#Less Talking More Golfing Golf Towel

[erwinsvow]

you had lived in the house next to tannyhill your entire life. though it was smaller, much less grand and a little older, it was home.

your bedroom faced the opposite side of the street, looking out onto the other neighbors. you occasionally ran into sarah and wheezie on the block or during a stroll on your bike and your dad would sometimes be seen talking to ward in the backyard about the weather or the updates to the golf course at the country club.

but in all the years you had been living here, you had never caught the older cameron's attention—at least until the tree poked through your window during the most recent hurricane.

your bedroom—your most sacred space—was now a litter of broken glass and scratched up floors. it would be easy enough to replace, once your parents found someone reliable enough to do it, and the best solution offered to you was relocating temporarily to the guest bedroom. it faced the other side of the street, looking out over the cameron pool and, unbeknownst to you, rafe's bedroom.

at first you just move some of your things in, knowing your parents wanted you to stop running back to your old room until it was fixed. then more things come in, making yourself more comfortable, until it seems that this might as well be your new bedroom. it's easy enough—decorating walls with photos and posters, dragging in your bookshelf and appreciating the joint bathroom a little too much.

you get very comfortable—though you don't realize the curtains in this room are completely sheer. it faces windows of tannyhill that you've never seen another person in, so you assume they must be empty too.

that's when rafe sees you for the first time—changing in your bedroom through his window. you walk in with a white towel wrapped around your body, drying your hair while you pace around. he feels a little green, staring at pretty exposed skin and wet hair like it's the first time he's ever seen a half-naked girl.

you brush your hair and then get closer to the window, a foot perched on the windowsill while you rub lotion onto your legs, and then your arms. rafe's still staring, and though he's sure he looks like a creep if you glanced up and at him, he doesn't stop. finally you get to your neck, and just when he thinks you've finished, you loosen the towel and let it fall to the floor.

all the blood rushes out of his head—watching your hands massage in lotion to the soft skin of your stomach, your back, finally stopping at your tits before you're out of his eyeshot. when you get back in, you're holding clothes in your hand, slipping into a big t-shirt and a pair of panties. he can even make out their blue color from how hard he's staring.

it's a little late—the sun's gone down but your room is still illuminated with light. he sees you crawl into your bed, getting under the covers and picking up a book from the nightstand. like an idiot, he keep staring until you turn your lamp off and go to bed, and like an idiot, he's still hard.

the next morning—after an entire evening spent trying to resist staring at your sleeping form—he goes downstairs to ask someone about you.

"who's the new neighbor?" rafe tries to ask it but it comes out more like a demand—wheezie looks up at him confused and sarah ignores him.

"huh?" his younger sister questions back, looking up from her breakfast. "what new neighbor?"

"on the pool side. saw a new girl. when did they move in?"

"what are you talking about, rafe?" sarah says. "she's always lived there. how are you this ignorant?"

"well, i've never fuckin' seen her before-" he thinks he's starting to get a little angry—maybe more at himself. how is it that he's never seen you before? how is it that you're dumb enough to leave a window uncovered enough for him to stare at you all night, naked, no less?

"dad said the neighbor's tree fell into a window. that's why he's getting the one by their room cut down, they said it was really bad-"

"that's so horrible. the tree was there first-"

rafe steps away, back up to his bedroom and his view of you. you're not there now, he saw you leave the room earlier. he can't help it—he wonders where you went.

that night, the same thing happens. it's terrible—he even turns the light off in his bedroom so you don't get alarmed. you come in around seven, talking on the phone with someone, juggling ice cream and shopping bags. you hang up the phone a little later, putting on something on your television and eating the ice cream from your bed.

he should've stopped looking the second you lick melting ice cream from your fingers, but he doesn't. he watches you pick up your towel and walk away, coming back wrapped in it just like yesterday. same as then, you put on lotion, taking extra time to blowdry your hair. you don't read tonight—probably too tired, he guesses—and go straight to bed. after he's sure you're asleep, he flicks his light back on.

it goes on for longer than he realizes, longer than he expects. it's fun watching your little routine, how oblivious you are to the fact that he's watching it. and you seem nice—sweet, even, with the way you smile brightly whenever your parents come into your room, the way you swing your feet when you're on the phone.

he does a little more digging—true to what his idiot sisters said, you've lived in this house forever. you've been a few hundred feet away this entire time.

like every night—he flicks off his bedroom light at eight. you bounce in, doing everything you always do, exactly the way you always do it. something seems different though—you don't seem tired, crawling into your yellow sheets a little too early.

rafe stands up so fast when he realizes what you're doing, he almost knocks his chair flat to the ground. one hand snaking into your panties—pink tonight—and the other under your t-shirt, you rock against your hands. your room is only lit up with the light of a faint lamp, but it's enough for him to see everything—the way your face contorts into pleasure, the moan you try to muffle with the back of your hand, when you finally cave and take off your shirt.

he keeps staring, about as hard as he's ever been, watches you give up on your hand and fold a pillow in half instead, mounting it and giving him the show he didn't realize he'd been waiting for. and fuck, it's perfect, exactly how he thought you'd be.

rafe doesn't realize he's doing it, palming himself before giving in and taking out his dick, angry and red already, watching you. his own strokes match your pace against the pillow, and it doesn't take long at all—you cum with your head pressed against your sheets and he cums into his hand, so close to the window his breath fogs up the glass.

he gives in twice more—repeating the events of that night when you touch yourself again. the other times he's content just to watch you, not sure when that become such a pleasure in and of itself.

one night you come home with some shopping bags—nothing new. you strip down and try on a pretty white dress with orange flowers, tight where it needs to be yet nothing you couldn't wear around family. you twirl around your room, and then call someone on the phone.

he doesn't know how the thought gets in—maybe because your window was a little cracked and his was open all the way, sound traveling through the window and the words he hears leads to the idea of you, going on a date with someone else, in that dress, plants itself in his mind.

rafe paces around his room, not even caring if you see. you can't go on a date, not with anyone but himself, and the very idea that you'd do something like that makes him angry. it's irrational, though he hardly cares, all he can think about is how to make sure it doesn't happen.

the next night—saturday—you get dolled up, though rafe's not there to watch this time. you put on makeup and even do your hair all pretty, slipping into the dress and tidying your room before making your way downstairs. your date said he'd swing by around seven to get you—and though he didn't seem the type, he was already ten minutes late.

you wait on your front porch for another ten, before deciding to send a text. it bounces back. you call him, but it goes straight to voicemail. with the bitter realization that you've been stood up almost twenty minutes later, you're about to go back inside with watery eyes, when you hear the sound of footsteps in the distance.

"hi, is that you?" you call out uncertainly into the night. your porch lights are dim, only giving you a little glimpse of a man walking towards your home from the street. but he's not coming from your driveway—he's coming from the side, from the cameron house.

when he gets closer, you see that it's rafe cameron—the boy you've been living next to for years but haven't ever spoken to. even if you didn't know your neighbors and his sisters, you'd still remember him—you only nursed a crush on him for years.

"rafe?"

"hey, kid. what're you doin' out here all alone?"

"i.." you stop yourself short—you don't want to tell him you've been waiting for your date, it feels wrong. "i was just waiting for someone. um, what're you-" rafe doesn't let you finish.

"yeah, he's not comin'. not tonight, not ever."

"what?" nervous, frightened, your knees start to shake, feeling like you need to get far away right now.

"i said he's not coming. neither is anyone else. not goin' on any dates. get inside and get upstairs."

"rafe?" you question again, big eyes staring at your neighbor, fearful and confused.

"are you gonna make me repeat myself?" he asks, and almost automatically, you shake your head, complying, but still don't move. "go to your room."

you dart inside. rafe can hear your feet sprinting up the stairs. he turns off your porch light and walks inside your house, up the stairs, until he's face to face with your door with his hand on the knob. he twists, realizing you left it unlocked.

[telomeke]

WANDEE GOODDAY EPISODE 2

WDGD Ep.2 was a pleasant enough watch, continuing the lightness of Ep.1 and laying the groundwork for the episodes to come.

It's too early to be sure in what direction they're going to be taking this series, so I'm not looking too closely at things just yet.

And I've never gotten a sense that Director Golf has quite the same penchant for intellectual gamery that other directors (like Khun Aof Noppharnach) have, so WDGD might turn out to be not much more than a straight-up recounting of a romance (and that would be fine too). Nonetheless we are getting glimpses (little sparks really) of details tucked in here and there that suggest the series may yet narrate other messages on a deeper level in future episodes.

Director Golf is known for their political awareness (having spent time as the first trans politician in the Thai Parliament's House of Representatives), and this leaning was abjectly manifest when they directed The Eclipse. I'm not seeing the same heavy-handedness in WDGD though (and I think that's a good thing).

Part of me is wondering if the highly unusual method of determining who gets the orthopedic scholarship (patients and staff will get to vote on this, really? 👀) will re-surface later as a comment on the Thai political situation (always a rollicking ride). No guarantees, but odds are pretty good on this one.

Just a reminder that Khun Golf was ejected from Parliament through the application of a controversial law (banning lawmakers from having shares in any media companies), the same one I think that was also used to help obstruct Pita Limjaroenrat from becoming PM even though his Move Forward Party won the most votes in last year's election (it's also Khun Golf's political party). So any time the democratic electoral process gets referenced in a Thai BL (see this example linked here), the chances are high that the canvas is being primed for a political painting of some sort.

Anyway, just some light-hearted observations for now:

The novel that WDGD the series is based on is (by most accounts) quite trashy and throwaway, but you wouldn't know it watching Episodes 1 and 2 so far. The set-up out the starting gate was so squarely and comically blue-collar v. white collar, brawn v. brains, half-naked sweaty men v. lavender-scrubsuited physicians that I wasn't expecting to get much more than a shallow good time with a lot of tittering at man tits and macho tushies. But they've elevated the source material, imbuing it with a gentle sentimentality and treating the sexual element with humor and good sense (e.g., the condom and lube talk in Ep.1, and the discussion between YY and Dee establishing the ground rules for their Friends with Benefits arrangement). Quite impressively done, especially considering the lightness of its touch.

(above) Wandee Goodday Ep.2 [4/4] 6.28 – YY and Dee discuss the ground rules for their Friends With Benefits arrangement, against the backdrop of a neon sign that loudly proclaims "Less Expectations More Satisfaction" (which is, of course, the most basic ground rule for any FWB liaison)

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About that sentimentality: WDGD's glowing emotional core continues to take the unlikely form of Yoryak, and Great seals the deal with his performance in Wandee Goodday's quieter moments.

(above) Wandee Goodday Ep.2 [3‌/4] 2.23 and the return of the wet towel trope – Yoryak and the neon sign above the bed demonstrate together how love in action speaks louder than words

The tough kickboxer has fallen hard for Dee, and you can really read the tender pining behind his muay thai bravado. (I think he does lovelorn yearning better than outright lust though.)

(above) Wandee Goodday Ep.2 [3‌/4] 3.53 – Yoryak plants a little sniff-kiss as he embraces a barely-conscious Dee in bed; he's fully-clothed, yet far more naked and vulnerable than when they were actually having full-on sex before

There's surely going to be emotional devastation in store for Yak because a Friends With Benefits arrangement soon becomes a wrecking ball to the heart if you're unlucky enough to have caught feelings. And things can only get worse for our dear boy once he and Dee enter into their fake dating phase. Can you imagine coping with all that physical intimacy and also having to display emotional intimacy in public, but then being forced to deny it in private where you want it the most? Only pain looms on the foreseeable horizon for our macho fighter (su su na!), but it should make for some mightily delicious and pleasurably guilty viewing as he journeys through it all (if only for the payoff at the end; Golf please don't fail us! 😬).

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There have been cameos and callbacks galore in just these two episodes. The hospital is named Tanwarin, which is also Director Golf's formal first name and this may mean they've cast themselves in the role of a healer here, with this series.

There are also the clips of The Eclipse that our boys watch onscreen (possibly foreshadowing some more political commentary to come).

And screenwriter Yokee Apirak Chaipanha (who also did The Eclipse with Director Golf) guests as Dr. Apichart, the head of the Orthopedic Department.

Of course Ep.2's Café for All is also a callback to The Eclipse (it was prominently featured in there as well, with Director Golf in a cameo as the black-and-white clad proprietor/server).

(top) The Eclipse – Ep.4 [3‌/4] 4.31; (bottom) WDGD Ep.2 [3‌/4] 7.28

And my read then was that The Eclipse, just like the café with Khun Golf at the helm, was meant as a welcoming, non-judgemental space for reflection on LGBTQ+ issues. Possibly the same is being said for WDGD here, though its general unseriousness doesn't seem quite the same or even an appropriate forum for any discussion of weight. Perhaps like in the second appearance of Café for All, what's being served up here in WDGD seems to be less heavy drama and more fluffy confection. Not that there's anything wrong with that! 🍰👍

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Another possible cameo that's caught my eye – the oft-referenced, once heard but never seen Dr. Nop.

(above) Wandee Goodday Ep.2 [2/4] 0.50 – Yoryak looks disappointed when the nurses tell him they've switched his physician from Wandee back to Dr. Nop (while his t-shirt proclaims "Heart Melt")

I can't help thinking that this is a reference to Aof Noppharnach Chaiyahwimhon, who's on hiatus from GMMTV directorial duties for the time being. He's cameo'd as a Nop before (see these write-ups linked here and here) and this may be a reference to his being unseen, but still acknowledged and not unheard during his present time off (I've written about possible reasons for his time away, in this write-up linked here).

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Others have pointed out before I could do it, but yes cleaning the refrigerator does refer to rimming in Thai slang. 😂

(above) Wandee Goodday Ep.2 [4/4] 9.33 – YY turns up at Dee's unit 609 (possibly a reference to 609 Bedtime Story, that was also created by Director Golf and screenwriter Yokee Apirak) appropriately togged out with a gas mask, goggles and bodysuit, all ready to give Wandee's "fridge" a thorough scrub and rub

This thread on the Pantip forum (linked here) explains the term. And the same thread also explains that washing the dishes can mean either sloppy seconds or oral, which lends weight to Li Ming's laang jaan comeback to Jim as payback for infantilizing him during the market scene in Moonlight Chicken:

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OK, so I didn't find anything truly earth-shaking about WDGD Ep.2, but that's typically the case for second and third episodes in any series while they set things up for plot developments to come.

Still, Wandee Goodday is already glowing with a comforting warmth, peppered with light comedic turns even as it foreshadows darker shifts in the future. I hope they build on the solid foundations of Episodes 1 and 2, and serve up the remaining ten episodes ripened to their fullest potential (because there's lots in there they can play with). Here's to hoping! 🥰

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[bluesmason]

ok but imagine you’ve joined mason in dubai because you weren’t able to make it to qatar due bc of work so he asked you to spend his few days off with him and some of his mates 🥺 so the alarm you set last night bc of your plans with the others later wakes you up and you look over to see mason still sleeping peacefully in the expensive white sheets along with the the most beautiful view of dubai right outside the hotel window… his chest on full show and him breathing softly so you cuddle up to him and slowly trace your fingers over his face while whispering his name to tell him to wake up but all he does is pull you even closer to his body, naked chests touching bc the two of you only managed to put some underwear to sleep in after a looong night filled with lots of sex, burrying his head into your neck while groaning and saying something about sleeping for a little longer 🥺 so you’d cuddle him for a few more minutes with his hands running up and down your back and your head on his chest before escaping his grabby hands and getting up to shower and get ready for the day 🥺

so after you finished up in the bathroom you walk out in just a towel and see him propped up with his back leaning against the headboard, his hair a mess and his face looking all sleepy with his eyes fixated on you as if you’re the most beautiful sight he’s ever seen which makes you blush and tell him to get into the shower so you’re not late to your plans with the others. so while he’s in the bathroom you get dressed into some clothes that the two of you went shopping for yesterday, mason having insisted on getting them for you which you obviously declined at first but he made sure to tell you that he just wants to treat you to it bc you’ve been so busy with work. so as he walks out of the bathroom in just his boxers he gets dressed in black pants and black shirt, looking as sexy as he always does he comes up to you, resting his head on your shoulder while putting his hands on your hips, softly playing with the hem of your new shirt asking something like “oh is this new, baby?” which makes you rest your head back against his shoulder humming in confirmation so him being his cheeky self puts his hands underneath your shirt, slowly running up your stomach to your boobs… fingers playing with the lace of your new lingerie asking “this too?” while pressing kisses against your neck 🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️but you pull his hands away, telling him “no funny business, mount. we’ve got breakfast to go to” knowing full well that if he goes any further you won’t leave the hotel room at all today. so you grab your purse and head for the door, knowing he’s right behind you bc all he had left to do was grab his phone and wallet. and then when you’re both in the lift going down to the lobby he would lean against the wall and pull you into his chest, making you rest your head against it bc he knows you’re sleepy from a long night and he’d just hold you like this the whole way down, occasionally (the word hehe) kissing your head 🥺

and when you’re down at the lobby you meet rashy, benny, luke and their girlfriends and go for breakfast which would be so nice bc you really like their comapny and you love watching mason interact with his friends and you love how even when he talks to them he still shows that you’re all he really pays attention to with his hand on your thigh, his thumb running up and down in a soothing motion 🥺 and then after breakfast you’d walk to maybe some mini golf place with mason holding your hand the whole way there, talking with you and the others about anything and everything 🥺 then during mini golf he’d be his usual competitive self, being all pouty when you manage to get the ball in with less tries than him and pretending to me mad at you, when you know half of it is jokes and half of it is him actually being annoyed bc he’s not the best at something for once but you’d later wrap your arms around his waist as you’re all waiting for the winner to be announced to tell him to stop being a pouty baby which he’d acknowledge by kissing you softly 🥺 then later in the day after walking around dubai for a little longer you’d all go to dinner and a fancy bar afterwards with both you and mase drinking a few drinks which would lead to both of you being tipsy and turning into touchy messes, with his arm around you, taking any chance between conversations to kiss you and whisper sweet nothings into your ear and your hand on his thighs with your body leaning into his… both of you knowing that as soon as you two go back to the hotel you’ll spend another night having lots and lots of sex

[shebeafancyflapjack]

A Strange God (Part 8)

Final Part. Silver and the ghosts face their uncertain future.

"Thanks for agreeing to meet me."

Silver said nothing as Alison approached her bed, carrying Mia in a papoose at her front.

"Sorry we couldn't talk inside. Had to hand over my key. Not really supposed to be on the land now that construction has started."

She didn't know what to say to that. Risking a side glance at Mia, she could see how much she'd already grown, those brown eyes so much wider and interested in the world around her.

Alison shifted, guiding Mia's chubby hand to point to Silver.

"That's your auntie. Can you see her?" She cooed the baby. Silver looked away before Mia could meet her eyes; "...Don't you wanna say hello now she's stopped screaming?"

Silver shrugged, folding her arms; "Best not. Might be better neither of us gets attached if she's not going to remember us."

"What do you mean?"

"That's why you're leaving, right? So she can grow up in a 'normal' family? Mum, Dad, that heteronormative crap. No difficult aunts and uncles around. Nothing to make her life 'weird', right?"

Alison's face fell; "No, that's not..."

"It's how Pat and the others made it sound. That it was never about Mike's mum getting in the way. It was us. We were the problem, right? The ones you had to get away from?"

"If that's what they said then they're way off. Yes, you can all be a pain at times but I didn't leave to run away from you all." Alison explained, "Don't you think that if you guys were the problem then I'd have left when I found out Julian tried to kill me?"

"Why didn't you then? Why were you still talking like you had no intention of going anywhere the last time we spoke?"

"Because I didn't want to leave! Honest. If it hadn't been down to them telling me I should go, I'd probably still be here. Sure, there's been a little voice in my head for months, even before the golf people made their offer, that it would be easier to take the money and leave. And five years ago, I'd have done just that! But then everything changed and I got to know you all....You became my family."

Silver scoffed, getting up off her bed; "You mean the substitute before the 'real' one came along? Flesh and blood, normal nuclear husband, wife and baby etcetera?"

"That's not fair. I thought, out of everyone, you'd be the one to understand. You've always spoken up about me making poor financial decisions and now I'm finally doing something I'd rather not for the sake of giving Mia a future."

"By future you mean money? So you can live off a payout you didn't earn yourself and hand over a house you once used to feed the poor at Christmas over to rich twats like Barclay and Julian to enjoy? That's a great lesson for Mia, that is, just throw the towel in when things don't work. Never mind you told me that house was your dream, your passion. Never mind that it was our home, all of us! And now they're all miserable because they're back to just watching the world go by after you gave us all a taste of feeling part of it again!"

"And would the alternative have made you happy? Watching Mike and I struggle to make ends meet, barely able to clothe our daughter in a draughty house, just to keep us all together?"

Silver's chest burned with the sting of being beaten. She looked at Mia, already dressed in what looked to be warm, new clothes rather than hand-me-downs. Alison also looked far less tired, though just as sad as before.

She shook her head.

"...We'd have been there for you though. And Mike and Mia."

"I know. And I wish that could be enough. Trust me. You can't hate me for deciding to leave more than I hate myself for giving you false hope."

Alison sat down on the mound and Silver moved to join her, an awkward gap between them.

"I don't hate you. I'm just pissed off. There's a difference."

Alison smiled and nodded; "Fair enough."

"You know how much it meant for me to get to watch Mia grow up after missing out on my own niece. If you had even the slightest thoughts of leaving, I just wish you'd been honest with us about it. Because it's so much worse to get your hopes up about something."

"Tell me about it."

Mia cooed as she raised one of her hands and tried to reach to bat Silver's feather earring.

"...I'm gonna miss you, noisy. I wish we'd had more time..." Silver sighed, her heart aching.

"I didn't think we'd have to leave so soon but they wanted to start construction pretty much right away. We're currently at Mike's parents but we've already got our eyes on a house just a couple miles from here. No ghosts, have done a full sweep. Bit boring but nice big garden for this one. Mike wants us to get a dog but I reckon Robin would get as jealous as Kitty."

Silver snorted at that; "Get a dog. They're the best thing and I'll handle Robin."

"Most important thing wasn't even no ghosts. It was being as close as I could to this place. I know it's gonna be a couple years until the hotel opens but I'm gonna be here as much as possible, always around the full moon, I promise. You'll be the lucky one because you'll barely be aware when I'm not here."

She hadn't thought about it like that. To be honest, her upset had come more from being protective of the others and how it had devastated them. But Silver was already as much a visiting relative as Alison would soon be.

"I've already promised Kitty that there will be a room just for us lot. The hotel will have to make sure it's always free for any impromptu visits I choose to make. It won't be anything huge but it'll be somewhere all of you can relax in together when you wanna escape the livings."

"Sounds nice." Not the same, but it was better than losing Alison completely. Two years seemed like such a long time away, even though she knew it would pass for her much quicker.

Alison patted the zodiac sheet.

"And I told them about this place too. About the young woman who died here and how important it was. They're gonna leave it barred from the rest of the course. I might have played up how upset your family would be if they discovered their daughter's memorial spot was disturbed."

"Clever." Silver felt a swell of gratitude. "Thanks. I'm glad I don't have to worry about some Tory prick swinging a ball into my face while I sleep."

Her family had never come here though, as far as she was aware. Alison had apparently sent her mother an email years back just to send her condolences but received no reply. They probably had a grave or stone for her in the local cemetery they paid their respects.

The two of them sat in silence for a while, listening to the birds and the late Winter breeze through the trees. Mia was still reaching her hand out and Silver indulged her niece, wiggling her own ethereal digits before her.

"You better still grow up to be weird, kid. Sight or not. Don't you become some boring mean girl. Stay a freak like me and your mum."

"I'll make sure she does." Alison smiled. "Will you do something for me? I know I shouldn't ask, but...."

"What is it?" What could she do for her? She was dead.

"Look after Kitty for me. I know I broke her heart the most. She needs a sister around her, especially stuck in a house of boys...and Fanny. I've said I'll call her once I can find a way to leave a phone here. But I need to know she'll be okay...That you'll all be okay."

Silver nodded. Of course she would. However, the being okay part was a whole other topic. That she'd learned there was no way to guarantee.

Progress on the house did seem to go shockingly quick, even from Silver's limited perspective. The others soon learned to get back into their old routine from B.A (Before Alison, as Cap had termed it). They grieved the loss of a TV and internet and got back to more frequent discussion groups; food club and music club and bird watching, in between watching the builders and the hotel managers mill around, which wasn't all that exciting.

"Eight more sleeps till opening day!" She cheered one evening. When they all frowned at her, she clarified; "For me, I mean. Sucks for the rest of you." They'd all jeered, eight more months of boredom and intrusion for them.

None of them can deny the buzz that comes in the build up to the hotel being complete. Even Fanny can't deny how they've managed to revitalise the old house with the decorations. Tasteful, nothing too modern. Alison had been quite persuasive in her discussions with the managers to respect the history of the building, hence the portraits of Humphrey, Kitty and Fanny all up on the walls in the staircase.

Silver thanks the gods for getting to be awake for the doors opening, as well as Alison's first visit.

Mia is two and a half now, full of beans and running around like a wild little beast. She dreads the day she realises that the child no longer sees them, but it's hard to tell when one moment she runs when Silver calls her and other times glances around, trying to find the source of the voice calling her name, despite being next to her.

"It no happen instant." Robin explained to the rest of them. "We fade with time, with growing up. Depend on how good child can 'magine. It why Kitty still sometimes see me and Mary when she almost seven."

"Gosh, I'd thought those were dreams." The Georgian had said, wistfully, before beckoning Mia over to her with a cheerful grin, all that animosity she felt for the baby before now forgotten.

Silver prayed that Mia would have such gifts, just a little while longer. Not that just having Alison come visit wasn't exciting enough on its own.

Another cycle passes. By the time she next wakes, her friends have all adapted to their new life. She's surprised at how...content they all seem to be.

They all sit up till the small hours in Higham Suite, listening to Humphrey spill all the juicy gossip he picked up from being put on the front desk. There's a chess board set up in the room for Julian and Robin, the former of which of course in his element surrounded by golf and adulterous couples, the latter thrilled to have regular zumba classes and story time in the library for the kids dragged along with their folks. Kitty adores karaoke night while Fanny looks forward to bingo and the quizzes on Thursday. Cap has new joggers to exercise with each morning, while Pat loves the movie nights, despite Alison letting them have access to Netflix on the TV in the hotel, as well as an iPad. Julian still loves to use her Nokia, claiming it feels more classic and nostalgic than these flashy games.

Exploring the hotel and the grounds for two days left Silver feeling doubtful there would be much in this new, yet same, house for her. She hated golf and could never see herself getting over such gorgeous land being paved over and manufactured to serve the needs of rich twats. She was happy to join Kitty for karaoke and even Fanny for bingo. Nothing else really piqued her interest except for a few spicy details Humphrey would share with her.

The best moments for her would be them all sat together in the room, doing their usual clubs or watching a movie or just chatting. She was happy they were happy, enough so they didn't ask her to change their dreams anymore. Sometimes Robin would shyly ask in attempt to see his kids again, but was reluctant to spend her valuable time.

In the end, the hotel probably had turned out to be something for the better for all of them. But it didn't stop the pain for Silver when she thought of those years in between Heather and the hotel. The Alison years. She was still a part of their afterlives, sure, but it wasn't the same. There was a loss, a hole that had been sawed out to maybe never be refilled.

Eventually she found a hobby she did enjoy; following pricks around the golf course and swearing at them in hopes they'd get put off their game. One time Fanny caught her and after her usual show of being appalled, preceeded to follow Silver and watch with giddy amusement at what expletives she'd come up with next.

"You've got more chance of getting that boyfriend of yours preggers before getting a hole in one!" She sneers at one balding guy in a pink polo.

"Oh I say! Which one is the boyfriend?" Fanny enquired.

"His caddy there. But I also saw him making googly eyes with the bellboy."

"Good heavens!" She looked like a kid on her first trip to Disney land.

"Silvy! Quick, you need to come with me." Kitty ran over and tugged at her arm. "Alison needs you at your bed."

She's confused yet intrigued as she follows the Georgian. Why would she need to be near her bed in the middle of the day? Why not talk in the room?

The answer is obvious once she enters the wood and looks at her spot.

Alison turns to smile at her before turning back to converse with the group of people standing before the mound of flowers. An elderly woman, a man and woman, along with two youths, a young woman and a teenage boy.

Silver held her breath as she walked, slowly, to get a proper look at them. It didn't seem real at first. She hadn't even allowed herself to dream of this moment.

"Mum?" She spoke before a woman in an orange cardigan. Hair now completely grey, looking smaller than she remembered. Tired.

Her brother was as she had recalled, only with less hair now and a few lines around his face. His wife, her sister in law, still stunning in her early forties.

"And look at you guys. All grown up." She said in awe as she stared at the girl in her early twenties. The last time she'd laid eyes on her niece, she'd been a baby. Not even old enough to talk.

They all seemed to be taking a moment of silence as they looked at the memorial site. Silver's mum made a comment about the sketch hanging in the frame from the tree.

"That is lovely. You must have been so close to Louise to catch her likeness so well." Her mum said, the name feeling so alien to her that Silver nearly mistook the comment for being about someone else.

"We only knew each other briefly, in school...Well, she and my friend's brother. But she was always lovely to me. You don't forget anyone like that." Alison gave Silver a quick wink.

Her mum then opened her purse and placed two little statues at the head of the bed. Silver gasped as she recognised them.

"Artemis and Pan...She kept them. All these years."

Robin had told her all her altar set up that she left here when she died had been taken by the police, presumably sent back to her family.

Her mum sighed, reaching to caress the drawing.

"I never understood her interest in this witchcraft stuff. Maybe if I had then...Oh I dunno if anything would have changed. But I wish I'd tried harder to get to know her when I had the chance." She admitted, sounding so old that it cracked Silver's heart in two; "I just hope that, if these gods of hers are real at all...They're taking care of her."

She sniffed, smiling and wishing she could touch her mum's shoulder.

"I didn't quite meet the gods, Mum. But I've got some people far better taking care of me. Don't you worry." Silver whispered, looking over her shoulder to see her new family all stood together, watching her with the warmest of eyes.

As she watches her family walk back to the car park, Cap comes to stand at her side.

"It must be wonderful to know your family still think of you after all this time. You must have been close." He says, rather matter of fact.

"We barely knew each other. That's how it felt for me." She confessed, folding her arms; "But yeah....it did feel pretty good."

"...I don't see any smile. Though I can never tell if I should with you."

She smirked at that, briefly; "It's just seeing how much they've changed. My mum's an old lady. My niece and nephew are grown. Don't even know what the rest of my siblings are up to. Everything changes...and for me it feels so fast...It's terrifying."

"How so?" He sounded genuinely curious to understand.

"One night I can go to sleep and then wake up to find one of you has moved on or Alison is no longer part of our lives...or some other big change that the rest of you dealt with weeks back. I haven't even really felt like I've aged in all this time. I'm..." She took a breath, loathed to admit it, especially to him. "I'm scared. Scared of what I might wake up to next...or rather what won't be there..."

"We all deal with that, soldier. We all take the risk, every time we sleep, of waking up to a different world to the one we knew before. We take a risk of changing everything for the worst in whatever action we take. Had I known my actions on V.E day would result in my death, would I have still done the same?...Yes."

Another little revelation that she'd found out after he'd told it to everyone else. She had been proud of him a little for finally, FINALLY coming out the damn closet.

"I hate it when you say wise things. So much easier when you're a bossy prat." She grinned, nudging him with her elbow.

"Hmm, yes. There is still plenty of that to come, in this eternity we're stuck together." He tapped her arm with his stick; "At ease, young lady. Its good to relax, don't you know."

Silver sniggered as he went off to talk to Pat near the golf carts. She looked to the sky, to Gaia all around, and took a deep breath.

"It's all right, Poppet. She's not going to bite your head off."

Humphrey's voice was the first she recognised upon awaking, her eyes still closed.

"Me no be so sure. Have seen her snap at Julian like big crocodile. He squeal like scared little girl."

Robin next. Who were they talking about her to?

"I just...It's a bit creepy. She just lies there all month? Nothing can wake her up?" Came a new voice. Young. Female, she presumed. But definitely new.

"We try shouting, we try scream, we try poking her with Captain stick, we try Kitty singing. Zilch!"

"She should be coming to any time now though." Said Humphrey.

True, she'd been prolonging it to keep overhearing more of what they were saying while thinking she was fast asleep. She couldn't keep that up forever, not without causing a panic.

Silver stirred, then stretched before sitting up.

"Here she come! Hey. Hey, wakey wakey!" A rough hand started shaking her shoulder. She batted it off in irritation.

"Robin, piss off! Gimmie a second to..."

She opened her eyes, seeing the figure stood at the foot of her bed. The young woman, probably around her age give or take, was holding Humphrey's head in both hands in front of her stomach. She blinked as she met Silver's eyes, looking partly in awe and partly wanting to turtle inside her black hoodie.

Robin was bouncing on his furry boots like a child at Christmas, pointing to the stranger.

"Look! New girl! Ha!" It was good to see him so thrilled. "Silver! Meet Stompy! Stompy, this Silver!"

"...Stompy?" Silver frowned.

"Amy." The girl corrected; "I'm...Amy. Hi..."

Silver looked at the girl's heavy boots that made her own feel incredibly dated. She beamed, a tiny ball of hope arising within her. A new ghost? One her own age instead of some cheating bastard having a heart attack on the green?

Maybe the gods were still looking out for her after all.

[pridewon]

@devilbringer​ said:  [ STRAY ] :  sender&receiver stop on the street to help a stray animal .   sakuatsu and its rare when atsumu sees kiyoomi take care of strays​ (scenarios)

There are scenes in life Atsumu doesn’t really expect to see. Kita-san letting loose at a karaoke is one of them. Aran-kun leaving volleyball to play golf is another. Samu going on a hunger strike would be a third. And Atsumu had never really considered what he would probably never get to see Kiyoomi do, but if he had to venture a guess now, in retrospect? 

Yeah, seeing Sakusa Kiyoomi, clean freak extraordinaire, approach a stray animal of his own volition, would probably be near the top of the list. 

It had started with a faint sound in the distance; hey, Omi-kun, didn’t you hear somethin’? Naturally, Kiyoomi’s first reaction had been to frown and say that no, they hadn’t heard anything, and that Atsumu must have been daydreaming, or tired. Not an outlandish assumption after a long day of practice, that culminated in the two of them deciding to walk home rather than take the bus. At the peak of summer, taking a stroll down the refreshing currents of the river as the sun dipped down and painted the skies crimson on the horizon felt like a much more enjoyable option than trapping themselves into a driving tin can. 

Some might even call it romantic. Ha. 

Ha, is exactly the face Atsumu makes when he persists in his investigation, and finds, hauled up behind a bench, a meowing little furball. Ha? Is exactly the face Atsumu makes, when Kiyoomi (more or less reluctantly) joins him, contemplates the poor kitten (drenched in water and shaking - had it fallen into the river and miraculously climbed back up?), and kneels down next to it.

... well, that’s new.  That’s new, because animals aren’t the cleanest to begin with. Strays? Definitely not the cleanest. And yet, Atsumu scrutinises and scrutinises and his attention has left the kitten to focus entirely on this brand new side of Kiyoomi he had apparently never suspected, and decides that this is a very interesting little wonder. 

“We should probably get ‘im to the vet, right?” Atsumu finally offers, helpfully, for once. And, because two miracles never happen without a third: he pulls a towel from his bag and hands it to his (favourite) hitter, with the smile of someone who has just seen something really interesting, and are going to talk about it for days on end. 

“There. Be easier t’carry than with yer bare hands, and I’m pretty sure not even you would carry gloves in this weather.”

[m39]

Decade of DOOMstruction(2000s): 30-32 maps WADs (vanilla)

Just a little warning before we start: Four WADs from this batch were played on easy because they were hard, and I want to be less tired when playing them. Avert your gaze if you are allergic to easy difficulty plebs. Also, try to guess which WAD I haven’t played like this.

BTW, I’ve decided to spice up my playthroughs of Revolution and Alien Vendetta with MIDI packs. It definitely helped with the former which has nothing but stocks.

Speaking of which…

2001 – REVOLUTION!

This WAD is still fun to play. It has some annoyingly cheap moments involving being surrounded by hitscanners, and the amount of damage floors might be too much in at least one-third of the maps, but the rest of it is great. I especially like the first third of the WAD, where stuff happens on Earth (at least I think that was Earth), and you explore many... earthly locations for the lack of better words (but there are still moments where the other maps shine).

Also, the MIDI pack has bangers. Worth playing with it if you are allergic to stocks.

This WAD is worth checking out, even if I feel like it should tone down with cheapness and damaging floors (even when I think that it’s easy).

2002 – ALIEN VENDETTA

Another WAD that still holds up. Sure, the last sixth of it might feel like a slog (not counting yet another oh-so-popular icon of shit map), especially MAP26 and MAP27 (to a lesser degree than the former), and, if I’m being honest, can be kind of outdated in some places, but other than that, it was a blast most of the time. Maps like Misri Halek are something that should be played without any prior knowledge. And the MIDI pack from 2022 only helps it (it made some of the more sluggish maps less annoying).

I 100% recommend checking it out, if just for MAP20.

2003 – SCYTHE

Aside from MAP28 (which I refuse to even touch with a 2m long stick), this WAD was also just as much fun as it was before. AKA pretty good. This WAD is a perfect choice for people who want to play small maps rather than some monolithic-sized ones, with only MAP26 and 30 being oddballs of slaughter fest variety. It also (haphazardly) splits into three episodes, starting easy and getting harder and harder with each episode.

Not to mention how it’s a megaWAD that doesn’t end on another icon of shit.

Check it out.

2004 – HELL REVEALED II

Oh… Oh boy…

I’m gonna be straight with you people – I skipped like four maps in this WAD (bonus ones, MAP27 and 28; not counting MAP30 because it’s yet another icon of shit) because I was that done with it using every cheap tactic at least once per map and the WAD itself overall. I felt like at least one-third of it was made with the idea of shoving as many monsters as possible on maps blockier than LEGO. And that’s just on easy. I’m still surprised I managed to finish it twice in the past on normal without burnout. If not for the fact that the music is great, I would probably throw a towel around half a point; up to the two first thirds if I would have a better mood.

Now, my rant aside, it’s not really a bad WAD per se, because it has some fun moments. It just feels so outdated even by the standard of the year it was released that I would recommend it only for people who are really curious about this WAD, or masochists who eat a couple of slaughter/hard maps on breakfast all at once.

I recommend checking Dean of Doom on this WAD to see how insane it gets (on Ultra-Violence that is)

2005 – SAMA KUTRA

Now, this WAD is what Hell Revealed II should’ve been. It has a smaller amount of blocky maps stuffed with demons (although, I still skipped two maps due to this fact) and replaced them with the ones with fun gimmicks like the map getting darker with each grabbed key, the one that happens on the sports gymnasium, and the one resembling a mini-golf course (and it’s a shame that the only map that’s talked about when the WAD is mention is MAP30 and its… Hellaverse fitting humored).

Not to mention the WAD feeling less cheap than the previous one (although, there are still moments here and there). The music could have less semi-duds, though.

Still, if I had to choose between this WAD and HRII, I would go for this one. It gave me much more fun.

WINNER

Back in 2022, I wasn’t sure if Alien Vendetta was the best WAD of the 2000s’ because I have so many more WADs like this to check out.

Today, I am confident to say that… it is (at least when it comes to having 32 maps and with vanilla restrictions). And so, it gets the first Queen of Diamonds award for the best 30-32 maps long megaWAD of the decade. And as for runners-up, I am naming Revolution and Scythe 1 as those.

For the next roster of WADs… oh God… get yourself some anti-insomnia pills.

We have community projects galore coming up.

[theringers]

warm showers - lando norris

summary: you get soaked on the golf course and come home to warm up in the shower

i wanted to write a whole smut about this but couldn’t stop thinking about it or get my words out so i’m just gonna write. enjoy

it’s really short and idc i didn’t feel like finishing it or editing it lmfao

also this has been in my drafts literally since the day we got this gif i just kept forgetting ab it

warnings: 18+, NSFW, smut, oral sex

Lando always dragged you to go golfing with him. You didn’t mind because you got to spend time with him and he let you drive the golf cart. You also loved the outfits you could wear while golfing, dressing up in a white v-neck polo and a baby pink skort. The skort was probably much too short, but it was just Lando you were golfing with.

It was another typical Saturday and you were through half of the course, and half of the case of seltzers you brought. You kept making a fool of yourself, laughing too loud and stumbling a bit while Lando went to hit. He loved watching you get silly drunk like this which is why he continued to have you tag along every weekend. He actually preferred to golf with you over his friends.

He had already taken away your driving privileges, so you just got to have fun and enjoy the day. You brought a speaker along so you danced around every time you got to a new hole. He kept scolding you and telling you to turn it down. The squad of old guys ahead of you definitely didn’t appreciate WAP on the sixth hole.

The weather had predicted sun today but you knew something was off when the sky turned to a dark grey. You loved storms but only in the comfort of your own home. You hated getting caught out in storms.

Still a few holes out from the end, the sky opened up and rain poured down on you. The two of you stood there in the rain, laughing at the luck you had and how wet you already were. You ran to the golf cart and slid into the seats, trying to get back to the club house as quickly as possible. Thunder rattled in the distance signaling that the center of the storm was getting closer to you.

If only the weather had mentioned rain, you would have planned and brought towels and a change of clothes. Instead, the two of you were sat in his car, dripping wet and cold.

“It’s only a half hour drive back home,” he said. “I’ll put the heat on.” He turned to you and couldn’t help but stare at your nipples peeking through your wet white golf shirt. Oh what he would do to have one of those in his mouth right now. “Cold?” He asked with a giggle and you knew exactly what he was talking about.

You crossed your arms over your chest as you started to shiver. Thankfully, you warmed up enough to stop the rapid movements before you got home. Lando’s hand rested on your thigh as he focused on the rainy roads home.

You lugged your bags into the garage, still pouring down rain soaking you even more. When you walked into the house, the AC was on full blast as it normally would be in the summer. “Of course,” you said under your breath, examining the thermostat. “I’m going to turn it up a little,” you looked back at Lando as he followed inside with his golf shoes in his hand.

“No, don’t do that. It’ll get humid in here. I’ll just go run us a warm shower, how does that sound?” He smiled, hoping to make you less miserable.

“Sounds great.” He walked to your master bathroom and the sound of the shower starting followed. You put away the remaining seltzers in the fridge and headed towards your room.

The steam was already flowing out of the bathroom. It looked perfect. You walked in and could see the outline of Lando’s body through the frosted glass shower. “It feels really good in here.” He said.

You pulled your wet clothes off and tossed them in the sink before stepping into the shower. Lando immediately wrapped his hands around your cold body and pulled you into him. The water dripped down both of you, making you feel safe and warm.

He leaned his head down to plant kisses on your shoulder. Even his lips felt warm compared to your icy skin. You responded by kissing his chest while your head rested against it.

Slowly, you bent your knees and started to kiss further down his chest and making your way to his abdomen. He was already hard as rock and you took him in your hands when you rested on your knees.

You pumped your hand back and forth a few times before taking the tip of his cock in your mouth. He moaned slightly and you looked up at him, his mouth agape and droplets of water falling down his small dark curls. “I was thinking about this all day today,” he said, running his fingers through your hair. You swirled your tongue around him before licking a stripe up from the base to the tip.

You took him in your mouth fully, gagging at the feeling earning a groan from him. Your hands rested on his thighs and you felt the muscles in his legs tighten every time his dick hit the back of your throat.

He placed his hands on the back of your head and started to push you down onto his cock. “That’s it baby,” he watched you in awe.

You continued to glance up at him between your eyelashes. Seeing his facial expressions made you go crazy.

His head fell backwards against the shower wall with a loud thump but he continued to push your head down onto him. Curses fell from his lips while you worked him up and down, using your tongue in places you knew he loved.

He started to thrust into your mouth harder, almost choking you. “I’m gonna cum, baby,” he said. After a few more thrusts you felt a familiar warm liquid shoot down the back of your throat. You bobbed your head a few more times before standing back up. You wiped your thumb over your lips and smiled at Lando.

He looked dazed from the heat of the shower and the post orgasm feeling. He moved your body so you were positioned against the wall and he got down on his knees. He used his fingers to spread your legs ever so lightly before smirking up at you. “My turn.”

[cherrynika]

nsfw

half a fic. I have no idea how to finish it. It feels like it could be a paint-by-the-numbers but I don't really want for it to be.

The best thing about the Austin Grand Prix is a private jet to New York when the race is over. Daniel usually heads off to Los Angeles to see his Hollywood friends, some of the younger guys who aren’t jaded yet visit the golf courses. A man Toto’s age knows that every golf course is the same. He’s too old to spend hours in the sun agonizing over birdies and handicaps. There’s too much randomness in golf. He wants a sure thing. 

Sure things include Russian martini bars in Manhattan, Don Angie in the West Village  with once-a-year high calorie Italian food, and @BestCumDumps’ updates on all the best parties. 

“@XXlover 8am to 8pm, The Cecil, 554, 25th October” has been cycling in his mind since Twitter pinged on his phone on Friday night. Toto would think he was doing this on purpose, except that he’s so far down the order that they’re irrelevant to Mercedes. He’s probably just bored at work. Sebastian once said, straddling his lap and doing up his buttons, “Not everything is about you.”

He gives Lewis and Angela a hug when they split up at Teterboro Airport. It’s dim and cool on the tarmac, the sun has only been up for a little while and hasn’t had the chance to blast New York with its full power. 

“We’re going to Studio 54 tonight, call us if you want to come.” Lewis has a smile in his voice, probably thinking of all the camgirls he’s going to party with. 

“I don’t have the right clothes. I’ll see you at home.” He keeps his hands firmly tucked into his pockets. A braid has wound its way out of the bun on Lewis’ head, he wants to push it behind his ear. 

In the beginning, Lewis would have called out his pathetic excuse and told him to buy some clothes. There was a period of a few years when he would have bought them and hung around Lewis’ hotel lobby waiting for a chance at another hug. They’re past it now. It’s healthier. 

New York makes him feel anonymous, the top floor of The Kixby makes him feel young with its monochrome furnishings and silence. The showers, large for New York according to the reviews, are still a touch too small, he has to duck his head to get it wet. The water pressure is sufficiently strong, he wants to be as clean as possible though he’s just going to get dirty again.

He’s drying his hair with the hotel-supplied blow dryer, doing the left side neatly before moving on to the right, when his phone lights up again. 

It’s @XXlover. “7.59 am. No more updates until tonight.”

From the photos he posted on Twitter he’s certainly well-prepared: a variety of lubes, and gratis towels and napkins for all comers. A few hastily arranged bouquets to set the mood. Sebastian fancies himself an expert on all kinds of things, motorbike repair, dirt-biking, baking and home decoration, but like the average F1 driver his knowledge of everything outside a single-seater is painfully shallow. The flower arrangements are unbalanced, too much white. One of them is even lopsided. 

Toto sets his alarm clock for 10am before drawing the blackout curtains and lying down to try to sleep. His back is sore, he’ll need to see his physiotherapist again. All he wants is to head over to The Cecil and hold Sebastian down on the cheap bedspread, push his face into the pillow and make him scream, but that wouldn’t be different from a regular hook up. It’s always better to see him in the afternoon when he’s too tired to talk. The less said about either of their races the better. 

He sleeps fitfully, unused to the hour. In England it’s mid-day and he’d usually be wide awake. His body doesn’t recognise any of these times anymore, they’ve travelled so much in the last few weeks and he’s grown a tolerance to his melatonin pills. He’d stop his doctor from prescribing them to him but they’re all still pretending he sleeps at all. It’s an unsatisfying few hours dipping in and out of wakefulness in the dark, the dull roar of traffic is annoying but there’s no one to shout at. 

When he can finally tear himself out of bed the rest of the day is a wash too. Angela told him that lines at Supreme start long before opening hours, true enough, even with an hour to go there’s 30 people standing outside. None of the grubby teenagers in the queue will accept a hundred dollars to piss off and let him take their place. One of them even called him old and creepy. If only child labour were still legal; they’d be working in a horse meat factory instead of loitering. 

At the Minetta Tavern in Greenwich they’ve changed the chef. The minestrone is a touch too sour for him. He picks at his osso bucco and pretends to read the Wall Street Journal while waiting for the minutes to pass. 

The Cecil isn’t far, just 20 minutes away on foot, the streets getting grimier as he gets closer. He gives an overflowing dustbin a wide berth; Monaco is spotlessly clean, and safer with a policeman never more than two minutes away, but the scent of danger befits what they’re doing today. “It’s perfectly safe,” Seb told him the first time. “You also think that racing is safe,” he had replied, he doesn’t know what he’s trying to do sometimes, why would he ever discourage Sebastian from doing either. “Ships are–” Sebastian was going to give him stupid bullshit about harbours and the sea, but he’d clapped a hand over his mouth and that was the end of the discussion. 

The Cecil is a dismal-looking high-rise that needs a paintjob, with a burnished golden revolving door and no doorman. Perfect for people who want to sneak in and out unnoticed. 

The lobby is a dingy little place, and the concierge is an old lady watching Netflix on her phone. The wait for the lift is an uncomfortable little eternity. It’s a relief when the doors open and he can be on his way. The lift clanks upwards. His face is slightly distorted and sallow in the mirrored walls, the marionette lines more prominent than he imagined. He always imagines himself looking the way he did on his 30th birthday, but time and reality have a nasty way of destroying those fantasies. 

On the fifth floor there’s a faint sound of someone’s television, a woman crying, someone shouting on the phone, all muffled by the walls and carpeting. It isn’t really the sybaritic paradise he imagined, with a man naked and waiting behind every door. Just one door. 

He stands outside 554 for a beat; it’s not exactly bad manners to come in when it’s occupied (can it really be ‘occupied’ when the point is sharing?) but he’d rather not. He’d rather wait politely. But there are no voices. The door opens without resistance, the appeal, he now knows, of dumps like The Cecil, is precisely the lack of key card restricted access. 

Sebastian’s lying on the queen-sized bed, face down, ass propped up on a pillow. His hair’s mussed up, revealing the bald spot he’s been so self-conscious of, and his back and neck are a mess of love bites and sweat. “You smell worse than Lewis after a race.” Lewis smells like a mix of sweat and piss, which at least belong to him. Sebastian is the human equivalent of a bunch of wet wipes in a locker room after a hazing session. 

Toto sits down on the edge of the bed, hopefully it’s clean, and toes his shoes off. Next goes the belt, then his clothes, he folds them up and leaves them on the nightstand as far from the lube as he can. 

“Are you asleep?”

“I’m just tired.” Sebastian speaks into the mattress. He sounds a little hoarse. Toto wants to make him drink some water, maybe before he leaves. 

“Ready for me to start?”

“I’ve been ready since this morning.” His Hessian accent is almost gone but it slips back when he’s exhausted. This is probably what he sounds like when he’s talking to Hanna before falling asleep. 

He squeezes Sebastian’s shoulder before crouching on the bed behind him and parting his legs. The sheets are uncomfortably tacky and damp; Toto hates dirt but sticky and filthy is the entire point of this exercise. Sebastian arches his back and flexes his glutes in return and leaks a pearly trail on the towel under him: cum, lube, moisturizer. Toto grasps a generous handful of one fuzzy cheek and squeezes. It’s as soft and white as the bread at the hotel breakfasts at every American grand prix. “This is not real bread”, Seb had said, “A proper loaf should have texture and bite.” 

Seb’s bite is all on the inside. 

Toto traces his rim with a finger, slipping a finger in easily. This is the loosest and wettest Seb’s been all year. The noughts were filled with tasteless hotdog-down-hallways jokes. The average person knows nothing about how erotic it is to use someone until the elastic of their mind and body is all worn out. 

Sebastian shifts on the bed, scratching his tummy. 

“Bored?”

“It’s beginning to itch a little.”

[wizkiddx]

i loved your blurb the other day . i have a request off it if you could do one more domesticated about the little things tom does in a relationship?

Ooooh I loved loved loved this request!! In my head he is a complete romantic sap at heart <333 this is a lot more wordy that I normally write and bit concerned it is a shitter - feedback would be well appreciate, if you have any opinion on which crappy writing style I do less badly :///

Summary: the boring and domesticated day to day life with Tom

warnings: look really close an a bit of implied smut, but otherwise sickeningly nice stuff I think ahah

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Given his rather unique position and place in the world - your relationship with Tom was also very much not typical. By no means did that mean worse though - Tom meant the world to you; as you did him. Yes, at times it was tough - the distance, the tightly scheduled face times because of the time difference. But every time you saw his crinkly smile, it was almost set in stone everything was worth it. He was, most definitely, worth it. 

Especially as he was such a sap. Perhaps because some of the things he did that brought rushes of heat to your cheeks - Tom wasn’t even aware of. Of course, Tom being Tom, he obviously did the bigger things and spoilt you rotten - which you were never going to complain about - though those weren’t the things that made your heart flutter so inexplicably. 

Take yesterday for example. Tom had just got back home from a long filming shoot for SM3 and it was fair to say you’d both been pining over each other enormously. Once he was back though, none of that mattered. The pair of you had spent almost a full 18 hours in bed, before eventually you’d pulled away from the pouty boy, due to your desperate need of a shower. That was too far away from you in Tom’s opinion though- meaning you’d had a shared shower too. Purely for water saving + environmental purposes , or at least, that had been his justification. It was intimate but not sexual, leading to the two of you wrapped in towels in the marble bathroom. Busying yourself with your skincare, you weren’t paying any mind to your boyfriend, who you assumed to be faffing about as usual. That was until you felt a gentle tug on the back of your towel dried hair. Instantly you locked eyes with warm brown ones looking back at you through the slightly fogged up mirror, panning down to see the hair brush in his hand. 

“What’re you doing?” You laughed gently, leaning back onto his bare torso, still slightly damp from the humidity lingering in the bathroom air. 

“ ‘jus’ brushin your hair, I haven’t got all the lotions and potions to spend hours on.” Cheeky bugger. Sweet but with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes - as he watched you roll yours. 

“If I phoned Rach and said you weren’t following her-“ Cut off by his lips craning round to meet yours, you decided not to fight it, instead melting into his embrace while turning round - your body still only wrapped in the towel tucked under your arm. After a few moments Tom paused to whisper a shh against your lips, before painfully slowly moving against yours again. God knows, you would’ve stayed in that moment forever if you could however you did also still have moisturiser only half rubbed in on your face, like warpaint. So, you turned back around finishing off in the mirror and very much enjoying the sensation of Tom still hovering behind,  ever so gently working the brush through your hair. It took much longer than it should have for you to finish off, mainly because you spent the time watching him in the mirror concentrate, especially the way he pressed his tongue against the inside of his left cheek in concentration. 

After the pair of you had finally got ready for the day (at 3 in the afternoon but no one had to know), you’d gone out for a walk with his parents. Naturally you spent the majority of the time gossiping with Nikki slightly ahead of the Dom and Tom - who were no doubt talking about golf or something equally as dull. Tom loved to say that he found how close you and Nikki got as terrifying - really you both knew he only adored you more for it. Family was everything to Tom and given poor Nikki’s immediate surroundings of pure testosterone, when you became integrated into the family it was like a breath of fresh air. And you didn’t smell of boy - which to her was a win. 

It was a beautiful early evening and the sun was slowly creeping its way toward the horizon, changing the light from a brilliant white to a more golden hue - basking the four of you and Tess in the glow. You’d all come to a natural halt whilst Tess had gone a bit mental chasing squirrels. It just worked out that the sun was opposite you and though the evening was beautiful, dealing with it head on , in your eyes, was not the most enjoyable. Before you could even reach your arm out to shield yourself from the sun,  the light was blocked out, a shadow casting over your forehead. 

Now what’s important to note here is Tom is by no means a tall man. He wasn’t a midget but it would be fair to say that all 5 foot 8 of him was ‘below average height’. Not that it let him stop being a sun block for you and you really did try not to giggle as your furrowed brows caught site of his raised heels. This boy was literally standing on his tiptoes to stop the sun getting in your eyes for god sake. He noticed your grin though and as if it was the most normal thing in the world just shrugged his shoulders before engaging back in his parents conversation. You weren’t as quick to recover, honestly having to take a moment to swallow down your glee. 

Afterwards, you’d gone straight back the Holland family home as they all wanted to celebrate Tom and Harry’s return- what better way than having Sam the master chef himself cook you all a three course meal? As if choreographed both of you had taken the seats next to each other… but not in a clingy way at all, Paddy was interrogating you on how the hell you’d beaten him at the classic game of mariokart (which you would never let him live down) whilst Tom and Harry were recounting one of their many tales of filming to Nikki. Once the plates of food were served out to you by the esteemed chef, Tom wasted no time in skilfully and subtly piling the greens of vegetables and salad off your plate and onto his. You’d never dream of offending Sam by insulting his cooking, really you did love it - there was just something about rabbit food that you had to put your foot down at. Perhaps it was because it was literal leaves? Things that you used to feed to your pet hamster perhaps? It was a constant source of bickering between you, Tom and Harry- they claimed you’d end up dying because of the lack of leaves in your diet, which you strongly contested. Fruit and some veg was allowed but salad- stay the hell away.

Anyway it didn’t matter, you wouldn’t have to face that debate tonight because Tom had you covered. He always had you covered. 

Finally, the night rolled round which you were so thankful for, considering even though you’d had an extortionate amount of time in bed last night - not a lot of it had actually been spent asleep. Combine that with the wine you’d been happily sipping on in celebration, it pretty much explained the situation you found yourself in now. Eyes bobbing up and down as the TV drifted in and out of focus, the slow and gentle thud of Tom’s heartbeat lulling you into that floaty place. You didn’t fight the drowsiness because really, nestled between the cushions of the sofa and Tom’s chest, you didn’t want to be anywhere else. Letting your eyes slide shut completely, you took a deep breath in and nuzzled into his chest- barely registering how he lightly chuckled at the action. Tom just took the time to look down at you, pressing the most gently kiss to the crown of your head. Moments like this would never not be his favourite. Don’t get him wrong, he loved your wit and sarcastic charm when you were more conscious… but something about how comfortable you were to be completely vulnerable with him, gave him a purpose. He would never be able to wrap his head around why you’d let him - how he deserved this was beyond him but he was so bloody thankful for it. 

Your hand that was splayed on his stomach caught his eye, you still had your bracelet on from the meal and he knew you hated sleeping with any jewellery on. Instinctively then, Tom ever so gently manipulated the clasp and skilfully removed the silver chain - reaching over and placing it on the little coffee table. Having spent 3 months without you within 100 miles of him, Tom was more than willing to wake up with back ache if it meant spending the night on the sofa with you like this. The gentle grasp on your wrist had roused you a little though. 

It was always the simple things that made your heart burst - like the bracelet . Or like his little raspy whisper, voice tired and thinking you were asleep. Even if everything else disappeared, it would still be the greatest life if you had Tom there saying this. 

“Your home Y/n… you and me forever…

…until u die from not eating ur greens.”

[gsophie43]

The Scars That Bind ch.1

Genre: fluff/ angst

word count: 4000+ not guaranteed to be mistake-less

thanks to @alwaysupstead on Twitter (@pd_upstead_fanficstories on Insta) for helping me come up with the title!

Hailey leaned over the sink and slowly breathed to calm down her beating heart. She tried to push down the memories of her direct defiance towards Jay. She took a quick glance into the bedroom, where Jay was sitting in her bed with covers up to his waist as he flipped through something on his phone while waiting for her. She was embarrassed. She was confused at what she was feeling. She was frustrated with herself but at the same time, she was just glad that the case was over. She didn’t deserve him or his kindness. Even though she had had to deal with his mess before, she still felt like he didn’t deserve to be caught in the middle of her’s. She breathed deeply, trying to remind herself that he wasn’t the kind of guy to be petty or hold grudges.

“You okay?” His deep voice invaded her thoughts. She opened her eyes and peered over to see him propped up on his elbow, looking at her. She didn’t even realize that she had closed her eyes.

“Yeah.” She said. His freckled body stood out against the white sheets and comforter. She hesitantly brushed out her hair, before slowly making her way into the bedroom, her eyes glued to the floor.

“What’s wrong?” He asked softly. She raised her hands up and let them fall against her legs.

“I’m sorry.” She said softly. It was so out of character for her that Jay wasn’t sure he had actually heard her for a second.

“What for?” He asked, his eyebrows narrowing. She didn’t turn off the lamp, but climbed into the bed with him. She was taken aback by the fact that he sincerely didn’t know what she was apologizing for. She waited  for him to wrap a hand around her waist. She glanced down at his freckled chest, the rough scar catching her eye.

“I’m sorry for everything with this case. For ignoring you and putting you in danger. Then jamming you up. Making you feel like you had to lie for me.” She put her hand over his chest and rubbed her thumb along that scar.

“I knew I didn’t have to lie for you.”

“I put you in danger. You almost got shot again because of me.” She whispered. He rubbed a thumb on her shoulder blade.

“You made a decision. Maybe not the best one. But you made it, and you’ve always had my back when I didn’t make good decisions. I’m not just your boyfriend, I’m your partner.” Hailey teared up when he said ‘partner’, feeling shame about suggesting to Voight that she might need a new partner. Jay was confused at why Hailey was getting more upset.

“I told Voight we were together. I’m sorry I told you not to say anything and then I told him without asking you,” she said.

“I asked Voight if I needed a new partner...without talking to you first.” She whispered. She looked up at his eyes, and to her suprise he didn’t look offended or hurt, more curious than anything.

“Why?”

“I acted on instinct earlier, and it messed up the plan. I went in when Voight told me to stand down.”

“We’ve both done that before though.”

“I know, but that instinct…” she hesitated, “what if Voight was right? What if that instinct came from my heart and not my gut?”

“What if it did? I think that it makes you a better cop.” He said.

“I don’t ever want to be in a situation where I have to choose between you and someone else.”

“I know… there’s no good solution for that, but I think it’s the price we have to pay to love someone.”

“You almost got shot. Because of me.”

“We’ve survived me getting shot before.”

“You think last time was easy?”

“No, I’m sure it wasn’t. I absolutely hated that sling.” He said sarcastically.

“I’m serious.”

“I can’t imagine how worried you were.”

“I was terrified. I hate that I almost put both of us through that again.”

“I forgive you. You have to forgive yourself.” She just stared at his shoulder and rubbed that scar. He was silent for a second. He leaned over and kissed her.

“Come on, let’s go to bed.”

“I don’t deserve you.” Hailey whispered.

“You deserve the world, Hailey.” His hot breath danced on her lips before he leaned in and kissed her again. He reached over and shut his lamp off and she did likewise.

“Thankyou.” She said whispered.

“I love you.” He said, cuddling her.

“I love you, too.” She looked at his soft shoulders glowing from the moonlight.

Hailey closed her eyes and tried to let herself relax. Before long Jay was asleep, but Hailey had a hard time falling asleep. She wondered what had made her think about not being Jay’s partner anymore. She wondered if her trauma made her a bad girlfriend. She laid wide awake for over an hour before she suddenly got an idea.

“Jay” she whispered. “Jay.” She shook him awake.

“Mmm..” he grunted.

“Jay.”

“What?” He said softly, blinking his eyes open.

“I got an idea.”

“Can we talk about this tomorrow?”

“No, listen.”

“Kay?”

“We should take the day after tomorrow off.”

“Why?”

“I made a lot of mistakes in this case, and I feel like I betrayed you. I want to make it up to you. So, let me take you out, where it’s just us and we can spend the day together.” She said softly, grabbing his hands.

“You don’t have to make anything up to me.” He said.

“Jay, I love you. I know that I’ve said that to other guys before… but, you’re different. I really could see myself spending the rest of my life with you. So, let me show you how much I love you.”

“Okay.” He said softly. He kissed her gently.

“Why can’t we take tomorrow off?” He said in a fake whine.

“It’s way too short notice, and I don’t want to do that to Voight. I think we’re already pushing our luck,”

Jay chuckled.

“My luck was beyond pushed a couple years ago, I think he can handle a slightly irresponsible move on our part.”

“Ooooo, Ca-”

“Don’t even say her name.” Hailey smiled.

“K.”

“You ready to sleep?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Hailey, don’t blame yourself for things that have been forgiven. It’ll eat away at you.”

“...thanks.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.” This time Jay waited for Hailey to fall asleep as he rubbed gentle circles in her back, before he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. The next day was a drag. No new cases, lucky for them. But that meant signing off on CI files, doing inventory, cleaning and reorganizing desks, rearranging the bullpen, and cleaning lockers. Hailey’s heart fluttered everytime Jay would touch her back or touch her arm. Jay’s heart would flutter everytime Hailey would give him a small smile. Hailey spent a good part of the day planning for the next day, thinking about things he liked to do and places she wanted to show him. At the end of the day, she ended up leaving at the same time as him but turning down beer at Molly’s. While Jay was drinking with the guys, she went home and surfed the internet to find good places to eat. She would leave the decisions of what they would be doing to Jay. She was passed out on the couch when Jay came to her place home that night. Jay gently took her computer off her lap and smiled when he saw the screen. An article entitled Top Five Things To Do During a Date was pulled up. He closed the screen and sat down next to her, putting an arm over her shoulders. He kissed her forehead gently and rubbed her arm with his thumb.

“Hey.” He said when her breathing changed and she looked up.

“Hey.”

“You ready for tomorrow?” She rested her head on his pec and wrapped her arms around his midsection.

“Yeah, you get to decide what we do tomorrow. I want to do whatever you want to do.”

“Really?”

“Yeah”

“Even if it’s golfing?” He joked. Hailey breathed in deeply.

“Yes, even if its golfing.” Jay chuckled and smiled.

“I don’t think I want to golf tomorrow, don’t worry.”

“Ok. There are a few places I want to go to.”

“Sounds good to me.” Jay took a deep breath.

“Have you eaten?” Hailey asked.

“Yeah, I had a burger at Molly’s, have you?”

“Yeah, I heated up some leftovers.”

“Do you want to… take a bath?” Jay asked, raising an eyebrow.

“How about a shower?”

“Oooooh, I think I’ll take you up on that offer.” Jay stood and Hailey did the same. Jay bent down and picked Hailey up bridal style, eliciting a rare laugh from her.

“Jay, you don’t have to…”

“Oh please… You are trying to plan something nice for tomorrow, let me at least treat you tonight.”

Hailey smiled as Jay carried her. He set her down on the tile and turned the water on. He leaned over and kissed her. Their tongues danced together and he reached for the hem of her shirt. He tried to pull the shirt up while kissing her, but got frustrated when it wasn’t cooperating with him. Hailey pulled away and laughed.

“Jay, it’s a button up. You have to unbutton it.” She said, undoing the buttons. The second she undid the last button, Jay was back to kissing her. She laughed on his lips. He gently slid her shirt off her shoulders. Next came his shirt, then their pants, and before they knew it, they were both naked. Hailey got in and then Jay got in behind her. Jay trailed kisses down her neck as the hot water created a thick steam that moistened her skin. She leaned back into him and closed her eyes. He put some of her shampoo in his hands and began gently massaging her roots. He slowly made his way down her hair, softly rubbing the blonde strands.

“Your hair is thick.” He said. Hailey laughed.

“It was perfect for people to put gum in.”

“That happened?”

“Yeah”

“That’s awful.” Hailey chuckled. Jay took the shower head and started rinsing Hailey’s hair. Hailey turned  and kissed Jay.  Jay smiled and grabbed a washcloth. He gently washed her back and shoulders. She got some of his shampoo and massaged it through his curls. Before they knew it, they were both clean, just standing under the water. Hailey took the initiative to shut the water off and grab their towels. They dried themselves and stepped out.  Hailey smiled with the towel wrapped around her chest.

“I want to go to bed completely naked.” She said. Jay smiled.

“Ok, lets do that then,”  Hailey dropped her towel and Jay copied her, his eyes roaming her body.

“Wow.” He thought to himself. He went in and kissed her passionately. His hands roamed her back while hers brushed through his curls. He grabbed her thighs as she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. Jay blindly led them into her bedroom, clumsily bumping into the doorframe.

“Mm… I love you” Hailey whispered.

“I love  you too.”

He laid her down in the bed and proceeded to spend the rest of the night making love to her.

The next morning, Hailey’s alarm awoke her. She shut her alarm off and laid her head back on Jay’s chest, smiling. She couldn’t have asked for a better way to wake up, under soft covers, cuddling with her boyfriend. Last night was beyond her wildest dreams, Jay sending fireworks through her body. She heard his heartbeat against her ear and felt his chest rise as he breathed. He was so cute when he slept, completely relaxed. The freckles on his chest popped out in the early morning sunlight. She traced the shape of his abs with her finger. Just as she closed her eyes, about to fall asleep again, she felt a sharp intake of breath from him and she felt a pair of lips kiss her head.

“Good morning.” His gravelly voice said.

“Good morning.” She said.

She breathed deeply as Jay’s arms wrapped around her.

“How did you sleep?” He asked

“Unbelievable well.” She joked. “How about you?”

“I slept well, too.”

“What do you want to do this morning?”

“Oh wow, I’m already deciding?”

“Mmmhmm.”

“Well, I guess we could get breakfast for starters.”

“Do you want to lay here first, or do you want to get up now?”

“I want to stay here right now.” Hailey looked at all the tiny freckles on his arms.

“You have so many freckles,” she said, touching his arm.

“Mmm… you like?” Hailey chuckled.

“Yeah.” She looked at all the tiny dots until her eyes landed on a deep looking scar on his forearm.

She touched the scar with the tip of her finger.

“Where did you get this scar from?” She said, tapping his arm.

“Shrapnel.”

“Oh, you were blown up?”

“Yeah we were in a convoy, our jeep was at the head of the group and we hit an IED. It was terrible, the worst recovery I’ve ever gone through. Shattered my arm, ruptured my eardrums,  had deep cuts, broke my hip and femur, cracked my skull.”

“Holy shhhh……”

“Yeah.”

“Oh my god, Jay.” She said in shock. He smiled.

“I’m okay now. Physically at least.” Hailey picked her head up to look him in the face.

“How come I just learned about this?” Jay shrugged.

“I guess it just never came up.”

“Huh.” Hailey sat up and sat crisscrossed.

“Well, now you have to tell me about one of your scars...liiiiiike….this one.” He touched her thigh, accidentally causing a small flinch from Hailey. She looked down at the scar.

“My dad.” She said softly. Jay pulled his hand away, regretting asking.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine… I came home from school one day. I don’t even remember how old I was,  but I was in highschool. I had failed a chemistry test, but I didn’t want to tell him. When I was using the bathroom, I had accidentally left my back unzipped a little and he saw it. He pulled it out and then dumped my bookbag out on the kitchen floor and went through all of my stuff. He threw my cell phone and smashed it. He went through all of my tests and graded assignments, pulling out anything that was below an A.”

Hailey closed her eyes, feeling the warm tear slip out and slide down her cheek.

“He got so furious, he was screaming. He...he grabbed my hair and pulled me down onto the kitchen floor. He slapped me.” A gentle hand slipped into hers.

“He was screaming so close to my face that he was spitting on me. I was crying. He told me to stop being dramatic and he backhanded me. I bit my tongue when he hit me, caused it to bleed. He screamed that I was a waste of his time, told me I should have been aborted. He punched me, bruised my jaw… I remember putting makeup on the next day to cover it. And he smashed a beer bottle all over the tile. I tried to crawl away… and I did,  but I got a piece of glass in my thigh. That’s what the scar’s from.” Hailey took a deep breath. She felt Jay’s soft hand on her cheek, his thumb wiping away the tear.

“I don’t know why I’m crying, I’m sorry.” She said, opening her eyes.

“You don’t need to apologize for being upset. Never. You are allowed to cry.”

“Yeah, I just feel like I’m being too emotional.”

Jay sat up. He took both of her hands in his, rubbing his thumbs on the back of her hands.

“Hailey, you can never be too emotional. I will always listen when you’re upset. You have a right to your emotions. Okay?” Hailey nodded. Jay scooted over and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“I love you. I’m sorry you had to go through that growing up. I hate that you had to grow up with an abusive father.”

“That’s not all he was. He could be really sweet and nice, but anything could set him off. One minute he would be laughing, the next he would be hitting me and my brothers.”

“I know, but it doesn’t change that what he did was not okay. And I want you to know that you deserve so much better than that.” Hailey stayed in his hold for a minute before breaking away.

“Come on, you want to get some breakfast?”

“Sure”

“Where do you want to go? Or do you want to stay here?”

“Um, I can take you to a dinner that my parents used to go to.”

“Alright.” They both climbed out of bed and Hailey headed to the bathroom.

“I’m gonna use the bathroom.”

“ Okay, You want coffee?”

“Ummm, no, I’ll get some there.”

“ ’kay.”

Hailey closed the bathroom door behind herself. Jay made his way to Hailey’s closet and got dressed. He was pretty sure that he had more of his clothes in Hailey's closet than in his own. He chose a pair of jeans, a black shirt, and a burgundy sweatshirt. Jay waited for Hailey to come out of the bathroom before heading in there. He was brushing his teeth when she came in and started brushing her teeth. It didn’t take them long before they were ready and out the door. They decided to ride in Jay’s truck. They looked through the menu and ordered before chatting while they waited. Jay kept glancing out the window, noticing a guy outside that seemed to just be loitering.

“You want to go?” Hailey’s voice broke his thoughts.

“What?”

“You keep looking outside, do you want to leave?”

“No, no, I just thought I saw something.”

“What did you see?” She asked, turning to look.

“Nothing, just some guy that’s loitering.

Hailey put her hand on Jay’s when he looked out of the window again.

“Jay, it’s okay. It’s our day off, turn the detective brain off.” Jay smiled at her.

“Okay.” Jay took a sip of his coffee.

They had a good time just spending time together and talking. When they got up after paying, Jay noticed the guy still outside. In fact, Jay was pretty sure the guy had been watching him because when he looked at the guy, they made eye contact for a split second. This guy was really making him feel uneasy. When they walked outside, Jay put a hand on Hailey’s back and quickly glanced over his shoulder. When he noticed they were being followed, he started gently pushing Hailey to walk faster, as they had parked pretty far away from the building. Hailey easily obliged, though she wondered what Jay’s rush was.

“Hey, what’s-”

“Shhh.” Jay cut her off, looking over his shoulder again. The guy had a hood on and was looking down as he followed them. The faster they walked, the faster he walked. As soon they got close to the truck, Jay unlocked it and urged Hailey forward.

“Get in the car, Hails.”

“Why-”

“Get in the car, Hailey.” he said in a deathly serious tone. Hailey obeyed and as soon as the door closed, she looked in the rearview mirror to see what Jay was so urgently rushing them away from. She watched Jay walk behind the truck and confront a guy in a hoodie.  She knew Jay wasn’t concealed carrying so she was extra concerned.  All of a sudden two more men came and started attacking Jay. Before Hailey could even think about it jumping out, a taser was whipped out and shoved at Jay’s stomach. She saw Jay swat at it as he crumpled to the ground. She jumped out.

“Jay!” She yelled out. The hooded guy that they had seen outside the diner pulled a gun out and started firing in her direction. She ducked behind the tire of the truck, as she wasn’t concealed carrying either or wearing a vest. The gunfire lasted a few seconds, but as soon as it ended she stood to see them dragging a limp Jay to a van.

“Hey! Police!” She yelled, hoping to scare them because that was her only option left.

The guy started firing again and she ducked behind the car next to Jay’s truck. The gunfire stopped and she heard two doors slam shut. She stood to see the van starting and rolling away. She ran after it, screaming Jay’s name and trying to see the plate, but it quickly turned down the street and was out of sight. She fumbled to find her phone and called Voight’s number.

“Voight.”

“I need help. I- I need help..” She said breathlessly.

“Hailey, what’s going on?”

“I need the team down here now. He- they took him.”

“Who?”

“They took Jay… Jay’s been abducted.”

“Where are you?”

“Diner on 39th and California. It was three guys, average height and build, caucasion, one had a gun, one had a taser. They put him in a gray panel van. I got a plate number,  Alpha Charlie Victor Two Seven Four. It turned down a side street and I lost it.” Voight rapidly wrote this information down.

“K,stay put. Call it in. We’re on our way.”

“Got it.”  Hailey hung up and obeyed. Her legs were shaking until she finally saw Kim and Adam roll up. Kim jumped out and speed walked up to her.

“Hey,” she said, putting a hand on Hailey’s back.

“Hey,” she replied coolly. Adam walked up.

“Are you okay?” Kim asked.

“Yeah...yeah I think so…. it just happened so quickly.”

“You call it in?” Adam asked.

“Yeah, I called in a 10-1, and put out a city wide BOLO.” Kevin and Voight walked.

“We weren’t concealed carrying, but I should have pursued them, I should have chased them, I should have.”

“Hey, you did the right thing,” Voight said. “Okay, can you walk us through what happened?”

“Yeah, um. Jay and I were just having breakfast. He kept looking at this guy that was outside, it seemed to be bothering him. We finished and walked outside, Jay pushed me to walk faster, he kept looking over his shoulder. I asked and he just told me to be quiet. When we approached the truck, he told me get in, I did. I saw Jay confront the guy. Then, two other guys approached him and jumped him. They tased him. I jumped out, one of them pulled out a gun and started firing. I ducked, they dragged Jay into the van. I tried to confront them, they started firing again. I couldn’t stop them.”

“Anything about these guys stand out to you?”

“No, it was a blur. Um, but it seemed that wanted only Jay, and they wanted Jay alive for some reason. The guy saw me, he could have just shot me point blank and then took Jay, or just shot both of us. But they wanted Jay for a reason. They’re probably gonna torture him for information.”

A silence blanketed the air.

“Ok, one of our own is missing. Let’s get patrol on the streets. I want them focused in a five mile radius. Lets pull pods and security cameras, see if there’s enough for facial rec. Lets see if we can try to track these guys.” Everyone split off to do a task.

[bts-hyperfixation]

Mine - kinktober - day 18

Jimin X reader

Yandere warning

I do not condone the behaviour of Jimin in this fic it is purely fictional. Is this is not for you please check out the other kinktober fics I have, none of the other 17 are yandere related

F!masturbation f!oral

It is the first time in a long time you and all of your friends have managed to get away. Six of you had rented a three-bedroom villa in Cyprus. Roommates had been decided long before the trip had even begun

“I get to stay with Y/N” Jimin had called as soon as the reservation had been booked. You laughed at his eagerness. The two of you had been best friends for the longest time it had seemed like the obvious choice, but it was nice to have the reassurance. You had met Jimin while you were in high school, the two of you had attended different institutions but somehow you’d kept bumping into him – at sporting events he’d be there, randomly in town he’d be there, at the most obscure parties he’d be there sipping a drink eyes meeting yours whenever you walked in the room. You’d always joked that fate just wouldn’t let you not be friends. Actually, before you truly became friends you had attempted to make a move on him. Beyond drunk in some football players back garden, you clumsily dropped hints and tried to kiss him. Instead of taking advantage he just took you home. After that, your friendship was solidified. You never really broached the way you’d acted that night. It was buried deep in the rich history of your relationship.

Once settled in the villa, the six of you were lounging around the pool trying to decide what to do that night.

“We could go for a meal? Couple of cocktails? Nothing big we did just get here” someone suggested.

“Oh come, we should definitely go crazy, lets go skinny dipping on the beach” another proposed. Jimin’s gaze fell to you waiting to see how you’d react to the suggestion. He wanted nothing more than to see you naked, but he didn’t want others prying eyes to see you that way. You should be his… only his.

“How about we go half crazy half chill and go clubbing?” your idea coming as a happy medium, the group nods in agreement. You and the other two girls in your group rush to shower and prepare, readying yourself for selfie upon selfie in beach themed clubs. The guys however hang back soaking in the remaining rays before spending considerably less time preparing for the evening.

Once on the clubbing strip it doesn’t take you long to lose most of the group. You make plans to meet back at the taxi rank at 1am and everyone is gone, the boys running in the direction of the bar offering the cheapest beer, the girls into the bar with the hottest guys. You glance along the line of bars and decide on the one in the middle after seeing a girl walk out with the fanciest cocktail you’d ever seen.

You make your way to the bar and order the fruitiest drink on the menu before making yourself comfortable on a barstool to wait. This bar seems to be relatively quiet in comparison to some of the others. It also provides a nice vantage point for you to watch the world go by, occasionally seeing your friends go with it. Not normally one to stray without at least one friend around it makes a nice change of pace. When your drink arrives, you find yourself chatting with the charming bartender in between his customers. He tells you all about what the locals get up to when the tourists disappear. They have huge beach bonfires with tons of food and drink that go on well into the next morning. He even invites you to the next one they were planning a week from now, just before you leave. The two of you are chatting for hours, you get through six of those cocktails before you even realise you are drunk. Its well passed 1am when Jimin finds you still sat there.

“Y/N” the worry is evident on his face as he approaches you “We were so worried why weren’t you at the meet up point? Why didn’t you answer your phone” you glance at the long abandoned electronic.

“I’m sorry Chim I didn’t realise” your words slur slightly, and you can see the anger flash behind his eyes. You mistake it for anger at you for not keeping your promise. You hop down from your perch on the stool and lose your footing. Jimin catches you before you fall and keeps his arm secured around you. He starts to lead you away but not before you can give the bartender your number. Jimin delivers you to the rest of your friends before heading back into the bar, claiming to need the bathroom.

He marches up to the bar seething

“How could you let her get like that” he spits at the guy you had been talking to.

“Dude she’s a big girl, she can handle herself” he just shrugs it off and turns to go back to other customers but the singer isn’t finished.

“You don’t know her like that! You should’ve just left her alone. She doesn’t need a pretty boy like you in her life” the other man is at least half a foot taller than Jimin and twice as broad, but he doesn’t care. All he can think about is how careless he had been letting you out of his sight, letting someone else flirt with what was his. Luckily, the bartender just scoffs and rolls his eyes.

“Look she didn’t tell me she had a boyfriend, ill back off it’s all good” he puts his hands up in surrender and Jimin accepts, if only because it will start to look suspicious if he is away too long. That and he has already been away from you long.

The next few days are filled with uneventful beach days and house parties. You were gutted that the cute guy hadn’t texted but moved on regardless. Today the boys were supposed to go off and play golf or something, honestly you had kind of zoned out when they started talking, thinking of all the things you could do when you finally had your bedroom alone for a few hours. Of course, it was great sharing with your best friend, but there are certain itches you were unable to scratch with someone else in the room.

You waited until they had been gone for a while before excusing yourself and drawing a bath in the ensuite in your room. You sink into the water and allow the heat to loosen your muscles. Your music is blaring through your headphones to block out the other girls having a water fight downstairs. You stretch one leg over the bath to give yourself better access and start to imagine all the dirty things you would have done to that bartender given the chance. It’s not long until your thoughts drift to the friend you swear you only thought of platonically.

The boys return from their trip earlier than planned, the golf course was closed for the day, so they had gone for lunch instead. Jimin headed straight upstairs, assuming you’d be outside with the others. The sight he is greeted with makes him immediately hard. You’d left the bathroom door open, enjoying the breeze from the AC mixing with the steam from the water. The sounds tumbling from your lips were sinful. Jimin’s hand move almost involuntarily to his bulge, palming himself through the thin material of his board shorts. Moans that mimic yours pour out of his mouth, getting so loud you can hear them through your music. You cease your motions, but Jimin is so caught up in the thought of you he doesn’t notice until you scream.

“Jimin!” you shout throwing a shampoo bottle at his head as punishment for perving. But he doesn’t leave. In fact, he comes straight in and replaces your hand with his own. You are so shocked by the daring action your convinced it’s a dream. That you’ve fallen asleep in the tub fantasizing about him, and it manifested in your unconscious mind. That is until you realise even your brain couldn’t make you feel this good. His thumb rubbed expertly at your clit as two of his fingers explored your hole, curling in just the right ways. His eyes never once leave yours, daring you to ask him to stop. You don’t think you could if you wanted to, your mouth too busy moaning at every thrust of his hand.

Your orgasm comes quickly with the new assistance, and as you come down you really take in the situation.

“Jimin…” you start but your cut off as he lunges forward lips on yours. The kiss is desperate, almost like there’s something to prove. You return the passion, emotions from that drunk night many years ago resurfacing. He pulls away breathing heavily, unwilling to take his hands off your body. The body you are suddenly aware is naked, as if he didn’t have his hand on your most private area just moments ago. The blood rushes to your cheeks as you bite at your lip, unsure of where to go from here. You opt to go with whatever he chooses to do next. He feels around a pulls the plug out of the tub before bringing forward a fluffy white towel and wrapping it around you.

He carries you from the bathroom and places you on the small sofa in the corner of your shared room, before kneeling in front of you and looking at you like an eager puppy waiting for a walk. His hands trail up your thighs and you open them for him. He takes in the sight of your puffy lips, as if committing them to memory. Then with little hesitation his head surges between your legs, lapping hungrily at your sex, lewd whines leaving his mouth in time to the sounds being drawn from your own lips.

“This should be mine, all mine.” The vibrations of his voice only add to your pleasure “If you needed help you should’ve told me. This all I’ve wanted since I first saw you, all I’ve worked towards” the words don’t fully register in your blissed-out state “I want…. to please you… for you to need me… for you to be mine.” He punctuates each sentence with kitten licks to your pussy. Three fingers have now worked their way inside you and your struggling to focus on his confession, all you know is this feels right.

“Yours... all yours” you pant out, caught up in what you think must just be a kink that he has. For the second time he has you cumming, this time all over his tongue. The noises that escape him would make anyone think he was the one mid orgasm, and they wouldn’t be wrong. Finally having your juices coat his tastebuds proved too much for Jimin as he rocked his hips to create fiction, releasing in his shorts seconds after you clenched around his tongue

Kinktober

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@adventuresinwonderlust @thedarkwinterrose @samros95

[brelione]

The Best Boys (Topper,Rafe and Kelce X Reader)

I was thinking that if you add a girl to the mix Rafe,Kelce and Topper are like the pogues....kind of.I kind of just did a flip of things,you know?

Warnings:Mentions of binge eating,anorexia,bulimia.If youre triggered by these topics please do not read.Im not trying to romanticize eating disorders at all,this is just my way of coping with things.

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“You hate horror movies but you’ll watch a show about the fbi?”Topper asked,opening a bag of potato chips.You frowned,sending a glare his way as you pulled your blanket up your body.Rafe chuckled at your sad expression,his arm wrapping around you and pulling you to his side.You pressed the watch button for season one episode one because the boys had never seen criminal minds before.You had watched the series twice already but another time wouldn't hurt anybody.Plus,it was your turn to pick the show of the weekend.Kelce came out of you bathroom,laying on your carpeted floor and grabbing the bowl of m and m’s from the living room table.

You had met Rafe in fourth grade,asking him why his hair was slimy.From then on you two had been close friends.You had met Topper through Rafe because Topper was in the golfing team with Rafe.The blonde boy sat at your lunch table after that,dragging along his friend,Kelce.All of them had a thing for you but you didn't know it.In their eyes you acted more pogue than kook.You were barely even a kook,closer to average than rich.You preferred beaded chokers and bracelets over gold and diamonds,converse over heels and bandanas over nicely made hair pieces.You were a lot like Kiara in those ways except you weren't really friends with pogues.

You knew a handful of them and shared friendly glances and small conversation when you saw them around but you weren't close to them like she was.You took better to the kooks,well,some kooks.If you hadnt met Rafe when you were children you would never even speak to him now.The three of them were anything but humble,always showing off their wealth in clothes and expensive cars.They started fights with pogues and gave them dirty looks,never even considering talking to them.They’d behave for you though.

They’d pretty much do anything for you.Rafe wouldn't do drugs in your home or anywhere around you,Kelce wouldn't cuss at all and Topper wouldnt drink.You four had weekends at your house when your mother left to go to New York to ruin peoples lives and make money.You would all stay in your house to binge watch a series and eat pure sugar and carbs.You had slowly started to get back into the snacking after refusing it for over a year.You had gone through a large patch of pure shit during sophomore year.You began binge eating only to end up barely eating at all.Topper had noticed the jurassic change in your clothing,the clothes becoming baggier and your body becoming larger.

It wasn't your weight gain that had concerned him,it was the fact that your glow was gone.You would barely talk in the group chat where you had previously typed endlessly to tell them the morning news and ask how their days had been.You would be hesitant to eat your lunch,eating it all to quickly and then stare down at your empty tray.He had been hanging out with you at your house when your mother had left for a sudden business trip and you didn't want to be home alone.He opened your fridge for a soda,seeing most of the food was missing.

The jar of hot fudge had been pretty much scraped for any sticky chocolate left,all the yogurts had been eaten and even the bowl of tomatoes from your garden that had always been there.You didn't even like tomatoes.He looked in your trash can to see that it was half full of empty containers,wrappers and empty bags of chocolate chips.His eyebrows furrowed,walking into the living room where you were sitting on the couch.

 “Hey,are you okay?”He had asked.Three months later you had dropped the weight,becoming smaller than you had been before.You hadnt gotten your glow back,if anything you got worse.Your hair was thinner and you barely smiled,trying to shut your friends out.Rafe had come to understand what was happening,trying to find out what was wrong with you. “Hey,chip,are you sick?”He asked,using your nickname.You sipped your tea,frowning in disgust of the taste. “No.”You answered.He came around the counter,placing his hands on either side of you and trapping you there.

 “Did something bad happen?”He asked.You glared up at the blue eyed boy,shaking your head.He sighed,shaking his head. “I think you have a problem.”He told you,touching your arm lightly.Your heart dropped,realising what he was getting at.You had spent nights crying,looking at yourself in the mirror and stepping on the scale at least three times a day.You knew that you had a problem but you would rather drop dead than actually admit it to someone.Much less one of your best friends.You shook your head. “No,no I dont.Im fine.”You grinned but there was no happiness there.He shook his head,making you look up at him. 

“You’re hurting yourself,(Y/N).You are sick you just cant admit it to yourself.Do you understand?”He asked.Tears pricked at your eyes,sniffling as you avoided his gaze.He didn't say anything more,wrapping his arms around you as you sobbed into his chest and kept apologizing.

You had tried getting better.You tried for your friends,knowing you were hurting them.You couldn't tell your mom or go to a doctor.You wouldn't let anyone else find out.You knew for a fact that Rafe had told Topper and Kelce about his concerns already.Kelce would face time you before bed,asking you what you had eaten that day.Something about telling them that you hadnt eaten made you happy.Something about the number going down and the feeling of hunger in your stomach brought you joy.Your clothes that had once been tight now hung from your body and even your bracelets were too loose for your wrists.You were not happy though.You wanted to be smaller.

You wanted to be so small that you were nothing,that you couldn't stand properly and that you could see all your bones.But in your mind not even that would make you skinny enough.It wasn't until Kelce’s 16th birthday that you realized just how bad you had become.You four had a birthday system.You’d all do a little get together at the birthday boy’s house to have cake and give gifts and usually the week after would be the big party.You had gone to Kelce’s,heart beating quickly and your hands becoming shaky as you thought about how much food you’d have to eat.You opened his front door,his gift in a neon pink paper bag by your side.You closed the door behind you,hearing the boys from the kitchen.

 “Wow,you were really late to my birthday.”Kelce grinned,pulling you into a hug.You laughed,hugging the boy back. “Sorry,had to wrap this bitch up.”You held up the bag.He kissed the top of your head lightly,letting you put the bag down and greet your other two friends.When you went into the kitchen Kelce began slicing the chocolate cake,putting it onto plates.He had never been a fan of the candle tradition after Topper nearly caught his hair on fire.He put a particularly large slice on your plate,pushing it towards you.The boys were sitting around the table,sending you glances to watch if you were eating.They gave you a big slice.They were trying to sabotage you.They were trying to make you gain weight.

They were trying to ruin any progress you had made.How could they?You stared down at the plate in frustration,feeling Rafe’s hand on your knee.You got up,your chair falling to the ground as you went to the bathroom quickly,locking the door and kneeling in front of the toilet.Kelce had quickly followed,standing outside the door and calling your name.You stuck fingers down your throat desperately,trying to get something to come up just to make you feel better.Your other hand clenched the toilet seat,sniffling as a bad taste filled your mouth before brown liquid spilled past your tongue and lips.

You gasped for air before reaching the fingers back,knowing you had more than that in you.The door opened quickly thanks to Rafe sticking a screwdriver in the keyhole,seeing you with your fingers down your throat and spit running down your chin.He ran across the tile,pulling your hand from your mouth and holding you close.You squirmed,scared out of your mind.What would they think of you now? “I’ve got you,(Y/N).I've got you…”Rafe whispered to you,running a hand through your hair.Kelce had kneeled down in front of you,taking a towel to wipe vomit from your face. “You’ll get better,princess.”He promised.He had kept the promise,helping you along the way.Topper had gotten you to eat little things at first.

He had taken away your scale,having Kelce destroy it with a hammer.He had made meal plans,telling you exactly how many calories you’d be eating and trying to figure out which foods caused your urges to binge or purge.Rafe had bought you some new clothes that looked nice on you to help with your body image issues,trying his best to make you feel more comfortable in your own skin.Kelce had taken in the job of prep talking,getting you to shower properly and take vitamins everyday.He never failed to tell you how proud he was of you and how great you were doing,how happy you were making him by taking vitamins and eating.Over the course of three years you had gotten better.

There was still that little voice in the back of your head but physically you had healed quite well.Your hair had grown back,you weren't so cold all the time and you weren't so dizzy.Sometimes you felt guilty after eating a meal but the boys were always there to tell you how perfect you were and how wonderful you looked now that you were at a healthy weight.They had been so happy when you joined them in eating candy and french fries during the weekend binge watches.You had finally convinced them to watch your favorite show with you.Criminal minds.You giggled to yourself,shushing them of their silence.Kelce looked up at you with furrowed eyebrows,declaring that he hadnt said anything.

 “Shut up,Kelce!My husbands about to be on!”You shouted,pointing back at the television.Topper’s eyebrows furrowed as you stood up on your couch and out of Rafe’s grip,jumping up and down and squealing. “LOOK AT HIM!”You exclaimed,pointing to the awkward spaghetti noodle that was Spencer Reid.Topper burst into laughter while Rafe frowned. “Thats him?Really?”He seemed unimpressed.You had talked about your husband,Spencer Reid,for the past three years.But this dude wasn't what Rafe had been expecting. 

“HEY!THATS THE GUY FROM Z NATION!”Kelce pointed at the guy who had played Citizen Z,the antagonist of this episode.You sat back down,getting comfortable in Rafe’s arms and eating a handful of skittles. “He’s an actor,Kelce.”You rolled your eyes.Somewhere between episode three and four you had fallen asleep against Rafe’s chest.Kelce had sat on the arm of the couch,too afraid to sit on the floor.When you woke up in the morning Rafe’s arms hadnt shifted,still around your waist tight.Topper’s head had somehow ended up on your ass,his arms wrapped around your thighs as if they were a comfy pillow.Kelce had fallen asleep curled in a ball in the corner of the couch,a pillow between his arms.

You drifted back asleep after turning off the tv,readjusting yourself on Rafe’s chest.In your empty sleep you had felt the warm weight of Topper leave your bottom torso only to be replaced by a blanket.Your arms tightened around something that wasnt Rafe but instead a cold pillow.You sniffed the air,the smell of salt and coffee filling your nostrils.You blinked a couple of times,sitting up properly.The tv was playing this morning’s episodes of Spongebob Squarepants.You stood up slowly,yawning and stumbling to the kitchen.

The boys were cooking up a feast,preparing for day two of binge watching.Kelce grinned at you,setting down a coffee creation.Hot fudge,werthers caramel candies,half whole milk and half italian brew coffee all put together with ice and a bendy straw.You thanked your friend,sipping the drink tiredly.Rafe grinned,placing the (Y/F/C) plate of eggs the way you liked them cooked,ham and toast. “Morning,chip.”he smiled,kissing your forehead lightly.

You thanked him,only half awake as you cut up the ham. “Why Spencer?”Topper asked,taking in a large gulp of orange juice.You shrugged,a smile on your face as you took a bit of ham and eggs. “He’s adorable and hes smart and he’s funny.What’s there not to like?”You asked.Kelce laughed. “The man is a spaghetti noodle.Don't you want someone like Derek?”He asked.You shook your head,biting your toast. “Can we talk later?I don't want my toast to untoast.”You told him,enjoying the sound of the crunch.Kelce grinned,sipping his hot fudge,heavy cream coffee shake. “Of course,of course.God forbid the toast untoast.”He smiled.

“So what do you guys think of the show so far?”You asked curiously.Criminal Minds had always been your favorite show.Rafe had called you once while you were rewatching it and you had scolded him for twenty minutes because you swore to god that you had texted the group chat no to bother you.What Rafe didnt realise was that the show was literally about the minds of criminals.He realised that that’s probably where you learned how to read people so well and how you always knew when someone was sad.It also made him worry that maybe you knew about his crush on you if he hadnt made it obvious enough.He felt jealousy deep in his soul at the way you spoke so fondly of Spencer Reid,the way you’d smile and your eyes would twinkle when ever the man came on screen.You could only hope that one day you’d look at him with the same love in your eyes.

You brought your coffee into the living room,turning netflix back on.Rafe was typing away at his phone,earning a small smack on the arm. “Rafe,I didn't do this to you when we watched Ever After High.”You pouted.He smiled,showing you what he was looking for.He was on tiktok,hunting for Spencer Reid edits for you to enjoy.You kissed the boy’s cheek,letting him know you had already seen them all.You sat back to enjoy another episode of Criminal Minds,stabbing at the candy in the bottom of your cup.

 “Am I the only one uncomfortable about JJ?”Kelce asked,pointing to the blonde woman.You giggled,watching as Topper nodded. “They’re both blonde with blue eyes too,it only gets creepier.”He shook his head.You turned to look at him,a big shit eating grin on your face. “Bottom,sweetie,you're blonde with blue eyes too.”You reminded him,ruffling his blonde locks.He rolled his eyes at the sound of your teasing nickname that he had gotten after you walked in on one of his hookups.

It was ironic that he had been given the name Topper seeing as though he was the most bottom a bottom could be.He wasnt even a power bottom,just a squishy marshmallow bottom.He didnt give off bottom energy but with a name like that it was pretty much challenging fate.

He had been embarrassed,never wanting you to see him with another girl.In his god complex mind he was convinced every girl loved him,including you.Either that or he just wanted you to love him.In his mental defense he had imagined that she was you.He mentally cursed,wondering if he had made your insecurities worse.If anything it made you happier now that you had a new thing to tease him with,being able to throw out your old line that teased him about dying his hair green in seventh grade.He really just wanted someone to love him.He really just wanted you to love him in a different way than you did.

It didn't matter though,you were happy with the platonic relationship and he couldn't ruin that.He could never go after you anyways,though.Kelce liked you so he would be breaking bro code and unfortunately Kelce couldn't do anything because he knew that Rafe liked you and Rafe couldn't do anything because Topper liked you.It all sucked but in the end you could do whatever you wanted.You hadnt made a move on any of them which meant you didn't want any of them.But they were okay with that,they still got to be your best boys.

If you’d like to be tagged in all future JJ imagines/headcannons/series comment with a heart,if you’d like to be tagged in all future Pope imagines/headcannons/series comment with a smiling face,if you’d like to be tagged in all future Rafe imagines/headcannons/series comment with a frowning face,if you’d like to be tagged in all future Kiara imagines/headcannons/series comment with a question mark and if you’d like to be tagged in all future Sarah Cameron imagines/headcannons/series comment with a plus sign.Or if thats too complicated you can just comment whose name you’d like to be tagged in.

@popcrone818​

[laprincesaelena]

EOA Discord Server Ship Appreciation Week Day 2: Cooling Off

a/n: hi everyone! to all that left some feedback on day 1’s fic, thank you so much!! i’m so happy to know that people are enjoying my fics, i’m really excited to finally be sharing some with you guys! sorry today’s fic is a bit late, i of course put it off lol, and i intended to have a lot more time to write today, but i ended up having a lot less than i thought. but, regardless, i spent the rest of my night writing this so i could post this as close to on time as possible!

this fic is basically the beach day the four amigos deserved to have in the show, but of course, with some cute gabelena moments scattered in there :) fun fact, the beach they visit is inspired by my local beach, one that i also have many childhood memories of, and still visit every summer! not me projecting my childhood onto elena, what no 😗✌🏻

anyways, a couple quick notes! i chose the name moteada for the horse elena rides, since it was the closest spanish translation i could find to “spotted” (or spotty, as little me would say). if any spanish speakers know of a word that is closer to that (as in spotted in appearance), please let me know! also this could technically be a modern au?? not sure how much of what’s featured in this would exist in avalor, so interpret it as you’d like.

once again, another thank you to @procrastinateland for the absolutely adorable art to go along with the fic!! elena’s smile is just so cute, isn’t it? 🥺

okay, enough of my notes lol, on with the fic! hope you all enjoy! :)

After quite a few of their planned beach days had gotten rained out, Elena, Gabe, Mateo, and Naomi felt like they'd never get a fun and relaxing day together. But, one warm summer day, the sun would be bright and shining all day long, and the four amigos knew they had to take advantage of it.

The four of them met up at the palace that morning, and made sure they were all ready to go. After packing the carriage with all the necessities, they headed off to Avalor City's most popular beach, Playa de la Marea.

Elena smiled as they approached the beach, and took a deep breath, taking in the salty sea air. Playa de la Marea was a nostalgic location for her, as her and her family visited the beach each summer when she was a kid. Some of her happiest memories took place here, and she couldn't wait to create new memories here with her friends.

As the carriage drove them down the avenue, the four of them took in the sights. To their right, was the beautiful Playa de la Marea, which stretched down the coast for about five miles. A concrete wall lifted the road slightly above sea level, but beside it was plenty of space for walking along the ocean, as well as a couple of places to eat. To their left was a boardwalk of sorts, which included plenty of fun things to do. Restaurants, shops, an arcade, mini golf, carousel, ice cream shop, anything to add a bit more fun to a summer day.

The carriage pulled over for the four of them to step out and finally begin their day at the beach. Elena stepped out first, and took a look around. Things had certainly changed around here in the past four decades.

"Where's the amusement park?" Elena asked, as if it had somehow suddenly disappeared. "It used to be right behind those buildings!" she added, pointing over across the street.

"Amusement park?" Gabe asked as he began to unpack the back of the carriage. "What are you talking about?"

"Gabe, she missed out on like, half a century. Who knows what this place looked like when she was a kid?" Naomi said, leaning over the back of the carriage.

"She's right, there was one here. Parque de la Perfección was right where this boardwalk is today." Mateo explained. "My mamá used to visit as a child all the time, it closed about thirty years ago, so I'm sure Elena remembers it just as well. There's only one attraction from it left, maybe we could ride that today."

Elena's eyes lit up as she turned to the group. "Can we?" she asked.

"Uh, can we at least go to the beach first?" Naomi replied with a soft laugh. "We've only been waiting forever for a perfect day like this, let's go!"

With that, Naomi hopped out of the carriage, and each of the amigos grabbed a bag or two to carry down to the beach. After a few minutes of searching for the perfect spot, each of them laid down a blanket, as well as setting up a couple of chairs and an umbrella. Naomi stepped back for a moment, and made a frame with her fingers, before giving the group a thumbs up.

"Looks great, guys!" she said. "Now c'mon! The sea's a'waitin!" She was just about to run off towards the ocean, before a voice stopped her.

"Hang on!" Mateo said, and grabbed a bag from beside him. He emptied the contents of it onto one of their towels, and about all there was to see was every type of sunscreen imaginable.

“Looks like somebody came prepared!" Elena joked with a small laugh.

"My mother came prepared." Mateo responded. "She couldn't have her 'precious baby boy' come home with a sunburn, or any sort of tan, apparently.." he said, before placing the bag aside, having completely emptied it. "So, I've got lotion, spray, a stick, whatever you prefer!"

"I'll take the spray, thanks." Elena answered, and Mateo threw a can over to her.

"I should probably cover myself in this.." Mateo said, taking a bottle of the lotion equivalent. "I'd be afraid to see my mother's reaction if I came home with even the slightest bit of redness." he added with a slight laugh.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm heading into the water, I'll be fine." Naomi commented.

"But Naomi, you're the palest of all of us!" Mateo replied. "You'll be bright red!"

Naomi rolled her eyes, but smiled, knowing her friend was just looking out for her. "Alright, fine." she said. "Elena, hit me up with some of the spray."

Elena managed to spray on just enough to cover Naomi's body, before she was headed off to the water. She smiled and laughed a bit, before taking off her beach cover-up, and spraying some onto herself as well.

A moment later, the rest of the friends were ready to join Naomi in the water. The waves were just right that day, rough enough to play around in, but calm enough to simply enjoy the shallower end. The water was on the chillier side, but on a hot summer day like this one, it felt quite refreshing.

Elena took Gabe's hand in hers as they reached the water, he could barely keep up with her in that moment! Once the water came to about her waist, she dived right into a wave. A second later, her head popped up from under the water with a big smile, and Gabe couldn't help but smile as well. He loved seeing Elena in rare moments like this one, where she could truly sit back, relax, and let loose. After all she had been through and all she'd done for the kingdom so far, she very much deserved it.

Naomi was still multiple feet out from them, the water had to be much over her head. But being practically raised on a ship, the water was certainly her element. Once she noticed her friends, she waved to them, and began to swim a bit closer to the group.

"Water's perfect today, isn't it?" she asked them. "Got some decent sized waves to jump into as well! I'm not the only one who's always liked to do that, right?"

"Uh, absolutely not!" Elena replied. "I'm in!"

Gabe looked out onto the horizon, and noted the size of some of the waves. A few of them were a bit too rough for his liking, especially for someone like Elena, who was much shorter than he was. What if she got knocked under and never came back up? What if she lost her footing and got sucked into a current? There were too many possibilities of what could go wrong, and even though this was technically an off day for him, his protective royal guard side couldn't help but come out.

"Elena, I don't know.." he said, protectively wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "What if one of them knocks you under and you don't come up? I can't let anything happen to you."

Elena rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Oh, come on Gabe, loosen up a little! I'll be fine, I can swim. Besides, it's an off day for us all, let's just have some fun! You can join us, if you'd like." she offered.

Gabe sighed, he knew that he did have to learn to trust Elena on her own more often, she didn't need to be protected. "Alright, fine, I'll come too." he said. "How about you just don't go any further than you can reach, okay?"

Elena nodded, that was reasonable enough. "Will do!" she said, and took his hand in hers once more. "Now let's go!"

The next few minutes were spent jumping over the waves, diving into them, or even getting knocked down a few times! Elena just couldn't help but smile and laugh each time this happened, especially with Gabe rushing to fix his hair before the next wave came along to mess it up again.

When a break between waves came along, Elena wrapped her arms around Gabe's neck with a smile, and leaned up to kiss him. Gabe wrapped his arms around Elena's waist and pulled her in closer, kissing her right back. Elena couldn't picture a more perfect day, she just wanted this sweet little moment to last forever.

Naomi turned to say something to her best friend, only to see the couple wrapped up in this embrace. She rolled her eyes but laughed to herself, and jokingly called, "Get a room!"

When Naomi turned back towards the sea, she was faced with one of the biggest waves she had seen that day. She dived right into it, and found herself about six feet under the water. Once she reached the surface, the wave hadn't reached her friends yet, but it was pretty close to them. Of course, Gabe and Elena were oblivious to what was heading their way, so Naomi called out to warn them. When not even that broke the couple apart, Naomi knew they'd be finding out on their own soon enough.

Elena could've sworn she had heard a voice a moment earlier, but she didn't think it was directed towards her or Gabe. But, when she heard the roaring of a wave, she opened her eyes for a moment, and pulled away. When he felt Elena shift, Gabe pulled back and looked down at her, concerned. When he turned his head in the same direction as she did, the pair gasped. Before they could do much else, the two found themselves knocked under the water. For a few seconds, they were completely submerged, before they managed to find their footing and push back up to the surface.

Gabe just so happened to reach the surface first, so when Elena was no where to be found, he instinctively feared the worst. Just as he was about to dive back into the water, Elena reached the surface to catch her breath. Before Gabe could quickly wrap his arms around her to make sure she was okay, she started to laugh. Gabe couldn’t believe her, she had practically just drowned, how could she be laughing at a time like this? Unfortunately for Gabe, though, Elena's laugh was quite infectious. If she was laughing, she had to be okay. So, Gabe started to laugh a bit himself.

"I think that's enough ocean for us today." he said through his laughs.

"Maybe so!" Elena agreed with a laugh as well. "How about we head a bit closer to shore?"

"Now that sounds a bit safer, I'm not almost losing you to a wave again!" Gabe joked.

For the next couple of hours, the four amigos had a wonderful time at the beach. They spent plenty of time on the water, had a quick lunch on the shore, bathed in the sun (or under the umbrella, in Mateo's case), and just spent a bit of time talking to one another, about things that didn't have to do with their usual tasks. They were able to spend the day as just a regular group of friends, not a crown princess, royal wizard or guard, and grand councilwoman. The group began to pack up as it began to reach high tide, but their day wasn't over just yet.

The amigos left most of their things back in the carriage before heading across the street to the boardwalk. There was certainly plenty to do, it'd be practically impossible to do it all in one day! But, they decided on the arcade for their first stop, and something immediately caught Elena's eye as they walked in.

"Awww, how cute is this?" she asked the group, pointing up to a yellow and pink jaquin plush hanging on the wall, amongst other prizes to win. "It's just so soft and cuddly..I've got to take that thing home!"

Gabe was not going to let his girlfriend go home without this jaquin, he was determined that he was going to win it for her. It cost a decent amount of tickets, but if he timed it right, it was achievable.

Naomi had already headed over to an air hockey table, and was standing at the ready. "Alright, who wants to try and best me?" she asked. "You know, when I was eight, I beat my whole crew at an arcade in Corinthia."

Gabe raised an eyebrow at her, a spark of determination in his eye. "You're on, Miss Turner." he said.

Determined to bring Elena home a little jaquin, when Naomi won the first match 7-5, Gabe wasn't giving up that easily. Best two out of three soon turned into three out of five, and while Gabe did manage to win a game or two, Naomi came out as the victor, and with a good sum of tickets to show for it. Knowing he probably didn't stand a chance against her, he moved onto another game.

Meanwhile, Elena had been trying out a variety of different games, some she was pretty good at, others she could barely get through a round without getting frustrated at. As much as she really wanted the adorable jaquin plush, all she really wanted was to have fun with her friends. If she left the arcade with a tiny little prize, so be it. She then got herself dragged into a game of air hockey with Naomi, which grew just as competitive as her previous matches with Gabe.

After spending a good hour or two at the arcade, the amigos were in need of a change of scenery. Competition certainly got tiring after a while! But, before they moved on, they had to pick out their prizes! Gabe sighed as he received his final number of tickets, he was only twenty short of Elena's beloved jaquin. He didn't even want to think of her disappointed face when she learned of this. He looked around, was there anything else she might love just as much? But, before he could make a decision, he noticed Elena approaching him.

"Elena, I-" he began to say, ready to apologize for not being able to win her the jaquin. But before he could, Elena pulled something out from behind her back. It was a small plastic sword, similar to one a royal guard might carry, only on a smaller scale.

"This is for you!" she said, holding it out to him with a smile. "Now you can protect me for the rest of the day with this!" she joked.

Gabe couldn't help but smile and laugh, he certainly appreciated the thought. He looked over the sword as she passed it over to him, and then began to try out a couple of moves with it.

"Wow, I've got to say, this is better than my captain's sword back at the palace!" he joked. "I think we should replace our standard issue swords with these ones!"

Elena smiled and laughed as well as Gabe 'tried out' his new sword. "I agree, the ones we have now are just too big and bulky, don't you think?" she joked.

"Oh, absolutely." Gabe agreed with a laugh. "Or maybe, I'll pull this out at our next fencing practice, you won't be able to beat me then!"

"Unfortunately, these swords here are quite pricey, I only had enough tickets for one!" Elena replied. "Well, enough for one and a handful of candy." she added, showing him a couple of pieces of candy she had received as well.

The thought of tickets reminded Gabe of what Elena truly wanted, the jaquin plush. He knew that even though she was excited with her purchase for him, she'd definitely notice the jaquin on their way out, and she'd be so disappointed to be leaving without it. So, he knew he just had to be honest with her.

"Speaking of that, I tried to win you that jaquin, since I knew you really wanted it.." he explained. "But unfortunately, I came a few tickets short of being able to win it for you, I'm sorry."

Before Elena could tell Gabe that it was alright, she was cut off by a female voice.

"One adorable jaquin plush for my beloved princess!" Naomi said, jokingly bowing to Elena, with the prized pink and yellow jaquin in her arms.

Elena gasped with delight, and held the plushie tight once Naomi handed it over to her. It was even softer, and cuddlier, and more adorable in person! Her day was already great as it was, but this just made it that much better! She wrapped Naomi in a hug and thanked her, she was just so excited to have it.

Gabe couldn't help but sigh when he realized that he wasn't the one to win Elena the jaquin, but those feelings quickly faded when he saw how Elena's face just lit up at the sight of it. He tried his best to make this day great for her, but hey, she still got that jaquin! Besides, he knew how she smiled as she took in the sights of the beach, how she laughed as they were both knocked down by a wave, Elena was having a great day for herself no matter what, jaquin or not. And that's what mattered most.

Their next stop was the carousel, the final remaining attraction of Parque de la Perfección. Elena was also looking forward to this, since she had so many memories of riding this very carousel as a child. She remembered her parents mentioning how once they got her on, it was hard to get her off! She especially used to love when Isabel would ride on the horse beside her, and her father would stand between the two, closely watching to see which one of his daughters would ‘win the race’. Elena smiled remembering her parents, she did miss them very much. Though she missed those days, now she was here to make new memories with her best friends, and she couldn’t wait.

As the four of them stepped onto the ride, Elena immediately went searching for a very specific horse. She quickly walked through the rows and rows of them, until finally, she came across the one she was looking for.

“Moteada!” she exclaimed, and hopped onto a small black and white spotted horse.

“Mote-huh?” Naomi asked.

“Moteada!” Elena repeated. “This was the horse I rode on almost every single time I visited as a kid, she was my favorite for some reason! I called her Moteada due to her spots.” she explained.

“That’s cute, I’m glad you could ride her again today!” Naomi replied with a smile, before setting her sights on a large, chestnut brown horse in the same row. “I call the big one!” she called, hopping aboard it.

Elena laughed softly as Naomi grabbed onto the leather ‘reins’ on the horse, sitting up straight and tall. She jokingly waved around, as if she were the most important being on the biggest horse. Mateo was seated atop a grey horse beside Naomi, all four amigos seated right in the same row.

Of course, Gabe was going to be right next to his Elena, so he hopped onto a beige horse beside her. He smiled as Elena took her new jaquin friend and placed it right in front of her, as if they were going for a ride too.

When a bell sounded to signal that their ride was about to begin, Elena felt like she was a child again. It were almost as if she was back here for a beach day with her family, racing to sit atop Moteada before anyone else reached her, giggling with her sister as they each neared ‘the finish line’, and waving to her mother, it felt like nothing had changed.

Gabe knew they’d have to plan beach days like this more often, since this was the happiest he’d seen Elena in a while. Not that Elena wasn’t an overall happy person, you’d always come across her walking down the hall with a smile. But something about today was different, maybe due to the nostalgia this day brought her. Regardless, Gabe couldn’t get enough of seeing Elena’s beautiful face light up with a smile, he couldn’t help but smile as well glancing over at her.

When Elena turned her head to the side for a moment, she noticed Gabe smiling over at her. So, she reached over towards him and pulled him in for a kiss. She pulled back a moment later with a soft laugh, giving him a look of so much love. There wasn’t anyone else she’d rather be sharing these moments with, and she couldn’t wait to create many more memories just like this with him in the future.

A couple of minutes later, their ride was gradually slowing down. Once it had come to a complete stop, Elena’s horse just so happened to have stopped at the highest height possible. She looked down and laughed to herself, even though she was that many years older and that much taller than she was on her last ride, it was still quite a ways down for her!

“Well, this’ll be quite the fall!” she joked to herself, as she began to swing one leg over to hop down.

But, before she could let go of the pole, she felt a pair of hands around her waist, which lifted her up, and placed her softly onto the ground. Elena turned around to see that it was none other than Gabe who softened her landing. She smiled and pulled him in for a quick thank you kiss, before following Naomi and Mateo off of the ride.

To end their day, the four amigos sat along the sea wall with an ice cream, admiring the view as they enjoyed a refreshing treat. Gabe wrapped his arm around Elena and held her close, as she rested her head on his shoulder. Their conversation was filled with their favorite parts of the day, which would continue on as they walked back towards the carriage. Elena loved each aspect of their day, but she had to admit, what she loved the most was her adorable new jaquin plushie. Oh, and being able to spend a fun and relaxing day with her closest friends, and of course, her Gabe, was pretty nice too.

[ugly-anastasia]

The Last 10 Years | Oneshot

Note: for the October Jekyll and Hyde task (write a one-shot featuring your character as first the protagonist and then the antagonist) I had an idea to try and tell Annie and Charlie’s story in the style of the musical The Last Five Years, since that is kind of the goal of that show’s storytelling style. Basically the premise is the same story told from two different perspectives, one in chronological order and the other in reverse-chronological order. Just wanted to clarify that in case the format is confusing. Enjoy!

Warnings for: alcohol, references to hazing, lots of messy/unhealthy relationship dynamics, misogyny, some nsfw topics

2021, Annie

The last time Anastasia Tremaine saw Charles King, he was shimmering. 

The morning light got in her eyes, Tennessee June out in all its glory as Annie loaded the last box into the Uber that would take her to the airport. Out of the corner of her eye, Annie could see Charlie bending down to give Harlynne and Jaxson each one last hug. The early summer sunshine seemed to sparkle on his Dri-Fit Vanderbilt Tennis shirt because of course it did. The world seemed to part for Charlie King and everything that made Annie squint and stumble and fall just painted him in brighter glory.

It was what she had always liked about him, wasn’t it? That she could look at him and see the sun? Annie’s life had always been defined by the people she surrounded herself with. Rodmilla Tremaine’s screechy daughter, Ella Ashbourne’s bitchy stepsister with the bad fake tan, and then Charlie King’s perky young wife. 

Maybe that was her mistake from the beginning. How was she going to define herself now?

2011, Charlie

The first time Charles King saw Anastasia Tremaine, she was shimmering. 

Literally. Covered in silver sparkles. The glitter bomb was a new ritual to welcome the Alpha Phi pledges, replacing the traditional surprise Jägerbomb after a lengthy hazing investigation that left the sisters scrambling to replace their traditions with those less explicitly related to alcohol. Of course, it was the first mixer of the year, so alcohol of all kinds was flowing through the Kappa Alpha house, just with enough plausible deniability to say that technically nobody underage was encouraged to drink. 

Luckily for the majority of the attendees at this mixer, they tended to have the kind of connections to get a good enough lawyer to get out of that stuff.

Charlie saw Annie sparkling as she stood on the coffee table and glitter rained down on her, shrieking in disgust (but maybe soaking up the attention just a little bit). And he knew that was his girl. She was attractive in a self-conscious kind of way, with her long legs and big nose, like maybe she was afraid she stuck out too much. It was easy to see through fake freshman confidence, and Charlie could already see her posh British accent impressing his parents. 

He hung back. He didn’t say anything yet. But Charlie had a feeling he would run into Annie Tremaine again.

2019, Annie

It was really quite plain and simple: Charlie was cheating.

Annie believed she was justified in going through his phone, because he was cheating. The signs were everywhere. He was always “going out to happy hour” after work even though he hadn’t been interested in “happy hour” since he’d started at the accounting firm six years ago. He seemed distracted lately. And his little icon always dropped off of the map on Find My Friends the same time every day. 

So when Charlie was in the shower, Annie reached across the bed and unlocked his phone. Unknown number.

Tonight again?

No, not tonight

When??? 😩😩😩 

Tomorrow?

Ur gonna make me wait until tomorrow

The anticipation will make it sweeter 😉

And there was her proof. “CHARLIE!” Annie roared, jumping out of bed and pounding on the shower door. She was justified. She had-- what was it they called it on those police procedurals? Probable cause? Annie had probable cause. Charlie came stumbling out of the shower, wrapping the towel around him and looking at her blearily. “Whaa-”

“Explain this!”

Charlie just stared at her. “Did you go through my phone?”

2013, Charlie

The plain and simple explanation was that Annie asked Charlie out. 

Two years after that first party where they locked eyes, after Annie had attracted a few whispers for stumbling through some on-off relationships with the more sensitive of the KA brothers, Annie went right up to Charlie at homecoming and asked him out. Charlie didn’t plan on getting tied down to a college girl right after he graduated. And no, he didn’t leverage any kind of power he might have had, because Annie had just applied for an internship at the accounting firm he and his father both worked at. That was her choice. Wasn’t that what feminism was all about or something?

Annie asked Charlie out with the brazen confidence of a brand new Co-Chair of Philanthropy, a confidence she would confess, taking a sip of her cosmo, actually came from Charlie’s encouragement. Last spring, right before graduation, Charlie had told Annie to go after her dreams, and Annie had decided that her dreams lied with Charlie King.

That was what Charlie had to explain to people when they raised eyebrows at his relationship with Annie. She had asked him out. It was even possible she was playing him to get her foot in the door at the firm. Right?

2015, Charlie and Annie

Charlie and Annie had a fight the night before their wedding. It started at the rehearsal dinner, when Charlie’s best man, a lanky KA brother named Ross, got into a tiff with Drizella over something political, and then Annie whispered to Charlie to shut him up, and Charlie didn’t, and now they were in their individual hotel rooms, shouting at each other on the phone.

“He’s my friend, Annie, I don’t control him!”

“I’m not asking you to control him, but you could have pulled him for a chat! Told him to tone it down!”

“Annie, why would that--”

“You have no problem doing that with me when I’m being a bitch! And I’ve done it with you when you’re being stupid! What’s the difference?”

“Annie, I--”

“I know why. It’s because you care more about fitting in with your stupid friends than you care about me! Grow up, Charlie, you’re getting bloody married!”

“Annie!” 

Silence.

“Look, Annie, I don’t know what you want me to say. I can’t travel back in time and do it different.”

“I want you to say you’re sorry!”

“Alright, Annie, I’m sorry.”

More silence. For a moment, Annie had a burning feeling that something might not be right. On the other side of the wall, Charlie had the same feeling.

They both wrote it off as cold feet. And the next day, they had a beautiful wedding, and it even made the society pages, and Annie had never gotten so many likes on Instagram. And Charlie’s mother was proud. And the fight was forgotten.

Until it wasn’t. 

2013, Annie 

Annie asked Charlie out because her mother said she should, and because her friends said that he was a sweet guy but he would never make the first move, and because a cute self-help book she had read said that if Annie didn’t take control of her destiny now, destiny would take control of her. Annie was a strong woman, and Charlie was cute and well-connected, and maybe he was a lot older, but that was the kind of man Annie wanted, anyway. Someone mature. Someone who wouldn’t walk out when things got hard. Charlie seemed steady.

And yes, maybe she told him that she had gotten her confidence from his little drunken pep talk that he gave her right before he graduated, even though that wasn’t really true. And maybe she faked it the first time they hooked up... and the second and third time, too. And maybe Annie swore she listened to all of his mixtapes, even when she found them quite boring. Men had fragile little egos, and Annie knew she could use that to her advantage. 

It didn’t matter, because at the end of things, Annie knew that she and Charlie would be perfect together. What was a little white lie here and there, a little corner cutting? It was destiny and she was just helping it along.

2019, Charlie

Cheating didn’t look good. It never did. Charlie had a kid, and another on the way, and a wife who was perfect on paper. Ross’s stare across the table at Buffalo Wild Wings (an old heartbreak haunt from the Vandy days) said all of that. But Charlie believed he deserved some sympathy. 

“She’s crazy, man!” Charlie argued.

“Charlie, you’re not supposed to call women crazy anymore. Erica--”

“I don’t care what bullshit Erica read on TheSkimm!”

“Charlie! That’s my wife you’re talking about!”

“Sorry,” Charlie grumbled, biting into his buffalo wing morosely. “But I think if she was paranoid enough that I was cheating on her that she had to go through my phone, then there’s a bigger problem. And, I’m just saying, she could’ve just asked me.”

“And you would have told her the truth?”

Charlie hmphed and threw the bone down on his plate, reaching for another wing. 

2011, Annie

The first time Annie saw Charlie, it was from behind.

But what a glorious back of his head it was! Thick chestnut-brown hair, gelled into a perfect side part but not too much that it couldn’t be tousled a little. A pink golf shirt-- there was nothing like a man who knew how to dress. And he was moving with purpose, with animation, like he knew he was the brightest star in the room and everyone around him was so lucky to bask in his light.

He was the shimmering outline of a boy you could fill in with all your hopes. And the other girls had told Annie to stay away from the older boys, that they would play with your heart and drop you by Christmas to ring-by-spring a girl more their speed. But Annie could see the pieces clicking into place. She had been raised to believe if you worked hard and wanted something badly enough and if you weren’t afraid to get your hands a little dirty, you could have whatever you wanted. And Annie wanted this. Badly.

Annie was tired of standing in the shadows. She wanted to attach herself to a boy who commanded the light, so she could shine, too. And she had finally found him.

2021, Charlie

The last time Charlie saw Annie, it was from behind, as she climbed into the car and didn’t bother to give him one last wave before speeding down the highway with the life he had spent the past ten years building.

Annie had gotten everything she wanted in the divorce. It was hard to sympathize with a cheater, especially one who already seemed to have a backup life ready to go as soon as his ex wife and kids were out of the way. Charlie didn’t really feel that way. He mostly resented Annie for blowing this up the way she had, turning one little affair into a marriage-shattering event, fleeing the country with both kids in tow. Charlie didn’t care what Ross said. She was crazy.

Mostly, Charlie mourned what could have been. He could have gone on having it all. He was doing a good job of balancing it. And he had been raised to believe that if he just managed everything tactfully enough, he could skate through life unencumbered, with nobody to say no to what he wanted. For the first time, he couldn’t. And it made Charlie livid.

But maybe it was time for a fresh start. He had Jenna, his beautiful girlfriend. He had his house, still. He had his Nashville friends, who had eventually come around to agree with Charlie that he was in the right (and Charlie believed that they liked Jenna better, anyway). 

The worst thing that Annie had done, Charlie decided, was think too highly of him. He wasn’t a man of principle or honor, he just projected that image in the settings where it was necessary. And she had been naive enough to believe in that. 

Charlie went back in the house and pulled up Jenna’s contact on his phone. From now on, he wasn’t going to lie about the kind of man he was. And hopefully, that would prevent him from repeating this whole mess over again.

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery

 Emotion laden, deeply moving, intensely poignant, well crafted – this story grabbed me and didn’t let me go till I finished at 3am. I felt so much and at times wanted to jump into the pages to “fix” things knowing that the author would bring things right for at least some of the characters by the end of the book…or at least I hope she would! This is a story of love, loss, growth, endurance, values, goals and family. It is a keeper and one I would reread in the future.

 What I liked:

* Mackenzie:  dedicated, focused, interesting. She has been stymied for a while and may need to move on from the safe haven she has lived within for over a decade and a half. She has a rough time of it but comes through rather brilliantly in the end.

* Catherine: sister-in-law to Mackenzie, loving, kind, in tune with the earth, grounded, warm, creative…really liked her.

* Stephanie: sister-in-law to Mackenzie, divorced, mother of two teens, stuck in a rut and trying to move forward but it isn’t easy for her to do so. She is Mackenzie’s best friend and has been since college.

* Bruno: wealthy, attractive, investor, wine distributor, and intriguing. He is warm, a good friend, caring, communicates brilliantly and is perfect for the woman he ends up with.

* Kyle: a good father, professional, a bit selfish…divorced from Stephanie and father of her children

* Rhys: not a bad guy, married to Mackenzie, wants what is best for both of them, a bit heavy handed at times and sometimes rather clueless…and also selfish, perhaps.

* Georgio: a good man, loving, kind, generous, and perfect for the right woman – the boyfriend of Barbara (mother-in-law of Mackenzie)

* The close relationships that were friendly, warm, and caring.

* That there was growth in a number of characters.

* The dynamics between various individuals and groups.

* The way verbalization of feelings, thoughts, and insight into the characters

* Learning a bit more about the winemaking business.

* The setting – love that area of the world!

* All of it really except…

 What I didn’t like:

* Barbara: I won’t give details but if you read the book you will probably feel the same

* Lori: daughter of Barbara and quite a bit like her, I fear.

* The sadness I felt as I empathized with Mackenzie.

 Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Definitely

 Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequen (HQN) for the ARC – This is my honest review.

 5 Stars

BLURB

MacKenzie Dienes's life isn't perfect, but it's as close as she could ever hope to get. Her marriage to Rhys, her best friend's brother, is more friendship than true love. But passion is highly overrated, right? And she loves her job as the winemaker at Bel Apres, her in-laws' vineyard. So what if it's a family business and, even after decades of marriage and incredible professional success, she's still barred from the family business meetings? It's all enough...until one last night spent together leads to an incredibly honest—and painful—conversation. Rhys suggests that they divorce. They haven't had a marriage in a long time and, while he wants her to keep her job at Bel Apres, he doesn't think they should be married any longer. Shocked, MacKenzie reels at the prospect of losing the only family she's ever really known...even though she knows deep in her heart that Rhys is right.

But when MacKenzie discovers she's pregnant, walking away to begin a new life isn't so easy. She never could have anticipated the changes it would bring to the relationships she cherishes most: her relationship with Barbara, her mother-in-law and partner at Bel Apres, Stephanie, her sister-in-law and best friend, and Bel Apres, the company she's worked so hard to put on the map.

MacKenzie has always dreamed of creating a vineyard of her own, a chance to leave a legacy for her unborn child. So when the opportunity arises, she jumps at it and builds the Vineyard at Painted Moon. But following her dreams will come at a high price—one that MacKenzie isn't so sure she's willing to pay…

  EXTRACT

Chapter One

“Not that what you’re wearing isn’t great, but the party starts in an hour.”

Mackenzie Dienes looked up from the grapevine she’d been studying, her mind still on the tight clusters of small, hard grapes that would, come late September, be ripe and sweet and ready for harvest. Between now and then, she would monitor their progress, willing them to greatness and protecting them from danger, be it mold, weather or hungry deer.

She blinked at the man standing in front of her, tall and familiar, with an easy smile and broad, capable shoulders.

“Party?” she asked, letting her thoughts of the vineyards go and remembering that, yes, indeed, it was the evening of the annual Solstice Party, hosted by the Barcellona family. As she was a Barcellona, by marriage if not by name, she would be expected to attend.

Wanted to attend, she reminded herself. It was always a good time, and Stephanie, her sister-in-law, worked hard to make it a perfect night.

“The party,” she repeated, her voice slightly more panicked this time, then glanced down at herself. “Crap. What time is it?”

Rhys, her husband, shook his head. “You really don’t listen when I talk, do you? We have an hour. You’ll be fine.”

She pulled off her gloves and shoved them into the left front pocket of her coveralls, then stepped behind Rhys and gave him a little push toward the flatbed truck he’d driven out to the west vineyards.

“You say that because all you have to do is shower and get dressed. I have to do the girl thing.”

“Which takes you maybe ten minutes.” He put his arm around her as they hurried toward the truck. “Happy with the grapes?”

“I think so,” she said, glancing toward the healthy vines growing on either side of them. “We might have to do some thinning in a couple of weeks, but so far, so good.”

As they slid onto the bench seat of the old truck, he glanced at her. She smiled, knowing there was a fifty-fifty chance he would call her out on her thinning statement. He was, after all, the vineyard manager. Technically all the decisions about the vineyard were made by him with her input, but not her instruction. As winemaker, she managed the grapes from the moment they were picked until the wine was bottled.

But at Bel Après, areas of responsibility often overlapped. Theirs was a large, boisterous family in which everyone had opinions. Not that Mackenzie listened to a lot of other ideas when it came to her wines, although as Rhys often pointed out, she was very free offering hers when it came to his work.

He drove along the dirt path that circled the vineyard, stopping by her truck. She slid into the cab, then followed him back to the family compound. The main road leading into Walla Walla was thick with tourists who wanted to enjoy the longest day of the year. She merged into the slow-moving traffic, doing her best to keep from glancing at the clock on the truck’s dashboard as she inched along.

Vineyards stretched out on either side of the road, flat on the left and rising toward the hills on the right. Bright green leaves topped sturdy trunks that had been carefully trained to grow exactly as she wanted them to. The rows were long and neat, and the spaces between them were filled with native grasses that held in moisture and protected the roots from the heat.

Looking at her healthy crop kept her mind off the fact that she and Rhys were going to be desperately late.

Twenty minutes later, she followed him off the highway onto a less crowded secondary road—a back way home. Five minutes after that, they parked the trucks by the processing buildings behind the big tasting room. Rhys had already claimed one of the golf carts the family used to get around. She slid in next to him and they took off toward the center of the property.

Bel Après Winery and the surrounding land had been in the Barcellona family for nearly sixty years. Rhys and his siblings were third-generation. The original main house had been updated several times. When Rhys and Mackenzie had married, Barbara, Rhys’s mother, had suggested they build themselves a house close to hers, rather than commute from town. Eager to stay in the good graces of her new mother-in-law, Mackenzie had agreed.

A large two-story home had been built. Barbara and Mackenzie had decorated every room, the act of choosing everything from light fixtures to doorknobs cementing their affection for each other.

A few years later, Stephanie, the second of Barbara’s four children, had gotten a divorce and moved back home with her two kids, requiring another house to be constructed. When the youngest of the three girls had married, the last house had been added. Only Lori, the middle daughter, still lived in the original home.

All four houses faced a huge central courtyard. Mexican pavers were shaded by vine-covered pergolas. The extended family used the space for big dinners and as a kids’ play area. If one of the women baked cookies, a cookie flag was hung out the front door, inviting anyone to stop by. At Christmas, a large tree was brought in from Wishing Tree, and for the annual Summer Solstice Party, dozens of long tables were brought in to seat the two hundred or so guests.

Rhys swung the golf cart behind the large main house, circling counterclockwise. Normally he would cut across the courtyard, but with all the party preparations, he had to go the long way. He pulled up at the rear entrance to their house and they dashed inside.

Mackenzie paused to unlace her boots and left them in the mudroom. Rhys did the same. They raced up the stairs together, separating at the landing to head to their individual en suite bedrooms.

Once in her bathroom, she started the shower. Thankfully, she’d already picked out the dress she would wear. She raced through a shower. After she dried off, she wrapped her hair in a towel and dug out the scented body lotion Rhys had given her a couple of years ago. Why anyone would want to smell like coconut and vanilla was beyond her, but he liked it.

She walked into the large closet and opened her underwear drawer. To the right were all the sensible bikini panties she usually wore—to the left were the fancier ones for special occasions. She chose a black pair and slipped them on, then went to the second drawer and looked for the matching push-up bra. When it and the pads were in place and doing the best they could with her modest curves, she pulled on a robe and returned to the bathroom.

After plugging in her hot rollers, it took her only a few minutes to apply eyeliner and mascara. She was flushed from the day working outside, so she didn’t bother with any other makeup.

Her hair took a lot longer. First she had to dry the dark red shoulder-length waves, then she had to curl them. While the rollers were in place, she searched for a pair of black high-heel sandals that wouldn’t leave her crippled by the end of the night.

Those found, she opened her small jewelry box and pulled out her wedding set, sliding both the engagement ring and the wedding band into place on her left hand. Diamond stud earrings followed. She’d barely stepped into her sleeveless black dress when Rhys walked into the closet, fully dressed in black slacks and a dark gray shirt.

She sighed when she saw him. “See. You have it so much easier than me.”

“Yes, but in the end, you’re more beautiful. That should be worth something.”

“I’d rather have the extra time.”

She turned, presenting him with her back. He pulled up the zipper, then bent to collect her shoes. They retreated to her bathroom and together began removing the curlers.

“We’re late,” Mackenzie said, catching sight of his watch. “Your mom is going to be all snippy.”

“She’ll be too busy welcoming her guests.” The last of the curlers was flung onto the counter. Mackenzie fluffed her hair, then pointed to the bedroom.

“Retreat,” she said, reaching for the can of hair spray.

Rhys ducked to safety. She sprayed the curls into submission before running into the bedroom to escape the death cloud. Rhys was on the bench at the foot of the large bed. She sat next to him and quickly put on her shoes.

“Done,” she said, pausing to reacquaint herself with the seldom-used skill of walking in heels.

She grabbed her husband’s wrist. “Seven fifteen. Barbara’s going to kill us.”

“She’s not. I’m her only son and you’re just plain her favorite.”

“We weren’t ready exactly at seven. I can already hear the death-march music in my head. I want to be buried on Red Mountain.”

Rhys chuckled as he led the way downstairs. “In the vineyard? I’m not sure your decaying body is going to be considered organic.”

“Are you saying I’m toxic?” she asked with a laugh as they walked toward the front door.

“I’m saying you’re wonderful and I’d like us to have a good night.”

There was something in his tone, she thought, meeting his gaze. She’d known this man her entire adult life. They’d met over Christmas her freshman year of college. Her roommate, his sister Stephanie, had dragged Mackenzie home to meet the family. Grateful not to have to spend the holiday by herself, Mackenzie had gone willingly and had quickly found herself falling not only for her best friend’s hunky older brother but for the entire Barcellona family and the vineyards they owned. Barbara had been like a surrogate mother, and the vineyards, well, they had been just as magical as Rhys’s sexy kisses.

Now she studied her husband’s expression, seeing the hint of sadness lurking behind his easy smile. She saw it because she hid the same emotion deep inside herself. The days of stealing away for sexy kisses were long gone. There were no lingering looks, no intimacy. They had a routine and a life, but she was less sure about them still having a marriage.

“I’d like that, too,” she murmured, knowing he wasn’t asking them not to fight. They never did. Harsh words required a level of involvement they simply didn’t have anymore.

“Then let’s make that happen,” he said lightly, taking her hand in his and opening the front door.

  AUTHOR BIO

#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives―family, friendship, romance. She's known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages. Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.

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Q and A with Susan Mallery on The Vineyard at Painted Moon

 1.      Where did inspiration for the book come from?

 The Vineyard at Painted Moon was really inspired by the gorgeous wine country of Washington State. My readers have told me that they love when my books have wish-you-were-there settings, like the tulip farms in Secrets of the Tulip Sisters and the monastery-turned-mansion of The Summer of Sunshine and Margot. So I knew I wanted to set my next hardcover somewhere that would give readers a beautiful, scenic escape—and this was well before I knew the book would come out during a pandemic, when we’re all trapped at home a lot more than usual.

 So I started daydreaming about beautiful settings, and I landed on Washington wine country. Breathtaking. Seriously, look it up.

 Every evening before dinner, Mr. Mallery and I have a glass of wine together and tell one another about our day. This daily ritual makes us feel close and connected even when life gets hectic, and it has led us to learn more about how wine is made. I thought it could be really interesting to write about a female winemaker, because this is still very much a male-dominated field. I asked myself, “What is the worst thing that could happen to a winemaker?”

 “What if,” I thought, “she lost the land she loved?”

 And not because of fire or natural disaster, but because of an emotional earthquake—Mackenzie Dienes is the winemaker at a family winery. But it’s her husband’s family. . . and their marriage is in trouble. She could stay if she’s willing to be nothing more than an employee for the rest of her life. But if she wants something more, something of her own, she’ll have to be brave.

 The Vineyard at Painted Moon is the story of Mackenzie’s search for happiness and self-fulfillment after divorce. With some pretty spectacular scenery thrown in. Oh, and wine. Lots and lots of wine.

 2.      What are your favourite scenes? Why?

 This is a tricky question for me to answer without spoilers, because my favorite scenes are the emotional turning points of the story. I don’t really want to reveal them here, as I think readers will want to experience them on their own. I will answer, but it’s going to be vague and somewhat frustrating. Teasers, rather than spoilers.

 I love the scene where Mackenzie and Rhys realize that their marriage is over. (That doesn’t count as a spoiler, since it’s revealed on the back cover of the book.) The way they come to the realization and move through the scene is completely unexpected and unlike any breakup scene I’ve ever written—or read, for that matter. It’s heartbreaking and poignant and beautiful and even a little funny. If you have a heart, it’ll make you cry. I think readers are going to fall in love with Rhys even as Mackenzie is accepting that she’s not in love with him anymore.

 One of my other favorite scenes is one that I’m not sure will stand out as much in readers’ minds. It’s a scene in which Mackenzie finds out just how highly she is esteemed by her colleagues in the wine world. She never knew. She never thought of working anywhere but the family winery—she was just so grateful to have a family through her husband, since she had none of her own. In this scene, nothing really changes but her perception—of herself, and of how people perceive her—but perception is reality. Suddenly, Mackenzie realizes that she has options. She can dare to dream.

 And that changes everything.

 3.      What was the hardest scene to write and why?

 At the risk of repeating myself, that scene in which Mackenzie and Rhys finally acknowledge that their marriage is over was certainly one of the hardest to write. The emotional intricacies of the situation were incredibly nuanced. I had to get it exactly right. Rhys is not a point-of-view character, so the whole scene is told from Mackenzie’s perspective, but I wanted the reader to understand and empathize with Rhys, as well. It’s a deeply emotional scene, and I’m very curious to see how readers will respond to it.

 4.      Do you have advice for me wanting to write in the same genre?

 Never give up. There are a lot of very talented writers who will never be published simply because they gave up trying. You never know if the next book will be the one. You have to want it enough to keep going.

 5.      Where did the idea for the title come from? It’s so original.

 Thank you! I almost never come up with the titles for my own books. My file names are just the first name of the main character, so the working title on this book was Mackenzie. When it’s time to title the book, the whole team makes suggestions—my editor, agent, assistant, the marketing department. It’s trickier now than it’s ever been because I’ve written a lot of books, and we don’t want the titles to be too similar. And yet they have to appeal to the same audience.

 All that said, I was the one to suggest The Vineyard at Painted Moon. I thought it would be appropriate to feature the beautiful setting in the title, since it plays such an important role in the book. I’m glad you like it!

 6.      Who is your favorite character and why?

 I love Stephanie and Four, Rhys’s sisters and Mackenzie’s best friends. They’re the kind of friend that every woman should have—and that every woman should be. Close female friendships are a hallmark of my books. In The Vineyard at Painted Moon, the friendships were especially complex because they were also sisters-in-law. . . soon to be exes. But at the end of the day, this truly is Mackenzie's story, so she would be the favorite.

 7.      What is your favorite book genre to read?

 For the most part, I read what I write—women’s fiction and romance. I’m not into thrillers or anything that involves violence and murder. I’m much more interested in emotional drama, in the inherent conflict between people who want different things.