Enjoy? Maybe? Eh.

One of those "Danny needs a consort" fics where a bunch of people are invited to a mass speed dating event. The invitation uses prettier words but thats what this is. Now Batman wants to go get a look a this super powerful being and see if he's a threat or ally, and would you look at that, most of his children fall into the age bracket the invitation specifies 

(or maybe the batkids have just been touched by death enough they're viable candidates and got personalized invitations. Either way Bruce wants to go)

So Batman says a few of his kids will go and he's tagging along as a "chaperone". Maybe a few other JL members do the same with their proteges. The hard part for Bruce is actually getting his kids to agree to go. The biggest surprise is Jason finds out and demands to go.

Now Jason, a known lover of regency period romances, read a copy of the invitation the JL got and knew exactly what this was. There will be a ball. The word "courting" was used. This is a chance to live out his secret romance novel dreams and nothing is getting in the way of that. So he calls the batfam to say he's going

The batfam are like flabbergasted that Jason wants to go to a spooky speed dating event but it has the added bonus of getting the kids to start volunteering bc they have to know why Jason is so excited about this

[mcshiiin]

Title: Not My Energy

Pairings: KageHina

Sypnosis: A short, sad songfic about the two where Hinata lost his ability to fly

Song used: Not my Energy by IV of Spades

[A/n: Thank you for reading! I hope u enjoy huhu]

"I've ran out of reasons, reasons to comfort my mind."

Harbingers of daybreak busted his windows open. With gleaming dark eyes and sleek black talons, a crow stared straight to his soul. A sudden prickling sensation running from his toes began clobbering his body, rendering him paralyzed. Panting... Gasping... Drowning his mind in a sea of sorrow.

"Illusions, delusions. Confusions are running inside."

Hinata, despite sinking down the shallow waters feels as if he's floating mid-ar, going "boing boing". Slowly plummeting down the sea floor, he never hit the bottom. Instead, he landed rather harshly on the plywood surface of the gym. A familiar stinging pain on his palm smiled at him viciously. Taken aback, he grabbed his thumping, hollow chest and inhaled as much air as he could. An unforgiving force clashed against his torso, almost obliteraring him before the ceiling collapsed.

"Pale lips and dark lies has conquered the dreamer's eyes."

Poring dreamily at the honey glazed tree tops with hooded eyes, a sigh escaped from his drought ridden lips. While licking away the parchness on his lips, a worried yet kind gaze cut through him from the opened door.

"Sho-kun, you're going to be alright. Don't worry sweetie, we're here for you."

"Nii-chan! Hang in there. I love you!"

The warmth from his sister's hug dissipated into thin air. The soft caress from his Mom ghosted above his puffed out cheeks. Forcing his lips to curl upwards, he fooled them. Just as how their words of affirmation and consolidation were mere lies to comfort him.

" 'Cause there is something in those eyes I can never find, boy."

"Hinata boke..."

Shoyo swore Kageyama's voice were softer than ever. Terrified to face him, the bed ridden boy looked away. His bones shaking. His muscles tensed up.

"I don't want to dive in those same steel blue orbs..."

He kept his mouth silent. He kept his resolve solid. Then it crumbled down.

A feverish touch was ignited from Kageyama's fingertips grazing atop Hinata's trembling hand. The setter is careful enough not to break him, delicately and softly, he slid his hand and interwined it with his partner's. Shoyo's ribcage shattered, his throbbing heart and strained heartstrings tore it down.

His orbs stung with pain as he stared back at steel blue ones.

"I'm sick and tired of the noices, the voices. Everything seems magical."

"We're here for you, Hinata."

"Call us anytime!"

"I'm sure everything will be figured out by the adults. Cheer up, Hinata!"

"Let's buy popsicles when you're discharged, ne Shoyo?"

"Here's some food for you, eat up. You're getting thinner. Ne? I'm the best senpai aren't I?"

"gET WELL SOON AND WE'LL PRAY FOR YOU!"

"Don't worry too much. Idiots don't get sick, tch."

"Tsukki's right, you'll be okay, Hinata."

"I--no we, are here for you. Don't worry about catching up to class, I can teach you anytime!"

"Get some rest and take care please."

"I won't bother you with my words, Hinata-kun. You'll be okay, I'll pray for it."

"Rest up well, kid."

Everything and everyone seemed to pass by in a blur. Their faces muddled together like a murky pond. Indis​cern​ible. Chafing. Quaint. As if it never happened, as if he never heard anything.

"I'm sorry but there's nothing that we can do..."

"D-doctor no-!"

What? He heard nothing. His mother's face didn't crumple to despair. Her hands didn't ball into a fist. Her lips did not quiver. She never looked at him with those eyes.

No. Natsu is a sweet and clingy sister, her hugging him to death is nothing. She always said that his hands are rough, calloused, and big. They're also warm, and emollient. Maybe that's why she's holding it tight. Oh? Natsu is drooling. He chuckled, overseeing the shuddering figure of his dear sister.

 

Such an ethereal dream it is.

"And yes, my mind is awakened, dead conscience. Eveyday's a torture for me."

Panting heavily whilst swimming in a sea if sweat, Shoyo is wide awake. But, awake from what? Running away from what, his reality or his nightmares? Scampering to and fro, for what? Just to slam his head on a rock, trying to shake his dreams up.

He doesn't know what's hounding hin anymore.

He run a hand through his thick tuft of hair, unable to get back to sleep. A frown creeping up on his lips as he tries to pry his gaze to his legs. His world stilled. His breathing stopped. His mind blown to smithereens.

It hurts. The seering pain from mid-thigh down to his calf. It hurts, so he screamed.

"No I am not holding on to the darkness, 'cause you're already in my mind."

Natsu must be lying, his hands isn't big at all! She probably hasn't seen Kageyama's slender, setter hands. They look also pretty. Tobio's obviously taking good care of it, he bet that he goes as far as taking it to the nail salon. He's both dilligent and an idiot. He wants himself to be in a perfect condition so he can exert his best every game.

Shoyo wonders what lotion his setter is using. He want to buy one for himself too. How irksome it is to look at your partner's long fingers, perfectly groomed nails (it must be nice to have a manicure once), and mosturized, vanilla scented palms whilst yours is anything like that.

"Hmm spacing out?"

Tobio snaked his arms to his frail waist. Nudging his face deep into Shoyo's neck. So warm. So cool. So comfortable. Too real.

"Nah, I'm barely hanging."

"And if you would walk alone, then just do it. The clock is ticking backwards."

A tall, tall wall looms before him. The view from the top. He wants to see it. But he never can, unless alone.

And now, he's more alone than ever.

"Onigiri, pork buns, curry, what do you want honey?"

He's out in the cold again. Jumping higher, digging deeper, receiving with his face to no end. Wheezing as his body thrives, playing as his blood pulsiates. His heart more alive than before. His grin toothier than before. Hinata Shoyo loving too hard ever than before.

The pure joy from he gets from being with the team. The steam he emitts whenever Tsukishima pushes his buttons as Yamaguchi fell in line with laughing at him. The always fidgetty Yachi and Asahi-san. His superb senpais. That reminds him, he need to ask Nishinoya-senpai to teach him the rolling thunder double. The hardworking second years, the goddess Kiyoko-san, everyone. Even Daichi-san's roaring voice along with Suga-san's refreshing smile.

And of course, the skull-crusher milk boy who knows no word except Boke.

"I'm going alone."

"I ain't got it all, I don't care. You're not my energy."

Extending his arms, reaching with his hands, everyone is too far away.

Lying awake for hours, figuring how to run, how to fly.

Then, his bed decided to swallow him up.

A stringent touch engulfed his throat that produced an acrid cry from his mouth. The need for air is urgent, but his compressed windpipes aches with the mere presence of oxygen flowing through. For a second he thought the hold loosen, then his limbs. were vehemently ripped apart.

As blood splattered, his lower region were mangled.

"Your tears are in laughter while your smile is in despair."

Happiness looks good in Kageyama and Natsu. No doubt, hands down, bets raised.

Their carefree laughter bounced off the four walls of his room. Pearly white teeth are exposed as their lips ae stretched up to a smile. As far as their drinking game goes, Natsu is losing. Yes, they're drinking milk, much to Kageyama's delight.

Shoyo lost a long atime ago and the two milk heads are on it. The way their eyebrows knits together in concentration, noses scrunched up, and cheeks puffed out is a sight to see. You don't get to watch Kageyama with a child that doesn't cry within his mere presence, let alone play with him.

"I can't hold it in! I'm going to pee!"

The shorter ball of fluff ran outside as fast as her legs could carry her. Just a little bit more... three more steps... two... then one. She got in!

Natsu came back to her brother wiping his tears as he cackle like a rooster. He reminded her of the Kuroo Tetsurou that he once mentioned, bedhead, hyena laugh and all. When she glanced to her Kageyama-nii-chan, she was almost blinded. His higantic smiles were presented at her boldly. A soft glow from the dying sun illuminated his face. She can feel the love strongly eminating from these two.

Just as the puzzle is coming on together, someone had to filp the table and topple off the pieces.

Whimpers and hiccups. Rattling and rustles. Disintegrating and decaying. Shoyo-nii-chan is crying.

One end of his lips tugged upward. Blood-curling smirk emblazoned on his dainty face. And as she peek at the door opened ajar, tears came rolling down her rosy cheeks, staining the fabric of her shirt with pure sadness that a child can't comprehend. A younger sister shouldn't see her brother's soul being chipped off like that, you know.

"The poison of your tongue has killed all your truthful words."

His throat is a sand paper being stroked on a piece of wood that produces a nasty sound. It aches. It's painful to shout. It's straining. He too doesn't like sound coming off from his mouth. Disdainful words that tarnishes their bond, lacerating sentences that makes him bleed too.

"I don't need you!"

Yes I do.

"Go away!"

Please stay.

"I didn't like the food. It was awful."

They're my favorite, thank you.

"When I said I don't wan't to it, it means I don't! Don't force me!"

Maybe I'm a bit hungry?

"I AM OKAY. I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP I CAN DO IT BY MY FUCKING SELF!"

I am a lost cause.

"Pale lips and dark eyes has broken the dreamer's lies."

He inaudibly shrieked one morning when he woke up. The world was wet with dew as it sleepily waved back at him. He tried to wave back, but the shock of living in monochrome froze him. Then he tumbled down with a thud.

For a moment he forgot what predicament he's in and tried to stand up only to out balance himself and landed face first down their wooden floor. Natsu, who was never asleep the entire night, came rushing by to her brother's room beside hers. Clearly shocked and bemused at her nii-chan's bleeding nose and busted lip, she stood frozen. A part of her wants to laugh but the other half actually feels bad. And good thing she did, because the next scene was horrifying.

"AAAAAHHHHH!"

"N-nii-chan..."

"SEND FUCKING HELP!"

A soul was broken.

"There is something in your mind you can never find, boy."

Searching. Wandering. Roaming around an unprecedented area.

What was he seeking?

He alwas have thought that it was the adrenaline. His heart beating so fast, so loud that he can hear it through his ears. An energy flowing deep within, tingling his senses, pricking under his skin. He enjoys the rush, the pain, the smile in his teammates' lips.

Yet when he stared at Kageyama, he realized it wasn't.

What kept him alive...

"Im sick and tired of the voices, the noises. Everything seems magical."

"Hinata boke..."

"Nii-chan."

"Sho-kun!"

"HINATA SHOYO!"

...was love.

"My eyes are hiding the pavements of my vacancy. You can't take the power from me."

Kageyama wish he could hold Shoyo tighter. Peacefully zoning out in his arms, a small drool pooling below his mouth, and beautiful long lashes. So angelic and breathtaking.

Yet he still fears poring directly in his partner's eyes for they scream,

"I'm going to eat you alive."

Placing a kiss atop his head, a sigh escaped his lips. Then, honey-flecked orbs dangerously stared at him. A tremble was awaken inside his body.

"I love you."

The both of then were taken aback by his sudden words. Hinata was left in awe, speechless while Kageyama quickly recovered his composure. He came into terms with his feelings finally just right now, it's now or never.

"I want you more than any perfect toss. It's you that I want to hit my balls. We're partners, aren't we? I want to be by your side, holding you, loving you. We'll drink hundred liters of milk, we'll eat as many pork buns as you want. I want to spend my life with you."

"Kageyama-kun..."

"I know it'a sudden but Hina--!"

"Loving means being alive. Being alive is being able to love,

But you see, living, is not my energy."

-FIN

[kelvinsamorasworld]

CHOICES

Habari ndugu. Mambo ndio haya. 😕

The sound of waves breaking on the beach, the rustling of palm leaves and crickets merge harmoniously into some sort of wild symphony. She is standing next to you, leaning on the wooden balcony railing. A light on the neighbor’s porch gives the complete contour of her body in silhouette.

The bedside clock reads 12:23 AM. You are at her place. Stark naked. Allowing the salty sea breeze to cool off your body after a steamy session.

She has your shirt on. Unbuttoned, nothing else underneath. Her hair is messed up giving her this untamed look. The shirt flaps in the wind revealing a curvaceous physique, shapely derriere & long sexy legs. It reminds you of your bulging waistline. You suck in your tummy to make it appear flat.

You walk up to her. Hug her from behind. She turns around. Those big lovely eyes lock with yours. Looking into her eyes is like watching the grand Spiral Galaxy. Millions of bright stars caught up in a gravitational swirl of spiral arms orbiting about the center. Picturesque. You want to freeze this moment for eternity.

She closes her eyes, stands on her toes and tilts her chin upwards. You cup her face and draw her into a long passionate kiss. Lost into each other’s mouths you lose a sense of time. All you can think of is her long nails making patterns on your back, sending strange electrical impulses down your spine.

Suddenly, she pulls away. Her beautiful smile fades away. It is replaced with a face full of worry. Crow feet in her eyes become more pronounced. Your brain goes over-drive trying to identify what could have caused the drastic change in mood.

“What’s wrong?”

Her lips quiver but no words come out. After struggling for awhile she finds her tongue.

“I love you!”

The declaration catches you by surprise. You quickly mumble ‘me too’ then go for her lips in a bid to distract her. She stops you midway, her index finger on your lips.

“What do you love about me?”

Your heart beats faster. Cold sweat trickles down your back. You can’t tell whether it’s due to the humidity or her unwavering gaze. Why would she even ask that?

“From the very first moment I laid my eyes on you I knew we were destined to be together. You are intelligent, assertive, caring, beautiful and definitely irresistible. I feel like I can confide in you all my deepest secrets without worrying that you might use them against me.”

She throws her arms around your neck and hugs you so tightly that you can barely breathe. If only she knew that’s exactly what you tell every woman.

Someone watching from a distance would easily think the two of you are deeply in love or even soulmates. The truth is you just met tonight. Actually, you don’t even know her second name.

Earlier that evening, you went to this cool bar right on the beach looking to catch up with an old friend. This was after a day full of meetings with potential partners in the Kenyan south coast where you are looking to set up a new business.

Bar on the beach Bidi Badu Diani Kenya

The joint has a grungy feel. Wooden seats and tables under a thatched shed on the beach. A stage, and bar on opposite ends. The crowd consists of mostly young tourists. A couple of pretty lasses throw you inviting glances. You can feel it in your bones that tonight is going to be amazing.

Then you notice her perched on a bar stool nursing a cold tusker. She is staring back at you. There is something about women who take beer directly from the bottle. They are unpretentious. However, her face is devoid of emotion. You can’t tell whether she is interested or simply curious.

You choose to ignore her instead pay attention to the band on stage playing No woman, No Cry by Bob Marley. Live music especially reggae always moves you. You are so engrossed with the performance that you don’t see her walking up to your table until you feel her palm on your shoulder.

“Hey, can I join you?”

This catches you completely by surprise though you try hard to hide it.

“Yeah…yes…sure.”

She sits next to you, her hips gently grazing yours. Your buddy excuses himself and approaches some lady on the next table.

The mysterious lady signals a waiter.

“Another beer plus whatever he is having.”

You are used to making the first move so this feels quite strange.

She is sporting Dora hairstyle, a black blouse buttoned all the way to the top, long earrings and hot pants. Or is it Ankara shorts? You can’t tell the difference. What piques your interest the most is the powerful aura around her. Every pore on her skin oozes with alluring confidence. It’s like she is used to getting everything she wants. A she-devil.

“I’m Kelvin…. Kelvin Samora .”

“I’m Linda… Just Linda.”

You both chuckle.

“Do you have to say both names?”

“Not really, I just like how it sounds.”

“So what do you do Mr. Kelvin Samora ?”

“I am a storyteller.”

“Journalist?”

“No, blogger.”

“I hate bloggers all they do is spread malicious rumors!”

“Well, I’m one of the good ones… Enough about me, let’s talk about you.”

“What exactly do you want to know?”

“Firstly, are you a criminal planning to spike my drink, rob me then toss my unconscious body into the ocean?”

She bursts out laughing surreptitiously placing her hand on your thigh.

“Would I really tell you that if indeed that was my intention?”

“I don’t know, is it?”

“ No, I came over because I find you attractive.”

The conversation shifts to the weather, coolest tourist spots around and finally about her life.

She heads an NGO that rescues young girls forced into prostitution mostly by their parents. Throws in stats on sex tourism while telling you some of the shocking things she has witnessed in her line of work.

She divulges intimate details about her love life. How her fiancé whom she is set to marry in May is always away, traveling on business. He spoils her with expensive gifts and treats but hardly spends time with her, which greatly contributes to her loneliness.

You hate playing Dr. Phil especially to a lady you find attractive. However, it feels like she needs someone to open up to so you urge her to spill more. She blathers on and on for minutes. You simply nod and smile in silence.

“Do you want to go home with me?”

“Uhm ..what?”

Didn’t she confess to having a boyfriend?

“How about we take this to my place?”

Uneasy silence.

“What about your boyfriend?”

“Don’t worry he is out of town for a couple of days.”

You mull over it for a moment. She doesn’t look like a hooker plus you are set to head back to Nairobi the next morning. What could possibly go wrong?

Her place is about three kilometers away from the bar. As you pull up next to a black gate she stuffs a packet of Durex in your shirt pocket.

“You will need these.”

She lives in a gated community with one main entrance and smaller gates to individual compounds surrounded by a 6-feet thorny fence. The house architecture is Swahili inspired.There is an Africa-shaped swimming pool right outside her house, a seat and a dining table set for six.

“You have a beautiful home.”

“Thanks, wait until you see the bedroom.” She winks at you.

She leads you upstairs. Her bedroom occupies the entire floor. A queen size bed is on one end, a coffee table and seats in the middle, a dressing table, walk-in closet and a treadmill next to the shower cubicle. The French windows next to the bed open to the balcony.

There is a framed picture of Linda and some muscular guy on the table. She quickly puts it away on realizing you were looking at it. If only the poor guy knew what his woman was up to tonight.

“I am heading to the shower, do you want to join me?”

She drags you back to the present.

“Go ahead, I will join you in a few.”

She drops the shirt on the floor and sashays to the shower. She turns and beacons you with her index finger, prurient intentions written all over her face, before closing the glass door.

You gaze out into the darkness trying to make out the beach beyond the line of palm trees. A cloud of sadness settles over you. This is your life. Sleeping around with all kinds of women. Your friends envy you. They think you are a stud. What they don’t know is that deep down you are hurting and lonely. You crave for human connection. The endless and meaningless sex doesn’t fill the emptiness. Nothing does. Every time you go out with a new woman it feels exciting. But after the act all you feel is despondency.

The phone buzzing on the table interrupts your chain of thought. You walk over to the table. A phone is lying face up. Her phone. A man with a bushy beard is calling. It is the same guy you saw on her bedside picture. Meanwhile, you hear the creaking of the rusty gate and a car enter the garage. You rush back to the window and look towards the entrance.

A man in a blue suit and black shiny shoes alights from a black sedan. A banquet of red roses in one hand and a bottle of wine in another. He then picks a traveling bag from the back seat and walks up to the house.

At the very same moment, Linda steps out of the bathroom.

“He is here!” You half-whisper.

“Who?”

“Your fiancé!”

“What? You have to go.”

The guy is twice your size. He looks like he could easily strangle two men at the same time or cave a human skull with a single blow. The last thing you want is to end up on the wrong side of those knuckles. Not when your folks back in the village sacrificed everything to make you the man you are today. Escaping is the only safe option.

You quickly put on your pants, grab your phone, keys, and shirt from the floor and dash to the balcony.

The front door is slam shut followed by quick successive steps coming up the stairs.

“Go now!”

She pushes you off the balcony.

You land on your left foot twisting your ankle in the process. Cursing in pain you limp towards the gate only to find out it’s padlocked.

A piercing scream splits the humid air.

“ Mwizi! Mwizi!”

Looking back you see Linda pointing at you. The guy standing next to her jumps off the balcony rolls over the lawn just like in the movies then comes charging at you.

Faced with mortal danger, you climb up the fence and drop on the other side. Jump into your car, hit the ignition button, disengage the footbrake, engage Drive and floor the accelerator all in under 4 seconds.

The car lurches forward gathering speed like a rhino on steroids. From the rear view mirror, you can see Linda tightly wrapped in his arms, right in the middle of the road, sobbing uncontrollably. There is a triumphant look on his face. Perhaps congratulating himself for getting home in time to scare off a dangerous intruder. The knight in shining armor.

You accelerate and make it through the main gate before the overzealous guard drops the barrier. Join the main road and make a hard left turn narrowly escaping a head collision with an oncoming tour van.

After driving for ten minutes you see a well-lit signpost. Welcome To Diani Beach Hospital. That’s when you feel a sharp pain in your abdomen. On looking down you find out that you are covered in blood. Must’ve been the thorny fence and barbed wire.

You stagger into the hospital reception. Your head feels light. The room begins to spin. Your legs give in. You collapse on the floor in a heap. Nurses in tiny white dresses rush towards you. The last image in your mind as you slip into unconsciousness is that of the seductress in hot pants pointing at you.

If only I knew.