#beatred

[ferdihound]

fuck you /j

*unhinges your cider*

and im REALLY proud of this doodle :3

[klugpuuo]

poker night at the woker nbight so awesome i lost all my money .

[ocdisgusting]

rage today for no weason

[scooburst]

Winner is skeplie again.

Please.

Someone.

Beatr skelpie.

@skelpiescool

[class-of-classic-blog]

MY HEADCANON FOR PARENTS NAMES:

Snow White: Bianca White ( Bianca means "white" and Whites are probably one of the most obsessed families with their story, every single Snow White had a name with meaning relative to the fairy tails,)

Evil Queen: Eris Queen (I can't remember did I read a fic where she was called Eris but I think that the name of the goddess of discord really suits her)

Sleeping Beauty: Rosalin Beauty (pretty standard name)

Cinderella: Ophelia Ella ( a sweet name for a sweet girl)

Red Riding Hood: Scarlett Hood (one more standard name)

Big Bad Wolf: Aiden Wolf (close friends call him Andy :) )

Dark Fairy: Darcy Thorn ( oh the irony of being the dark fairy with dark name and yet cover yourself in light)

Candy Witch: Cinnamon Witch (I also didn't come up with this name myself. I saw someone use it for her a really long time ago but I can't remember who. If the person who came up with this name sees this, you deserve a reward, the name is perfect. But I hc that she goes by her nickname: Candy. Why? Because it's such a cute nickname)

Pinocchio: Oak Wood (I think that every family name has something to do with trees or wood. Oak sounds like a perfect name for someone sweet, young and cheerful and later as an adult calm and wise)

Goldilocks: Dolly Locks ( I just think that its a cute name and she kinda remind me of Dolly)

Huntsman: Archer Huntsman (Okay, so, Huntsmans are bad at naming their kids, like REALLY BAD. Hunter we are counting on you to break that cycle)

King Charming: Dashing Charming (I read one fanfic were he is named Dashing and i think that name suits him, i myself couldn't come up with the more fitting name)

Queen Charming: Grace Charming (I also read that one in a fanfic and i think it fits her, somehow whenever i think of Charmings Dashing and Grace are the first name that come to my mind)

Rapunzel: Cressida O'Hair (I first just like the name but then i found out the Cressida means "golden" so it goes well with Rapunzel story)

Pied Piper: Devin Piper ( It means "bard" or "poet", the perfect name for a musician. Also, Piper is really a cool name, too bad it is already his last name)

Mad Hatter: Maddox Hatter (I just like silly names for Wonderlandians, especially Mad Hatter)

Queen of Hearts: Victoria Hearts ( okeey, it's not a very Wonderlandian name but neither is Elizabeth and Vicy is a cute nikename)

Cheshire Cat: Lorelai Cheshire (I didn't want to go for the obvious one Chatrine, like, I get it, she's a cat, She literally named her daughter Kitty, or maybe Katrine Kitty for short, BUT THEN I REMEMBER THAT TOLERAI EXISTED which is literally the same name just different first latter and I already gotten attached to Lorelai, so, umm if you all could just do me the favour and pretend that these are TOTALLY different names I would be very thankful)

Alice Wonderland: Amilia Wonderland ( Also would her last name be Wonderland or Liddell? Bonus cute nickname Amy)

White Rabbit: Castor Blanc ( At first i just liked the name but don't you think that "dutiful" is a perfect for White Rabbit)

White Swan: Elenor Swan ( It means "shining light" and to be honest with that destiny she's going to need some light in her life)

Black Swan: Callisto VonBart (What would be the last name of The Black Swan? VonBart?BlackSwan? I put VonBart because I found an OC of Odille on Pinterest and her last name was VonBart. I don't know)

Frog Prince: Hanry Croakington ( i reafuse to belive that he named his son after himself. Nuh-uh. He named Hopper after his father or maybe his grandfather)

Robin Hood: Wren Hood ( Listen, Listen, maybe they just have a thing with the birds?)

Maid Marian: Pandora Charming ( I don't think that there is a destiny stricly for Maid Marian. I think thats just a princess from Charming family or from nobel family, that's why i gave her last name Chaming. Last name changed after the wedding)

Beauty: Primrose Beauty ( Ah, Beauties and their roses)

Beast: Damian Beast (like it)

Fairy Godmother: Beatrice Goodfairy ("blessed one" mmm... too bad you can't bless yourself)

Jack Beanstalk: Jasper Beanstalk (nice)

Snow Queen: Isolde Winter (perfect for ice queen)

Snow King: Nikolai Winter (took his wife's last name, couldn't think of his own that's not arleady taken)

BONUS: PRINCES CHARMING

The Good King: David Charming (i think that only the main Charming follow that logic with names where all siblings have names with the same first latter)

Cinderella's prince Charming: Louis Charming (he's a nice boy)

Snow White's prince Charming: Cassian Charming (I just like it)

Sleeping Beauty's prince Charing: Liam Charming (don't ask)

[fuctacles]

The day Eddie quit his job

Me: it would be fun to mix this months microfic prompt with last years Me: hey I don't have anything for rarepair *proceeds to write CheerScoops for STEDDIEmicrofic prompts*

ANYWAY

for @stevieweek Day 7: Rare Pair + sapphic (+ one + pool) | M | 1111 | Stevie/Chrissy &Eddie, mentioned Chrissy/Eddie | open relationship, streamer!Stevie, FanslyModel!Chrissy, friends with benefits (?) lots of wiggle room for interpretation, CHAT FIC

Short stream, big announcement!

elderning: is it time????

beatred: Cheer100 this better be about the pool stream

"Chat, chat, calm down, it is about the pool stream." Stevie is rolling her eyes as soon as she appears on the screen. "I had a nice speech prepared and you're ruining it." She frowns, pouting her full lips. "Can you stop yapping for five seconds and let me speak?"

bimbothelotrguy: No yapping

ballstothewall007: Proceed queen

bimbothelotrguy: :x

"So, we recently hit one million subscribers on YouTube, which, thank you so fucking much, holy shit!" She grins. "And, true to my word, I'll be doing a pool stream as promised. Don't know when yet, but stay tuned, I'll give you a heads-up. And thank you again, though I know you had ulterior motives." She smirks at the camera.

mojito_chan: ulterior motives?? us??

mojito_chan: must have mistaken us with a different chat

bimbothelotrguy: BADONKERS

powerdrill1000: message deleted by a moderator

"Yeah, exactly," she snorts. "Okay, I don't have much time today, but there's this one game I want to check out and we can talk out the details while we're at it."

MasterOfChatters: I have a bad feeling about this

Stevie looks at her chat, and smiles.

"Are you high again, Master?"

MasterOfChatters: would you fire me if I was?

"No!" she laughs.

MasterOfChatters: then yes

She leans close to the mic.

"There's someone in your house, Eddie."

MasterOfChatters: FUCK OFF

big stream big surprise!

beatred: oh

bilbothebimbo: oh no

mojito_chan: I mean...

Stevie's not there yet, but they can see the set-up for today's stream. The pool behind SailorSteph's house is right there. Still behind her house. Still behind the glass door. Behind a huge inflatable pool full of colorful plastic balls.

ballstothewall007: is there at least some water in there?

footjoblover: -slow clap- well played

MasterOfChatters: STEPH YOU MINX

MasterOfChatters: KNEW YOU WERE COOKING SOMETHING

MasterOfChatters: @footjoblover nice nick

SailorSteph: @MasterOfChatters oh I'm not done cooking

footjoblover: @MasterOfChatters thank you good sir

The chat starts flooding after her brief appearance, and her moderator has to put it in slow mode.

"Chat, I'm coming! Calm down!" the microphone picks her up from somewhere in the house, and soon she appears in the camera's view. Her outfit is skimpier than usual, with a tiny crop top and bootcut shorts. She's holding a colourful drink and she steps into the ball pit to settle down.

footjoblover: F E E T

MasterOfChatters: @footjoblover I'll let it slide this once

She sips on her drink while adjusting the stream settings.

"I know some of you might be disappointed..." She skims over the chat briefly. "Yeah, I'm not sorry about that. If you didn't see it coming it means you're new here. Anyway, since you're not getting your softcore fix, I have another surprise for you big babies. We're having a guest today."

ggiirrllss: is it ChiChi???

prawncocktail: please be cheerscoops

bimbothelotrguy: oooo a collab?

elderning: if it's a secret boyfriend announcement imma kms

thepizzaguy: is your hot mod visiting? owo

MasterOfChatters: @thepizzaguy nope, still in my basement. thank you though

bimbothelotrguy: @thepizzaguy boooo sucking up to the mod

MasterOfChatters: @bimbothelotrguy you're just angry you weren't first

bimbothelotrguy: @MasterOfChatters u got me there hot mod daddy

"I'd be angry that I'm playing into your guy's sick fantasies, and I've seen your fanfiction, okay?" She looks straight into the camera, leaning in, eyes squinting. "So don't even try denying. I know what you're thinking about. Anyway, I would be angry if she wasn't such a genuinely lovely person. And she agreed to play with me today."

prawncocktail: SHE

bimbothelotrguy: chichi???

prawncocktail: please be chichi please be chichi please

"Come on babe, don't be shy." Stevie smiles at someone off-camera, and then stands up to help them step into the pool.

"You know, chat..." The mic picks up a new voice. "I've actually been lied to as well, and I flew in here with a bag full of swimsuits." The girl pouts and when she sits down you can indeed see she's wearing a bikini with a kimono-cut short robe thrown over it.

"I didn't lie, you all just assumed pool means water." Stevie rolls her eyes. "Besides, we can still go take a dip later." She sends a suggestive smile to the girl on her left, who takes a sip of her drink and wiggles her eyebrows with a smile.

"I think we broke your chat," she points out. Stevie turns to one of her monitors to see what's happening.

Among the slew of emotes, only her mod's messages can be seen.

MasterOfChatters: CHRIS WHAT THE FUCK

MasterOfChatters: YOU SAID YOU'RE VISITING YOUR MOM

Chrissy, aka CheerCheer or ChiChi, as she's known online, stirs her drink slowly.

"No, I said I'm visiting Mommy." She grins, throwing her long, bare legs over Stevie's lap. Stevie smiles brightly and her mod, who's also Chrissy's boyfriend, knows it's directed at him.

MasterOfChatters: I'm

MasterOfChatters: appaled. speechless. mad.

MasterOfChatters: and so glad I put these fuckers in emote-only

MasterOfChatters: iF ANY OF YOU EVEN SUGGESTS A THREESOME I'M TIMING YOU OUT FOR 24H

emote-only mode is off

footjoblover: message deleted by a moderator

MasterOfChatters: OR A FOURSOME OR IS JUST NASTY IN GENERAL

milkpudding: message deleted by a moderator

milkpudding: I need fanart refs

MasterOfChatters: @milkpudding THIN ICE

Chrissy, unfazed, turns to Stevie.

"One hundred?"

"I'd do it for free." Stevie gives her the most charming smile while idly stroking up her shin. It finally makes Chrissy blush.

MasterOfChatters: GODDAMNIT CHRIS

MasterOfChatters: ENABLERS

MasterOfChatters: @SailorSteph UNMOD ME PLEASE I CAN'T HANDLE THE CHAOS

milkpudding sent $100

"Well," Stevie shrugs, already leaning in. "A hundred dollars is a hundred dollars, right?"

"Right," Chrissy says softly, parting her lips for the other girl to slot into.

The kiss is sweet and chaste, Stevie's hand squeezing briefly her knee before caressing her cheek and letting go. She smiles at her, pecks her nose, and turns back to the camera.

"Hope you got your money's worth, milkpudding. Thank you for the one hundred." She smiles sweetly.

milkpudding: yes thank you!!!

milkpudding: see you in #fanart on discord later! teheheh

prawncocktail shared a clip: CHEERSCOOPS IS REAL

"Should we tell them now?" They share a thoughtful look. Chrissy shrugs.

"Better get this out now before Eds gets a heart attack."

MasterOfChatters: ?????????

"We made something for Chrissy's socials too," Stevie starts, playing with the hem of her friend's robe. "We can't link it here, but keep an eye out in Discord and her Fansly." She smiles at her with mischief before looking back to the chat to see the chaos they've surely created.

emote-only mode is on

MasterOfChatters: GODDAMNIT GIRLS 

[userboy-theuserman]

Beatr-ice cube! and her ugly face...

[acrossthewavesoftime]

top five things YOU have written 🫵🫵 that you're ok with sharing ofc :3

That's a very difficult and interesting question, thank you! :) I don't really know if I can pick five and rate them in a set hierarchy. I like many things I write, shorter and longer, finished and unfinished, so here are 5 that come to mind:

I don't write for it very often, but what I write, I enjoy writing a lot. The early 19th century AU which I came up with for @nordleuchten in which a few generations ago the Stuarts managed to produce some sort of heir, making the Hannovarians bog standard German provincial rulers instead of British monarchs. The man you know as George III and his heir, Prinz Georg stand to inherit the throne as it is expected that the Stuart line will come to an end in their lifetime. Georg is pretty much good old Prinny, who however decides to take drastic measures when he finds that being patronised by his dad as a grown man has become insufferable. He decides to take an alias and join the British navy, because what else cries freedom so much as watching romantic sunsets at sea? In the act of leaving clandestinely, he is caught by one Karoline von Braunschweig, a beloathed cousin acting as his mother's lady-in-waiting. Georg takes to life at sea like a duck to water despite the fact that it turns out to be nothing like what he imagined, and becomes a celebrated hero of the Napoleonic Wars. Hijinks ensue when his cover is blown, his brother Ernst tries to take over the succession, and he realises he doesn't actually loathe Karoline, quite on the contrary, really. Karoline meanwhile has to explain a big belly away, and George sails for a place called Trafalgar... It's all delightfully off and the real George and Caroline would probably disapprove, but sometimes, certain AUs are not meant to be very accurate, just a little silly.

Less silly and as far as my research goes, as close to history as possible, my story on Henry Clinton and Mary Baddeley. I have written so much about the two already, it's almost a novel. I am fascinated by the mutual respect, suppressed affection and surprisingly good documentation there is. Theoretically, their relationship is a communist party meeting worth of red flags; a power dynamic between employer and employee, a substantial age gap, Mary being very much reliant on Clinton's protection from beng sexually harrassed by an officer in her husband's regiment and him falling in love with her while she was pregnant with her husband's child are just the most obvious ones. Regardless of all these things, both, given time, found love. Let's hope I will finish it one day so we can have the big budget adaptation i'm dreaming of ever since learning about the two...

I have a similar thing going for the Graveses, which is a little more light-hearted in that both Mrs and Mr Admiral were two very outspoken people, with Margaret in particular passing judgements on people in her letters worthy of Jane Austen novels. There is some tragedy in that they met at a point in their lives where they both seem to have still been processing the death of a beloved loved one, and both helped raise a child that was not their own. Given their eventful lives, bubbly family and their very loud personalities, however, I think this one writes itself a little easier.

A Stuart AU in which Maria Beatrice d'Este, now Queen of England, has had enough. Identifying, in her mind, her husband's unchanging licentious ways as the reason why God takes all her children from her young, she decides to commit regicide when she realises she is pregnant once more, in order to protect this child at least; because if James is dead, he can no longer commits acts displeasing God, right? The flaws in her logic aside, she makes this last desperate attempt to suffocate James, the husband who has abused her for so long, both physically and mentally, in his sleep with a cushion, but fails as he wakes up. Fleeing England in the middle of the night, Maria Beatrice manages to find a passage to the continent and makes it to The Hague, where the Prince and Princess of Orange now have a political scandal on their hands. What ensues is an intense triangular situation in which everyone is faced with ghosts of the past; Maria Beatrice, who never wanted to get married and have children, is faced by the involuntarily childless Mary who would do everything to be a mother; William by his own conduct towards Mary when they were newly-wed, which he finds himself reminded of by some things Maria Beatrice recounts of her marriage, fearing he may have mistreated Mary, and all three of them by the question of who will one day be James' heir, Mary, or the baby, if it turns out to be a boy, Maria Beatrice is about to have? Includes such memorable scenes as the one in which William feeds a toddler potential pretender a waffle while engineering his ascension to the throne during a council meeting (hey, the waffle-thing at least is based on an event and person during his own childhood, so).

I'm currently writing a little something quite light-hearted featuring Louise de Kérouaille and exploring her perspective on her relationship with Charles II, which I find quite delightful.

If any of you want to know something else about the stories (since I don't post them to AO3), feel free to ask. :)

[bratshaws]

through the hourglass 358.brb x oc

a/n: AUGH, he's so beautiful (comments and reblogs are super welcome and encouraged!)

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: none uwu

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

1/

/316/317/318/319/320/321/322/323/324/325/326/327/328/329/330/331/332/333/334/335/336/337/338/339/340/341/342/343/344/345/346/347/348/349/350/351/352/353/354/355/356/357

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @novastories @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix @lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @louisahale @leobabbyyy @booklover2sblog @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes @taytaylala12

@caitsymichelle13 @becks-things @caatheeriinee07 @fanboyswhore9 @jesfreedark @katiemcrae @lilmonstrjedi @hobiismyhopeu @teacupsandtopgun @insominac23 @gh0stsgoodgirl @mygyn @chavivaelisheva @kmc1989 @enchantingharmonyalpaca @callsign-magnolia @mrsbradshaw01

-

The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft golden glow over the city as Beatrice and Rooster made their way to the gym. The streets were quiet, the hustle and bustle of the city still hours away from reaching its peak.

As they drove, Beatrice couldn't help but feel a sense of excited anxiousness building within her. She adjusted her seat belt as she looks ahead"So, what's the plan for today?" Beatrice asked, running her hands through her ponytail.

Rooster glanced over at her with a grin, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Well, I thought we could start with some cardio to warm up," he replied, his tone enthusiastic,gesturing with his free hand towards nothing. "Then we'll move on to some strength training, maybe work on some core exercises."

Shenodded, taking in Rooster's words with her eyes out to the morning sky "Sounds good to me," she said with a smile. "I might be a little rusty though, I can’t remember the last time I did anything besides yoga.”

Rooster chuckled, his gaze flicking to Beatrice with an affectionate glint. "Don't worry, gorgeous," he reassured her, his voice filled with confidence. "I'll be right there with you every step of the way. We'll take it slow and steady, no pressure."

“Thank you, Roos.” it’ll take some time for them to get there, “...you look really happy.”

Rooster's grin widened at Beatrice's observation, his eyes alight with joy. "I am happy," he admitted, his voice soft with emotion. "I love spending time with you, Bea. Especially when we're doing something we both enjoy. And I miss you a lot when you are not close."

“Even if we are just a few minutes away?”

“Yes,ma’am.”

Beatrice felt her heart swell with warmth at Rooster's words, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Me too, Roos," she murmured, her voice filled with affection as she rubs his cheek. "You are just my favorite person.”

His smile widens, “And you are mine.” he takes hold of her hand to kiss the inside of her wrist, interlacing their fingers, “Weird it’s so full of traffic today, it’s still so early.”

As Rooster remarked on the unusual traffic, Beatrice glanced out the window, furrowing her brow in confusion. Indeed, the streets seemed busier than usual for this time of day, with cars crawling along at a snail's pace.

"Hmm, that is strange," Beatrice commented, her gaze scanning the congested streets. "Maybe there's some construction or an accident up ahead."

Rooster nodded in agreement, his expression neutral as he navigated through the slow-moving traffic. "Could be," he agreed, his eyes scanning the road ahead for any signs of trouble. "Let's hope it clears up soon."

She leaned her head out a bit, pursing her lips, “Looks like a car broke ahead.”

As they inched closer to the source of the traffic jam, Beatrice's suspicions were confirmed. A car was indeed stalled in the middle of the road, causing a bottleneck of frustrated drivers honking their horns and trying to maneuver around the obstruction.

Rooster let out a frustrated sigh, his hands tightening on the steering wheel as he surveyed the scene ahead. "Great," he muttered under his breath, his tone tinged with annoyance. "Just what we need."

Beatrice reached out, placing a calming hand on Rooster's arm. "It's okay, Roos," she said soothingly, her voice gentle. "We'll just have to be patient and wait it out."

Rooster nodded in agreement, his expression tense as he scanned the surrounding area for any alternative routes. "Yeah, you're right," he replied, his voice resigned. "Let's just hope it doesn't take too long to clear."

She leans back on the seat and looks over at him, “Baby,” she gently rubs her thumb between his brows, where the flesh creased because of his frown, “Relax.”

Rooster sighed, allowing Beatrice's touch to soothe his frayed nerves. He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to center himself. "You're right, Bea," he admitted, his voice softer now. "I'm sorry for getting worked up. It's just frustrating, you know?"

Beatrice nodded, her fingers still gently rubbing his brow. "I know, Roos," she said sympathetically, her tone gentle. "But getting stressed out won't make the traffic move any faster,honey. Let's just try to relax and make the best of the situation."

Rooster opened his eyes, meeting Beatrice's gaze with a grateful smile. "You're always right," he remarked, his voice filled with affection. "Thanks for keeping me grounded, gorgeous."

Beatrice returned his smile, her heart swelling with love for her husband. "Anytime, Roos," she replied warmly, her eyes shining with adoration. "We're in this together, remember?"

Rooster's smile widened at Beatrice's words, his love for her evident in every glance and touch. "Always," he murmured, leaning in to press a tender kiss to her lips.

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, the traffic began to inch forward as the stalled car was finally towed away. Rooster navigated through the congestion with ease, his frustration melting away as they neared their destination. “Thank fuck.”

“We did it!”

“We did.” he looks behind them to check if it was truly clear, then sighs, “I mean, Jesus…I’ll be honest I was just mad because I didn’t want to wait too long,”

“Mhm.”

“‘Cause seeing you in leggings is just,” he smirks, “A delight.”

Beatrice couldn't help but laugh at Rooster's comment, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Oh, stop it," she chided with a playful swat to his arm. "You're just lucky I wore leggings today."

Rooster chuckled, his eyes twinkling as he glanced over at Beatrice. "I am lucky," he agreed, his tone lighthearted. "But seriously, thanks for keeping me sane back there, Bea. You always know how to make the best of a bad situation…were you planning on wearing shorts?"

Beatrice grinned,shrugging innocently "Maybe I was," she replied coyly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But you'll never know for sure."

"You're a tease, you know that?" 

“I did learn it from you.”

Eventually, they arrived at their destination, and Rooster parked the car in the parking lot. Beatrice glanced out the window, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in their surroundings.

"We're here?" she exclaimed, “Woah.”

Rooster nodded, a proud smile gracing his lips. "We sure are," he confirmed, his tone filled with anticipation. "Welcome to the gym, gorgeous. Pretty big,huh?"

Beatrice gazed out at the imposing building before them, marveling at its size and grandeur. The gym stood tall and impressive, its exterior adorned with sleek glass windows and a modern facade. "It's huge," Beatrice remarked, her voice filled with awe. "I had no idea it would be this big."

Rooster nodded, his chest puffing out with pride. "Yeah, it's the one everyone at the base uses when we are free" he said, his voice tinged with excitement. "They've got state-of-the-art equipment, top-notch trainers, and a variety of fitness classes. I think you're gonna love it."

Beatrice smiled, feeling a surge of anticipation coursing through her veins. "I'm excited to check it out," she admitted, her eyes shining with excitement. "Thanks for bringing me along, Roos."

Rooster reached over, taking Beatrice's hand in his as he gave it a gentle squeeze. "Anytime, gorgeous," he said sincerely, his eyes filled with warmth. "I love sharing things with you.”

Beatrice's heart swelled with love for her husband,she leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to his cheek. "I love you, Roos," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

Rooster smiled, his gaze softening as he met Beatrice's eyes. "I love you too, Bea," he murmured, his tone filled with sincerity. "Now, shall we head inside and check out the gym?"

Beatrice nodded eagerly, her excitement growing with each passing moment. "Let's do it," 

Together, hand in hand, Beatrice and Rooster made their way into the gym. As they stepped through the doors, they were greeted by the hustle and bustle of activity, the sound of weights clanging and music pulsing through the air.

Beatrice took in her surroundings with wide eyes, her senses overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the gym. Everywhere she looked, people were hard at work, sweating and exerting themselves as they pushed their bodies to the limit.

Rooster led Beatrice through the gym, showing her the various sections and amenities. He pointed out the cardio area, the weightlifting section, and the group fitness studios, all while explaining the different equipment and exercises available.

After their tour, Rooster suggested they start with a warm-up on the treadmills. Beatrice agreed, and they made their way to the cardio area, where rows of treadmills awaited them.

Beatrice climbed onto the treadmill next to Rooster's, setting the speed and incline to a comfortable level. She glanced over at Rooster, . "Race you to the finish line?" she teased.

Rooster grinned, his competitive spirit igniting at Beatrice's challenge. "You're on," he replied with a wink, “What does the winner gets?”

"Hmm, how about bragging rights for the rest of the day?" 

“Hmmm…I think I need something else gorgeous.”

Beatrice chuckled, a playful glint in her eyes. "Alright, how about the winner gets to choose what we have for dinner tonight?"

Rooster clicked his tongue against his teeth "Tempting,truly,but something else is in my mind…something…less decent.”

Beatrice raised an eyebrow at Rooster's suggestive tone, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "Oh really? And what might that be?" she teased, her voice laced with amusement.

Rooster leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "How about the winner gets to decide what we do for dessert?" he suggested, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

A slow grin spread across Beatrice's face as she caught onto Rooster's innuendo. Because of course "Now that sounds like a tempting offer," she replied coyly, her tone tinged with excitement. "You're on, LC."

With a shared grin, they both increased the speed on their treadmills, the sound of their footsteps echoed rhythmically against the hum of the machines as they pushed themselves to go faster, each vying for the coveted title of winner.

She was actually so happy she could keep up with Rooster.

Well…considering their stamina, shouldn’t be surprising.

“How’s it going over there,Roos??”

Rooster glanced over at Beatrice with a playful smirk, "Oh, you know, just breezing through," he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But don't get too comfortable, gorgeous. I'm just getting started."

Beatrice chuckled at Rooster's competitive banter, her heart swelling with affection for her husband. She increased the speed on her treadmill, matching Rooster's pace with ease

With each stride, Beatrice felt a sense of exhilaration coursing through her veins. She focused all her attention on the rhythmic motion of her feet against the treadmill, blocking out everything else as she raced towards the imaginary finish line.

Rooster matched her stride for stride, his determination evident in the set of his jaw and the intensity in his eyes. They were neck and neck, neither willing to back down until one of them emerged victorious.

As they approached the end of their impromptu race, Beatrice felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She dug deep, summoning every last ounce of strength and determination as she pushed herself to go faster.

With a final burst of speed, Beatrice crossed the fictional finish line first, a triumphant smile spreading across her face as she slowed her pace and came to a stop,turning the treadmill off. She turned to Rooster with a grin, her chest heaving with exertion.

"Looks like I win," she declared, her voice filled with pride,sentence breaking as she breathed in and out

Rooster chuckled, his eyes shining with admiration. "Congratulations, gorgeous," he replied, his tone filled with genuine warmth. "You earned it."

Beatrice grinned,as she stepped off the treadmill and joined Rooster, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. “Ugh,sorry,I’m all sweaty.” They stood there for a moment, catching their breath and basking in the exhilaration of their victory.

“I Like you sweaty.” he chuckles, kissing the top of her head, “You need some water?”

Beatrice laughed, feeling a rush of affection for her husband. "I like you sweaty too," she teased, pressing a playful kiss to his cheek. "And yes, water sounds perfect right now."

Rooster grinned, his eyes sparkling as he led Beatrice towards the water fountain,gently tapping her backside when no one was looking. They refilled their water bottles, and he leaned against the wall as he stared at her.

She blinks, “What?”

And his head tilts, lips curling in a lovey dovey grin, “You are so beautiful.”

Beatrice felt her cheeks flush at Rooster's words, a warmth spreading through her chest at the genuine admiration in his eyes. She leaned in closer to him, "You're not so bad yourself, LC," she replied in a whisper, her voice filled with affection.

Rooster chuckled, the sound like music to Beatrice's ears. "Flattery will get you everywhere, gorgeous," he teased, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. 

Beatrice’s eyes then flick past his shoulder and she tenses up. So much so that Rooster has to lean back in surprise, “What?”

“...those were…the women talking about you at the grocery store…don’t look.”

Rooster's brows furrowed in confusion as he followed Beatrice's gaze,completely ignoring her request to not look, his eyes landing on two women chatting animatedly by the entrance of the gym. 

His grip tightened on Beatrice's hand, his jaw clenched with frustration. "I see." he muttered under his breath, his tone tinged with annoyance. Then he blinked, “They are going to the cardio area too.”

“Yeah…”

“Let’s go.” 

“Huh?” he’s just taking her by the hand, “Roos!”

“Relax,gorgeous.It’s all under control.”

[occhietti]

Si andava al mare e si restava

tre settimane, forse un mese.

Si passava la giornata a desiderare di fare il bagno, a supplicare gli adulti, a negare di aver mangiato; ci si buttava in mezzo alle onde monitorati dallo sguardo di sbieco di qualche genitore sulla riva; si calciava la marea con gli stinchi, fino a fare male. E quando si beveva l’acqua salata, per il dispetto di qualche altro bambino, il desiderio di vendetta durava non più di qualche secondo e comunque da lì alla seconda onda spumosa. I piedi bruciavano dal lettino alla riva e si correva verso la battigia con le urla e i richiami che si sperdevano alle spalle e si dissolvevano fra gli stabilimenti.

Il lettino era una conquista da adulti, i bambini potevano solo sedersi a terra, sopra a un telo che si riempiva di sabbia. Lo scrollavano le madri lamentose, con i granelli che volavano via con il vento e che andavano guidati, lontano dagli occhi, dalle borse appese agli ombrelloni, dagli altri. I ghiaccioli si scioglievano a toccarli con le labbra e sgocciolavano sulle dita dei piedi, diventando colla colorata da lavare a riva. Si scavavano buche per trovare l’acqua e a volte si trovavano conchiglie dure, da farsi male, spezzarsi le unghie. Non si smetteva di cercare, si continuava con l’altra mano.

Le regole erano chiare e sicure: tre ore lontano dai pasti ogni bagno, al primo richiamo risalire, al calcio balilla non frullare, non allontanarsi mai. Solo l'ultima non rispettavo e mi chiamavano al microfono con il mio nome o, se proprio non tornavo, con il colore del mio costume. Era bello parlare con gli adulti sdraiati che facevano finta di comprare le conchiglie che si andava a vendere, tutte, anche quelle più brutte o spaccate. Accadeva il miracolo semplice dello scambio, il segreto incontrovertibile nell’atto: io che davo e qualcuno che prendeva e ridava indietro, senza condizione. Io ho qualcosa da darti e tu lo prendi. Ho un’acqua e tu una sete.

Il tempo non c’era, non esistevano i giorni che consumano, esisteva la luce per andare in spiaggia, la penombra per rientrare e il buio per girare sui marciapiedi gremiti, con l’odore delle creme degli altri e i salvagenti appesi nei negozi illuminati al neon.

A un certo punto, si preparavano le valigie si lavavano bene le posate della casa e si andava via, dopo avere riconsegnato le chiavi a un’agenzia con la vetrina spoglia. Il viaggio del rientro era lungo, fatto di nausea, di aria che usciva tiepida dai bocchettoni della macchina stipata. Il cane boccheggiava con la lingua fuori a tratti e mia nonna teneva stretta la maniglia alla sua destra, in alto, come se dovesse cadere da un momento all’altro.

Era il segno che l’estate stava finendo, i compiti delle vacanze erano stati fatti per metà, ci sarebbero stati altri pomeriggi, nella penombra del soggiorno, a casa dei nonni materni, con mia nonna a riposare nella stanza accanto o a farsi fare la tinta dall’amica Vera, con l’odore forte di ammoniaca in cucina.

La vita era davanti e si poteva aspettare, senza morirsi addosso, trattenere il respiro fino al primo temporale a segnare una nuova stagione, la seconda delle uniche due. Si poteva aspettare l’inverno come non fosse una fine, un ridursi, un passare.

Era il tempo fisso dell’infanzia, con i volti eterni, per sempre fermi sulla battigia a tenere il telo ad asciugare. Si poteva credere ricominciasse tutto da capo, nel suo cerchio, in eterno identico. Attendere ritornasse il presente caldo, il presente vacanziero, ma attenderlo d'inverno... come fosse un futuro.

- Beatrice Zerbini

[call-me-maggie13]

Michael’s a good enough guy. He’s funny and he actually listens when Ava talks, he remembers things she’s forgotten telling him — which should be endearing but it’s sometimes a little terrifying like when she told him she liked daffodils, which aren’t even her favorite flower, but he’d shown up to her work with them the next week.

He’s asked her out a total of four times, the first three times she’d had valid reasons to reject him — Bea had finals, Diana was sick, the entire Hans thing. This time, she can’t think of a reason why she can’t.

Other than she just doesn't want to.

So she accepts and talks to Beatrice about watching Diana for a few hours on Friday night so she can go out. She doesn’t tell her that she’s going on a date, she’s not sure why the thought of telling Beatrice she’s going on a date makes her head swim and her palms sweat.

Michael meets her on the corner of her street with flowers — white begonias this time. He’s already off to a horrid start.

White begonias? For chastity? Is he serious? She thinks before forcing a smile and thanking him.

They spend the first half hour trying to decide on a place to eat. Ava is growing more hungry and annoyed with each passing second. He’d told her he’d planned the entire evening, yet he didn’t think to plan their meal. Ava finally tells him they’re going to the diner down the street, a little place Ava and Diana have started frequenting on Sunday mornings with Beatrice.

It feels like a betrayal to bring anyone here, but she ensures they don’t take the corner booth. It’s a sacred space, she’s not going to taint it with Michael.

He doesn’t stop talking.

From the moment they sit down, to when the waitress takes their orders, to when the food comes out, all the way until he pays the bill. He just doesn’t stop talking.

It’s not that he doesn’t offer her a chance to talk, he asks plenty of questions about her and her life, she finds she doesn’t want to have a conversation with him.

She checks her phone eleven times over the hour and a half she with him, waiting for something — anything — from Beatrice begging her to come home early. She receives nothing.

It’s not the worst date Ava’s ever been on, so she’s not sure why she feels like it is. There will always be the boy who threw up on her when he leaned in to kiss her when they were fifteen. But this feels worse than that. Her stomach twists and churns and her skin is hot as a wildfire.

He walks her to the door of her apartment building, tells her he had a wonderful time and he hopes to do it again soon. She doesn’t tell him she doesn’t feel the same. She waits until he’s made it to the corner before she throws the flowers away, she’s not taking back white begonias from a date.

Diana squeals as she swings the front door open, rapid fire giggles bouncing down the hall to greet her. Tiny feet patter down the hallway, bursting into the living room where she scrambles over the top of the couch to hide.

Beatrice grins at Ava in the entryway, holds a finger up to her lips and calls out for Diana. Muffled giggles bubble from behind the couch and Beatrice swipes the back of her hand over her forehead to wipe away the sweat collecting there.

"Come ‘er," Beatrice whispers, taking Ava’s hand and dragging her into the living room. She points to the side of the couch and moves to the opposite end. "Ready?" Ava nods and Beatrice pokes her head into Diana’s hiding spot. Diana squeals and crawls away, bursting out the other side in a fit of giggles.

"Gotcha!" Ava snatches Diana up, tickling her and blowing raspberries into her stomach. Diana shrieks and kicks, trying to wiggle out of Ava’s arms.

Beatrice laughs brightly and steals Diana away, bundles her into her arms and smiles at Ava.

"I’ll save you, Di."

Oh.

Ava’s stomach flutters and bright heat bubbles over in her chest, twinkling and electric. Beatrice bounces Diana and kisses her cheek, eyes shining when she turns to Ava.

Time freezes around them, golden and burning at the edges. Beatrice’s cheeks are flushed from chasing Diana around the apartment, her hair falling from the bun, sticking to her neck with sweat, and she’s panting softly. Diana’s grinning at her, equally as breathless and eyes sparkling just as bright.

They put Diana to bed an hour later, Beatrice acquiescing and reading her two extra bedtime stories despite Ava insisting Diana only needs one. She expects Beatrice to leave as soon as she’s down, but she lingers aimlessly, like she’s waiting for Ava to tell her to leave. But Ava doesn’t want her to leave.

"Do you want to sit?" Beatrice nods and tucks her feet underneath her on the couch next to Ava. They’re facing each other, Ava curled against the arm and Beatrice purposefully folded into a single cushion beside her. Ava rolls her eyes and tugs Beatrice’s elbow, unfurling her and pulling her into her side.

"Did you have fun tonight?" Beatrice drops her head on Ava’s shoulder, twisting a loose string on the couch around her finger.

"It wasn’t terrible. I just wanted to come home." She stretches her legs over Beatrice’s lap, twirling the curl that perpetually hangs in Beatrice’s face between her fingers. "Did you have fun tonight? Was Diana good?"

"Is Diana ever bad?" Beatrice chuckles, relinquishing the loose string in favor of tracing shapes on Ava’s legs. "But yes, I did have fun. Di wanted to reenact Moana and I was Hei Hei, then we built a fort that she promptly tore down, and we played hide and seek."

"You were Hei Hei? She didn’t even give you a speaking part?"

"I guess I’m not good enough for a speaking part yet. Maybe next time." Beatrice laughs and shrugs, lifting her head from Ava’s chest to look her in the eyes. "I’m sorry you didn’t have a good evening."

Ava hums and tucks Beatrice’s hair behind her ear.

"It’s not over yet."

~*~

When Michael asks her on another date two weeks later, Ava almost turns him down. She’s not sure why she agrees to give him another chance, but she hopes desperately that this evening won’t be as bad as the last.

"I don’t know, Hans. There was nothing objectively wrong with the date, maybe I was just having a bad day. Or maybe it’s because I haven’t gone on a date since… well, you know."

Hans takes the paint can from Ava and pushes it onto the top shelf, leaning down the ladder for the next she offers.

"I don’t think he suits you."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Ava doesn’t mean to knock the edge of the paint can against the side of the ladder. It’s not enough to knock Hans off, but enough to startle him into dropping the can of paint in his hands in favor of grabbing the shelves in front of him. Ava narrowly dodges the can before it hits her, but she’s not protected when it explodes upon impact and splatters all over her.

"It means you don’t like him and that's why your date was awful." He climbs down the ladder to help her clean the mess, wiping the paint from her face and hair gingerly.

"You don’t know that. He’s a well enough guy. He’s honest and hardworking and kind." Hans holds out an extra uniform shirt for her to change into, eyebrow raised and mustache crooked.

"If you were attracted to him, you wouldn't say he is well enough," he calls after her when she starts toward the bathroom. "You know I’m right, Ava."

"No you’re not. I just don’t know him enough yet," she grumbles under her breath, but she can’t help wondering if Hans is right.

~*~

"Thank you, again. I know you probably have better things to do than spend your Saturday night watching my kid." Ava doesn’t know why she says it, why she winces when Beatrice looks at her, face pinched and eyes wide.

"There’s nowhere I’d rather be, Ava. Lilith wanted me out of the apartment regardless, I’m nearly certain she finally asked Camila on a date." Beatrice takes the sticker Diana offers her and presses it into her shirt with a smile. "Where are you going?"

"Uh, just like, out. I’ll probably be back before she goes down." Beatrice nods and sticks a sticker to Diana’s forehead, earning a delightful giggle.

"Alright. There’s no rush, I’m fine with staying as long as you need me."

Ava almost doesn’t want to go. She lingers in the doorway long enough she’s sure Michael thinks she’s standing him up, stomach churning so much she considers calling the entire evening off. But Michael said he had something nice planned and he’d told her three times how excited he is for tonight, it wouldn’t be fair to do that to him.

"Hey," she greets when she joins him in front of her apartment building, awkwardly accepting when he hugs her.

"Good evening, are you ready?" Michael’s smile is bright and toothy and Ava wonders how many girls that smile has swooned.

It doesn’t to swoon her.

She nods and follows when he starts down the block. He chatters nervously, emphasizing his words with his hands and glancing at her intermittently. It isn’t until they stop in front of a bar that Ava realizes she hasn’t understood a word he’s said.

She follows him in when he holds the door for her, tapping her shoulder and motioning for her to follow him. He nods to the bartender and they push into the kitchen and take a right down an unlit hallway.

"You’re not, like, going to kill me, right? Because this definitely looks like the kind of place someone would take a person to murder them." Michael laughs and shakes his head, continuing to lead her to the end of the hallway.

"So this is kind of a secret place, it took a lot of work to convince my buddy to let me bring you and even more to convince him to let us borrow it for the night." He turns to face her, hands moving and Ava’s reminded of the inflatable man that dances in front of the car dealership across from her job, obnoxiously bright and waving.

She wonders if the inflatable man actually influences people to shop at that dealership instead of the one three blocks down that doesn’t have an inflatable man dancing out front. Diana loves the giant dancing man, every time she sees it she has to dance with him and she giggles so hard she cries. Ava should ask if Beatrice would be interested in going with her and Diana to see it, she would love how much Diana is absolutely enraptured by the object.

"Ava?"

Oh shit. Was he talking this entire time? Oh fuck, he was talking the entire time and she wasn’t listening to a single thing he said.

"Uh, yeah, I understand." Oh god, what if he asked an actual question and she just made a fool out of herself?

"Okay, cool. Are you ready?" Ava nods and Michael makes a grandiose show of opening the door.

Inside, there’s nothing.

Quite literally, nothing at all. It’s an empty room with a single chair and an empty liquor bar nestled into the far corner. There’s a picnic basket on the bare concrete floor.

If Ava hadn’t already been concerned she was going die tonight, this would’ve been the last sign she needed.

But Michael is looking at her the same way a puppy looks at it’s owner after doing a trick right, bright eyed and buzzing.

"Oh wow, yeah!" Ava deserves an Oscar for her performance here today. "This is so cool!"

"Right? Come on." His hand is rough and calloused in hers, hard in all the places Beatrice’s is soft. He squeezes her fingers too tight and they ache, she wants to yank her hand out of his.

Beatrice would never squeeze her fingers like this.

He motions for her to sit in front of the picnic basket before he starts emptying the contents onto the ground. Sandwiches, meat, cheese, fruit, a cupcake. A bottle of white wine.

He tells her what everything is as he sets it down, like she doesn’t know the difference between a clementine and an apple. Ava has the decency to pretend to be interested but all she can hear is Hans’s voice in her ear telling her she doesn’t like Michael.

Why is she pushing this so hard?

She’s not ready to address that train of thought so she shakes it from her head. Apparently, he had asked another question and seems disappointed in her rejection but she honestly doesn’t want to correct the situation, so she lets him sulk for a moment.

She gives him a half hour. She doesn’t tell him, obviously, that would be rude. But she gives him a half hour to convince her of there’s something between them before she asks for the bathroom. He tells her where to go and she texts Beatrice.

Ava: weird request but can u fake an emergency in like 5 min?

Beatrice: Yes, are you alright?

Ava: ill explain when i get home

Beatrice: Okay, be safe. <3

Beatrice and that damn heart. Less than three. That’s how Ava reads it every time. But it still makes her heart race and palms sweat. It’s unfair. Ava’s on a date with someone who is trying desperately to be important to her and he’s falling flat on his face every time. But Beatrice, who doesn’t try at all, is making her chest twinkle and her heartbeat pound in her ears from two symbols.

It’s not like she’s in love with Beatrice.

Right?

She returns to Michael, who immediately launches back into the story he was telling when she’d left, and Ava tries to listen. Truly. She’s gathered that it’s about his teenage years and there’s an alpaca involved, but not much else is making sense.

She nearly cheers when her phone rings.

"Sorry, it’s the sitter, I have to take this," Ava explains before answering. "Hey, Bea. What’s up?"

"I’m deeply sorry for interrupting your evening but is there any way you could come home? It’s Diana." Bless Beatrice, she sounds worried enough that Ava nearly believes there to be something wrong. Ava glances at Michael with an apologetic smile.

"Yeah, I can head home now, is everything alright? Does she need a doctor?" Beatrice giggles, just one soft, quick giggle that nearly breaks Ava’s Academy Award worthy performance.

"No, she just needs you, Ava."

Fuck. She has to swallow her heart in her throat, shove it back to its proper place in her chest and beg it to stop trying to escape.

"Okay. Tell her I’ll be home soon, please?" Ava can picture Beatrice nodding with a bright smile before she hangs up. "I’m so sorry, it’s my daughter. I need to go."

"Oh. Well. Can’t she wait? Your sitter said she didn’t need a doctor, right? So she’s fine, right?"

That’s not the way a decent human should react upon hearing a child is in distress — whether it is real or faked to get out of a terrible date — that’s not what you’d say to someone who just got told their baby isn’t okay.

"I try to be there for my kid when she needs me, but thanks. I’ll find my way out." Ava stands and walks away, ignoring when he calls after her and retracing their steps out of the death dungeon and onto the street.

She blocks his number before she reaches the first crossing, stuffing her phone into her jacket pocket and rushing to her apartment. She glances up to her window as she crosses the street and finds Diana with her face pressed to the glass waving at her, she waves back and Diana’s fingers curl into her mouth as she bounces. Beatrice appears smiling over Diana’s shoulder, hands steadying on Diana’s hips.

Ava’s step falters.

Oh.

Fuck.

They’re waiting by the door when Ava opens it, Diana bouncing on her toes and holding one of Beatrice’s hands until she throttles herself full force into Ava’s legs.

Ava swoops Diana through the entryway and into the living room, where she settles her in front of her blocks. Beatrice is leaned against the doorframe watching them, eyes soft and warm. Ava waves her over, holds her hand out to pull Beatrice to the ground with them.

Oh.

Beatrice helps Diana stack the blocks up to her head, sparkling and bright when Diana slaps it and sends it clattering to the ground.

Oh. Fuck.

Diana requests her bedtime story from Beatrice, probably because Beatrice always reads her one more when she asks. Tonight, Beatrice reads Diana five books before the little girl falls asleep. Ava’s heart is tearing at the seams, preparing to burst. She has to take slow, deep breaths to ease the ache.

"Are you alright?" Beatrice holds her arm out for Ava to curl into her side and they watch Diana sleep for a moment.

"Yeah, I just…" Ava doesn’t know what to say, so she shakes her head and squeezes closer into Beatrice’s side.

Eventually, Beatrice eases her out of the room and onto the couch, where Ava sprawls herself on top of Beatrice, head tucked against her chest and arms winding her waist.

This what home feels like. This is what being safe feels like. This is what knowing she is loved feels like.

Even if it isn’t the same way she loves Beatrice.

"You don’t have to tell me, but if you want to, I want to listen." Her voice rumbles under Ava’s cheek, her breath warm in Ava’s hair.

"I went on a date." She drops her chin against Beatrice’s chest and watches her react.

"Oh?" Beatrice’s face is blank, which is worse than anything Ava had been expecting.

"It was terrible. I spent the entire time wanting to come home. And when you called with the fake emergency, he basically said Diana could wait. Like who does that?" Ava sits up, watching Beatrice’s face fall slowly before it hardens again.

Beatrice shifts so she can sit upright.

She doesn’t say anything. Ava wishes she would say something.

She wishes and wishes and wishes for Beatrice to say something.

"Why’d you go if you weren’t interested?"

Oh.

Was the sharpened edges of her words in Ava’s head? Did she… is Beatrice… could she be jealous?

No. Of course not.

Unless…?

No. Ava can’t afford to think like that.

Still, her head spins when she tries to find a reply. She doesn’t know. She wasn’t interested in him at all, she knows that now.

"I - um…" Ava has nothing. No eager reply, no quick witted rebuttal. Only the truth, but not the whole truth. She can’t just come out and say I think I’m trying to convince myself I’m not in love with you, can she? No, that would ruin everything. So instead, she tries the closest version of the truth. "I haven’t gone on a date since Diana’s father left. I think…" Oh god, this is too much honesty, Ava’s heartbeat presses heavy in her ears. "I think I wanted someone to prove I’m still… I don’t know, desirable?"

Oh. That got her attention.

Beatrice’s eyes shoot up from her lap, glassy and dark, lips parted slightly. It’s unfair, the way her freckles dance across her face just begging Ava to kiss them, to name each one and memorize their arrangements so she never forgets. Beatrice has never looked more kissable than she does right now.

Beatrice’s hand is warm and soft against Ava’s cheek and Ava thinks, for no more than a second, she might be about to kiss her.

"You have always been desirable, Ava. Have you not seen yourself?" Ava feels flayed open, like Beatrice has sliced to the deepest parts of her and is digging through them. The hand on her cheek drifts slowly, thumb tracing across her eyebrow, the bridge of her nose, the apple of her cheek, the line of her jaw, the pulse of her heartbeat in her neck, the arch of her shoulder, the muscle of her bicep, the edge of her elbow, the inside of her forearm, the palm of her hand. Their fingers tangle together and Ava doesn’t know how to breathe under Beatrice’s intense inquisitive eyes. She hopes Beatrice isn’t waiting for an answer because Ava doesn’t know how to speak anymore. "You… my god, Ava. I am not sure how to explain it to you.

"Explain what?" Fuck. She sounds too eager. But oh, Beatrice’s eyes are soft as a blanket fresh out the dryer.

"The - the way your eyes shine like Times Square on New Year’s Eve and the way your laugh sounds like a chorus of angels. The way you can make anyone smile, despite how terrible their day has been. The - oh hell, the way you seep into everything around you until it all glows like you.

"People have been compared to the stars and the moon, but Ava, you are the sun. You make everything brighter and warmer by just existing in its presence. You are warmth and you are light and you are sunshine on a cold winter day."

Oh.

Oh.

Oh.

This must have been Ava’s last day on earth. Because this is what being blessed by an angel must be. There’s no way this is real life.

Is this real? Are you real?

"I believe so, yes."

Shit, I said that out loud.

Beatrice laughs brightly, bubbling and golden.

"I just did it again, didn’t I?"

"You did."

Ava grimaces and the moment is gone.

Gone isn’t the right word, because everything is still there. Hanging, shimmering in the minimal space between them. The moment is still simmering in the air and under their skin and, if either of them were braver, they would crash into each other like waves on the shoreline. They would crash over and over and over into each other. Their bodies would melt together and they would cease to exist as individuals. They’re already so close to that edge, teetering on the edge of the cliff waiting to tumble over the side.

Everything is there. It’s impossible to ignore. Like a wildfire.

Ignoring it will only burn them both.

Find more here!

Just a friendly reminder that this fic does have an angst tag :)

[phoebe-andromeda]

Most dilipadated beatrs 2024. Ruinous incantation trap collection 2024. Rusty metal beam music for gaming (EPIC EDITION). Songs of the Fell Corpse for FOCUS & RELAXATION. Top 10 entropic scourge music. Mold in youyr veins ALL BANGER5S NOTHING PRISTINE 2024

[rainbowlemonslices]

:DDD got to go to buld a beatr!

[marquis-of-writeblr]

character cuddleability scale

@saturnine-saturneight tagged me (here)

How-to: Rate your OCs based on how they handle cuddling/being cuddled.

I didn't expect to get tagged so soon, so most of my OCs that I intend to be writing about on this blog are gonna be a hot minute before they actually make their debuts (and I'm not even 100% sure who all I actually will wind up writing about and who I won't). but I'm excited to be participatory, so let's get started! :D

Chayal: She'd feel incredibly awkward about it, but would probably give pretty good ones, actually. Just... her mix of awkwardness and physicality would perfectly balance each other out to result in firm but tender hugs. And I mean, who wouldn't love being hugged by a butch martial artist? If you're the one hugging her, though, she's going to go as rigid as stone for a moment before returning the hug. And if you tried to surprise her with a hug from behind... Bad idea. Just don't.

Taninna: If you're someone who she feels comfortable hugging, prepare for an exuberant hug! She'll squeeze you are hard as her noodle arms can manage!

Beatrise Zolnerowich: Beatrise? Hug? Not likely.

Euria Bakarne: Her hugs would be very polite and formal, and only in response to someone else initiating it. To convey comfort to another, she'd be more likely to simply rest a hand on a shoulder or arm, and to convey affection, she would more likely just rest her head on Beatr- er, I mean... whoever's shoulder.

Tobias Beval: Immediately check your pockets and make sure you still have your wallet if Tobias ever tries to hug you.

Isen Lohceolt: Someone please hug this woman.

Jari: If you were to hug him, he would spend the entire time sputtering and complaining about wrinkling his shirt and getting dirt on his robes. But he will allow the hug to last as long as you want, which is kind of his own way of showing affection.

Since I'm so new to writeblr, I don't really have a substantial network of friends to tag in these yet, so I'm just going to say that if you're following me, consider yourself tagged, if you want!

[the-arcade-doctor]

This is me when i spill Homestuck facts in your blog (My trollsona, her name is Beatrs Reeden)

:0 THE SILLY

[gmanwhore]

BEATRS: I d<3n't really have a defined childh<3<3d i guess because my ancest<3r wanted t<3 take care <3f me but s<3me assh<3le <3ther tr<3ll krilled her <3ver a misunderstanding and then he raised me f<3r a bit bef<3re getting tired <3f me and then he left me <3n my <3wn with a Barkbeast lusus f<3r s<3me reas<3n and n<3w i fluctuate between living in land and water. But i turned <3ut fine

I don't think she turned out fine.